Author's Note: Sorry this chapter was a bit slow in coming, but my arm and other joints have been aching something fierce! This is the second to last chapter (with an obvious title, since a denouement is the tying up of loose ends at the end of a complex plot. Shows you how much the ache and allergies are affecting my brain!); there is still the epilogue to come. For those who have asked, the interview with Roxanne and Wayne will either be in a story of its own or incorporated into another. Putting it in this already long novel would've been dragging out the end a bit too long, and it will, I think, deserve more attention of its own. But worry not! I have other ideas for stories I plan to write, and once I give my arm a week's vacation (and just guess where I'm going! XD), I should be back refreshed and ready to go. And I promise, the epilogue chapter will be up before I go. As always, thanks very much to all my lovely and wonderful readers and reviewers!

XXVI

The Denouement

"He's lost his mind!" Roxanne was saying as she and Megamind sat inside the temporarily closed café, telling the police all they knew of Stewart Mitchell and his attack while Minion and his brainbot tailoring assistants did damage control to their torn and soiled wedding clothes. The piscine had come along for the interview to offer what information he could, while other police outside were searching for evidence and collecting witness reports from the wedding guests. "I knew that Mitchell was a smarmy manipulator with a history of sexual harassment, but this...!" She shook her head, eliciting a soft, sympathetic burble from Pinky, who was helping to carefully remove the sticky duct tape — which Mitchell had wrapped tightly around Roxanne's entire head, not merely over her mouth — from the bride's hair.

Megamind slipped one hand into hers, consoling her. They were seated together at a table with the recording police officer. The bride was wearing a comfortable robe borrowed from the gift shop connected to the restaurant while the other bots swiftly went about repairing her torn bodice and cleaning the grass stains from the skirt. The groom wore a pair of sweatpants also borrowed from the shop while the stains were washed out of the knees of his slacks. His vest was a total loss, the beautiful silk brocade in shreds, but the lining completely intact — thanks to Minion's foresight.

Fearing that Mitchell or some other rabid anti-alien might try something violent to stop the wedding, the designing ichthyoid had lined both his boss's vest and Roxanne's dress bodice with the newest, finest variety of the impact-dispersing polymer cloth Megamind had developed years ago for his own protection against a super-powered adversary, derived from the alien technology found in his escape pod and Minion's first habitat. While this version didn't have quite the resistance to sharp objects like blades as the stuff he wore in actual combat, it was very thin and flexible, with the supple hand and appearance of a medium-weight silk. It went rigid when struck and could shield the wearer from a considerable amount of impact damage by soaking it up and dispersing it across the surface of the fabric, like certain high-tech kinds of bulletproof vests, only more advanced and capable.

It had originally been tested using an Uzi (and later with Wayne's superpowers) and had come through with flying colors, so Minion had felt it would more than adequately provide that little bit of extra protection he'd wanted for his friends. Fortunately, they had made a fair amount of the stuff a few months back, most in black but some in white. Much of the white had been dyed and printed in the appropriate blue and black design for use in lining Megamind's capes, but some had been kept in the original undyed state, in case some other need came up. Something had told Minion that this would be an excellent use of it, and he was glad that he'd decided to follow his instincts.

So were both of the newlyweds, who were understandably still shaking from the horrifying turn of events. For a while after they'd come indoors, after they'd surrendered their damaged clothing to Minion and his helpers but before the police had come to talk with them, they could only cling to one another, allowing the shock of what had happened to run its course, to take solace in each other and the fact that though shaken and slightly battered, they were alive and for the most part unharmed. Megamind had taken Roxanne's hand just now for his own comfort and reassurance as well as for hers, all that they could comfortably do while trying to give statements to the police.

"I hadn't really understood quite how out of touch with reality he actually was," the blue hero admitted. "I haven't seen that much of him, face to face. But I knew it as soon as he showed up, chasing after you. One of the peculiar benefits of having grown up and spent so much time in a prison, you get a chance to see the faces of the criminally insane up close and personal, from time to time. Mitchell certainly qualifies for that, which made the whole situation that much more difficult. Heroes can't go around beating the crap out of mentally disturbed people with impunity, and with a gun in the picture..."

Roxanne shuddered. "You would've sacrificed yourself for me. Oh, God, Mykaal, if you'd been hit, if he'd aimed for your head first...!"

The blue fingers squeezed her hand tightly, his green eyes catching and holding hers in an effort to both console and be consoled. "Don't even think about it. He didn't — and I wasn't hurt, thanks to Minion. Protecting people may be my job now, but protecting you is my life. I would've taken all those bullets for you, gladly, but just a few hours ago, I promised I'd protect you for the rest of your life — and remember, I can't keep doing that if I get myself killed." It was an odd way of saying that he would be as careful as he could be when it came to keeping that promise, to keeping himself alive, and Roxanne gratefully accepted it.

"It was probably a very prudent thing to do, not attacking him," one of the two officers admitted. "I know you've been keeping your nose clean ever since you gave up your old... career, Mr. Megamind, but if this Mitchell character does prove to be insane, there are certain factions that'd have a field day with it if you'd beat him up, even in self-defense. They'd try to twist it into you being the aggressor and him the misunderstood victim suffering from a mental disorder. I've seen stranger things happen. Since you didn't lay a finger on him and Mr. Minion's shot merely incapacitated him and saved all the innocent bystanders from possible harm, the bigots can't complain, and your reputation as a hero will stay untarnished."

Megamind smiled crookedly. "Perhaps, but the real hero today is Minion, not me." His gaze shifted to where his oldest friend and definitely his partner in heroism sat with Little Nipper, expertly repairing the damage Mitchell had done to Roxanne's dress while Splice was taking care of the various grass stains — quite delicately, for a usually tough-looking brainbot. "If you were getting a salary from me, Minion, after today I'd have to triple it. Quintuple it! Whatever you want!"

"Hear, hear!" Roxanne seconded. "I was thinking that I had to find a way to thank you for all you've done just before Mitchell jumped me, and now, I don't think there's any way I possibly can that wouldn't feel inadequate!"

