A/N: You're going to kill me after reading this... I just know it... lol. I'm not a BIG fan of this chapter, and I wouldn't blame you if you didn't like it either.
Well on the good side, I got my father back. On the bad side, I was grounded for two months. And after a month and a half I will be going back to school. One month was for running out with Zack, and the other was joining SOLDIER. How did he find out, you may ask? Apparently since Angeal didn't remember anything, Genesis decided to tell him that I joined. When Angeal wasn't looking, I kneed Genesis in the stomach. He deserved it.
Luckily my dad was going nice on Zack, not really blaming him on anything. I could still see him now and there, but I had a curfew of being at home around ten o'clock p.m., and I had to tell my father where I'm going. Thank god for texting.
Tsubaki was back home with that guy that she brought over to Zack's. I forgot his name… Apparently they got engaged, but they're not getting married till after she graduates. I don't remember exactly what she said. She left me a voice mail on my cell that was quick and a bit mumbly. She also mentioned something about me being the maid of honor, and dress shopping.
Mr. Wigs and his family are doing great. When I introduced them to my dad they were happy to meet him. Mr. Wig and Angeal became good friends, so good that it takes my dad to get drunk in order for us to leave. No offense, I love my second family, but I like my house a bit better. And seeing my dad drunk just makes me laugh, because it's rare. And Angeal is not really a drinker.
As for SOLDIER, I was allowed to continue working there. Angeal wanted to be my mentor, but Genesis argued that I wouldn't be able to do anything if he was. Angeal disagreed, but eventually agreed, after having a talk with both Genesis and Sephiroth. Though, Angeal and Zack would tag team whenever possible, missions, or even just training.
"You think this mission; Angeal would want to join you and Genesis?" Zack asked as we ice skated at the new open ice skating rink downtown.
"Don't know. I sort of hope not, because last time he took a hit to the back, when I could have blocked it. It's like he doesn't trust me when I comes to weapons or just in SOLDIER. I mean, I love my dad, don't get me wrong. But he needs to let me grow up. I'm not a little girl anymore." I squeezed Zack's hand and lead him around the rink, he wasn't too good at ice skating. When we started to ice skate he fell like five times, most of them, he brought me down with him.
"Did you talk to him about it?"
"Yes… He kept on changing the subject and he even threaten to extend my grounding if I didn't drop the subject."
"You tell Genesis or Sephiroth?"
"Both. They said that they'll talk to him. Oh and when I talked to them, it was a week ago and nothing. So right now, I'm being patient… if I must… I will arrange an intervention."
Zack laughed, and pulled my arm, so that I skated towards him. I slowed myself down so I wouldn't make Zack fall on his ass again. "An intervention, huh?" His smile warms me.
"Yes. An intervention! Will you support me?" I warped my arms around me, and put my face into his chest, his winter coat a bit cold, but soon warmed up.
"Of course!" He kissed my head. I wanted to stay standing like that forever.
After ice skating, Zack took me to an Italian restaurant for dinner. When we got there, the big three, were already there waiting on the couch. Sephiroth rose and took my jacket off for me, while Zack was about to protest. I couldn't get my jacket back though, Sephiroth wouldn't tell me why. All he said was: "Hurry up. I'm hungry. I could burn down a village while waiting for you two getting your slow asses here."
"Sorry, there was traffic." Zack replied giving Sephiroth a look.
"Hi daddy," I said kissing his cheek. "Genesis." He moved his cheek away from me.
"You don't deserve to kiss me…you're late. And I'm hungry."
"I texted you that we were stuck in traffic!" Both Zack and I said.
"How many?" The hostess asked, interrupting us.
"Five please."
"Right this way." She grabbed five menus and five napkins holding the utencils and led us to our table. The table was by a window showing the city (the restaurant was on a hill), with booths. Sephiroth and Genesis sat on one side, while I was sandwiched (comfortably) between Angeal and Zack, Zack having the window seat.
"Why can't you sit on the other side with them?" I said gesturing to Sephiroth and Genesis.
"Why? You don't love me?" Haha… funny father.
