#you have a gorgeous empress who can turn people to stone by just standing there and two absolutely gigantic snake hybrid women

[serenfloras]

two of luffy's most powerful attacks in g4 snakeman form are called "king cobra" and "anaconda" after marigold and sandersonia and when he told them this it was the first time they ever associated their zoan devil fruits with something good and true

[babbushka]

HI! I hope you are doing well today. If you want, could you please tell us, how Kylo proposed marriage to his empress?

He’s terrified, of asking. Of disturbing this thing, this world you’ve built together. Of scaring you, of pushing you. He doesn’t ever want to push you, into anything, to do anything you don’t want. But stars, heavens above, he wants you, wants to marry you.

He’s brought you here, to Naboo, because of course he has. It’s your favorite place in the whole galaxy, you’ve told him on so many occasions, so many trips that you demand to be brought on, so many trips that you yourself arrange. You always insist on political conferences or committees to be held here on the beautiful temperate planet, always schedule it during the peaceful spring and summer months where the climate is balmy and you can wear all the gorgeous flowing dresses made of silks and satins that you adore.

You say it’s too cold in space to wear them on the star destroyers, but Kylo knows it’s an excuse. He’d never deny you, never, but he knows. You’re wearing one such dress now, an homage to Kylo’s grandmother, a queen who once ruled so just and true that the people still remember her, still celebrate her. They celebrate you now, too.

You’re wearing a dress made of gauzy breezy fabrics, almost see-through in a way that has Kylo’s jaw clenching, hands curling behind leather gloves into fists from the longing to reach out and touch you, to feel the thin sheerness of the fabric between his own finger-tips. Where his grandmother’s gown was in yellows and pinks, yours is in rich blacks and reds, the colors of his empire.

Of your empire, together.

Or at least it will be, if he can only ask you.

“You’re awfully talkative today.” You say, interrupting his inner monologue of now? should I say it now? should I ask her now? With eyes closed and a teasing smile, as you lay beside where he is seated in the grasses of the lake country.

His grandfather had proposed here, right in this very spot, surrounded by waterfalls which spray rainbows into the air and the clear blue skies of a pleasant day. His grandfather had done it, so, Kylo reasoned, so could he.

Except then he looks at you, takes one look at the way the sun kisses your exposed skin, sleeves billowing from clasps around your upper arms, showing off your shoulders. He sees the fluttering of your hair in the gentle wisp of the breeze from being so close to water which sparkles a deep blue. He sees you seeing him, and not for the first time, he panics about the possibility that you’ve got Force powers of your own, that you can read his mind.

“What would you have me say?” He asks, his own brand of playful, voice deep and imposing in a way that should have you intimidated but somehow you never are.

“Hmm,” You muse, rolling onto your side where you can prop your head up on your hand, your free palm picking flowers in the tall soft grasses which nearly conceal your body. “You could speak aloud some of those thoughts that I know are bouncing around in your head.”

“I’m afraid they’re not very interesting.” Kylo lies as he smooths the warm leather of his glove down the bridge of your nose, follows the contour of your lips to pinch your chin between his fingers.

He leans down to kiss you, but you know him too well, know that the kiss is an attempt to distract you.

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?” You quirk a brow, even as you sit up to follow his lips.

You won’t let him get away with simmering right in front of you, but you also won’t pass up an opportunity to kiss your beloved Supreme Leader.

“This is the first time in a while I’ve had you all to myself.” He comments, noting how utterly and blissfully alone you both are, together in the field.

You had wanted to go on a picnic, so Kylo had made it happen. There is a spread of fine fruits and treats, breads and chocolates and sweet wines that have stained your tongue and lips a dark berry red. You reach over to pluck a round citrus fruit from the basket, hand it to Kylo to peel with expert fingers as you crowd his space and kiss at his cheek.

“Isn’t it so nice?” You ask, watching him segment the fruit, careful not to let the juices drip all over your clothing. You sigh happily as you accept a segment or two, as you bite into the sweet tart freshness of it. “No ambassadors, no advisors, no generals. No Knights or Handmaidens – just us.”

“I could ravage you, and no one would know.” Kylo quirks a smile, and you waggle an eyebrow playfully, shift to straddle his lap.

