Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter! Getting closer to the end of this story! I thank those who stuck with it till the end! This, however, will NOT be the last chapter. I hope you all have enjoyed it so far. Anyways, I have a long one ahead of me, letis get started. –Annubis123
The Decision Between Life or Death:
A Second Chance
Chapter 34
"I'm going to kill you. Put you back to where you belong!" Aeris growled gruffly. Her eyes were red and her lashes sticking together. Her hair and clothes were a mess. She glared down menacingly at Sephiroth who lay atop the medical table.
The Ancient closed her eyes, hand squeezing the handle of the long Masamune blade. She counted to three and then brought the sword down with all her might. The blade neared the silver haired man's neck. Only one more inch to go and Aeris' arms stopped moving. Her eyes were clenched shut still, her brow furrowed.
"Don't do it." A monotone voice sounded from next to the woman. Aeris gave out a long defeated sigh. She slowly opened her eyes to come face to face with Cloud. His forearm rested below the handle of the sword and Aeris' fingers. A stray tear dripped from her cheek.
"Don't?" She puckered her lips in anger. "Cloud, you of all people…and you tell me not to kill this man!?"
Cloud hung his head, avoiding her angry gaze. "You're not one to kill Aeris, it isn't you. You're an Ancient. You're meant to heal people, not kill them."
"But…" the woman dropped the sword. "What about all the things he's done?" she folded her arms, turning her back on Cloud. "Now…after everything, you stand up for him?"
"You know I want nothing more than for his life to be over. He's caused so much pain to the world…us." The blonde shook his head. "I would love to see him suffer, Aeris, but I made a promise."
"And of all the promises in the world, you intend on keeping this one!?" the woman turned quickly, her eyes like needles.
"…" Cloud was speechless. He stared at the pale man on the table. There was a long silence.
"What if it was Tifa?" she spoke bitterly.
"…Tifa?" Cloud raised his head.
"Yeah. What if it was Tifa who was killed? Would you not want revenge? Especially after you were granted another chance to see her again and watched her meet the same fate over and over again?" the woman's features were contorted into an expression of rage. She had never been so angry in her life.
"You know Zack is just as important." Cloud mumbled.
"Just a friend, but not a lover." Aeris spat. She turned around quickly to leave.
"Aeris. Revenge won't settle anything." The man whispered.
"…" the woman froze a minute. "How many times have you had yours, Cloud?"
"It still doesn't bring anybody back." He frowned. "Everyone, everything stays the same. You and Zack did not come back because I defeated Sephiroth. You may kill him now, and he'd stay dead forever, but you'll only retain that empty feeling. The need to have a goal, a plan stays. You're left in a world of desperateness. You have nothing left, nothing to do. And for you…" he looked up at the woman. She was watching him sadly. "I can't imagine what it would be like for you to live that kind of life."
Aeris averted her gaze. She glanced at Sephiroth once more and then Kadaj. "Sometimes…forgiving people just isn't enough." The woman spun on her heel and walked out of the room. "If he gives me another reason, I won't let him live."
Cloud watched Aeris' back as she stomped up the metal grated stairs of the ship. He never expected such harsh words to come from that woman, but then again he she was right. He would be doing the same if it was Tifa.
"I trust Zack. He'll come back." Cloud muttered to himself. "And you, Aeris, of all people should know that he never breaks a promise."
"What a mess." Tifa sighed, blowing her bangs out of her eyes.
"Looks like we got out of there just in time. " Lucrecia stared at the pale glow of the television sitting above Tifa's bar.
"It seems the meteor hit in the exact location as the meteor from over two-thousand years ago. It hit in the direct center of the Northern Crater. Scientists are investigating the crater, but it is unknown as to what they are looking for. The probability of a meteor hitting in the exact location of the planet is somewhere near one and twenty-three billion. Scientists are trying to calculate the planet's rotation and orbital location of the day this meteor hit and are trying to find corresponding results as the first strike two-thousand years ago."
