Well, after like a year (or something), finally the end of this story. Thankfully for all of you still following, I have the next mini-story started so it won't be nearly as long for the continuation. Two mini-stories, then the final chapter story will finish this series completely.

Thank you all so much for following me through this journey!

Cloud half-heartedly reached for his phone to check the text message that had come in twenty minutes earlier., his arms working around Riku's limp and sweaty body to hold the device up and read his message. It was no surprise that it was from Leon. Closing it, he tossed the phone on the nightstand and stroked Riku's bare back. "We're leaving in two hours."

"I'm surprised that he's waited this long," murmured the younger man, shifting slightly but not clearing himself of Cloud's body. "Seiya probably convinced him to wait."

"Probably." Cloud didn't want to leave, but knew he had to. He reminded himself that it wasn't going to be a very long time before Riku would be moving to Radiant Garden, and they'd never have to deal with a long distance relationship again. They'd have their house together, their lives together, forever. It was sappy, but the simple idea of that made him smile.

"I suppose I need to let you pack, huh?"

"Naw, it'll take me five minutes to stuff my stuff in my bag."

"Good." Riku lifted his head. "I don't imagine we can convince Leon to let you stay for a few weeks? You can just stay... Help me move..."

"Doubt it, but we could try." Cloud smoothed the other's sleep mussed hair. "Would have better luck getting him to stay a few more days since Sephiroth seems to have things well covered."

"Yeah," Riku said softly, placing his head back on Cloud's chest. "I'm glad he's been able to help some there."

Cloud made a soft noise. "He's certainly trying."

Riku took a slow breath. "You are, too. I really appreciate that, Cloud. I know... I know it isn't easy."

"It's not that bad..." The older man admitted. "Overall, we ignore each other, and I know that isn't learning to deal with him, but it's a step. When we have to interact, it's kept to a minimum."

"All I ask is the effort be made."

"I know." Cloud ran his hand along Riku's hip. "I meant it when I said I'd do anything for you."

"Didn't doubt it." He sighed softly, his own hand sliding up Cloud's chest and over his shoulder. "And I'd do the same for you."

The blond was quiet for a minute. It was difficult at times to believe how much everything had changed for him, and how... comfortable he was about it. Drastic life changes had always been difficult for him, but nothing about this felt wrong. Maybe it was simply because he had control of these changes. He didn't know.

"Do you think we'll be any different to each other after we're married?" Riku asked casually, listening to Cloud's heartbeat. "They say relationships change after that, sometimes a lot."

"I don't know. It'll change some, I'm sure, but it would do that if we were simply living together." Cloud chuckled. "Hopefully, we won't decide we can't stand being in the same house."

"That would be horrible, wouldn't it?" Riku laughed. "End up having to live in separate houses... That would suck."

"I'd divorce you if it came to that. We can just date forever." Cloud's tone was completely serious.

Riku looked at him aghast. "You would, won't you?"

"Being married isn't worth losing what we have now." He threaded his fingers through the younger male's hair. "But if I really thought it would be a problem, I wouldn't have asked you. Whatever issues come up, we'll get through them."

Nodding, Riku kissed his chest. "I'm glad you said that. I don't want to lose this, either."

"Then we're good." Cloud ended the conversation. They had little more than an hour left now, and he didn't want to spend it in repetitive conversation. Freeing himself of Riku -and smirking at the childish noise of protest he got- the blond slid off the bed, catching Riku's ankle and tugging him toward the edge of the mattress.

Briefly startled, Riku managed an uneasy laugh. "What are you...?"

"Shower time," Cloud informed him, scooping him up and hauling him toward the bathroom. He was sure it looked hilarious given their differences in proportions. "I'm not spending hours in a cramped gummi with Leon without one."

"Right, and I was hoping for ulterior motives." Riku dragged his nails across his fiance's chest, tickling one of the scars in Cloud's shoulder,earning a delightful shudder from the man.

"Were you?" Cloud set him down inside the bathroom. He acted completely indifferent to Riku's suggestion, turning the tap and starting the water running. The shower stall wasn't very big... just barely enough for two. "And I just hate disappointing you, too. Now I have to decide which is more important; shower or giving you what you want."

Chuckling, Riku draped his arms around his neck from behind. "Lif'e's full of tough choices, innit?"

"It is, but this isn't one of those."

"It isn't?"

"No." Cloud reached behind and pinched Riku's bare thigh. At his squirm, Cloud turned and pushed Riku toward the shower. He kept at it until the teenager was under the spray, silver hair darkening to gray as it became soaked through. "No reason we can't both get what we want."

Riku didn't waste words. Bringing his hands up to frame Cloud's face, he leaned out of the water cascade and kissed him deeply, lips pressing to the older man's urgently, insistently. This would be their last time together until Cloud returned in a month to move Riku to Radiant Garden. He wanted it to count. Running his hands to Cloud's shoulders, he pulled him into the water, mouths locked together as water ran down their skin.

