Mission to the Past

Epilogue

June 18, After Colony 202

Crystal Tokyo

               Duo walked briskly, reflecting on the day so far.  It was his birthday, and his friends had thrown him a great party.  The day had been absolutely wonderful, but there was one thing he wanted, no, he needed to do that would either make the day either perfect or terrible.

               As he walked, he noticed how much the city had changed since the last time he had been there, five years ago.  The Crystal Palace was a splendid sight.  Tall crystal spires rose into the air, glistening in the sunlight.  The atmosphere was happy and busy, but not rushed.  Thanks to the efforts of Neo-Queen Serenity, the Sailor Senshi, and Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darilan, it had become a beautiful city.

               Crystal Tokyo wasn't the only thing they had helped.  It seemed that everywhere, conditions had improved.  With the Preventors always on the lookout, there hadn't been so much as a threat of war in years.

               Duo turned a corner into McKenna Park.  After walking along the path for a few minutes, he found what he had come for.

               There was a figure sitting on a bench.  She looked like a young woman, but Duo knew he was much older than that.  Her appearance was made younger by the cheerful red bow that pulled her long golden hair out of her face.  Her icy blue eyes weren't looking at him.  She was wearing a simple yellow sundress.

               "I knew you'd be here," Duo said, breaking the stillness.

               Mina looked up and smiled.  "I knew you'd find me here."  Her eyes invited him to sit down beside her, and he accepted.

               "I watched your graduation, you know," she said conversationally.  "You didn't see me, but I was there, in the back.  I couldn't miss such an important day for you."

               "I didn't see you, but I knew you were there," he said.

               "I should've known you would," she said.  "Today's your birthday, isn't it?" she continued.  "I'm sorry I don't have a gift for you."

               "You could," he said.

               "What do you mean?" she asked.

               He sighed.  "Mina, I never met anyone like you.  I would meet girls, date them a few times, but I'd always stop, because I never felt about them the way I felt about you.  I never loved them."

               "I know how you feel," she said quietly.  "The same thing happened to me."

               Duo stood up and took a box out of his pocket.  Kneeling on one knee, he said, "I promised you five years or several centuries ago that, when the time was right, I'd find you again, and I've kept that promise.  Now, I'm asking you to promise me something that will make my life perfect."  He opened the box and held it out, revealing a gold ring with a topaz in the center.  "Mina, will you marry me?"

               Her eyes clouding with tears of joy, she stood up, pulled him to his feet, and kissed him passionately.  Then she held out her hand.  He slid the ring onto her finger, saying, "I'll take that as a yes."

*                            *                            *

September 27, After Colony 202

Crystal Palace

               It was a beautiful wedding, held in the Crystal Palace at Mina's request.  The hall was decorated with lovely white flowers.  Duo looked excellent in his tuxedo, and Mina was gorgeous in her white gown.

               Amy, Raye, Setsuna, Hotaru, and Relena were the bridesmaids, Lita was the maid of honor, and Chibi-Usa was the flower girl.  Heero was the best man, and Artemis turned human to give the bride away.  Neo-Queen Serenity had used up four handkerchiefs before the wedding was half over.  The rest of the guests didn't cry quite as much, but they did cry.  Even Wufei had a tear in his eye, though he later denied it.

               The priest was saying the vows they had written themselves.

               "Do you, Duo Maxwell, choose to be husband to Mina Aino, to love her eternally, to stay by her side forever, no matter what obstacles may enter your lives?"

               "I do," said Duo, smiling his biggest.

               "And do you, Mina Aino, choose to be wife to Duo Maxwell, to love him eternally, to stay by his side forever, no matter what obstacles may enter your lives?"

               "I do," Mina said happily.

               "I know pronounce you legally wed, and may you never be separated, even in death.  You may now kiss."

               They kissed.  There were tears of bliss streaming down their faces.  Then Mina turned her back and threw the bouquet, hoping it wouldn't hit anyone's head.  It sailed over heads...

