It is said that James Raynor was never heard from again following his disappearance from Mar Sara.

Well, that's what the history books would have you believe. It's true his badge was found but it's not true that he was never heard from again. In fact, almost a year following his disappearance he came to see me.

Matthew Horner rushed to his quarters down the cold metallic corridors of the Hyperion as quickly as he could whilst trying to remain inconspicuous. He'd just received a rather unusual message from an old friend.

"Hey, Matt. It's Jim. Need your help with something. I hope you don't mind but I let myself into your quarters. Meet me there. Don't let anyone else know I'm here. Oh, kinda disappointed you don't have any Scotty Bolger's Old No. 8 in here."

The tone had been jovial, Jim had even laughed at the end. Matt intended to give him a piece of his mind for vanishing like that without a single word, after he'd welcomed him back of course and maybe after he'd found out how he got on board.

Matt arrived at his quarters, luckily without rousing too much attention. He rushed through the door and instantly saw Jim, standing there looking exactly like he had done the last time he saw him. He was next to a table that had some photographs on it, admiring them and reminiscing. The room was poorly lit, only the desk lamp by the photographs illuminated the space they were in.

"Jim," Matt said. It wasn't until the words left his lips that he realized how desperate and relieved he was to see him.

"Matt," Jim said softly as he recognized his old friend. He stood up straight and smiled. "Good to see you," he stated.

"You, too," Matt returned the sentiment. "Whiskey's in the cupboard behind you," Matt pointed out, trying to break some of the tension he felt building between them.

Jim chuckled, "it's alright. I gave up."

Matt cocked an eyebrow. He was glad, he always thought Jim drank too much after losing Kerrigan. He was proud that Jim had managed to kick the habit.

"Been looking after the Hyperion well, I see," he complimented. He was surprised Matt wasn't in charge of some brand new high tech ship by now.

He laughed, "we've replaced so much on her I'm not sure we should still be calling her that."

Jim laughed.

Matt let the moment of joking pass before turning serious. "Where the hell have you been, Jim? People have been..." He trailed off as he caught a figure move out of the shadows and into the light. Her red hair and silver suit instantly identifying her. "Kerrigan," he said in a voice that was a mix of surprise, anxiety, relief and curiosity.

"Hopefully not for long," she smiled as she moved to be beside Jim, taking his hand in hers.

Matt didn't understand her or presence or words.

Jim smiled. "Guessin' all those admiral powers still give you the right to marry two people, right?" He squeezed Sarah's hand gently in excitement.

Matt looked at them, confused. Last he knew, Sarah Kerrigan had become Xel'naga, she'd gone, now she was here seemly normal wanting to marry a man who had disappeared. He wondered if this was some type of trap, some kind of trick, were these people impostors?

Jim chuckled gently, "it's me, Matt. This ain't no trick."

Matt frowned, "last I knew, Jim Raynor didn't have the ability to read minds." He moved his hand towards his side arm, ready just in case.

Jim chuckled again, "don't understand it all myself, yet." He looked at Sarah for a brief moment, thankful for her gift, before returning his gaze to Matt. "She found me, I never expected her to come back for me," he paused for a moment to let his words sink in. "But she did." He held her hand tighter.

"Neither of us can live without each other," Sarah began softly. "We don't have to anymore," she snaked her free hand around Jim's torso and rested her head against his chest.

"She shared her energy with me," Jim got to the point, welcoming Sarah's hug by placing his arm around her. They had eternity, but he realized Matt didn't, and to be honest the sooner he could marry the love of his life; the better. They had wasted too much time already.

"You're Xel'naga?" Matt asked in disbelief.

Jim said nothing, he merely looked down at the woman in his arms and smiled. "I'm the happiest I've ever been," he proclaimed.

Matt took a sigh of relief as he realized this was indeed his friend. Not only had they found him, but he was happy; a far cry from the dark path Matt feared Jim might have taken to end his own life.

Both Sarah and Jim heard Matt's thoughts. Jim felt guilty he'd actually considered it for a moment before the beautiful woman in his arms had come back to him. How Matt knew him well.

Sarah held Jim tighter as she read his thoughts. This was not news to her, they had talked it through and both of them had dealt. She had felt so devastated that Jim would ever want to end his life because he couldn't be with her of all people. She would never put him in that situation again.

"So, you gonna marry us?" Jim asked cheerfully, a vast contrast to the broken man he had once been.

Matt nodded, "of course, Commander."

Jim kissed Sarah on her forehead at the news.

"This mean you two are back?" Matt asked optimistically.

Jim took a breathe and let silence fall upon the room.

Sarah eased away from Jim slowly, giving him space to talk with his friend. She unhooked her hand from his and took a step back.

"'fraid not," Jim replied. He tried to put on a sympathetic tone, but he wasn't sorry. "I also came to say goodbye," he was a little sorry about that. "I don't know if we'll be back."

Sarah lowered her face, it wasn't that she wanted to take Jim away from everything and everyone, but too much had happened to them both to stay. How could they live as mere mortals when they'd never age, how could they live among people she'd hurt when she could be healing the universe. How could she bear to let Jim live without her when both of them would die apart. Jim had always wanted to take her away from all the bad stuff; she was helping that dream become reality.

Matt felt his heart sink. He and Jim had been through a lot together and he would feel the loss of his presence in his life. Matt thought for a moment about things to say to make him stay, but looking at the man in front oh him, so full of joy, he knew making him stay would be the wrong thing to do. "It's been an honor, Jim," he said proudly as he stepped forward, his hand reached out in front of him.

