samaqi: Last chapter of this spin-off :).

9 months later. An underground settlement near Flowers City.

"Do you need anything else, E?" Acma asked, leaning in the doorway of Elutia's room.

"No, I'm cozy here. Thank you. I'll bug you more tomorrow," Elutia replied.

"You're not bugging me. Timeth is working on a new prototype for your bio-mechanic legs. You'll be up and running in no time!"

"I can't wait to try them out," Elutia expressed, "Thanks, sis!"

Acma left and took a leisurely walk around their new settlement. It had been nine months since they had escaped from Galbadia's control at Balamb Garden. Initially, the new settlement had been chaotic, with people adjusting to life outside the cruel research facilities. Resources were scarce, and conflicts were inevitable. Acma was not the strongest, but she was the one to liberate them. Hence, she took advantage of her temporary leadership position in influencing them. The time spent with Trepie #23 and listening to her wisdom on people management and operation helped Acma navigate this new challenge.

Thankfully, after a few months, the new settlers all realized the preciousness of their freedom and decided to work together. Acma was happy to step down from her leadership position to focus more on lab work to cure Elutia's legs with Timeth. Gradually, they built a harmonious community, and there were even a few couples expecting the next generation of life.

Acma couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as she thought about her own love story with Zyma back at Balamb Garden. She wondered which mission he was currently on.

Continuing her walk, she made sure everyone was safe and secure in their rooms before returning to her own. Her room was filled with books that she had acquired through secret trades with nearby tribes. Traders had been perplexed by her interest in books, considering them heavy and low in value. But to Acma, books, especially those about magic history, were sources of wonder. They provided a welcome distraction from the thoughts of what might have happened to her other friends outside of her underground settlement. The only thing she couldn't find though trades was the most recent advanced research from Esthar and any ins research institution. She knew that her research on bio-mechanics cell back at Balamb was already a decade old. Not having access to the most advanced research meant she wouldn't be able to help Elutia walk in any time soon.

A knock on the door disturbed Acma's reading.

"Who's there?" she asked, feeling unease as she normally did not have many visitors. It was almost midnight.

There was no reply.

She looked through the peephole. Seeing no one in the hallway, she opened the door cautiously. As she stepped forward, her foot hit something on the ground.

This box…

Something about it felt familiar.

Muffins?

Suddenly, someone seized her wrist from behind and applying a twist. Acma instinctively dropped to a seated position.

"You remember," a voice said. "Still sloppy though."

Acma's heart dropped at the sight of her assailant.

"Rough day? Hyne, look at you. What's with the long, curly hair, babe? I need more time to get used to your new image," the person taunted.

Acma could think of many retorts. I guess I'm no longer 12.

But she didn't want to wait. I love you.

She jumped into the arms of the figure with dark hair and funny bandana, unleashing her love with a passionate kiss.

"Um... It always feels strange when we see each other again after a while. Your kiss feels different, like I'm kissing someone completely different. Do you feel the same way?" she asked Zyma.

"Yes, that's why we need to warm up," he chuckled, kissing her playfully.

"How do I know if it's really you?"

"Hey, you're the one with a twin here," he laughed. "But you still have that lavender scent, so I know it's you."

"How do I test you, then?" she pressed further.

"Glad you asked..." He took off his shirt, pressing his bare chest full of tattoos and scars against her.

"Pervert!" she exclaimed, her cheeks turning pink.

"A, wanting to have fun with my long-distance girlfriend is not the definition of 'pervert.' But not wanting it is the definition of a fool," he replied, his voice filled with desire as he kissed her again.

"Girlfriend? Bold of you to say," she teased.

"You're a girl, and a friend, a very bad one with a lasso," he joked. "Girlfriend!"

"Do you... have 'fun' with anyone else since last time we met?" she asked, her tone slightly jealous.

"A, the only woman I lay hands on since I met you was my mom."

"How could you bring up your mom like that?" she frowned and laughed at the same time. "How's she?"

"Doing great. She'd love to see you again."

"I'd love to see her too. But can we stop talking about your mom tonight? It sounds so weird now," she chuckled.

"Right… What about you? Have you had any fun since you were with me?" he inquired, although he already had high hope that this nerdy girl would wait for him.

She shook her head, blushing, and buried her head in his chest.

"Good. Want to try my cherry cigarettes?" he offered, his whisper filled with a hint of seduction.

"Aw, do you have enough for both of us?"

"Two packs."

"That's a lot!" she rolled her eyes playfully. "Does lung cancer ring a bell?"

