It rains for weeks on end after Holy had been cast. During that time nature had slowly started taking its place back in the wilderness, trees started growing faster than normal, their heights surpass a full-grown adult… plants started vining up the walls of houses and vegetation spurs across the plains in timid tufts of patched green.

The flowers in the church Aerith and Marlene had planted bloom in glorious golden-yellow, carpeting the flower bed back to its once vivid gleefulness. Half of it is blooming, the other half, Aerith hadn't yet managed to replenish.

At least… not until the day when everything happens and everything changes.

Aerith kneels next to the flowers, bare hands burry deep into the earth, twining fingers feeling the gentle thrumming of life flowing beneath her skin.

Cloud sits on a pew, close, watching her absently caressing petals, touching stems, digging, running fingertips across the soil, always with a smile on her lips.

He is used to it by now. This life. Waking up next to her, having breakfast, going to the church so she could tend to her flowers, keep building Edge - he was busy with a new house -, meeting their friends at the bar at dusk, hunting monsters for gil and rare items, meet her again after a long day, have dinner, talk, kiss her… that is his favorite part of the day, of everyday, when he gets to kiss her, go to sleep holding her and repeat.

It's a slow, restful life he never knew was there for him.

They hear the doors shrieking open and the sound startles his quiet reverie. Aerith stands up to her feet slowly and surprisedly as she sees a mass of people coming in through the doors followed by Vincent and Reno, with Marlene at the front.

At first she doesn't understand it, she doesn't remember all of their faces from the day they had been there tearing the flowers apart but when she flickers her gaze to the yellow color each one of them is carrying between their hands she associates them with the memory.

Each person carries a small pot with one or two full-bloomed yellow lillies close to their chests.

Marlene is the first one to reach Aerith as the rest of the people stand a short distance behind.

"They feel bad for what happened to the flowers." The little girl says. "So they brought them back to where they belong next to their sisters."

"The flowers never really died… we've put them in pots and they just remained unbroken. Didn't wither or crumble, didn't die. It's beyond our comprehension. It's as if they had been waiting all this time to come back." An elder woman says, taking a few steps towards Aerith. "We're sorry… we're sorry and ashamed for having taken them without permission."

Aerith swallows down the knot in her throat, shakes her head and tears fall down the corners

of her eyes. She smiles quiveringly, her chest blooming with overflowing contentment.

"I never held it against you." She manages to say.

The people orderly step ahead forming a queue and each one carrying a flower lays down their ones around the patch of earth.

One boy stands out from the line to pause on his feet close to Aerith. He stares down at the flower in his hands, his sad blue eyes capture Aerith's attention.

"Denzel, what's wrong?" She knows him from the orphanage. A sweet quiet boy that has taken a special fondness for her. She kneels down beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"They're beautiful." He says in a hushed voice. "Why would people want to hurt them?"

Aerith smiles, places her gentle hand on his cheek. "They didn't want to hurt them. They were just lost for a moment. The flowers, they kept them company all of this time. They brought them hope, for a better future."

"Will they be alright?" He asks, his voice worried now.

"They will." She says. "Would you like to help me plant this one back in the earth?"

The boy nods with shy eagerness, his blue eyes sparkling. Aerith stands back up and taking his hand, she brings him to the naked piece of earth, now surrounded with potted lillies.

Kneeling down once again, Aerith digs a small whole and encourages Denzel to take the flower carefully out of its pot by the stem.

"Don't worry." She says giggling at the boy's hesitation. "They're quite resilient. It won't hurt it."

Denzel sighs softly. Then watching as Aerith nods reassuringly, he curls his small fingers around the sturdy stem and detaches the flower off its pot. He smiles at his feat as the flower is undamaged and carefully cupping the chunk of earth holding the flowers' roots with his other hand, he places it inside the prepared space Aerith had dug. They both cover the roots with new earth and pat the dirt around to secure the roots are covered and the stem in straight place.

"All set." Aerith smiles. "You're a natural!" She winks.

