I hadn't realized how tired I was.

Tifa had rehearsals during the day and into the night. She and Trent didn't officially live together, but most of the time he stayed over. When I was there, however, Trent had decided to stay the night at his own place. I should have felt a little offended at that, but I didn't. I was just happy not to have him around.

When Tifa wasn't there, I was usually sleeping. Sometimes I would watch a little television, or read the paper, but I never left her apartment. I didn't want to be out in the world now; I wanted to stay right where I was.

The stable environment was helping me with the addiction. I was only taking small doses now a night, and only to help me sleep. I could feel my need for it starting to disappear.

When I was sleeping, or reading or watching, I was thinking about her.

It had been over a year since she had died, though she was always on my mind. I really missed her at times like these. It had not been too far from Tifa's apartment where I first met her, outside of the reactor, all those nights ago.

When I thought about how easily she could have been killed from the explosion of the reactor, my stomach turned.

I looked better these days, too. After a hot shower even some of the blood began to wash off, and the cuts and bruises on my body were healing. I had looked rough when Tifa took me in; now, I was becoming more presentable.

Tifa would be tired sometimes where she would come back from rehearsals, but there would be nights that she would have had a good rehearsal and was wired from the stage. She and I would talk all night those nights, discussing how it used to be and where we were now and how she felt about Trent and dozens of other things. I knew that she liked to talk to me, so I listened intently.

It was nice to have someone to talk to, after all the months of being alone.

But I still missed her.

It was the missing her that made me think of what I needed to do. I had always felt that out there, somehow, there was a way that I could bring her back. I saw her everywhere, so she couldn't really be gone. If I could bring her back somehow, maybe I could get better.

I was afraid to leave Tifa's apartment, since she had taken care of me. And I was getting over the addiction now; if I left, what would happen?

I was talking to Tifa about her one of those nights that she was wired. Tifa didn't mind me talking about her, as long as I didn't talk about how it pertained to her and me. I never really understood that part, but I think it had something to do with the way that Tifa used to feel about me, and, when we were kids, I her.

I mentioned to her if she thought there was any way that she could come back, and she just stared at me," Cloud, Aeris died. There's no coming back."

I nodded," You're probably right, but what if there is a way and I just need to find it?"

Tifa was looking at me strangely, with a look on her face that could be construed as pity. I sighed and lay back on her couch, looking at the ceiling.

"Her mother was a Cetra, as was she. They were different from you and me; maybe they can come back."

"I think there was a difference between Ifalna and Aeris, you know, as being a Cetra goes. Aeris mentioned to me once that she was only half Cetra. Her father was like us."

"Her father.wasn't that Dr. Gast?"

Tifa cocked her head," How do you know that?"

I sat up and thought for a moment," I saw it in the video reports in the snow village up north, remember? In that laboratory."

"Yeah, I remember now. That was such a sweet little place, too. I'd like to go back there someday." Tifa smiled and hugged a pillow.

"Dr. Gast, he worked for Shinra. Did a lot of things for them. Maybe there would be something in his reports about the Cetra. If he was married to one, then it makes sense."

Tifa nodded, but didn't say anything. Her smile was gone, and she was looking down at her hands.

"I need to find out more about Dr. Gast. But how?"

Tifa looked up at me," Why don't you ask Vincent?"

"Vincent? Why him?" I turned don my side and looked at her, thinking about the somber man that we traveled with. He had worked for Shinra a long time ago, before they made him into an immortal monster that slept in the basement of the Shinra Mansion in my hometown of Nibelheim.

"He used to work for Shinra. I think he knew Dr. Gast personally."

I nodded and stood, "I should go, then."

Tifa looked down and drew her legs to her.

"I'm sorry, Tif'. I need to find out anything I can. I'll come back, though, I promise."

Tifa nodded, but did not look up.

"When's your show?"

Tifa stood and went into the kitchen, me following close behind," Two months. I've saved you a ticket. Will you be back to see it?"

I smiled," You know I will."

Tifa filled a glass with water and leaned back on her sink," Cloud, I don't like you running off like this in your condition."

"Tifa," I said," I've got to. I should leave in the morning. I'll buy a ticket at the station and leave town, and I'll find a way straight to Nibelheim."

"Do you have enough money? I could loan you some Gil."

"No, I'm alright, but thanks. Thanks for everything, Tifa."

Tifa smiled and took a drink, afterwards saying," I'm your friend for a reason, Cloud. I just can't seem to remember why."

I laughed at that and bid her goodnight, once again giving myself over to the dreams.