Chapter 73: Setting Up

Tifa was dozing in Cloud's arms when she realized that Aerith was awake. The afternoon had drifted on and Zack had propped his back against the wall and stretched his legs out in front of him, folding his arms loosely in front of himself, chin on his chest, eyes closed even though he was still awake. Cloud had taken an armchair for himself and moved it to be near Aerith's feet on the other end of the couch from Zack. His eyes, rich blue, had looked at Tifa and she'd been unable to resist getting up to shift the two steps that took her over to him.

"I'm okay," she had told him, recognizing what she saw in his eyes and he'd simply reached out and wrapped his hands around her hips to pull her down to him. She'd slipped into his lap and he'd wrapped his arms around her and held her against his chest in silence. So she'd stretched her legs out so that her feet rested on the couch next to Aerith's and settled in.

Cloud's cheek was resting against the top of her head and Tifa was drowsily watching Aerith without really looking when she finally realized that her friend's green eyes were open and looking thoughtfully at the ceiling above her.

"Hey," she whispered it as she gently untangled herself from Cloud's arms to slip over to sit on the couch next to her friend. Aerith turned her head to look at her and her eyes were so sad and yet so full of contentment and life that Tifa wasn't sure how she could hold it all inside herself. She took Aerith's hands in hers and her friend gave them a gentle squeeze back. They sat that way for a while longer and then Aerith exhaled deeply and Tifa asked gently:

"Would you like something to drink?"

"That sounds good," Aerith turned her eyes, so sad, so happy, on Tifa and Tifa felt a bolt of pain and fear move through her own heart. So she kept one of Aerith's hands in hers while she reached over and got the cup of tea they'd set aside for her.

"It's cold," she apologized, still in a whisper even though she was fairly sure the boys at least were already awake and just giving them the appearance of privacy. Aerith gave a soft smile.

"It's okay. It's liquid." She sat up a little and silently laughed. "You don't have to help me sit up, Teef. It's okay. Really. I'm fine. I just – had to sleep to give everything time to settle into place, you know?"

"I've never had an entire planet inside myself," Tifa reminded her as she offered the tea and Aerith smiled again, soft and quiet.

"It wasn't quite like that."

"What was it like?"

Aerith shook her head.

"I – it's too hard to explain. It was sad and horrible and happy and completing and homesick and – and all kinds of wonderful, lonely things. My – heart felt so big. As if I loved everything in the whole world, even the ugly things. I loved it so much that it hurt." She exhaled and then sipped at her tea contemplatively. "I can still – kind of – feel that. If I listen really close – I can kind of hear whispers. Not words but feelings." She shook her head. "It's hard to explain."

"Jenova?" Zack lifted his head from where he'd had it back against the wall and Aerith turned her head to look at him. Then she looked back at Tifa, almost apologetic as she nodded.

"I can feel it. Like a cancer. Making everything it touches disgusting and untouchable. It's a leech on a flower. It's still active. And moving."

Aerith's eyes shifted over to Cloud and he looked back at her without expression, eyes steady. Her eyes went sad, hopelessly sad but his face refused to accept or reject that, remaining calm and emotionless. Aerith looked back at Tifa and gave her hand a gentle squeeze and a weak smile.

"You stayed with me. When I was hearing the planet. You stayed right there and made yourself an anchor for me."

Tifa wasn't sure she'd done anything that dramatic and important but she smiled and touched Aerith's cheek.

"That's what friends are for, isn't it?"

Aerith was sudden in her arms, holding her fiercely and surprising her even more when Tifa realized her friend was sobbing as if her heart was breaking. Tifa responded without having to think, her own arms closing around her friend's shaking form. She shot Zack a look since he was in front of her when she faced that way but he shrugged and offered his palms in confusion so Tifa just closed her eyes and held her friend against her, gently rocking, murmuring soothing sounds she used on her own siblings as she stroked Aerith's wavy hair. After a little while, Aerith quieted and just held her tightly.

"I'm sorry," she managed, voice watery. "It's just – there's so much – it's hard to – everything's so overwhelming still."

"It's okay," Tifa murmured, still stroking her hair. "You're with us and we'll be here for as long as you want us to. You know Zack and Cloud haven't got anything better to do with their time anyway."

It surprised the weak laugh out of Aerith and Tifa felt her friend smile against her.

