A/N: FORGIVE ME!
...
Sorry I didn't post for so long! I hope I didn't loose anyone during that month! I didn't know how long it had been, and between homework, AP tests, stage crew, band, writers block, and parental visitaions, I forgot to write! I'm sorry!
Chaos: Excuses, excuses
-Hits with a folding chair- shut up, stupid demon!
Anyway, thank you for holding on and being patient! This chapter is long, so I hope that makes up for everything (though I know it doesn't.)
Same disclamers apply! Enjoy!
THANK YOU TO ALL MY REVIEWERS! YOU ALL SAVE MY LIFE! lol
Rhapsody's Song
Chapter Five: Fairy Tales
Do You Believe in Happy Endings?
Lucrecia looked around the Seventh Heaven bar and smiled. She wondered where Vincent and Cloud and all the other males of Team AVALANCHE and Turk were at this moment. They certainly weren't here.
Yuffie had said something about them having a "wild bachelor's party," but Lucrecia highly doubted it. It was Cloud they were talking about….the only time he ever was loud and slightly obnoxious was when he was smashed drunk, and that only lasted for a few minutes before he passed out. And sure, even if Reno was with them, she doubted he'd get away with much under Vincent's watchful eye.
If anything, she agreed with Shera's view on what the guys were doing. She had suggested that they were all trying to keep Cloud from getting cold feet and running for his life. Because, according to the other girls (including Marlene), Cloud had a habit for disappearing at the most opportune moments.
"Tifa, you look so beautiful in your dress," Shera stated as she, Tifa, and Yuffie came walking back down the stairs. Tifa was back in her normal attire, a dramatic change from her wedding dress, which she'd been wearing for the last two hours as Shera had added some finishing touches.
"I know! Cloud will be so shocked he'll faint!" Yuffie said, grinning.
"Oh, that'll be great," Tifa said sarcastically. "I don't think I'm that good looking." Yuffie made an over exaggerated eye roll and sat down next to Lucrecia.
"What do you think, Lucrecia?" the girl asked.
"I think she looks wonderful, Yuffie," she replied. Tifa shrugged and walked behind the counter of the bar, checking and re-checking the contents of liquor. It was defiantly a nervous habit, because the bar wasn't even going to be open tonight.
"Nervous about tonight?" Shera said, smiling. Tifa looked up and sighed.
"More about showing up and learning that Cloud's disappeared again. I mean, I know he promised he wouldn't leave anymore, but I can't help but worry."
"Well, all I can say is that he loves you very much…" Shera started.
"OBVIOUSLY!" Yuffie added.
"And that he will probably do what he thinks is best to make you happy," Shera finished, smiling. Lucrecia winced slightly at her wording.
Hopefully, though, he remembers his own happiness as well as her own, she thought.
Lucrecia sat silently observing the three women as they talked until she felt something moderately heavy crawl up into her lap. Looking down to see Marlene sitting there, she smiled.
"Hello Marlene. How are you?" she asked the little girl.
"Hi Auntie Cree!" Marlene said happily. Lucrecia nodded at the mention of the girl's nickname for her. "I can't wait for tonight! Can you?"
"I bet you're very excited," Lucrecia replied. She was starting to feel her memories creeping up on her, though, and it was beginning to dampen her mood.
"I am! It's just like the ending to a fairy tale! I'm waiting for someone to say 'and they all lived happily ever after,'" the little girl said eagerly. Lucrecia frowned at this. "Why are you frowning, Auntie Cree? Don't you believe in happy endings?"
"I believe in endings, Marlene…though they're not always happy," she replied soberly. She didn't notice that all the room's occupants were watching her and Marlene now.
"Why not?" Marlene asked.
"Because…things happen that make the ending sad."
"Like Uncle Vinnie dying?" Lucrecia nodded.
"Yes, things like someone you love dying."
"But Uncle Vinnie came back just for you! And you for him! Just like in the fairy tales! Doesn't that make things happy?" Marlene said innocently.
"Well, yes…in a way. But life isn't as easy as it is in fairy tales, Marlene. Things are more complicated in real life," Lucrecia replied. She wasn't too comfortable with crushing the girl's spirits, but she'd made it her resolve not to lie about anything ever again after what had happened the last time she lied.
The next thing Lucrecia knew, she was getting bear-hugged by a girl half her size.
Marlene buried her head into Lucrecia's chest and squeezed her tightly.
"Don't worry, Auntie Cree! You're gonna get your happy ending next!" Marlene stated, looking up at her. "I'll make sure of it! You deserve for all your dreams to come true, especially after you made all of Uncle Vinnie's come true!"
