Disclaimer: I don't own FF7, all the characters and plots and stuff- they
belong to bigger, more powerful companies... (Shucks) So, please don't sue
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A Past Long Forgotten Chapter 11: Waiting
Tifa pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, walking beside Cloud, her other hand entwined with his. It was no stroll in the park on a Sunday afternoon, but a hushed walk through the twisted metal junkyard known as Midgar. Neither was quite sure why they sometimes found themselves there. Perhaps they were still clinging to the past. Or maybe it was a hope for a brighter future. Now it seemed they only needed each other.
The wreckage of the pillar crash had never completely left their minds, and no matter what changes took place in Midgar, it would always be full of death and disappointment. The slums were still slums; the people still drunk, homeless, or otherwise incapable of taking care of themselves. Tifa subcontiously gripped Cloud's hand tighter as she remembered the untimely deaths of Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge. Three more allies lost.
Cloud seemed to know what she was thinking, and he squeezed her hand affectionately. "They're all at peace now. There's nothing to disturb them." He noted softly. Tifa nodded. Every visit to Midgar required this moment; it also required a quiet moment of reflection in Aeris' church. Without a word, the two took off in that direction, ignoring the sneer of a homeless man as they passed.
Few words were exchanged on these solemn visits. The loss of a friend, one so innocent and dear as Aeris, needed no complicated words or glorified phrases. Just quiet thought and pleasant remembrance... that's what she would have wanted. The church doors opened and the two were bombarded with the sweet scent of flowers, even more so than their last visit.
Cloud blinked, "There are more flowers here than I remember last time..." He noted, curiously.
Tifa plucked a particularly healthy Lily from its place among its sisters and examined it, "They even seem more... alive."
The two looked at each other for a moment, but Cloud shook his head. "I think we should go."
"Let's stop by Aeris' house." Tifa said compulsively, placing the lily into her hair carefully, and then closing the distance between them and hugging his arm, "We haven't in ages..."
Cloud sighed, "How about tomorrow? Let's visit Reeve now."
Tifa could sense his distress and nodded quickly. She knew they wouldn't stop by tomorrow. She knew he still blamed himself for the flower girl's death. The two quietly walked on. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sandy's eyes were wide with excitement. She looked between Aeris and Sephiroth, not sure where to begin, but dying to burst into the story at any moment.
Vincent was eyeing the woman carefully. Had he seen her somewhere before.? He cleared his throat, drawing her attention elsewhere. "Excuse me." He began, in an emotionless tone, "I don't believe we've met."
Sandy turned towards Vincent, noticing him for the first time. Her eyes reflected the almost childlike anxiousness and annoyance at the delay of her new. "Sandra Lamont, I'm a reporter. I've been visiting Aeris and Sephiroth for awhile. Perhaps you've read some of my articles?"
That was it. Vincent knew her now. "Yes, I've read them, and they've caused a lot of stress and annoyance among friends and family of Aeris. and Sephiroth." He added quickly. "Luckily, most people consider them to be a lot of garbage."
Sandy wrinkled her nose, "Well obviously they aren't. As you can see, both of them are alive and well, AND living in Midgar." She crossed her arms with a kind of smug satisfaction. "And who would YOU be?" She looked him up and down.
"Vincent Valentine, former AVALANCHE member." He added calmly.
She lost her smug look for a moment, but quickly composed herself. "I see, so I assume you've already told them of the truth."
"The truth?"
"The past." Sandy added, as if talking to a child, "In case you haven't noticed they don't remember."
Vincent gave her an incredulous look, "Are you insane?"
"What?" She blinked.
Vincent glanced at Aeris and Sephiroth, who were both watching with curious expressions and wide eyes. This was not the time or the place to trouble the peace they'd each found. He stood up, and took Sandy by the arm, dragging her into another room after mumbling a quiet "excuse me."
Sandy yanked her arm away and scowled.
"Listen to me." Vincent began, quietly and angrily. "You are not to disturb them."
"What are you talking about?"
"They're both finally at peace with themselves and each other, and who knows what would happen if they were to remember. and everything at once, my God, they could go crazy."
