When I started this story, I had not seen Advent Children. I now have the DVD and watched the movie many, many times. But for the sake of this "universe", Advent Children never happened. And sorry for taking long for updating!

Cat like green eyes glowed in the semi-darkness as Sephiroth lay awake despite what Aeris and Red had told him, no demanded of him! Hours earlier he had practically been dragged into this room and its single bed to recover from the unexpected onslaught of the poison. Out of all the people present, Sephiroth had been the most surprised at how well the foreign substance was destroying him. Not a pleasant thought.

His long platinum hair was sprawled around the single pillow, the tips cascading over the edge of the bed. Usually such untidiness would bother him, but not this time. His hands rested over his chest in the universal pose of relaxation, however his alert mind was racing with multiple thoughts.

Sephiroth wanted to know exactly what was happening to him but only one person had the answers and she was the last being he wanted to talk to right now. The cult, or more likely, Abaddon, had finally designed a poison that would affect his unique DNA. It didn't help that she was the one who had access to whatever data was left over from Hojo's experiments, his and hers included. Who knew what other information she has on him thanks to the mad scientist. It seems he had underestimated the opponent, a mistake that seemed to be his ultimate undoing, once again.

Sephiroth stared dully at the few candles burning in the corners, their small flames casting long shadows along the wall. He couldn't help but find it amusing at how the weak and puny candle had overtaken the world after the rule of the once powerful mako energy that Shinra had so thoughtfully provided. It was almost a perfect metaphor by how he was being taken down by a simple poison. Sighing, he turned his head to stare at the ceiling once more.

His chest rose and fell to the beat of his unlabored breathing. The pain was now tolerable, a mere ache of his muscles but still a nuisance. Whatever Nanaki had prepared was working its magic on his body. But Sephiroth had noticed the sadness in the gentle beast's eyes as his human apprentice had administered the green substance to him. There was something Nanaki wasn't telling him.

Suddenly Sephiroth found himself sitting up as he spoke loudly to the empty room, "You may come in."

Two red ears popped in the doorway, soon followed by Red's entire head with a sheepish look on his face, like a child caught stealing from the cookie jar. Sephiroth smiled vaguely for he knew that he had caught Red unaware. His hearing was, after all, almost as acute as the animal's.

"Forgive me, I was debating whether to speak with you now or later," explained Red as he walked in to sit next to the bed. "But I guess you would rather me explain now."

Nodding his approval, Sephiroth swung his long legs over the bed so he could face Red better.

"The potion that I had prepared for you is but a temporary solution."

"Temporary?" Sephiroth repeated dully, already beginning to understand why Red had seemed so sad.

"Yes. It will not prevent the toxin from fully infecting your body," Red replied. Taking a deep breath he continued, "It will only delay the inevitable. I am truly sorry Sephiroth."

Red bowed his head in defeat, feeling their situation had gotten that much worse. In the last few years, he had detected differences in the air, no matter where he went on Gaia, the air seemed to be waging a silent war with a foreign entity that only his nose, and most of the animal world, could sense. Worried, Red had immediately closed himself off in his grandfather's library spending weeks and months savagely going through every book in the old library for an explanation for the abnormal phenomena. In the end, Sephiroth coming to Cosmo Canyon had been the one who had held the answer by revealing it was the Planet's very soul under attack.

That was why vegetation no longer held its usual bright green colors or how the wind blew with less energy now. Nature itself was weakening. However, the most pressing matter now was how would Aeris destroy Abaddon if Sephiroth didn't help her or the Planet? Or worse, how would Aeris survive if Sephiroth became one of them? If the General were to turn, he would be under Abaddon's control! It would be Jenova all over again and the human population still remembered that cataclysmic event from a century ago.

"How long?" Sephiroth asked strongly, breaking through Red's thoughts.

"A week… at most."

"Is it possible for me to take the potion more than once?"

"Of course, but I don't see where you are going with this," a confused Red answered.

Sephiroth slowly looked at the candles beyond Red's shoulder, seeming to relax under their little fires. "I will take the necessary dosage every few days to keep the toxin from spreading further. I will do so until my duty to the Planet is finished," Sephiroth explained, his voice the epitome of indifference.

Red's eyes widened at the implications of what he would be doing to himself. "But Sephiroth it may not work that long! And if it did, you would need to take the potion more frequently and at a higher dosage."

"Then we shall have to be faster than the toxin. Aeris and I will leave immediately for Midgar." To finish this once and for all, he added silently.

The beast's fiery tail swished to and fro as his dissatisfaction was displayed physically. "Are you sure?"

Silence ensued as both man and animal looked at each other, swirling green meeting yellow. Finally the silver haired man shrugged and said, "We have no choice."

