Tifa stood outside her house and finished tying her shoes

Tifa stood outside her house and finished tying her shoes. Then she set off on her morning run. Ever since the battle in the northern crater, she's decided to keep herself in top physical shape.

"So what if that was six years ago," Tifa thought to herself, "You never know just what could be waiting around the next corner... maybe even..."

Tifa was so deep in thought, that as she turned the corner over by Cloud's house, she nearly ran a young woman over. Both she and the girl fell to the ground. Tifa jumped up and took a deep breath, "I'm sooo very sorry mis-" Tifa glanced down and saw a sight she never thought she'd see again, "Aeris?" she whispered.

The girl looked up apprehensively, "Wha, what? who?" she asked.

"Aeris, it's me! Tifa! Don't you remember?" Tifa knelt down beside the girl looking into the green eyes that only Aeris could have.

"No, I-I don't remember anything..." Aeris said choking back a sob, "Nothing is familiar..." she began to sob.

"So I shall grant your wish. But do know her life will not be free, something dear will be taken from her." Holy's eerie voice still rang in her ears.

Tifa helped Aeris to her feet, "Let's go to my house, I can help you. My name is Tifa Lockheart and we were friends."

Aeris nodded and walked away with Tifa.

Cloud awoke to the sound of loud crying outside his window. It was Tifa and a young woman. The woman had long brown braided hair and a pink dress that matched her hair ribbons. She looked just like...

Cloud jumped and grabbed a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. He ran a hand through his blonde spiky hair. He hoped he looked all right. Then he grabbed his shoes and ran out the door as he tried to pull them on.

Tifa handed Aeris a cup of tea, "Thank you," she murmured.

"You're welcome Aeris," Tifa replied.

Aeris shook her head, "Why do you keep calling me Aeris?"

Tifa smiled slightly, she gently picked a picture up from a shelf and handed it to her. It was a picture of the members of AVALANCHE from their trip to the Gold Saucer.

Tifa began to point to each of the people in the picture and explain who they were and where Aeris had met them. No one seemed familiar to Aeris.

"Who is the guy with his arm around me?" Aeris asked pointing to Cloud.

"That would be-" Tifa started then the doorbell rang, "Hold on."

Tifa got up and hurried to the door. Aeris followed her because she was curious to see who was visiting Tifa. Tifa opened the door and saw a slightly out-of-breath Cloud Strife.

"Cloud?" Aeris asked in a whisper. She looked slightly confused and blinked shaking her head.

"Yeah?" Cloud asked looking past Tifa and right into Aeris's bright green eyes. His own blue ones opened wide in shock.

"I-I'm sorry," Aeris stammered. She stepped back a little. "His eyes," she thought, "they're so familiar…"

"Aeris, why don't you go have another cup of tea. I really to talk to Cloud for a minute." Tifa said.

Aeris nodded slightly her eyes were still locked with Cloud's. After a second she pulled her eyes away and slipped back into the kitchen.

"Aeris," Cloud whispered as he watched her retreating form. He almost chased after her.

"Cloud," Tifa said uneasily, "She doesn't remember anything."

"But Tifa, she knew my name, you, you heard her yourself! She said Cloud when she saw me at the door!" Cloud said frantically.

"I showed her the picture from the Gold Saucer, she wanted to know who the guy with his arm around her was." Tifa said looking right up into his eyes, "She doesn't remember."

"I've still got to talk to her," Cloud said, "Maybe…"

He walked toward the kitchen full of hope.

"…Maybe I finally have my second chance."