18 years later . . .

"You may have blocked the others but you can't block this one!" said a dark-haired boy with a smirk as he took his sword up high in the air and lunged down at his opponent.

His opponent soon turned and blocked his attack with his armored arm braces. Causing the boy to be deflected and fall back on his butt.

"Heh, you call that a sneak attack Zack?" said the opponent with a chuckle as he took his arms back to his chest.

"Can't you give a guy some credit for at least tryin'?" asked Zack sitting up and rubbing his head with that smug smile of his.

"Maybe," said his opponent with a smile making sure his armored arm blades weren't harmed at all by Zack's hit.

"Could you at least help me up?" asked Zack holding his hand out to his sparing partner.

The other just gazed at him for a while. Zack only smiled trying so hard to make it look like he had nothing up his sleeve because usually everyone thought he did when he didn't. He just wasn't like that.

The opponent just smiled as he took his opponent's hand but just to make sure he wasn't going to do anything he gave a great flap with his wings and brought the both of them at least two feet off ground before landing again.

"Whoa!" gasped Zack from the gust of wind. "You know I don't like it when you do that Gil."

"Why?" asked Gilmore. "You jealous?"

"Not of flying, but of those wings," said Zack with a smile as he placed his fists on his hips. "Those wings—I want them too."

"Why?" asked Gilmore bringing one before him and rubbing it. "Tis devils wings."

"Yeah, but they attract all the ladies," Zack smirked again crossing his arms as he caught a glimpse of someone coming up to them soon.

"Huh?" asked Gilmore a second too late.

"GILLY!!" squealed a petite ninja as she came running up to him and wrapped her whole body around him.

"Nuh! Get off!" he said not wanting the annoying girl clinging to him like so.

Zack just threw his head back and laughed. He was glad at least Mimi wasn't finding him so appealing. Gilmore was the lucky one.

"Shut up Zack!" sneered Gilmore finally getting the girl off him. "Now please Mimi, not when I'm sparing I told you that."

"Well if I remember correctly you said not ever," she said rocking back and forth on her heels.

"Good girl, you remember," said Gilmore patting her on the shoulder and walking away.

"Uh, hey wait for me!" she cried running after him but soon found she couldn't follow as the lad took off in the air. "Hey! No Fair!"

"Oh it's fair enough to get away from you!" Said Zach with a chuckle.

"Err, You want a piece of me Zack Strife?!" roared Mimi turning to him.

"Uh, no, not now!" said Zack taking off running.

"Get back here you nerd!!" she shouted chasing after him.

"No, no!" cried Zack through a chuckle and a cry for help. "Gil! Gilmore help me!"

"You're on your own buddy," said Gilmore with a smile and nod of the head.

"Traitor," mumbled Zack looking up at him fly away and not watching where he was going.

"Zack wait!" cried Mimi behind him.

"Not on your life sis—!" started Zack but was cut off as he collided with someone.

A hard 'UFF!' was heard as the two hit the ground from the hard impact. Once Zack's blue eyes focused on the person he had just ran over his eyes widened as he quickly got off saying—

"I am SO sorry Marlene. I wasn't watching where I was going so—"

"That's alright," said Marlene getting up and whipping the dirt off her dress.

"Some gentleman you are!" laughed Mimi.

Zack just glared at her with harsh eyes, but Marlene placed her hand on his shoulder and said—

"No, I said it was fine."

Zack just smiled and let his eyes glance down trying to not let his blush come out as he gazed at the 17-year-old looking female. Yes even though, in truth, Marlene was 24 she still looked like a 17-year-old. One reason being because something happened to her at a young age.

Marlene had been struck with an illness that had put her in a coma for four years. She wasn't waking up and all knew she was just rotting away. It was then Shelke had suggested mako treatment just like she had done once before. It might be the only way to say her life—but then again it could be dangerous and kill her.

Rufus had his men work on it right away. Once they began the treatment Marlene's brain showed signs of recuperating. The very next day she opened her eyes and from that day on Barret had never said anything against Shin-Ra again because they saved his daughter. Though—like Shelke said—it was a dangerous thing.

Marlene's brain was still unstable and she could fall back into her coma at any time and so they had to continue to use the doses of mako. This resulted in Marlene staying in her 17-year-old body. Though—it wasn't as bad as Shelke's scenario of how she was stuck in her 9-year-old body.

To this day Zack still has a crush on her. Though he never let her know seeing how he always hid his blushes and feelings for her. But . . . he planned not to for long. Though he be just 15 now he'd one day hope to ask her out on a date.

Marlene may have her suspicions but for now she'll just pass them off as friendly gestures until she's absolutely sure of his feelings for her. After all—they are about 9 years apart. It was kinda cute in a way.

