Chapter 47: Melodies of Life

Our paths they did cross

Though I cannot say just why

We met, we laughed, we held on fast

And then we said goodbye

And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?

Let them ring out loud til they unfold

In my dearest memories

I see you reaching out to me

Though you're gone

I still believe that you can call out my name

A voice from the past

Joining yours and mine

Adding up the layers of harmony

And so it goes on and on

Melodies of life

To the sky beyond

The flying birds

Forever and beyond

Melodies of Life – Emiko Shiratori (Final Fantasy 9)


When Aeris woke the next day her first thought was to look over to Vincent's bed. It was empty. In horror she sat straight up. Instantly someone stood up. Cloud, Tifa and Yuffie were in the room.

"Where… where…?" Aeris whispered, unable to say the words.

"It's OK. It's OK. Vincent's been taken for X-rays. He'll be back soon."

"Is he awake?"

"No, not yet."

"The machine was beeping."

Cloud settled her back against the pillows.

"Aeris, it's OK. Vincent's heart failed briefly, but they got it going again. He was in surgery for hours after that, but they reckon he'll wake up in the next 24 hours." Aeris felt tears coming again and felt irritated at herself. All she had done was cry since she'd woken up.

"Mom and Dad?"

"At Barret's place, getting some sleep. They were here all night." Yuffie said. Aeris rubbed her head. It was pounding uncomfortably. Suddenly she noticed an enormous pile of cards, teddy bears, flowers and chocolates by the bed.

"What the-?"

"From your adoring fans." Cloud said, smiling. Aeris stared at the mound.

"How did they know I was here?"

"Um, because it's on the cover of every paper in Midgar?" Yuffie said, passing her a paper dated two days previously.

Aeris Gainsborough in tragic car accident

Singer/Songwriter Aeris Gainsborough was admitted to hospital at around 11 am on Sunday morning after she and her boyfriend were in a car accident. Spokespeople have informed us that the car's engine caught fire on the road outside Fort Condor. Investigations are ongoing. Aeris and boyfriend, Vincent Valentine, are both in a critical condition after the incident and no word has been released on how they are expected to be in the next few days. Everyone at the Midgar Today gives their best wishes to Aeris, Vincent and their families.

Underneath the brief article was a picture of the car wreckage and another, more blurred, picture of Vincent and Aeris being lifted into ambulances. Aeris put the paper down and looked up at them.

"Do you remember anything that happened?" Tifa asked gently. Aeris rubbed her temple.

"Vaguely. We were driving along and Vincent was talking to me… and then there was a loud bang and we crashed into the ditch. The car was going over and over and then… I don't know. I can't remember."

There was a knock at the door and five people came in. Tseng, Elena, Rude, Reno and Mike. They all looked shocked when they saw her. Aeris gave a weak smile.

"Do I look that bad?" Yuffie passed her a hand mirror and she pulled a face. "Apparently so."

"Don't scare us like this!" Reno complained as they sat down. Aeris smiled slightly.

"I'm sorry. I'll try to be less shocking next time."

"Let's not make there be a second time, shall we?" Mike said, "The papers are going crazy, trying to gain access to the hospital and everything."

They sat around chatting for fifteen minutes before the door opened. Aeris felt the air freeze in her throat. Two nurses came in with Doctor Spencer, wheeling in a trolley. On it was Vincent. Aeris leant forward to try and see him. Doctor Spencer smiled at her.

"Don't look so worried. We've managed to fix up his back, but it'll be painful for a while. He broke his left arm in three places and his right hip. You'll make a lovely pair. Now, I'm reasonably sure you're not supposed to have this many people in at once." He looked around at them all. Yuffie, Tifa and Cloud stood up.

"You guys stay a little longer." Cloud said to the Turks and Mike.

Elena passed Aeris an envelope.

"This is from Rufus. He wanted to come himself but he's busy, with the premiere coming up in a couple of weeks. You're invited by the way. If you're out in time."

"I should be. They reckon I can leave in another four days. But I'm not going without Vincent." Aeris said, turning to look at him again. Her broken rib twinged and she put a hand to it. Rude asked,

"What's hurt, exactly?"

"Broken wrist. Damaged leg. Broken rib and toes. And a bit of a lung infection. So no instrument playing for a few weeks." Aeris said, laughing weakly.

Mike smiled at her in a friendly way.

"Don't worry about anything. You need anything, call the company and we'll sort it out."

"Thanks Mike. But right now all I want is for Vincent to wake up." Aeris said, eyes downcast.

That afternoon Aeris was sat alone in their room. The radio was playing quietly and she listened in silence. Nurses were coming in at regular intervals. Since they'd decided she was off the critical list she couldn't have anymore visitors until visiting hours. That was in about ten minutes, but she'd told everyone to go home and get some rest. She was getting rather irritated by everyone fussing around. What she needed was for them to be normal and it was clear that they weren't going to be that way for a while.

The door opened and Aeris looked over. To her surprise James Winters walked in. She stared at him and he cleared his throat nervously.

"Hey. Sorry to invade like this. I just… I wanted to make sure you were OK." He said nervously. Aeris shrugged and winced. Better not do that too often.

James came closer and held out a bunch of flowers. Aeris took them and offered a tiny smile.

