A/N: Just a small FYI... I've changed/added to the beginning of the game a bit for convenience. I hope you all enjoy this new story! Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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Trudging through the streets of the slums of Sector 7, Lailah makes her way to Seventh Heaven. With her hood concealing her face, she attracted less attention as she moved across the sector. She chose to travel the less-populated streets to avoid most of the hustle and bustle.

Finally, she arrived at Seventh Heaven. The moment she walked into the building, the girl behind the bar greeted her. "Welcome!"

Quietly, Lailah walked over and stood at the bar.

"What can I get for you?" Tifa kindly asked.

Grabbing the side of her hood, Lailah pulled it down. Her snowy locks cascaded down her back, the multicolored tips coming to reach just below her waist. She smiled sweetly at the bartender.

The sable-haired girl gasped and almost dropped the glass she had been cleaning. Her eyes widen when she recognized who she was. "Lailah..." She quickly rounded around the bar to hug her childhood friend. "You're finally back."

The silent girl hugged her in return. Unable to use her voice, she only embraced her tightly.

Tifa pulled away to look at the shorter girl. "I kept all those letters you sent me from Tellus."

Lailah put her satchel on the bar and pulled out all the letters that Tifa had sent her.

"You kept all of mine, too?"

She nodded and neatly stacked the letters. She then neatly tucked them back into her bag.

Tifa couldn't stop smiling. "It's good to have you back, Lailah. I even have a room that I saved for you. You can stay here for as long as you like. I'll show you where it is."

Lailah mouthed "thank you" to her before following her upstairs to the room.

While she got comfortable in the room, Tifa went back downstairs to the bar before returning with a stack of letters. They were crumpled up but still in one piece. She handed them to her childhood friend. "These are some of the unsent letters from Cloud. I managed to pull them out of the trashcan."

With a shocked expression, Lailah took the letters. She checked the dates to see they were written in the past couple of days. She was surprised at how many there were in total: six. If he had sent them, she wouldn't have received them due to the timing.

"Speaking of Cloud, he should be back soon," Tifa said. "In the meantime, you should rest. I'll come to get you when dinner's ready."

When Tifa left, Lailah sat on the edge of the bed. She couldn't wait to read Cloud's letter and dove right in. She read each and every one at least twice. She was surprised at how much emotion he put into each letter. It made her feel a bit guilty for leaving without telling anyone. She had left after her healing failed to awaken Tifa from her coma, and all she gave to Cloud was a lousy note that told him she would be back soon. That was twelve years ago. And now, she was finally back. It was thanks to Tifa's letters that she was able to learn what happened to Cloud and Nibelheim.

Lailah folded up the letters and placed them on the nightstand. Sighing through her nose, she laid down on the bed and stared distantly at the ceiling. She didn't move from the bed until she heard Tifa call up to her an hour later.

Crawling off the bed, she headed downstairs.

Tifa smiled at the girl as she came over to sit at the bar before placing the plate of food in front of her. "Hope you're hungry. I remember your favorite: grilled vegetables over rice."

Lailah didn't wait to taste Tifa's cooking. Even though it was a simple dish, she tasted the amazing sauce she used to grill the vegetables. It made not only the vegetables delicious but the rice as well.

Tifa saw how much she was enjoying the meal. It was only when she catch a glimpse of her friend's multicolored hair tips that she remembered the specialty cocktail she had created in Lailah's honor. "I have a surprise for you." She got to work making the special mixed drink. Once done, she slid the glass over to her friend. "After opening the bar, I came up with the idea for this drink. You were the inspiration. I call it the "Tree of Life"."

Lailah was in awe at the drink. There were four layers, each one a different color-red, yellow, blue, and green. It was the colors of the tips of her hair. She thought it was too pretty to drink.

Of course, Tifa could tell what she was thinking and giggled. "It's very colorful, but the flavor is even better. Go on, try it."

The snowy-haired girl took a sip. She was more than surprised at how fruity it was. She found it to be extremely tasty and she could barely taste the alcohol. She smiled at the flavor.

"You like it?" Tifa asked.

She nodded before taking another sip.

Tifa smiled and started to clean the dirty glasses.

Lailah continued to enjoy her meal. She finished every last bite and drank every drop of the cocktail. Looking over at her friend, she saw the many glasses she needed to clean. She got up and took her dishes to the kitchen then proceeded to help Tifa.

"You don't have to help, Lailah," Tifa said. "I know you're still tired from your trip."