"I love you… it's just …. Never mind…" I sighed and rolled my eyes and began looking through the menu.
The drinks came around, beer (Zack), root beer (me… damn age restrictions), sake (Genesis), Vodka (Sephiroth), and tequila (Angeal… he said if he didn't like it, he would give it to me while he got another drink… fine by me).
I took a sip of my tequila (yup he didn't like it), and rested my head against Zack's shoulder. I could hear a group of girls sitting behind us, talking about me saying that I was a whore. Well if they knew me and who I am with, they wouldn't think that. When the guys went out to go talk to Lazard for a mission, I stayed and got on my knees and looked behind me. Behind me were four women who all looked like they were in their early twenties, and they all had way too much makeup.
"Hey…I overheard you guys talking about me… saying that I was a whore. Was it true?" I asked sounding like I was going to cry.
"Yeah. I mean you're having dinner with four hot men, so you must sleep with all of them, because none of them would want to have dinner with you." Bitch number one said. I got out of the booth and stood at the end of their table.
"Honey. You don't know me, and one thing is for sure. I am not a whore. You guys maybe, but I sure as hell am not." They shot me a disgusted look. "If you guys want to get on my bad side, go right ahead. But I wouldn't suggest it."
I went back to my booth but only for a second before one of them coughed out "bitch." I was out of the booth and standing by their table once again. But this time, I took one of the girls hands (the one who coughed), and dislocated it. She cried in pain, then I relocated it.
"I told you not to mess with me. Did you listen? No. Wanna keep it up? All four of you will end up in the hospital. And don't even bother to even sue, you'll lose. Oh and you might want to get that either iced up or checked out. Or even both." I gave them a sweet smile before going back to my table, all happy and proud.
"What happened to the girls behind us?" Genesis asked as he got back.
"Huh? Oh… maybe they didn't like the food." I took sip of my tequila.
"What did you do?" Angeal said as he sat next to me.
"Oh, whatever do you mean, father?" I gave him a slight smile; Angeal rolled his eyes and sighed. "Oh! By the way, I have something to talk to you about…"
"Hm?" He said taking a sip of coke cola.
"You do know that my birthday is coming up right?"
"Yes. This is one of the reasons why we are eating out today."
"You know how… young I'm turning?"
"Yes. Five."
"Dad!"
"Kidding. You're turning eighteen." He let out a sad sigh. "Why?"
"Well… it's just…" I made a face and looked at a ceiling light. "You're over protective." I blurted.
"What?"
"You are over protective of me. I mean, you injured your back trying to protect me when I could have blocked the attack!"
"I-I know…"
"You know what? You know that your overprotective? Dad, I understand that you want me to be safe, but I'm turning eighteen and I need to learn how to protect myself. I need to learn how to… liveonmyown…"
"What was the last part?" He raised his eyes. I was thankful that no one was budding into our conversation or intervention.
"I need to live on my own… I love you, but… it's just… How can I put this? You're breathing down my neck, basically. Take doing my own laundry for instance. You tell me what I did wrong, although I have been doing my laundry at school. By myself, for the past… oh I don't know whatever years I've been at that school. I'm not trying to be mean… it's just-"
"I understand." Angeal said cutting me off. He gave me a smile.
"You do?"
"Yes. And you're going to be going to college… you are going to college right?"
I laughed. "Yes, daddy. I am going to college. And I'm pretty sure that SOLDIER will be paying for my tuition."
"Now… what's this live on your own?"
I looked at Zack giving him a pleading look. We talked about this, Zack and I. I was going to move in with him. His apartment is a bit small for all my junk so we were going to rent a bigger apartment. It was my idea, but I let Zack think about it. I don't want to rush things in the relationship. He said yes the day after, his reason is because he loves me and he wants me to be with him forever. He also said that if we got into an argument, we would talk about it, so basically he wants to stay forever. Maybe get married in the future. Any way… we talked about it, and we knew that we had to tell my dad sooner or later. And that sooner part is coming because we both signed a lease form yesterday…
"Well… you see sir…" Zack said piping in.
I looked at Angeal's eyes. They widened.
