Here’s to the Night

Disclaimer: No, I don’t own Final Fantasy…if I did, Cloud would be the psycho and Seph and Aeris would run off together after killing him. Ahem…and the song is the property of Eve 6, I’m just using it without permission to write yet another pointless fanfic. ^^; To understand this fanfic: Aeris never met Zack, she met Sephy instead. This is when Sephy receives the mission statement that sends him to the reactor in Nibel. ~

~*~

Annoyed. He was simply annoyed.

Sephiroth looked at the mission statement.

Dammit, why are they sending me on this mission…I’m a first class officer, not an errand boy!

Crumpling the paper in his hand and tossing it into the wastebasket, he sat down on the edge of his bed, resting his head in his hands.

Sighing, Sephiroth stood up and grabbed his cloak. If he had to leave tomorrow, then he’d spend tonight with his love.

~*~

Aeris ran her fingers along the soft petals of her flowers. It was a wonder that they grew at all, in such a desolate area. And ironically, in a dilapidated church. But, miracles do happen, as she believed. Even in the darkest parts of the Planet, a light of hope can be found. She had learnt that herself…

She heard the heavy doors creak open, and shut seconds later. A smile brightened her face as she recognized who it was.

"Hi, love."

Aeris jumped on to Sephiroth, throwing her arms around his neck, "Hello dear. I was just thinking of you."

Sephiroth hugged her back and looked down at her, "I came to tell you something…"

She tilted her head, "What’s wrong?"

He gently ran his fingers through her hair, "I’ve been assigned to another mission…I have to leave tomorrow. But, I won’t be back for a month…"

A slight shock swept through Aeris’ body, as she let the sentence sink in. "A…whole month? That’s the longest you’ve ever been away…" A single tear rolled down her cheek, then another, and she began to cry.

Sephiroth took her into his arms, "I know…I wish there was something I could do about it, but dammit, there just isn’t…I’m so sorry…" She looked up at him, and he wiped the last tear from her eye, fighting to hold his own tears back. "I want to stay here with you, more than anything…"

Taking a deep breath, Aeris calmed herself down. "What…kind of mission is it?"

"I have to tour a few towns and repair the reactors."

"Which towns?"

"Gongaga, Corel, and Nibelheim."

Aeris gave him a tight hug, "Please, be careful. I can’t stand the thought of you getting hurt…"

Sephiroth hugged her back, letting one tear escape his eye, "I will…I promise. I’ll come back to you. The next month will be hell without you by my side, but as long as I know I have you to come home to, then I’ll come home."

"I’ll be waiting for you…I love you…"

Sephiroth took Aeris’ hand and they walked to her house. They had one last night together and they weren’t going to let it go to waste. Dim rays of sunlight radiated from the sunset, setting an ethereal glow upon the slums. Aeris stopped walking for a moment, turning to look at the setting sun, a look of sorrow coming over her face. Sephiroth noticed.

"Aeris…please, don’t be sad…before you know it, we’ll be together again…"

She looked up at him, offering a weak smile, "I suppose…you’re right…you’ll be in my heart until we are. But…I just wish we had more time. I wish time could be kept still, and tomorrow would never come…"

He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her softly. The sunlight bathed over them both, before fading back into the darkness, leaving the sky dark again.

They broke the kiss, and spent a few minutes in each other’s arms. It would be the last time in a while they would be like this. Longer than they thought.

Sephiroth and Aeris walked to her house. Now was no longer the time to be out on the streets. Even for Sephiroth. They walked upstairs together in a loving silence, never letting go of each other’s hand.

And they spent their last night together, in each others arms, until the dim rays of sunlight once again bathed them…but instead of bringing happiness of a new day, it brought a darker sadness, and the sun just may as well have been a dark cloud at that moment.

Sephiroth blinked his eyes open, and let realization kick in. He gently moved out of bed, without disturbing Aeris, and got dressed. He was hoping to make it out without waking her…he had always hated good-byes, even the temporary ones.

But, his plan was foiled, as she stirred and awoke, offering him a small smile. She got up, and kissed him softly on the lips. "Good morning…"

Sephiroth kissed her back, "Good morning…"

Aeris got her clothes back on as well and walked to her dresser, picking something up, then walked back over to him, taking his hand in hers. She gently placed a small pendant in his palm. "I…want you to have this…"

Sephiroth looked down at it, then at her. "I’ll keep it with me always." He then put it inside his cloak, beside his heart, then pulled out a black lace. "This…I’ve had this since I can remember…" He brought it around her neck, tying it in a loose knotted bow.

She wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his chest, "I’ll keep you in my heart…until we’re together again."

Sephiroth kissed the top of her head, "I’ll come back as soon as the last mission at Nibel is through. I’ll head straight home afterwards, and I’ll come straight here."

Aeris looked up at him, and kissed him on the lips, "I’ll be waiting for you. I love you always."

Sephiroth kissed her back, "I love you too." He lingered for a moment, looking into her eyes, not wanting to leave. "I…should go."

She offered a sad smile, "Don’t miss your train now… good-bye, love."

He kissed her once more, "I’ll be back."

Sephiroth left. And he thought he would be back in a month.

~*~

A month later…

Aeris took hold of her mug, sipping at the tea she had made. This was the day…he was finally coming home. Nothing could ruin this for her.

She looked at the newspaper, reading the front headline…

Her mug crashed to the floor, shattering into a million pieces…

DISASTER IN NIBEL: ShinRa SOLDIER SEPHIROTH AND TWO UNDERCLASS OFFICERS LEFT DEAD IN RUINS