Chapter Seven

The few moment after she opened her eyes and saw nothing but white made her realize she wasn't going back to the Earth plane. Ever. Zack had wandered off, no doubt doing some soul searching of his own since he now had to go on living without his soul mate for all eternity. And she had the sinking feeling that it was her fault.

The realization squeezed Tifa's heart in Aerith's all too perfect and sweet body, almost bringing her to her knees. What was the point anymore anyways? Just as the last of her hope tried to turn into self pity, her question was answered in the form of a man she could always count on to save her. Or die trying.

Cloud?

Tifa gasped as she felt his presence flow through the field like a mountain breeze, fresh and resilient. But if he was there, that meant...

Oh, Cloud, not you too.

His back was along hers, almost touching but not quite with a slight hum of energy between them. He didn't seem to notice her as he was looking around the field through hazy eyes, all thoughts on the woman who had just suddenly vanished from his arms as he was brought here.

Was she alright? He couldn't lose her too, not after...

Slim fingers slipped over his arm, smoothing over the spot where his Geostigma hid beneath fabric but there was no pain, no ache to make him double over in torment. What was this place? All thought stopped as he heard a voice that haunted his dreams only this time it was soft, almost peaceful. Not filled with pain as in his nightmares.

"You came." Like you always do. I knew you would.

Tifa couldn't say this though. It was Cloud's turn to be comforted by his lost love, not hers. And she would always do what was best for Cloud before herself, no matter what.

Still, she took comfort in being able to say her goodbyes, even if it was in Aerith's body. She could sense his confusion but he still didn't turn around which helped her a little. She squeezed his arm in reassurance and tried to lighten the mood.

"Even thought you're about to break. That's a good sign."

He still didn't say anything. "So, why did you come?"

Cloud jerked his head up and Tifa smiled as that got a response. She knew full well he wouldn't volunteer information unless directly asked to. She wasn't doing this to be mean but Cloud had to face his fears, face his past, face everything that was holding him back.

He needed to move on, they both did...in this life and the next.

"I think...I want to be forgiven. More than anything."

He looked off, lost in thought. He let Aerith die and now Tifa was down there fighting for her life. So why was he here, wherever here was?

She didn't know why she felt the need to say it but there was no stopping those words from leaving Aerith's lips, tainting them in her sweetness.

"By who?"

Cloud's eyes widened even though she couldn't see it. Who did he want forgiveness from? From Aerith for not being able to stop her death? From Tifa for not being able to stop hers?

You're late...he always was. But before he could bother replying and before Tifa could get an answer, he faded into all that white and vanished without a trace.

If her hand hadn't still felt warm from where she had touched his arm, she would have doubted he had been there in the first place.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The pain she expected to feel vanished the instant Cloud's face came into view. He looked so worried, so worn and yet he was there. With her.

The heart Aerith had felt slow down in Tifa's body suddenly inflated with each beat growing stronger within her. The fact that Cloud was there gave her heart the power to bring the rest of her back, her body thrumming with life. The fact that the Cetra's spirit once again inhabited it could account for Tifa's miraculous recovery but it was the own barmaid's force of will that kept her in this world.

Aerith sat up from the mattress she had been laying on, smoothing her hands down her skirt as Cloud sat on the bed across from her. The image of the worry, sorrow and would-be guilt Tifa's last lucid moments saw in his eyes were hidden from her as he wouldn't look at her that closely now.

She had the briefest urge to grab his face between her hands to make him look at her but that was a fleeting glance of Tifa's mind; Aerith would never do such a brazen thing.

Instantly, a sense of peace flowed through Aerith so strong and heart felt that she breathed deep, on the earth plane one instant and then the astral plane the next.

"What just happened?" Aerith blinked, looking around for Zack who appeared the instant she spoke.

"You're back! But I never thought I'd see you again." He stopped talking and immediately pulled her into his arms, taking in the touch, the scent, the essence that was Aerith. "I'm so glad you're here."

All of the love she had accumulated over the years for this man flowed through Aerith as she held onto him so tight, pulling away to kiss his cheek. "As am I."

Zack smiled before something caught his eye over her shoulder and she turned to look at the rippling canvas.

"Something happened up here that made me come back, Zack, but what?"

"I was off on my own, searching for some kind of comfort or understanding to all of this after losing you."

She took his hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze for which he was grateful.

"I left Tifa alone. I don't know what happened." Zack lifted his downcast eyes to follow hers, watching the scenes unfold in the present.

"Maybe Tifa will tell us herself."

Tifa took in all of Cloud sitting dejectedly on the bed next to her through her own clear sight; not ones hazed with pain or of emerald green. This time it was all Tifa and she knew what she had to do. Even if it broke her heart, she had to do what was best for them both.

Cloud came first, in her life and her heart. It was all for Cloud.

"We can help each other, I know we can."

She was facing him, beseeching some kind of reaction, anything to let her know he felt the magnitude of her meaning. And yet, nothing.

