The Final Chapter

"Oh my God! Look at the time! We've got a wedding people!" Cecil lifts his hands above his head, clapping twice. "Chop chop! I will not disappoint my dear Tifa!"

Cid steps up to him, glaring at him. "Listen you fruit pie, I ain't hearin none of your crap today. We've known Tifa years longer than you have, so shut yer trap before I shut it for you!"

Cecil stares at him flatly. "Oh, that was original. How long did it take you to come up with that?"

"Why you–

"Cid!" Barret steps in, grabbing Cid by the waist.

Great, this is great. My wedding party is fighting. Come to think of it I really don't want to know what it would be like with Yuffie.

Man I hope these bruises heal before tonight. She really did a number on me. I can't believe she waited all day yesterday in the road for us. I don't think she really cares that we're getting married. I think she just cares that this shit better be perfect because she thinks she's the one who did everything.

Stupid shoes.

Anyways, I haven't even seen Tifa since Yuffie tackled me off of Fenrir, and then kidnaped Tifa. Heaven forbid I see her on the day we get married, before the wedding. Isn't that the old superstition or something like that?

I don't know. All I know is that as soon as I could hear again after Yuffie boxed my ears, all I heard was:

"You can't see her! You can't see her!" And then scrambling footsteps, and possibly Tifa yelling at Yuffie. And then:

"I'll kill you later! Gotta get you married first! Hate you! Bye!"

The love around here. It's absolutely overwhelming.

I swear if these freaking shoes...

Never mind the fact that I had to bodily wrestle Cid to not wear that god forsaken kilt. I mean, that thing ruined one wedding, and there's no reason for it to ruin someone else's, least of all my own. I mean, what was the point in even bringing that thing? He already had his tux's pants...it's not like we had a shortage of tux bottoms, or that the kilt was needed for an emergency bridesmaid dress.

This is insane! Stupid!

Shoes! For real. Go on the feet!

I had to get Reeve to shave me this morning, as if that's embarrassing enough. My hands were shaking so bad I thought I was going to kill myself...then what would they say?

'That poor Strife couldn't handle it. Cut his neck open on the morning of his wedding. Poor Tifa. Poor Yuffie. You'd think she was the one left at the altar. 'S ok, though, Yuffie broke it off with Reno and Tifa and Reno got married three months later–

WHOA. Yea, that's where my train of thought went, and I think death is better than a relationship with Reno, so I called Reeve...even though I re-e-eally didn't want to. I had to. I mean, what do you do? How could I risk putting Tifa through that pain? How could I risk letting Reno get my woman?!

Meh, moot point.

SHOES!

Shoes! I damn you to hell! And take Reno with you!

Today is not the day! I don't have time to wrestle with my shoelaces! This is ridiculous! I can't believe this is happening! It was bad enough that I nearly choked myself with this god forsaken tie... I almost lost a button trying to put my stupid shirt on, and now my shoelaces?

Why are my clothes against me?!

"That's it! I can't do this!" I yell, flinging my hands up.

Frustration...building. Gonna scream!

Barret looks up at me from across the room, Cid's cigarette falls out of his mouth. Cecil lets out a manly squeak.

"Oh..." Cecil puts his hand to his chest dramatically. "Oh my God," he gasps.

Reeve glares at me. "I knew I should've let you killed yourself with your razor."

"What?!" Barret's head nearly falls off.

And suddenly they're all advancing on me... it's pretty freaking scary.

The psyche of a kilt wearing man, a gun welded to an arm, pointy shoes and claws, freaky cat robots, tooth and claw, ...gayness...

All coming at me!

"What do you mean you aren't getting married–

"Tried to kill yourself?! Are you crazy–

"Oh my God, I can't breathe! I can't breathe! Someone fan me–

"Shut up!" They all blink, startled. Cloud? Speaking? In tones above common decency?

"First of all I didn't try to kill myself. It was an accident. If I'm suicidal it's not my fault. I'm accidental suicidal. Get over it. Secondly, I'm going to get married. That's why I'm here. What I can't do is tie my fucking shoelaces so if someone would like to hop to it and help me out, I'd appreciate it...cause isn't that what you all are supposed to be doing? Lending a helping hand?"

Cecil steps forward. I point my finger at him. "Not you...go...do something...with the girls. Not here."

Cecil flees. He'll feel better with them anyways.

I finally look at my friends.

