Disclaimer: I do not own Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha.
A/N: Sorry for the late update. I was having exams. This chapter will be the final one so enjoy! And I thank those who reviewed previously!
NOTE: This chapter is extremely long so brace yourself and bear with me.
Chapter 26: Epilogue
"Fate-chan, does this look okay? Is the ribbon crooked? Is the colour of the wrong tone? Is…"
"Nanoha-chan!" Fate said in a loud exasperated voice which stopped the anxious orange-haired girl's ranting. Instead, she suddenly felt tiny and afraid as her friend showed very obvious signs of impatience. "For the last time, Nanoha-chan!" Fate continued, "You look okay! You look fantastic! You're the most beautiful bride on this planet!"
"Are you sure?" Nanoha said uncertainly and held out the silky material of her gown. "This make-up looks too unimpressive…" Nanoha patted her cheeks lightly and looked up at the yellow-haired girl and backed away from her as Fate shot her a don't-make-me-start look. Nanoha tingled slightly and resumed looking at the mirror of the vanity desk with a sweat-drop, trying hard to avoid Fate's eyes.
"But it makes me happy to see you so happy as a bride, Nanoha-chan." Fate said softly, bending down and lowering her head until her head was next to Nanoha's in a very close distance.
Nanoha gave a small smile. "No need to be so envious, Fate-chan." She said cheerfully, looking at Fate's reflection in the mirror, "I'm sure Chrono-kun will propose to you soon."
"That is, if he could even get the correct ring." Fate scoffed lightly with a cynical tone.
"Ah…ha…ha." Nanoha laughed nervously at her friend's comment. Then, she smiled again and said, "But I always wanted to have my wedding with yours, Fate-chan." Her eyes drifted off into a dreamy glint, "Isn't it good if you were getting married today with me as well? Then it'll be a combination of friendship and love!"
"Combination of…friendship and love?" Fate inquired with questioning raised eyebrows.
"As in, when you get wedded, your best friend is by your side as well as your partner." Nanoha explained, turning and looking at her friend. "It just makes you feel really happy, doesn't it?"
Fate was speechless for a moment and she stared at Nanoha as if she was a mobile hurricane. In an almost ridiculed tone, the yellow-haired girl said simply, "You watch too much drama." Just as the orange-haired girl was about to protest, Fate's lips curled into a small smile and said, "But I thought that would be rather nice too."
"I'm glad you agree with me, Fate-chan." Nanoha smiled.
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"So do I look okay?" A yellow-haired guy asked, adjusting his black bow for umpteen times.
"Boy, do you look okay!" His black-haired friend replied in a rather irritated tone. "You asked me that for the hundredth time!"
"You counted, Chrono-kun?" The yellow-haired guy teased playfully.
"Yes, I did." The said Chrono answered sarcastically.
"Mou, have a sense of humor." The yellow-haired friend hooked his arm around Chrono's neck and nudged his ribs playfully. "Don't be so cold and serious all the time."
"I'm not cold and serious all the time, Yuuno-kun." Chrono said to his friend. "It's just that reminding you that you look good for the hundredth time isn't exactly a good past-time, especially when I did that for hundred times."
"…"
"…"
"You suck, Chrono-kun!" Yuuno said aloud playfully.
"Deal with it." Chrono rolled his eyes and went to get the blazer, assisting Yuuno into the black coat. When his yellow-haired friend had his whole suit on, Chrono placed an encouraging hand on his shoulder and gave a smile.
"Do I…" Yuuno started but was interrupted.
"Yes, you are looking good." Chrono's smile fade and was replaced by a seemingly forced smile which was twitching ferociously.
"Are you…" Yuuno started once again but stopped midway when he saw the black-haired boy was on the verge of murdering. He has good deduction, the yellow-haired boy thought with a big sweat-drop.
Maybe – just maybe – I got the wrong person for best man…
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The chapel was filling up with people; friends, family and relatives of the couple who was going to be wedded. At the altar, stood two young men; the yellow-haired guy looking nervously at the doors of the chapel while the black-haired guy looked nonchalant but if one looked more carefully, one would notice his anticipation as well. The stain-glass windows allowed light to filter through, brightening parts of the chapel with a myriad of colours, adding to the happy atmosphere. The skies outside was of a clear blue, although occasional clouds patrolled by.
Happy murmurs and chattering rose steadily in volume from the guests sitting comfortably at the benches. Heads turned at almost every interval at the doors, excited and eager to see the bride but disappointment kept greeting them and sighs kept exiting their mouths.
"It should be about time now." Chrono said, looking at his watch. He was standing at the right-side of the altar with the groom next to him, looking all nervous and seemingly unprepared. Time to time, Yuuno eyed the doors almost carefully, mixed feelings about the arrival of his bride. The black-haired guy, however looking so unruffled, twiddled his fingers with a twinge of nervousness which wasn't very obvious and needed a microscope to even know that it existed. Clearly, he was anticipating the whole event as well. After all, he was going to see his girlfriend as the bridesmaid and he blushed slightly at the thought of how she would look, plus a few of his fantasies; so gorgeous and lovely…
"Do I look okay? I mean, seriously, do I look okay?" Yuuno asked anxiously, smoothing the wrinkles of his suit uneasily. His usually carefree expression was tainted with fret and apprehension.