Lailah shook her head and continued to help clean the cups. It was the least she could do to thank her for the food and the roof over her head.

With her help, Tifa was able to clean not only the glasses but the entire bar as well. She organized the cleaned glasses and wiped down the counter. "Lailah, could you go to the kitchen and grab the box I have by the freezer? There should be new cups in it."

Tifa continued to organize the bar. She was waiting for Lailah to return with the box when the front door opened. She smiled after seeing Cloud walk in. "Welcome back." She put down the glass she was holding. She couldn't stop her smile from turning into a smirk. She was aware of how much he cared for Lailah and couldn't wait to see his reaction. "There's someone here who you've been wanting to see."

"Oh, yeah?" Cloud walked over to the bar. "And who's that?"

Just then, Lailah returned from the kitchen with the box. She put it on the counter and went to tell Tifa, but she froze when she saw Cloud. Although it's been twelve years, she recognized that spiky blonde hair from anywhere. She stared at him with wide eyes.

Cloud sported the same shocked expression as her. His mouth hung ajar at the sight of her. He was completely flabbergasted.

Tifa glanced between her two childhood friends. She decided to help by grabbing Lailah and pulling her out from behind the bar. She nudged the shorter girl towards Cloud. "Now, I know it's been years since the three of us have been together, but I think you two missed each other the most. I'll give you two some time to catch up." With that, Tifa retreated into the kitchen.

Lailah was the first to snap out of her petrified state. She had much to say and looked around for something to write on. She found a napkin and pen. She scribbled down the first thing she wanted to tell him and showed him the napkin.

'I missed you.'

Cloud was still speechless after he read the napkin. His mouth opened and closed but no sound came out.

Lailah proceeded to write down more onto the napkin. Smiling apologetically, she showed him the napkin again.

'I'm sorry for leaving. I should have told you instead of leaving a note.'

Realizing she forgot to write something, she quickly added it.

'I understand if you're mad and don't blame you. I hope you'll forgive me.'

Cloud finally found his voice. "There's nothing to forgive. You left to get stronger. So did I." He found himself staring into her golden eyes. "Just glad you're safe."

Lailah flipped over the napkin and wrote down more.

'Tifa told me about you in her letters. How are you?'

"Fine," he blandly replied. "I should be the one asking you that. You went back to Tellus, right?"

She nodded and scribbled down her reply.

'Yes. Although there are only remains, it was nice to call it home again after many years. But I am happy to be back with you and Tifa.'

The two childhood friends sat at the bar and continued their conversation. Lailah kept writing on napkins. It wasn't until she got into more personal questions did Cloud become quieter. One question in particular made him unable to speak.

'Why did you want to become a SOLDIER?'

Cloud stared at the question written on the napkin. He was conflicted about telling her the truth. He wondered if he could lie, but he never wanted to lie to her. In the end, he told her what he said to Tifa before he left Nibelheim. "I thought that if I became a hero, I could protect you and Tifa. I also believed if I became a SOLDIER, I could find you and bring you home. And maybe I could've found a way to heal your throat."

Lailah was taken aback at the last statement. She placed a hand near the scar on her throat. Never had she thought about finding a way to patch her injury so she could talk again. Hearing he wanted to find some way to help her made her happy. He wanted to become a SOLDIER not for himself but for her and Tifa.

Cloud leaned against the bar. He wanted to change the subject back to her. "Was your training successful?"

Smiling, she held out her hand and conjured a small flame. It then flickered into a sphere of lightning, an ice shard, and a sphere of wind before she crushed it in her palm. She then wrote down something on the napkin.

'I have quite a few new tricks up my sleeves.'

He faintly smiled at her message. "You always have new tricks up your sleeves." He referred to all the times she creatively got him to hang out with her and Tifa. He was a shut-in who preferred to be alone than have friends. Then, all that changed when she entered his life. His mother had opened their home to her when Cloud found her and brought her back to heal her wounds. He had no difficulty getting along with her and found himself enjoying her company. It was only her and his mother in his life for a while before he let Tifa in.

They spoke for a little while longer before Tifa joined them. She poured both of them a drink before deciding to reminisce with them.

They talked for hours.

Tifa changed the subject when she mentioned how she joined Avalanche, an eco-terrorist insurgent group seeking to save the planet. She then told them about their next mission: to destroy Mako Reactor One. "I know you just got back, but I think you and Cloud would prove to be great allies on this mission, Lailah. I know how much you hate Shinra for what they did to Tellus. This would be the perfect chance to get back at them."

