Mirror Image

by T'Shael

Chapter 21

Cloud wanted to carry Aeris but he didn't challenge Sephiroth for the right. During the walk out of Midgar, they saw smaller monsters but none of them attacked. When they reached the Highwind, Cid instructed Sephiroth put to Aeris in his cabin because it was the largest one. Sephiroth laid Aeris down on the bed and went to clean himself up. Cid sent for the ship's medic.

Tifa stood watching Cloud pacing back and forth in front of the cabin door. She wanted to reach out to him, but he didn't seem to notice her. She waited quietly. She sighed. Soon she'd know Cloud's choice. Tifa didn't know if she was ready for that.

Looking away from Cloud she saw Sephiroth approaching the cabin. Sephiroth glanced at Tifa then stopped when he saw Cloud. He turned and walked away, returning to his former place at the bow and stood looking off the distance. Tifa waited with Cloud for more an hour but she could barely get him to speak. Saddened, she went to join Sephiroth.

"Aren't you going to be there when Aeris wakes up?" she asked.

"Cloud will be with her," he said softly. "She won't be alone."

"What about you Sephiroth?" Tifa stood beside him, looking out at the scenery, with her hands clasped behind her back.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"You're just as worried about Aeris as we are." Tifa answered. "You should be in there with her."

"I would just be in the way." Sephiroth looked at a passing cloud.

"I don't think so." Tifa brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. "I think Aeris would want you to be with her. After all, you saved her from Hojo."

Sephiroth looked grim. "Hojo was going to force her to mate with a clone named Zephiroth. I arrived just in time to spoil his plans."

"That's terrible!" said Tifa. "I'm not surprised though. It sounds like something Hojo would do. Where is the Zephiroth clone now?"

"I killed him." Tifa saw a quick flash of anger in Sephiroth's eyes before he turned his face away. "That's when Hojo, decided to keep Aeris for himself. If Aeris hadn't been there to bring me back with her powers, I would be dead now. Hojo would have escaped into the city with her."

"Thank goodness you got past that monster and reached her in time," said Tifa.

"He wasn't my real father," said Sephiroth, "He was a clone, but he had all of Hojo's memories and mannerisms. He even called me his son. He treated me the same way the first Hojo did. It may sound brutal to you, but I enjoyed killing him in my father's place. I have no regrets."

"If we were talking about anyone else but Hojo, I would think it was brutal," said Tifa. "If you hadn't killed him, we would have. Where would Aeris be now? She's lucky to have someone like you."

"You wouldn't have said that a few months ago," he said.

"That was a long time ago Sephiroth," Tifa sighed and wrapped her arms around herself. "I hated you for a long time for what you did to my father. I wanted you dead. When I found out you were still alive, I wanted to find and kill you."

"I remember you tried that once before," he said.

Tifa blushed.

Sephiroth turned away. "It's all right. I didn't deserve to live then and I don't deserve to live now."

"Don't say that," said Tifa. "Ever since we met you and Aeris in Icicle Village, I've had a lot to think about. Aeris is no fool. She trusts you. I sat down and took a really good look at everything that's happened since Nibelheim burned. When I put my pain aside and think about it, you were just as much a victim as the rest of us. I can't say you handled your problem very well, but you were a still a victim. Jenova and Hojo are to blame for everything that happened."

"That's what Aeris said." Sephiroth sighed.

"She's right." Tifa brushed another strand of hair out of her face. "If someone had told you the truth time long ago, maybe none of this would have happened. You weren't born evil. Your outlook on life was the direct result of how you saw the world as a child. Hojo never told you he was your father."

Sephiroth shook his head. "I was a lab animal. Nothing more. Except for Professor Gast, no one ever treated me as I was more than an experiment. Not even my caretakers. All I had was Professor Gast and the fantasy of a mother who might have loved me."

"You knew Aeris' father?" Tifa looked surprised.

"I was a young boy when Hojo had him killed." Sephiroth turned his face away from Tifa. "He was kind to me and I killed his daughter."

