"Anne?"

Tifa blinked as the young Wiccan bustled past her.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, no, just need some fresh air!" Anne said as she and Shadow jogged down the corridor, "I'm fine!"

"I thought you were…"

Anne disappeared around the corner before Tifa could finish her sentence. She stood there in the corridor, slightly dumbfounded. She turned and walked over back to the room where she saw Sephiroth on the bed, looking down at the floor.

"Your Majesty?"

Sephiroth glanced up at her and Tifa felt uneasy with the way his eyes seemed clouded.

"Miss Lockhart," he nodded as he stood.

"Is something wrong?"

Sephiroth brushed past her in the doorway, pausing as he stared down at the carpet.

"…How long has your sister hated men?"

Tifa's heart dropped.

"For a while, it might have been around the time I explained what would happen if I married my fiancé," she murmured, "Don't tell me you proposed to her?"

Sephiroth hesitated before storming off towards the West Wing.

Shadow pranced around Anne as she paced around the garden. Cinnamon and her cubs eyed the black dragon as Anne ran her hands through her hair, eyes wide as they darted left and right as if searching for an answer.

"Marriage…" she murmured and Shadow hissed, "Marrying…Sephiroth… …"

She flopped onto the grass, Shadow purring and nuzzling her head as she drummed her hands on the ground.

"I don't want to get married…"

Shadow nodded as if it was the best idea.

"But it's Sephiroth."

He growled lowly.

"But it's marriage."

He snorted.

"And that'll most likely lead to children."

Shadow let out a louder growl whilst Cinnamon's ears pricked up at the mention of children.

"I want children. But not now. And to have Sephiroth's…"

She flinched and began rolling around the garden.

"I don't know!"

"Good morning."

Anne sat up and looked up at Vincent with a surprised look.

"Morning…"

Vincent crouched down before her and backhanded her.

"Ow!" Anne yelped as she rubbed her cheek, "How did that even hurt, you're not even solid!"

"Simple spell," Vincent shrugged, "But anyway, how many times did I tell you to not to use that phoenix spell?!"

"It got results!"

"You could have died!"

"I didn't!"

"You could have! You won't always be able to cheat death!"

"I can try," Anne pouted and Vincent glowered at her.

"I absolutely forbid it."

Anne folded her arms and looked to the side moodily. Vincent crouched down before her and ruffled her hair.

"Now…" he said as he settled himself into a sitting position, "The second issue."

Anne's pout fell as he looked at her with a soft smile.

"You're worried about marrying Sephiroth."

Anne nodded sullenly and Vincent folded his arms.

"What should I do?" she asked.

"Whatever makes you happy."

Anne looked up at him as he looked to the side.

"That's the most important thing for me," he said "I want you to be happy."

Anne dropped her eyes as she fiddled with her fingers.

"To be happy?"

Her brow furrowed as she clenched her fists.

"Happy…"

She looked up at Vincent pleadingly, as if to give her a bigger hint and her ancestor just raised an eyebrow at her.

"What will make you happy?" he asked and Anne huffed, "Anne, what do you want in life?"

"What do I want?" she murmured whilst sucking in her cheek thoughtfully, "I want…to travel."

"Yes?"

"But if I marry Sephiroth, I might not be able to travel the world."

"Perhaps."

"But if I go…"

Anne looked at Vincent with a confused face.

"The thought makes me sad and it hurts here…"

She pressed her hands to her chest and Vincent's lips twitched slightly.

"What kind of hurt?"

"It aches," Anne's eyes began tearing up, "Am I sick or something?"

"I cannot say," Vincent replied, "This is something that you need to figure out."

"But it's so different!" Anne burst out, "I've never felt anything like this! I don't even know where to look to get answers! None of the books I've studied has talked about this."

"Not all books hold answers," Vincent said shortly as he rose, "You're a very smart girl, Anne. You'll figure it out."

Anne jumped to her feet as he disappeared before holding her chest and staring down sadly.

"But…I don't know what to do…"

"Absolutely not!"

Sephiroth ran a finger around his teacup as his mother's ghost paced up and down the balcony of the West Wing, looking very furious.

"How DARE you propose to that ungrateful, pathetic, little witch!" she shrieked as Sephiroth glanced at her fleetingly, "It's only for the best that she'll reject you! And you need to focus on rebuilding your kingdom. Only then can we focus on finding a suitable woman to have your children."

"Anne can…"

"Oh please!"

