Tifa was awake that night. She couldn’t sleep, not because she was having health problem but it was because she was too excited of her wedding. She occasionally smiled to herself, giggled while looking at the ceiling. She had many different thoughts. She was thinking how would it feels being called as Mrs. Strife, having kids and all sorts of things. She was really excited.

She lied down, occasionally turning from side to side and after a few hours, she felt thirsty. She got up from bed and walked out of her room. She was heading to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water.

On her way to the kitchen, Tifa walked past Cloud’s room. She didn’t thought of entering it but something caught her attention. The door was opened. Tifa felt curious and she took a peek inside. Cloud wasn't in his room.

Tifa entered Cloud's room but Cloud was nowhere to be found. Tifa started to worry. Where can Cloud be at a time like this? Tifa looked around hoping to find some clue. She found out there was something missing. Cloud’s sword was gone. Something really wrong was going on.

Cloud looked at Aeris with astonishment. He couldn’t believe what was going on. At first this flower girl showed up, then came this Sephiroth that claimed to be more powerful than the actual Sephiroth. Now he found out that this girl was actually Aeris, someone he lost for a long time, someone he shouldn’t be talking to right now.

"How...how can you possibly be alive? A year ago Sephiroth’s sword ran right through you. " Cloud asked with a surprised look.

"I was gone once. But now I am back, in a different body. " Aeris replied.

"How...How? " Cloud asked with a more surprised look.

"If I explain how all this happen, will you believe me? " Aeris asked Cloud. Cloud didn’t know what to say but to nod to know more.

“It all started this way...” Aeris started explaining and sat on a doorstep nearby. Cloud joined her and listened carefully.

"After I was killed by Sephiroth I entered the lifestream, just like everyone else. But when meteor came I know I have to do something so I prayed to holy for help. But as you know that holy wasn't strong enough so I summoned the lifestream for help. After meteor was destroyed, everything went back to normal. But the special thing was the planet offered me something, something I never though of. " Aeris explained.

"How could the planet "offer" you something? " Cloud interrupted.

"The planet isn't like what you think. It can think just like you and me. It can get hurt and even cry. But only an Ancient can talk to the planet. Remember what Bugenhagen said in the observatory in Cosmo Canyon? Every time something dies it will be reborn somewhere else on the planet. It is how thing work to keep the planet going. But when something is reborn all it past memories will not exist and it may be reborn in a different form. So the planet offered me something special. The planet won't erase my memories and I will be reborn in an adult human form like what you are seeing of me now. " Aeris continued.

"So you are trying to tell me that you are reincarnated without forgetting your past life? " Cloud asked. Aeris nodded as a reply.

"But how does Sephiroth know about this? And why are you with him just now? " Cloud asked again.

"This isn't actually the Sephiroth you encountered before. He is the most successful Sephiroth clone Hojo ever created so he is actually has abilities all the Sephiroth clones have, including the ability to talk to the planet.” Aeris answered.

Just now I tried to beg Sephiroth to let you go, but he didn’t want to. He told me that he wanted to defeat you, no matter what it takes. And I don’t want that to happen." Aeris said a little more.

"Why didn’t you tell me who you actually are before? We met once before. " Cloud asked curiously.

"I am afraid. I am afraid that you couldn’t take it. "

Aeris replied softly. Her eyes were fixed onto the ground. She looked so sad and she looked like she kept something away from Cloud. Cloud stared at her. Although she looked different, she really was Aeris. Her gesture, her speech...everything except for her looks indicated that she was Aeris. Now Cloud had to live his life in confusion, again.

"Because of that you didn't tell all of us that you came back? " Cloud asked again. Aeris just remained silent and continued looking at the tiles.

"I think you better come back with me. I don't want Sephiroth to harm you again. " Cloud suggested and stood up.

"No! I mean no. The others shouldn’t know about this. In fact, even you shouldn’t know too. " Aeris snapped out.

"You wanted to hide this from the others? Why? Everybody missed you and we will surely welcome you back and you know it. Why the secrecy? " Cloud exclaimed.