"Thank you."

"How are you feeling?"

"Not great." She replied truthfully. For some reason she didn't feel so angry at him. Near-death experiences sure had a way of putting things in perspective. James scratched his head.

"Everyone from the music class says hi. We made a card." He gave her the envelope. She smiled.

"Thanks. You didn't have to come."

"Yes. I did. I had to make sure… that you were OK. That you were going to be OK." He sat on the foot of her bed. She looked at him.

"Thanks you for helping Tifa." She said. He shrugged.

"No big deal. I just did what anyone would have done."

"I mean it, James. Thank you."

He smiled in relief that she wasn't telling him where to go. He looked at the cast on her wrist and her leg, which was up in a sling from the ceiling.

"When I heard about the accident… I was so scared. I was terrified that you were going to die."

"I didn't. I'm OK. The doctors said that we're both going to be OK." Aeris assured him. James nodded and smiled.

"I know. And I'm glad." He stood up and went to the door. Before he left, he turned and looked at her.

"Aeris… I know I screwed things up. And I'm sorry. But I truly am glad that you're OK. Vincent too."

And then he was gone. Aeris put the flowers and card on the bedside table and looked over at the bed next to hers. Then she looked over at Vincent. She jumped. His eyes were flickering. Desperately, she fumbled for the call button. She pressed it frantically. A moment later a nurse burst in, looking like an avenging angel.

"Aeris? What's wrong?"

"Vincent… he's waking up!" The nurse seized the phone from the wall.

"Doctor Spencer to room 108."

Before Aeris could protest she had pulled the curtains around Vincent's bed. Over the next ten minutes various doctors and nurses came in, shouting things which Aeris didn't understand. She struggled to catch sight of Vincent every time someone came out but with no luck. Eventually all the nurses left, leaving Doctor Spencer behind the curtains. Aeris heard quiet talking. After five minutes the curtain was pulled back. Aeris pulled herself up.

Vincent, lying down, turned his head towards her. A smile broke across his face. Doctor Spencer smiled.

"I'll give you two a moment."

When he left Aeris burst into tears. Again. Vincent frowned.

"Don't cry." He said, his voice rasping. He coughed painfully and Aeris struggled to hold back her tears.

"I was so scared…"

"We're both OK." Vincent promised.

"I can't believe I almost lost you." Aeris whispered. Vincent winced as he sat up slowly. He turned to her.

"Aeris… you know what I wish?" She shook her head. "I wish I could come over there and hold you."

Aeris felt more tears coming and wiped her eyes. Vincent frowned as he noticed the cast.

"Is it broken?"

"Yeah. My rib too. And some toes. But you're much worse than me!"

"Could be worse. My arms broken in three places. Broken hip and my kneecaps shattered on the right. Plus something to do with my back. I wasn't paying too much attention to what the doctor was saying."

He looked her over and then shook his head.

"I'm… sorry."

"What? Why?"

"It's my fault."

"How is it?"

"I drove into the ditch. I could have killed you."

"Vincent, the car caught fire. It wasn't your fault. The doctor told me what happened. You got out of the car. You could have gotten away but you came back for me. You saved my life, Vincent." She said in disbelief.

Vincent was about to reply when the door opened and Matthew and Infalna came in. They both saw Vincent but neither of them smiled. Aeris saw why. Behind them was a pair of police officers. The female one smiled reassuringly at them.

"Miss Gainsborough, Mr Valentine? We'd like to ask you a few questions."

An hour later, they were still being questioned. Aeris felt weary and she could see Vincent was exhausted. But most of all, she felt bewildered at what she was hearing.

"So… the car accident wasn't an accident at all?" Vincent said.

"We don't think so. We have experts examining the car. Or rather, what's left of it. They'll be able to tell us soon."

"Let me get this straight. Eric Gainsborough told this guy… Palmer? That I'm his daughter and that I have the money he wants. Palmer beats him to near-death and then plants a bomb in the car." Aeris said. The officer nodded.

"We believe that Palmer will be in contact shortly to demand money. When that happens our officers will trace the call and find out where he's hiding. Hopefully we'll be able to get him into police custody and get him put away for a very long time. In the meantime we want you to go about life as normally as possible. The police will handle everything from here."

As the police left Aeris sank back onto the pillows. Vincent was staring at the door.

"This is…"

"Unbelievable." Aeris finished his sentence. Vincent nodded. Infalna went over to him and hugged him.

"I'm glad you're awake, Vincent."

"Thank you, Infalna." Vincent said, smiling slightly. Aeris smiled at the pair of them. Matthew sat on the edge of her bed and said,

"The doctors want to keep you both in here for another four or five days."

"As long as I can sleep for those five days, not a problem." Vincent murmured. Infalna looked at her husband.

"Let's let them get some sleep."

"Alright. We'll be right outside if you need us."

Aeris looked over as Vincent lowered himself to get some sleep.

"Vincent?"

"Yes?"

"…I love you."

"I love you too." He told her. Aeris smiled.

"Good. Now get some sleep."

(A/N: Just setting things up for the next chapter. Next time we'll see a character we haven't seen in a while! Can you guess who? Also, it'll take me a while to update because tomorrow is my birthday! woohoo, the big 17!)