Sorry, I've been a bit busy reading other fanfics, but here is chapter 3, ready for your enjoyment and inspection. Remember, Final Fantasy VII belongs not to me but to the wonderful, Square (or rather now Square-Enix)
Shera sighed happily. Aeris and Tifa turned their heads slightly to smile at Shera's expression.
'Having a good day Shera?' asked Aeris.
Shera handed the last dish to be dried to Tifa and nodded blissfully, 'Today was wonderful!'
'I can't believe it's been a whole year since Sephiroth,' murmured Tifa, musing.
Aeris looked concerned as she faced Tifa, wondering about the strange look on her friend's face.
'Pardon, dear?' asked Shera, not paying attention.
'Oh nothing. You'd best see that Cid and Barrett aren't causing trouble,' replied Tifa.
'Of course, and I'll just pop over to make sure Marlene is having a good rest,' agreed Shera.
'Tifa? Hon, what's the matter?' ventured Aeris caustiously.
'Huh? Nothing Aeris. I just don't want to leave here tomorrow, the beach is so wonderful and it's peaceful here. I don't want to return to Kalm Town, it reminds me of Midgar,' explained Tifa.
'I know what you mean,' started Aeris, suddenly, a brainwave hit her.
'What about…! Oh no. Bad idea,' she mentally smacked herself for even thinking it.
'What? Tell me! I want to know!' said Tifa, Aeris' blushing piqued her interest.
'Oh, well I thought that maybe since we shared the same feelings about Kalm Town, I thought that maybe…' Aeris started.
'Yes? Go on?' urged Tifa.
'We could rent a place here in Costa De Sol and be roomies,' finished Aeris.
'Oh is that all! I thought you were going to say something scandalous with all your fidgeting around! Well, I think that's a wonderful idea!' exclaimed Tifa.
'Really?' asked Aeris, surprised.
'Oh yeah! Since we both don't have much, we could pack tomorrow and come back in the one day. Of course, unless you don't want to,' suggested Tifa.
Aeris gave her a grand smile and death hugged Tifa, 'No, it's great! It's perfect! Yay!'
They both sat down on the warm, golden sand, watching the sunset lazily.
Cloud was attempting to light a bonfire, sparks flew in all different directions as he scraped two rocks together.
'Cloud! Would you stop that awful racket!' demanded Nanaki angrily.
'What are you do--, oh. Cloud, here let me,' Vincent realised Cloud's utterly stupid dilemma and cast a fire spell on the sticks piled up.
'Oh….. Yeah, that's right I could have just done that… But then I wouldn't have made it like a pioneer, now would I?' quickly covered Cloud, hoping no one would think him an idiot.
'Yeh foo! Only you would try to make a fire like that!' exclaimed Barrett.
Cid just chuckled and stared into Shera's eyes lovingly, thinking how lucky he was that she still stood by him. Shera smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Marlene 'oohed' them and leapt onto Barrett's lap, 'Daddy! Tell me a story for the bonfire! A bonfire story!'
'Ah… Just wait till everyone else gets here first Marlene,' stalled Barrett, racking his brains for a story.
'Oh, ok! I'll go get everyone else then, ok Daddy?' said Marlene as she bounded off in search for Yuffie, Tifa and Aeris.
Marlene discovered Yuffie attempting to seduce some older men into buying ice creams and at the same time, she tried to swipe their materia. No such luck as Marlene ran screaming at her to get her butt to the bonfire, otherwise her Daddy wouldn't tell a bonfire story. The men looked at her pityingly, but refused to treat such an underdeveloped young girl.
'You just wait, I'll be so beautiful, you'll be begging to just look at me,' grumbled Yuffie, annoyed that she still hadn't fully filled out yet.
She turned, irritated by Marlene's overexcited yells, but soften as she remembered what it was like to be a kid.
'Yeah, ok Marlene, I'm coming. Geez, too much Ribena for you today or something?' she muttered good naturedly.
Marlene gave her a mock scowl and leapt onto her back, demanding a piggy back ride, as payment for her rudeness. Yuffie laughed and agreed to help her locate Tifa & Aeris.
Aeris leaned into Tifa a little more, resting her head on Tifa's shoulder. Tifa stretched her neck to get the kinks out and grinned to herself. This was nice, she was enjoying just looking out into the currently red hued ocean with Aeris. Aeris appeared to be enjoying it just as much, if not more. Gradually, they both started leaning back more and more, Tifa ended up laying on the sand. Aeris smirked to herself, what a funny position.
'Hey, Aeris? Can I ask you something?' started Tifa quietly after a few minutes.
Aeris tensed slightly, dreading Tifa's question, 'Yes? What is it?'
'Um, well. I don't mind you lying on me and all, but I'm getting pins and needles,' replied Tifa, feeling more uncomfortable by the second.
Aeris let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been saving, relieved she giggled, 'Why of course, I'm sorry.'
She repositioned herself on Tifa's other side and turned her head to gaze into Tifa's eyes, 'Is that better?'
Tifa unconsciously licked her lips and suddenly felt odd, 'Yeah, that's fine.'
She blushed slightly, feeling heated.
At that moment, Yuffie and Marlene burst through the trees singing loudly 'Stand By Me' as they spotted Aeris and Tifa in a rather interpretable position on the beach.
Aeris and Tifa both jumped as they heard the girls behind them.
'Hey! Come on, Barrett's gonna tell us all a story b-by the b-bonfire, s-so c-come on, ok?' stuttered Yuffie, unsure what to think.
Marlene scratched her head at Yuffie's stuttering and pulled Aeris' hand, directing her to the bonfire, 'Come on Aeris! I wanna hear the story and Daddy said he won't tell it till we are all there!'
'Ok, ok! I'm coming darling, hold you horses!' exclaimed Aeris, adoring the charming little girl even more.
Yuffie glanced over at Tifa, wondering if she should say anything, instead Tifa looked at her with a smile.
'Did you have a good day Yuffie?' asked Tifa, walking along side her.
'Y-yeah, how about you Tif?' asked Yuffie.
'Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Are you ok?' asked Tifa concerned.
'Huh? I'm fine, just eager to get to that story!' replied Yuffie quickly.
'Uh huh, sure,' Tifa was unconvinced.
