Zack sat on the floor, Indian style, in the center of his cell. Fanned out in a arc around him was every single letter that Aerith had written him while he had been away. Zack found it funny how one piece of paper could hold so many feelings. Every single letter had contained a piece of Aerith's heart, preserved in an envelope just for him. It had taken him nearly two hours, but he had read every single word. He ran his fingers over the paper and glimpsed the fragments that tugged at his soul.

'It's been a month since you left. I miss spending time with you. Midgar just isn't the same without you.'

'I can't wait until you get home, Zack! Let's go see LOVELESS, okay? It could be our first official date!'

'Did your phone die out there? I've called you so many times. I don't want to forget the sound of your voice…'

'One of the wheels on our cart fell off today. I hit a bump and it just flew off! I tried to fix it, but I just couldn't without you….'

'Zack, please come back.'

The metal door to Zack's cell clanged noisily and then groaned in protest as it was swung open. Zack snapped his eyes up to the guard that was now standing in the opening.

"Tseng's arranged a visitor for you. Half hour is all you get," grumbled the soldier.

A visitor? Who could possibly come to visit him? The guard stepped back out of the cell and the ushered in the mystery guest. He banged the door shut as he exited, leaving Zack and the visitor alone in the cell. Zack's jaw hung open and his heart leapt into his throat when he saw who it was. He stumbled clumsily to his feet and closed the distance between them.

"Hey stranger."

"Aerith…" Zack gathered her up in his arms and breathed her in. Yup, she was real alright.

"Thank you for the letters."

"My letters?"

"Yeah. I finally got them. Tseng gave them to me." Zack stepped back and waved his arm towards the letters that still lay scattered all over the floor. "I read every single one."

"Oh Zack…I'm so glad."

"When we get out of here, I promise that wagon will be fixed in no time. Better yet, I'll make you an even bigger one!"

"Yeah…that'd be great…" The light faded from Aerith's eyes as she looked down at the floor. She stepped away from Zack and knelt down amongst the letters, her eyes lightly scanning over them. She picked out one from the mass and began to read it out loud.

"'Zack. You always knew what to say to make me smile. You were such a goofball. I miss that. I wonder what you would say to me, feeling the way I do now? How do I feel better again? Only you can bring the smile back to my face. I keep you forever in my heart. Aerith.'" Aerith released the paper and let it flutter back down to the ground lifelessly.

"I wrote that…the day I knew you weren't coming back."

Zack crossed over to Aerith and knelt down beside her. He saw a glistening streak along her cheek leading down to the edge of her jaw. A single tear gathered there and then fell, splattering upon the paper below.

"Hey, what's wrong? I'm here now. That's all that matters, right?"

Aerith cracked a weak smile. "I guess you're right. Maybe I still don't really believe it. I don't think I can ever explain to you the pain I felt when I had to force myself to say goodbye to you. But to be honest…having you back hurts even more."

"Why?"

"I'm not a visitor, Zack," choked Aerith bitterly. "The guard said I was but I'm not. I'm a prisoner just like you. I'm not free.. I never will be. The Shinra will never let me live a normal life. I…I can't be with you."

Zack curled his arms around Aerith and pulled her close. He could feel her trembling against his chest. He wanted to take away all of her pain and sadness, leaving only her warm smile.

"How did this happen?" chuckled Zack. "Usually you're the one who's trying to make me feel better. We'll be alright, you'll see. Who cares about the Shinra? I'll get you away from them, I promise."

Aerith tilted her head and peered up at Zack.

"How?"

"You let me worry about that."

"Do you really promise, Zack?"

"Men of honor always keep their promises."

A smile lit Aerith's face up brilliantly and cast all of her sadness away. She leaned forward and brushed her lips ever so gently against Zack's, sealing the promise between them. Zack, not expecting the kiss, lost his balance in surprise. He tipped over to the side, bringing Aerith down with him and the two thudded to the ground atop of the pile of letters. As they lay there side by side, Zack felt a calm wash over him, like every single thing in the world was perfect in that one moment. He didn't even care that they were both locked up in a Shinra prison cell. As long as he was with Aerith, everything would be alright.

Zack drew his hand along the skin of Aerith's jaw and traced a line along it. Her skin was silken perfection, smooth and warm to the touch. He ran his fingertips along her collar bone and up the curve of her neck until finally they brushed against her rose colored lips. Aerith laced her fingers with his. She brought each of Zack's fingers to her lips individually, planting a delicate kiss on the tip of every one. Zack felt a stirring in his stomach, like a fire building within. Was this what love felt like? Zack leaned in closer and covered Aerith's lips with his. Aerith curled her fingers into Zack's hair as she returned the kiss, massaging his scalp gently. She parted her lips, inviting Zack to explore further with the tip of his tongue. The kisses that Zack and Aerith shared overflowed with emotion, just like the letters that they were sprawled across.

Zack was sampling the soft flesh of Aerith's neck when he heard a loud thud from the other side of the cell door. Bursts of gunfire rang out in the hall, mixed with shouts and yells and then silence fell. Zack's SOLDIER instincts kicked in instantly.

"Stay down," Zack whispered to Aerith. "Get under the cot just in case." Aerith nodded nervously, fear running wild in her eyes. She crawled past Zack and slid herself underneath the metal frame of the cell cot.

Zack felt compromised. He was at a vast disadvantage being in a cell. Although he knew were an attack would come from, there was limited space for him to maneuver in and there was no possible way for him to get a good vantage point. And there was the small detail of him being unarmed. Zack moved a silently as he could over to the cell door and pressed himself against it. Slowly, he raised himself up to the opening in the door and peaked through the bars. The two guards that had been posted outside now lay slumped to the floor. Bullet holes riddled the walls of the hallway. Zack couldn't see very far down towards the end of the hallway but he could hear voices echoing.

"Do you think she's down here?"

" $&! She could be anywhere man! This building is $(%* huge! And if I see anymore stairs…"

"Barrett, focus."

"Whatever. Tch, don't be telling' me to focus…"

Zack slid back down the door. Aerith poked her head out from underneath the bed.

"What's happening?" she whispered.

"I don't know."

"Zack, I'm scared."

"Don't worry. I'll protect you. Keep your head down, okay?"

Aerith nodded her head stiffly before disappearing back underneath the bed. At that moment, the door to the cell swung open. Zack leapt back from the entrance towards the back of the cell, ready to strike. He was ready to start swinging when recognition sunk in.

"Zack!" yelled Aerith. She rolled out from underneath the cot and ran over to Zack. She wound her arm through his and buried her head in his shoulder.

"Hey, it's okay. I think this is a rescue."

"A rescue?" Aerith looked up towards the open door. Both Zack and Aerith stared in disbelief.

"Cloud?" said the two, in unison.