What Once Was (A Steins;Gate 0 Story)

Chapter 55-The Moment You've All Been Waiting For

Disclaimer:I don't own Steins;Gate, only this story...

After a few weeks of recovery and preparation for what was to come had passed, it was now the day of the wedding. To the people who knew them, it was obvious who this event was for. It was the day that Okabe and Kurisu would embark on the next chapter of their lives, joining each other in the sacred bond of marriage. For this couple, it was the most important day of their life so far. However, the day that they had been reunited, the day that they had gotten engaged, and the day they had found out Kurisu was pregnant were also contenders.

The event itself, while it was certainly a big deal to everyone involved, wasn't going to be a huge party with 50 guests or anything that extreme. Neither one even knew that many people to invite, nor did they want it to be blown out of proportion. This was simply the union of two like-minded people who wanted to prove to the rest of the world that their bond was unbreakable, and what better way was there to do that, than by vowing to be together until the day they both died?

All the Lab members were there, excluding Faris. She was still trying to get over Okabe, and had no interest in coming to their wedding, which was fine, because they didn't really want her to be there either. As their two best friends, Daru was the best man, and Mayuri was the maid of honor. Ruka helped them out by filling the position of ring bearer. A priest was needed to make the ceremony official, and Ruka's dad accepted this role. He was the only one they knew personally that had the qualifications, and once he heard about it from his son, he insisted that they allow him to do it. Moeka was there too, having recovered from her gunshot wound. She would be sitting in the chairs, as well as Maho.

They had gotten permission to have it take place at the shrine, and it had been decorated in a manner befitting such an important event. In an open area at the back of the shrine, a row of white chairs was lined up on either side of a path. It was a path that had been made by clearing any leaves that lingered on the surface of the grass. A traditional arch used for a wedding had been set up in front of the rows of chairs, and a podium was next to it for the priest to stand at.

At the moment, all the girls were in one of the rooms inside the main house, helping Kurisu with her dress and giving her words of encouragement. Even Moeka was talking to her without using her phone to send text messages, which showed how much she cared and how serious she was about this. Kurisu was just grateful to have all of them helping her out, because without them she wouldn't know WHAT to do. She wasn't used to dressing up like this, and had no idea where to even start until they started helping her. Her mom showed up towards the end of it, and made sure that everything looked right on her.

"I really appreciate all of you helping me. It means a lot to me." Kurisu told them, gratefully. She was nervous, but trying her hardest not to show it. Despite her best efforts, they could tell that she was having a hard time, so they told her what they thought in the hopes that it would make her feel better.

"Don't worry, you look great! When Okarin sees you, he's going to faint!" Mayuri assured her.

"Yes, you look good, so I'm sure it will be fine." Moeka added, in that soft-spoken way of hers.

"I may not know much about this sort of stuff, but I agree with everyone else. That dress looks good on you. I don't think you have anything to worry about when it comes to that." Maho continued.

"They're right, honey. You look absolutely gorgeous! I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. I was a nervous wreck when I married your father, and it all turned out fine. It's normal for the bride to want everything to go the way it was planned, but you can't let that stop you from doing what you need to." Reina broke down into tears, unable to continue.

"Mom, are you okay? What's wrong?" Kurisu asked in concern. If she hadn't been so focused on worrying about her wedding, she would have known what it was.

"I'm fine, sweetie. It's just that…it finally hit me that my little girl has grown up! Not only is she about to get married, but she's also pregnant! When I told you I wanted grandchildren, I didn't think it would be so soon!" Reina bawled, although they were tears of happiness and pride for her daughter.

Kurisu awkwardly patted her on the shoulder, not wanting her dress to be soaked by the waterfall flowing out of her mother's eyes. "Mom, it's okay. It's not like I'm going away to some distant land where you'll never see me again. I'll still come to visit, and it'll be like nothing has changed! I promise!"

After a few minutes had passed, her mother was able to regain her composure. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that, but I couldn't hold it back anymore. If I'm being honest, sometimes it feels like you're out experiencing all that life has to offer, and leaving me behind. You may not understand it right now, but one day when you have kids of your own…" Reina started, then modified her speech to account for the fact that Kurisu was already pregnant. "Once your child is born, you'll understand what I'm going through as it gets older. It's hard to let them go, even if you know that in the end, it's for the better."

