Chapter 9: In the Rain

Cloud's feet led him automatically to Mary's room. He gave a knock, and then a double knock. After getting no response, he poked his head in to see if she was sleeping. After the episode with Raine, he really wanted to see her, make sure she was real. But an empty room greeted him. He furrowed his brow, and walked to the window, just in time to see her silhouette run from the bar.

………………

Cloud ran after Aeris in the rain. He could barely see her outline in the dark. He forgot how fast she was. But, when he finally caught up to her, he could see the tears in her eyes.

"Cloud, you shouldn't have followed me."

"You know I'd follow you anywhere."

Aeris turned her head from him, "Do you like her?"

"Who?"

"That girl. The one that looks like me."

"No." He said.

"Yeah? Didn't stop you from kissing her!"

Cloud shook his head, "You didn't see the whole thing."

But Aeris kept on talking, "I was going to tell you… I was going to…"

"Mary," He started.

"I'm not Mary, okay?" She said. "That's what I was going to tell you. I was going to tell you that I remember everything, but that doesn't matter now, does it?"

"Who are you?" He whispered. His blue eyes held a glimmer of hope, a hope so vibrant it made them shine. If she was who he knew her to be, he'd finally feel like he had a purpose, that his searching would be over.

"You know. You've always known."

"Aeris," His voice came out choked.

She sighed, "When I decided to come back, it was because you needed me. I didn't realize you'd need her too, I didn't… I couldn't stay away. I knew you were hurting and…" she sighed, "I don't know."

"You…" He whispered. "You---you… left…"

She hung her head, but he lifted her chin to him, and continued, "You left the Promised Land for me?"

She nodded, tears trailing down her face. He wiped her tears away with his thumbs. "Please don't…"

"Cloud…" She whispered. She slowly lifted her arms and put them on his shoulders, and then clasped her hands together around his neck, but she didn't look him in the eye.

"Aeris, I…" He started.

"Cloud, do you love me?" She said softly, finally able to look at him. Her sparkling green emeralds glittered with unshed tears, as if his answer would stop the pending flow, or open the floodgates.

Cloud looked down at her. "Aeris, I've searched… I've searched everywhere for you. You changed me."

"And you saved me." She said. "But you didn't answer my question."

"Yeah," He said, "I do."

Aeris lowered her face again, her tears splashing onto his sweater. "I always thought you might have. Maybe just a little."

He smiled, and Aeris thought it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. "So, you don't like Raine?"

Cloud shook his head, and Aeris tilted her face up to his, but she cried out when his eyes rolled up into his head, and he collapsed to the ground.

A/n: Awww, they're together again! But uh oh! Cloud's sick! Will Aeris be able to get him the help he needs or is it too late?