It’s a little difficult, with all your fabric, all the silk. Kylo is mesmerized by the way it pools around your body, an ethereal goddess of rubies and inky blackness. His hands close around your waist, and he kisses the taste of fruit and wine off of your tongue.

“Is that what you want? To ravage me?” You ask, coy and devious.

“No.” Kylo has to stop himself from fucking you right there, from taking what he wants because he has other plans, plans which really should require your clothes to be on. You lean back a little, with  small confused frown that has his heart skipping, tongue tripping over himself when he rushes out, “Well, yes, always, but. That’s not why I brought you here.” 

“I didn’t know we needed a reason to come, to take advantage of the spoils of your rule.” You smile, tucking some hair behind his ear, cupping his cheeks in your hands, simply holding him. 

He turns his face into your palm, presses a long kiss to the soft skin, unmarred and smooth from a life of relative ease.

“It’s your rule too, you know.” He whispers, eyes meeting yours as they soften, “If you would have it.”

You smile and nod, and in the quiet, he takes a deep breath.

“My grandfather and grandmother were happy here for a time. Their love was forbidden and the lies and the secrets of their relationship cast them both into ruin. But…” He trails away, needs to lean in to give you a kiss, to steal some courage from your lips, some bravery. You are so brave, all the time, he thinks, he can be brave too. So he takes in a deep breath and another kiss and says, “But I feel so strongly for you that I want the galaxy to know. I want every star system to know how much I love you. I don’t want a shred of doubt surrounding the nature of our relationship.”

It’s then, that your eyes widen, that the realization of the trip’s purpose hits.

“Go ahead.” You encourage, not moving one inch, one centimeter.

You’re still straddling his lap, hands still on his cheeks, and he fiddles with the collar of your dress, the dark shiny metal reflecting back at him.

“I am not a perfect man, I am not even a good man. I’ve hurt and killed so many people to get to where I am today – but all of it, all of it, (Y/N), has been so I can offer you this.” He lifts a small box with the Force, a small thing that he had hidden away in the picnic basket.

It’s huge, the stone. A kyber crystal, one blood red with a crack running through the middle. You’re speechless, as it has to be from his saber, it has to be a piece of it, you just know it. It’s surrounded by white stones and set on a silver band, and Kylo knows his hand would be shaking if he weren’t holding it up with his powers.

“I swear to you, if you would have me as your husband, I would make sure there is not a corner of this galaxy that doesn’t know your name, that doesn’t know how much you mean to me. It would make me the proudest man to wear your love on my sleeve, to call you my wife.” He floats the ring over to you, floats it up out of the box and in front of your face.

“Ask me.” You pluck it out of thin air, eyes watering and smile so so so wide as you give it to him insistently, grin not possible to be any larger as you urge, “Properly, ask me.”

Kylo laughs then, laughs all of his relief away, all of his fears of all the things that could go wrong. He takes the ring and takes your hand and if the two of you were standing, he’d drop to one knee before you.

But as it is, he can’t bear the thought of you getting off of his lap, of you moving away from him, so he stays where he is when he looks you in the eye and asks,

“(Y/N), would you marry me?”

When you squeal so loudly that a flock of birds flees a nearby tree, when you throw your arms around his neck and tackle him backwards into the soft grasses, when you both roll and roll down the gentle slope of the hill you’re sitting on, laughing and crying and kissing and laughing some more, Kylo thinks that his grandparents would be proud of him.

Because he’s going to do it right, do right by you – his Empress.

[turtleparadise]

[ ~ One ~ Two ~ Three ~ Four ~ Five ~ Six ~ Seven ~ ]

7. One Year Later

"They'll be here soon, Empress."

"I can't wait!" Yuffie jumped up and down, shaking flowers in the bouquet she was holding on to.

"It's been a long time," Vincent said out of nowhere, making his girlfriend jump into the air. She turned around and gave him an annoyed stare.

"Where have you been, all this time?"

"Searching for my true love," he grinned, lifting up her hand and kissing it delicately.

"Excellent save, sir," said one of their attendants, wiping dust off of Vincent's jacket. He waved them away, and they began dusting Yuffie's clothes instead.

