Here's to the Night
Author: The Flower Girl
Rating:PG-13
Summary: Two characters are revived, one relives, the future is seen, a deed is done, and a frat party breaks out at Aeris' house.
Author's Note: Just watch the sap roll off this one. I had a bit too much fun writing this. It started as a dare, and escalated into silliness....Well, I hope you enjoy anyway... A bit of a songfic and DEFIANTLY Aeris/Cloud. (If you think it is anything else, you must be crazy) Also, my opinion of Zack changed after I had written this. Also, Cloud and Aeris may seem a bit OOC, but I thought it fit in better.
Disclaimer: Contrary to popular belief I do NOT own Aeris Gainsborough or any of the other characters of Final Fantasy VII, nor do I own the rights to it. I do own the game, and I must say it's very fun. The nice people at Square are letting me borrow them.
Thank yous: My friend L-chan, who introduced me to this game, and assured me that at nineteen, when I started this, it was still OK to play video games, my friend Christian, who gave me this idea on a bus trip home one Wednesday night because he couldn't write it himself, all the old shippers from my X-Files days, and Eve6 for this song. Also, to all the bands and singers whose songs are in here, and lastly, to Vampireimage from ChatPhiles for the black rose in part two. Enjoy! :)
~begin transmission~
Part One
Midgar- Sector 5 Slums
Aeris jolted out of bed, alert and awake. She had never been more aware of the danger she possessed. In her hair she held magic to the heavens. Only she knew the power of this magic; but in her dream, a tall, dark figure knew what she held, and wanted to claim it as his. She saw herself falling, unable to control herself from the blow she received. Her white magic bounced from her lifeless form to the pool beneath her.
She screamed.
Awake and scared, she wondered what it meant. She now knew the events leading to her demise, and hoped she'd notice them well in advance. She took a deep breath and shut off her light.
Gold Saucer- Ghost Hotel
Aeris lay on her bed, discontented. The date did not prove as successful as she had hoped. Sure, Cloud kissed her, but not out of his own free will. She knew she loved him, and hoped he felt the same. She crawled off her bed and made her way to Cloud's room.
*knock**knock*
"Why do I even TRY to get any sleep?" Cloud muttered, rolling off his bed and walking to his door. "If it's Yuffie complaining that we have no ice again, I'll cast Beserk on my self and chase her ass outta this place!"
He opened the door to meet Aeris.
"Aeris? What are you doing up?" he managed to ask.
She charged at him, slamming the door and pushing him into a chair.
"Doing something I'll never get to do."
"What's that?" he asked, sleep grogged.
His answer was in the form of surprise. Aeris lifted him out of the chair by his suspenders and threw him on the bed, knocking over the lamp and waking up Vincent in the next room.
"What the hell?" he muttered. "Shut up!"
He slammed his fist against the wall, causing whatever was on that wall to come crashing to the floor.
"OK Aeris, don't have a fit! Whatever's wrong, we can fix, OK?"
His answer was his head banging against the headboard.
"Son of a --!"
"Are you alright in there?" Tifa asked, having passed his room.
"Help!" he cried.
"Go away!" Aeris yelled back.
"Yeah, nothin' weird goin' on here." she said herself as she walked back to her room. "What IS he doing? This is the last fricking time Yuffie wakes me up to get her damn ice. If she wants it, she can get her ass out of bed and get it! I'm done!"
She slammed the ice on the counter.
"Here's your ice!"
Yuffie looked up.
"Oh, you're back. Good. Thank you."
Tifa rolled her eyes, know THAT was a cover. She plopped herself down on the bed, mind whirring.
"What's going on outside?" Yuffie asked, looking up from her shuriken.
"What? Do you mean outside?"
"The pounding in the hallway. Is someone fighting?"
"No...I didn't' know it was that loud..."
Yuffie started laughing, quiet at first, but growing gradually louder.
"What?" Tifa asked.
"I know what they're doing!" Yuffie exclaimed between laughs.
"Oh...you do...? OK... (this could be fun). Tell me, what are they doing?"
She got nothing but laughter.
"I'm gonna kill Cloud for putting me in this room. The last thing I need is a hyper sixteen year old."
"They're...they're..."Yuffie said, breaking into hysterical laughter. "Y'know."
"Y'know? SINCE WHEN DID THAT BECOME AN ANSWER?!" Tifa screamed at her. "Oh my God...he wouldn't! There is no way he is doing what I think he's doing! He wouldn't...would he?"
Yuffie started nodding her head, affirming Tifa's worst fears. She scrambled out of the room, with Yuffie close behind. They dashed to Room #3, expecting to catch them in the act. What they got however, surprised them even more.
"What? Bubba is not even a word! It's a name for crying out loud!" Cloud yelled at Aeris.
"Well, I let you spell Link."
"That's not a name!"
"It could be..."
"Can't you just come up with another word?"
"I have a B, a P, a Q, and a B. No words can be made from that."
"Cloud?!" Tifa exclaimed upon entering his room.
"Oh hello. Aeris and I were just in the middle of a game of Scrabble. Care to join us?"
"OK, it's official. I've lost my mind."
Tifa sat on the corner of the bed, holding her head in agony.
"Was it something I said?" he asked, looking from Yuffie to Aeris.
"I don't know..." Yuffie said.
But Cloud did not see a smile creep from Aeris's face, once she had come to a certain realization.
'Yes...we will have time for that...since everyone thinks it is happening anyway, I don't think it would be that bad...' she thought to herself.
Her thoughts were quickly disrupted when Tifa spoke again.
"OK, lemme get this straight. Aeris was throwing you around breaking stuff, waking people up and pissing them off just so she could get you to play Scrabble?! That is the worst excuse I've ever heard."
"Y'know, if I didn't suggest it, you'd still be in our room complaining about ice. " Yuffie piped up. "Now can WE go back to OUR room and sleep?"
"That does sound like a good idea. I'm beat."
She pulled herself from the bed and started towards the door, with Yuffie close behind.
"Goodbye everyone!" Yuffie said happily. "Enjoy your game!"
Once they had left, Aeris took on a persona that Cloud had never seen before.
"You know, we still have time to do what I planned we do."
"You mean Scrabble wasn't part of the plan?" Cloud asked, disappointed.
"Oh, yes it was. But I believe you know why I came to your room tonight. Only a few people see what my original plan was."
Cloud took one step back, unintentionally moving himself closer to the bed.
"OK, Aeris, you're beginning to scare me. I didn't think you would be the type of person to do this with someone you don't know very well. (At least, I hoped you weren't...)"
"Oh, cut the crap, Cloud! I've known you've wanted me since you helped me escape from the church that day; and that night I did some thinking. I was thinking about you, about how you seem so familiar, but I can't quite place you. I just know my heart was torn when I never heard from Zack again. But then I found you, and got all those same feelings again when I didn't think I would. I know this is the right time. My time is short, and I may regret not doing this...So just let me try, I will be good to you, just let me try, I will be there for you. Just let me show you you're so much more than good enough...What have you got to lose?"
"My friendship. Tifa would kill me if I did that!"
"Did you ever think that would happen because maybe she wants you as well?"
"I don't want to talk about this. My head hurts. I just want to lay down."
She backed away.
"All right, I understand. No sense in talking you into something you don't want to do."
She sat on the edge of her bed, looking at their abandoned game of Scrabble. How hard had she tried to get Cloud to notice her? It seemed all wrong, she should not be the one making the move, but she did anyway. Absentmindedly, she laid down, resting her head on her hands. Cloud turned to look at her, softly enough so she wouldn't suspect a thing. His head began to fill with thoughts. He had never closely studied her. A sleepless night at an inn here and there wasn't enough time to study the mystery that was Aeris Gainsborough. He had never noticed the hair that refused to be pulled back behind her ears and hung past her shoulders, defining her face, nor had he really examined the necklace she wore. Then he did something he had never done, and would never do again. He reached for a strand of that stubborn hair and smelled it. He was greeted by the wonderful scent of the flowers he had smelled in the church in Midgar. He didn't even notice that she was looking right at him.
"I never realized just how green her eyes were." he said, not realizing what just transpired.
Suddenly the 'greenest eyes he'd ever seen' locked in time with his. The music he heard at the church seemed to envelope him. (AN: Aeris' Theme? hah) He realized she was right all along, and finally gave in.
