Thanks for bearing with the wait. If you've checked out my profile then yah, you'd know that I had this story pretty much written out; however it got to a point where it went downhill to quick form e and so i scraped pretty much the whole thing with the exception of the first couple of chapters. So yah, some of this was fixing it and winging it. Thank you to all who reviewed. I pray i get more…I was ready fort his chapter to upload on the 24th…go figure huh, but then since fanfiction was having problems, I decide to add some things and such, so without further adue, her eis chapter 6.

That Fateful Moment: Getting over Cloud

It had been a week and a half since we had left the inn back in Nibelheim. The sky was constantly concealed by clouds throughout the journey and the rain fell hard, soaking all who dared walk outside. The ground was muddy and quite slippery making our journey ever the more slow and difficult. Recently we reached a small town, and decided to stay to take shelter from all the rain and stock up on our supplies. We were amazed by the giant rocket that stood, tilted about 30 degrees, in the centre of the town. Cloud had asked a person passing by the name of the town that we were in and we were once again shocked to find that they had named the town, Rocket Town.

I had become very well acquainted with everyone in the group during the time. And figured out, that like myself, all had some sort of bad run in with Shin-Ra, like myself. And even though all were quite good friends, I found there to be more friendliness with Aeris, Red and believe it or not Barret.

Tifa was often sitting and talking with Cloud. Pressing up against him as much as she could and fixing her shirt so that her breast nearly fell out, making Cloud basically drool over her. I could only think to myself that she was no more than a slut. I would often sit outside at night, when it was not raining; trying to see if the clouds would part to show the stars, for I hadn't seen them in quite some time. More than once I saw Tifa sneak out of her tent and into Cloud's while the rest were asleep. After the first time, I learned to walk away since stifled moans would be heard. This only helped me come to my conclusion that Tifa was a no more than a slut. And Cloud, good as a leader he was, was no more than a man after sex.

Cait Sith was another case. I would often catch him glancing over at me and small muffled sounds would come not long later. All I knew from him was that he was a fortune teller from Gold saucer, and the only reason he came along was because he had spit out a fortune for the group that was a little disturbing. And then Yuffie often ran around talking, and sometimes annoying, all she bumped into… not much more you could expect from a 16-year-old Wutain run away. As the week progressed I tried to find out more about Aeris. What I found out shocked me. She had lost her mother when she was very little, and Shin-Ra had been after her all her life. What had surprised me a little more was that I had actually seen her happy face come to tears one day. Red told me that she got like that sometimes because Cloud was completely oblivious to the fact that she existed. The connection was made instantly. Aeris liked Cloud. I felt my heart sink into the bitter abyss it was once in before she graced my mansion doorstep. Now currently I was going through another depression. I should have known…things never go the way I wished they would. I wouldn't get to know Aeris the way I would. After that I often wondered what the hell I was doing following along. However, no matter how much I thought about turning back, something kept pushing me to follow… to late to go back.

The rain had finally stopped however the clouds still covered the sky. We stood in the town for a little while trying to decide what to do next. The day was beginning to grow late and we would either have to stay in the town, or move on. Cloud finally decided that it would be best if we all had a goodnights sleep in warm beds, instead of the tents outside in the rain again.

Aeris had gone into the inn to reserve rooms for all of us, while Cloud, Barret and Tifa walked around to see if they could find out about the rocket and why it was in the town. Yuffie, Cait, and Red went to go and take a look at the rocket itself. Well, Cait said that he needed to take a look at the rocket, Yuffie wanted to go and explore the rocket, and Red followed to make sure Yuffie wouldn't cause any trouble. I was left alone to do what I pleased so I followed Aeris into the inn. I walked inside and the first thing I saw was Aeris sitting on a sofa, crying her eyes out. Her hands covered her face and she sobbed loudly, as the old innkeeper paced back and forth nervously, looking around desperately for help, when his eyes had found me he jumped.

