It had been two days, and Aerith was still sleeping. Cloud had not yet left her side. Cid and Yuffie had gone back to Hollow Bastion for work, but he stayed.

He was at her bedside, sleeping with his head on her arm. He was absolutely exhausted, but he refused to go home. Many of the nurses were friends or past colleagues of Aerith. They'd smile every time they went past her room, even putting a warm blanket over the sleeping Cloud.

"I wish there was a man who'd devote himself to me like that," one nurse commented. She sighed dreamily. "She must be the luckiest girl in the world."

For the past days, Aerith's heart and lungs had regenerated back to normal, and her will to fight grew stronger. She was going make it through.

A few hours later, very slowly, the sleeping maiden began to wake. She stirred slightly, waking Cloud. He was wide awake within a second.

"Aerith…" he said hoarsely. He cupped her jaw with a shaky hand. She opened her eyes just a little, squinting at the light. She coughed.

"Cloud?" she whispered. Her throat hurt. "Where am I?" Cloud was too overwhelmed with joy to notice anything else.

"She's awake!" he called out. "Someone get in here, she's awake!" Two young doctors rushed in. The older of the two examined Aerith's monitors with the other flashed a light in Aerith's eyes, checking her pupils. Aerith groaned, the light hurting her.

"What's going on?" Aerith mumbled. "Where am I?"

"You've been in a coma for 3 days," the doctor said. Aerith was still too weak to give a strong reaction, but rather she just looked more confused. She coughed again and looked over at Cloud.

"Do I have amnesia?" she said softly. "I… I don't remember anything about it…" Cloud just smiled and stroked the hair off her forehead.

"It's okay," the doctor said. "We'll give you a check-up and make sure everything's working." She took out her stethoscope, glancing at Cloud over her shoulder. "You should go get yourself a cup of coffee while we give her a quick check-up." She smiled. "You'll probably need it." Cloud nodded. He was just relieved that Aerith was alright. He stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

The doctors immediately started working. The younger doctor smiled at Aerith as she listened to heartbeat with the stethoscope. "I know you're probably still tire, so we're going to see if you've suffered from any complications, okay? So don't be scared." Aerith nodded obediently. The doctor smiled again. "So what's your name?"

"Aerith," she muttered. She sat up slowly. The rush of blood flowed through the rest of her body, refreshing her a little. Just a little.

"Aerith, huh?" the doctor said. She chuckled. "That's a pretty name." she removed her stethoscope. "I'm Cherisse, and that's Syndi." Cherisse pointed at the other doctor. "Can you do this?" She extended her arm over her head. Aerith followed, though with a little struggle. Cherisse smiled. "Good."

"Your blood pressure and sats are normal," Syndi said, studying the monitor. "Looks like you've made a full recovery." She bent down to Aerith. "How are you feeling?" Aerith shook herself, taking a deep breath.

"I've felt better," she said, rubbing her forehead. Slowly, she started remembering everything that happened.

She froze.

"Oh no…" Cherisse watched her, concerned.

"Feeling okay?" Aerith nodded stiffly, not looking at her.

"I just remembered something." Syndi smiled.

"At least you haven't lost your memory." Cherisse stood up and beamed at Aerith.

"Whatever it is, why don't you just walk it off?" She shot a glance at the door. "Tell your boyfriend to take you outside a little. It'll do you good." Aerith smiled meekly.

"I don't know," she said softly. "I'm a little tired." Cherisse chuckled.

"Just rest for a little while, then you can go around in the park. It's Spring, wonderful weather."

Cloud came back into the room, holding a cup of fresh coffee. Aerith sighed and dropped her gaze. He gave her a small smile. The doctors stepped away from the patient as Cherisse turned to Cloud.

"She's made a full recovery," she said. "You can take her home this afternoon." Cloud nodded with appreciation at the doctor. Syndi removed all of Aerith's unnecessary equipment.

"Some food and fresh air is what you need," she told her. "A nurse will come in for you soon." Aerith didn't answer. Syndi went to the corner of the room and pulled over a wheelchair. Cloud watched questionably.

"Let her rest for about an hour," Cherisse said. "Let her have some lunch. Then you can push her around the park for some air since she's still a little weak. Here." She handed him a specially formulated elixir. "Make sure she takes this after her meal and she'll be okay." Cloud nodded and took the elixir. He walked over to Aerith's bedside as the doctors left. She was silent for a long time.

