Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII with the characters, items, places, etc. are the property of Square Enix, Inc. No infringement is intended.
Author's Note: It's Zerith Week 2023! Here is my prompt for Day 7: The Garden of Everything. This was my story featured in The Zerith Zine: Letters from the Sky Volume I back in 2021/2022.
I also want to express my appreciation to lovely Hyoukane for collaborating with me on this story. The beautiful cover art was illustrated by her. Please go support her on Twitter/X or on Tumblr.
The title of the story was inspired by Maaya Sakamoto's song "The Garden of Everything".
.: The Garden of Everything :.
Aerith had set up a few baskets along the stone pathway in her garden, wanting to gather up as many flowers for the children as possible. She wasn't planning on making a delivery to the Leaf House today, but Ms. Folia begged her to bring over some more on her morning walk. Her date with Zack would have to wait, but she was sure he wouldn't mind a change in their plans.
It was still so new to her, the idea of dating. The thought of having a steady boyfriend never crossed her mind before. But a man falling from the sky wasn't what she expected either. Life worked in mysterious ways and only moments after Zack crash-landed into the flower bed in the church, he asked her out. Aerith was already so fascinated with his charming demeanor and handsome face, she accepted a date after a few more exchanges of joyful banter with him.
The chestnut-haired girl had never met anyone quite like him before. A man as beautiful as him with a kind-hearted personality, a dashing smile, and the most heavenly eyes. She had an immediate connection to him––a connection so strong she was drawn to him in a way she never experienced before. It both alarmed and astonished her at the same time. And over time, she began craving his bright smiles towards her, the cheerful ones that showed off his dimples.
She closed her eyes while she basked in the smells of earth and flowers, before releasing a contented sigh. Kneeling beside the garden, she hummed a light, joyful tune while tugging a few stems of flowers to put inside her basket.
"Heya, ready for our date?" Zack asked while he crossed the wooden bridge.
"Not quite," Aerith responded, keeping up with her meticulous work. She could hear his boots hit the stone walkway, quickly approaching her. "We have a brief interlude to the Leaf House before we go."
"Oh, we do?" he asked, stopping alongside her workspace.
"Mmhmm," she answered while plucking a few more stems. When Zack had approached her side, she imagined that his hands were on his hips when he asked about their detour. The flower girl liked being able to predict his cute little habits the more she spent time with him.
"And there's no choice for me here?"
"The kids are counting on us," she gave him a welcoming smile, both happy to see him and that her assumption about his mannerisms was correct. She always admired the broad muscles on his arms. Aerith held up a basket to him and noted the way the rays of spring sunshine hit her boyfriend's charming face. Not once did she feel guilty for volunteering them.
"Never done much flower picking before," Zack nonchalantly said as he lowered himself down beside her, retrieving the basket she offered him. The Soldier didn't seem to mind she had put him to work unexpectedly. "But I've never been afraid of a little dirt as a country boy myself." His deep azure eyes scanned the various blossoms. He carefully plucked a light blue flower cluster. "What's this one?"
"That's a hydrangea," Aerith told him. "Each flower here has a meaning, and this one symbolizes heartfelt emotions. It can be used to express gratitude for being understood."
He spun the stem in between his fingers, intently examining it. The corner of his lip curled up and before she knew it, he tucked the flower bud behind her ear.
"Zack, these are supposed to be for the children," she facetiously chided her boyfriend before she removed the stem from her hair, placing the hydrangea in her basket instead. Goosebumps formed on her forearms from his gentle touch. All of Zack's touches were always so delicate and yet direct with how her skin would burst with excitement, but she had to focus on her work instead.
"I know, but after what you said, I thought it'd be best suited for you," he explained while flashing her a smile. "A girl like you understanding a guy like me. That's worth cherishing."
Aerith turned to him as her cheeks flushed and her verdant eyes widened. She was completely taken aback by his compliment. For the last six weeks, she felt the same way about him; a guy like him understanding a girl like her when he could have damn near anyone he wanted.
"What about this one?" His question interrupted her thoughts, holding up a pink floweret.
"Oh," Aerith bashfully replied. "That's a ranunculus. It means radiant charm." Then she cleared her throat. "It conveys you have a radiant charm and…are quite attractive."
"Okay." Zack placed the flower into his basket, then grabbed a few more ranunculuses for hers. "For both of us then."
She giggled in delight, amused by his spontaneity. Reaching over to the batch he just picked from, she set in a few stems of the magenta flower into his basket. "I can play this game too."
