This is the big 4-0 chapter. Which means something to me, the original version of my story wasn't nearly as fulfilling as this one and to celebrate the 4-0 I gave you a gift.

To Captain Kuroyuki: Evie's story(at least the one in my head of her) lasts until Dirge of Cerberus and even then it goes on after that. So she has a story that goes through the original game and continues with the contemplation itself. If I continue her story It would be under a new story itself. Uhm, I'll write more at the bottom.

To the Guest: (who was on chapter 8) Clara Borges: (if you've caught up yet) Thank you. I worry that Zack would be too OOC in certain moments. I like to read other stories and gather up personality ideas to solidify properly. If that makes any sense.

To my very loyal reader: zexydemyx66: She's as smart as a rock when it comes to feelings. But as always thank you for the love.

Words: 2,368

It had been a few hours since Zack had left. This wasn't supposed to be this long. There were bright lights and I felt power pulses coming from where he had ran towards. A hand touched my shoulder and I jumped nearly tearing Lazard's arm off. His eyes were wide.

"You should know better than to sneak up on a SOLDIER," he smiled wryly as I released his arm.

"Try and get some sleep, you're wasting that potion if you don't rest." I didn't ask how he knew about that, but certainly didn't argue. I was tired and worrying was making me more tired. I wasn't even sure how I was going to sleep as I glanced at where Zack had saluted me.

I sighed and pulled Harpenger from my back just as I heard the sound of gravel being stepped on. My eyes widened and I moved towards the motorcycle. Just around the bend was a group from the Shinra army. I turned to Lazard and try to hiss at him. He didn't seem to notice. I cursed lightly and attempted to pull Cloud from the motorcycle without making it obvious.

It was then that Lazard notice my struggles and spoke, "Get some rest, I just-" Shouting, There was loud shouting.

"Shit," I spoke vehemently. I hauled Cloud from the motorcycle and into the broken down house as quick as I could. Lazard was holding some off but wasn't faring well. Just as I turned to leave the house, a few soldiers walked through. A firaga flew from my hands before they could say anything. The last thing I needed was for them to say where Cloud was.

"She was hiding!"

"Some SOLDIER!" I heard various shouts from the army and was grateful none of them included Cloud. I dodged bullets, slashed through men with captain bandanas and those without. No matter how hard I fought there just seemed to be more of them and I couldn't reach Lazard to help him. A creature flew down and started to attack the ones ganging up on Lazard. There was hope. I needed to focus because he was okay.

By the time the sun was starting to rise up, the dismembered bodies had dissolved into the Lifestream, leaving Cloud in only a wooden chair, Lazard leaning against a chair, A dead creature and no Zack. It was just as I was thinking this that Zack came into view, a red blotch on his shoulder. As he neared I realized it was Genesis, the Degradation was gone. Lazard spoke for us. Not that there was much to explain. We were attacked. Plain and simple.

"Save your strength," Zack retorted immediately. Lazard pointed towards the creature that had fallen over since the attack and Zack seemed to recognize the fellow. I was silent as I glanced at Genesis and the Director. Zack seemed torn up about the creature but I didn't know it held an significance. A soft thump reached my ears and I gasped.

"Lazard!" Zack turned on his heel shouting as he did so. I couldn't hear any of his body functions moving as I placed my head on his replica Angeal chest. I shook my head at this and Zack punched the ground furiously. I heard the sound of a sob begin held back but I said nothing, my throat tightening instead.

"Thank you," there was a silence that fell over the two of us and wordlessly Zack left. I didn't dare stop him. He probably needed to be alone. I sat and kept watch over the two dead bodies and the two comatose ones.

I was surprised to hear when Zack stabbed his Buster Sword into the ground, having returned from his walk. One by one he handed each person a dumbapple. Even taking the time to bend over and kiss the top of my head.

"Okay, Let's eat," he declared. I took a bite of the dumbapple and my stomach growled in happiness. It was sweet and savory and delicious. I could eat a whole meal of them right now. "Sorry I'm not the real thing, but…"

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion at those words, they obviously held a meaning I didn't understand. Just after Zack took a bite, Genesis spoke. I jumped in surprise. Leave it to another former SOLDIER 1st class to sneak up on me after sitting next to me.