               ...and into Relena's arms.

               "Heero, looks like you're next," Trowa said.

               Heero felt the color drain out of his cheeks and come rushing back.

               Neo-Queen Serenity hugged Mina hard.  "I'm so happy for you!" she sobbed.

               "So am I," said Artemis, still in his human form.

               "I just can't believe this is finally happening," Mina said, drying her tears.  "I'm finally Mrs. Mina Maxwell-Aino."

               "Neither can I," Duo said.  They looked at each other with love in their eyes.  Neither said a word, but their eyes spoke with a language stronger than words.

*                            *                            *

May, After Colony 212

Suburb Outside Crystal Tokyo

               "Did Daddy already kiss you goodnight?" Mina asked her seven-year-old daughter, Helen Maxwell-Aino.

               "Yep," the little girl said.

               "Okay, then," Mina said.  She kissed the little girl's forehead.

               "Can Artemis stay in my room tonight?" Helen asked.  "Please?"

               "Artemis, do you mind?" Mina asked.

               Artemis shook his head.  "Of course not."

               "Yay!" Helen said happily.  Artemis leaped onto the bed and curled up at her feet.  She shut her big Prussian blue eyes.  "Good night, Mommy."

               "Good night, sweetheart," Mina whispered.  She walked out of the room and gently closed the door behind her.

               "What are you doing?" she asked Duo as she entered the living room.

               "Just thinking about the two beautiful girls in my life," he said.

               Mina laughed and sat down on the couch next to him.  "She is beautiful, isn't she?" she said, picking up a photograph of their daughter.  "She's got your eyes, you know."

               "And your hair," he said.

               "And your favorite hairstyle."

               "And your nose."

               "Her smile's like both of ours, don't you think?"

               Duo considered this.  "Yeah, you're right."

               "I'm so happy for Heero and Relena, aren't you?" Mina said.

               "Yeah," he said.  "They'll finally have the happiness that we've had for the past seven years."

               "Have they chosen godparents for their kid yet?" she asked.

               Duo nodded.  "I don't know about the godmother, but the godfather is going to be me."

               "He made a good choice," Mina remarked.  "So did we.  Heero and Lita have so far proven themselves to be excellent godparents."

               "Yeah," he agreed.

               "We've been so lucky in our lives," Mina sighed.

               "I think we've done enough to deserve it," Duo said.

               "For the most part, I agree with you," Mina said.  "But I can't imagine what I ever did to deserve Helen and you."

               "Hey," Duo said.  "That's supposed to be my line."

               Mina smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder.  "I don't understand people who are happy because they're just as much in love now as when they first met."

               "Why not?" Duo asked, puzzled.

               "Because I love you more every day," Mina said.

               "You've got a definite point there," Duo said.

               They spent a few minutes in silence, just enjoying each other's company.  Duo looked around the room.  He had really come to love this house, and living on the Earth.  He sometimes missed the Colonies,
 but he visited often.  He still helped Hilde run the business, who was still on L2; she managed the labor, and he took care of the business affairs.

               After a few minutes of quiet reflection, Duo said, "Mina?"

               No answer.

               "Mina?" he tried again.

               Still no answer.

               He looked at her and smiled; she'd fallen asleep on his shoulder.  He thought happily to himself, I guess some things never change.

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The End

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Notes: Well, that's it!  It's really the end this time!  That was my very first fic!  I actually finished it!  YEAH!  E-MAIL ME, PLEASE!  I'M BEGGING YOU!  Even if you've got nothing to say, just e-mail to let me know that someone actually finished reading this incredibly long fic.  Of course, I'd prefer it if you had something to say.  Tell me your favorite and least favorite things about it!  TELL ME ANYTHING!  (My e-mail address is: romancherubX@aol.com)

FYI: Duo and Mina's daughter was named after the nun in Duo's chapter of the Episode Zero manga.:)

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wing, and I am not making any money from this.