Disclaimer: I do NOT own Final Fantasy 7 or ANY of it's characters.

For a week they had been traveling, keeping a semi-slow pace so that Aeris wasn't pushed to hard, after all she was just brought back to life. The week was one of the best in his life, he had Aeris back and they didn't run into any strong monsters on the way to Midgard. Tifa would have to accept that this was Aeris and she was back to stay.

"Cloud, are you okay?" Aeris asked softly as she came up beside him. It was nighttime and his turn to keep watch. Nodding his head he glanced over at her and smiled. The light from the fire was behind her and illuminated her figure. Swallowing he realized he could see the curves of her body through the dress because of the firelight. Blushing at his thoughts he looked away.

"When we get back, Teef will realize that it's really you and then..."

"Do you really think Tifa will believe it's really me, Cloud?"

"How can she not?" he retorts back to her. For a moment anger clouded his thoughts at the betrayal of his so-called best friend. She should be happy that Aeris is back, not off doing whatever. Shaking his head he looks back at Aeris, tears were coming down her cheek.

"Oh Aeris," he whispers as he walks over and pulls the woman into his arms. She wraps her arms around him and begins to cry all the more. The brown haired woman sobbed in his arms at the thought that Tifa didn't believe and trust her. It hurt more than she liked to admit that Tifa didn't trust her and because of her the entire group was split.

"I didn't want this to happen when I was told I could come back, Cloud. I'm so sorry that everything with Tifa got all screwed up because of me."

Cloud pulled her even closer to him at the confession of the brown haired woman. Her body shudders against him as she cries, but even then she doesn't cry loud enough to wake the others who still slept. He rubs circles on her back as she cries in his arms and even after she slowly calms down he continues rubbing her back in a soothing motion.

Tifa, what are you thinking? Why are you hurting Aeris?

-----

Midgard was in sight. In a few short hours Tifa would have to agree it was Aeris and then they could all make up and have a party at her bar in celebration of Aeris's return. For over a half an hour Aeris cried about Tifa last night. It wasn't fair to Aeris that Tifa could act so spiteful. Reaching the Bar, they could all sense something was wrong. It wasn't lit up and the fact that the closed sign sitting in the bar window told them that there wouldn't be making up anytime soon.

Cloud walked up the front door of the bar, not expecting it to be unlocked, it didn't matter too much because Tifa gave him a spare key. It opened. Inside the bar someone was standing behind the bar in the spot Tifa usually stood, but it wasn't the dark-haired woman. It was a woman in a black suit with short blonde hair, it was Elena.

"What are you doing here? And where is Tifa?"

"My god, you really did bring back Miss Priss. Anyway I'm here to tell you that Tifa isn't here, obviously and for your second question I don't know where she's at." Elena replied as she smirked at all of them. She was going to get the most out of this whole annoy the wonder team and point them in the wrong direction. She didn't like Tifa much, but she liked Miss Priss even less and seeing Aeris back was bringing out the bitch part of her personality.

"Why you blonde sonuva bitch!!" Barret shouted as he brought his gun arm up to aim at the Turk. Turning around Cloud jumped at Barret to stop him from shooting at her while Cid jumped at him on the other side. When they had Barret calmed down they turned back to her. She had stood there the entire time with that smirk on her face, not saying a word, just watching them as they calmed Barret down.

"Do you have any idea where Tifa might be?" Aeris said as she walked around all of them to confront Elena.

"No, for all I know she might be dead, because Reeve lost contact with them a couple days ago."

With that statement Elena walked out. God, what idiots, but this is fun. Good thing Reeve said not to tell to them anything more than that, it wouldn't be half as much fun otherwise. If they wanted any more information they were going to have to come see Reeve and he was going to be taking off soon, so they better hurry and without Reeve, the wonder team better not expect any help from the Turks. The only person Reeve told them all to help and obey was Tifa and she was on her way to Cosmo Canyon. She walked back to Shinra laughing.