"Does it count as a save if she's still annoyed?" Yamato asked in monotone, not looking up from the clipboard he was scribbling on.

"You know me so well," Yuffie laughed.

"Is everything alright, Yamato?" Vincent asked.

"He's just in a mood because we're not holding the party in Hana."

"I'm not 'in a mood'," Yamato said. "The Imperial City is a splendid place to hold any arrangement. Except..."

"You miss your kids," Yuffie pointed out.

"So, Vincent," Yamato said, trying to take the subject off of himself, "where were you, really?"

"Ah... Speaking with Godo."

"I'm so glad he likes you now," Yuffie said, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him in close.

"It took a long time," he nodded. "I remember how furious he had been, at first. What with you 'shaming the entire nation', as he put it."

"He's such a drama queen," she shook her head.

"You did create quite a stir," Yamato reminded her. It was the understatement of the year. "What with you jumping into his arms in front of an entire city. And all their cameras. And internet connections."

"Worth it," Yuffie said, kissing Vincent tenderly. "One hundred percent worth it."

"Well," Ayase cleared her throat, "the airship has landed, and they will be arriving by cab within minutes. Everything is in order for the special welcome. Places, everyone!" She and Yamato stood off to the sides in the garden square, while the attendants all ran off to take their places. Yuffie and Vincent stood in the center, staring up at the starry sky while waiting to greet their guests.

In no time at all, the cars all arrived, and their guests poured out: Cloud, Tifa, Reeve, and his "son" Cait Sith from one car, and Shera, Cid, Barret, and Marlene from another. They all greeted their two friends with smiles, hugs, and stories. And from a third...

"Yamato!"

"Kids!" Yamato broke protocol and ran toward a group of five, three young adults and two children, who piled on top of him and knocked him to the garden floor. He couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, look at you! Cid, Luneth, you're sprouting up like bamboo! How did you grow so much in a year? Oh... What a wonderful surprise."

"Cloud and Tifa insisted on paying our way," Hikari said, once they had let Yamato stand back up. "This is our first time out of the country."

"Hana is growing," Leon said. "You should come visit soon and see the sights."

"Sorry I'm late," Nanaki greeted, leaping over the archway and into the square. "It's been several years since I last ran through the fields of Wutai... I couldn't resist."

"Naturally," Yuffie winked. "Aren't they lovely?"

"Is that everyone?" Vincent asked, gazing around the small crowd.

"Not quite," Yuffie said, gesturing toward two more cars. From these stepped President Dawn, Mayor Bianca, Mayor Vaast, and several other community leaders from around the world. The Empress greeted them all with hugs - except for Vaast, who preferred handshakes.

"Well then," Ayase said, checking off items on her clipboard before giving the Empress her full attention. "With the exception of a few others, who've already called ahead late, we have liftoff."

"Everyone," Yuffie smiled, barely able to contain her excitement. "Welcome..."

She struck a pose, one arm in the air, fingers outstretched. As she spoke, cherry blossoms were thrown into the air, raining down gently around the guests. At the same time, far in the distance, fireworks leaped high into the sky and exploded into flowers of gorgeous, colorful fire.

"...to the Imperial City of Wutai!" The entire group applauded, keeping their eyes on the gorgeous light show that continued.

"All that, jus' to greet us?" Cid asked. "Coulda' saved a lotta money-OOF." Shera elbowed him in the ribs.

"Thank you, all of you," she said, bowing to Yamato and Ayase.

"Come in, come in!" Yuffie made frantic beckoning waves with the hand that wasn't looped around Vincent's arm. The two turned and headed farther into the garden, along a beautiful stone pathway that led to a splendid little palace. The giant double doors were left open, so they could easily see that the first floor was completely dedicated to the party in question. Many citizens from all over Wutai were dancing up a storm, playing games, or chatting amongst themselves. "This is gonna be FUN!"

\\\\\

"Yuffie...?"

"Terra!" Yuffie gave the young woman a hug. "Enjoying the party? Where's Hikari?"

"They went to get some drinks," Terra said. "I, er... asked them to."

"Vinnie, can you get me something, too?"

