Hey guys! I hope you're enjoying the story story, the first few chapters are a bit slow but i'm hoping you guys stick with it!

It's been a little over a week since you started living at Seventh Heaven. You finally met Cid and thanked him for taking care of your brother. Riley has been so happy, every night he asks you to tell him stories about your mom and his dad. Cloud ignores your existence most of the time, probably because you remind him of Jace and Zack. You don't see much of Cloud, he's gone most of the time anyway. Tifa says he sleeps in the church most of the time and when he is here he usually spends his time alone in his room. It bothers you, he has all these people around him who care about him and he just wants to sulk. Not that you're any better, at least he stays close to his friends, you have no idea where Alyssa and Jeremy aare now, you stopped keeping tabs on them around the time Riley was kidnapped. Tifa has you working in the bar, which you don't mind, its usually slow anyway and you're surprisingly good at making drinks.

Currently you're bartending, its pretty late, and Riley is already asleep. The only people in the bar are Cid, and three of the regulars.

"Cid I should really cut you off"

"I can hold my damn liquor"

"Sure you can, that's why you've fallen off your chair three times"

That shut Cid up. You laughed, you and Cid bicker all the time now but both of you know it's just how your friendship is. Tifa walked in followed by a Wutai girl and a large black man with a mechanical arm.

"Welcome back" you called.

Tifa smiled "Autumn, I'd like you to meet Barret and…" she was cut off

The Wutai girl ran up to you and said "And I'm the great ninja Yuffie!"

"Nice to meet both of you" you said with a smile. You quickly became friends with Barret and Yuffie. Barret was just a big teddy bear and Yuffie was so happy you couldn't help but smile. Cid and Barret started to bicker about nothing, it was amusing. Vincent wandered in some time later. Even Cloud showed up and actually sat near everyone, which surprised you; usually he was too busy being a mysterious tormented soul.

"I've been wondering, how did you get the name Autumn?" Cid asked.

"Well Cid when parents get creative they name their kids cool things" Barret said.

"Shut up ya asshole" Cid said slurring his words, clearly drunk.

You laughed, "Autumn was my mother's favorite season" you replied.

"Awe that's cute" Tifa said.

"Hey how old are you anyway?" Barret asked.

"Too young for you" Cid replied.

"Let the girl answer man!"

"I'm 21, I'll be 22 next week," you giggled.

"Wait really, we'll need to celebrate!" Tifa said in excitement.

"No please, I really don't want to celebrate my birthday," you said suddenly serious.

Your tone went unnoticed as Tifa unconvincingly agreed to no party. You played with the ring on your necklace suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.

(Cloud's pov)

Autumn seemed really serious about her birthday. 'Tifa never knows when to stop' you thought. Though it did strike you as odd that she didn't want to celebrate her birthday, even you celebrate yours.

You looked at Autumn out of the corner of your eye, she seemed happy, but you couldn't help but think that she was hiding her sadness. Though you'd never admit it, she does handle her emotions the same way you do. 'I think I know why Jace loved her' you thought feeling guilty.

You left the bar shortly after that, you felt compelled to visit Zack's memorial. You rode finrir out of town and up to cliff where the buster sword marked the memorial. It's been a few weeks since you've visited.

You carefully parked and walked up to the sword. Something strange caught your eye. You kneeled down and saw that it was a photograph of Zack, Jace, and Autumn. Jace had his arm around Autumn's waist, and Zack had his arm around her shoulders. All three of them were making funny faces. You couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like if you'd met Autumn while Jace was still alive, he always invited you every time he went home, you always made up excuses, you regretted that now.

"She makes me remember all the painful memories," you mumbled, "what would you guys do?" you questioned.

That night you slept in the church, you had so much on your mind, most of it had to do with Autumn.