"Is it good?"

"Yeah," Zack replied.

"The gift of the Goddess…" mumbled Genesis. I took another sharp bite of my dumbapple. Even now after everything he went through that stupid book was all he talked about.

"This apple?" Zack asked looking at the purple fruit, "Huh?"

"Angeal. The dream… came true." As those words floated into our hearing, Lazard's body began to fade into the Lifestream. Sometimes the physical form of someone won't depart until the soul has something to fufill. I stood back from Lazard sad to see the last remnant of Angeal go. A mere moment later, the creature was gone as well. In its place was a letter.

Zack walked over to grab it slowly and looked at me. I shrugged and he walked over opening it as he did so. He read it aloud.

"How are you? I wish I knew where you were. It's already been four years now. This is the 89th letter that I've sent to you, but I don't even know where to send them anymore. I really hope that this final letter that I'm writing gets to you. By the way, the flowers are selling very well! They make everyone so happy, thanks to you Zack. Aerith."

My stomach dropped suddenly. "Four years?" Zack said. Time had passed since the incident. Suddenly Zack was shouting into the sky, "What do you mean, final?!" There was an eerie silence, my gaze fell to Cloud and I put a protective arm around him. Zack glanced at us without a word. He seemed confused by something.

"You can't just come back after four years and tell her you're breaking up with her… She wrote you all those letter Zack," he clenched his jaw at me words, seemingly more angry than pleased by my words.

"I know she did Eves… Maybe I felt that way because I was away from her…"

"You decided after being away from your girlfriend for the first time since you dated that after five or six days someone else was better? Zack that isn't you being away from her. That's you being able to see things without having her to cloud your vision. Maybe this other girl was something you wanted for much longer and you tried to replace her with Aerith."

"No one could replace Aerith. No one." My throat tightened at the finality of his words.

"I..I know…" I paused, struggling for words. "I'm not Cloud… and I'm certainly no Aerith. I'm just trying to help you sort things out for good. I don't want you to make a rash decision and lose her be-"

I was interrupted, "It's you Evie."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion once more and I shook my head to show I didn't understand. He took a step towards me, "It's you. You're the other girl." My lips quivered in shock. I stared at Zack silently, my brain shutting down to process those words.

Slowly, my body shook with laughter. "You're bluffing. You're totally bluffing! You had me going there for a minute. Gaia, save me." I shook my head attempting to shake off the nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach and the pain of knowing he really was probably joking. My attention turned to Cloud.

"Evelia." I stopped abruptly and slowly turned to face Zack who had taken another step towards me. "I'm not bluffing. You didn't notice?"

"Notice what?" It was his turn to laugh, and I felt red blossom across my features.

"You really are oblivious sometimes…" His demeanor had changed suddenly, a gloved hand brushed against my burning face and before I really knew it, his lips were pressing against mine.

My reaction was immediate. Searing hot spread across my limbs from my lips down to my toes. An arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. There was a loud awkward thump of metal armor hitting each other that I purposely ignored in favor of the caressing lips on mine.

His scent enveloped me and my hands pulled his face closer to mine. I stuck my tongue out playfully which he returned in kind. Moments later his tongue was inside my mouth circling mine. Nothing else mattered in these slow minutes that felt like hours. Another loud thump of armor brought us to our senses. We pulled away reluctantly, a few more kisses passed between us before our foreheads touched and only a gush of wind flew by. For a moment I felt light headed, as if my body was saying that he left me literally breathless.

A cocky grin passed over his lips, "I knew you were into me. Not bad Eves." I rolled my eyes giving him a small shove. The blush on my cheeks still burning, but a smile on my features now.

"Come on Casanova, we have ground to cover." The cocky grin fell and business was there.

He nodded to Genesis as I lifted Cloud and led the way away from where we had been sitting. I grabbed my sword, Zack following suit.

"The motorcycle is out of gas now. We're gonna have to make it on foot." I took a deep breath and nodded.

