The mysterious flower vendor

"Good, you're awake."

Jessie's eyes snapped open; it took only seconds to remember where she was and what had happened. They were fighting with a Shinra machine after the company set them up --last thing she remembered, she and Cloud had fallen from the top of the Sector 5 Mako reactor...

"Unghh... Where am I...?" she said as her eyes focused, seeing the pretty face of the woman watching over her.

"Sector 5... I'm glad to see you're OK," The woman said cheerfully, smiling warmly at Jessie. "You took a really nasty fall there."

"Hey, I remember you... you're the girl who sold me that flower earlier," Jessie recalled. She'd encountered the mystery woman alongside Cloud when they were evading Shinra's soldiers after their previous mission. The woman had sold Jessie a flower, which she'd given to Tifa upon returning to Seventh Heaven.

The woman giggled. "Hehe... that's right. Glad you remember," she said. "My name's Aerith."

Jessie slowly began rising to her feet, noticing the bed of flowers she'd been lying in. "I'm Jessie. Thanks for looking after me there... huh, I didn't know flowers grew anywhere in the slums."

"This is one of only two places where these flowers grow in Midgar," Aerith smiled cheerfully. "The other place is by my house."

"Oh... in that case, I'm sorry I've ruined them," Jessie said, looking down at the flower bed that had apparently broken her fall.

"Don't worry about it."

Jessie looked around the derelict church hall. It seemed that she and Aerith were the only ones there. "Was there anyone else with me? In particular, a blonde guy with spiky hair? Had a really really big sword?"

Aerith shook her head. "No, you were the only one I could find. This guy, he was the guy with you when I sold you that flower, wasn't he?"

"That's him," Jessie said, a little disappointment in her voice. Still, Cloud was tough, she reminded herself. She was sure he was fine -- and Jessie certainly didn't mind being alone with this pretty stranger. "I'm sure he'll be OK though."

As she turned back towards Aerith, Jessie found the woman leaning over slightly; the look on Aerith's face made it clear she'd caught her interest. "So..." Aerith grinned, "how do you feel now? You must have been knocked out for a long time."

"A little sore, but everything seems to be in working order," Jessie laughed, stretching.

"Good to hear. By the way, I found this materia near you when you fell. It must be yours," Aerith said, handing the orbs over to Jessie.

"Thanks. I appreciate it," Jessie said as she took the small crystalline spheres from Aerith's hand.

"I have some materia of my own," Aerith said, showing off the ribbon tying her hair together. "It's unique."

"Yeah? How so?"

"It doesn't do anything," Aerith smirked. "It's important to me, though. It was a gift from my mother."

Jessie smiled, giving Aerith a once-over. The girl was quite beautiful, especially her eyes. "Maybe you just haven't found the proper use for it."

"Maybe," Aerith smiled. "You know, I really hoped I'd meet up with you again. Why don't you stay for awhile?"

Jessie smiled back, clearly charmed by the other woman. "I think I'd like that," she replied.