"Damn scientists, always causing trouble." Reno scoffed. Elena elbowed him roughly, clearing her throat. "Erm…no offense." The man looked over his shoulder at Lucrecia.
"I agree with you." The woman replied. She stared at the screen as a scientist came onto the show to talk about his reports on the event of the meteor crash. "They are so full of themselves as well…" she let out an exasperated sigh.
"Perhaps we should tell them what happened?" Yuffie spun slowly on a barstool.
"That would only cause a panic with the people. It's bad enough that there were rumors going around that Sephiroth was alive. If they found out he was the cause of this and was still alive and we didn't dispose of him, we'd have a huge problem on our hands." The television's images reflected in Tseng's dark eyes.
"Mass hysteria." Rude nodded.
"Wouldn't want people showing up at your doorstep with torches and pitchforks demanding the monster be turned over to them." Elena snorted.
"Please don't call him that." Lucrecia whispered. "I know he has done bad things, but I have no doubt in my mind that it was all due to Jenova's hold on him."
Elena frowned.
"All I ask is you give him another chance. One where he can try to live like a normal human being" the scientist pleaded.
"It's going to be difficult for people to understand what's happened. They aren't going to warm up to Sephiroth immediately." Vincent warned the woman.
"I know this." Lucrecia closed her eyes. "All I want is for my child to have a chance at a normal life."
"It'll never be normal." Vincent replied.
"He can still try. I'm sure someone will find goodness in him." Lucrecia smiled.
"I want to go home." A soft whimper sounded from the woman laying her head on the bar.
"I'll take Aeris home." Cid lifted his chin. He tugged on a lose string of the arm sling he wore.
"Ok." Tifa nodded. "Aeris, you'll be alright?"
"I'll be fine." The young woman slid off the bar stool and grabbed her jacket. "I just wanna see mom."
Everyone watched the woman nervously. She had barely smiled let alone said a word in the past few days.
"I should be getting home to Shera as well. She's worried sick 'bout me. I know I'm in for a lecture as soon as I get back." The man stared at the bandages around his torso.
"Can you drop me off at Reeve's? Gotta pick up the kids." Barret grabbed his coat.
"Yeah…sure thang." Cid struggled with putting his free arm into the sleeve of his jacket. "Should start charging you guys…"
"Then no more free drinks for you." Tifa grinned.
"Ah, damn." Cid shook his head. "Wouldn't wanna lose Tifa's good hospitality." He chuckled to himself. The television interrupted the small conversation.
"It seems that there's been a terrible side effect of the recent meteor strike. The Lifestream seems to be fading quickly. The last few remaining power plants running on Mako energy have been shut down in order to slow down the evaporation of the life force. Scientists are baffled as to why this is occurring."
"How odd." Lucrecia furrowed her brow. Shots from a helicopter showed the crater being overrun by scientists, news teams, and government personnel from all around the world.
"From now on, until this investigation has been concluded, it is prohibited to use and Mako energy for the protection of the planet. Some say it's only a matter of time before the planet's life force will be completely depleted-." The television was shut off.
"I think we've seen enough of that." Cloud cleared his throat. He looked back at Aeris who seemed like she was about to die of depression.
"But…if the Lifestream is gone…doesn't that mean that those who are in it…" Yuffie began.
"Let's not talk about that right now." Red XIII ran the top of his head against Yuffie's calf.
"Hm? Oh…yeah." The girl shut her mouth quickly. She looked at Aeris from the corner of her eye.
"Well, let's head out. It's getting late and I'm sure your mother's worried sick 'bout ya." Cid placed his hand on Aeris' shoulder. The woman jumped slightly at the touch.
The woman looked up at the pilot and nodded slowly. He led her out the door and to the plane after a series of numerous awkward goodbyes. They all promised not to be strangers and to visit often. Cid frowned, watching Aeris climb into the cabin of the ship.
