Author's note: Here it is, the last chapter! *sob*

Thomas: *blowing his nose with a tissue* What're you crying for?

Shelly: I should ask you the same thing.

Thomas: I always cry at weddings. Besides, you've still got my fic to write, don't you? So it's not like you'll be leaving zoids altogether.

Shelly: I don't remember saying I was going to write it.

Thomas: *gets down on hands and knees* Please! No one else writes about me! They're all about Van or Raven or Karl....

Shelly: Aries is, Thomas. Speaking of her, her best friend had a birthday recently. Don't you think you should give her something?

Thomas: *wide eyed* Me? I don't have anything...oh, no, you don't! I'm not falling for that this time! I'm not giving up my Dibison!

Shelly: Suit yourself, but you won't be getting your fic.

Thomas: Grrr....

Shelly: Or I could just tell her to go to Wal-Mart and buy the model instead. But I think she'd like the real thing instead.

Thomas: No way!!!

Shelly: Hee-hee! Hope you enjoy this about as much as I like teasing Thomas!

Dragonflame by Shelly

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE


Over the next month, Tania's wedding was planned with excruciating detail, making her wish she and Karl had just eloped instead of putting up with the endless stream of people that fit her for her dress since it was so elaborate. She had told Marianne of her dress she had worn while on the island, and they had found someone who could make it, only this time they added sequins and lace to the mixture to dress it up.

Then Fiona and Moonbay's dresses were next since the ancient zoidian was chosen to be her maid of honor and Moonbay a bridesmaid. Fiona chose a pink dress, and Moonbay a pastel purple one, both of them styled so that the sleeves rested off their shoulders. Then came picking out the bouquets, and she immediately knew which flowers she wanted to use as she remembered the ones that grew right outside her suite that she had admired the first night after they had arrived.

Then came figuring out the guest list and what type of food they would be serving, as well as what type of cake to fix. Since Tania had very few friends as well as almost no family except her mother, Marianne persuaded some of the court attenders to fill in her side, a fact that the soon-to-be newlywed was grateful for. And since her father was dead, Tania asked Colonel Kruegar to give her away, an honor he was very happy to be asked to perform.

The music selection was next, and by the time they pulled it together, Tania had a throbbing headache from listening to Marianne fight over how the music was supposed to sound as opposed to the way the musicians wanted it to sound. And it wasn't long until she was so exhausted from all the planning it was all she could do to remain awake.

The only times she found any peace were when she was alone with Karl, and even then it was under the watchful eye of Rudolph's fiancé as she was determined to keep them separated from each other for the most part until their wedding. But the worst times were the nights as she wished that her beloved was lying next to her, with his steady breathing lulling her into sleep and his arms closed tightly around her. It was then she would draw her pillow close against her and try to keep the tears from escaping, knowing it was silly to cry over such a trivial thing, but she missed him so much that her heart and body ached from it.

Little did she know that Karl was having the same problem as he was unable to sleep without her by his side, and if he did sleep it was from exhaustion at the numerous fittings he, Thomas, and Van were forced to go through. And it had been difficult to find a pair of wedding rings that would satisfy what he thought would express his love for her adequately enough. And on top of that, he had finally thought of a gift that would do the same, and he stopped by everyday to see that it was being made the way he wanted it to be.

Eventually the day drew near, and they both were basketcases as they wondered if everything would be okay. Rehearsal night came, and they managed to contain their nervousness as they went through the motions of the marriage ceremony. Afterwards, they were to spend their last night apart at parties for each of them, which were held by Thomas and Fiona with a little touch-up by Irvine and Moonbay.

But before they both went their separate ways, they spent some time together, under Marianne's watchful eye of course, and merely held each other as they each thought upon what tomorrow would bring. After they separated, Tania went and found Van and pulled him aside for a moment.

"Van, there's something I want to ask you to do for me," she said.

He looked at her curiously. "Okay," he replied.

She took his hand and pressed a medium sized box into it. "Would you give this to Karl tomorrow before the wedding? I had it made especially for him so be careful with it."

He gazed at the box in wonder as he weighed it in his hand. It wasn't all that heavy, but it held enough weight to let him know something was there. "Of course," he said, becoming silent for a moment as he debated whether to tell her something that had been weighing on his mind lately. It seemed strange, but as long as he had known that they would be married one day, he never thought he would feel a slight twinge of jealousy over seeing her marry the Colonel. But the feelings were there, and he wondered why he was feeling that way when he loved Fiona so much.

She saw his indecision written on his face, and she touched it with her hand. "Van, what's wrong?" she asked.

He smiled. "Nothing," he answered.

She eyed him sternly. "Van Flyheight, you'd better tell me what it is or suffer the consequences."

He laughed. "I have no right to do so. I only want you to be happy on your wedding day tomorrow."

