AYA'S HOSPITAL ROOM

As Aya waited for Rex to enter the room, she looked at the engagement ring on her finger. She could not believe that the man that she was going to marry almost got her and Zell killed.

Zell. When Aya woke up a few minutes ago, she was pretty sure that Zell was there right by her side. But when she opened her eyes and called out his name, he was nowhere to be found.

"It's good to finally see you up, Ms. Spencer." The nurse cheerfully said. Aya looked to her left and saw a middle-aged nurse checking her condition on the monitor.

"Um nurse?" Aya said as she tried to sit up.

"Yes, dear?" the nurse said as she helped Aya sit up.

"Do you know if the guy that was with me with Alcauld Plains is okay?"

"Well, I talked to his nurse earlier this morning and she told me that he's in good condition but still hasn't wakened up from his sleep."

"I see." Aya said softly. "Zell, I guess it was just imagination that I thought you were here with me." she thought to herself. "Nurse, do you know if my fiance is here?"

"Would you like me to get him for you?" the nurse asked. "I believe he's one of the guys standing outside your room right now. Hold on a minute, okay?" the nurse said as she headed for the door.

Aya nodded her head even though she really didn't feel like seeing Rex, but she felt that she might as well confront him about the Alcauld Plains incident.

Rex wasn't sure what to expect when he entered the room. He didn't know whether Aya was going to forgive him or not.

"Aya?"

"Rex?" she said as she lifted her head to look up at him.

"Hi there, Princess. I'm really glad to see that you're okay." Rex said as he reached for her left hand.

"I'm sure you are, Rex." Aya said as she pulled back her hand.

"Aya, let me explain!" Rex said desperately as he sat on the bed and faced her. "I did it for us!"

"For us?! I don't understand, Rex." Aya told him. "How could wanting to hurt Zell be for us?"

"Zell wants to ruin what we have between us, Aya." Rex said. "He wants to take you away from me."

"But did you have to do what you did?!" Aya said. "You almost got him killed!"

"I didn't mean for things to end up that way. I just wanted to teach Zell a little lesson for trying to get between us. Aya, I'm sorry. If I could go back in time and change things, I would. Please forgive me. I love you so much and surely you know that I would never do anything intentional to hurt you or anyone else."

"I don't know what to say, Rex." Aya said. "I...I don't know."

"Say that you forgive me. I'll do anything to make it up to you."

"Rex," Aya started out to say, "even if I forgive you I don't think that I can go through with the wedding. I..."

Hearing those words, Rex walked over to the window. "It's because of Zell, isn't it?"

Aya's eyes locked with his from across the room.

"He doesn't love you, you know?" Rex said as he continued to look at her with such a serious look on his face.

"Zell said that he loves me."

"And you believe him?" Rex said as he turned to look out the window. Down below at the hospital's garden, Rex saw Zell sit on a bench. Rex's jaw suddenly tightened and his hands balled into fists.

"Yes." Aya said softly.

"He doesn't love you, Aya. He was only saying that so you'd break up with me. He's jealous of what we have since his relationship with Quistis is over. Do you honestly think that he loves you the same way?"

Aya didn't say a word.

"Zell loves Quistis, Aya."

"It's over between them."

"Is it really?" Rex asked. "They still seem pretty close to me. In case you haven't noticed, they still spend a lot of time together."

"That's because they work together."

"Is that the best reason you can come up with, Aya?"

Again, Aya didn't answer.

"Zell will just break your heart. I know he will. Look," Rex started out to say, "I'm sure that he has some feelings for you, but do you honestly think that his love for you is deep enough? You two were best friends for a very long time, and he had a lot of opportunities to tell you that he had feelings for you. Did he once tell you that he loved you during all that time? No, Aya." Rex said. "He didn't."

"All that time, he talked to you about loving another girl, which we now know happens to be the lovely Quistis Trepe. Do you honestly think that two months is enough time for him to forget about her, especially since they see each other everyday?"

Sitting on her hospital bed, Aya couldn't help but believe what Rex was telling her.

"Zell was in love with Quistis, and I'm pretty sure that he still is. If Quistis is to take him back, I know that he'll just leave you. He'll just use you, Aya, until Quistis gets back with him."

