Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 7 is owned by Squaresoft. No one has the reason to sue me for this fan fiction.

*****

Sweet Sacrifices - 3
By: Liv

Somehow, Aeris thought the hallways are calmer today than yesterday. Or maybe it was just her rushing heart. She was behind Tifa who was in between Gast and Lucrecia. Hopefully, after Tifa talks, she would have the time to talk to him. With what info Sephiroth had told her, this man seems to be more intriguing now...

"Aeris!"

Aeris stopped to see who was arriving. She made a face. "Tseng..."

Tseng was alone. The Turks weren't with him. But one thing's for sure, he's got this goofy smile on him. "Fancy meeting you here...again."

"I'm visiting a friend." Aeris pretended to look around him. "The Turks?"

"I sent them off to check on the army."

"And you?"

Tseng frowned. "Aeris, you just have to tell me if you don't want to see me." He was rather sarcastic.

"N, no, sorry. I was just..." Aeris looked around for Tifa but she was gone. Somehow, she also felt bad about how she treated Tseng.

*****

"Mr. Strife?"

Cloud, already on a hospital gown, looked up from his magazine. "Doctor," He nodded with a smile. "Good morning, sir."

"I see you're doing better every minute." Gast entered the room with Lucrecia and a young girl. "Mr. Strife, we have with us your blood donor."

"Tifa Lockhart." Tifa introduced herself stretching out her hand hidden behind Lucrecia's body.

Cloud reached for it and shook it. "Cmdr. Cloud Strife of the 4th division." He leaned back on his bed letting go of Tifa's hand. "Thanks for the help."

"Nah, it was the least I could." Tifa waved her hand to gesture her message. "So! You doing okay?"

"Yeah, not the best but it's good enough." Cloud nodded. Suddenly, he saw Tifa stumble backwards and touch her forehead. "Ms. Lockhart??"

"No, I, I'm fine..." Tifa winced. "Maybe I'm really not that strong yet..." She got her poise back. She had concerned looks from the doctors. "No, really! I just need rest! I mean...blood transfusion isn't a joke, y'know..."

Lucrecia turned to Gast. "I'll take her back to her room, Dad."

Gast nodded and watched the two women leave the room. "Mr. Strife," He approached the man's side. "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with you anymore. Just that...you may need to train your wounded leg for walking."

"Will I need to return to the hospital, then?"

"If you wish to have the assistance of professionals, then it would be fine with me. You can return here. But if you think you can do it yourself, you will only need the assistance of a crutch. It would be pretty annoying but in time, you will get used to it and soon, to walking without it."

"I'll take that crutch."

"Suit yourself." Gast nodded. "If you continue your recovery, I can release you tomorrow."

Cloud nodded. "Thanks, sir."

"My pleasure." Gast turned away and walked over to the door. "I'll see you around, then."

Cloud waved. "Bye," He saw the door close.

*****

Aeris felt bad after how she had treated Tseng. She noticed he only wanted a friendly conversation. Instead, she'd been such a meanie. She was alone, walking to where she thinks the rest had gone. She was looking at the floor and her feet moving into her sight. She heard footsteps up ahead and looked at the newcomer. "Dr. Gast?"

"Ms. Aeris," Gast continued his walk. "I had not noticed you were not with us."

Aeris shook her head. "A friend just came by to talk to me. I, is it still okay if I visit him?"

Gast nodded. "However, your talk might be cut short since lunch is coming. I suggest you wait until he is done."

"I see..." Aeris nodded. "Thank you, Doctor." She watched Gast nod and leave passing by her. She returned to wherever she was going and jogged forward. She was pretty sure it was the right way.

*****

Aeris had slowed down. A sickly man was on a wheelchair asking the nurses available for help in a desperate manner. He was very visibly in pain. She wanted to help but a lot are already taking the job. She noticed she would only be a nuisance when she adds to the crowd. There was a little white table (one for the beds) with a tray on it waiting by the bench near the room. It had a lunch meal on top. She smiled brightly when she found an idea. While the nurses were busy, she approached the table, bent to take it, stood straight and knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

Aeris' heart skipped a beat when she heard the man's voice. She had no idea what caused it. All she knows is that she became excited. Maintaining her poise, she opened the door and entered the room. Once inside, she studied the room. Nothing much was in it. A television set was in front of the bed. The windows filled the western side of the room. The eastern part is where the wheeled trays of medicines and machines are found.

A plastic pack with blue fluid in it dripping down a transparent wire hung beside the dextrose. The two wires (one from the dextrose) ran down from the packs to the man's wrist.

Aeris cleared her throat.

The man with the funny hair laid his magazine down only to be surprised to see who had kicked the door close. "M, Ms. Aeris!!"

Aeris giggled. She approached the baffled man and sat on his bed side. "At least you know me..."

