Tifa Lockheart leaned the upper part of her body over the railing of the Highwind, relaxing slightly. She let out a sigh. She knew that inside, she should be happy with the rest of the crew…after all, they had stopped Meteor and beaten Sephiroth. But what wasn't she happy? Why wasn't she celebrating with everyone else? She turned her dark head to the right and saw Yuffie dancing on the deck happily, letting out occasional whoops of happiness.

Yuffie was accompanied by Cait Sith, whose clumsy body made comical movements as he also tried dancing. Even Vincent actually had a serene smile on his face for once as he watched the two joyful members. Cid had left the Highwind to his pilots and was standing a ways away, joyfully smoking his cigarette and talking to Red XIII, with an uneraseable grin on his face. Barret was talking on the PHS to his daughter Marlene, happy that she was okay.

Everyone is happy, Tifa thought sadly, looking over the happy group once more. So why aren't I?

Then she saw Cloud and knew why. His body was rigid and stiff and he was glaring out into the distance, as if he were looking at someone in particular. He didn't move, just heaved great sighs and his forehead creased in distress. Tifa knew why he wasn't fully satisfied.

She knew why.

Though Cloud had finally saved the planet for him and all of their loved ones, something was still missing from his life. No, Tifa corrected silently. Not someTHING. SomeONE.

"Aeris," Tifa whispered a little angrily, feeling her eyes fill up with those oh-so-familiar tears. She turned her body away and bit her lip.

**********

It had been days, maybe weeks later, that Cloud actually brought himself to smile again. It had been hard, accepting the fact that Aeris was really gone. The whole time that he was fighting Sephiroth he had kept expecting the girl to appear around every corner…and he knew why. He had been fighting for her. After everything he'd been through, Aeris was another reason he'd wanted to kill Sephiroth. She was a big part of the reason, actually.

He couldn't figure out why he cared so much about her death. Sure, she was a great friend to everyone. She was…she was so nice to every member of the group, even Cait Sith, who seemed to be the 'outcast' of the group. She had heart-felt talks with the supposedly selfish young Ninja. She played with Red XIII. Aeris giggled and joked with Tifa, teased Barret, and made friends with the arrogant Cid. She seemed to see into Vincent's mysterious past…and she had turned Cloud's world upside down.

Cloud gazed out on the calm, smooth waters of the Ancient Lake that he had laid Aeris to rest in. He had gotten Cid to bring the Highwind and him over here, so he could pay his proper respects to Aeris. Cid was waiting, outside of the city for Cloud to return. In his hand he clutched a few wilted roses that he had planned to throw out on the lake as soon as he was ready to leave. But he couldn't move. He couldn't throw the roses. He kept staring at the waters, wondering if Aeris was done there.

Wondering if Aeris thought everything was his fault.

Cloud's Mako eyes flashed sadly. "I'm sorry," He whispered. If only he had been stronger, more alert. He could have stopped Sephiroth! It was all his fault! It was his fault Aeris had died! Cloud couldn't imagine feeling a worse feeling in his stomach than what he felt then. He felt sick, nauseated, even. Cloud slowly slid to his knees.

How could I have been so clumsy, so out of control? How could I have let Sephiroth manipulate me? How could I have let her slip away? Cloud blinked and found himself staring down at the flowers. The flowers…they reminded him of the time that he had first met Aeris. Everything reminded him of Aeris. The smell of the summer, the first light rain, beautiful things…rainbows…everything. It seemed she was mother nature herself.

She's the one.

Cloud seemed surprised at the thought. The one 'what?' He couldn't figure out for the life of him, where that thought had come from. Then he knew. Somehow, he just knew. Aeris was his match. She was the one that he should have been married to, the one he should have made love to, the one he needed. And he had let her slip away!

Tears shot to his eyes. He couldn't take much more of this. Cloud took a deep breath, calming himself for a moment. It took several more deep breaths to get control of himself. Suddenly a sick thought twisted in his mind. What if Aeris is decomposing down there? Oddly enough, he wanted to see…He wanted to see whether or not she was okay. Slowly, ever so slowly, Cloud leaned over the calm waters of the lake and looked down into it, pain twisting his features. At first he closed his eyes, not wanting just yet to look. He was afraid, almost. Then he flicked his eyes open very quickly.

Suddenly he was hit by a splash of water. Water droplets streamed down his face as the splash subsided. Letting out a cry of surprise, Cloud began wiping his face anxiously. "What the--" he sputtered anxiously. When his waterlogged vision cleared he noticed a form treading water in the pool.