"Oh dear Gaia… please tell me… you two…"
"NO!" Zack and I said at once. We weren't even that base into the relationship. Sure we almost got there… like fore playing… but nothing really comes out of it… yet.
"Thank god…" Sephiroth and Genesis were trying to hold their laughs in. "Then what?"
"I'm moving in with Zack."
"You're what?"
I sighed. "I said, I'm moving in with Zack. And you can't really do anything about it. I mean, I'm going to be turning eighteen. Zack promises that he will protect me… justnotthewayyoudo…. Plus…"
"We already signed the lease form."
"You're getting a new place?" Genesis asked.
"Yeah. We found this nice place in the next city over. It's not that far of a drive. It's really pretty. It's a condo, and it's in front of the beach. Pretty, and nice with both of our incomes."
"I don't know about that…" Angeal warned.
"Dad." I warned back giving him an angry look.
Angeal sighed once again. "Okay. Fine… As long as you check up once and awhile when I don't see you or something, and we have to have dinner at least once a week."
"Okay…but dad, we are going to be seeing each other at Shinra…how about… Dinner twice a week and no checkups? "
"Hmmm… deal."
"Yes! Finally! Food!" Zack said as he saw one of the waiters bring out our dinners (sometime during the conversation we ordered food).
After dinner we took the guys to our new condo. They wouldn't stop bothering us during dinner, so we decided-in order to shut them up- to take them to the new place. And it shut them up, because the condo was a jaw dropper. A drop dead gorgeous place to live.
I mean it was on the beach for Gaia's sake. We had access to the beach, and it was a private beach. The condo was two stories. The first floor consisted of the kitchen, a sun room, living room, and a bathroom. The kitchen was my dream kitchen. The refrigerator and the counter were around on the wall. In the middle of the kitchen (it was an open kitchen) was an island and bar chairs. And there was a sliding door that lead out to a patio on the beach.
Angeal stood in the middle of the beach taking in the sights, his back facing the condo.
"You sure?" He asked.
"Yes. We're taking things slow and besides he will be living on his own for a bit till I graduate. You know…boarding school and all."
"Ah. That's right." Angeal said with a sight that seemed very content. "I can't believe you're going to be graduating soon. My baby girl."
"Dad…That's not a tear that I see… is it?" I said walking up to hug him.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, young lady."
"Sure you don't." He took one arm and held me while the other groomed by hair.
"My little girl is growing up…"
School went by quickly. By the time I knew it, I had graduated. It was like a snap of a finger and boom! I'm a young adult on this dangerous, adventurous world. Zack had kept the condo very clean, probably because I would visit every other weekends and when I had days off.
"How does it feel to be a free woman?" Zack asked as he groomed my hair. We were both completely naked, but under the nice bed sheets. My head lay on his chest, moving up and down as he breathed. I loved to hear his heartbeat.
"I'm not exactly free since we have to be at work in an hour or so…"I sighed. Just because I graduate, it didn't mean I was free from working for SOLDIER. It just meant that I was free from my high school life. And I would be gaining that school life again next fall, when I start college.
I was about to get up from bed, but Zack pulled my arm and brought me down, he then wrapped his big arms around me. "No! Don't go."
"Zack," I whined, but I couldn't help but smile and laugh. "If we're not on time, Angeal is going to throw a fit, and we both know how that goes."
He mumbled something that I couldn't understand, and sighed a heavy sigh. "I'll go…on one condition?"
"And that one condition is?"
"You tell him."
"Tell him what?" I smiled and gave a peck on his forehead. I know what he meant, but I like to play with him.
"Tell him that you're engaged."
A/N: Please don't kill me! I really did want to go out with a big bang! But it was hard! Notice how long it took me to write this. Now I might JUST might make a sequel or a prequel (how Angeal and Maki met), or not do anything with it. I'm not 100% sure, all I know is, that my next project to finish is going to be the Welcome to Parenthood story that I have not touched in ages!
All I ask of is not to murder me in my sleep. I don't mind you murdering my twitter page thing with "I hate you" tweets. With lots and lots of love!
Devil's Final Cry