"How long did you sit there?" she asked quietly after a moment. Cloud sat down.

"Through the whole thing." Aerith still didn't look at him.

"And Leon?" Cloud took a deep breath, shaking his head.

"He didn't come," he lied.

"Is he alright?" Aerith asked very quietly.

Cloud didn't answer, because he knew Aerith already knew what he'd say. He looked up at her, raised a hand and cupped her cheek. Aerith shifted her gaze to him. He smiled, holding out the elixir to her.

"We'll talk about this later," he said softly. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Aerith smiled, taking the elixir.

"Yeah, me too."

Because of the doctor's recommendations, Cloud took Aerith outside after an hour. He pushed her in her wheelchair into the beaming sunlight. She winced at the brightness.

"Ahh…" she groaned. "It's too sunny, I want to go back inside." Cloud smiled.

"You heard the doctor. Some fresh air will do you good. Besides, if you're going back inside, then you'll have to finish your lunch." Aerith made a face.

"No," she said in a whiny voice. "I don't like that baby food…" Cloud laughed.

He started pushing her along the footpath. Aerith frowned and crossed her arms in a child-like pout. She turned around and looked up at him. "Come on, Cloud. Take me back inside." Cloud smirked, keeping his eyes ahead.

"I've got a better idea," he muttered quietly. Aerith turned back around, confused at what he was staring at. Cloud started to push harder, picking up speed.

"Whoa!" Aerith clutched onto the wheelchair. "Cloud, slow down!"

Cloud laughed, running even faster. He steered the wheelchair in loops, making narrow turns and huge leaps.

Aerith screamed as she clutched on for dear life, her screams turning into laughter.

"Stop it!" she laughed. "We'll hit someone!" Cloud chuckled. He kept pushing her, the grassy ground turning into hills and slopes.

Aerith let out a squeal of excitement, putting her hands in the air.

"Faster! I want to go faster!" The other people in the park were staring at them, but they didn't care anymore.

Finally, Cloud pulled over in front of a beautiful lake, collapsing onto the grass. Both he and Aerith were exhausted. Cloud glanced up at Aerith. She looked happy. That made him smile.

He sat up, staring into the lake as he caught his breath. Aerith sighed and looked around.

"It's so beautiful here," she muttered, smiling.

Everywhere she looked, there was green. The lake was crystal clear, birds and insects gathering around for a drink. A white butterfly fluttered past Aerith's shoulder to a blooming flower.

It was Spring.

Cloud stood up and took a few steps up, still staring at the lake.

"Look," he said softly, placing a hand on Aerith's shoulder and pointing towards the lake. Aerith looked up, the view bringing a smile to her face.

Two swans swimming together, nudging their heads together lovingly. One swam closer to the other, arching its long elegant neck and kissed the other lightly. It was a sweet scene, but there was one thing that made it even more wonderful.

One swan was pure white, and the other was darker than even the darkest shade of black, and that was what was so beautiful. Aerith smiled.

"So cute," she said softly. Cloud looked down at her. "Even though they both so different from one another, they still manage to make it through together." Loud sighed and looked back at the swans, agreeing. Aerith took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"Black and white," she muttered. "Opposite in every single way." She smiled gently. Cloud uttered a chuckle.

"That's kinda like us," he said, smiling at her. Aerith's face saddened and she dropped her gaze. Cloud knew he had said the wrong thing. He looked back at the lake.

Aerith bit her lip. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know how to explain it. She fidgeted with her fingers, staying quiet for a long moment. She closed her eyes.

"I can't…" she began. Cloud looked back down at her. She opened her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"I can't remember the last time I kissed you," she said weakly. She stared at him with sparkling eyes.

"I… I've been so wrapped up in everything that's been happening. All I've been thinking about is if the things I do are right or not, that I just can't remember. And it's pathetic, because it was the last time we were really together and happy. I want to be able to remember that, Cloud. But I can't." She shook her head, looking away, her voice lowering to a whisper. "I can't remember."

Cloud watched her for a moment, then smiled gently. He kneeled down on one knee beside the wheelchair, in front of Aerith. He smiled and stared back out at the lake.

