Epilogue

     Jim's eyes slowly opened on a brisk fall morning in his new home, Wutai. He got out of
bed and walked to the window.  He took in a deep breath of the crisp morning air, looking out
over the pastoral cottage he had been given by Yuffie as a present.  He threw on some clothes, a
simple sweatshirt and jeans, and shuffled downstairs to get himself a cup of coffee.  As he
stumbled down the steep stairs into the kitchen, he began to think that, just a few months
previous, he was stumbling down the stairs of his quaint suburban home, going about his
mundane life, sipping his coffee, reading the paper, and bitching about taxes.  He didn't miss it a
bit.  He had more adventure and excitement crammed into the past few months than he had ever
seen in his whole life.
     "What a trip," he said to himself.  He forgot the coffee, and went out for a quick drive in
his Cuda.  While he was out, he passed a small figure walking along the side of the road.  He
pulled over, and popped the door.  Yuffie climbed in and shut the door.
     "What's up, Yuffie?  You feeling all right?" he asked, kissing his fiancee on the cheek.
     "I was just thinking," she said, sullenly.
     Jim shut down the motor.  "What's wrong?"
     "I was thinking about my father.  He told me once that I would be wed in a grand
ceremony in front of all of Wutai.  And that..."
     "What?  And what?" he asked.
     "That he would be present for the ceremony, to be my the head of my honor guard.  But
he can't now.  He can't be there for me anymore."
     "I'm sure he'll be there."
     "How?  He's dead.  Been dead for the past four years, ever since an outsider cheated their
way up the tower and killed my father.  The first and last outsider ever to enter the sacred
tower."
     "I was taught a long time ago, that our loved ones never really leave us," said Jim, as he
looked out the window at the clear blue morning sky.  "They are always with us, in our hearts,
forever.  No matter what happens."
     Yuffie looked into his blue eyes, which still glowed slightly from the Mako infusion.  "I
suppose you're right."
     "Of course I'm right," he said, matter-of-factly.
     They continued down the road for a short distance more, before Jim turned off into a
parking lot.  
     "So you want a big fancy wedding, eh?" asked Jim.
     "It was what I always wanted.  Just like in the fairy tales."
     "Then it's what you'll get.  I'll see to that."
     "What have you got planned?" she asked him, smiling at him wryly.
     "Well, so far, Tifa's hiring a caterer, Cid and Vince are looking for a reception hall, Shera
is dragging Cloud around, looking at china patterns or something like that, and Reeve's taking
care of the entertainment.  I think he's hiring an orchestra or something like that.."
     "You seem to have everything under control," said Yuffie.
     "Not everything.  There was one aspect that I decided to leave up to you and Elena."
     "What's that?"
     "Your dress.  That's entirely up to you. I don't wanna have nothin' to do with it, I don't
wanna see it, or hear anything about it, until I see you walk down that aisle.  Got it?" he asked.
     Yuffie smiled, and laughed lightly.  "You got it."

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

     "Dammit, what's wrong with me?  I'm a total wreck!  I've never been this nervous about
anything in my whole life.  I'm gonna have a heart attack or something..I'll be lucky to live to see
the ceremony.." ranted a frustrated Jim Robinson, as he paced up and down his living room.
     "Will you calm down already?  You're making ME nervous," said Cloud.  "I went through
the same shit when I married Tifa, and it turned out fine.  You'll be okay."
     "You can take comfort in one piece of information," said Cid, a Cheshire grin on his
face.  "As nervous as you are, you can bet real money that she's bouncing off the walls over
there."
     Yuffie was, in fact, going nuts.
     "Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!  What's going on?  What was I thinking?  I'm gonna
commit hari kiri if this keeps up!  Why did he insist that we don't see each other 24 hours before
the wedding?  Is this some kind of perverse torture?"
     "Yuffie, calm down.  You're going to give yourself a heart attack," admonished Tifa.
     "He's probably at some bachelor party, getting boozed and ogling over some stripper with
Cloud and Cid."
     Tifa and Shera flushed bright red at this statement, wondering just what the boys were up
to at that moment.
     "No, I don't think Jim's the kind of person to do something like that."
     Over at Jim's house, things were getting a little hairy.  
     "Come on, Cid, just one match!  I need to blow off some excess energy, and besides, I
can actually beat you."
     "Forget it, kid.  Calm down.  Take some of that EZ Snooze or something and get some
rest."
     "Nah, I'm too hyper to sleep now!"
     "If you don't go to sleep, we'll put you to sleep!"
     "Go ahead and try."
     Cloud grabbed a materia out of a drawer, and muttered a few words.  Jim became very
drowsy very quickly, and passed out.  They dragged him up to his bed, and left for the night.
     Yuffie had calmed down considerably, and had settled down to the point where she could
carry on a fairly-sensible conversation.
     "Nervous, Yuffie?" asked Shera.
     "What do you think?" she answered wryly.
     "It's all right.  I had the shakes so bad the night before I married Cloud, I couldn't even
stand up.  It totally freaked me out that Cloud was just so cool and collected, like he always
was," said Tifa.
     "I was pretty nervous, too, before I married Cid.  I thought I was going to explode, I was
so excited," added Shera.
     "But Tifa, you didn't have any reason to be nervous.  Cloud loves you with everything he
has.  And when I saw you, you didn't look that nervous," retorted Yuffie.
     "It was all I could do to keep from tripping over my gown and falling down the aisle."
     "Somehow, that makes me feel a little better," said Yuffie.
     "You're not the first to go through this.  You won't be the last, either," said Shera.
     Elena was growing bored of this talk, and decided to change the subject.  "When are we
going to see this dress of yours?  And where did you get it from, anyway?" she asked.
     "I sewed it myself.  I got the fabric from Reeve a while ago," she said.
     "So let's see it."
     "Yes," said Shera.  "I want to see you in it too."
     "So do I," said Tifa.
     "Uh-uh.  Not till tomorrow," denied Yuffie.
     "No way!  You'll wait like everyone else," she said.  "Now get outta here so I can get
some sleep."
     The group all walked out the door, and left for their lodgings at the Grand Vista.  Yuffie
closed the shutters and shut off all the lights.  She lay in bed for a good hour before falling
asleep.