"Ooh, someone's in looove," teased Mimi making Zack blush beyond control.

"Just shut up Mimi!" shouted Zack tired of her shenanigans.

All Marlene could do was giggle. Zack just looked at her and smiled that big smile of his as he put his hand on the back of his head saying—

"Mimi—can't live with her—can't kill her so you don't have to."

"Heh, heh, oh Zack," giggled Marlene with a shake of her head.

Zack then noticed the abnormally large shadow that passed him and so his eyes were cast up to see Gilmore closing in low to the ground, but just not low enough.

"Gotta go," he said as he took off running after Gilmore.

Zack just jumped up as high as he could to catch any part of Gilmore to bring him back down to earth, but it wasn't working.

"Get down here you!" he said jumping up and down.

"Why don't you make me?" said Gilmore with a soft smile matching that of his own father's.

"Maybe I will!" said Zack taking out his sword and surprising Gilmore as he hit his foot with the blunt part of it making him spin just enough for Zack to grab hold of his right wing and bring him back down.

"You sneaky little—!" started Gilmore ready to lay one right on him.

"Boys, no fighting," came Cloud as he and Tifa walked into the sparring area.

"Eh, sorry pops," said Zack sitting up and watching his parents pass by.

"I swear—you are nothing like your father," said Gilmore standing up and wiping the dust of his pants.

"You aren't either," said Zack throwing his arm around his neck to keep him in a headlock but Gilmore just pulled out of it.

"Yes I am," he said looking at him.

"Says who?" asked Zack raising a dark eyebrow.

"Mom," said Gilmore with a smug grin.

"Cheater," said Zack crossing his arms. "That—doesn't—count!"

"Hey . . . if you've never known your father it would for you," said Gilmore.

"Mmm, no it wouldn't," said Zack shaking his head.

"You're right. It wouldn't," said Gilmore chuckling with Zack.

"Gilmore," came an all-too-familiar voice behind the boys.

They turned to see Shelke not looking much older than them. Sure she was now 38 but her body was saying 28. She had grown quite a bit and developed to her fullest. She had become a beautiful woman whom all expected her to become.

Her cold blue eyes had gotten a little warmer with emotion seeing how she had to raise a boy to be like his father. Her red hair had now reached her shoulders, it was cut every now and then to Shelke's liking. The curves of her body were perfect, hourglass shape was the ideal shape for any woman.

Shelke had her hands placed on her hips gently as she looked at her tall son who was about as tall as a full-grown man. With a twitch of her lips she spoke to him in her slightly monotone voice all were used to. It seemed that Vincent had still kept with him the ability in her to learn how to express emotions with her words.

"Where are your clothes?" she asked seeing his bare chest for the world to see.

"Mom I don't like wearing a shirt. It gets in the way of my wings. They get uncomfortable too," said Gilmore.

"Then why do you not tell me?" asked Shelke straightening. "I could just get Shin-Ra to make you new clothing."

"But I like the freedom," he said with a smug smile as he placed his hands on his hips and flexed his still growing muscles and wings.

"Yes, but aren't you the one wondering why Mimi likes you so much?" asked Shelke with a smile as she turned from him.

"Wha-uh!" was all Gilmore could muster out as his arms dropped along with his wings.

Shelke let out a small giggle as she glanced back at her son who had now crossed his arms seeing how he couldn't win this part of the conversation with his mother. She was right—she always seemed to be.

"You giving your mother a hard time again Gilmore?" asked Reeve as he came up to them and gave Shelke a kiss on the forehead and a hug. "Hey lovely."

"Hey Reeve," said Shelke with a smile and sigh.

"Hi Reeve," said Gilmore shuffling his feet a bit.

"Have you no manner son?" asked Reeve. "Where be your shirt?"

"Hhh, I was just going to go get it," sighed Gilmore turning and taking off

"Ah, ah," said Shelke before Gilmore was but two feet in the air.

"What?" asked Gilmore turning to her and landing.

"Walking, remember?" asked Shelke.

"Hhh, yes ma'am," sighed Gilmore turning and walking off.

"He's grown into a fine young lad," said Reeve watching the teen walk off.

"Yes . . . he has," said Shelke casting her cold blue eyes at him getting ever warmer ever time she saw Vincent in him.

"He looks just like his father," said Reeve looking down at Shelke who leaned into him.

"I know," said Shelke glancing her eyes to the ground for a quick moment. "I sometimes find myself starring right at Vincent."

There was a slight silence between the two until Reeve backed away from the woman and inhaled to make himself straight.

"Well," he sighed taking Shelke's hand in his. "If you don't mind I'd like to ask you something, alone, Shelke Valentine."

Shelke just smiled as she let the man lead her away.

