There was a knock on the door.

Cloud let out a groan as he lifted his head up from his pillow.

What a night. He looked at his alarm clock. 7:38am.

It had been almost a week since he had seen Aerith, and he was losing it.

Slowly, he got up from the bed. Not caring about putting a shirt on, he dragged himself to the door. He opened it, and a beautiful blonde woman about his age was waiting for him. She was wearing a blue top and a green miniskirt, her hair tied up in a ponytail, and she was holding a few files. She smiled, embarrassed as she saw him.

"Bad time?"

Cloud smiled and shook his head. He opened the door for her.

"No," he muttered. "Come in."

The girl removed her high heel shoes and entered.

The house was a mess, and she seemed to notice straight away. She turned to him. Cloud shrugged.

"You're finally here, Molly," he said. Molly shook her head and took a seat. She gestured him to do so too. "About time. I'm depressed again, so cure me."

Molly sighed. She took out her files and looked at them.

"Maybe you should talk to her, Cloud," she suggested. "It's been a week, and that might be the only thing that'll help." Cloud dropped his gaze. It still hurt to think about Aerith. Molly saw this and placed a hand on his.

"Cloud," she said gently. "I'm not just your shrink, okay? I'm your friend, too."

Cloud tried to smile.

He met Molly five years ago. She was still a student then, but she helped through the bad times and looked after him when he was hurt. He had told her he was from Hollow Bastion, and when the time came, she moved here and they continued their friendship. Good-hearted and selfless, she was someone he could rely on.

"Yeah, maybe you're right," he muttered. "Maybe it's time I faced my demons."

Molly smiled. Cloud stood up.

"Want some coffee?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure," Molly replied. "I didn't get my share this morning."

Cloud nodded and he headed into the kitchen. He took out the fresh brew of coffee and poured it into a mug.

He missed Aerith, he had to admit it. He was still hurt after what she did, but he loved her nonetheless. He couldn't avoid her forever. Maybe they could talk things out, now that the smoke had cleared. He wanted to see her again. He really did.

Cloud let out a sigh and carried the coffee out to Molly. He had been really depressed lately, and he felt like calling her over every time like that must be frustrating, even when she told him it was okay. He respected her greatly, and he didn't want her to feel that he didn't.

"Here's your coffee," he said, holding it out as he approached her. "Black and two sugars like you like it." Unfortunately, he tripped over the rug, sending the coffee flying onto Molly. She let out a scream as the hot coffee was splashed all over her front.

"Oh my god…" Cloud muttered, staring wide-eyed at his friend. "I'm… uh… I'm sorry."

Molly let out a breath, but she smiled at him.

"It's okay," she said. She reached for the tissue on the table and dabbed her shirt. She shook her head. "This'll never come out."

Cloud sighed.

"I'll pay for it," he told her. Molly shook her head.

"Nah, it was an accident," she said, smiling. She looked around. "But I can't go out looking like this." Cloud ran into his room, coming back with a clean jersey.

"Um… this isn't much," he said, holding it up. "But you could just wear this for the way home." He handed it to Molly. She looked at it for a moment, and then stood up. She headed into the bathroom and closed the door. She stayed in there for about a minute, then coming out with the jersey on.

It was way too big for her. It was hanging off her, the sleeves were too long. The jersey ended at her knees, covering the fact that she was wearing a skirt entirely. She glared at Cloud. He laughed nervously.

"Sorry."

Molly rolled her eyes and sat back down. She took out her file and looked at him.

"It's fine. Let's just get through today's section, shall we?"

The park was a peaceful place Aerith loved to take long walks. Usually, it was with Cloud, but not today. Yuffie still wasn't talking to her. She only had Leon.

He had forgiven her, letting her stay in his house. He had been more than kind to her, understanding what she's going through, so he didn't take it to his advantage. But still, he loved her.

Aerith let out a sigh, straightening her jacket. Leon glanced over at her.

"You alright?"

Aerith nodded silently, then coughed. Leon wrapped a warm arm around her shoulders. She gave him a small smile.

"It's just hard," she said quietly. "No one will listen to me."

Leon smiled softly.

"I'm here," he said. She looked up at him. "You know I always will be."

Aerith smiled and nodded. She gazed back at the ground. She sighed again.

"You think he meant it when he said it was really over?"

Leon looked away and said nothing.

"I think you need to talk to him, Aerith," he suggested. Aerith stopped walking.

