OMG SOOOOO SORRRYYYYYYY D8

So, yeah, umb, once school start's up, it's like, nearly impossible to have ANY free time.

So, this is only a few months over due, and so close to being done _

Having a hiatus though is really beneficial however, I have such a fresh mind for this story and it's still my baby.

Again, I'm SO SORRY for the outrageously long delay, but here's chapter 12!!!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, herp derp and there are probably plenty of grammatical errors that I didn't see, so bare with me.

Now, go read!

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Inside Cid's workshop, Iori, Aerith and the mechanic all sat at a dirty work table while a moogle began clearing the space for them to relax. Aerith sat on a high stool while Iori stood off to the side. Cid pulled up his favorite chair to work on and slid up closer to the counter.

The trio had been discussing Aerith's revival and the trials they had to go through before they had reached Traverse Town. Cid listened quietly and inventively while Aerith told the story and Iori filling in some of the gaps. After a while there was an awkward silence of deep thought on Cid's part.

After a few moments, Aerith spoke up, "Well, it seems you have built yourself a nice place here, Cid."

Snapping back into reality, the mechanic smiled up her and responded, "Ah, shit, it's a livin'. What about girlie, you gunna stay here and make a livin' selling these sad folks flowers?"

Aerith giggled then answered, "I'd hardly call that a 'living', Cid. Besides, why can't I just stay with you for time being? Catch up like old friends do."

Cid just shook his head, "Shit, kid, a dirty scrub like me can't be havin' a pretty girl like hanging around. Don't worry, I'll get you and your red-headed friend a good place to stay." Aerith just sighed then thanked Cid, though she'd much rather be around familiar faces.

Just then, another figure entered the room, heavy boots stomping on the concrete floor. "Cid," was all it said, not a question of presence nor a statement of demanding.

The mechanic turned around and waved the figure in closer. The man walked closer, revealing a tall brunette with stylized hair and scar crossing over his nose between his eyes and a leather jacket with white fur trim.

"Sup Squall?" Cid asked once he arrived at the table.

Squall looked over to Iori who was still standing aloof and Aerith sitting on the stool. "Newcomers?"

"They're friends. Now what do you need?" Cid asked again, his patience thinning.

Squall reverted his eyes to Cid and set his huge sword and gun combination on the table. "The barrels shot again."

"I ain't no goddamn weaponsmith, kid," Cid moaned, pushing the piece a few inches away form him, causing Aerith to back up a second.

Squall sighed in annoyance. "You can fix guns, I've seen you do it. There's nothing wrong with the blade."

Cid grumbled. "Fine. Gimme thousand munny."

"Five hundred," Squall haggled back.

"Damnit, this ain't no goddamn charity auction!"

"Eight hundred," the brunette said calmly.

"Fine, ya prick."

Squall then looked up at Aerith and squinted his eyes. He studied her for a second then made another comment to Cid. "Shouldn't Cloud and Yuffie be heading back soon?"

"Aw shit!" Cid yelled. "Those assholes still got my Gummi!"

"How could you forget," Squall sighed, pressing his brow together and hitting his palm to his forehead.

Aerith's heart began pounding as she let Cloud's name ring in her ears. She looked to Iori who had seemed to be looking down to her with intense eyes. She knew he'd probably be bothered by the fact Cloud's name was mentioned, but he promised he wouldn't any longer stand between them once she found him.

"C-Cloud. He's here?!" She asked loudly, her eyes flickering between Cid and Squall.

Cid calmed down and Squall moved back into a less irritated position. "Shit, girly, we was here then decided he needed to get a stick out of his ass and go somewhere. He ran off with that twat ninja and took my goddamn Gummi."

"Where are they?! Oh, Cid, where can we find them?!" Aerith pleaded to him.

Cid rubbed the scruff on his chin and thought for a second. Squall then chimed in with an answer.

"Didn't you install a universal communication system in there? So you can contact any Gummi through a command center. Or whatever."

"'Course I did, twat. I built the damn thing all by myself 'cause none of you dipshits can read directions," Cid barked, reaching for his pack of cigarettes.

"The moogles helped you, Cid."

"Aw, shuddap," he barked again, pulling out a white stick and lighting it up. He offered one to Squall and Iori, only Iori taking the offer. "Thatta boy, real men smoke."

Squall rolled his eyes. "Then die from one type of cancer or the other."

Iori looked at Cid after lighting the end of the stick with his fingertip, the dancing purple flame burning the end of the tobacco. He took a long drag and blew it away from Aerith. Cid watched Iori put out his finger and said, "That's a damn weird trick you got there," then he looked over to Squall and snapped, "Anyway, you shut up, dimwit. I'll smoke however I want, whenever I want."

Aerith tried breaking up the tension again and spoke up. "Cid, can we try to get in contact with Cloud and Yuffie?"

"Shit, shit, yeah, let's get on that. Man, I dunno how he'll react when he hears that you're back in town. Or, hell, the grave," Cid said back, flicking the ashes off the end of his cigarette.

