Epilogue
Angels

Part One
Auron, Rikku, Lilia, and all the others returned to Besaid by airship – traveling on foot with an infant was not a possibility. Much to Rikku's surprise, as soon as they landed back on the tiny island, they were greeted with much fanfare from the villagers.

It didn't take long for Lilia to become the darling of the isle. And as for her parents – well, their love story was one that was destined to be told for generations to come. How a young and spirited Al Bhed girl warmed the heart of a ruined warrior, and because of that love, brought him back from the dead.

Cid came from Bikanel when Lilia was four months old. He brought with him official word that Gippal wanted the marriage absolved. When Auron heard that, he took Cid for a walk.

"I know that I am not Al Bhed, and I know that you wish for Rikku to marry within her own kind. But I love your daughter. She's the reason I am here today. And she has my child. I want to ask your permission to marry her," Auron said when he and Cid were out of earshot of everyone else.

Cid looked out over the beach, where he saw Rikku splashing in the water with Lilia, who already, at four months, loved the sea. Happiness was written all over his daughter's face, and he knew in his heart what was right. His sister, Irina, had married Lord Braska and had been blissfully happy. And Yuna was the product of that happiness. He wanted the same good things for Rikku, Auron, and their daughter.

"Sir Auron, it would be an honor to accept you into my family," Cid finally said.

Auron smiled, and hurried over to Rikku. He took Lilia and handed her Yuna, and then got down on one knee before Rikku.
Her green eyes widened in shock as he presented her with a dainty emerald ring. "Rikku, a long time ago, you told me that you would love me forever, no matter what. I'm promising to you today, in front of all our loved ones, to do the same. Will you marry me?"

Rikku burst into tears and nodded. "Yes! Gods, yes!" she cried. He slid the ring onto her finger and stood up to catch her in a warm embrace. Everyone on the beach applauded happily.

Part Two
The day of the wedding dawned bright and clear and beautiful. And Rikku was so happy! It was so different than how she had felt nearly six months ago, when she was to marry Gippal.

Lulu helped Rikku prepare for the ceremony. By now, Lulu was a pro at this. Her own wedding to Wakka had been held the previous week. No one knew where Yuna had gone. She had taken off early that morning, saying she needed a little time to herself.

Rikku could not stop smiling. Lulu couldn't help but to laugh at her. "You look like a fool," she told the younger girl.

Rikku giggled. "I know! Isn't it great?" She fingered the small starflower buds and the moonlilies that had been shipped in from Macalania for her wedding. "I'm just – so happy. I can't believe that this day is actually happening! I mean, Auron's back – he's alive and we have a baby, and we can be together! And there's no Sin. There's nothing that can ruin this for me. It's – it's hard to believe. It's amazing." As she spoke, she looked at the crib in the corner, where her daughter slept, and smiled. "It's better than amazing. It's perfect."

Yuna walked out by the water's edge. Today was a joyous day, and she was so happy for Rikku and Auron. But she couldn't help but feel a twinge of melancholy. If only Tidus were here to share in the joy of this day with me.

Sighing, she sat down and dipped her bare feet in the water, letting the coolness of it soothe her. She heard someone come up behind her, but didn't turn around.

"Yuna." Auron's voice. Yuna turned to face him. She managed a tiny smile.

Auron sat down beside her at the water's edge. "You are sad?"

Yuna shook her head. "No! I'm happy for you and for Rikku!"

"For yourself, Yuna. You are sad for yourself," Auron said. "I understand. As does Braska."

Yuna cocked her head to the side. "What are you talking about?"

"Braska and the Fayth thanked me, Yuna, for my help in the defeat of Sin. When they asked me if there was anything else that I wanted – I told them," Auron continued.

"Told them what?" Yuna asked, as Auron stood up.

Auron looked up at the sky, at the position of the sun. "It shouldn't be long now."

Yuna stood up impatiently. "Sir Auron! What did you tell them?"

Auron began to walk off, and then turned. "I told them to thank you too." And then he took off down the beach and toward the village. "Wait here!" he called back to her.

Yuna watched him go, a puzzled expression on her face. She stood there, a little perturbed, for a few minutes before she heard something in the water. She turned to face the sea.

The noise – it was far in the distance, but still she could hear it. A faint splashing, maybe? Then the sound of someone diving below the surface. She watched for what seemed like hours, before she decided to wade out a little ways and investigate.
She was waist-deep in the crystal blue lagoon, when something broke the water's surface about five feet away from her. She looked – and she gasped.

He stood up, shaking water from his sun-colored hair. His sky blue eyes surveyed the area, and lit up when they landed on Yuna. He began walking toward her, and she felt herself moving toward him as well.

A thousand thoughts raced through Yuna's ever-logical mind. This can't be happening! This isn't real . . . But it was. Tidus grabbed Yuna and pulled her into an embrace that promised an eternity of happiness.

"Oh, my gods!" Lulu cried from outside the hut, an hour before the wedding was to start.

