The Crescents' wedding was simple but beautiful.

With both of them not really fond of being in the spotlight to begin with, they had settled on a small cozy wedding with only their closest friends and family, to Cloud and Serah's great dismay.

It was nothing like Serah's wedding. Not at all. There was no glamour was no pomp, not tons of decorations and no tent. Just a few rose petals strewn over a little platform on the beach and a few rows of chairs set into the sand next to the neighbourhood watch's club house, in almost the exact same spot where they had loved each other all those months ago, when Sephiroth had first brought up the topic of a shared home, of a family.

Lightning had ended up with a relatively simple dress. It was a wide cut comfy thing that left her enough space for her slightly visible baby belly but still looked pretty, elegant and fell down to her smooth pale ankles.

She had decided to skip the shoes entirely. Under Cloud Strife's vicious protests.

All those shoes they'd made her try, it probably been hundreds, none of them had made her feel comfortable, had been of use.

Serah had been trying to talk her into wearing sandals at least, had been doing so all morning, but her little sister's words, they seemed to just deflect upon the pink haired bride's stubborn skull.

She was having a beach wedding, for Etro's sake. She should be allowed to skip the shoes.

And it was the right decision, Lightning found as she arrived on the scene.

Feeling the soothing warm sand under the soles of her feet, she found it comforting, calming, grounding.

It was exactly what she needed, was all the consolidation she really had.

The truth was she was nervous. Nervous as fuck.

All the things that had creeped her out int he past, be it fighting giant beasts, the Shin-Ra breathhold challenge or the wutai war, mako injections even, suddenly they were laughable, had become insignificant and small in face of the path down the beach that was now lying ahead of her.

She was going to marry herself off to general Sephiroth Crescent. If he really wanted her, that was.

The pink haired bride an anxious giddy mess, her exterior betrayed nothing of the nervousness she felt inside.

Her hair put up into an eleborate bun Serah, Cloud and Lebreau had fussed over the first half of the day, her face set into an expression of determination of sureness she entered the rose petal overed walkway between the set up chairs.

It was Serah's turn to lead her sister down the beach chair aisle this time. And she did so with pride, with pleasure, with grace.

Sure Claire Farron knew what was going to await her, knew every aspect of the following procedures, she had helped set them up after all ,but still... Still, she was so infinitely glad, was thankful she had Serah to hold on to.

Music began to play and the guests turned to look at her.

There were Cloud and Yuj and Zack and Lebreau, and all the people from the neighbourhood watch. There were Fang and Maqui and Gadhot and there were Snow and his sister crystal, beaming at her from the front row. It made Lighning's stomach flutter, made her heart beat fast inside her chest, made her palm turn sweaty.

Oh yes, the wedding had turned her into a nervous wreck. Nervous as no battle, no beast, no foe could have ever rendered her.

It was rather irksome really, the way all those people had to stare at her, the way all of this did make her feel.

If only she could render herself invisible...

The platform looming up ahead, coming closer and closer with every tiny step she took, she looked up for the first time to find her former first class comrades, Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal, all of them facing away from her and dressed in expensive looking suits, except for Genesis who had volunteered to read their ceremony and had not ignored the opportunity to wear his floral festive kimono again.

It was then and very suddenly that Lightning got cold feet for real.

Was she really doing the right thing?

Was this really what she wanted?

Was she really going to bond herself to Sephiroth in yet another irreversible way?

Suddenly she wasn't sure.

Suddenly she was not sure at all.

It didn't really matter.

All her doubts, her fears and all her insecurities, they dissipated into thin air the moment the man in the nicely cut white suit turned around to face her.

Sephiroth...

She had never seen him in a suit before. Not even a single time. Now that she did, she found it fit him perfectly.

The white of the fabric matching the color of his hair, it was from his place on the platform just a few meters away from her that he looked back her and it was then and there that Lightning found that he was nervous too.

And definitely more than he let show.

The silver haired man's gaze travelling down to her none existing shoes, to the bare skin of her soles sinking into warm soft sand, he quickly made to bend down to his own and got rid of his freshly polished brogues, to match the attire of his bride.

It made Lightning give a nervous smile, put a fresh spring into her step, made her walk down the aisle so much easier so much more lightly.

All the eyes in the crowd now fixed on her she saw only his. The only pair that mattered.

Mako green eyes searching her's carefully, it was when she reached out ot take his hand that she realized he'd half expected her not to come.

Relief washing over the man next to her, the magic of their jenova bond kicking in from the touch of their skin, Lightning felt his heartbeat calming, felt his tense muscles relax.

Had he really thought she'd let him down?

Well... He had at least feared it. She had feared the same a little bit herself.

Had feared that maybe in the end he wouldn't want her. But all those worries, they suddenly seemed far away.

There was only the touch of their skins and their steady strong connection pulsing through their veins. There was the touch of their bare feet as they stood close together, finally facing away from the crowd and towards Genesis.

They were one already. Were already bound in a so much deeper way.

This was just making it official.

Was showing it to all their family, their friends, the world.