"I made Vincent's dreams come true?" Lucrecia chuckled lightly. Marlene nodded her head vigorously.
"Yup! He loves you very much, Auntie Cree! Don't you know that?"
"Yes, I do…now I do," she replied, blushing slightly and smiling. Marlene hopped off of her lap and smiled back, a determined look in her eyes. She turned and dashed to the stairs.
"Where are you going, Marlene?" Tifa called as the girl dashed past her.
"I'm gonna be Auntie Cree and Uncle Vinnie's Fairy Godmother!" Marlene said, nodding. "I'm gonna give them a happy ending!" With that, the girl sprinted up the stairs.
Knight in Tarnished Armor
Vincent smiled, watching Cloud pace back and forth in the study at Reeve's house. The others were off doing their own thing (Vincent guessed that meant patrolling the perimeter, seeing as everyone seemed to think that Cloud was going to head for the hills as soon as the moment arose). He doubted Cloud was going anywhere, though.
"You're going to pace a hole in Reeve's floor, Cloud. I do not think he'll be too happy about that." Cloud stopped pacing and flopped into the armchair next to Vincent.
"I can't believe it," Cloud muttered for what Vincent was sure was the two hundredth and fifty-second time (not that he was counting) in the last two hours.
"What can you not believe?" he asked, looking over at Cloud through the corners of his eye. Was it just the light or did he look pale?
"I'm getting married," Cloud said, looking over at Vincent. "To Tifa Lockheart."
"From the way you look, you make it seem like that is a bad thing, Cloud," Vincent warned.
"No, it's not that. It's just…well…why'd she pick me, of all people?"
"I do not understand. Please clarify." Vincent knew that Cloud wasn't one to talk about much, especially not his feelings. But right now, Cloud seemed to need someone to listen to him.
He watched as the younger blonde took a minute to collect his thoughts before speaking.
"Well, I mean…she could have anyone. So why me, when there are like fifty guys after her?"
"Because you love her for her heart, not her body," Vincent suggested. Cloud blushed slightly.
"Yeah, well…I'm sure there were one or two sincere guys there. I mean, Johnny loved her since we were kids, just like I did..."
"Why can you not accept that she loves you, Cloud?"
"Because it feels like I'm dreaming," he replied, sighing. "That, any moment, I'm going to wake up, and it's all going to be a fantasy."
"Wake up, Cloud. This is no dream," Vincent said. Cloud smiled.
"Thanks Vincent…"
"You're welcome Cloud; though listening to you was no trouble."
"No, it's not that. Er, well, it is that, but it's something else too. I mean, thanks for being here. It really means a lot to us…well, me and Teef, you know." Vincent nodded, smiling again. "Do you mind if I change the subject now?" Cloud asked.
"Not at all," Vincent answered, picking up a cup of tea that he'd made earlier.
"Um…this may be none of my business, but when are you going to propose to Doctor Crescent?" Cloud asked, looking inquisitively at Vincent. He was expecting some stoic reply about how much time was necessary for someone like Lucrecia to heal. In fact, he was sure of that response.
So when Vincent choked on his tea and turned a bright shade of red, Cloud didn't know what to expect anymore. Actually, he was waiting for someone to run in and tell him that Sephiroth was back, or that Omega was starting its accession, because he was sure it was the Apocalypse all over again.
"Whoa, Vince, you okay?" he asked, looking over at his red-eyed friend. "Look, I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have said anything…"
Vincent said nothing as he set down his tea and stared at the floor. He remained silent for a while longer before looking up again and turning to Cloud.
"Cloud…might I confide in you something?" he asked.
"Yeah, Vince, what is it?" Cloud asked sincerely, smiling.
"I was…actually planning on…asking her...well…soon…"
"Like…how soon?"
"Tonight, after the wedding." Vincent expected the man to laugh, or at the very least, snicker. But Cloud just nodded approvingly.
"Finally," he said, crossing his arms.
"Hypocrite," Vincent scoffed, frowning.
"Huh? How so? I didn't take thirty-five plus years to tell Tifa how I felt."
"No. But you did take eleven plus years. And, might I add, that thirty of those 'thirty-five plus' years I spent locked in a coffin."
"So what? Five of those 'eleven plus' years I spent in coma," Cloud countered.
"So we are about even. That makes you a hypocrite."
"Whatever you say, Vincent. Wait, do you have a ring for her?"
"Yes, actually," Vincent replied, digging into his pockets and pulling out a chain. On it were two matching rings. Vincent undid the clasp and slipped off one of the rings, handing it to Cloud.