-----

­­­­­The party that they were going to have in celebration of Aeris's return was canceled. The shock of hearing Tifa, might be dead took away all the expectation that they had on returning to Midgar. When they built the bar, Tifa had it built so there would be several rooms available to all of them in case they ever spent the night. At the moment everyone took off to their own solitary haunts throughout Midgar, Barret took off to see to Marlene, while Cid, Red XIII, and Yuffie took off together. The only two to remain at the bar were Cloud and Aeris and both of them were avoiding looking at each other.

"Cloud, I'm sorry."

Turing around quickly he looked at her, she had a sad expression on her face as if everything was her fault which it wasn't.

"It's not your fault Aeris," he said as closer to her. With her hair out of its ordinary ribbon it surrounded her face, making her even more beautiful. She looked up at him, a solitary tear going down her cheek. He brought his hand up and wiped it away with his thumb.

"Cloud..." she whispered as she moved her face towards his. Staring at her mesmerized by her eyes he closed the distance between their faces and gently kissed her lips. Pulling away he looks at her again.

"It's okay, Cloud," she said then puts her hands up to his face and pulls his face down to hers again. This time the kiss was neither gentle nor short, emotions or feelings were in this kiss, and those feelings were powerful. Both stopping to take a breath he pulls her against him all the tighter. Wrapping his arms around her he is all the certain that this is the Aeris he fell in love with? Fell in love with?!? Did he really love her? Was that love in her eyes when she gazed up at him?

"Yes, Cloud, I do love you," she whispered against his chest, her arms tightening around him. Shock lanced through him, then joy? She loved him, she loved him, SHE LOVED HIM! Looking down at her petite face he smiles with all the care that he could put on his face. Trying to tell her with his expressions what he couldn't say with words.

"I understand, Cloud."

-----

He stood out on the balcony and stared up at the sky. He finally got Aeris back to perhaps have lost Tifa. They never paid him to feel in Solider and now all this with Aeris and Tifa was something that he wasn't prepared to think about. For some miraculous reason Aeris loved him and how did he feel for her? Having her alive and nearby filled some void that her death caused, but Tifa was his best friend and he had loved her at one point in time. He had loved her first, but eventually when he realized she wouldn't feel the same way, the love Aeris offered him became the thing he latched on to.

How was he supposed to deal with all of this? He guessed he should be angry that Tifa was tainting the joy of having Aeris back, with her hard-headed and stubborn refusal to believe that Aeris was back for real. His mako blue eyes glowed with his anger because of Tifa. Did she not want Aeris to be happy, did she not want him to be happy? He chuckled to himself, he couldn't even force himself to stay angry at her. How could he be angry at her when he wasn't even sure if she was alive? She was his best friend, and she could be out there dying or even worse she could already be dead. He still couldn't figure out why Tifa did what she did. Barret had said that living a normal life was easier than killing Sephiroth, but personally he thought it was harder. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall, tomorrow he would take Aeris over to her mother Elmyra and then he would go out and find his best friend. Cloud opened his eyes and went back into his room; he would need to get an early start tomorrow.

-----

Waking up in the morning he was warmer than he should have been, actually it was just one spot of warmth right beside him. Opening his eyes Aeris was laying beside him cuddled against him, her curled up beside him was enough to jolt him awake. His jerking woke her up. Looking up at him she grinned slowly. At her grin all of his worries and shock turned to embarrassment as his thoughts took a turn to something else.

"A-Aeris what are you doing here?"

"You were tossing and turning in your sleep and I felt safer sleeping with you. I hope your not mad at me," she said quickly as she looked up at him.

Saying no, he began to get out of bed, then lay back down real quick. He only had a pair of boxers on and they were beginning to feel a little tight when he looked at her. She only had a silk nightgown on and it was a soft pink. It clung to her figure, and he needed to get out of here now.

Stuttering something he began to babble on about how he was glad that he made her feel safer, but she really shouldn't come into his room like that. He wasn't mad at her but he thought that maybe she should go to her room, like now, because he had to change clothes and he couldn't do that with her there. Laughing softly she slowly stood up stretched and walked out of his room. Groaning softly he grabbed clothes then rushed for the shower. Yeah it was nice that they had gotten out of the way that she loved him and wanted to stay with him, but he wasn't ready for anything more. So seeing her like that this morning, he shook his head and groaned.

