Chapter Nineteen: Something Blue…

*"My blue?" Serena asked when Hiiro paused and did not continue his sentence.

"Maybe I'll wait." He muttered to himself. He had thought it would be a good idea to give it to her now, but that was then. At the moment, he was thinking he should wait. Yes. He would wait. Smiling to himself, he held back the second gift.

"You'll get your blue later." He told her gently. Without really understanding his strange urge, he was compelled to lift his hand and run his fingers down her cheek, to her lips. At which point he stopped, sure that if he continued, she would slap him and call him a pig for not having a better handle on his emotions.

"Get out." He heard her whisper low and quiet. But it was not as dark as he had expected. Maybe she was warming to him? "Now!" Nope. He quickly retracted his hand- fingers still tingling from the soft silkiness of her skin, and nodded.

"Goodnight." Without another word, he left, closing the door behind him. What was she thinking right now? What had he been thinking? Honestly! He had some nerve, to touch her without her consent. But they were getting married after all. And he loved her. Still, he sighed, that obviously didn't give him 'touching' rights to her. A thought struck him.

What would they do when they were married? Whose apartment? Would them get a new one? Would they sleep in the same room? In the same…bed? That was what Duo had said married couples did. Then again, Duo was Duo, a twisted and dirty mind. He was unlocking his door, too busy really thinking to realize he was putting motorcycle's key into the keyhole.

"Yui, you've got the wrong key." A familiar voice echoed through his head.

"Figures. Even after the wars I still hear voices of my enemies." He muttered to himself.

"If you're hearing voices, get a CAT scan- I don't want you anywhere near my sister mentally unstable. You're emotionally unstable as it is."

"Zechs." Hiiro nodded as he finally unlocked his apartment door and stepped in. He promptly slammed the door shut. Blinking, he turned around. Opening the door again, he smirked and ran his hand through his hair.

"You're the voice in my head. You're real."

"I am. So as the voice in your head, what do I say?" The tall blonde man smiled darkly.

"That I had the wrong key." Hiiro smirked. Zechs had the decency to laugh.

"Well Yui. You've grown a sense of humor. As dry as it is, I'd say it's an improvement. Congratulations."

"Thanks." Hiiro opened the door wider and let the taller man in. "Want something?"

"To talk."

"Obviously. I meant did you want something to eat or drink, though I might not have anything- Duo was here and I haven't checked since then."

"Yes, a very dry sense of humor. You're a regular desert Yui."

"You've improved as well Zechs. There was a time you would have slaughtered me on sight."

"Relena loved you back then. She doesn't now. Now I want to slaughter Quatre Winner on sight. But that's a different story. I heard her point of view on the end of your relationship, but I want yours."

"Simple enough then. You said it yourself. Back then. Back then I loved her because I loved her. Your sister is one in a million. But now, as you so delicately pointed out, I've changed. She's changed. We're different people, and I need a different person to love."

"And her secretary?"

"An arranged marriage. But I would be lying if I didn't say I felt more for her. Serena is what I need now to love."

"Oh?"

"Yeah." Hiiro shook his head and sat down on his couch. Zechs looked at the brooding boy before him. Never had Hiiro Yui, his sister's one time love interest and his one time mortal enemy, ever looked so… confused. It was amusing and troubling.

As strange as it sounded, Zechs cared for Hiiro more than he let on. Since he had resigned himself to believing Hiiro and his sister would be together forever, he had tried to get to know and understand the Perfect Soldier. And he had grown to care for him, like an uncle might care for his nephew. He didn't like seeing Hiiro this torn inside- especially when he had never seen him torn before.

"I hear that Serena hates you." Zechs prompted him.

"She does."

"And you love her?"

"Yeah."

"You've gotten yourself into quite a problem Hiiro."

"Tell me something either helpful, or that I don't know Zechs." Hiiro glared at the older man. He knew Zechs was just trying to find a way to discuss this without actually being direct about it. It was almost nice to have someone like Zechs, who had once hated him, now helping him. It made him feel… wanted. Not that Zechs would ever know that.

"Do you know why she hates you?"

"I was a soldier." Zechs nodded in understanding. Then Hiiro stood. "But she doesn't hate you, or the other pilots, and she knows they were soldiers as well. So why does she still hate me?"

"Maybe it's more personal and she's using that as an excuse."

"Personal?"

"Maybe she doesn't like your looks, or attitude, or something else all together. Though I have to say, I've met Serena, and she isn't a shallow sort of person. It doesn't seem to me like she would judge you based only upon looks."

"She thinks I'm rude and ill-mannered."

"That may be it."

"There has to be more."

"There always is. Look. I got an invitation to the wedding for Noin and myself- that's why we're here and not on Mars."

"I figured as much."

"And all of the pilots are in it?"