"It was a Thursday morning. About 7am, the day of our engagement. I'd just gotten out of bed, while you were already running around all over the place." He smiled, glancing back at her as she watched him. "You were wearing that ratty little grey t-shirt you always look so good in. the one with the hole in the back of the neck." He chuckled a little. "You'd just washed your hair, and you smelled like some kind of flower. You told me you and Yuffie had an appointment, and you were running late. I said I was going to see you later and you smiled at me. You walked over slowly and placed your hand on my chest, reached up and kissed me. Just quickly, kinda like a habit. You know, like we'd do it everyday for the rest of our lives." He paused, his blue eyes saddening. "Then you ran off and I started getting ready. That was the last time we kissed." He sighed. "We never remember it because we never think it would be the last time. We never think there would ever be a last kiss." Aerith sat in silence, her eyes now on the ground.

"Lavender," she said after a moment. Cloud looked at her.

"What?"

Aerith stared back at him.

"My hair. My hair smelled like lavender, from my condition."

Cloud smiled, looking away again. Aerith waited a moment before asking her next question.

"Why didn't you kiss me again?" she asked. Cloud sighed wearily and slowly stood up. He turned his back to her, facing the lake. He watched the swans.

"I wanted to," he said. "But I was afraid." He glanced at Aerith over his shoulder. "Everytime I tried, you'd have this guilty look in your eyes and back away from me. Like one last kiss would be a sin."

Aerith didn't answer, and this slightly frustrated Cloud.

"Aerith," he said, kneeling down again. "All your life, you've only cared about how other people would feel and if other people will be hurt. You don't think about yourself." He cupped her face in his hands to bring up her gaze. "Don't think about what happens to me. Don't think what happens to Leon, or anyone else. Let your heart talk." He let go and took her hand to place it on her chest, backing away to give her space.

Aerith sighed deeply, knowing she couldn't hide from it any longer.

She had to confront her emotions.

"I didn't want to kiss you…" she said. "… because of Leon." She stared up at Cloud, tears in her eyes.

"Whatever he thinks about me, it's not true," she said weakly. "I was in love." Cloud stood up and looked away. "He was the first person to show me that I don't have to go through life alone, and as much as I know how much it hurts you, a part of me will always be in love with him."

Cloud ran his hand through his blonde hair, trying hard to digest her words. He forced himself to put on a brave face as he turned back around, knowing her eyes never left him, making sure that he knew she was speaking from her heart.

"He gave me my first kiss, Cloud."

Cloud looked away again.

"He taught me how to love. As a woman."

He closed his eyes.

"I was in love with him. He made me feel strong and carefree, something I hadn't felt for a long time. He gave me courage and hope for the next day, always saying that he'd be there for me no matter what." She paused, chuckling softly. "I didn't feel alone when I was with him."

Cloud still didn't look at her, but he smiled.

"You sound like you were really happy," he remarked. His voice was low, but there were no signs of anger or bitterness. Aerith nodded a little, smiling to herself.

"I was," she muttered quietly. "I felt safe, and I felt loved. But…" She shifted her gaze onto Cloud. "I didn't feel whole."

He turned around, meeting her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Aerith emitted a deep sigh, suddenly looking much more tired and sad.

"We were separated for nine years. It sounds ridiculous because we were just kids and were so young, but… I felt like a part of me was gone with you." She shook her head. "I never thought I'd get it back… until that moment I saw you again. Standing there in that doorway." She smiled. "With you, I feel like I don't have to be afraid of anything, like I could take the world on my shoulders, and still smile." Her smile flickered as saddened clouded those emerald pools. "Some days, I need just that kind of feeling to get me through." Aerith's voice quivered and her hand flew up to cover her mouth to muffle her cry. She squeezed her eyes shut and cried silently, pain overwhelming her once more.

Cloud kneeled down beside her, this time not thinking about looking away. Her words have come straight from the soul. Her confessions of love for Leon, and love for him. They were so evenly placed, Cloud didn't know which person she needed more. But he had to know.

He had to know.

"Aerith," he said in a soft, firm voice. His voice seemed to echo. "Aerith…" She felt a pull, forcing her to look back at him. His eyes were sad, yet his face was hard. Cloud shook his head. "You can't be with two people." He shook his head. "You can't hold onto two hearts." He took a deep breath of futile air, helpless to stop his heart and lungs from entwining as his words painfully left his lips.

