She felt something very, very bad was coming. Tifa did her best to banish away terrible thoughts of what might happen to Aeris, concentrating instead on where the Cetra could be. 

     Cloud stopped short. "There she is," he said, pointing at a lake, where in the middle of it, a platform was raised. Aeris was there, kneeling in prayer. Tifa was relieved, so relieved that Aeris was safe. Without thinking, she ran down the steps, then jumped up the other smaller platforms to her friend, Cloud close behind. 

     Cloud pushed his way to the front. Tifa didn't mind. They had both worried for Aeris, and Tifa was quite ready to give Aeris a piece of her mind. 

     "Aeris?" Tifa asked softly, not really wanting to disturb the other woman's prayer. "Aeris?"

     "Cloud!!" Vincent shouted sharply. Tifa swung to see that Cloud had raised his sword to strike Aeris. 

     "Cloud, no!" Tifa quickly laid a hand on his shoulder, shaking him. "Cloud!"

     Cloud shook his head, as if he were caught in a dream. "Huh?" he turned to Tifa, looking confused.

     Aeris blinked, as if waking up from a trance, then she looked up. Tifa nearly sighed in relief, especially when Aeris began to smile. Then Tifa felt it. A darkness seemed to enshroud her friend. She looked up.

     "NO!" Tifa cried, suddenly pushing Aeris out of the way. 

     Sephiroth's masamune was embedded deep into Tifa's back. Tifa gasped at the pain, dropping to her knees, her eyes going to Cloud, wide and bewildered. "Cloud," she mouthed, holding up a hand to him. Faintly, she heard Cloud roaring in rage and disbelief and felt someone's arms about her. She knew it was Cloud. Funny, how she should find herself in his arms only when she died.... not the way she longed before. 

     Aeris was shocked beyond belief. "Tifa!" Her best friend had been killed! 

     "Hmph, this puts a new face on events," Sephiroth said coldly. He turned to Aeris. "You are the one who should be out of the way." However, he ignored Aeris for the moment, smirking at Cloud's grief and shock. "Tsk, tsk, tsk." He shook his head. "What a shame, losing pretty little Tifa not just once, but twice."

     Cloud looked up, his blue eyes filled with anger, loss, rage, sorrow. 

     "Ah, yes, I remember that day well," Sephiroth continued in the same mocking tone. "When I first slashed Lockheart.... well, I must assume that you came to kill me only because she was dying, bleeding, and you wanted to avenge her... something to impress her with before she died, leaving you forever...."

     Cloud had lain Tifa on the ground, his lips curled into a snarl. He reached for his sword, advancing dangerously towards the black-caped man who still nonchalantly pretended to commiserate.

     "Actually, this wasn't really part of my plan at all.... Anyway, I'll rectify that immediately." Sephiroth turned back to Aeris once more. He said over his shoulder, "Prepare to mourn another death, Strife."

     "Oh, I wouldn't mourn for you," Cloud snarled in a low, furious undertone. He raised his sword. "You killed my mother!" He struck, but his sword clanged against masamune. "You killed my entire village!" He struck again, not really caring if he was hitting anything or not. "You monster, don't you feel anything?? Tifa is gone!" Cloud shouted, sword tip heading for Sephiroth's throat. His moves were erratically fast due to his rage. "Tifa is gone because of you!" 

     "Yes, what a shame," Sephiroth said, dealing Cloud a blow on the chest. The blue material of Cloud's shirt ripped, and blood slowly made a crimson patch. It was not fatal, as Sephiroth needed him later. Cloud jerked back, touching his chest to ascertain the amount of blood loss. Then in the next moment, he figured he didn't care whether or not he was dying. 

     Sephiroth growled in annoyance, glanced to Aeris, who was holding the white materia in her hand. The small white orb had a soft greenish cast to it. Emerald green eyes narrowed and Sephiroth began to rise upwards, leaving behind something on the ground.

     "Dammit!" Cloud shouted at seeing the piece of Jenova. Aeris leapt to her feet immediately, utilizing her materia to stop the monster before it even formed. 

