A/N: Yaaayy I'm finally updating! XD I'm sorry, but school has been keeping me MAJORLY busy and I've been in kind of a state of shock after seeing Tifa in Advent Children. Anyways, this is kind of a reflection on Aeris. You know, she deserves a chapter. By the way, I kind of made up some parts in the flashback! But hey, it's a fanfic! Anyways, R&R please!!! Thanks to all who reviewed my previous chapters! YOU'RE THE BEST!

Chapter Three
Thank You

It was a bright, sunny morning and the birds were softly chirping outside Tifa's bedroom window. She twirled around in her bed, trying her best to get some more sleep. Seeing as how she didn't get a wink of sleep yesterday up until 7:00 am, she was dead tired. She wasn't used to it anymore since she had gotten over Cloud...Or at least she hoped that was why. But since Barret had brought the subject back up yesterday, she felt old, haunting nightmares playing themselves over again.

The sun began to sting her eyes and sleep would just not come to her. So, she hesitantly sat up on her small bed and rubbed her tired, red eyes. She had obviously been crying last night, finally letting someone in on her feelings. It wasn't easy seeing as how she rarely told anyone how she was REALLY feeling. Tifa Lockheart; always putting others feelings before hers. That's who she was no matter how much she hated it.

Suddenly, she remembered Barret, and Marlene had slept over. She gasped and quickly got out of bed, making it as fast as she could. She had to make breakfast, coffee and clean up a little before they woke up! She hurriedly changed from her pajamas (which were a pair of small, flowery shorts and a matching tank top) into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

She rushed into her small bathroom and quickly pulled out some toothpaste and her toothbrush and brushed like a mad woman. Afterwards, she quickly sprayed some water on her face and ran downstairs to see if they had gotten up already. To her relief, she found them still sleeping on the sofas she had in her living room. Quietly, she made her way past them and into her small and clean kitchen.

She began to make breakfast; omelette and bacon. But eventually, she made noise and it wasn't long enough before Marlene; who was a light sleeper, woke up.

"Auntie Tifa?" Tifa heard a little girlish voice squeak and she almost jumped out of her pants, completely startled.

"O-Oh Marlene! Good morning!" Tifa said, giving her a bright smile.

The little girl rubbed her eyes sleepily and smiled back at Tifa, happy to see her best friend again.

"Whatcha doin' up so early in the morning?" Tifa asked as she broke 5 eggs into a pan.

"Nothing...my daddy says I'm so used to waking up early for school, that it's a habit now!" Marlene smiled sheepishly and ran towards Tifa.

"Well that's a good thing!" Tifa replied as she picked Marlene up and hugged her tightly.

"Auntie Tifa?" Marlene asked politely.

"Yes?" Tifa replied, happy to finally be able to give her love to someone who would accept it.

"Where's uncle Cloud?" Marlene asked as she looked Tifa in the eyes.

"..........." Tifa stood there, and just stared at Marlene trying to find the right words to tell her.

"Marlene...Cloud...is gone. He...he left searching for...someone..." Tifa managed to reply as tears stung her eyes, but she choked them back with all her strength. She had to be strong in front of Marlene.

"Who is he looking for? He doesn't like us anymore?" Marlene asked, her eyes bubbling up as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I don't know...Marlene please don't cry..." Tifa said as she was no longer able to control her tears. One small tear fell down her pale cheek...

"Auntie Tifa...Cloud will come back...right?" Marlene asked as she wiped away her tear and looked at Tifa, pleadingly.

Tifa simply looked away and put Marlene down. She wiped her tears and yet again forced herself to give the child a fake smile.

"We'll see..." Tifa managed to reply as she hurriedly went back to cooking.

"Auntie Tifa...please don't cry..." Marlene said, looking intently at Tifa.

"I'm not...crying" Tifa said, her back to Marlene.

"Cloud didn't leave you...He just can't see..." Marlene continued, deaf to Tifa's light sobbing.

"Auntie Tifa...Aeris told me something..." Marlene said in a shaky tone.

At this Tifa turned around and faced Marlene, giving the child a confused and puzzled look.

"What do you mean Marlene? Aeris...is dead..." Tifa replied as she crouched down in front of Marlene.

"I know...But I remember right before the Turks came and took her away...She told me...."

FLASHBACK

"Marlene, we should keep quiet. Here come in my room!" A very pretty girl with long chestnut colored hair and glimmering green eyes whispered as she climbed the stairs.

Marlene followed her and entered the small but cozy room. It seemed like it would belong to a little girl's then to a grown woman. Stuffed animals were lying around and the bed was a light shade of pink. The girl happily took a seat on her bed and patted the room beside her, gesturing for Marlene to sit. Marlene slowly walked towards the bed and took her seat beside the girl.

"Marlene...you seem pretty close to Tifa. Are you her daughter?" The girl asked with a bright smile on her face.