Even while his robotic hands continued their quick, precise work with the damaged gown, the fish flittered all his fins in a way that was easily understandable as a proud blush. "That isn't necessary, Mrs. Roxanne, really," he said, mindful of the presence of strangers who might misinterpret greater familiarity of address. "I was sent with Sir to protect him, and now that you're married, that includes protecting you. I was worried about people trying to hurt both of you, and though I couldn't shield you from things like insults, I could do something to protect both of you physically. I'm glad I did — though I really wish you hadn't discovered what I'd done like this. I'm afraid you may have some bruises on your chest, sir."

Megamind waved away the concern with his free hand. "At least I still have a chest, thanks to you. And since you were thoughtful enough to bring some of my healing accelerator salve in your emergency kit, it won't be bad at all."

Wayne, who had been outside helping the police check for any important evidence and explaining the situation to the understandably rattled wedding guests, leaned in after knocking on the door. "They've found Mitchell's car," he reported, his demeanor peculiarly sad. "And they've found something... Well, you might want to come have a look, Megs." With a motion of his head, he indicated that his former rival should join him in the hallway.

Megamind gave Roxanne a questioning look, to which she answered with a nod. "I'll be okay," she promised. "The whole thing was quite a shock, but it's over, and we're all safe. That's what's most important."

Convinced that his bride was all right with it, he followed Wayne, gently closing the door behind him. As the musician led him to another small back room, he spoke softly. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to stop him, Megs," he said, and there was no doubting his regret was genuine. "Minion and I thought he still had to be out on the road because the other brainbots hadn't gotten a signal from Sneaker. I heard the first shot and came back as fast as I dared, and I swear, if Minion hadn't stopped Mitchell when he did, I would've jumped in, secrets be damned. I wouldn't've let either you or Roxie get hurt when I could do something to stop it, I don't care how many people might see."

Megamind's smile was wan, but also earnest. "Thank you, Wayne, it actually means a lot to me, that you'd risk blowing your cover too soon to protect us. But I'm glad it wasn't necessary."

Wayne's answering smile was lopsided. "Yeah, I am, too. It's gonna be awkward telling everyone the truth, even doing it the way I planned, and this way, Minion gets some positive recognition he really deserves. He's one heck of a smart guy, for a fish."

"Even not for a fish," the ex-villain concurred. "It is odd, though, that Snooper didn't pick up a signal from Sneaker once Mitchell got within range."

Now, the former Metro Man sighed. "Not so odd," he said sadly. He opened the door to a tiny office, where the police detectives had been collecting any physical evidence they'd gathered. On the small desk lay the very damaged body of poor Sneaker, obviously the victim of the same gun that had been used in trying to kill both Megamind and Roxanne.

"The police found him in the back of Mitchell's car," Wayne explained while Megamind began to examine the dead brainbot after pausing for a moment to simply stare at the poor thing. Sneaker's dome was shattered, his eyestalk severed, his metal body pierced and twisted by the force of the bullets that had been pumped into him at close range. None of his various lights that should have been active were alive; had a brainbot possessed blood, he would have been drained dry of it.

The retired hero continued. "One of the police who knows guns says the holes match the caliber of Mitchell's pistol, and they found at least three bullets lodged in the back of the seat and two in Sneaker's body. They didn't want to poke around inside him too much, since they didn't know if they might electrocute themselves, hitting some power source they didn't know about." He settled one big hand on his ex-rival's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Megs, I know these little guys are like family to you. And Sneaker was a good, clever bot. Mitchell should've just run him off, not... this."

"He's insane," Megamind said softly, running one hand along the more damaged side of the metal body, then along the other. "Insane people never consider the value of any life but their own. Even I was never that full of myself."

Wayne nodded. "That's true. Y'know, if I'd known just how alive these little bots could be, how much real personality they have, I don't think I could've ever even tried to hurt any of 'em. As it was, it always felt kinda like kicking puppies or kittens when I had to get rough with them."

"They knew it was all a risk of the Game." The blue hero spoke distractedly as he used both hands to carefully examine the insides of the broken dome. His brow furrowed as his eyes and fingers gave him information about Sneaker's condition. Finally, eyes narrowing, he reached one hand deep into the damaged cavity, pressing down on a specific area his fingertips had located. Wayne could hear something click and pop. When Megamind withdrew his hand a moment later, he was holding a softly glowing cube about four times the size of the dehydrated Mitchell.

He sighed. "Thankfully, Sneaker's not dead, just sort of comatose. All but the very oldest of the brainbots — and they never leave the Lair, these days — were designed to shut down into a state of total hibernation if their systems exceed a certain minimum level of functionality. It can't save them if they're literally exploded into a million bits or completely melted or crushed as flat as a pancake, but in all other situations the reflex will preserve their core integrity; it even has a very tiny power source of its own that can maintain integrity for almost a full year, in optimum conditions, and will keep the cellular components alive and healthy."

Wayne's blue eyes widened. "So what makes Sneaker Sneaker is in that cube? And you can do a brain transplant into a new body to bring him back?"

Megamind's upper lip twitched. "I don't think I'd put it quite that way; some people would get the wrong idea and start worrying about me snatching dead bodies for ridiculous experiments. But essentially, yes, that would do it."

He swept the hideously damaged robot shell with a critical glance, sighing once more, sadly. "This body is obviously beyond easy repair. And in the future, I think I'm going to look into manufacturing the sort of clear solid polymer that Minion's original habitat was made of to use for the brainbot domes, especially for the bots that go into highly hazardous situations. Lexan is cheap and easily available, but not durable enough."

His former nemesis was genuinely relieved; he grinned. "I'm sure you'll work out the details. I'm just glad to hear that the little guy isn't permanently out of action. He and Snooper did a lot of good work, keeping track of that lunatic, keeping us informed, and keeping him out of the picture for you and Roxie as long as they could."

"They did," the ex-villain agreed as he did a final check to make sure no other potentially troublesome subsystems of the robot body were still active. "Sneaker'll get the best new body I can give him, don't worry. And by the way, Roxanne really doesn't care for that nickname. Don't you know that?"