Sitting back on Aya's bed, Rex held her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "I love you so much, Aya. Surely now you understand why I did what I did. I made you happy these ten months that we were together, right?"

Aya nodded her headed.

"I never once did anything to hurt you or make you cry. I know that I can make you happy, Aya. I know I can." Rex said as he pulled her into his arms. "Will you still marry me?"

MEANWHILE AT THE HOSPITAL GARDEN

Zell couldn't believe that Aya wanted to see Rex instead of him. When the nurse said that Aya was looking for Rex, Zell felt as if he was just slapped in the face. However, thinking that maybe Aya just wanted to see Rex for a minute so she could spend the rest of the time with him instead, Zell waited outside of Aya's room. After waiting for a long while, Zell came to the conclusion that maybe Aya really did want to see Rex instead of him.

Broken-hearted, Zell sat on a bench in the hospital's garden, which was located at the back of the hospital. As he sat on that bench by himself, he tried to recall exactly what happened between Aya and him at Alcauld Plains.

"I'm sure she said that she loved me," Zell thought to himself, "so why was she looking for Rex just now?"

Feeling frustrated, Zell rested his elbows on his knees and tunneled his fingers through his hair.

"Zell?"

Hearing his name being called, Zell sat straight and looked at the person standing in front of him.

"Oh, hi." Zell said as he tried to lightly smile.

"Do you mind if I sit here with you?"

"No, I don't mind." Zell said as he moved a bit so she could sit. "Sit down, Quistis."

"How's Aya's condition?" Quistis asked.

"She's finally awake." Zell said as he stared at his feet.

"That's great news." Quistis smiled at him. "What's wrong, Zell?" she asked a while later when she saw the sad look on his face.

"She wanted to see Rex."

"You mean you haven't talked to her?"

"No." Zell said. "I...I was arguing with Rex outside of her room when she woke up. The nurse came out and said that she was looking for Rex."

Quistis placed a comforting hand on Zell's shoulder.

"I don't get it, Quistis." Zell said as he turned his head to look at her. "She told me that she loved me, so why did she ask for Rex just now? It's not making any sense to me."

"Zell?"

"Yeah?" Zell answered as he stared at his feet again.

"I...I don't want to say this, but don't you think it'd be for the best if you just let her go."

"What are you saying, Quistis?!" Zell quickly turned his head to look at her. "Aren't you the one who told me dozens of times to not let her go?"

"Yes, I did say that," she said, "but Zell, I just realized something."

"What?"

"If she really loves you in the first place, then why did she agree to marry Rex? I doubt she'd agree to marry him if she loves you."

"I don't know." Zell shook his head. "All I know is that she told me that loves me and that I love her. I...I'm not just going to sit back and watch her marry Rex. Not now after everything that happened between us." Zell said as he stood up and started to walk off.

"Wait!" Quistis said as she grabbed his arm to stop him from walking further. "I'm sorry, Zell. I didn't mean to upset you. It's...it's just that I don't like seeing you like this." Turning around, Zell looked at her. "Zell, it breaks my heart seeing you so miserable all the time."

Before Zell could say anything, Quistis kissed him.

"Zell, I think I'm in love with you."


A FEW HOURS LATER AT AYA'S HOSPITAL ROOM

Aya stood by her window and watched drops of rain lightly hit her windowpane.

"Aya?"

Aya turned around and watched Zell walk closer to her.

"I'm so glad you're okay." Zell said as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I thought I lost you when you lost consciousness at Alcauld Plains. Thank God I was wrong."

Zell hugged her for a long time without saying a word, but finally released her from his hold when he realized that she was not hugging him back.

"Aya, what's wrong? Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine." She said as she turned around and looked out the window.

Zell was confused. He couldn't quite put a finger on it, but he knew that something big was definitely wrong with her.

"Are you hurting?" he asked as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Immediately after, he felt Aya's body stiffen.

"YES!!!!" she wanted to say out loud. Seeing Zell and Quistis kissing earlier that day broke her heart. She thought that Zell and her were finally going to be together, but after seeing what she did when she looked out her window earlier when Rex left her room, Aya finally realized that Rex was right. Zell didn't really love her. "No, Zell. I'm perfectly fine."

