And so it ends. Please let me know what you thought of the series, and feel free to message me if you have ideas for further chapters! I can't guarantee anything, but if something does strike my fancy, I will credit you at the start of the chapter. *loves on you all*

Also, please check out the Call of Duty poll on my ffnet profile page! I'd love to hear your opinion!

Chronology: After Hours, Negotiations, Introductions, Call of Duty, Blackmail, Qualifications, Exposed, Clean, Demand, Rimfire, Entrapment, Officer Down, Recovery, Contact, Restraint, Oath. Chapters not posted here can be found on LJ (more info in my profile).

Disclaimer: dood, fanfiction. Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, and the characters and universes therein are the property of Disney and Square Enix. I receive no remuneration for this work; it is a parody and as such utilizes the Fair Use clause of the Copyright Act.

Call of Duty: Oath

It's a truly beautiful wedding. Cloud's not used to thinking in such floral terms, but it really is. Tifa honestly looks stunning up at the altar in her slender white satin gown, and the man who will be her husband in a matter of minutes is gazing down at her with such silent devotion that it's as if she is the only thing on Earth that exists.

It's everything she deserves, and he's happy for her.

He's happy for himself, too. And a little antsy. Though it won't be in the same matter of minutes, if he can get Leon alone after the ceremony...well, maybe Tifa won't be the only one making a vow today.

Though, of course, his will have to be made in secrecy.

He adjusts the lapel of his suit jacket, discreetly running his thumb over the small inner pocket. Still there, still safe. He breathes out slowly, relaxing a little, and glances over to the right just in time to see Leon shifting slightly in the seat next to him. Despite spending most of his time dressed up in a uniform, Leon's not terribly fond of suits. But he puts up with it gracefully, and he looks damn good doing so, if Cloud does say so himself.

Leon catches him staring after a moment, and his stormy blue eyes narrow in amusement. Cloud shakes his head faintly, fighting back a smile, and redirects his attention to where it should have been focused all along.

After the ceremony is over, Cloud casually suggests they wait a few minutes to watch some of the wedding party photography, which is being staged up at the altar. Really he's just waiting for most of the crowd to leave for the reception so he can try to get Leon alone, but he's pleased when Leon concedes easily and waits with him near the back wall of the chapel, posture straight and formal, hands folded neatly in front of him.

As he's gazing at him, Cloud is suddenly forced to revise his earlier opinion. "Damn good" just doesn't cut it—Leon looks incredible.

He takes a steadying breath and glances up at Tifa and Rude and their respective parents posing together in front of the altar before clearing his throat softly. "Leon? Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course," Leon says, curiosity arching one dark brow.

Cloud nods and leads him out into the foyer of the church, and then down into the corridor that leads to the room he met Tifa in earlier, to congratulate her and calm her down after she'd dressed for the ceremony. He doesn't pick that same room because she's still got stuff in there, but the one across the hall is empty, so he steps inside and flips on the light.

Leon follows him in and shuts the door behind them with a quiet click, and Cloud's heart clenches in his chest at the soft metallic sound. He has Leon's undivided attention now; he doesn't even have to turn around to feel it hanging heavy in the air.

"Cloud?"

"Squall..." He pivots around to face the other man, his long-time lover, partner, friend. He can't imagine doing this for anyone else, and that thought gives him the courage to press on. "We've been through a lot together, haven't we?"

Leon stares at him quietly, clearly wondering at his sudden formality and the very rare use of his given name. He nods slowly after a few seconds. "Yeah, we have."

Cloud nods, staring right back, and then he lets out a short, nervous laugh. "Hell, I'm no good at this."

Leon smiles very, very faintly, and Cloud takes another slow breath, calmed by that subtle curl of lips. Without further preamble he pulls the two platinum promise rings out of his inner pocket, holding them up between them.

"Just...a symbol of my love and fidelity," he offers softly in explanation, taking Leon's left hand into his own. He slides one of the rings onto his third finger and lifts his gaze back up, looking solemnly into slate blue eyes that slowly widen in recognition of what he's trying to do. "Tell me you feel the same..."

Leon's expression changes as he speaks, tightening with emotion that he's usually very adept at concealing. The moment Cloud falls silent to wait for an answer, lips pressing together in a line that's more anxious than he intends it to be, Leon leans in and kisses him, slow and firm and tender, newly-ringed hand closing over his own and squeezing tightly.

"You know I do," he says earnestly once they break from the brief but deeply passionate kiss. He takes the other ring and slides it onto Cloud's finger, and then turns his hand over to press a reverent kiss to his open palm. "And the day I don't let you know that will be the day after I die."

Tifa knows.

She always does, somehow.

Cloud blames it on women's intuition. Either that or she's got more smarts than Sherlock Holmes and he needs to have Leon talk to Hewley about appointing her as a detective right away.

When it's their turn to greet the newlyweds at the reception, Tifa hugs him tighter and longer than she ever has. She kisses him lightly on the cheek, and lingers there to whisper, "When we get back from Costa, you're going to tell me everything."

She draws back then, and once he sees the pride and happiness shining in her dark eyes, he can't bring himself to do anything but agree.

A few hours before sunrise the next morning, after completely wearing themselves out with physical exchanges that were somehow even more meaningful and intimate than any other time before, Cloud asks Leon what it was, exactly, that Tifa had whispered to him after she'd hugged him too, while Cloud was shaking hands with Rude.

Leon smiles wryly and takes his hand, smoothing his thumb over the cool, silvery surface of his ring before pulling it towards him and kissing his knuckles. "'Welcome to the family.'"