Wayne coughed. "Ah... yeah, I know. But a long time back, when I started to notice that you had serious feelings for her, I decided it was easier to put up with her occasionally getting annoyed with me calling her Roxie than it was seeing the way you'd start to boil every time I called her Roxanne in front of you. I was afraid you'd pop a vein or your head would explode — or you might forget yourself and do something dangerous that might accidentally hurt her, or Minion, or you. Jealousy can be unpredictable, that way."

Megamind was taken aback by his admission. "Was I really that transparent?" he asked, not sure which answer he dreaded more.

His former foe understood. "Yeah, you were, but probably only to me. Roxanne never seemed to notice, and if Minion did, he kept it to himself. Nobody else was ever around you and her enough to see, not unless you had a habit of talking in your sleep or going to bars and crying your heart out to the bartender."

Now, the blue alien snorted. "Hardly."

Wayne chuckled. "Didn't think so. Don't worry about it, I won't tell anyone. And if she really wants it that way, I'll try to remember that she prefers Roxanne. It may take a while, though, since not using it has gotten to be a habit."

With the essential part of Sneaker that was truly Sneaker now rescued from the ruin of his robot body, Megamind returned to the room where Roxanne was waiting, Wayne in his wake. The two police there had been joined by three others, who'd finished up questioning the guests and combing the area for vital information and evidence. One, the chief, was holding Mitchell's still dehydrated cube, which had been retrieved from the brainbots.

"They didn't want to give it up," the big man said with an amused shake of his head, "but one of your guests whistled for 'em and started waving around a big silver platter. When he had their attention, he threw it like a frisbee out over the lake, and they went right after it. They caught it before it could hit the water, too. I've heard about how this dehydration thing of yours works, but obviously, we've never had to deal with someone in this state before. Is there anything we should know before we rehydrate the guy?"

"Yeah: don't do it," Roxanne grumbled darkly, dead serious. The duct tape had been removed from her hair without removing too much of the hair itself, and she and Pinky had restored it to a properly acceptable style, with fresh flowers covering the worst of the damage. One of the police had also located her necklace in examining the restroom. Though they wanted to keep the broken chain for now as evidence, the pendant had been given a new one from the gift shop and was once again at her throat. "Ever."

Wayne and the other officers laughed softly, understanding her feelings; her husband bent to kiss her cheek. "Now, now, my love, I'm supposed to be the incorrigibly evil member of the family!" he chided, gently teasing. "I'm sure they need to have him reconstituted to question him and read him his rights. But actually, if you want just a tiny bit of payback, you can be the one to throw him out into the lake."

"The lake?" the police chief repeated, echoing the question in other minds.

"The lake," Megamind confirmed. "One can't always predict how a person will emerge from dehydration. I've been through it often enough that I know how to control things so that when I'm rehydrated, I can immediately take whatever action I had planned before I was dehydrated. That's how I finally managed to save Roxanne and the city from that idiot Hal. Sometimes, the person comes out in a daze — poor Minion can attest to that! And other times, if they were really fixated on whatever they were doing when they were dehydrated, they continue doing it when they're restored. Given Mitchell's state of mind, I suspect he'll come out still shooting, and I don't know for sure how many shots he has left in his cartridge. Toss him out into the lake and if he's still firing, the shots will go harmlessly into the water, if the gun doesn't get waterlogged first and can't fire at all."

The police and Wayne accepted this as a wise course of action; Roxanne smiled, evilly. "Oh, please," she fairly begged, as if this was the greatest gift she could ever wish to have come true, "please let me do it!"

And the police had no problem with that at all.

She waited, of course, until Minion and his brainbot assistants were finished cleaning and repairing her dress and Megamind's slacks. The ichthyoid was sorry that his partner's vest hadn't been salvageable, but it had served its greater hidden purpose, and that was what mattered most. The other bots, especially Snooper, had been saddened to discover what had happened to poor Sneaker, but when Daddy showed them that his core was safe and sound and promised that he would be made good as new as soon as possible — something that couldn't be put off for too long, as Sneaker had what might prove to be some very vital recordings of Mitchell's illegal actions — they were all reassured.

When the newlyweds and the hero of the hour returned to the site of the reception — once more in presentable condition and with an entourage of police, Wayne, and the brainbots following — their guests and the service staff cheered and applauded as they purposefully strode across the park, up to the shore, and out to the end of a currently empty pier. Roxanne had brought along a long, narrow scarf from the restaurant's lost and found box to use as a sling, and with great gusto and considerable accuracy, she whirled Mitchell's cube about to gain the desired momentum, then lobbed it out into the deeper waters of the bay, away from any boats or marina activity.

It made a beautiful, long arc against the blue summer sky, and hit the water well over two hundred feet from the pier. Some in the watching crowd applauded like viewers at a track and field competition. The cube sank below the surface as it took the typical three seconds to react with the water, then the surface frothed, two muffled bangs were heard, and finally, Mitchell's head surged up, spluttering, coughing, and shrieking.

"Good throw," Megamind complimented Roxanne as she glared at her flailing attacker. "Would've been even better with a real sling, I'm sure, and if cubes were more aerodynamic. Maybe I'll look into a spherical variation when we get back home."

Mitchell's shrieks, which started as foul cursing, suddenly turned to panicked wails of, "Help, help, I can't swim! Oh, god, I'm going to die!"

Both newlyweds snorted. "Figures," the bride observed acerbically.

"We should only be so lucky," the groom agreed, sotto voce, as he whistled for the brainbots. He let Mitchell continue to flail about for a bit, and when he decided the man had sufficiently worn himself out, he signaled for the bots to fetch him. "Don't forget the gun!" he added as they streaked off.

Splice and two of the camera bots hauled the sodden and screaming madman from the lake while Snooper — who was built to be completely waterproof, since one could never predict the conditions a stealthbot might find itself needing to face — dove under the surface and emerged in short order with the dripping weapon. At Megamind's gesture, Snooper delivered the pistol directly into the hands of the police also waiting on the pier. The other brainbots unceremoniously dumped their soggy burden at Roxanne's feet, dropping him from a bit higher than they perhaps should have, in minor payment for what he'd done to Sneaker.