"You're gonna make it," he reassured softly. I nodded, my features set as we walked. It wasn't long after we had left when a helicopter flew over and we were forced to duck away. "Still looking… in a couple hours I'll carry him. Maybe we can find someone who could give us a ride." I nodded.

The brand new day had become night, and as Zack had said every few hours we'd switch carrying Cloud. In our weakened states it was all we could do. This time albeit not entirely alone had become much more intimate since the kiss. Every glance was a smile, every touch soft, even trading Cloud between shoulders meant a kiss somewhere.

Night time proved to be even more intimate. We did things together, nearly everything. The sour mood I had a few nights ago was nowhere to be found. We were smiling and laughing together. Even now in this dark time. We didn't cuddle together to sleep; if we were attacked it would be difficult to scramble and defend. We simply laid facing up our hands intertwined, the calloused skin touching fondly.

Zack sighed softly, as if a sort of weight had been lifted. My thoughts scrambled. How long had he felt this way? Since Nibelheim? Did he always want to break up with Aerith? Was Aerith a cover? Did he cheat on Aerith? How would she feel if she knew? What would happen if we ever broke up?

Suddenly this boyfriend thing was kind of difficult. Is he even my boyfriend? Does that count?

It was my turn to sigh, but this time as if a greater weight had been added. I refused to voice my thoughts. This was the happiest I had been since before Nibelheim. I sensed Zack move before I felt him hovering above me.

"What's bothering you Eves? I know that sigh." I felt a rueful smile cross my features.

"You know me better than I know myself sometimes. I'm just thinking about things Zack."

"Like what? How terribly handsome I am? How good of a kisser I am? I could always refresh your memory." He puckered his lips playfully and I wondered briefly how he could have that sense of humor at a time when were barely near Midgar. I pretended to mull it over before grabbing his black shirt and pulling him to me.

After I let him go, I whispered, "How about I remind you?" Another smirk crossed his features as my lips lowered onto his, but he did not reject me. A wholesome feeling filled me, like something was too perfect about this one moment. I had felt this way for so long…. Not including the four years. I realized at Nibelheim I had loved him for much longer than I actually knew. Love.

It seemed as though that words never existed. SOLDIERs were fighting machines. For some reason in the very height of our mess, we seemed to finally find each other. Zack and I had brilliant chemistry. We worked well with each other. He saved my butt more times than I would ever admit and occasionally I could repay the favor.

I smiled into a particularly rough kiss. I laughed as he pulled away, "What are you doing?"

"Trying to crush you," he responded simply.

"That's not happening anytime soon. So stop. I'm as sturdy as you are." This remark made him smile broader and I wondered why.

"No, you're my damsel in distress."

I hit him in the chest softly, another blush on my features now. "That was once. And you were worried about me. Admit it!"

"Eves, I was petrified," he said seriously. "Sephiroth kept saying you would be fine, but I was worried I lost you for good. I don't know what I would have done."

"Committed suicide because life without me would be unbearable?" I suggested playfully. He rolled his eyes in return and pulled me close. The familiar sound of armor hitting our ears.

"Exactly." I shivered. The breeze coming through wasn't cold enough to even bother me… but to know that Zack would even jokingly give up his life hit me in a soft spot I didn't know I had.

I wrapped my arms around him, "I love you."

He froze, and I swore I heard his heartbeat start racing. His arms wrapped, even tighter around me. Like he was afraid I'd disappear. I noticed the silence that met my ears, but said nothing, knowing I was relieved to have even said it.

From his warmth and scent I started to drift off, a soft whisper hit my ears, "I love you too."

Captain Kuroyuki(And possibly anyone else interested in knowing):
I'm attempting to formulate an AU version of the ending, because SparkySkye812 asked me. I did say as long as one person wanted it. So that'll be around here.
I never picture Evie taking much of a major role in the contemplation. She wouldn't make an official appearance to Cloud until after Aerith is dead. Due to the fact, she would be much to scared to face her and admit what had happened with her and Zack. She however isn't against lying for the greater good, like pretending to be someone else and just following the group around as a worker on the Highwind.
Her remeeting Yuffie and seeing Vincent awake for the first time is a personal favorite of mine. Knowing that, would you still like for me to continue her story?