Her eyes were a brilliant green, her delicate nose turning up, her wet hair plastered to her head, with water drops dripping down her face. Her lips were curved up in a tiny smile, and her clothes were still submerged and incredibly heavy. Two wet bangs hung onto her forehead, dripping water.

Cloud sucked in a deep breath. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Was this some sort of dream? What…what had just happened here? Was this really…

"Aeris?" He stumbled on the word, as it had not been directed to this girl for so long.

Aeris calmly smiled up at him. "It's me, Cloud." She made no move to excite the lake, nor to do anything else. She just calmly treaded water, as if waiting for Cloud to do something.

Cloud shakily reached out for her. "Are you real?" he breathed. Aeris laughed as his hand touched her cheek, her neck, her wet hair. When he was satisfied that she was flesh and bone he broke out into a broad grin. "You're back…you're back!"

"I'm back," She answered calmly.

"What are you doing back?" Cloud demanded, the smile still on his face. He didn't care about the answer, he only wanted to talk, he wanted her to know how sorry he was for not being able to stop Sephiroth. As Aeris opened her mouth to explain something, he suddenly cut her off, grabbing her shoulder. "Aeris, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Aeris. It was all my fault that you died. Can you ever forgive me?"

Aeris blinked slowly as Cloud gave her an anxious look. Cloud decided that she might not forgive him. But slowly she nodded. "Cloud, it was never your fault," She said, grinning once again. "Sephiroth was the one who made you a puppet. You, the real you, would never harm me in any way. I forgive you because it was never your fault. It will never be your fault."

Cloud felt as if a weight had been lifted off of his heart. Smiling once more, he reached out a little closer to Aeris and touched her wet cheek. I love her, he realized with a jolt. Without any other hesitation Cloud slid into the lake beside Aeris and wrapped his arms around her. Aeris laughed in surprise. "I'm never going to let go of you again," Cloud vowed. His handsome face creased in happiness. "Never."

Aeris gasped happily, throwing her arms around Cloud. "Does this mean…"

"Yes," Cloud vowed solemnly, pressing his forehead against Aeris's wet one. The two of them were silent for a moment, listening to the water lapping around their bodies. Aeris closed her eyes serenely, reminding Cloud of just how she had looked when she had prayed at the altar. Cloud felt the need to pull her out of that trance. "Aeris?"

She opened her eyes and gazed into his.

Cloud couldn't stop himself. The urge to do something was too strong, so he kissed her. He kissed her and waves of happiness washed over his body. It was meant to be a short kiss to show her that he genuinely cared, but instead became a long one, one that even Cloud finally ended pulling away from, breathless.

"Wow," Aeris laughed, splashing one arm into the water.

"Exactly," Cloud echoed, smiling again. "Come on, Aeris. Let's get out of this water." The two of them swam over to the side of the lake, never letting go of each other for once instant. Cloud was so happy to have Aeris back again. He couldn't believe that she had returned! Had she returned just for him? Did she honestly love him back, too?

As they returned back to the Highwind, Cloud joyfully turned to Aeris. "Jump on my back," He commanded. Aeris giggled. Without another question, she hopped onto Cloud's strong back and he began running through the Ancient City, with a giggling, wet Aeris the whole way. He didn't stop until they reached a very astonished Cid.

*********

Everyone had so many questions for Aeris after Cid had told them that Aeris had returned. Cloud was only too happy to bring Aeris to Costa Del Sol so that he and everyone in their old group could talk to Aeris, and they could all see how happy he was to have Aeris back. He was only worried about Tifa, though, how she would take it. He knew that Tifa liked him--maybe even loved him, but he doubted it. He felt some need inside to show Tifa that he had Aeris now, some way to let her know he was involved with someone. He honestly didn't want to make Tifa jealous, he wanted her to know he was in love.

Yuffie had been the first to arrive, wearing a white T-shirt and cut-off shorts. She threw her arms around Aeris happily, and Cloud was surprised to learn she had tears in her eyes. "Aeris!" She screamed happily.

Aeris had been received in the same manner by everyone in the entire group. Everyone had really loved Aeris, and had grieved over her when she had been missed. The last person, ironically enough, to arrive, was Tifa.

Cloud had set up some beach chairs in the sand near the water so everyone could have fun. He and Aeris were laying in the same beach chair, each of them wearing their bathing suits. One of Cloud's arms was draped comfortably over Aeris's bare stomach, and Aeris had snuggled into Cloud's hold.

"Cloud!?"

The voice shocked him and he and Aeris lazily turned their heads to see who it was. Tifa was standing in front of him, looking genuinely surprised. But, to his shock, she didn't look disappointed at all. Instead, just stunned and shocked to see him with Aeris.

