Chapter Text
Tifa stretched out in bed, dozily, reaching for the warm body beside her. It wasn't there. She opened her eyes with a start at the same time trying to ensure that she wasn't panicking unnecessarily. There was no sign of Aeris; her dress was missing from where she'd hung it the previous night, her boots were gone from beside the door. Panic spiralled up and began consuming her... until she noticed the note. It had been written on a plain sheet of paper and was folded neatly in half. With a shudder of trepidation the martial artist opened the note and read the contents.
'To my dearest Tifa Lockhart,
I must apologise first off for once again leaving you while you were sleeping to go off on my own. I needed to run a few errands, and by the time you read this note I will be finished and waiting for you. If you come here... you will find me. I have owed you this date for a long time, and today I am able to grant it to you.
Yours forever,
Aeris'
A thrill swept through her washing away her fears; she had no doubts about where Aeris was waiting. She was slightly put out by the theatrics of this situation, but knew her girlfriend well enough to realise this would all be ultimately worth it. She dressed quickly and set out.
Early morning Kalm was still suffering from the fallout of the last few days; crowds of refugees and the Mako reactor in the town now inert and silent. From some hurried conversations between Reeve and Rufus it had become clear that all the Mako reactors world-wide had abruptly stopped operation the moment Meteor had vanished from the skies. The Mako they had drawn upon previously now missing, maintenance teams descending to depths expecting to find abundant pools of Mako now found only deep, dry cavities in the rock. It was incredible; Barret could scarcely believe that his long-sought after goal was already upon him. He took it in his stride; leading the charge to dig out older coal powered equipment and at least begin power generation once more. He was already speculating on finding new energy production methods. The Weapons were gone and no trace could be found of the four still known to be active; they were presumed either reabsorbed by the Planet that spawned them or slumbering once more until required.
The euphoria after the Highwind crash-landed near Kalm a few days earlier had threatened to overwhelm them and the combined group of Avalanche and the Turks was drunk on happiness as they wandered into the town. Reeve quickly guided them to the unassuming house which had sheltered both Elmyra and Marlene; both were overjoyed to see the group, though neither could help casting a suspicious glance at the quartet of dark suited companions they seemed to have acquired. Elmyra hugged her daughter close, who then happily introduced Tifa to her once more; this time as her girlfriend. It seemed maddening to the martial artist that she could be nervous about this introduction as well, but she need not have worried. Elmyra simply smiled at her daughter's partner and embraced her too and whispered "Thank you."
The next day as the first refugees from Midgar began to arrive at the quiet town, Reeve and the Turks set off back to Midgar and Rufus. The man who was Cait Sith was resolute that the company could be reformed and its resources directed at helping the Planet's populace. He jokingly suggested that they operate under a new name; the World Reconstruction Organisation. The refugees streamed out from Midgar, both the slum inhabitants and those from the upper plates had trekked across the gigantic city and out into the fresh air. Some had immediately begun laying claim to portions of the desert surrounding the city, unwilling to abandon it quite yet. A small tent city had begun to form as still more wandered out from under the plates blinking into the sunlight.
Clutches of people, always heading out of the city passed Tifa as the reached the outer rim of the now dead Midgar. Most ignored her, but a few looked at her curiously as she moved contrary to everyone else and back into the claustrophobic city. She smiled to herself; to them she was just an oddity in a time of abrupt and intense change. It was unlikely anyone would know or believe the part she played in the Planet's continued existence.
And that was how she wanted it she realised. She had no desire for a hero's life, a life of worship, called upon for every future problem. All she wanted in the world awaited her in a broken down church in the fifth sector of a once oppressive city. Yuffie had left the previous day to assist with Wutai; but not before demanding every piece of Materia Avalanche still held. The total weight was vastly more then the ninja and her chocobo could carry so she resorted to a brief selection of potent spells and insisted she'd be back for the rest of it. Vincent had simply vanished off days earlier and Nanaki was still helping where he could in Kalm, though itching to return to Cosmo Canyon once more. Cid was currently camped out in the remains of the Highwind as he stripped it for useful parts for his new airship concept.
Even Aeris had reminded her of a destination that they had to head towards soon; another visit to the village of Gongaga.
Tifa ducked into an alley once she saw the church, recognising it from Aeris' own memories, positioned so appropriately by seeming happenstance; directly below the break between the sector four and five plates. Sunlight streamed down onto the church which seemed to burst with possibility.
She hastily changed her clothes, keeping a wary eye out for anyone lurking nearby. She was glad she'd paused in Kalm long enough to pester the less then enthused shop-keepers to sell it to her. A black dress... She'd seen it months before as they prepared to leave Kalm and head out into the world. She and Aeris had been gathering provisions; the sight of the dress had transfixed the flower girl. Tifa asked if she liked it.