"In light of all that's happened, the Professor would understand," Tifa told him. "He would forgive you."

"He did." Sephiroth glanced at her. "I saw him in the Lifestream. He forgave me and he asked me to help Aeris."

"I'm glad he did," said Tifa. "The way things worked out, we wouldn't have reached her in time."

Sephiroth started to say something, but Yuffie came rushing up to them. "Aeris is waking up! The medic says she's going to be okay!"

"I'm going to see her." Sephiroth brushed past Yuffie.

"Cloud is with her now," said Yuffie.

Sephiroth stopped in his tracks.

Tifa frowned at Yuffie.

Yuffie gulped and cleared her throat. "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you after Cloud's visit. The medic said one visitor at a time. She needs rest."

Yuffie hurried away.

Sephiroth stood where he was for a few seconds, then returned to his place at the bow. His shoulders sagged, then he straightened and looked out over the horizon. His face was expressionless.

Tifa looked after Yuffie and turned her attention back to Sephiroth.

"Hojo has a lab in the basement of the Shinra building," he said, not looking at her. "There are ten cloning pods there and Jenova samples. They should be destroyed."

"We'll go back and do that soon." Tifa started to move away. She stopped. "You love Aeris don't you?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Sephiroth turned his back to her.

"Yes you do," Tifa said. "Have you told her?"

"There is nothing to say." He wished Tifa would go away.

"You should tell her how you feel Sephiroth," she said.

"Feelings," he said bitterly. "I don't have feelings. I was, am, and will always will be a freak of nature."

"That's not true!" Tifa frowned at him.

"I'm sorry about your father." Sephiroth ventured a glance at her. "I know that won't bring him back, but I am sorry."

"I know that Sephiroth. I can feel it," she said. "Go to Aeris. You belong there."

He turned all the way around then. "What about Cloud? Where does he belong?"

Tifa had a sad smile on her face. "Cloud will have to figure that out for himself. Go see Aeris. She needs you."

Sephiroth hesitated. Tifa gave him an encouraging smile. With a new lightness in his heart, he went to see Aeris.

In Cid's cabin, Aeris' eyes fluttered open. When her eyes focused, she recognized Cloud. "Cloud!" She smiled at him. "I'm back with my friends."

Cloud took her hands in his. "You gave us quite a scare Aeris."

"I'm sorry." She smiled weakly. "I came back to save the Planet, but Sephiroth had to save me. I guess I was supposed to be the bait for Hojo."

"Bait?" Cloud frowned.

"Hojo saw me riding with Sephiroth in the woods. He wanted to use both of us in experiments. When I went out alone, I made it easy for him to capture me first."

"You should have taken one of us with you," said Cloud.

"I know that now," said Aeris. "How did you find me?"

"We forget Red XIII is an intelligent animal," said Cloud. "He talks and thinks like we do, so we tend to think of him as human. He used his sharp sense of smell to figure out you had been captured by Hojo. For some reason Sephiroth was tuned into your emotions. He knew Hojo would take you to Midgar."

"Hojo was a clone," said Aeris.

"What?" Cloud was shocked. "A Hojo clone?"

Aeris nodded. "There was another clone with him. He looked exactly like Sephiroth except he had silver black eyes. His name was Zephiroth. Every time he looked at me . . . " Aeris shuddered.

"Wait a minute!" Cloud looked alarmed. "There's another Sephiroth clone running around?"

Aeris shook her head. "He's dead. Sephiroth killed him. He killed the Hojo clone too. They were created by the first Hojo to grow an army. Hojo could have created ten children by Zephiroth in less than thirty days. In ninety days, he would have had thirty. The original Hojo created a mixture that would accelerate their growth in special chambers."

"Wait a minute," said Cloud. "How was he going to create thirty children in ninety days?"

Aeries turned red. "He was taking eggs cells from my body and fertilizing them with sperm from Zephiroth."

Cloud's expression turned murderous. "Did Zephiroth hurt you?"