Lucrecia scoffed to interrupt her son.

"Her magic blood, no matter how much Chaos she's absorbed from you, is feeble! Her spawn at best will become the Behemoths and Couerls that she loves so much!"

Sephiroth glared at her as she turned away, folding her arms and muttering incoherently.

"Her Valentine blood, is that not good enough?"

"Valentine," Lucrecia spat, "Their blood is best spilt!"

Sephiroth growled and coughed when he remembered he was human. Lucrecia glowered at him.

"Such a silly infatuation!" she snarled as Sephiroth glowered back, "I forbid you to marry her! Let her leave, let her go and pursue knowledge fruitlessly!"

Sephiroth opened his mouth as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"It is what she wants, after all."

Sephiroth's voice died as Lucrecia turned to the gates.

"Once she's gone, she is gone," she said decidedly, "Then we can focus on more important matters."

Sephiroth gripped his teacup so hard that it broke.

"I am not your little boy anymore," he snarled suddenly and Lucrecia turned to him sharply, "You are my mother and I love you but I won't remain under your thumb."

Lucrecia looked shocked before glaring and gripping her fists.

"You dare disobey your mother?!"

"Considering where your actions got me?"

Sephiroth turned from her.

"Be gone and stay in the spirit world. No-one wants you here."

Lucrecia looked crestfallen as she began fading away. It left Sephiroth with a clear view of the gates. His heart fell as he slumped, not bothering to dry his hand from the tea that covered it. He practically had the front row seat to watch Anne leave here forever. He wouldn't be able to stop her. Or maybe he could. Sephiroth shook his head furiously as dark thoughts began to awaken. Perhaps he could catch and lock her up, make sure she'd never leave him. Or use a spell to make her love him back. No, no, no, don't think like that! Sephiroth gripped the soaking table cloth, never taking his eyes off the gate. He had to let her go. He wanted her to be happy, didn't he?

"Sephiroth?"

Sephiroth turned around sharply and all reason flew away.

"Anne!"

Anne coughed as the king rose and threw his arms around her, holding her tightly.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have scared you like that!" he gushed out as Anne tensed up, "I…I thought things would have changed but I was mistaken, just don't leave me…"

"Sephiroth…"

"I know, I'm being selfish," Sephiroth sank to his knees and buried his face in her stomach, "I can understand that you still hate men but I can change back into that monstrous creature if you prefer that!"

"Sephiroth!"

Anne grabbed his shoulders to shake him.

"Calm yourself! Are you not the proud king that I know and love?"

Sephiroth looked up at her in surprise and Anne's cheeks flared up. They were silent for a while and the Wiccan sighed, closing her eyes.

"Sephiroth…" she murmured slowly, "I…I'm open to the thought of marrying you. On one condition!"

Sephiroth had nearly jumped for joy and was kneeling up straight, hands at Anne's hips poised to spin her around in the air. He looked up at Anne in suspense as she looked up at the ceiling to take in a deep breath.

"I want to travel, I still want to do that."

"And we can."

"Your kingdom?"

"Genesis is capable of standing in for a few years."

"He is not going to be happy with that news."

"He'll deal with it."

"And one more thing."

"Anything."

Anne placed her hands on Sephiroth's wrists.

"No children until we get back from travelling."

"Of course. Anything else?"

"Nothing extravagant for our wedding."

"Agreed."

"…"

Anne blushed as she ducked her head.

"I'm done."

She yelped as Sephiroth jumped to his feet and spun her around happily.

"Anne!" he cried out happily before bringing her into a firm embrace, "Thank you…thank you for making me the happiest man in the world."

"Any time, can you put me down now?"

Sephiroth grinned up at her before shaking his head and bringing her down into a sweet kiss. Anne's cheeks flared up and they jumped when the teapot on the table exploded. Sephiroth grinned as he set Anne down carefully, kissing her forehead.

"I look forward to the honeymoon if your magic can be this active when your emotions kick in."

The table splintered as Anne covered her face and ran off.

"I change my mind! I'm not marrying you!"

Sephiroth smirked as he began chasing her around the castle.

"An engagement ball?" Anne stared at Aerith who had bright pink cheeks after the news had been delivered to her Yuffie and Tifa.

"Just a small one, you know, we've got three couples that are engaged in the castle, we can just celebrate yours with the others…"

"It's not a big deal," Anne shrugged.

"Anne. You're engaged. That's a huge deal."

Anne glared at her sister's blunt tone.

