Gourry watched as Luna spelled out a deal to his mother, feeling torn between hopeful that she would leave, sad that she would still be close by, and despair over the knowledge that little had changed. While he had given up on his family ever changing when he was seventeen, still in deep recesses of his mind there was this small, unrealistic hope that they would change and he could have the family he'd always dreamed of having. But they never did change. And in this case not knowing was better than knowing for sure just how little things had changed. It was the death of any fantasy he had that they could be redeemed.

"If you give us information on the political situation in the Elmekian Empire, we will offer you lodging in the palace fit for a Baroness, as well as a stipend." Luna explained, cutting through his thoughts as he wrapped an arm around Lina.

Gourry was not happy about Guloisa remaining in Zeferia. But it was better than remaining in the home he would be building with Lina. And hopefully she would become the problem of the nobles in Zeferia. But he wasn't too optimistic. People tended to dump troublesome people on their families. He was going to have to adjust his vision of the future from being free of his family to having them occasionally burst in on him. And that was the best case scenario. Guloisa hadn't even accepted the offer yet and could very well decide to torment them in their home. He honestly was not sure which way his mother was inclined, so he watched her nervously as she considered Luna carefully.

"How do I know this just isn't a ruse to get me out of here so you can turn me on the street?" Guloisa asked.

"Do you really want to live your days in a haunted guest room?" Luna asked.

"No." Guloisa said, "But it's better than on the streets."

"But if you're on the streets, then we can't monitor every word you say to ensure that it is flattering to my family, your son and Zeferia." Lina replied.

"So that's part of the deal?" Guloisa asked, and Gourry made a note to tell Luna to be very careful.

"Naturally." Luna said as Gourry's anxiety ratcheted up a notch. "And, if you make any move to steal Gourry's sword or pass on information about his sword to your family still in the Elmekian Empire, you will be thrown into the deepest, darkest dungeon and left to rot. Clear?"

"Why would it matter? He already gave it away?" Guloisa asked.

"Deal?" Luna repeated.

Guloisa thought for a moment, and Gourry could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he hoped she would not become suspicious. On the one hand it would be a matter of time before she found out about the Blast Sword. On the other, he still felt like he was playing with fire. But even that worry had to be pushed to the future. What mattered now was whether or not she would agree and get out of their hair.

Finally she held a hand out to Luna, "Deal. When do we leave?"

He could feel the tension leave Lina, and he wished he felt the same sense of relief.

"Tomorrow." Luna said.

"The Eternal Queen won't be mad, will she?" Lina asked Luna as they walked into the upstairs parlor, thankful to be away from Guloisa.

"Guloisa will blend in with the other nobles there easily enough." Luna said as she sat down on a chair, "Of course, keeping an eye on her will fall under me."

Lina gulped and worried about how she would pay for that later as she took a seat on the couch opposite Luna as Gourry, her parents, and Zel and Amelia sat down. Before Lina could ask another question, Luna deftly changed topics. "Back to the wedding planning. There's much to do and not a lot of time. The Eternal Queen and I were wondering about emblems and which name you were going to take?"

"Huh?" Lina said, flummoxed by being asked to give an opinion on a bunch of stuff she had not even thought about.

"Are you planning to stick with Inverse or switch to Gabriev?" Luna asked. "We have some designs in mind for emblems, but knowing if we will need a G or an I will change the final product."

"I haven't given it a lot of thought." Lina stated, really wishing for a moment to talk about this in private with Gourry. She'd never given much thought to keeping or changing her name. But then, she had built a reputation for herself under Inverse. It would be a lot to give away.

"We can be Inverse." Gourry said.

"Are you sure?" Lina asked as a sense of relief washed through her.

He shrugged, "My dad took my mom's name for the prestige that being a Gabriev brought. And given that I'd cut myself off from my family I don't have any sentimental yearnings for it aside from what might have been if things had been different. And I feel closer to you than my family so I'd much rather share your name than theirs."

Lina leaned forward and hugged him tenderly, and then stiffened as she remembered that her family was in the room, watching. "You two are so sweet together!" her mother crooned.

"Make sure you keep that up when we go into town tomorrow." Luna added.

"Knock it off." Lina said as she let Gourry go.

"With that settled, here are some emblems that we arranged with an 'I.'" Luna said as she handed them the portfolio. "We created several motifs around different spells Lina uses and swords."

"I see." Lina said as she stared at the three pictures, and then her eyes widened a bit as she saw a picture of a woman holding a black void over her head. "I thought we weren't going to call attention to that spell."

"We're not going to teach it, but it's a big part of your story." Luna said.

Lina shook her head, "Gourry and I will talk about it."

"And what about the ceremony and the vows? There are several ceremonial ones included." Luna pressed on, and Lina wondered what all of the rush was about. But before she could ask about it, Luna had shoved the binder under her nose again.

"All of these are rather long." Lina said as she skimmed through them.

"Naturally." Luna said.

