I've decided to write a couple of "Epilogue" type chapters to help tie up some lose ends with side characters. They won't be very long and I'm not sure how many there will be, this is the one I really wanted you to have. The rest will come. Promise.

Enjoy.

He was seated on a bench in a park in the middle of a suburban neighborhood on the outskirts of Austin, Texas. He had his eyes closed, listening. He was trying to get his nerve up, the house was just a little ways down the street.

Roxas had kept his promises to his older bother. He'd found Leon for him, Roxas's warning came back to him.

"We've located him Cloud, but it isn't a good idea for you to make contact." Roxas had said, his face showing the pity he felt for the older blond. Cloud simply looked away.

"Fine, I'll just watch from a distance. I need to see him, see that he's okay." he'd said. His brother had given him a sad smile.

"Remember that it's been three years Cloud." Roxas said as he handed a single sheet of paper to him. It had just been an address.

It had taken him a few days to get here, and he was dragging his feet. He didn't know what he'd find when he went to the address but he knew by his little brothers reaction that he wouldn't like it. He took a deep breath and stood from the bench. He made sure the hat was pulled low and pushed his sunglasses back up his nose.

It was a pleasant enough day, there was a chill in the air that smelled of fall. He slid his hands into his pockets and fiddled with the necklace that was there.

He counted off houses as he went, the numbers increasingly getting larger until he came to the one that matched the little sheet of paper. He stopped and stared at the nice little suburban home, he tried to imagine Leon in there, living, laughing but it just didn't fit in with the man he had known and loved. He leaned against a tree and deiced that this was close enough. He was across the street and one house down and didn't want to get any closer.

Just as he was settling in to watch a little longer the door opened on the house and Leon stepped outside. Cloud's heart shot up into his throat as he let his eyes drink in the other man. He hadn't changed all that much in the last few years. Cloud was just preparing himself to approach when Leon stepped to the side and a small brunette child came into view.

Cloud's heart sank just as fast as it had come into his throat. He felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under his feet. He clutched at the tree and let his head drop down for a moment. When he looked back up Leon and the child were playing in the yard with a ball. The emotions tearing through the blond were undefinable.

He didn't know how to feel, how to react. How could Leon have moved on so easily? Why had Cloud been trying so hard to find him? The door opened again and Cloud felt as if someone had kicked him in the stomach.

Aerith was standing on the porch, smiling down at the man and child playing in the front yard.

Aerith? What the hell was Aerith doing with Leon?! He placed his hand over his face, fighting to stay in control of himself. How the hell?! What the hell?! He pushed away from the tree and stumbled a bit before heading back toward the park. He kept his pace calm and steady so he wouldn't draw attention to himself but inside he was panicking, and seething, and hurt and happy.

He managed to make it back to the bench and collapsed there, his head in his hands. He stared at the ground, his eyes wide and unseeing.

He hadn't even thought to look for Aerith after the manor massacre three years ago, he'd just assumed she'd gotten out. What the hell was happening here?! He couldn't wrap his mind around it, he just couldn't get things straight in his head.

He didn't know how long he'd set there and stared at the ground but he was pulled from his thoughts by a tug on his sleeve. He looked up to find the little boy Leon had been playing with in the yard staring at him with huge blue eyes.

"Mister whyr you cryin?" he asked. Cloud looked around but didn't see any sign of Leon or Aerith.

"Where are your parents?" Cloud asked, wiping his face on his sleeve.

"Home." he said and gave a huge smile. "I play in the yard." Cloud gave him a smile right back.

"This isn't your yard." he said and the kid pouted.

"It's park." He said and then smiled again and Cloud felt his heart tug.

"What's your name kid?" He asked as he stood up from the bench.

"Cloud!" the kids said. Cloud felt his heart stop again and tears stink his eyes. He knelt down so he was on eye level with the kid.

"That's a great name Cloud." he said, trying to fight back the emotions that were fighting in his chest. "Why don't we get you home so your Dad doesn't worry?" The boy seemed to think about it for a moment before he nodded.

"Ok." He said and grabbed the older mans hand. Cloud let the boy pull him along the park path and back toward the house. "Wha's you name?" he asked as they walked.

"Same as yours actually." Cloud said, smiling down at the boy. The child's face lit up like Cloud had just told him it was Christmas.

"Cloud and Cloud!" He said giggling as he swung their intertwined hands. Cloud's heart was melting the longer he was with the boy. He found that most of the negative emotions he'd been feeling were evaporating. Cloud stopped the boy when they were by the house next to Leon's.

"I've got a gift for you Cloud." he said as he pulled the necklace from his pocket. It was a sliver chain with a medallion hanging on it. The medallion was a lion head with a cross. "This necklace is magical." he told the child as he clasped the chain around the little boys neck. "The story is, that who ever where's this necklace is given the gift of bravery." The little boy's eyes were round as saucers now as he listened to the older man. "Bravery to do the right thing even when it's the hard thing to do."

"I good!" the boy said with a huge smile. "I brave." he said with a serious face, his little eyebrows drawn together dramatically and struck a hero pose. His little hands on his hips and his feet apart. Cloud chuckled and stood, ruffling the boys hair.

"That's right kid. Now go on, before your parents worry." he said and the little boy turned and ran back to his yard.

"Dad, Dad, Dad!" the boy called out. Cloud crossed the street and watched from the sidewalk as Leon came out and scooped up the boy. He watched as the child showed the necklace to his father. He watched the way Leon's face drained of color, the way his eyes automatically darted around the street, looking for danger. The boy kept talking and Cloud could just make out what he was saying.

"Cloud and Cloud Dad!" he said giggling. Leon set the boy down and he ran inside shouting for his mother. Cloud stayed where he was as Leon's eyes finally found him. He still had the hat and sunglasses on but Leon would know. The brunette stepped forward as if he'd come off the porch but Cloud didn't give him a chance. He turned and headed back to the park and the rental car that was waiting there for him.

He'd gotten what he'd wanted. He saw Leon, saw that he was okay. He'd even given the necklace back which hadn't been something he had been sure if he'd be able to do. He paused and looked up at the sky and took a deep breath.

Roxas had been right, it hadn't been what he'd wanted or expected. He was glad he got to speak with the boy, with Cloud, he smiled at the thought of the name. It made it easier to walk away, and it cut through all the negative emotions that had boiled up when he'd seen the child and Aerith with Leon.

He pulled his hat and sunglasses off and laid them on the bench before going back to his car. He looked out over the park one last time before putting the car in reverse and heading back to the free way.

Not everyone got the ending that they wanted, but Cloud would pick up and move on from here. He'd be okay.