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Author's Note: I don't own any of the Final Fantasy 7 characters
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"Inside the Temple, we found Tseng, a turk, dying. He handed over the keystone and we continued inside. After passing through the obstacles the Anciet- Cetra put to stop the unworthy, we found Sephiroth. Sephiroth was the evil threatening the planet. We had to fight one of his monsters. But by then he was gone. So we tried to take the Black Materia. But the temple would have come down on us if we had. Cait Sith offered to use his stuffed body as a sacrifice. We got the materia but Sephiroth returned. He did something to me and I gave him the materia… I also hit you." He stopped not wanting to continue.
"There's something else…" Aeris said, "Tell me."
Cloud took a deep breath, "We went to the City of the Ancients, so you could pray for the planet. I had this dream, while we were in Bone Village. You and I were in the Sleeping Forest. I apologized for what Sephiroth made me do to you. You told me not to worry about it. I told you I couldn't help it. You said that I should REALLY worry about it and you'd handle Sephiroth. Then you told me to take care of myself so I didn't have a breakdown. Then you told me that we were in the Sleeping Forest and you were going to pray for Holy to save the planet. You were the only Cetra so you had to do it. You waved to me and told me you had to go and would be back when it was all over."
"That's not it…" Aeris said. She looked straight into his eyes, "Now what's the part you're not telling me?"
"Tifa, Barret, and I got a Lunar Harp and went after you. When we finally got there. I heard your voice. I followed it down to an altar. You were kneeling there, praying to Holy, I told Tifa and Barret to wait and I crossed the water and climbed the stairs to the altar. Then Sephiroth started to messed with my head again and I- I-"
"You almost killed me…" Aeris whispered.
"What?" Cloud in an astonished voice.
"I'm right aren't I?" she asked.
He nodded, "Tifa and Barret snapped me out of it and then Sephiroth fell from the sky and… and… killed you."
"Oh my…" Aeris whispered, "Cloud, how that must have hurt you." She stood up.
"Part of me died with you, but that was in the past, you're back now. Everything will be fine." Cloud said standing up also.
"And you'll finally have that chance to tell me what you never did…" Aeris whispered looking up into his unnaturally bright blue eyes.
"Yes… I'll have that chance now…." He said quietly. He moved closer to her, "Aeris, I-I-" he bent closer to her, "I-"
"Cloud! Aeris!" Tifa yelled from upstairs.
That broke the spell, "I- I'm sorry Aeris,"
"No, no," Aeris said, "It's okay. I better see what Tifa needed."
"Yeah and I really gotta get home, I live right down the street. Feel free to visit anytime!"
"I may just take you up on that offer someday. I hope you know that!" She giggled, "Good bye Cloud." She held out her hand.
Cloud grinned getting another idea. He knelt down and took her hand. He kissed it just like he did that night so long ago, "Good bye, princess Rosa."
"Oh Alfred!" she said with another giggle.
Cloud laughed and headed out the door after sweeping Aeris an exaggerated bow. She hurried up the stairs and into Tifa's room.
Aeris came into Tifa's room humming a little song she was making up. Tifa was looking at her a bit strangely. Aeris grinned and laughed.
"I really like Cloud Strife," Aeris said happily.
"You always did," Tifa said with a slight smile as she remembered a few hints Cloud had dropped.
"I really wish I could remember everything he told me. It sounded like fun for the most part," Aeris said watching Cloud walk down the street from Tifa's window.
"Maybe it'll all make sense one day," Tifa said hoping it would be true.
"Maybe…" Aeris said, "But one thing Tifa, you really have a bad sense of timing."
"What?" Tifa asked.
She laughed "Oh nothing, not a thing…"
"Well, I'll be back in a few minutes, I've gotta go talk to Cloud. Make yourself at home." Tifa said pulling on a pair of shoes.
"Alright, bye Tifa." Aeris said as she kept looking out the window.
"And if you're tired, your bedroom's right down the hall. Bye Aeris."
Tifa headed out of the house and down the street, "I wonder what he said to her…" she thought.
She knocked on Cloud door still pondering this question.
"Tifa, just the lady I wanted to see. Come on in!" Cloud said with a grin.
Tifa smiled, "What's up?"
"Well," Cloud started, "I got this idea. I'd like to take Aeris to see the people we've met, and the places we've been. Maybe it will help her. First, I thought we'd go see Nanaki so she could learn about the Cetra. Then to Wutai so she could meet Yuffie. Then we'd go somewhere else to see somebody else. Finally we'd end up at the Gold Saucer."