"You're gonna be alright." Cid said after a while. Barret co piloted the ship, helping out the man.
"Cid's right." Barret nodded. "Everything will be good as new in no time."
"…" Aeris stared out the front window of the airship. She watched the twinkling stars overhead pass by.
Barret and Cid exchanged a worried look and they didn't say a word the rest of the flight home.
"Thank you for the ride, Cid." Aeris said softly as she opened the door to the ship. A cold breeze invaded the ship, choking Aeris.
"Better get inside fast. Don't want you getting sick." Cid ordered.
"You're going to be a fine daddy, Cid." Aeris replied as she climbed down the ladder to the ground below.
"Was that supposed to be a joke?" Cid grunted.
"Naw. You may be dumb, but I agree with her." Barret chuckled. "You're bossy enough to be a father."
"You see this boot?" Cid asked, cocking his head to the side. He raised his foot.
"Yeah, whud 'bout it?" Barret eyed the man suspiciously.
"Has it met your face yet?" the pilot retorted.
"Aeris!" Elmyra exclaimed in surprise as she opened the door to her small home. She pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. "Oh! You're alright! I'm so glad! How are you feeling!? Oh…you look awfully pale. And so thin! Have you not been eating? Look at your hair! It's a mess. Don't they take care of you? Oh you poor thing! Come inside, quickly. You'll catch a cold!" The chattering mother tugged her daughter into the warm home.
Aeris stood in the living room. She took a deep breath and looked about her. The room was lit by the orange light of the fireplace. It smelled of burnt wood and spice. Aeris sighed comfortably. She was home again. She was home with her mother, just like so many years ago.
"I'm glad you're okay." Elmyra smiled warmly.
"What about Zack...? I mean…" Aeris stared at nothing. "His parents."
"…They were informed by Reeve a few days ago." Elmyra tugged at her lip. "But let's not worry about that! You're hungry, aren't you? Let me make you some soup! Some nice warm soup and a cup of tea. I'll run you some bath water." Elmyra busied herself as Aeris slowly looked around the small house. It was cozy and all, but something bothered her. There were no pictures on the walls.
"No pictures…" Aeris whispered.
"Huh?" Elmyra stopped and looked at Aeris. She had her arms full of clean laundry. "Oh that Mr. Reeve is very nice. I…I was so upset after hearing you died. It would have hurt me so much to see photographs of you every day. I don't know what I was thinking. After Reeve told me that you were alive again, I asked him for a favor and he kindly brought me all the things from the old house in the slums. Your clothes, the photographs, even your old piggy bank you hid under the floorboards. He was so kind. Most of the things are still in boxes though." The woman tossed the clothes onto a nearby chair.
"I prepared a room for you. I tried to set it up just the way you had your old room. Here's a quilt. If you want to make your way up there and get ready for your bath it's just up those stairs. It's practically the
only room up there. There's a small bathroom down the hall up there as well." Elmyra continued her rambles as Aeris ascended the stairs. She heard the creaking and groaning of the boards. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes."
"Can I eat in my room?" Aeris asked at the top of the stairs. Her mother never let her eat in her room.
"…sure." Elmyra nodded. "Honey, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Aeris nodded quickly. "Just tired."
"I'll have everything set up and ready for you in your room."
"Thanks mom." Aeris turned and made her way into her new room.
She had quickly changed and enjoyed the nice hot bubble bath her mother had drawn for her. The girl was now sitting on her bed in a white fluffy robe, sipping at her soup. She stared out the dark window beside her bed. She couldn't see anything but the tiny lights of the city and the stars. It was silent here, the complete opposite of the slums where it was always like day and the noise never stopped. Aeris set her spoon in her bowl, the clatter louder than she had expected. The woman placed the dishes on the end table beside her bed. She reached to turn off the lamp and froze. Next to her clock was a photograph. The only one Aeris had seen in the house. Her dainty fingers ran along the frame as she stared at the image. It was a photograph of her and Zack in the garden outside her old home. They both leaned against the fence. Aeris was smiling, twirling a single flower in between her fingers. Zack was grinning, a hand scratching the back of his head. Between the two of them rest their hands on the top fence post, their fingers interlaced with each other's. It was a photograph her mother had taken a long time ago when she was snooping through the kitchen window.