-The Next Day-
Cloud awoke, head throbbing. He quickly wondered if he had gone out drinking the night before, but realized it was located all wrong. His head throbbed in the back, as if it had been hit against something. He blinked a few times, to focus, and realized that the room was a mess. Clothes lay everywhere. He didn't remember how it got that way. He was aware of a hand he held that held his waist tightly. He followed the arm under the blanket to a sleeping female form, which surprised him.
"Great! I finally get some, and I can't remember it!" he muttered.
He began to think of who it could be when an object caught his attention. A pink ribbon peeked out from underneath the covers, and he suddenly realized what transpired.
"Oh God," he exclaimed in horror. "I get it with Aeris!...Wait a minute here...that's a bad thing?"
Reality sank in. Aeris stirred and stared up at Cloud.
"Good morning," she said, smiling.
"Morning," he said, distracted.
"What's wrong?" she asked, pushing that stubborn hair behind her ears.
"Why did we do what we did?" he asked.
"I don't understand," Aeris said slowly, puzzled.
"Why did we do this? I respect you. I didn't want it to go like this. I wanted time to build up this relationship. I thought last night was just the beginning of it. I didn't want the honor and respect you've finally earned trampled on and destroyed. Now I feel like it is."
"You make it sound like a sin. Hey, I know you wanted this just as much as I did. Don't worry about it." she said, kissing his cheek.
"I just don't want to face everyone now. I know what they'll say."
She curled in against his side and smiled. Pulling him back to his original position, she smiled and consoled him.
"I wouldn't want it any other way. Just stay here a little longer. I don't want the moment to end.
I don't want to let you go." she whispered.
Those words would echo in his head for months.
Gold Saucer- Ghost Hotel Lobby
"The hell is he?" Barret swore as the clock on the lobby wall moved closer to 9:00AM.
"Aeris isn't here either." Tifa added, glaring at Cloud's door.
The group began talking amongst themselves, all save Cid, who once again, slept in the corner chair. A door shut. All eyes turned to Room #3.
"Good morning everyone!" Cloud yelled to his group members, putting on his gloves. "Ready to kick some Shinra butt?"
Aeris lagged behind. She shut the door, faced the group while buttoning her top buttons and straightening her jacket. She tightened her ribbon while following Cloud down the steps.
"OK, what did you do and how many times did you do it?" Vincent asked him once he reached the bottom of the stairs.
Red XIII chuckled.
"Looks like she made her choice. Now I'm just waiting around for mine."
He turned to Cloud.
"Wanna help me look?"
Not everyone was aware of what went on, but once Aeris walked up to Cloud and grabbed his hand, even the most naive group member knew.
"Wait a minute. We're on a mission (although we got sidetracked by a Shinra employee) and you're getting jiggy with the last surviving Ancient? Damn man!"
"Hey Barret, just cool off a bit. You're blowing this way out of proportion."
"Am I?" Barret asked of Cloud. "We have a serious mission, and you're sleeping with your party members."
He glared straight at Aeris. Vincent gave a look of fright, realizing he was the other party member.
"You've already said that."
"I'm not done!" Barret yelled, scaring some of the hotel staff. "According to my sources, Aeris was seen leaving her room at 12: 30AM. They saw her last outside your door. Then strange noises were heard."
"This is ridiculous.Since when did you have sources? Or is THAT the reason Tifa and Yuffie barged in in the middle of our game?"
"Oh, is that what y'all are calling it these days?"
"Barret, shut up!" Aeris yelled at him. "Yes, we all know what Cloud and I did probably should have waited until our mission was over, but I made the move, not him, and I felt it was right to do because I feel as if I don't have a lot of time left, and I wanted to do something that showed him how strongly I loved him."
"That's so sweet!" Yuffie said, getting off the step. "But what do you mean, your time is short? You think you'll die?"
"I dunno. I just feel like someone's out to get me. Maybe it's all in my mind and I'll really be all right. It couldn't be too bad, at least I'll have someone to share it with."
She smiled, and leaned in to kiss him. It was then that he was painfully aware of an audience. He realized that his hand were in a familiar, yet unknown position. He removed his hands from her waist and turned to face his group.
"We mustn't waste any more time. We must find this temple in the east."
"Let me come with you," Aeris pleaded.
Cloud shrugged.
"OK. Vincent, I want you in my party."
"Sure. Alright."
"Let's go."
As the rest of the group left, Cloud turned to Aeris.
"Are you sure you want to continue?"
"Of course."
"I don't want to jeopardize your life. You know the last thing I want is to see you die."
"I know."
"There's a few things I forgot in my room. I'll meet you outside."
He held her close and kissed her. Before leaving, she turned to face his direction.
"Thank you." she said.
"For what?" he asked.
"For loving me."
And then she was gone. He smiled, and even whistled as he began up the steps.
"Cloud."
He turned to face Tifa.
'Oh crap.' he thought.
"So...it looks like what I thought you wouldn't."
"Yeah...so?"
"Cloud! You barely know her! Are you really the type of person that would sleep with someone they hardly know?!"
"That's it!" he said, finally coming to a realization. "I understand now! You wish you were in Aeris' place last night, don't you?"
"I-you-that-that-ugh! That's not the point!"
"Admit it, you want me! Aeris caught on right away, and Yuffie got it, and she's the most oblivious one! Just face the truth. You are truly, madly, deeply in love with me, and have been for quite some time."
She remained silent.
"Come on, admit it."
"No."
"Why didn't' you just come out with it?"
"You know. you can be a real jerk sometimes, Cloud."
"I'm sorry..." he began hesitantly.
But she never heard him.
"God! I'm doing a great job of pissing people off left and right! Sometimes I wish I didn't have any feelings. The world would be a lot happier."
He climbed the stairs and entered his room for a final time.
*****
"OK! Could I get everyone's attention?" Cloud, asked, once outside of Gold Saucer. "Where does everyone want to go? Poll!"
They decided to go to Midgar.
"Midgar? Really? We just got outta that place!"
"Well, you do have to admit they have the best bargain deals this side of the continent." Aeris replied.
They drove to Midgar. The drive was uneventful. Barret and Cid tried to teach Red 500 Rummy, but gave up when he won. The girls traded tips on hair, make-up, favorite songs, and the ever popular subject of conversation, Cloud.
"How did you ever get enough guts to actually stand outside his door, actually knowing what you were going to do? How could you actually stand there?" Yuffie asked Aeris for the third time.
Aeris sighed heavily. The girl was beginning to drive her nuts.
"Do I REALLY have to tell you this again?" she asked.
"I don't care how much you two continue to talk about him, I won't listen." Tifa said, re-instating her protest.
"Who wants to play poker?" Cid asked everyone in the hatchback.
"Hey, we're almost there!" Cloud yelled through the window.
"Ooh! I will!" Yuffie said, suddenly forgetting her last conversation.
The three guys shrugged and dealt her in.
In the cab, Vincent turned to Cloud.
"So, how was she?" he asked.
"Excuse me?" Cloud asked, briefly taking his eyes off the road.
"You know, how was she?"
"I can't believe you're asking me this! As if I didn't get interrogated enough!"
"OK! Sorry! I was just wondering what it was like to get it on with the most sought after girl in this group."
"Really? Most sought after?"
"Yeah, why do you think everyone made such a big deal about?"
"What do YOU think, since you've obviously been around the block a few times."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Vincent asked, reaching for his weapon.
"You're older than me, so you've done more stuff."
"Oh."
"Cloud, stop harassing Vincent!" Tifa yelled from the back.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached Midgar!" Cloud yelled through the window.
"Damn, we just started our game of strip poker!" Cid said, smiling.
"When did we start playing strip poker?" Yuffie asked.
"Um, I'm already naked." Red stated.
"Since you started playing!" Cid said, smiling.
"Gross! I'm not stripping for you!"
"I wouldn't strip for them either." Aeris piped up.
"Yeah, but you'd willingly strip for someone else!" Cid added, smiling.
"Shut up!" she yelled. "You can be a real asshole sometimes!"
"Thank you!"
He smiled again.
Cloud, having heard the whole conversation, beat his head against the steering wheel, wishing that time would stand still for a moment, so he could right things.
"OK, everyone out!" he yelled instead.
On cue, the hatchback emptied. As Cloud gave directions, they began to split into groups.
"Cloud!" Aeris yelled, running up to him. "Let me come with you."
"Sure, I have no problem with that." Cloud replied.