"I'll, uh, keep that in mind, Mom. Thanks for the words of wisdom." Kurisu said, uncomfortably.

"Well, anyway, I didn't mean to be such a downer. This is supposed to be a happy day, after all." Reina stated, putting the finishing touches on her daughter's wedding dress. "There, that's the best I can do."

For the first time since she had been in the room getting ready, Kurisu took a good long look at herself in the tall mirror that was placed against one of the walls. She took a deep breath, then exhaled, trying to push all of the doubts out of her mind and visualize what the others had said about her. The more she looked, the more she began to see what they were talking about.

The dress was pure white, and it extended down to the floor, completely covering her lower body. It flared out at the bottom, so that when she walked, it would billow out all around her. While it was stated before that it completely covered her lower body, there were small slits in the lower part of the dress that provided the briefest of glimpses of her legs as she walked.

The dress had straps, but they only looped over her shoulders and ran the length of her sides, leaving a large portion of her back exposed. The front of the dress pushed up her medium-sized chest, supporting it enough to show a small amount of cleavage. The dress accentuated her thin waist, while also allowing the slight bulge of her stomach to be seen through the fabric. Last but not least, was the traditional veil that was flipped back out of her face.

"Wow, I don't think I've looked this good since, well…never. I can't wait to see Okabe's reaction to this!" She was already considered a beautiful bride, but her skin seemed to have a certain glow to it (most likely from her pregnancy) and it only enhanced what was there naturally. At this point she was beginning to get more excited than she was afraid, and she was pretty confident that nothing would go wrong before she and Okabe could get married. It was almost time for the ceremony to begin, so she left the room to wait for her cue to come out. After wishing her luck, Mayuri did the same, while Moeka and Maho left to go find their seats. Reina stayed behind in the room for a minute, making her the last one still inside.

Kurisu was about to turn the corner when a man appeared from around it, stopping in front of her. It was someone she knew, but that didn't change the fact that he wasn't supposed to be here. Her previously cheerful mood darkened considerably, as a frown formed on her face.

"You really DO look lovely in that dress. Your Mom told me about it when you went to pick it out, but this is the first time I've seen it in person." He said, a warm smile on his face.

"Father, what are YOU doing here?" Kurisu asked, making no attempt to mask how unhappy she was to see him.

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"Daru, are you certain that this looks good on me?" Okabe wondered, questioning his friend's knowledge of formal attire.

He was currently dressed in a black and white tuxedo that Daru had helped him pick out. This was at least the third time that he had made such an inquiry, and it was getting old.

"Listen, man, because this is the last time I'm going to say this. It looks good on you. I realize that you want to look your best for Kurisu, but stop worrying about it! You look fine, so give it a rest, all right?" Daru told him, exasperatedly. Daru and Mayuri were both dressed up as well, since they had two important roles to play. Mayuri had chosen to wear a dress that was the same color as her usual outfit, and Daru was wearing a tuxedo.

It was almost time for the ceremony to begin, and Okabe's only hope was that something didn't go wrong before he and Kurisu could get married. With the kind of luck they had been having for a while now, he wouldn't have been surprised if another black hole appeared and sucked them up as he was saying his vows, or if a time anomaly hurled him 10 years into the future. It was ridiculous to suspect that a black hole would appear after they had done so much to prevent it from returning, but the future time skip was still a very real possibility.

Daru could tell that his friend was still nervous, so he slapped him on the back. "I'm sure that everything will be fine, Okarin. I mean, the worst thing that can happen would be having to deal with the short fuse of a tsundere like Kurisu for the rest of your life. Oh, wait…" Daru walked out of the room to get into position, laughing to himself.

Okabe chuckled, as he followed behind him with the intention to do the same. "He's right about her having a short fuse, but that's what makes her feisty, and I have to admit that I like that about her. Besides, she promised me that she would work on that, and I have no reason to doubt her. I like her for who she is, anger and all."

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Shouichi knew that Kurisu's wrath was a force to be reckoned with, and he didn't want to mess with it if it wasn't absolutely necessary. In THIS situation it was, because he couldn't afford to miss his one and only daughter's wedding. At first, he hadn't even wanted to come, but when the realization hit him that this could be his only chance to see such an important event, he decided to go. He had missed enough important events in her life throughout the years, so there was no way that he was going to miss this one.

