A/N: This is based on a true story of a situation that happened to me. I chose the character roles for a reason and I know some people won't be happy with the way some of them behave. However, it had to be these characters in order to have the effect on you guys that the situation had on me. Just explaining now before I get reviews saying "Oh my God! She/He'd never do that!!"

Also this first chapter is the only chapter in present tense. It's about Aerith's life years after what happened to her and the rest of the story is basically about what happened and how she finally got her happy ending. This chapter isn't really based on real life, unfortunately lol.

Finally, the characters belong to SquareEnix. I do, however, own the story.

Title: All's Fair In Love And War

Author: Beeria

Rating: T(for now)

All’s Fair in Love and War

"Do you ever feel like you wish you could go back and do something again? Do you wish you had said or done something differently and then ponder on how things would be now if you had? Actually, I'm being silly. Of course you have. Because everyone does at some point. But what if everything really happens for a reason? Was 'the one you let get away' actually ever 'the one' in the first place?"

I pause and read over my work again, wagging my pen between my fingers as I do so. I smile, truly happy with the introduction so far and put the pen down gently. Yawning, I stretch my back and stand before I head for the bedroom.

The soft snoring of my boyfriend greets me and I shake my head in amusement as I give a little sigh. Changing quickly because of the cold winter air, I pull back the covers and snuggle against him. He mutters something incoherant and rolls over in his sleep so that his body is facing me, throwing his arm around my waist and gently tugging me closer. I smile and close my eyes in contentment, letting my head rest against his shoulder.

I feel secure around him, protected from everything because I know, I know he's never going to leave me. I can see the devotion, the love in his eyes every morning when he wakes beside me. I just know we're meant to be together.

I shift slightly in an attempt to get comfortable and in doing so, accidently wake him. He grunts as he is thrust back into reality and he blinks as settles his gaze on me.

"Sorry," I whisper honestly although I cant help but laugh at the way he looks so groggy when he's sleepy. He continues looking at me as his brain processes my words. Then he gives a half-smile and collapses back into the pillows. I shake my head at his actions as I watch him.

His bare chest is rising and falling gently as he stays between the worlds of sleep and waking. The pale moonlight peeks through the gap in the curtains, falling onto his shoulder and casting half his face in it's light.

And I can't help but think that he is adorable. I truly feel like I am the luckiest woman in the world to have met him and for him to be mine.

"Aerith," he mutters suddenly, opening his eyes and gazing straight into mine. "Stop staring at me when I'm sleeping! I hate it!"

I smirk. "You can't have been asleep if you knew I was watching you," I tease.

"It was because you were watching me that I can't sleep!" he retorts in an angry tone but I can see he is trying to keep his amusement hidden from me. I raise my eyebrows and mock a hurt expression.

"Fine then, I'll go and sleep in the spare room," I say as I pull the covers back. I hardly get into a sitting position before he wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me back down, my back colliding with his chest.

"Cloud!" I squeak, my arms and legs flying everywhere as I tried to get out of his grip but he only holds on tighter. Finally, I give up and relax in his hold and settle back down to attempt sleep. I feel him kiss my shoulder tenderly and I smile into the pillow. This was what I lived for, these moments with Cloud and his love for me was everything that I ever wanted. I never take this affection for granted.

Because I remember once upon a time, I didn't think I'd ever trust again...