Epilogue

No grass ever grew upon the baren spot of bronze earth and clay overlooking the ruins of Midgar. Not even after five years. Tifa could have found the spot even without the Buster Sword thrust through the ground. There was no body below. They had salvaged little from Omega Weapon beyond their lives.

"So I finally caved and relocated Seventh Heaven to Edge City. It was a couple of months ago. It's kind of nice. Biggs is a big help. He's no-nonsense. Has a good work ethic. It's weird being his boss. Barret ran the back-of-the-house things in the old days. Not like we were ever really all that profitable. It's a lot easier when your restaurant is just a front.

"We don't have the kind of customers we had at the old Seventh Heaven. A little less dodgy, you know. Fewer international terrorists. Things in our lives change. Our priorities change. We're branding it a family restaurant, but happy hour is definitely our busiest time still. Aerith blames me.

"You'll think this is funny. Johnny is running for President under the WRO party. I like their platform. I'm still not sure I get why he got the nomination. He's a much smarter guy than you always used to think. And he's got a lot of charm. But he's also got a lot of baggage. Everyone knows he used to work under Scarlet in Public Safety. And there's this girl who used to work at the Honeybee Inn who sold her story to all the papers. It's a mess right now. I tell Aerith she should run for office. Everyone in town loves and respects her. But you know Aerith. She always has, and probably always will just want a simple life.

"But like I was saying, we finally moved to Edge. No one lives in the old Sectors anymore. Life is good. Strange, but good. Shinra used its power and utilities and technology to create this illusion we were all equal, that we weren't living in tiers of haves and have-nots. Maybe I started to realize on our journey we all become slaves to something or someone sometime in our lives. Most of the time we never realize it."

Tifa sniffled. "Your son is beautiful. You'd love him so much. He's shy like you were. It's cute. But he knows he's loved. So far as he knows, Marlene is his real sister. I wish you could have known him. I wish for so much, but there comes a point when you have to say 'it is what it is.' It was hard for me to accept that you were gone. It never gets easier, but I've learned to live without you over time. I'm just sorry. Everyone who still knows and who still remembers what happened remembers you as this evil thing. I'm sorry for that."

As the tears came closer to the fore, she realized again there was not much else she could say. "You were a hero. You lived as a hero and you died a hero. I love you. I love you and always will."

Tifa blew a kiss, touching her fingertips to the corroded blade.

Tifa laid the white lilies upon the ad hoc memorial. It would forever exist unmolested as a curiosity. Someday no one alive would remember, but she would always know, until the day the planet consumed the last flicker of her soul.

The air seemed more oppressive at the top of the ridge. Then she approached her motorcycle's resting spot. The wind caught a lock her auburn hair and sensitive green eyes sparkled. The world seemed less dark.

Aerith straightened her back. "Are you ready to head back?"

Tifa smiled. You would have loved her, Cloud. "Yeah. Let's go." She mounted the motorcycle. Aerith climbed on behind her and clasped her around the waist. Tifa lit the engine. They turned back to the city: a sprawling oasis of grass, trees, and flowers that started to grow within a year of the mako plants' destruction. Construction equipment checkered the landscape, building homes, offices, and even highrises. A flight of condors passed overhead. Some had taken up residence in the burnt-out ruins of Shinra tower.

Tifa rode past Loveless Lane. The baker, Gourmand they all called him, nodded with a cordial smile. The neighbor's twins, Porom and Palam, ran along the edge of the cobblestone road, laughing, and smiling.

Tifa stopped in the garage alongside Seventh Heaven: a new building smelling of fresh cedar. They passed beneath the bright sign that read, "Texas." Aerith rubbed their red one-eyed cat's belly. "You know," Aerith said, "Johhny wants me to be his running mate."

Tifa froze. "Are you serious?"

"Of course. He says I'm great at reading people."

"He just wants a female running mate because of that Honeybee Inn girl."

Aerith shrugged. "Maybe."

"You're not really going to do it, are you?"

"I've thought about it seriously. I mean, there's really no money in being a florist anymore. Not now that flowers grow everywhere."

"Maybe if it were any other candidate."

Aerith giggled and leaned in closer to Tifa's face. "You're cute when you're jealous."

