Wow, this story might as well be finished by the end of this week.
Please, please, please don't kill me for the mushiness in this chapter. :(
NOTE: I have never been to a Christian wedding before, and all you'll read is from what I saw on soap operas. XD
Everyone was at the town church, waiting for the bride to arrive. The bride was late, but no one was worried.
The bride was always late.
Cid stood by the open church door, holding little Rose. He had taken time to comb his hair, which was now neat and quite tidy. He wore a white wore suit, while 3-year-old Rose bouncing excitedly in his arms in her rosy pink flowergirl frock.
At the other end at the altar, two young men stood, waiting. Cloud, in a white suit, paced nervously up and down, constantly glancing out the door. Leon stood beside him to his left, as his Best Man.
It was clear to see that Cloud was tense.
"What if I screw this up?" Cloud mumbled doubtfully. "What if everything doesn't go according to plan? What if I forget my lines?" He stopped, staring at Leon with scared eyes. "What if I'm not good enough for her?"
Leon smiled, taking a few steps towards his friend. He placed both hands on his shoulders.
"Aerith loves you," he said softly. "You love her. That will never change and that's all that matters." Cloud could see the sadness still dwelling in Leon's eyes. He gazed sadly at his friend.
"I'm sorry, man," he said, looking away. "You didn't have to do all this for us…" Leon shook his head.
"No," he said firmly. "I want to be here. I want to see her on the…happiest day of her life." He struggled with the last few words. Cloud smiled weakly.
"You're strong, Leon," he told him, patting his arm. "And you're a good friend."
The guests suddenly let out a gasp, standing up and staring with astonishment at the doorway.
The limousine had just stopped and the driver had quickly run out to open the door.
Seven beaming bridesmaids got out one by one, followed by the Maid of Honor, and then the bride.
Aerith stepped into the church, absolutely radiant under her veil.
Cloud turned around and saw her for the first time. All his doubts and thought vanished immediately as she smiled at him from across the room. Cloud mindlessly straightened up, unable to take his eyes off her.
Rose hopped down from Cid's arms and ran over to her mother, Meghan. She smiled down at her little daughter, giving her a small basket of flower petals. She lifted Rose off her feet and slowly walked down the aisle first as Rose scattered the petals onto the ground. The other bridesmaids followed as the church organs played. The guests sat back down.
Cid went over to Aerith, extending his arm to her. She smiled warmly at him and took it. She took a deep breath, and he walked her towards the altar, Yuffie leading in front.
Even though it was a long moment, Aerith's eyes never left Cloud's. It was as if they were in a separate world of their own, through that one glance. Leon noticed, but he didn't show it.
As they reached the altar, Yuffie stepped over to the left and stood next to Leon. Cid stopped in front of Cloud, turning to face Aerith. He smiled proudly and kissed her gently on the cheek before letting her go. He stepped over to the right with the bridesmaids.
Yuffie noticed Leon and his suppressed expression. She smiled and put her hand on his shoulder.
Cloud and Aerith stared deeply into each other's eyes, almost hypnotized. The priest walked over and stood at the altar.
"Shall we begin?" he asked quietly. They snapped out of it, turning to face him. Cloud nodded as Aerith handed Yuffie her bouquet. The priest opened the Bible and cleared his throat.
"Dearly beloved," he said loudly. The room quietened. "We are gathered here today in the sight of God to witness this Man and this Woman join together in Holy Matrimony." (A.N. I think that means they're getting married. XD) He glanced between the couple. "Cloud Strife and Aerith Gainsborough." Cloud and Aerith smiled. Yuffie took Leon's hand. The priest flipped through the Bible, adjusting his glasses.
"Oh," he exclaimed, looking up. He chuckled. "The bride and groom seem to have written their own vows." He laughed again.
"Go ahead, dear," he said to Aerith. "You read your vows first."
Aerith turned to face Cloud, beaming. She laughed.
"Well, we're finally here," she said happily, shrugging her shoulders. "At the altar, twenty years from the first moment we met." Cloud smiled. Aerith let out a sigh. "We were just babies when we first met, but somehow we grew up and ended up here. We were separated, and with some twist of fate, we found our way back to each other, I never really gave up hope for you to come home to me, and you did." She grinned dreamily. "The moment I saw you standing there… I just fell in love with you all over again." she paused, staring deep into his blue eyes. "I love you, Cloud. I've learnt the hard way that I can't be whole without you. You're a part of my being, and I promise I'll be at your side till the moment I die. Till death do us part. And even so… I'll still love you. Now… I give you my hand, my heart, and all my love to you. Now and forever."
Several of the guests were crying at her words, Cloud himself left speechless, but then he smiled.
"She sounds like she really means it," he joked to the priest. The guests laughed. Cloud cleared his throat, reaching into his pocket.
"Well…" he said. "I couldn't write the vows by myself, so I asked Molly to help me." He shot a glance at Molly (A.N. His shrink), who was sitting in the front row, smiling proudly. Cloud pulled out a small piece of paper. He unfolded it and looked back at Aerith. He smiled softly.