Cloud looked at the intricate piece of jewelry in his hand. It was a silver band with a diamond in the center and four rubies studded on each side. Outlining the rubies and diamond were black diamonds inscribed in ink. Though tarnished with age, he could still see that the ring was really a work of art- a handmade work of art.
"Did you, by chance, make this?" he asked, still examining the ring.
"Yes I did. My younger brother taught me how. He was very skilled in metal working."
"It's amazing," Cloud replied, squinting at the underside of the ring. There was something inscribed there.
"Thank you."
"What does 'Amo te' mean?" Cloud asked, reading the inscription. Vincent smiled.
"'I love you.' It's in Cetra." Cloud nodded and handed the ring back to Vincent.
"I'm not a girl, but I think she'll like that, Vince. When did you get the time to make something like that?"
"I when I had free time back when I was a Turk."
"Wait a second, you mean this is the original ring you planned to give to Lucrecia?"
"Yes."
"Does she know you still have it?"
"No. In fact, I would guess she never knew I had it."
"Oh…I see…"
"Do not feel sorry for me, Cloud. It is in the past now," Vincent said, smiling down at the ring before replacing it on the chain and slipping it back in his pocket. "Oh, you might want to look out." Cloud looked up.
"Huh? Look out? For what?"
Just as he completed that string of questions, Cloud was promptly tackled out of his chair by a flying mass of purple.
"HELLO!" Galain shouted at the crumpled heap of Cloud that lay in front of him, hands over his head.
"Ow! Damn it, Galain, watch where you're flying!" Cloud laughed, sitting up and rubbing his head.
"Flying? I can't fly, Ser Strife! I can leap though," Galain corrected, jumping up and down to demonstrate. "But I digress! Congratulations, Ser Strife!"
"What now?" Cloud asked. Sometimes, he had a problem following this random demon's train of thought.
"Ha! Silly Terrain, are you awake in there?" Galain asked, knocking on Cloud's head lightly. "Congratulations on marrying your childhood sweetheart! This is absolutely wonderful news! I adore weddings, don't you Vincent?"
"Never been to one," Vincent lied, though he never really considered Lucrecia's marriage to Hojo as a wedding.
"WHAT?!" Galain looked mortified, much to Cloud's amusement. "Oh my! Now what do we do, Ser Strife?! He'll never propose for sure!"
"What does the fact that I've never seen a wedding have to do with anything?" Vincent scoffed.
"No, it's not that, Master Valentine! It's that you, for one, lied, and that you, for two, have only been to one wedding at that was the horrid union of that insane dirty Terrain and dear Sira Crescent!" Galain explained, exasperated.
I forgot he could still read my mind. Vincent thought.
That's a stupid thing to forget! Galain added. Vincent rolled his eyes.
"Galain, he just told me he's going to propose to her tonight, you know," Cloud put in, hoping Vincent wouldn't kill him. He looked over and saw that Vincent looked slightly relieved.
"He IS?! WONDERFUL!" The Beast shouted. "Wait, how did I not know this?"
"Because Cloud is the first person, Terrain or otherwise, that I've told," Vincent stated. "So there was no one to spread the rumor for you to hear, Galain."
"Oh, this is just WONDERFUL!" Galain continued to gush, no longer deterred by the fact that he was getting information second. "First there is the holy union between the two saviors of the world, Ser Strife and Sira Lockheart, and then there is Master Valentine and Sira Crescent! Both quiet long waited, might I add. Though, Ser Strife, might I have one query?"
"Uh, yeah, sure, what is it?" Cloud asked as Vincent helped him up from the floor.
"Why is it that you, Terrain Savior of the Gaia, twice-Conqueror of the Son of Calamity, are petrified to marry someone as perfect for you as Sira Lockheart? Shouldn't this be as easy as breathing for you?" Galain asked, putting a thoughtful finger on his chin. Cloud just stared at him.
"Uh, for that answer, ask Vincent. I just told him…but…where did all those titles come from?" Cloud asked, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Oh, that's just what the other guardians and myself call you. 'Cloud Strife' is too plain for them, though I honestly like it fine myself."
Cloud just stared at Galain before turning to Vincent and whispering.
"There are more things like him?!"
"Yes…I've had the…luck of meeting about half of them."
"Are they all as crazy?"
"I'm not crazy!" Galain interrupted. "My reality's just different than yours!"
"You got that right," Cloud said. Next to him, Vincent snorted. The next thing they knew, the three of them-one human, one demon, and one person somewhere in between- were all laughing.
