Assassins in Gaia

Desmond hummed as he got ready for Tifa's marriage to Aerith. It had been very hectic two years after his marriage to Vincent. Shinra had amended the Human Rights and Duties Act with the help of Ace. Desmond swears that seventy percent of it was from India alone. Ace simply grinned at him impishly as he typed out and printed the longest legislation known to man.

Desmond sweat dropped, 'He really had a lot of free time as an artifact. Not that I blame him.'

Vincent placed his head on his shoulder, "What are you thinking about?"

Desmond, "The legislations Act, Ace dumped in front of Rufus and Rufus swearing he will never ask for his help ever again. Though I doubt he will last long before he does call for Ace."

Vincent chuckled in amusement, "Tseng sent me a long essay of complaints about the legislation. Ace didn't hold back, but then again our darling Eagle did warn them to think twice about it."

Desmond chuckled, "I suppose, I cannot blame him for it."

Vincent hummed as he nuzzled Desmond, "You look good, shall we?"

Desmond, "Yes, let's go."

The couple got into their car and headed to the outskirts of the Ancient forest. The glowing forest had become a favourite spot for their family, whether it was because the temple felt like home to Cetra or because it was peaceful. Desmond didn't know but he figured, it might be a combination of both reasons. Cloud and Zack in the last two years had taken to spending at least a weekend every three months there.

Rain and Caleb enjoyed being at the quiet forest and would always go off on their own to look around. The past year Reeve, Angeal, Aerith and Ace had worked on making the temple child friendly and had grown many types of trees and flower plants. The old place had many hidden traps and dangerous areas which needed to be dismantled for proper visit. Ace had told them stories of the first time he came to the temple and found a Black Materia. Genesis had pestered him till Ace showed the Black Materia to him, during their get together.

Rain muttered to himself, "He really is something else."

Caleb, "What?"

Rain, "Uncle Ace, he can use Black Materia and create very beautiful Meteor showers with it."

Caleb, "I will admit, I didn't know Black Materia could be used that way."

Rain, "Yeah, I'll be honest, I thought, I would not want to be anywhere near it but, it was not so bad."

Caleb looked at his twin, "Hm.. All things considered, this life is probably.. "

Rain, "This life is what?"

Caleb, "My favorite. Even though the start was not that favourable."

Rain, "Ah, I see what you mean."

Zack, "There you are. Come on both of you, the marriage is about to start. You don't want to miss your favourite Aunts getting together, right?"

Rain, "Coming Pa and we would not miss it for the world."

They left to meet up with Cloud who was waiting for them and helped them dress up. The older blond huffed in amusement, on seeing their dirty pants and quickly helped them clean up and put on their dress suits. The two boys were going to be the ring bearers, Tifa and Aerith wanted it. They even had their outfits made personally after learning ring bearers were part of getting married in Cetra culture.

Tifa stood by the altar, 'Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! I'm getting married, I am getting married. It's not a dream. It's real.'

Tifa pinched her arm, 'Ouch! Yeah, it's real.'

Cloud who was her best man huffed in amusement, "Tifa, relax, and don't pinch yourself. You will be fine, I promise."

Tifa gave a jittery smile, "I know, but I can't help my nerves."

Cloud laughed, "Good thing, I am here then. Did Aerith show you the dress she's wearing?"

Tifa shook her head, "No, you know, the marriage participants are not allowed to show their outfits to each other."

Cloud grinned, "I have not seen it yet either. I bet, she would look like a Princess in her outfit."

Tifa got a dreamy look, "She would look good in anything, really."

Cloud smiled, as he managed to calm her down and took her arm taking out his Heal Materia. He cast a heal on the red spot that had formed due to the hard pinch and Tifa thanked him. There was an announcement and everyone looked at the entrance where Aerith was standing. She had her arms around Desmond who had agreed to walk her down the Aisle as the oldest Cetra among the group. Elmyra had suggested it and Desmond had not mind either, he adored Aerith.

Tifa, "Woah! She doesn't look like a Princess. She looks like a Queen. My beautiful Queen."

Cloud smiled, "Yes, and after this you will be together."

Tifa nodded as Aerith reached her smiling lovingly, they were both lost in their eyes, literally. Tifa was wearing a cream coloured dress with the newest embroidery in gold, courtesy of Andrea. It looked very elegant and sharp hugging her form perfectly. Aerith wore a light green dress with silver accents, her dress hugged her curvy figure in all the right places. While Tifa wore golden ear cuffs and bangles, Aerith wore a silver necklace, earrings and bracelet shaped in the form of the first flowers Aerith had given Tifa. Ace took over as their officiator this time and started the wedding ceremony. Unlike Desmond and Vincent's wedding the vows this time were short and sweet.

Ace, "You may speak your vows."

Tifa, "I, Tifa, swear to take Aerith as my one and only soulmate. Let the planet, my family and friends witness my vow and promise to always support you through the good times and the hard times."

Aerith was teary eyed and beaming as well, "I, Aerith, swear to take Tifa as my one and only soulmate, through the hard times and the good times. Let the planet, my family and friends bear witness to my vow and promise."

Ace, "Bring forth the wedding rings."

Caleb and Rain approached the altar at that point. Caleb smiled holding the ring to Aerith who grinned. Rain went to Tifa beaming at her happily. Tifa beamed back as she took her ring that had a bright red ruby on it. In the last life, Cloud and Tifa had gotten together, yes, but they both had always felt something was missing. Don't get him wrong, they loved each other dearly, but that nagging feeling of something not being complete was always there. Unfortunately, they didn't have the chance to broach the subject any time soon.