"Quick, I need a peice of paper, a pen, and some tape." Tifa said, turning to Yuffie.
"What are you going to do?" she asked.
"You'll find out."
She quickly scribbled something and walked up to Cloud.
"Hey Cloud, I just want to let you know no hard feelings from this morning. In fact, I may forgive you someday."
She patted his back, adhering the tape to him.
"Oh really? I'm sorry I said what I said, I just wanted to know the truth."
But she was gone.
"That was odd." he said, looking around.
"Where to?" he asked.
"To Sector Five," Aeris replied, without missing a beat. "To see my mother maybe one last time, and then I want to spend some time with you alone, just us."
Red pretended he didn't notice the quick kiss Cloud received before he joined their group.
"Hey guys, can I join?" he asked.
"Sure." Cloud replied.
"I don't mind," Aeris said, smiling.
"Thanks."
Cloud gave a quick wave, and Yuffie and Tifa snickered. Vincent, one not quick to laugh, chuckled when he saw the sign on Cloud's back. Barret and Cid just looked at each other and shrugged before heading south.
Midgar-Sector 5 Slums
"It's so good to be home!" Aeris said, once inside Sector 5.
"You used to live here" Red asked. "It's a dump."
"Welcome to Midgar. It may be a dump, but it's the only home I've ever known." Aeris said.
They reached the town square, and Cloud became painfully aware of an object that drew the stares of those living in Sector 5.
"What the hell?"
He tried reaching behind his back with no success. After a few tries, Aeris removed a sign. She let out a giggle as she handed it to him.
"Mug me?! Man, Tifa sucks when it comes to humiliating people."
"You think she's jealous?" Aeris asked.
"Crazy jealous." Cloud replied. "She almost tried to kill me. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure if it was out of anger or jealousy."
"She wanted to be in my spot?"
"Probably. I think she's liked me for seven years. Who knows what kind of fantasies she's had about me?"
"OK, can we stop this conversation please?" Red asked. "I respect you both as friends, and as much as I know this is a natural thing, I really don't want to hear about it any more today."
To himself he mumbled: "At least that sicko Hojo would be happy to know that his breeding project was half successful."
"I heard that!" Aeris said. "How dare you put him in a positive light like that! What we did had nothing to do with some sick breeding experiment. At forty-eight, I had hoped you had a little more maturity than that!"
"PLEASE! No more fighting for the day! I'm going to go insane!" Cloud yelled, instantly quieting Red and Aeris.
"Sorry," they said in unison.
They walked in silence for a moment or two.
"So, Red, ya ever been to Midgar?" Cloud asked.
"Well, aside from being Hojo's specimen, no. I was never out of my cage in Midgar."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Aeris said. "I was in a cage once, and I can completely sympathize with you."
"Shall we show Red the sight that is Wall Market?" Cloud asked.
"As long as we stay away from Corneo's mansion." Aeris said. "That place freaks me out."
"Who's Corneo?" Red asked.
"Some sick bastard that tried to have sex with me." Cloud replied.
"That was before he found out you were a man!" Aeris added, smiling.
Red's look of fright peaked.
"Maybe we should just stay away from Wall Market." he stammered.
"Nah, maybe I'll find a dress I like."
"That red dress looked excellent on you." Cloud said, making her blush.
"Thank you, Cloud. That's sweet. Maybe I'll buy another one. I didn't like the meaning of it, but if you like it, I'll buy it."
Red rolled his eyes.
"Get a room you two. Just buy the damn dress and stop flirting!"
"OK, it's settled. I'll buy it."
Red secretly chided himself for picking Cloud and Aeris over Barret and Cid, especially after the last night's events. He figured he wouldn't say a word until they left Midgar. He thought about taking the "Mug me" sign seriously and grabbing the PHS from Cloud when his back was turned, but then decided that would be a poor decision on his part.
"There are times when I wish I had a cell phone," he thought to himself.
He then realized that the PHS was just a series of cell phones with one main frequency; the box Cloud kept fastened on his belt. He reached for his phone (hidden in one of his armbands) and began to dial Barret.
"Hey Red, what are you doing?" Cloud asked.
"Calling Barret and Cid." he replied, pulling out his phone.
"Why? Don't you want to be with us?" Aeris asked.
"Well...You two are so wrapped up in yourselves and PDAing to no extent. I'm embarrassed to be in your group. I know you love each other, but you could at least wait until we get an inn?"
"I'm sorry Red." Aeris said, kneeling to equal the difference. "I guess you are right. We really didn't even notice you. We are kind of wrapped up in ourselves, and I guess we have reason to be. If you had a great night of-"
"Is that why my head hurts?" Cloud interrupted.
"Why are you telling me this?" Red asked, shaking his head, trying to get the pornographic scene from his brain.
'I will have difficulty sleeping tonight' he thought.
"I will stay in your group if you two promise not to talk about how many times you did it, or how great it was, although, I'm sure most of us knew already, since we had difficulty sleeping after the first go round woke us up."
'It was THAT good?' Cloud thought after Red finished. 'How come I can only remember the first time, and nothing more?'
"Hey, I have an idea," Aeris piped up. "I'll buy lunch since we haven't eaten this morning."
"You don't have to pay, I will." Cloud said.
"No, let me pay." Aeris insisted.
"I have more money," Cloud argued back.
"I don't care. I WANT to pay. I owe it to you both."
"No, I'm the man, I'll pay."
"Dammit! Let me pay!" Aeris shouted.
Cloud backed away.
"OK Aeris, don't freak out. You can pay..."
"Thank you. I knew I'd get your attention somehow."
Red breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Aeris smile but turned away when she grabbed Cloud's hand.
'Not again.' he thought.
*****
Once they left the sushi bar in Wall Market, Aeris directed Cloud and Red to her house, where they would spend the rest of the night.
Midgar-Sector 5 Slums- Aeris's House
"Mom! I'm home!" Aeris said, running through the door, dragging Cloud behind her.
"Aeris, is that you?" Elmyra asked, coming from the kitchen.
"Yes."
"I'm so glad to see you again..." she paused when she saw Cloud. "Oh, you again..."
"Mom, this is my boyfriend, Cloud."
Red snickered. Cloud's look of surprise would go down in the record books.
"She means her lover," Red said, barely able to control himself from laughing. Cloud looked at him, angry.
"Really?" Elmyra said, sitting down. "I thought you learned your lesson with Zack."
"I love Cloud more than I EVER loved Zack, Mom. I've fought with Cloud, I've seen him at his worst, I know what he's like, and I love every bit of it."
"Oh, well, since you've made your decision, I guess there's no stopping you. I wish you and Cloud the best."
'I didn't want to break the ice this early,' Cloud thought. 'Now I've pissed off her stepmother as well. Could I do anymore damage today?'
He hit the floor with a thud and a groan, causing everyone in the house to look his direction.
"Oh my." Elmyra said. "Aeris, you know him best, please tell me what's wrong."
"I don't know." she said, kneeling. "Cloud, please tell me what's wrong."
He remained silent, holding his head in his hands.
"Please Cloud, please tell me what's wrong."
"I- I need to lay down," he managed to stammer.
She helped him to his feet and up the stairs. Red opted for the place outside of his door, in case he needed anything. Once situated, Elmyra called Aeris aside.
"Aeris, I thought you learned your lesson with Zack. No more pointy-headed guys from SOLDIER, not after he hurt you like that."
"Mom, Cloud told me everything. Zack didn't hurt me because he didn't love me, he hurt me cause he died. Right outside Midgar. Cloud was there; he and Zack were best friends...Besides, Cloud's protected me. Zack never did that."
"Yes, you're right...I guess I'll give 'Mr. Bodyguard' a try," she paused, giving herself a moment to smile. "Go to him. You're the only one he'll open up to. Go."
At that, she was gone.
Aeris walked back upstairs to her room, where Cloud was.
"Are you going to tell me now?" she asked of him.
"With just you here, yes."
He pulled himself to a sitting position.
"I'm so sick of pissing people off I'm going crazy! I wasn't expecting to tell your stepmother right off. I was hoping you'd wait. I don't feel as if we're 'going out'. Sleeping together once doesn't mean we're going out, but God, I"d love that privilege. So I say we are...and that worries me."
"Stop worrying about other people. There's only us, there's only this. Forget regret or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way. No day but today."
"I want to lay you down in a bed of roses," he started.