"Thank you." Denzel says, nursing a small smile.

"Mmhmm." Aerith shakes her head. "Would you like to continue?"

The boy nods and Marlene crouches beside them, ready to help plant all the flowers back to their place too.

Even Reno takes a flower he makes sure to place right in the middle of the patch.

"This one will grow the tallest." He says in one of his presumptuous smiles, tucking dirt around its roots.

"You're worse than the kids." Aerith shoots him a glare at his competitive approach, he dismisses over a shrug. "What are you doing?" She stares wide-eyed as the Turk affixes a woodstick into the soil under the leaves of his flower.

"It's so I know this one was mine's." He says, green eyes darting to the flower girl.

"Look at that… Are you sure you're a Turk?" Aerith laughs. "I'm starting to question if I've soften you up."

"Shut up. Just wanted to have a part in it." She can swear she sees his cheeks flushing under his sour humor. "Anyway, I'm out of here." He stands up in a rush, walks along the aisle waving a "later" at Cloud and Vincent.

Some of the people stay longer to help them, but as the sun starts moving along the sky, so the people start dispersing back to their own lives. By this time, the flower bed is almost fully complete, back to its everlasting appearance.

"Aerith." Cloud extends her a hand she accepts and he pulls her up to her feet. "Do you mind going back with Vincent?" He nudges her chin up a bit with his fingers. "There's something I have to do."

"Not at all." Her smile brightens. "Ooh aren't you being mysterious?" She pokes his chest lightly with a lean finger.

"It's…" He flits his gaze down at the beams of bright light sifting through the roof and over the flowers, his freckles play around his light blush. "I'll meet you at the bar."

"It's a date." She says lightheartedly and he… he stares back ar her playful smile, amused at how exposed she always makes him feel.

Cloud turns to leave, tilting his head at Vincent who returns it with another one.

Aerith watches him disappearing into the ruins through the collapsed walls of the church. The rain had settled down into a thin layered drizzle, tinted with the golden light of the dusk sky, dawning from behind the sparser clouds.

If it weren't for the lively voices of Marlene and Denzel and the clap of their footsteps on cobbled stone playing around the flower bed, all that could be heard was the leaves rattling against stone and the rain murmuring its blessings.

"It's almost as if it didn't happen." Vincent's voice brings her gaze back into the church. As it falls on him, she blinks. "The flowers. It's like they have always been here."

"Almost. We did a good job." She smiles, turning her attention at the glowing yellow lillies, dancing under heavy drops of rain falling down from the gapped roof. She looks up at the holes, there were several now, not just the one where two Soldiers had fallen from… a lifetime ago. "How is this still standing goes beyond me."

"Some things are stronger than they look." Vincent follows her gaze towards the roof, blazing crimson eyes dimmed under the silver of the rain, chin hidden behind his red cloak.

"Hey Vincent." Aerith calls, she turns at him. "It's nice having you around."

Vincent's bright and hard expression softens visibly as he looks back at the green-eyed girl.

"We haven't known each other long." She continues. There's not much she knows about him, but she feels from the firm look and worn expression of his eyes he's someone who's been through many ordeals. Which is all the more surprising to her that he's able to trust them, to be with them. "But your constancy on helping us, really moved me."

"I apologize if sometimes I give the wrong impression…" He says.

"No. Not at all." Aerith smiles, shakes her head. "I was just wondering, now that things seem to have quieted down a bit… if you're staying around that's all."

He ponders on her words for a moment, knowing she has a different perception of the atmosphere, the emotions of people close to her. "It crossed my mind… to travel for a while."

"Oh… okay." She says. "Well, whatever you decide to do, we'll be here. We're family."

Something close to a smile comes through from the gentle movement of his eyes.

"I can always get a phone." He says.

"That would be wonderful!" Aerith exclaims, her smile grows. "Problem solved then! Wherever you go, you can always call and we can always call you too!"

"Thank you." He says. "For…" he takes a few seconds to find the word. "… caring."

"You're a friend." She completes. "Of course I care."