     The sunrise woke Jim up gently, as it had the past several weeks.  He arose from his bed,
holding his head with one hand, shaking out the cobwebs.  "Ugh..damn dirty trick..I'll get 'em for
that later."  He took a shower, and threw on a T-shirt and jeans, not willing to put on his tuxedo
yet.  "Hmm," he said.  "Looks like it's finally the big day."  He walked downstairs, and made a
cup of coffee.  As he walked out to get the morning paper, he took another breath of the crisp
fall air that he had become accustomed to in the past few weeks.  Then he walked back inside
and sat down at the counter, sipping his coffee, and reading the paper, as he used to do back on
Earth.  'Old habits die hard,' he thought, as he leafed through the paper.  He totally bypassed the
huge headline which read, "Mayor to Wed AVALANCHE Member Today," skipping straight to
the sports section.  He heard a knock at his door.  When he got there, he found Cloud sitting on
the couch.  
     "The door was open, so I let myself in."
     "Next time, wait till I get to the door, okay?  You can't just barge into someone's house
like you own the place."
     "All right.  So you ready?"
     Jim shrugged.  "I've never been this nervous in my whole life.  This is a really big deal,
Cloud.  You should know, you're married.  Were you this nuts on your wedding day?"
     "Worse.  I panicked about two hours or so beforehand and nearly chickened out.  The
guys caught me, though, and Barret said, 'If you don't get your spikey white ass up there and
marry that girl, I'll perforate ya, ya lousy cracka!'" said Cloud, doing his best to imitiate the burly
miner.
     "I heard that, Spike!" hollered a loud voice from behind.
     "Barret?" said Cloud, as he whirled around.
     "Hey, long time, no see.  Looks like you guys saved the world without me this time."
     "Don't worry.  You're definitely in the next time we save the world," said Cloud,
grinning.
     "That ain't funny, spike!" yelled Barret.
     "Hey, buddy, turn the volume down a couple notches, willya?  People in Costa del Sol
are complaining about the noise," quipped Jim.
     The large miner walked up to Jim, standing nose-to-nose with Barret.  "So you're the new
kid, huh?  Kinda scrawny if you ask me.  Looks a lot like you, Cloud."
     Jim looked at Cloud, then at Barret.  "What have you been smoking?  We look nothing
alike.  For one, he's got a huge spike on his head, being held up by God's own hair gel, second,
I'm about four inches taller and about 50 pounds heavier than him."
     "Whatever," muttered Barret, as he let himself in.  "You marrying the brat?" he asked, all
sense of tact flying out the window.
     "If, by that, you mean Yuffie, yes.  She's grown up a lot since you last talked to her," said
Jim, slightly agitated.
     "You betta take care o' her, you hear me?  Cuz if you don't..." threatened Barret.
     "Relax.  I'll defend her with my life."
     The doorbell rang, and Jim answered it.  "Your tuxedo is ready, sir.  All cleaned and
pressed."  
     Jim handed him a five-gil note.  "Thanks, kid," he said.  "OK, guys, get lost.  I need some
time alone."  
     Cid slapped him on the back, as he walked out.  "Good luck kid.  We'll see you at the
chapel.  Oh, one more thing, Jim."
     "What is it, Cid?" asked Jim.
     "Can we borrow the Cuda for a little while?"
     "No.  I know what you have planned, Cid.  Touch my car, and suffer a slow, painful
death."  Jim waved a fist in front of his nose.  Cid got the message, and left in a hurry.
     Jim laid the tux on a chair, and went back up the stairs to his bedroom.  As he looked out
the window, he could already see the preparations being made in Pagoda Park.  Setup had begun
late last night, and was now wrapping up.  What was a peaceful, quiet oasis of calm in the center
of the bustling metropolis was now just as busy as the rest of the city, buzzing with workers and
decorators and other such people.  He stared off toward the mountains of Da-Chao, and
wondered what Yuffie was doing at this moment...