"H, how couldn't I? I mean...you're a Shinra!" The man sat properly. He became uncomfortable when the Shinra lady sat beside him. On his bed!

"Just shut up and eat." Aeris settled the table on the man's body.

The man nodded. "Y, yes, ma'am..." He took the spoon and fork and started taking little pieces of food.

While he ate, Aeris studied the man's eyes. They were handsome. Somehow, they have the hint of calmness and humility...surprise and confusion even. "Ummm...Strife?"

"Yes, ma'am!" The man immediately turned to her.

Aeris was startled. "W, wow...you really respond quickly to my calls, don't you?"

The man gave a sheepish smile and scratched his head looking away. He heard a sweet giggle and returned to Aeris. He found it beautiful. How the woman covered her mouth and how her shoulders move in laughter. It made him smile.

Aeris looked at Cloud's face. She was surprised to see the smile on his face. Surprised to randomly see it and to see how...well...handsome it is.

Cloud's face changed to a surprised. He returned to his meal quickly, hiding the blush. "S, sorry, ma'am..."

Aeris smiled once more, hoping he wouldn't see it, though. "That's okay. Ummm...you're really Strife?"

"Yes, ma'am." He faced Aeris. "It's my surname, ma'am."

"Then...what's your name?"

"Cloud, ma'am." He finally said. "I'm the commander of the 4th division."

"Ohhh...I see...Sephiroth spoke highly of you. He said you were one of his best commanders."

Cloud smiled. "Thank you, Ms. Aeris." He found it silly but there was no time to think of what to say. He had stared into Aeris' emerald eyes. He almost felt his guts go jelly.

It was an awkward silence.

"Ummm..." Instead of staring further, Cloud focused on his meal and continued eating.

Aeris watched him eat. But if that's all she would do, it's better she leave. But not now, there's much more to talk about. "Ummm...commander?"

"Yes, ma'am?" Cloud paused from his meal again to face Aeris.

"Ummm...how do you do your hair?"

Cloud wasn't very surprised she'd ask that. He shrugged. "I don't know, ma'am. I was born with this kind of hair."

"'Cause...ummm..." Aeris shook her head. "Nothing...it's nothing."

Cloud gave a confused look. "What is it, ma'am?"

"It's nothing, really..." Aeris insisted.

Cloud smiled. "I look like a Chocobo."

Aeris was surprised as to how Cloud knew what she was thinking. "Y, yes...that..." She felt embarassed...maybe ashamed. "I, I'm sorry, really."

"No, it's okay!" Cloud shook his head. "A lot of people have been telling me that. I mean, with a funny blond hair like this and bright blue eyes. When I was young, I actually used to love playing around with Chocobos when someone brings along one over to Nibelheim. The owner was kind, he'd let me play with it for hours."

"You're from Nibelheim..." Aeris realized.

"Yeah..." Cloud looked at his bangle. "Like Zack." He was specifically looking at the only purple materia he has. "The Chocobos loved me, too."

Aeris studied it along with him moving closer to him. "A Chocobo Lure materia?"

"Yeah..." Cloud can smell Aeris' scent. "It's the materia mom gave me in my 6th birthday..."

"Wow...it must have been so special to you..."

"Yeah...it is..."

They stayed in their position for quite sometime, just studying the materia. Luckily, Aeris had remembered his meal. "Ummm...Cloud?"

"Ms. Aeris?" Cloud looked at her surprised to see how close she was. He had almost hit her face with his.

Aeris was surprised as well. "Ummm...the...food?" She pointed at the tray.

"Huh?" Cloud looked at it. "Oh! Right, I...I forgot..." He immediately returned to eating and finished it up.

Aeris stood and took the table. She turned around to leave the room but she felt like there was more to say. So, she turned around again to face Cloud.

"Can I..."

"Will you..."

Both people turned away upon speaking at the same time. Cloud grabbed the courage to face her and cleared his throat making her turn. "W, what is it, Ms. Aeris?"

"C, can I...come and see you? After dinner?"

Cloud nodded immediately. "Yes, Ms. Aeris!"

*Idiot!*

"I, I mean...yeah..." Cloud nodded. "I'd like that...I mean, yeah...it's okay..."

Aeris smiled. "I'll take whatever your answer is for a yes." She walked backwards. "Bye now." She saw Cloud lift his hand slowly, unable to wave.

Cloud watched how graceful Aeris turned, held and twisted the door knob, opened the door, and walked away closing the door behind her.

Aeris leaned against the wall. She felt her heart beating quickly, her breathing easier now. There was something that made her really want to come back later...

*****

Cloud dropped to his bed's pillow, back to his leaning position. How Aeris smiled and giggled and moved replayed in Cloud's mind. Slowly, he wore a goofy smile on his face.

*She's gonna be back after dinner...*

- End of Part 3 -