This Christmas

Epilogue

Disclaimer: How many times do I have to say this? I don't own Jane and Neil or any of the other Final Fantasy characters.

AN: It's finally finished! Rejoice and be merry! *sees Jane celebrating in the corner* What do you think you're doing?

Jane: You're finally done with this. Now I can relax.

A: No such luck for you I'm afraid. I got lots more story ideas. And Valentine's Day is coming up real soon. *Jane turns and starts running away* I don't think so! NeilF! Cassie! Sic her!

&-&-&-&

Cassie stood outside the military complex with her Uncle Neil and Aunt Jane. "Cassie, when are your parents coming?"

"I talked to them last night and they said they'd be here at noon." She frowned. "But they're not here yet."

"I can see that," Neil muttered. His coat had to be taken to a professional cleaner because of the trick Cassie and Jane had played on him that morning. Now he was freezing.

"Cassie, before you leave, there's something I've been wondering about."

"Yes, Aunt Jane?" she asked, turning around to face her.

"How old are you?"

"I'm ten," she said proudly.

"What?" Neil and Jane asked at the same time.

"I just lost about four years of my life," Neil said.

"Uncle Neil," Cassie scolded, "how could you not know how old I am?"

"Aren't you a little short?" Jane asked. "You look like you're younger."

"Everyone makes that mistake," Cassie admitted. She turned on Neil. "You, however, have no excuse."

"I'm sorry," Neil said, hiding behind Jane. Cassie gave her a 'you-take-care-of-him' look. Jane elbowed him in the stomach. "Oww. What was that for?"

"Just looking out for my little buddy."

"Thank you," Cassie said as a car pulled up. "My mommy and dad are here!"

Neil's brother got out of the driver's side of the car. He picked Cassie up and kissed her on the cheek. "There's my little lady. Did you have a good time with your Uncle Neil?"

"Yeah, can I come visit him and Aunt Jane again soon?"

"Aunt Jane?" he asked, looking over in Neil's direction. "I didn't know he was married." He shrugged. "Let's go home."

"Bye, Uncle Neil, Aunt Jane!" Cassie called as she got in the back seat of the car. Neil's brother got back in the car and drove off.

"I think they just wanted to get rid of her for a few days," Jane said as she watched them drive off.

"Probably," Neil agreed. "Shall we return home, my lady?"

"I'm not your lady," Jane said as they walked away.

"Whatever you say," Neil said, putting an arm around her shoulders and dropping snow down the back of her shirt, "darling." He went running off down the road.

"Neil, I'm going to kill you!" she threatened, chasing after him.

When she finally got up with him, she didn't kill him. Merely pelted him with snowballs until he surrendered. "One good thing came from Cassie's visit."

"What's that?"

"I feel we've gotten a lot closer."

"Maybe in your dreams," she told him.

Neil smiled, remembering a particularly good dream he had last night involving her. "If only you knew."