Disclaimers: All the Final Fantasy characters are not mine

Aerith opened the church doors and saw Zack. She gasped, dropping the basket of flowers and ran towards him. She ran through the flowers and dirt, falling against his chest. "Please, oh please. Zack... Zack!" she cried with tears streaming down her cheeks. A trembling hand went his smooth cheek with a scar on it. She buried her head in his chest and smelled the dry blood, the dirt on him. She cried, "Please Zack. Please, not you, not you."

"Hey Beautiful."

Her head shot up and saw the blurs of Zack, smiling. His gloved hand held on and wiped all her tears, "Come on. Don't cry. I'm alive." He grinned and he tried to take off his worn-out glove, but failed. Aerith still in tears held his hand and ungloved his hand. "It's really true. You're here. You're here. You're really here." She touches his hand and his rough fingertips wrapped around her soft fingers. She smiled and felt his hand cupped her sticky cheek. "Hey, it's okay. I'm alive. I'm here?" He grinned and she smiled. Her eyes glowed like deep emeralds and she looked like an angel. He wanted to kiss those pink lips. And only those lips he could only kiss. He reaches up and put his hand gently on the back of her neck. Her face came closer and their lips touched softly. Aerith closed her eyes and he brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

Her beautiful face was all he could remember.

--

"Zack."

He opened his aquamarine eyes and saw Aerith. She held onto his hand, "You're awake." She wetted a towel and wiped his face. The cold towel wiped all the blood and dirt on his face. "I wiped away the blood and heal most of your wounds. And I bought new clothes for you to wear." Zack got up and Aerith gave the clothes to Zack. "I'll just leave, so you can change." She walked away, "You sure? I'm fine with you looking at me undress." Zack grinned. Aerith blushed and smiled, "No thanks."

She closed the door and the birds chirped. Zack started undressing and felt the bandages on his chest. Tightly wrapped around his waist and shoulder and struggled, smiled at the first kiss with Aerith. He touched his lips and felt the warmth of her lips, still tingling.

"I'm done! Aerith, you can come in now!" Zack said, running and opening the doors while Aerith falls into his warm arms. She laughs and holds onto his sleeveless shirt. He spins around with her and they fall down together on the hard, wooden floor. They were lying on the ground in the sunlight where every shadow was perfect. Aerith laid her hand on his face, knowing everything was real. Zack looked at her hair and smiled, kissing her on the top of her head. "What is it?" Aerith asked, smoothing Zack's hair.

"You're still wearing the ribbon I gave you."

"Yeah. Why?" She asked playing with his hair, feeling the spikes. "I thought that you took it off and threw it away." He sighed and she smiled, "You thought I got another boyfriend?"

Zack had a tint of blush and tried to hide his face. She gave off a soft laugh and kissed him on the cheek. Her lips brushed his cheek and Zack wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. Aerith closed her eyes, enjoying this moment. She smelled his hair and his spikes tickled her chin. He put his head on her chest and felt her heartbeat, listening to the rhythm of his lover's heart.

--

Aerith held Zack's warm hand while they walked in the sunset. "What would you think of Elmyra? What do you think she'll say?" She held his hand tightly. "I'm sure it's fine. It's not like she gonna kill us." Aerith looked at his beautiful eyes, "I guess."

"The color of the sky, right?"

She nodded and smiled. The couple walked home under the lively oranges and purples.

"Mother! I'm home." Aerith unlocked the door and held Zack's tightly again. Is she that worried? Zack thought as footsteps was heard. "Aerith, who's this young man?" Elmyra asked, wiping her hands on her apron. "He's Zack, mother. Can he stay?" The woman looked at Zack and smiled warmly, "Of course. Zack can stay as long as he wants." Aerith ran and hugged her adopted mother, "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Dinner would be ready in few minutes." Elmyra left into the kitchen. "Come upstairs, Zack. You should take a shower before you eat." Zack slowly went upstairs with his boots clicking on the wooden floor. "Do I smell that much?" Zack grabbing her waist and smelling her hair. "Yea. So go into the shower." Aerith pushed Zack into the bathroom. That's right; I haven't taken a shower a few days ago. Zack taking of his clothes and the bandages, examining the scars and touching them. "Ouch." He turned on the shower and felt the hot water warming his body.

