Zack gasped faintly as she jumped at him, his instincts alone allowing him to catch her. She... wasn't going to tell him to leave? She wasn't giving up on him?

She wasn't... like everyone else.

Tremulously he lifted his arms to hold her back, a sudden, tearful smile crossing his lips. "Aeris... that's really what you want...?"

It was more than he could ever have hoped for.