"It seems strange to hear that from someone else," she said with a hint of laughter in her voice. "It's as if by hearing you say it, it's really real now. I guess I've never thought about how I should feel before now."

"How do you feel?" he asked her.

"Nervous," she replied. "Happy. I don't know! All I know is I have these butterflies in my stomach that won't stay still!"

Laughing once more, he took her in his arms and held her close. "As it should be," he said. "If you weren't nervous then I would wonder if you loved him at all."

She wrapped her arms around him and nestled her head under his chin. "You should know I do, more than anything else in this world." Then she pulled away from him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Van, for everything. For being such a good friend to me."

He smiled. "Thank you for the same," he replied, releasing her when Moonbay came to fetch her as it was time to leave.



The girls took her back to the palace where they had a suite set aside for the party, and Tania was amazed at the number of presents that she saw waiting for her. And when it was time for her to open them, she was speechless at some of the things that she pulled from the boxes. Most were articles of clothing designed to be wore on the wedding night and after, while others consisted of varieties of lotions and oils to be used on each other.

Afterwards, she sat alone with Moonbay and Fiona and enjoyed their company for a while before it was time to get some sleep, which was difficult coming as she was so nervous and excited about getting married. But she finally fell asleep and woke the next morning in the same state, hurriedly gathering what things she needed and rushing towards the chapel to get there before any of the men arrived.

The girls were there waiting for her and sat her down to dress her hair as well as each other's. While Fiona was fixing Moonbay's hair, Tania walked over to check her appearance at the vanity's mirror, looking down in curiosity at the small box sitting on top of a letter near her hand. Moving the box aside, she saw her name written on the envelope and she opened the letter to scan the contents, her eyes tearing as she saw it was from Karl, telling her that he had a gift for her that he wished her to wear to their wedding.

Taking the box in her hand, she lifted the lid and pulled out the paper to lift out a necklace that was so breathtakingly beautiful she had to cover her mouth with her hand to keep a strangled sob from escaping. It was a clear, heart-shaped diamond set in platinum around the edges, and when she held it up to the sunlight streaming in through the window it cast little rainbows throughout the room. Fiona and Moonbay saw this with wide eyes as Marianne walked up to look at it with tears in her own eyes.

"Oh, Tania, I hope you realize how lucky you are," the young girl whispered.

Tania smiled as she wiped tears from her eyes. "I do," she answered. "Everyday of my life."



Before long, everyone was dressed in their gowns, looking as beautiful as ever as Marianne led them to the doors in front of the chapel. Tania stood there biting her lip out of nervousness, wondering if she was going to trip while walking down the aisle. Feeling a hand on her back, she glanced up to see Colonel Kruegar standing beside her with a comforting smile on his face.

"You look lovely, Tania," he said. "No doubt Colonel Shubaltz won't be seeing his bride walking down the aisle, but an angel dressed in a wedding gown."

She returned his smile as her cheeks warmed from the blush that rose to them. "I can't wait to see him," she sighed, then had no time to talk as the doors opened before her and she clutched at her bouquet nervously as all eyes turned towards her once she began walking down the aisle. Her eyes soon became riveted to a handsome sight standing just ahead waiting patiently for her, and she had to fight against running towards him just to be close to him, especially after seeing the same longing in his eyes.

For the next few moments, everything passed in a blur except for the feel of Karl's hands holding hers and the light of love in his eyes that told her that this was not a dream and that they were actually getting married. She became aware of the exchanging of rings and the words of promise they spoke to one another, to love and cherish each other for as long as they both lived, and tears fell from their eyes as they promised this to one another.

And just as she was beginning to wonder when she would get to kiss him, he lowered his lips to hers for a sweet, soft kiss that promised a little of what lie in store for them tonight. They pulled away from one another just enough to whisper, "I love you," before indulging themselves once more, and as she walked back down the aisle with her husband by her side, she knew she could never be any happier than this moment with him by her side. And that was the way they would stay for the rest of their lives, surrounded by love, along with family and friends that loved them in return.

*********************

For all who's curious, Tania gave Karl a crystalline figure of a black lily since that's what he likes. I just couldn't find anywhere to put it in. Hee-hee!

Anyway, this is the last chapter, and sorry if you all were expecting anything to happen! I think my creative wheels are slowing down as I've got two other fics to finish writing and I honestly don't know if I can tackle another. Besides, I've gotten to know Tania so well that I can't imagine building another character, and I wouldn't want to give you all a story that wasn't up to my usual standards.

But maybe after a small rest, and some input from you all, I might get things going again. I'm still continuing my Zoids New Century fic with Leon and Morgan as I have plenty to write about there, and my Lord of the Rings fic. But we'll see what happens!

I've enjoyed all the reviews and all the wonderful people I've gotten in touch with! You've all kept me going with all the support you've given me, and I thank you all for that! C-ya later!