An hour after Zack had passed, they landed in Healin. Zack was buried in the forest, far from the closest building. Everyone said their good-byes. Cloud even convinced them to remove his braces from his legs. The sky had darkened with the sun setting. Clouds formed in the sky, and rain poured onto the earth.
Despite his wishes, Cloud was not allowed to stay too long. Now three days later, Cloud lay in his bed at the lodge. He didn't speak to anyone, he didn't eat, no one was sure if he slept, all he did was stare at the ceiling of the lodge.
A knock at the door finally snapped Cloud out of the faze. Marlene peaked her head through first, "Cloud? Can I come in?"
"Yeah Marlene, come on in." Cloud answered.
Marlene and Denzel both entered. Marlene carried a few books in her arms, while Denzel carried Artemis in his. Marlene set the books on the nightstand next to his bed.
"We thought you could use some company." Denzel said. He sat on a chair next to the bed. Artemis looked up at his father and grabbed his hand.
"Thanks." Cloud said. He watched as Artemis attempted to climb to him. He looked closely at his face. Artemis had stitching from this forehead down to the bottom of his cheek.
"He's been kinda grumpy lately." Marlene said.
"D-D-Dad-D-Daddy." Artemis said.
Cloud looked at his son in amazement and shock. "Hey, way to go!"
"Daddy." Artemis said.
Marlene crouched next to Artemis, "Your daddy's right there." She pointed to Cloud.
"Alright you three, times up." Yuffie said. She stood at the door. Denzel and Marlene both stood and walked towards the door. Artemis waved back at Cloud.
"Thanks for letting them come." Cloud said.
"No problem." Yuffie turned to leave.
"Yuffie!" Cloud called. Yuffie turned around, "You think Tifa's safe?"
Yuffie hesitated a moment, "I hope she is."
"That's not what I asked. Do you think she's safe?" Cloud repeated.
"Yeah. I do." Yuffie answered. She turned and left his room.
Cloud looked at the pile of books on his nightstand. He lifted the top book and read the cover, Tale of Two Cities. This is one of Aerith's books. Cloud thought. He looked through the entire pile, Pride and Prejudice, The Phantom of the Opera, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Treasure Island, Medusa, Fallen Angel, Sherlock Holmes, Little Women, Hunchback or Notre Dame, and Romeo and Juliet.
I guess These were the only books that survived. Cloud thought. He picked up Sherlock Holmes and began reading the novel.
00000000000000000000000000000000
"EVERY object in the next day's journey was new and interesting to Elizabeth; and her spirits were in a state for enjoyment; for she had seen her sister looking so well as to banish all fear for her health, and the prospect of her northern tour was a constant source of delight.
When they left the high-road for the lane to Hunsford, every eye was in search of the Parsonage, and every turning expected to bring it in view. The palings of Rosings Park was their boundary on one side. Elizabeth smiled at the recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants.
At length the Parsonage was discernable. The garden sloping to the road, the house standing in it, the green pales and the laurel hedge, everything declared that they were arriving. Mr. Collins and Charlotte appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at a small gate, which led by a short gravel walk to the house, amidst the nods and smiles of the whole party. In a moment they were all out of the chaise, rejoicing at the sight of each other. Mrs. Collins welcomed her friend with the liveliest pleasure, and Elizabeth was more and more satisfied with coming, when she found herself so affectionately received. She saw instantly that her cousin's manners were not altered by his marriage; his formal civility was just what it had been, and he detained her some minutes at the gate to hear and satisfy his enquiries after all her family. They were then, with no other delay than his pointing out the neatness of the entrance, taken into the house; and as soon as they were in the parlor, he welcomed them a second time with ostentatious formality to his humble abode, and punctually repeated all his wife's offers of refreshment.
Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory; and she could not help fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room, its aspect and its furniture, he addressed himself particularly to her, as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him. But though every thing seemed neat and comfortable, she was not able to gratify him by any sigh of repentance; and rather looked with wonder at her friend that she could have so cheerful an air, with such a companion. When Mr. Collins said any thing of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed, which certainly was not unseldom, she involuntarily turned her eye on Charlotte. Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but in general Charlotte wisely did not hear. After sitting long enough to admire every article of furniture in the room, from the sideboard to the fender, to give an account of their journey, and of all that had happened in London, Mr. Collins invited them to take a stroll in the garden, which was large and well laid out, and to the cultivation of which he attended himself. To work in his garden was one of his most respectable pleasures; and Elizabeth admired the command of countenance with which Charlotte talked of the healthfulness of the exercise, and owned she encouraged it as much as possible. Here, leading the way through every walk and cross walk, and scarcely allowing them an interval to utter the praises he asked for, every view was pointed out with a minuteness which left beauty entirely behind. He could number the fields in every direction, and could tell how many trees there were in the most distant clump. But of all the views which his garden, or which the country, or the kingdom could boast, none were to be compared with the prospect of Rosings, afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered the park nearly opposite the front of his house. It was a handsome modern building, well situated on rising ground."
Cloud turned the page of Pride and Prejudice. The binding of the book broke and the pages fell out. Cloud curse aloud and picked up the pages. He looked at the bottom of the pages, trying to get them into its original order. As he did so, he found a few papers that weren't numbered. There didn't belong in the book, in fact, they were letters. Letters from Tifa, to Aerith.
Aerith,
Congratulations of your engagement! I hope you and Cloud are happy. When I first found out, I could help but think if this would effect our friendship. But it won't.
You know I love Cloud, but if he had to chose one of us, I'm glad he chose you. I'm no good for him anyways. But, I'm glad your marrying him, because you both deserve to be with the people you love. Aerith, I hold nothing against you. Even if you're marrying Cloud, then again someone has to, I hope everything goes well for you two.
Thank you for inviting me to the wedding, but I'm not sure I will be able to attend. I'll send Denzel and Marlene to the wedding for sure though. I'm afraid I might get too emotional, but you never know.
Best Wishes,
Tifa
P.S. Next time you have news, don't let Yuffie or Barret tell me. Let me the first to know, please?
I guess everything makes since now. Well, most of it. Cloud picked up another letter.
Congratulations Aerith! When you find out, tell me if it's a boy or a girl! Oh, and take a picture of Cloud's face when you tell him too! His reaction will be priceless! I know he'll make a great father, just keep his sword out of the house.
Several more letters of 'girl talk' and Cloud bashing, Cloud found something he wished he hadn't.
Aerith,
You remember that man I told you about? Remember how we thought he was the one? We were so wrong about him. He vanished for a few months and returns out of the blue. That bastard rapped me! He raped me! I have never felt so vulnerable in my entire life! What's worse, Marlene was under the bar counter while he did this. After he left I had to try and calm her down. She's doing alright mow, but she won't talk about it. Which is good, cause you can't talk about it either. I've already notified the police, but he disappeared.
And there's something else as well. I'm pregnant. That's why I'm moving to Midgar. I need a new start somewhere. I know I can do good business in Midgar, and the kids are coming too, but they don't know why. Another reason is so I will be able to help Cloud take care of you. Just be strong Aerith, you can beat this. I know you can.
I left another letter for Cloud. Read and judge if you want to give it to him. I trust your judgment Aerith.
Tifa
Cloud grabbed the final letter and began reading it.
Cloud,
As you know, I'm moving to Midgar soon. Partially to help you take care of Aerith, and the other to get a new start. Denzel and Marlene will come up when I have the new bar ready to open. And there are a few more things you need to know.
I'm pregnant, first, I won't go into details so Aerith will have to help you. Second, and this is important, I can since something is about to happen. I can't say for sure if anything will, but I have a bad feeling about something. And I think we're all involved. If something does happen, you're the only one who can stop it. We all trust you Cloud. I know you can stop anything.
Tifa
Cloud reread the letter several times. Tifa, Zack, and Aerith knew. Why did no one tell me?
TBC
i own nothing!