"Are You a friend of hers?" I nodded. "Oh thank God! I have no idea what happened. One minute she was just fine, putting the keys to the rooms she had just reserved in her bag and the next thing she falls onto the couch and begins to cry. I tried my best to comfort her, but she only keeps crying more and more. Hopefully you can help her…I need to go outside, this panic is too much for me in my old days." The innkeeper walked outside and I was left alone in the foyer with Aeris. I stood there for a little while not knowing what I could possibly do to help wipe her tears away. I had never had to do something like this before but it tore me apart to see her crying like this and all I wanted to do was make her feel better. I put my depression aside for a couple minutes, Aeris was the one who needed help now, and I would try my best to give it to her. I slowly walked over to the sobbing form of Aeris and placed my hand on her shoulder to let her know that I was there. She jumped back in surprise for a minute; I suppose she had not known I was there. For a moment she sat there looking at me, her eyes were red and puffy and tears streamed down her cheeks. She wiped away the current tears streaming down her face and tried to stop the current ones. All I wanted to do was make everything better for her; to make the pain go away; to stop those tears for her and bring her radiant smile back to her face.

"What's wrong Aeris?" She hiccupped and tried to speak, however her words caught in her chest and came out as a sob as she began to cry again.

"OH VINCENT!" I slowly wrapped my arms around her not knowing what else to do. She continued to cry for quite a while, as we stayed in this position which, regardless of the situation, had aroused the attention of my member below. It was quite a while after when she released her hold and sat back. I was thankful when she did for I started to calm down a bit. She wiped her eyes and tried to laugh. "Sorry… I… I don't know what came over me." I looked at her for some time before breaking the silence by asking the question again. I figured that, that would be the best place to start; figuring out what was wrong so I could mend the wound in her heart. I was so unaccustomed to helping others.

"What's the matter Aeris?" She only shook her head.

"Nothing. I'm fine." I felt a smile come to my lips and I half laughed.

"Like I'm really gonna believe that after the performance you just put on." Aeris smiled and then giggled a bit, as she wiped away the tears currently forming in her eyes. God, she looked beautiful even sad. Before I knew it my lower member was starting to wake again and I found myself struggling to keep it down. I'm glad she never noticed otherwise that would've been an embarrassing explanation.

"Yah… Like I said, I have no idea what came over me."

"Well something obviously did, otherwise you wouldn't be like this. What's wrong?"

"… You'll think I'm such a baby if I say."

"Really? You think I'll think that? I just seen you crying your eyes out and I still don't think you're a baby. Come on, try me." Aeris sighed and stared off into the distance, apparently deep in thought. After what seemed like an eternity she sighed again and turned to me.

"Well, you see… for awhile now… I… I've had feelings for …Cloud." She stopped and looked at me nervously. I only motioned for her to continue, hiding my emotions. Showing anger at the moment would not help Aeris' situation. "Well… Cloud has never even bothered to look my way. He's always…always going for Tifa over me." She stopped once again taking a rather shaky breath in, trying to fight back another fit of tears. "And, well Cloud pretty much ignores the fact that I even exist. Then he's always drooling over Tifa… which" She stopped, and took another shaky breath in. It took her a couple of minutes to regain composure before she continued on. "… Which… makes me think sometimes… that… tha-" Aeris lost control of her emotions and now her tears now fell freely from her eyes. She covered her face and through her sobs and slight hiccups, tried her best to continue. "Th-That I'm n-not w-w-womanly enough or th-that I'm not as m-mature or th-that I'm not b-b-beautiful or-"

