a/n: So sorry for the late update! And the fact that this chapter is short, but it's meant to be...this is the last chapter, however I will be throwing up an epilogue soon! So don't fret! Hopefully a new story will work it's way in soon, and as always, thanks for the faves and reviews! You guys are teh best! XD

A Time For Love

Tifa woke. Bare skin and cool sheets were all she felt. She smiled, loving these feelings. Opening her eyes, Tifa saw that Cloud had already woken up. He had sat up and had been watching her sleep, and when she looked up at him, he smiled at her.

"Morning." He mumbled sheepishly.

Tifa grinned larger, sitting up and planting a big kiss on his lips. Cloud grinned again as she broke the kiss. Resting her head on his shoulder, she looked at the ring around her finger.

"Ne, Cloud..."

"Hmm?"

"Why now? Why did you choose now to tell me you love me? Now to ask me to marry you?"

"Since that first conversation about the box, I've been thinking a lot. I think the reason I was having trouble, was because I thought I was still attached to the past. I visited Aerith's church once to see how it'd changed yesterday." He sighed deeply now, "Even though that spot was gone, the entire time I had that image of you laying in those flowers. Tifa, I thought that you had died...I thought...I thought I had lost you. I think I needed to remember that feeling, to remember how it felt to lose you, even just for a moment. I realized that this life of ours has been dangerous, and whose to say what the future will bring? I have to have you while I can, I can't hesitate anymore."

"Cloud..."

"I also realized...well...you remember when you asked me why I left?"

Tifa nodded yes.

"I think the main reason now is, that I thought by being around I put you in too much danger. It was my fault that you got attacked all those years ago, my fault. They were after me, and you got hurt in the process. I thought if I left, I'd be protecting you. Though, I don't think I could've lived without you. It took me a long time to realize that I was wrong, and that I needed to be here with you to protect you, not to run away..."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"That time...when you said I was afraid to act because something might've happened I couldn't change...I realize that...I can't change the time I lost with you, I can never go back, not for that or anything...so the best thing I can do, is move forward, to try and make up for it...also, that time...you said it was because we weren't a real family...I want you to know, I've always thought of us as a real family...I guess I just want to make that known, to make it official."

Tifa smiled.

"Thank you."

o

O

o

The wedding was in the fall, when the leaves began changing and falling. It was outside, beneath big trees on a green field, leaves circling down throughout the ceremony, giving it a surreal affect. Cid would say he'd never forget the look on Spike's face when he saw Tifa walking down towards him. She wore a fitting, white silk dress that bunched up on her right hip, splitting down just below mid-thigh. It was an elegant look. Her veil was lace and covered her face, her hair pulled back in intricate curls and loops, some stray strands trickling down her back. She had yellow roses decorating her hair, and a bouquet of them too. Cloud had picked them out. He'd told her she was like a rose, but he knew she deserved something more unique than the average red rose. There was one white lily in the bouquet, a tribute to her fallen friend. She and Cloud had visited the church together many times since that one night. They spoke with them there, Aerith and Zack. They didn't always respond, but Cloud and Tifa knew that they were listening. Most of the town turned out for the wedding, filling the field up to the brim. During the ceremony, Vincent stayed off to the side, avoiding the major crowd. Yuffie decided to stand with him. Marlene was the maid of honor, and Barret smiled proudly. There had actually been a pool going around the AVALANCHE members on who would cry the most at the wedding. Cloud put his money on Yuffie, and Tifa on Barret. Cid put his money on Cloud, while most said Marlene or Tifa. Surprisingly, it was none of the women. It was an easy win, the outcome rather obvious. Howls were heard throughout the wedding, however it was silent in the most solemn moments, and an allotted time for Cloud and Tifa's sealing kiss.

Tifa won.