Sandy pondered this for a moment. "But-"
"This is not a choice, Ms. Lamont." Vincent stated shortly, and the conversation was over. He turned back towards the kitchen. Sandy stood puzzled a few more moments before following. And after more moments of uncomfortable silence, she let herself leave, but not before vowing to return when Mr. Valentine had left. The public deserved to know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that evening, Aeris and Vincent were inside, Aeris trying to remember some of her friends with Vincent's help. He was aware that anything could trigger any memories, maybe even all of them. but Aeris had been so adamant about wanting to know of her past, Vincent couldn't help but give in. Sometime after eleven, Vincent decided enough was enough, and went to his room for bed. Aeris went searching for Sephiroth.
She found him wandering around the garden, arms crossed, silver hair catching the moonbeams. He looked so stoic and proud, but so lost at the same time. Aeris was unsure of whether or not to disturb him.
"Aeris." She jumped. He must have sensed her presence.
"Good evening." She countered, approaching him.
"Did you remember anything?" He asked gently, realizing the sensitivity of the issue.
"Nothing worth remembering. Names without faces. . . faces without names." She sighed.
"I'm sure it will come back to you." He reassured her.
She smiled up at him; "I hope so."
He searched her face with his eyes, remembering every perfection of her beautiful face in that smile. The arch of her eyebrows, the curve of her lips, the shining eyes, and infinitely more that he could not find the words to describe.
Aeris blushed as she realized how intently he was staring. She refused to let her eyes leave his.
Sephiroth watched as the pink slowly spread across her cheeks, and he found it absolutely captivating. No longer being able to resist, he leaned over and claimed her lips gently.
She allowed the kiss to grow steadily more passionate from the moment his lips met hers. Her arms wound their way around his neck, and his drawing her closer at the waist. The kiss went on and on as the two found a way to share the feelings words couldn't seem to express.
When they broke the kiss moments later, both were breathless. Aeris found her head slowly sinking onto his broad chest, listening to his steady heartbeat as one of his hands gently stroked her hair.
"Sephiroth..." She began.
"Yes?" He answered without hesitation.
"I'm so glad I found you," she began, "I don't know how I would've survived without you..., more than that, you've cared enough to stay, and to... be there for me. I can't thank you enough for that."
After a few moments of silence, Sephiroth looked thoughtful. "Aeris?"
"Yeah Seph?" She asked, fondly using his nickname.
"Thank you."
She looked up at him then, and stole a kiss.
The two spent the evening gazing at the stars and sharing kisses, morning would find them asleep in one of the soft flowerbeds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vincent awoke early, and was pleasantly surprised to peer out the window of his room to see the couple lying side by side in the garden. He smiled to himself. They were so ironic, and yet fit together so perfectly. A few moments later his PHS rang. Vincent hesitantly picked up.
It was Cloud and Tifa, wondering if he, by chance, was in Midgar too. Vincent sighed, but he agreed to meet them above the plate for lunch. There was much to talk about. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometime later, Aeris and Sephiroth had attempted to sneak inside, only to be thwarted by Vincent's knowing grin and a hint of mischief in his twinkling eyes. But they knew he wouldn't tell a soul. . . and even if he did, who would care?
Aeris prepared a pleasant breakfast for the three of them and Vincent told them he was meeting some friends and would be back later in the day.
"Why don't you bring them by later, Vincent? I think I'd like to meet them." Aeris beamed, she sensed that they were several of the people she should have remembered.
"We'll see, Aeris..." Vincent began, "I don't know if they would be too keen on... well, it might be a bit of a shocker for them to see you two, I'll talk with them first."
Aeris nodded in understanding. Sephiroth didn't say a word. He had a strange feeling that Vincent was hiding something, and that it wasn't a good idea at all for anyone to visit the house. However, one look at Aeris' hopeful face changed his mind. He wanted her to be happy, and if that's what she wanted, so be it.
Vincent set out a short while later, leaving Aeris and Sephiroth to themselves. But they weren't left alone for long. Sandra Lamont had been watching all morning and waiting for her chance. This was it.
She crept up to the house and knocked on the door. A flustered Aeris answered and invited her in.
"You might want to sit down." Sandy began, "I have so much to tell you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Author's Notes: Well kids, that's all she wrote. I'm very sorry about the incredibly long and annoying delay, I'm still getting stray reviews on this story, and I'm flattered. (Dodges flying vegetables and other assorted objects of annoyance) I'm not going to make any more promises about this story and when it will be finished. But, it's looking like around 16 chapters. After this one: All hell breaks loose. So hang on to your hats.
All comments and suggestions are appreciated and welcomed, and thanks to everyone for your continued support: The review reminders help me get back on it, and of course, I don't mind nagging either. Darn this busyness and this. SCHOOL thing. Pft.