Red looked as if he was about to protest but seemed to decide against it as he got up and left the room without any more words. Sephiroth wasn't insulted by the abrupt exit, he knew it meant that Nanaki had accepted his words, albeit against his better judgment.

Sephiroth passed a gloved hand through his long silver bangs, suppressing a sigh.

This was going to be a problem. Initially he had planned for this to last several months, but now they were going to do it within the space of a few days. He knew very well that their chances had been greatly diminished with him getting infected and Aeris not being ready. This was going to be difficult if not downright impossible.

But these thoughts would have to be dealt with later for his sensitive hearing detected the approach of the footsteps of a pair of large boots. Aeris.

He didn't think he had the energy to deal with her right now. Immediately he lied down and began pretending to be asleep. However his eyes shot wide open when he realized that he, the great General Sephiroth, was in a way, hiding from a small Cetra! Things were just getting too complicated. Sephiroth was too busy trying to understand his unreasonable action that he didn't even see Aeris come in until she said,

"You had me worried there."

The young woman was watching him intently with her big green eyes, a ghost of a smile on her pink lips. The General was astonished at how comfortable she seemed with him. Usually Aeris's shoulders would be tense and her spine would become rigid in his presence. She probably wasn't even aware of her body's reaction to him, but he was. Now her body language was relaxed and calm. But more surprisingly, she was smiling at him.

"You need not be worried about me," he said, elegant silver eyebrows frowning a bit. He couldn't stop wondering why Aeris kept getting concerned about someone like him, especially over someone like him. The girl shouldn't be wasting any energy on him because his days were numbered and they both knew it.

Aeris rapidly looked down at her feet, a little embarrassed but mostly hurt at the way he kept being indifferent. She knew he wasn't a warm person but that didn't mean he had to be rude all the time. It would be nice if things weren't so distant between them, not to mention easier. Traveling with a complete stranger was never comfortable or enjoyable.

"Sorry," she let herself mumble and walked out, her big black boots scrunching the sandy dirt beneath.

Sephiroth noticed the way she had seemed to deflate after he had spoken. Had he said something wrong? He immediately dismissed it from his mind and tried to fall asleep instead. Talking with Aeris always seemed to drain extra effort from him.

Aeris on the other hand felt a little rejected but it was to be expected. Even someone as optimistic as herself had her limits and they had just been reached.

Without thinking Aeris sprinted off in the direction she thought was the exit, needing a deep breath of fresh air, only to trip over something on the way. An animal like yelp was immediately heard as both Red and Aeris rolled on the sandy floor. The fire beast was the first to get up and approach the young woman who seemed immobile just lying in the hallway, staring up at nothing in particular.

As he came closer, Aeris sat up and quickly smiled at him. Red smiled in return and merely shook his head to get rid of some of the dirt in his mane.

"You need to watch where you are going, Aeris."

The Cetra swatted her bangs out of her eyes and laughed some more. "Sorry Red," she said getting up and fully dusting herself off. "I was just thinking about something and not of where I was going."

Without hesitation Red replied, "Sephiroth. Yes, he has been preoccupying my mind as well."

"What?! No! That's not it, I mean… what??" Aeris stuttered defensively as she tried to recover from being so obvious. However that only made Red's ears perk up, literally.

"My apologies then. What was really bothering you? Maybe I could be of some assistance," inquired Red only half-truthfully. He knew full well that she was worried about Sephiroth.

"Well I was thinking about him," she admitted shyly, rubbing her forehead, unknowingly drawing a smudge of dirt on it. "But I was also wondering how the two of you became such good friends. I mean the last I remember was how everyone was on their way to kill him."

Red nodded and chuckled almost fondly. "Yes I can understand why it would be a little odd," he said as he walked past Aeris, his padded paws barely making noise on the dirt flooring. "Come, let us go to the observatory."

Red led the way silently and Aeris walked closely behind, her eyes taking in the many colorful doors they passed. A lot more people seemed to call Cosmo Canyon their home now. She remembered being here and being at peace as well. This Canyon had always felt a little closer to the Planet than the other villages her group had traveled through. The observatory especially. The sky seemed so close to the Planet that Aeris had had trouble seeing where one ended and the other started the last time she was here with… with them.

They had reached the top of the stairs and Red gently nudged the door open with his nose. The first thing that struck the young woman was how messy everything seemed, as if someone was constantly at work here. But that was impossible, Nanaki's grandfather had died a long time ago. Aeris let her hand touch some of the old, worn books, mesmerized at the sheer content of information they all must contain by now. So much time and effort had had to go into this it was amazing.