Since her mako emersion, Tifa retained the wired reflexes of a SOLDIER. Still, she found herself unable to dodge the peck on her lips: lighter and breezier than any kiss of Cloud's. She blushed hotly. Even after all the years.

"Seriously, I think I enjoy being a mother too much, Tifa."

"Have you ever thought about becoming a biological mother? I mean, we're both still young. We could find a donor. And you really are the last of the Cetra. That means once you die, that's it. No more."

Aerith flashed her a goofy self-conscious smile and just shook her head.

"I just thought you might want to think about it."

Aerith cast her eyes downward. "I think about Vincent a lot, you know. And his offer. And what it meant."

"He loved you. He loved you until the end. He gave his life for you."

"True… but there are better ways of showing your love than giving your life."

Tifa frowned. "We're alike there. That's what Cloud did. Sometimes I still think about that. What if I am really the last person on Gaia who was exposed to Mako long-term? What if Jenova's still there? Inside of me some…"

"Tifa? Aerith?" It was Biggs. He turned the corner nearest the bar, still buffing a glass tumbler. "Back already?"

"Yeah," Tifa said. "Anything much happen while we were gone?"

"Actually yeah. Reno stopped by and wanted to see the kids…"

Tifa gasped. "Wait, wait… Reno? You mean Turk Reno?"

Her reaction surprised Biggs. "Well… yeah… I mean… I figured we could trust him, what after everything he did to help in the fight against Omega."

"Biggs! You have no idea who he's working for or what he wants. You think he's sentimental or something?"

Aerith glanced upstairs. "Is he still…?"

Biggs blinked.

Footsteps descended the staircase. It was Reno. A flustered, hurried Reno.

Tifa intercepted him. "What the hell were you doing with the kids?"

Tifa caught Aerith studying him with an intent, curious glare.

Reno shook his head. "I… uh…" He tried to bowl straight past them.

Tifa caught him with one hand. "If you want to visit, call. Otherwise, don't ever come in here without my permission again."

Reno acknowledged her and rushed out.

Aerith watched Reno leave. "Tifa… he's scared."

Tifa nodded once. They strode up the stairs together, ignoring Biggs' incoherent babbling.

Tifa stopped at the top of the stairs. "Kids?"

They echanged conspiratory whispers.

"Yes, Mom?" Marlene said.

Tifa and Aerith entered together. Marlene stood side by side with Sora. He favored Cloud more day by day. She favored Aerith despite no biological kinship. They both stood erect, side by side.

"Are you both okay?" Aerith asked.

"Of course," Marlene said too quickly. She and Sora glanced at each other and… smirked?

Tifa relaxed. "I'm having a talk with Uncle Biggs. Never talk to strangers like that again, okay?"

They both made eye contact with each other and nodded in unison.

"Go downstairs," Tifa said. "We'll have a snack."

The children rushed down the steps.

Aerith turned away and watched them retreat down the stairs. "What was that?"

"You're supposed to be the telepathic one."

"Children and animals are hard."

Tifa noticed the open window and approached. She stifled a gasp. "Aerith?"

Aerith did not turn. "Hm?" When Tifa did not answer, she turned. "What is it?"

Tifa remained still, facing the open window. "Which is a greater act of love? Giving your life for the one you love or living knowing you can never be together?"

Aerith scrunched her eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing." Tifa would not turn. "I'll be down in a minute. Would you mind getting them set up with some cactaur juice?"

Aerith did not understand, but they had known each other long enough that she knew she did not always have to understand. She nodded and descended the stairs.

Tifa closed the window and picked up the object on its sill. She carried it into the master bedroom and locked it in the drawer of her nightstand. She would keep it hidden there forever if not for a handful of long, cold nights that made her ponder the reason for life and the world.

The feather was enormous. No crow or raven ever grew such a great, black wing.

End


A/N: That's it-that's all she wrote (for now)! This fic has been a fun couple of years in the making. Double thanks to everyone who's been there through the process. The reviews and feedback were invaluable and I feel I've strengthened as a writer because of it. Special thanks and love to AchikaMiyu for keeping me on the straight-and-narrow through it all (and nudging the plot here and there on the way)!

Thanks for reading!