Disclaimer: And here I am again saying I don't own anything Final Fantasy related. And Eve is my character :3 I own her.

Seph: We're going through this again?

Eve: You know it.

Seph: You're bored at work aren't you?

Eve: Hush. Oh and I JUST realized this but… the original publish date of my 03' fic was 10-17-03….

Seph: Uh huh... and?

Eve: The first chapter to this story and it's publish date… 10-17-07…

Seph: .. Woah…

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Her heart was in shock; her mind racing. Eve attempted to move her arms and legs but she couldn't. Every bit of her just seemed to shake. He was dead. Dead. Gone forever. Shaking her head, she almost lost her balance, her knees buckling out from underneath her. The man leaped forward, catching her just in time. The world was spinning. With every longing breath it got faster and faster.

"Are you okay? Eve say something…", he gazed down into her eyes, the mako blue glistening softly. He ran his hand across her cheek.

"I… just…", she couldn't form words.

"Everything is okay now… we can all rest easy.", he leaned down, brushing his lips against hers before she turned her head away, "Eve…?"

"How could you?"

"What do you mean?"

Eve maneuvered herself away from him, sitting on the ground, the soft grass brushing against the palm of her hands, "You can't just come back and think everything is going to be okay. And what was that with you trying to kiss me?"

"Eve I've always loved you…", he sat beside her, "Believe me on that."

She couldn't help but laugh, "Alright fine. Whatever you say.", she looked him over, "You look like you've been out relaxing at a beach."

"After the battle I took some time for myself… three or four months to be exact."

"Really now?!", Eve stood up, "So you finished your battle and decided, 'Hey! I'm going to take some time off! I'm not gonna let anyone know if I'm alive or okay and just go and relax! They won't worry if I'm dead or missing!' Exactly what made you come to that conclusion, Cloud?!"

The spiky-haired blond sighed, "You're right I should've said something…"

"I mean… geeze! Do you have ANY idea how worried Tifa has been?! Tifa and especially Yuffie!"

"Yuffie?", Cloud arched a brow, "Why would she be worried?"

"Hell if I know.", Eve crossed her arms, "Cloud I outta kick you… Do you realize you missed Cid and Shera's wedding?"

"That was today?"

"Uh… YES!", she glared down at him, "You were supposed to be Cid's best man! Do you have any idea how strange Vincent looks in a suit? I mean it looks good on him but… at the same time it's strange.", Eve chuckled softly.

"I guess I have to apologize to everyone don't I…."

"Eve!", Tifa came running down the same path Eve had taken to get down to that spot, "Eve, everyone's been loo---", she stopped her running and talking at the same time when she spotted Cloud, "Cl…Cloud? Is… that really you?"

Cloud nodded, "Yeah… it's me."

"How… have you been?"

Before Cloud could say 'Fine', Eve blurted in with, "Relaxing on the beach for who about three to four months.", at this point, she had already made her way past Tifa and turned around giving her a hug, "I'm gonna go see if our sleeping arrangements have been made.", as she walked away, all you could hear was the sound of Tifa's voice in the air, scolding Cloud.

"Relaxing on the BEACH?!", got leaned down right into Cloud's face, "Do you have ANY idea how worried we were?!", she continued on and on, Cloud only being able to fit in the occasional 'I'm sorry'.

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Eve had already changed into her sleepwear. A simple black tunic shirt with sleeves that feel around her arms, and black sweat pants. It was a little chilly for the season, so it suited her just fine. Sitting by the window, she opened it partially to feel the slightly chilled air. She hated cold weather, but Tifa had the heat in the room blasted, so it felt really nice to have her skin cool down from the 'sauna' Tifa was creating from the bathroom. Eve took really hot showers too but Tifa could bathe in lava and it wouldn't phase her one bit.

"Oh goodness Eve close that window for a bit!", Tifa had just walked out of the shower, her towel wrapped around her and her other towel drying off her brown and black mixed hair. Eve reluctantly closed the window and watched as Tifa changed into her sleepwear. She put on a red tank shirt with a white pair of cotton shorts. You could easily tell she had been working out from the tones of her muscles.

"Tifa."

"Yes?", she lifted her head up looking at Eve, and ran her hand through her hair.

