I hadn't been out long when I woke up in a pair of strong arms. "Cloud?" I asked, half awake. When I his scent reached my nose, I knew I was wrong. "No… you smell wrong" I stated. My eyes slowly opened to reveal the one they called Vincent.

"I'm afraid I'm not the one you seek" he said.

"Is he dead?" I asked.

"We think he's alive. We're going to him now" he said.

"No, the explosion, he must be dead" I muttered. "Soon, I will be, too."

"No" I heard Tifa say as she walked. "What would make you say that? You won't die."

"That's where you're wrong" I said, suddenly feeling very calm and at peace with myself. "You see, I have the stigma. I've had it nearly as long as it has existed. It started nearly immediately after the fighting ended. I've had it so long, lived in secret pain. Cloud gave my life meaning. Helping him gave me a real reason to live. Now, the stigma is going to take me and I don't think anything can stop that."

"Don't talk like that" said Tifa. "We'll find a way to fix you."

"No, Tifa, please don't" I said as I began to feel my remaining life slip away. "Tell Cloud that I…" I didn't know if I finished because I blacked out.

I wasn't out that long before I felt a pair of lips on my own. My eyes fluttered open, expecting to see Vincent, or maybe even Cloud, but it was neither. When I saw who it was, I closed my eyes again and wrapped my arms around him, deepening the kiss, my first, with the first man I had loved. He slowly pulled away and I opened my eyes again.

"Zack" I whispered. He took my hand and helped me stand up.

"That's what you wanted to tell me" he said smugly. "You loved me."

"Am I dead?" I asked.

"No, you're not" he said. "And you can't let go. Cloud needs you and he cares.

"He doesn't need me anymore. He'll be okay on his own. He has Tifa" I said.

"You don't mean that" he said. I frowned because he was right. I didn't mean it. "Now, back to this love thing… why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Zack, I wanted to. I wanted to so badly, but then I ran away" I explained. "The night I left… if you had kissed me… I would have stayed. I couldn't have left." I said.

"So I guess it doesn't count if I do it now…" he muttered.

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Before I met Aerith, I loved you, too" he said. "But it shouldn't make a difference now. You'll be happy with Cloud. We just don't have room for you here, yet. I loved you, that's why I want you to live. Go get yourself a normal life. We all know you deserve it. Don't hide anymore, Fayte. Don't blame yourself anymore. Your parents were monsters and now that I think about it, had I kissed you and you stayed, I never would have forgiven myself when I saw the monster you had become."

"Zack…"

"Hell, if you had stayed, Project F would have been a success and you would have never forgiven yourself. There would be a thousand more like you. I know you would have hated yourself for that" he smiled. "Things are better this way."

"It doesn't matter" I said. "I'm still going to die."

"No, you won't. Cloud will fix you and you can have your second kiss with him… seeing how I stole your first" he smirked.

"Why you little…"

"Open your eyes" he said. Cheering filled my ears. It came from children but soon stopped. I opened my eyes to find that I was being carried by Vincent to Cloud, who was waist deep in water.

"It's not good" said Vincent as he bent down and handed me off to Cloud. I had to admit that the cool water felt good on my searing skin but did nothing more for me.

Cloud carried me a bit deeper into the pool before saying "Why isn't it working?"

I knew why. "Cloud… my clothes… waterproof" I struggled to say.

"What do I do?" he asked.

If I could, I would have laughed. It was such a stupid, obvious question. "Take them off" I wheezed. His eyes widened and then he nodded. His hands fumbled to unbuckle my cover dress but he finally did and it sank to the bottom of the pool like a rock. I felt him tug this way and that on my shirt but he couldn't remove it.

"I can't get it" he said.

"I have a knife on my inner thigh. Use it" I said. My heart fluttered as his hand brushed my thigh when he grabbed the knife but was interrupted by metal on my skin. He wasted no time cutting up the middle of my shirt. His carelessness caused him to cut my bra, too, but I didn't care. He quickly peeled it off to reveal my geostigma, which immediately glowed green and began to evaporate. Once my shirt and bra were completely off and the water was working on my arm, he took my boots off and cut off my leggings, being a bit more careful about my panties. I gasped as the water hit that geostigma and I felt relief fill me.

"What about your face?" he suddenly asked.

"Rub it off" I said. "I know it will hurt, just do it."

I closed my eyes as he put pressure on my cheek and rubbed hard. It hurt at first but once water touched a little of the geostigma, the following reaction caused the rest of my makeup to become useless. It was as if all my makeup melted off. Cloud put more water on my face to be sure, but I knew it was gone. I felt my energy slowly coming back to me. Carefully, I placed my feet on the bottom of the pool, trying to stand, but I wasn't that strong yet and I fell against Cloud.

"You'll be okay, now" he said.

"I love you" I whispered, not caring if he heard me.

"You love me?" he asked. I nodded against his chest.

"Then I'll admit I was scared to lose you" he said. "Because, even though I haven't known you long, I think I feel the same." I was shocked as he shifted me in his arms and tilted my head up. He was smiling and his beautiful blue eyes were sparkling. We drew closer and he placed a hand under my chin to steady me. My heart sped up as our lips met and I found that I had enough strength to put my arms around his neck and pull him closer. His arms around me were gentle and his lips were incredibly soft. I nearly fainted at the contact. A very light moan escaped me as he slipped his tongue into my mouth and massaged my own with it. After a few minutes, we withdrew from need of air. Cheers filled the air again and I smiled up at Cloud again.

"Thank you for saving me" I said.

"Don't mention it" he smiled back. He looked up at the doors to the church and I looked, too. Zack and Aerith were in the doorway.

"You see? Everything's all right" said Aerith. Zack gave a small smile before walking out with her. Cloud smiled and for a moment, I heard his thoughts.

'I know… I'm not alone. Not anymore.'

I turned back to him and placed my head on his chest, the day's beating was finally catching up to me. As my eyes closed I whispered "I'm tired."

I was surprised to hear Cloud say "Then sleep. I'll take care of you." I smiled and nodded as I let sleep take me and I fell into a safe and comfortable darkness.