"Sir, are you all right?" was a soft, kind voice.
Cloud opened his eyes slowly; they adjusted to the light at a very slow pace. He looked over his head, seeing a woman leaning over him. Her emerald green eyes were so concerned, saddened, and then became more and more relieved as he started to move and sat up and looked back at her.
"The flower bed must have broke your fall… you were very lucky," she was telling him.
He couldn't really remember what they were talking about, his head hurt from his fall and he was tired and aching all over. His heart may still have been beating, but he definitely didn't feel like he was ready and able to fight or even to remember a conversation he was having with this mysterious woman.
It wasn't long before this woman, Aeris, had taken him to her house so he could sleep in a real bed and maybe lose his headache.
Again, he could hear the strange voice in his head, asking him if he was capable of waking up. He woke up in the strange bed, in the room next to Aeris, and he could hear her doing something, he wasn't entirely sure what though… it sounded like she was humming to herself, or maybe she was speaking to a strange voice. He climbed out of bed and leaned against the wall, hoping to hear more from her, maybe get some sort of better idea what she was speaking about.
"I believe he's the one too…" Aeris was saying. "Yes, I know you need him strong for you. I'm willing to help him along." She waited and then listened to the voice, "I know… and it will make Cloud strong enough…" she sounded so sad. He was so curious what she was talking about, who she was talking to, and what she knew that he didn't yet.
He knew that he'd seen her before, in the slums after he'd helped bomb a Mako Reactor, but he wasn't entirely sure what he felt for her. They only spoke for a moment, but he still knew there was something about her that made him walk a little slower then he used to, and also spent Gil on a flower. A flower… of all things for a man like him to buy, a single yellow flower. He had given it to Marlene… Marlene kind of looked like Aeris, so he figured it was more appropriate then giving it to Tifa. He had cared deeply for Tifa was he was younger, but she never seemed to care, so he finally stopped believing she'd like him back and moved on mentally, though he'd joined SOLDIER and left the town they grew up in.
So Cloud thought about it, "What could she mean?" His deepest fear was losing someone that didn't deserve to die. Whether it was honor, or it was just plain and simple his-mother-taught-him-that-way, women didn't deserve to die… If she meant that, then he had to get away from her now. He couldn't let himself stay near her, it wasn't safe or smart of him to do. He inhaled deeply, moving away from the wall and picked up his sword and rushed out the door.
That was when he and Aeris sat next to each other on the playground. She had some how beat him to the park and coaxed him kindly to sit beside her. As they sat side by side, Cloud was listening to her talk, telling him about her first boyfriend, and how much she liked him. He was getting jealous, and asked "Where you serious?"
Aeris looked at him and smiled, "No, but I liked him for a while."
There was something in her smile that made his heart quiver. While they were sitting, he suddenly felt relaxed, and noticed they were getting closer without noticing. They were close enough, and now Aeris had her head on his shoulder. His heart raced when she was close to him, he felt his arm he was using as support shake, tremble, and his mind was racing with thoughts he wasn't used to having.
Cloud wasn't entirely sure HOW it happened, or exactly WHY… but the next thing he knew, he was wearing a dress. He was in a deep purple dress with a large red bow on his butt and pigtail braids. Aeris put the wig on his and tried to make sure his man traits were well hidden, even by sticking some padding in the top of the dress. He was SO unimpressed with this. He stared at Aeris very angrily while she made sure he was more accurately designed to look like a girl. She kept making eye contact with him and laughed from time to time at how mad he looked.
"How did I let you talk me into this?" Cloud asked her when she was putting the finishing touches on her own looks.
She smiled at him, "You could have said no, but you wouldn't let me go in alone."
"Because I don't want you getting hurt!" Cloud said loudly, he was intensely insistent about this now; he really didn't want her hurt, her words haunted him; he wasn't going to let something horrible happen to her.
Aeris smiled at him, and braced her hands on his shoulders, "Don't treat me like I'm a child, I can take care of myself… really. Besides, if anything happens to me, you'll come and protect me, right?"
Cloud really didn't like that thought. Tifa had made him promise that too, and he'd been too late… but at least she lived, and he did keep her out of Sephiroth's way. He exhaled deeply, and looked at Aeris' eyes. She was so different then him, her eyes were innocent and kind. She had so much love to give, and unless he missed his guess… she was willing to give it all to him. She smiled again and playfully chucked her fingers at his chin and then pulled him along with her, and they entered the Don Corneo's mansion.
That wasn't it though, while Aeris was listening to Cloud explain the situation with Sephiroth, Cloud noticed how intensely she looked at him. But when he mentioned the Cetra, and their place in life… Aeris looked at the floor. She looked like she was praying almost. Her expression was so pale, so terrified, yet so powerfully calm and relaxed.
That night, while they were sleeping, Cloud woke up, hoping that maybe he could speak to Aeris. He was surprised when she was gone. He moved outside rapidly, drawing his sword, looking for her. He came outside and saw her with her hair down, she was holding her green hair piece in her hands and it was glowing strongly.
"Aeris?" He asked.
Aeris suddenly stopped, gasping and turning around, the white lights surrounding her suddenly stopping. She stared at him, blinking, not speaking a word. He returned the favor, just looking at her and not speaking. They both continued to not move, but Aeris was the first to break the silence.
"I didn't think you'd be awake so late," she told him.
"I was hoping I could talk to you," Cloud admitted.
Aeris invited him to look over the railings with her. He put his sword away and stood next to her. "What do you want to talk about?" Aeris asked him finally.
"I'm scared," Cloud started it with. Aeris looked at him, listening and taking in his words. "I'm afraid of what Sephiroth is going to do. I didn't want you caught up in this whole thing… if something happened to you… I'd never forgive myself."
Aeris gave his hand a light squeeze, taking it in both of hers. "Nothing will happen to me Cloud… I won't leave you."
Cloud turned to face her, and he placed his other hand on hers and looked at her eyes so intensely while he considered what he was going to say. He wasn't sure what he wanted to say, he didn't want to tell her that he was eavesdropping when she was speaking to the planet. He looked for the right words, searching for them, but they weren't coming. He gave it a good attempt he thought, "I'm glad."
Aeris smiled at him, laughing at him slightly, "I know you want to say something else… so do it. Don't be afraid to tell me what you're thinking, Cloud."
Cloud was more surprised by her. She was so different then Tifa, Tifa was easy to read. She didn't have hidden chapters and secrets like Aeris did. Aeris was very in-tune with Cloud's emotions and feelings even if he wasn't. He sighed deeply and repeated, "If something happened to you, I'd never forgive myself."
Aeris stopped smiling for a moment, thinking about what he knew. She was becoming aware that maybe he had over heard her. She sighed deeply and gave him a tight hug, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She rested her head on him and held him close.
He wasn't sure how to respond to such affection, but he finally put his arms around her back, and touched her soft hair and listened to her soft breathing. He finally whispered to her, "Please don't leave me Aeris…"
Aeris pulled herself to him closer. She closed her eyes tightly against his shoulder and felt a tear come to her eyes. She inhaled deeply, trying to keep her voice was sounding like she was crying. "I won't Cloud, I promise."