A/N: There's something new with . That is... *drum roll* images! I will try my hardest to find a good picture for the cover of my stories~ If you have suggestions, please leave a review on your favorite story of mine and I'll post it as its cover!

Moving on... I didn't know this chapter was just lying in my documents, just waiting to be uploaded. I'm sorry! Anyway, ready your tissues~

She found him sitting, leaning his back upon the wall of an open cave a few meters away from the coastline. The cave was generally warm with a pile of half-burned firewood at the center. She floated towards him and concentrated a fraction of her energy to the firewood. There was a small spark that spread across the wood until a roaring fire came forth. She couldn't feel its warmth but she knew it was enough for the blonde beside her had stopped shivering. Her gaze lingered for a moment on his drenched clothes as she sat on the dusty ground. He sat very still like he was built there, unaware of his body's reactions to the dampness of his clothing.

"You should take off your clothes, Cloud." She whispered softly, her eyes fixed upon the fire. "You'll get sick if you don't."

She turned to him at hearing no response. Ashes rose up from the dancing fire as it hissed and crackled. He stared at them blankly, the fire reflected upon his infinite sapphire eyes. She knew not what he thinks or if he even thinks. A tiny sigh came out of her lips and she cuddled her knees close to her chest.

"Hey, Cloud."

He didn't reply. Her emerald eyes deepened in color as she stared up at the shining stalactites that adorned the cave's ceiling. The fire's light gleamed on them like tiny fragments of broken glass. Looking further, she realized that the cave's ceiling was home to a billion glow worms. In the darkness, they shone like stars on that summer night when they sat before Cosmo Candle.

"I never got the chance to thank you, Cloud. I really thought I could keep my word and come back. I really wanted to come back."

Cold wind blew upon them and he shivered. He held the Buster Sword close to him like it was his only companion. She smiled weakly when she took a swift glance at him. Reminiscing the memories that were hidden deep in her heart was difficult despite she knew he couldn't hear her voice. Still, she wanted to grab that chance for she doesn't know when she'll disappear and fade away from him forever.

"On that night at Cosmo Canyon, for the first time…I felt alone. After all this time, I thought I needed no protection. I thought if I were strong, I'd protect the ones I love. But look at me now…" she bitterly smiled at herself. "I couldn't even help you. Were I always like this Cloud?"

"A…ah…gurk."

He held still for a moment, and then it started. His arms and legs began to shake vigorously. His pupils constricted and dilated. He moaned and groaned like he was stabbed a thousand times over and over. He thrashed and squirmed until bruises appeared on his face, his arms, and his legs. His body was reacting rigorously to negate the large amounts of foreign liquid that was injected throughout his system. She stared at him in horror as he had his first episode of the side effects of Mako poisoning.

For the first time, she felt afraid. She had never seen Cloud in a destructive state such as this. She was afraid that he'd lose himself, break himself. As she watched him suffer, she thought of Zack. He must've experienced this as well. She thought of everything that the Shinra had done to innocent people for their own profit. Never had she felt a greater anger than she was feeling now.

"Ah! A…gaah!"

Cloud's cries snapped her out of her frustration and she alarmingly turned to the blonde. She looked at him with pain in her green eyes. It hurt her to see him like this; it hurt her to know she couldn't do anything to help him…and the thing that hurts her most is regretting every moment when she could've told him she loved him and would take care of him. She loved him. Even if she knew he was acting like somebody else, even if he had hurt her in the past. She loved him. And now, she cannot touch him, hold him…she couldn't be with him. She knew that yet she wanted to deny the truth to herself. It was too much for her to bear. Tears slowly fell down her cheeks as her hand passed through his pallid face.

"Cloud…"

Are you alright? No, hey listen… Don't see so many flowers around here.

Yeah, I remember you… You were selling flowers.

It'll cost you.

Funny. I thought you were cut out to be in SOLDIER.

How could I ask you to go along when I knew it would be dangerous?

You were…serious?

Aerith! You safe?

Hey, I'm your bodyguard right?

I'll take you someday…

But I'm…we're here for you, right?

Not a real one…

But I'm right here.

You're crying?

Wha…What did I do...tell me, Aerith.

Yeah, I hear you. Sorry for what happened. I can't help it.

Aerith?

…Aerith.

Aerith is gone. Aerith will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry…or get angry…

What about my pain? My fingers are tingling. My mouth is dry. My eyes are burning!

The memories of him kept flashing back before her eyes. He was the only face she saw. She didn't want anything else to see anymore. She treasured the moments when they were together and would give anything to take it all back to the beginning. But seeing him now, seeing the state the Planet was in…it wasn't the time to be selfish. The world needed him, Avalanche needed him…Tifa needed him. She concentrated her energy in her palm then she began to caress Cloud's hair. The blonde's tremors paused and his breathing turned to normal. He furrowed his brows and turned to her direction. She smiled gently at him and lightly kissed his forehead. When she drew back to look at his face once more, an air of peace surrounded him like he was home.

"Sweet dreams," Aerith whispered as she placed an arm over his shoulder. "Cloud."