Chapter Fifty-Four: The Proposal

Aralyn tried to move to shake the sleep from her limbs, but something was holding her firmly. She panicked and tried to fight back as she felt a needle sinking into her arm, but the embrace tightened, and familiar fingers were gently stroking her hand.

"That should do it," a voice she recognized as one of the nurse's sounded fuzzy in her ears. "She's set to go."

"Thank you." Sephiroth sounded as calm as always, but his grip that nearly cut off her circulation told her that he was anything but all right. "Aralyn," he asked gently. "Can you hear me?"

His grip on her loosened as she nodded her affirmation, and she thought she heard him quietly sigh in relief.

"Does anything hurt, sweetie?" the nurse asked.

She shook her head, daring to open her eyes a little. She hurt everywhere, but she didn't want the painkillers dulling the feeling of his hand on hers. His bright green eyes were the first thing she saw, and he smiled softly in greeting.

"All right," the nurse said, pursing her lips in disapproval. "Take it easy." She eased the IV needles out of her arm, gently rubbing some of the soreness away. Nodding curtly, she began to walk away purposefully.

"Aralyn," Sephiroth said after the nurse had gone. "Will you walk with me?"

"I can't walk. Remember what happened when I tried yesterday?"

Sephiroth put his arms around her and hoisted her from the bed. "Then I will carry you." He held her bridal style. "Does this hurt?" he asked, concerned.

Aralyn knew she should probably protest, but she also knew that he wouldn't take excuses, and she was quite comfortable…perhaps too comfortable, considering how close she was to him. She shook her head, he nodded his approval, and he began the walk.

Sephiroth stopped at her apartment, setting her on the couch while he went and retrieved her thick winter cloak and a few spare blankets. Gently, he eased her weak arms into the sleeves, even though she was sure she had enough stamina to accomplish that at least. He was fully concentrated on his task, and so he wasn't aware of how dark her cheeks were turning.

She tried to stand on her own, and Sephiroth was there to catch her before she'd fallen. He shook his head and repositioned her in his arms, tightening his grip to assure her that she wasn't getting out. He smiled slyly at her as she gave a mock scowl.

They went outdoors in a comfortable, contented silence, the night serene, hushed with a blanket of new snow. She didn't know where he was taking her; only that it was far from the prison they had both grown up in.

She thought she could handle the fatigue that hadn't abated since her ordeal, but it wasn't long before the warmth and the gentle rocking of Sephiroth's strides lulled her into a daze. He noticed this and laughed softly.

When she awakened, she was in a clearing in the Forgotten City, the trademark white trees surrounding this small haven with a soft, pure light. Sephiroth was sitting against the trunk of one of these trees that was growing in the center of the clearing, Aralyn still cradled against him, her head resting on his chest.

She flushed crimson, embarrassed both for falling asleep and by the nearness to him. He replied with a small, contented smile. She turned away, feeling her heart beat fast, and climbed reluctantly out of his embrace. She sat beside him instead.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Hm?" He brushed her unruly bangs out of her eyes with the tips of his fingers. She shivered at his touch and he, mistaking it for the cold, wrapped her in yet another blanket. "I didn't keep track," he finally admitted.

"You could have woken me."

"But you looked so peaceful," he argued. He paused, then continued, solemnly, "You were calling my name in your sleep." She tried to turn away but he put a hand on the side of her face to stop her. "What was it you saw?"

"Ah…" she sighed. "It's not…not important." She smiled nervously and fingered the rainbow pendant around her neck. "Why did you bring me here? I mean…it's beautiful but…why?"

"To," he hesitated a moment, seeming to consider his next words carefully, "ask you something."

"Why not back at Shinra, Sephiroth? I still don't understand!"

He turned his gaze away, the corner of his lip dipping down. She didn't know what to make of his hesitation, but she seized the opportunity, speaking before her courage deserted her.

"Sephiroth, can I ask you something first?"

He turned to her, giving her his full attention.

"Sephiroth, do you…love me?"

He closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath in and then out. He pulled away from her, and she cried in alarm, afraid to have offended him. Hushing her, he pulled her up so they stood, gazing into each other's eyes. He folded both of her hands in his, entwined their fingers, and brought them to his lips.

"Aralyn, I brought you here to ask you something of a similar nature. Shinra…wasn't the right place to discuss this."

Aralyn's heart was in her throat. He laid his forehead on their clasped hands.

"Aralyn, I know I am not…fluent, in expressing my affections. For this, you have suffered, and I am sorry for it.

"But…"

He hesitated, gazing at her intently, and squeezed her hands tightly. She could feel his hands quiver as he summoned his courage.

Ever so slowly, he lowered himself until he was kneeling on one knee in the snow.

"Would you…could you…ever look past that, and all my thousand other flaws…"

Having found his strength at last, he met her eyes, his gaze gentle.

"…enough to share your life with me?"

"Sephiroth-!" Aralyn breathed. "Are you asking-?"

"Yes, Aralyn," he clutched her hands all the tighter. "I am asking if you will marry me."

"Yes," she whispered, tears of joy flowing from her eyes. "Sephiroth…I will!"

Sephiroth began to breathe again, a warm smile spreading across his face. Aralyn spread her hand against his palm so he could slide a gold ring on her finger, and then he enfolded her hands in his again. Only when he had pulled her into him did he let her hands go so he could tenderly cup her blushing face in his palms. With a rush of wind, he unfurled his majestic wing, surrounding both of them in its dark plumage as they embraced.

He brushed his lips against hers, wiping her tears away with his thumb. His eyes alight with the purest passion, he whispered "Aralyn, I love you." And then, at long last, they shared their first kiss.