Chapter 75: Safe at Last

"I cannot believe you did that!" Aerith giggled as she sat beside me on the balcony outside my bedroom.

It was now two hours later. I had showered, and was now dressed in my yellow nightgown. I had a bottle of water with me, to help me cope with the blood loss. That was one thing the dip didn't fix; I wouldn't be quite back to normal for a few days, and Tobin would take even longer, as he lost more blood.

"Either I was going to live with Tobin indefinitely, or I'd be able to die with him," I replied. "It was a win-win situation."

"I won't lie," Aerith said. "That scared the hell out of me."

"Me too," I admitted. "But I didn't see any other way around it. I couldn't live without him."

Aerith smiled.

"He's really your soulmate, isn't he?" she asked.

I didn't know how to answer that. I didn't really believe in soulmates,

"He's the love of your life, in any case," Aerith continued. "I knew him in high school. He deserves the best. Especially after putting his life on the line for his cousin like that."

"We all did," I said. "She's my only niece. But you played the most important part of all. We couldn't have found her without you."

"I also did it for Tifa," Aerith corrected. "But I mainly did it for the love of my life. I couldn't stand to see Cloud lose his daughter."

I looked at Aerith in empathy.

I had not forgotten that she and Cloud had dated, fallen in love, and gotten engaged. Like I said earlier, I was naturally inclined to support Cloud and Tifa, since Tifa was my cousin-in-law. But now that I had found out that Aerith was my sister…..I don't know.

I just don't know.

"You know," I began, "Cloud wasn't dipped. He'll pass on long before Tifa does. You will be together in the Lifestream."

Aerith's face became solemn.

I then realized what I had said.

I knew what she was going to say next.

"Ada's safe," Aerith said. "My purpose is served. My time is drawing near. Soon, I'll move on. Maybe I'll go to a paradise. Or maybe I'll be reborn. I'll know the answer soon enough."

She paused, and then she really began to tremble. Her eyes became wet, and tears began to stream down her face.

"Or will I?" she sobbed. "What if I'll just…..cease to exist?"

I couldn't deny the possibility. It was a mystery to me as much as anyone else. I sorely wanted to know where her mother….our mother was.

But there was nothing I could say to comfort her.

Except for this.

"I'll never forget you, sister," I finally said. "And as long as I don't, you'll always exist."

In response, Aerith stood up, and signaled for me to do the same, which I did.

And, before I could say anything, she threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly.

She didn't go through me.

She was, for a few brief moments, physical.

She then broke the hug, and smiled at me.

"It took a lot of concentration for me to do that," she giggled as she dried her tears.

I laughed back; it was a bittersweet moment for both of us.

And then, she slowly faded away.

"I'll find out for myself shortly," I heard Aerith's voice say. "But first, I have to say good-bye to Tifa. And after that….there's one thing I must do…."

One thing she must do.

I wondered what it was.

I stood there for five more minutes, but I didn't hear anything from her after that.

I realized I would find out what she meant sooner or later.

Tobin then emerged from the bedroom.

He was nude, by the way.

We were both too tired for sex, of course. We were still a bit low on blood, which would have to come back on its own.

But it was how he was comfortable.

He looked at me with a troubled look in his eyes.

"You were really going to kill yourself?" he asked.

"I was more than two thirds certain he'd dip me with you," I replied. "I was willing to take that chance."

"But you risked your life so we'd stay together," Tobin said.

"And I'd do it again in a heartbeat," I replied honestly.

"Why?" he asked.

I walked up to him, and gently stroked his cheek.

"Because I love you," I replied honestly.

It was the truth. We started out as roommates annoying the hell out of each other, but we grew into what we grew into.

Tobin closed his eyes.

"Give me a hug," I commanded.

He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I rested my head against his chest.

Everyone said we were crazy to get married on a whim. But now, it was way too clear that we were madly in love with each other.

And then, something else crossed my mind.

"You really would turn down saving your own life?" I asked him.

"I couldn't go on without you," he replied. "The thought of spending near eternity without you is one of the most upsetting things I can think of."

I hugged him more tightly.

"Oh Tobin," I said, "I love you so much."

"I love you, too," he said.

He then lifted me off my feet, and kissed me.

"Well," I said, "I have no regrets if you don't."

Tobin shook his head.

"If we ever did," he said, "we'd have near eternity to take care of it."

I placed my hands on his bare shoulders and kissed him again.

I then led my naked husband to bed. I decided to keep my nightgown on; this CFNM thing did make me feel a small sense of power, and I can see why Tifa loved it so much. I am an ambassador, after all.

We climbed in, and wrapped ourselves in each others' arms.

And that was the last thing I can remember before falling asleep.

MEANWHILE….

All that time, Cloud and Tifa had been standing over the sleeping Ada. They did not want to take their eyes off of her.

It had been a frightening evening for them; they had nearly lost their daughter. I can't imagine what that feels like, and I hope I never have to.

Finally, one of them broke the silence.

"I just got a text from Shera," Cloud said. "She just reprogrammed the security. It's now impossible to hack."

Tifa turned to Cloud, and smiled in relief.

"Thank God," she said, and kissed him.

She then turned her attention to her daughter again.

She was sleeping so peacefully for a fourteen-month-old.

Tifa still remembered the day she gave birth to her very vividly; the moment Ada was born, Tifa had felt her maternal instincts kick in, and they had been there ever since.

