Chapter 19: It Is You (I Have Loved)

There is something that I see

In the way you look at me

There's a smile

There's a truth in your eyes

But in an unexpected way

On this unexpected day

Could it be this is where I belong?

It is you I have loved all along

There's no more mystery

It is finally clear to me

You're the home I searched for so long

And it is you I have loved all along

It Is You (I Have Loved) – Dana Glover (from Shrek)

When they arrived at Vincent's apartment, Aeris saw that it was noticeably cleaner than it had been on her last visit.

"What did you want to show me?" She asked. Vincent took her hand and led her to the centre of the room.

"I've been working on this piece for some time." He said, pulling out a canvas, covered with a sheet.

Aeris looked at the canvas. Vincent took a deep breath and pulled the sheet off. Aeris' mouth fell open.

The large canvas was covered in pictures of herself.

In the centre was one of her smiling straight ahead. It was surrounded by smaller drawings of her in various poses. There was the one of her holding the violin. One of her playing the piano at the concert. One of her sitting at the counter in the café, a slight frown on her face as she chewed the end of her pencil. One of her sitting on the swing in her back garden at home. One of her crying, one of her laughing, one of her grinning, one of her singing…

"This is the one painting that I have done which I can't find any criticism in." Vincent said, standing next to the picture. Aeris swallowed and looked at him.

"Vincent… I don't know what to say."

"Aeris, I love you. I have loved for a long time, or what feels like it. Until you came into my life, it was all dark, with no purpose or meaning. And then you came and gave me a reason for living." Vincent said, moving towards her.

Aeris felt tears prick her eyes. She blinked them back hard.

"Vincent…" He was standing in front of her and she rested her head on his chest. After taking a few breaths she looked up at him.

"I love you so much… I don't know when I started loving you… but I do."

"Aeris…"

It was a blur. He was pressing against her, his lips on hers, pressing against her cheek, her neck. She was running her fingers through his hair. The minutes bled into each other and while it was a blur, it was also completely clear. She could feel every sensation, every touch, everything. And she loved him.

As they lay in Vincent's bed, gazing at each other, a ray of moonlight fell through the window onto their faces. Aeris reached out and touched Vincent's face with her fingertips.

"I love you…" She whispered. He whispered the words back to her. And then he smiled.

But this smile was different. It wasn't his usual tiny smile. It was a proper smile that covered his face. Aeris laughed and pressed her forehead against his so she was looking straight into his dark eyes. He reached out and wrapped his arms around her. She put her head down on his chest and closed her eyes. Within a few minutes she was sleeping.

Vincent pressed his cheek against her warm hair and held her even tighter.

They were woken at just past 7, by the sunlight coming through the window and shining on their faces. Vincent woke first to find Aeris still lying in his arms.

"Aeris?" he whispered. She screwed up her face.

"Too sleepy…"

"Aeris, wake up." He whispered again, a little more loudly. She didn't open her eyes but smiled.

"No. Don't want to."

"You have to."

"Don't want to."

"Yes you do."

"Nope. Too happy."

Those words made him smile. She opened one eye, just a crack.

"Good morning."

"Good morning to you too." He said. She stretched and rolled off him.

"What time is it?" He glanced at the electronic clock.

"7:15. Do you want breakfast?"

"I guess so."

"Well, I have no food. We'll have to go to Barret's."

"Yeah." Aeris said, wrapping the sheet around her and sitting up. Vincent sat up too. Aeris looked at her clothes, strewn all over the floor. Vincent caught her gaze and said,

"Do you want some clothes?"

"Might be good." She said. He pulled on a robe and went to the wardrobe.

"I don't have any women's clothes."

"Which I am extremely relieved about." Aeris said, yawning. He pulled out a t-shirt and some trousers.

"They'll be too big."

"That's OK. I'll go home and get dressed after breakfast." Aeris said. Vincent pointed to a door off the bedroom.

"Bathroom's through there."

"Thanks."

She got up and looked up at him. He smiled and kissed her. With a large grin on her face she went into the bathroom.

Once they were sat in Barret's Café, Aeris ordered breakfast and joined Vincent at a table in the back of the café.

"I'm starving." Aeris said. Vincent nodded.

"I didn't realise how hungry I was."

"Me neither. A good breakfast is just what I need right now."

While they were eating breakfast Tifa came in for her shift. She pulled on her apron and came over with the coffeepot.

"Hey guys. Want a refill?"

"Sure." Aeris said through a mouthful of toast. Tifa said,

"Aeris, James came to the room again this morning, looking for you."

"Urgh. What did you tell him?"

"I just said that you weren't there." Tifa said, smiling. She looked at Vincent.

"Refill?"

"Yes, thanks." He said, holding up his cup.

Aeris looked down at her plate.

"Vincent, can you tell me something?"

"I'll try."

"What does 'get the hell away from me' mean in guy language? I mean, why doesn't James get it?"

"I don't know what he's thinking. But I'm not letting you go without a fight." Vincent said darkly. Aeris smiled.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Good. Because I love you." He said, his usual tiny smile back on his face. Aeris smiled and finished her coffee.

"Ok. I have to go and get dressed."

"And I need to buy some food. I normally just buy it as I need it, but the shops are going to be closed over Christmas."

"Well… I'll meet you here at lunchtime?" Aeris said. Vincent nodded. Waving to Tifa they went to the door and to the end of the street. Vincent looked down at her.

"I'll see you in a couple of hours."

"Bye." She said, feeling inexplicably shy. Vincent kissed her. But, wouldn't you know it, there was a flash and a click. They both turned to see a couple of reporters. One went to her and said,

"Aeris, care to tell us who your new boyfriend is?"

Aeris turned away in disgust. She waved goodbye to Vincent who went in the opposite direction. The reporters followed her and she turned to them and said,

"Look; I'm in a pretty good mood right now. Don't spoil it." And then she carried on in the direction of the Avalanche Dormitory.

"I take it you got smoochies?" Tifa said, bursting in while Aeris brushing her hair. Aeris smiled.

"Yup."

"Wow… You realise you have to tell me about it now."

"Sorry Tifa. Some things are too special to tell."

"Aw. That's so sweet. I was looking for you last night after the dance, but Reeve said he'd seen you go outside with Vincent."

"Yeah. He asked my why I'd asked him to the dance and I just got so angry that he hadn't figured it out yet. So I just started yelling at him that I loved him and then I just marched right on over and kissed him."

"No!"

"Oh yeah. And then we went back to his apartment."

"Wow... aw, Aeris, I'm so happy for you!" Tifa said, launching herself at him. Aeris smiled as she hugged her friend.

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be working?"

"Probably. But there's no one in the café right now, and I wanted to come and talk to you."

"Fair enough. But I'll see you back at the café. I have Christmas presents to wrap."

"OK. See you soon!"

Aeris smiled to herself and hummed happily as she got out the paper and tape.