The police stayed back while Mitchell, now unarmed, coughed and spluttered and made quite a show of what had been a comparatively brief dunking. Roxanne continued to look down at him, mouth set in a firm line, eyes narrow and sharp like scalpels waiting to dissect him, wanting to hear what feeble explanation for his actions he might concoct. Megamind made no move to come between them, though he did drape one arm around his wife's shoulders, offering his support.

Mitchell, on hands and knees, finally choked out a last cough, then looked up at Roxanne, face glowing. "Oh, Roxanne, my darling, you saved my life! You do love me—!" He reared up and lunged for her, intending to wrap his sodden arms around her legs.

But her foot came up faster, pressing against his face, toe firmly planted between his eyes. "That's far enough," she snapped, the tone of command unmistakable. "For one thing, Mitchell, I am not your darling or your sweet or anything yours. I never have been, I never will be, and if you didn't get the hint when I reported you for sexual harassment last month, I'll spell it out for you right now. I didn't save you; if I'd had my way, I would've tied lead weights to your ankles and let you sink right to the bottom. If you have two brain cells still working in that thick skull of yours, get this into them: I love Megamind, I married him of my own free will, he has never hurt me, blackmailed me, brainwashed me, or abused me, and if you think for one second I'd give him up for a piece of rotting slime like you whose idea of 'true love' is clubbing a woman, gagging and assaulting her and then trying to kill her and her husband on their wedding day, you don't belong in jail, you belong in an insane asylum!"

"Actually," Megamind provided helpfully, smiling in a deceptively sweet and innocent way, "they call them the mental health wards of correctional facilities, but you're right, that does come first; serving the prison time comes second."

Mitchell heard the blue hero's voice and only then registered his presence. The light of madness flared again in his eyes; he snarled out, "You!" and tried to go after Megamind with his bare hands, but Roxanne was prepared, and quicker. She pulled back her foot just enough to snap it back and give him a good solid kick in the face.

The schizophrenic sleazebag sprawled back, half over the edge of the pier. Feeling himself in that precarious position, he flailed about frantically, arms pinwheeling, and wound up tumbling completely over, right back into the water, once again screaming bloody murder about his inability to swim in water that was only shoulder deep.

This time, the police came forward to handle the rescue, the chief grinning as he gave the bride a thumbs-up and said, "We'll take it from here. That guy really is nuts!"

Megamind gave the chief a gracious nod, relinquishing the matter to their capable hands, and headed back to shore with Roxanne, his arm still around her shoulders. "Understated, but magnificent," he told her softly, kissing her cheek in appreciation. "If I equip you with your own de-gun and protective gear, I don't think I'll ever have to worry again about you not being able to take care of yourself."

She turned her head to give him a soft kiss on the lips, smiling impishly. "Can I have one in black and silver? And maybe just a smidge smaller, so I can carry it in my purse without it weighing a ton."

He made a show of considering it, grinning. "Hmmm, I might have to cut out a few of the lesser functions for that, but it should be doable. Give me a week or two after we get home."

"You've got it," she said, and stopped their return to kiss him more properly. There came a chorus of approval along with the clinking of glassware from their guests, and they were more than happy to go along with the old tradition and keep right on kissing until the clinking dissolved into laughter and cheers.

With Mitchell finally taken off into custody, the celebrants could rest easy in the certainty that he would not be troubling them again. Indeed, given that he had not only engaged in sexual harassment, but had also been actively stalking Roxanne, had acquired a fistful of traffic violations in two states over a matter of days, had attempted the abduction of and had forcibly attacked his target, had carried a concealed weapon in a state where such was illegal — an unregistered weapon to boot — and had attempted premeditated murder with said weapon in the sight of nearly three dozen witnesses, the likelihood was strong that even if he was declared legally insane, he wouldn't be seeing the outside of prison walls until he was an old man.

While the guests and the wedding party discussed all that had happened — a necessary way of releasing the last of the tension — the hired staff had cleared away the dining utensils, had rearranged the tables and chairs so that a party with music and dance could be held, and had brought out the cake and champagne to finish the last of the traditions. The buzz of police activity and the noise of gunfire and screaming had drawn the attention of many locals and vacationers in the area, and after briefly talking it over, the newlyweds decided to let them come and participate in the celebration, if they wanted. More snacks and beverages were brought out along with extra chairs, and when all had been set up, Wayne signaled the person in charge of the music to ask for quiet and everyone's attention. When the now larger crowd complied, the retired hero gestured to Minion.

The ichthyoid took the cordless microphone he was offered and cleared his throat. "Even though I'm not exactly accustomed to public speaking, everything I've read says that this is the job of the Best Man, and though I'm actually a fish, I'm still a male, so I guess that I still qualify." He grinned at the chuckles and nods he was given. "And it is appropriate. I've known Mykaal ever since he was eight days old and his parents sent me with him to Earth to save his life — oh, sir, I'm sorry!" Minion exclaimed, clapping one hand over the relative position of his mouth. "I've never called you by your real name in public before!"

Megamind smiled back, unconcerned. "That's all right, Minion. Everyone who was at the ceremony's already heard it, and since Roxanne's planning to use Thejhan as her last name outside of work, it wasn't going to stay secret much longer."

Minion gave him an Are you sure? look, and when the blue hero nodded, Yes, I'm sure, he heaved a sigh of relief and continued. "Anyway, as I was saying, I've known Sir for almost his entire life, and I've known Ms Roxanne ever since the night they first met — and it wasn't part of a kidnapping! I know that it's kind of a tradition for the Best Man to tell some embarrassing story about how the bride and groom got together before giving the toast, but while I know a lot of stories about them that could be embarrassing, I just can't bring myself to tell any of them."