"Oh, Teef…" the voice was deep with affection. "You always know just the right words to say."

The teasing made Tifa laugh softly herself and she hugged her friend a little bit tighter.

"It's why you love me, right?"

"I love you because you love me so much I can't help it," Aerith answered her, holding on just as tight. "That and you make really good food."

Tifa laughed quietly and felt some of the pressure in her heart ease. It was going to be all right. They were all going to be all right.

Bugenhagen insisted that they all stay for dinner and he had food from the tavern down the mountain sent up. Red and Denzel and Marlene came up with it and everyone sat in the living room because there wasn't room in the kitchen and ate their food that way. Marlene insisted on sitting next to Zack while Denzel settled down on the floor next to Cloud's leg. Aerith and Tifa took the couch and Red sat next to his grandfather's chair. The dinner conversation was intentionally light and revolved around the history of Cosmo Canyon interspersed with things the children had discovered about the area on their own. Apparently they'd dragged Red all over the place and he was now their official mascot. Or they were his; it was hard to tell by the comments.

After dinner, everyone thanked Bugenhagen and without really discussing it, they all found themselves sitting around the huge bonfire in the middle of the town. Everyone else had gone to bed, apparently, because they were the only ones there. Tifa leaned against Cloud and Aerith put her head in her lap so Tifa could stroke her hair. Zack stretched out with his head on Red's back, Aerith's legs over his stomach and both of the kids used Zack's side as a backrest while they tossed twigs into the fire and snickered quietly about doing the same to the end of Red's tail.

For a very long time that was enough and it was everything to be able to sit together like that and just – be together. Then Cloud's head came up from where his cheek had been resting against Tifa's and his eyes narrowed down, gold and red and blue and green in the firelight. Red lifted his head almost at the same time and so Tifa turned to look as well. It was hard to see past the light of the fire but she saw a form on the edges of the darkness. Hovering between the dark and the light. Cloud's arm that had been loosely around her stayed relaxed but his hand spread over her stomach.

Vincent…

Remembering what Red had said, Tifa held out the hand that wasn't resting against Aerith's hair.

"You can come sit with us," she offered softly. "If you want to."

The form, red and black and gold in the dark and fire, paused for a very long moment of stillness. And then he slowly came forward, staying at the edges of the fire and night. He settled down a little off from them but near enough that, if anyone had been watching, he would have been included in the 'group' that was sitting there. Tifa felt Cloud's hand lightly squeeze her side and had to stifle the hiccup giggle it brought. She turned her head to give him an accusing look and saw that the edges of his lips were smiling at her and his blue eyes were warm and gentle. She couldn't help the silly, shy smile that spread across her own lips in response. As if that was all the encouragement he needed, Cloud lowered his head and his lips brushed over hers. It made her smile – kissing him always seemed to make her smile and, very softly, against her mouth, he warned:

"Tifa…"

Which just made her smile more and his mouth found hers again with a smile of its own and much more serious intent. Which was when she heard the:

"eep!" followed by a "shhhh!" followed by a:

"Well, hot damn!"

"Hey, Cid" Zack was obviously grinning just from the tone of his voice. "Shera, my sweet. Leon."

Tifa jerked away with a stifled sound, as much in embarrassment in being caught kissing Cloud in front of people that weren't her immediate circle of friends as at the fact that Leon was obviously there and she hadn't wanted to hurt him. Cloud raised his own head but his arms stayed around Tifa where they'd been before. Not about to withdraw what he'd decided. Feeling the heat on her cheeks that had nothing to do with the fire – but maybe Aerith's unhelpful snickers – Tifa looked over.

Shera was trying not to grin which just made it all the more obvious she wanted to and Cid was flat out grinning, wide and toothy.

"It's about time you idiot kids figured it out," Cid volunteered and dropped down in front of the fire. Tifa noticed he took the spot next to Zack. Which did block Shera from sitting there even if she'd been inclined. She didn't seem to notice and settled herself gently down on the other side of the pilot instead. And then Tifa looked at Leon.

It hurt – seeing the sorrow in his eyes but he gave her a soft smile.

"It has been a long time coming," he added softly, eyes still on hers. Then he looked over at Cloud and gave him a nod before settling down in front of the fire as well. He looked into its center.

"We came down because I've heard some news. And I think its time we all shared our information with each other."

End of Disc Two