Well, here we are at the end. This story hasn't received many comments on FFN, but tons of people have read it from many parts of the world according to my statistic. Thanks for sticking around to the end! Till next time!

Three years later

"I now pronounce you husbands. You may kiss."

The words had hardly left the officiant's mouth before Grimmjow enveloped Ulquiorra in his arms, sealing their lips.

"About damn time!" Grimmjow whispered against Ulquiorra's ear. He'd waited years to hear those words, years to be surrounded by friends and family, declaring their love. With Ulquiorra in his arms, the wait was worth it. After they moved to Tokyo, Ulquiorra applied for a business vista in order to work at the branch of the family business in Bangkok. They'd spent three years in Thailand and finally applied for citizenship. While Ulquiorra ran the business, Grimmjow put the skills he'd learned while in the yakuza to use and made a name for himself as a wrestler.

Their union had been long in the making, not only those three years. Grimmjow had been searching for someone like Ulquiorra all his life.

The ocean roared behind them but couldn't drown out the rigorous applause of the quaint yet passionate gathering. Grimmjow couldn't wipe the grin off his face as he looked into Ulquiorra's eyes, the color of golden dew on emerald grass at sunset.

He was married, something he never in a thousand years could have envisioned. He'd thought for sure years of heartbreak had broken him, but every tender touch and kiss from Ulquiorra had made him whole.

As all these exuberant emotions overcame him, Grimmjow lunged and hoisted Ulquiorra off his feet and carried him into the reception. As Grimmjow set his petite husband down, Ulquiorra adjusted his suit, red around the ears.

"Relax, you look sexy as hell."

"Don't strain your back. Aren't you still sore from your match?"

Grimmjow snorted. "Like a little beating's gonna stop me. Besides, did you see the other guy?"

"Ulquiorra-kun!" Orihime swept Ulquiorra into her arms. "Congratulations!"

"Here's to you guys!" Ichigo, her fiancé, carried over two glasses of champagne. He and Orihime toasted them.

"Ulquiorra!" Ulquiorra's mother rushed over to embrace him.

"Thank you for coming," Ulquiorra said, holding her tight.

"You both look so handsome!" She dabbed at her teary eyes and Grimmjow bent over so she could kiss his cheek and hug him. Ulquiorra had definitely inherited her small stature. He always felt like a giant around both of them.

"Yo, Grimmy-boy!" D-Roy came running, practically jumping on Grimmjow. "Congrats, my man!"

"Our stray is all grown up!" Elforte sighed, crushing Grimmjow against his chest.

Grimmjow sputtered, waving them off. "You guys . . ."

After Nnoitra's death, the Gilga-gumi had disbanded and its members scattered to the winds. Grimmjow hadn't seen Elforte or D-Roy since then.

"Good to see you lot." Grimmjow clapped them both on the shoulders. Smiling was suddenly a struggle. It was strange to not see Shawlong among them. D-Roy's face fell, as if he were thinking the same. "Damn. Knew seeing you again would be hard without him." D-Roy scrubbed at his eyes. "Can't believe it's really been three years since he . . ."

Elforte squeezed Grimmjow's shoulder. "He would be proud of you."

Grimmjow hoped so. They toasted Shawlong's memory with glasses of champagne. "To the old man," Grimmjow said, and despite the tightness in his throat, he downed the champagne. The others echoed the sentiment. "So, what are you crazy bastards up to?"

"I decided I was done with the yakuza. I'm working in Kyoto as a hairdresser. I did my own hair just for your wedding, you like it?" Elforte flipped a lock of radiant gold hair. "You should have let me do yours! Must say, the blue is becoming of you."

"Like hell. No one touches my hair, 'cept me." Grimmjow was too proud of his tousled 'do. "D-Roy, what are you up to?"

"I thought I'd go back and finish college."

Elforte and Grimmjow squinted at him. D-Roy cracked a grin. "Yeah. You guys know me too well. Fuck college. I fell in with another yakuza gang in Osaka. What can I say, I like the thrill too much to quit for good."

"Grimmjow!"

Grimmjow's breath hitched as he caught sight of them. His mother and father waved at him from by the bay windows where they sipped champagne. Smiling so hard his face hurt, Grimmjow went to them and let them each embrace him. He couldn't believe it, still. He thought he'd never see his parents so happy at his wedding to another man.

"I can't believe it!" his mother's sapphire eyes gleamed with tears. She patted his cheek. "You look so handsome, so grown up."

Grimmjow gave her a squeeze. "You're a knockout yourself, Ma."

She excused herself to greet Ulquiorra and his mother. His father clapped him on the shoulder. "I still remember the day your mother and I got married." He handed Grimmjow a glass of champagne. His father took a sip, staring out over the ocean. "We were both so happy. The kind of happiness I wanted for my own son. It's any parent's dream that their child will make the right decisions in life, whatever that might be that brings them happiness."

"I am happy, Pops."

His father's met his gaze with a twinkle in his eye. "Then that's all I could ever ask for. That you're happy, no matter who you're with."

Grimmjow looked away, willing himself not to get emotional in front of his dad. He never thought he'd hear his father accept the happiness he'd found.

"He's good for you, kiddo. So don't screw it up."

Grimmjow bristled. "Like hell."

His father chuckled and slapped him on the back. Grimmjow grinned.

"Mr. Jaegerjaquez," Ulquiorra said, giving a bow.

"Get up, kid." His father wrenched Ulquiorra into a back-breaking hug. "You watch out for my boy. Make sure he doesn't get up to no good."

"Of course," Ulquiorra said, his eyes alight with humor.

"I'm not a baby!" Grimmjow snapped.

"Grimmjow, the band wants to play a song for us." Ulquiorra extended a hand.

Grimmjow took his hand. "Hope you're ready to prove who's really king of the dance floor, Mr. Jaegerjaquez."

Ulquiorra squeezed his arm with a quiet huff of laughter. His eyes were full of tender joy when he met Grimmjow's gaze. "Always so competitive."

Grimmjow grasped his hand and guided it to his shoulder as he assumed the leading stance in their waltz. "You know you love it."

Ulquiorra's arm wound around his shoulder and pulled him close. Their foreheads touched and they swayed together as the band began a jazz rendition of "I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore."

"I do." Ulquiorra's confession, meant for his ears alone, brought a smile to Grimmjow's face. He enveloped Ulquiorra in his arms, face nestled in his shoulder. Ulquiorra laughed softly, fingers drifting through his hair.

The lost souls they'd once been, wandering alone and cold, were nothing but distant memories. They'd found shelter in one another's arms.