The sun was high in the sky on a brilliant spring day. Wind blew across the grass in the valley below, and flowers doted the view.
"You look gorgeous little lady." Cid said grinning at Aerith, she stood before him in a simple white lace dress, flowers from her beloved church woven in her hair and in a bouquet in her hand.
"Thank you for giving me away." She smiled at him.
"I'm quite honored." He said holding out his arm for her, "It's about time."
She smiled, as the butterflies in her stomach fluttered. She couldn't believe after all this time her day had finally come. "I don't want to keep Zack waiting. He'll think I got cold feet." Aerith giggled.
She walked out of the room, to see Yuffie, Tifa, who was beginning to show in her 7th month, and Elena, who she had grown closer too over the past few months standing waiting in beautiful lavender dresses, to be escorted up the aisle ahead of her.
The music started to play, and one by one the women stepped out. Tifa had been her maid of honor, escorted by Cloud. Elena was then escorted by Sephiroth and finally, Yuffie took Genesis's arm, looking a bit too pleased with herself.
"Not every day one gets to escort a Queen." Genesis whispered in her ear.
"Thrilling for you?" Yuffie asked wiggling her eyebrows at him.
Genesis just laughed a bit, continued his walk up the aisle.
Finally the music changed, and Cid, adjusted Aerith's veil, as they stepped out.
Aerith's focus zoned in and all she could see was Zack, standing at her, smiling his wonderful smile. She almost forgot how to breathe, as Cid lead her down the aisle.
She walked past many of her friends, Barrett was sitting with Denzel and Anise, Marlene having served as the flower girl.
She could see Kunsel sitting with Cissinei, and Reno and Rude sitting with Tseng, and Rufus sitting in his wheelchair. He had recovered a bit from his dip in the Lifestream, but was still weak. There were a few people she didn't recognize, most wearing a SOLDIER uniform, but there were a few Turks as well. Nanaki was sitting at the edge of one of the aisles, and Lucrecia and Dr Rayleigh were both in attendance, Reeve sat to their right. Weiss and Shelke set off to the side with a few of the children from the orphanage. Jadak and Angeal stood up towards the front, both playing ring bearers.
The best part, were Zack's parents sitting right up front. She couldn't forget how emotional the man had gotten, when seeing them again for the first time they had called him by his name. Sometime after he had went missing, something finally clicked in his mother's head, she had missed her other son. She had been looking for him ever since. They had finally started to bond with who Zack really was, and Aerith was extremely happy for him.
In front of them stood a man dressed in a white suit. As Cid stopped short with her.
"Who gives this woman away?" The priest asked.
"I do sir," Cid answered.
"Do you vouch for her purity, and the fact that she is promised to no other?" The Priest asked.
"I do sir." Cid responded.
"Then you may step forward Aerith." The priest said as motioned for her to take her place at Zack's side. They locked hands and smiled brightly at each other.
"Are you both standing before me of your own will?" The priest asked.
"Yes sir." Aerith and Zack answered at the same time.
"Then may I see the rings that I might bless them?" The priest asked, as Zack turned and took them from the children with a bit of wink.
The man took out a piece of materia and a slight glow enveloped them. "I, with the power of the planet, bless these rings and their owns, that they may always stand strong together, act as one, and find each other if they shall become lost." He recited as a glimmer washed over the rings and the glow vanished.
Aerith and Zack just smiled on.
The priest handed them back their rings. "Zackary, please repeat after me." The priest stated.
"I Zackary, do by take this woman Aerith, as my wife. to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, I will love and honor you all the days of my life, here and after." Zack repeated as the priest spoke.
"Aerith your turn my dear." The priest turned to her.
" I Aerith, do by take this man, Zackary as my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, I will love and honor you all the days of my life, here and after." Aerith repeated, tears in her eyes.
The man nodded, then said. "Take your rings pleases."
"Zackary, repeat after me." The priest turned to him. "With this ring, I do wed."
"With this ring, I do wed." Zack said, tears starting to show in his eyes, as he slid on Aerith's ring.
"Aerith," The man nodded to her. "With this ring I do wed."
"With this ring I do wed." Aerith repeated, slipping the ring on Zack's finger.
"I have seen that your love is true and pure, and I bless this union, with all my power. May man, nor beast, nor even god, tear apart what we have joined here today. I know pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride." The priest said to the lovely couple.
Zack just smiled, raised Aerith's veil, and pulled her in to a sweet gentle kiss. Before pulling away.
"I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Zackary Fair." The priest said to those gathered to watch the ceremony.
Everyone stood and clapped as the music started again, and Zack and Aerith walked back down the aisle, hand in hand, husband and wife.
MAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKO MAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKO MAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKO MAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKOMAKO MAKOMAKOMAKOMAKO
Its over, and I don't know whether to jump for joy or cry. I love each of you that have read this story and encouraged me along the way. I hope you enjoy the epilogue. I hope I haven't forgotten to wrap up anything. If you are still left curious about something, let me know ,and I'll tell you about it. If enough people ask, I'm likely to write a one shot about it.
For those of you curious about the Yaoi version of this story I promised, look for it to start popping up next week sometime.
Goodbye :)