Author's Note: This is a compilation between Ceara Ivory and Myself. We don't own Final Fantasy IX!

Distant Memories

Disc 3 Interlude 1:

No Longer Alone

Airlia smiled as she waited for her entrance into the throne room where only a handful of people aside from the Queen and the wedding party were. There was a lace wedding veil done in the style of her dress over her head, to obscure her future husband from seeing her. In her hands was a bouquet of a dozen thornless red roses. The queen had decided to limit who could attend out of the nature of the wedding itself. She didn't want someone to try and hurt her new daughter or her future son-in-law. Next to her was Steiner, dressed in his tuxedo as both Alex and Garnet awaited their entrance.

Eiko was first, going down to sprinkle red rose petals on the ground, dressed in a silk purple dress as she gently laid a path up to the altar. Airlia could scarcely believe that the man who had fought with her, who had turned against his ally for her was now going to be her husband.

She watched as Vivi went down the aisle holding a small pillow with two rings on it, dressed in the finest mage robes that Brahne could find all over the continent.

Arm in arm, Kuja and Alex walked down the aisle. When she took his hand she frowned. "Why is your hand warm?" She whispered.

He lied quickly. "Because I'm holding yours..." He teased. "I'm fine Alexandra. Really."

Zidane led Garnet down right behind Kuja. "You look great... Beautiful..."

Alex and Garnet split off from their opposites to stand on their respective sides. Ramsus glared at his brother but Kuja shook his head. Today was a happy day.

Airlia took a deep breath in to steady her jumbled nerves. Today was the best day of her life, yet she couldn't help but feel frightened that it was all just some blissful dream. Steiner looked at her, "You'll be fine Airlia. Come now, it's time to walk you down the aisle." He tucked her arm into his and gave it a reassuring squeeze, making her smile.

"Thank you Steiner." She said as she walked into the room as everyone stood to look at the bride as she began to walk down the aisle. She felt her breath catch as she gazed at Ramsus, with his platinum blond hair pulled back and his amber eyes focused solely on her, dressed in a tuxedo that really showed off his form. She felt herself blushing as she continued down the aisle.

Ramsus was still mentally hassling his brother, in vain, to admit he wasn't feeling well when Airlia hit the aisle. His eyes fell on the sweetheart neckline and the waist. She was perfectly stunning.

"Make sure you take good care of her brother mine. If she cries, you die." Kuja's voice came through his mind.

Ramsus nodded imperceptibly. "And if you don't say something, I will."

"And ruin your wedding day, I think not. I will be fine! Stop hen pecking me!"

Airlia approached the dais and handed her bouquet off to Alex as to have her hands free. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach fluttering rapidly as she took one breath in, and out, repeating it so she didn't fall down in a faint. She couldn't see him completely, but what she did see was taking her breath away.

Brahne smiled as she saw how Ramsus affected Airlia's breathing and knew that this was her match. Her own husband, long time gone now to her sadness had affected her similarly during her wedding as she thought back with a small smile.

The priest presiding began, "Dearly beloved… We are here to celebrate the union of Lord Ramsus and Princess Airlia of Alexandria. Two hearts long separated are finally coming together in holy matrimony. If there are any here who have reason to believe these two do not belong together, please speak now or forever hold your peace…"

Airlia and Ramsus held their breaths, waiting for someone to try and interrupt their ceremony… After a moment, the priest continued. "Do you Ramsus take Airlia to be your beloved wife? To have, to hold, to cherish and to love in sickness and in health? For richer or for poorer until death do you part?"

Ramsus breathlessly replied, "I do..."

The priest smiled as he turned to Airlia, "Do you Airlia take Ramsus to be your beloved husband? To have, to hold, to cherish and to love in sickness and in health? For richer or for poorer until death do you part?"

Airlia was certain her blush could be seen through her veil and that her heart could be heard because it was thumping rapidly in her chest as her breathy reply came. "I do."

He turned to Ramsus, "You may state your vows to Airlia."

Ramsus smiled at his love as he spoke, "I, Ramsus, take you, Airlia, to be my wife, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to protect you, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

Airlia fought back her tears of pure happiness as she heard his heartfelt vow. The priest turned to Airlia, "You may state your vows now…"

Airlia tried to keep her composure as she spoke, "I, Airlia, take you, Ramsus, to be my husband, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to protect you, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

He had them exchange bands before proclaiming, "You may now kiss your bride!"

Ramsus smiled as he drew the veil back and gasped softly at how beautiful she was. He drew her in to gently capture her lips in a kiss as everyone cheered.

Alexandra sat with her fiancé as the band played a beautiful waltz. He reached a hand out to her. "Dance with me my dear."

Alex smiled and took hands which she noticed were now gloved. "You put gloves on..."

"Yes, it's impolite to sweat on one's lady love," Kuja explained. "When one dances one's hands start to perspire." Alex frowned at him. Something didn't sound right. "Come my darling, let us dance."

Alex gave in and he led her to the ballroom floor. He seemed to hold himself normally and he danced divinely. Maybe I'm imagining it.

Airlia smiled as she found herself caught up in a dance with her husband. Now that they were married, it was more appropriate to be able to lay her head on his shoulder as he twirled her about on the dance floor. "Are you okay Ramsus?"

He grinned as he twirled her before answering, "Better than okay… I'm married now to you… my knight… my love… I'm not alone anymore Airlia."

She nodded as she reached up to cup his cheek, "You haven't been alone since that day in Madain Sari."