"Could we tone down the pomp and circumstance a bit? It's just not my style."

"People are going to be more interested in the party after the ceremony anyway." Gourry added.

"But the longer you keep them waiting for that party, the more important you are!" Luna said.

"Actually, she has a point." Amelia interjected.

Lina reddened a little, "A wedding shouldn't be about who is important! Look, we'll keep it nice and classy and invite the whole damn nation if you want, but could we just keep it simple?"

"We'll just go with the shortest ceremony then." Luna said.

"But the shortest ceremony is still ten pages long! And in your tiny hand writing!" Lina shrieked.

"Lina, haven't you always wanted people to bow down before you?" Luna asked, and Lina felt for a moment as though her brain would explode when Luna once again switched the topic, "Anyway, all the men now need to leave, because we need to talk about the dress."

"We still haven't set a date!" Lina protested. "And here you are, rushing us down some sort of checklist as though we're getting married in two weeks!"

"But you are getting married in two weeks." Luna explained.

"But I've not agreed to get married in two weeks!"

"But that is the time the Eternal Queen and I decided would be best."

Lina's mouth fell open. "It's my wedding. I get to decide when would be best! But what if I'm not ready in two weeks?"

"Then you'd better get ready because in two weeks and one day you will be going on a honeymoon tour of Zeferia." Luna explained. "And then when that is over in a few months you will have your first student, which is what all of the rush is about. We want everything formal by the time she arrives."

"Wait, slow down. Honeymoon tour?"

"Yes! Zeferians across our nation and not just in our capital wants to meet our native born heroine. And it will be good for Gourry to get to know the kingdom."

"I traveled through when I left the Elmekian Empire." He said as though he didn't mind at all how quickly this was being thrown together, "Though it doesn't hurt to see more. Or to see some things twice. Especially with my memory! What about you, Lina?"

Lina bit her lip, "Does the tour include Caddo Lake?"

"We'll stop by Mosswood, which is close by." Luna said.

"Oh, fine! And what's this about a student?" Lina asked.

"We found a talented girl with a very high magic capacity in one of the guilds." Luna explained.

"Oh." Lina said.

"Of course, if you really are wanting more time before you walk down the aisle we can put everything on hold." Luna said. "It's just once you start teaching, it will be harder to get these breaks."

Lina laughed a little, "I just thought these days of living carefree would go on forever. I forgot I need to earn my keep. It's fine, I just thought that these things take more time to plan."

"Which is why we'll get your measurements taken at the dress shop tomorrow."

Lina frowned. She hated getting her measurements taken. All the same, she was curious as to what was in the portfolio. "Well, boys, you'd best go elsewhere. I want to see what they have in mind to dress me in!"

"But don't go too far, I have to go over what Gourry will wear as well."

"We'll head to the billiards room." Gourry said.

"You have a billiards room!?" Han said excitedly.

"This way!" Gourry said as Han and Zelgadis followed him out.

Lina moved to sit beside Luna and her mother sat on her other side while Amelia sat beside Lina as Luna opened the portfolio. The first dress was a large, pink frilly cloud monstrosity. "What are you trying to do, turn me into a damsel?" Lina asked.

Luna chuckled, and turned the page. Lina's first thought was that the outfit looked like something Sherra would wear. "Is that based on the Zeferian soldier's uniform?" Lina asked.

"Yes. We made it a little feminine." Luna said.

Lina shook her head, "That's not the look I'm wanting either. I'm a woman, and I'm strong! Why can't both be emphasized?"

Luna turned the page again, "Something like this?"

Lina felt her eyes grow wide with want as she stared at the picture and her heart started beating fast. While she still wasn't sure about the ceremony and the emblems, she found herself falling in love with the dress. Finally, she was facing a wedding detail that she loved!

Luna had kept them up late grilling them about the details of their wedding so that, by the time they finally got away to go to bed, neither of them bothered with the pretense of going to different rooms. They were simply so relieved to get away from her that they couldn't care less if anyone noticed or commented.

"Damn, after fighting Dynast, Shabranigdu and others I never thought something as harmless as wedding planning could be so exhausting!" Lina said as she collapsed onto the bed without bothering to change into her nightclothes.

"Hey," Gourry said as he got into bed with her and grabbed her hand, "You still want to marry me even with my crazy family?"

She looked at him and tried to read if he was genuinely concerned or just flirting, and decided she couldn't tell. Gingerly she caressed his cheek before she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in for a hug, "Yes. You still want to marry me with mine?"

"Yes." He said as he moved to catch her mouth with his.

"Guloisa?" Lina asked as she entered the kitchen and found the older woman there fixing herself a sandwich.

"Couldn't sleep with that racket the Sad Lady was making." Guloisa said. "What's your excuse?"

"I was hungry." Lina explained, and didn't add that somehow she hadn't woken Gourry when she left.

"Come on then. I made enough for two."

