Unusual title for a chapter, huh? Wondering why?

:) Just keep reading.

Burton Hospital was very big. There were hundreds of rooms, for patients, operations, surgeries and others.

Cloud wondered around, ultimately finding himself at the other end of the hospital.

It was quiet in that area, away from the operation rooms. He found himself drawn towards a large wooden door.

Slowly, he pushed it open and peeked in.

It was a chapel.

It seemed peaceful inside, lit candles and dim lights. Cloud entered the room.

He stared around at the room, sitting down on the bench. He looked up at the front altar, where a statue of a woman holding a cross stood.

Cloud wasn't a religious man; he never used to believe in faith. But ever since Aerith came back into his life, he believed in miracles.

Because she was his miracle.

Cloud closed his eyes and put his hands together in pray.

Aerith was everything to him. If she disappeared, everything else would too.

He didn't want her to disappear.

He opened his eyes again, finishing his prayer. He stared back at the front altar.

A young nun appeared from the corner of the chapel, spotting him. She went over to him on the bench.

"Hi," she said in a soft silvery voice. She sat down next to him, seeming to know what he was there for. "Praying for a loved one?"

Cloud nodded slightly. The nun beamed and stared at the statue on the altar.

"May the Lord hear your prayer," she muttered. Cloud released his hands and looked at her.

"Sister…" he said. The nun gazed over at him. "Do you believe in destiny?"

"Destiny?" she asked. Cloud nodded.

"Like you're destined to love only one person, no matter what?" The nun smiled again.

"Yes," she replied simply. She moved closer as he looked away.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

Cloud studied the nun carefully.

She was very beautiful, her face of absolute innocence and purity. Her gaze was calming and full of kindness and serenity. He didn't feel threatened whatsoever by her.

He felt like he could trust her with his life.

Cloud sighed deeply.

"I'm in love with someone," he said. The nun smiled. "But my best friend's in love with her too." She nodded, understanding. "I want what's best for her, what makes her happy, even if it means letting her go to him."

"Do you feel angry that someone else is in love with her?" she asked. Cloud dropped his gaze and shook his head.

"No," he replied truthfully. The nun smiled again.

"You've committed none of the sins. You're a good person." She patted his shoulder and stood up.

"Sister…" he began. She turned back to him.

"Yes?"

"If my heart doesn't stop me from loving her," Cloud said slowly, staring at her. "If it tells me to keep fighting for her, to keep hoping for her, what should I do?"

The sister knew exactly what to say. She bent down to him, eye to eye.

"If your feelings for her are that strong," she said in a firm voice. "If there's a strong chance that you know for sure she still loves you, if your heart, body and soul tell you that she is your true love… then, yes." She smiled, dimples forming in both cheeks. "Fight for her." She straightened up, smiling.

Cloud felt something from her, it was as if she knew all along about Aerith and what was happening. It was as if she was the messenger sent to guide him.

She kissed the tip of her fingers and pressed it gently on his forehead. She beamed and turned at her heel to leave.

"Sister!" Cloud called out. The nun stopped and glanced back at him over her shoulder, smiling peacefully.

"Clare," she chuckled. "My name is Clare." Cloud smiled.

"Clare," he said. "Thank you."

Sister Clare nodded and she slowly walked away towards the door.

Cloud sighed and looked back at the altar. He glanced back at the door and was surprised to see her gone already.

He smiled softly to himself.

Cloud made his way back to Aerith's room. He was beginning to feel tired. It had been several hours, but he had no intention to leave.

As he got closer, he saw a group of people standing in front of Aerith's room, looking in through the window.

Three paramedics, two men and one woman, and a female nurse. They were about his age. Cloud frowned as he headed slowly towards them.

They all seemed worried. The female paramedic and the nurse were holding hands, staring anxiously inside. The two male paramedics were talking quietly to each other, both looking very concerned. One of them spotted Cloud and walked over to him.

"Excuse me," he said. "Are you Cloud?"

Cloud was surprised he knew his name.

"Yeah." The other three came over as well.

"My name's Tony," the paramedic said, shaking Cloud's hand. "These are my friends, Vincent…" He pointed at the other male paramedic. "Natalie…" He pointed at the female paramedic. "And Lisa…" He pointed at the nurse. (A.N. Classmates of mine. Very nice people.) Cloud nodded at them. Natalie came forward.

"We went to high school with Aerith," she told him, clearing Cloud's confusion and suspicion immediately. "Sorry we couldn't make it to your engagement." Cloud dropped his gaze.

"It's okay…" he mumbled. Natalie looked back at Aerith.

"Is she going to be alright?" she asked. Cloud nodded.

"Yeah," he muttered. "That's what the doctors said." The four sighed with relief.

"Thank goodness," Lisa said happily. "Aerith's a strong girl. Of course she'll make it through." The others nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, Natalie's pager started going off, then Vincent's, then Tony's. They checked it reluctantly.

"Sorry, Cloud," Tony said. "Gotta go." He ran off.

"Wish Aerith all the best for us," Natalie shouted as she followed him.

"We'll see you at the wedding!" Vincent yelled, grinning, and he too took off.

