A/N: And this is the end of the 'I Thought I was Alone' and 'Meaning' series. I hope you all have enjoyed it. I know that I have despite my neglect at updates and what not. I'm sure at points it seemed like I was never going to write, but I always come through don't I? I hope so. Well enjoy!

Epilogue

Ten years had passed and the only inhabitants of the mansion were Riku and Lulu. Once all of the other orphans had left he remained deciding the keep the mansion under his name. He enjoyed the silence and isolation from the rest of Traverse Town, and with everyone gone it was especially lonely. He was satisfied with his living conditions as long as Lulu remained with him. She knew how to cook so losing Sora wasn't such a loss. He also knew how to keep things tidy so losing Naminé also wasn't such a loss. The two of them kept the mansion within good conditions and were even working on landscaping the front yard from its desolate, muddy appearance. Both of them were successful police officers. Nothing got past them. Since they were certified the crime in Traverse Town had decreased to practically nothing. The town was at peace and certainly no men like Kairi's father dared to cross its borders.

Riku and Lulu had married at the age of twenty-five and now four years later they were expecting a child. Riku intended to make sure that their family stayed together. He also intended to make sure that his child was perfectly protected from diseases and harm. He already had a protective complex and the child hadn't even been born. Lulu found it amusing.

Naminé did open her hotel and it was the fanciest place in all of Traverse Town. It had five stars in all areas of hospitality and cleanliness. She enjoyed her work and made sure her employees kept the building spotless. She was known for walking around with a pair of gloves to test the area for dust. There were stories of her even attacking a maid with a broom for neglecting to dust a book shelf. Naminé would not have her reputation ruined.

She and Roxas were still together busily planning their wedding. Roxas wanted a traditional wedding in his own church that was ironically located near her hotel, while Naminé wanted to marry in one of the conference rooms of her hotel. This is the reason why they still hadn't sealed the deal. Their love was still strong, despite not having the rings to match. He often hung around in Naminé's office while she worked. After the day's work they went home to their apartment in the Third District. They lived as if they were already married. Seifer had given up on chasing Naminé and turned his interests to other women. He got himself in trouble often.

Tidus and Selphie did have a wedding at the Sunset Terrace of Twilight Town. It just was not as soon as Selphie had liked, but she was happy to be his wife nonetheless. She became a housewife and was happily helping raise two children already and expecting a third. Her mother often visited along with Kairi who couldn't stay away from her best friend too long. This was mainly because Selphie called everyday complaining about how much she missed her or how lonely she felt. This was especially bad because she was pregnant, and it was even worse when Tidus was gone on business meetings.

Tidus happened to land a job in Twilight Town real estate. He was one of the best salesmen because of his smile and his people skills. Tidus Tillmitt definitely was a power to be reckoned with. He took on Selphie's last name simply because he wasn't familiar with his and he felt like he belonged to that family more. In other words, he was completely whipped. He didn't think it was such a bad thing, though. After all, he already was expecting his third child, right?

Olette went on to become a photographer for the Radiant Garden Teen Magazine. She shot pictures of beauties all day long. She found work exhausting, but she enjoyed taking pictures and being in charge. Through the years she had gained confidence and a sense of assertiveness. She was no longer a door-mat or a person to bully. She even went back to writing her poems that she loved so much. Hayner supported her the entire way. He was working on proposing to her, but he could never seem to get the words out right. Ironically, now he was the one with the confidence problem.

Hayner and Olette had to relocate to Radiant Garden because of Olette's job opportunity, but they make sure to send postcards and letters to the rest of the gang as often as possible. Each year they make sure that Kairi gets a Christmas card. It was one of the conditions that they agreed on when Kairi finally released Olette to let her board her gummi ship.

Zidane and Dagger had to flee to Twilight Town after they married without her mother's consent. The whole ordeal was very messy. They managed to be able to stay in the mansion for a couple of weeks after graduation, but eventually Dagger's mother found out where she was. So a month after graduation the married Zidane and Garnet (her legal name) Tribal had to move to Twilight Town. They visited every Christmas and when Dagger's mother finally died they visited even more often. Dagger loved her mother dearly even though she did not love her decisions. She made sure to give her mother a large funeral and invite the whole town. She now tends to her grave and makes sure to drag their daughter with her whenever she visits her mother. Dagger strongly believes that her daughter should have a connection with her mother. Dagger is all about family.

Dagger is a housewife and also a teacher at the elementary school her daughter attends. She didn't want to be too far away from her child; she thought that might cause them to drift away. It turns out Dagger was becoming just as overbearing as her mother was. Zidane, on the other hand, is considered the fun parent. He's taught his daughter a couple of naughty words she has sworn not to say in front of her mother. He also has a job as an actor, which is fitting for Zidane's dramatics. Dagger and her daughter often attend Zidane's shows and rehearsals to give him support.

Tifa became a World-Known Boxing Champion. She often takes vacations to visit her friends in Traverse Town. She decided to fully move back into town when Aerith died in a gummi ship accident. Sephiroth was the pilot. Some call it a homicide, but no one can be for sure since Sephiroth's body was never found. Cloud spends his days searching for evidence that Sephiroth is alive. He has become obsessed with the idea that Sephiroth purposely murdered Aerith rather than understanding that he was drunk while he was flying. Tifa tries to comfort him while also trying to win his heart. Her efforts have been futile.

Rikku and Yuffie did become art and music teachers. They teach at the high school in Traverse Town. They have no love life and enjoy watching the love of others blossom. So far, they have decided all they need is each other. A true sisterly bond. This was mainly because they haven't left Traverse Town and seen all of the other men that exist. Their mother refuses to let them leave, because she cannot bear a life without her darling daughters. Rikku and Yuffie don't mind, though. They'd much rather be spending time with their friends and teaching at the high school they once attended.