"Zack…where are you?" Aeris barely whispered to herself.
She and all the others had remained at Tifa's for a few days, waiting for Zack to arrive. They all thought the same thing. Zack was coming back and it would be as soon as possible. But Zack never showed up. Aeris was happy to hear Cid offer to give her a ride home. She knew he was thinking the same thing. Aeris needed to go home, get her mind off of things. Being around her friends and waiting for Zack all day every day was not healthy. All Aeris would do was stare at the television and watch the news, waiting for a report of a mysterious man crawling out of the Lifestream. But there was nothing. There was no news about Zack. There were no phone calls or strangers at the door. Aeris was already beginning to lose hope.
She grabbed the photograph and placed it against her chest, new tears stinging her eyes. She shut off the lamp and dove under the covers of her bed. She held the frame closely against her like a soft teddy bear. The young woman sniffled herself to sleep.
9 months later
Aeris sat on the window sill. The glass was open and a gentle breeze blew through, sending goose bumps over her skin. The warm weather was changing quicker than Aeris had wanted. It seemed like only yesterday there was snow still on the ground. She twisted and tied the stems of the flowers in her hands to make a tiny crown.
'He's gonna love this.' Aeris smiled.
"The Lifestream is nothing more than a trickle in that area. The land is now barren, the inhabitants of Icicle Inn forced to leave and migrate south." The news reporter announced tragically.
Aeris turned her attention to the screen. It flashed images of the dead land up North. The once icy continent now was nothing but a cracked and dry desert. People were being forced to leave their homes. Nothing was alive. There were no trees, no grass. Everything was dead. She frowned. The planet was dying and with it, so were the souls of the Lifestream.
Over the past few months Aeris seemed to lose all contact with the underworld. There were no more voices of the planet. Every now and then she'd hear a terrible cry of pain. She listened intently each time, no matter how much it hurt her, waiting for a familiar sound. One that belonged to someone she once knew. None of them, however, sounded like the man who left her in the Northern Crater. It was both a relief and a disappointment. Her hope would grow with each thought that he was still alright in the Lifestream but it would quickly diffuse. If he was alright, then why wasn't he back yet? Maybe she hadn't recognized his cry of pain. Maybe he truly died and disappeared in her sleep. And those thoughts haunted her daily.
She would dream of him, Zack holding her in her sleep. He would whisper in her ear. Sing her songs and tell her stories of his days in SOLDIER and all the pranks he pulled on Cloud.
Aeris wrapped her arms around herself, a petal dropping to the floor. She tried to think of the last dream she had of the man. They were becoming more and more scarce each time she slept.
"Aeris. It's a mess down here. You'd be so disappointed. More and more of those little orbs disappear each day." Zack sat on the foot of the woman's bed. He played with her long hair. "I…I have to watch helplessly as everyone dies. I don't know what to do. It's a battle down there and I can't fight anything. The enemy is some invisible force. I'm not sure what's happening but I feel so helpless not having any control." The man let out a ragged sigh.
"Lila's gone. I held her tiny little orb in my fingers as she cried herself away into nothingness." Zack's eyes were dull, blank. "I couldn't stop it! I had to watch as she died! The tiny orb of light…is gone."
Aeris couldn't move. She could only watch. Zack rested his forehead in his hand, his fingers running through his hair.
"If only you were here…" the man spoke, his voice breaking. Tears fell down his cheeks. "I've never been scared of death before Aeris…but this time…"
Aeris finally sat up. She freed herself from her invisible chains.