"Where's Zack? Where's Zack? . . . Here I am!" said Zack with a smile as he uncovered his face with his hands just to make the little tyke before him smile or giggle.

The young golden-headed boy just smiled and let out a small squeal of delight as he took the round ball in his hands and tossed it at the teen before him hitting him right between the eyes with an even harder force than before.

"Eh," said Zack rubbing his forehead. "You're throw's getting stronger . . . at least it's getting higher as well."

At that Zack stood up making sure there wouldn't be a red mark on his forehead. It tended to be like that because of his fair skin he inherited from his father. Plus with his little brother learning how to throw harder who knew?

"Zack don't be torturing you're little brother," came Tifa as she walked up near the boys of hers.

"Who Sun?" asked Zack picking up his toddler brother and placing him on his hip. "I wouldn't do that mom. You know me."

"Hhh, I do," said Tifa with a smile and small shake of her head.

She then came up to her teen and wrapped her arms around his shoulders placing her cheek on his as she looked at her other boy who was the spinning image of his father—escape for the deep brown eyes he got from his mother.

"Hm, how's my baby?" she said with a smile as she rubbed her little one's spiky head.

"Oh I'm fine," said Zack with a grin.

"I meant baby-baby," said Tifa with a chuckle as she kissed her eldest on the cheek. "But if you insist on me calling you that—"

"Nuh, nope I'm good," said Zack handing Sun to his mother with a nervous chuckle.

"Hm, hm," chuckled Tifa as she held little Sun to her breast. "Oh—have you seen Gilmore around? I haven't seen him around lately."

"He's probably off searching for Barbra," shrugged Zack.

"Cid's girl?" asked Tifa.

"Yeah, he's got the hots for her or so I heard," said Zack with a mischievous smile.

"Oh dear," said Tifa. "Does Cid know?"

"Nope, not even Johnny her brother," said Zack running off with a giggle to see if Gilmore's been caught yet with the daughter of one protective father.

Barbra had just finished putting away some cargo inside the carrier when she heard a familiar low voice say to her—

"Hey beautiful."

Barbra turned to see a dark figure in the shadows. Her auburn hair floated in the air until they came to rest on her shoulders. Her blue eyes widened slightly but she knew she was in no danger.

"Uh, Gilmore," she said turning from him and continuing to put the last of the cargo up. "I didn't see you."

Gilmore just chuckled as he came out of the shadows with his arms crossed. Clearly Barbra had inherited her father's hickish accent. Just as soon as she put away a box he decided to wrap his long arms around her waist and just keep her there.

"Gilmore Valentine—if I don't get my choirs done my daddy will have my hide," she said as she turned her head slightly to him.

Gilmore just smiled as he placed his head next to hers as he rested his chin on her shoulder just smelling to sweet fragrance of her hair. He could feel her irritation of him as her chest heaved up and down in great amounts of inhales. This only made him like her more and not want to let her go—he liked when she 'exploded'.

"Gilmore!" she warned turning to him finally and placing her hands on his chest. "He'll have yours too if he found out you were on his ship."

"If that's the price I get for seeing you then so be it," he said leaning his face down to kiss her.

"Valentine—stop!" she giggled as she turned her head and placed her hands on his face to push him away from her.

Gilmore just smiled as he playfully continued to push his face against her hands. It didn't last for long though as her brother Johnny walked in with some more boxes to put away.

"Barbra I have some more boxes from daddy," he said putting them down and then straightening to see the two.

The brunette haired boy's eyes widened seeing them. He was never really a friend of Gilmore's. He would be if he weren't so attracted to his sister. He was a lot like his father Cid who thought no boy was worthy of Barbra.

"This isn't good," said Gilmore. "Hi Johnny."

Johnny just crossed his arms and shook his head. His nostrils flaring just wishing he'd go grope another girl besides his sister.

"Shelke," said Reeve taking both her hands in his and looking at her in the eyes. "Do you know why I wished to speak with you alone?"

"I could—take a guess," she said with a small blush and downward flutter of her eyes.

"We have been seeing each other for about 8 years. Ever since Gilmore was a little boy," said Reeve. "And . . . well I was hoping . . ."

At that he pulled out a small box, but inside it was a beautifully large diamond ring. Shelke's eyes widened as she saw this. Her mouth lay agape as Reeve took the ring out and held it between his index finger and thumb.

"I know that you still belong to Vincent with all your mind and soul—but . . . I was hoping you'd move on and accept this life as it is."

"I understand," said Shelke shaking her head.

"I'm not Vincent, Shelke," said Reeve as he got on one knee and held up the ring to her. "But I'd like to be more than just sir or commissioner . . . I'd like to be your Reeve."