"This whole thing, it's been a miracle. How we were reunited after 9 years apart back at our childhood home, and how we still love each other." He chuckled, shaking his head. "I can't read this. Sorry, Molly." He put it back into his pocket. "So I'll just say whatever comes to me right now." He stared into Aerith's emerald pools, smiling genuinely. "I just want you to know that I love you, and that will never change. Not even the darkness could keep us from each other." He sighed. "I can't promise I'll always be by your side, because there's still a battle in my soul. But I promise…" He smiled again. "I promise I'll always keep a part of you with me. I want us to grow up together, like we did when we were kids. I want to get to know the woman you'll become, and I want to fall in love with you even more everyday, all over again." Aerith beamed, tears in her eyes. "I know what you've told me. I know what you say is true. But in my eyes, you really are the light that leads me away from the darkness, and you're the reason I want to live my life. Just so I can love you. Only you."
The guests got even more teary-eyed than before, even Cid and Yuffie. No one expected something like that from Cloud.
Aerith smiled and wiped her eyes.
"He sounds like he really means it," she told the priest. The guests laughed again. Yuffie smiled sadly at Leon, wrapping her arm around his. The priest looked back down at the open Bible.
"Aerith Gainsborough," he said. "Do you take Cloud to be your husband?"
She nodded, not taking her eyes off Cloud.
"I do."
"Cloud Strife." The priest turned to the groom. "Do you take Aerith to be your wife?" Cloud nodded.
"I do." Meghan pushed Rose forward. The little girl was holding the cushion with the two Eternity Rings and the two wedding rings. She grinned toothily as she walked in front of Cloud and Aerith.
She held out the cushion, resting it on top of her head. Aerith smiled at her.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the priest said loudly. "in all my years of performing marriage ceremonies, this is the very first time Eternity Rings have been used." The crowd let out a gasp, Cloud and Aerith both looking a little nervous. "If the love between this couple is true enough, the rings will bond together their hearts and souls eternally, in an act of everlasting love." Leon looked up, feeling Yuffie's grip tighten suddenly. The priest took the Eternity Rings off the cushion on Rose's head, turning to Aerith. "You first, my dear." He handed her the ring.
Aerith took a deep breath and took Cloud's left hand. Slowly, she pushed the band of glowing light onto his ring finger. After a moment, the light dissolved into his finger, vanishing completely. Aerith covered her mouth to muffle her gasp of joy.
He loved her enough for the ring to accept. She slipped the gold wedding ring onto the finger.
Cloud examined his hand briefly.
"I don't feel any different," he said.
"Maybe you will after the bride puts hers on," the priest suggested. Cloud nodded, picking up the other Eternity Ring.
He took her hand and slipped it on. They watched nervously, but the light did not fade. Aerith's smile slowly faded, a chill running down her spine.
Leon looked on anxiously, as did everyone else.
After a moment that felt like forever, the light finally vanished.
A rush of light glowed from the bride and groom. Aerith and Cloud closed their eyes as they felt it happen.
They felt their bodies collide, their hearts and souls fusing to become one, feeling each other's love for one another, knowing how strong it was.
The light erupted and returned Aerith and Cloud back to reality. They both let out a sigh of relief. The guests stood up from their seats and roared with applause from the amazing moment.
The bride and groom exchanged a loving glance, both knowing what kind of miracle they had just witnessed. Cloud took the gold ring off the cushion, flashing Rose a wink. He slipped it onto Aerith's now-bare finger, kissing her hand. She giggled. The priest asked the guests to quieten down, clearing his throat.
"Anyone who has any reason why these two should not be wed," he said. "Speak now or forever hold your peace." (A.N. I… think that's how it goes)
Yuffie placed her hand on Leon's back as she felt him stiffen, staying neutral. She couldn't even imagine what kind of thoughts were running through his head right now.
But… he didn't speak. No one did.
The priest beamed at the couple.
"Then by the power vested in me, I pronounce you man… and wife." He took their hands and put them together. He stepped back. "Mr and Mrs Cloud Strife!"
The crowded roared as Cloud leaned in and pulled back Aerith's veil. He stared at his new wife for a moment, then pulled her into a passionate kiss.
The bridesmaids cheered, showering the newlyweds with flower petals as they walked back down the aisle. The guests stood up as they went by towards the door, applauding.
Cloud stopped at the steps outside, letting go of Aerith's hand. He took off his coat and handed it to Cid beside him, pulling on a pair of sunglasses and leather gloves. He went over to his motorcycle, withJust Married written on the back, and signaled Aerith to come over to him.
She grinned, pulling her dress up over her ankles and running to him as he got the motorcycle ready.
The guests had followed them outside, still cheering. Cloud got onto the bike, Aerith wrapping her arms around him from behind.
She waved one last time to the crows, and Cloud started the bike, zooming off.
Aerith tightened her arms safely around Cloud, pressing her cheek onto his back as they gained more speed, leaving the church far behind.
Passing cars honked as they drove past, the Just Married sign flashing in the sunlight.
Aerith smiled to herself.
Scared you a little there, didn't I Cloud/Aerith fans? hehehe
What a totally unique way of exiting a wedding. XD Hmmmm, what could possibly go wrong from this point?
Up next: the party after, the first dance, and the Best Man's speech. :)