Shades of Red

by jasonxpiper510

"Cloud didn't have a favorite color. But if he had to choose now, the answer is obvious." Cloud looks back on the life he had and the moments leading up to his most important one. Summary is kind of lame, but the story is cute. One-shot. Rated T for language (Cid and Barrett are included after all)!

2. Chapter 2

Hi everyone! Sorry it's been such a long time. First of all, I just want to say thanks for the reviews for "Shades of Red!" It means a lot and I'm glad that this story was as enjoyable to you as it was to write. :)

Now I noticed a lot of reviews were asking what I think would happen if Aerith were alive. Do I think that Cloud and Aerith would have been together? I wanted to answer you all individually, but I really don't know how and this is the best way I can think of to address this.

To be frank, the answer is that I really don't know. I've always been super pro-Cloti so I want to say NEVER haha, but I just think it's stupid to think that way. The thing is, I do think Cloud loved Aerith. I don't think in a romantic way, but he definitely loved her as a friend and a comrade. And even if his memories were mixed up with Zack, I do think he found her attractive. I mean, all the ladies in the group were pretty ladies. So to say that there was no possibility of them getting together if Aerith were alive is really just me being blissfully ignorant hehe. And it's a disservice to Cloud, and really, all the characters if I wouldn't be honest about it. So I think that's why I wrote Aerith in that way, because I wanted to be as truthful as I could to character, but not make it seem like he was completely in love with her.

But I think what it comes down to—what I really wanted to point out in my story—is the fact that there's no point about mulling over "what if's." I didn't like how Cloud was distant after the events of Final Fantasy VII, because he's already been through a lot and I wouldn't want him to spend the rest of his life over a person that's long gone. I know Clerith fans hate that whole "she's dead" excuse, but it's very true and very real. In real life, we wouldn't want the people we care about to just be a sad sack of potatoes after losing a loved one. It's not healthy, it's miserable, and it's not what the parted one would want. So the fact that I DO think Cloud loves Tifa and the fact that they've been through so much together, I could envision them as being truly happy with each other. I do think Tifa gives Cloud the opportunity to live a good life, and so that's what I wanted to end with.

Sorry if that doesn't really answer your questions! It's not the best explanation, but then again, Final Fantasy VII is as enigmatic as they come haha. Thanks again guys for the reviews! I love them all! :) And I hope you like… "Shades of Blue" as well!