"Also, I get to decorate your wedding!" Yuffie cheered.

"We had bets," Aerith folded her arms, "Genesis gets to be your maid of honour by the way."

Anne stared at her incredulously before the seamstress began giggling.

"I'm joking, of course," she grinned.

"Still, you don't have to," Anne mumbled.

"We kind of do, Angeal's already in the kitchen making preparations for tomorrow."

"It's going to be tomorrow?!"

"The sooner, the better!"

Anne's eyes widened as measuring tape fell out from her sleeves.

"Aerith?"

"Tifa," Aerith grinned at the marital artist, "hold down your sister so I can plan the perfect wedding dress."

"If you'll do mine."

"With pleasure."

"Wait, no!"

Anne screamed as Tifa grabbed her before she could run out of the room.

"Help!" she shrieked as Yuffie cackled away whilst Aerith approached her, "SEPHIROTH!"

"Not a chance," the king murmured as he walked past with a couple of books, "Got a kingdom to put back together."

"GET BACK HERE!"

"Nope."

Anne froze as Tifa folded her arms whilst Shadow wriggled around the room, growling eagerly.

"What?"

"You put that knife down," Tifa said sternly as she plucked the Valentine Ritual Dagger out of Anne's hand and placed it down on the vanity.

"But…"

"Now, now, just forget about magic for once!" she said sternly, "We can relax, let our hair down…"

Anne raised her eyebrows as Tifa eyed her fairy-tale braid (expertly done by Aerith).

"Metaphorically. And you look beautiful, don't let that ruin it."

Anne stumbled in her forest green ball gown, looking at the matching gloves.

"Are these necessary?"

"Fashion, don't question it," Tifa smiled as she put in her earrings.

"Yeah but you don't get to wear them," Anne pouted.

"Not in this number," Tifa smiled as she twirled in her red mermaid dress.

Anne rolled her eyes as Shadow darted out of the room eagerly and her sister dragged her out.

"I might have to teach you how to do a simple dance," she murmured.

"I know the basics," Anne murmured back as they began hurrying down to the ballroom, "Tifa, I can't dance in front of all those people!"

"They're your friends, right?" Tifa frowned.

"Plus a 'few' of your friends you dragged along," Anne narrowed her eyes at Tifa.

"I couldn't leave them hanging," Tifa shrugged and grinned as she pulled her younger sister into the ballroom, "Voila, there's your fiancé!"

Anne stumbled rather inelegantly into Sephiroth's back. The king jumped, looking round as a few giggles echoed in the crowd and Anne stumbled back, her cheeks flushed. He greeted her with a smile, making a sweeping gesture to peck her hand.

"My princess," he purred and Anne's hand twitched.

"I'll smack that smirk off your face," she vowed.

"Oh?" Sephiroth cocked a curious eyebrow.

"Would you rather I spelled it off?"

Sephiroth twirled her around and brought his arm around her waist. Genesis was quick to spell the instruments in the corner to life and Sephiroth led Anne onto the dance floor. Anne blushed as she looked away from Sephiroth's smug look. They danced a simple waltz as the onlookers watched whilst Anne couldn't help but worry.

"Anne? Is something wrong?"

Anne looked up at him and shrugged helplessly.

"I feel like I've forgotten something," she said and Sephiroth tilted his head.

Sephiroth frowned.

"Like your lack of a scar," he murmured and Anne rolled her eyes.

"I like my face scar free thank you very much," she sniffed as she rubbed under her eyes, "But no, I'm just…it's like something's blocking off this memory that feels so important."

"You'll remember soon enough," Sephiroth reassured her and Anne shook her head.

"No, like I need to remember now because it feels like…"

Anne's heart stopped with the rest of her body. She stared across the hall in terror as Sephiroth paused, asking if she was alright. Time slowed as Anne began shaking to the core. Did she cast the phoenix spell? Why yes, she did and nearly died doing it. But did Rosso die?

"Annulla."

The music stopped abruptly and the spelled instruments fell to the floor. Everyone whirled around and Sephiroth stepped to the side to look. Anne hadn't felt more scared as the very vengeful Stregherian unfolded her arms and stepped out of the shadows, towards the couple. Everyone backed away as she brought her blades out. In the light, Anne could see the burns on her body. Her spell had hit then.

"Oh, congratulations on the engagement," she purred with venom and held one blade up at Sephiroth who dragged Anne behind him, "You wouldn't mind if I delivered my wedding present early?"