I do not claim to have ownership of any form of the characters in this story nor do I stake any claim to ownership of the Final Fantasy 7 Franchise.

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I enjoyed writing this short story a good bit, it took a full hour to get out, haha I type fast when I have an idea. So please review and it is only a one shot but I suppose I could continue it if wanted. Critics are welcome as long as it is constructive, this is a venue to improve my writing skills.

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Today is life, yesterday was fear and tomorrow is death.

It was a cold day that I rode my Fenrir through the remains of Midgard; the city I once idealized as a child now lay in ruins. The destruction caused by mistakes all linked to one man, I use to blame myself then I blamed him, the silver haired bastard that didn't deserve a name; but in reality it was neither of us, one man was to blame for the condition of the world and the pain felt in so man. Hojo was his name, his twisted mind damaged an infant still in the womb, and infant which grew to destroy so much by knowing the truth. The truth, it had set me free but it as well had caused me to hurt those I cared for, the truth is such a weapon unlike any other on the face of the planet, a weapon that threatened to destroy the world but a weapon which inevitably saved the world and its people. I pulled up out side of the old church that was now a symbol of everything that had happened, the love, the hate, the pain, the failures, the trails and the redemption of myself and even that of others. I turned off the motorcycle and climbed off of it, I began to walk into the dead church. As I walked my footsteps echoed loudly, I approached the pool of water that had been given to us by an old friend, one that even in death watched over all of us, her friends and the rest of the world. We were celebrated as heroes, but in truth we did very little compared to her and our courage was little compared to hers but every day I live, I live for the three of us. Her name was Aerith, she was beautiful, I loved her with all my heart, she was like the answer to all the questions I ever had; she gave me strength and courage to do the things I wanted to do and the things I needed to do, even still today. I wonder endlessly if she felt the same way about me, if she loved me and if she did if it was because who I thought I was, it was my fault so many people forgot him, but if I am anything I am the embodiment of redemption, his blade rests with her memory in the church. I placed the flowers I had in my hand into the water, Tifa and I had made our own flower garden, in trade for the sacrifice of the original, one that was destroyed by me and before me by him, my best friend in life, my mentor and my savior. Zack, I live everyday for him as well, he saved me from and gave up his own life to save mine, his last request was that I carry both of our lives out in happiness, I felt ashamed to have not fulfilled his request for so long but today I stand carrying it out with every breath I take. I stood up and walked over to the sword, pulling the polish out of my left and a rag out of my right I began to wipe down the sword stuck into the ground, not as a grave stone but rather as a reminder of a promise and the memory of a friend. I finished polishing the sword and stood up, I turned and walked toward one of the remaining pews, the same one I sat in every week.

"I told you I was brave enough to ask, it is thanks to both of you though, that I am that brave. And you were right about the answer, I think now I am put the finishing touches on that promise Zack. Everyday I will be happy, for both of us, not a day goes by that I don't think of you, my friend. Don't feel left out Aerith, I still love you with all of my heart, you were and will always be the one person in the world that will make me feel the way I do. Aerith I still see you as my bright light in the darkness, but I am sorry to tell you that you were one of two lights, but then again you would be happy to hear that since you were a huge part of me realizing. I want to call you my brother Zack and I want to call you my sister Aerith, but neither of those words to justice to either of you. We have decided to have the ceremony here, so you two can be a part and but of course Zack I expect you to be the one standing next to me. I hope Aerith you decide to stand next to her as Zack will stand next to me, but then again of course you will, that is you all over being the one standing there smiling at the room," I said staring into the pool. A warm breeze blew through my hair, "Yeah ok, I get the picture guys, I am going to go be near her. But I wanted to thank you two, for everything you did for me, the person I am today would not be here if not for you two. I miss you both so much and although I don't want it to come for a long time, I look forward to the day when I will be able to be with you both. Well I will see you guys next week, I will bring more flowers and of course the polish."