"Don't you ever say that Aeris!" I found the words rushing out of my mouth. I couldn't take Aeris putting herself down that much, especially when she was a million times more beautiful than Tifa. "Don't you ever say that you are not beautiful Aeris, because you are…" Aeris, removed her hands from her face. Her puffy red eyes turned to look at me apparently a little shocked that I had told her different. It was my turn to take a deep breath in and continue. "Can I tell you something?" Aeris only nodded not being able to get the words out. "I've only been here a little over a week… a week and a half, and I've been getting to know the group better and better each day. And honestly, would you like to know what I think of Cloud and Tifa?" Aeris nodded. "Well it's not pretty I'll tell you that. What I find with Tifa, is that she is, more or less, a flat out whore. Not like a woman at all. A woman would not try to flaunt her body parts to a man just to get him to drool over her. A mature woman would not do that. And as for beautiful, that she may be, but you Aeris, are just as…no… MORE beautiful than she. And honestly, if you think yourself childish, I say you're crazy." Aeris laughed. "You're mature when you need to be and that's all anyone can ask. Tifa however, well… she's, in my view, a horrible woman. Hardly any more mature than a greedy spoiled two year old little girl." Aeris laughed again. "Now Cloud… Cloud isn't any better. What I derived from him, is that what he's looking for, is someone he can fuck whenever he pleases. Sorry for my language but people like that really piss me off." Aeris nodded.

"You never did like Cloud did you?" I only shook my head.

"Can't say I really did to tell you the truth. And you see, Tifa, well Tifa is ready and willing to jump on top of him whenever he wants. Like I said, she's a whore, and currently …Cloud's bitch. That is why Cloud goes for her… because she's an easy fuck. You, Aeris, on the other hand… are much, much better than that. And I think Cloud sees this. He sees that you are not like Tifa and that you won't give him what he would like to have everyday. So he finds that a turn off and that makes him a horrible man. And to me Aeris, I'm glad that a woman like you is not with a man like Cloud to tell you the truth. Because you deserve much better than him. Honestly, is Cloud really worth all this trouble? Is he really worth those tears you shed? He's a great leader, however for a boyfriend; I think he needs to learn that he can't be the way he is now." Aeris sat in silence for quite some time after, digesting all that I had said. At one point, I thought I had made things worse when her facial expression showed that of grief, but it soon turned into a smile.

"You know Vincent… you're right. I guess… I guess I was blinded by… by girlish jealousy. Much so that I didn't see what was right in-front of me all along. The more I think about it, the more clear things become. It's hard to believe however the facts are right before my eyes. Cloud seemed so… I don't know…I guess appealing since he helped my that day in Midgar. But then I met Tifa and knew something would go between them. I just didn't want to believe it. He was so like my old boyfriend that I thought… he might treat me the same as he did before he disappeared. But Cloud is Cloud I guess." Aeris had a boyfriend before? Not that I found it unbelievable that such a beautiful woman would have never had one, but that little fact was left unsaid by her before. She took a deep breath in… I could tell she was trying to fight back another fit of tears… but why? Slowly tears fell down Aeris' cheeks again, and she held her head down so that no one would see her cry again. "I can't believe I was so stupid! Not being able to see that. Every time I'd try to talk to Cloud, he would end up following Tifa and I'd end up with more heartache. I wasted so much time on something I'd never have…" This time, I placed my hands on her cheeks and wiped away her tears.

"Hey, come on… its alright, there's no need to cry Aeris. Cloud was the stupid one…he went for Tifa over you after all." I couldn't believe what I was doing. Not to mention I was shocked to find how much sympathy came from my voice. I thought I never had the ability to be sympathetic… but like the smiles I had, Aeris brought it out in me. Aeris sniffed, laughed and nodded her head. She lifted her eyes and met mine. Her gaze pierce through my flesh and it felt like she was looking right through me… looking at who I was.

"Thank you Vincent." I smiled as she continued to look deep inside me.

"No problem Aeris." She leaned in and hugged me for quite some time. When she pulled aways, she had no smile or no glitter in her eyes. I sensed the feelings for Cloud slowly dispersing into nothingness, but she was upset with herself. I wished I could've helped, but this was something Aeris needed to fight off in due time. Just as I was about to offer a walk, cause sometimes that would help, the door to the inn burst open and Barret walked in. Aeris, like lightning, wiped the dampness from her face and sat back on the couch. Damnit!