Their meeting at the bar soon turned into a date, when Cloud asked for Tifa's help and an idea immediately came across for this night to be their night.

The blond mercenary fidgets on his feet as he waits for Aerith at the front of the bar.

"Nervous?" Tifa asks, resting an elbow on the rail of the porch, she rests her chin on her palm while a teasing smile brightens her face.

"Not nervous…" Cloud answers. "Just… anxious I guess."

"Well, you're in for a surprise." Tifa nonchalantly shrugs.

"Why?" A blond eyebrow lifts.

"Let's just say… she worked really hard to be ready for this night." Tifa tells him. "I'm dying to see the look on your face when she comes out."

"Why is it taking so long, it's not like… it's anything special." He sighs.

"Anything special?" Tifa straightens up, places her hands on her hips. "I almost sprained an ankle hanging the lights around the beams!"

"I know, I appreciate your help, decorating, but…" His eyes lift towards his friend. "I wish I had more."

"Hey, it takes time." Tifa says from up the stairs. "You're getting there."

They hear a commotion of voices coming from inside the bar.

Red is the first one out through the threshold. "She's coming." He says, and climbs down the stairs to sit near Cloud.

Then another person comes out of the bar, her face is cast in shadow, but he recognizes her instantly even though he hadn't seen her in more than a year, someone he hadn't even thought about, couldn't have guessed was still around. Madam M stares him down behind a fan she snaps shut in her hand, standing tall on her vainglorious mannerism.

"I, am a sorceress." She smirks, sends Cloud a wink before stepping aside next to Tifa. "And she's a goddess." She says glancing back over her shoulder.

Cloud's eyes turn to the door expectantly, his stomach in knots about what the hell is this all about, but Yuffie is the next one stepping out. "And this beautiful night - uuhh I'm glad it's not raining anymore - I present to you, Aerith two point zero." Yuffie exclaims, Cloud can't help but roll his eyes.

As Yuffie makes way for Aerith to come through, finally, Cloud is swept off his feet with the vision of her wearing a dress he never thought he'd ever see again. Her red dress. The long red dress, adorned with a ribbon on the small of her back, a long opening at the front up to her thigh, and heart-shaped corset tight over her chest with bare shoulders and back showing all of her glimmering skin.

If it's cold out he doesn't feel it, if it's raining or not he doesn't notice, he barely remembers how to breathe and his eyes don't stop, can't stop looking at her.

She smiles, her hand delicately glides down the rail as she takes the stairs down to meet him.

"How did…" he trails off because he forgets how to speak, his brain has stopped processing. His heart squalls inside his chest.

"It took me a while to make it." She rocks side to side, ripples of red fringes waltz around her leg. "It's not the same as the original one, but we tried to stay true. I found Madam M and asked for her help. She managed to save some of her materials before meteor."

"It was a pleasure dear." Madam M says from the porch.

"It's… it's…" he stammers, the first time he saw her wearing the dress had shook him paralyzed, this time the effect is exactly the same, even though there has been a world of events between them, and with the exception that he's allowed to do something now. "…perfect." Cloud swallows, his eyes don't leave her as he takes her hands.

"Uugghh, this is our cue." Yuffie waves exasperatedly turning around to leave. "Totally worth seeing his drooling face though. Have fun you guys." She disappears into the bar and the others follow, leaving them to their own date night.

Aerith giggles. "Where are we going again?" She shivers lightly, her exposed shoulders soaking in the crisp of the night.

He places an arm around her, pulls her closer against him as they start walking away.

"It's not far, just outside the border of Edge." He says softly.

"We're walking?" She asks, eyes widening as she nestles herself closer against his warm body.

"It's not far…" he repeats. "But if you want I can carry you."

"No need." She shakes her head. "I've learnt from the first experience not to wear heels again, ever." She lifts her foot, showing him she has her boots on.

"Yeah… Me too." He sighs. Now that the adrenaline rushing through his blood had dimmed down to a gentle warmth searing up inside him, he manages to talk more cohesively. "You didn't have to sell her your soul or anything did you?" He asks.

