Part 10 — Vows
By Crystal Snowflakes
Summary: He leans down—the same way he had once done all those years ago—with his heart beating wildly against his chest, and he doesn't hesitate to close the space between them.
Cloud fixed the collar of his shirt, straightening it slightly to try and make it sit more comfortably around his neck. The suit felt stiff against him every time he fidgeted or shifted even though it had been perfectly tailored for him. Rarely had he ever worn clothes so formal before since he'd never had an occasion to need to before… but this was special.
And he'd done it for her.
As he shifted his weight back to the other leg, the dry floorboard creaked beneath him, and he was grateful that he had at least been able to wear his own boots rather than a pair of dress shoes.
His eyes roamed, flickering momentarily across the pews, taking in all the familiar faces awash with the soft glow of the sunlight streaming through the broken wall and stained glass windows. It was strange, having so many people in the place he considered his and Aerith's quiet corner of the world. They had passed countless hours in the stillness of the church, spending time together as they talked about nothing in particular and simply enjoyed each other's presence. He couldn't remember how many times he had fallen asleep with his head on her lap, nestled into her arms as she hummed softly, her fingers running gently through his hair.
But today, it would be different.
The pews were filled to the brim with people, and while he recognized many of them, there were some faces he didn't recognize at all. He felt his stomach churn with nerves, and he fidgeted with his cuffs once more. Instead of continuing to study the crowd, he turned his gaze towards the side and found a pair of wine-coloured eyes peering over the piano at him.
Tifa smiled at him, tilting her head just slightly to one side, and Cloud knew without a doubt that she could see the tension in his posture. He tried to return the gesture, but it felt like it came out as more of a grimace than anything else, and she gave him a little nod.
"It'll be alright," she mouthed silently before turning her attention away. A few chords later, Tifa began a new song, the soft melody filling the air once more.
He let out a sigh, forcing himself to relax, wondering how much longer he'd need to stand awkwardly alone—well, almost alone, since Reeve was just steps away, fiddling with his notes on the podium—in the front of the church. How many more minutes would he have to wait until Aerith would appear and save him from being the center of attention? At least it seemed like most of the guests were chatting amongst themselves instead of looking at him.
Nervous once more, he reminded himself to breathe and took a deep breath in before letting it out slowly again.
Cloud had never once dreamed that this would be where he would be standing one day.
After all these years—after all the fighting—there were still days that he woke up, not believing that he had been given the opportunity to live the life he wanted to live. There were days when he would wake up, not knowing if the one person he cared the most about in the world was still by his side, and whether he'd turn to his side and realize he had been dreaming all along—that she'd never been there at all.
And then there were days like today, where everything seemed too perfect—where he kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and for the walls to close in on him.
It hadn't been easy waking up the first couple of months after that day—after Aerith almost died, after he had almost lost hope, after he realized that things could've gone differently. He couldn't imagine how he could've continued to live if the outcome had been different, couldn't imagine how he could've continued fighting without losing sight of why he'd started fighting.
But, he was here now. They were here now.
The sound of the music changing to a slower and different tune snapped him out of his thoughts, bringing him back to reality. His gaze shifted from one of the windows to the entrance as he wondered just how much longer—
And there she was.
Her dark hair framed her face as the sunlight spilled across the veil, making her look angelic and ethereal. With her hands clasping a bouquet of flowers—lilies in different shades of yellow and white, much like those that were just steps away from him—her cheeks were dusted a light pink. Aerith's face lit up when their eyes met, and he felt his chest grow tighter as she made her way down the aisle towards him.
She looked beautiful. Her dress clung to her figure, accentuating every curve and every dip as the fabric billowed in the gentle breeze that swept across the church. There was a sparkle in her eyes, and her smile widened the closer she got. Cloud felt himself smile back despite the lump rising in his throat.
He felt like he couldn't breathe, much less think coherently as Aerith finally stopped and stepped into his space next to him All he could do was stare, spellbound by the sight in front of him. She was stunning. Beautiful, like always, but there was something about seeing her in white that made him feel like he could fly.
He knew there was something he was forgetting, but his mind couldn't quite focus. The only thing he cared about at that moment was her.
"You look handsome, Mr. Bodyguard," she mouthed in a whisper, the veil fluttering gently in the air.
