Month 02 – Day 28 – Tuesday

He steps into the quiet church in that casual manor with his sword strapped across his back. He knows he doesn't really need it, and most definitely won't find any fiends in here; but without it he feels somewhat empty. The weight doesn't seem to bother him anymore, for as it swings across his back he feels more balanced like a dog does with its tail. He takes no notice at his fingers unbuckling the strap and laying his sword aside so he could sit down.

It has been a while since he's been here, and he doesn't mean to forget to visit her sometimes. It's just, life's changed in many ways for him and well, finding time is difficult now with all his added responsibilities. He's got to pick the kids up from school, drop them to school, and for once and for all, eat dinner with his family every night. Although there are the occasional nights when he doesn't make it home, but he makes up for it on weekends. So he thinks he does well, above it all.

The tip of his shoe barely touches the water as he hangs his leg over the side. He watches the lilies floating on the vibrant yet soothing coloured water. There's a particular lily that captures his eye, it floats with another lily away from the other lilies. It's almost as if it were a sign that the presence of his two lost friends were still in this church after all these years.

He smiles briefly as the gust of wind somewhat answered his question, then he relaxed and watched the quiet day go pass. He closed his eyes briefly, thinking about the past, about the present and wondered what the future held in store for him.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even hear the door of the church opening. It wasn't until he heard a soft humming that he sprung his eyes open and turned around.

He saw his little family approaching him in that excited yet mellow style that only they do best. Denzel's strolling beside Marlene and their skipping excitedly toward him to pick flowers. He doesn't really know how Denzel puts up with Marlene's princess like nature, but he smiles anyway because the two of them are always either laughing or running around one way or another.

"Hi Cloud!" Denzel greets with a broadening smile. "Tifa said she had a feeling you were here, so we're here too."

Marlene beams a smile at him as she squats beside him to pick a flower. "Yeah, Tifa said we could pick flowers too. So we can replace the old ones at home."

He smiles mildly at them and then turns his eyes to her.

She smiles to him warmly, and then says, "Is this okay?"

He nods his head and says, "Yes."

She nods and settles beside him. "I didn't want to," she begins then turns her eyes to the kids, "But they wanted to come and see her too. Well, her flowers."

He sits there, listening to the quiet humming of Marlene and the occasional conversation shared between the two kids. Their either laughing, or talking seriously about something, he noted quite firmly. They seem to be a fair ways from where they sat, so he thought he'd pry a bit into starting a conversation between them for once.

"Do you think about her?" he asks, the silence around them finally breaking like a thin piece of ice.

She turns to him and gives him a smile and a small nod. "Yes, I do."

His brows raise a little as he murmurs, "Oh."

"I thank her too," she adds.

"Me too."

She settles an arm on his hand, and he suddenly feels his knees weakening even though he isn't standing. He feels the hair on the back of his neck standing, but he remains calm in the best possible way he can.

"It isn't just your burden to carry, Cloud," she says gently to him.

He nods and turns his eyes to the lilies.

"I know," he says softly as he takes her hand in his and wraps his hand around hers.

He laces their fingers for the first time, and he feels his heart pounding beneath his chest. He doesn't really know why, or how, but even though he feels like he is facing something worse than Sepriroth in this moment, he can't help but feel like he's floating on cloud nine.

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A/N: I know, I know, the chapters seem to be getting shorter and shorter. I will start lengthening them a bit from now on, at least I update fast so that's alright I suppose :)

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