     Yuffie was, in fact, perched atop the highest point on those very mountains, hours before
the ceremony was to start.  She was dressed in a simple white kimono and waraji sandals, the
traditional dress of women in Wutai.  Her eyes were closed in deep meditation and prayer, as she
attempted to prepare herself for the day's events.  She heard a rustling noise behind her, and
instantly, her meditative state was broken, her mind becoming immediately alert to all her
surroundings.  When she turned her head, Tifa was standing on the rocks, breathless.
     "So this is where you've been," she said, in between gasps for air. "The wedding starts in
a few hours, and you have to get ready.  We've been looking all over for you."
     "I've always found it peaceful here," said Yuffie, as she slowly stood up.  "I don't get to
come here as often as I would like, being mayor and all.  Sometimes I wish I could rewind
everything ten years or so, and go back to being a materia hunter like I used to do."
     "There's no turning back now, kid.  Besides, you've grown up a lot since then.  You have
matured quite a bit."
     "I'm worried about all this.  What if something goes wrong?  What if I trip?  What if he
changes his mind?  What if he doesn't show up?" she asked, getting more and more nervous by
the second.
     "Yuffie, get ahold of yourself.  It's not the end of the world."
     "I've been through that already.  Twice, as a matter of fact.  This is much worse."
     "Yuffie, please calm down.  We had to knock you out last night, we don't want to do it
again.  Come on. We have to get you ready."  Tifa began to pick her way back down the steep
slope, while Yuffie followed her.  "Did you hear what Cloud and Cid have planned for Jim's
car?" asked Yuffie.
     "I don't know, and I don't wanna know, either.  Knowing those two, it isn't going to be
pretty."


     "Two-thirty," muttered Jim, as he put the final touches on his tuxedo while waiting in his
dressing room.  "Half an hour till showtime."  He heard a knock at the door, and Cid walked in.
     "Hey bud.  They're almost all ready, and so is Yuffie, or at least I think so. They let Red
in there, but they won't let me in."
     "Gee, Cid, I wonder why?  Here, how do I look?" he asked, turning on his heel.
     "Like a million gil, kid.  You're gonna knock 'em dead out there."
     "I'm sweatin' like a pig in this damn monkey suit.  I hate these things.  The collar's too
tight, and my tie is cutting off the circulation to my head."
     "Relax, kid.  Just got the jitters, is all.  You'll be fine."
     "You sure?"
     "Trust me, kid.  When you see her walk down that aisle, every bit of nervousness is
gonna go away like that, and you ain't gonna think of anything but how beautiful she looks,
standing there next to you..." drifted Cid.
     "Hello?  Earth to Cid, come in, please," said Jim.  That brought Cid back down to sea
level.
     "Huh?  What?  Oh, sorry, kid.  I'm gonna go siddown.  Catch you later," said the old pilot,
as he walked out of the room.
     A young woman wearing a headset popped into the room.  "Five minutes, sir."
     "Damn..."  He took one final moment to collect himself, then he strode out of the room.

     She could hear the orchestra warming up in the background as Yuffie put the final
trimmings on her simple white wedding dress.
     "I can't remember the last time I wore a dress for anything.  God, I hate these things," she
said.
     "Oh, stop fussing with it, you'll only make things worse," admonished Tifa, as she
attempted to fix Yuffie's short hair into something a little less tomboyish, without luck.
     "Looks like you really have grown up, kid," said Shera.
     "Will you all stop calling me 'kid'?  I'm a grown woman, for God's sake!"
     "I'm sorry, Yuffie.  Looks like some of Cid is rubbing off on me after all these years."
     "They're almost ready to start," said Tifa.  "I can hear the orchestra warming up."
     "Why do these people have to make such a big deal out of all this?"
     "Because you're their leader, and they want to see you married in the most fashionable
way possible."
     "I'm gonna screw up, I'm so nervous I can't even think straight!"
     "Just calm down, Yuffie. Everything will go fine."
     "Yeah, Tifa, like at your wedding?  When Cloud tripped over the carpeting and took half
of the wedding party down with him?"
     Tifa blushed.  "Cloud never was the most coordinated."
     "So THAT'S why he always has that huge sword around.  That way he can't miss."
     Yuffie chuckled to herself, while Shera rolled her eyes.  Tifa was giggling almost
uncontrollably.  "Come on, they're starting.  Jim's probably already waiting out there for you to
come down the aisle."