Barret glares at me. "Well, you did say 'I can't do this'. Excuse us for being a little reactive...we only assumed you were talking about one of the most monumental occasions of your life."

Oh go on and assume. Don't you know what assume means? Do you really, people? Assume - make an ass out of you and me..

You know, you is u, and me...is well...me...and then there's just ass. Ass-u-me.

It makes perfect sense in my head.

Cid ties my shoes for me.

God this sucks. I can't do anything. 'I do' 'I do' That's all you have to say, but wait for it! Don't say it too early. When you're prompted. Prompted. I do. That's it.

And don't lock your knees.

Ok. I can do this.

I can do this.

No problems. I have conquered all my fears.

Babies.

AGH! I can't do this! Am I crazy?! Getting married? Really? Whose bright idea was this anyways?!

"Cloud." I look up, they're all staring at me. Good thing I perfected 'calm face' a long time ago, reserved specifically for times when I'm about to spontaneously combust. "It's time."

Screw you!

"Ok."

"Just follow us," Barret says very slowly.

I won't do it!

"Ok."

"Cloud." It's Cid, now. I blink at him as he puts a hand on my shoulder. "You can do this, just breathe. Remember... 'I do'. That's it. Don't say anything stupid. In fact, don't say anything at all. You can probably get away with just nodding your head when he asks you. Can you do that?"

I nod my head yes.

"Good."

I can do this.

I can do this.

And then we're going down a hall, and outside. Heat, sunset, red canyons. People. People! Why are there people here? Who wants to see this?

Reno...he just wants to see me fail. Screw you Reno.

How do we even know all these people? I don't know you. Who are you? You? And you! Why are you here?! This sucks this sucks this sucks.

I don't even remember why I'm standing up here. I don't even remember the preacher's name, and he's smiling at me.

Crap crap crap, what's his name? Is it even important? I'm not getting married to him. 'I do'. That's all I have to say.

Why am I hear again?

Rufus. Turks. Man, why are they here?!

Nanaki's sitting beside of me. I glance down at him, noticing him as if I'm seeing him for the first time.

He's red.

He has a Mohawk. Yea, I don't get that one either.

Tattoos, ok, yea, whatever. Bangles? Bangles? Wolf face, but...not quite... sort of feline. Red?

What the heck is he?

Nanaki glances up at me, catching my eyes.

I whisper out of the corner of my mouth. "What exactly are you?"

Nanaki glares at me flatly, and I hear him grumble, "Priorities."

Oh right, those things.

And then the sun hits this point, and then I see it clearly now. I know why I'm here, why I've gotten this far. I know who I am, and what I want.

And I know when to say 'I do' and I'll say it, I won't just nod my head.

Because she's walking towards me, and it doesn't matter if the Turks are here, or strangers, or that Cid almost wore his kilt, and there's a gay man crying at my wedding. It doesn't matter that I spent five years of my life as a test subject, or that even though this is me here, right now, I've been Zack before, and I know Sephiroth is still buried somewhere deep inside of me, and Jenova still tingles my skin from time to time if I think too hard–

And I know I've failed, and I know I've succeeded in some things, and I've watched more than one friend die, but I've also seen life. I know Shera is life, standing a few feet from me in a bulging dress, and I'd look at her, but I can't.

I know I've seen betrayals, and I've seen hatred, and evil. But I've also seen healing, in Yuffie and Reno, and I've seen loyalty in my friends.

And I've seen love.

Love is smiling at me right now.

But none of the things that have happened before in my life really compare to this moment. I appreciate it more because I've been in the cold grasp of death too many times, and because I've also seen her in that same position.

And for once I know I've done something absolutely right.

And she takes my hand, and her eyes match the roses in her hair.

I still can't believe after all that's happened, between us, to us, to our friends and family, we're here. We're finally here. I still can't believe she said yes. To me people. To me. Look at this. I'm a walking freak show. I should charge people to even be in my presence! But she still said yes to me.

She said yes.

A/N: So this ISNT the end. Technically it's the last chapter (der--final chapter) But there's still goodies to be had. I'm so sorry it's taking so long to update! I'm actually helping plan my sister's wedding right now. She's getting married in September so it's been extremely hectic!

Thanks so much for all the reviews! I'm sorry it's a little short, but I felt like it was perfect exactly the way it was. And if you'll notice it ends with the very first sentence in the story. Didn't plan that one. Trust me.

Stick around for a bit longer, it'll be worth it. I'd say more about the epilogue but I don't won't to ruin the surprise. :D