Right. The veil. Wasn't there something—
"Oh, for fuck's sake." Reno's voice echoed through the room and through his brain, shaking Cloud from his reverie. "Focus, Strife. It ain't gonna lift itself, yo!"
It was only then that he realized the music had stopped.
Laughter rang out—some awkward, some more genuine—which prompted Cloud to whip his head around to glare at the redhead. Sitting in the second row, Reno raised his hands defensively with a shrug. Just as Reno opened his mouth to say something more, Yuffie slapped her hand over his mouth with a resounding smack.
Good.
Nonetheless, Cloud turned back towards Aerith and muttered under his breath, "Why is he even here?" Her eyes crinkled in laughter, and it looked like she was trying hard not to let out a giggle.
Still, she smiled again, the corners of her lips stretching all the way to her ears. "Because I want him here?" she replied simply, her tone a touch teasing and fond. They both knew it wasn't the actual reason, though he'd never admit the real reasoning—or accept it—out loud. Regardless, he knew he'd indulge her, no matter the circumstances—no matter how much he grumbled about it.
He didn't respond in return. Instead, his hands shook when they reached for the veil to pull it off her face. When his fingers touched her skin, his heart stuttered, and he forced himself to finish his task. As soon as the veil was safely tucked behind her ear, he released a slow breath, hoping that his body would relax somewhat.
It didn't though. Not entirely.
Luckily for him, Reeve's voice broke through his spiraling thoughts as he began the wedding ceremony, and Cloud allowed his words to wash over him. Unfortunately for him, his nerves continued to run rampant inside him, and he hoped that he wouldn't mess everything up. Almost as if she could read his mind, Aerith then placed a delicate hand atop of his own, her thumb running gently across his knuckles before resting against his palm in a reassuring manner. Maybe she wouldn't notice just how clammy his palms were.
"Are you nervous?" Aerith whispered quietly, so low he almost didn't hear her speak.
Her eyes flickered down to look at where their hands were connected, feeling warmth spread throughout his body as the softness of her skin contrasted sharply with his rough calloused hands. And then her gaze returned to lock on his, and it was impossible not to be completely drawn into her bright green eyes—like a moth to a flame.
"No," he lied, fully aware that she'd probably see through him in an instant, but he couldn't bring himself to care.
She smiled softly—knowingly—before squeezing his hand in a comforting manner. Just as she was about to speak, Reeve cleared his throat, effectively bringing both Cloud and Aerith's attention back to him. He shot them a warning glance, almost as if reminding them to pay attention to what he had to say next.
As Reeve continued the ceremony, Cloud paid as much attention as possible, but as his gaze locked onto Aerith's once more, he found himself unable to tear his eyes away and everything blurred together. He remembered repeating the vow that had been scripted for him, and though he knew he'd meant every word, the only thing he heard was the sound of his heart pounding in his ears. Somehow, he managed to say 'I do' without tripping over his tongue, and it wasn't until it was Reeve's turn to ask Aerith the question that the spell was broken.
It seemed like time had stood still.
She was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen, her eyes green and sparking, her smile blinding and radiant, and even after all these years, he could never understand what she saw in him.
Her voice broke through the silence, reverberating around the air as she replied, "I do."
And just like that, time resumed.
Still, he couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. It took everything within him to get the ring on her finger, his hands were shaking so much. And when she finally slid the ring on his finger, their eyes met again, and he couldn't stop a grin from working its way onto his face.
"It is my absolute honour and delight to declare you married. You may seal this declaration with a kiss!" Reeve's voice cut through the haze, and suddenly, Cloud's cheeks felt like they were burning, especially when he saw the expression on Aerith's face.
Nonetheless, he leaned down the same way he had once done all those years ago at the doorway of a hotel room, heart beating wildly against his chest, and he didn't hesitate to close the space between them. The familiar scent of fresh flowers drifted up to him—comforting and calming and reassuring in ways that he couldn't describe—as her delicate fingers clutched at his lapels.
And then her lips pressed softly against his, sweet and tender and loving.
The world faded—the cheers and clapping and whistling—and for that brief moment, everything was perfect.
Nothing else in the world mattered except for her.
Author's Notes: The ending to this was a bit of a callback to 'Fragments', where they shared their first kiss (and I think it was one of my favourite ones to write). There are two more parts left for this series. As usual, thanks for reading :3
Completed: July 27, 2022