"Of course," Vincent said, bowing to the two before walking away.

"I... I just wanted to say I'm sorry," Terra said. "For getting mad at you last year."

"Don't apologize for your feelings," she said, shaking her head. "If you had yelled at me, or been rude, or something, I would accept your apology. But you didn't. Not that I remember, anyway." Terra simply shrugged at this. "Will you still be my friend?"

"Of course!"

"And... I'm guessing you feel a lot better these days? You definitely look happy with your arm around Hikari..." She nudged the young woman with her elbow.

"Yuffie!" Terra put her hands on her hips, blushing.

"Sorry, sorry," Yuffie laughed. "How long have you two been together?"

"Almost a year now. They asked me out after we danced together at that party. I said no."

"You did? Why?"

"Feelings," she shook her head. "But after a while I called them up and we gave it a shot. I was still kind of hoping I wouldn't like them, but... I had a wonderful time, and they were so great. So we kept seeing each other. Yuffie, I... I think I'm in love!" Yuffie screamed excitedly, jumping up and down and taking Terra with her.

"That's great! I'm so glad to hear it!"

\\\\\

"A water and a green tea, please."

"Right away, Mister Valentine!"

"Valentine?" Hikari looked up from where they were waiting for their drinks. "Vincent Valentine?" Vincent nodded.

"I knew you looked familiar... You probably don't remember me, though."

"Hikari Sakaguchi," Vincent recalled. "You're the young one who spoke out against the party crashers last year. I heard your speech was beautiful."

"I wouldn't call it a speech," they said, their cheeks rosy. "I, uh... I just spoke in the moment."

"Sometimes that's all it takes."

"I guess... Hey, uh... What is it like, being the boyfriend of the Empress?" Vincent shrugged.

"When you're in love, it's an amazing experience, whether they're royalty or penniless. Although... I will say, when I'm here, life is certainly strange. It's different... being around the people she grew up around."

"How did you... Um..." More blood rushing to their cheeks.

"We met on the mission to save the Planet."

"No, not that... Do you have any advice on how to say the 'L' word?"

"I... can't help you there. It was an accident."

"What?"

"Three waters and a green tea," one of the workers at the bar announced, sliding the drinks toward the two.

"Thank you so much," Hikari said with a smile.

"Thank you," Vincent bowed. With fresh drinks in hand, they made their way back to the girls.

"How was it an accident?"

"We had just had... a dangerous moment, let's leave it at that. And we took a while to catch our breaths. I sang a bit for her. She reached out to touch my cheek... And it just..."

"And it just came out," Yuffie was telling Terra; apparently the two young adults had asked the same question. "It was so cute, you would not believe it."

"What did you say?"

"Well, at first I was shocked... But then-"

"But then she kept saying it over and over," Vincent interjected, "because she couldn't stand that I had said it twice before she had said it once. Water?"

"I didn't say it that many times," Yuffie scowled, accepting the glass. "Thank you."

"We said it back and forth for a good minute, as if we were arguing," Vincent said. "And then when I went to-"

"They don't need to hear the rest!"

"...I was going to leave out the sensitive information."

"What sensitive information?" Terra asked, sipping on the water Hikari had brought her.

"We'll tell the rest of that story another time," Yuffie insisted. "When it's just us friends, and not half the country able to listen in."

"That's fair," Hikari nodded.

\\\\\

"So, what are the plans?" Yuffie asked. "Three of you guys are finishing school soon, right?"

"I'm joining the new space administration," Leon said. "I was one of the first to sign up! Would have been the first, if not for Cecil..."

"Friend of yours?"

"Something like that."

"I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time working with Cid and Shera. They'll take good care of you."

"I'm going to university," Hikari announced. "I've already signed up for an internship at Parliament. I'll probably only take food orders or something, but... It'll be a good opportunity."

"Planning on running for President when you get out of college?" Yuffie grinned. Hikari laughed.

"Right... Me, President... What a thought."

"I thought I told you not to sell yourself short."

"Yeah... I guess, you never know what could happen."

"I'm gonna be a Guardian," Terra said between gulps of soda. "I already got my papers. Apparently, I'll be apprenticing under Reno."