"Oh you will," she interrupted. "I know you will. When we win this, I'll let you do anything you want...even lay in the flowers."
And with that, she kissed him. His brain whirred. He was in two different worlds. One of them wanted to stay on her bed, her head resting on his chest, her hands clasped around his, both of them lying there in ultimate peace; and the other half wanted to be rid of these emotions. He felt her climb up next to him, and began to sing, partially to himself, but all to her.
"I want to lay you down in a bed of roses, for tonight I sleep on a bed of nails. I wanna be just as close as the Holy Ghost is. I wanna lay you down in a bed of roses."
She smiled and sighed. She repositioned herself closer to him and looked up.
"That's so sweet," she said, green orbs sparkling. "...I love you Cloud."
"I will love you always."
All he got was the sound of her heavy breathing, and he knew she was in the land of dreams. He pushed some of her hair aside and kissed her forehead.
"Good night Aeris. Sleep well."
He curled up next to her and let his mind wander to the land of dreams as well.
*****
He awoke the next morning to voices in the kitchen. He made his way out of the room when Red stopped him. After asking him the normal questions, he went his way, leaving Cloud by himself.
He was greeted by his other team members, and Aeris and Elmyra. Smiling, they put the last remaining dishes on the table.
"We were hoping you'd be up soon. The team was beginning to protest." Aeris said, setting down a plateful of pancakes.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I was just so beat from the night before that I hit the pillow and slept straight through."
Certain party members exchanged looks and snickered.
"OK everyone. Dig in." Elmyra called.
The men were at the table first, having squeezed their way to the front and caused many protests.
Elmyra spotted Aeris and Cloud in a corner.
"Cloud, Aeris, aren't you going to eat?" she asked.
"In a minute!" Aeris yelled back.
"That's another thing," Cloud started. "Last night your mom looked like she was ready to attack me, and this morning she's acting like nothing's happened."
"Heh heh...Well, Mom and I had a little discussion last night while you were finding yourself. We straightened things out."
He breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to the group, only to realize something was missing. He turned to Aeris.
"Where's the PHS?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I took it off last night because it was poking me. It's in my room, I'll get it before we leave."
"Great."
He turned on his heel and joined the feeding frenzy. He got information from his friends where everyone went. Vincent went to Sector 8 to think, Cait Sith went to Shinra HQ to get reformatted, Tifa and Yuffie visited Sector 1 to talk, and Barret and Cid went to Kalm to party.
They quickly debriefed and regrouped. As they were heading out, Elmyra stopped Cloud.
"Please take good care of Aeris. She loves you more than I will ever know, and has more power than she knows what to do with, and I don't want that to fall into the wrong hands."
Before she turned to the table, she told him:
"You're very brave to love her like that. I don't think I've ever seen her this happy."
Cloud grabbed some banana bread and headed for the door when Elmyra's back was turned.
"Oh, and Cloud, one more thing."
"Yeah?"
"Please don't do anything that would hurt her, I've never forgiven Zack for leaving, and she was heartbroken. I don't want that to happen again."
"It won't. I promise."
He smiled at her, and left the house.
Aeris ran up to the door to greet him.
"Here's the PHS back."
He took the box from her and fastened it to his belt. He whistled at the team and they moved to where he parked the truck.
The seating arrangement for leaving Midgar was slightly different from when they arrived. Much to Red's dismay, Aeris insisted on sitting in the front, making Vincent sit in the back. Barret and Cid were pleased to be playing card games with Red, and Tifa was relieved that she didn't have to listen to anymore questions about Aeris.
Cid poked Barret.
"Hey, how many beers d'ya think we need to get into Yuffie before she'll strip for us?" he asked, chuckling to himself.
"I dunno. That thought kinda disturbs me," Barret replied. "Why the hell do you care?"
"Why not? She's a willing sixteen year old who's a little naive. We almost got her before Cloud blew our chance...Maybe she's a little hoeish; she was hitting on me when Cloud disappeared. Why not?"
Red chuckled.
"But in between hitting on Cloud and Cid, and yaking, she was busy taunting me, " he complained.
"So bite 'er!" Barret said, turning back to Cid.
"Hey, could you guys POSSIBLY get any louder?" Yuffie yelled to them.
"We could try!" Cid yelled, smiling.
"God, you guys suck," she turned back to Tifa.
Cloud, in the drivers seat, could hear everything. He turned and slammed the cab window. Aeris looked then and got mixed reviews. Tifa still looked disgusted, Cid waved sarcastastically, and Vincent slept.
"God, they're annoying," Cloud said, exasperation in his voice.
"Yeah, well I'm not getting any better response. At least they're not talking about you."
Cloud's fist hit the dash. Aeris had never seen him this mad. She began to act back what she had previously said.
"Was it anything I said?" she asked, hesitantly.
"No...wait, yeah, kind of. I knew they were talking about you, but I didn't realize it was all the time. Is that why you asked to sit up here?"
"Sort of."
She unbuckled herself and moved closer to him.
"But I'm also a little tired. Mom woke me up kinda early. Can I use you as a pillow?"
"Sure," he said moving his arm so she could get more comfortable.
Cid and Barret made catcalls from the back, but he just smiled...and flicked them off. He knew he would enjoy this part of his life more than he ever would, and he wasn't going to let any of his friends ruin it for him.
'My life has finally reached completeness,' he thought to himself, looking from Aeris sleeping back to the road.
Forgotten City (City of the Ancients)
Her body slumped to the floor. He stood a few feet from her, unable to move, unable to think. He could only think of the past, and now, the future without her.
"Noooooooo!" he screamed, lunging towards the black figure, ready to kill.
With one swipe of the man's sword, Cloud fell to the ground.
"You will die for this!" Cloud said, sword in hand.
"Don't make me laugh. You are no match for me; all you are is just a lowly minion of mine, and a failed minion at that."
As if he were being manipulated, Cloud's sword dropped from his hands, and he fell to his knees.
"I feel pain I've never felt before, and a sadness I can't control...No words can possibly describe the sick feeling I have inside me."
Without trying, the tears flowed free and warm down his face, causing Sephiroth to laugh.
"Please! You have feelings? Ha ha! That's a good one! You are nothing but a failed creation of me! You have no feelings...You never cared about Aeris or Tifa, or any other broad that happened to like you at any given time. You are nothing but a puppet."
At that, Sephiroth flew away, leaving Cloud to pick up the pieces of his shattered heart.
"Kill me now," he said to his party members. "I can't go on without her... No one's ever changed my life as much as she has. Now that she's gone, I ...can't go on. So just shoot me."
He looked at Vincent with more agony in his eyes than his tortured soul ever experienced.
"Dammit!! Take out your gun and get it over with!" he shouted at them.
"Don't do it man!" Cid spoke, stopping Vincent. "You have to pick up the pieces. So maybe Sephiroth defeated you by killing Aeris, hey, even I'M going to miss her, but you have to pull yourself together. We need to end this. You never know, maybe miracles DO happen...Maybe Aeris will live again."
Cloud looked up at Cid; a little gleam of hope in his eyes. Using all his strength, he pulled himself to a standing position.
"Cid's right. We have to continue. For Aeris. Sephiroth may have won this battle, but he will NOT win the war," Cloud told his party.
Walking to where Sephiroth had stood just a few minutes before, he knelt down to receive the body of the only woman he had ever loved. He put his head on her chest, although he knew her heart had stopped beating. Uncontrollable sobs filled the air, and Vincent and Cid took a step back, silent and revered. He said something, but neither of them could make it out. Mustering all of his strength he picked up her body, and sang all the way to the burial site.
"And I will love you Aeris, always, and I'll be there forever and a day. Always. I'll be there til the stars don't shine til the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme. I know when I die, you'll be on my mind, and I love you . Always.
Thank you, for loving me. For being my eyes when I couldn't see. For parting my lips when I couldn't breathe. Thank you for loving me."
With his last lyric, he lowered her into the water and slowly backed away. He knew he would be changed forever.
~End of Part 1~
Part one song credits:
No Day But Today Always
Words and Music: Jonathan Larson Words and Music: Jon Bon Jovi
1996 1992
Bed of Roses Thank You for Loving Me
Words and Music: Jon Bon Jovi Words and Music: Jon Bon Jovi
1994 2000
Good Enough
Words and Music: Sarah McLachlin
1999
All songs used without permission.