When they finally stopped, Vincent noticed that Cloud was staring at him.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing," Cloud said, smiling and turning away. "That's just the first time I've ever heard you laugh."
Holy Union
Everything went as planned. Or maybe it was better than planned. The wedding, to say the least, was beautiful. Areith's Church was decorated just for the occasion, and everyone who was invited came. Even the ex- field leader and leader of the former Team Avalanche, Sears and Elfie, made an appearance. Every seat was filled and there was some people standing. Every seat but two, saved respectively for Zackary Fair and Areith Gast.
And though no one could see them, everyone knew they were there.
Marlene was beautiful in her flower-girl's outfit; Denzel looked embarrassed to have to present the rings in front of all the people. Yuffie awed everyone by actually wearing her bridesmaid dress and looking pretty good in it. Shera and Shelke looked wonderful too, so much so that Cid would be seen later on scaring men away form his wife while Shelke hovered close to Nanaki.
Vincent was about knocked off his feet seeing Lucrecia as the Maid of Honor, but composed himself right as Tifa came through the door.
And, just like Yuffie predicted, Cloud almost fainted. He needed Vincent to steady him during Tifa's slow walk down the isle, arm in arm with Barrett.
There were no interruptions, and only one thing went differently than planned. When Reeve finally got to the part where he said "And if anyone believes that these two should not be together, speak now or forever hold your peace," the man added, "Though you'd have to be a complete moron to think that and will probably be shot for speaking up."
The crowd thought that this was funny and Cloud and Tifa both turned bright red. Vincent wondered if that, though, was because they knew whoever spoke up most likely would be shot.
Divine Intervention
Vincent was nervous now, an emotion he'd never felt before. Never felt before. But if anyone noticed that he was slightly fidgeting with the hemming of his tux or shifting from foot to foot, no one said anything.
Maybe that was for the best. Cloud and Tifa deserved to be the center of attention for once. Though, Vincent mussed, it certainly looked like Cloud wasn't too happy with being in the limelight, but he seemed happy enough standing next to Tifa.
Vincent knew he wasn't going to have enough guts to actually ask Lucrecia to marry him. He'd probably stumble over words and just give up…so why go through the trouble?
In came Divine Intervention.
"Ser Valentine!" Galain said, trotting up to Vincent and then standing at his full height to lean against the wall next to his brooding master.
"What is it, Galain?"
"Ser, the moon is directly above the balcony and it is quiet a sight to see! The whole garden is illuminated and fireflies are out, brighter than the sun itself!" Galain stated happily, watching Vincent out of the corner of his eye.
"What are you trying to say, Galain?" Vincent asked.
Galain did not loose his temper often, only in cases when he felt there was no other way to get his point across. Luckily no one was in the hallway at that time.
Galain sprung around and grabbed Vincent by the collar of his shirt, pulling him off the wall and lifting him by the neck so that the two of them were forced to make eye contact.
"Listen here, Vincent Valentine! If you do not go find Lucrecia right now and propose to her or at least knock her off her feet with a mind-blowing kiss, I will drag your lanky ass out in front of everyone, grab a microphone, and do it for you. And then, after she accepts, I will keep her company for the thirty more years she has to wait for you to wake up from the coma I'm going to beat you into. Do you understand?!" Galain roared, glaring into Vincent's eyes.
Nothing scared Vincent Valentine…
Except for maybe this.
"Ye-yes sir…"
"Then go!" Galain dropped Vincent, who scrambled to his feet and dashed off down the hallway.
"OTHER WAY!" Galain shouted. Vincent turned on his heel and went the other way.
Real-Life Fairy Tale
Vincent had some how gotten away from Galain and gotten Lucrecia out onto the balcony without catching too many people's attention. So he thought he was in the clear for just asking her, taking his rejection with a grain of salt, and getting on with the night.
He didn't notice that, inside, all the dancing had stopped and everyone was watching him.
"Vincent, what's wrong? You've been jumpy all night," Lucrecia said, laying her hand on Vincent's arm and pulling him from his delusions.
"Oh…uh, it's nothing…really," Vincent replied, checking his pocket to make sure the ring was still there.
"I'm sure. What is it really, Vincent?"
"I'm sorry; I'm wasting your time. Let's just get back to the party shall…" Vincent heard Galain clear his throat inside his head. Vincent gulped slightly and turned to her. "Scratch that last part. Um….can I ask you a question?"
Lucrecia smiled. Something must be up, if Vincent was as nervous as a high school boy trying to ask the most popular girl in school to Prom. She nodded.
