Leon sat alone on the bed in the vacant house. He glanced at his watch. Cid had told him to wait for him here. It had been half an hour. Leon shook his head and leaned back on the bed.

A clap of thunder was heard. Leon glanced over at the window. It was raining lightly. He frowned. Why would Cid ask him to work if it was going to rain? His thoughts were interrupted by a sound at the door. He sat up.

"Cid?"

The door pushed open, and Aerith walked in. she didn't seem to notice him. She put down her umbrella and began removing her jacket. She froze when she saw Leon. There was an awkward moment as the two stared wide-eyed at each other.

"What are you doing here?" they both said at the same time. "No, you first."

Aerith tried not to smile.

"Yuffie told me to come," she said quietly. "I didn't know you'd be here too."

"Cid told me the same thing," Leon replied. Aerith put her jacket on the table. She sat down on the chair.

"I guess we have to wait," Leon said, watching her. Aerith looked at him and nodded. She got up and walked to the window.

"Did they know it was going to rain?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at him. He just shrugged. Aerith sat back down and they waited.

It seemed like hours. Each moment that passed, the rain seemed to come down even more heavily. Finally, Leon had enough.

"We've been set up," he muttered. He went over to the window and looked out. Aerith walked up next to him and did the same. She chuckled softly.

"Guess we have," she said. "I think Cid and Yuffie trapped us in here for a reason." She glanced at Leon. "We need to talk…"

"… about us." Leon finished for her. Aerith nodded and sat down on the bed. She sighed and leaned back.

"I never thought this would happen. I seriously didn't. I've never pictured us as a couple."

Leon sat down next to her.

"I know," he said. "I didn't either. But things have changed."

Aerith nodded sadly.

"Yeah, a lot has changed." She had promised herself she would wait until the day Cloud came back, no matter when that day would come. She had promised, but now, after all these years, she felt the bitter loneliness in her heart increased day by day. Her eyes clouded.

"We've waited for nearly nine years," Leon said. "We don't even know for sure if they survived the asteroid." It hurt so much when he thought back, but it was true. They didn't know.

Aerith stood up and walked away from the bed. She had heard all this before, and she didn't want to hear it again. She felt so angry.

"So what you're saying is that we should let go of the past?!" she said hotly. Leon looked up at her. He stood up and walked over.

"Aerith," he said. "That's not what I meant."

She started to cry softly.

"We can't just forget like that," she said tearfully. "We just can't, Leon."

Leon cupped her cheek with his hand and wiped away a stray tear with his thumb. His touch was warm; it had that inner-warmth Aerith hadn't felt in a long time. She looked into his cold blue eyes. They seemed to soften.

"We won't forget," he told her firmly. "All the memories we have left, we'll hold onto them." Leon stroked her hair with his other hand.

"And that promise…" he continued. "I'll never let anything hurt you."

At that, he leaned in until their lips met. Aerith was shocked at first, but she closed her eyes. Subconsciously, she slowly raised her hand and placed it on his shoulder.

Tasting his lips for the first time, tasting someone's lips for the very first time… it felt like heaven. The warmth, the passion, the sensation of it all, Aerith had never felt before as she kissed him back.

But then something went wrong.

A horrible burning feeling was growing in her head, making Aerith snapped out of it. She pushed Leon violently off, and wiped her mouth.

"No!" she shouted. She took her head in her hands and squeezed shut her eyes. Pain was pumping in her head.

"Aerith…" Leon said, taking a step towards her. Aerith frantically backed away, her eyes wide like a scared animal.

"Get away from me!" She ran past him and out the door into the pouring rain.

Leon hesitated for a moment, then rushed after her.

Aerith ran for a while then stopped. The rain was coming down so heavily, she was already soaking wet. But the burning feeling in her head was still there. She looked around; she couldn't see anything through the rain.

"Aerith!" Leon ran to her. "What the hell are you doing?!" Aerith tried to get away, but Leon gripped her firmly by the shoulders.

"Let go of me!" she screamed, beating her fists blindly at him. "I hate you! Get away from me!" Aerith began to cough uncontrollably. She felt dizzy, her vision became blurry. She began to lose consciousness and collapsed backwards. It was so sudden that she pulled Leon down with her. Luckily, he caught her inches before she hit the hard ground.

