Epilogue
Part N
It's been quite some time since I have been to Costa del Sol. It's strange, really, since finding my people I have felt no need to leave the Canyon.
I must get out more.
Maria comes tearing down the hall, followed by her brother, Grant, Shera trailing after them in an effort to stop them. Honestly I cannot imagine raising the offspring of Cid Highwind's.
I cannot imagine Cid Highwind raising any offspring.
I suppress a shudder, watching as Maria and Grant get put in their place.
"What are ya doin?" Cid yells from his place overlooking the bridge.
The two children halt almost instantaneously, Grant bumping into his sister.
Obviously, despite my previous thoughts, these are two well disciplined children.
"Runnin through the bridge! How many times do I have to tell you? That's stupid and careless and if you knock somethin over, you're cleanin it! Got it you two hyperactive teens?"
Shera sighs, putting her hands on her hips. "Cid."
"Just respect your mom. If she tells you to stop, then you listen to her–
"Cid–
"Hush, Shera, I'm trying to teach our children–
"I'm not a kid! I'm almost seventeen!"
"Hush, Maria! Anyways, respect your–
"Cid!"
"Shera!"
"Cid! I told them to get here fast as possible because the landing gear is stuck again and you still haven't fixed the intercom in the engine room!"
"Well why didn't you fu–
"Cid!"
"Fudging say anything? Take the wheel, Shera! I'm goin down!"
Cid rushes down towards the floor below, Grant and Maria following Shera up. I shake my head as Cid rushes past, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket.
"Cid–
"They won't be there woman! Let me have something!" he yells over his shoulder.
"No! Not the cigarettes! Fix the intercom while your at it!"
"Bah!"
It is not too long after this that Cid gets the landing gear unstuck, and we land in Costa del Sol close to Cloud and Tifa's home to a welcoming crowd.
It's strange being out here, again.
What is even stranger, though, is seeing Cloud and Tifa aging. I remember Cloud as a young man, with so much life before him, and Tifa as a beautiful woman, with just as much life before her, as well. It is amazing to see how much time has passed in their years.
"Maria!" Emily squeals, dashing forward to hug the other girl.
Emily is fourteen...or fifteen now. Ben is two years younger than her, and Zack three years younger than him. Ben is still a replica of Cloud physically, though his personality is much more open, and Zack looks exactly like his mother; it's uncanny, because he's exactly like his father. Even though he has his mother's eyes, and hair color, his hair is almost as defiant as his father's. He's very quiet, but very smart and caring.
"Fluffy!"
Only one more, Nanaki...one more small child to deal with.
"Ack! Aeris no!" Tifa yells, trying to catch her daughters hand.
Aeris is too quick, though; she's the fastest five year old I've ever seen. She throws herself at me, burying her face in my mane, and wrapping her arms around my neck.
"I missed you Reddy," she says, muffled in my hair.
"And I you, Aeris," I say, laying a gentle paw on her back.
She pulls back, grinning. Another amazing thing, their child, Aeris, is exactly like Aerith was. She has Tifa's hair, and Cloud's eyes, though, as stunning of a combination as Emily.
Another car is driving up as Tifa apologizes for Aeris' rashness.
Yuffie stumbles out of it, looking as strange as these other people do. As always comes the strange addition of Reno, and their small gangly child. There is still something almost disturbing about this combination... The first time Reno made a move on Yuffie, she punched him square on the nose, declaring him ShinRa scum.
The first time Yuffie made a move on Reno, Reno dumped a slushy on her head.
They got engaged after mere months of dating and took years to actually get married.
It has proved an interesting relationship indeed.
"Yuffie!" Tifa hugs her tightly.
Cloud grunts some type of greeting to Reno, and Reno responds with a shrug. Their feelings will never change, especially after Cloud slammed the door in Reno's face at his birthday party.
"Hey, Ren Ren!" Aeris grins up at Reno, and Reno gives an awkward smile down.
"Well, hey there accident–I mean Aeris."
"Reno!" Yuffie squeals.
Aeris crosses her arms stubbornly. "I was not an accident. I was a surprise."
But Reno isn't listening, he's too busy trying to escape Cloud's glare.
"Um, why don't we move inside, everyone?" Tifa grins, pulling on Cloud's arm.
Cloud refuses to budge, but she gives him a forceful jerk, and he stumbles away from Reno. Seems Cloud forgets that Tifa is still as strong as she's ever been.
Barret is inside the house with a slightly large Marlene, Reeve, and Denzel. Reeve is Denzel's boss; Denzel graduated with his engineering degree, and has been working for Reeve ever since. I have missed my conversations with the boy.
Or...the man, I suppose.
There is even more chaos inside this house than there used to be in Seventh Heaven. It's strange, still even after all these years, not meeting in that bar. Still, there is something familiar about this place; I suppose it is the mass amount of people. It is still strange to this day to see the small children of my friends running around, and the older children. It is strange seeing their children at about the same age I met them.
Ben is standing with Zack watching as Emily and Maria entertain Aeris with her Cait Syth doll. Yuffie, Barret, and Reeve are talking, Reno trying to keep track of his kid. That must be strange for him. Denzel and Marlene speak with Cid and Shera, Grant standing by his father.
Cloud is helping Tifa carry in trays; she sets one down on the table, and rubs her shoulder. Cloud puts his hand on her shoulder, and he leans down, whispering something into her ear. She flushes, kissing his cheek and squeezing his hand. They separate after that, and I watch. It is a wonderful thing that they are still in love after all this time.
Cloud's eyes meet mine, or rather, Aeris' eyes meet mine, and she grins.
"What is it, child?"
She giggles, "You have a big nose, Reddy Teddy."