Somewhere infront them Genesis Rhapsodos began to talk, but Lightning found she couldn't hear him. All her atttention, all her awareness, was focused on the man beside her, was focused on the beautiful connection that had welded the two of them together ever since Lightning had received her Jenova cell treatment.

Suddenly the thought of it, it wasn't monstrous to her anymore at all.

Was bliss, was joy, was peace, was home.

Genesis had posed a question and the crowd had suddenly gone very silent, except for Cloud Strife's stiffled sobs and Angeal's stomach, which gave a mighty growl at the prospect of the wedding cake.

It took Lightning completely by surprise. Had they arrived at the wedding vows already?

'Yes, I do.' the silver haired first class said, his voice as firm and determined as ever and looking up at him, Lightning found all the remaining doubts she'd ever haid diminish into nothingness.

He sounded so sure, so determined, so certain. There was not an ounce of doubt there in his husky voice. No hesitation, no uncertainty. No pausing, no dealy.

It made Lightning's heart beat faster.

'And do you Claire Farron, take Sephiroth Crescent to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage?' Genesis' voice rang out.

'Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?'

Suddenly it was her time to speak.

Her time to proclaim her decision. It wasn't exactly a hard one to make.

Not anymore.

'Yes I do.' she answered, her voice equally as strong, as sure, as determined.

And it was to a wave of cheers and applause, that with one loving kiss, their first as Mr. and Mrs. Crescent, they sealed their marriage.

The remainder of the day passed in a blur of cheerful smiles and happy faces.

There had been a wave of congratulations, the throwing of the wedding bouquet, which Cloud Strife caught with wide open arms, and hugs and pattings on the back and kisses on the cheeks.

They had receded to the air conditioned retreat of the clubhouse which they had made sure they had all to themselves, had stopped shortly at the palmtrees outside for a few reminescential pictures only, had gone over to a feast of delicious seafood and a big nice wedding cake.

The clubhouse had been decorated with pretty flowers and white tablecloths. A big round table had been set up for the cake soemwhere near the bar and the whole left wing of the building had been cleared out of the furniture and turned into a dancefloor for the guests.

Yuj and Cloud were publicly making out in one of the corners, a fact that seemed to bother Zack Fair to no end. Throwing the two of them increduled glances, for the first time in his life it was the puppy's turn to witness public display of affection instead of actively participating in it.

It did not seem to sit well with him at all.

Lebreau was busy with the dishes as were Maqui and Gadhot and Snow was feeding Serah cake from one of Lebreau's giant plates.

Genesis and Fang had fled the scene some time ago, presumeably pursuing similiar plans as the day's bridal couple had on Serah Farron's wedding and Angeal Hewley and Snow's sister Crystal were busy dissecting the remainders of the wedding cake, stuffing their faces with icing and throwing each other flirty glances.

Wait. Was there something going on between Angeal and Snow's sister?

It was the last thing Claire Farron, no Claire Crescent, wondered bevor her freshly baken groom pulled her onto the danceflor.

'You still owe me one dance from Serah's wedding Mrs. Crescent.' he breathed into her ear and it made the pink haired bride look up at him questioningly.

'We did dance at Serah's wedding.' she said somewhat defiantly.

It made the the silver haired man smile.

'Yes, but only for like ten seconds,' Sephiroth replied.

'Then you ran off into the wilderness.' he reminded instantly.

It made Claire Crescent give a tiny giggle.

'I definitely feel like running off into the wilderness now.' she confessed.

The day had been a long one already. And she was beginning to get tired. Felt like going home.

It made the man in the white suit narrow his eyes at her.

'No, you won't.' he said somewhat teasingly.

'You will dance with me.'

His charming pink haired bride did as she was told, let herself lean forward and into him arms, let him direct her steps.

They weren't even dancing really. More like swaying on the dancefloor, slowdancing with their arms around each other, her head resting on his upper body.

It was exactly like that time that she had danced with Zack at new years eve, strong warm arms around her making her feel safe and warm and comfy, but on the other hand it was nothing like it at all. Sephiroth was taller than Zack by quite a bit. Her head fit the contours of his body perfectly, resting on his collarbone and not his sholder, making her feel more protected, more secure, allowing her to hear his heart beat. Probably her most favourite sound in the world, right after the rushing of the waves, the rustling of the palm trees on the beach.

Sephiroth's arms around her felt different too. Felt more protective, felt like home. And he also smelled different. Smelled more familiar, smelled like him.

And she felt different with him too. Felt more relaxed, at ease, at home.

Home. That was what it was to her.

The most precious feeling in the world probably.

The jenova bond inside her calling out for him, for them to be united, suddenly it didn't scare her anymore at all. Suddenly it just felt right.

The silver haired first class leaning down a bit, Lightning felt him burry his face in her hair, felt his lips whisper against the skin of her temple.

'I was scared you wouldn't show up.' he confessed as he held her closer, hands digging into her dress a litte, but not in an uncomfortable way.

'I was scared you might not want me after all.'

It was true. It really was.

After all the things that had happened in their past, after all their history after he had messed up with that one last mako shot, and she had gotten wind of his addiction, after his endless screw ups and his horrible nightmares, his insecurities, his self doubt, his weakness, he had sincerely doubted whether she still wanted him for real.

