The guests were all arriving, entering into the large hall where the ceremony was to be held. Close friends and local residents, mainly from Traverse Town.

Long tables covered with white table cloth were lined at each wall, the guests seating themselves at the vertically positioned ones, while the main table was reserved for the guests of honor.

At the moment, everyone was too excited to stay seated, so they stood around, chatting about with each other.

Cid and Cloud, both dressed in formal clothes, greeted the guests, but since Cloud wasn't talkative enough, Cid had the full time job. Yuffie and Aerith had just come out in from the entrance, both looking dazzling.

Aerith had her hair down, styled in an elegant sophisticated fashion with her mini braids tied around and clipped loosely to the side. She wore long dangling crystal earrings, shaped like teardrops, and a simple necklace with a silver love heart pendant hanging from a think chain. Her dress was rosy pink, a simple gown decorated with a few pink flowers. It had one elegant shoulder strap, and the middle hugged her waist flirtatiously. It flowed down to her ankles, down to her chic stilettos. Around her bare shoulders was a matching pink scarf, which suited her perfectly.

Yuffie had pampered herself up a little too. Her hair had been obviously sprayed, keeping it in place. She was wearing emerald stud earrings, bringing out her smile, and a matching necklace and hairclips. Her dress was sea green, strapless with a matching scarf and what looked like seaweed from afar, ending at her ankles. She was in heels, clearly for the first time in her life.

Aerith coughed into a gloved hand and looked around at the crowd, searching for a certain someone. She felt Yuffie place her hand on her shoulder, indicating her to come to the table. She followed her to her seat and sat down, her eyes still scanning the guests. She let out a sad sigh as the crowd cleared and she found no sightings of Leon anywhere.

"What's wrong, Aerith?" Yuffie asked, sitting down to her right. Aerith sighed again.

"I guess he really isn't coming," she muttered. Yuffie cast a sympathetic gaze at her friend.

"Oh Aerith…" she said gently. She patted Aerith's shoulder comfortingly. "Maybe things are better this way. No one get hurt, yeah?" Aerith nodded slightly, her gaze on the table cloth.

"I guess you're right," she said, emitting a soft sigh.

Cid stood up from his chair, tapping a glass cup with his spoon loudly to bring the guest's attention. Aerith felt a warm hand place itself on her left. Cloud had sat down beside her. He smiled peacefully, a look that told her everything was going to be okay. All her troubles and doubts melted away, and she felt happy inside. She returned his smile.

He would always make it all better.

"Ahem!" Cid cleared his throat loudly and the room grew quiet.

"I'd like to just take the opportunity of thanking you all for coming to this ceremony." He glanced down at Cloud and Aerith, grinned, and then back at the guests. "…to the engagement ceremony of Cloud Strife and Aerith Gainsborough!" He motioned the couple to rise, and he started clapping loudly. The guests soon followed suit as Cloud and Aerith bashfully walked hand in hand to the centre of the room where Merlin was waiting.

"Now, then," he said happily. He placed a hand on their shoulder, glancing between them. "Shall we start?" Cloud stepped to one side as he was face to face with Aerith, and that Merlin was standing beside them.

Merlin waved his wand and tow small sip-sized cups filled with tea appeared in a poof, floating in mid-air. The audience let out an "Ooh!" and a few started clapping. Merlin chuckled, and even Cloud and Aerith couldn't help but smile.

"Now, according to tradition," Merlin said loudly. "A betrothal is as important as the wedding itself, and that two people must be truly in love." The cups hovelled in front of Cloud and Aerith. "Each take a glass…" They cautiously reached up and held onto the cups. "…filled with the drink of purity. Give it to your betrothed and seal your words."

Aerith raised her cup and brought it to Cloud's lips, as he did the same to her. Aerith was unable to stop herself from giggling as she sipped the tea, forcing drops to run messily down her chin. The same thing was happening to Cloud, but it might have been because Aerith was pushing the cup into his chin rather than his mouth.

"Now now, children," Merlin chided. "Behave yourselves." Although still smiling, the couple straightened up and apologized. Yuffie covered her mouth with both hands to stop herself from laughing, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

They were so into each other.

The neighbourhood was deserted.

Everyone had gone to the ceremony. Everyone, that is, except one.

Leon sat alone in Cid and Yuffie's house on the sofa. He was all ready to go, but he was afraid to.

He didn't know if he was ready to face reality. It still hurt so much. Aerith was getting engaged to his best friend. He wanted her to be happy, he really did, and he wanted to see her like that, but at the same time, he didn't. Leon closed his eyes and leaned back, sighing wearily.

What was he to do? What was he to feel? About her? About everything to do with her?

He was in love with her; that was all there was to it. But still, he had to face it, she was in love with Cloud, and they were getting engaged.

"Why am I being so inconsiderate?" he said to himself. They were both happy, and he should be happy for them. Leon stood up.