I stood up from the pew and walked out of the church, the same warm breeze brushed across my face as I stepped into the cold and climbed onto my back. I smiled widely as I turned on the engine and began to drive home. The drive which always felt like a chance for me to have alone time now was too long, I couldn't wait to return to my family now. I pulled into the driveway next to the bar and pushed my Fenrir the rest of the way to put it under the cover of a small wooden roof I had built. I pulled the keys out of my pocket as I walked toward the back door of the Seventh Heaven, I slowly opened the door to see a dark bar, it was late enough that the bar was closed and the children we in bed but not so late that I would have to sneak in. I walked up the step quietly toward my bed room, walked in and took off my boots and placed my stuff down on my night stand. I walked over to my desk and flipped open the top of my laptop, the glow of the computer screen illuminated the room with a calm lighting. I sat there for a moment scanning the screen and figuring out my schedule for tomorrow when a light knock sounded from the door open door, I turned in my chair to see Tifa standing in the door way.

"I know, I am just double checking to make sure I know what I have to deliver tomorrow, I'll meet you down stairs in a few minutes," I said with a smile knowing why Tifa was staring at me.

"Ok then," Tifa replied simply as she turned and walked down the hall toward the stair case.

I flipped closed my computer and stood up from the chair a few minutes later and walked down stairs. I saw Tifa standing behind the bar finishing up making two drinks, she noticed me and smiled as she picked up my glass and held it out for me to grab. I took the drink graciously, and sat down on one of the two remaining bar stools, the others had been put away for the night; Tifa sat down on the other stool just next to me.

"So, a good visit?" Tifa asked as she sat down.

"Of course, I had to tell them that they were right," I replied taking a sip of my drink.

"Right about what?" Tifa asked.

"You answer," I replied with a smile.

"Those two know us pretty well," Tifa said with a laugh.

"I also told them we would hold it there, so they could be there with us," I explained.

"Oh yeah, what did they say to that?" Tifa asked.

"They messed with my hair," I said with a laugh.

"You mean they kicked you out?" Tifa asked with a laugh.

"Yeah, but it was cause they wanted me to be here," I replied.

"They weren't the only ones," Tifa said with a sweet smile.

"I know they weren't, nor just you, I wanted to be here all day, deliveries as such a pain during this cold weather, I would much rather be here and be warm. Especially since this place has recently become much warmer for me," I said with a smile as I looked at Tifa.

"I don't blame you," Tifa said taking a sip of her drink.

"Tomorrow doesn't look to be as busy as today, so I will be back much earlier, so I get to see the kids," I replied.

"They will be happy about that," Tifa said with a smile.

"Only them?" I asked with a grin.

"Of course me too, do I need to even say it?" Tifa asked with a laugh.

"Sometimes," I replied with a grin.

"Yeah ok then; so I believe it is bed time Mr. Strife," Tifa said as she finished her drink and stood up.

"I agree, shall we Ms. Lockheart?" I asked sarcastically as I stood up.

"Ms. Lockheart? You never call me that," Tifa said with a laugh.

"I know, but I should say, the-soon-to-be Mrs. Strife," I replied as I stood up and kissed her cheek.

"And that is the way it should have been for a long time," Tifa said with a smile as she turned and stared into my eyes.

"I couldn't agree more," I replied as I marveled at her beautiful eyes.

"Well I guess you should have got some courage soon then, uh?" Tifa asked jokingly.

"Maybe, but you could have said something too, don't blame me and me alone," I said I turned and walked toward the stairs.

"Hey, I, um," Tifa tried to say something.

"Speechless? Might it me because I am right?" I asked looking over my shoulder at her.

"Shut up! You will pay for that," Tifa said as she walked up behind me and began to push me up the stairs.

"Paying for things isn't something I am good at," I said with a laugh as I ran up the stairs softly, "But for you beautiful, I could deal with it."

"Oh is that right?" Tifa said as she pushed me into her bed room, the room we were sharing to sleep in while I used my room as an office, "I think you will pay for that too," Tifa said with a smile as she softly closed the door behind her as she walked into the room and over to me.

"Oh really?" I asked playfully.

"Yeah, really," Tifa said as she kissed me softly on the lips, a feeling that felt more right than I could explain.

"That is payment I can deal with," I said as she broke the kiss.

"Oh not that easy," Tifa said as with a certain look in her eyes as she pushed me backwards on to the bed.

'Today I live, today I love for your sacrifice yesterday saved my life so I could live today, thank you, both of you'