Though he had started out a bit nervous — this was a part of all the traditions surrounding weddings in this country that Minion had dreaded, since he didn't want to make some egregious mistake and thus be personally responsible for spoiling any part of the day — he saw the warmly smiling faces of his friends and all the others who were listening, and found himself relaxing. "You see, most people think that the first time these two met was when Megamind first kidnapped Ms Roxanne, but the truth is, they met months before, when he accidentally found her as an innocent bystander about to get killed by a gang of genuinely evil thugs and stepped in to save her life."

He chuckled softly at the sounds of surprise that murmured from his audience. "Maybe that is an embarrassing story, because rescuing complete strangers wasn't the kind of thing a supervillain should be known for doing, and these days, people would never think that Roxanne Ritchi would have ever gotten into such terrible trouble on her own before the whole kidnapping thing started! But that's how it happened, and that's what I'm always going to remember. The person who's been my best friend all my life was never the evil villain he pretended to be because he thought it was his destiny, and Ms Roxanne isn't always the tough, self-sufficient, hard-as-nails, no-nonsense reporter that a lot of people think she must be. They're both exceptional people, and they've both had to play the cards they were dealt in life.

"They weren't easy hands to play for either of them — but somehow, I think they found the way to make the most of what they were given. In spite of all the odds against it, they found each other. And if anything about their lives was meant to be, was destiny, I truly believe that this was it. Mykaal didn't need to be bad, and Roxanne didn't need to be tough. They didn't need a complete do-over, didn't need to be dealt a whole new hand. What they really needed was each other."

Minion reached down to pick up the glass that he'd set down before starting, fearing that he might spill it in his nervousness, even though it was less than half full. "So, if it's not out of place for a fish to do this, I ask everyone here to raise their glass and drink to my two best friends, who today made the decision to openly and formally commit themselves to one another."

He lifted the glass, which sparkled like a diamond partly filled with liquid gold as it caught a ray of the evening sun. He was only peripherally aware of all the other guests — even those curious folk who had been invited to join the party a short time ago — doing the same, as his attention was focused on the couple he honored, smiling. "To Mykaal and Roxanne, the two best friends anyone could ever hope to have. May your troubles be few, your blessings many, your years together long and full, and may you know nothing but happiness from this day on."

Answering words of agreement, echoed all through the little park as smiles and good wishes were offered, glasses were raised, the customary sips taken. Minion had set up the little drinking tube in the seam of his habitat's opening beforehand so that he could also imbibe a bit of the small amount of champagne in his glass at the proper moment (if in a somewhat peculiar-looking fashion, as he looked to be drinking out of his cybersuit's "forehead").

"That was beautiful, Minion," Roxanne said with genuine affection for her new ersatz brother-in-law. "Thank you."

Megamind seconded the sentiment. "Unaccustomed as you are to public speaking, you certainly seemed quite comfortable with it," he added, truly touched despite his joking manner.

With the tradition now fulfilled, Wayne cleared his throat, lightly. "I know it's not so much of a custom for the Maid of Honor to do this—" He said it with a crooked grin and a wink that made people laugh. "—but I just wanted everyone to know that I couldn't be happier for these two if I tried. I know that all these years, just about the whole world thought that Roxanne and I were a couple, but the truth is that... well, that it was never true. I've always liked Roxie, and we've been good friends — and I hope we always will be — but she was like my kid sister. The real chemistry has always been between her and Megs — Mykaal," he corrected, winning himself a wide, green eyed look of astonishment when he finally said the name correctly.

He smiled back. "I know I don't have to tell you that you've gotten yourself a wonderful girl, little buddy — I'm sure you know just how wonderful she is even better than I do. I know you'll take good care of her, and I hope you'll be smart enough to let her take good care of you. Even superheroes need that, and I envy you for having what I never did. Being looked up to by a whole city is nice, but being loved by one special person the way I know Roxanne loves you — that's a miracle, and I'm not saying that just because we used to be enemies! Whenever two people who were really meant for each other manage to overcome all the mistakes they made and the misconceptions they had about each other — when they can get past all the hate and gossip of the world to see the truth and not only accept it but embrace it, and each other, that's a miracle."

The retired hero sighed and grinned at the same time. "I know, I'm getting seriously sappy, here, but this is what I've seen, what I believe. Love is a miracle, and I hope you always remember that, even when things get rough, no matter what other people might say or think. It's the greatest superpower in the universe, and if you have it, there's nothing and no one you can't stand up against and win. So here's to my two best friends: may you always love each other even more than you do today, and may you always have the love of your friends and your family to give a little extra help when you need it. I know you'll always have mine."

"And mine!" Minion agreed, lifting up his glass as Wayne did. The gesture and the words were echoed by a surprising number of others, and left the newlyweds misty-eyed and speechless.

After that, the little traditions left for the day were simple ones, like cutting the cake and dancing and taking pictures and talking and laughing and sharing the joys and pleasures of the occasion with all who had come to wish them well. Some of the police officers who had helped to deal with Mitchell returned, now off-duty, to join the celebration and offer their best wishes to the unusual couple. All in all, the rest of the day went splendidly, and when sunset was approaching in all its glory across the wide bay, many gathered on the pier and along the shore to appreciate it. Minion and Wayne joined Megamind and Roxanne where they were standing together near the end of the pier, away from the noise of the party.

Both bride and groom smiled warmly at their two uniquely alien friends as they approached. "It's been a wonderful day, in spite of everything," Roxanne told them as they hesitated to come closer, just in case the couple wanted their privacy.

"Yes, and thanks to both of you," Megamind agreed, to Wayne's mixed delight and surprise. "You saved the day, Minion, and Wayne, I have to admit that some of the unkind things I thought about you and the 'surprises' you kept warning us about were completely unjust. Having friends and family here made a difference to both of us, and we wanted you to know that we appreciate everything you did to arrange for it."

Roxanne nodded most emphatically. "Are they driving back to Green Bay tonight?"

The former Metro Man shook his head. "I made arrangements for all of them in a couple of places around town, they'll be staying until Monday. They all know where to go after the party and how to get there. I also called in a favor with an old friend from my college days who owns a rental condo here, and that's where Minion and I will be spending the next few days while I show him around and you two get settled into this new husband and wife gig. When you're ready to leave tonight, Tyler will drive you back to the house."