A Past Long Forgotten Chapter 11: Waiting
Tifa pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, walking beside Cloud, her other hand entwined with his. It was no stroll in the park on a Sunday afternoon, but a hushed walk through the twisted metal junkyard known as Midgar. Neither was quite sure why they sometimes found themselves there. Perhaps they were still clinging to the past. Or maybe it was a hope for a brighter future. Now it seemed they only needed each other.
The wreckage of the pillar crash had never completely left their minds, and no matter what changes took place in Midgar, it would always be full of death and disappointment. The slums were still slums; the people still drunk, homeless, or otherwise incapable of taking care of themselves. Tifa subcontiously gripped Cloud's hand tighter as she remembered the untimely deaths of Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge. Three more allies lost.
Cloud seemed to know what she was thinking, and he squeezed her hand affectionately. "They're all at peace now. There's nothing to disturb them." He noted softly. Tifa nodded. Every visit to Midgar required this moment; it also required a quiet moment of reflection in Aeris' church. Without a word, the two took off in that direction, ignoring the sneer of a homeless man as they passed.
Few words were exchanged on these solemn visits. The loss of a friend, one so innocent and dear as Aeris, needed no complicated words or glorified phrases. Just quiet thought and pleasant remembrance... that's what she would have wanted. The church doors opened and the two were bombarded with the sweet scent of flowers, even more so than their last visit.
Cloud blinked, "There are more flowers here than I remember last time..." He noted, curiously.
Tifa plucked a particularly healthy Lily from its place among its sisters and examined it, "They even seem more... alive."
The two looked at each other for a moment, but Cloud shook his head. "I think we should go."
"Let's stop by Aeris' house." Tifa said compulsively, placing the lily into her hair carefully, and then closing the distance between them and hugging his arm, "We haven't in ages..."
Cloud sighed, "How about tomorrow? Let's visit Reeve now."
Tifa could sense his distress and nodded quickly. She knew they wouldn't stop by tomorrow. She knew he still blamed himself for the flower girl's death. The two quietly walked on. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sandy's eyes were wide with excitement. She looked between Aeris and Sephiroth, not sure where to begin, but dying to burst into the story at any moment.
Vincent was eyeing the woman carefully. Had he seen her somewhere before.? He cleared his throat, drawing her attention elsewhere. "Excuse me." He began, in an emotionless tone, "I don't believe we've met."
Sandy turned towards Vincent, noticing him for the first time. Her eyes reflected the almost childlike anxiousness and annoyance at the delay of her new. "Sandra Lamont, I'm a reporter. I've been visiting Aeris and Sephiroth for awhile. Perhaps you've read some of my articles?"
That was it. Vincent knew her now. "Yes, I've read them, and they've caused a lot of stress and annoyance among friends and family of Aeris. and Sephiroth." He added quickly. "Luckily, most people consider them to be a lot of garbage."
Sandy wrinkled her nose, "Well obviously they aren't. As you can see, both of them are alive and well, AND living in Midgar." She crossed her arms with a kind of smug satisfaction. "And who would YOU be?" She looked him up and down.
"Vincent Valentine, former AVALANCHE member." He added calmly.
She lost her smug look for a moment, but quickly composed herself. "I see, so I assume you've already told them of the truth."
"The truth?"
"The past." Sandy added, as if talking to a child, "In case you haven't noticed they don't remember."
Vincent gave her an incredulous look, "Are you insane?"
"What?" She blinked.
Vincent glanced at Aeris and Sephiroth, who were both watching with curious expressions and wide eyes. This was not the time or the place to trouble the peace they'd each found. He stood up, and took Sandy by the arm, dragging her into another room after mumbling a quiet "excuse me."
Sandy yanked her arm away and scowled.
"Listen to me." Vincent began, quietly and angrily. "You are not to disturb them."
"What are you talking about?"
"They're both finally at peace with themselves and each other, and who knows what would happen if they were to remember. and everything at once, my God, they could go crazy."
Sandy pondered this for a moment. "But-"
"This is not a choice, Ms. Lamont." Vincent stated shortly, and the conversation was over. He turned back towards the kitchen. Sandy stood puzzled a few more moments before following. And after more moments of uncomfortable silence, she let herself leave, but not before vowing to return when Mr. Valentine had left. The public deserved to know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that evening, Aeris and Vincent were inside, Aeris trying to remember some of her friends with Vincent's help. He was aware that anything could trigger any memories, maybe even all of them. but Aeris had been so adamant about wanting to know of her past, Vincent couldn't help but give in. Sometime after eleven, Vincent decided enough was enough, and went to his room for bed. Aeris went searching for Sephiroth.
