"This probably isn't the best time to say this, but I think it needs to be said." Judeau said, uncommonly off kilter.

"You know you can tell me anything." Casca smiled, "I've certainly told you almost everything."

And she should be smiling on her wedding day he thought. A bride always should be. He couldn't ruin that, not that it would ruin it, but it might sour it just a bit, and that wasn't fair.

Finally Judeau said, "You cry a lot when you're alone, don't you?"

"What? Where did that come from?"

"It's nothing, just- Live your life to the fullest."

"Of course. Thank you Judeau."

He smiled back, and wondered why he even fell for her in the first place, when he knew this was how it would end. Still, he couldn't feel that bad for himself, and he would bounce back. He always did.

But seriously? Talking about how she cried? And he thought he was a smooth talker…

Griffith watched the wedding reception from a window. He really couldn't have gone, he was much too busy with new duties as the next king of Midland. He wondered if Guts knew that it wasn't by choice Griffith wasn't there.

He hoped he did.

And then Griffith hated himself for thinking that.

Guts had almost caused his entire plan to fall apart, he was the reason Griffith had made the emotionally impaired decision to seduce the Princess. Griffith still didn't exactly know why he had done that. He hadn't been thinking about the consequences, or even tomorrow; highly uncharacteristic of him.

After that night, the Princess and himself shared only a few kisses, which was much safer and made her happy enough. It had also helped motivate her to convince her father let Griffith marry her. He still considered that a huge feat in itself. While he had no particularly strong feelings for her, it was nice to see her happy, and for all her naivate she was quite beautiful. No, Griffith didn't have any complaints about his lot in life, or wife, but he still wondered…

About Casca and Guts. How did they even end up together?

Maybe it had been an oversight on his part, but Griffith had always just assumed Casca would remain by his side. He tried to identify what he was feeling in the moment, and the closest he could think was betrayal. Which wasn't fair to Casca, he knew that, he had never intended to have anything more than a general-soldier relationship with her.

But now that he couldn't have her, it was almost like Guts had taken another thing from him. Thinking along those line, it was almost funny; Griffith was like the child who only wanted a toy because someone else was playing with it.

He couldn't help but smile then, at the wedding, at himself, at nothing. He turned away to continue his duties.

Good luck to the happy couple, He thought, just maybe a little bitterly.

Guts and Casca woke at the crack of dawn, out of habit more than anything.

"Good morning." Casca said, sitting up.

Guts just smiled before saying, "So you ready to go?"

"I guess." She held her arms to herself, "I'm a little… jittery. Like I can't tell if I'm excited or nervous."

"It's fine to be both." He pulled her back to his chest to hold her in an embrace.

"What are you doing?" She was playful again, which Guts figured was good.

"You want to consummate our marriage?"

Casca blushed despite herself and lightly hit his chest with a fist, "I don't think we woke up early enough for that."

"Hmm." Guts hummed, "I guess so. Why do you always have to be right?"

"Because I'm your wife." She answered simply.

"The guys did warn me." He quipped, releasing her.

They got up with a little more flirting, getting ready for their journey. Guts had barely anything, Casca had a bit more, but had also lived as a mercenary for near a decade. She had packed a few days prior, everything else in her room going to storage courtesy of Griffith (because she was coming back, right?). Honestly, when asked that question Guts didn't know what to say. He didn't know when they were coming back, and for how long, and why. The only person he really cared about coming back to was Rickert, because Guts had actually promised him something.

"Ready?" Guts asked as Casca hesitated at her door.

"I- Yes. As I'll ever be." And reached out to take his hand.

He grasped it firmly, liking the feeling of her hand in his. In general, he liked the feeling of her.

After walking a little ways, Guts said, "I'm really happy you're coming with me."

"I'm really happy to be leaving." Casca replied, "I didn't realize how much I needed a vacation."

"I think everyone else did." Guts muttered, earning a sharp:

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

Them getting married didn't change how she was at all. Something Guts was thankful for; he'd fallen for her when she was a bit of a b*tch.

They finally made it to gate to the city, and then out side of the city where they saw a familiar group under a lone tree.

"Good morning." Judeau greeted, "You two are here a lot earlier than I was figuring. Guess it was a good idea to get here early."

"Well we did sleep in a bit." Casca admitted, "But this is a pleasant surprise for you all to send us off."

Guts smiled a nodded in greeting. It was good to see his friends once more before leaving. Even Griffith and Corkus, he told himself.

"I don't know why I let them get me up at the butt crack of dawn to say bye, but…" Corkus looked almost embarrassed, "Life might get boring without you two."

"I'm gonna miss you guys sooo much." Rickert exclaimed, hugging Casca.

"We'll miss you too." She said. She pulled back to say, "Continue your tinkering, you're pretty good at it."

Rickert looked on the verge of tears, not speaking again to keep his composure. He nodded in response. Guts ruffled the boys hair affectionately.

Judeau stepped forward and opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out, instead Casca hugged him. He seem relieved.

"Hold down the fort while I'm gone." She smiled.

"Have fun on your honeymoon."

"Thanks." Guts said. For a lot, he thought, and hoped Judeau could tell. Judeau was nothing if not perceptive, and of course he did.

"Only doing what anyone else would've." Judeau seemed almost misty eyed.

The couple came to Pippin, who didn't have much to say, but hugged both of them. It said more than words ever could.

Finally there was Griffith. There was a tension in the air that Guts hadn't noticed until that moment. Now he found too much to say, and no idea how to say it. He didn't want to be on bad terms with Griffith anymore, and he doubted they could ever go back to the ease they once had, but they were friends once, could they not be again?

"Casca." Griffith addressed her first, "You will always have a place at the castle as long as I'm in power."

"Thank you Griffith."

His pale eyes then settled on Guts. "And Guts…" He said, "Please keep my second in command safe." He held out a hand.

Guts took it, "Of course."

They both tightened the grip of their hands in camaraderie and knew their feud was, if not over, on the mend. They both had bigger things to worry about. "Don't forget to let loose every once in a while."

Griffith smiled, "Of course."

Casca's eyes were shining now, but she was still smiling, so Guts took that they were happy tears.

"I guess we should get on our way now." He said.

"Sure you don't want any horses?" Judeau asked.

"No, we're good. Thank you." Casca answered.

"Alright, alright." He waved them off, "Go make some legends."

They all shared one last goodbye before the newly weds set off on their journey. As they walked away, Casca's hand found his. Guts smiled and glanced at her. He'd made a lot of bad decisions in his life, but for once he was confident this wasn't one. She glanced at him and returned the smiled.

They didn't look back.

The End