It occurred to Lina that she had an opportunity she may never have again as she cautiously sat down with her, and decide to start grilling Guloisa before she could do the same. "By the way, when is Gourry's birthday? Whenever I ask about his past he just says he doesn't remember."

Guloisa chuckled as she listed a day five months away, "And he remembers."

"What makes you say that?"

"He was my best spy ever!" Guloisa said, "Unlike his siblings he didn't care if people thought he was smart. People will tell someone they think is an idiot all of their secrets because they think he won't remember. But they won't be as loose lipped around someone smart. And Gourry told me a lot of useful secrets through the years."

"Oh," Lina said as she took a cautious bite of the sandwich and found that not only was it good, it also wasn't poisoned. "I never realized Gourry had siblings."

"He wasn't close to his older brother. Broke my heart when he died. That was when Gourry left with the sword and it nearly shattered me, leaving at such a time. I couldn't believe he would be so cold!"

"But why did he leave? And what was all of the fighting about anyway?" Lina asked.

"My husband, Gideon, was supposed to marry his first cousin, Anoa." Guloisa explained, "His family tried to do everything they could to keep that sword in the family, including marrying close cousins so that even if you were a younger sibling, then either your children or grandchildren had a hope of inheriting the sword. However, this left the family with many children with blood illnesses, poor bones, and a lack of brains. My husband wasn't affected but Anoa was and he wanted nothing to do with marrying her and producing even sicker children. And while he was wealthy he wanted a title and estate and a way for his children to break into the royal circles. So he went courting noble women and won me over. Anoa's parents were mortified when we eloped and had challenged Gideon's claim to the sword ever since. They felt it should go to Anoa or my brother-in-law, someone willing to marry within the family. Fighting would break out every now and then, but Gideon now had power to back his wealth and could easily subdue them."

"And what happened to your son?" Lina asked.

"Dear Gunther." Guloisa said with a sigh. "Some people in the family saw a way to heal the wounds as Gunther became of age and started searching for a bride. Anoa had a daughter by then, and she'd ended up marrying outside the family so she was healthy. They wanted Gunther to marry her to bring the sword back into the family. But Gunther caught the eye of a Duchess. Well, why have a rich but common woman when you can have a duchess? So he was assassinated."

"Wow, I'm sorry." Lina said.

"My husband's family was adamant that they would kill the next one who tried to marry outside of the family. While my husband was gathering his forces to quash them, Gourry decided to take the sword and run. He left a note, saying that if the sword wasn't there then there would be no reason to kill anyone for marrying outside the family and that he hoped we would start to mend things."

"And, did you?"

Guloisa chuckled, "Gideon slaughtered most of them in revenge for killing Gunther. But he was mortality wounded in that final battle. And the people were so horrified by the slaughter that they ran me out of town. So, no. It didn't."

"Oh." Lina said as she ate her sandwich and mulled over what Guloisa had told her. It was horrifying. No wonder Gourry never talked about it! And not to mention shocking. Given how noble and fair Gourry was in battle she could never fathom him slaughtering his family in battle. "Gourry is so gentle."

"That was his failing." Guloisa said, "It was my mother-in-law's doing. She was a gentle woman and didn't have the ruthlessness needed to get ahead. She and Gourry were kindred souls to say. If it weren't for that, he would have been the perfect son, like Gunther!"

Guloisa smirked as she added, "I don't think Gourry ever forgave himself for not being there to protect her when Gideon killed her."

"But surely she wasn't involved in killing Gunther!" Lina exclaimed.

"Didn't matter." Guloisa said, "A huge price in blood had to be paid. Gideon saw all of them as tainted regardless of whether or not they were actually involved in Gunther's murder."

Lina shook her head as she wondered if she should ask if Guloisa helped her husband slaughter his kin, but decided against it. In many ways she'd gotten what she was looking for, assurance that Gourry had had good reasons for doing what he had. But a terrifying hint of what Guloisa could be capable of should she ever learn about the Blast Sword. "Well, thanks for the sandwich." Lina said.

"Why don't you stay and we can talk some more?" Guloisa asked.

"I'm tired now." Lina said, feeling uncomfortable even being in the room with her. No wonder Gourry had been unhappy to see her! His reaction had been downright friendly compared to what she would have done had she known! "Night!"

Lina raced up the stairs, grateful that after tomorrow they would no longer have that woman under her roof. She quietly opened the door, thankful (and amazed) that she hadn't wakened Gourry. She walked over to the bed and brushed his bangs from his face and kissed his forehead. No wonder he wanted to focus on the future! With a past like that who would want to stay stuck on it? Other things started to make sense. Like how he had handled himself when Luke went on his rampage. While Lina had struggled between not wanting to fight her friend and the knowledge that what he was doing was wrong, Gourry knew exactly what to do. He'd had to make those hard decisions before. She crawled into bed and wrapped her arms around him, the feeling of melancholy she'd occasionally experienced after Milina died asserting itself. She closed her eyes and decided to take a page from Gourry's book, and started thinking about ways to build a happier family with him. A family that he deserved.