I guess I wanted to put this before the story, so I don't have to put it at the end. Hello all! When I started this story I had most of it written out and it's hard to believe it took me this long to get it all out! Since I started this story, a year and some months ago, I've finished college and things have just changed, but it's really nice to just sit down and write. Even if I'm not the greatest writer in the world.

Thank you all who have read and reviewed this little story! I appreciate you hanging in there the past year!

Love, La'Ruelia!

Epilogue: The End and the Beginning

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII.

We've made it. This seemed like the longest journey ever, but I'm pretty sure it didn't even come close. We've fought our way through and now it's time for some rest! It's been a long day. I'm excited for this bed, so this is my very last story. The epilogue if you will. I will go ahead and write down what happened today.

Thank you, my readers. You've kept me sane in this adventure. If you've kept up with me, congratulations! There are no words for those who have given up on me.

I hope to see everyone soon! (Even if we really don't, it's a nice gesture to say, huh?)

After what seemed like a very long journey, Laguna and his friends walked to the front of the town. It was enough to make Laguna collapse on the ground and cry. He fought that urge.

Winhill was the same. The same shop, the same row of houses and inn. The same everything. The sky was gray, but there was no rain. The streets were not as empty as they once were, but the people did give them odd stares. "I wonder if they are just as friendly as they were last time," Kiros said, sarcasm dripping into his voice.

"I hope not." Laguna took a deep breath in. The country air filling his lungs and taking him back to moments past. He looked at his two friends and smiled. "I'm finally home, huh? Better late than never."

They started their walk through the dirt street. People didn't talk to them, but they did smile and wave. Nicer. There were no monsters either. Safer. Winhill was doing okay. Laguna saw families outside and noticed that there were a lot of new people around. The men weren't off to war and now that Galbadia has calmed down and there weren't any more evil sorceresses to worry about, the population might finally go up. Laguna felt himself breathing heavier just to get the clean air into his lungs. He missed it so much.

As they were passing by the shop, a woman came out through the door. When Laguna met her hard gaze, he knew exactly who she was. She was a little older, but it was not hard to recognize the shopkeeper. "You," she said a little tersely.

"Uh. Hey!" Laguna scratched his head. It was definitely the same shop owner. The woman didn't like him before and certainly didn't look to like him now either.

She put her hands on her hips. "I haven't seen you in years. Why are you here?" She paused but interrupted Laguna when he tried to explain. "I don't care. You sent those boys here didn't you?"

She was pointing to two young men standing not so far away. They were carrying weapons and looked to be on a break. Laguna turned to the woman, scratching his head again. "And if I did…?"

She scowled and crossed her arms, looking Laguna straight in the eye. He straightened his back a little. He didn't want to back down either, almost to prove he was going to be nice to her no matter how awful she was to him. There was a moment of intense silence as they stared each other down. Finally the woman broke eye contact, suddenly looking more interested in the ground. "I can't thank you enough. It was hard after the war, and after your sorry butt left us, to protect what we had. We were really in despair there for a few years until those SeeDs showed up to take care of those monsters. So. Thank you. If you had anything to do with it."

Laguna was a little shocked. Kiros and Ward just smiled. "Uh, um. You're welcome!" he finally managed to say out loud.

"Well. Go on. Get away from my shop!" Laguna waved, and she huffed in return.

When they reached the fields Laguna parted ways. Ward and Kiros were to go up to the old bar and grab its new owner, while Laguna was going to have a moment alone on the hill. The walk to said hill was very uneventful. He did see a chocobo, a young one, and was reminded of the time Ellone snuck off with Chokie. He almost laughed, but instead rubbed his face. Get it together, Laguna.

He came to the crest of the hill and looked down. This was the place that so long ago he and Raine really started their life together.

He remembered the conversation like it was yesterday.

. . .

"Laguna!"

He knew Raine was there but played along anyway. "Ah!"

"Did I scare you?" She smiled up at him.

"No…" Laguna could feel his voice waver. He felt his heart beat and his leg was getting sore. No cramps. No cramps. No cramps, he chanted to himself. The nervous feelings were starting to edge its way into him. The pressure was one and it was here and now. If this did not go right all of his plans would be ruined. Not only would he have to face the awkward silence of Raine, but he wouldn't have a gift for Ellone. As his heart beat into his throat he could feel the confidence in himself draining away into the ground underneath him.

Raine tilted her head. "I can hardly understand you! Stop mumbling! Look at your face! You're so red. You are so cute when your face turns red like that." She laughed. Laguna looked down trying to hold in the contents of his stomach. "What can't take the joke? Laguna? Oh you can't take the joke? You're serious? Laguna?" He turned as if to walk away. "Laguna! I'm sorry! Don't go away! Stop please, I promise I will stop teasing, sorry—!"

Laguna turned back around at the right moment and slipped the silver ring onto her finger. She gasped and held it up to her face to see under the moonlight. "Laguna, I…" She looked over at him.

"I mean I know it seems sudden, but really…I love you, Raine, with all of my heart…ha-ha are you speechless…please don't be! Look!" He smiled, holding up his own hand, a matching ring on his finger.

"Oh, Laguna!" He could see her eyes brighten. If she could smile any bigger she'd burst.

"Stay with me? Forever?"

Raine threw her arms around him, tears spilling from her eyes. "Yes!"

. . .

Present Laguna looked down at his hand, the silver ring shining in the afternoon sun. It was getting a little duller, but that was expected. He supposed it was time for a shine up. "Seems so long ago."

