Looking up at the stars, Cloud sighed softly. Almost a year since he and his friends had defeated Sephiroth. Almost a year since her death...Since that time, he had wandered the world, not wishing to settle down as most of his friends had. Yuffie had gone back to Wutai to rebuild the city with her father, Godo; Red XIV...no, Nanaki, too, had gone back to Cosmo Canyon to lead his people through the confused times; Vincent had gone off somewhere on his own without a word; Cid was back in his town still keeping his dream alive; and Tifa was back in Midgar along with Barret and Reeve. The three were trying to pull the city together. Cloud had been asked to join them in their efforts, but he had refused. Not because he didn't think that what they were doing was worthwhile, but because he needed time to think, to reflect.
       What did the deaths of Aeris and Sephiroth mean to him? When Aeris was killed...he had been able to only watch, not even close his eyes as his arch enemy descended from the sky, and ended the life of one that he had sworn to protect. She had not protested to death. Her beautiful face had been serene in death because she had summoned Holy and that her death would not prevent Holy from being activated, but Cloud had never been able to let go of that moment. He had been helpless to save her because of his own weakness. He knew that now, but then, he had blamed it all on Sephiroth who had called him a "puppet." Now the puppeteer was dead, killed by the puppet, but the puppet had lost his directive in his life.
       If there was any way to bring her back...
       Clenching his fists in the grass, Cloud ground his teeth against the pain that surfaced every time he thought of her serene compassionate face. Until Sephiroth's death, he had a goal: to avenge her death. Now that goal was gone, only a hollow emptiness spread in his soul, and even that was steeped in the grief he had failed to deal with. Anger had supported him, but now there was only the wrenching grief that even threatened to drown him now.
       Aeris...I need you...

       Cloud woke up with a start. When had he fallen asleep? Groggily shaking his head, he stood up and looked around. Was he still dreaming? he wondered as he found himself surrounded by stars, above, below, everywhere. Strangely, there was no fear, only a gentle sorrow, remnants of the grief he kept in check within his bleeding heart. It was dark, but stars twinkled brightly like tiny suns. Scratching his head a little, he gave a tiny shrug. Whether it was a dream or no, he couldn't see what he was supposed to be-
       A familiar sounding giggle cut off his thoughts abruptly, and he whirled around, calling her name.
       'Aeris!'
       Lacing her fingers behind her, the flower girl grinned up at him.
       'Hello, Cloud'
       'Aeris...'
       Words failing him, Cloud stepped forward and swept her into a tight hug. Her arms gently went around him.
       'Why...how...?'
       Choking, he forced himself to loose her enough so that he could gaze into her serene smile. Leaf green eyes sparkled with something more than starlight.
       'I couldn't leave you like this, Cloud, not when I could feel your grief...and emptiness.'
       'Then are you coming back?'
       'No, I can never do that...I can only meet you here like this, and only for tonight. I...I came to say goodbye.'
       'Aeris...why...why couldn't we...'
       He stopped, choking his tears.
       'Why couldn't we have been together?'
       She finished sadly.
       'I wanted us to be together, too, but it wasn't meant to be, not in this life.'
       'Not in this life?'
       He repeated, sensing hope in those words. A smile lit her face.
       'That's what I keep on telling myself, and that's what I wanted to tell you before I really left to join the Life Stream.'
       'Where are we?'
       'This'
       She gestured about them, at the brightly sparkling stars.
       'This is where souls may rest before going on to become one with the Life Stream. We all die with some regrets, and here, we can reflect and find peace so that we may go on. I stayed because I couldn't bear to think of leaving you and others on your own, and then because your pain held me back...but I think it's time for me now.'
       'Then...this is really final...?'
       He faltered, pain clouding his mind.
       'I don't know. I don't think so. All of our souls join the Life Stream...and from the Life Stream we return. Maybe we can be together, then.'
       Taking in her words, Cloud thought about it but shook his head.
       'Then we won't know each other.'
       'Won't we? Maybe not consciously...but if we really are meant to be, then our souls should know when we meet.'
       Unable to resist her optimistic smile, he reluctantly grinned.
       'It sounds too optimistic to me, but if you can believe in that hope, then I can.'
       'Good. No more tearing yourself apart thinking of me?'
       'Aeris...'
       The smile on his face instantly faded.
       'It was my fault that-'
       Aeris laid a finger on his lips.
       'Don't even think it, Cloud. When Sephiroth killed me, there was nothing you could do. He did his best to make you kill me, and you resisted him. You refused to give him that twisted satisfaction, then, so don't start now.'
       Silent, Cloud gazed into her peaceful face. She was even more beautiful than she was in life, and that was because she was truly at peace now, he realized. It had made no difference to her whether Sephiroth, her...killer, died or not. That mattered only because the Planet had been in danger, not because she wanted revenge.
       'Killing Sephiroth didn't mean anything...did it?'
       He gave a wry grin.
       'Not if it meant revenge. It doesn't accomplish anything...and you only felt empty afterwards...didn't you?'
       At her almost accusatory question, he had to nod.
       'It was as if my whole being depended on killing him, and now...there's nothing. You are gone, and so is Sephiroth...'
       'Then...find yourself again, Cloud. This time, not your past, but your future. It's difficult...but that's what every living thing must do, finding their own futures. I can't dream much of future now...but...I still believe in having a future. The only future I had after my death was to gather enough courage to decide to go on to the Life Stream, but while I was thinking, I decided that Life Stream doesn't have to be the end of it all. I'll miss you because...because I love you, but at least I can hope for another chance with you. That thought helped me decide.'
       Cloud listened to her words with a bowed head, and when she finished, he didn't look up for a moment. He had thought that the world ended with Aeris' and Sephiroth's deaths. He had wanted to end himself with it, believing that in death he could find oblivion from all these responsibilities, but even now Aeris showed him that there was no escaping and that the only happiness to be found was by facing his responsibilities. She had faced hers and had found peace and hope. Sharing her hope with him, she was asking to do what she had done, and he couldn't fail her...but it was so hard...
       'Do you believe that we can really be together again?'
       He asked, stalling for time. She tilted her head in askance.
       'Do you?'
       She asked, instead of answering. Finally meeting her calm gaze, he smiled wanly.
       'Yes...because I can't believe that I can really stay away from you forever.'
       Her answering smile was bright with love and hope.
       'Thank you, Cloud. I...I needed to hear you say that. Now I can go.'
       They held each other's gaze for a long time.
       'Until then...'
       Aeris whispered, moving away from him.
       'Until then,'
       Cloud echoed, his hand lingering on her slim one.