-----

At the breakfast table everyone was gathered around talking about how they were going to find Tifa. Because if she was in trouble they had to help her, because she was a part of the group and if she was hurt, whoever or whatever that hurt her was going to pay. Talking about the course of action and arguing which plan was better they chatted on.

"Um, everyone, if Tifa is really in trouble wouldn't she have called on the phone?" Aeris asked when there was a break in the chatter. Red XII looked at Cid, Cid looked at Yuffie, Yuffie looked at Barret, and Barret looked at Cloud. There were a few coughs and mumbled replies, but nothing more.

"Your right, Aeris. If Teef were in trouble she would call in a bang."

"But if she lost her phone?"

"Uh, Cait Sith's with her."

"So Reeve would know she's in trouble."

"Which would explain Elena being here?"

"Which brings us back to the beginning. If Teef is too hurt to call..." Cloud trailed off as he looked back to everyone else. If she wasn't hurt and was just staying away from them then it would be a wasted trip. But if she was hurt she could need the help and Reeve wouldn't lie about something like this.

"Everyone maybe we should give Tifa a day or two to come back and if she doesn't then we go out looking for her," Aeris said.

She looked all of them in the eye, trying to get them to see her way. Everyone talked a little more on what they should do and they finally agreed to Aeris's idea. If Tifa wasn't back in a couple days then they would go searching for her. After all of it was decided they all went their separate ways, Cloud and Aeris were going to head out to see the old church and to visit her mother. Cid muttered about going to Shera, Barret muttered about going to see Reeve, and Yuffie and Red XII went off together to who knew what.

-----

Yet again, it was just Cloud and Aeris sitting at the 7th Heaven. They were supposed to go over to the old church and then visit her mother over in Sector 6. They were going to give it two days and then they were going to go searching for Tifa. Barret was already heading towards Shinra so that he could talk to Reeve and see if he could get more information about what has been happening since they've been gone.

"Well you ready to go visit your mother?"

"Yes, I would like that very much."

After Cloud locked up the 7th Heaven they both began to walk towards Elmyras house. Along the way Cloud planned on stopping by the old church to show Aeris what the people of Midgar had done with it in memory of her and the sacrifice she made for all of them. He thought she would like it very much. While they walked Aeris held his hand and gazed at everything, much was changed since meteor happened and people were rebuilding stores and homes. She was so busy looking and taking in all the new sights that she wasn't even aware of the fact that they were so close to the church now. It made him smile and he hoped she would enjoy the surprise that he was about to show her. She was so taken in with the sights of everything that when he stopped all of the sudden she bumped right on into him.

"Why are we…."

Looks of wonder, surprise, and joy cross over her face as she gazes at the rebuilt church. The people of Midgar had gone all out when it came to fixing the small church up. The fence around the church was now fixed and painted white, with flowers on each side of the walkway to the entrance. Aeris let go of his hand to slowly make her way up to the church, he slowly follows behind her letting her take in all the changes. Entering the church the pews were rebuilt, the walls painted and the stained glass windows fixed. At the very end where the floor was all broken through, now it was fixed so that the flowers that she had planted so long ago were still blooming and more flowers were added in with. As she looked around the room, she realized that the flowers that she had grown were potted and setting on the ledge by each stained glass window.

Cloud watched her walk down the aisle, touching the pews and when she reached the flowers she planted she kneeled down in front of them letting her hands touch the petals and leaves. He watched her for a few moments more before realizing her shoulders were silently shaking and that she was crying. Worried about her he makes his way to way she was kneeling at the front of the church. Tears were running down her cheeks, but she was smiling.

"Who…who did this?"

"Everyone, Reeve gathered a bunch of people together and they all rebuilt this place as a memorial to you."

"It's amazing. Why would Reeve do this?"

"…"

"Thank you for showing this place to me Cloud."

"Let's go to your mothers."

As they leave the church yard Aeris plucks a flower and tucks it behind her ear and with one last look back at the church they head to Elmyra's house. Eventually they reach the small two story house that Elmyra lived and even it showed signs of the house being fixed up a little. Aeris glances at him then runs up to her home. She reaches the door and begins to pound on it. No answer. Cloud walks up from behind her and grabs the spare key hiding in the flower pot beside the door.