"Buy one, get one free, A. It'll last us a while," he replied, both of them laughing.

"Well, at this rate, these packs will last until we're 40," she joked.

"But I don't plan on doing it once this time," he whispered, biting her earlobe gently, hands lifting up her blue dress. "Let's get you 'high' first, and then we'll have a serious talk about how often we meet."

"You sexy businessman," she responded before falling mindlessly into his embrace.

Zyma wrapped the blanket around their bodies, his fingers gently caressing Acma's damp, sweat-soaked red hair.

"You've changed every time we meet," he remarked.

"Because of the hair? I like it short, I just haven't found the tool to cut it."

"Not just physically. I suppose we're both growing older. That's why."

Acma couldn't help but notice he had acquired new scars on his chest.

"I've been thinking... Do you want to move to FH with me?"

"Are you living there now? With Sean and Tatulia?"

"There are many ex-Gardeners there."

Acma's expression turned conflicted as she looked away. "I'm not sure if I would be welcome there if that's the case."

"In FH, nobody cares who you are," Zyma reassured her. "Besides, no one died in the last Garden attack. It was politically messy, but Galbadia's hostility extends to all institutions, not just Balamb."

Acma's concerns lingered as she voiced another worry. "But what if they trace this place through me?"

"Galbadia publicly committed to shutting down these research facilities. It wouldn't be in their best interest to come after you," Zyma explained, trying to alleviate her fears.

Still uncertain, Acma hesitated. "But what would I do in FH?"

"There are plenty of possibilities. It's funny because when we visited Sean and Tatulia in FH for the first time, I already envisioned building a lab for you there. We could invite your friends over. I'll continue my trades with Sean and retire from being a mercenary. I've saved up enough money, so you won't have to work unless you want to. You can read your books and maybe even start writing a few," Zyma proposed, his hand still stroking her hair as he drew out their future.

"But I need to ensure this settlement is functioning. People are still adjusting to modern life here. And Elutia... I need a lab for her. I just managed to build a simple one here." Acma's voice trailed off, her concerns for their current settlement weighing on her mind.

Zyma let out a sigh of frustration. "Okay," he said, releasing his grip on Acma's shoulder. He reached for his black hoodie and put it on.

"Z... we're still talking," Acma sat up, surprised.

"We're done talking. Thanks for your 'buts'," he replied curtly with frustration.

"I just want you to know that I have things to take care of."

"And you think I don't?"

"That's not what I..."

"Is that so? I guess I have always been the one who push us forward," he interjected. "'Cause I was thinking, she had so many responsibilities and potentials. I'm the grownup, so I'll help her. But now? Your mission is complete, you're building a freaking city with people making babies here. When will you think of us? Until you build a hospital? And then a military school?"

"Z... please, come back here..." Acma reached out and held his hand. "Want to light up a cigarette? We'll talk it through and come up with a plan, just like we always have."

Her offer stopped him in his tracks. He turned back to face her, seeing the genuine remorse in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I was just pointing out some concerns."

"I'm trying to give you options, and you shot them down one by one," Zyma accused, his frustration still lingering.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. But I swear, all I want is to share cigarettes with you for the rest of my life. Please don't leave. We'll work it out together," Acma pleaded.

Zyma stood there, contemplating his next move.

"How about we go to FH this weekend? Or maybe the next? I lose track of dates and time here," Acma suggested, grabbing a piece of paper and a pen from her drawer. "We'll go on a real date. Can you think of any time we meet and you don't twist my wrist? I can't..."

"A date?" Zyma was surprised by the idea.

"Yes, like what couples usually do," Acma frowned at Zyma's unexpected question. "You wouldn't move in with someone before getting to know them properly, right?"

Zyma was clearly baffled.

"We've known each other for a long time. And considering we already have our 'cigarettes' together... Exclusively for years… I don't know, going on a date seems like a lot of work and kind of backwards," Zyma admitted.

"A lot of work?" Acma narrowed her eyes.

Zyma hadn't realized how his words might sound. "Yes... Did it sound wrong to you?"

Acma sighed. What would she expect from this guy?

"You're implying I'm a lot of work to you. But that's fine, no date then," she replied, crossing out the line on her sheet with disappointment in her voice.

"No, no, leave it there," he quickly responded. "If it's important to you, we can do it."

"What could possibly be bad about a date that you can't even take me?" Acma frowned.

"I'll take you out. Just... not a big deal, but I can't eat normal food. You don't forget that, right?" Zyma frowned in return.