Zidane stood awkwardly with Garnet. He wasn't used fancy stuff. He was used to more casual outings before getting to the good stuff. But Garnet was different. She was beautiful and she was a princess. How could he ask her to even dance with him? He didn't know how to waltz.

Garnet looked over her shoulder at Zidane and saw him standing awkwardly as she grinned and walked over to him. Let me put the poor boy out of his misery already. She held out her hand. "Care to dance Zidane?"

Zidane jumped when he saw Garnet there. He remembered what Kuja warned him. Make a move before she does. Too late. He bit his lip and kicked the floor. "I don't really know how..."

She smiled, "It's not bad. You're always a quick study on most things… Follow my cue, then we'll change it to your cue to me." She took his hand and put it on her waist, with her hand over it while he mimicked what he saw and put his other hand on her shoulder. She led him in the dance until she could tell he was ready to lead her. "See? It's not so bad, it just depends on the timing."

Zidane smiled back and soon was leading her around the floor. Several times he wanted to tell her but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. He knew they said he had some sort of right but did it mean he should exercise it.

Garnet saw the sad look in his faraway eyes, "What's wrong Zidane? You can tell me." Maybe I'm just fooling myself… to think he would actually love me.

He looked into her eyes trying desperately to communicate what he felt because his mouth wouldn't work. Please understand because I can't say it.

Garnet looked down to avoid eye contact, seeing that he clearly didn't want her… If he would only ask for her permission to be courted. She blinked back her pained tears knowing it was her sister's wedding day, she deserved to be happy, not to have someone unhappy on her day. "Zidane… why do you shut me out?" She asked softly so only he heard.

He realized she hadn't understood his gaze and swallowed. There was only one other option that he could think of. He kissed her.

Garnet was surprised to say the least by the kiss, but gently returned it, showing him just how much she cared about him… how much she really did love him. Over the trip, it had been hard to pretend to not like him… Her heart was fit to burst if he found someone else… but if he was happy, then she was happy. But she couldn't ever be truly happy unless he was with her.

Zidane looked at her as he parted. He'd kissed many women but never had it felt like this. "I care about you a lot... But I'm a thief. You're a princess... And this isn't that fairy tale that Alex told us with the funny blue genie. And it's not the one with the girl with the really long hair..."

Garnet shook her head, "Zidane, you saved my life… all you have to do is ask… It's considered impolite if I make the first step… Mother already took the liberty of removing any warrant off of you as well as any bounty out there." Tears welled quickly in her eyes at the thought of him not really feeling the same way about her.

Zidane considered it. "What do I do?" He asked. "What do I say when I ask?"

Steiner had heard and he and Beatrix came up. "All you say is 'I saved the Princess' life and I wish to court her as is my right under the custom.'"

Beatrix continued. "Her Majesty the Queen will question your intentions by her and then give or deny permission depending on your answer."

Steiner finished. "Then I threaten to lop off your head if you ever hurt her."

Beatrix commented simply, "No Steiner. I think it will be a race to who gets to him first… You, me, Airlia or Her Majesty." She giggled as he pulled her back into their dance.

Garnet continued to look down at the floor, pretending to watch their feet to hide her unease. Would he even bother to ask? Or will he just end up breaking her heart again.

The toast and the food had been thankfully uneventful except for the wedded couple who gently fed one another the first pieces of cake, rather than smashing it in each other's face. Yet it was time to toss her bouquet so that she might be able to begin her honeymoon with her new husband. She closed her eyes as she tossed the bouquet over her shoulders.

Garnet was the one who caught it. Alex of course choose not to participate. As far as she was concerned she was married. Garnet looked over at Zidane. Maybe it was a sign.

Zidane sighed. He should go ahead and talk to the queen before the party ended. He nodded at her and came for her hand. "Come with me?" He didn't want to do this without support.

Garnet smiled brightly as she nodded, "Of course." The two of them walked off to see the queen who was having a long and overdue conversation with both Regent Cid and Lady Freya.

Airlia smiled as she turned to her husband, feeling exhausted after the long day it turned into. Still, his eyes were filled with a passion that was only just masked. "Shall we retire for the night my love?"

Ramsus nervously nodded. Zidane had told him what he was to do but he was still nervous about it. "We shall..." He held out his hand.

They left the room as whistles and catcalls came after them, making the pair blush brightly. Airlia bit her lip nervously as he led her up the stairs and to their room. "Which would you feel more comfortable in my love? Since we are now husband and wife… we could stay in either room." She asked.

He kissed her softly, finally she was his wife… his knight. "Why don't we go into your room. It would be unfair to Kuja to have to be next to us…"

Airlia nodded, "I believe that the custom is to carry me." She blushed at her forwardness, but it was an excuse to be in his arms, to be held close to him.

Ramsus was confused. "Carry? How? What do I do?" He was very lost.

She smiled tenderly at him. "Tradition states one arm goes under my knees while the other goes around my mid back. Then I loop my arms around your neck. And you carry me across the threshold, the doorway as it were, into our bedroom." She blushed deeper still.

Ramsus raised an eyebrow but carefully followed her instructions. "Like this?"

She nodded happily as she nuzzled the side of her face against his warm chest. It felt so good to have him so close to her.

He carefully carried over the threshold into her bedroom and laid her on the bed. "How'd I do?" He kissed her.

Airlia smiled and kissed him back, "Perfectly Ramsus… We're going to figure out this together… I'm just glad we're just that… together."