Author: The Flower Girl
Rating:PG-13
Summary: Two characters are revived, one relives, the future is seen, a deed is done, and a frat party breaks out at Aeris' house.
Author's Note: Just watch the sap roll off this one. I had a bit too much fun writing this. It started as a dare, and escalated into silliness....Well, I hope you enjoy anyway... A bit of a songfic and DEFIANTLY Aeris/Cloud. (If you think it is anything else, you must be crazy) Also, my opinion of Zack changed after I had written this. Also, Cloud and Aeris may seem a bit OOC, but I thought it fit in better.
Disclaimer: Contrary to popular belief I do NOT own Aeris Gainsborough or any of the other characters of Final Fantasy VII, nor do I own the rights to it. I do own the game, and I must say it's very fun. The nice people at Square are letting me borrow them.
Thank yous: My friend L-chan, who introduced me to this game, and assured me that at nineteen, when I started this, it was still OK to play video games, my friend Christian, who gave me this idea on a bus trip home one Wednesday night because he couldn't write it himself, all the old shippers from my X-Files days, and Eve6 for this song. Also, to all the bands and singers whose songs are in here, and lastly, to Vampireimage from ChatPhiles for the black rose in part two. Enjoy! :)
~begin transmission~
Part One
Midgar- Sector 5 Slums
Aeris jolted out of bed, alert and awake. She had never been more aware of the danger she possessed. In her hair she held magic to the heavens. Only she knew the power of this magic; but in her dream, a tall, dark figure knew what she held, and wanted to claim it as his. She saw herself falling, unable to control herself from the blow she received. Her white magic bounced from her lifeless form to the pool beneath her.
She screamed.
Awake and scared, she wondered what it meant. She now knew the events leading to her demise, and hoped she'd notice them well in advance. She took a deep breath and shut off her light.
Gold Saucer- Ghost Hotel
Aeris lay on her bed, discontented. The date did not prove as successful as she had hoped. Sure, Cloud kissed her, but not out of his own free will. She knew she loved him, and hoped he felt the same. She crawled off her bed and made her way to Cloud's room.
*knock**knock*
"Why do I even TRY to get any sleep?" Cloud muttered, rolling off his bed and walking to his door. "If it's Yuffie complaining that we have no ice again, I'll cast Beserk on my self and chase her ass outta this place!"
He opened the door to meet Aeris.
"Aeris? What are you doing up?" he managed to ask.
She charged at him, slamming the door and pushing him into a chair.
"Doing something I'll never get to do."
"What's that?" he asked, sleep grogged.
His answer was in the form of surprise. Aeris lifted him out of the chair by his suspenders and threw him on the bed, knocking over the lamp and waking up Vincent in the next room.
"What the hell?" he muttered. "Shut up!"
He slammed his fist against the wall, causing whatever was on that wall to come crashing to the floor.
"OK Aeris, don't have a fit! Whatever's wrong, we can fix, OK?"
His answer was his head banging against the headboard.
"Son of a --!"
"Are you alright in there?" Tifa asked, having passed his room.
"Help!" he cried.
"Go away!" Aeris yelled back.
"Yeah, nothin' weird goin' on here." she said herself as she walked back to her room. "What IS he doing? This is the last fricking time Yuffie wakes me up to get her damn ice. If she wants it, she can get her ass out of bed and get it! I'm done!"
She slammed the ice on the counter.
"Here's your ice!"
Yuffie looked up.
"Oh, you're back. Good. Thank you."
Tifa rolled her eyes, know THAT was a cover. She plopped herself down on the bed, mind whirring.
"What's going on outside?" Yuffie asked, looking up from her shuriken.
"What? Do you mean outside?"
"The pounding in the hallway. Is someone fighting?"
"No...I didn't' know it was that loud..."
Yuffie started laughing, quiet at first, but growing gradually louder.
"What?" Tifa asked.
"I know what they're doing!" Yuffie exclaimed between laughs.
"Oh...you do...? OK... (this could be fun). Tell me, what are they doing?"
She got nothing but laughter.
"I'm gonna kill Cloud for putting me in this room. The last thing I need is a hyper sixteen year old."
"They're...they're..."Yuffie said, breaking into hysterical laughter. "Y'know."
"Y'know? SINCE WHEN DID THAT BECOME AN ANSWER?!" Tifa screamed at her. "Oh my God...he wouldn't! There is no way he is doing what I think he's doing! He wouldn't...would he?"
Yuffie started nodding her head, affirming Tifa's worst fears. She scrambled out of the room, with Yuffie close behind. They dashed to Room #3, expecting to catch them in the act. What they got however, surprised them even more.
"What? Bubba is not even a word! It's a name for crying out loud!" Cloud yelled at Aeris.
"Well, I let you spell Link."
"That's not a name!"
"It could be..."
"Can't you just come up with another word?"
"I have a B, a P, a Q, and a B. No words can be made from that."
"Cloud?!" Tifa exclaimed upon entering his room.
"Oh hello. Aeris and I were just in the middle of a game of Scrabble. Care to join us?"
"OK, it's official. I've lost my mind."
Tifa sat on the corner of the bed, holding her head in agony.
"Was it something I said?" he asked, looking from Yuffie to Aeris.
"I don't know..." Yuffie said.
But Cloud did not see a smile creep from Aeris's face, once she had come to a certain realization.
'Yes...we will have time for that...since everyone thinks it is happening anyway, I don't think it would be that bad...' she thought to herself.
Her thoughts were quickly disrupted when Tifa spoke again.
"OK, lemme get this straight. Aeris was throwing you around breaking stuff, waking people up and pissing them off just so she could get you to play Scrabble?! That is the worst excuse I've ever heard."
"Y'know, if I didn't suggest it, you'd still be in our room complaining about ice. " Yuffie piped up. "Now can WE go back to OUR room and sleep?"
"That does sound like a good idea. I'm beat."
She pulled herself from the bed and started towards the door, with Yuffie close behind.
"Goodbye everyone!" Yuffie said happily. "Enjoy your game!"
Once they had left, Aeris took on a persona that Cloud had never seen before.
"You know, we still have time to do what I planned we do."
"You mean Scrabble wasn't part of the plan?" Cloud asked, disappointed.
"Oh, yes it was. But I believe you know why I came to your room tonight. Only a few people see what my original plan was."
Cloud took one step back, unintentionally moving himself closer to the bed.
"OK, Aeris, you're beginning to scare me. I didn't think you would be the type of person to do this with someone you don't know very well. (At least, I hoped you weren't...)"
"Oh, cut the crap, Cloud! I've known you've wanted me since you helped me escape from the church that day; and that night I did some thinking. I was thinking about you, about how you seem so familiar, but I can't quite place you. I just know my heart was torn when I never heard from Zack again. But then I found you, and got all those same feelings again when I didn't think I would. I know this is the right time. My time is short, and I may regret not doing this...So just let me try, I will be good to you, just let me try, I will be there for you. Just let me show you you're so much more than good enough...What have you got to lose?"
"My friendship. Tifa would kill me if I did that!"
"Did you ever think that would happen because maybe she wants you as well?"
"I don't want to talk about this. My head hurts. I just want to lay down."
She backed away.
"All right, I understand. No sense in talking you into something you don't want to do."
She sat on the edge of her bed, looking at their abandoned game of Scrabble. How hard had she tried to get Cloud to notice her? It seemed all wrong, she should not be the one making the move, but she did anyway. Absentmindedly, she laid down, resting her head on her hands. Cloud turned to look at her, softly enough so she wouldn't suspect a thing. His head began to fill with thoughts. He had never closely studied her. A sleepless night at an inn here and there wasn't enough time to study the mystery that was Aeris Gainsborough. He had never noticed the hair that refused to be pulled back behind her ears and hung past her shoulders, defining her face, nor had he really examined the necklace she wore. Then he did something he had never done, and would never do again. He reached for a strand of that stubborn hair and smelled it. He was greeted by the wonderful scent of the flowers he had smelled in the church in Midgar. He didn't even notice that she was looking right at him.
"I never realized just how green her eyes were." he said, not realizing what just transpired.
Suddenly the 'greenest eyes he'd ever seen' locked in time with his. The music he heard at the church seemed to envelope him. (AN: Aeris' Theme? hah) He realized she was right all along, and finally gave in.