"You look great, Yuuno-kun." Chrono said firmly. "Now," Chrono eyed Yuuno who was looking at him confusingly, "Do I look okay?"
"And to think you were so I-don't-care-about-my-appearance before." Yuuno laughed softly but heartily. "Besides, you're not the groom. You're just an associate." Chrono raised his twitching eyebrows. "Um…and you're a friend and a pal too." The yellow-haired boy added quickly, seeing his friend's threatening expression.
"Okay, time is ticking so," Chrono said with a hint of nervousness is his voice, "Do I look okay?"
"Well," Yuuno said slowly, adding to the drama in the whole situation and the intensity into Chrono, who bit his lip lightly to refrain himself from hitting the yellow-haired boy. "For the best man, you look handsome."
Chrono tingled. "Why can't you use some other adjective?"
"Why?"
"Because I thought only girls use the word 'handsome'."
"…"
"…"
"I am absolutely speechless, Chrono-kun." Yuuno turned away from his friend in a slow dramatic manner, stifling giggles even with his back facing towards him. Chrono was about to question him when a music serenely made its presence in the church, flowing into the chapel softly. The sounds of door shutting merely prompted the guests, including Chrono and Yuuno, to divert their attention to the entrance. Seconds later as the wedding music played, the doors opened again slowly, revealing the orange-haired bride with a small bouquet of flowers in her hands and her arm was hooked with a middle-aged man, clearly her father, as well as the charming yellow-haired bridesmaid. Two little girls were by their side too; one on each side, dressed in fluffy white dresses with a basket hooked around their arms.
Chrono saw that the jitters Yuuno experienced earlier were vanished as he saw him beamed at his bride. The black-haired guy, too, admitted that Nanoha looked stunning, but his smile widened at the sight of his girlfriend as the bridesmaid.
When Nanoha and her associates reached the alter, Nanoha's father took her daughter's hand and placed them on Yuuno's. He merely smiled, but that was all that was needed. Fate stood by the side next to Chrono and flashed a brief smile before turning her attention to the ceremony. As the presence of the priest hadn't been catching any attention, Chrono almost jumped when he saw the balding old man in his robes in front of the couple, waiting to be wedded.
"Yuuno Scrya, do you accept this woman, Takamachi Nanoha to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do."
"And do you, Takamachi Nanoha, accept this man, Yuuno Scrya, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do."
After which, Nanoha handed Fate her bouquet of flowers and they took each other's hand, slipping the ring onto each other's finger, smiling at each other blissfully. Lifting the veil slowly, Yuuno's eyes locked into Nanoha's sapphire ones as the veil dropped behind her back. They exchanged one last smile before they shifted nearer to each other. Yuuno bent down (he was taller than Nanoha) a little and gently pressed his lips against Nanoha's rosy ones.
Applauses instantly resounded throughout the whole chapel, even Fate and Chrono joined in. Moments later, their lips separated. Fate and Chrono assisted them out of the chapel with the guests following behind. Nanoha claimed back her small bouquet of flowers and laughed elatedly as she felt the flower petals thrown by the two flower girls.
When they stepped out of the chapel, Nanoha twisted her head and smiled. Turning to the front again, her arms were raised and she had flung her bouquet of flowers to the excited crowd of ladies behind. As Fate was chatting with Chrono for a while, she was surprised to realize that in her hands, now held the bride's flowers.
"Eh?" Fate said softly and looked at the front, discovering disappointed looks from the ladies. She turned again and saw that Nanoha and Chrono were advancing towards them.
"You got the flowers, Fate-chan." Nanoha said matter-of-factly.
"I did." Fate muttered. Her initially blank and confused expression bloomed into a smiling one. She looked Chrono, who was blushing obviously and scratching his head, embarrassed.
"I'll see you later, Fate-chan." The yellow-haired girl turned and saw Nanoha waving to her as she and Yuuno returned to the black car decorated with laces, silk and flowers.
"Good luck, Chrono-kun!" Yuuno shouted so loudly at his direction that passers-by stared from Chrono to Fate repeatedly with confused expressions. However, Chrono didn't return a loud reply; instead, he just imitated Fate and waved to the newly-wedded couple.
As their car drove into the setting sun, the guests slowly dispersed. After all, they were going to meet each other at the wedding reception later in the later afternoon anyway.
"Let's go too, Chrono-kun." Fate started to walk but felt someone pulling her back. Instinctively, she turned abruptly only to be greeted by Chrono's lips on hers.
"Chro…Chrono-kun." Fate muttered his name softly.
"Fate," Chrono held her waist and pulled her near him. His face was of an unknown expression and held so many mixed feelings that Fate couldn't make out what he was going to do.
"Yes?" The yellow-haired girl could only respond with the simple monosyllabic reply.
"Marry me." As soon as the words exited from Chrono's mouth, he blushed a deep red.