Chuckling as he stumbled, Cloud braced them both by placing a hand on the wall behind them, the other hand gripping Riku's hip. When Riku's lips left his to trail down the length of his neck, his grip on the teenager's hip tightened. His skin was warm from the combination of hot water and rising arousal, probably turning that pink color Riku loved to tease him about. He allowed Riku a moment to explore before taking the control back from him, pushing the young man back and against the shower wall.

"I love your ideas," said Riku in a rush of breath.

"I have a few good ones." Cloud's lips met Riku's again, his hands holding the teenager in place. He felt Riku's hands slip up his back, pulling him closer. The young man's arousal brushed at his thigh, awaking his own further. "Now shut up."

-0-0-

"Think they'll be on time?" Sora asked with a grin, glancing around the dock. There wasn't the usual bustle of activity at the moment, but that was likely due to the hour of day. It was too early for the lunch crowd, but well after the morning bunch would have cleared. His and Riku's boats were tied to the moor so he and Leon had simply set the luggage and bags into them as they waited.

"Wouldn't be surprised if they weren't." Leon mentally double checked his list of things he had been ordered to bring back to Radiant Garden. If he forgot any of the wedding items requested, Aerith and Tifa would lock him in a room with Yuffie and a back of pixie sticks. "Which is why I worked in an extra hour to my time table."

Shaking his head, Sora laughed. "You really are anal, you know that? Sometimes, ya just gotta chill."

"Goes against my nature to be chill." However, he did stop his calculations and turned to face the water. "It's been good to get away from the Reconstruction for a little while."

"Of course it is. Everyone's gotta take a break once in a while." Sora sat on the end of the dock, hands in his lap. "I think things around here are going to be crazy after you guys leave. Between school and getting Riku packed to leave..."

Leon gave him a minute, sensing by his tense posture that the boy had a lot on his mind. Throughout this trip, Sora had been falling into these moments. He had questions for Sora, observations that he wasn't alone in noticing. "Sora."

"Yeah?"

"You know you don't have to stay here, right?"

Sora didn't move. "This is home. I spent so long trying to get back here."

"And you made it back. You found your friends and came home, both of which are amazing accomplishments," said Leon. "However, just because this is 'home' doesn't mean it's where you belong. People outgrow where they live, find other places that make them happy, where they fit in."

The boy winced. He hadn't felt he fit in here since coming back. The Islands were home, where he spent his childhood... "I wonder if part of growing up is realizing that you've changed."

"Everything changes, Sora. You, me, Riku, your mom, here, Radiant Garden, even the tides change."

"Had to get an ocean reference in there, huh?" Sora flicked his eyes up briefly. "And I know all that. Don't really help with all these thoughts goin' round my head."

Leon shrugged.

"Do you think that's what happened? I've outgrown here?" It sounded like it could be true. Why else would he feel like he didn't quite fit anymore? Maybe he had changed too much for Destiny Islands to catch up. Maybe he had been gone too long.

"I can't tell you that." Leon turned his face down at the lapping water. "I can tell you that if for some reason, my homeworld were to return, I wouldn't go back."

Sora's brow furrowed. "You wouldn't?"

The older man shook his head. "It wouldn't be my home anymore. I'd want to see it, visit on occasion but only for the memories it would bring and those are all here-" he touched his temple then chest "-within me. Garden was home, but it's not mine anymore."

"Oh." That gave Sora something to think on. "I think, for me, it's more about the people..." And one of those were leaving him here alone forever.

"Again, I can't tell you if it is."

"I know." Sora shook his head to clear it. He had time to consider all of this later. "I'm kinda jealous of Riku, getting a whole new house to decorate and do cool stuff to. Ya think Cloud's gonna let him do whatever he wants?"

"I think we're going to see a lot of head butting over it." Leon chuckled. "I can't think of two people with more opposite tastes. The only thing they have in common is the habit of liking sleeveless shirts."

Sora snorted loudly. "Well if I had arms like them, I might like to wear them, too."

"I do and I don't care for it."

"You don't even like to wear shorts, Leon."

"No, I don't." Leon folded his arms across his chest. "Never have, either."

"Riku isn't too big on them. Never understood why, cause I love shorts." Sora kicked his feet "I think he's embarrassed cause he has knoby knees."

Leon snorted softly. "Well that would ruin his illusion of physical perfection."

"Heh, yeah. He's so vain sometimes, though I think it's a family trait. His mom was like that and Sephiroth is just narcissistic."

"He really is, but I don't dare imply it around him." The older man agreed. "I have to say, for whoever he was before, and I don't question or doubt anything Cloud told me about him, he's been extremely helpful. There's still a lot of tension and unease when it comes to him, but his assistance has been appreciated. I hope for Riku's sake, Cloud and Sephiroth will find a level of neutrality."

"They will." Sora wasn't worried anymore. They both loved Riku, and would do anything for him. In the distance, he spotted Riku and Cloud walking toward them."Things are only gonna get better."

"For them?" Leon motioned with his head, seeing the couple also.

"For all of us."