"There ya two are, jeez were ya plannin' on waitin' for hell to freeze o'er before comin' outside or what?" Aeris blushed a bit as she looked up to meet Barrets eyes.

"Sorry Barret…I felt a little weak from all the walking today and I thought I'd take a rest…Vincent was just making sure I was alright." Barret stared at Aeris for a bit.

"You'r eyes are awf'ly red Aeris, have ya been cryin'?" Aeris shook her head and laughed.

"Of course not Barret, I just had something in my eye that's all." Barret only looked at her for a bit before he shook his head and sighed

"Alrigh' if ya say so…but come on, we're all waitin' for ya outside." Barret opened the door and walked back outside. Aeris glanced at me before getting up and following Barret outside. I followed Aeris outside to where the group stood in-front of the rocket.

When we were all together Cloud began speaking of the information he had found out to the rest of the us. I could barely hear his voice over the soft one that began to sing in my head as I looked towards Aeris. She glanced towards me and blushed as I watched her. my heart leapt as she gave me a small smile before turning back to Cloud to hear what he had to say about some pilot that lived in this town before and had something to do with the rocket. When Cloud had finished voicing his findings, Aeris began to hand out the room keys to each of us. She stopped before handing me my room key.

"Thank you again Vincent. I feel much better now." I nodded to her as she handed me my key. 206. Cloud once again spoke up, but this time he was standing with Tifa, his arm around her waist and Tifa's arms hanging off of Cloud's shoulder. I glance over to Aeris to see her facial expression. It at first was one of hurt, and then turned back to normal. It would take a little while before she would fully get over Cloud but that was to be expected.

"Well, since its beginning to get late I think we should all just take the night to relax and enjoy. Well go find the Captain tomorrow and see if he can tell us anything about Shin-Ra." With that Cloud and Tifa disappeared into the inn. Barret laughed loudly.

"Jeez, those two are always goin' to bed early…never wan' to enjoy the nigh' life… not like there's much nigh' life here but still." Barret sighed shook his head and looked around at the rest of the group. "So who wan's to go to the bar with me?" No one had any other idea of what they could do in the small town so all followed Barret into the bar. It was surprisingly very lively. There was a band playing Celtic music as many couples dances along. There was quite a lot of chatter going on and I could distinctly hear some words from conversations close by.

"Friday night was a blast! That was the first time Mark and I…" These two girls were talking and laughing with each other I chose to ignore the rest of the conversation, for my own good.

Barret sat down at the Bar and motioned for the bar tender.

"Yah, Give me a beer and…" Barret looked over to Aeris and me. "What da ya two wan'?" Aeris thought for a second before giving her reply.

"Iced tea please"

"One Iced tea and…" Barret looked at me expectantly.

"Vodka" Barret nodded and gave my order to the bar tender. He looked down at Red sitting on the floor beside him.

"Havin' anythin' tonight Red?" Red shook his head.

"No not tonight thank you Barret." Barret nodded and turned his head, his eyes landed on Cait Sith. Barret laughed.

"Sorry, but Robots can't drink so nothin' for ya." Cait looked at Barret as if he was nuts for even contemplating the fact that he might have actually wanted something to drink in the first place. Yuffie, practically jumping on the counter in front of Barret tried to give her order to the bar tender.

"Yah I'll have a sector 5 mixer with extra-" Barret interrupted Yuffie before she could finish.

"She'll have an iced tea aswell." Yuffie fumed at Barret.

