Fakir shifted uncomfortably, wishing that he didn't have to wear such formal clothing. Tanya laughed at his side. "Dad, hold still. It's almost time for us to go."
He smiled down at his daughter, forgetting about his own discomfort when he was looking at her. She was resplendent in her wedding dress, a long, elegant white gown with a full skirt and fitted bodice, complete with feathery half sleeves. Her hair was done up in a complicated braid, and as he looked at it he mused again over how its color had deepened to a full-bodied auburn during the past year. Ever since she had received Bertrem's heart shard, she hadn't once changed into a duck, and her hair had begun to darken. He thought it was likely that the two were connected, or perhaps it was just coincidental that her hair was darkening as she grew older. Either way, the effect of her shining copper hair served to make the deep green of her eyes stand out even more than it had before.
Tanya fidgeted. "Dad, stop staring at me so much. Do I really look that strange?"
"No, of course not. I was just thinking about how beautiful you look. Bertrem hardly deserves you."
"Dad!" Despite her cry of protest, a grin spread across her face. "That's quite a thing to say on my wedding day! When we're waiting to walk down the aisle, no less."
Fakir grumbled, "Well, it's the truth."
"Don't be ridiculous. Rem has done so much for me. And, you know...it's because of him that I'm able to stay human permanently." She looked at him out of the corner of her eyes. "I'm really glad that happened. Now you don't have to hurt yourself just to take care of me."
He put his hand on his daughter's cheek, turning her face so she was looking at him. "It was something that I chose to do, and I was glad to do it. I never once thought of it as a burden. But I am glad that you don't have to go through that uncertainty anymore. I suppose that brat is good for something, after all."
She laughed merrily at him as the processional music began to play. "Well, I hope you remember that that brat is about to become your son-in-law."
He stared at her for a second longer, then dropped his hand and held out his arm for her. "If you're really sure this is what you want, then I suppose I can live with that."
Taking his arm, she clung tightly to him for a moment before relaxing her grip into a more natural hold. "It is, Dad." They walked up to the doors of the chapel, and Tanya smiled up at him. "Dad, thank you so much for everything you and Mom have done for me. I love you."
His heart surged, and for a brief instant he considered bolting with her. Surely no man could be worthy of his beautiful daughter. He caught himself, and smiled back fondly. "I love you too, my little fairy princess. And I'm glad you found your happily ever after."