Here's a quick update. It's a little more Clerith, because some people seem a little upset from the lack of it in the story. :P

Enjoy.

Everything had been taken care of. Cloud and Aerith had spent several weeks arranging for the wedding, now only a few days away. The only things needed now were the rings.

The couple visited Stanton, a city outside Hollow Bastion which was famous for their jewelry store, The White Swan.

Cloud and Aerith walked along the sidewalk, glancing through the store windows as they went past. It was a typical New York scenario.

Aerith wore a summery frock with a matching hat, letting her hair flow down her back. She sipped a bottle of diet cola through a straw, occasionally holding out for Cloud, who walked beside her in a casual suit. They looked like everyday city newlyweds.

"We can only buy ceremonial rings," Aerith said. "I can't wear a ring for too long. You know, magic user." Cloud nodded.

"We'll figure it out when we get there." he constantly glanced over at her, smiling. Aerith noticed.

"What?" He chuckled a little.

"Nothing," he said. "It's just I've never seen you pamper yourself up so much, just to go shopping."

"Hello! This is Stanton! We have to fit in." she sipped her drink and gave it to Cloud.

Something then suddenly caught her eye and she stopped, staring into a photograph shop. She went to the window and placed her hand on the glass, smiling sadly. Cloud turned around and walked up behind her, following her gaze.

It was a portrait of a little girl with her parents, all of them in a loving embrace. Aerith let out a soft sigh.

"You know," she said quietly. "Besides Cid, Yuffie and Leon…" She looked at him over her shoulder. "We don't really have any family left."

Cloud's expression saddened and he placed a hand on her shoulder. Aerith looked back at the portrait through the window.

"Our families…" She smiled dryly. "It was as if they were all destined not to make it to our wedding day." She backed away, staring at the ground.

"Aerith…" Cloud hugged her. Aerith closed her eyes. She wasn't crying, but the memories were just as painful to think about. Cloud pulled away and touched her cheek with a hand. Aerith looked back at him sadly.

"My two best friends, Tifa and Rinoa," she muttered. "They aren't with us either." Cloud sighed, smiling softly.

"Hey…" he said gently. "It may not be the perfect wedding but we'll do our best… for everyone." Aerith managed a small smile. "Okay?"

She nodded, feeling a lot better. Cloud kissed her forehead lightly and handed her the cola bottle. She sipped the last drops and threw it into a nearby bin. The couple resumed their walk.

They stopped in front of a very large jewelry store. Aerith let out a gasp of awe.

"Oh," she exclaimed, gripping onto Cloud's hand excitedly. "I can't believe we're actually here." She stood there and took in the view for almost a whole minute. Cloud smirked and leaned over.

"Shouldn't we go in?" he asked. Aerith beamed and nodded enthusiastically. She interlocked her fingers with his, and surely enough, led the way.

Past the revolving door, they were lost for words at how big the jewelry store was. The walls, the floor, the ceiling were all painted solid black, making the counters stand out with the white light shining through the glass cases.

Cloud and Aerith walked around for a while until a young English woman came over to help.

"Hi," she said cheerfully. "Welcome to The White Swan." She shook their hands. "I'm Christine, how can I help you?"

"We're getting married," Aerith said proudly, beaming. "And we thought this would be the perfect place to get the rings."

"Oh, congratulations," Christine said. "When are you having the wedding?"

Aerith looked over at Cloud and smirked.

"Next Tuesday," they said in unison. Christine was a little surprised.

"That's only five days away." Cloud sighed.

"We know," he said. "This is the last thing we need to do." Christine smiled.

"Well, you've come to the right place." She signaled them to follow her to her counter.

"Oh," Aerith said suddenly. "There's something you need to know. These are only for the ceremony, because I use magic a lot and I kinda have to pull it off everytime, so it doesn't get destroyed." Cloud nudged her, slightly offended.

"I don't use magic," he said. "I'll still wear it."

"Well, you still always wear those gloves," Aerith countered, smiling innocently.

Cloud rolled his eyes and smiled, while Christine watched them, amused.

"Tell you what," she said. "I've got something here you'll both like… hopefully." She bent down and pulled a small box from under the counter. She slowly opened it to the couple. Aerith covered her mouth with both hands at the sight.

"Oh my god…" she breathed. "Are those…?" Christine nodded.

"Eternity rings." She handed them to Aerith as Cloud watched.

"I've heard about these," he muttered.

"I only recommend these to couples who I can tell will last," Christine said, smiling. She leaned onto the counter as Aerith examined the rings. "Eternity rings are created when a ray of pure light shines upon pure white gold for a total of exactly 1001 days. It begins to generate its own spiritual energy. Now Eternity Rings always form in twos, hence one for each lover. If their love is so pure and so true, the spiritual energy fuses the rings into the wearer, therefore bonding their hearts and souls together, for eternity." Cloud looked up at her.

"Fuses to the wearer?" he repeated. "You mean it would just disappear?" Christine smiled serenely and shook her head.

"It disappears from sight to become the bond." Aerith smiled at Cloud, who was still extremely confused.

"Don't you get it?" she laughed. "The Eternity Rings hold the spiritual energy inside with pure light, and when two people with a lot of spiritual energy put them in, the rings release theirs and fuses into their souls." Cloud blinked. "That means the lovers would share the same heart and soul."

"But it will still disappear?"

"You'll still know it there," Christine told him. "Only in a different form." Cloud still wasn't convinced.

"What if love isn't pure enough?" Christine's smile faded and she sighed sadly.

"That's why I rarely recommend them," she said softly. "If the rings don't fulfill their duty, they won't fuse into the wearer, which means the two lovers aren't truly in love with each other. It would lead to even more damage to the relationship." Cloud glanced over at Aerith, a worried look on his face.

"Aerith… are you sure about this?" She beamed at him with starry eyes. She looked like she knew that the rings would work, without a single doubt in the world.

"What do you think, Cloud?" He couldn't help but smile at her. He nodded.

"I think you're sure." He turned back to Christine. "We'll take them." Christine beamed. Aerith took out her purse.

"How much are they?" she asked.

"They come for free with your wedding rings," Christine replied. "They're spiritual items, so you can wear your rings over them." She immediately pulled out a beautiful set, which amazed Aerith.

"You're very good, did you know that?" Christine grinned sheepishly.

"It's a gift."

The Eternity Rings, I made up. It was inspired from a folk tale my parents used to read to me, when a couple wore their magical wedding rings and the husband went off somewhere and died and turned into a rock. :S The wife felt that something was wrong and went off to find him, and she did. Then she died beside him and turned into a rock too.

…

Up next, WEDDING DAY!