Woke Up One Morning... Epilogue

Wearing a red dress suit, Lady Une smiles with an open book in her hands as she looks out to the large gathering of people just past Heero and myself to begin, "Friends, we are gathered here today to stand witness to the marriage of Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell. This pair stands here as living examples that love truly does conquer all."

I grin widely and squeeze Heero's hands in mine as we stare at each other standing before her at the altar of the ocean-side chapel that we had picked for our re-wedding. Smiling back, he returns the squeeze.

Dressed in black tuxes similar to the ones we are wearing, Trowa stands as 'Ro's best man along with Wufei serving as groomsman. At my back, Quatre acts as my best man with 'Lena my 'maiden in wait' behind him holding a small bouquet that matches her long lilac dress. Every one of them look on with smiles that almost out-beam ours.

Out in the packed chapel pews, our finely-attired audience of family, friends and agents that we had worked alongside sit to bear witness to our joining. From Zechs and Noin to Howard and the Sweepers to even Ryan Jacobs and his new girlfriend in our little Danielle Meyer, everyone that we have ever had a connection with is here.

This... is what I always imagined for my wedding. Something that I would really be able to cherish and I am forever grateful that Heero knew it enough that he had all of this planned.

Jesus, I love this guy.

Because of her role in law enforcement, Lady Une has already been granted the right to serve as an official of marriages. And there was no question to me or my husband that we wanted her to perform this service. When we had asked her if she would, she actually cried a little and said that it would be one of her greatest honors.

So, she continues, "Marriage is the union of two individuals in heart, body and mind. It is intended for their mutual joy - and for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity. But more importantly -it is a means through which a stable and loving environment may be attained."

At our request, the Commander goes on with the words that we had picked out ourselves, "This relationship stands for love, loyalty, honesty and trust, but most of all for friendship. Before Heero and Duo knew love, they were friends, and it was from this seed of friendship that is their destiny. Do not think that you can direct the course of love - for love, if it finds you worthy, shall direct you."

Clearing her throat, she adds with a wink at us, "Whether you plan on it or not." Laughing along with everyone gathered around, Heero and I both nod at that.

Her hands closing the book in her possession, Lady Une announces, "Heero and Duo have both decided to incorporate the same vows they gave to one another one year ago with the vows they will be exchanging now." Smirking to me, she bows her head for me as my cue.

A smile curling my lips, I go with the vow that I memorized from our video, "Heero, when we first met we couldn't have been more different and sometimes getting along at all was a challenge. But over time, we came to have an understanding of each other and actually became friends."

Swallowing roughly, I shrug, "Then, before I knew it, you were the one person I felt like I could always talk to and count on to be there for me even when I was at my lowest. And after that... I realized that I was in love with you. So, now I'm actually one of the lucky ones who can say that I'm lucky enough to be married to my best friend... who I love and trust in more than anyone else."

When I come up to the additional vows, my throat tightens against the knot that I have to clear away before continuing, "For a long time now, it's been bothering me come up with a new, better way of telling you how I feel about you."

Blinking at that, Heero's grin fades into a concerned expression when my eyes begin to water. "And I've finally realized that there are no words, and not a phrase out there that can really tell you that," I breathe as a tear rolls down my cheek.

I shake my head and chuckle, "The word for how I feel isn't out there, but 'I love you' will have to work. I just wanted to let you know that I mean so much more than when I say it. Thank you for everything you've done for me, but most importantly for making me your husband."

His smile returning, Heero's eyes are wet as he squeezes my hands and mouths, 'Thank you.'

"Wow," Lady Une whispers, causing us both to look at her as she dries her tears. Waving her hand in the air, she clears her throat again and snickers, "I'm sorry. Pay no mind."

Many people throughout the chapel laugh along with us at the rare sight of the Commander actually getting choked up... and just as many guests are wiping at their eyes including the wedding party standing up with us.

Grinning when she composes herself, our 'Ma nods to my partner, "Heero."

With a nod back to her, my husband locks gazes with me again and smiles, "I may have trouble telling you exactly how I feel about you. There is nothing in my life that is more important than you, Duo."

I hold my breath when he takes a long one before adding on, "A long time ago, I realized that I was in love with you when I thought of all of the times when I was the happiest... and every single one of those moments included you somehow."

"You... have always been the one and only certainty in my life and I know that will not change. You have done me the greatest great honor by having me as your husband and I will continue on through life and beyond by your side just as we have since when we first met."

More tears fall from not only the two of us, but through the room as I mouth back, 'Love you.'

Her eyes reddened at the edges, Lady Une grins, "We will now have the exchange of the rings." Accepting our matching gold-and-silver braided wedding bands, our promises are given when they are slipped back onto our fingers where they belong.

At the end of it all, the Commander beams, "And now, by the power vested in me by the Earth and the Colonies alike, I now pronounce you as husbands to each other. You may now kiss your-"

Heero pulls me against him before she can finish the phrase to kiss me deeply as our guests laugh and clap.