-The Next Day-
Cloud awoke, head throbbing. He quickly wondered if he had gone out drinking the night before, but realized it was located all wrong. His head throbbed in the back, as if it had been hit against something. He blinked a few times, to focus, and realized that the room was a mess. Clothes lay everywhere. He didn't remember how it got that way. He was aware of a hand he held that held his waist tightly. He followed the arm under the blanket to a sleeping female form, which surprised him.
"Great! I finally get some, and I can't remember it!" he muttered.
He began to think of who it could be when an object caught his attention. A pink ribbon peeked out from underneath the covers, and he suddenly realized what transpired.
"Oh God," he exclaimed in horror. "I get it with Aeris!...Wait a minute here...that's a bad thing?"
Reality sank in. Aeris stirred and stared up at Cloud.
"Good morning," she said, smiling.
"Morning," he said, distracted.
"What's wrong?" she asked, pushing that stubborn hair behind her ears.
"Why did we do what we did?" he asked.
"I don't understand," Aeris said slowly, puzzled.
"Why did we do this? I respect you. I didn't want it to go like this. I wanted time to build up this relationship. I thought last night was just the beginning of it. I didn't want the honor and respect you've finally earned trampled on and destroyed. Now I feel like it is."
"You make it sound like a sin. Hey, I know you wanted this just as much as I did. Don't worry about it." she said, kissing his cheek.
"I just don't want to face everyone now. I know what they'll say."
She curled in against his side and smiled. Pulling him back to his original position, she smiled and consoled him.
"I wouldn't want it any other way. Just stay here a little longer. I don't want the moment to end.
I don't want to let you go." she whispered.
Those words would echo in his head for months.
Gold Saucer- Ghost Hotel Lobby
"The hell is he?" Barret swore as the clock on the lobby wall moved closer to 9:00AM.
"Aeris isn't here either." Tifa added, glaring at Cloud's door.
The group began talking amongst themselves, all save Cid, who once again, slept in the corner chair. A door shut. All eyes turned to Room #3.
"Good morning everyone!" Cloud yelled to his group members, putting on his gloves. "Ready to kick some Shinra butt?"
Aeris lagged behind. She shut the door, faced the group while buttoning her top buttons and straightening her jacket. She tightened her ribbon while following Cloud down the steps.
"OK, what did you do and how many times did you do it?" Vincent asked him once he reached the bottom of the stairs.
Red XIII chuckled.
"Looks like she made her choice. Now I'm just waiting around for mine."
He turned to Cloud.
"Wanna help me look?"
Not everyone was aware of what went on, but once Aeris walked up to Cloud and grabbed his hand, even the most naive group member knew.
"Wait a minute. We're on a mission (although we got sidetracked by a Shinra employee) and you're getting jiggy with the last surviving Ancient? Damn man!"
"Hey Barret, just cool off a bit. You're blowing this way out of proportion."
"Am I?" Barret asked of Cloud. "We have a serious mission, and you're sleeping with your party members."
He glared straight at Aeris. Vincent gave a look of fright, realizing he was the other party member.
"You've already said that."
"I'm not done!" Barret yelled, scaring some of the hotel staff. "According to my sources, Aeris was seen leaving her room at 12: 30AM. They saw her last outside your door. Then strange noises were heard."
"This is ridiculous.Since when did you have sources? Or is THAT the reason Tifa and Yuffie barged in in the middle of our game?"
"Oh, is that what y'all are calling it these days?"
"Barret, shut up!" Aeris yelled at him. "Yes, we all know what Cloud and I did probably should have waited until our mission was over, but I made the move, not him, and I felt it was right to do because I feel as if I don't have a lot of time left, and I wanted to do something that showed him how strongly I loved him."
"That's so sweet!" Yuffie said, getting off the step. "But what do you mean, your time is short? You think you'll die?"
"I dunno. I just feel like someone's out to get me. Maybe it's all in my mind and I'll really be all right. It couldn't be too bad, at least I'll have someone to share it with."
She smiled, and leaned in to kiss him. It was then that he was painfully aware of an audience. He realized that his hand were in a familiar, yet unknown position. He removed his hands from her waist and turned to face his group.
"We mustn't waste any more time. We must find this temple in the east."
"Let me come with you," Aeris pleaded.
Cloud shrugged.
"OK. Vincent, I want you in my party."
"Sure. Alright."
"Let's go."
As the rest of the group left, Cloud turned to Aeris.
"Are you sure you want to continue?"
"Of course."
"I don't want to jeopardize your life. You know the last thing I want is to see you die."
"I know."
"There's a few things I forgot in my room. I'll meet you outside."
He held her close and kissed her. Before leaving, she turned to face his direction.
"Thank you." she said.
"For what?" he asked.
"For loving me."
And then she was gone. He smiled, and even whistled as he began up the steps.
"Cloud."
He turned to face Tifa.
'Oh crap.' he thought.
"So...it looks like what I thought you wouldn't."
"Yeah...so?"
"Cloud! You barely know her! Are you really the type of person that would sleep with someone they hardly know?!"
"That's it!" he said, finally coming to a realization. "I understand now! You wish you were in Aeris' place last night, don't you?"
"I-you-that-that-ugh! That's not the point!"
"Admit it, you want me! Aeris caught on right away, and Yuffie got it, and she's the most oblivious one! Just face the truth. You are truly, madly, deeply in love with me, and have been for quite some time."
She remained silent.
"Come on, admit it."
"No."
"Why didn't' you just come out with it?"
"You know. you can be a real jerk sometimes, Cloud."
"I'm sorry..." he began hesitantly.
But she never heard him.
"God! I'm doing a great job of pissing people off left and right! Sometimes I wish I didn't have any feelings. The world would be a lot happier."
He climbed the stairs and entered his room for a final time.
*****
"OK! Could I get everyone's attention?" Cloud, asked, once outside of Gold Saucer. "Where does everyone want to go? Poll!"
They decided to go to Midgar.
"Midgar? Really? We just got outta that place!"
"Well, you do have to admit they have the best bargain deals this side of the continent." Aeris replied.
They drove to Midgar. The drive was uneventful. Barret and Cid tried to teach Red 500 Rummy, but gave up when he won. The girls traded tips on hair, make-up, favorite songs, and the ever popular subject of conversation, Cloud.
"How did you ever get enough guts to actually stand outside his door, actually knowing what you were going to do? How could you actually stand there?" Yuffie asked Aeris for the third time.
Aeris sighed heavily. The girl was beginning to drive her nuts.
"Do I REALLY have to tell you this again?" she asked.
"I don't care how much you two continue to talk about him, I won't listen." Tifa said, re-instating her protest.
"Who wants to play poker?" Cid asked everyone in the hatchback.
"Hey, we're almost there!" Cloud yelled through the window.
"Ooh! I will!" Yuffie said, suddenly forgetting her last conversation.
The three guys shrugged and dealt her in.
In the cab, Vincent turned to Cloud.
"So, how was she?" he asked.
"Excuse me?" Cloud asked, briefly taking his eyes off the road.
"You know, how was she?"
"I can't believe you're asking me this! As if I didn't get interrogated enough!"
"OK! Sorry! I was just wondering what it was like to get it on with the most sought after girl in this group."
"Really? Most sought after?"
"Yeah, why do you think everyone made such a big deal about?"
"What do YOU think, since you've obviously been around the block a few times."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Vincent asked, reaching for his weapon.
"You're older than me, so you've done more stuff."
"Oh."
"Cloud, stop harassing Vincent!" Tifa yelled from the back.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached Midgar!" Cloud yelled through the window.
"Damn, we just started our game of strip poker!" Cid said, smiling.
"When did we start playing strip poker?" Yuffie asked.
"Um, I'm already naked." Red stated.
"Since you started playing!" Cid said, smiling.
"Gross! I'm not stripping for you!"
"I wouldn't strip for them either." Aeris piped up.
"Yeah, but you'd willingly strip for someone else!" Cid added, smiling.
"Shut up!" she yelled. "You can be a real asshole sometimes!"
"Thank you!"
He smiled again.
Cloud, having heard the whole conversation, beat his head against the steering wheel, wishing that time would stand still for a moment, so he could right things.
"OK, everyone out!" he yelled instead.
On cue, the hatchback emptied. As Cloud gave directions, they began to split into groups.
"Cloud!" Aeris yelled, running up to him. "Let me come with you."
"Sure, I have no problem with that." Cloud replied.