It was slowly that Claire Crescent steped away from him, to look up at him with big blue eyes.

'Of course I want you.' she said somewhat taken aback.

'I've always wanted you.'

It was true.

She had wanted him from the beginning. Had wanted him back in their time in soldier. Had harboured secret feelings for him even back when he had given her a hard time. Hadn't been able to stop thinking about him, at least not for extended periods of time, and definitely not after their first shared night in Palumpolum.

Sure she'd gotten cold feet here and then.

But that had been about her own doubts, her own insecurities. Never had it had anything to do with him or any of the things he'd done since they'd arrived here in Bodhum or his mako problems, his nightmares, his ptsd, as Lightning had come to think of it.

All those things, all his vulnerabilities, somehow they had festered her decision only further.

The decision to be with him. To stand by his side.

It had only made her love him even more.

'There's never been anyone else.' she whispered, as she leaned up on her tiptoes, planting a loving kiss right on his soft warm lips.

'Well... There's been Zack.' Mr. Crescent pointed out, raising one of his perfectly arched brows at her.

It made Claire's cheeks flush crimson.

'I... We kissed. That was alll.' the pink haired bride choked out.

'And it was a mistake.' she said as she looked up somewhat shyly, mako green eyes gazing at her teasingly.

'It's never been anything like it is with you.' Lightning said sincerely, ignoring the predatory glint in her husband's mako eyes.

It made the silver haired first class give her a loving smile that then spread into one of his haugthy trademark smirks.

'I saw you dance with Reno from the turks once.' he whispered somewhat teasingly.

It made Lightning want to kick his balls.

There was that ridiculoues half smile playing at the left corner of his lips now and Lightning could tell he was mocking her.

'Jealous?' she cooed, lips parting in a tiny smile as well.

'All the time.' The man infront her said before his lips came crushing down on her's.

It was a few hours later that finally they arrived back at the beach house, that finally the two of them could get some privacy.

Snow had dropped them off in the driveway in his yellow pickup truck, from which Sephiroth had carried his bride down the front lawn and to the house, where he had entered through the front door in a burst that almost made the two of them tumble to the floor.

It made the two of them laugh almost uncontrollably.

'You almost dropped me.' Lightning managed between giggles, as finally back on the safety of her feet she turned around to kiss him.

'You almost weight a ton.' her husband contered in defence as he spoke against her lips.

It made her bite down on his affectionately.

'Come.' she said as she pulled him to the bedroom, made to fuddle with the fastening of her dress.

'I gotta get out of those clothes.'

She had chosen the wide comfy dress against Cloud's and Serah's advice and she had been quite content with her choice too, until now that was. The stupid zipper not budging at all, the damn thing had suddenly turned into a death trap rather than a dress at all.

'Come here. I'll help you out.' the first class offered, stepping up and opening the fastening easily.

Letting the comfy silky goan fall down to her hips Sephiroth revealed a pair of white lacy underwear and a tiny little baby belly.

Lightning gave a tiny greatful smile.

She had taken Serah's advice for the bra and panties and they had been a good choice, she had to admit.

Her husbands arm reaching out for her side, his hands travelling down to touch the tiny bulge that was to be their future children, Lightning let herself lean against him, buried her face against chest again.

'You really thought I wouldn't come?' she whispered against his thorso, before leaning back a little she made to look up at him.

'I was scared...' her silver haired husband admitted honestly.

'I was scared too, you know?' Lightning replied sincerely.

'What?! You were scared I wouldn't show up?' Sephiroth contered completely perplexed.

'Why in Gaia's name would you think such a thing?!'

Lightning just smiled up at him.

'I was scared...' she just repeated as reaching out for him, she pulled him down to their soft warm bed.

It made the silver haired first class search her lips again.

'You know what was really scary?' he breathed against her cheek.

'Genesis in that kimono...'

It made Claire Crescent laugh.

He was right of course.

It kind of was a rather troublesome sight for real.

'I was kind of scared he'd cite from loveless again!'

There were a few short precious moments where the two of them just looked into each other's eyes, laughing at the memory.

Then slowly the laughing died away and Lightning reached up to touch her husband's face.

Her hand caressing his lips, his cheeks, his jaw, she finally let it trail down to his neck and stop at the tiny scar right above his carotid artery. That scar she'd given him on that one fatal evening in the SOLDIER training room.

'You always kept that scar...' she observed in awe.

The silver haired man next to her kept looking at her lovingly.

'I couldn't bring myself to heal it.' He whispered against the skin of her face as he leaned forward, making their foreheads touch.

'I wanted to keep it. As a memory. I wanted to keep you.'

It made Lightning close her eyes and close the distance between their lips again.

'I love you, Claire.'

'I love you too.'

Forever.

It was true.

Her gaze trailing down to their matching white gold wedding rings, the pink haired mother to be took a deep long relaxed breath.

He was her's, was her's for real.

And she was his.

Til death did them apart.

Claire Crescent almost could not believe it. Almost.