(Snow)

I felt very anxious, but immensely excited because tonight during the Bodhum fireworks display, I was going to ask Serah to be my wife. This had been on my mind for quite a while, but now tomorrow I had it all planned out and I was finally going to ask her. The only worry in my mind was of Lightning, who really never approved of Serah and I dating, but I do want Lightning to accept me into her family; however, not even Lightning could keep me from proposing to Serah. Suddenly my cell rang and it was Serah asking me to come with her shopping for Lightning's birthday. I told her I would meet her at the store downtown. I saw her downtown as I arrived and she waved me down.

"C'mon slow poke." She grinned.

"Sorry got held up…" I said casually.

"Where have you been?" She asked eyeing me suspiciously.

"Am I that late?" I asked innocently.

Serah just smiled and took me by the hand and I grasped her hand firmly. We immediately began scavenging stores and Serah shopped with a fierce determination to find the perfect gift for her sister. As we were looking at things in different stores, my mind was elsewhere thinking about tomorrow. Then Serah's voice brought my mind back to the present.

"What do you think of this Snow?" She asked me. She pointed at a small knife that could be used in a pinch for defense.

"Weapons definitely fit your sister." I teased.

"I think I'll get it…I think it's a practical gift for defense. After all she is in the Corps." Serah told me.

I nodded and then Serah took the knife and went up to the cash register to buy it. After purchasing the knife, Serah apologized and said she had to go back home. She kissed me on the cheek and left in a rush with the knife in a gift-wrapped box. This gave me the perfect opportunity to look for engagement necklaces for us.

Evening came before I knew it and I was immensely excited. I placed the necklaces securely in my pocket. I called Serah and told her to meet me at the Bodhum café. Then I left; there was no going back…I just felt excited for what my future with Serah would bring.

I entered the café looking around for Serah, but she was nowhere in sight. Then a voice behind me spoke up.

"You just missed her…she said she'd be at the usual place." Labreau told me with a smirk.

I smiled and thanked her and then went outside. I jumped down the stairs for a moment pausing looking up at the sky and the fireworks then punched my fists together twice.

"Let's do this." I said to myself determinedly.

I continued walking heading towards the boardwalk where my fiancée to be was waiting for me. I rounded the corner and saw her. She had her eyes closed and looked deep in thought. I approached her and stood right next to her.

"Making a wish?" I asked.

She looked up at me startled, but then grew serious.

"Maybe I was…I was hoping tomorrow I could tell my sister about my being a l'Cie…she'll be so mad knowing I hid it from her." Serah paused, "I thought I was finally done with secrets, but this one is the biggest of all."

"Don't worry, I'll take the blame for ya." I told her. "You ever think to ask for something bigger?" I asked pointing at the fireworks exploding in the sky. "You know these fireworks grant wishes... at least that's what the stories say."

"Stories huh?" Serah said looking glum clutching her arm, "l'Cie who complete their focus become crystal and gain eternal life."

I let out a short frustrated sigh.

"I wish they would give you at least some sort of clue to help you figure it out."

Serah just sighed and shook her head solemnly. I turned to her and put my hands on her shoulders. "Don't worry, we'll figure this thing out…you'll never be one of those monsters." I vowed.

"So what will I be… a crystal or a Cieth. It doesn't matter because either way, I'll be separated from you," She asked beginning to cry as she turned away from me.

Now was the time to do it. I had to cheer her up and give her something to feel happy about.

"I got us something." I started as I pulled the necklaces out from my pocket and Serah just stared at them in surprise.

She turned around and I put her necklace on her and then I put mine on. Then she turned and faced me smiling.

"Serah, I love you more than you will ever realize. Life didn't seem to make sense to me until you were in it. You're everything to me and I will stand by you no matter what happens…I'm yours forever. Serah…My One My Only…" Then I bowed on one knee before her with my right hand over my heart. "Will you marry me?" I asked.

"Yes." She said simply smiling happily.

Then I looked up smiling and laughing and yelled, "She said yes." I immediately picked Serah up and swung her around multiple times and we both laughed happily together.

Shortly after, I took Serah and I up on an aero bike and I flew us up into the night sky. We looked in awe at the spectacular show around us and I was definitely appreciative of these fireworks.

"Thanks to these fireworks...I got my wish." I told Serah.

"Your wish?" She looked at me confused.

"Before I asked you to marry me…I wished that you would say yes." I explained.

"Even if you hadn't made that wish… I still would have said yes Snow." She smiled, "I hope they'll grant mine too."

"What was yours?" I asked her curiously.

"To have the courage to tell Lightning that I've become a l'Cie."

"Well, our engagement is bigger news…" I teased smiling at her.

"Her face is going to be priceless…she'll be my new sister." I said smiling boldly.

"Yeah." Serah said nodding her head and we both laughed.

Then I drove closer to the firing display and even through the protective shield. They exploded all around us and we watched in awe. Then Serah turned to me.

"Hey Snow…" She started.

"Yeah?" I replied.

Then she leaned in trying to kiss me and I was distracted and wasn't paying too much to the bursting napalms of fire around us. Suddenly one exploded near the bike interrupting us, and Serah screamed. I quickly drove the bike away back outside the barrier, so we wouldn't be so near.

"That was close…" I said.

Then we both laughed and Serah looked away staring into the night sky.

"So beautiful." She said simply. "It's our own private heaven."

"You and me are all we'll ever need." I told her.

Serah looked at me locking her eyes with mine. She leaned in and quickly pressed her lips against mine, but pulled away. Then I placed my hand gently on her shoulder pulling her back towards me and then we kissed again holding this for several moments. Suddenly Serah pulled away and she was crying. I sighed and pulled her to my chest and held her tightly. I wasn't sure if she was worried about how Lightning would react to all of this or what would happen with her being a l'Cie, but all I cared about was comforting her and being there for her. I drove the aero bike off heading toward her house to take her home and she thanked me. I dropped her off and kissed her goodnight and reassuring her that everything would be ok and I would be with her when she told her sister the news.