He should be there for the, wishing them well, not sitting at home moping over something that was impossible. He checked his watch. He could still make it.

Without a second thought, he headed out the door and ran as fast as he could towards the Town Hall where the ceremony was being held a few yards away.

He went for the door, when a man in a black suit and sunglasses stepped in front of him, blocking the entrance. Two other men stood behind him.

"Going somewhere?" the first man asked in a hard and dangerously calm voice. Leon knew right away that they were guarding the door.

"The ceremony," he responded. The man did not react whatsoever.

"Do you have an invitation?" he said robotically, beginning to get on Leon's nerves. He didn't seem to realize that he was really burning up time here.

"Hold on a second," Leon muttered, reaching into his pocket. Expecting to instantly come in contact with the invitation slip, he instead found nothing. He started searching through his other pockets, but they were all empty as well. The guard seemed to notice, much to Leon's annoyance.

"Look," Leon said curtly. "I think I left it at home."

"Then you can't come in," the man replied simply. "This is a private ceremony. Invitations only. Either you go home and get it, or just go home." Leon clearly had no intention of doing so.

"I was invited, alright?!" he said hotly. "I'm one of the guests, so let me through!" The guard merely laughed.

"But you've got nothing to prove that, do you?"

"Well, why don't you just call someone out to identify me, then!"

"Well, why don't you just leave right now, then?" the guard mimicked. The other two men grunted with laughter. "It'll be a lot easier that way." Leon had enough. He took a step forward.

"Get out of my way!" he hissed, but the guard didn't move. He just smiled.

"Either you go now," he said with deadly calmness. "Or I'm calling security." The other two guards stepped towards Leon.

"I don't have time for this!" Leon shouted, pushing the men out of the way. "I need to be at this ceremony!"

He ran as fast as he could up the steps and into the hall. The two guards darted after him, as the other took out his cell phone.

"Yes, we have an intruder on the premises. Call security now." He hung up and rushed into the building.

A small cushion with two rings placed neatly on top appeared with a wave of Merlin's wand. He turned to Cloud.

"It's you first, my boy," he said cheerfully to him. "You have the honor of being the first to put on the ring." Cloud carefully picked up one of the rings. He stared at it for a moment, then lifted his gaze to Aerith. She giggled and removed her glove, holding out her left hand to him. Cloud smiled shyly and took it. He held it out and very slowly, pushed the ring onto her finger.

"AERITH!" A shout came from the door, turning everyone's attention to it. Cloud stopped, the ring only past Aerith's fingernail, but she didn't seem to notice either.

"AERITH!" Her eyes widened with complete horror as she and everyone else saw Leon, and about half a dozen policemen trying to drag him out, at the entrance.

"Aerith!" Leon shouted again. Yuffie and Cid stood up from their seats, shocked. Leon tried to pull free. "Let go of me!" His desperate grey eyes met Aerith's, but he was pulled away, still shouting her name.

Aerith's breath was caught in her throat as she watched him get dragged away. Her eyes not shifting from the door, she pulled her hand out of Cloud's grip, the ring falling to the ground with a cling and rolling over in front of Yuffie, who had got up. Aerith ran as fast as she could after him, forgetting and abandoning everything else going on around her.

But then she stopped and looked at Cloud over her shoulder. He shook his head, his eyes begging her not to go.

"Aerith…" he muttered softly.

Aerith stood there for a moment. A tear rolled down her cheek.

"I'm… I'm sorry…" she whispered. She ripped her eyes away from him and disappeared out the door after Leon.

Cloud stayed still, rooted to the ground. He was overwhelmed with shock. He sank down onto one knee. Yuffie quickly ran to his side and crouched down next to him.

"Cloud…" she said softly, placing a hand on his back. She took out the ring Aerith had dropped and held it in front of him. Cloud was still stunned, but after a second, he noticed it. Without another thought, he took the ring out of Yuffie's fingers and darted out.

Aerith pulled her long dress up above her feet as she tried to catch up, but all she managed to see was the police pushing Leon into the back of a police automobile and driving off.

" Leon!" she shouted, running after the car. "Leon!" But it soon gained speed, leaving her behind, Aerith stopped for breath, watching it drive further and further away. She then frantically looked around, spotting a nearby car.

A car.

She rushed over to it, relieved to see the driver in the car, leisurely reading a book. She opened the passenger door and climbed in.

The driver put his book down and turned around to her, slightly surprised. Aerith had no time to answer questions.

"Please," she breathed. "Please follow that car!" She pointed ahead. "Hurry!" The driver nodded and quickly started the engine. Aerith was almost thrown back as the car zoomed off.

Cloud ran outside, just in time to see the car drive away. He emitted a weary sigh, crushed.

Something was left on the ground.

He walked over and crouched down to it.

It was the pink scarf Aerith had dropped. Cloud gently picked it up, staring at it sadly. He looked back in the distance, letting out another deep sigh.