"Of course. But a date doesn't have to be in a restaurant. Back in Gardens, students would go to Trabia or Balamb town for a date, just for ice cream or coffee. We kinda had a date in Balamb, remember? We can do the same in FH," she explained. "Wait a second, I thought you should have known all of this… dating procedure."

He shrugged and shook his head lightly.

"Seriously, what kind of women have you gone out with?" Acma asked, suspicion evident in her voice.

"Drop it, babe," Zyma grinned, sitting down and squeezing her shoulders to release her frustration. "A date it is. I'll think of something special in FH."

"GFs and women, huh? Why do I have a feeling that I'm being tricked?" Acma sighed.

"Leave it to me. I'll try my best, babe," Zyma massaged her shoulders.

"Actually, I'm thinking, Mr. Zyma the GF," Acma turned to him with a mischievous smile. "Will you be able to find a Dark GF nearby? We can harvest it and move it here to this settlement. I want to make sure my friends have extra protection before I move to FH."

"Are we still talking about a date?" His eyes lit up. "Because that sounds like the most interesting one on earth!"

"Killing two birds with one stone," Acma nodded and jotted down the idea.

"Hyne! I love you, babe," Zyma whispered, biting her earlobe, but she pushed him away.

"Focus!"

They continued adding more items to the list, and it quickly filled up with plans for the final move-in date.

"When do you think we can start executing this plan?" Acma asked.

"Tomorrow. We'll scout for a Dark GF nest and prepare a GF cavern. Let's aim to grow three in-house by the end of the six-month period," Zyma suggested.

"Tomorrow?"

"You're not busy, right?"

"The thing is, I have a serious trust issue here," Acma explained. "The first time we made out, you left the next morning and went radio silent for a whole year. The second time, you tried to kill me the next day. If you dare to pull any stunt like that tomorrow, I swear I'll make sure you can't have cigarettes with anyone for the rest of your short, sad life," Acma warned, making a face and pinching his cheeks playfully.

Her words triggered an amused scoff from Zyma. "Really? A threat to Sensei from a sloppy student?" he smirked, reaching over to remove the blanket wrapped around her chest. "Although I have to admit, I've missed your lasso very, very much."

Acma smiled at his bold move and accepted his request.

"Sit back and relax, Sensei," she said, lifting up his hoodie and pushing him back onto the bed, causing a groan to escape his lips. "I'll make you regret not visiting your pupil sooner."

6 months later.

"This is it?" Acma exclaimed with excitement, taking in the sight before her.

"That's it. It'll look even better once we unbox everything. You have your bookshelf, and the lab bench made of granite. I had Sean apply a fire-resistant coating on top," Zyma explained, a proud smile on his face.

Acma smiled contentedly at Zyma's thoughtful preparations for her arrival at Fisherman's Horizon. This house was closed to many of ex-Gardeners who they had hang out for the past months.

"Do you want to visit my mom this weekend?" he asked as he moved boxes to their designated rooms.

"Sure. Would she be upset that I haven't visited her often?"

"Nah, she sleeps most of the time. It's like a blink to her."

"Does she still like rabbits?"

"Yeah, the younger and cuter ones, the better," Zyma replied with a chuckle.

"What kind of family am I marrying into…" she blurted out, and suddenly frightened that she was ahead of herself in the mention of marriage.

She expected him to tease her immediately on being bold. Instead, he let out a sigh.

"Ah, the downside of having a smart girlfriend. Nothing can surprise you, isn't it? I've been preparing for months," Zyma admitted.

"Preparing for what?" Acma asked, although she already had a pretty good idea.

"I invited Sean and Tatulia to the GF Cavern this weekend," Zyma revealed further.

"Sounds like fun! Your mom will be delighted to have so many visitors," Acma responded, trying to maintain an air of nonchalance. She turned her attention to the box and attempted to open it.

Zyma wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "Will you say yes?"

"To what?" she asked, smiling.

He turned her around, then cupped her cheeks in his hands. Their noses touched lightly. "I'm sorry the ring isn't here yet, but... Acma Mirin… Or Alma, whatever your real name is… Will you marry me?"

Acma couldn't help but grin in happiness and mischief. "I kind of have to," she replied playfully.

Zyma frowned and smiled simultaneously. "What do you mean? I don't want it to feel forced."

"Well," she bit her lip. Her eyes sparkled as she pressed his hand on her belly, "I guess we won't be having cigarettes in this house."

"Good Hyne!" Zyma lifted her up in the air and twirled her around. "I love you, A."

Their eyes met, filled with love and gratitude for having found each other and the wonderful life that awaited them.

"I love you, Z."