In the End

Chapter Three

Elmyra yawned loudly as she reached the bottom of the stairs and reached for the light. She jumped as she saw a figure appear at the dining table but her shock turned into a concerned frown as she saw Aeris sitting with her head in her hands, staring blankly ahead of her.

"Dear, what are you doing sitting in the dark?" she asked with a bemused chuckle. Aeris didn't answer, she didn't even blink. The laughter died from Elmyra's face and she put a tentative hand on her daughter's shoulder. Aeris didn't flinch, her eyes still focussed on the wall in front of her. Elmyra's free hand went to Aeris hair, running it soothingly through the curls. "Whatever's the matter?"

"Cloud," Aeris said suddenly. "He's gone."

"Gone?"

"He had to go somewhere with the army."

"Is he fighting somewhere?" Elmyra asked in surprise. She thought soldiers had to be eighteen before being sent to the front line and Cloud, according to Aeris, was just a few days off his seventeenth. Aeris shook her head.

"No, it's training," she replied. "But he doesn't know how long he'll be away for."

"He'll be back before you know it, sweetheart. And I'm sure he'll write to you," her mother said with a smile, running her hand through Aeris' hair once more before standing up straight. "Now, will I put the kettle on?"

She moved towards the kitchen but was stopped by a sudden knock on the door. Aeris' head jerked up and she stared at the door. Elmyra frowned and moved forward, opening the door a little. A man turned to face her, his hair lying in all directions underneath a dark brown hat. He held his hands behind his back the whole time.

"Miss Gainsborough?" he enquired with a smile far too cheerful for the time of day. Elmyra blinked before shaking her head.

"No, I'm Mrs Gainsborough," she replied. "May I help you though?"

The man's smile never faded as he brought his hands in front of him and held out a bouquet of flowers in front of Elmyra's face. The sudden movement caused Elmyra to step back a little and collide with Aeris who had just appeared to see what was happening.

"Is this Miss Gainsborough then?" the man asked, looking at Aeris. She nodded, a confused frown appearing on her face.

"Who? What?" she stammered, reaching for the flowers. Between the yellow daffodils, purple tulips and pink roses, she found a small white card. She pulled it out and flipped it open. It simply said:

Love, Cloud. xx

Aeris smiled, pressing the card and the bouquet close to her heart. Her mother watched her, a smile of her own appearing as she gently shut the door and shook her head. "She's got it bad," she murmured to herself in amusement.

Zack whistled cheerfully, earning a few bemused glances from the people he passed on the way to Sephiroth's office. He only stopped his tune as he felt a slight vibration against his leg and he pulled his mobile out of his pocket flipping it open. A smile spread across his face as his phone vibrated again, Tifa's name appearing on the screen. He pressed the green button and held the device to his ear.

"Hey!" he greeted, stopping and leaning against the wall.

"Hi!" she replied cheerfully. "Thanks for last night! I had such a great time!"

"No problem. I assure you it won't be the last time!" he answered seductively. Tifa giggled on the other end before speaking again.

"Well I hope not. Look, this may be really forward of me but...my cousin is getting married on Saturday...and, well, I was hoping you would go with me as my partner?" Zack could hear her suck in her breath nervously and he grinned.

"Wow! You're right, it is a little forward," he began but didn't get to finish as he heard Tifa tut.

"I knew it! Just ignore me."

"Tifa..."

"Don't know what I was thinking."

"Tifa?"

"So stupid to..."

"Tifa!"

"Yeah?"

"I didn't say I wouldn't go. I was just teasing you!" Zack explained, trying to hold in his laughter. Tifa was silent for a few seconds.

"Oh," she stated dumbly and Zack smiled, thinking that she was most certainly blushing right now. "Hey! Don't you dare laugh at me!" she added suddenly but Zack could pick up the playfulness in her voice.

"Wouldn't dream of it!" he replied as seriously as he could. "Listen Teef, I'm going to have to go. I have to go and see Sephiroth. I'll call you tonight okay?"

"Okay. I'll speak to you then! Bye!"

Zack smiled as he shut his phone and put it back into his pocket. He resumed his whistling as he turned the corner and stopped at the second door on his left, giving a cheerful knock and leaning casually against the doorframe until he heard Sephiroth grant him entry. The General looked up in bewilderment as Zack approached his desk. He raised an eyebrow and put down his pen. Pressing this hands together, he surveyed the younger male over the tips of his fingers.

"And what, may I ask, has gotten you into such a good mood?" he enquired. Zack sat down in the vacant chair and his grin grew.

"I was out with Tifa last night," he replied simply. Sephiroth's eyebrow raised a little and Zack quickly added "And before you ask, no we didn't sleep together!"

"My my, Zackary. In that case, I must ask again, what is making you so cheerful?" Sephiroth teased. The ravenette simply stuck out his tongue.

"Are we having a meeting or not?"

"You are hardly acting like you are in a meeting," the silver-haired man replied, averting his eyes to where Zack had his feet crossed on his desk. The younger male rolled his eyes and put his feet down. "Good, now, I need you to travel out to Junon for me and help supervise the training there. The current First Class was injured fighting a wild beast on the way to the base." Zack frowned.

"And how long am I to be there for?" he asked uncertainly.

"Well training usually takes three weeks," the General replied. "They were due to start on Monday. So you will have to get there on Saturday so you can introduce yourself and get to know the cadets." Zack stared in response, swallowing thickly. Going on Saturday meant he would have to abandon Tifa. And then hve to go another three weeks without her. Sephiroth tilted his head to the side when Zack didn't reply. "Zachary, there is nobody else available to do this. If you don't go, training will be cancelled and these cadets will be turfed out of ShinRa until next year. Do you want that on your conscience?"

Zack scowled. "No," he said eventually, stubbornly looking away from Sephiroth.

The General didn't notice, already going back to his notes so Zack took his cue to get up and leave. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him he leaned his head against it and let out a long breath. What had started out as a brilliant day had quickly become a disaster. With a heavy heart, he pulled out his phone, flipped it open and dialled Tifa's number.

"Hey! I thought you were going to phone later on!" Tifa answered, though her voice showed that she really didn't mind him calling at this time. Zack sighed again, running a hand through his hair.

"Yeah, me too," he murmured. "Listen, Tifa, something's came up."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I have to go to Junon and train the new cadets. I leave on Saturday."

"I see." Silence followed and for a brief second, Zack wondered if Tifa was still there. "How long?" she said eventually.

"Three weeks," he replied sadly. "I'm sorry Tifa."

"Don't be silly Zack. It's your job," she answered but Zack could hear the sadness in her voice. She must have noticed herself because she added. "Three weeks isn't that long. And you can make it up to me when you get back!" she teased. Zack smiled slightly.

"Oh I definately will," he said.

"Be careful Zack."

"I will, I promise," he said. "Bye Tifa." He hung up and put the phone in his pocket before heading down to his room to start packing.