"Is there any way we'll ever be able to thank the two of you for everything you've done today?" Roxanne wondered.

"No," Wayne answered blithely, until Minion elbowed him. "Just kidding! I mean, what're friends for, right? I expect that if someday, I manage to meet someone as great as you, Roxie — Roxanne," he quickly corrected, "you'll return the favor. Right?"

"And you've already thanked me enough," Minion added before they could try to answer the rhetorical question. "You agreed to come on this trip when I was worried that you might get sick or even split up from all the pressure you'd both been under. All I ever wanted was to see the two of you happy and healthy again — and look how things turned out!"

He grinned so widely, it was easy to count all the teeth in his fishy little body. "You gave me everything I could've hoped for, and more! This morning you said I'm your partner now, sir, and after today, I really feel like I am. And I have new family now, too! So don't worry about thanking me, either of you, ever. You've made me the happiest fish in the universe!" He did a little flip and roll inside his habitat to show it.

Megamind's smile was lopsided as he lightly punched his friend's shoulder. "Maybe we need to go thank Stewart Mitchell, then."

Roxanne gave him a look that would've frozen molten lava. "Don't even think of it!" she warned, but a moment later, she laughed with the rest of them. It was easier to do, now, knowing that Mitchell was behind bars, and she had the protection of three friends who were the smartest, strongest, and most determined people on the planet.

As the four — three aliens and one very special Earthling — watched the lovely sunset across the rippling waters, they decided that all in all, it had been a wonderfully satisfying, beautiful, almost perfect day — and in the true fairy tale that was life, one couldn't ask for a happier ending.

When Wayne and Judge Crenshaw had made the arrangements with the village to use the lakeside park to hold the wedding reception, they had agreed to have the party end by eleven, so as not to disturb the townsfolk too late into the night. Not that it would have mattered much, since as the evening went on, more people wandered by to see what was happening, and pretty much everyone who lived or was staying in the immediate area was welcomed to join the celebration. Still, it had been a long day with some very unexpected and stressful events, so just after ten, the bride and groom decided to call it night.

There were, of course, many congratulations offered after this was announced, goodbyes said, hugs and kisses given and received, and not a few tears of a happy kind shed. Wayne and Minion promised to collect up any stray gifts and things and bring them over to the summer house in a day or two, whenever their friends called and said they were ready to have company again. Minion had made sure that a piece of the cake was saved for them, neatly wrapped up in a little white box, and he assured them that he would keep an eye on the brainbots as well, since he rightly presumed that they would not be the best "guests" to have around during a honeymoon, however brief it might be.

The final tradition to be observed before the newlyweds departed was, of course, the throwing of the bride's bouquet. Given that most of the female guests who'd been invited were already married, Roxanne had decided to skip the idea of asking only the single females to step forward. Instead, before allowing herself to be graciously helped into the limo, she had simply turned her back to the crowd of well-wishers and tossed it. The laughter of the guests and Megamind told her even before she looked that something odd had happened.

She was expecting to see that Pinky had nabbed the flowers in mid-air, having becoming inordinately attached to them throughout the day. Instead, she saw a beet-red Wayne standing there, holding the bouquet as if it was something even more alien than the talking, snickering robot-bodied fish behind him.

"That's what you get for wearing a skirt, Wayne!" his ex-rival declared, chortling and pointing toward him in a dramatic gesture that pinned him as the obvious and only choice for this embarrassing whimsey of Fate.

Roxanne shrugged an apology to the musician and tried her best not to giggle too much at his expense as she climbed into the limo. Once the doors were closed and they were on their way, however, she let loose the peals of laughter she couldn't resist. She was only human, after all, and the sight of the big lug standing there in his kilt, holding her bridal bouquet was too priceless to resist. She hoped that Blinkie or one of the other camera bots captured it for posterity; through his own laughter, Megamind assured her that they would, if for no other reason than Blinkie's recently developed fondness for the retired hero.

The drive to the house was brief, and they asked the chauffeur to drop them off at the entrance to the driveway so that they could enjoy the short, quiet walk back to the house. After thanking Tyler for his fine work that day — for which he refused any compensation, saying that he'd have considered the time well spent, even if Mr. Scott hadn't already handled such mundane matters — and accepting his congratulations and good wishes, they turned toward the house, walking slowly to enjoy the soft sounds of the night after those from the limo had dwindled and disappeared.

"It's been a beautiful day," Roxanne sighed in contentment as they walked up the stone-paved driveway together, his arm around her shoulders, hers around his waist.

Megamind gave a soft, amused snort. "Even the part with Mitchell?"

"Well, I wouldn't call that beautiful," she conceded. "But it was... unexpected. I would've rather he'd just kept his nose out of our lives, but if he was going to go insane like that, it was better that it happened where and when it did. He knew the address of this house, after all, and he could've decided to lie in wait for us to come back and be shooting at us out in the dark, right now. If he'd aimed for our heads..."

The arm around her shoulder tightened. "He didn't, not soon enough. Roxanne, I know it must sound strange coming from me, but you can't let yourself dwell on things like that, at least not for long."

He stopped, and turned her to face him. "You have to let it go. I know, hearing me say that is absolutely ridiculous! I'm about as obsessive as one can get when it comes to details, and I know how to overthink things in ways that ordinary humans can't even begin to imagine. But I've been finding out some very important things about that over the last two years — even today. I've been realizing that if I let myself keep dwelling on things that didn't happen, I couldn't do my job, I couldn't even function. I'd be too afraid to step outside the door or crawl out of bed in the morning. Did you hear what I said to that imbecile Hal about losing, before I managed to get into the Invisible Car and get my hands on the defuser gun?"

She had to think hard for a moment, since she hadn't been terribly close to them at that point in their battle. "That when you lose, you get to learn from your mistakes?"

"Yes. And the mistake we made today was not taking Mitchell's threat quite as seriously as perhaps we should've. Normal, sane people don't do some of the things we've seen him doing this past week or so, thanks to Sneaker and Snooper. And when you're dealing with a madman, you have to be twice as careful, and more. We let ourselves forget that. Thank God Minion didn't! And now, we have to learn from it, so we don't make that same mistake again."

