Hey everyone! Oh man it feels like years passed since I updated this! Don't worry though, this one shot collection isn't dead! :)

ANSWERS TO REVIEWS:

NOTE: Past Zerith (Zack X Aerith), Past Cloti (Cloud X Tifa) and current Zifa

In her memory

Zack watched Marlene gently caress the soft white petals of the flowers in Aerith's church, smiling as she did so.

He smiled, carefully making sure not to step on any of them as he made his way towards the kneeling girl and crouched down as well beside her, his larger form casting a shadow over the flowers.

"Do you miss her?" Marlene's sudden question caught Zack off guard and he whipped his head around to look at her, but she just played with the flowers, a small, sad smile on her face.

Zack caught himself, adopting the same sad smile, "Yeah...sometimes I think back on how things used to be..." he scratched at the back of his neck, listening to the peaceful sounds of rushing wind and the soft birds chirping in the distance.

Marlene looked up at him then with a confused expression on her face, "But I thought you liked Tifa now...does that mean you want Aerith to be back?" she tilted her head, not quite comprehending his words.

Zack chuckled and shook his head, gently ruffling her hair, "Of course I like Tifa, but Aerith will always have a special place in my heart, just like Cloud will always have a special place in Tifa's heart." He smiled, "You can't change what happened Marlene, but that doesn't necessarily mean the memories and feelings towards someone go away even if you found someone else," he took a breath, pausing to mull over what he would say next.

"So you still love Aerith, right?" Marlene didn't quite understand, didn't Zack just say he loved her?

Zack smiled ruefully, looking up at the sky through the hole in the church, "In a way, I do. But I love Tifa in a different way too. What I feel for Tifa now feels stronger than I did for Aerith, maybe it's because we haven't gotten to spend so much time together because of Shinra before and everything that happened but..." Zack placed a hand over his heart, "But..." Zack shook his head, grinning at Marlene, "You little rascal, now tell me, what you feel for Aerith and Tifa is different too right?"

Marlene thought for a moment before nodding. Zack chuckled, "See? Love comes in many different ways, just like what you feel towards Tifa or Cloud or anyone else you love can feel different too," recognition seemed to dawn on Marlene as she nodded and her confusion cleared away.

"So that mean even though think about Aerith and miss her, you love Tifa now despite it?" Zack nodded, smiling, "Hmm...I guess it's the same way with Cloud and Tifa..." Zack tilted his head, mako blue eyes glowing in curiosity.

"What do you mean Marlene?"

Marlene stuck her lip out, before answering, "When Cloud went away, Tifa used to cry sometimes, when she thought Denzel and I were asleep..." a pang hit Zack's heart, "She used to tell us how Cloud cares about us and would be back, but Denzel felt disappointed because he thought Cloud left them like his parents did and would never come back." She shook her head slowly, "But..." she looked up at Zack, "She began to smile again when she met you and laugh...it was the same way when Cloud had been home too..."

Marlene smiled brightly, "I think Tifa loves you both, Cloud and you, but in a different way." Zack smiled, finally understanding what the girl meant, "Zack..."

Zack perked up, curious to hear what the girl had to say, "Yes, Marlene?"

Big brown eyes stared up at him, "Did Aerith always like to wear pink dresses?" at that question, Zack's eyes widened and he suddenly started to laugh, covering his mouth and trying to calm down.

"Why are you laughing?" Marlene crossed her arms, pouting.

The former First Class SOLDIER tone down his laughing to chuckles, eyes alight with amusement as he looked down at the girl, "It's nothing," Zack grinned, "Well, the first time we met, she wore a blue and white dress," Zack rubbed his chin, thinking, "The first time I saw her hair, I thought something was missing, so when we went out on a date, I bought her a ribbon," he playfully nudged Marlene's own pink ribbon, "Similar to that one too," he grinned.

Marlene seemed excited, "You went out on dates? How was it? What did you guys do? How did Aerith react?" Zack chuckled at the girl's eagerness and sent a sidelong glance to his right, unseen by Marlene.

Zack smiled, nodding to something invisible before telling Marlene the story of what small adventures Aerith and him went on.

Tifa smiled from her hiding place behind one of the standing pillars, looking up at the faded cobblestones that were once a pristine white.

See? Everything is alright.

Tifa smiled and nodded to the voice of her friend, thinking, "I wish you were here, you know,"

Nonsense. Things are fine the way they are. And you're fine too.

Well, she couldn't deny that, but... "Cloud may be a bit happier if you were there,"

Cloud is just as happy with you and the rest. With Zack there too, everything is just the way it's supposed to be.

Tifa smiled.

And this time, she didn't deny it.