"This time…I'm so scared." Zack sobbed loudly. "I'm all alone. There's no one left. I just wait. Wait for the day I am erased from history. The day I become nothing." He shook as he cried. "Help me."
Aeris reached forward, wanting to desperately wrap her arms around the man. Nothing was there to grab. Her arms flew through his body.
"I…I don't want to become nothing…" Zack muttered to himself. "What is nothing? What's the point of life if you end up becoming nothing? How can something be nothing?" Zack rocked back and forth.
Aeris ran her arms through his form over and over again. Nothing worked. The man was slowly fading. Her hands couldn't grasp anything. She tried to speak but no words could form in her mouth.
"Help me Aeris…" the man whispered, his form quickly disappearing before her eyes.
Aeris frantically tried to pull him into her, but there was nothing. Zack was leaving her yet again.
"I don't want to become nothing." The man was a ghost now. All Aeris could see was his fading eyes as he looked up at her one last time. He disintegrated into tiny green sparkling lights all over her bed and floor. She screamed silently, scrambling her hands over the tiny embers. She heard a soft whisper in her ear.
'Don't forget me.'
That was the last time she had dreamt of the man.
"I can't ever forget you, Zack." Aeris talked to the flowers in her hands.
"Aeris!?" Elmyra called from the bottom of the stairs.
"Yeah, mom?" Aeris stood from the sill, stretching.
"I'm heading off to Gongaga for a couple days. You going to be alright?"
"I'll be fine." Aeris leaned against the door frame. "I can take care of myself." She twirled the ring on her finger.
"I just didn't want to leave you alone here with the baby." Elmyra slid on her sweater.
"I can handle him just fine." Aeris smiled.
"Well, you know his father. Can be quite the handful." Elmyra rolled her eyes.
"I know…" Aeris grinned. "But he can't walk yet so I think I can manage."
"If you say so." Elmyra sighed. "Just wish you could come with me this time. They've been asking about you so much."
"I'll visit them the next time, I promise." Aeris nodded.
"Ok. Well you take care of yourself and give us a call; they'd love to hear your voice." Elmyra grabbed her purse and went to the door.
"Will do, mom." Aeris went back into her room.
"Oh and that cute girl from Wutai wrote you another letter. The wedding's been rescheduled finally. She's so upset!" Elmyra laughed. "But I really think her and her soon to be husband make a cute couple."
"Mom! You read my mail!?" Aeris rolled her eyes.
"Well I would like to know what's going on in your friend's lives as well!" Aeris listened as the front door opened. "Bye, dear!"
"Bye!" Aeris drug out.
"Leftovers in the fridge."
"I know!" Aeris called down.
"Bye! Love you!"
"Bye! Love you too!" she called back down. She waited a second for the door downstairs to close. "Finally. Thought she'd never leave!" Aeris grinned. She looked over the side of the crib in her room. Bright blue eyes stared up at her. "Right?"
A tiny baby squeal sounded from the crib.
"OH yes we are!" Aeris giggled. She wrinkled her nose at the child. Another squeal sounded.
"Look what I made you!" Aeris lifted the flower crown. "Do you like it?"
The baby raised his tiny hands into the air.
"You do!? Well then, I'm happy!" Aeris grinned. She lifted the baby from the crib and carried him about the room, setting the crown on his head. "Oh, it compliments your eyes so well! Just like daddy's, right?"
There was a soft knock at the door.
"Oh! Speaking of…" Aeris turned and headed down the stairs. "Looks like we've got us a visitor!" Aeris trotted down the stairs, her dress flowing with her striding legs.
Aeris pulled open the front door.
"Hi!" she smiled happily.
Blue eyes looked down at her and then at the boy in her arms.
"What is that on his head?"
Aeris was unaware of the staring eyes looking up at her. A man leaned against a neighboring building, watching her through the window. He hid in the shadows as the girl's mother walked by. Once the mother was out of sight the man hurried up to the window by the living room. There he saw Aeris standing in the living room, bouncing a happy baby on her hip. She hadn't changed a bit, not since the man had last seen her.