"Don't over react.", she had to execute the warning before Tifa jumped on her, "Cloud tried to kiss me."

"What?!", Tifa walked over to Eve, sitting with her by the window, "Are you serious?!"

Nodding, Eve looked down at the ring on her hand.

"That's an engagement ring isn't it?", she watched as Eve turned red and held back tears, "You should know that I just know these things Evie…", she pulled Eve into an embrace as she sniffled, "I'm sorry… but you know, you shouldn't lie to us about it."

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"Eve…", he took her into his arms, holding her tightly.

"I don't want you to go… please don't go… I don't think I can handle losing you…"

"I won't let him take me down."

"And if he does? What then?"

"I'll come back… I always do."

"But you can't keep doing that forever!"

"I came back for you once. I'll do it again."

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"I'm sorry I hid it… it's just… I didn't want to think about it… he's gone… I don't know what to do…"

"Oh stop worrying about it..", she gave Eve a good pat on the head and started off to bed, "But you know, had you told Cloud, not only would he have probably been.. upset so to say... but I'm sure he wouldn't have tried to kiss you.", she looked over her shoulder, "Now c'mon, lets get some sleep.", she pulled the covers open and jumped into her bed, snuggling down into the pillow.

"You go ahead… I think I'm going to stay up for a bit."

"Okay then.. Goodnight Evie. And don't let it bother you so much..."

It wasn't too long before she could hear Tifa sound asleep and her thoughts in her head cease. Her eyes stayed focused, out the slightly fogged window, just looking up towards the sky. Standing up to go towards her own bed in the Inn, she heard a tapping on the window. Turning on her heel, she walked back to the window, to find a rose sitting on the outside of it.

Blushing softly, she opened the window, grabbing hold of the rose. Attached to the rose, was a small note.

"Don't lose faith."

Her eyes widened. Could it have been…? What were the chances? Eve grabbed her coat, throwing it on and leapt out the window. She started walking. It was cold, and her body didn't like cold. Her muscles were tensing up as she walked, her toes intermingling with the cold dewed grass.

"I know you're here… tell me you're here!", she stopped walking, turning around to look how far she had walked. She must've been walking for a good hour or so, considering how far the town was behind her. He came up from behind and wrapped his arms gently around her, "I told you I'd come back. I'll never die… I'll never go down…"

She turned into his arms, looking up at him. His gaze was familiar. His warmth, his touch, his voice, his eyes… especially his eyes. Without realizing it, tears streamed down her face as she stood on her toes giving him a deep kiss, "Don't ever leave me aga--….", she couldn't finish her words. The cold had finally gotten to her. She collapsed into him, passed out from both the cold, and exhaustion.

"You've got to be kidding me…", he picked her up in his arms, "That was a short reunion…", he must've carried her for hours it seemed, watching her rest in his arms. Seeing her shiver, he took of his cloak and wrapped it around her before picking her up again. Making his way to the ocean, he stood there, looking out at the glistening waters, "I wish you would wake up to look at this...", he kissed her forhead lovingly before making his way into a small abandonded hut.

The hut, being abandoned for so long, was still in good condition. There was a bed there, with some clean linens. Fresh bottled water, and packaged foods. Laying her on the bed, he watched her sleep for a few hours, sitting in a chair beside the bed. No one would take her away from him... especially not that spiky-haired blonde moron. They had been through enough the first time around. Eve having lost her memory, him reminding her. Eve protected him when no one else would... when everyone else called him a monster. Sleep started to get to him, drifting in and out as he forced his eyes to stay open.

He watched her lips move as she was dreaming.

"Se...sephi..."

He felt his face flush red and he turned his gaze away from her. But then something caught his attention, a glimmer at the corner of his eye. Turning his head towards the glimmer, he realized it was the ring he had given her. He couldn't help but let a smile cross his lips.

Everyone thought he was a monster... but he was only truely misunderstood.

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Eve: I'm done for now. R&R kay? Sorry that nothing much happened in this chapter.. but if I keep going this story might as well be over by next chapter or so… Well now you guys know one part of the story ne? It's probably not much of a shocker xD

Seph: I'm always being dragged into this She's obsessed I tell you.

Eve: Pffft. Face it. You're flattered.

Seph: No. Not really.