Iori then spoke. "Maybe we should wait before saying anything. Just tell him to come home."

"Like a surprise?" Aerith asked back.

"Kid don't like surprises. He ain't five," Cid barked.

"I don't think Cloud would like surprises even if he was five," Squall added.

Cid laughed, "Shit, you got that right. Kid's a damn downer."

Iori just stood silently in defeat and took another long drag.

Aerith shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "Can we just try to contact them?"

Cid nodded and then whistled loudly. "Moogles! Turn on the motherboard!"

Within a few seconds, the ceiling began making sounds and spurting noises. Cid grinned and got up for him chair and waved them to follow him up a ladder that went to an upper level of the workshop. The four of them climbed up a rusting ladder, following Cid, then Squall, Iori and Aerith, being last of course in a dress.

Once they made it to the upper level, they approached a large dashboard with three large screens created a crescent moon shape. Cid pulled up to another rolling chair, and began plugging in the Gummi's specific identification numerals and waited to see what came up. After a few minutes of waiting, they saw the Gummi's coordinates and locations on a map of deep space.

"Damn, where the hell these kids go?" Cid snapped, pressing a few more buttons of the dashboard.

"How do we contact them?" Aerith asked with some worry.

Cid entered in a few more number and held down a switch. "Like this."

Soon, the sound of a phone dialing starting ringing in the control room. Squall gave a smirk.

"That's cute."

"Shuddap."

No one answered for a few moments. The group waited silently for sometime for something to happen. Aerith let out a sigh in distress and knelt down on the floor. Iori watched her and sat down with her, putting the butt of the cigarette out next to him.

"Hey, it'll be okay," Iori offered, but Aerith just curled her legs up closer to her body.

Suddenly, the ringing stopped and a buzzing sound was heard.

"Hey! What's this?! Cloud! Cloud, some see, something's buzzing at us!" said one voice.

"Yuffie, don't touch that! Cid will kill us," said another.

"Aw, c'mon, party pooper!"

"Stop it!"

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING?!" Yelled Cid from his end.

"Cid?!" the two voices said in unison.

"Goddamnit, you two little shits! Get your asses back in Town now! I swear to god, what the hell have you two done to my Gummi" Cid began badgering, the cigarette end flying from his mouth. Aerith jumped to her feet and ran to Cid's side and leaned closer to the screens, though she couldn't see either of their faces.

"Yuffie, don't touch that. Cid? W-what's up?" Cloud said, his voice slightly fuzzy through the long distance communication.

"What's up?! WHAT'S UP!? GET YOUR ASSES BACK HERE!" Cid barked again, his face turning bright red.

Squall then moved Aerith aside and moved in front of Cid in the control seat.

"Get your ass—" Cid started, but was cut off once Squall ignored him and started speaking.

"Cloud, it's Squall. Who's with you right now?" he said in a very serious tone.

Cloud waited a second on his end and then replied through the fuzzy communication. "Uh, it's me, Yuffie and this guy."

Squall paused a moment then said back. "Who is "this guy", Cloud?"

"His name is Zidane. We picked him up along the way."

"Moron," Cid said through the speaker. Squall glared back at Cid then turned to speak at the system again.

"Can he be trusted?" he asked.

"Yeah, he helped us out a bit. Hey, look, we just got back inside the ship, can we just come back when we can?"

Squall then interjected. "Cloud, I wouldn't recommend wasting time, just get back here with yourself, Yuffie and Zidane. Understand?"

"Why all of a sudden is everyone so upset?" Cloud asked.

"Get back to Traverse Town."

"Whatever."

"Same," Squall snapper, then switched communication off and moved off to the side. Cid pouted in his captain's chair, glaring at Squall. Aerith sighed and leaned against the panel.

"I wanted to say something," she said quietly, shifting her feet.

"Didn't we all," Cid barked, itching his nose again. "Those bastards better come back with my ship in perfect condition or they're gunna get a whoopin' in the ass they've never felt before.

"Ew," Iori commented, heading back down the ladder.

Squall turned to face Aerith. "It's better you wait to say something when you see him."

Aerith bit her lip and made a small fist in frustration. "I thought you said 'No surprises'."

Squall crossed his arms. "I said he probably wouldn't like them, even if he was five. But, I don't care what he likes."

Aerith unclenched her hands and relaxed. "Well, I care."

Squall just gave her a smirk and turned away. "I'm sure you do."

He then, too, headed back down the ladder and left Cid and Aerith alone in the control room. Aerith turned to Cid, who had gotten up and began shutting everything down.

"Is he always like that?" Aerith asked, crossing her arms.

"Heh, don't worry about Squall. He just got a dry way of lookin' at things. But, he's a damn good warrior and a loyal guy. I won't overlook that," Cid answered, finally wiping his hands off and headed to the ladder. "Come back down, we'll make some tea."