"I thought I told you that you weren't welcome here!" Kurisu yelled, her rage manifesting as a violent gust of wind that nearly blew him off of his feet.

That hadn't actually happened, but that's what it felt like in his mind. "You did, but I couldn't stay away. I know that you don't want me here, but…"

"But, nothing. I'm stressed out enough about this wedding as it is, and I certainly don't need you coming here to ruin everything!" Kurisu fired back, not letting him get a word in edgewise.

Reina heard all the commotion outside in the hall, and she ran out of the room, stopping right behind Kurisu. "Honey, please just listen to what he has to say. Can't you see that he's trying to be a better person?"

"I don't want to hear what you have to say either, Mom. You're the one who invited him behind my back!" Kurisu spat, seething with rage. She knew that she had to calm down, but that was easier said than done once she got going.

"I realize that you don't want him here, but that doesn't mean you have to let him ruin your wedding. This is supposed to be one of the best days of a girl's life. Do you really want to look back on it with regret, because you didn't enjoy it to the fullest?" Reina tried one last time to make her see reason, and judging by the expression on Kurisu's face, it was working. The gears in her head were turning, processing the meaning behind her mother's words.

Kurisu was beginning to see that she had a point, and she was starting to cool off. This day was going to be perfect, and she wouldn't let anything ruin it. The least she could do was hear him out, since he had come all this way.

"All right, Father. What were you trying to tell me?"

She was calm, both in sound and appearance, but Shouichi was certain that she wouldn't be for long after hearing what he had to say next.

"Kurisu, I need you to listen to me. Please, I know that I have done nothing to deserve such an honor, but I hope you'll allow me to walk you down the aisle." There was a silence afterwards, and Shouichi wasn't sure how she would react.

The truth was that Kurisu had no idea what to say about it. After being out of her life for so many years, he apologized to her, then had the audacity to ask to walk her down the aisle at her wedding like nothing had even happened! She wasn't sure how to feel about such a request. Her natural reaction was to be angry, but there had already been enough of that for one day, and she had promised Okabe that she would try harder to manage her short fuse. Instead, she made an attempt to see it from her father's perspective, and when she did, it was surprisingly easy to find an answer for him.

Kurisu sighed, just wanting to get this over with so she could focus on her wedding. She knew for a fact that this was the only time she would get married, so with that in mind, she responded. "Father, as hard as it is for me to say this, you've been trying to make amends, and I'm the one who still hasn't accepted that you've changed. It would be the least I could do to allow you to do this with me, since it won't happen again. I guess what I'm saying is that I'll allow you to walk me down the aisle." She glared at him. "This DOESN'T mean you're off the hook, though, all right?"

Shouichi gulped. "Yes, Kurisu. Whatever you say." Inside he was ecstatic, but he was careful not to show it.

Reina had vanished when she saw that the situation was being handled appropriately, going to her seat once she saw what time it was. When Kurisu saw what time it was, she hurried to get into position, placing her veil over her face, with Shouichi not far behind her. Daru was standing beside Okabe and Mayuri was standing on the other side where Kurisu would be when she arrived, while the priest was standing behind them, and the others were in their seats. A few minutes later, it was time for the ceremony to begin.

Okabe didn't even notice when Shouichi appeared next to Kurisu with their arms linked, as they began walking down the path. The only thing he was capable of focusing on was Kurisu, and how amazing she looked in her dress. As per tradition, neither one had seen the other beforehand, so they were both taken aback by the other's appearance. Okabe's mouth went dry, and he was paralyzed in awe of her beauty.

He began to get nervous as she got closer. When Kurisu looked up and met his eyes, she was stunned by how handsome he looked in his tuxedo. She was at a loss for words, just like he was. Once she made it to where he was standing, Shouichi handed her over to him, placing her hand in Okabe's. He told her that he loved her as he walked away, taking a seat next to her mother.

"Kurisu, my dear, you have never looked more beautiful to me than in this moment." Okabe complimented her with a warm smile, lightly blushing. Although he had been nervous before, now that she was right in front of him, he was regaining his confidence.