"I do," the flower girl had replied with a smile. "But I think it would suit you much more."
She'd flushed at the warm words then, but never let the memory fade. Now the dress hugged her body as she walked with shoes to match and new earrings glittering on her ears. She hoped her girlfriend would like her own response to the theatrics. She dithered at the door, suddenly wondering if she should knock or just walk into the building. She was being silly, this was not Aeris' home, she should be able to go straight in... No. This was the flower girl's second and secretive home. She brought her knuckles down against the wood with two quick strikes and pushed the door open.
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass of the windows and the holes in the roof. Her footsteps echoed in the interior and then her attention was arrested. A girl in pink was sat amid the flowers watching her with an appreciative smile, her legs curled beneath her and her emerald eyes flashing in the sunlight. Tifa gasped. Instead of the old faded pink dress and the red jacket, Aeris instead wore a shimmery, elegant, strapless dress of pale pink. Her braid was unfurled and her hair was tied back into a simple pony-tale. She was simply breath-taking.
"Tifa."
"Aeris."
The martial artist walked down the aisle as the flower girl got to her feet. "I knew the dress would suit you," she smiled lovingly at her. "And I'm sorry again."
The martial artist just smiled back at her. "I don't mind at all. I think this was worth it." She looked down to the grass and flowers that still grew and thrived here. "They are so beautiful." She raised her head and gazed into her partner's eyes. "Thank you."
"I'm glad I was finally able to bring you here." She crouched and tugged a flower from the mass and carefully slipped it behind Tifa's ear. With gentle, questing fingers the raven-haired touched the delicate petals.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"And now... a question..." Theatrics again; Aeris left the pregnant pause hanging there.
"Ask," she breathed in response.
"Tifa Lockhart, I no longer think of life without you. I haven't for some time, and I wish dearly to spend the rest of my days with you... if you'll allow me."
"Of course." The response burst from Tifa's lips. There was a sense of pleasing anticipation, some sense she could tell what Aeris was working towards.
"Then, dearest Tifa, will you marry me?"
Everything seemed to stop for a moment with those words. Her mind threw up questions and problems, strange queries and objections, but none of it mattered. There was only one thing she could say.
"Yes," she beamed. Her fiancee smiled back and then reached back to her hair.
"I have no ring, but the Cetra had a ceremony similar to modern engagement. Their bond was indicated by the exchange and wearing of something small and personal." She tugged her ribbon loose, her hair spilling over her shoulders. The raven-haired girl realised her part in this and caught the end of her own hair and removed the band that held it in place. They exchanged the hair ties, Tifa realising there was something additional being given to her; Aeris had placed the White Materia there as well.
"Aeris?"
"I want you to have it. To hold on to it. I hope I never have to make use of its power again." She looked deep into her eyes. "I cannot think of a better guardian then you."
She flushed at the words and carefully cradling the sphere, she tied the pink ribbon into her hair wrapping the long ribbon into a band around her hair and slipping the White Materia into place as had so often see Aeris do.
"I do have a confession about what I used it for..."
"I thought it destroyed Meteor?"
Aeris looked slightly guilty. "Technically... yes. What the spell actually does is remove that which is deemed harmful to the Planet. While I was praying I was able to shape the nature of the spell. I declared Meteor, Jenova and... Mako power to be the threats."
A smile broke out on Tifa's face. "So this is why you were so eager to plan for the Shinra company's downfall? You knew it would be coming sooner then we thought!"
Her fiancee smiled back. "And that is why I want you to hold the materia. It would be far too tempting to always rely on its power in the future, to use it to correct any problem we ever have. I have no desire to use that power again unless there is truly no other option."
The raven-haired girl nodded solemnly, "I understand. I will guard the Materia for you for the rest of my days."
They looked at one another anew; the pink ribbon in Tifa's hair, the single bracelet still adorning her wrist, and Aeris with it's partner on her own, and a black ribbon in her hair. The flower girl stepped forward and kissed the martial artist. She moved back slightly and whispered, "It is done."
A thrill swept through her. "We're engaged?"
"At least as far as the Cetra culture is concerned. We could try and arrange something more modern if you'd like..."
Tifa shook her head, "No, this is more then enough."
They lay back in amongst the flowers, both relishing the future stretching out away in front of them, full of possibilities and opportunities. Tifa gripped Aeris' hand tightly. Side by side she felt sure they would be okay, sure they would overcome whatever happened. They watched the sun shift as the day wore on, the air filled with idle speculation of weddings, honeymoons and when they would be able to take that trip to once again see the length and breadth of the Planet they had saved.