Well, here's for the final chapter in this story. It's just an Epilogue, so it isn't as good as anything else. Honestly, I think I'm losing my touch. I'm better at writing from Cloud's POV, I swear. Anyways, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII (though I wish I did) or Square Soft/ Square Enix, or anything affiliated with them. Please do not sue me.

Epilogue

I sat at the window of mine and Cloud's home in the Promised Land, gazing out over the fields of flowers. My hand rested on my very, very swollen belly, where my baby was kicking as much as it could, me being slightly overdue for its birth. A dull pain rested in my abdomen, where the baby's head was, but I ignored it as best I could and continued to watch Cloud spar with Sephiroth outside. Aeris sat nearby. Surprisingly, she was knitting. She was almost finished, and I could briefly make out the shape of something from around her back- she wouldn't let me see the item, saying it was a surprise. I smiled a little, but that was quenched as I felt a sudden, gut-wrenching pain from my womb. I gasped, my hand splaying itself over my belly, my heart pounding, as I realized what was happening. Aeris turned to me at my gasp, her brow creasing slightly.

"Aeris... get the doctor!" I breathed. "My water just broke!" Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, and she dropped her knitting, dashing out the door. I glanced out the window to see Cloud watch her run past before darting inside, himself. Cloud, help me! Another contraction wrenched my stomach just as my love arrived, sweaty with dirt smeared across his forehead, and I whimpered a little before attempting to stand.

"Tifa!" he exclaimed, and easily lifted me, bridal style, to carry me up to our bedroom. He glanced at Sephiroth as the silver-haired man entered the room as well. "Seph, get some towels and hot water, on the double!" Sephiroth actually managed to imitate Aeris fairly well as the implications of Cloud's order sunk in, and the ex-general disappeared instantly to fetch the required items. However, I only briefly registered all of this before another contraction hit, and I cried out, tears coming to my eyes. God, it hurts, it hurts so much! Please, make it stop!

"Cloud, help!" I gasped out, clenching my eyes shut. Cloud's worried face was revealed to me for an instant, and then he made his way up the stairs as quickly as he could without knocking my head against the walls or door posts. Within mere moments, I was lying in the familiar contours of our bed, the four posts looming above me as I involuntarily arched my back in pain. Cloud quickly stripped me of the Capri's that I was wearing, and of my underwear, as well, and helped me put on a long, green t-shirt that I had often used as a nightgown. I saw him pale slightly, and I wondered why before I glimpsed his hands: they were covered with blood. My blood. If this were any other time, I would have laughed at him for it, but at the moment, I was in pain, so I didn't. Another contraction hit, and I arched my back with a cry. Cloud laid a hand on my belly, eyes wide and fearful as he tried to comfort me, and he gave me his hand to hold, and put a random piece of cloth in my mouth. Sephiroth came up, struggling under the weight of the water and towels, and Cloud left my side to take half the load from our friend before they both made their way over to me. Aeris appeared a second later, the doctor- a young, yet balding man- in tow. I arched my back again, biting back a scream, and I felt warm blood gush out over the insides of my thighs for a second before my mind barely registered a loud 'whump!' I looked over to see Cloud passed out on the floor, and despite my current condition, I couldn't stifle a snicker before another contraction wracked my body, and all else was driven out of my mind. Cloud, when you wake up, I'm going to kill you all over again!

I fell back onto the bed again with a gasp, my sweaty hair clinging to my face as I struggled to find the strength to push again.

"I can see the head! Push, girl, push!" came the doctor's voice from near my legs. I ground my teeth. Don't you think that's what I'm trying to do! I felt more than heard Cloud's reassuring words from my side. He had woken up only moments after he had passed out, and had steeled himself, it seemed, against seeing my blood. Since then, he had been by my side, allowing me to crush his hand in a vice-like grip. It had long ago turned purple, but I paid it no heed.

"Come on, Tifa." I heard him say, and I looked over at him, exhausted as we all were. "Only a couple more pushes, and we're home free. You can do it." He looked somewhat thoughtful, and then, surprisingly, he clambered onto the bed, lifting me up so that he could sit with me between his legs. I winced badly as another contraction sent tremors through my already sore body, but as soon as I felt his comforting arms around me, the pain seemed to ebb a little. He was lending me strength, and I could feel it.

"You can do it, Tifa." he whispered into my ear. "You're strong. You defeated JENOVA and Sephiroth by my side. Now it's my turn to stand by you, but I still need your help." Gasping for breath, I nodded, and pushed again with all my might, arching my back against my husband as I let loose a feral cry, my final one. Cloudithurtsithurtspleasemakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstop! And then it was gone. All of the pressure was gone, all of the pangs of the birthing. All I knew then was a baby's first hoarse cry echoing into my ears, as I collapsed, exhausted beyond words, against my husband of 8 months, my Cloud. The doctor appeared a few moments later, beckoning to my husband, and Cloud slipped, trembling, out from behind me. Aeris was at my side, rubbing my shoulder, beaming down at me with a sisterly sort of pride and joy. Then she glanced down at the foot of the bed as I grimaced from a very mild contraction, and I looked up to see my beloved staring down in wonder at a small bundle held in his hands. He caught my gaze and walked over to me, his eyes drifting back to our baby. Aeris smiled and got up, moving aside so that Cloud could place the now-quiet, red bundle in my arms, and for the first time, but most certainly not the last, I gazed upon my baby.

"It's a girl." he said quietly with a smile. I looked up at him, a small, proud grin playing with the corners of my lips, before turning my wine-colored eyes back upon my- our- daughter. Her own irises had not yet been revealed, but from what I could see, she would have the shape of my face and mouth, but she would have Cloud's eyes and nose. She already had his thoughtful forehead- it was scrunched just like his did whenever he was lost in memories or just thoughts in particular- and her expression was one I'd never forget. I love you already, little one.

"Date of Birth: March 3. Year: 3195. Birth Place: The Promised Land. Name...?" the doctor said, writing down everything that he was saying. I looked up at Cloud, whose expression was mirroring our daughter's at the moment. Finally he cast his gaze to our daughter.

"Rinoa." he said after a moment of thought. "Rinoa Strife." He looked up at me for approval, and I shook my head. He looked confused for a second, before I embellished:

"Rinoa Raine Strife. I've always been fond of the name Raine." He grinned.

"Rinoa Raine Strife it is, then."

Now I watch my husband sleep in the chair next to our bed, my infant daughter cradled against my breast. We are all exhausted, but I can't seem to find sleep yet. Briefly I wonder how our friends are doing back in the world of the living, and I feel another pang of guilt for leaving them all behind like I did. I'm sorry, everyone. I suppose I will always feel guilty for leaving you like I did. I am eternally grateful for all that you all have ever done for me. I'll see you again someday. I look down at my daughter and husband, and gently run my fingers through his naturally spiked, golden hair. I love you, Cloud. I turn my gaze to my daughter, and ease her up to place a soft kiss on the top of her head. And I love you, too, Rinoa Raine. I sigh in contentedness as I lightly grip Cloud's broken, bandaged hand. My last thoughts before succumbing to sleep are: I have, at last, found my final heaven. And I will never let it go.

END.

Hm. Only 3 pages. But at least it ended better than Angel did, though they're still dead. 9.9 I really need to stop killing off all the good characters. Oh, well. Please leave a review, and feel free to flame if you want. If you want me to continue, I will, or I could start a series of FFVIII or something similar. Well, I gotta go, so until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. Bye!

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