Zack tucked his face down to look at his basket with the new flowers. His smile turned into a haughty grin and it thrilled her to know her flirting worked on the man. "If that is what the lady wishes to do."
"It is!"
"So, shall we continue?" He asked with an eyebrow wiggle.
Aerith nodded, clearly enjoying herself.
"Alright, can you tell me what this one is?" Zack pointed to an oversized bright yellow flower.
"Zack, you have to know what a sunflower is," she chided him while nudging his arm with her elbow.
"I do, but I think it's cute when you talk about flowers to me."
"Oh, I see." Aerith smiled again—but she'd always been smiling so much in the presence of Zack lately.
"So, about the sunflower…" he sheepishly reminded her. His pretty blue eyes were shining with mirth.
"About the sunflower…" she trailed off while keeping his gaze. His voice had brought her back to reality and she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Its meaning is pure thoughts, dedication, and adoration."
He grinned at her easily, then shook his head before placing the sunflower in her basket. "Only for you."
"Only for me?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Well, do you think I have pure thoughts around you?" He winked at her.
"Oh, I dunno. We only just met," she cheekily said to him. He may have been her first boyfriend, but she had picked up on the heated glances he threw her way. It was best just to tease him in return.
"A lot can happen in six weeks…"
"That's true."
"This purple flower looks pretty," Zack pointed out to the bunched assortment. "Wanna tell me about this one? It smells really nice."
The blossom in question was the purple lilac and her heart leaped up into her throat when she remembered the meaning of it. Out of all the flowers in her garden, he just had to ask about this one. She had planted the small shrub a month before he literally dropped into her life. Aerith had always been enchanted with the lilac scent and planted a few along the entrance path to be more inviting for visitors.
Never had she thought she'd be talking about this flower with its special symbolism with a man she had been dating for a little over a month. Never had she intended to give a flower with such a special meaning so soon.
Was six weeks too soon for this? His voice, his smile, his everything was dwelling in her mind lately. She placed her palm over her chest. Was this what she had been feeling?
"You wanna know about this one?" Aerith tentatively asked while licking her lips. Her emotions were overwhelming due to her inexperience but she decided to take this chance.
"Yeah, I do," he reaffirmed but he noticed her hesitation, tilting his head to the side. "Is that okay?"
She nodded briefly. "It symbolizes…first love." Her heart took a pause after she defined the lilac to him.
And then it quickly sprung back to life when his lips took hers. Zack had leaned over and captured her mouth in an achingly tender kiss, brushing his tongue over her bottom lip in an exquisitely gentle caress. It was confident and he cradled her face, angling it before Aerith gripped the handle of her basket while she kissed him back. Just with his deliberate slowness against her lips, the friction had sent shivers and tingles spiraling through her body, making her toes curl. Aerith was completely immersed by the rush and the possible meaning of his sudden affection like this.
Was he…?
Zack had broken the kiss and when she opened her eyes, she found the tiny violet cluster of flowers in front of her. "This is for you."
Aerith's viridian green eyes widened.
He really was.
Her boyfriend hadn't been saying pretty words or throwing grand gestures just to woo her. Zack meant it with the way he was looking at her with those magnificent eyes, both amative and passionate. Her heartstrings tugged at the offering of the flower in his hand. This whole time he was being playful and now he was proclaiming his true sentiment.
As for her, she had kept a wall up around her heart for years in order to protect herself. It was how she had survived. But now…Zack hadn't just crashed through the roof of her church but also dismantled the barrier she had in place. It was so freeing to feel this way with each flower he gave, singing out to her. Her heart had grown and she'd thought it might burst. Everything she had ever wanted in life for her match, which she never thought was possible for her, was being realized in her garden. He was the miracle she'd be waiting for.
She loved him, and this crazy world with the steel sky above them seemed so much simpler because of him.
Aerith loved Zack, and it was all that mattered. But before she accepted his flowers, it was only right to do a fair exchange in this moment. Picking at the delicate stem of the lilac, her heart leaped when she had broken away the foliage and it was settled in her fingers.
She really was doing this. It wasn't too soon at all. Not for them.
"And this is for you," she stated, her eyes never leaving his. Both lilac flowers were between them now and she took a deep breath for bravery. Even though Zack was professing, Aerith needed a second confirmation. "If you'll have me."
"Always, Aerith. I'll always have you."
And he kissed her again, but this time with a bit more urgency.
Author's Note Continued: I hope you enjoyed this one-shot about Zack and Aerith. I'm still taking time during my grieving process to update my other stories. Primarily Don't Think Twice and Be My Last are at the forefront of my writing time.
Thank you for the support, your patience, and your reviews!