Hey, thanks for sticking with me. I love ya all.

DigitalJessie, welcome back!

Lora Helen…threaten cloud all ya want! I never ever liked him…though he was kick ass in Kingdom Hearts.

Lunachan579: I'm sure Lora Helen would allow you to borrow some of her baked beans to eat me with, I'll bring the toast…mmmm, beans and toast…

Ku1, I know, I got writers block and I got plot bunnies nibbling on toes!

Well, to all, I hope this is okay…

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He could hear voices, the weight of his sins being lifted from his tired and battered body. If he could have, he would have shook his head, thinking it was just his imagination.

His sins couldn't be lifted, they were far to heavy and numerous. He had made another sin by thinking that he could love another. Thinking he could be loved.

No matter how hard Chaos would try to convince him, Cid did not love him. It didn't matter how many times Chaos pulled the scene on the Highwind back to his memory. If he had, he would never have stayed on the surface, he would fought his way down here. So much for the statement, "I'll never leave you."

One of the voices were filled with sorrow, regret, pain and anger. Who were the simple yet powerful emotions aimed at?

"…not le…n…way in the…" the voice kept jumping from clarity to silence.

He wanted to run to the voice, a part of him really did but the cynical and bitter half of him wanted nothing of it. Wanted to keep him buried in the sins and pain.

Again, he closed his mind off. Shutting away the pain and tears he could feel building in his frame and red eyes. The cynical part of him was winning and slowly he could feel his fight for his life lessen.

Never give up Vincent. Don't ever give up, a female voice cried out from the darkness.

Never give up? Hah…that's funny, the cynical Vincent laughed sourly, you know, I don't think I've heard anything so funny in my life. No…wait. Yeah I have, Cid saying he loves ya and would never leave you.

Please…stop. Let me die in peace, Vincent begged, Let me have the peace I rightfully deserve.

"Don'…up. Don't even think…" the voice sounded louder, more urgent than what it had a few minutes ago.

A painful cough was caught in his throat, he was to tired to try moving anything. When he had done it the last time, all he was granted with was failure.

He allowed his mind to drift off, allowing it to take him to a place of darkness and warmth. Perhaps he might even meet his parents? Was his mind allowing him to go?

After a few minutes he opened his eyes. Surprised to find that he wasn't buried under a pile of rocks but instead he was standing in a grassy field. He could still feel the heavy weight of the rocks on his chest but that was fading fast. The musty and dank smell of the cave replaced with the fresh air. The sun beat down, bird song filled the air.

"This is a nice place," Aeris stepped into view, "I'm a little surprised that it came from your mind. I always thought that all you had bumpin around in there was bats and dark and dingy places."

Vincent said nothing, it hadn't came from his mind. It came from the memories of his friend. The blonde captain who had shared his childhood memories. Cid had told him about this, how his childhood had been a rather happy little affair. Long warm summer days, grassy fields and playing two man hunt with his friends until the farmers chased them out of the field.

"Vincent?" Aeris sat down in the warm grass, "You're giving up, aren't you?"

"I'm tired," was all he whispered, "and I hurt…"

Aeris tugged on a stray lock of her auburn hair, her green eyes closing to block out the sun. She looked peaceful and serene, like she had when she fell at the hands of Sephiroth.

"Just let me go," Vincent sat wearily beside her, his eyes lowered and focused on a single blade of grass.

"It's not that I don't want to," Aeris raised her eyes to a distant hill, a sad smile on her face, "but we both know that there is a small part of you that wants to live. A small part of you who knows that Cid and the others are waiting for you."

"Cid doesn't love me," Vincent cried out, "If he did, he would of commanded the second team. He would of joined the team for our final mission."

Aeris took his face in her soft hands, her eyes softening. She knew how much he was hurting but the old saying sprang to mind.

You gotta be cruel to be kind.

She took one hand off his face and pointed to a spot a few hundred feet away. The young flower girl looked deep into his eyes and made them follow hers until they reached the same spot.

The scene shifted for him, making him feel dizzy and disorientated. He closed his eyes, wishing for this surreal nightmare was over. Wishing for his promised land.

"Open your eyes," Aeris whispered.

"I'm afraid to…" he offered in the same timid whisper.

He was greeted with the energetic and happy atmosphere of Corel. The night of the party, the night Cid had threatened to end his life.

He didn't know why he said what he did, perhaps it was because he was hurt?

"I should have let him jump," Vincent breathed, "Saved myself the hassle."

The young flower girl from the slums stood up and headed down towards the party. Her pink dress fluttering slightly in the wind. She turned round, a smile gracing her face.

"Ya coming or what?" she called back.

Vincent raised an eyebrow, he remained seated. Why should he even bother? He knew what was going to happen, knew that Cid had screamed at him. The situation hadn't been resolved, merely brushed under the table and never straying to far from the surface of the relationship.

