--Kiss From A Rose—

It's amazing how your life can change in just one instant, although to me, what is even more amazing is fear. Throughout our lives we encounter many different types of fear, sometimes we learn to overcome it quickly…but other times we live the rest of our lives in fear of something.

My fear is loss, this fear intertwined with the sudden changes our lives take makes my heart skip. I know what it's like to lose something special, something I only had a taste of, just one moment in time and the next think I knew, it was being ripped from me.

Less than a year after Reno's death my life had drastically changed, I gave birth to an adorable redheaded girl. One glance into those big green eyes and you'd forget your troubles for a moment. She is my rock, my strength. Without her, I am nothing. If I lost her, my life would end. I couldn't imagine waking up one morning without seeing her beautiful smile, her untamed red hair…the spitting image of her father.

But a child wasn't the only change my life encountered. Now, it was known that Reno and I had faked out death and the world was stunned. Rufus ShinRa was indeed upset that we had betrayed him, that we went behind his back and formed an alliance. His eyes were cold to me, just as they'd always been. However, now…he had a small son and a glorious wife to keep him grounded. It was indeed obvious that Paige Noire ShinRa had made a change in Midgar. The world was suddenly a better place, the city was rebuilt quickly and the famed ShinRa Corporation began searching for better ways of supplying energy to it's people.

Paige moved her brother Darius to Midgar where he quickly became involved in SOILDER and before 2 years had passed he was commander. Ellone came to visit from time to time, although as the years passed it became apparent that she was venturing the two week trip to Midgar for more than tea with her best friend. A slight romance had blossomed between her and the new commander of SOILDER.

I had no reason to leave ShinRa, I had already been taken off their payroll. My 'death' had relieved my ties to them. The president was still bitter, he hated loosing money to our families when it wasn't even necessary. Of course, he did end up grieving more the second time Reno died.

Reno's death seemed to effect the world, of course most of all his younger sister Kairi heard of the news quickly and rushed to Midgar. After all, she had known that the entire first death was a hoax. This time, she knew it was real.

The funeral was difficult for everyone, Kairi stood in the back far from her brother's coffin. She didn't even want to be seen. The world became silent from the once renowned singer. I heard a few months after the funeral that she was to wed the President of Esthar, Laguna Loire, my best friend's father. Ellone said the wedding was glorious, of course I was unable to attend due to my condition. It was on the day of the Loire-Hikaru wedding that I gave birth to Kairi's own niece

"Yukio! Where are you going?" A young and innocent voice called out over the large playground.

A young brunette boy with icy blue eyes turned slowly. "Momma, she's chasing me!" He was pointing to an even younger girl with fiery red hair and beautiful green eyes.

"Paige, let them go…" I said laughing a little.

Paige rolled her eyes and turned back to me. "They are a handful." She said pointing back at our children who were playing together in the large brand new ShinRa Park.

"MOMMA!" Yukio screamed out again.

Paige quickly jumped to her feet and turned towards him, my eyes darted from her to the young boy standing atop a large slide with my daughter clinging to him.

Paige and I each laughed again and shook our heads.

The bright red headed girl looked up at Yukio and smiled. "I love you Yukio.." She said gently in her sweet child voice.

A disgusted look covered the young boys face as she starred down at her. "Whatever." He quickly turned away but she grasped tighter.

"Don't you love me?" She said innocently, of course not quite understanding the concept of love.

Yukio took a deep breath and sighed. "Sure, of course why not."

"Rose? Yukio?" I called out as the sky began to turn grey. The two children had run off around the playground and it was time to go. "Guys? Come on!" I called out again coming around the side of a small jungle gym. I could see them standing together near the edge and approached them, My eyes suddenly widening at the site before me. My young five-year-old daughter Rose stood face to face with her 6-year-old best friend Yukio, their lips pressed together gently. I gasped slightly and tried to hold back the laughter of viewing the innocent lovers first kiss. Paige had followed me and also walked upon the scene she chuckled a little obviously scaring the two children who turned towards us, Yukio's face slightly red. Paige and I looked at each other with rather large grins across our faces then turned back towards the children.

"Come along now…" Paige said placing her hand on her sons head, still smiling a little.

The two took off towards their car parked near the end of park driveway. I turned slowly towards my daughter.

"Lets go Rose…it's going to rain." I said reaching for her hand. "Did you have fun with Yukio?"

Rose turned towards me and smiled, her bright green eyes sparkled a little. "Uh huh! Yeah, and you know what? I am going to marry Yukio ShinRa!" She said extremely excited.

I smiled and laughed a little, taking her hand and walking out of the park towards our small apartment on the opposite side of Midgar.

The rain had began on our walk home, but Rose was insisting heavily on a detour. I sighed and nodded. The smell of flowers quickly filled my senses as we approached a large field fenced in by a rose garden.

A few years ago, you'd never find a flower growing within sight in the town of Midgar, but things had changed drastically. Now, flowers grew all over the city, and the sweet aroma filled the once polluted air with a happy fragrance.

Rose pulled my arm quickly. "Come on!" She said as we slowly made our way down a cobblestone path in the field. "PAPA!" Rose screamed out letting go of my hand and running through the vast green grass.

"Rose! Wait!" I called after her chasing the young red head.

Rose quickly fell to the ground wrapping her arms tightly around a large granite headstone. "Papa!" She called again as tears streamed down her face.

I smiled a little and sat down next to her and the headstone belonging to her father Reno. Rose had never even gotten to meet her own father, but she knew him very well. She talked to him every night. I could hear her in her room, praying that her 'Papa' would watch over her and me. She carried his pictures around where ever she went. Rose was not at all ashamed of her father, she knew that he was great. I never even told her he died saving the world…but I don't think I had to.

The world around us quickly changing, however, I'll never forget him. I'll never forget his words, his smile. I'll never forget our friendship, or most importantly, I'll never ever forget the adventure that brought us here. The journey that took us here, and there…and all over…only to end right where we started. And after all that time, I finally know why I woke up that morning and why I opened my eyes. Because without that day, I would have never known where I belong.

The End

--I hope you enjoyed this story. I know it is long...but thank you very much for reading and your reviews are greatly appreciated!--