She laughs and his heart jumps. "Not this time no. She genuinely wanted to help. Curious one, Madam M."

"I should know it."

They walk past the last few houses of Edge, construction had slowed due to lack of materials and their focus on the plant-life growth, but there in the middle of the plain, stood the architectural structure of a house, the foundations were already up, dividing rooms with walls ready to be cemented.

It is illuminated by hanging lightbulbs around the main frame of the roof and in its centre, a small table set for two with a pot of flowers in its middle, two plates and two glasses.

"Everything's ready." Barret passes by them on their way. "Have a nice night." And he walks off towards Edge humming a cheerful melody.

"What is this, Cloud?" She asks, her eyes darting from him to the house they're approaching.

"This is going to be home." He says, marveling his gaze at the astonished look on her face. "Our home."

"What?" Her voice fails, comes out barely above a whisper.

"Rufus gave us the land."

She blinks. "Wait, he did?" Her lips part in awe. "I guess he really is changed."

"I'm not taking any more shit from him again." He shakes his head, scans the lit structure in front on them. "So I paid him anyway, with the money I saved from hunting and missions. It's ours. Everything here is ours. I'm building a small fence around the perimeter, so you can have a garden and fill it with flowers."

She looks at him quietly, though every inch of her is shaking. She takes a moment to regain her composure, he had left her completely stunned. She leans closer to him, closes the space in between. Featherlight fingertips trace his face, mapping, trailing, memorizing every inch of his skin, imprinting his image into her mind. Blue eyes that flicker universes inside stare into hers. She presses her forehead to his and closes her eyes, she can't bring herself to say it, he had left her at a complete loss for words. After what he has told her, how can she ruin it with words that will never measure the size of the act he had done for them.

She leans in to kiss him, feels the light touch of his hand bracing her bare back, pressing her softly to him, warm skin despite the cold, she doesn't feel anything except his warm soft touch and before she realizes her cheeks burn with hot tears that fall softly from her closed eyelashes.

It's maddening… how everything can change in a heartbeat.

They enter their room back at the complex, engulfed in each other. Her arms are around his waist while his hands run up and down her bare back, brushing at the light fabric of her dress, too thick of a layer in between them.

They stumble in each other's feet, almost fall down but he manages to keep her up leaning a hand on the wall for support while she laughs gripping at his neck with her hands. He strands her against the wall, his palms cover hers and he presses softly against her, lips tracing her collarbone up her neck to her ear. She shivers.

Cloud pulls back, begs her a minute so he can shut the open window, it's dark and freezing cold inside.

She nods with a smile, and bends down to take off her boots…

Except…

Her fingers pass right through her feet. She frowns, confused.

What?

She tries to grasp her foot again but she can't, she can't feel her hands. She looks at her palms straightening up slowly.

Under the waning light of the small lamp, she sees her hands are translucent, she can see the floor through the sheer transparency of her fingers.

Anxiety lilts within her, cold and painful.

Her gaze flits back to Cloud, her eyes widening, welling up with panicked tears while her heart thrums arduously inside her chest.

It can't be…

Her abrupt quietness draws his attention back at her, a smile lingering on his lips. A smile that fades as his eyes find her frightened expression.

"Something wrong?" His voice resounds hollow in her ears.

She hides her hands quickly behind her back, coiling against the table at her side as her knees give out beneath her.

She swallows a sob in utter distress and manages to shake her head, bitting down on her lip.

No…

She slides down against the wall until she feels the floor under her legs. He rushes down to meet her, places his hands on her shoulders, hands that skid softly down her arms to her hands…

Her hands… she watches through a blank stare as he takes them in his, as he entwines his fingers in hers, solid. She feels him and he can feel her.

"What's wrong?" The blue of his eyes heavy with trepid heed. She lifts her trembling hands to his face, places her palms gently over his cheeks while straining herself strengthless into containing the tears burning her eyes.

How can she tell him… she has been warned to start saying goodbye?