Theme: Gift

Characters: Aerith, Zack

Time: Post KHII. Post Love.

Word Count: 582

Summer Meadow had never been so popular.

There was barely ever a time when Aerith's florist wasn't swamped with visitors. She'd managed to raise enough money for a second shop. There was even a good place for it to be, around the same size and on the other side of the town.

"Hey there." Aerith smiled as she saw her favourite customer enter.

"Good morning Zack." She smiled at the soldier. She wondered if he'd remembered.

"I see that review helped you out."

"Helped me too much, really. I can barely keep up with my orders. And I have a big one to finish by three..." She trailed off as she finished arranging some flowers in a vase before pulling out another.

"Need a hand?" Zack offered. "I've always wanted to wear a pink apron..."

"No, I can cope with it. Don't worry Zack." She gazed into her eyes for a second before returning to her work.

"I can help, really!" He begged, but knew that he wasn't going to get to help. "All right then." He flashed a grin. "See you later!" He called as he left.

That evening, Aerith was locking up when she saw something on the floor. A Sakura blossom. And there was another, a little further down the street, and another after that. She pulled the key out of the lock and followed them, leading her all the way... to her own home?

She opened the door and flicked on the lights. "SURPRISE!" She jumped as party poppers popped and the other members of the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee cheered.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"It's your birthday! So, we put on this party!" Yuffie called.

"I don't think it was 'us', more 'him'." Leon pointed towards the back, where Aerith saw a figure, but couldn't tell who it was.

"Go on Aerith. Talk to him." Tifa encouraged.

She walked around the table, topped by a beautiful looking cake with many flower designs on the marzipan. It'd be a shame to eat it. As she passed him, Cloud gave her a pat on the back, discreetly mouthing 'good luck' when sh looked.

And then, he stepped out of the shadows.

"Zack..." Aerith whispered, astonished. He was wearing a suit, but there were a couple of signs of his normally casual wear, like the untucked shirt and his slight slouch.

"Hello there." He said, giving her his normal grin.

He then shocked her by dropping to one knee, pulling out a box as everyone, even Yuffie, went quiet. Aerith gasped.

"Aerith Gainsborough. Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" He opened the box to reveal a ring, silver with five tear drops of ruby pointing to a small, circular diamond. A smile graced her face.

"Of course Zack." He smiled and took her left hand, slipping the ring onto her ring finger.

The room suddenly filled with noise.

"Congratulations you guys!" Yuffie yelled.

"You'll make a great couple." Tifa stated.

"Good luck." Cloud said.

"Well this should be entertaining..." Merlin commented.

"If you hurt Aerith..." Leon warned the ravenette, who gulped.

"Yeah yeah, enough with the mush. C'mon, cut the cake!" Cid broke the mood, and was on the receiving end of multiple glares.

And Aerith smiled, looking over to her fiancee, knowing she couldn't have had a nicer gift.