"Aya, I have a confession to make." Zell said as he stood behind her. "It's about my relationship with Quistis. I think this is something that you need to know about." Zell figured that it was time to come clean. If he wants to be with her, he was going to have to tell her about his relationship with Quistis and just tell her that he loved her for a very long time.

When Quistis kissed him earlier and told him that she was in love with him, Zell didn't know what to say. He had no idea that Quistis developed some feelings for him.

FLASHBACK

"Quistis, I don't know what to say. I mean..."

"It's okay Zell. I understand. It's just that I think you have the right to know about how I feel about you." Quistis said gently. "I'm not asking you to get back with me. I...I just want you to know that I'm here if you ever decide to move on."

Zell hugged Quistis. "Quistis, I love you. I'm sure that you know that, but my heart is with Aya. I need to do everything I can to get her back."

"I know. You have to do what you must."

"Those two months that we went out will always mean a lot to me. I will never forget what we shared between us. You were a great girlfriend, Quistis, but I was not being a great boyfriend to you. When I broke up with you, I did it not because of you, but because of me. I didn't want you to get hurt, but I guess you got hurt anyway, huh? I'm sorry, Quistis, I didn't mean to cause you any pain."

"It's okay, Zell. I knew that you were in love with Aya when we started going out. I knew what I was getting into when I went out with you. We were both lonely when we decided to give each other a try. We were trying to find comfort in each other. You were a great boyfriend, Zell, even though there were times when you were subconsciously thinking that I was Aya."

"What do you mean?" Zell gave Quistis a questioning look.

"Well, there was the time when you were drunk at Irvine's birthday party. We were dancing on the dance floor when you started kissing me. After the kiss, you called me "Aya"."

"I'm sorry, Quistis. If I had known that I was being..." Zell said apologetically.

"It's okay, Zell. Really, it's okay. I just hope that you'll be honest with her. Tell her the whole truth. Aya needs to know about everything. If you want her to be with you, you need to tell her how long you've been in love with her. I think she has some questions about our relationship. You need to clear them up with her, too. I want you to be happy, Zell, and if Aya is the only one that can make you happy, then do what you must so you can be with her. But just remember that I'm here for you if every you need me."

"Thank you, Quistis." Zell said as he kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you." He said as he hugged her.

END OF FLASHBACK

"There's nothing to explain, Zell. I know what you're going to say." Aya said as her eyes began to get teary. "You still love Quistis." Aya thought to herself.

"No you don't." Zell said. "Aya, Quistis and I..."

"Zell, please don't. I don't want to hear it."

"But I think you have the right to know especially after what happened between us at..."

"There's nothing to talk about, Zell. That kiss that we shared at Alcauld Plains was a mistake. I...I was scared and didn't know what I was saying." She turned around and said.

"Aya, you said that you love me." Zell said as he looked deeply into her eyes.

"I...I shouldn't have said that." Aya looked away. "It was wrong of me to say. Zell, I love Rex. I'm going to marry him in a couple of weeks."


SOMEWHERE IN TIMBER

With his hands in his pockets, Zell walked down the street lost in his thoughts. It started to rain lightly but he didn't seem to notice. Zell was only thinking of one thing: Aya.

In about a week was Rex and Aya's wedding. Thinking about it was driving Zell insane. He'd want to stop Aya from getting married to Rex, but he didn't know how or even if he should. Aya told him at the hospital that what happened between them at Alcauld Plains was a huge mistake. Up to this day, Zell couldn't figure out why she denied her feelings for him.

As Zell crossed the crosswalk, rain began to pour heavily. He ran for cover by standing in a roofed area outside of a store. Turning around, Zell discovered that it was a bridal shop.

Zell muttered a curse under his breath. "Of all the stores here in Timber," Zell thought to himself, "it had to be a bridal shop. Look!" he thought as he looked up at the sky, "I get the message, alright?"

Zell sighed. "Maybe we're just not meant to be." He quietly told himself as he leaned against the store's display window. "Maybe we're meant to be apart for a reason." He said as he turned around to look at the wedding dress in the display window.

Through the glass window, Zell noticed that someone was getting fitted in a wedding dress further inside the store. The girl's back was to him so he couldn't get a look at her face. The seamstress was measuring the young girl's waist while the assistant wrote down the measurements.