"I come here often to research and continue my grandfather's work. As you can probably tell, I am not the neatest animal," he said explaining the mess.

Aeris quickly looked at the red beast, a slight smile tugging on her lips as she nodded. So it was Red that did the research now, she thought.

"So much has changed, yet hasn't," she whispered to no one in particular, her eyes taking on a fanciful state as she continued looking. She walked up towards the large platform that would become the planetarium if the right handle was pressed, one delicate hand raised up in anticipation of touching this thing from the past. Nanaki observed her the entire time as she took small, almost frightened steps towards his grandfather's most valued item.

As her hand came into contact with the cold metal, her eyes closed as an almost inaudible sigh escaped her half-open mouth. She remembered it all too clearly.

They had all stood here transfixed as Bugenhagen had shown them the universe and their precious little planet moving through it all. She could still see Yuffie practically drooling over the huge materia and of Tifa's wide wonder at the many stars floating around them. Then there had been Cloud who behind his serious and stoic expression, she had seen the awe and amazement in his glowing eyes as he watched Gaia. His expression had changed as his gaze had shifted towards the burning Meteor so dangerously close to the Planet. His hands had clenched into fists and his eyes had once again hardened to their dark blue hue. Oh yes, Cloud had shown many emotions in that single moment.

It had made Aeris proud to know that Cloud truly cared about the Planet and its inhabitants and wasn't just going after Sephiroth for revenge. Revenge never led anywhere nor was it as validating as everyone made it out to be.

But in the end he had partly killed Sephiroth for revenge, revenge for her.

Immediately she snatched her hand away from the metal as if she had been burned. Aeris blinked a few times as she remembered where she was and more importantly, when she was.

"Sephiroth had also been entranced by the planetarium the first time he came in here," Red said, breaking the stillness of the room. Aeris turned back towards the object in question wondering how could someone like Sephiroth be intrigued by it. She had always assumed he was just a military man, someone who knew the way of the sword and only the way of the sword.

The sound of moving paws made her focus her attention on Red as he approached the main circular desk to take a seat. He motioned with his head for her to come and join him and Aeris didn't waste any time in doing so. She sat on one of the chairs, her hands immediately clutching the solid wood on her sides. Why was she nervous all of a sudden?

"After we defeated Sephiroth, we all continued with our lives. Of course many things had changed almost immediately. Shinra was no longer in power, parts of Midgar had been destroyed because of Meteor's debris. All in all, things weren't good," he said while his eyes focused on an old framed picture near the wall, his mind remembering those times.

Aeris sat still, fascinated by the large beast's words. She wasn't surprised that she couldn't remember any of it. Although she had thought that her being part Cetra, she would have been allowed to enter the Promised Land. So rightfully, she should have some memories of that place, but she didn't.

As Red remained quiet, she followed his gaze to the picture hanging on the wall. Her green eyes widened as she covered her mouth in shock when she recognized the individuals in it.

The grief she had so well ignored until now threatened to overwhelm her. Twin emerald eyes shone with unshed tears as she saw her friends, all smiling and happy, except for Vincent, staring back at her from the wall. She managed to laugh as she let her tears fall. Her laugh held no bitterness, only relief and even a little happiness.

But just as suddenly, her tears became sadder as a painful lump formed in the back of her throat. She was about to excuse herself when an unexpected weight was placed on her lap causing her to jump a little in her seat. It was one of Red's giant paws, offering her comfort in his own way. Without hesitation, Aeris wrapped her much smaller human hand around his furry red one while she used the other to wiped away her tears.

"It's just… it's just, I'm not going to see them again. Ever. They are all gone, have been gone for so long," Aeris whispered in between hiccups and sniffles, her small body shaking with each labored breath she took.

Red was watching her with his one eye, knowing full well how she felt. He had lived through each and every one of their friend's passings, and he had mourned them all painfully. But he got comfort from knowing that their souls would never cease to exist, instead they would always partake in the lifestream's dance of birth and death.

Silence filled the room, only to be broken by Aeris sniffling. Finally after Aeris had calmed down a little bit, she asked the painful question that had been on her mind for a long time.

"What happened to them?"

As Red looked at Aeris, he couldn't help but smile. The tip of her nose was red and her bright green eyes were alert and bright, almost willing him to answer the question.

"They lived happily Aeris," Red said. "And they never forgot you either. We were always grateful for what you did for us all."

Aeris was stunned, speechless and above all, truly happy. She had been so scared they had forgotten about her, they who were the closest thing to a real, big, close family she ever had during her short life.

A few more tears escaped her eyes, but these were from joy and not grief. Her lower lip trembled as she whispered a heart felt thank you to the gentle beast who had set her mind at ease and wiggled his ears in response.