In a way, she had become a different person.

"I'm going to lay down," Cloud then announced. "Don't take too long."

With that, Cloud disappeared down the hall.

Tifa then gazed at her daughter once more. She was fourteen months old now, with blond hair and blue eyes. She was a spitting image of her father.

And Tifa had given birth to her.

It was special; Ada was living proof of Tifa's and Cloud's love for each other. She was the perfect symbol.

As Tifa turned around, none other than Aerith was standing there.

You might expect Tifa to gasp, but, instead, she gave her a grateful smile.

"Thank you for everything!" Tifa said.

"Happy to do it," Aerith replied.

Of course, there was the main reason she had appeared.

"Tifa," Aerith began as she closed her eyes, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Tifa asked.

"About the Northern Crater," she clarified. "I was such an awful friend to try and cut you and Cloud off like that. I was just angry when I found out you two were, well, you know…."

"Aerith," Tifa interjected, "that was a hundred years ago. I think we can let bygones be bygones, especially after today. I'm only sorry I can't hug you for saving my daughter's life."

"Thanks," Aerith said, as she blushed. "But now that she's safe, feel free to ask your question."

Tifa took a deep breath; she had forgotten when the search for Ada became tense.

"How come I can see you?" she asked.

Aerith shook her head.

"Only the Cetra can usually see the dead," she replied. "I'm really not sure."

Then, something crossed both women's minds.

"Could I be a Cetra?" Tifa asked aloud, both to Aerith and herself.

"How far back can you trace your ancestry?" Aerith asked in response.

"In my mom's side, fifteen generations," Tifa replied. "On my dad's side, my paternal grandfather was adopted, so I can trace my ancestry no further than that."

Aerith's eyes widened.

"It's possible, then," she said.

"But I was pregnant with Ada for a full nine months, not a few hours," Tifa pointed out. "And I was nearly beaten to death, and didn't heal myself."

"It's ambiguous," Aerith said.

Tifa realized she was not going to get an answer to that question any time soon.

"I have one more major task to complete," Aerith continued. "And once that's done, I'll disappear forever. But I just wanted you to know I was sorry."

"Really, don't worry about it," Tifa assured her friend. "You're forgiven. If we lived in a society that allowed polygamy and he wanted to marry us both, I'd be one hundred percent okay with that."

Both girls laughed in unison.

Then, Aerith faded away, blowing Tifa a kiss as she did so.

"Take care of Cloud for me, okay?" Aerith's voice requested.

"Always," Tifa replied.

She then bent down and kissed the sleeping Ada.

Cloud was laying on his back.

Tifa closed the door. She then immediately kicked off her shoes and socks and slipped off her gloves.

"My love," she said with a smile. "Did you force yourself to stay up for me?"

"No, I didn't," he replied.

"Liar!" she playfully laughed.

Cloud sheepishly rolled his shoulders.

"What a night this was," she sighed as she unzipped her leather vest and slipped it off, leaving her in the white tank top she wore underneath.

Then, Cloud asked the inevitable question.

"How long do you think it'll be before the Balens try again?"

Tifa unwrapped her leather skirt and tossed it aside, leaving her in her leather shorts.

"No need to worry, bud," she replied confidently with a smile. "Jack and Sumner Balen won't be back for a looooooong time. They won't be extradited to the Eastern Continent, either. The authorities wouldn't appreciate it when they kidnapped the president's daughter. They'll go back to jail, and stay there longer than they should have. They're in for one unpleasant surprise when they get out of that dungeon." She paused. "If they get out, that is."

Cloud sighed in relief.

Tifa then unzipped her leather shorts and slid them off, along with her panties. She continued to stand before him, almost as if she was trying to get him to look at her, particularly her now-bare lower half.

"I didn't even know I still had it in me," Cloud admitted.

"I'm not surprised," Tifa relied as she walked over to the bed and climbed on, laying on her stomach. "Never underestimate the First Gentleman."

Cloud turned on his side, and pulled his wife in for a kiss. He then, while still kissing her, rotated himself back onto his back, pulling her on top of him.

Tifa adjusted herself so that she was on her knees. She rested her head on Cloud's shoulder, giving him loving kisses on his cheek.

"There's one loose end we haven't tied up," Cloud suddenly said.

"What's that?" Tifa asked as she pecked his cheek again.

"That other version of us we saw in the basement," he replied. "Where could they have come from?"

"Beats me," Tifa answered.

"I have a feeling it's another story," he said.

Tifa kissed Cloud again, this time on the mouth.

"So how was the rest of your day?" she asked before they both broke out laughing.

"Ada drained me again," he replied.

"Well," Tifa said, "guess what happened today?"

"What?" asked Cloud.

"Bert Greene got removed from office today," she replied.

"Who?" Cloud asked, before he remembered. "Oh yeah, the senator who threatened Parker and Reeve."

"I think I'm too tired to think," she said as she kissed him.

"Sometimes I'm still amazed we have a daughter."

"How does that feel?" Cloud asked.

"Good," Tifa whispered, and kissed him back.

In case you're wondering, they were too drained to have sex that night.

As for Jack and Sumner Balen, they won't be appearing in this memoir again. Why? Because I never saw nor heard from them again.

To this day, none of us knows what happened to them, though my guess is that they still want revenge on Tifa.