"I wonder if Aya did that already." Zell thought to himself. Knowing Aya, Zell knew that she hated getting fitted. Zell chuckled lightly as he remembered Aya telling him about how much she hated getting fitted into the new Balamb Garden uniforms last year.

All of a sudden, the girl turned around and their eyes locked. The woman smiled at Zell and Zell lightly smiled back.

A second later, a woman dressed in a white silk wedding dress walked out of one of the dressing rooms and stood in front of three huge mirrors. Zell's smile disappeared when he saw the reflection of the girl's face on the mirror. A sharp pain stabbed at his heart; the girl was Aya.

Aya didn't feel like getting fitted for her wedding dress that day. All day she had been feeling very tired. She wished that she could go home and get some rest, but the wedding planner insisted that they check the fit of the dress one last time before the wedding next week. Staring at herself in the mirror, Aya wished that this day would soon be over.

Outside the bridal shop, Zell just stood. For some reason, he couldn't get himself to move. His whole attention was seeing Aya in her beautiful wedding dress.

"God, she looks so beautiful." Zell thought to himself. He wished he could go inside the shop and tell her how beautiful she looked, but quickly changed his mind when he remembered that things between them have changed.

The rain stopped so Zell decided to leave when all of a sudden he heard one of the women scream inside the shop. Zell quickly turned around to see what happened: Aya was laying unconscious on the floor.

Zell quickly ran inside the shop and held Aya. "What happened to her?!" he asked the women in the room.

"We...we don't know." One of the women answered. "She just passed out all of a sudden."

"Aya?" Zell said as he gently shook her shoulder "wake up. C'mon Aya, wake up."

A while later, Aya opened her eyes. "Where am I?" she asked as she suddenly realized that Zell was holding and looking at her."

"You passed out there for a minute." Zell said. "Are you okay now?"

"Yeah, I think so." She said as she sat up; never taking her eyes off of him. "I...I was just feeling a bit tired, I guess."

"I see." Zell said as he looked at her. When he was holding her in his arms a few minutes ago, he suddenly remembered how he was holding her at Alcauld Plains. An aching feeling stabbed at his heart when he remembered how he felt when he thought that she died.

"Would you like me to call 911, Ms. Spencer?" one of the bridal shop employees asked.

"No, I think I'm going to be fine now. Thank you." Aya said as she looked up at the woman.

"Are you sure?" Zell asked.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"I guess there's no need for me to stick around then." Zell said as he stood up and helped Aya get up on her feet.

"Thank you for being here, Zell." She said.

"No problem." He replied. "It just so happen that I was passing by. That's a pretty dress you have on, by the way." He said.

"Thanks." She said.

"Is...is that the dress you've decided to wear for your wedding?" he asked.

"Yes." Aya nodded. "It is."

"It looks really good on you, Aya. You look very beautiful. Well, take care and uhh try to get home early so you can rest." He said before heading out of the store. "Goodbye."

Aya watched Zell walk out of the shop. Her eyes never left him until he was finally out of view.

LATER THAT EVENING AT THE FRONT GATE OF BALAMB GARDEN

"That'd be 35 gil, Miss." The taxi driver said when he stopped the vehicle in front of the front gate.

"Here you go." Aya said as she got out and handed the driver the money. "Keep the change."

"Thanks, Miss." The driver said just as he drove off.

Aya was relieved to finally be home. After spending the whole day at Timber doing all the necessary things that she needed to do to get ready for the wedding, Aya couldn't wait to go back to her room and rest.

Carrying a couple of shopping bags, Aya walked up the steps and stopped when she saw Zell at the very top.

"Hi, Zell." She said as Zell got on the same step as her. "Where are you going?"

"I uhh just thought I'd go for a little walk." Zell lied. In truth, Zell was about to go back to Deling to look for her. It was already 9:30 in the evening and when he realized that Aya was not back yet, Zell got really worried especially after remembering that she passed out earlier that day.

"It's getting late, Zell." Aya said. " I don't think it's a good idea for you to go out there for a walk by yourself."

"I guess you're right." Zell answered. "Especially since you're back home safe." He thought to himself.

