A/n: Not many reviews so far. Then again Aerith x Leon doesn't have a large fanbase. Cloud won't come in 'til later, but I'm dying to write him! Anyway thank you so much to those who did review. You all seem pretty enthusiastic about the story and that gets me excited about writing it. Try to get the word out if you can. I'd appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts.

The Best of You
Too Well On My Own

Looking back, Squall found those first couple of months living alone with Aerith to be unreal. Like some sort of ethereal dream he stumbled into by chance. They lived together in comfortable silence, in a mutual agreement and well aware of each others boundries. Aerith went about her normal lifestyle tiding up the house and tending to her delicate flowers. She would depart in the afternoons to a safer region of Traverse Town to sell her elaborate bouquets. In the evenings she would return home and prepare a meal for the two. This routine continued everyday.

Meanwhile Squall stayed around the house. When bored with his inactivity he would pratice his swordmanship and even took up odd jobs with one of the town's local men, Cid Highwind. His idleness was driving him mad. Day by day he paced the abandoned corridor. The only time he felt at ease was when Aerith was about the house. Her presence was calming, making him feel less frenzied. He would settle across from her in the living room or just watch her as she worked in the kitchen. He never bothered to ask her about her day. He didn't care. He didn't bother to say anything at all. He just watched her.

Squall was more than content with playing the role of the wordless bodyguard. He escorted the flower girl to places like the market, slaughtering creatures as they slithered up from the darkness. They had to constantly occupy themselves in order to keep from living in fear. It was a world of uncertainty that they had been cast into. One where your own shadow could become your enemy.

But it wasn't often that Squall saw Aerith frown or even complain. She carried on as if nothing in her life had changed at all. Consumed in an oblivious fog, simply wanting for the opportune time to emerge into a sunnier world. Was she really holding up that well? Didn't she miss her friends? Her family? The life she was forced to leave behind? But no matter how much he watched her, he never saw Aerith's cheerful facade falter.

"Aren't you ever sad?" he said annoyed one evening over a bowl of rice.

Aerith dropped her utensil in surprise and suppressed a giggle. "So he speaks!"

His lips protruded into an ill-tempered frown. Her laughter quickly settled at this point as she stared at him in wonder. Why ask me such a thing?

"Of course I get sad. I am human after all," she said frankly. "But why do you ask?"

"No reason," he said rising from his chair. "I'm going to bed."

"You could at least do the dishes for once," she called jokingly as he shrank down the hallway.

Sighing she began to clear the table. What a thick shell that man had. After a month of no communication and his first words to her were incredibly rude. Never mind that; it was better than being alone. That was probably why he hung around anyway. Just to keep from being alone...

Hesitating, she hovered motionless over a sink full of dirty dishes. She questioned whether or not she had the strength to do this all again. Penetrating Squall's barrier would take an exceptional amount of energy and time. But she was exhausted of living this way. His aloof nature only surfaced her buried regrets. His cold eyes causing her to second guess her every move. She wanted to end this struggle with herself. To live in peace with the remnants of her former life.

Releasing a stifled breath she dropped the rag from her slender fingers and into the sink. I'll do them tomorrow, she thought retreating to her room.

It didn't matter how much Squall relaxed. It didn't matter how much he stretched his limbs out across a comfortable bed. He was fighting a losing battle with himself. Because in spite of how much he tried to ignore it there would always be a black cloud hanging over his head saturated with regret. Squall sighed in frustration, brushing dark bangs from his face. His eyes were cast to the ceiling, diligently searching a blank canvas for answers.

Rolling over he gave up on sleep. There was no way he could flee from his own guiltful thoughts and painful memories.

It was hopeless to begin with. He had been struggling with those black creatures for hours. His tired muscles searing in agony with each painful thrust of his gunblade. He could hear them screaming at his back. The terror filled shrieks of the orphans he had been caring for. Squall made a vow to protect them, an oath that pushed him to the breaking point of bravery.

But the horde was endless. A vast, pulsing onyx ocean stretching beyond the eye's reach. There was no way he could successfully fight them off.

Glancing over his shoulder his sight fell sadly on his lover as she extended her arms maternally around the children. Her russet eyes emitted a contrast of sorrow and content. She understood their fate. There was nothing left for them to do.

"Rinoa!" Squall's throat burned angirly with her name as the darkling monsters crawled over the group. The creatures pressed their long writhing fingers into their chest and tore out their hearts. Leaving Rinoa and the orphans to dissolve into night.

Squall screamed and thrashed under the growing weight of their shadow-like bodies. He could feel his conciousness succumbing o their spell.

"Go ahead and take it...I don't need it," he muttered, the golden glowing eyes of the creatures fading as the final light in his world.

Morning was unwelcome for Aerith, trespassing on the little solace she found that night. Plagued by nightmares she had fought so hard to conquer. Sleep did not come easily. Never-the-less she braided her long curls and proceeded to face the day. Stepping into the poorly lit kitchen she planned to wash the dishes she left unfinished that night. To her amazement the task was already complete. The dishes had been washed, dried and returned to their proper places in the cabinets.

Smiling she moved to Squall's room to thank him. He was no where to be found. Peering around the house she found no sign of the swordsman. He must be out with Cid, she though closing the front door. As her hand was about to disconnect with the brass handle a painful force surged up the back of her neck electrifying her brain.

"I'll find you, I promise."

Groaning weakly she stumbled back from the doorway. What the hell was that?

When Squall returned he found Aerith in the garden. Her heavy brown boots were drudged deep within the earth and she was crouched among the flowers. Her small frame was almost swallowed by the developing blossoms, enveloped by the floral perfume and scent of fresh soil. She always squatted to greet them- never towering over the vibrant field.

"You can't appreciate them fully unless you lower to see the love and care it took to create them," she said sensing his presence.

Squall's muscles tensed, taken back by her unexpected utterance. Aerith's back was still to him and he made a point to be as quiet as possible to keep from disturbing her. A tiny smirk thinned across his lips. He had no idea she was so perceptive.

"Too many things are taken for granted," she added somberly.

A temperate breeze passed admist their silence. Aerith's unbound caramel tresses danced in its presence as soft, fleshy petals stroked against her calves. Sunlight gleamed brilliantly off the creamy, peach color of her exposed skin. She looked like an angel kneeling in a field of vivid yellows and pastel pinks.

She looks good with her hair down, Squall mused. I wonder what's bothering her.

"You're not the only one who's lost something here," her jade eyes peered cheerlessly back at him over her shoulder.

His feet shuffled nervously in the grass. "That's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant, Squall," she hissed spitefully rising to her feet. "How dare I not be upset when the world is falling apart around me. How dare I not sit around and mope all day."

"Am I right?" she pressed quickly approaching him.

She halted inches below his uneasy breath. Eyes of fiery green heat gazed up at him. "Because it keeps me living."

"And that's a hell of a lot more than you're doing," she added pushing past him and vanishing into the house.

Squall forced down a swallow. She had the intimidation of an enraged goddess. Relaxing against the door frame he concluded that given the choice- he much prefered a cheerful Aerith.