Especially with people going missing here and there, the old team had been called in for help to investigate. They supported each other and raised the orphan kids together but never went beyond that. Something always kept them from taking that one step and then Deepground happened. Sephiroth returned, and the next thing Rain knew, their world had fallen to literal pieces. Rain was not expecting to wake up again, but he did with new parents and a family so large, he didn't know what to do.

Aerith placed a gold ring with a beautiful emerald stone on Tifa's ring finger, "I give this ring to you as a sign of my promise."

Tifa placed the gold ring with the ruby stone on Aerith's ring finger, "I give this ring to you as a sign of my promise."

Ace, "You may kiss your soulmate."

Aerith and Tifa kissed happily amidst all the cheers and applause. Shalua who was acting as Aerith's bridesmaid cheered the loudest for her friends. Shelke was dressed as the flower girl and was cheering beside her. Aerith and Tifa walked down together to the reception area where everyone was waiting. The rest of the day went by in a blur of activities and joyful laughter. Vincent offered to dance the father and daughter dance for Aerith while Tifa danced with her father.

Brian had gotten remarried after Tifa had left Nibelheim and had come to the ceremony with his lovely wife and young son. Tifa had been over the moon when she heard, she was going to be an older sister and had gushed about it for ages. But she had to refrain herself from visiting especially with everything going down in Midgar and Cloud going missing. She had advised her father to protect the village instead and unless Ace, Desmond, Vincent or herself was there, to not allow any stranger inside.

Brian's new wife was Isabella, she was just a few years younger than Brian. She had lost her family to a monster attack in the Northern parts of Correl. In the beginning, she had moved to Rocket town to get away from the loss and there she had met Brian. Brian had gone to that town to get supplies for the village. Ever since Tifa had left he had busied himself with work. Meeting Isabella was like a breath of fresh air and one thing led to another. Ten years ago, Tifa got the news of her Dad getting married and she had been ecstatic.

That was also the first time she had brought Aerith to the small quaint town of Nibelheim. Her new younger brother, Arthur was a happy toddler and played with them happily. Aerith had fallen in love with the snowy mountains and lush greenery which was now thriving after the reactor was gone. Every place they went wild mountain flowers bloomed filling the air with a very sweet and calming scent. Aerith had seriously told Tifa, she would love to spend their honeymoon in Nibelheim.

Brian had choked at that declaration but calmed down before questioning Aerith thoroughly much to Tifa's mortification. Aerith had answered him truthfully and seriously making Isabella very impressed by her guts. Brian had given the two girls his blessings after that and now they were officially together. Tifa felt her body shake with giddiness as she danced with Aerith, they were wives now. Was this how Desmond and Cloud felt when they married Vincent and Zack? Such a wonderful feeling.

It had been a few years since the marriage. Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal had retired after Kunsel, Luxiere and Goulde had taken over after them as the new trinity Generals. Rufus had retired at the age of seventy looking healthy as ever, Tseng, Rude, Reno and Elena following him till the end. In their place, Kadaj took over the Turks, while Loz enjoyed hunting and Yazoo became a SOLDIER. Their parents didn't mind as long as they were happy.

The Tsviets and SOLDIERs they managed to save found their own little niches and interests to follow. Vincent and Desmond had even found some of them following them around. The couple amused by their stubborn tenacity to prove themselves, through the young ones did not know why they wanted to. One of the Tsviets who was a child that went by Xeno was hell bent on proving herself strong. It was cute and amusing though sometimes Desmond worried about her mental health.

Zack was draped across Cloud's lap, "Cloud, Rain and Caleb grew up so fast. Look they even started their own delivery company."

Cloud looked at Zack, "I know Zack. We were there for the opening remember?"

Zack whined, "It only felt like yesterday they were snuggling with us as toddlers. Now, they are both in their twenties and running a business. Look they even have a page online."

Cloud's smile turned wistful, "Yeah, it feels just like yesterday, when we met them and they became part of our lives, doesn't it?"

Zack, "Yeah, they were so tiny, now they are all so grown up."

Rain picked up a call, "F. S. Delivery service, how may I help you?"

Rain, "Alright Mrs Wallace, it'll be done."

Caleb, "Mrs Wallace? Is she by any chance your big friend's daughter?"

Rain, "His wife."

Caleb, "He was married?"

Rain, "Yeah, back in our world Shinra had fucked up bad, I'm saying that in the kindest way. Anyway, she has a package she wants to send to her son in Junon."

Caleb, "I see."

Rain smiled happily, "Barrett has three kids in this life with his wife. I'm happy for him, in fact almost everyone we know are happy in this world. Jesse is a world famous actress and happily married to Biggs. Wedge is married to a cute guy as well and has opened his own veterinary clinic like he had told me he wanted to back then."

Caleb smiled remembering how his own old friends were happy, friends he thought he had lost over the years. They were alive and although they didn't remember much of their past thanks to all the mako and experiments done on them. They enjoyed it whenever they or the triplets visited them to keep them company. Like Uncle Ace said, sometimes, the past was too painful to remember so it's better to make new memories instead. Things were different and sometimes a little difficult with the PTSD and trauma but life was good.

Rain, "Hey Caleb?"

Caleb, "Yes?"

Rain turned pink, "I just want to say. Thank you, for saving me and bringing me here."

Caleb smiled at him, "You are most welcome, my dear twin brother. Have fun on your date later."

Rain, "Get out of here."