"Sometimes, Elmyra watches Marlene, so we hid a key up there for whenever Tifa and I come to pick her up."

Taking the key he unlocked the door. A scent hits their nose upon entry, something that he recognizes in the back of his head, but can't quite place. He looks around the living room everything was in the place it should be, nothing looked wrong, but something was off. Cloud glanced at Aeris; maybe it would be better if he had her go wait outside. It wasn't like Elmyra was expecting them, hell no one knew about Aeris coming back to life; he figured it would be a nice surprise for the older woman.

"Aeris…"

"No, Cloud, I'm not leaving. Something is wrong and this is my mother that is involved, so I'm staying here with you."

"…Fine. Stay close to me."

They walked out of the living room and checked the kitchen, still nothing. Only place left to look was upstairs, so they begin the trip to the bedrooms upstairs. Yet again, the scent is still in the air and it's stronger. Finally it connects in the back of his head where he recognizes the scent, blood and not freshly spilt blood either. He looks over at Aeris, maybe there was still time to go and get her wait outside. The determined look on her face, tells him not to even bother trying; she wasn't going to leave without finding what was wrong. He sighed. He stepped around her and walked to the very last room, which was Elmyra's and pushes the door open. Flies buzz out. He walks all the way in, there pinned against the wall was Elmyra. Flies buzzed around her corpse and the way she died was quite obvious. She was pinned spread eagle against the wall each arm and foot had a dagger jammed through it, while another dagger was through her throat. Her eyes were bloody holes and her mouth was pulled back in a bizarre semblance of a smile, telling him she died screaming. He didn't bother moving closer, there was nothing he could do for her, but Aeris would need him. The thump behind him told him she had passed out at the sight of the corpse. He wouldn't call it by its name. To do otherwise would force him to think about Elmy…the corpse.

He picked up Aeris and gently pulled the door shut; he carried her down the steps and out of the house. Pulling out his phone Cloud dialed a number.

"This is Cloud and I need…"

-----

The sun tried to shine through the thick foliage of the forest, but only a small shaft of sunlight made it to the forest floor to touch the hooded figure. The trees cast shadows against the cloaked figure and darkness seemed to emanate from him. The hooded figured chuckled softly, the plan was going accordingly and all would be ready. They would pay for what they did to him; they would pay with their pain and eventually their lives. Oh yes it was going to be sweet when he brought his revenge down on them all. No one would be able to stop him. Hearing a sound he looked left then right, two more cloaked figures walked forward. Stopping a short distance, one of them said their part was nearly done. The other said that her part was done; now all they could do was wait and see what the enemy planned on doing.

All three cloaked figures laughed aloud, the play was set now all that was left was for the pieces to come forward and take their position. In the end everyone would pay for what they did and everything would end. After all every new beginning needed an ending.

-------

The old man looked up. Evil was afoot the planet was crying, her pain was even reaching his deafened ears. What was going to happen and would he be able to stop it, all of the special ones were gone, killed in one brutal slaughter. The planet really cried then, her children were gone. Sighing he began to set to work to stop the evil ones before they ended everything with their hatred. After all he was the opposite of them and would have to fight them if the chosen one did not come forward to fight them.

The chosen one, would the chosen one be strong enough to battle the evil? Because he could not fight the evil all by himself, especially since they outnumbered him three to one and he was old now, no longer in the prime of his life. His power was weakened and without the chosen one all was lost. All that was left to him was to go out and search for the chosen one. Because if they found the chosen one before he did then all was lost.

AN: Well, another chapter re-vamped and it got like 5 pages longer than the original, I kind of surprised myself. Well it is and it isn't different from the original. In the first one Elmyra did not die and in this one she did, well I think it added some more suspense to the plot which is still forming. Yes I know I seem to be shoving Cloud and Aeris together, but as much as I hate Aeris I don't want to be super OOC with my characters. Yes there are and will be OOC parts and forgive me for them, but I'm not going to go all crazy about it. Remember all you Cloud/Tifa lovers that this story will eventually be that, I dislike Aeris too much to make it not be. Well as always I look forward to positive critique and hope you all enjoyed the story.