A/N: Phew! 10 chapters! Thank you so much, readers, for having the patience to read this far. And to my faithful reviewer, mystic-Hoshi…thanks for your reviews! You've really driven me to continue this little ficcie... I hope you don't get tired of watching out for the next chapters! To Moonlit Rose, thanks for the positive comments about the title of my story! And don't worry; you'll get pretty tired soon for I am a big fan of suspense…xD And without further adieu, on to the story!

"You loved your mom."

He glanced at Aerith and smiled softly.

"Yeah. She did everything for me and I had the guts to run away just to be strong."

Aerith can see Cloud tightly curling his fingers. She placed a gentle hand on top of his fist and smiled.

"I'm sure she will understand, Cloud." Aerith stated as she gazed up at the nests that were snugly set between the broken beams of the church. He looked at them too and at her as she spoke. "They couldn't just abandon their children at the hour they are needed most. Even if someday they know that their children would take flight, they still hang around whenever their kids would return. That's what moms do."

"Thanks, Tifa."

They smiled at each other just for a brief moment because Aerith suddenly blushed and looked away as she realized she still had her palm on Cloud's hand. She swiftly retrieved her hand and nervously played with her fingers, cold sweat was trickling down her temple.

"S-So…" She started off stuttering before scolding herself to calm down. "What did you do once you got to Midgar?"

Cloud rubbed the back of his head, his face was heating up.

"I thought I'd find a good job here…but this place rots of people who are even more unfortunate in life than me. I left my home to live in a dull city like this." As he said those words, his gullet ached for a cigarette stick. The memories he had of crawling through life had stuck a lump at the back of his throat that he just can't swallow. "I regretted every day that I had to steal just to put food in my mouth. But my luck turned when I met Barret."

"Who's Barret?" Aerith asked, curiously.

Cloud's lips turned to a proud smirk as he remembered the one that taught him everything.

"He's a brutish, loud-mouthed, gangster-wannabe."

Aerith couldn't help but shift uncomfortably at the words Cloud described the man called Barret. The blonde noticed her whole body stiffen and grinned.

"He's not that bad, Tifa. He has an adopted daughter named Marlene whom he loves so much." Cloud smiled gently at the image he made up in his mind about Barret and Marlene. "He's rough in the exterior, but he actually has some good sides."

Aerith listened to Cloud's story attentively and memorized some facts. She watched in silent happiness as Cloud continued to tell tale after tale of his journey throughout his life; from every struggle of his frail body to the victory of every fight. Cloud noticed the different expressions the girl gave off as he talked. In some way, he felt a little proud of himself. All his life…he was a nobody, a smear in Midgar's perfect society. Yet here he was talking about everything that he had done althroughout his lifetime with an eager audience. Aerith was the only one who had enough zest to listen to someone like him. Somehow, he felt a little…happy.

Briiiing!!

The sound of Aerith's cellphone resonated among the walls of the church, waking up the chicks from their nests. The frantic girl quickly took out her phone and looked at Cloud with eyebrows furrowed. The blonde, understanding her facial expression, nodded and turned his attention to the flowers.

When Aerith wasn't in the church, he took the chance to pull out a few weeds and water the yellow and white lilies that bloomed rampant in that tiny patch. There was an old faucet at the room behind the altar that still pours out clean water which he uses to shower the plants. Everyday he slowly cleaned the church and repaired a few pews. Little by little, this place became more attractive and clean; it was slowly getting attached to him. Though he knew that there was a whole world waiting for him on the outside, it was only here that he found this kind of peace and resilience. This was his...

"Cloud?"

Snapping out of his daze, Cloud quickly averted his gaze to the girl who gave him a strange and knowing smile. He raised his eyebrows and turned away, hiding an apparent blush. Aerith giggled at his shyness and began to put away the eating utensils. The butler had called her earlier and was going to pick her up. Something was going on in the mansion that was bothering him. Aerith knew that as part of the Gainsborough household she has a firm responsibility to that marble-clad manor. At the sound of plates being stacked, the blonde checked what's going on at the end of his eyes. The room was strangely silent except for a beautiful melody that came out of Aerith's closed lips.

She's humming… Cloud closed his eyes as the melody began to fill his empty body. There were many emotions that were imprinted in that song. It was beginning to fill his heart and his very soul. I think I've heard this song before…

When the magical tune had stopped, Cloud flew his eyes open and stared at Aerith who was also staring at him with her gleaming emerald eyes. Her eyes were kind and innocent, the kind that you'd never see elsewhere. They were piercing through his tainted character and slowly melting his hard, icy heart. The blonde furrowed his brows as another blush raced across his cheeks.

D-Don't… Cloud covered his face with his hand and lowered his gaze. Don't look at me that way…Tifa.

Cloud… Aerith crossed her brows and pursed her lips in determination. She drew a big breath and opened her mouth wide. …this is for you.

I keep smelling the fragrance of promise

I guess the wind that swept by you is passing by my side right now

Maybe it's a sunshine in my heart that shines on you

It even embraces the painful scars

Tifa…? Cloud looked up a little to see the girl's lips moving with the words. He lifted his blue eyes to the sky and closed them, smiling. I don't know why…but thanks. Thanks...for everything.

Bringing you up, I close my eyes tight once again

If I can fill up both your eyes

If I show you my laughter

I'd take everything under the starlight and give them to you

A shadow took steps from the entrance of the old church to the two bodies ahead. He quickly walked forward and suddenly froze when he noticed something. Hearing the girl's voice, the man hid behind a pillar close to them. He, too, closed his eyes and moved in lips in sync with the girl as the song resonated in his mind.

If I can convey this heart to you

If you teach that heart

I'll become like it in every way

When the song was about to close, Aerith suddenly stopped and decided to leave the song hanging. She knew she couldn't finish that song…not yet. Then, the stranger fidgeted slightly to see what's going on, but he accidentally kicked a rock out of place. Startled by the noise, Cloud flew his eyes open and stood with his eyes scanning the surroundings. The brunette followed him and stared at the nearby pillar.

Oh no! I forgot about Reeve!

"Tifa?" The blonde stared blankly at the girl who was standing by his side with the basket in hand.

Aerith furrowed her eyebrows in thought.

Reeve doesn't know that Cloud knows me as Tifa… Aerith pursed her lips as her eyes moved from Reeve's slightly hidden body to Cloud's bewildered face. What should I do??

Sneak Peek: With Reeve suddenly coming into the church, could Aerith find a way to conceal her identity to the sharp Cloud? Facing the strict and formal Reeve, could Cloud make a good impression?

Next Chapter!

Chapter 11: Man-to-Man

See you then!