The worst chapter. If there are any typos or anything in this bit, I'm sorry, but I just can't proof read it. I can't. I'm such a wuss.

Oh, and you angst whores out there? NOW would be a good time to play My Immortal by Evanescence. Oh yeah, and make sure you dispose of any razor blades/pills lying around. Hehe. ^_^;

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A month passed, and Vincent slowly deteriorated. Neither of them understood why it was taking so long, but they felt blessed with each new morning that they were able to hold each other one more time.

Soon, Vincent could only walk with the aid of crutches as his muscle fibre was weakening, but he made the most of what mobility he still had. Eating was difficult as he found it increasingly hard to keep food down without vomiting.

His lungs had started to fill with fluid and he often coughed up lumps of clotting blood.

Despite all this, Cid found him still more cheerful than before that rainy day in Gongaga, so long ago... when Aeris was still alive.

Cid tried so hard to be brave in front of Vincent, he couldn't show the fear and pain he held inside, though he was sure Vincent was able to see it. Vincent was special that way.

Vincent acted brave for Cid, too.

He had to admit to himself the fear he felt, too. He didn't think that he would be frightened when he was first diagnosed, but now he was. He only felt safe in Cid's arms.

Poor Cid never felt safe. Whenever he sat by Vincent's bedside while he slept, every now and then he would check that Vincent's chest was still rising and falling. Constantly afraid that he would leave him without saying one last goodbye...

He cried a lot. Shera saw him sometimes, sitting in the kitchen, sobbing like a child when Vincent was resting upstairs. He never cried in front of Vincent.

If he saw Shera when he was crying, he would yell at her, tell her to leave him alone.  

She did as she was told, but she understood well enough why he got so mad. He was afraid.

Shera felt sad, too. She had really gotten to know Vincent in the month he had stayed with them, and she knew all about his and the captain's relationship. Vincent had a good, kind soul, and he lit up the captain's heart...Which was also a reason as to why she felt for them so much. The pain they must be feeling is unconceivable, she often thought. They needed each other so much.

Both of them finally found love with each other after each being so lonely and hurt, then tragedy like this tearing them away from each other... and what greater barrier was there than death?

Their old Avalanche team members, even Yuffie and Cait Sith came to visit when they heard, and Vincent made sure he looked his utmost whenever they came round, not wanting to look ill in front of his old friends.

They were all so kind... He saw tears in Tifa's eyes. She was losing another friend, as were they all... first Aeris, and now...

None of them liked to talk about it. They always spoke of other things, like recent developments in Midgar and Cosmo Canyon, Marlene's grades at school, jokes, stories and news of other places they had visited once.

Cloud had changed in the time Vincent had seen him last; his eyes didn't glow anymore and he seemed more... human. The Jenova had left him, too, but he had been alive when injected. He was better; normal. The Jenova cells in Cloud hadn't been keeping him from fading away.

The visitors came and went. Cid remained always by his side.

Summer turned into the crisp chill of Autumn, and Vincent made his last trip outside on a walk into a nearby wood with Cid.

They talked quietly, smiling and laughing softly as they discussed old times beneath the red and gold falling leaves.

Vincent limped on with his crutches, Cid helping him over ditches every now and then, with frequent rests to allow Vincent a respite.

Both were wrapped up well against the chill, resting against a large oak tree that shed its golden leaves onto them as they rested.

"Do you remember..." Vincent said quietly after coughing a little into a handkerchief. "The first time... I said that I loved you?" He smiled, his breathing a little difficult.

Cid laughed softly, putting his arms around Vincent's shoulders. "Yeah. I remember. I was so happy... I thought that you didn't care."

"I did care... I cared ever since that day in Gongaga, even though I might not have realised it at the time. I can't thank you enough, Cid, you gave me so much... You made me realise that what happened, back then... was unstoppable. I couldn't live on with that guilt hanging over me forever. You made me free."

Cid sighed and rested his temple to Vincent's. "I love you."