"Do you need help carrying those?" Zell asked her, but before she had the chance to reply, he already grabbed the bags from her. "So is everything set for your wedding?"

"Yes," she said as they walked. "I was going to return to Deling tomorrow to finish the rest of the things that I need to do for the wedding, but since I was already there and the trains were delayed for 3 hours for repairs, I thought that I might as well do them all so I can rest the whole day tomorrow."

"Where is Rex? Shouldn't he be helping you with all this?" Zell said.

"Yeah, but he's currently out in Centra Ruins for a mission."

"I see. Are you still feeling tired from what happened earlier today?"

"mm hmm" she nodded "but I'm sure it's nothing to be worried about." She said as she looked up at him. "Zell, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure. Go ahead."

"Are...are you still mad at me because of our fight at the hospital weeks ago?"

Zell stopped walking and looked at her. "No, I'm not mad, Aya." Not anymore.

"Then why did you mark that you won't be coming to the wedding on that invitation that we sent you?"

"Oh that." Zell said as they began to walk again. "I uhh just thought that it was for the best that I not show up at your wedding."

"Zell, I know that things are different between us now because of all the things that happened, but I just want you to know that I still want to have you as a friend. We could never go back to the way we were months ago, but I really hope that we could start over again. It would mean the world to me if you could be at the wedding."

Zell didn't want to go. The last thing that Zell wanted was to see Aya and Rex get married, but looking at Aya at that moment, he saw in her eyes how him being present at the wedding was important to her.

"I guess I can make it." Zell finally answered a few seconds later when they stopped in front of Aya's dorm room.

"Thank you, Zell." She said as she gave him a hug. "That means so much to me."

OUTSIDE THE BRIDE'S WAITING ROOM

Zell knocked on the door hoping that he'd be able to speak with Aya before her wedding. He wanted to see her for the last time before she becomes Rex's wife.

A few seconds later, a middle-aged woman opened the door. "Yes?"

"Uh ma'am, may I see the bride for a few minutes? I promise it won't take long."

The woman looked at her watch and then looked at Zell. "Are you a friend of hers?"

Zell nodded his head.

"I guess you may, but don't take too long, the ceremony will begin soon." The woman said as she stepped aside to let Zell in. "I'll leave you two alone but I'll be back in about 5 minutes."

When Zell entered the room, Aya was in the back putting on her lace gloves. She had no idea that Zell was there because her back was to him. Zell decided to take that moment just by watching her.

Aya was wearing the same silk wedding dress that he saw her wearing when she was at the bridal shop the week before. Her hair was up in a very glamorous style and secured with pearl pins. Her veil, which was secured with a tiara, was already over her head and lightly brushed the skin just above her elbows.

Zell was taken a back by her beauty. He always thought that she'd look this beautiful on her wedding day, but it broke his heart knowing that she was marrying someone else.

"Aya"

Aya turned around and was surprised to see Zell looking at her with such longing in his eyes. "Zell," she said, "what are you doing here?" Her heart was beating really fast.

"To see you before you get married."

"Aren't...aren't you going to be there at the ceremony?" she asked.

"Yeah." He lied. "but I just thought it'd be nice to see you one last time before you walk down that aisle." Zell said as he tried to put up a smile on his face and stood in front of her.

Aya looked at Zell through her veil. As she looked at him, she saw the pain in his eyes that he tried to hide behind his smile.

Zell couldn't believe that things were going to end this way. He wanted to stop her from going through with this wedding, but he didn't know what else to do.

"I...I guess I better go." Zell said as he looked at his watch. "Your wedding ceremony is going to start soon." He sadly smiled at her before turning around to leave.

"Zell, wait!" Aya called out to him.

"Yeah?" He said as he stood; his back still facing her.

"Are you happy for me?"

Zell stared at his feet for a moment then closed his eyes. After a few seconds, he turned around and replied.

"Yes, I'm happy for you." Zell said as turned around and hugged her. "Really, I am." He added as he felt his heart break into many pieces.

Aya could hardly breath. Zell was hugging her so tight that she couldn't move.

"I really should be going." Zell said as he released her from his tight embrace.