He squint his eyes, looking at the baby. It had bright blue eyes that sparkled in the light.
Then he frowned. Aeris handed the baby over to a man who was standing in the doorway. The figure pressed against the glass, trying to see the man's face but it was hidden under a cap. The two were saying goodbye and the man kissed her on the cheek before he left the house with the baby in his arms.
The shady man turned the corner of the house quickly just in time to see the man turn around the other corner. He had spikes of blonde hair sticking out from under his cap. The spy froze.
'Seems she moved on…' the man swallowed. 'That man had long…spiky…blonde hair.'
"Cloud…" the figure cursed and sprinted away from the house, nearly tripping as he did so.
"What? This?" Aeris beamed. "It's a flower crown."
"Ya wanna tell me why the hell my boy has flowers on his head?" the man pointed a finger at the child. The baby happily grabbed it and squeezed hard, squealing.
"He happens to like them, Cid." Aeris pulled the baby away possessively.
"You're gonna end up stealing my child, aren't you?" Cid folded his arms.
"If I could, you know it." The woman winked.
"At least I would know he was in safe hands." The pilot smirked.
"So, how was you and Shera's vacation?"
"She loved the beach!" Cid smiled. "Nice to see her in her bathin' suit again!" the man raised his brows.
"I bet…but you…in a bathing suit?" Aeris giggled.
"I happen to have been workin' on my figure, ma'am." Cid flexed his arm. He winced in pain.
"How's that shoulder?" she looked worried.
"Aw it's fine. Still trying to get it back into shape."
"You take it easy. I don't want any more emergency phone calls from Shera asking me to drop by and give you a spell or two." She waved a finger at the man.
"Yeah…I know." Cid frowned. He held out his arms. "Lemme see my lil one." She handed the child over. The baby reached for Aeris, whimpering.
"You're hair is getting so long!" Aeris tugged on a long bang.
"Oh this mop? Yeah…lookin a tad bit like a chocobo head." Cid pointed to his cap. "This helps hide it. Been so busy with the new rocket I haven't been able to worry much about my hair."
"So when are you off into space?" Aeris asked.
"Not sure. Gonna take a while. Few years. But when I do, I'm takin' this lil one with me."
"Family vacation?" Aeris grinned.
"Damn straight." He looked down at his boy who was now dozing off in his arms.
"Well I won't keep you, Cid." Aeris placed her hand on the edge of the door.
"Sorry to leave in a hurry." Cid muttered.
"It's fine. You just visit every now and then so I can see my baby boy." Aeris grinned.
"You're baby boy?" Cid smirked.
"Damn straight." Aeris nodded.
"Guess Shera did make you the god mother…" Cid rocked the child.
"…" Aeris only smiled.
"Well I'm gonna head off. You take care of yourself while your mother's gone. You have any troubles at all you know who to call."
"Yup." She bobbed her head.
"Good." Cid leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on Aeris' cheek. "Be good." He pointed at her and headed out the door.
Aeris slowly closed the door behind him. She leaned up against it, sighing. Her head fell quickly and she stared at her own stomach. A sound came from outside the window. She quickly raised her head. Curiosity always got the best of her. She squint her eyes and noticed a smudge on the window.
'Someone was here…' Aeris felt her heart skip a beat. It looked like someone had pressed their face against the glass.
The woman ran to the window. She opened it quickly and stuck out her head. There was no one in sight. She frowned, dropping her head once again. Then she noticed the flowers outside. They were smashed.
'Zack! You're smashing the flowers! What did I tell you about standing in my garden?!'
"Oh!" Suddenly feeling panicked the woman ran to the front door and pulled it open. She darted around the side of the house, looking from side to side.
"Hector!" she called out.
"Wark?" A yellow bird stuck his head through a hole in the fence behind the house.