Kurisu blushed at his words, presenting him with a shy smile that radiated warmth. "O-Okabe, I…you also look more handsome than I've ever seen you before." They had switched roles, with him being more confident now that he was up there, and her being more nervous than she was on the walk there.

They gazed into each other's eyes lovingly, as the priest began talking. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness this man and woman join together in holy matrimony."

Not long after he said the opening sentence, it was time for them to exchange their vows. Okabe had already said everything he wanted to say when he proposed, but for the most important moment in his whole life, he was able to come up with something else to say. He hadn't written it down, but he didn't need to, because the words were etched into his heart.

"I would like to start by saying that this day is one I feared would never come. There were so many times I almost lost you, so it's a miracle that we're standing here right now. You know exactly how I feel from what I told you when I proposed, but no one else was there to hear it, so I'll say it again.

Kurisu, you changed my life the moment I met you. Nothing ever mattered in my life, until we had that fateful meeting. I never would have imagined that we would be where we are now, as I stand here next to you about to be legally bound forever, but I wouldn't trade what we have for anything. You mean more to me than I could ever put into words, and I have realized by now that I can't live without you. I know you may think that I'm the one who saved you, but that's not entirely true. You're the one who saved me." Okabe said honestly, speaking directly from his heart.

All the guests were moved to tears by his sincerity, and that included him and Kurisu.

"All right, enough beating around the bush. Let's make this official, as all present witness the strength of my devotion! I, Rintarou Okabe, take you, Kurisu Makise, to be my lawfully wedded wife, my one and only Assistant, my love, and also my best friend. In front of everyone present, I make a solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in the good times and the worst times, and in the joyful times as well as the sad ones. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in all your goals, to always honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, as well as cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

Kurisu knew that he was completely serious, because even though he preferred to be called by his last name 'Okabe', he had used his first name 'Rintarou' for the vows. She was having a hard time believing that this was all real. In just a few more minutes, she would be known as Mrs. Okabe. She had been waiting for this and wanting it for a long time, and now her dream was about to become a reality.

"Okabe, you have no idea how much those words mean to me. You've changed my life for the better since you came into it, and now I can't imagine it any other way. I also care about you more than I can put into words, and really, our bond transcends any type of description we could give it. I'm glad more than ever before that you found me and saved my life. I know that this might be a kind of sappy thing to say, but what I'm about to say next is the absolute truth."

Kurisu could feel the lump in her throat, but she wasn't about to let it stop her from talking. She already had tears in her eyes, and it was taking everything she had to keep herself from breaking down entirely.

"I don't exist…there's simply no me without you!" She forced out, her voice shaking with emotion.

Okabe had been keeping it together as well, but that statement came close to making him lose it. Although that line was like something from a dramatic soap opera, the emotion that was behind it struck a chord in his heart. "Kurisu, I…I feel the same way about you." He said quietly, trying to work around the lump that had just formed in his throat.

In the same manner Okabe had, it was Kurisu's turn to declare the strength of her devotion in front of everyone.

"I, Kurisu Makise, take you, Rintarou Okabe, to be my lawfully wedded husband, my one and only Mad Scientist, my love, and also my best friend. In front of everyone present, I make a solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in the good times and the worst times, and in the joyful times as well as the sad ones. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in all your goals, to always honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, as well as cherish you for as long as we both shall live." There was no doubt that she was just as serious as Okabe was about this.

Now that the vows were done, Ruka came forward with the rings. Since Okabe and Kurisu had decided to use the same set for the engagement and wedding, her ring had been removed and placed with his. Okabe was still holding her hand in his, so he went first, placing the ring on her finger. Kurisu went next, placing his ring on his finger. Once that was over, the priest continued.

"If there is anyone here who objects to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace." When no one said anything, he moved on. Okabe breathed a sigh of relief, having half-expected Faris to come barging in and stop the wedding.

"With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride." The priest finished, completing the ceremony.

This was the moment they had all been waiting for. Okabe grinned, and Kurisu grinned in response, as he threw back her veil. Their eyes both closed in pleasure as their lips met, softly uniting in a gentle but no less passionate display of their love for each other. Everyone clapped and cheered for them, while Kurisu's parents and Okabe's parents (who had shown up by the time the ceremony started) had tears in their eyes.