"And learning from it doesn't mean thinking about all the possible awful scenarios until one of them scares you to death. You're right, I get it." She took a deep breath, then released it in a rush. "But can I at least feel a little bit unnerved by what happened? Not about lunatics with guns jumping out at us from every shadow, but about seeing my brand new husband take six bullets right in the chest when we hadn't even been married for three hours! I'd feel insane if that didn't bother me!"

His smile was crooked, but affectionate. "I suppose you have the right to feel that way. I have to admit, when Mitchell hauled out that gun and aimed it at me, I suddenly pictured myself lying there on the ground, feeling furious because I not only couldn't protect you, but because I'd bled all over the nice white clothes Minion went through so much trouble to make for me, and ruined them!"

Roxanne stared at him for what felt like an impossibly long moment; then abruptly, she burst out laughing. She couldn't stop it, and she didn't want to. It was cathartic, and though Megamind smiled to hear it, he didn't try to stop her, either.

Finally, her laughter dwindled to chuckles, and she wiped away her semi-mirthful tears with the back of one hand. "I know, I know," she gasped out when she had breath enough to speak. "It wasn't that funny, but it was pretty silly, and I needed the laugh. Thanks, sweetie." Still a bit breathless, she draped her arms over his shoulders, sweeping up the collar of his jacket to create a small, intimate space in which she could kiss him most thoroughly, and he could quite happily return it, his own arms circling her waist to draw her even closer.

To a bystander, several minutes ticked by before they parted only enough to resume the short walk to the front door; to them, lost in each other, it was both a fraction of a second and a blissful eternity. Still together, they continued on, and Megamind chuckled. "If you'd like to hear something else that sounds kinda ridiculous, here it is: I'm actually glad that Mitchell was a good shot."

Roxanne's eyes widened, disbelieving. "In heaven's name, why?"

The green eyes sparkled even in the scant light. "Because people who know what they're doing with a gun usually hit what they're aiming for. Amateurs just sort of use it like a hose, spray the shots in a general direction and hope they hit something. Sometimes, going up against a pro can be easier — more predictable," he added, grinning mischievously. "Mitchell wanted to blast my heart out, I could see it in the way he lined up his shots at me, and he was stopped by Minion's smart thinking. I didn't know I had that protection at first, of course, I was fixated on saving you, but once I got the picture, I wasn't worried until he started to aim for you. He was going for the head, and even for me in full battle gear, that's still my most vulnerable spot. On you, unprotected...!"

He shook his head and shuddered. "Seeing that freaked me out as much as me getting shot in the chest bothered you!"

She understood his feelings completely, and snuggled a little closer to his side in a gesture of comfort. "I guess we both need to put it behind us as something awful that didn't happen. It's our wedding night, after all. We only get one, and I don't want it spoiled by what some crazy stalker did and didn't do."

She raised the hand that wasn't around his waist to touch the part of his chest that had been hit by the much reduced force of the bullets. "Are you sure you weren't hurt too badly? I know what I've heard police say about the bruises they get even through bulletproof vests, and they can be nasty."

"I'm positive," her blue husband assured her, pressing his own free hand down on top of hers, demonstrating that his hurts were minimal. "For one thing, the properties of the protective fabrics I make are considerably more advanced and sophisticated than a simple bulletproof vest. It doesn't just block the hit for you, it also absorbs the concussive impact and spreads it out over the entire surface of the fabric. The bodysuits I wear under my costumes can take a lot more punishment and leave me pretty much unhurt. Since the vest was smaller, it couldn't handle quite as much, but six bullets? No problem. And getting my healing salve onto it right away helped, a lot. I can still feel some bruising, but it's hardly anything, and it'll be gone by morning."

Roxanne was understandably relieved, especially when she deliberately pressed her knuckles into his chest to test just how much he might be understating things to keep her from worrying. Megamind didn't wince or groan; he laughed, and batted her hand away. "Keep doing that, and you'll give me new bruises to put a damper on things!" he warned.

She relented. "Can't have that happening," she chuckled, reaching back to caress more lovingly the spot she'd just abused, soothing away any hurt she might have caused.

"Better," he purred, and she knew she'd succeeded.

"Good. I'm glad Minion had the foresight to leave the porch lights on, too," she said as they finally reached the front of the house. "It gets awfully dark out here without them, and I had this image of us tripping and falling over each other, trying to find the steps."

"He did think of everything," Megamind agreed, then made a odd half-laughing sound. "Even that." He pointed to the door now just a few steps away across the porch, and the huge white bow that had been placed there, like some kind of unusual wreath.

Roxanne giggled. "I wonder what bride's magazine or TV show he saw that in," she mused with a grin.

"Maybe we'll find out," the ex-villain said, indicating an envelope that had been tucked into a fold at the center of the bow. It was labeled To Mr. & Mrs. Thejhan in simple block letters, in gold ink.

Roxanne took the envelope, slipping one finger under the plain gold seal on the back. "I'm surprised," she had to admit. "I would've expected Minion to use silver ink, not gold."

Megamind shrugged as she drew out the folded paper within. "Maybe he thought it stood out better against the white paper. Silver does tend to fade against white. Another reason I prefer black for my working clothes."

She cocked one eyebrow at him. "Not to mention that you know you look very sexy in it."

He waved one hand in airy dismissal even as he returned her look with a suggestive glance of his own. "Oh, that goes without saying."

She stopped before unfolding the paper to answer his suggestion with a lingering kiss. "Soon," she promised when he made a soft, disappointed sound as she broke away. She returned her attention to the paper. "Let's see what we have here..."

"Can't it wait like all the other cards and gifts?" he pouted, sliding both arms around her waist to pull her close and give loving attention to the nearer of her ears. "It is our wedding night, after all."

"I suppose," she sighed, enjoying his touch and almost surrendering — until she scanned the letter. "Oh, they didn't!"

