Chapter 38: The Ghost and I

February 14, 0010

It was Valentine's Day again. This will be the last time it occurs in this memoir, I promise. But things were a lot different now.

I was now twenty-seven. We no longer lived in Cosmo Canyon. We now lived in a two-story mansion in between Nibelheim and Gongaga. That's what happens when life changes. A lot changes along with it.

I stood on the balcony of our new home on one of those nights where it doesn't get dark until very late. Both of my hands were on the railing; I was in awe at the view. Looking down at my left hand, I was also in awe at my wedding band. We had gotten married suddenly, and I'm sure more than a few people said we wouldn't last, but, two years later, here we were.

Tobin wrote his memoir. And boy, did it sell. And it was a good memoir; mostly honest, with a few embellishments and fantasies, as I mentioned before. From the money he earned, along with my salary as an ambassador, we were able to buy a house out in the middle of nowhere.

We had a tennis court and volleyball net in the backyard, and a pool in the basement; a huge upgrage from the apartment we had.

So here I stood, waiting for Tobin to arrive. I again gazed down on the wedding band on my finger; I couldn't describe how lucky I felt.

I never expected to have a house. I never expected to get married, either. I remember stepping out with my best friend (platonic at the time) wearing a silly yellow dress, completely unaware that it was my wedding day.

There had been something on my mind for the past two years that we had been married. We were living in an alternate timeline, thanks, in part, to a deranged time traveler. In the original, prime timeline, Tobin and Zack were never rescued from the Island Gulag. In that original timeline, Zack's spirit was seen, making it clear that he did not survive the island. It was obvious that Tobin didn't, either. Mind you, I had become a wreck when Tobin went there, even in this new, alternate timeline. It left me wondering what happened when I learned that he had passed away.

I actually found out. But I'll save that for later.

Remembering that timeline was gone now, I quickly refocused my thoughts to the present. I was wearing a pink nightie so short that it barely covered the bottom of my butt. That didn't matter, of course; it was completely see-through, and I wasn't wearing any underwear, so Tobin would be able to see…everything.

I was child-free at the time, so I could do that. Remember, kids wouldn't come along for me until three years after this story ends.

We also loved out in the middle of nowhere; I would have plenty of time to run inside if I saw someone approaching.

Tonight was special, but by no means unique. We made sure we had a skinny dip every month. The pool was in the basement, so nobody would see us. It really kept the romance alive. Even though we were already married, we wanted to keep the spark ignited.

Since we lived out in the middle of nowhere, there was a time every couple of months or so where we played out in the backyard nude as well. It was an even bigger thrill, considering the possibility we could get caught.

And then, I saw the man of the hour. He was walking up the path, approaching our home. It was at that point I hid behind one of the shrubs. I stayed there until I heard the front door close before I resumed the previous position. It was because I lift a trail of sexy, steamy notes for him to follow, which would eventually lead him to me. All I had to do now was wait.

As I waited in anticipation, I thought of our future together. I figured we would have kids someday and watch them grow up. We would grow old together. And then, when our lives finally did come to an end, we would return to the Planet. And then, we would spend eternity together in the Lifestream.

Or so I thought at the time.

I heard the patio slide open.

He stopped to scan me, presumably checking out my butt through my nightie.

I turned my head and smiled.

I allowed him to come to me. He stopped next to me, wrapped his arm around my waist, and kissed me.

I gave him his Valentine's Day gift; it was a bottle of cologne.

He gave me mine; it was a golden wristwatch that I put on right away.

"I love you," I said to him.

And we kissed.

Our tongues met.

He placed his hand on my breast, igniting a spark of passion.

He was fully clothed; I was practically naked.

That was okay.

I was ambassador to the Northern Continent, but, tonight, I was his girl.

We kissed more deeply as he reached under my nightie with both of his hands and rested them on my butt.

I couldn't wait any longer.

"Up here," I commanded. "Right now."

I turned around.

I gripped the railing.

I heard him pull his zipper down.

I felt him lift my nightie up.

I smiled.

Nobody would see us.

Nobody would hear us, either.

We could be as loud as we wanted.

THE NEXT MORNING…..

February 15, 0010

After showering together, Tobin and I dressed and went down for breakfast. He carried me down the stairs, through the large house that only the two of us occupied. I was facing him, and we made out all the way to the kitchen. I was still child-free at the time, so we could do that.

Like I said, I was twenty-seven, married for two years, and people were beginning to ask why we didn't have kids yet.

My response was always the same: "When the time is right."

Honestly, being child-free was too damned fun!

Especially this time, when I was on break. There were no kids to keep a constant eye on. We were completely free to do whatever we wanted.

Actually, whatever I wanted.

Tobin, meanwhile, was doing a book signing on his memoir in Gongaga. He was going to be gone for the day. We had breakfast, and then lounged around until it was his time to go.