After Okabe's dad congratulated him on finally becoming a man, and his mother embraced him with tears in her eyes, Kurisu's parents congratulated her as well, and their parents met for the first time. Okabe had called and told his parents ahead of time about Kurisu, and they had even had dinner at the grocery store, like what he did with her parents. That was a week or two ago, so they had already gotten used to the idea of them being together by the time the wedding occurred.

Once they were done talking and all of their friends had said something to them, it was time for the reception, so they went to go get some food. The main part of the wedding was now over, and Okabe and Kurisu still couldn't believe that it had actually happened. The most shocking part about it to Okabe was that nothing bad had stopped it from happening. The whole ceremony he had been anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, and he was unable to fully relax until it was done.

When they had a moment alone, away from the rest of the guests, Okabe pulled Kurisu close, and hugged her tightly. "Have I told you that I love you lately, Mrs. Okabe?" He grinned, devilishly.

"It's been a while Mr. Okabe, but I love you too. Also, I can't tell you how good it feels to have your last name." Kurisu smiled brightly, returning the hug just as tightly.

"I'm glad to hear that you feel that way. What would you say if I asked you to dance, my dear?" Okabe asked, smoothly.

"I'd say that I've been waiting for you to ask me. I would love to dance with you, Darling!" Kurisu accepted, as he kissed her and she leaned into it.

"I have to warn you, though, I'm an exceptionally good dancer." Okabe warned her, although he was only teasing.

"Oh, really? We'll see about that!" Kurisu replied, as he took her out to the dance floor. They both laughed, as they started dancing.

If there was one thing they could both agree on, it would be that this was the best day of their lives, and it was also one that they would never forget.

What they failed to realize was that the simple act of their marriage becoming official affected way more than just THEIR lives. If their engagement was the new memory that would allow them to be accepted by Steins;Gate, then their marriage took it several steps further. Their actions had brought about a new timeline, a new series of events previously unknown to this worldline, and all the others.

In all the other worldlines, Okabe and Kurisu's relationship had mostly stayed the same, as it was when they first met. Most of them had made it to the boyfriend/girlfriend stage, but it never went any further than that. That was thanks to Okabe and Kurisu's lack of experience in matters of the heart, and the awkwardness that resulted when they tried to describe their true feelings to each other. Okabe and Kurisu were the first to get as far as they had, and because of that, it had a profound effect on the lives of their counterparts.

For example, the Okabe and Kurisu from the dimension Faris had traveled to, were able to secure their future and start a family because of this event. The solidification of their union caused a shift in reality, as the event sent ripples all throughout space and time, allowing their other selves to gain the memories of what had happened, and give them the courage to move forward in their own relationships. This would allow them to eventually be able to secure happy endings of their own making, because seeing that one couple had succeeded, would provide them with hope that they could do the same.

Okabe and Kurisu had no idea that such a thing had even occurred, and it was unlikely that they ever would, but that did nothing to change the fact that it was happening. An uncountable number of happy endings were occurring in every world at once, with exceptions being made for the ones where such a thing was impossible. While most worlds had their version of Kurisu, a rare few did not, and unfortunately, these timelines were immune to the changes.

Although Okabe and Kurisu remained oblivious as they enjoyed their dance, somewhere deep down in their subconscious they KNEW. It was an indescribable feeling, but they KNEW that somewhere, something good had happened. And the feeling they were receiving, well, it was telling them that they played a big part in it.

This was just a sign of the many good things, wonderful things, that were to come, and Okabe and Kurisu's wedding was only the beginning.

Author's Note: Hey there! As stated before, I don't usually write these things, but this is for those who are interested in something a little more spicy than this. There's a chapter that goes along with this one that is composed entirely of Okabe and Kurisu consummating their marriage after the end of this chapter. Obviously, it contains spoilers for this chapter, but if you're reading this, you've probably already read the chapter, so it doesn't matter. I know that not everyone is into lemons, so it will be posted separately for those who want to look at it. It will be posted about the same time as this one, so be sure to keep an eye out for it if that's your jam. Anyway, thanks for reading. That's pretty much all I have to say, so I'll leave it at that.