"Yeah."

"I'll see you then. Good luck Hiiro."

"Night Zechs."

)(

Hiiro gulped. This was the church. It was, indeed, Sunday, January seventh, AC 200- the day of their wedding. He had just driven up to the back of the church, his hair windswept and his mind cluttered.

"Hey Hiiro! We've got the tuxedos in here! Come on!" Duo called him, grabbing onto his shoulder. "Hey Hiiro, I want you to know something. You're marrying a smart, gorgeous woman who's going to keep you on your toes. It's obvious that you like her well enough, and no matter what she thinks, she's marrying you. If she really hated you, she wouldn't have stuck around this long." He took a deep breath. "Good luck man. I'll be around if you need a couch to crash on." Duo winked and laughed. Hiiro managed a small smirk.

"Sure, you'll be around. But what if it's you who needs the couch?" And with that, he strode past Duo into the church.

"Hiiro man! That was a low one!" Duo called, running in after him. They needed to begin getting ready.

The women, on the other hand, were nearly read. Mina had her dress on and was completing the finishing touches of her makeup. Her hair was already up in a bun- unusual for Mina to do something so bland with her hair, but it worked in the fancy atmosphere of the wedding. Ami was ready too, she was just finishing spraying hairspray into her short locks. Sally and Relena were checking each other over, Relena picking invisible fuzz from Sally's dress, and Sally patting Relena's hair one last time.

Serena was nearly ready as well. The dress she had gone through such trouble to chose shrouded her in a soft white glow. Mina had done her makeup- nothing too heavy, only mascara and a simple dark eyeliner lightened with white highlights and silver eye shadow on her eyes, and her full, pouting lips were stained a deep red. Half of her hair had been swept up upon her head in an elegant french twist, while the rest had simply been pinned up and curled in tiny curls. A sheer veil had been added to complete the ensemble.

Around her neck glittered two necklaces. One rested just where the top of her dress ended- the locket Quatre and the others had given her, and the other a thin diamond choker, garishly sparkling in the dim lighting of the room. The tiny silver cross Hiiro had given her was hanging upon a simple chain around her wrist, where it could be worn without distracting from the rest of her appearance. Upon her ears dripped the diamond earrings that had been her other present, and in her hands she held her bouquet of white roses. She was ready.

"Wait! Serena, you don't have any blue!" Mina gasped.

"I know. Hiiro said he had something, but he didn't give it to me."

"Speaking of which, what do you have that's borrowed?" Ami asked.

"This cross. Hiiro let me borrow it." Serena held up her hand to show the cross around her thin wrist. Relena gasped.

"He let you wear his cross…" She breathed.

"Why wouldn't he?" Sally asked. "It seems like a nice gesture."

"It is!" Relena nodded empathetically. "He never takes that off. Not when he's swimming, showering, sleeping, never. That cross is the only present he has ever been given… J gave it to him and said it had been his real mother's."

"His mother's? But you said he doesn't have family!" Mina scratched her head, careful not to mess her hair.

"He doesn't. That's why it's so important. Serena, he must trust you a great deal to give you that cross."

"Hmm." Serena heard her, but wasn't really listening. His mother… she felt terrible that she had taken it and then kicked him out, and at the same time, warm and happy that he would let her wear it. It sounded as though Relena had never worn it, and they had been together a lot longer than she'd been with Hiiro.

"Five minutes." The priest ducked his head in. "And there's someone here to see you."

"Father?" Serena asked when her Father's head popped into the room.

"Baby Sere." The man in the door looked as if he were about to burst into tears. "My baby girl's all grown up and getting married."

"Not by choice." Serena muttered.

"Oh Serena, you look so beautiful. I just wanted to say congratulations before I walked you down the aisle. This will be the happiest day of your life Serena, make it a good one."

"I will Father." Serena's friends gasped. Their friend sounded so hollow as she spoke to her father. It was as if she were nothing more than the shell of a woman standing there. What had happened to the heart their friend had always been known for? Where had her sense of humor gone? Or her ideals and dreams? She sounded so empty and… dead.

"Good." The man nodded. The music began in the background. "I guess that's it."

"Right. Get in your line girls. You know how this works." Serena ordered. She and her father lined up last, arms linked. Her father still had a dopey smile upon his thin lips, while her mouth was pulled straight. Relena walked out and joined Quatre before completing their walk down the aisle together. Mina and Duo followed in suit, then Sally and Wufei, and finally Ami and Trowa walked down the aisle together. The actual wedding march music commenced, and on went the procession.