I kissed him goodbye at the front door, and decided to take a catnap on the couch.

But this was when the day got really out of the ordinary.

I entered the parlor, and there was a woman sitting on the sofa!

I recognized her right away.

This woman was wearing a pink dress and a red jacket. She had brown hair and green eyes. She was twenty-two. She had been born twenty-five years ago, but she was still twenty-two, because that was her age when she had died.

"Cissnei!" she greeted.

"Aerith?!" I greeted back in surprise.

I had already mentioned that I can see the dead, but you may have forgotten, and that's okay. I didn't really emphasize on that. Aerith's spirit appearing at the bowling alley at the beginning, as well as Zack's first relationship with Yuffie, have nothing to do with the plot here. I included those yarns because both Zack and Aerith play pivotal roles in this story, and I wanted you to meet them both within the first few chapters. Otherwise, you would be over forty percent of the way through, and just now meeting them.

A bit of background on Ms. Aerith Gainsborough. She was Cloud's fiancé before she was killed by Sephiroth. She also dated Zack as well. Even Tobin probably had a thing for her; she was his prom date. But Aerith was the one responsible for summoning Holy and allowing the Planet to heal itself. In all honesty, she was the true hero of it all.

So, Aerith was sitting there right there in front of me, as if she was any normal, living person.

"In the flesh!" she replied. "I know I haven't been around lately."

This was a little weird at first. Aerith and I weren't close friends. Honestly, I don't think I even met her more than once or twice.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean to intrude."

I didn't respond. I was trying to figure out why she was appearing to me. She had to have some motive.

"Don't tell me you've come here to haunt me," I said.

"Not exactly," she said, while slightly avoiding eye-contact.

I could read the body language, or in this case the no-body language. She was a little shy to ask, but I could tell there was definitely favor request coming.

"But you do want something from me, don't you," I inferred to her. "You are here for a reason."

Aerith closed her eyes and nodded.

"I resisted showing up for a long time," she said. "But I realized there really isn't any other way."

"Spill it out," I commanded.

I know I seemed a little cold, but it's not everyday a ghost pops into your house uninvited. In all fairness, she was a ghost, so she couldn't just knock on my door.

"I was wondering if I could…get some help," she began.

I was a busy woman, but I didn't really want to be haunted by a ghost. So I decided to get it over with.

"Of course," I complied. "Though I can't imagine how I could be any help."

"Thank you," Aerith said as she opened her eyes.

"So what can I do for you?" I asked.

"I'm stuck," she began.

This was a little confusing. Stuck where? I figured I was about to find out.

"What do you mean 'stuck?'" I asked. "As far as I understand, you're an apparition. You actually returned to the planet, and are currently in the middle of your eternal roaming in the Lifestream. I don't know what I could possibly do to change that."

And then, Aerith placed her hands on her mouth began to giggle.

That was annoying.

"Did I say something wrong?" I asked.

"You think we really roam the Lifestream for all eternity?" she asked with a smile.

"Yes, why?" I inquired.

This was still not yet making any sense.

"Didn't you notice the Lifestream doesn't get bigger, even if it's not being drained?" Aerith continued to giggle.

Now I was getting pissed.

"What is so funny?!" I demanded.

"This is a temporary state I'm in!" Aerith finally replied. "Nobody stays in the Lifestream forever. People who do have unfinished business. It's kind of like a limbo."

And then, it dawned on me.

"You have unfinished business?" I asked.

Aerith nodded.

"You got it," she replied.

"Several loose ends you haven't tied up," I added. "And you want me to help you tie up those loose ends. But why me? I only think I met you at that funeral."

"I can't communicate with too many living people," Aerith admitted. "And you're the only person who can see me that I knew in life."

I had to be honest.

"I'm not sure," I informed her. "I'm an ambassador. That's a big job."

"You're at your actual home," Aerith pointed out. "And you don't seem that busy."

I was silent. I knew there was no excuse out of this. Helping out a ghost I barely know was not on my bucket list.

"Please," Aerith continued to plead. "I just want to be at peace."

I realized she was a tortured soul, both literally and figuratively. I couldn't just leave her to suffer, even if she was practically a stranger.

"At peace," I echoed.

"And once I'm at peace I can…move on," she finished.

I wasn't sure what she meant by 'move on' at the time, but ghost in need is a….forget it. I'm not going to try and think of something witty to saw.

"I'll do it," I agreed.

Aerith sprang up from where she was seated with a huge smile.

"You won't regret this, Mrs. Lockheart!" she squealed.

I immediately felt as if I would.

She tried to hug me, but, of course, her arms went right through.

She then disappeared.

"Wait a minute!" I exclaimed. "How am I supposed to call you?"

"I'll call you," her voice replied.

I didn't like the sound of that.