Zell was about to open the door when all of a sudden he stopped. Muttering a curse under his breath, he turned around and grabbed her shoulders. "Aya, I'm not happy for you!!" Zell said as he looked into her eyes. "How do you expect me to be after what happened between us? I love you and I know that you love me too. Don't go through with the wedding, Aya. Don't!"

"But Zell you..."

"But what, Aya?!" He said as he searched her eyes. "But what?! I'm in love with you! Can't you see that?!!"

Zell lifted her veil, cupped her face between his hands, and then kissed her. His kiss was rough at first; making her feel the pain he felt inside of him. But soon after, his kiss gentled; making her feel the love he felt for her.

Aya was feeling confused. If Zell really loved her, then why was he kissing Quistis at the hospital? Remembering the scene that she saw between Quistis and Zell at the hospital garden, Aya pushed him back.

"Please, Zell," she said as Zell still cupped her face between his hands, "don't do this."

Zell dropped his hands to his sides and stared at the floor. After a few seconds, he raised his head up so he could look at her.

"I don't know what else to do, Aya." He said as he looked deeply into her eyes. "I...I don't know what else to do to convince you that I want to be with you. If my words and actions aren't enough proof for you, then I'm afraid that I'm just gonna have to let you go."

Running his fingers through his hair, Zell asked her a question. "What's keeping you from being with me, Aya?"

"I...I don't know if I can believe you, Zell." She said as tears filled her eyes. "I don't know if I can."

"You're just going to have to believe me." Zell said as he extended his hand out to her. "Don't go through with this wedding, Aya. Don't be with Rex. Be with me."

Aya stared at his hand. "Should she believe him or shouldn't she?" was all that ran through her mind. She loved Zell, but she was not sure if he really loved her the same way. Time and time she thought that he loved her, but every time she started to believe it, something always proved the contrary.

Rex was always good to her. He loved her and did everything he could to make her happy. Every time she was feeling down, he always did his best to make her laugh again. He never once did anything to hurt her. All he ever did was love her. Even though she'd never forget that incident at Alcauld Plains, Rex assured her that he'd do everything he could to prove to her how sorry he was. Rex was a good man; a man who loved her deeply and who also promised that he'd always make her happy.

"I'm sorry, Zell." Aya said as she looked into his eyes and shook her head. "I...I can't be with you."

"I guess this is it then." Zell said after a moment of silence. Pulling Aya gently into his arms, Zell whispered into her ear. "I wish you all the happiness in the world, Aya. I hope Rex will always be good to you."

Moving a step back, Zell looked at her for the last time. "Goodbye." He said as he felt a knife twist inside his heart.

Aya watched Zell walk out of the room. "Go after him!!" she could hear a voice in the back of her head say, but she didn't move an inch. She remained where she stood and stared at the door as tears streamed down her face.

"I'm sorry, Zell. I'm so sorry."

AT RINAUL COAST

Zell didn't want to come to Rinaul Coast but he didn't know where else to go. Looking at his wristwatch, Zell noticed that it was already 5:30 PM--a couple of hours since Aya and Rex's wedding ceremony started. By now Zell thought to himself that Rex and Aya were probably already at their wedding reception enjoying their new life as husband and wife.

Sitting there on the sand, Zell recalled the moment Aya told him that she couldn't be with him earlier that day. It killed him to hear her say that. That was the last thing he expected to hear from her. At that moment, Zell wanted to get down on his knees and beg, but figured what was the use--she made it clear that she didn't want to be with him.

Standing up, Zell put his right hand inside of his pants pocket and pulled out a velvet ring box. Taking out the ring that was inside, Zell read the words engraved on the ring: "We are meant to be."

"HA! You are wrong, old man." Zell said out loud as he remembered what the traveling photographer told Aya and himself months ago here at Rinaul Coast. "Aya and I are not meant to be." He said as he held the ring tightly in his hand.

Zell walked along the coast and wondered what he should do with his life. After walking quite a long distance, Zell realized that if he stayed in Balamb, he'd probably just run into Aya and Rex all the time. As much as he'd love to still see Aya, Zell knew that he'd only cause himself pain by continuously seeing her and knowing that she was already married to another man.

"I guess there's only one thing to do." Zell said as he continued to walk. "I have to leave Balamb Garden and start a new life somewhere else."