Aerith smiled and followed Cid down the ladder to the lower level. Once down, she noticed Squall had already left but Iori stayed behind to wait for the two of them. Aerith apologized for making him wait but he just shrugged it off and gave her a handsome smile. Cid went back to work in his shop and began tinkering with Squall's gunblade, waving the two off to wander the city. Iori held out his arm for Aerith to link it to and they left Cid's shop together and entered Traverse Town.

"Hungry?" Iori asked after making it to the streets.

"A bit," Aerith answered. "Let's find a café or something nearby."

"Should've asked Cid what was good."

"I'm sure we'll find something."

Iori sighed and looked forward. Giving Aerith back wasn't going to be easy. He tried ignoring his feelings since Wonderland, but he can't help but think about what would have been.

"Something on your mind?" Aerith chirped, breaking Iori's train of thought.

"Nothing," he said dryly.

Aerith gave a sly smirk. "I know that face too well to let that slide."

Iori just looked away and broke his link with her arm. Aerith stepped back a second and then looked down ashamed.

"I'm sorry, Iori. But, you know how I feel," she said to him, figuring out the issue already.

"I understand. Just sucks," he replied shrugging.

Aerith walked to him and touched his arm. "You're still a special person to me. Don't ever think anything will change that."

"Except when he gets here."

Aerith just stood quietly and looked down back to her feet. "I can't say things will change. But you're still the Iori that brought me back and brought me here. That won't change. And Cloud will just have to accept that."

Iori just shook his head. "Just be happy, Aerith. That's all I want now." He then, took her hand that rested on him and placed it on his cheek. He closed his eyes for a moment and then kissed it gently before opening his eyes back up and giving it back to her. Looking down to her, he cold see her eyes welling up in emotional pain. A tear gently streaked down her face.

"How can I be happy when you're so hurt. And it's all my fault," she cried, wiping the tear away.

Iori then leaned in and hugged her tightly. Her thin, slender frame close within his strong grip as she cried harder into his chest. He hated seeing her like this. Her beautiful face distorted by pain and anguish. He hated himself for putting her in such a place.

He then, leaned his mouth to her ear and spoke to her. "Aerith, I'm going to leave this world."

She threw her head up and looked worryingly into his eyes. "No! Please, you can't go!"

"I've fulfilled my promise to you. I've brought you back to your friends and you're safe now. My duty is done," He said calmly.

Aerith shook her head in disapproval. "I won't let you! Where will you go?! You have to stay!"

"Aerith, don't make this difficult," Iori pleaded.

"Iori…"

He let go of her and turned away, shuffling his feet. He ran his hand through his bright red hair. Aerith walked around to his front and looked up from under him and insisted he look at her.

"Iori, I'll give this only once to you. I want you in my life. But, I love someone else. If I give you this, will you never bring us up again?" She asked, implying to something he didn't understand.

"What are you talking about?" He looked at her confused.

"This…" Aerith whispered. She grabbed his chest and yanked him down to her level, though she still remained on her tiptoes. Without seeing it coming, Aerith planted her lips to Iori's, her eyes tightly closed shut. He felt his entire body burn up as she held onto his white shirt with such an intense grip. She took a small breath for air, but remained to his mouth and pushed her lips up against his again. Iori couldn't believe what was happening. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her and finally kissed her back. A dream he thought, a moment trapped only in his mind.

He embraced her for what seemed like forever until she backed away and released herself from him. Iori's eyes remained closed until Aerith poked his cheeks and awoke him from his dream.

"Wake up, sleepyhead," she joked.

"Did… Did we, I, you… What…?" Iori asked regaining his consciousness and looking down to her. She smiled sweetly and then pushed her index finger to her lips.

"No more talk about us. Okay?" she then changed her tone to serious.

Iori just nodded. He felt in some way complete now. With just that kiss, he now felt no need to pursue Aerith any longer. He felt released from all his pain from the hurt he had caused unto others. And yet, he looked at Aerith with more of a guardian's love, not a romantic one. He wanted to be there for her, to watch her grow, protect her, make sure she'd always be happy, without invading into her life. He knew it now. He was her bodyguard, not her lover. He accepted it, he was okay.

"Helllllo, Earth to Iori?!" Aerith poked him again. "Come in, Iori Yagami!"

"I understand now," he said back quietly. She cocked her head in confusion. "I… I think everything's alright now."

"You mean…"

"I can't leave you… But, I can be okay without being with you… Get it?" He said, he deep voice sounding rather unearthly and dreamy.

Aerith giggled. "Not exactly."

Iori just smiled at her and shook his head. "I mean, I'm okay with you not being in love with me. But, I know I have to be here… Like, I have to be you guardian."

Aerith grinned bearing all her teeth as she jumped to hug Iori's torso. "You're staying!"

He hugged back then ruffled her hair. "Yeah, sure, I guess so."

"You brute."

"Hmph."

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Next: Cloud arrives with Yuffie and Zidane, yippee!!