Rikku stood up carefully, as she was cradling Lilia, and walked outside to join Lulu. Tears sprang to her eyes when she saw Yuna walking back into the village – hand-in-hand with Tidus. "So that's what he was talking about," she said to herself.

"Who?" Lulu asked.

"Auron told me last night, that today was going to be a happy day for everyone, in more ways than one," Rikku explained. "I can't believe it though. I really can't believe it."

Yuna saw Rikku standing with the baby, and began walking toward them. "Tidus, I would like to present to you the newest member of Besaid," Yuna said regally. "This is Lady Lilia."

Tidus looked at the tiny bundle in Rikku's arms and then at Rikku. "She's yours?" he asked.

Rikku smiled. "Yes. She's mine. Mine and Auron's."

Tidus gaze grew dark. "Oh, yeah, Auron. How are you holding up, by the way?" he asked, feeling sad suddenly. He knew Auron was long gone to the Farplane by now.

"You didn't tell him, Yunie? That's just mean!" Rikku admonished playfully. "Actually, I'm great. Auron, too." Tidus looked confused. "What? Did you think you were the only one the Fayth sent back?"

"Actually, Tidus, Rikku and Auron are to be married today!" Yuna said happily.

"You serious?" Tidus asked earnestly.

"No, I dress up in fancy clothes like this all the time," Rikku joked, gesturing to her long, pale lavender silk gown.

"Wow," Tidus said.

Part Three
The ceremony was held on the beach at sunset. Rikku carried her bouquet of moonlilies down the makeshift aisle, her pale purple gown fluttering gently in the quiet breeze that whispered across the sands.

Auron watched her with an adoring look in his eyes. He had chosen Kimahri to be his best man, for Kimahri had done more for him – in life and death – than he could ever hope to repay him for.

Wakka and Lulu stood to the side, Lulu holding Lilia for the duration of the ceremony. She would also be taking care of the baby for the week following the ceremony so that Auron and Rikku might have a bit of a honeymoon. Beside them stood Tidus, who was gazing longingly at Yuna, who, as High Summoner, was to officiate the ceremony.

Rikku reached the end of the aisle, and Auron. Yuna smiled her soft smile at each of them in turn, and then cast a special smile to Tidus before beginning.

"We are gathered here on this evening, in this place, to celebrate the love of two people who mean very much to me. They both accompanied me on my journey to defeat Sin. It was not an easy journey. It was trying, and long, and at some points, we all wanted to give up. But Sir Auron and Rikku found a reason to keep going every day. And that reason was the love they felt for each other. They found their strength in each other. And that allowed them to keep going forward, no matter how difficult the next step was. We defeated Sin. But more than that, Rikku and Sir Auron conquered death itself to stand before us today, and vow to live the rest of their lives for and with each other." Yuna nodded to Wakka, who held the rings. "Sir Auron, present your ring and your vows to Rikku."

Auron took the ring from Wakka and slid it onto Rikku's finger. He took a deep breath. "My Rikku," he began, touching her face tenderly. "I lived a long time before I knew you, but my life was empty and meaningless. I fought every single day of my life, whether it was actual fiends, or just my inner demons. And then I died. It's funny, how in death, you can find what you never even knew your life was missing. But when I met you, everything about me changed. You gave me something to live for. And I promise, from this day forward, to do the very same for you."

Tears shimmered in Rikku's swirling eyes as she took Auron's ring from Wakka. She took a long and shaky breath before sliding the ring onto Auron's finger. "Auron. My love. Every day of my life, I lived it with a smile on my face. Because I knew that somewhere out there, you waited for me. We just had to find each other. And when we did, magic happened. It hasn't always been easy, and it hasn't always been pretty, but it has always been real, and true, and forever. I promised you long ago, that my love for you was forever. Nothing will ever change that. E muja oui, Auron. Vunajan. Hu syddan fryd."

She smiled at him softly, and he returned the smile. They turned to face Yuna. "It is my honor to now pronounce you husband and wife," she said, tears sparkling in her own eyes. "Kiss your bride."

Auron swept Rikku into a long, sweet kiss, sealing the fate that had been written for them long before either of them had been born. They parted, Rikku reached out for Lilia and everyone applauded and threw flower petals as they walked back down the aisle.

Rikku paused at the end and looked back over her shoulder. She smiled at Wakka and Lulu, Wakka's arm around Lulu's waist protectively. And then she looked to Yuna and Tidus, and said a silent prayer to the stars.

Give Yunie and Tidus as much happiness as you have given Auron and I. She turned back toward her new husband, and together with their baby, they walked into their future, hand-in-hand.

THE END

A/N: Yes, I know I promised three more chapters or so, but I felt that I would ruin the story if I kept dragging it along. I decided to end it on a positive note. I am very very very happy with the ending and the way it turned out for everyone, and I hope you are too:) If you've been reading all along and waiting until the end to review, now is the time to do so. :) I would still love to get reviews from this story, I want to know what EVERYONE who read this thinks of it! Anyway, I hope this made you smile, made you laugh a little, and maybe even made you cry! I cried when I wrote it. So thanks again for reading, and please let me know what you think:) Until my NEXT story, Rhianna :)