"Oh, Leviathan!" Yuffie grimaced. "Not Reno!"

"Yes, Reno." The red-haired man swung by the table and pulled up a chair - sitting backward - next to Terra.

"I still don't have an apprentice..." Rude remained standing behind him.

"When did you two get here?" Vincent asked.

"Heh. Did you miss us, senpai?" Reno winked.

"Senpai?" The young adults at the table all stared at Vincent.

"...It's a long story."

"So, little baby-Turk," Reno addressed Terra. "Are you ready for the workout of your life?"

"Not yet," she laughed nervously. "Let me write my will."

"It won't be that bad," Cloud said, coming up to the table to smack Reno on the back of his head. Tifa arrived with him, but resisted the urge to hit their red-haired friend. "We'll all be with you, every step of the way."

"Do you think I can get as strong as you?" Cloud shrugged at this.

"Anything is possible."

"I'm putting in for an internship at the Wind Plant," Luneth spoke up. "When I reach high school."

"Eww," Cid squinted. "You're supposed to have fun in high school." Luneth shrugged.

"Gotta have job experience to land a good career by the time we get married." Cid choked on his apple juice.

"We are TWELVE. Marriage should be the last thing on our minds."

"That's what I said." It was Marlene's girlfriend, who had been quiet most of the evening. Marlene gave her a sideways glance.

"Krile, you have to think about the future, even a little bit."

"And what kind of job experience are you aiming for?"

"Well... I was a bartender when I was four," Marlene said, nonchalant. Krile's eyes went wide for a moment, jaw dropped, before she suddenly started laughing at the top of her lungs.

"That's right... I forgot we were all born in Midgar."

"A different world, that's for sure," Cid said.

"I'm glad we're the last generation that had to be born in that hell-hole," Marlene sighed.

"Marlene!" Tifa scolded. "Language."

"Sorry, Aunt Tifa."

"You know it's true, though," Leon said. "Living in the slums was a nightmare. And Edge wasn't much better, before the collapse."

"That's why everyone loves you so much, Yuffie," Hikari said. "You gave us all a new home, built from a strong foundation. A clean home, with clean energy, where we can all live in peace and happiness."

"Well..." Yuffie blushed. "I helped a little."

"Now who's selling herself short?"

"You really are amazing, Yuffie," Terra said. "You're so talented and generous. You've been working so hard for the whole world."

"You're just feeding her ego at this point," Vincent said. Yuffie smacked him lightly.

"Quiet, you." He smiled and took her hand in his.

"I didn't say they had to stop. At any rate, I want to dance. How about you?"

"You want to dance?"

"It can be exhilarating."

"I'd better take him up on his offer," Yuffie said to the young ones. "It might not come around again." They all had a good laugh at this as Vincent led her to the dance floor. "So... What is it, love?"

"I just wanted to hold you," Vincent said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in close. "We've both been so busy that I haven't had any alone time with you all day."

"So needy," Yuffie shook her head, before kissing him softly.

"I'm the only one, huh?" Vincent scoffed. "Like you haven't called in sick so you could lie in bed with me all day."

"Yep, it's just you," she teased. "Thank you, though, really... I think it's incredibly cute."

"I love you like the arrival of Spring," he said, leaning his head against her brow. Standing, their heights were too different for him to comfortably rest his head on her shoulder, so that was his main alternative.

"I love you like footsteps on a wooden bridge."

"I love you like a building's shade on a hot day."

"I love you like the smell of a bakery."

"Mmm... That's a wonderful smell. I love you like seventy-five-percent-off groceries."

"Now that's a good one!"

\\\\\

"So, when're y'all thinkin' 'bout tyin' the knot?"

Yuffie spat out her wine when she heard the question from Cid Highwind.

"A bit soon for that, don't you think?"

"We've only been together for a year," Vincent agreed, using napkins to dab at the wine that had sprayed onto him.

"I just had ta' mess with ya," Cid chuckled. The eight friends were seated in a large booth surrounding a round table large enough for them, and then some. The party was winding down, and barely any of the guests remained. The children and young adults were all seated at another booth across the hall, chatting among themselves.