"No, but he was going to." Aeris shuddered again. "Hojo didn't hurt me. I think he used a machine to remove the egg cells. As a reward for Zephiroth's contribution to the project, Hojo was going to let him spend time in my cell with me. I escaped but Zephiroth caught me. He was just about to claim his reward when Sephiroth arrived. Sephiroth saved me."

"If I had Hojo here right now, I'd kill him with my bare hands," said Cloud. His Mako blue eyes were bright with anger. "I'd kill him and his damned clone."

"Sephiroth took care of both of them," said Aeris. "I'm all right Cloud, really."

"As much as I hate to be grateful to Sephiroth for anything, I'm glad he left the fight to rescue you." Cloud tried to relax.

"Fight?" Aeris tilted her head curiously.

"A monster kept us busy," answered Cloud.

"Oh. Besides accelerating the growth of babies through artificial means, Hojo wanted me to carry one of my children to full term so he could inject us with Jenova cells. He told me he was going to clone himself and a supply of Cetra women too. I'm pretty sure he meant to let his army kidnap women to grow more children through natural and artificial means. Could you imagine an army of evil Zephiroth children?"

"That's too horrible to even contemplate," said Cloud. "I'm still trying to get used to the new Sephiroth."

"Sephiroth has his faults Cloud, but he's not the monster you think he is," said Aeris. "I've had a chance to get to know him and he's not the same Sephiroth that Jenova controlled."

"Don't let him fool you Aeris," There was bitterness in Cloud's voice. "You think he's changed but he could turn on you someday."

"No Cloud," said Aeris. "Sephiroth isn't like that. He's a lot more human than we ever gave him credit for."

"You have feelings for him." Cloud looked angry again.

The doorknob turned and the door opened slowly. Sephiroth heard them talking. Not wanting to interfere and looking for a chance to cut in, he stopped the door part way. Neither Cloud or Aeris noticed.

"I love you Cloud," said Aeris. "You'll always be special to me."

Sephiroth quietly closed the door and walked away.

"But?" Cloud let the question hang.

Aeris sighed. "It was awkward at first, but as time went by, Sephiroth and I developed a relationship. He's a different person once you get to know him. He's not always as tough as he seems. I knew I was beginning to like him but it wasn't until his duel with Zephiroth that I realized just what it was I felt. I was terrified that Zephiroth would kill him!"

"You're always concerned about others," said Cloud. "That doesn't mean your feelings go any deeper than that."

"Cloud," said Aeris, "When Sephiroth killed his clone, I was glad he survived, but even then, I tried to convince myself I was wrong about my feelings for him. I tried to tell myself I was just happy because my partner hadn't been killed. Then Hojo's clone came back to life and mutated into a poisonous snake. Hojo bit him. Sephiroth was dying in my arms. At that moment I knew I would rather die again than live without him. I love him Cloud. If I didn't have my Great Gospel, Sephiroth would have been lost to me forever."

"Couldn't the Cetra revive him?" asked Cloud.

"He would have failed in his task to help me. They wouldn't save him again," replied Aeris.

"But you just said you loved me!" Cloud tried to pull his hands away but Aeris held on. He stopped pulling. "Are you in love with both of us?"

"Cloud," said Aeris, "I've changed over the past few months and now I realize now my love for you is the love for a close friend. You put your life on the line for me in the church that day and you kept on doing it until you couldn't protect me anymore. Our adventures, or misadventures, brought us together. I was attracted to you, but it would never have come to anything. I should never have asked you to take me on a date. I shouldn't have interfered with your relationship with Tifa. The Planet told me it would take my death to save it."

"The Planet told you that?" asked Cloud. "It said that you would die?"

"Yes." Aeris looked away for a moment. "I knew it would happen when I prayed for Holy. I just didn't know how."

"And then Sephiroth killed you!" Clouds eyes flashed. "How can you love him after what he did to you?"

"Don't be too hard on him Cloud," said Aeris. "He couldn't help doing what he did. Jenova used him."

