Aeris had never given much thought to her wedding when she was younger. Oh, there was a vague idea if things went well with Zack or Stella or Undyne then maybe she would propose, and tie the knot as it were. Maybe even use her church as the venue. Well, maybe not that; the less people who knew about it the better. Though quite how many people would even come to the ceremony was debatable. Mom of course. Aeris's friends and neighbours in Sector Five. Her partner's family. In any case, her briefly imagined wedding would look very little like the present. Her imagined wedding dress would have been white before; a rethink now would see it as black of fit the situation. As it was, her dress was nothing special; the same pink sundress she had been wearing since leaving Midgar.

The Ghost Hotel's lights were always dim as per the required ambience, and it was reportedly impossible to turn off any of the sound effects, the ghost effects or even get the staff into some other costumes. This it turned out was a thing in the Gold Saucer; a wedding venue like no other. The intersection of amusement park/race course and wedding venue was still giving her pause. Aeris had been faintly aware people did get married in this place; it came up as a subplot in a few dramas on TV. Usually such an action was ill-advised-

Cloud glanced over at her as the minister recited the various legal jargon necessary for the ceremony. No additional pomp or ceremony, but the gothic look and atmosphere at least gave proceedings a detail they wouldn't have achieved if they had decided to elope in Kalm or Junon or Costa del Sol. That again was not a notion she considered in the past. Weddings were expensive and complex affairs; worked out in advance to intricate detail. Something of a thrill to decide, on the spur of a dice-roll, on the clawed foot of that one chocobo crossing the finish line before any other, to get married. And to a man she had known two weeks perhaps?

But somehow none of that mattered. She was utterly in love with him and he with her; hard to keep their hands off each other. The cute expressions Cloud made when she embraced him or undressed in front of him. The pop she felt behind her ribs whenever they held hands, whenever they kissed. The others might roll their eyes and make snide comments about longevity, but it didn't matter. They were together, and they would spend the rest of their lives together.

The ceremony still had surprises, as cut down as it was from the grandiose speeches in dramas. Less time for anyone to dramatically burst in and call a halt to proceedings. But if Zack showed up now? Too late. Far too late to make her stop.

Cloud had as they handed over the money requested the Nibel wedding ceremony. The difference was negligible and as legally binding. But no rings as per the norm; Nibelheim used necklaces. Nothing too pricey - and limited by the designs available in the shop. A lot of black, a lot of silver. Some gem stones - usually red. Nibel also seemed not quite as up to date as the television dramas; the minister considered Cloud the lead in the ceremony rather than a decision they both reached. Or maybe that was just the hotel making assumptions. She had little to do during the ceremony. A few positive answers and an I do as she bounced on her feet.

Relief as the minister pronounced them a couple; Cloud turned and kissed her deeply. Too deeply; the minister cleared his throat a few moments later and ushered them firmly from the room. Others were getting married; others who had planned for this venus and atmosphere. Black dresses, dark eye shadow on everyone. Still; they were now married. Some complimentary tokens for the arcades and the races upstairs. A bigger, better furnished room compliments of the establishment. A large bed. Aeris grinned as Cloud took her hand.

First time as wife and husband; not that anyone had judged them for sleeping together before legal business. It had been decades since that was last anyone's concern. But there was a feeling of satisfaction at their being this legal bond between them now. Even if anyone did hold onto such out-moded notions, no one could say anything now. Together the two of them raced for the stairs to their room. Aeris paused at the door just to leave the Do Not Disturb sign on the handle outside and pulled her dress over her head.