"Aerith…" he whispered, shaking her body gently. She didn't move. He pressed his ear to her chest, fearing the worst. There was a faint heartbeat, and her breathing was very shallow. Leon knew if he didn't do something soon, she was going to die. He threw his jacket over her head, picked her up and ran as quickly as he could back to the house.

When he reached it, Leon closed the door behind him with his foot. He was dripping wet, and so was Aerith. He went over and placed her gently on the bed. He pulled off her boots, wrapped her warmly in a blanket and dried her hair with a sheet. Her clothes were still wet, but there was nothing else for her. Leon threw a spell into the fireplace and a fire started. He removed his cold wet t-shirt and sat by the fire to warm himself up quickly. He glanced at Aerith.

She still hadn't woken up and was looking gravely ill.

Leon sighed wearily, reached into his pocket and pulled out his most precious item; an elixir. He had picked it up earlier that day when a Heartless he killed dropped it. He was saving it for an emergency. Leon went over and sat next to Aerith. He lifted up her head slightly and parted her pale lips. He poured the elixir mix into her mouth. Aerith coughed and spluttered as she started to glow. As the light faded, she slowly opened her eyes.

"Leon…" she breathed. Leon wrapped an arm around her as she started to shiver uncontrollably. "Leon… I'm so sorry… I… I don't know what came over me…"

"Why didn't you tell me you were sick?" Leon asked.

"I…" Aerith said, her teeth chattering loudly. "… I d-didn't want to b-bother anybody…" She closed her eyes tightly and curled her body up.

"You're okay now," Leon said. "I've got you. Everything's going to be okay." Aerith shivered even more.

"I… I'm so cold…" she whispered, moving in closer to Leon. "Hold me." He wrapped both arms around her and held her tightly. "Don't ever let go."

Leon pressed her head onto his warm chest, cradling her back and forth gently. Aerith stopped shivering as much, and after a while she fell asleep in his arms. Leon stroked her hair softly. He held her closer, fearing that if he let go, she'd simply slip away.

Aerith opened her eyes. She was no longer in the Small House in Traverse Town. She looked around. She knew this place. Her eyes stopped at an enormous tree. She knew it too well; she grew up playing around it. She was in Hollow Bastion.

Aerith stood up and looked around, trying to find an explanation for all this. How did she get here? Or was it just a dream?

"Hello, sunshine," a deep voice behind her said. Aerith spun around. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. It was Cloud.

He was older, perhaps how he would be now, but only in the way she'd imagine him to be. He was wearing a white suit and seemed somewhat like an angel. He smiled at her.

"Aerith," he said, walking slowly towards her. "It's good to see you again."

"Cloud," she said, smiling. Cloud walked over to the tree and took a seat on the root. Exactly where he always sat, 9 years ago. He touched the bark thoughtfully.

"This is where we used to come," he said. "Whenever we felt lonely." He looked at Aerith. "Remember?" Aerith looked up at the tree. She smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, I do," she said. She went over and leaned on the tree. Cloud stood up and moved closer to Aerith. His expression was serious.

"You're not happy," he said quietly, shaking his head.

"What?"

"In the last 9 years, you haven't been happy."

Aerith looked away. "No one is anymore. Darkness has corrupted all of us." Cloud took her by the chin and gently brought her to look into his eyes.

"Everyone has been affected, but you have been affected the most." He took her hand and placed it on her chest. "Your lonely heart." Aerith blinked back a few tears as she stared into his blue eyes.

"It's just… I miss you," she whispered.

Cloud smiled softly and caressed her cheek.

"I'm sorry I'm causing you so much pain," he said gently. "I don't want you to feel this way anymore." He took her face in his hands. "I want you to be happy." Aerith placed her hands on his, her eyes going misty.

"You're the only one who can make me happy."

Cloud shook his head. "You'll find happiness again." He kissed her forehead tenderly. "I know you will." They gazed into each other's eyes for a long moment. Aerith wished it would never end.

Suddenly, the big tree behind them started to fade away. Cloud glanced at it from over his shoulder, and then turned to Aerith. He stroked her hair lightly.

"I have to go now," he said. Cloud held her close. "Remember my words." He touched her cheek one last time, and slowly walked away. Aerith sighed. She finally felt at peace.