"Um… that sounds great," Tifa said, "I had an idea similar to that one but yours is better. You can talk to her about it tonight."
"That's what I figured I'd do," Cloud said, "Look I'll see you later, I've got a few things to do. Bye."
"Goodbye Cloud," Tifa said letting herself out. Cloud hurried up the stairs to pack and figure out what he'd say to her that night.
**Later That Night**
Cloud sat up on the roof of his house watching the stars. Aeris sat at her window wishing she were out there with him. As if he could read her thoughts, Cloud looked over toward Tifa's house and saw her. He waived and she waived back blushing slightly because she been caught staring at him.
He laughed and stood up. Then he began to run as fast as he could. He jumped from his roof to Tifa's. Aeris grinned and pulled the window open.
"You're crazy!" she yelled as he climbed up next to her window.
"Maybe," he said grinning like an idiot, "But only for you!"
"Cloud!" She squealed turning a brighter shade of red than before.
"Yes," he asked plainly.
"OH!" she exclaimed in mock anger.
Cloud laughed at her embarrassed state, "Come out here and sit with me. It's a great night!"
She looked down at the ground and shuddered, "I'll fall!"
"No you won't," Cloud said plainly, "I'll protect you, don't worry." He held out his hand to her.
"O-okay," she said taking his hand. She put her legs over the windowsill and began to slide down. Cloud put his hands on her waist to help her down. She grabbed onto his shoulders and slid down the rest of the way.
"Thank you," she whispered afraid to let go of his shoulders.
He smiled, "Don't worry about it. I've got you and I won't let you fall."
Tifa walked into her room with a tray of cookies and a glass of milk. She walked up to her window to see if Cloud was still on the roof. She saw Cloud holding Aeris and moving to kiss her. She dropped the tray and it clattered to the floor.
Aeris gasped and stepped back. Cloud looked toward Tifa's room where the sound came from. Tifa ducked so they couldn't see her.
Aeris climbed to another part of the roof. Cloud followed her and sat beside her. He was trying to find the right words to ask the question burning in his mind.
"It's so pretty," Aeris whispered looking up into the heavens.
Cloud smiled, "Yeah, it is."
Aeris sighed and looked at Cloud, "I really like it here. You can see all the stars, the moon, all of the town."
"I've come up here every night since I've come to Nibelhiem. I always hoped, maybe, I don't know…"
Aeris shivered, "Oh…"
Cloud looked at her with concern, "You cold?" He put his arm around her until the shivers subsided. He almost moved his arm when Aeris put her head on his shoulder.
"Aeris," Cloud started, "How would you like to meet all of the people from the picture?"
"I'd love it!" she exclaimed.
"Well I can take you there, we could leave tomorrow and go to Cosmo Canyon. You could meet Nanaki." Cloud said.
"I'd really like that," Aeris said. She still hadn't moved her head.
"Great we'll leave tomorrow sometime." Cloud said happily.
Aeris sighed and they both sat on the roof for hours. Neither of them said another word. They didn't need to.
"Goodnight Cloud," Aeris said leaning on the windowsill.
Cloud glanced at his watch, "No my dear, good morning, it's twelve-thirty."
Aeris laughed and leaned down a little more, "Well then good morning Cloud. You can be so funny."
Cloud stood up a little taller, "And you can be so adorable." He moved a little closer.
Suddenly there was a crash in the alley behind the house. Aeris pulled herself back in the window.
"Goodbye Cloud," she said with a nervous smile.
"See you in a few hours," Cloud said. Then he made the jump to his rooftop, "Why does that keep happening?" Cloud asked himself.
Aeris sighed as she closed her bedroom window, "Why do I want to kiss him? I barely remember him!" She thought.
"Because he was very important to you before. And will be again…" said an invisible voice.
"Who said that?" Aeris asked inside her head.
"I'm the voices of the planet, I can talk to you. Usually only you. I'm here to help you young Cetra."
"Young what?" Aeris asked silently.
"Cetra, you are a Cetra or as some say Ancient. You are the sole survivor of the Cetra line. When you go to see Nanaki you will learn more."
"Okay," Aeris said, "Is it okay if I get some sleep now? I'm really tired."
"Of course my daughter, goodnight."
"Good morning," Aeris corrected. Then she heard something, "Did the planet just chuckle?" she asked herself.