"How is everything going between you two?" Tifa asked.

"I'd say it's awesome," Yuffie grinned. "I couldn't ask for more. What about you?"

"I love it," Vincent said, his cheeks turning pink. "I love..." He stared at the table, where his hands rested, fingers intertwining and then separating over and over. "I love Yuffie."

"Tell us something we don't know," Tifa laughed.

"I love spending daily life with her... I love venturing into the places that are dear to her. I love listening to her speak passionately about things I don't care about..." He looked into Yuffie's eyes. "I love waking up to see your face."

"So that's the irresistible charm, eh?" Barret laughed while Yuffie practically mauled Vincent, covering him with kisses.

"Life has been about the same for me," Nanaki said. "Then again, I age much slower than the rest of you. I spend most of my time wandering the world, learning what I can from places besides the Canyon. But it is always nice to go back home... I believe I'll be staying there for the next few months. Any of you are welcome to visit if you'd like."

"That sounds like a great idea," Yuffie nodded, peeking up from where she was depleting her boyfriend's oxygen supply. "Me and Vinnie are running a world tour here in a few weeks. We could stop by on our way to Gongaga."

"World Tour?" Cid asked.

"Going to all the places we've done construction, seeing how everyone's doing. I'd also like to go to South Corel and Mideel to assess damages and see what all I can work with, since I haven't gotten around to that just yet."

"Always busy," Cloud smiled. "I'm proud of you two."

"Space Administration's startin' out great," Cid said. "We're plannin' our first launch six months from now. Y'all wanna come say 'hi', better do it 'fore I'm up on the moon!"

"We'll put it on our schedule," Cloud nodded.

"Life hasn't changed," Reeve said. "The WRO is nowhere near as active as it once was. I can relax with Cait in my new home."

"Just a few blocks from us and Barret," Tifa cheered.

"Does Cait go to school?" Yuffie asked.

"Hmm..." Reeve shrugged. "He hasn't mentioned wanting to go. I'll have to think about that. It may be... very strange."

"Life's the same for me," Barret shrugged. "I love these peaceful days. Not a care in the world, 'cept for raisin' Marlene right. But she's growin' so fast..."

"I've heard they tend to do that," Tifa said. "I'm still not quite ready for one of those, even though it's such a joy having children over."

"How are things for you guys?" Yuffie asked.

"Guardian work is very slow," Cloud said. "But I'm on salary, so I don't mind. Spend most of my time training with the other Guardians."

"I've started giving piano lessons on weekend mornings," Tifa announced. "I still play at theatres and clubs in the evening."

"And so life goes on," Nanaki said. "Sometimes... Sometimes, I awaken with this fear... That the old crises and battles have begun again."

"So do I," Barret said. The entire group nodded.

"I don't think that fear will ever leave us completely," Vincent said. "But I also don't think there's anything to worry about. The old evils are gone. The Planet is healthy. The Lifestream has been cleansed."

"Everything's going to be alright," Tifa said, and believed it. Yuffie nodded, raising her glass.

"I'll drink to everything being alright."

"To everything being alright!"

\\\\\

"And so another amazing adventure of Kisaragi and Valentine begins! Better get ready, Vinnie! With no one else around, I'm gonna annoy the daylights outta you."

"I want you to annoy me," he smiled. "I thought we talked about that."

"Oh... Oh gods... It's hot." She immediately launched herself onto Vincent's back.

"You didn't even try," he laughed, though he didn't mind in the slightest.

"You know, we haven't roughed it together in a long time. I'm gonna be dirty as all get-out. Are you ready for dirty-Yuffie, Vinnie? The Sights and Smells of Dirty Yuffie?"

"I can't wait." Blood rushed to her face, and she dropped her chin onto his head.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing..."

"Right... Hey, Vinnie, if we ever do get married, there are certain customs when dealing with the Imperial family, you know?"

"Tell me all about it."

"Well, as much as I'd love to be 'Yuffie Valentine', you're gonna have to take my name."

"Good."

"'Good'?" Yuffie couldn't help but laugh.

