Sorry to like the two people that read this for the lack of updates. We just adopted a new doggy from the ASPCA, plus my professors have been loading me down with work. Anywhoo, here's chapter 16, one more to go! As always, thanks for the reviews.

Chapter 16: There's a Place for Us

Aeris knelt beside Cloud on the Highwind as they sped back to Midgar to get him help. She didn't have any Healing Materia on her, and she cursed herself for it. But she couldn't think of that. She had to concentrate. She was a healer. She could do it, she knew she could…. She closed her eyes, letting her hands hover over his wound. Concentrate… concentrate… Mom, help me…

A beautiful voice filled Aeris's mind. "I'm so proud of you, sweetheart."

"Thanks, Mom." Aeris thought. "I need your help, and the help of the Lifesteam to save him."

"Who is this boy?"

"He's very special to me."

"You love him."

"I do." She thought with her whole heart. She always knew it, it was pretty obvious.

There was a long pause. "Sweetheart, you can't stay with him on the planet."

Aeris's eyes filled with tears. Somehow she knew her and Cloud's love was destined to fail, but hearing the words broke her heart. Small tears crept out of her closed eyes.

"Does that mean it's working?" Yuffie whispered to Vincent, her nails dug in his arm anxiously.

"Shh!" Vincent snapped.

"I'm sorry, darling, but you must bring us Sephiroth's body immediately so this cannot happen again."

"Give me at least a day with him, please." Aeris begged. "Let me say goodbye."

"Alright," The voice sighed, "You have thirty six hours."

The voice went silent, and Aeris felt energy forming in her hands.

Aeris grasped Cloud's hand as he lie sleeping. Due to her help, he wasn't in a coma, the medic had used Healing Materia on him to patch him up and let him sleep. Aeris ruffled his bangs with her free hand and kissed his forehead. "I'm here," She whispered. "I'm not leaving you again."

There was a soft knock on the door, and the medic stuck his head in. "I've notified the others, they're on their way."

"How's he doing?"

The medic nodded, "His injuries are severe, but not life threatening. He's a strong young man. He'll pull through."

Aeris knew her time was short, that any minute, everyone would come bursting in through the door. Aeris looped her fingers through his, closed her eyes, and concentrated.

Cloud was somewhere… different. He opened his eyes, and yellow and green filled his vision. Beautiful yellow flowers were everywhere. He got to his feet, and looked around. Nothing but flowers as far as the eye could see. Was he dead?

"Cloud."

He turned and found Aeris walking up to him.

"Aeris! Aeris, where are we?"

She locked eyes with the ground, and was silent a moment before whispering, "Our place."

"Our pl--- Aeris, is this--- it can't be---"

"The Promised Land?" She asked, and he nodded. "Yes. Beautiful, isn't it?"

"But how are we here?"

"You're not dead," She closed the distance between them, and took his hand. "This… this is the only place I'll have you. I just wanted to be with you."

He touched her face. "Why is this the only place you'll have me?"

She avoided his eyes. "How are you feeling?"

"You're avoiding my question."

"Cloud, what does it matter? We're together now, aren't we?"

"It matters because this is just a dream. No matter how beautiful this place is, it's just a dream."

Aeris's eyes filled with tears, "Just a dream? Is that all I am to you?"

Cloud sighed, "You were never a dream to me. You were my light, and you still are. I fucked up so bad! I never made SOLDIER… I could never be Zack!"

"But I never wanted you to be Zack!" Aeris cried. "I wanted you, I've always wanted you from the moment I met you."

Cloud cupped Aeris's face. "It's always been you."

They kissed sweetly.

"Cloud, can you hear me?"

He knew that voice, though it wasn't Aeris's. She looked at him with sad eyes. "It's time to go back."

"You have to hear me, you have to pull through!"

"Who is that?" Cloud asked.

"Come on," Aeris said softly, and took his hands.

His eyes opened, and he was lying in a hospital bed, surrounded by everyone including a pale little girl with dark brown hair and wide eyes. Marlene was sitting on Tifa's lap, a concerned expression on her young face.

"Hey." Cloud moaned.

"How're you feeling?" Aeris asked.

"Better. What am I…" He stopped himself, remembering when he plunged his Buster into himself. Well, technically, he hadn't done it. He looked down and saw that his abdomen was bandaged. "How long have I been here?"

"Couple hours," Aeris replied. "We're all here, Cloud. It's all okay, like you said it would be." She smiled.

He smiled too. Marlene reached out and grabbed his hand. "Hi, Cloud!" She bellowed.

"Shhhh!" Tifa said, "Not too loud, okay?"

"Hey, kiddo." He replied.

Barrett nodded his head to the door. "Let's let 'im get some sleep."

"Still in bed? I was on my feet, and I was shot." Tifa smiled at him. "Good to see you're okay."