Cloud was puzzled at what Tifa meant. "What?"

Lailah lowered her head. She hadn't told him about the people who ravaged her village and killed everyone were members of SOLDIER.

Tifa looked between the two. "You didn't tell him, Lailah?"

She shook her head with a sorrowful frown.

Cloud wasn't mad she didn't tell him. Instead, he was even more grateful he left SOLDIER. "Then it's a good thing I'm no longer one of them."

Tifa glanced between her two childhood friends. "You two don't have to decide now. Give it some thought before giving me your answers."

With that, the three friends shared another drink before calling it a night.

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In the middle of the night, Cloud was still wide awake. He was still in disbelief to see Lailah again after twelve years. Of his two childhood friends, she had been the one he missed the most. He has been enthralled with her ever since they were little. He wasn't sure what drew him to her. He pondered the idea that maybe it was because she was a Child of Gaia, a mystic being who was brought into this world by the lifestream itself. She was an ethereal being with incredible powers. He had been in awe when she showed him what all she could do when they were little. Or perhaps it was much more simpler than that.

Cloud was torn from his thoughts the moment he heard a door close. He realized it came from the room next door, which so happened to be Lailah's room. Curious, he got up and left his room. He wandered downstairs just in time to hear the front door close. Wondering what she was doing, he followed her.

Outside, Cloud looked around for her. He figured she hadn't gone far and was correct. He found her sitting on the roof of Seventh Heaven. He walked over and stood below her. "How did you get up there?"

Lailah looked down with a smile. She pointed to the route she took up to the roof. She wondered if he would try to join her. Lo and behold, he did. She watched in amusement as he tried to take the route she did. It took him a few tries, but he finally reached the rooftop.

He sat beside her, his legs dangling over the side of the roof. "Pretty sure you had a much easier time getting up here."

She smiled in amusement. She used one of her abilities to reach the rooftop, but she wouldn't tell him that. She looked up at the stars scattered across the night sky. It was difficult to see them with all the lights and the Sector 7 plate, but she could make out a few.

Cloud gazed up at the stars as well. When he did, a memory of him and Lailah sitting on top of the water tower in Nibelheim flashed through his mind. They would often watch the nighttime sky on the nights they couldn't sleep. "One of those nights, huh?"

She nodded, her snowy locks blowing in the faint breeze. She then looked over at him with a quizzical expression.

He felt her gaze and already knew what she was trying to convey. "Yeah, I can't sleep either."

She whipped out a small notepad and pen to write down her next question.

'Are you thinking about what Tifa said?'

"That, and I'm..." He looked away from her, feeling a little embarrassed to say it out loud. "I'm still surprised you're here. For a while, I thought something happened to you."

She wrote down her reply.

'Sorry for worrying you. I wanted to come back, but I needed to learn how to use my powers. But I promise I'm not going anywhere else anytime soon.'

"I'm going to hold you to that."

She huffed out a soundless giggle.

"What do you think we should do?" He asked. "The mission, I mean."

Lailah thought for a second before writing her response.

'To be honest, I want to help. Not only to avenge my people but to also help the planet. It is my duty as one of her children to see that what hurts her is destroyed.'

"I figured you would say something like that." Cloud stared into her golden eyes. "That's why I'm going too. You may have magic, but I'd feel better knowing I was with you. I made a vow years ago that I would protect you and I'm going to make sure I don't break it. No matter how strong you are, I will be there for you."

She smiled appreciatively at him and mouthed "thank you."

"And I could use the money," Cloud added.

This caused her to laugh silently. She playfully bumped her shoulder against his with a smile before putting the notepad and pen away in her pocket.

A comfortable silence washed over them as they watched the stars above. They didn't move from their spot on the roof until the wee hours of the morning.

Seeing they should try to get a couple of hours of sleep, they decided to head back inside.

Walking back into the bar, they were spotted by Tifa. "I was wondering where you two went."

"We have our answer," Cloud said.

Tifa blinked in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah. We'll do it."

She was baffled. "A-Are you sure? I can give you two more time to think about it if you need to."

"No need. We decided on this together."

Tifa smiled. "All right! I'll tell the others right away."

Cloud and Lailah found themselves gazing at one another. She smiled softly, causing him to smile as well. They were ready to face anything together.