"I can't go on like this," he muttered darkly. "Neither can you… and neither can Leon." He moved closer. "Leon is like my brother. Leon… is my brother, and I will always love him." His eyes flashed with an emotion Aerith couldn't understand, but she could see it was hurting him. She suddenly felt her eyes sting as she watched. Cloud bit his lip and paused for a moment. He sighed.

"I love him, and I don't want him to keep getting hurt because of this… triangle we're all caught in." He swallowed, afraid to say what he was about to. Aerith placed a hand on his shoulder, her eyes begging him to go on. "Aerith, I… we need you to choose."

Aerith's tear-filled eyes ripped from Cloud's gaze as the last few words hit her like lightning. She didn't blink, wanting more than anything to believe it was all a dream.

Too afraid she wouldn't wake from it.

Cloud could see her fear, but it was too late to turn back now. Much too late. He put his hand to her chin and brought her face back to him. He felt breathless, desperate for an answer.

"You love us both," he breathed. "I know that. But we can't both have you." Aerith tried to look away, but he held her back.

"Look," he said gently. "Don't think about how I'll feel, because I just want you to be happy. If Leon is the person who can make you happy for the rest of your life, then I'll let you go. I will. I don't care about anything else, but please make your choice now. For all of us."

Aerith closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding hard.

She knew Cloud was right, how this ultimate decision would end the agonizing ordeal for everyone. She had always been doubtful of her feelings, always, how she'd hide what she was really feeling to spare a loved one pain, but it would always be worse afterwards.

No more hiding. It was time to tell the truth, no matter what happens.

"I love… Leon," she said finally.

Hurt flashed in Cloud's blue eyes, but his face remained emotionless. He sighed softly.

"You love Leon."

"I love Leon," Aerith said again. There was a pause. She raised her hands and placed them on his, opening her eyes to him.

"But I'm in love with you."

Cloud blinked, taken aback by her words. Aerith smiled.

"You're the one I need, Cloud," she said in a whisper. "You… you make me happy, and… I need you in my life." She choked back her tears. "I know my life was already at its fullest when I loved Leon… but I'm in love with you."

"Aerith…"

She placed a finger on his lip to silence him.

"I don't want to hurt Leon," She shook her head. "I never had. But I know now. When I lie to him, I lie to myself. And that lie… was that I wasn't in love with you anymore… when I still was." Cloud let go of her and stood up. He turned away, back to the lake. Aerith continued to watch him.

"If I could take it all back, I would," she said sadly. "I just wish we could go back to the way it was—"

"No," Cloud said suddenly in a hard voice. Aerith was slightly surprised at his response. He turned around to face her. He looked serious, shaking his head. "I don't want it to be the way it was." Aerith's smiled faded a little. Cloud kneeled down again.

He took her left hand, taking something out of his back pocket. He held it up to her.

It was his engagement ring.

Aerith let out a soft gasp. Cloud's serious expression did not change.

"We can't go back…" he said. "… because I want to take off where we left off." He kissed her hand tenderly. "The very moment before anything went wrong." He smiled, remembering. "I never did get a chance to put it on for you, did I? So right now, I'm going to ask you to marry me, and you're going to say yes, just like you did before." He shifted back a little, not letting go of her hand. He stared her straight in the eyes so he was serious about this.

"Aerith," he began. Aerith struggled to keep calm.

"Yes?"

Cloud smiled.

"Marry me?"

Aerith laughed tearfully. Slowly, she nodded.

"Yes," she answered. Cloud took her hand and gently pushed the ring onto her finger, at last. He reached up and kissed her, more tenderly and passionately than he had ever kissed her before. He then wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, closing his eyes and just think of nothing else but their moment.

Aerith smiled down and rested her arms around his neck, stroked his hair gently. She finally felt at peace.

The curse was broken.

2008 Note: You don't know how many times I had to go through this to make it seem…what's the word… realistic and not completely mush.

The scene from Grey's Anatomy is still there, it seemed too good to get rid of. I was a HUGE Grey's fanatic when I wrote this, and the show was still good too, and you've gotta admit they've got great dialogue. Plus, I needed a sappy scene and couldn't think of anything. Kill me.

…

Thankfully I got rid of those 'face-cupping' moments that even make me roll my eyes too. lol I was such a sappy writer at 15…