"Come on! We're leaving!" Aeris waved at the bird. She tugged on the gate with a grunt and out flew the giant bird. She pulled on its reigns and hopped onto its back. "There was someone here. You can follow him!?" Aeris asked the bird.
The creature honked happily and took off at the speed of light toward the edge of town where the grassy plains lay.
"Hurry!" Aeris bit her lip. She felt a terrible sting in her eyes. A burst of wind shot up, blowing dust and leaves around. It was Cid's ship. He was taking off.
"Now where the hell is she goin'?" Cid looked out the window. He narrowed his gaze and gaped at the sight of the woman riding the golden chocobo as fast as his plane flew.
"Hey! Where you going!?" he called over the intercom.
He saw Aeris look up and wave in recognition. Too bad she couldn't respond.
"Crazy girl." Cid shook his head. He laughed to himself. Something caught his attention. There was someone striding through the tall grass only about a half mile away. The man looked up at the ship in recognition. Cid saw the man pull a hand to shield his eyes from the sun, and that gaze was recognizable. The pilot quickly grabbed the radio for the intercom once again. He fumbled with it, the cord tangling around his body.
"SHIT! GIRL you best hurry your ass up!" Cid shouted. "Head more to the left!" He dropped the radio, cursing.
"Hurry, Hector!" Aeris tightened her grip on the reigns.
The woman squint her eyes, trying to get a better look. She saw a figure suddenly turn and face her.
'Oh god!' the woman swallowed hard.
"WAIT!" she called out. The bird stumbled over a large rock, sending Aeris falling over the side. "Agh!" she grunted as she dropped to the ground.
'Stupid…bird….' Aeris sighed and got back to her feet.
"Wait!" she called out again, sprinting through the grass, the chocobo left behind and squawking in disapproval. "Please!"
She couldn't see. The sun was in her eyes. Overhead she could hear Cid's engines purring at a low speed. Aeris felt her heart pounding. She couldn't see anything, so she trusted her instincts.
"ZACK! WAIT!" she breathed heavily. It was then that she saw the figure. It was walking toward her, now running. "Please…don't leave me!"
She felt arms wrap around her, lifting her in the air.
"I'm never leaving you." A soft whisper sounded in her ear. Aeris gasped loudly, hearing that voice. One she hadn't heard in almost a year. She looked at the man before her, his dark hair hung in his face like a mess. His blue eyes were glowing.
"It is you!" Aeris tugged him downward, closer to her. "You have no idea how much I've missed you!"
"I missed you…" the man mumbled against her neck. His voice was breaking.
"What? What's wrong?" she held his face, looking into his eyes.
"…I…I thought you may have forgotten."
"I'd never forget you!" Aeris pushed herself against him, kissing him. Her hands tangled with his hair. He was rigid at first but quickly relaxed, breathing out and giving in to her. They parted after a moment, resting their foreheads together. Aeris laughed to herself.
"I can't believe it…you're really here." She smiled. "I…I waited day and night for you." She grabbed him again. "Why…? Why did it take so long?"
"…It took us so long to figure it out last time that we didn't notice."
"What?"
"Coming back is rebirth." The man explained.
"Re-birth…yeah, so?"
"How long does it take to give birth?"
"Nine months!" Aeris gasped.
"Exactly." Zack whispered. He kissed her cheek and her neck.
"Oh…" Aeris moaned. "But…the sacrifice…how did you?"
"For you." Zack moaned against her collar bone. "That last burst of energy I sent through you…that was the last of my life force. If I didn't do it, then it wouldn't have been a sacrifice." He stopped with the kisses. "I would still be dead…and I would probably be gone…forever by now. I got out just in time."
"Then…the Lifestream…" Aeris frowned.
"Everything's dying, Aeris." The man sighed. He looked old and tired.
"Let's not talk about that." She whispered. "We'll figure it out."
"…Nine months. It's been that long." He placed a hand on the woman's stomach. "I saw him."