"...husband," Une giggles just as I get my bearings, closing my eyes and returning the exchange.

Pulling back, I fight for my breath but can't keep the smile from nearly splitting my face as the announcement is made, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor and privilege to present to you Mister Heero and Duo Yuy-Maxwell."

Instantly getting to their feet, our audience cheers, whistles and applauds us as we finally look away from one another to walk hand-in-hand up the aisle together.

The second we're nearly alone at the back of the chapel, Heero wraps his arms around my waist to lift and spin me with another deep kiss.

Laughing when we break away, I throw my arms around his neck as the others hurry around to be among the first to congratulate us.

Finally... a wedding that I know I'll remember for the rest of my life.

*  *  *  *  *  *

And Quatre got to throw one hell of a reception, as he promised. Hilde was happy to Molly-sit over the two-week honeymoon that Heero and I took all over the globe and Colonies, all paid for by Lady Une as our second wedding gift from her. We even revisited Lugano for a few days as promised early on in our last case.

Now, just over five years after that second wedding, all of our friends and family are about to gather together again for another big day.

I've been pacing in the living room of the home that Heero and I have shared since moving here to L2 for almost twenty minutes now.

Sighing to myself, I silently wish that I had gone with him to the school. At least then I wouldn't be here going absolutely out of my mind. Molly is contenting herself to lying on the floor across from me, her head moving back and forth as she watches me move from one end oft he room to the other as if she were viewing a tennis match.

Before I wear a deep trench in the carpet, I decide to pause at the large bay windows to stare at the lake just beyond our property.

Yes, a lake on L2. Even though Heero and I helped the teams that built the wide and long stretch of water, it's still a marvel every time I look out at it. There are a lot of miraculous changes that have been taking place around the Colony since it's received all of the financial and manpower support that the Assembly could provide.

The government here has been replenished to help with the poverty issues by opening new business and therefore more jobs. Children living on the streets is a thing of the past with the local shelters and orphanages that are placing the young forgotten ones into safe and loving homes.

Water towers and a self-replenishing source have made it possible for every home and building to have clean running water at any given time. That alone was something most people that have lived here for a long time thought they would never see.

And Heero and I have been here, digging in and helping wherever we could to bring the Colony to its full potential that I always knew it had. It's been five long, hard years in the making, but we've finally made it.

These days, there are times I almost forget what the Colony looked like when I was little- there is that drastic a change.

'Lena giggles as she and Scott enter the room. Married and expecting their first baby, the couple couldn't seem happier. A hand on her swollen belly, the Vice Foreign Minister shakes her head when I turn to meet her eyes, "Duo, relax before you make me nervous. They'll be here in plenty of time for the ceremony."

"I know," I mutter in embarrassment, running a hand through my bangs. "It's just... this is a really big deal."

Just then, Trowa and Quatre step in with amused smiles on their faces. My Arab friend reassures with a smile, "We know that. Your excitement is more than understandable." Wufei carries his newborn son, Alex, as he and Sally follow with their little Phoenix walking in wearing a cute mint greet dress and her dark hair pulled up in pigtails.

Grinning at the sight of her, I get to my knees and say, "There's my goddaughter." With a happy squeal, she runs for me and leaps into my arms. Kissing her cheek and lifting her up, I look around the room while Howard, Zechs and a pregnant Noin enter along with the newlyweds Lady Une and Senator Noll.

Though they have all been staying in our large guest home for almost a week, seeing them all here together like this is making all of my emotions catch up with me. I take a deep breath and tell them all quietly, "Everyone, I... I just hope you all know how much it means to me that you're all here for this."

A warm smile tugging his mouth, Trowa nods, "We know, Duo."

"Wouldn't miss this for the world," Howard chuckles. "It's definitely been a long time coming."

That it has been.

Lowering Phoenix so she can run back to her parents, I hear the front door open and look up as Heero enters with our twins, Jason and Kristin. A year ago, Heero and I decided that we were ready to adopt when the new orphanage to replace the Maxwell Church was finally completed and opened.

At five years old, the children were orphaned when their parents were killed in an accident. 'Ro and I just couldn't bear the thought of them being separated when we saw how they clung onto each other... someone understanding that they were all they had in the world at the time.

We filed to bring them in and added them to the family as quickly as we could. And they've been the best additions since.

"Hey," I call when they step through the door..

Their blue eyes brightening, they exclaim, "Daddy!" Quickly dropping their preschool bags, they laugh and charge for me as Heero closes the door, chuckling and shaking his head in amusement.

Getting back to my knees, I scoop them up and kiss their cheeks. Rubbing the top of their heads of brown hair as they grin up with bright blue eyes, I ask, "So are you two ready for our big adventure?"

"Yea!" they cheer, making our extended family laugh. Molly lets out an excited bark, her tail wagging behind her. Chuckling, I kiss their cheeks again and straighten myself. "Well, then, let's get going."