She found him wandering around the garden, arms crossed, silver hair catching the moonbeams. He looked so stoic and proud, but so lost at the same time. Aeris was unsure of whether or not to disturb him.
"Aeris." She jumped. He must have sensed her presence.
"Good evening." She countered, approaching him.
"Did you remember anything?" He asked gently, realizing the sensitivity of the issue.
"Nothing worth remembering. Names without faces. . . faces without names." She sighed.
"I'm sure it will come back to you." He reassured her.
She smiled up at him; "I hope so."
He searched her face with his eyes, remembering every perfection of her beautiful face in that smile. The arch of her eyebrows, the curve of her lips, the shining eyes, and infinitely more that he could not find the words to describe.
Aeris blushed as she realized how intently he was staring. She refused to let her eyes leave his.
Sephiroth watched as the pink slowly spread across her cheeks, and he found it absolutely captivating. No longer being able to resist, he leaned over and claimed her lips gently.
She allowed the kiss to grow steadily more passionate from the moment his lips met hers. Her arms wound their way around his neck, and his drawing her closer at the waist. The kiss went on and on as the two found a way to share the feelings words couldn't seem to express.
When they broke the kiss moments later, both were breathless. Aeris found her head slowly sinking onto his broad chest, listening to his steady heartbeat as one of his hands gently stroked her hair.
"Sephiroth..." She began.
"Yes?" He answered without hesitation.
"I'm so glad I found you," she began, "I don't know how I would've survived without you..., more than that, you've cared enough to stay, and to... be there for me. I can't thank you enough for that."
After a few moments of silence, Sephiroth looked thoughtful. "Aeris?"
"Yeah Seph?" She asked, fondly using his nickname.
"Thank you."
She looked up at him then, and stole a kiss.
The two spent the evening gazing at the stars and sharing kisses, morning would find them asleep in one of the soft flowerbeds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vincent awoke early, and was pleasantly surprised to peer out the window of his room to see the couple lying side by side in the garden. He smiled to himself. They were so ironic, and yet fit together so perfectly. A few moments later his PHS rang. Vincent hesitantly picked up.
It was Cloud and Tifa, wondering if he, by chance, was in Midgar too. Vincent sighed, but he agreed to meet them above the plate for lunch. There was much to talk about. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometime later, Aeris and Sephiroth had attempted to sneak inside, only to be thwarted by Vincent's knowing grin and a hint of mischief in his twinkling eyes. But they knew he wouldn't tell a soul. . . and even if he did, who would care?
Aeris prepared a pleasant breakfast for the three of them and Vincent told them he was meeting some friends and would be back later in the day.
"Why don't you bring them by later, Vincent? I think I'd like to meet them." Aeris beamed, she sensed that they were several of the people she should have remembered.
"We'll see, Aeris..." Vincent began, "I don't know if they would be too keen on... well, it might be a bit of a shocker for them to see you two, I'll talk with them first."
Aeris nodded in understanding. Sephiroth didn't say a word. He had a strange feeling that Vincent was hiding something, and that it wasn't a good idea at all for anyone to visit the house. However, one look at Aeris' hopeful face changed his mind. He wanted her to be happy, and if that's what she wanted, so be it.
Vincent set out a short while later, leaving Aeris and Sephiroth to themselves. But they weren't left alone for long. Sandra Lamont had been watching all morning and waiting for her chance. This was it.
She crept up to the house and knocked on the door. A flustered Aeris answered and invited her in.
"You might want to sit down." Sandy began, "I have so much to tell you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Author's Notes: Well kids, that's all she wrote. I'm very sorry about the incredibly long and annoying delay, I'm still getting stray reviews on this story, and I'm flattered. (Dodges flying vegetables and other assorted objects of annoyance) I'm not going to make any more promises about this story and when it will be finished. But, it's looking like around 16 chapters. After this one: All hell breaks loose. So hang on to your hats.
All comments and suggestions are appreciated and welcomed, and thanks to everyone for your continued support: The review reminders help me get back on it, and of course, I don't mind nagging either. Darn this busyness and this. SCHOOL thing. Pft.