Reno saluted to him, Yuffie winked, Barrett grabbed a babbling Marlene, Cid gave a smirk, and Vincent swooped out of the room, leaving him alone with Aeris.

"Was that place real?" He asked her as she pushed her chair closer to the bed.

Aeris nodded, "It's where… it's where I've been living the past two years with my mother."

"What's it like?"

"Heaven." She whispered. "Everyone in your memories is there."

Cloud avoided her eyes. "What's it like to die, Aeris?"

Aeris reached over and lifted his face. "It's the most sad and beautiful moment I've ever experienced…"

She was cut short when the door opened, and a nurse stuck her head in, "I'm sorry, Miss, visiting hours are over. I have to check his vitals."

"Okay." Aeris got to her feet, and gave Cloud a quick kiss.

"I don't want you to leave." Cloud said.

"She can come back tomorrow." The nurse said.

Aeris gave her a look, "I'll be here in the morning, you get some rest." She turned to go.

"Aeris," He called her back.

She turned.

"I--- thank you."

She winked at him. "Good night."

Cloud slumped back on his pillows.

A few days later, Cloud was released from the hospital, and Avalanche was getting ready to throw a party over the defeat of Geostigma. Yuffie insisted on a party, which quickly got Marlene insisting too. It seemed not only they wanted to throw a party, the whole planet was. There was dancing in the streets, stores closing early, and a girl with big green eyes that would be leaving it all behind. There was a knock on her door. "Come in," She said.

Cloud walked into the room.

"Hey!" She gushed. "I was just coming to check on you. You're not bleeding anymore, are you?"

"No, no, I feel great."

Aeris grabbed his hands, and squeezed them. "Are you hungry?"

"Starved."

Aeris and Cloud met Yuffie and Barrett in the hallway, and trudged down the stairs into the kitchen. Cloud opened the door, froze, and his jaw dropped.

There were limbs flying everywhere as Tifa and Reno had their tongues down each other's throats.

Barrett made a loud coughing noise, and Tifa looked up in surprise. Reno crossed his arms and walked out of the room to leave her to explain.

Tifa felt Cloud staring at her, and blushed, looking away.

"You like that fuck?" Barrett asked her.

"How'd his breakfast taste?" Yuffie asked with a grin.

"Oh, all of you mind your own business!" Tifa said, and turned to the stove. "What do you want for breakfast?"

"I'll help." Aeris told her.

"Thank you, Aeris." Tifa replied.

"I want what Reno had!" Cid said with a smirk which got a grin from Cloud, and a frown from Barrett.

Aeris couldn't believe it. She was back with her friends, back home. Aeris wandered the party alone, the party for Geostigma being defeated. She saw Tifa there. Tifa was busy fixing Marlene's hair. She walked up to Tifa, who hadn't noticed her yet. Marlene grinned up at her.

"Welcome back, Little One." Aeris told her.

"Thank you!" Marlene squeaked, and pulled away from Tifa to hug Aeris. She then scampered off. Tifa caught Reno's eye, and walked off to find him.

"Now there's a happy party goer if I ever saw one," Vincent Valentine said as he sat down next to Aeris.

"I don't belong here," Aeris told him.

"Why?" Vincent asked.

"I can't stay here with Cloud. Tomorrow, when we bring Sephiroth… I have to go back."

Vincent gave a sullen nod, "How long have you known?"

"Since the final battle." Aeris turned to Cloud, who was on the dance floor, dancing with Marlene on his toes. "I love him," She said. "I love him so much, but I have to set him free."

"Go to him," Vincent whispered. "You should spend what precious time you have together."

Aeris squeezed his hand. "You're right." She made her way slowly onto the dance floor, and over to Cloud. Cloud looked down at Marlene, "How about you take a break and go get some cake?"

Marlene smiled, and ran off.

Aeris circled her arms around Cloud's neck, and kissed his nose. She didn't want to full the air with her sorrows, she just wanted to have this last day with him, full of happy memories. Her head was moving to the music. "So, are you going to ask me to dance or what?"

"Why? Do you see someone that wants to dance?"

"Come on!" She grinned, and pulled his arms around her waist.

"I can't dance." He said with a shrug.

"Anyone can dance, even you. You just move to the beat." She twirled her arms widely.

He couldn't help but laugh. "Would you stand still a minute? There's something I want to say."

Aeris stopped moving, and behaved. "What?"

Cloud reached out, and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "I… I love you, Aeris."

Aeris's eyes filled with tears. What should have been the most wonderful words to hear, filled her with a deep sadness. "I love you too, Cloud." But I can't stay here with you and be happy. It's what she was thinking, it's what she should have told him. Instead, she kissed him, wanting to stay with him forever, and knowing she couldn't.