"I fought Jenova!" he said. "Why couldn't he?"

Aeris shook her head. "The foundation of your life was much stronger than Sephiroth's. You had a mother who loved you. Sephiroth didn't have anyone. He was tormented by Hojo from the day he uttered his first cry. By the time Jenova was ready to use him, he was ripe for the picking."

"I can't forgive him for killing my mother . . . or you." Cloud looked away.

"I forgave Sephiroth for that, and so did my father."

Cloud looked surprised. "Your father?"

"He was one of the scientists responsible, however indirectly for creating Sephiroth," said Aeris. "Only my father realized Sephiroth was a living human being who deserved better out of life and Hojo didn't. Hojo killed my father when he tried to protect me and my mother from the same fate. Hojo caused the death of my real mother. Elmyra raised me from a child after my mother put me in her arms and died."

"When I went into the Lifestream, I was supposed to go on to the Promised Land but I stayed here to make sure Meteor was destroyed and my friends were safe. I couldn't be with any of you physically but I was watching all the time. Just before your final duel with Sephiroth, I found out releasing Holy wasn't going to keep the Planet safe. There was another danger waiting in the wings to make its appearance. I didn't know what it was, but I knew it would happen soon."

"The Cetra in the Promised Land asked me to come back and save the Planet again since I was already here. I agreed. I knew I was going to need help but I didn't want to drag all of you back into battle so soon," said Aeris. "You'd all fought so hard I thought you deserved a chance to rest. When I saw you facing Sephiroth I saw the answer to my problem."

"Why didn't you let him stay dead?" asked Cloud. "He didn't feel bad when he ran you through with his sword!"

"Sephiroth was about to die because he never knew the truth about his past," said Aeris. " I didn't think it was fair for him to take the blame for a situation he didn't create. I asked Holy to help me heal him and it agreed. The Cetra were skeptical at first. They made me agree to their terms before they would help me help him."

"What terms?" asked Cloud.

"If Sephiroth didn't agree to accompany me back to the Planet, they would destroy him again." Aeris rearranged her head on the pillow. "They sent my father and Lucrecia to convince him. He refused at first but then he changed his mind."

"I don't want really want to talk about Sephiroth," said Cloud. "I want to talk about us. I love you! What about that?"

"I believe you love me Cloud, but I think part of that love is based on guilt."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"You know the answer to that." Aeris looked him in the eye. "You promised to protect me, Cloud, but you couldn't protect me from Sephiroth."

Cloud stood up and began to pace the room. "I tried to protect you Aeris! He was too strong for me. I couldn't!"

"It's not your fault Cloud. You were no more to blame than Sephiroth." Aeris followed him with her eyes. "Jenova used both of you like puppets."

Cloud stopped pacing. "I'm not a puppet."

"I know that. I also know you're in love with Tifa."

Cloud just looked at her.

"You love Tifa," she repeated. "Don't build a love story with me out of guilt and what could have been Cloud. Build a love story out of reality. You love Tifa and you always have. You love me as a friend and you know it. Don't lock her out of your life because of me."

Cloud hesitated. "I was thinking about asking her to marry me."

"Until I came along, right?"

Cloud looked sheepish. "Until you came back into my life."

"Be honest with yourself," Aeris said. "If you marry me, you'll always feel guilty about leaving Tifa. How could you be happy like that?"

Cloud looked down for moment before he answered. "I don't think I could be."

"If I married Sephiroth and you married Tifa, would you worry about me all the time?" she asked.

Cloud hesitated.

"Well?" demanded Aeris.

"Not really," he replied.

"Why not?" asked Aeris.

"I'd be with the woman I loved." Cloud blushed.

"What about me?" Aeris raised an eyebrow.

"You'd be with the man you loved."

"Right." Aeris smiled.

"Besides," Cloud gave her a sly look, "I'd come after him if he didn't treat you right."

"Cloud!" Aeris looked stern.

Cloud grinned. "I have a lot of making up to do with Tifa."