      Vincent came running up the steps. Cloud had returned to Tifa's side, holding the dead girl in his arms, breathing heavily. "Gods, Tifa," he moaned, "I didn't kill him then, and I didn't kill him now..... I'm so sorry... I failed you twice...."

     Aeris walked over to Cloud's side. "Cloud?" she ventured softly, laying a hand on his shoulder.

     "She's gone," Cloud said softly, so softly Vincent and Aeris almost didn't hear him. "She's..... not there anymore....." He shook Tifa's still body. "Tifa, oh please Tifa, come back to me!" he sobbed suddenly. 

     Vincent looked at Aeris, then turned to leave the room, leaving Cloud to his grief. Aeris continued looking down at Tifa's body in horror. It was all her fault, she realized. If she hadn't been so foolish as to come to pray for Holy by herself, this never would have happened.... Now Tifa was gone, and Cloud.... 

     Aeris started cursing herself even as tears fell down her cheeks. She had never realized the depth of Cloud's feelings for Tifa... not until now.... Now that Tifa was gone, Cloud was broken. Aeris saw it then... how Cloud needed Tifa.... how much a part of Cloud Tifa was, as surely as Tifa was a part of her. Aeris backed away in guilt, remembering the times when she made a bid for Cloud's affection, while Tifa was content to stay by the sidelines.

     "She's gone, Aeris," Cloud whispered, looking down at Tifa's face. The expression was relaxed, though a little troubled. She looked like she was sleeping. Her white blouse was a bloody crimson. "Gods, Aeris.... why?"

     Cloud turned his face to the heavens. "WHY??" he demanded, before dropping his gaze and hugging Tifa to his chest, stroking her hair gently. "Tifa.... it'll be okay..... Ti....fa...." his voice cracked. "Tifa, please wake up.... everything'll be okay.... if you just.... wake... up...."

     "Cloud..." Aeris began quietly. She knew it was not the best time to explore his feelings, but it was very important now. In her hands she held the white materia orb. "Cloud....?"

     "What is it??" Cloud demanded harshly, still holding Tifa tightly. His face was twisted in agony.

     "Do you.... do you love Tifa?" Aeris asked very softly.

     He lifted his blue eyes to her. "Ever since my childhood in Nibelheim," he declared. 

     "What Sephiroth said.... about you losing Tifa twice.... is it.... true?"

     "Every word." Cloud closed his eyes and his attention went back to Tifa. Aeris saw. Tifa meant so much to Cloud, but he never realized it. Never, until Sephiroth had killed Tifa. He cried her name plaintively again. "Tifa, you can't die, I love you!" 

     Aeris lifted the white materia, bending her head to pray. Let Tifa come back, she pleaded the Planet. Let Tifa live. 

     Cloud was crying, his shoulder wracking with sobs and more torrents of sorrow that threatened to spill forth.

     Vincent came back in, and raised a black eyebrow when he noticed Tifa's body was glowing a soft green. Aeris was still standing close by, her face raised as if she were praying. The white materia orb in her hand was also glowing green. Cloud was still pretty much incapacitated. 

     Cloud was crying, cursing himself for being such a fool that he never noticed how much he cared for Tifa. He cursed his stupidity for never noticing how Tifa was always there, with a smile and concern in her beautiful brown eyes. 

     Aeris' mind reached deep into the Lifestream, searching for Tifa's soul. It couldn't have gone far. Tifa! she called into the empty void. Please, she prayed, hear Cloud's cries.

     The glow around Tifa's body grew brighter. Cloud finally noticed, and he drew back a little, his eyes widening. "Aeris?" he cried. "What's going on?"

     Vincent walked back up onto the platform. He looked up the shaft at the sky. "Please," he said simply. He looked down at his comrade. The wound in Tifa's abdomen was slowly closing up. Cloud watched with fascination on his face, but concern as well. Then, her eyelashes seemed to flutter. 

     Aeris took a deep breath in exhaustion. She smiled in triumph, running to Tifa's side. "Tifa!" she called happily.