Cloud emitted a weary sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. Lisa noticed.

"She's not going to wake up anytime soon," she told him. "You might as well go home and rest." Cloud shook his head, collapsing onto the chairs.

"I'm fine."

Lisa went over to the nearest cabinet and took out a blanket. She placed it over him, smiling and shaking her head.

"Gee, you're stubborn," she commented. "No wonder Aerith must like you." Cloud closed his eyes and let out a soft chuckle.

He rested his cheek on his fist. Lisa reached into her pocket and pulled out a box of potion viles, holding it out in front of him. Cloud stared at it.

"The doctor told me to give this to you," she said. "She said you have to take one and give one immediately to anyone else who has had close physical contact with Aerith." Cloud took them off her, examining the box. "You might as well make a few calls." Cloud nodded. Lisa stood in front of him for a while.

"You're going to stay here until she wakes up?"

He nodded again.

"It might be days on end, you know."

"I don't care." Lisa smiled.

"Good." She straightened the blanket one last time and left.

Cloud yawned and leaned back on the chair.

He blinked a couple of times before closing his eyes for a long moment. He then forced them open again.

A young woman holding her baby was standing in front of Aerith's room, staring inside concernedly.

She had sandy brown hair tied in a high ponytail and she was wearing a lavender dress.

The baby started crying.

"Lucas… hush…" she muttered, rocking the baby gently. She noticed Cloud was watching her. She turned and went over to him.

"Hello there," she said with a smile. Cloud was a little confused at the way she was looking at him. She sat down on the seat next to him.

"She hanging in there?" the woman asked. Cloud nodded. "Then why do you look so worried?"

"Huh?" The woman laughed, looking down at her baby.

"You look worried."

"I'm not worried," he said firmly. "I know she'll wake up." The woman laughed again.

"That's not what you're worried about," she said, smiling at Lucas. "You're worried about what will happen when she does wake up." She looked back at the dumbfounded blonde. "Right, Cloud?"

Cloud was speechless.

"Who are you?" he said cautiously. "How do you know my name?"

The woman smiled.

"I know everything about you, Cloud," she said. "I've known you ever since you were a little baby." She smiled down at her own baby. "Just like my Lucas." Cloud still didn't let his guard down.

"Who are you?"

She smiled again at him.

"Shera Highwind." Cloud blinked.

"Highwind?" Shera nodded.

"I'm Cid's wife." The young man stood up and back away.

"Cid doesn't have a wife," he muttered. Shera stood up, sighing sadly.

"No…" she said. "I'm his late wife." She walked towards him while he continued to back away. She smiled. "I know you don't remember me, Cloud, but we're here to help you."

"W-we?" Shera nodded.

Suddenly, six sparks of light appeared at different parts of the corridor.

Cloud stopped, looking around wildly at them.

They shone brighter, until they began to generate into something else. Slowly, one by one, they transformed into six young women.

The first was a woman in her mid-20s, long black hair pulled back with a headband, blue sparkling eyes and a yellow dress. Cloud knew who she was.

Raine Loire.

The second light changed slowly into a woman in her early 20s, and Cloud recognized her immediately. The same face as Yuffie, with long brown hair tied back and wearing a green dress.

Mrs Kisaragi.

The third changed into a woman in her mid-20s, long dark hair, peaceful red eyes, wearing a black dress.

Mrs Lockhart.

The forth changed into a woman in her mid-20s, long flowing chestnut hair and emerald eyes, Cloud almost mistaking her for Aerith. The same hair, the same face, the same figure, wearing a pure white dress.

Ifalna Gast.

The fifth generated into a young woman in her early 20s, shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a red dress.

Julia Heartilly.

The last one changed slowly, but Cloud knew who it was. Blonde hair, tied back neatly to show her sky blue eyes, wearing a blue dress to match.

Mrs Strife.

Cloud was lost for words.

"M-mom?" Mrs Strife smiled and nodded. Cloud stared at the other women, young, the age they were when they died. They were the women who took care of him and the others when they were children.

They were the mothers.

"Cloud, you've grown so much," Mrs Strife said happily, touching his face affectionately. Cloud collapsed back onto the seats. He was hallucinating.

"Mom…" he said breathlessly. He looked at the other women. "What are you all doing here?" Julia sat down next to him.

"We've come to give you some advice," she told him.

"Yes," Mrs Kisaragi said, sitting down on Cloud's other side. "Because we don't think you're getting anywhere on your own." She rested an arm on his shoulder. Cloud was clearly disorientated.

"Wha…?" was the only thing he managed to let out. Ifalna sighed.

"The situation between you, my Aerith and Squall," she said. Mrs Strife nodded in agreement.

"You love her, and Squall loves her too…" Cloud closed his eyes.

"You feel responsible for making Squall feel this pain, don't you?" Raine continued. "You feel that you're the cause?" Mrs Strife cupped his cheek and brought his eyes to her.

"You can't blame yourself for loving that girl." Cloud looked away. Mrs Strife sighed, knowing too well how stubborn her son was.

Mrs Lockhart decided to have a go.

She crouched down in front of Cloud so he could look her straight in the eye, she smiled at him.