"That's not what I want, I want a-"

"You're 16 years ol' so you're not gonna have anythin' a 16 year ol' shouldn't have got that? Now sit down!" Yuffie reluctantly complied with Barret and sat down on the stool beside him as the bar tender went to get our orders. I sat down beside Aeris as she listened to the music. The bar tender came over to give us our drinks and collet the gill for them. We never said anything for quite sometime. The hours waned and Barret had consumed his 7th beer, and Aeris a second glass of iced tea. Finally Aeris turned tome and spoke.

"So Vincent?" She struggled to find a conversation starter however, Barret, finally hearing one of us speak, came over and began to start the conversation for her. Aeris seemed to be quite relieved at this.

"So ya two have any idea who this Captain guy is?" Aeris shook her head

"I have no idea Barret." Barret laughed.

"Yah, apparently he had a couple run ins with Shin-Ra and fundin' and such. Shin-ra said they would and then just left it, killin' the hopes of this guy." Another person that had trouble with Shin-Ra I thought to myself. A flicker of anger rose in Aeris' eyes.

"They're like a plague, harming all in their way… However if it wasn't for them we would've never met each other and been the good friends we are today. I'm not saying that their good, I'm just saying that they helped in that department."

"Very true, if it wasn't for their ways and such, we all wouldn't have anything to go after right now hence we would have never met each other…and I would still be locked in my room in my coffin." Barret frowned.

"True. I'm happy I met everyone here, but I have ol' scores to settle with Shin-Ra in dealing with my hometown."

"I'm also happy that I was found by you all and I also have an old score to settle with Shin-Ra" Aeris spoke up.

"So do I. I don't know who my parents are because of them. I can remember my mom dying at the train station in Midgar, however I can't remember anything before that." I sensed the conversation on that had reached its end. Barret was determined to keep a healthy conversation going since sitting down and drinking could get quite boring.

"You know…if that Captain guy came with us… that'd be weird huh? I mean, that would make the group… nine people who had lives affected by Shin-Ra traveling together for a cause. I don't think that's ever happened before…" Aeris shook her head.

"Nope, the people of the planet are hardly in harmony with one another. People from here only know Midgar because of Shin-Ra …its unheard of that even as a group of eight, each from different places, have come together. I know I'm not from Midgar, where though, I don't know. Maybe I'll find out before this journey is over." She stared off into the distance and I sensed sadness had overtaken Aeris again today. Knowing that Shin-Ra had stolen a happy life away from Aeris flared an even deeper rage towards them. I looked at Aeris, and she turned her head to look at me. I wanted to say something that would make her feel better however before I could Yuffie jumped back into the group.

"Hey guys! Man you know it's hard to dance with Red…he's so clumsy. I didn't wanna dance with him but he kept on insisting and insisting." I saw that a flame burned in Reds eyes as he spoke through his clenched jaw.

"You were the one who dragged me out on that damned dance floor!"

"Yah, Yah, Red. That's what you say." Aeris laughed as Red looked at Yuffie as if he wanted to throw her across this bar too.

"Its alright Red. I know you're the one telling the truth. Yuffie's just the abnormal one of us, you know that." Yuffie promptly responed to Aeris.

"I am not! I'm perfectly normal!"

"Yah, Yah, Yuffie. That's what you say." Red began to laugh seeing Yuffie silenced by Aeris. Almost simultaneously, Aeris and I looked at the clock…1 am. Aeris stood up, stretched and yawned.

