[Did she take too long? Maybe. Cloud's not always been the most patient of people. Many people in Midgar aren't, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. There's always a place to go. Things to do. Something to take care of. For Aerith, before getting caught up in the whirlwind that was Cloud and Avalanche, she might have been a little too complacent. She certainly hadn't put 'stopping Shinra's monopoly and evil business practises' on her list of things to do.

There are so many more important things at hand, honestly, though that too, is important. Maybe her concern has always been that they can't protect a planet that they don't have.]

I'm not in a hurry to go back.

[Of course she isn't. She's in a field of what will eventually be so many flowers. This is heaven for her.]

But I can definitely help you. Let's do it together, okay?

[Her smile is sweet and sure as it ever seems to be. He's trying so hard. Trying can be good, but... he doesn't need to try to the point where he's uncomfortable. He reaches up to rub at his forehead and it's such a subtle mark, but the dust left behind atop skin makes her laugh. She lifts a hand which is, at present, pretty impeccably clean, and with her thumb, she gently scrubs that dust away.]

Hey, you're doing great. These things are better with company. Let's get to it.