"You sure do," agreed Aeris. They felt the ship settling down. "Are we landing already?"

"You've been asleep a long time," said Cloud. "Part of that was hitting your head. Part of it was exhaustion."

"You don't know the half of it." Aeris sat up.

"Should you get up now?" asked Cloud.

"You bet," said Aeris. "I have someone to see."

"Sephiroth," said Cloud.

Aeris winked at him. "You're not the only one with unfinished business." She hurried to the door.

"Aeris."

She stopped and looked back at Cloud. "Are you sure you're not deceiving yourself about the new and improved Sephiroth? I mean, he obviously has feelings for you now, but what if he hasn't really changed?"

Aeris thought about the ex-SOLDIER Sephiroth had sent to Midgar and possibly to his death. She thought about the new power he'd displayed when he killed the clones. That power was growing. She didn't think it was a good idea to tell Cloud about that.

"Sephiroth is different in the sense that he is not insane. The only thing Holy did to him was to remove the madness, heal his body and put a crack in the wall he built between himself and his ability to feel emotions."

"So you're saying," said Cloud, "Is he's the same Sephiroth I knew before he went mad?"

"The very same." Aeris saw a worried look on Clouds face. "Like I said, there is a crack in the wall he built between himself and other people. He's more receptive to emotions now."

"But it's just a crack," said Cloud. "What if it closes?"

"That's up to Sephiroth," admitted Aeris. "If it closes again, he could be just as cold as he was before, but he's been exposed to emotions now. He has the power to tear the rest of that wall down by himself. The Planet, Holy, the Lifestream and the Cetra gave him another chance to come back and do things differently this time."

"If he chooses to seal himself up again, where does that leave you?" he asked.

"Personally, I don't think he can seal me out now," said Aeris, "He's not the kind of person who can love someone and walk away just like that. I trust my feelings. I know I'm right."

"What if Jenova finds a way back to life? Can she drive him insane again?" Cloud didn't like that idea at all.

"Absolutely not," Aeris shook her head firmly. "Sephiroth knows who his mother is. She can't believe that anymore. He doesn't owe Jenova anything."

Clouds expression didn't change.

Aeris went back to touch him on the shoulder. "I understand how you feel about him Cloud. I don't expect you two to become the best of friends. All I'm asking is that you give him a chance. It won't be like it was before. Trust me."

He took her hands. "I'll try."

She smiled. "That's all I can ask. I have to go now."

She walked out the door.

She met Tifa. "Hi Tifa!"

"Hello Aeris," said Tifa. "How are you feeling?"

"Still a little tired, but at least I'm free. Where is Sephiroth?"

"He's getting the chocobo out of the ship's hold," said Tifa looking away.

Aeris looked at her closely. "What's wrong?"

"Sephiroth is leaving. He said to tell you congratulations with your choice and goodbye."

Tifa was trying to hide her pain, but Aeris read it in her eyes.

"Congratulations on WHAT choice?" asked Aeris.

"He heard you tell Cloud you loved him." Tifa's voice broke. "I guess Cloud told you the same thing. Congratulations Aeris."

"Cloud and I aren't a couple," said Aeris, "He in love with you!"

"But Sephiroth . . . " Tifa began.

"He should have stayed at the door and listened to the rest! said Aeris. "I love Cloud as a friend and nothing more! Sephiroth is the man for me."

"Oh my goodness!" Tifa looked alarmed. "You'd better catch Sephiroth quick. He's probably ready to go now!"

"Oh my!" Aeris ran for the chocobo hold. Sephiroth was nowhere in sight. She ran for the ramp. He was just about to get on Goldie. "Sephiroth! Where are you going?"

"My job here is finished Aeris." His voice was flat. "I have an appointment in the Ancient City. Remember?"

"No!" cried Aeris. "I don't want you to go!"

"A deal is a deal." Sephiroth tried to lead the chocobo around her, but Aeris blocked his path.

"I was hoping you'd change your mind" she said.