"Well I think we should be heading to bed since it is late." Everyone agreed as they got up from their bar stools and left the bar. I walked slowly beside Aeris. The sky was still covered in Clouds, but it was warm. Aeris yawned as we walked towards the inn. "Oh God I'm tired." She turned to me and blushed a bit. I smiled to myself as I kept my head forward, looking at her from the corner of my eye. There was nothing but the sound of our feet on the gravel as the warm wind blew across our bodies. As we walked I would smile when I would see her stealing glimpses of me as we walked. I felt my soul jump for joy as I thought was Aeris really interested in me? I kept the thought to myself and smiled as we walked closer and closer to the inn. Maybe things would turn my way after all
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Vincent looked so handsome walking beside me down the road to the inn. I couldn't help but glance up at him whenever I got the chance, hoping that he wouldn't catch me, however he did a couple times and I would feel my heart race. I felt so childish playing this game of steal a glance. I went over the events of today in my mind. Being in the inn and thinking about Cloud, and then breaking down into tears. Vincent coming in and helping me feel better not to mention taking the blindfold out of my eyes and letting me see the reality of the situation between Cloud and Tifa. Now I actually felt sorry for Tifa and wished that Cloud would indeed stay with her. I thought it funny how my ideas could change from morning to night. But of all the people in the group it was Vincent, who pointed it out. Not Red or Barret, or Yuffie who had known me fort he past little while, but Vincent, who had only been here for a little over a week. During the past few days, the feeling that drew me towards Vincent in the beginning had grown. Actually, part of the breakdown i had had to do with him as well. I didn't want to say that though, too much discomfort fort he both of us. I'm glad that the long silences that I had trying to think of how to phrase my situation without him in it were considered, by him, just me trying to compose myself. It was because Vincent, a man who had only known me for such a short amount of time, could show more friendliness towards me than Cloud, who I had known for a longer time than Vincent. And then thoughts of Cloud flooded over me and how he ignored me. However that didn't matter anymore. Cloud was a good leader, but nevertheless, if he wanted tifa, he could have her. I was finished putting myself through heartache. My thoughts began wandering to Vincent walking beside me. How handsome, and strong he looked, how the wind played with is ebony black hair like a kitten with a sting. I found that my eyes began to trace over the features of his body, his hair, to his deep crimson eyes. I swear I had gotten lost in them several times, his chest underneath those belts and black shirt. Before I knew it my eyes traced down even further until… I quickly stopped and covered them preventing me from looking any lower. I heard Vincent's foot Steps come to a halt.

"You alright Aeris?" I nodded and began to rub my eyes.

"Yeah I'm fine; I just got something in my eye that's all." I continued rubbing until I figured enough time had passed to ensure that I had gotten whatever had potentially come into my eye, out. I looked up to Vincent and he smiled a bit.

"Better?" I smiled back at him.

"Much. Thank you." We continued to walk back towards the inn. Vincent looked up to the sky covered by clouds and sighed.

"You know, it's been a long time since I've seen the stars. I can't remember what they look like it's been so long. And since I left the mansion …it's been raining and cloudy the whole time." I followed Vincent's gaze up into the sky. Nothing but blue black clouds covering the shimmering stars from all who wished to see them.

"Well, now that you're with us, there will be lots of chances to see the stars when the clouds go away. They are incredibly beautiful. There are so many though …uncountable numbers of stars. I love looking at them at night, however lately… I know what you mean Vincent." We approached the door of the inn. "Perhaps tomorrow luck will come our way and the sun will shine." Vincent smiled and turned to look at the sky one more time.

"Perhaps your right. If they are, you're welcome to join me gaze at them…" Vincent blushed a bit. I smiled and nodded as I opened the door to the inn. Wow he just asked if I would like to do something with him…or did he?

"You wouldn't mind?" Vincent shook his head.

"Nope … I'd think I'd enjoy the company" So it was just going to be me and him? My heart leapt at the thought.

"I'll take up that offer. The next time the sky's clear at night, you and I can look at the stars." Hmm a love lost and a potential new one found. I opened the door to the inn and walked inside with Vincent. This was turning out to be a good day after all.

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And that's Chapter 6. I hope it was enjoyable, yah, I figured there need to be a soon where Aeris completely forgot about the Cloud infatuation and began to give into the one for Vincent. Bout time me thinks too seven chapters :P. Next chapter things will start happening and I'm even planning having Sephiroth come in sometime in the future to reek some havoc with the group and our lovers . Please R&R. The more reviews I get the more I'll be prompted to get the next chapter up soon. Till next time