6 years.
It had been 6 years since the war against Gunther Prozen and Hiltz had been put to an end. It had been 6 years since things had begun to go back to a normal enough life for the Empire and the Republic. It had been 6 years since Irvine finally gave in to his feelings and realized his true emotions for Moonbay.
It had been two years since he had proposed to her, and now, Irvine was giving up his bachelor days for a new life...the married life.
6 years ago if anyone had asked Irvine what he thought about settling down, starting a family, and devoting himself to one woman, Irvine probably would have laughed.
But now, as he looked at himself in the mirror, he knew those days were behind him.
He looked over his hair, which had been cut shorter in a crew cut that resembled Thomas's, at his eyepatch which adorned his eye, and the rented tuxedo that fitted him perfectly.
A lot had happened since the day he first met Van Flyheight.
He could remember that day as clearly as he remembered what he had had for breakfast.
Irvine's nostalgia was cut short however as a knock at the door broke him of his thoughts.
"Come in," Irvine called out as he straightened his black tie.
Irvine looked in the mirror as his best man stepped up beside him to regard him in the mirror.
"You nervous?"
"Scared shitless."
Van laughed as he clapped his friend on the shoulder.
"You'll make a fine husband for her, Irvine. Marriage isn't that terrifying."
"Easy for you to say, you've been geared up for marriage since the moment you saw Fiona," Irvine replied as he fidgeted with his tie.
"Oh let me," Van barked as he turned Irvine to face him and readjust his tie. "You and Moonbay are as perfect for each other as me and Fiona are. What are you worried about?"
Irvine looked into his friend's eyes with a sigh.
"What if I'm not good enough, Van? What if the married life gets too boring?"
"Irvine, you're not entering a convent or anything," Van laughed. "You'll still have plenty of adventure with all of us, just now you'll have a family to support. I can promise you, marriage itself is an adventure."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Irvine sighed as he looked back at himself in the mirror. "Van?"
"Yeah, Irvine?"
"I was just thinking about the first time we met...can you remember it?"
Van laughed as he leaned against the wall. "Of course! You damn near tried to kill me."
"A lot has happened since then," Irvine smiled as he looked at his friend. "I can't believe I'm getting married, Van..."
"You'll believe it when you see her walk up that aisle," Van grinned as he patted his friend. "She'll look more beautiful than she's ever looked before to you."
"I don't doubt that," Irvine smirked as he turned to Van. "Van..."
"Yes?"
"What happens if I become a father one day?"
Van looked into the ex-mercenary's eyes and said honestly, "You'll make a great father one day. I promise you that."
Irvine took a deep breath and nodded his thanks as the door was opened and Thomas stepped in.
"Are we ready boys?"
Irvine and Van looked at each other before nodding. Before Irvine left the room however, he took off his eyepatch and set it gently into a box in a drawer.
"Irvine?" Van questioned.
"I don't need it anymore. That part of my life is over," Irvine smiled as he gave the box one last look before looking at the others. "Are we ready?"
Thomas and Van exchanged smiled before letting Irvine lead the way to the altar.