"I told you there was very little chance of that." Sephiroth took a step. "Please move."

"No," said Aeris firmly.

"Aeris, I have to go now." Sephiroth was beginning to look annoyed.

"Why?" she asked him.

"You know why I'm going back Aeris." Sephiroth tried to move around her again. Aeris grabbed Goldie's reins.

"Aeris . . . "

"Don't go!" Aeris put her hands over Sephiroth's.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked.

"I almost lost you once. I won't lose you again," she told him.

Sephiroth stood very still. He felt a flutter within the lump that was his heart. "What are you saying?"

Aeris placed her palms on his chest."I love you Sephiroth. I love you very much. Words can never express what I feel in my heart for you. Don't go back to the Ancient City to die. I need you. Please stay with me. We can go back to Icicle Village and start a life of our own."

He didn't react. "What about Cloud?"

"You should have come into the cabin Sephiroth," she gazed into his eyes willing him to believe her. "You heard me telling Cloud I loved him as a friend. Cloud doesn't love me Sephiroth. He loves Tifa. I don't love him. Not like that. What I feel inside for you is for you alone. I've never had these feelings for anyone else. I love you Sephiroth and I want to be with you, always, if you'll have me."

He hesitated. "You can love me after all I've done?"

"You were a general once Sephiroth," said Aeris. "You picked the best men for your troops. Do you still trust your judgement to make the right choice?"

"Was what I did in Nibelheim the right choice?" he asked.

"I'm talking about before Jenova took over," she answered. "Did you trust your judgement when it came to picking the right man for the job?"

"Yes," he said.

"You had women in your troops too, right?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Did you trust your judgement to pick the best woman for the job?"

"Yes."

Aeris reached down and pulled the chocobo's reins out of his hand and slid her arms around his neck.

"Judge this." She kissed him full on the mouth.

His arms went around her body and he returned her kiss tenfold.

After a while Aeris pulled back. "Well, what do you think?"

"I'm not sure," he said. "Let me judge again. He kissed her passionately. He was the one to break the kiss this time. "I love you Aeris. Let's go home."

She smiled at him. "Are you sure?"

"Do you trust your judgment?" Sephiroth asked.

Aeris nodded.

"Then judge this," he said, pulling her in for another kiss.

They were startled out of their embrace by the sound of applause and cheering. They turned to look back at the Highwind. Everyone was standing at the head of the ship's ramp. Yuffie waved a camera. Sephiroth and Aeris blushed.

"Cid," asked Aeris "Can we ask you a favor?"

Cid took a puff on his cigarette. "Yeah. What is it?"

"Can you take us home?"

"Where in the hell do you think you are? If lovebirds will stop pawing each other for five minutes, you'll find we're parked on one of the few grassy areas outside the glacier. You're only a few miles away from home. That chocobo can get in a lot closer than the Highwind. I figured you'd be wanting to go home, so I made this my first stop."

"Thank you," said Sephiroth.

"Think nothing of it," said Cid. "When you two decide to tie the knot, you'd better invite us or you're not invited to the Christmas party this year."

Aeris blushed and looked at Sephiroth.

Everyone came down the ramp to shake Sephiroth's hand and to give Aeris a hug.

Even Barret came forward. "Take care of that girl or you'll hear from me."

"I intend to keep a very close eye on her," Sephiroth looked at Aeris.

Cloud walked up to Sephiroth. Everyone held their breath. "I don't know that we'll ever be friends," he said. "I still can't forgive you for what you did but I want Aeris to be happy. She seems to think you're special. You'd better take good care of her. Don't make me have to come down here and kick your ass again."

Sephiroth gave him a cool smile. "I'll consider myself warned. I'll take care of Aeris. Don't worry about that. As for you kicking my ass again, I don't think so."

Cloud just looked at him and walked away. The tension broke and everyone relaxed a bit.

Tifa hugged Aeris and whispered in her ear. "Thank you for helping Cloud see the truth. I'm sorry about that little scene just now."