"Yuffie..." Vincent stopped walking for a moment, trying to stare up at her eyes, though she had to lean forward a bit. "The name 'Valentine' is just another withered remnant of the past I've left behind. When it's gone, I'll have nothing left of those old wounds but the painful memories that still come to me from time to time."

"Does that mean you've forgotten about... her?"

"I still remember..." He continued walking. "Sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks, I'll remember again. But for the most part, yes, she and all the rest of the pain are the farthest things from my mind."

"...Good."

"Don't be jealous of someone who's not even there."

"I'm not jealous!" She pounded her fists against his shoulders.

"Let yourself feel your feelings."

"Make up your mind!"

"What I'm trying to say is, I love you more than the tattered phantoms of my past. I love you more than the person I was when I buried myself in sleep for all those years. You have my heart. Leave all the rest of it in the past. Where it belongs."

"I love you, Vinnie," she sighed, burying her face in his shoulder. "You know what I've realized? We don't jump on each other as much anymore." Vincent paused to stare up at her again. "That's not what I mean! We're not... Like..." She grumbled.

"It's less often that we're desperately intimate," he offered.

"I like that... desperately intimate. Sounds nice."

"We've been together more than a year now. Granted, quite a bit of that time has been spent away from each other, but the result is still the same. Our brains release the 'love' chemicals less often. We don't feel the desperate need to touch each other every moment. At that point, love shifts into its next phase. The chemicals have done their job, and now it's up to the people in the relationship, working as a team, to keep it going."

"That's scary..."

"A little. But... We've done the work. We communicate openly, and don't hold each other to unreasonable expectations. We respect each others' boundaries, listen when the other says 'no'. We respect each other as individuals. I think we can handle it. And... the desperation may no longer be there, but we still want to touch each other."

"A LOT," Yuffie grinned, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Hey... But there are still times when I feel the... 'desperation'."

"Of course. The chemicals are still released, just not nearly as much. I think we'll always have those moments. The important thing is to continue to do the work. Together."

"No sweat."

"I love you like a train, travelling fast, creating a strong wind."

"I love you like the wind making trees dance."

"I love you like a cold breeze on a Summer day."

"Hey... Will you still love me when I'm old and withered and grey?"

"...How would I know?" Yuffie felt a dagger pierce her heart, and she lost her grip on him and fell backwards onto the grass. He turned around and raised an eyebrow. "Are you... alright?"

"Vinnie!" Yuffie grumbled as she sat up. "When your girlfriend asks you that, there's only one answer! 'Of course, I'll love you forever, you'll always be beautiful to me!'."

"That sounds unrealistic." Another dagger.

"Vinnie!"

"No one can predict the future. As much as I love you, something could happen... I mean, it seems highly unlikely at this point, but you never know..."

"You're just making me feel worse and worse..." Vincent sighed and knelt down, lifting her chin with his fingers.

"Yuffie... I love you now. I love you today. I'll love you a year from now, I'm willing to bet. Even two or three... Who knows how many years?"

"Urge to stab you, still rising."

"There's no telling what will happen... But... If I have my way, I'll love you longer than the rest of our lives, until the Planet is gone, until the stars themselves have gone out one by one, until time and life itself no longer exist. If I have my way, we will love each other forever."

"That's... better." Her cheeks were flushed again. "'If I have my way'... Beautiful... Yes, yes, much better." Vincent leaned in to kiss her. They brought their hands to brush against each other's cheeks ever so gently, and remained locked together for quite some time before he pulled away to continue.

"I love you, Yuffie Kisaragi. I love you more than any simile I could ever think of. No comparison could be enough. I love you. And I don't want to think about tomorrow."

"What do you want to think about?" She asked, grinning.

"I don't know... Nothing, at the moment."

"Good. Because the sun's going down, and I want those lungs. I wanna be 'desperately intimate'." He smiled at this and laced his fingers with hers.

"Show me how."

[ ~ One ~ Two ~ Three ~ Four ~ Five ~ Six ~ Seven ~ ]

[ And they lived, to some extent or another, happily ever after.

I want to thank anyone who reads this, once again. If you've read this entire story, it means a lot to me. Please feel free to tell me what you think, tell all your friends, etc. I don't know what I'm going to do with this blog now, if anything, but I have a few ideas... ]