He walked over to the center of the empty field. There lay a marker reading simply: Raine Loire.

"Gave you my last name and everything. At least the people didn't hate me that much. I have to wonder though." He bent down. The grave was a very simple marble one. It had her name on top and when she was born and died below it. He touched the grave, running a finger around the outside of it. "I miss you so much. I'm sure you know. Hopefully…I can make things right…for our family."

There was too much to try and say. Laguna just sat in silence. No words could form in his mind to say to the gravestone of his wife. He was afraid that if he tried to say anything else he would end up sobbing instead. He finally let out a breath. "I love you Raine Loire. I'm truly sorry I wasn't there for you. I should have been. If only…" He shook his head. "No point in if onlys, I guess. Ah. Raine." He kissed his hand and touched it back to the cold marble.

After another moment, Laguna stood up, legs cracking. He forgot how old he was.

"Uncle Laguna!"

He turned around. Ellone was walking down the hill; Kiros and Ward standing at the top, giving them a little room. She had a big smile on her face, excited to see him. She waved down at him. He lifted a hand back to her. "You're a little late."

"I know. Sorry!"

They heard a noise in the distance. Everyone looked up to watch as Balamb Garden made its way overhead. The big blue airship hovered, moving slowly above them. The large blades giving a hum of sound and gently moving the grass and leaves all around. Squall, Laguna thought to himself. The guilt and excitement of knowing he had a son crept into his thoughts again. Would he be able to get to know the boy? Would he even accept him into his life? The last month was really all a blur.

"We'll have to go see him, you know," Ellone said, finally making her way down the rest of the hill. "I hear he has healed up nicely."

"That's good." Laguna smiled down at the young woman. "I'm still trying to figure out what to say."

"Well. Starting with hello is a good thing. After that…well…I'm not sure."

"Thanks for the help." Ellone laughed. It was a nice sound to hear. Laguna wrapped an arm around her shoulder and they looked at the floating school at a distance.

"I have Aunt Raine's diary, if you want it. It's full of everything she thought about while we were away. And there are many memories of Squall I can show you."

"Maybe we should just visit and talk about them. I'm sure…he would like that."

"Deep down in that loner persona, I think he would too." Raine smiled up at him. Laguna kissed her forehead. "Come on, Uncle Laguna. I'm sure you're tired from that trip."

Laguna nodded. He knew he was going to come visit Raine again in his stay here at Winhill, but he couldn't help but to look back one last time. Ellone let him pause, waiting patiently a few steps behind. He couldn't help it, a tear slipped from his mind. He wiped it away, looking up to the sun to prevent any more of them falling. He turned and gave a smile to Ellone, and they made their way up the hill.

Memories of their short time together came to mind, but he stopped on the one that started it all.

. . .

Laguna took Raine's hand as they walked back up the hill and towards the small town. He couldn't help but to smile at the silver ring that wrapped itself around her finger. "It just doesn't seem real."

"What?" Raine tilted her head. "That we're engaged?"

"No. Not exactly." Laguna stopped at the top of the hill. "Just that…nevermind. I sound like a love guppy."

"Love guppy?" Raine asked, laughing. "Love guppy? I've never heard of that one."

"Doesn't everyone say it?"

"Laguna, no one says what you say." Laguna scratched his head. "But I guess that's one of your quirks that I happen to love," she added at the end. That gave him a smile. "Come on. I don't mind if it's all mushy, say it."

Laguna could feel his cheeks burn a little, but he faced towards Raine anyway. He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "I'm going to be real. Listen to what I say…and don't be angry."

"Laguna. I won't be angry. Why would I be angry?" Raine gave him an encouraging smile. "Nothing in the world could make me angry right now. Don't test it," she added as an afterthought.

Laguna laughed a little. "Well. This doesn't feel real because just a few short years ago I was a fighter. Wanted to look at the world and travel. I had no ambition, well. I mean. I had ambition, but it wasn't to do this. When I met, well, saw Julia for the first time I thought that was love." Laguna sighed and gathered up his thoughts again. "I thought, maybe it was time to try this out, this whole courting business—"

"Don't sound medieval about it. Courting?" Raine teased.

Laguna playfully stuck his tongue out. "Resorting to childish ways? I see my fiancé is ten at heart." Laguna's heart skipped a beat when she said the word fiancé. "Go on, Guppy."

"As I was saying, I thought Julia was going to be that girl I would go back to. I could win the war for. It's really funny how life plays out. If it wasn't for that fall…that devastating six month healing process, I guess I wouldn't have ever met you. Or Elle. I didn't think I could be so happy in a little town with a family. It's been too long since I've had a home, that I almost don't know what to do."

"Well. This is our start, Laguna. Mine and yours. Ellone, too." Raine said, smiling.

Laguna turned to look out over the field. The moon made the grass look like silver waves as the wind rolled through. "I'm so happy I almost died."

"Laguna Loire: Perfect with words." Raine took a step and stood next to him. Laguna chuckled and wrapped an arm around her.

"I just hope I'm not dreaming."

"I could pinch you if you want."

"No."

"Come on! If you frown, you'll know you're not dreaming." Raine held up a hand. Laguna jerked away but not fast enough. She softly pinched his cheek, laughing. "I promise this is real. I can't make it any more real. Laguna Loire, you've made me so very happy. I love you."

He pulled her into a deep kiss. When they finally parted he looked into her eyes. They smiled up at him and he knew that no matter what, forever and always, this would be his favorite moment. Something he would never forget in all of his years left in life. "I love you, too."

End