"I can't," she muttered. "I just can't, Leon. I'm too afraid." Leon wrapped his arms around her. She just stood there, frozen. "Maybe I should just move on." Leon pulled away. Aerith tried to smile at him. He took her hands.

"Aerith," he said. "You know I'm still in love with you."

Aerith sighed.

"I wish we could just start over," she said. "Act like all of it never happened."

Leon shook his head.

"We can't," he said simply. "Denying it and acting like it didn't happen won't make it go away. It'll just hurt more." Aerith's smile disappeared. "I know you're hurting." He gently lifted up her face by the chin. "But you have to talk it out with him. Either way, what's done is done." Aerith turned away and nodded.

"You're right," she said. "I've been hiding for too long." She looked back at him. "Thanks." Leon nodded. She turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand.

"I'll always be here for you, okay?"

Aerith smiled and nodded again. She headed to Cloud's house.

Leon let out a sigh as he watched her walk away. He put his hands in his pockets. He wanted to be with her more than anything, but he didn't want it to be based on her guilt. He wanted her to be free of it, then, and only then could they start over.

He hoped so.

Molly was still sitting on the sofa, reading through her notes. Cloud had gone inside his room, saying he'd be right out.

Molly set down her files and exhaled sharply, wiping her forehead. The jersey was making her hot, but that was all she had to wear over her clothes, thanks to Cloud's clumsiness. She undid her hair, letting it flow messily down her back. It was really hot inside the house, she was sweating.

A knock came to the door. Molly looked up, and then turned her head to the bedroom's direction.

"Cloud!" she called out. "Someone's at the door!"

No answer. The knocking got louder.

"Cloud!"

"Just get it for me, will you?" Cloud's voice shouted. Molly rolled her eyes and stood up, heading towards the door. The knocker grew impatient.

"Alright, alright," Molly muttered. "I'm coming!"

Aerith frowned a little. Was there a woman in there? The door opened.

"Yes?" Molly said.

Aerith blinked at the woman.

She was pretty, very pretty, but that wasn't the only thing that made Aerith's blood suddenly boil.

Her hair was messy, she was sweating and she was wearing nothing but Cloud's jersey. Aerith suddenly felt a rush of fury, but stayed calm.

"Uh…" She didn't know what to say. "Is Cloud here?"

Molly placed a hand on her hip.

"Yeah," she said, nodding. "He'll be right out."

"Who is it?" Cloud came out from his room. He froze when he saw Aerith.

It was an awkward situation, from Aerith's point. There was a strange woman in Cloud's house, early in the morning, wearing nothing but his shirt, looking hot and sweaty, and Cloud came out from his bedroom without his shirt.

He didn't have to be psychic to know what she was thinking.

"Hey, Cloud," Molly said, not noticing the tension. "Someone's here to see you."

Aerith flushed a dark shade of red.

"It's okay," she said in a high-pitched voice. She tried not to look at Cloud. "It doesn't matter anymore."

At that, she ran away as fast as she could. Cloud rushed over to the door.

"Aerith!" he called out. "No, wait!"

She didn't stop running; it was more like she was going faster.

"It's not what… you think."

Cloud slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand and went back inside.

"That was Aerith?!" Molly said, shocked. Cloud nodded grimly. "Oh god… this is not good…" She patted her friend on the back. "Sorry about that, Cloud."

The young man sighed wearily.

Things weren't getting any better at all.

Aerith ran as fast as she could home. She was so angry, so extremely angry. Cloud had moved on, while she was still moping about it. Well, now she'll show him how happy she can really be without him. He wasn't the only one in her life. Just because he had moved on, didn't mean her life was over. He wasn't the only person she loved.

She entered the house. Leon was waiting for her on the sofa. He stood up when he saw her.

"What happened?" he asked. Aerith threw her arms around him in a tight hug. Leon was a little surprised.

"It's over between me and Cloud," she muttered stiffly. "I never want to see him again." She hugged Leon tighter, not wanting to let go.

"I need you with me," she said softly. "Promise you'll stay. Please promise me… "

She needed him to hold her. Just… to hold her. To feel his arms around her, to tell her everything would be alright. Leon felt, though with some sadness, that this was a single moment in Aerith's life that she just wanted to be held by someone she loved. He tenderly kissed her head and wrapped his arms around her.

"I'll never leave you, Aerith," he told her. "Not ever." Leon pressed her close to his body, hearing Aerith sigh and feel her bury her face into his shoulder.

"I need you…" she whispered almost subconsciously. Leon smiled softly to himself, but did not speak.

He just held her.