"Hey!" she called out. He turned around. "Don't lose the light, okay?" Cloud nodded.

"I love you," Aerith told him, smiling peacefully. "I always will." He smiled at her.

"I love you too," Cloud said. "Just be happy for me." He waved to her, and then slowly, he began to fade away.

Aerith opened her eyes. She was back in Traverse Town. She looked around. Two figures were talking a few feet away from her bed. It was Leon and the Fairy Godmother. Aerith glanced down at her clothes; she wasn't wearing her wet pink dress anymore, but a warm white nightgown. She smiled to herself. Leon was so sweet.

The Fairy Godmother spoke with Leon for a while, probably lecturing him, then she vanished in a puff of smoke. Leon let out a sigh; he seemed tired. Aerith was sure he had stayed up all night looking after her. He had done so much, and he deserved better than what he got back from her. He was so strong on the outside, yet on the inside he was so heartbroken and lonely. She wanted to help him, to take away his pain. She thought back on what Cloud told her in her dream; maybe making Leon happy would make her happy. Aerith got up from her bed. She slowly walked up behind Leon. He turned around, surprised to see Aerith up. She smiled at his confused look. She moved in close to him, resting her head on his chest and wrapping her arms around his back. Leon was a little taken aback, but slowly he smiled. He put one hand on her back and the other behind her head. He embraced her warm body tightly. Then, out of the blue, the memories he thought he had forgotten slowly came back to him.

He was at a ball. He never liked going there anyway, but his friends always made him. People around him were dancing. It sort of looked like fun, but he didn't want to risk looking like an idiot.

A beautiful young girl with long dark hair and wearing a pale yellow dress came running up to him.

"Come on, Squall!" she squeaked. "This is my favourite song!"

Young Squall shook his head and crossed his arms. "I don't dance, Rinoa."

Rinoa just giggled and started to drag him out. "Come on! It'll be lots of fun." Squall tried to pull back. "And I'm not taking no for an answer!" With that, she drew him out to the dance floor. At first, Squall definitely had some trouble catching on, but after a while, he and Rinoa were the centre of attention.

"That was SO much fun!" she cried happily as the song ended. She kissed Squall on the cheek. "I hope you'll dance with me again at the next ball!" At that, she ran off to join her friends, leaving behind a dumbfounded Squall.

Leon smiled to himself. His first dance lesson, his first kiss from Rinoa. He felt that somehow, something inside Aerith was helping him remember.

They were lying in the grass. It was night and the stars were out. It was very peaceful.

"I love it here," Rinoa said. She sat up. "But some day, we might have to leave."

Squall looked over at her. "Why?"

"I don't really know," she replied, gazing up. "I just… kinda feel it." She sighed. "But even if we do get separated…" She turned to face Squall. "You won't forget me, will you?" She looked sad all the sudden. Squall sat up.

"I would never forget you," he said firmly.

Rinoa smiled. "Really?"

He nodded. "That's a promise."

It was a promise he thought he had forgotten, but now it was clear for him to remember. He would never forget Rinoa, even if he thought he did. He remembered all over again, the times she made him feel better, in her own special way.

"I remember," Leon whispered. "I remember Rinoa again." Aerith looked up at him.

"You remember her?" she asked, smiling. Leon nodded.

"Thanks to you. Somehow, you helped me remember."

Aerith just smirked. "I didn't do anything. You found it in yourself."

Leon closed his eyes and held her close. He cradled Aerith from side to side, absorbing her soft touch.

Was this just a dream? Was the dream he had dreamt every night… coming true at last?

If it was just merely a dream, Leon hoped he would never wake up.

He pulled away after a moment and cupped Aerith's cheek gently in his hand, examining her flawless face with his cobalt stare.

She was so beautiful; a beauty he hadn't realized was so great until now.

Leon's eyes move down to Aerith's pink lips, then back into her emerald pools. He leaned in slowly and kissed her. Just softly, just lightly, just enough to taste the sweetness of her mouth, but not forcing himself. He was afraid she might react and push him away again.

But she didn't. Her eyes closed and her mouth moved with intense passion and heat, taking him in as she kissed him back.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Aerith felt a wonderful warm feeling in her heart. She didn't feel lonely anymore with Leon here with her.

Maybe it was finally time to let go of the past.