Aeris sat up immediately, and Cloud knew she was afraid of hurting her friend. "Tifa, we--" Aeris said slowly, but Cloud silenced her.

"Tifa? It's good to see you again," Cloud said, giving her a friendly grin.

Tifa blinked a few times, the color returning to her face. Suddenly she seemed to regain her speech. "Yes, Cloud, Aeris, it's good to see you both again." As Cloud watched, the girl stepped forward and pulled Aeris into sisterly hug. Tifa smiled at Aeris, bursting with happiness. "Oh, Aeris…you don't know how happy I am to see you alive."

"You, too, Tifa," Aeris agreed, nodding.

Cloud was shocked! He had expected Tifa to overreact, to be jealous, mad, sad, anything but happy over seeing Aeris back and with Cloud! But instead she looked happy and even a little proud, to his amazement! "Tifa," he started to question, sitting up in his chair, and putting his bare feet into the warm sand.

He was interrupted by a deep male voice instead. He craned his neck to see who it was and saw a very handsome guy running up the sand towards Tifa. "Tifa!" he called out, reaching for her.

Tifa's eyes lit up when she saw the man. "William!" She called back, taking his arm and leading him up to Cloud. Cloud looked from Tifa to William. Who was this William guy? Aeris took his hand and he smiled at her.

"Cloud, this is William Sanders," Tifa introduced calmly. Then she put an arm around William, who grinned down at Tifa. "He's my husband." Tifa looked to Cloud for a reaction.

Cloud smiled. "Really? I'm so glad, Tifa!" He felt complete inside, now that he knew he didn't have to worry about Tifa liking him anymore. He felt happy. He felt…whole. Aeris stood up and grabbed Cloud's hand.

"Come on, Cloud, let's go into the water," She squealed.

"Ok," he agreed, letting her pull him across the sand. "Excuse me," He called to Tifa and William, who laughed, while Aeris happily pulled him into the rushing waves.

That night, after a happy dinner with everyone, he and Aeris had taken a moonlit walk across the sand that Cloud would remember forever. It was one of the most romantic things he had ever done in his entire life. He had been wearing tan pants and a blue dress shirt, while Aeris had worn a simple sundress that she had let hang down. As the moon came out to caress the waves she sat down on the sand and took off her sandals. Cloud took off his brown boots and carried them in one hand as he helped Aeris up.

She dusted off her dress, and, hand in hand, began to walk across the beach, along the shoreline. Occasionally small waves would wash across their feet, tickling their toes. It reminded Cloud of something he'd seen in postcards, and now it was happening to him. They would smile and talk, and often just lean over and kiss each other for a while.

Cloud was happy.

**********

A few days later, Cloud was sitting with Aeris on his bed, after having invited her over for dinner. Besides kissing, they had done nothing more in their relationship. She stayed at Tifa's house in Midgar, with Tifa and William. Cloud didn't like the idea of her living like that, but he was a little too embarrassed to ask her to stay with him.

"Look at all those stars," Aeris commented, looking out the window. She rested one elbow on the cool windowsill and tilted her head up to watch them. "There are so many of them."

"Yeah," Cloud agreed. "They're beautiful alright. Very beautiful." His eyes never left her face as he talked. Aeris turned to look at him and laughed when she saw he was examining her.

"Cloud," She admonished.

He smiled.

"When was the last time I told you that I loved you?" She whispered to him, her green eyes seeming to get bigger with innocence. She laid her head on his, relaxing for a moment against his shoulder. He immediately brought up a hand to the small of her back, holding her closer.

"Let me see," He pretended to think. "Was it yesterday? Or maybe three hours ago?" Cloud's eyes twinkled as he teased her. "I can't remember, you tell me that so often."

Aeris giggled and Cloud traced the line of her cheekbone down to her neck with one finger. "Sorry," She joked. "Didn't mean to lie so many times!"

"Oh," Cloud said, the corners of his mouth turning up suggestively. "So you've been lying to me, eh?" Cloud lifted one eyebrow and gave her what he hoped was a convincing glare. "So you don't really love me, huh?" He shook his head at her.

"Oh, yeah, I meant to tell you I'm in love with Barret," Aeris said casually, grinning.

"That's it!" Cloud roared playfully. Since she was so near he pushed her down on top of his bed, falling on top of her. She tumbled back onto his mattress, her head plopping onto his dark blue pillows. Her hair came loose of its usual braid and flopped wildly around her, creating what looked like a halo of sorts. My angel, he thought, with a grin.