Shelke bowed her head and blushed. She had forgotten what a feeling a proposal could emit. She glanced at Reeve quickly and then back away. She did this for a while until she took his hand in hers and said—

"I had . . . almost forgotten what kind of feelings a proposal could emit."

"And how do you feel?" asked Reeve standing back up to her and looking her in the eyes.

Shelke glanced away trying to find the right word to say. She soon looked back at him and smiled saying—

"Exocentric."

"Really?"

"Mhm," said Shelke with a wide smile and shake of her head.

Reeve smiled and hugged Shelke tightly. He sighed and gave her the ring. He placed it on her finger and both just starred at it. She exhaled sharply and just was filled with happiness.

"What will Gilmore say?"

"You don't have to tell him yet if you don't want to," said Reeve. "Is he still attached to his father's memory?"

"Not as much as I'd like him to be," said Shelke looking at Reeve. "Yes he adores him, but he's never physically met him and so I don't think he's as attached. Don't worry Reeve, he likes you and I'm sure he won't mind you as his new father."

"I hope so," said Reeve with a sigh.

Shelke then kissed him on the cheek and fiddled with her diamond ring a bit before she said—

"Shall we go tell the good news—Reeve?"

"Shall we?" he said holding out his arm to her.

Shelke just smiled as she took his arm and readied to head off to tell everyone, but stopped as soon as they heard some clamor from above where Cid's ship lightly sat in the air. Shelke's mouth dropped as she gasped seeing Gilmore flying around with Johnny chasing after him with a laser gun.

"Is that—?" started Reeve squinting his eyes trying to get a better look.

"GILMORE!!" cried Shelke with that mother tone she's seemed to be known to use a lot ever since Gilmore's interest in Cid's daughter Barbra.

Shelke noticed a couple of feet away Zack jumping up and down with a huge smirk saying—

"Ha ha! Get 'im Johnny!!"

She then watched as Mimi came over to him and pushed him for saying that about Gilmore. Mimi then looked up and squeaked—

"Gilly!!"

Shelke just looked up again and sighed. She hoped Johnny didn't put too many holes in her son.

"Stay away from my sister!" shouted Johnny to Gilmore who flew out of shooting range.

"Yeah, like I'd do that!" called back Gilmore.

Barbra had just walked outside to see this and once she heard him say that she blushed and cupped her face with her right hand. Gilmore just winked at her before he dove down to the ground. Once he looked down he saw his mother and Reeve only a couple of feet behind her. He landed before her and she didn't look too happy.

"Are you hurt?" she asked, once again in a monotone voice as she looked around him.

"No mom," sighed Gilmore with a roll of his eyes.

"How's your wings?" she asked taking a hold of one and stretching it out to make sure the thin membrane wasn't ripped or punctured.

"They're fine as well!" said Gilmore jerking his wing away from his mother's grip.

"Is it so wrong to be concerned?" asked Shelke placing her fists on her hips.

"I am well capable of taking care of myse—" started Gilmore until he noticed the ring on his mother's finger, which usually lay so bare. "What is that?"

"Oh—well," said Shelke placing her hands together and casting her eyes down.

Reeve soon came up behind her and placed his hand on his shoulder as he smiled saying—

"We're engaged Gilmore—do you approve?"

Gilmore honestly never saw it coming. He knew that his mother had been seeing Reeve for about 8 years, but he never thought they'd be anything more with how Shelke spoke of her lost husband Vincent Valentine. He looked at his mother who still had her eyes cast down afraid her son wouldn't approve.

"What about dad mom?!" he asked. "I thought you said he's still alive!"

"He might be, but more or likely he isn't," said Reeve.

"Can I talk to my mother—Reeve?" asked Gilmore a bit rudely.

"Vincent Valentine," started Shelke slowly bringing her eyes to her boy. "Is gone. Reeve helped me realize he is never coming back whether he lay trapped in some facility or death. I need to move on Gilmore. I just wish to have your blessings."

"I'm not trying to replace your own father Gil," said Reeve. "But I'd love to have you as my son."

"What would happen if dad were to come back?" asked Gilmore with his arms outstretched.

"If," said Shelke a little quietly.

"What?" asked Gilmore not understanding.

"IF!" she said a bit loudly. "My life has been mostly 'ifs' well I am tired of living like that. I want to heal Gilmore. I can't do that unless I have help. Will you help, with Reeve, heal my broken heart?"

" . . . I didn't know it was broken in the first place," said Gilmore coming closer to his mother to where he was but inches away from her.

"It broke the day 'he' was taken," she said casting her eyes down. "I just want a new life with you and Reeve."

"If that's what you want mom," said Gilmore shaking his head and placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Thank-you," said Shelke with a smile as she hugged her boy.

"So," sighed Gilmore looking at the couple. "When's the big day?"