"Who?" Aeris pushed away, confused.
"The, the baby." Zack seemed confused himself. "You were with Cloud…" he looked away.
"Cloud!?" Aeris giggled. "That wasn't Cloud!" she pointed to the sky. "It was Cid! His hair has grown out. And the baby is his and Shera's! I was watching him for them while they went on vacation!" Aeris kissed the baffled man on the cheek.
"Then…that means…but you. I thought you were…" the man poked her tummy.
"I…" Aeris frowned after a moment. "I had a miscarriage, Zack."
"…" he was dumbfounded. "Oh no…Aeris. I'm sorry. I…" he thought a moment and then curled his hand into a fist, hitting his forehead. "It's all my fault."
"No, no!" Aeris grabbed the man's shoulder as he turned from her.
"I did this…I hit you…killed the baby." Zack growled in frustration. His hands began shaking.
"Zack. It's okay. I'm okay. We had no idea…" the woman stared at the ground.
"Mine or his." Zack covered his face.
"No clue. Maybe it's better that way." The woman nodded.
"I'm so sorry!" Zack turned and wrapped his arms around her.
"Don't you dare blame yourself. We're starting over, you hear me?" Aeris ran her hands up and down the man's back, soothing his tremors.
"Start over?"
"Uh huh." She nodded. "Just you and me."
"You and me." Zack looked up at her. "You're giving me a second chance?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I!?" the woman giggled.
"…" He held onto her. It was desperate. He needed her. Aeris took a deep breath. She had no idea what he had gone through over the last nine months in the Lifestream, but she could tell it was bad.
"Zack…" Aeris tickled him as she ran her fingers down his side. "I love you." She kissed him again.
"I love you, Aeris. You're more important to me than anything." The man curled around her, needing the comfort of her touch. "So much…"
"Let's go home, Zack." Aeris grabbed the man's hand.
Aeris sighed deeply. She played with the man's dark bangs as he dozed next to her. A soft breeze blew the white curtains outward into the bedroom. Aeris smiled, breathing in the fresh air. She looked back at the man, he was watching her now. They lay tangled in the soft bed sheets.
"What?" she asked, giggling.
"You remember what it was like the first time you went outside?" the man asked, running a finger down her bare collarbone.
"Yeah."
"And the time I first took you out on a picnic?" A finger ran down her ribcage.
"Of course!"
"The first time you saw snow."
"Mm hm." She nodded.
"The beach?" he looked up at her as he placed his hand on her hip. She nodded in response.
"The first time you saw the City of the Ancients?"
"Beautiful." She whispered.
"The first time you laid eyes on me?" he smirked.
"Cute." She giggled and poked his nose.
"Imagine what it'd be like…to see all of those all at once." The man breathed in deeply, more relaxed than he ever felt in his entire life. Aeris closed her eyes.
"Yeah." She smiled. It was quiet. She opened her eyes and looked down at the man. "Why?"
"That feeling…isn't even close to the feeling I had when I first kissed you." The man twirled her hair with a finger.
The woman was speechless. She gave a squeal of delight and crawled on top of the naked man, kissing him softly, her leg between his. He held onto her lightly, feeling her soft skin under his fingertips. The wind from outdoors blew in once again, the sheets dancing over their bodies.
"I'm never letting you go again." Aeris held onto him.
The Lifestream bubbled and boiled with steam. It crackled and popped, turning into sludge. The Northern Crater was finally silent. Radiation and death being it's only civilians. No more scientists investigated the area. No animals were near for hundreds of miles.
The trickling Lifestream was gone now, turned into something else. It began to take shape, forming into something new, something that wasn't supposed to be on the planet.
'Reunion…' a whisper sounded upon no ears in the Northern Crater.
Okay! That's it for this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! Man…the next one's gonna be a loooong one! I still have much to write. Thanks for reading and reviewing and I hope you continue to the last chapter! –Annubis