Interlude – Snow's Memory: The Proposal

Stars lit up the night sky, coloured by the nearby fireworks. Everyone was outside and having fun and the entrance to NORA house was packed with people wanting to socialise, get a drink from Lebreau's bar or get a better view of the fireworks.

Yuj slipped through these crowds with several red and green bottles of unknown liquid – probably alcohol – in his hands. His eyes were drawn to the splendour of the fireworks every so-often as he wove his way inside NORA house.

"The whole gang's here tonight!" a woman exclaimed to her friend. "How'd that happen?"

"Don't know. Destiny?"

"More like dumb luck."

"Let's go find 'em!"

The two women bumped into Snow on their way out of NORA house. He hastily apologised and made his way over to Lebreau's bar, overhearing the two girls' conversation as he walked.

"See ya around!"

"Do you know him?"

"No, but I want to!" Then, giggling, they slipped out of earshot. Snow looked around for his girlfriend, Serah. They had been dating for some time now, and Snow had something he desperately wanted to tell the pinkette.

"Oh, you just missed her," Lebreau called from behind the bar, her voice cutting into Snow's thoughts like sharp knives. She was serving a dark-skinned, dark-haired woman wearing exotic clothing. "She said she'd be at the 'usual' place," Lebreau continued with a wink.

Snow laughed, scratching the back of his head nervously. "Thanks," he replied, and left.

"Sorry about that," Lebreau apologised to the woman at the bar, sliding a drink across the wood and into her waiting hand. "Now, who did you say you were looking for?"

Before answering, the raven-haired woman softly swished the liquid in her glass around before gently lifting it to her lips and taking a sip.

Snow jumped down the steps of NORA house and looked up at the fireworks, smacking his fists together as he made his wish.

Please let her say yes. He turned to the left and proceeded down the beach, passing by a red-headed girl with her hair in pigtails, her fingers linked and her eyes closed. She wore exotic clothing similar in style to those of the woman Lebreau was serving at the bar.

"People of all sorts are out tonight," Snow murmured to himself as he walked. Soon enough his feet hit concrete instead of sand, and he was walking along an elevated walkway to a pod-shaped structure a small way out to sea. Just outside it stood Serah, her hands clasped in front of her and her head bowed towards the fireworks. Snow let out a long, nervous breath. "Here goes," he breathed, and walked towards her.

"Makin' a wish?" he asked quietly. Serah looked up at him, her expression stating he'd caught her by surprise. She nodded, and they laughed together.

"Yeah, maybe I was." She grasped the black iron railing with both hands, leaning back slightly. "I was hoping that tomorrow I can tell my sister." Snow's eyes immediately gravitated to the white bandage on her upper left arm.

"Mmm," Snow hummed.

"She'll be so mad, knowing I hid it from her." Serah's eyes were downcast.

"Don't worry," Snow replied, moving towards her slightly. "I'll take the blame for you."

Serah smiled warmly. "Thanks."

"You know, you should ask for something bigger."

"How so?"

Snow smiled down at her and gestured at the fireworks. "These are wish-granting fireworks, like in the stories."

Serah's hand brushed the bandage on her arm. "Stories, huh?"

They stood in silence, gazing up at the fireworks together, but it wasn't awkward. Serah's eyes slid to the side, looking at Snow from her peripheral vision.

"L'Cie who fulfil their Focus – they become crystal and gain eternal life."

Snow leaned on the railing, lost in thought. "Would help if they gave you some clue about what you're supposed to do."

Serah sighed, shaking her head and avoiding eye contact in the same moment. Snow gently grasped her shoulders, turning her to face him. "We'll figure this thing out. You will never be one of those monsters."

Serah grasped his arms, pushing them off of her shoulders just as gently. "So what will I be? A c-crystal?" she breathed, not trusting her voice; turning around so he couldn't see her tears as they rolled down her cheeks. She hastily wiped them away as he put a comforting hand on her shoulder. He was so caring, so kind, so…perfect. What did she do to deserve someone as selfless and loving as Snow?

Snow pulled out the bag from his pocket and shook out the contents into his hand. "Yesterday at the store, I got us something."

Serah turned and saw what he was holding. Two chains dangled from his hand, and from those chains two identical pendants – Cocoon, cradled with spirals of silver. On both was a 'scar' on Cocoon's shell, similar to the real thing. "Don't know much about jewellery, but…I hope you like it," Snow continued.

"I don't like it, I love it." She pulled him into a hug, and then turned around. "Put it on me?" she asked.

He smiled, and put the necklace around her neck, snapping the clasp together before putting on his own. Serah touched the pendant lightly, admiring its cool exterior. She turned, and Snow was on one knee on the ground. Her eyes widened. He wasn't…?

"I will stand by you, no matter what happens. I am yours forever." Serah's hands flew to her mouth in shock. He was…!

"Serah," he continued, "My one, my only…" His hand covered his heart. "Will you marry me?"

Serah gave a resounding, one-word answer. "Yes!"

Snow stood up and jumped a foot in the air. "She said yes!" he exclaimed joyfully and picked her up, spinning her around in his arms. He kissed her gently, beaming on the inside. He had never felt so happy.

…

The water was so still it reflected the fireworks beautifully. Serah stared down at the water, Snow's arms around her as he steered NORA's hover-vehicle – which Maqui had repaired days earlier – towards the fireworks. She leaned against him, his warm chest making her sigh in content.

"Gotta love these fireworks," Snow said, looking down at his now-fiancée happily. "They granted my wish." He pecked her cheek affectionately. Serah turned in his arms to look at him.

"Your wish?"

"Before I asked you to marry me," he answered, his sparkling baby-blues reflecting the fireworks before them. "I wished that you would say yes."

Serah nodded, looking back up at the fireworks. "Then, maybe they'll grant mine too."

"What's that?"

"To have the courage to tell Lightning…that I've become a l'Cie."

"Hey, our engagement is way bigger news!" Same old Snow, with a one-track mind. Serah smiled. "Oh man, I can't wait to see her face…" His eyes widened as he realised, "She'll be my new sister!"

Serah giggled. The mere thought that Lightning and Snow be siblings in any sense of the word was ironic to her. "Yeah."

Snow laughed and steered the hover-vehicle towards the protective barrier separating the fireworks from the general populace, going right through it into the fireworks themselves.

"Oh," Serah breathed, looking around her in awe. So many colours…it was an amazing sight to behold. She looked beside her to see Snow frowning slightly, looking like he was in deep thought as he admired the fireworks.

"Hey, Snow?"

"Yeah?"

They inched closer to each other, their lips just inches apart, when –

BANG!

"What the –?!" Snow immediately steered the hover-vehicle away from the fireworks and eventually out of the bubble altogether, sighing in relief. "That was close."

Serah then started to giggle uncontrollably, causing Snow to laugh as well. When she had calmed down, her hand reflexively moved to the pendant around her neck. She gazed out at the fireworks once more. "Gorgeous," she murmured, "our own private heaven."

"All we need," Snow agreed. "Just you and me."

Serah turned to face him again, and almost immediately noticed how close they were to each other. If she leaned further in, their lips would touch. She leaned closer, connecting her lips with his. His hand found her back when she pulled away, and coaxed her lips back to his. Their lips moved in synch, in perfect harmony; they connected like two puzzle pieces. They were meant to be.

If she completed her Focus, and turned to crystal, how would they cope without each other?

Tears sprung to her eyes, and she had to break away. Snow pulled her closer to him, cradling her head with his hand as he pulled the hover-vehicle from the fireworks and back towards the beach. As he drove, he heard Serah whisper from her place in his arms.

"Thank you, Snow."