"Cloud, how much longer?" Aerith asked with a hint of weariness in her voice.
"Just a little bit more, I promise." Cloud reassured her.
The two walked hand in hand in sector 8. The darkness that the night sky would've brought was drowned out from all the lights in the city buildings. They just finished eating at a nearby restaurant and Cloud told Aerith he had something to show her. She knew for Cloud to be so active about something, it was important.
Cloud knew what he was doing. It was something he wanted to do long before they defeated Sephiroth, all that was needed was the right moment. After talking about his intentions with Elmyra and gaining her approval, the wheels were in motion. Now he just needed to take Aerith to the place where she changed him, and so they walked.
The citizens stared at them, for they carried weapons out in the open. Still a brand new concept to Cloud and Aerith, the recent arrival of peacetime made the sight of soldiers rare. Cloud paid no mind to it. He didn't wear his buster sword to kill, but to protect, because that was what he agreed to do after all.
The two continued to walk on the brick road. Cloud turned towards Aerith to let her know they were close. The blond smiled when he spotted a billboard that said "Loveless" He knew they made it.
He slowed down his gait until he came to a stop, prompting Aerith to do so as well. He then let go of her hand and stood in front of her and fixed his gaze on her jade green eyes, it gave him the confidence he needed to go through with it.
"Do you remember this place?" He asked her.
"Of course!" Aerith replied exuberantly. "I sold a flower to you here."
"Yeah." He smiled. "And not just that. This was the place where we first met."
Aerith looked around and noticed the debris that she came to expect of Midgar, "Everything looks the same as when we met."
"But I'm not the same" Cloud admitted. "Back then, I didn't care about anything or anyone." He intensified his focus on her. "But then I saw you. I bought the flower because… I wanted to see you smile. Ever since then I have become addicted to your smile, your laugh, your eyes. I can't get enough of it."
He then took a step forward, there was no gap between them. "I want to always see your smile. And that's why we're here."
Cloud moved down on one knee. He reached his pocket for a small box and opened it, revealing a ring that was as blue as his eyes. Aerith stared at the ring with wide open eyes, too shocked to speak. Nearby residents stopped walking and looked on at the young couple.
"Aerith, since I met you, you have made me a better man. Please give me the chance to do for you what you have done for me, however long it takes. Will you marry me?"
A teary eyed Aerith didn't hesitate at all, she nodded a few times and responded with a resounding "Yes!" She reached out her arm and Cloud gently inserted the ring through her finger. He stood up and kissed her, which was followed up with an applause by the people who stayed and watched.
Cloud broke away from the kiss and looked at his fiance. "Thank you Aerith, for everything."
"I knew you were up to something." Aerith noted, wiping the tears from her eyes. "but…this?! Thank you Cloud, you've made me so happy."
The two lovers spent the rest of the night embracing each other under the lights of the city. It was a place that many would look and forget but not them. Because for them, it was the place where they met when they needed each other the most.