"What is she doing?" Aerith asked in shock, realizing almost a moment too late that Tifa was willing to give up everything, just like that.

"I...I really don't know."

"Which is it, a memory..." Tifa swallowed hard around the lump growing in her throat. She had to do this. She had to.

In that instant, she no longer had a choice as her spirit was shoved out of her body, landing with a jolt next to Zack.

"Tifa! Oh no, not again." Zack groaned, wiping a hand down his face in annoyance and weariness.

In Tifa's place once again, Aerith simply looked at Cloud, her lost hero. Taking in the worn leather gloves, always hiding his hands in a way to not let anyone close enough to touch him or be touched. It was so sad really, to see Cloud so closed off, so cold.

She had watched the change overcome him soon after she had died. But he couldn't be that heartless if he had come back for Tifa. Yes, Tifa. That was it!

Tifa quickly accessed the fact that she was once again in Aerith's body during the moment that could save Cloud. And Aerith. And it had just been ripped from her.

"What is she doing! Doesn't she realize this is what Cloud needs?" Tifa put her face in her hands, confusion winning out over her other emotions. Zack's hand on her shoulder helped pull her out of her sudden downward spiral.

"I think that's what she's doing. Look."

"Cloud, do you want to be with the memory of Aerith forever? Or can you finally let her go?"

"But I..." Cloud couldn't say anything else. His own thoughts were so confused. Aerith? Tifa?

He felt like he had to choose which didn't feel right at all. There was no choice necessary.

Placing a hand over his, she said three small words that held all of eternity in their meaning. "You love Aerith?"

Cloud looked down at Tifa's hand on his as Tifa trapped in Aerith's body watched from above, heart constricting in his grasp. Zack didn't make a sound.

"I...I let her die. I almost let you die."

I never blamed you, not once.

Aerith gave a small smile, the next words from Tifa's lips meaning more than he'd ever realize. "You came. That's all that matters."

She closed her eyes in content and all Cloud could do was stare.

Tifa had to wipe away tears with shaky hands and a watery smile. He came for her. For them. He always did.

In that instant, Cloud was looking at Tifa and yet it was someone else's voice whispering through his mind.

"You love her, Cloud. Not me. It's always been Tifa."

"But I..." Cloud whispered and Tifa didn't seem to hear him. It was as if she were frozen in time and what he felt was happening really wasn't...but it was all so real to him.

"I thought I loved you, but you always loved Zack." Cloud thought aloud, slowly piecing it all together as it finally fell into place. "And I wasn't Zack, even when I thought I was."

Aerith's laugh was sweet. It made him smile.

"It always has been Tifa, hasn't it? Even when I thought it was you?"

"She is first in your heart, Cloud. She always has been and always will be."

"I can let you go? Without guilt?" He looked worried by the thought but her voice soothed it all away.

"I never blamed you, Cloud. Not once. Let me go and fade like a memory..."

Just as suddenly Cloud was blinking back in the room where Tifa was waiting expectantly for an answer to a question she never finished asking.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"What?"

Tifa blinked a few times, sensing that she was in fact again in her body, the tell tale question dying on her lips.

She had no idea what had just happened with Cloud and Aerith but she couldn't think about that. Now was the moment of truth that had been cut off before. Only now, Tifa wasn't so sure she could do it. She couldn't ask the hardest question of her life.

Sensing her hesitation, he placed both of his gloved hands over hers, holding them gently. Such a simple touch and yet it gave her the strength to tempt fate.

"Which is it, a memory or us?"

She watched him turn thoughtful for an instant before saying a simple word that sealed their destiny even if he didn't know it yet. "Us."

Tifa couldn't believe her ears and said as much. "W-what?"

With a smile that made her melt every time, he leaned closer, closing the distance between them in the softest, sweetest kiss she'd ever had. She felt it from her lips down through her body to the tips of her toes with a jolt, grounding her spirit firmly back into her body and she just knew Aerith was once again in hers permanently.

Three small words. So short, so simple and yet they meant everything. "I love you." Those words saved them all.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Time sped up as scenes Tifa recognized flew by and she was more than thankful not to have to relive them. The Forgotten City...Bahamut terrorizing Midgar...he resurrection of Sephiroth...Cloud dying again...all of it once again in the past as it should be with Cloud, Tifa, the splashing children, the church, all in the present. Just as they had left it.

"See, everything is alright."

Aerith's voice greeted them from the church's entrance, Zack giving a wave next to her before both disappeared into all that white. In that moment, Tifa felt nothing could be more true and the look on Cloud's face said the same.

"I know."

Turning away from their dearly beloved friends, Cloud took her hand. He held it as naturally as if he'd been doing it his whole life, like now he was finally complete. She had the same feeling of total completeness. It was so good to be whole again.

"I'm not alone. Not anymore." He said with a smile Tifa had missed seeing in so long. It was a smile he only ever let her see and that made it all the more worth while.

"I love you, too."

As it was meant to be.

The End.

A/N: So, what did you think? Good? Bad? Otherwise? I love hearing from my readers :)