Fate gasped softly. Then, she turned away from his eyes and nodded shyly. Chrono's mouth dropped open due to happiness and surprise. As he was going to kiss her again, Fate said with a faked air of seriousness and displeasure, "Where is the ring? Have you forgotten it?"
Chrono stared for a moment before bursting in a small fit of giggles. After regaining his composure, he reached for his pocket and fished out a velvety box, opening it for Fate to see. Her expression was a joyful one, small stream of tears showed how touched she was.
Immediately, she leaped on Chrono, hooking her arms around his neck. Chrono smiled and returned the gesture by holding onto her waist and drawing her close.
"Arigatou, Chrono-kun." Fate whispered into his ear; and the two of them drew closer again.
5 years later…
"Mama, are we going to meet Vivio-chan soon?" A small black-haired and amethyst-eyed girl asked enthusiastically, jumping up and down the seat behind while looking out of the car window pane.
"Yes, Lily. We're going to see her now." The little girl's mother smiled at her lively daughter lovingly.
"Yup, we're here." The father sitting at the driver's seat announced. The gates of the house opened slowly and the car entered the compound shortly after. There were two parking spaces and hence, the car was stopped at the second parking space.
"Lily, wait for us." The mother called after the girl who was running so excitedly to the main house. It was quite a big terrace house with a touch of Victorian style. The pond a stone away from the door caught the black-haired girl's attention as usual and she tiptoed and stared inside, smiling widely at the koi swimming so happily.
"Quick, papa, mama!" Lily shouted across to them, deserting her attention of the koi and continued to run towards the door. Suddenly, she bumped into something…or someone.
"My, Lily-chan, are you hurt?" A lady asked, abandoning the grip on the handle of the door and bending down to check the girl.
"Lily-chan!" Her mother and father rushed towards her. Her mother scolded, "You should look where you are going. Are you hurt?"
"Don't worry, Fate-chan." The lady at the door said ensured the said Fate. "She's not hurt at all; she just bumped into me, that's all. I was wondering if you came already because I heard Lily-chan's lively voice." She patted the black-haired girl's head, who smiled brightly. "Ah, welcome, Chrono-kun." The lady greeted as soon as the Fate's husband came in sight.
"Good afternoon, Nanoha." Chrono returned the greeting and bow a little. "Where is Yuuno?"
"Inside playing with Vivio-chan." Nanoha smiled brightly, "She grew up so fast…" Suddenly, she snapped out of her thoughts. "Where are my manners? Come in, Fate-chan, Chrono-kun. I baked cookies for you, Lily-chan." Nanoha pinched the girl's nose lightly. As her guests came into the house, the orange-haired lady closed the door behind them, guiding them politely to the living room.
"Ah, you are finally here." Another deep voice greeted them.
"Yuuno-kun." Nanoha said simply, watching as he exited the room and walking towards them.
"So what took you so long? Doing things with your wife, Chrono-kun?" Yuuno teased and raised his eyebrows repeatedly until Chrono hit him hard on the head. "That really hurts." Yuuno pouted.
"Serves you right." Chrono replied. The two wives and Lily sweat-dropped at their childish tactics.
"Lily-chan!" A soft voice called, prompting the black-haired girl to turn.
"Vivio-chan!" Lily greeted and with much enthusiasm, she ran forward and they shared a friendly hug. Vivio's yellow hair flowed with the impact and her red and green eyes looked at Lily warmly.
"Welcome, Lily-chan." Vivio smiled at her friend's friendliness. "Mama and papa bought me a new set of dolls. Come to my room?"
"Sure!" And the two girls went running into the room at the end of the hallway.
"I'll take some cookies and juice for you girls." Nanoha called after them.
"Thank you, mama." Vivio thanked her mother and continued heading towards her room with Lily.
Yuuno gestured them to sit down on the couch while he sat down opposite them. Nanoha entered the kitchen and walked out with a tray of cookies and two glasses of juice, delivering them to the two children inside the room. Then, she went into the kitchen and came out with another two glasses of juice. She walked towards the three adults and placed the glasses on the coffee table in front of Fate and Chrono.
"Thank you, Nanoha-chan. Are they playing nicely inside?" Fate asked and sipped her orange juice.
"Yes, they are. I'm glad they like the cookies I baked for them." Nanoha smiled.
"You have to admit that you are a good cook and a good baker." Yuuno praised with a proud glint in his eyes.
"Thank you, Yuuno-kun." Nanoha sat next to him on the 2-seater sofa across Fate and Chrono with the glass coffee table in the middle.
And they chatted happily on many things with the sound of trickling water in the background from the small water fountain.
A/N: I know it's not an interesting way to end but…well, I didn't know how to end it with their daughters inside the story.
Anyway, this is the last chapter and I appreciate all those who reviewed. I know I should list all the names of the reviewers here but I'm too lazy. And I'm sure that you won't want to strain your eyes for your names right? So whoever reviewed, I extend my most sincere thanks. I mean it seriously.
That's all for now! Who knows? I might come back with another Nanoha story!
Please review!