Chapter 3: Miracle in the Church

"Well hello there sleepin' beauty.", Cid insinuates to Cloud. "I hope you're refreshed from your weeklong catnap cause' you're gonna need it."
"Some.unfortunate events have occurred while you were indisposed of.", says Vincent grimly. "More tremors have been felt and in many more locations through each continent."
"Yes," said Red in agreement. "Cosmo Canyon received quite a bit of damage from them. This only can mean the start of one thing."
"Weapon.", whispered Cloud.
"But the strange thing is that due to the epicenter of these earthquakes are changin' we can't locate where Weapon will show up. We can only wait and see where it'll pop out.", says Barret. Cloud walks out of the room with a glare in his eye. Tifa notices this due to the pace in his step and the way he seemed to move.
"I'll check if he's okay."
"Uh huh, sure she will.", says Yuffie.
"Whatcha talkin' about ya' rotten thief?", asks Cid.
"Urrgh.saw em' kissing.", moaned Yuffie with motion sickness.
"Well, they both seemed to feel better after our meetin'.", noted Barret. They all realized something and smiled and even a glimpse of a grin came from Vincent.
"Well, at least they're happy. And Cloud's mood has improved since Aeris' death.", said Red 13.

Cloud was outside on the outer deck with the wind blowing through his hair as he looked down at the ocean they were flying over.
"Cloud, you look upset."
"Tifa."
"What?"
"I just don't like feeling helpless like this. I can't just stand and wait for another Weapon. I don't want to lose anyone else because of this what-seems-to-be a never ending battle." He slowly sits down then listlessly leans against the edge. Sympathetically, Tifa Strolls over and leans beside him.
"Don't worry. When that thing surfaces, we'll go and kick it's sorry ass. Promise." ,she says confidently. "Nothing bad will happen."
"Tifa, when I fell in the Lifestream I."
"Yes?"
"I saw Aeris."
"But how?" she says in a tone of disbelief.
"I think I revived her somehow."
"When?"
"Well, the morning after you told me you loved me." Tifa had a shocked expression and said, "So it WAS the-"
"No, no like I said THAT was amazing. Where'd you learn that?"
"Well I- HEY! We're talking about Aeris, remember Cloud?"
"Right. Anyway I felt before anything else could happen I had to see Aeris one last time. So I took a flower from that church in the Sector 5 slums and put it in the water after I said my goodbyes. Then when I fell in the Lifestream I saw her. When I asked how this happened, she said it was the flower."
"The flower?"
"Yeah. She said since it came from the church, it was kind of holy. She said she's coming back."
"Really?! Great!"
"But."
"But what, Cloud?"
"She said she's coming back as long as we want to see her and."
"And what?"
"Well I was wondering about what would happen if I got into a relationship with her. I don't want to hurt you more than I already have."
"Look Cloud. I love you. She loves you. I think only you can decide who you want to be with."
"That's another thing that troubles me. I love both of you. It's too hard."
"Your heart will decide. Of course I'll be happy if you picked me, but Aeris and I are so close that I don't think that I would be too sad if you picked her."
"Thanks Tifa."

The group has decided to return to their normal spots, preparing until Weapon arrives. So Vincent, Cloud, and Tifa were dropped back off at Nibelheim. Vincent again locked himself in the cavernous basement of the Shinra Mansion and Cloud and Tifa returned to the stables to check up on the chocobos. Back on the Highwind the rest were wondering about Cloud and Tifa.
"Do ya' think," began Yuffie, "they're gonna-"
"Get your mind outta the gutter!", yelled Cid.
"I was just wondering if you think they'll be OK. I wasn't even suggesting that. Now whose mind's in the gutter?"
"Well you just have a weird way of thinking. AND IF YOU DON'T GET AWAY FROM MY SPEAR YOU'RE GONNA BE MISSIN' THAT @%$%! ARM!!"

"Well Tifa, Choco's looking better", commented Cloud.
"Yeah, I think those tantal greens worked."
"I think I'll take Knight out for some exercise. I'll be back by dinner."
"See ya' later then."
"Yeah, see ya'." Cloud dashes off into the 3 o'clock sun as he heads east towards Midgar to think. Like Aeris, he always felt an air of serenity in the atmosphere of the forgotten church. He felt he needed to be there to calm his taut nerves before the next fight with Weapon. He saddled up Knight outside the gates and entered with the keycard. Upon entering, he looked around and everything seemed the same as usual. He strode into the church and saw the same two kids with the flowers.
"Hey guys. Still taking care of the flowers?"
"Nah don't have to. And you didn't say hello to Aeris for us either."
"Oh sorry, I forgot to. Wait, how did you know?"
"She told us.", said Jenna. "She's just back there."
"What!"