"I know..." Vincent whispered. "I know..." He said it with such feeling, because he meant it. He knew Cid loved him and he felt exactly the same back. "You are my life, Cid. I am eternally grateful to any god that crossed your path with mine. Even though we haven't had long, we made what we could out of it, didn't we?"

Cid squeezed him tight. "Yeah. we did."

He felt Vincent's weight sink into his arms. "I'm tired..." He heard Vincent whisper against his chest. "I really enjoyed today... thank you so much for giving it to me. But I think we should... go home now... I just need a little sleep."

"Okay, Vin." Cid whispered, kissing his head. He helped Vincent to his feet, but Vincent was too tired to walk anymore. Cid lifted Vincent's slight weight and carried his crutches under one arm, making his way out of the wood and back home to rocket town. He felt Vincent's thin hands stroking his neck softly as he walked, and felt the little warm breaths against his neck and he smiled gently. Somehow, he knew that it would be Vincent's last time outside.   

Vincent had lost a lot of weight, and weighed no more now than a child. Cid easily carried him home, and up to bed. He laid Vincent gently on the bed, unwrapping the scarf and coat from his lean frame, then taking off his boots and pulling the covers over him. He looked so fragile.

Vincent opened his eyes and smiled at Cid, his very breathing an effort. "I'm just... going to sleep... a little while..." with that he closed his eyes and was almost instantly asleep. Cid pulled up a chair by the bedside and sat down, holding Vincent's weak, pale hand. He stroked it absently and looked out of the window, listening to the quiet sound of Vincent's breathing.

"Captain! I'm home!" Shera came in through the front door. She had bought the weekly food supplies from the grocery store and put them down on the kitchen table, unwinding her scarf from round her neck. "Captain?" She went up the stairs.

She realised that he would probably be with Vincent, watching over him. He hadn't left his side since they had returned from their walk yesterday, it seemed that Vincent was now too weak to move much anymore, so Cid stayed with him.

She entered the room where Vincent was lying, and saw Cid standing at the window, staring out of it.

"Captain..." She looked at Vincent's pale, thin form lying unmoving in the bed. "Captain, is he..." She started softly.

"No." Said Cid, not moving his eyes from the window.

"But how do you know? You haven't moved from that window!" Shera said quietly.

"I know, Shera... 'cos he wouldn't leave without sayin' goodbye."

Shera smiled, lowering her head. Tears formed in her eyes. "I... I know he wouldn't."

Cid looked over at Vincent's sleeping form. "Shera... go put the shopping away. I'll be down soon."

Shera nodded. "Of course." She looked at Vincent for a long moment before turning and leaving the room.

Cid smiled at Vincent and sat on his chair beside the bed. Vincent slowly opened his eyes, coming awake.

"Hi..." Vincent murmured, his lips barely moving and his voice barely audible. His breathing was almost a wheeze now.

"Hey." Cid stroked his hair, looking into Vincent's hazy eyes.

Vincent returned his gaze, nothing but unspoken love passing between them for a long time. Vincent eventually broke the reverie.

"I have to go now..." He whispered.

Cid nodded, his eyes filling with tears. "I know, baby..." he whispered back.

"Don't... don't put me... back in a coffin..." Vincent whispered. "I want to go where Aeris went... can you give me to the sea..?"

Cid nodded. "Of course..." He held back his sobs. He couldn't bear this. It wasn't happening.

"Thank you." Vincent murmured, barely audible. "And..." he did his best to stare deep into Cid's tormented eyes. "Remember... that I will always love you... I will... be with you... forever..." Cid squeezed his hand. "Don't... forget me..." his pale lips managed to turn up into a smile, his eyelids slowly closing.

"I'll keep you with me, always... I love you so much... so much..." Cid whispered meaningfully, tears rolling down his face. "Goodbye, baby... be safe, until we meet again..." He laid a gentle, loving kiss on Vincent's forehead.

He was gone.

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