Aeris giggled and dried her tears once again, more relaxed now then she had been in ages. To know that her closest friends had led happy lives was more than enough to return her to her high spirits. Grabbing his head, she leaned in and kissed his forehead giggling once more as she heard Red purr.

"I am glad you are feeling better," he said, a small purr still in his voice. "You are going to need to be strong with Sephiroth when you both leave for Midgar."

Aeris was momentarily surprised. "Midgar? But Sephiroth told me it is now avoided by everyone because it is too dangerous."

"He wasn't lying. It is dangerous because that is Seraphim territory. Their leader, Abaddon, occupies the old Shinra building and keeps it well defended. We lost many people trying to find that out I'm afraid," Red said, his voice solemn.

"How is Sephiroth doing now?" the young woman asked timidly. He had seemed all right when she had seen him earlier but one could never tell with the swordsman, his face was a constant blank. Before the giant animal could explain, the man in question slipped quietly into the room, closing the door forcefully behind him to make his presence known.

"He is fine," Sephiroth's commanding voice boomed, effectively shutting down all follow up questions Aeris had. Red also didn't feel the need to contradict him as Sephiroth narrowed his glowing eyes in his particular direction.

The silver haired man's intense stare quickly redirected towards Aeris but she didn't flinch.

"Are you ready?" he asked as he approached until he stood directly in front of her. Aeris had to crane her neck to be able to see him.

"What?" she answered incredulously. "As in right now?"

Sephiroth simply nodded, his longs platinum bangs shifting with the movement.

It was Red's turn to be shocked. "Sephiroth that doesn't give us any time to prepare for-"

"I know that!" the swordsman lashed out, his mouth twisted in a snarl. Red and Aeris exchanged looks of confusion at Sephiroth's outburst, both fully aware he was always composed no matter what situation presented itself. Something was not right.

Sephiroth refrained from grabbing his throbbing head in a vain attempt to ease the pain. Instead he chose to close his eyes tightly shut. The pain in his head almost immediately began to dull out, eventually completely dissipating. Relieved that he was now back in control, Sephiroth slowly opened his glowing mako eyes. But Red was no longer there, only Aeris was. Had he left his eyes closed that long?

Unabashed silence was the first thing his senses noted in importance, quickly followed by Aeris's worry. He could almost feel it hovering in the air, like an invisible living thing, her unending curse of everlasting sympathy and those lively emerald green eyes. He didn't want to admit it, especially to himself, but that ability of hers made him nervous. Of course he'd sooner die or kill anyone than show it.

Aeris didn't seem to notice the effect she was having on the powerful General. Instead she was more interesting in how he was doing, health wise. Gently she lifted herself from the chair, thus allowing her to gain at least some height to Sephiroth's intimidating stance and slowly, as if afraid he would bite her, she laid her hands on his muscular arms.

Sephiroth couldn't believe she was actually touching him of her free will and it showed in how far his eyebrows had lifted at her gesture. However he was no longer looking at her, instead staring at a spot above her head.

The young brunette couldn't help but be amused at how easy it was to shock this man, but such thoughts would have to be for later. Some things just had to be discussed at this very moment.

Taking a deep breath all the while still holding on the silver haired man standing toe to toe in front of her, she calmly began speaking, "Are you really feeling better?"

"Yes."

Truthfully, she had at least expected a sentence or two as explanation. Maybe if she phrased it differently.

"Has the poison been purged out of your body?"

Abruptly Sephiroth tensed and looked down at her. It wasn't the usual impassive look that Aeris had gotten so used to. No, this time his glowing eyes held so much intensity Aeris almost smiled at him. She could see emotion there, emotion she didn't think he possessed. And for a brief moment, Aeris felt true hope that their purpose could be accomplished, together.

Sephiroth was silent for a moment debating what he should say. Should he tell her the truth? Or should he lie to her and yes, even protect her from something that would only affect him in the end? There would be no point in her knowing that he had even more limited time and besides, she would only pester him with her cosmic worry.

A long time ago, Sephiroth would have never found himself even considering between such options. He would have taken the more efficient course of action, people be damned. Well if it had been anyone else he wouldn't have cared so much, yet he found himself caring a little about the green eyed girl. Just a little.

"Yes, the poison is no longer within me," he said and with those words, Sephiroth had for once in his life done something to protect another.

For a few seconds Sephiroth watched her wondering if he had done the right thing. Out of nowhere, Aeris's natural bright smile appeared and he found his answer there.

Woohoo! You have no idea how long this has been sitting in my computer. It's because i write in pieces that it took so long. Not that i didnt feel like login in. Reviews??