Hiiro's eyes caught a lovely sight as he looked to the end of the aisle. There was Serena, in her full glory, for his eyes to feast upon. Her golden locks were not in their characteristic pigtail style, but pulled back and up, allowing him to view her creamy neck and shoulders. Her veil was drawn over her face, and her dress dripped from her as if it were a second skin of pure white silk. The diamonds she wore glittered vibrantly in the light, and her regal stance as she walked toward him awed him to an indescribable amount. There she was, the angel he had wanted since he had first laid eyes on, and she was his. Maybe in name only. But one day she would be his completely; of this he was sure. He watched as her father led her to him, and at the juncture between the steps and the alter, he stopped, lifted the veil, and kissed his daughter's cheek.

"Make me proud Serena." Her father told her. Hiiro blinked. Quatre had said that the father of the bride was supposed to hand her to him, and publicly give them his blessing, not leave Serena to do it on her own. But he couldn't object, after all, what did he know? Maybe Quatre was wrong?

Serena looked up the alter to Hiiro, who stood waiting for her. He did look handsome in his suit- she would give him that. His hair was still messy, windblown even, but she could see he had made some attempt to tame it. Even his face was relaxed… he was not smirking, frowning, or making a face, as she had dreaded he might. But then he was not smiling either. Did Hiiro Yui know how to smile?

"Dear beloved. We are gathered here today to witness the Holy matrimony between this man and this woman." The priest began the ceremony. "Before we begin, does anyone have any objections to the union of these two people whom stand before God today?" No one answered, and Serena forced her eyes away from looking at Hiiro. Instead she focused on the cross behind the priest. If she continued looking at Hiiro, she might break down, and that was the last thing she wanted.

Hiiro noticed Serena whip her gaze around and almost smirked. She didn't want to look at him. Why not? He knew he didn't look too bad when he was cleaned up like he was. God- he sounded about as vain as Duo usually did. But this was his wedding. He was getting married! To the woman he loved. Who hated him. But he wanted her to love him.

Why did she hate him? He was still pondering that. After Zechs had left the night before, he had meditated more on why Serena might hate him so very much. The only reason he could come up with was because he was a soldier, but even that argument had fallen through because she didn't hate other soldiers- just him. It was a slap in the face, really, to know she harbored that many deep seeded feelings toward him.

"Odin Lowe Jr." Hiiro looked up as the priest called his name out. "Do you take this woman, in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor, for as long as you both shall live?" Hiiro momentarily felt compelled to say 'mission accepted', but knew if he did, Serena would instantly begin an argument, in a church at their wedding or not.

"I do." He said quietly.

"And Serena Kennington." Serena's eyes flickered to the priest and she focused on him. "Do you take this man, in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor, for as long as you both shall live?" This was her last chance.

"I do." And she had sealed her fate.

"I've been told you have your own vows for each other?" The priest prompted them. Both Serena and Hiiro looked at him as if he was crazy. Then they heard snickering from their bridesmaids and grooms, and knew just whom they would be thanking after the ceremony. The priest cleared his throat, prompting on of them to speak. Hiiro sighed. Well, this was as good a time as any he supposed.

"Serena." He began in a monotone voice. Her glare instantly warmed him, and the sternness in his speech melted away to reveal a softer, more compassionate and sweet voice. "I know we are not very close. I know we haven't known each other for very long. But I also know you like things neat. You don't like rap music or classical music. You love to drive motorcycles, you like things simple, and that you hate me. But know this. We are married. I will always be around when you need to let loose steam, when you need a good argument, when you need someone to give you a ride home at the end of the day. So Serena, here's your blue." And with that said, Hiiro pulled from his pocket a ring. Serena gasped. It was a tiny diamond set in silver, and surrounded by tiny sapphires. A true wedding ring.

How dare he! She was fuming. How dare he do this! Of all things! Had he no decency? He didn't have the right to do this. This man was her worst nightmare. He was rude, obnoxious to a fault, argued over everything, insulted her, reminded her constantly of the one thing she truly wanted to forget, and how dare he do something so sweet!

"Hiiro I… thank you." She breathed; mesmerized by the way his prussian eyes penetrated her soul. "This is by far the sweetest thing you've ever done for me." He bowed his head in response to the first praise she had ever given him.

"Well, with that said, your ring Serena?" The priest asked. Serena pulled out a simple silver band. "Very good. Hiiro, slip the ring on her finger and repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed."

"With this ring, I thee wed." Hiiro took note as he slipped the ring onto her slim finger that Serena was wearing his cross around her wrist as a bracelet. It made him smile.

"Serena? With this ring, I thee wed." The priest prompted her.

"With this ring, I thee wed."

"May God bless you in your marriage and future life together. You may kiss the bride." Hiiro and Serena stared at each other for a moment, then Hiiro leaned in. Very carefully, he pecked Serena's soft, rouge stained lips. And then, before he was tempted to do much else, he pulled away, knowing full well he was blushing. He noted, however, much to his delight, that Serena was blushing as well. "I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. -" Hiiro cut the priest off. Quietly he whispered something in the man's ear. The priest smiled and nodded. "Mr. and Mrs. Hiiro Yui."