"Didn't what?" he asked distractedly, wondering if it would be terribly unheroic, not to mention illegal, to at least begin the wedding night right here.

"Minion and Wayne," she said, not pushing him away, but struggling to not respond to him in the way she wanted most, not yet. "You have to read this!"

"Read it to me," he suggested, still nibbling on her ear.

She smirked. "If you want me to read to you, you'll have to quit being quite so distracting, lover boy."

He nuzzled her hair. "Mmm, I didn't say I wanted you to read to me..."

She turned her head to give him a sound but quick kiss, then pulled back, smiling sweetly. "Just for a minute," she promised.

Megamind knew an act when he saw it. Roxanne's sweetness always had just enough of a bite to it to keep things interesting and him on his toes, so when she pulled this innocent Bambi-eyed face on him, he knew she was being outrageously manipulative — and he knew that she knew, which made it perfectly acceptable. He heaved a huge sigh of disappointed surrender that was equally feigned. "Oh, all right, just for a minute. But go one second more..." He offered the threat in his best sultry villain manner and voice, and she conceded.

"Deal. Listen to this."

Dear Mykaal and Roxanne,

Since I'm the one writing this, I had to ask Minion to make sure I got the names spelled right — it's still a little hard for me to wrap my brain around the whole idea of you having a real name, Mykaal, since I have no idea at all what mine is, or if I ever had one. But this isn't about me, it's about the two of you, and the new life you started together today. Even though I'm more than a little green with envy, I am truly happy for both of you, and hope that your life together will only grow better with the years. And Minion agrees with me, one hundred percent.

To help make that wish come true, I want you to know that I meant what I said when I promised to help support and protect both you, Minion, and any little Thejhans who might come along in the future. The jobs both of you have taken on are probably going to present the biggest bumps and potholes in the road of the future, and whatever I can do to keep them from being too hard to take, I'll do it.

There are two things I can do now to help toward that goal. One I've already promised: to give that interview explaining the truth of why I gave up being Metro Man so that I can give Mykaal my help — all of it — when it comes to defending the city in the future. The second is my wedding gift to both of you, my real gift: this house.

It's only now that I really understand how much having a place to get away from the strains and stresses of being the hero 24/7 and actually using it could have done to help me decompress and recover from those things when I was Metro Man. But I didn't, and now, while I'm putting my life back together, finding my own direction, I want to give you — who have chosen your direction and your future — this house: to be a safe place to go and get away from the demands of others for a time, to be a quiet place where you can go to rest and heal, to be a happy place where you can enjoy the simpler pleasures and joys of life. As you can take refuge in each other every day, use this place to take refuge from the difficulties of the world when the rest of the world gets to be too much, or tries to own you.

There's a lot more I can think of to say, but I'll spare you my words of wisdom for now. When you've returned home, we can finish up the formalities of the deed and whatever other paperwork might need to be done. Until then, enjoy this gift. Minion's part of it will be giving any help you might want or need in remodeling or redecorating it to suit you, and in setting up a security system to make sure it stays safe when you're not here, and that keeps you safe and protected when you are. He's a great friend and a good person, and I'm glad that we're finally getting to know each other and moving beyond the past. Maybe sometime in the future, when we all have a little more room to breathe, we can all sit down together and spend time really getting to know each other.

Congratulations once again to both of you. Be happy, stay healthy, and never forget that you have friends who love you and value your friendship.

Wayne & Minion

When she finished reading the letter, Roxanne handed it to Megamind, who scanned it for himself in the silence that followed. "We can't accept this — can we?" she asked, uncertain, but deeply touched.

The blue hero considered it himself for a moment or three, then shrugged, also moved. "I don't see how or why we can't. Wayne told us that his mother was going to sell the place when he first suggested we come here on vacation."

"But... this is too much!"

Megamind gave a short, soft laugh. "For who? I know I rib him about having more money than he does, but even though it's true, he has a lot of assets of his own, always has. And if it's a choice between this and his latest album or a toaster, I won't say no to this. I..."

He hesitated, and Roxanne could see the lavender flush tinting his cheeks and ears. "Okay, I have to admit, I was thinking about making an offer for this place after we went home. I like the house, and I like this area. I know, it doesn't seem much like my usual style, but that's part of why I like it. I don't have to be anybody or anything but myself here, not a hero, not a villain, not anything but what I want to be, right now. That's a huge relief, bigger than I ever thought it could be! And I get the feeling that Wayne knew that's how I'd feel about it when he suggested that we come here."

Roxanne looked at the note again, and smiled softly. "You're right, I think he did. And I feel the same way you do. I love the city and our lives there — most of the time. To know that we have a place of our own to go to whenever we want to or need to... that's a real gift. But..."

The reformed villain knew what she was going to say. "Look, if it's a matter of money — meaning that you think Wayne's spending too much of it on us — don't worry about that. I'll talk to him about it, and if he'll take it, I'll offer to give him as much of his mother's asking price as he's comfortable taking. And I'll be sure to tell him that this is for your peace of mind, not mine."

He made an extravagantly haughty face that was mostly exaggeration. "Personally, I think he owes us a lot more than this and I don't have any problem accepting it from him, but I want to do whatever makes you happy."

Roxanne looked at him, then at the note, then back again. Finally, she smiled. "Okay, I guess this isn't something we need to decide right this moment. One way or another, it's going to be ours. I like that idea most of all."

Megamind grinned broadly. "Good! Because that lets me perform one final ritual Minion was telling me about, and when he mentioned it to me yesterday, I didn't think it would be appropriate. Possibly even in bad taste."

The blue eyes widened. "Bad taste? Why?"

He held up one hand in a dramatic gesture, belaying the question until after he'd fished the key from his pocket and unlocked and opened the door. Then with a swiftness that startled her, he swept his bride up into his arms, still grinning. "Because I didn't want to carry you over the threshold of a house that doesn't belong to us — especially not a house that belongs to anyone named Scott!"

Roxanne laughed brightly, seeing his point, and happily, they continued on into the house that was now their own, kissing again even as Megamind gently kicked the door closed behind them.

To be concluded