"Why am I still here?"

Cloud paced back and forth beside the flower patch, occasionally stopping to stare at the flowers. He was fully revived but he can't go. Not yet. He wanted to see her again. Maybe thank her for her care. At that thought, the blonde fighter stopped and irritatingly scratched his spiky hair.

"Damn! I feel sick just by being taken care of."

"There's nothing wrong in taking care of someone who is ill…"

Cloud's eyes widened as he nervously turned to the person who just spoke. His cerulean blue orbs lay on a beautiful woman who was holding a picnic basket and a heartrending look. He felt his chest being flattened up and tossed aside as he gazed at her cheerless disposition. He was used to her smiles and her warmth everytime she was near him. Cloud waved his hands at her, trying to dispel his own tactless statement from her head.

"No, it's not what you think!" Cloud blushed as he rubbed the back of his blonde head. He couldn't stare at her directly out of embarrassment. "It's just that…it's the first time someone took care of me."

Before he could even look at her, he felt a warm hand on his forehead. He stared at Aerith dumbstruck as she matched his temperature with her own. After a few moments, she took her hand away and smiled.

"Your fever's dying. Oh!" Aerith took his hand and dragged him all the way to the flowerbed. Cloud stared at her back as she was walking with their clasped hands. For a moment, he felt his heart beat…fast. When they arrived, she took out a picnic mat and handed the basket to him. "Could you hold this for a moment?"

Cloud took the picnic basket agape since Aerith shoved it to him. She grasped the two ends of the mat and spread the white-and-red checkered cloth upon the wooden floor. Cloud watched her smoothen out the creases still mesmerized. Aerith settled herself on the other half of the mat and held out a hand to him. He blinked twice and finally came back to his senses. Cloud gave her the picnic basket and timidly sat down opposite of her. Aerith opened the basket and her hand disappeared within it. His stomach grumbled as her pale hand searched for items within the basket. Cloud whispered a curse to his growling pet. Aerith smiled consciously at him, having noticed his silent vulgar word. Cloud said a curse again…in his mind.

"Here it is!"

Aerith pulled out half a roasted turkey, a pair of plates, a pair of forks, a pair of wine glasses and a bottle of wine. Her hand once again disappeared in the picnic basket and she took out strawberry and vanilla shortcakes. Cloud's stomach grumbled a little louder as he stared at the food that she brought.

"For a housekeeper, you brought a meal fit for a king."

Aerith froze but she eventually let out a forced smirk.

"They are leftovers from a party that the Gainsborough's held. You're lucky I stole some for you."

Cloud raised an eyebrow and finally nodded. If she hadn't thought of the make-believe party…she would've been caught by the sharp fighter. Aerith quickly poured herself some wine and held the glass to him, smiling nervously.

"Please, eat."

When she raised it to her lips to drink, a steady hand swiftly but gently took Aerith by the wrist. Her eyes widened and she stared at Cloud, bewilderedly. He gazed at her with his own steely blue orbs. After a few moments, what seemed like forever for Aerith, Cloud withdrew his hand and turned his back on her. Aerith glanced at his spiky hair that swayed with the wind.

"You shouldn't drink wine in only a gulp." He faced her and took a bite from a drumstick that he got from the basket. "You gotta savor the taste. Not all people drink wine as easily as this."

Aerith's eyebrows furrowed in guilt as she sipped the wine slowly. Cloud watched her as she drank the contents of the glass she was holding. He still remembered the gentle feel of her skin upon his. Her wrist was so warm and full of palpitating life. As he thought of her, a strange feeling was stirring up within him. It was something he had never felt in his entire life. It was new, exciting…she was someone who has woken many dormant emotions in his whole being.

What the hell am I thinking?? Cloud blinked rapidly trying to dispel the thoughts that were racing incessantly in his mind. He took another drumstick and gobbled it entirely, throwing the meatless bone at the plate she brought for him. It's just hunger. I haven't eaten in days and my brain's thinking a lot of crazy stuff.

That's right… He swallowed the remnants of the turkey leg in one gulp and sipped from his glass. He averted his attention from his reflection on the bloody color of the wine to the beautiful woman who was sitting a few, safe feet from him. This has nothing to do with her...I hope.

.-+-.

He is…admirable. Aerith thought happily while looking at him finishing up the rest of the turkey. Since yesterday's affair, she couldn't take her mind off the mysterious person that fell in her church. She felt at ease when he's around…as though she have known him forever. Her eyes darkened as she thought of Cloud. Does he think of me as fondly as I think of him? Or am I just another face that he fell into?

She sighed at her saddened expression reflected by the small amount of crimson liquid in her glass.

"You've been sighing a lot, lately…you ok?"

As if bolted by electricity, Aerith's head shot up. She smiled as she cheerfully nodded at the spiky-haired man.

So…he noticed. Aerith's emerald green eyes sparkled as she drank the remaining wine in her glass. Even a little thing such as a sigh…he notices.

"You sure you ok?" Cloud asked once again, his gaze never left her rosy face. "For a minute, you're frowning…then snap! You're smiling again."

Aerith giggled at him which eventually led Cloud to smile. "You sure are bizarre, Tifa."

"Is it a bad thing?"

"Nah…" Cloud's cerulean eyes gleamed as he shot her a grin. "You gotta need strange stuff sometimes to keep on going, right?"

The clocked seemed to stop for Aerith when she saw Cloud's smile. A blush as scarlet as the wine that she drank was tinted on her surprised face. Her ears were almost deafened by the strong and rapid beat of her heart. She almost felt it sprang from her chest as a new feeling embraced her whole body. It was warm, inviting…and fuzzy somehow…

I'm falling in love with Cloud Strife…

Sneak Peek: It's confirmed! Aerith likes Cloud…x3 But is it one-sided? Does the lone fighter like the humble princess too? Anticipate more fluffiness…

Next Chapter!

Chapter 8: Open Your Heart

See you then!