"Promise you won't laugh or slap me?" Lucrecia raised one eyebrow and nodded again.
Vincent had been debating all night whether or not he should try to ease her into the situation, but in the end he decided just to ask her and get it over with.
So he fell to one knee, took her hand, pulled the ring from his pocket, and whispered, "Lucrecia Crescent, will you marry me?"
He was about to take her stunned silence as rejection (as were all the onlookers) when Lucrecia grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him deeply.
That, Ser Valentine, is a yes.
Vincent couldn't help but smile as he slipped the ring onto her finger and she smiled at him, happy tears dripping from her eyes. She stared at the ring for a moment before kissing him again.
The room behind them erupted with cheers. Yuffie jumped up and down, despite being in a dress. Shelke smiled, shocking the people around her. Cid proposed a toast and Barrett agreed. Nanaki roared and Cait Sith laughed. All members of Avalanche reacted in different ways. The Turks set off fireworks from where they had been sitting on the roof.
Galain roared along side Nanaki, loud enough to shake the building. Vincent heard the revving of a chainsaw and clanking of old metal, both coupled with demonic laughter, just briefly, from two demons he never thought he'd see or hear again. Lucrecia finally felt the weight of her past failures lift from her as she immersed herself in Vincent's arms.
And this whole time, no one noticed Reno sitting there with a small video camera, recording this all for future generations.
Galain Always Wins
Galain slipped out of the room when the members of Avalanche converged onto Vincent and Lucrecia to congratulate them. The Beast felt proud, Vincent had finally grown up, at least in the demon's perspective.
Galain had been surprised to see his allies, Hellmasker and Death Gigas, reappear to join in the celebration. He would make sure to thank them next time they met in the Lifestream.
But right now, Galain had another mission. He trotted off, unseen, towards the outskirts of Edge, where a small forest was starting to grow. A sign, the dear Planet was healing. On any normal day, Galain would stop and speak to the Tree Spirits and ask how they were doing in their new mission of re-beautifying the planet, but right now, he had a deadline to meet.
Entering the clearing, Galain found what he was looking for. What appeared to be a Terrain male sat on a tree stump, clothes matching the "in-style" in Edge. He was leaning on one knee cap, with his arm wrapped around the one leg while the other hung over the edge of the stump, allowing the foot to rest on the ground. His dark purplish-red hair covered his glowing yellow eyes, which gave away the fact that the man was obviously not human, but demon, like Galain.
"I lost," the demon said, sighing as Galain entered the clearing.
"Yes you did. I told you not to bet with me. I always win," Galain boasted, smiling a toothy grin at the other demon.
"Wipe that smile off your face, Galain, before I do it for you. You only won because you said something to Valentine. If you had kept quiet, I would have won," the demon said sullenly.
"It's called Divine Intervention."
"Your Divine Intervention," the demon stated, using air quotes, "should be considered cheating."
"You're the only one who complains…but maybe that is because the Great Demon Lord Chaos is not used to loosing to worthless peons like me?" Galain asked, laughing. The other demon dropped his guise, appearing now as none other than Chaos himself.
"You're my first loss. Don't push your luck."
"You cannot send me to Oblivion, Chaos-dono. According to Iyshie's Decree, I am permitted to remain with Master Valentine as long as he can stand me. Meaning you can't hurt me yet!" Galain teased. Chaos rolled his eyes.
"Aren't you special…but that brings me to my next question. Why the hell did you remain here?" Chaos asked. "You left when I did, didn't you? So why did you come back?"
"I missed him."
"What?!"
"I mean, after thirty Terrain years, you kind of develop a sort of bond with your host. At least I did. It turns out that I found his life much more entertaining and enjoyable than my own…so I went back," Galain said, wiping a tear from his eye. "I only fear that now, as everything falls in place for Ser Valentine's reward from the Planet, I wonder if he will send me away."
"You believe he is that shallow, even after all this time?" Chaos scolded.
"You are right, Chaos-dono, and I seem too quick to judge once again. But, Ser Chaos…don't you miss Master Valentine as well?"
Chaos said nothing as he stood up and walked past the Beast. He sighed finally, and, just before he took off into the sky, replied.
"Maybe I do, Galain. Maybe I do."
A/N: I -heart- Galain and Chaos. :-) Okay, so, after the next chapter, the real story begins. You know, the one that actually has Rhapsody in it...Sorry it's taken me so long!
Reviews? Comments? Questions? Concerns? Flames? Did I make Lucrecia too much of a Mary Sue?