Tifa was biting her nails again. It was her worse habit and she couldn't seem to shake it.

Something must have gone wrong. It's been too long. I hope he's not heartbroken. Oh, Cloud…

Tifa decided to have another go at the punching bag, despite the fact that it was now almost unusable. She walked over the elevator and hit the down button.

Cloud was ecstatic. Aerith seemed to be fine and best of all, she was alive.

Where am I? Cloud?

"Cloud?"

"Aerith don't worry, everything is okay. Everything is okay now."

Everything is okay? How is this possible? Is Cloud dead? But no, this isn't the lifestream.

"Cloud, where are we?"

"We're in Midgar. In Rufus' laboratory."

In Midgar? What? Oh no, it can't be.

"Cloud am I alive?"

"Yes, Aerith, you are. I brought you back."

"Cloud, you've done something terrible."

Terrible? How could this be terrible? Aerith must be confused. There is nothing terrible about this situation.

"Aerith, you're alive. Everything is perfect now."

"No Cloud, it's not. I'm not supposed to be alive. This will upset the balance…"

"The balance…? What is that?"

"Cloud, there's a natural balance between the living and the dead. People are only supposing to travel one way. I'm supposed to be dead and yet I'm not. This might upset the balance and there could be terrible consequences."

"What might the consequences be?"

"I… I don't know."

"Well, I'm sorry Aerith. I wanted you back. I missed you so much."

"Cloud, didn't you know? I was always with you."

"But that wasn't enough, Aerith. I needed to touch you. I needed you to be alive."

To prove his point further he kissed her temple again. He no longer cared about being openly affectionate around her.

"It's too late now, Cloud. It's already done. Can we… can we go home now?"

"Of course," he said as he kissed her on the temple one last time.

Tifa heard someone. She was awake in a second. She quickly got out of bed, not bothering to change out of her chocobo pajamas, and ran down the stairs. She couldn't believe her eyes. Standing in her bar, neat to Cloud, was Aerith- alive.

"Aerith?" Tifa whispered, perhaps only to herself.

She wasted no time waiting for an answer as she hurled herself at the girl, almost tumbling them both over in the process. Cloud was wearing the first true smile he had worn since her death and he was pleased to see Tifa's reaction.

"Is it really you, Aerith?"

"Of course it is, Tifa. Who else would it be?"

"I don't know and I don't care as long as you're safe." Tifa pulled her in for another hug and even kissed her on the cheek.

The three spent the rest of the night talking about what had changed in two years since Aerith died and what Tifa and Cloud were doing now. They tried to ask Aerith about the afterlife but she wouldn't answer any questions directly. She assured them that it wasn't bad though- not anymore anyways, since material was no longer used as an energy source. She explained that using materia in battle was not troublesome as most souls felt it was an honor to be used in such a manner. Tifa sighed a breath of relief, since she had stored all their materia from two years ago in a safe under the bar. At least they could still use that if necessary. They talked until the early morning when they finally all went to sleep. Aerith slept in Tifa's room and Cloud on the couch.

END OF CHAPTER IV