Axel and Demyx ended up starting a rock band called Fire and Water. Kairi always thought their name was pretty corny. They had dying fans all across the worlds. With Demyx's awesome guitar skills and Axel's drum beats they were invincible. Also, with the new inclusion of their lead singer Aqua their fandom was ever rising. Their next gig was in Atlantica. Demyx had always wanted to play underwater to the fishes. While touring Axel met a lovely, sadistic girl named Larxene. The two of them somehow hit it off with her throwing things at Axel and they ended up getting hitched in Twilight Town. It wasn't a fancy ceremony like Selphie and Tidus had. The two actually eloped instead. She now lives on the tour gummi ship with them and is often threatening to kill her husband. She enjoys torturing Demyx on a regular basis, and Aqua just avoids her. Somehow. After seeing how Larxene acted after marriage Demyx swore that he would never be married. He instead enjoys the life of a bachelor, minus the sexy groupies. Women scare him.

Xion ended up witnessing a crime on her senior trip to The Land of Dragons. She was entered into the Witness Protection Program of Traverse Town and now it is as if she never existed. The diner never found another waitress to replace her.

Yuna, Fuu, and Paine went their separate ways. Yuna moved back to Twilight Town to learn her father's trade. She hopes to one day own his company. She's still searching for a cute boy. Fuu stayed in Traverse Town. She is one of the employees at Naminé's hotel. She is often chastised by the blonde for being lazy and showing up to work late. The only reason she hasn't been fired is because Naminé needs Fuu. Paine moved to Radiant Garden to work for Mr. Scrooge's ice cream business. She's slowly working her way up the career ladder. In Radiant Garden she found another boy that suits her fancy. His name is Barret, but like Riku, he isn't interested in Paine either.

Sora and Kairi were married two years after their graduation. Instead of picking a major in college she decided she would stay at home and raise the children. She still studies in human relations hoping to become a caretaker, like Aerith had. The two had become very close before Aerith's accident. Sora and Kairi have one daughter and one son. They don't get along very well, but Kairi tries her best to keep them calm. She is perfectly content with her life and her wonderful husband, Sora.

He did become a chef and opened his own restaurant in the Second District next to the inn. The restaurant is downstairs and their house is on the floor above it. Sora wanted to live close to his work. He is a five-star chef and people come from afar to eat his meals. Thus, he has made a lot of new friends. Unfortunately, he didn't manage to mature past his eighteenth year. Naminé often visits and criticizes him for this. Roxas secretly gives him high fives, but when Naminé is looking he also scowls. The four have become practically inseparable. Naminé and Roxas look over Sora and Kairi's kids as if they were their own.

Their high school reunion is coming up and everyone plans on returning to town to see what has happened in the past twelve years. Kairi is excitedly waiting for the day she can enter the halls of the high school with her children and Sora at her side. She wants to flaunt her good fortune, and she misses all of her old friends. But for the time being she has children who need to go to bed.

"Mommy!" the little girl cried. She ran to Kairi and hugged her legs.

"What's the matter?" Kairi cooed staring down at her little girl. She was the spitting image of Sora, cerulean eyes and everything.

"Brother's being mean again! He pulled my air!" she wailed crying into her leg.

Kairi frowned and stared at her guilty little boy. He was the spitting image of her with a bad attitude. "Why're you bullying your little sister?" Kairi asked.

He shrugged and looked down at the ground. "I was bored," he mumbled. He didn't want to get in trouble so the tears were already welling up in his eyes. Kairi laughed and pulled him over to give both her children a hug and a lesson about treating each other nicely.

She was interrupted by Sora entering the room with two slices of cake in his hand. "I'm home!" he shouted kicking the front door closed. He stared at his wife strangely. "Were the kids being bad again?" he asked jokingly.

The little girl ran to her father and embraced him. "I wasn't! I wasn't!" she exclaimed happily, "Is that cake for me?" She had her father's appetite too.

Sora nodded. "But only if you were behaving nicely with your brother!" he exclaimed lifting the plates of cake in the air so that she could not reach them. She was a clever girl for her age. He walked over and placed the plates on the kitchen counter.

"I'm sorry, sissy!" the little boy exclaimed running to hug his sister. Kairi laughed. She knew he only wanted the cake. The children made up and then turned to their father with Kairi's infamous pouty look on their faces.

"Fine!" he exclaimed handing each a plate of cake.

Kairi joined Sora in the kitchen as the kids went to go eat at the dining table. "So how was work today?" she asked before giving him a small kiss on the cheek.

"Eh, it was pretty busy. Naminé got drunk and I had to help Roxas escort her home. I knew I shouldn't have given her that champagne. But I thought, who gets drunk off of champagne? Apparently Naminé!" he exclaimed throwing his arms into the air. "At least she's a clean drunk though. She didn't even vomit anywhere."

Kairi laughed, "She won't be living that one down."

Sora smiled at his wife. "So you regret marrying me yet? I'm fattening up our children," he joked with a sweet grin on his face.

Kairi shook her head with a smile. "No, if our kids are fat they're fat. Just don't complain when I lose this figure because you keep bringing leftover pie home," Kairi laughed and with that left the kitchen to go wipe the cake off of her son's face. He was a messy eater.

"Wait…gah! No more pie, Kairi!" he cried following behind her as she laughed at him.

A/N: That is the end, guys! I originally wasn't going to add the last bit with Kairi, Sora, and their children. But! I thought you all might want to know how they were doing. Usually at the end of a fic I thank all my reviewers by name, but there are just so many this time. So I'll just give you all a big thanks this way. Thank you! I really appreciate you reading this series. I can't say that enough. I hope you will continue to read my work in the future. Thank you again. It's been a joy writing this.