*  *  *  *  *  *

A twenty-minute drive into the nearest city, we arrive at the large square in the center of it all. No surprise, there is a massive crowd gathered there already.

In the center of that stands a tall, silver fountain that stands at an impressive fifteen feet tall. Five 'streamers' rise up from the pool of the structure to flow around the giant dove floating in the middle with its head looking skyward and wings spread out at either side.

At the top of it all, the streamers link up to form one strong support for the bowl they carry. In the pool base, there are a variety of permanently placed cans, plates and other items set to take up the water that is not falling just yet.

There is a red ribbon that loops in front of the structure's base to make a ring that holds the crowd back from getting too close. From where we are in the mass of people, I almost have to stand on my toes to see. Once I have a good enough glance, I take Kristin and put her up on my shoulders while Heero does the same with Jason.

Hilde, her husband and the Sweepers catch up with our large group as everyone looks on with the same anticipation, their own umbrellas and ponchos ready for the big event about to unfold.

Overhead, a layer of clouds is beginning to form up enough to cover the skies when the Mayor appears at the podium behind the ribbon to the applause and cheers of the crowd. The burly, thick mustached man smiles widely and raises his hands to call for a hush that falls.

"My friends," he begins, "this is a great day for all of us here on L2. At the unveiling of this wonderful symbol of the progress our Colony has made in this fountain, we will enjoy our first full evening of rain. From this point on, such a simple commodity will not be a rarity to us any longer."

A loud roar erupts from the audience. Putting fingers to my mouth, I whistle and join in on the applause. Grinning widely, Heero puts his own hands together as our kids cheer overhead.

His hands raising again, the Mayor smirks, "I am not going to bore you with any long speeches. Let's simply get to it." Raising a large pair of scissors, he announces, "Under normal circumstances, it would be my honor to cut the ribbon at an unveiling like this. However, there is one in this audience who deserves the honor more."

Brown eyes searching the crowd, he smiles when he spots me and holds his free hand out while saying, "I believe that Mister Duo Yuy-Maxwell should be the one to have the honor today. Not only is he the one who designed this wonderful structure, he has spent most of his life fighting for all of us here on L2. We owe all of the strides that we have made to him."

I gasp at that, not having expected having such an opportunity. Laughing after I remain frozen with the crowd around cheering, Heero nudges my shoulder and tells me, "Well, get up there!" Quickly breaking from my state of shock, I grin from ear-to-ear and hand Kristin over to Trowa who has moved in so that she could take up his shoulders. Passing Molly's leash to Quatre, I move forward.

Still applauding, the mass of people before me clear a path for me to reach the large red ribbon that I duck under on my way to the podium. Covered cameras flash and media recorders roll as the Mayor bows his head to me and hands over the scissors. "It's all yours, young man," he tells me and takes a few paces back.

Gripping the handle of the scissors, I smile and open the blades to press the ribbon between them. With a deep breath, I slice through in one snip to the increasing cry from the crowd. And as the ribbon falls, a roll of thunder echoes through the space to the audience's excitement.

Umbrellas are opened and ponchos are pulled on seconds before the skies open up to a cool, steady rain.

Water pours from the top bowl of the fountain, running over the streamers and dropping down into the pool in such a way that the materials give off a symphony of chimes just as I had expected they would.

In their raincoats, Kristin and Justin in begin to dance around and play in the gathering puddles like a lot of other kids around while many of their parents are happy to just stare up at the heavens and actually feel the rain on their faces.

Now that the barrier around the fountain is down, the crowd moves forward so that they can have a closer look. "It's... like an orchestra," I hear a woman whisper over the 'bells' in the air.

The Mayor quickly walks over to me with his large black umbrella to have me stand under it with him when I raise my hand and chuckle, "Thank you, but I'm alright. I'd much rather take it in, you know." An understanding fills his brown eyes and he nods with a grin.

I search out Heero and find him watching me with that loving smile on his face. Lady Une whispers something in his ear and I can see that she is happily taking charge in looking after our children so that he can make his way to me.

When he does, everyone and everything else fades away for a moment.

His arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me close against him, He leans in for a deep kiss that takes my breath away. Once I regain my composure when he lets me come up for air, he smirks, "May I have this dance?"

My own smile spreading, I nod, "I'd be honored." Without hesitating for a second, Heero takes my hand in his and our free arms wrap behind each other's waists.

Together, we follow the rhythm of the 'band' to turn and move around the 'dance floor' that has spread open to us. Of course, I think back to the first dance we shared in the rain just like this on a beach back on the Earth.

Snickering, the Mayor approaches to remind me that we're not alone and warns, "I should let you both know that we're going to be experiencing some heavier rain shortly.

Not the least bit scared of that, Heero and I continue to hold onto each other as I laugh, "Great! Bring it on!" Looking back into my husband's eyes, we continue our dance and lose the rest of the world again.

Whatever life has to throw at us, we'll keep dancing through it as long as we have each other.

OWARI

 

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