"What were you planning on doing had I not been an insensitive ogre and spoken out like that?" I ask Tifa one morning.

You may find it funny, but we just sort of fell back into our old habits. It's been less than a week, and I'm even still sleeping in the guest bedroom despite some other urgings. You can laugh if you want.

She gives me this crooked smile, "You think I would have just stayed with Cloud? I don't settle, you know." She's holding the other end of the sheet as we're fitting it to her bed. It's hard to do without my metal fingers going right through it.

She had packed whatever few things Cloud had left here and had given it to him. I was not allowed to attend the transfer. Now she's rearranging her bedroom.

She's past the mourning. When love dies naturally and slowly all you have left from it is regret and knowing you had caused pain. It doesn't make you want to cry or die.

I don't believe in destiny, you see. I don't believe there are soulmates in this world.

I believe that all we have are just people. Meeting, learning to know each other. Sometimes you lay eyes on someone and something just clicks, but you still need to know them. They'll still have quirks and traits you can't stand.

You'll have arguments and disagreements because you're still both just people.

"I would have seen you off," She starts her answer, "Then I would have patiently broken up with Cloud, then I would have chased you to Wutai and beaten the crap out of you myself!"

"So either way I would have ended up with a black eye."

"Pretty much, yeah." She laughs.

.

Marlene had been pretty nonchalant about the whole thing, I must say. When she had woken up the next morning she just acted normal, when Tifa asked her what she felt about this she just shrugged,

"Vincent gets to stay with us all he wants, now." She had smiled at me, eating her cereal, "You're happy, I'm happy and Vincent's happy. Besides, you two totally were totally crushing on each other for, like, ever." Here she frowned into her cereal, "It was getting sort of obnoxious."

.

So in a way nothing changed.

Well, Marlene had just left for school a couple of days ago when I was climbing the steps. Tifa had grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and, well...

You don't need the details.

Parts of my brain that had been repressed for years woke up screaming. I listened to them, for once.

I suppose in some ways many things had changed.

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It's a wintery afternoon, a week past. We've spoken to Cloud. Tifa explained it to him. She wasn't leaving him because of me; she was leaving him because of him. Because of herself. Because it was over regardless of where she was moving towards afterwards.

He couldn't really understand what she meant, but he loves and respects her too much. He's living on his own for now. He's used to it, he said.

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We're sitting in the park not far from the bar. She's thinking of closing it and going to school. Still trying to decide what she'll take; thinking maybe becoming a teacher or maybe a social worker. Still not too eager to take my money. Says she'll pay me back and then it'll be "our money".

Asked me what I wanted to do. I said I wouldn't mind taking care of the house and of Marlene for a while.

Just sitting here. She's holding my hand. Marlene is sitting on the swings, her friends are taking turns writing on her cast.

Denzel said he'll be back from the WRO for Christmas. There will be a lot to explain to do to him but on the phone he sounded cautiously optimistic.

We're just sitting here, watching the world go round.

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And it's perfect.

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The End.

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Hello, all!

And thus it ends. I'm not sure what to say. This story was written over the course longer than a year. A lot had happened and a lot of the story changed as I changed. It's strange to think that there won't be another update. I'll miss you all, and I mean it. It's been like a conversation- I've felt you readers' presence while I wrote.

So, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading and writing along with me. I couldn't have done it without you.

I will consider writing a story about Vincent's a Cid's adventures, but it may take a while to come together, if at all. I feel I'm at the point where I want to write my stories, not work on someone else's worlds. Not saying this is goodbye forever, but saying I want my worlds to be told, too. If you're curious as to my comings and goings, feel free to follow me on Twitter: Kissless. I will keep everyone posted on my original stories and my inane day-to-day life, in case you care. ^_^

My contact information is also in my profile and I'm always glad to talk, if anyone wants to drop me a line at any time.

To all reviewers; thank you. Thank you a million times for taking a second or two to tell me your words. It does make a difference, and I cannot express my gratitude.

Kimmik777: I think this story is done, but you never know. When I had finished writing Dark Outside, this story was just a nebulous idea, so you never know when the plot bunnies will attack me. At the moment, though, I have no plans to have a sequel for this.

Shingo, FenixPhoenix, dragonwingedangel, forevermare, phantom, bunzi, kimmik777, fetherhd, mom calling, and all the reviewers after this is done...

Thank you.

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Ever yours,

~LunarBlade.