"Quick, I need a peice of paper, a pen, and some tape." Tifa said, turning to Yuffie.
"What are you going to do?" she asked.
"You'll find out."
She quickly scribbled something and walked up to Cloud.
"Hey Cloud, I just want to let you know no hard feelings from this morning. In fact, I may forgive you someday."
She patted his back, adhering the tape to him.
"Oh really? I'm sorry I said what I said, I just wanted to know the truth."
But she was gone.
"That was odd." he said, looking around.
"Where to?" he asked.
"To Sector Five," Aeris replied, without missing a beat. "To see my mother maybe one last time, and then I want to spend some time with you alone, just us."
Red pretended he didn't notice the quick kiss Cloud received before he joined their group.
"Hey guys, can I join?" he asked.
"Sure." Cloud replied.
"I don't mind," Aeris said, smiling.
"Thanks."
Cloud gave a quick wave, and Yuffie and Tifa snickered. Vincent, one not quick to laugh, chuckled when he saw the sign on Cloud's back. Barret and Cid just looked at each other and shrugged before heading south.
Midgar-Sector 5 Slums
"It's so good to be home!" Aeris said, once inside Sector 5.
"You used to live here" Red asked. "It's a dump."
"Welcome to Midgar. It may be a dump, but it's the only home I've ever known." Aeris said.
They reached the town square, and Cloud became painfully aware of an object that drew the stares of those living in Sector 5.
"What the hell?"
He tried reaching behind his back with no success. After a few tries, Aeris removed a sign. She let out a giggle as she handed it to him.
"Mug me?! Man, Tifa sucks when it comes to humiliating people."
"You think she's jealous?" Aeris asked.
"Crazy jealous." Cloud replied. "She almost tried to kill me. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure if it was out of anger or jealousy."
"She wanted to be in my spot?"
"Probably. I think she's liked me for seven years. Who knows what kind of fantasies she's had about me?"
"OK, can we stop this conversation please?" Red asked. "I respect you both as friends, and as much as I know this is a natural thing, I really don't want to hear about it any more today."
To himself he mumbled: "At least that sicko Hojo would be happy to know that his breeding project was half successful."
"I heard that!" Aeris said. "How dare you put him in a positive light like that! What we did had nothing to do with some sick breeding experiment. At forty-eight, I had hoped you had a little more maturity than that!"
"PLEASE! No more fighting for the day! I'm going to go insane!" Cloud yelled, instantly quieting Red and Aeris.
"Sorry," they said in unison.
They walked in silence for a moment or two.
"So, Red, ya ever been to Midgar?" Cloud asked.
"Well, aside from being Hojo's specimen, no. I was never out of my cage in Midgar."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Aeris said. "I was in a cage once, and I can completely sympathize with you."
"Shall we show Red the sight that is Wall Market?" Cloud asked.
"As long as we stay away from Corneo's mansion." Aeris said. "That place freaks me out."
"Who's Corneo?" Red asked.
"Some sick bastard that tried to have sex with me." Cloud replied.
"That was before he found out you were a man!" Aeris added, smiling.
Red's look of fright peaked.
"Maybe we should just stay away from Wall Market." he stammered.
"Nah, maybe I'll find a dress I like."
"That red dress looked excellent on you." Cloud said, making her blush.
"Thank you, Cloud. That's sweet. Maybe I'll buy another one. I didn't like the meaning of it, but if you like it, I'll buy it."
Red rolled his eyes.
"Get a room you two. Just buy the damn dress and stop flirting!"
"OK, it's settled. I'll buy it."
Red secretly chided himself for picking Cloud and Aeris over Barret and Cid, especially after the last night's events. He figured he wouldn't say a word until they left Midgar. He thought about taking the "Mug me" sign seriously and grabbing the PHS from Cloud when his back was turned, but then decided that would be a poor decision on his part.
"There are times when I wish I had a cell phone," he thought to himself.
He then realized that the PHS was just a series of cell phones with one main frequency; the box Cloud kept fastened on his belt. He reached for his phone (hidden in one of his armbands) and began to dial Barret.
"Hey Red, what are you doing?" Cloud asked.
"Calling Barret and Cid." he replied, pulling out his phone.
"Why? Don't you want to be with us?" Aeris asked.
"Well...You two are so wrapped up in yourselves and PDAing to no extent. I'm embarrassed to be in your group. I know you love each other, but you could at least wait until we get an inn?"
"I'm sorry Red." Aeris said, kneeling to equal the difference. "I guess you are right. We really didn't even notice you. We are kind of wrapped up in ourselves, and I guess we have reason to be. If you had a great night of-"
"Is that why my head hurts?" Cloud interrupted.
"Why are you telling me this?" Red asked, shaking his head, trying to get the pornographic scene from his brain.
'I will have difficulty sleeping tonight' he thought.
"I will stay in your group if you two promise not to talk about how many times you did it, or how great it was, although, I'm sure most of us knew already, since we had difficulty sleeping after the first go round woke us up."
'It was THAT good?' Cloud thought after Red finished. 'How come I can only remember the first time, and nothing more?'
"Hey, I have an idea," Aeris piped up. "I'll buy lunch since we haven't eaten this morning."
"You don't have to pay, I will." Cloud said.
"No, let me pay." Aeris insisted.
"I have more money," Cloud argued back.
"I don't care. I WANT to pay. I owe it to you both."
"No, I'm the man, I'll pay."
"Dammit! Let me pay!" Aeris shouted.
Cloud backed away.
"OK Aeris, don't freak out. You can pay..."
"Thank you. I knew I'd get your attention somehow."
Red breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Aeris smile but turned away when she grabbed Cloud's hand.
'Not again.' he thought.
*****
Once they left the sushi bar in Wall Market, Aeris directed Cloud and Red to her house, where they would spend the rest of the night.
Midgar-Sector 5 Slums- Aeris's House
"Mom! I'm home!" Aeris said, running through the door, dragging Cloud behind her.
"Aeris, is that you?" Elmyra asked, coming from the kitchen.
"Yes."
"I'm so glad to see you again..." she paused when she saw Cloud. "Oh, you again..."
"Mom, this is my boyfriend, Cloud."
Red snickered. Cloud's look of surprise would go down in the record books.
"She means her lover," Red said, barely able to control himself from laughing. Cloud looked at him, angry.
"Really?" Elmyra said, sitting down. "I thought you learned your lesson with Zack."
"I love Cloud more than I EVER loved Zack, Mom. I've fought with Cloud, I've seen him at his worst, I know what he's like, and I love every bit of it."
"Oh, well, since you've made your decision, I guess there's no stopping you. I wish you and Cloud the best."
'I didn't want to break the ice this early,' Cloud thought. 'Now I've pissed off her stepmother as well. Could I do anymore damage today?'
He hit the floor with a thud and a groan, causing everyone in the house to look his direction.
"Oh my." Elmyra said. "Aeris, you know him best, please tell me what's wrong."
"I don't know." she said, kneeling. "Cloud, please tell me what's wrong."
He remained silent, holding his head in his hands.
"Please Cloud, please tell me what's wrong."
"I- I need to lay down," he managed to stammer.
She helped him to his feet and up the stairs. Red opted for the place outside of his door, in case he needed anything. Once situated, Elmyra called Aeris aside.
"Aeris, I thought you learned your lesson with Zack. No more pointy-headed guys from SOLDIER, not after he hurt you like that."
"Mom, Cloud told me everything. Zack didn't hurt me because he didn't love me, he hurt me cause he died. Right outside Midgar. Cloud was there; he and Zack were best friends...Besides, Cloud's protected me. Zack never did that."
"Yes, you're right...I guess I'll give 'Mr. Bodyguard' a try," she paused, giving herself a moment to smile. "Go to him. You're the only one he'll open up to. Go."
At that, she was gone.
Aeris walked back upstairs to her room, where Cloud was.
"Are you going to tell me now?" she asked of him.
"With just you here, yes."
He pulled himself to a sitting position.
"I'm so sick of pissing people off I'm going crazy! I wasn't expecting to tell your stepmother right off. I was hoping you'd wait. I don't feel as if we're 'going out'. Sleeping together once doesn't mean we're going out, but God, I"d love that privilege. So I say we are...and that worries me."
"Stop worrying about other people. There's only us, there's only this. Forget regret or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way. No day but today."
"I want to lay you down in a bed of roses," he started.