"It's because I...I..." Aeris replied softly but then she stopped. She was interrupted by a voice calling out Cloud from a distance.

"Please...just promise me not to tell anybody about what happened just now, please? I promise I will follow you back home. " Aeris pleaded.

Cloud didn't know what to do. The look on Aeris’s face made her look desperate. He can't believe that Aeris didn't want the others to know that she came back. If it weren’t because of this incident with Sephiroth he wouldn't even know about this either. What is wrong with Aeris? Why was she doing this? What was she hiding from him?

“Cloud!!! Where are you?!”

The voice calling out his name was heard again. Cloud got more anxious. Aeris still looked at Cloud with that desperate face. Cloud had no choice. He could only nod and agree.

"Ok, I promise. " Cloud answered. There was a sparkle in Aeris’s eyes. That look on her face disappeared and changed into a thankful look. Aeris thanked Cloud and they walked out of the alley.

"Cloud! Cloud! "

After Tifa found out that Cloud was gone, she woke the others up and in a while all of them was out looking for Cloud. Although the other were still sleepy and were still in their pajamas, they still got dressed up and start the search. They had to find Cloud, no matter what it takes.

Everybody in the team headed to different places, hoping to stumble into Cloud. Tifa went to the church while the other went to other places. Cait Sith started his search on the streets.

Cait Sith kept on hopping and looking around. He shouted out Cloud’s name and hoped to see a figure popped out of nowhere. His wished came true. When he was hopping by a small alley, he saw two figures coming out of the dark alley.

"They you are Cloud! What are you doing here in the middle night? Don't you know how worried Tifa was? We all can't get a wink of sleep because of you!”

Cait Sith scolded after Cloud gave everyone so much trouble. Cloud just kept quiet and looked at Cait Sith. Cait Sith calmed down and something caught his eye. It was Aeris that was standing next to Cloud.

“Hey!... I met you before somewhere...” Cait Sith exclaimed the minute he saw Aeris. He tried to recall who she was. Aeris bit her lower lips and hoped Cait Sith won’t figure out who she was.

Oh yah! You are the flower girl at the church! Er... Cloud, what are doing with this girl here in the middle of the night? " Cait Sith asked with a shocked tone.

"He's um...my bodyguard! I got myself into trouble so I called in through the PHS for help. " Aeris blurted out what came by her mind.

"Cloud, you are a bodyguard? Why didn’t you tell us earlier that you are one? We would at least know what happened to you and not get worried at a time like this! Oh well, better do all the explanation to Tifa. " Cait Sith said and led the two back to the 7th Heaven. Cloud looked at Aeris and saw her looking at the floor with her head down. He sensed that Aeris hid something from him, something real big.

Tifa was relieved when she heard her PHS rang bringing her good news. Cait Sith called her to tell her that he found Cloud. Soon the whole party was back at the 7th Heaven. The moment Tifa saw Cloud, Tifa was surprised to see the flower girl she met that day in the church sitting next to Cloud. She hoped that she was only being suspicious.

“Uh...Tifa...”

And so Cloud’s explanation for the whole team started. He lied and made up things that made sense to cover up Aeris’s identity. Aeris would once in a while back him up and made it sounded real.

"So Cloud is your bodyguard...I see...We already met twice but we don't even know your name. " Tifa asked Aeris after quite some explanation.

"It's Celes. " Aeris replied. Cloud looked at Aeris strangely but then quickly got rid of that look.

"Tifa, I know this sounds a little sudden but would you mind Celes staying with us? I am her bodyguard but I don't want to run away like just now every time she got into trouble. She will move out once everything is settled."

Cloud suggested. Tifa kept quiet and thought for a moment. Cloud’s heart beat faster. Will Tifa agree?

"I don't mind. We have an empty room just down the hallway. You could sleep there if you wanted to. " Tifa replied and pointed to a door down the hallway.

"That's very kind of you. So uh...goodnight."

Aeris stood up and walked towards the room. Cloud looked at Tifa, hoping she wouldn’t get suspicious and was relieved when she yawned and went up to her room. Cloud sat on his chair, thinking what will happen next.