"No, I'm not her daughter, but Auntie Tifa is my best friend and sister!" Marlene cried quite proudly.

"That's nice! Hey...can I be like...your older sister too?" Aeris asked politely.

Marlene gave her a confused look and thought about it. 'Why would she want to be my older sister?' But Marlene, being completely over joyed of the fact of having another sister, agreed.

"Sure! The more the merrier!" Marlene replied with a large grin on her face.

"That's great!" Aeris replied as she clapped her hands together and gave another bright smile.

"So sisters can tell each other things right?" Aeris asked in her sweet girlish tone.

"Uh huh!" Marlene replied, nodding her head.

"Well then, as a sister, can I tell you something?" Aeris asked politely yet again as she took Marlene's small hand into her soft and silky hand.

"Yeah!!!" Marlene shouted, rather excited.

"Okay, you see I've never had a little sister before, so I'm happy that we can be sisters! Anyways, I trust you so I'm going to tell you something..." Aeris said as she held the girl closer to her.

"Okay!" Marlene exclaimed as she cuddled in her arms.

"It's about Cloud...him and Tifa seem...pretty close...Can I ask you...Are they in love?" Aeris asked, a light blush floating up on her cheeks.

Marlene looked at Aeris like she was crazy. She never thought of it like that but when she did...she kind of saw something. But she wasn't sure what she was looking at exactly. Then, she gave a light grin as it hit her. Aeris wanted to know because she was interested in Cloud.

"I don't know...why?" Marlene asked playfully.

"Uh no reason really! I just think...well it seemed like it. Marlene...they remind me of some people I used to know..." Aeris trailed off as she turned her head away.

"Really? Who?" Marlene asked.

"Oh it's no big deal! Forget I even mentioned it! Anyways, let me get on to the point!" Aeris exclaimed as she turned her head to look at Marlene again.

"Marlene, Cloud...is distant...he doesn't know where he is. He needs help and I'm afraid...I'm not the one who can help him...Because...I can't stay. Don't tell anyone okay? Until after...you'll know when. Just do me a favor...make sure you tell Cloud to see and not to look...k? And...Tell Tifa...not to cry..."

"Aeris...do you love Cloud?" Marlene asked, not knowing with what question to start with first, she picked this one.

"...I...I don't know Marlene...I love SOMEONE...but I don't know if it's...Cloud."

"Ask him something for me. You'll know what to ask him when the time comes!"

"One more thing...don't tell anyone, not even Barret! Promise?" Aeris asked giving her a trusting look.

Marlene was rather dazed and confused of what Aeris was saying but accepted anyways. Questions floated in her head and she needed to know all the answers.

"PROMISE! But Aeris...What do you mean b-AHH!!" All of a sudden the door flew open and a man with long black hair and suspicious, cold eyes walked in. He wore a blue uniform which gave his identity away almost immediately.

"Hello Aeris...long time no see..."

Before the Turk could even spot Marlene, she was grabbed by some hands and hidden in the closet. There she saw Aeris' mother, Elmyra telling her to keep quiet.

END OF FLAHSBACK

"That's all I managed to ask her..."Marlene said as she wiped a tear, missing her other sister.

"...I see...I won't cry anymore..." Tifa replied, getting off the floor and feeling guiltier than ever.

"She...she couldn't be with Cloud...because...because of me..." Tifa turned around and began sobbing.

"She told you not to cry..." Marlene softly spoke.

At this, Tifa stopped and wiped away her tears. She turned around to look at Marlene.

"Do you think...do you think that Aeris knew what her future was?" Tifa asked, sniffing lightly.

"I don't know...I don't understand anything she said to me. But it's as if...things come out of me all of a sudden. Like just now." Marlene replied, quietly.

"I see...well...you should tell Cloud. Maybe he'll understand. I don't know what Aeris meant but maybe he will. Marlene...Aeris wanted nothing more then for us to be happy. She didn't really want to have such a great impact on us because...she didn't want us to be too sad with her death. Though, that didn't work out very well. She wants us to move on, including Cloud. I've learned this during all the lonely days...And maybe...maybe Cloud does love Aeris. I just wish there was some way I could help make him smile again. But anyways, Aeris trusted you Marlene..." Tifa managed to say. She then knelt down in front of Marlene and held her shoulders. She looked deep into the child's eyes.

"I think you should do what she wanted you to do. It's the least you could do for her." Tifa said, looking at Marlene and trying her hardest to choke back the tears.

"Okay Auntie Tifa...I'll go wake daddy up now!" Marlene shouted and began to run, as if nothing had happened.

"Thank you...Aeris..." Tifa whispered so lightly that no one could have heard her even if they were 5 inches from her face.

A/N: Well wasn't that corny? This chapter was kind of dedicated to Aeris and Aeris and Tifa's friendship. I mean, I personally believed they were friends and good ones at that. Anyways, please review guys! It means so much to me!