Since he was on top, his nose was inches from hers, as was his lips. Cloud smiled at his position. Aeris's eyes twinkled merrily. "So…" He said slowly. "I'll give you once last chance to surrender and tell me if you really love me. Or I'll have to punish you."

"What's the punishment?" She asked innocently.

"I don't know," Cloud said, although his mind was already forming ideas. "How about kissing you mercilessly?"

"Oh, well, in that case," Aeris grinned mischievously, "I don't love you at all."

"Hmmm," Cloud grinned broadly. "Too bad for you. Now you're going to have to be punished." He lowered his head the few inches that he could to kiss her deeply, without stopping. Passion fueled between the two of them, passion that Cloud hadn't felt in his entire life. Even when Aeris and he had first kissed, it wasn't like this. He felt her kiss in every inch of his body, even down to his toes. It was almost as if they were one person when they kissed this time.

Caught up in the heat of the moment, Cloud's hand reached for the front of Aeris's dress. His eyes were closed while kissing her, so he couldn't really feel the buttons on it as well as he wanted to. Cloud managed to undo about four buttons on her dress before he pulled away from her lips and opened his eyes curiously, embarrassed about how quickly he had moved with Aeris. What if she thought he was some sort of pervert?

He found with a jolt of surprise that Aeris already had her eyes open and was giving him a wide, surprised look.

"Oh, man," Cloud moaned. He couldn't believe how stupid he had been. "Aeris, I'm so sorry…"

"Why?" Aeris questioned, her hair a little messed up.

"Why did I do it?" Cloud asked her. He raised his eyebrows, a blush rising to his cheeks. He anxiously looked down at his dark blue bedspread as if he could find something there that would take the blame for him. "Um…because I want to--"

"No," she interrupted, giggling. Then she suddenly stopped and coyly lowered her eyelids. "Why did you stop?"

Cloud was stunned into silence for about two seconds. Then he stared at Aeris. "Are you sure about this?"

She nodded slowly.

"Really sure?" Cloud asked again.

Aeris nodded again.

"Very, very sure?"

Aeris sighed a little impatiently and nodded obediently.

"Very, very, very--"

She reached up her hand quickly and shushed Cloud with her fingers. With one last impatient look at him she finally said sternly, "I'm sure!" Cloud and Aeris both laughed at the moment, and then Cloud shyly returned to kissing her.

That night Aeris and Cloud were oblivious to the world for several, blissful hours until they fell asleep in each other's arms, snuggled underneath the blanket.

*********

Cloud opened his eyes slowly, and then closed them. He was still a little sleepy. He yawned a little and then rolled over, expecting to feel Aeris sleeping beside him. Surprisingly, there was nothing to his right.

Nor to his left, when he swung his arm around.

What the--

His eyes flicked open. Maybe she was up already, making breakfast. As his vision cleared he realized something startling. There was no alarm clock! There was no dresser! There was no bed!

Cloud was sleeping on the dark, dirty ground of the Ancient City, beside the lake that he had laid Aeris to rest in! What was he doing here? He sat bolt upright, clutching his head for a moment. Then he saw the wilted flowers lying beside him. He had come to pay Aeris respects, he finally remembered. So what had happened?

"What happened to Aeris?" Cloud moaned.

With lightning speed it all came to him. He had just been dreaming. The happiness he felt, everything that had happened had just been a dream. Aeris was still dead and she wasn't coming back anytime soon.

Aeris wasn't back.

Aeris wasn't coming back!

Cloud scrambled to his feet and grabbed the wilted flowers on the ground beside him. He let out an inhuman cry of pain. "NOOOOOOOO!" This couldn't be happening to him. It couldn't all be just a dream. He expected to hear Aeris's soft voice coming to him, or feeling the feel of her lips against his, but nothing happened. Cloud clawed madly at the ground, ripping apart the flowers viciously in his pain.

Sobs racked his body again and again. How cruel. How cruel it was to give him such a beautiful, wonderful dream of love and then rip it away from him. How awful it was to give him his lover and then tear her away from his grasp. Tears streamed down his face and he kept screaming out Aeris's name over and over again.

But there was no answer.

And Cloud collapsed on the ground, sobbing in pain and confusion, clutching a few petals of a wilted rose in his palm.

THE END

Author's Note: Well, it seems like I've wrote another sad one, huh? Sorry. I don't know why I keep writing these if they're going to be so sad! I must be depressing people! But I think it's a beautiful story (at least from my humble point of view) and it shows just how much Cloud loves Aeris. To all of those people out there who are seriously depressed now because of this story, I'M SORRY! I'll TRY to write a happy one next time…hopefully…