     It was a moment, but the black eyelashes fluttered open. Cloud found himself looking once more into brown eyes that he adored. Tifa blinked at seeing Cloud, as if she couldn't believe it. She blinked again, her hand slowly rising from her side to touch Cloud's face. He smiled when she ran the tips of her fingers down his cheek. 

     "Tifa... oh, Tifa.... you're back...." Cloud suddenly hugged Tifa much closer. She looked consternated, but stroked his blond hair, reassuring herself that she was alive.... and in the arms of the man she'd come to care for the most in her life. Cloud let loose his breath, reminding himself that she was alive.... and that he loved her.

     Tifa turned to Aeris, who was beaming in wonderment. "Hey," she said softly in greeting. 

     "Hi!" Aeris replied cheerily. 

     Cloud finally got up, holding Tifa in his arms, quite unwilling to relinquish his grasp on her. "Tifa."

     Tifa looked back to Cloud, smiling a little, but quite unsure of what he meant. "Cloud."

     "I'm so glad you're back." 

     Aeris approached Cloud slowly. She had come to care for Cloud, perhaps more so than she first thought she might. There was simply something about Cloud which she couldn't help loving, and she finally figured out why. 

     When Tifa had been stabbed, Aeris could feel nothing from Cloud, as if something had been wrenched away, a piece of him which was vital to his existence. She had felt keenly the loss of Tifa, and with Tifa went Cloud. Aeris realized that Tifa was more than just a best friend to her. 

     "Hello, Cloud." He was sitting on the edge of a lake, smiling as he looked over it. Tifa was resting in the camp they had made nearby. 

     Cloud turned. "Hello Aeris," he replied, before turning back. Then, as if remembering something, he turned yet again. "I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier."

     "That's all right." Aeris sat down next to Cloud. "You're feeling good that Tifa's back, right?"

     Cloud nodded. "When I was a kid, I had the feeling that Tifa.... she never really paid me much attention... but there was something about her.... I couldn't explain it then, and I'm not even sure if I can explain it now....."

     "Is.... is your memory coming back, Cloud?" 

     "Bits and pieces."

     Aeris smiled satisfiedly. Obviously, he didn't want to share them with her, but that was fine with her. With the realization that he loved Tifa, Cloud was so much happier. Aeris knew that he would soon be able to overcome the demonsof his past. "Good."

     She began to rise. "Oh, Aeris, wait."

     Tifa was walking towards Cloud, feeling much better. The terrible memory of Sephiroth stabbing her wasn't so bad to think about now. At least she was alive. Thanks to Aeris, she thought. She sighed, supposing that she would have to see Aeris and Cloud together again. How she envied Aeris' ability to open up.... and to reach Cloud as well. 

     Tifa's throat constricted when she saw Aeris and Cloud by the side of the lake. What was the point of living again when it was only to see her best friend and love rival win? She stopped, knowing it was bad to eavesdrop, but she couldn't help herself. 

     "I want to thank you," Cloud said. "I mean, I love Tifa, but... you were the one who showed me... that life does matter.... and helped change me for the better. I do love you, Aeris.... but not the way I love Tifa. I love you for all you've done for me.... but..."

     Aeris smiled. "You don't have to tell me anymore, Cloud. I understand. We both love Tifa, she's the best friend I ever had, and you.... and she deserves it. You shouldn't hide it anymore, Cloud. Go on and love her." The Cetra woman rose. She stopped short at seeing Tifa, eyes shining with tears at what she'd just heard. "Tifa! Why are you crying?"

     Tifa wasn't looking at Aeris. She was looking at Cloud. Aeris left quickly, leaving them alone with each other. Cloud stood hastily, smiling awkwardly. He looked so adorable like that, Tifa thought to herself absently. She smiled as well. Cloud felt a chuckle from behind his smile, which turned into a quirky sort of laughter. She started grinning and laughing too. He held out his arms to her, which she gladly ran into. 

     "I love you, Tifa Lockheart."

     "I love you, Cloud Strife."

     They looked into each others' eyes and by the side of the crystalline lake, exchanged a kiss.... the first of many.