Jim took his hand as a friend and comrade and stepped forward to hug the man. He put his arm around him and held him tight. "I'll miss ya, but I have to do this."

"I know," Matt said, understanding his reasoning.

Sarah felt the exchange pull at her heart strings as she watched on. She knew she'd be giving Jim an extra special hug later.

Jim pulled back from Matt and nodded his appreciation to him.

Matt returned the nod. "When did you want this wedding?" Matt asked softly.

"Today," Jim quickly replied. "We've waited long enough," he added.

"Today?" Matt asked in shock. "That's not a lot of warning."

Jim chuckled, "we just need you to say the words."

Matt knew they were in love, saw how happy they made each other, but he did wonder why two Xel'naga would need to go through the ritual of marriage, especially in such a quick fashion.

Jim liked being able to listen to other's thoughts. Thoughts asked the harder questions without being wrapped in too much polite fluff. Thoughts got to the point and did it honestly, too.

"Jim," Matt began, his voice more serious. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you..."

"It's alright, Matt," Jim cut him off. He looked at Sarah, looked into her deep green eyes and smiled. "I always dreamed of marrying this woman," he said as though he were a million miles away. He let his gaze linger on her before returning his attention to Matt.

"Marriage may not mean a damn thing where we're going. But it means a lot to me. We may not be entirely human, but declaring my love and devotion for one woman, this woman," he looked back into her eyes, "for all eternity is a tradition I want to keep."

She so badly wanted to kiss him but instead she looked at him in awe, he always knew the words that would make her melt on the inside.

Matt was warmed by his friend's happiness. He had seen the struggles Jim had endured being separated from her. The loss he felt, the guilt, the drinking. Now they were together he saw a lighter, happier version of his friend. Then he thought back to the words Jim had just said. "Where are you going?" Matt asked curiously as the words dawned on him.

They both looked at Matt, unsure of how to answer or if they should.

Jim took the question. "That's a little difficult to answer," he replied with a chuckle. "All I'll say is we're doing good out there," he replied proudly and looked at Sarah with respect.

Sarah smirked at Jim. They had agreed not to say, agreed the universe deserved its freedom from gods, agreed neither of them wanted worship nor recognition for anything they would do.

"Now about that wedding," Jim changed the subject.

"That's not a lot to go on," Matt added in regards to the previous conversation. He wanted to know more but realized he wasn't going to get it, he knew them both well enough to know that.

Jim and Sarah said nothing and both wore rather bemused poker faces.

Matt resigned his questioning. "If we are going to do this properly, we'll need witnesses," he added.

They winced. "Really? We wanted to keep this quiet, off the record, you know?" Jim added.

Matt thought for a moment. "I can keep this off the books," he explained, "but you should have witnesses. You only need two. I trust my guys... Your guys to keep quiet."

Jim shook his head with a smile. They were Matt's guys now. He looked at Sarah. He was open to the idea of witness, and wondered if she was.

Sarah didn't see the need for witnesses, but didn't say no.

Matt coughed lightly to interrupt. "A lot of the raiders have moved on," he explained sadly; sad they wouldn't get a final chance to see their commander one last time, but also pleased they weren't here. They had moved on with their lives.

Jim was pleased to read that in his mind. A better life is what they had all fought for.

"But I know a certain engineer who would want to see you," Matt added with a grin.

"Swann," Jim said to himself, grateful he'd get a chance to say goodbye to him.

"The only other person I could think to ask is..." Matt began.

Sarah braced herself for the name. She had once held his windpipe in her mental grasp following her time spent at the lab in Umoja. But that was then. He had proved himself to her and the rest of the sector.

"Valerian," Matt finished his sentence.

Jim let Sarah respond, understanding that while she respected him there was still tension there. Jim would have liked Valerian to be there, after everything he'd done, but it was Sarah's call.

She paused for a moment before relaxing. "We would appreciate it if Valerian could make it," she said softly.

Jim was proud of her. Each moment they spent together he saw her move on, feel less bitter about her old life. He felt it every time she brought new life to a barren world.

"Where did you want to hold this thing?" Matt asked, wondering if there were any "romantic" spots on the ship.

"We were thinking Bay-12," Jim replied. "It's got that beautiful view out to space."

"I can arrange that," Matt replied. "I should have it cleared of people and get Swann and Valerian there within the hour."

Sarah and Jim smiled at each other and then at Matt. "Thank you," Sarah said politely.

"Thanks, Matt," Jim added.

Matt nodded at them, he was happy to help. "I'll go and make the arrangements," he told them. "You guys staying here?"

Jim nodded.

"See you soon," he turned on his heel and left the room.

Jim took Sarah in his arms and smiled at her. "You're finally going to be Mrs Raynor," the joy in his voice matched that on his face.

"You're finally going to be Mr Kerrigan," she joked and placed her arms around his neck. She had already decide to take his name, for what it was worth, but it was fun to tease him.

He laughed.

She liked it when he laughed. She looked deeply into his eyes and leaned in to kiss him.

He kissed back and held her tightly. Kissing her for the next hour wouldn't be a bad way to spend time.

Author Note: I loved the end of LotV - Raynor and Kerrigan together! But I didn't like that he "wasn't heard from again", I just couldn't imagine him not saying goodbye to his friends... unless he did and they hushed it up. So that's where this story idea came from.

If you like my stories, I have a new blog on tumblr as "queenpotatoes" to post snippets, ideas and news on updates, etc (all Starcraft fiction/shipper related). It's basically a little bit of fun to kill some time and share some of the things I come up with.