"Oh you will," she interrupted. "I know you will. When we win this, I'll let you do anything you want...even lay in the flowers."
And with that, she kissed him. His brain whirred. He was in two different worlds. One of them wanted to stay on her bed, her head resting on his chest, her hands clasped around his, both of them lying there in ultimate peace; and the other half wanted to be rid of these emotions. He felt her climb up next to him, and began to sing, partially to himself, but all to her.
"I want to lay you down in a bed of roses, for tonight I sleep on a bed of nails. I wanna be just as close as the Holy Ghost is. I wanna lay you down in a bed of roses."
She smiled and sighed. She repositioned herself closer to him and looked up.
"That's so sweet," she said, green orbs sparkling. "...I love you Cloud."
"I will love you always."
All he got was the sound of her heavy breathing, and he knew she was in the land of dreams. He pushed some of her hair aside and kissed her forehead.
"Good night Aeris. Sleep well."
He curled up next to her and let his mind wander to the land of dreams as well.
*****
He awoke the next morning to voices in the kitchen. He made his way out of the room when Red stopped him. After asking him the normal questions, he went his way, leaving Cloud by himself.
He was greeted by his other team members, and Aeris and Elmyra. Smiling, they put the last remaining dishes on the table.
"We were hoping you'd be up soon. The team was beginning to protest." Aeris said, setting down a plateful of pancakes.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I was just so beat from the night before that I hit the pillow and slept straight through."
Certain party members exchanged looks and snickered.
"OK everyone. Dig in." Elmyra called.
The men were at the table first, having squeezed their way to the front and caused many protests.
Elmyra spotted Aeris and Cloud in a corner.
"Cloud, Aeris, aren't you going to eat?" she asked.
"In a minute!" Aeris yelled back.
"That's another thing," Cloud started. "Last night your mom looked like she was ready to attack me, and this morning she's acting like nothing's happened."
"Heh heh...Well, Mom and I had a little discussion last night while you were finding yourself. We straightened things out."
He breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to the group, only to realize something was missing. He turned to Aeris.
"Where's the PHS?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I took it off last night because it was poking me. It's in my room, I'll get it before we leave."
"Great."
He turned on his heel and joined the feeding frenzy. He got information from his friends where everyone went. Vincent went to Sector 8 to think, Cait Sith went to Shinra HQ to get reformatted, Tifa and Yuffie visited Sector 1 to talk, and Barret and Cid went to Kalm to party.
They quickly debriefed and regrouped. As they were heading out, Elmyra stopped Cloud.
"Please take good care of Aeris. She loves you more than I will ever know, and has more power than she knows what to do with, and I don't want that to fall into the wrong hands."
Before she turned to the table, she told him:
"You're very brave to love her like that. I don't think I've ever seen her this happy."
Cloud grabbed some banana bread and headed for the door when Elmyra's back was turned.
"Oh, and Cloud, one more thing."
"Yeah?"
"Please don't do anything that would hurt her, I've never forgiven Zack for leaving, and she was heartbroken. I don't want that to happen again."
"It won't. I promise."
He smiled at her, and left the house.
Aeris ran up to the door to greet him.
"Here's the PHS back."
He took the box from her and fastened it to his belt. He whistled at the team and they moved to where he parked the truck.
The seating arrangement for leaving Midgar was slightly different from when they arrived. Much to Red's dismay, Aeris insisted on sitting in the front, making Vincent sit in the back. Barret and Cid were pleased to be playing card games with Red, and Tifa was relieved that she didn't have to listen to anymore questions about Aeris.
Cid poked Barret.
"Hey, how many beers d'ya think we need to get into Yuffie before she'll strip for us?" he asked, chuckling to himself.
"I dunno. That thought kinda disturbs me," Barret replied. "Why the hell do you care?"
"Why not? She's a willing sixteen year old who's a little naive. We almost got her before Cloud blew our chance...Maybe she's a little hoeish; she was hitting on me when Cloud disappeared. Why not?"
Red chuckled.
"But in between hitting on Cloud and Cid, and yaking, she was busy taunting me, " he complained.
"So bite 'er!" Barret said, turning back to Cid.
"Hey, could you guys POSSIBLY get any louder?" Yuffie yelled to them.
"We could try!" Cid yelled, smiling.
"God, you guys suck," she turned back to Tifa.
Cloud, in the drivers seat, could hear everything. He turned and slammed the cab window. Aeris looked then and got mixed reviews. Tifa still looked disgusted, Cid waved sarcastastically, and Vincent slept.
"God, they're annoying," Cloud said, exasperation in his voice.
"Yeah, well I'm not getting any better response. At least they're not talking about you."
Cloud's fist hit the dash. Aeris had never seen him this mad. She began to act back what she had previously said.
"Was it anything I said?" she asked, hesitantly.
"No...wait, yeah, kind of. I knew they were talking about you, but I didn't realize it was all the time. Is that why you asked to sit up here?"
"Sort of."
She unbuckled herself and moved closer to him.
"But I'm also a little tired. Mom woke me up kinda early. Can I use you as a pillow?"
"Sure," he said moving his arm so she could get more comfortable.
Cid and Barret made catcalls from the back, but he just smiled...and flicked them off. He knew he would enjoy this part of his life more than he ever would, and he wasn't going to let any of his friends ruin it for him.
'My life has finally reached completeness,' he thought to himself, looking from Aeris sleeping back to the road.
Forgotten City (City of the Ancients)
Her body slumped to the floor. He stood a few feet from her, unable to move, unable to think. He could only think of the past, and now, the future without her.
"Noooooooo!" he screamed, lunging towards the black figure, ready to kill.
With one swipe of the man's sword, Cloud fell to the ground.
"You will die for this!" Cloud said, sword in hand.
"Don't make me laugh. You are no match for me; all you are is just a lowly minion of mine, and a failed minion at that."
As if he were being manipulated, Cloud's sword dropped from his hands, and he fell to his knees.
"I feel pain I've never felt before, and a sadness I can't control...No words can possibly describe the sick feeling I have inside me."
Without trying, the tears flowed free and warm down his face, causing Sephiroth to laugh.
"Please! You have feelings? Ha ha! That's a good one! You are nothing but a failed creation of me! You have no feelings...You never cared about Aeris or Tifa, or any other broad that happened to like you at any given time. You are nothing but a puppet."
At that, Sephiroth flew away, leaving Cloud to pick up the pieces of his shattered heart.
"Kill me now," he said to his party members. "I can't go on without her... No one's ever changed my life as much as she has. Now that she's gone, I ...can't go on. So just shoot me."
He looked at Vincent with more agony in his eyes than his tortured soul ever experienced.
"Dammit!! Take out your gun and get it over with!" he shouted at them.
"Don't do it man!" Cid spoke, stopping Vincent. "You have to pick up the pieces. So maybe Sephiroth defeated you by killing Aeris, hey, even I'M going to miss her, but you have to pull yourself together. We need to end this. You never know, maybe miracles DO happen...Maybe Aeris will live again."
Cloud looked up at Cid; a little gleam of hope in his eyes. Using all his strength, he pulled himself to a standing position.
"Cid's right. We have to continue. For Aeris. Sephiroth may have won this battle, but he will NOT win the war," Cloud told his party.
Walking to where Sephiroth had stood just a few minutes before, he knelt down to receive the body of the only woman he had ever loved. He put his head on her chest, although he knew her heart had stopped beating. Uncontrollable sobs filled the air, and Vincent and Cid took a step back, silent and revered. He said something, but neither of them could make it out. Mustering all of his strength he picked up her body, and sang all the way to the burial site.
"And I will love you Aeris, always, and I'll be there forever and a day. Always. I'll be there til the stars don't shine til the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme. I know when I die, you'll be on my mind, and I love you . Always.
Thank you, for loving me. For being my eyes when I couldn't see. For parting my lips when I couldn't breathe. Thank you for loving me."
With his last lyric, he lowered her into the water and slowly backed away. He knew he would be changed forever.
~End of Part 1~
Part one song credits:
No Day But Today Always
Words and Music: Jonathan Larson Words and Music: Jon Bon Jovi
1996 1992
Bed of Roses Thank You for Loving Me
Words and Music: Jon Bon Jovi Words and Music: Jon Bon Jovi
1994 2000
Good Enough
Words and Music: Sarah McLachlin
1999
All songs used without permission.