"Wanna know a secret?"

Cloud shrugged. He leaned in closer as she beckoned him.

"Before you kids were born," Mrs Lockhart said. "We paired all of you up with each other." Cloud cocked an eyebrow.

"You did?" he exclaimed incredulously. The other women nodded.

"Yeah," Julia said. "At first it was just for fun." She smiled at Shera. "When Shera was pregnant, we all had ideas." The all laughed as they remembered fondly.

"Yeah," Mrs Kisaragi said dreamily, giggling a little. She looked at Raine. "What was it again? Squall was to be engaged to Yuffie, Cloud was to be engaged to Tifa—"

"Rinoa," Mrs Lockhart corrected. Mrs Kisaragi nodded.

"Cloud was to be engaged to Rinoa, Lucas was to be engaged to Tifa. Which left Aerith…" Ifalna started giggling.

"I don't know if I remember right, but I believe Tifa was supposed to be a set of twins." The women laughed.

"Really?" Mrs Lockhart said. "No wait… yeah, it was supposed to be twins." They all laughed again.

Cloud cleared his throat loudly. The girlish giggling stopped.

"Anyway," Mrs Strife said. "After Shera died, we started arranging again."

"Ultimately, after that," Julia continued for her. "It was you and Rinoa, Squall and Aerith, because you four were the eldest." Cloud blinked.

"You arranged for Squall to marry Aerith?" he said dubiously. Raine shrugged.

"You were just starting kindergarten. It was no big deal," she said. "However a few years later, you kids got together for real, and fell in love. Well…you were just kids, but I'd have called it love anyway…" Mrs Lockhart sighed sadly, watching Cloud.

"My poor Tifa," she muttered, shaking her head. "She had such a crush on you, but she was far too shy…"

"Too much like her mother," Mrs Strife commented, smiling at her. "That boy who lived across the street liked her, though. I can still remember. He'd bring flowers and presents for her every weekend. Such a shame he moved away." Mrs Lockhart tried to think back.

"What was his name," she muttered, wondering. "Zeke? Zecks? Zane?" Julia clapped her hands together excitedly.

"Oh! Oh! I remember! I remember!" she cried happily. "He was in Rinoa's Biology class. Spiky black hair, right? Uh… um… oh! Zack! His name was Zack!"

"Oh that right! It was Zack!" Mrs Lockhart beamed. "I liked him a lot, always so polite and sweet."

"He was actually the one to give Tifa her first kiss."

"GET OUT!"

"Well… it was just a kiss on the cheek for her birthday, but it was adorable nonetheless."

"I never knew that!"

"I wonder what happened to him…"

"His parents shipped him off to another world when Tifa turned eleven. A scholarship or something."

"Ooh!" The others were as interested as a group of gossipy teenagers.

"I know! He would have been perfect for my Tifa." Raine agreed.

"He was very sweet, a bit of a ladies' man, actually…"

"What do you mean?" Ifalna laughed.

"He gave Aerith a flower on Valentine's Day once…"

"Rinoa too…"

"He was such a little flirt." Mrs Lockhart chuckled. "But I really think he truly had a special spot for Tifa…"

"Yeah, me too."

"Me too."

Cloud cleared his throat loudly.

"Ladies," he said. "The point?"

"Ah, yes." Mrs Strife sat down and took his hand.

"I know you," she said to him. "I know how your mind works. You're one of those 'wait for something to happen, someone else to make the first move' kind of person. You're waiting for Aerith to do something first." Cloud blinked.

"What? No, I'm not—" Ifalna interrupted him.

"Let me let you in on a secret, sweetheart," she said matter-of-factly. "Aerith is the same as you with this one."

"What do you mean?"

"That means she won't make the first move either. At least not in this kind of situation. She's not going to reveal her true feelings, not unless you make her."

"Make her?" Raine joined in.

"Yeah. Make her tell you how she feels, everything." She moved in closer, her face serious. "You have to make her do it, no matter how hard it will be. It's the only way to untangle this mess, this web in which you, Aerith and Squall are all caught in." Cloud sat back, finally understanding the situation. Raine smiled at him.

"It's the only way all three of you can go free. It's the only way to stop all this pain and suffering." Mrs Strife stood and backed away. The others followed.

Light started to shine again. They all smiled at Cloud. Mrs Lockhart and Mrs Heartilly saluted him as Mrs Strife blew a kiss.

"Do the right thing," she muttered, her voice echoing.

Lucas began gurgling happily. The seven young women gathered together, the light growing brighter and brighter.

"Look after our babies!" Mrs Kisaragi shouted, and in a flash, Cloud was thrown back on his chair, shutting his eyes from the dazzling light.

A split second later, he opened his eyes and looked around.

Everything was back to normal. No bright light, no nothing.

Cloud jumped out of his seat and rushed towards Aerith's window.

She was still sound asleep. He sighed with relief, looking around again.

A dream?

It didn't really seem to matter. Cloud knew what his mother said was true, and maybe it was time someone made the first move, even if it was scary.

Raine was right.

It would end everyone's pain. Or at least free them all from this curse.