     "What the hell's the holdup?  What's going on here?  Why can't we just get this over with,
I'm a total wreck," muttered a very nervous Jim, as he waited for his bride to be.
     "Relax, man.  She's coming.  You know how women are, they take forever to get ready."
     The orchestra began to warm up.  "Come on, come on..."
     Yuffie was standing at the end of the aisle, behind a set of double-doors, peering through
the crack in the doorjamb.
     "Look at him up there.  He's just as nuts as I am.  Maybe I should make him wait just a
few more minutes.." she muttered, as she slowly backed away from the door.  She bumped into
Tifa.
     "Where do you think you're going?" asked Tifa.
     "Uhh, I, that is--"
     "Never mind.  It's a little late to have cold feet, don't you think?"
     "I'm not feeling well."
     "Really?" said Tifa, a doubtful look in her eye.
     "Yeah.  My head is spinning, and I think I'm gonna blow chunks..."
     "Is that it?  Yuffie, there's nothing wrong with you.  You're just getting married, that's
all."
     "That's all, she says.  This is the most important day of my life!"
     "So go live it."
     Somehow, those four words struck a chord with the ninja girl.  She stood up straight, and
turned toward the doors.  "Well, then, I can't keep him waiting too long, then, can I?  It's
showtime."
     The doors swung open, and Jim snapped to attention.  His jaw nearly dropped to the floor
when he saw Yuffie begin her walk down the aisle.  She was the most beautiful thing he had
ever seen in his entire life.  When she arrived at the altar, the music faded away, and they both
turned to each other.
     The minister walked up to the two of them.  "Dearly beloved," said the minister,"we are
gathered here on this beautiful day, in the splendor of the gods of Da-Chao, to see these two
people joined in life.  This day, their separate paths come together, and from now on, they travel
as one through the bounty that is life.  James Robinson, do you take this young woman, the
mayor of our fair city, in the bonds of matrimony, in sickness and health, prosperity and poverty,
good times and bad, for as long as you live?"
     "I do," said Jim, all nervousness gone from his voice.
     "And do you, Yuffie Kisaragi, take this man in the bonds of matrimony, in sickness and
health, prosperity and poverty, good times and bad, for as long as you live?"
     "I do," she said.
     "The ring, please?" inquired the minister.  A young boy walked up, and handed the
minister a pair of rings.  One a simple gold band, the other, a gold ring, shaped in the symbol for
infinity, with a large diamond set at the point where the 8 crossed.  Jim took this ring from the
minister's palm, and carefully slipped it on Yuffie's right hand. 
Yuffie took the other ring, and placed it on Jim's finger.
     "If anyone here sees any reason as to why these two should not be wed, speak now, or
forever hold your peace," said the minister.  After several moments of silence, the minister
continued.  "Then, by the power given to me by the gods of Da-Chao, and the planet, I
pronounce you husband, and wife.  You may kiss the bride."
     The two leaned towards each other.  Yuffie closed her eyes, and as their lips met, an
enourmous cheer rose from the crowd.  The kiss seemed to last forever, and when they ended it,
the minister stepped in between them.  "Ladies and gentlemen.  Let me be the first to introduce
you to Mr., and Mrs. James Robinson!"  The crowd cheered raucously as Yuffie and Jim bowed
slightly to the crowd, and then started back toward the other end of the chapel.  Jim's Barracuda
was waiting at the street, covered unceremoniously in toilet paper and old tin cans tied to the
bumper.  "Just Married" was painted on the back window with white shoe polish, and Jim
laughed.  He looked around quickly, noticing Cid was curiously absent.  He ripped off some of
the toilet paper from the side, and opened the door for Yuffie, helping her in.  He slammed the
door, glided over the hood, jumped in, and slowly drove off, away from the bustling city, off
toward the eastern horizon, the sun at his back.  Next to him, was the greatest thing that had ever
happened to him since Angela.  Now his life was complete.  He was at ease.
     

The End.

I would like to thank everyone who has sent me emails regarding this story, and telling
me how much they have enjoyed reading it.  I enjoyed writing it almost as 
much.  
jrebholz@usa.net