He stood there for a few minutes, thinking about the four years he missed. The four years he lost. To me, it still feels like a dream. A nightmare that is never to be erased. Then, he realized, Why isn't Aerith angry at me? Why is she still with me? I left her for four years. I didn't call or write back to her. Why?! Why?! Why?! Why?! Zack yelled at himself, inside of his heart. He washed himself with soap and the water washed all the bubbles away. He dried himself and put on his clothes. His hair was still dripping from the water. He walked out of the bathroom, barefoot. He walked downstairs, following the smell of food.

Aerith was helping her mother set up the table and Elmyra put the pot on the table, "Zack, just in time for the beef stew. I hope you would like it." Zack grinned, "Thanks Elmyra. I haven't eaten for a long time." Zack pulled a seat and sat down. Aerith sat down and this time she was wearing a white dress reaching above her knees, with pastel pink ribbons there and here. Elmyra sat down and filled everyone's bowl with a bowl of smoky, hot beef stew. "Thanks!" Zack started munching on the stew and asked for a second. A third and then he were full. "Dōmo arigatō." He got up and turned to the door, "I'll buy the food starting today with my own money." Elmyra stared at the young man, "No it's alright. You didn't eat that much. And please don't be so polite."

"It causes too much trouble, so just give me the list and I'll just buy it with my own Gil. I have plenty and I don't want you and Aerith to waste money on my eating-habits. And so thanks!" Zack asked Aerith for the list and he went off.

"What hyper man he is." The elder lady sat down along with her adopted daughter. "He is the one?" Elmyra asked, cleaning up the dishes. "The one?" Aerith confusing asked. The mother sighed, "The one who abandoned you for four years, sweetie."

Aerith looked at her dress, playing with the fabric, "He didn't abandon me. He didn't dump me either." Her green eyes gleamed under the light, looking straight at the elder woman. "Please don't judge him. I'm sure he has a good reason for the four years."

The woman's back turned towards Aerith, "You kept sending the letters to him, but he never returned them. Aerith, it breaks my heart." Aerith looked at her helpless, "But he's here, that's good enough. I'm happy he's here. He came here almost…dead." The brown-hair girl whispered the last words.

The woman was speechless at first and came over to hold her hand, "I'm not blaming you, sweetie. I just can't let go of you. But if I must, I will." She smiled at the young Cetra. "Thank you."

--

Zack was back with the food, helping Elmyra placing the food in the fridge. "Aerith's in the garden." Elmyra said out of nowhere. Zack looked at her. The old woman with tired wrinkles on her face. Her hair was tied in a bun and her eyes show signs of stress. "I think you should stop working for a while." The woman looked at him, "Why do you say that?" His mako energy met her eyes, "You're stressed and didn't have enough sleep. I'll find a job and pay for the expenses. You just stay home." He put a hand on her shoulder, "It hurts Aerith, seeing you like this, working so hard. See ya." The tall man left to see Aerith in the garden. The elder woman looked at the man and sighed. He is really a kind man.

--

Aerith looked at the flowers and looked at the sky. The young Cetra held a flower and felt its velvet leaves brushing against her skin. There was footsteps crunching on the ground dirt, "Why aren't you mad at me?" she smiled, "Why would I be mad at you? You came back, that's all it matters." She felt the warmth behind her back. Zack stared at the ground, "But I left you four years ago." His hands curled itself into a fist, "I didn't respond to any of the letters. I didn't-" A hand held his fist and untangled his fingers and the pale hand held his hand and kissed it softly, "Does it matter?" Her eyes looked at his eyes, never leaving a trace of regret in her green eyes. "I'm just happy you came back. I thought I would never see you again." She hugged him around the waist, "You almost got taken into the Lifestream, didn't you?" He looked at her surprisingly and whispered, "Yea, but my friend kicked me out. He told me to see you." She smiled and when back in with Zack.

When Aerith went to bed, Zack followed. Aerith lied on the bed and her eyes didn't close. "What's wrong?" Zack asked. Aerith shook her head and held tightly onto the light blanket, "Can I hold your hand?" Her eyes glowed in the dark, looking worriedly. Zack chuckled and held out his hand. Aerith held it and closed her eyes. "I don't want you to disappear when I close my eyes." She opened her eyes, "You're not leaving, right? You're holding my hand forever?" she blinked and he smiled. "Yea. I'll be here, holding your hand." He kissed her forehead and brushed her curls out of her heart-shaped face. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He looked at her and closed his eyes.

Both together went into their own dreamland which both was in together.