A/n: well, uh, I don't know exactly how to start this chapter, but I'll try. I'm going to focus on Cloud and Tifa mostly, because this fic is CloTi.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this fic.

Chapter One: Closure

Living in shadows, faded existence

It was never good enough

Left in the darkness, you are the light that shines a way

All trapped in violence

I can be the man who saves the day...

Cloud's lips were dry and chapped, and he was freezing because of the cold. "Man, I knew I should've at least stopped by a town to get a blanket!" he thought to himself. "Whatever, I'm almost to Bone Village anyway." With that thought, he leaned into Rei to get a little of whatever warmth the chocobo could give him and silently hoped he could get to where he was going before he froze to death.

Nibelheim...

It was cold outside. Tifa had closed the bar early, and she was looking out the window at the world outside her home. "I can't believe it's been three months since Cloud left, she thought to herself. She hated to admit it, but she still loved him, and she really missed him. She hadn't heard from him since he left, and the others hadn't either. Vincent had disappeared too, which was very distressing for everyone since he hadn't said anything about where he was going and if they would ever see him again. She'd tried checking the mansion to see if he'd decided to stay there, but the place was deserted save for a few monsters and various insects. She laid her head on her crossed arms and rested them against her knees as she sat up in her bed, thinking about the others. She really wanted to see them all again. She picked up her PHS and stared at it, thinking to call everyone and see how they were doing, but something stopped her. She didn't want to just call them, she wanted to see them. With that, she got up and started to pack her bags.

City of the Ancients...

He finally arrived. "Man I'm tired. Maybe I'll go find a nice bed to sleep in... No, I need to find her now."

He walked to the place where he and the others had watched Aeris die. He braced himself for the haunting memories that he knew would overwhelm him, and cautiously stepped inside.

Everything was the same as before. He walked towards the altar. Suddenly, there was a blinding white light.

"Cloud..."

"Aeris?!"

"Yeah...How've you been, Cloud?"

"Tired..."

"Somehow I knew you'd say that. Why are you here?"

"I came to talk to you."

"About what?"

"I wasn't able to protect you, I couldn't save you!

"You know that wasn't your fault. It was Sephiroth's doing."

"Yes, but I promised to protect you!"

"I don't blame you for what happened. I don't blame anyone. That was my fate."

"But you didn't deserve to die."

"Maybe not, but that isn't for us to decide."

"..."

"Listen. I don't blame you for what happened, and I want you to be happy. I want all of you to be happy."

"But still I – I couldn't..."

"Shhh... You don't need forgiveness from me. You've done nothing to warrant forgiveness from me. You need forgiveness from yourself."

"...Why?"

"You haven't noticed? You've been really hard on yourself because you believe you were responsible for my death, and you weren't. That's why I came to see you."

"Why did you have to die?"

"It was the planet's will."

"...I guess so."

"Just say hi to Tifa for me, okay?"

"Tifa?"

For the first time in that conversation Aeris smiled.

"You don't need to hide it from me, you know. I've known for a long time that you love her."

"What?!"

"Y'know, the expression on your face is priceless." She laughed.

He scowled. How the hell did she know? Then it hit him. She was dead; she'd returned to the planet. Of course she knew. She knew he loved Tifa more than anything, just as she'd known why he'd come.

Aeris sobered up and continued, "There's really just one problem."

"What?!"

"Does Tifa know?"