"I wasn't asking Vincent. I was politely telling you," Aeris placed her hands on her hips.

Vincent slowly get to his feet and moved towards her, " You're the ghost of Christmas past huh?"

"Good to see you've discovered a sense of humour," Aeris countered, "Come on, let's go eavesdropping."

The pair made their way down to the party, Vincent was about to open his mouth when a vision of the past walked through him. As cold shiver ran through him.

This is my life now…I am a ghost, watching people…Vincent hid the sad smile that threatened to emerge.

Aeris quickened her pace, her movements full of purpose and elegant. This girl, Vincent surmised, had a mission of some sorts.

He caught sight of himself with Yuffie, the younger teen's face the interesting shade of green. That had been a few moments before he had found Cid.

He never did determine what exactly had happened to her after that, he vaguely recalled a young woman aiding the ninja to a quiet spot somewhere.

"Almost there," Aeris tugged on his flesh hand, "Come on."

The former Turk allowed Aeris to lead him to the small tram lift. Not once did the smile on her face falter.

He was amazed, this young woman had faced her death without whining. She had actually went to her death alone, not afraid of the consequences or of Sephiroth and here he was, wanting to give up.

He bumped into her as she stopped, getting a mouthful of her hair. Again he could see himself grabbing Cid with both his arms. Seeing how easily he pulled him back to the ledge and stumble back. The words that had been said…

"Are you totally insane?!" Vincent hissed as he pulled Cid towards himself tightly.

The blonde struggled against him, "Let me go!"

"No!"

Cid pushed Vincent off him, a mixture of pain and hurt evident. The blonde rubbed his face tiredly, his blue eyes glazed over.

"Why not?" Cid replied in a scarily childlike voice, "I screw up, I screw everything up."

"Jumping off this cliff is not the way to go," Vincent quickly glanced at the ledge, could he catch the blonde again if he dove off?

"Why the hell not?! Like I said before, how come ya'll can act like three year olds? Ya know? Storm off or sulk when the feeling takes ya but not okay for me?" Cid exploded, "You don't know who the hell I am!"

"Like you know who I am?" Vincent shot back.

Vincent closed his eyes, he had acted like a two year old with the captain. Throwing whatever emotion the blonde was having right back at him. He said nothing as he watched Cid throw a punch…

Vincent easily dodged the blow and pinned the blonde to the ground, "If you want to die that badly Highwind, I can do it right here."

Cid said nothing as Vincent pulled out his weapon, his blue eyes wide with fear.

"It's what you want, isn't it?" Vincent whispered, fighting back the urge to cry.

The former Turk held his breath, waiting for an answer. He glanced quickly up and caught Barret staring slack jawed and wide eyed. Vincent did nothing but returned his attention to the blonde currently pinned against the dusty ground.

"Isn't it?!" Vincent pushed.

"…no…" Cid whispered, "No it's not."

Vincent slowly got off his lover, slowly re-holstering his weapon. He turned away, trying to compose himself before talking to the Shin-Ra captain.

Cid slowly sat up, shame emanating from him. It took him a few attempts to even look at Vincent's back without looking away.

"I'm…I…" he sighed tiredly.

Faithfully, Vincent sat down beside Cid and put an arm around him. He pulled the blonde closer and sniffed back tears.

"Life is incredibly unfair," Vincent said softly, "When you think you have a grip on things, something changes it."

Gently, Cid rested his head on Vincent's chest. He could hear Vincent's heartbeat race. He ignored the music going on from behind them and just focused on the silence between them.

"What do we do now?" Cid broke the silence, he closed his eyes when Vincent tenderly kissed the top of his head.

"…In my experience," Vincent paused, looking for the right words, "I think we should…I think we should just muddle on by and pray for the best."

Pray for the best? Vincent looked at the image, the situation right now is dire.

Aeris crossed her arms, "We should just pray for the best huh?"

Vincent closed his eyes, "What do you suggest we do then?"

"Let me do the praying," Aeris stated.

Vincent opened one eye and peered at her through his dark fringe. A look of scepticism on his face.

"What should we do?" he asked.

Aeris gave him a large grin, "Live, love. Do everything that Hojo took from you. Do you really want the things you love to die?"

"Are you or are you not the same Vincent Valentine who swore that you would live forever? Swore that you would see all the stars burn out long before the reaper comes a knockin on your door?" Aeris changed the scene to the night he had made that vow. The stars shining brightly.

"…he died that night," Vincent gazed at the sky.

"No," Aeris shook her head, "He hasn't. He's taking the easy way out, he doesn't want to get hurt."

The former Turk shook his head, "No…not true."

"Let me show you something," Aeris once again changed the settings, the stars joining together and forming white clouds. The buildings of Nibelhiem morphed into the small cottages of Rocket Town.

"Let me tell you the tale of Cid Highwind or rather, let me introduce you to Megan," Aeris made a elegant sweeping motion with her arm and the entire area became full of the towns people.

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