"Hello, hello?"

He slowly fluttered his eyes. He suddenly winced in pain as he tried to sit up. He looked around warily. There were broken pews and flower petals around him. It was dark…the only source of light was from the lightning bolt that cracked from outside.

Where am I?

"You okay?"

He stared at the person gazing down at him with a concerned look in her face. After recovering his recent memory, he remembered the girl he saw when he first came in.

"Yeah…" He croaked. The girl smiled at him in relief. "Where are we?"

"This is a church in the Sector 5 slums. You fell on the floor unconscious. You really gave me a scare."

He stared at her blankly. She was wearing a pink dress and her shoulders were covered by a red mini-jacket. From the looks of her clothes, she could be the only daughter of a wealthy businessman from a far away country. The man shook his head of those thoughts and raised an eyebrow doubtfully.

"Slums? How'd a fancy girl like you can ever step into the slums?"

Aerith beamed at him and stared at the flowers. "I come here for the flowers."

"I didn't know flowers grew in Midgar." He said when he saw yellow and white lilies blooming by his side.

"That's what they say too."

The girl held out her hand towards his face slowly. Cloud instinctively flinched and tried to move away. Aerith stopped at his sudden reaction. It was the first time she ever experienced somebody giving her a negative response.

"I…sorry." The blonde, unable to look at her, whispered.

Aerith shook her head gently and smiled at him with assurance.

"It's ok…"

Cloud nodded and he closed his eyes when he felt a warm sensation on his forehead.

"For some reason, the flowers have no trouble blooming here." Aerith gently laid the warm cloth on his forehead and sighed dreamily. "I love it here."

He looked up and saw the girl placing a towel on his forehead.

"What are you doing?"

"You have a cold." The green-eyed girl placed the cold, used towel in the basin and wiped her hand dry. "That's why you fell down."

"Oh…" He blushed timidly.

"Say, I feel like talking. Do you feel up to it?"

Cloud glanced around. He was lying under a warm mantle; he also had no strength to stand up. "I guess I don't have any option."

Aerith giggled at his response and slowly stood up. "Wait here. I've got to check if you're comfortable."

Cloud's eyes followed the girl as she tucked in the loose places of his blanket. When she was done, she kneeled again by his side.

"Oh!" Aerith beamed at him widely. "We don't know each other's names do we?"

Aerith pursed her lips in deep thought.

I can't let him know my real name. Maybe I can never see him again if he knew.

Cloud raised a blonde eyebrow at her silence. Aerith smiled at him and held out a hand.

"My name's… uhh… Tifa Lockheart."

"The name's Cloud… Cloud Strife." The blanket fell from his body as he sat up to shake her hand. Cloud stared down at his body and his eyes widened when he saw new clothes on him. "Hey! These aren't my clothes!"

Aerith swallowed hard. "Ummm… Those are my… f-father's. I borrowed them for you. You see your clothes were wet so I asked father to change your clothes."

Cloud stared at her unbelievingly and withdrew his hand hiding away the rush of pink that painted his pale face. "Where's your dad?"

"He went back to… to the Gainsborough Mansion." Aerith stopped herself when she saw Cloud's surprised look. "He… He works for the Gainsborough family as a… a gardener! That's right!"

"And you?" Cloud peered in to the sweating girl.

"I… ummm… I work as a… a housekeeper there." She bit her lip. I'm so sorry, Tifa.

A housekeeper? She's too.... Cloud stopped thinking when a grumbling sound came out of his stomach. Damn. I wish she didn't hear it.

Cloud glanced at Aerith. He gazed to his side when he saw her with a worried look. She heard it, alright...

Aerith pursed her lips and glanced back. She opened her brown bag and took a whole bread that she's been saving for the birds. She gazed up to the chicks who were peeping down at them.

Don't worry. I'll bring food next time…

"Here…"

Cloud averted his gaze to her. She was holding a piece of bread in her hand. He swallowed as the grumbling sound in his stomach grew stronger. Aerith smiled at him.

"You need it more than I do."

Cloud reached for the bread and took it from the girl. "Thanks, Tifa."

Aerith shook her head. "That's alright." Then she sighed. I would've appreciated it more if you would call me by my real name.

Aerith watched in wonder as he took big bites from the bread. Cloud looked at her and blushed.

"What?" He asked, shyly.

"Oh, nothing!" Aerith waved her hands at him and gazed away, blushing.

Cloud glanced at her as he continued eating. The rain was starting to disappear and the first rays of sunlight lit up Aerith like a gentle candle. Cloud froze as her beauty was illuminated by the light. Aerith tucked in a stray strand from her eyes and smiled at him. It was such a heavenly sight that made him lean closer to her. Aerith blushed as Cloud's face was only inches away from hers. Then a buzzing noise ruined the moment. Cloud blinked and quickly moved away from her, flushing furiously. Aerith also gazed away with her face turning crimson. Her eyes widened when she saw her phone.

Oh no! It's already 6:00. I must go or else Mother will be upset. Aerith stood up and picked up her things.

Cloud watched her frantically placing things in her bag. Is she going because I almost kissed her? Damn! Why couldn't I control myself?

"Uhhh… T-Tifa?"

Aerith turned back at the confused man. "Yes, Cloud?"

"Are you going because… Well… Uhh…" he began to stutter.

Aerith giggled at him and shook her head. "No, that's not it. I'm going because Reev… umm… Dad is waiting outside for me."

"Oh…" He whispered in disappointment.

Aerith smiled and waved at him. "Then, I'll be going now."

The girl began to walk towards the exit. Cloud watched her as she approaches the door.

"When can I see you again?"

Aerith stopped, her heart was beating fast when she heard the man's words. She looked back and smiled.

"I'll come back tomorrow! I promise!"

Cloud's faced lightened and he slowly gazed to the side.

"Then, I'll be waiting." He mumbled.

Aerith happily nodded her head and ran towards the exit. She turned to the side to see Reeve standing by the car. Aerith smiled at him as she approached the car. The butler opened the car door and she entered the vehicle. Reeve went to the driver's side and went inside. He started the engine and they were off to the mansion.

. -+-.

"Where have you been?"

Aerith gasped when she entered her bedroom. Sitting in her favorite chair was a woman facing the blazing hearth. Her voice was as cold as the rain that poured from the church. Aerith bit her lip as sweat began to trickle down her face. Having heard no response, the woman stood up. She turned back and the sight of her made Aerith tremble. Her long, flowing silver hair cascaded down her pale shoulders and her amber eyes gleamed brighter than the flames.

"I won't ask again."

Sneak Peek: Who is this manipulative silver-haired woman that addressed Aerith so…so manipulatively?? xD Introduced at the next chapter will be the most villainous woman that will totally change the princesses' life. She is…

Next Chapter!

Chapter 5: A Broken Family

See you then!