Aeris smiled and winked at her. "We'll have our hands full whenever those two get together. This is only the practice run. Just make sure we get an invitation to your wedding too, and remember to move all the breakables!"

Tifa winked back.

After the goodbyes were over, everyone went back aboard the ship. The Highwind took off. Aeris and Sephiroth waved until the ship was small in the distance. Sephiroth turned to Aeris. "What do you think of Cid's idea?"

"What idea?" asked Aeris.

"The idea of us getting married," he said looking into her eyes. "When we lived in Icicle Village, I started wondering what it would be like to share my life with someone. That was the night you combed my hair."

Aeris blushed. "If you're going to run around without a shirt, that might be a good idea."

Sephiroth looked surprised. "Why? What has my shirt got to do with anything?"

"Have you ever taken a good look in the mirror?" she asked.

"Every day," he said. "So?"

"There's a really good reason why you shouldn't run around half dressed," Aeris said, looking away. "Especially when I'm drinking water!"

He looked puzzled for a moment, then his face cleared. He smiled and turned her chin so he could kiss the tip of her nose. "You make me crazy Aeris. I can't think when I'm with you."

"What do you want to do about it?" Aeris asked.

"I want you to be my wife." He was gazing into her eyes again.

"Are you asking, or is this one of those situations where I know who's in command?" She raised an eyebrow.

Sephiroth took her hands in his. "Will you be my wife Aeris?"

"Yes. I think I will," she smiled. "And we'd better set a date before I have to beat off the neighborhood women."

"We'll do that." Sephiroth took off one of his gloves. He pulled a ring off the finger of his right hand. "This is only a Shinra military ring, but I promise to get you a nicer one before the wedding."

Aeris held out her hand and he placed it on the fourth finger of her left hand. "You can if you want to, but this ring is a thousand times more valuable to me than any other ring you could possibly buy."

They kissed so long the chocobo grew restless and began to stamp its feet impatiently. Sephiroth laughed and climbed aboard. He helped Aeris up. Yuffie had returned Aeris' weapons with the materia intact. Aeris put the gold armlet and poison ring in her pocket. She balanced the Princess Guard between them.

Goldie got them home in record time. Sephiroth put him in the shed out back. When he came into the house Aeris had left a warm drink on the table for him to find. He could hear the shower running. He sipped his drink and went over all the things that had happened to him since he came out of the Lifestream.

"I saved some hot water for you," said Aeris when she came downstairs in her robe. Sephiroth looked at her puzzled. She touched his sleeve. "You've still got Hojo dust on you."

He saw that she was right. He smiled as he went upstairs to shower.

"Just keep your robe on," she called after him. "Have you seen the time? By the time we eat dinner it'll almost be time for bed."

When Sephiroth came downstairs, Aeris had prepared a quick meal. While they ate dinner, Aeris told him about Hojo and Zephiroth. Sephiroth explained how they tracked her down and about the trip to Midgar. While he helped her with the dishes, Sephiroth came up with some ideas to change the house. Aeris was surprised and impressed with his suggestions.

For the first time Sephiroth truly felt as if he belonged somewhere. "Do you think the Cetra will be angry when I don't show up in the Ancient City to die?" he asked Aeris.

"I doubt it." She gazed at him with love. "I think they were hoping you would change your mind too." She yawned and started upstairs.

Sephiroth turned off the light and followed her. Aeris walked right into Sephiroth's room and started turning back the covers on the bed. Sephiroth stopped outside the door. "You're more tired than I thought you were Aeris. You're in the wrong room. Yours is the next one over," he said.

"I know where I am." She smiled at him. She dropped her robe. She was wearing a very pretty pink nightgown. She climbed into bed. "I'm not all that tired and you don't have to stay on your side of the bed if you don't want to."

Sephiroth looked at Aeris in surprise. She pulled the covers back on his side of the bed, fluffed his pillow and smiled at him. He smiled back and turned off the light. Come to think of it. He wasn't all that tired either.