"What do we do now?" He asked quietly.

"Walk me down the aisle and out of the church." Serena instructed him under her breath. He nodded, and offering his arm to her, began to escort his new wife, Serena Yui, out the front doors of the church.

They quickly retreated to the limo that was parked outside for them and as soon as the door was shut, the care drove off. They needed to get to the reception first- it was their party after all. The ride itself was very quiet, neither husband nor wife saying anything. It was still sinking in really. They were married. Married. Married.

Soon after they arrived, another limo pulled up, this one carrying the bridesmaids and grooms. And then the rest of the people began to filter in shortly after that. It was dark by the time the party was in full swing, and people were finishing their dinners when Quatre decided to pull Hiiro aside.

"Hiiro? Do you know what you're supposed to do from here?"

"Go home?" The Perfect, clueless Soldier blinked confused. Quatre grinned and chuckled.

"I meant here, at the party."

"I have to do more?" Hiiro began to frown. "This was never in mission parameters." Quatre blinked. He had thought Hiiro was past all of that. Then he realized Hiiro was simply looking for an excuse to whine. His smile widened, if possible.

"Yes. You need to cut the cake. It is tradition that when you cut the cake, you feed each other the first bites."

"What next? A dance contest?"

"Actually…"

"No!" Hiiro paled.

"You need to have the first dance with the bride. After that, her father will dance with her, and you can dance with someone else. If you're lucky, I might let you borrow Relena from me."

"You're so thoughtful."

"And after that you need to make sure that she throws the bouquet, well, you don't need to worry about that, and that you throw the garter."

"Garter." His eyes narrowed. "A garter is a piece of women's underwear Quatre!"

"Yes Hiiro." Quatre laughed harder, his face becoming bright red. "Tradition is that she throws her bouquet to all the single women, and whomever catches it gets married next. Then you pull the garter off her leg, some men prefer to use their… teeth… and toss it to the single men. Whom ever catches the garter marries next."

"Quatre. There is no way in hell I am letting another man touch my new wife's underwear."

"What?" Duo asked as he passed by. "You touched your new wife's underwear? Already? Hiiro man! Didn't know you moved so fast!"

"Can it Maxwell!" Wufei smacked Duo hard on the head. "Yui needs to meet Serena at the cake, she's waiting for him."

"Do you understand Hiiro?" Quatre asked.

"Yes. No. I want to go home." Hiiro ran his hand through his hair frustrated. Shaking his head, he walked away from his friends and met Serena at the cake.

"Hiiro, we need to cut the cake, people- Mina and Ami in particular, want the sugar rush apparently." He watched her eyes travel to Mina and Ami, who were laughing evilly at her. He smirked.

"Alright." As soon as he nodded, Mina ambushed them. Taking hold of Hiiro's left arm and Serena's right, she held onto them tightly. Then she screamed over the loud talking of the party.

"Attention! Attention everyone! The bride and groom are going to cut their cake!"

"No one ever said that cutting the cake involved people watching us." Hiiro squirmed uncomfortably. Serena's face darkened.

"Suck it up Hiiro. I'm more than sure you can deal with it for a few moments." He blinked. She was mad again? What had he done this time? He had just been a little sarcastic, and he had expected her to laugh, or at least smile at his remark, not cut him down. It hurt him a little. He had made a little progress in the church, and now here it was, being undone. Life was not fair sometimes.

"Alright Serena." He gracefully accepted her new mood. Then he wondered. "How do we do this exactly?"

"Just make like you're going to cut the cake normally. I'll put my hand on top of yours as you do it."

"You ready?"

"Yes." She nodded. Hiiro picked up the cake-cutting knife and Serena placed her hand atop his. The warmth that radiated from her hand shocked him. She was so warm, so close… his chest was pressed against her petite back, his arm practically wrapped around her front. It was a very sensuous and compromising position- one that he knew he was enjoying far too much.

His hand, slowly being pressed downwards by Serena's, sunk into the cake. Everyone around him was clapping as they put the piece on a plate and each picked up a fork. Serena brought her fork to his mouth first. How could he deny her anything? He couldn't. Opening his mouth, he let his lips close around the tiny morsel of cake and savored it. Chocolate cheesecake? One of his favorites. The girl had good taste!

Remembering he still had a part to play in all of this, Hiiro lifted his fork and held it to Serena's mouth. She looked up at him as her mouth opened and her lips closed over the bite of cake. Slowly, as if she were trying to torture him, she chewed and then licked her lips innocently. God…

"Good cake." He sputtered. Serena nodded, her eyes never breaking his gaze.

"Hmm."

"Would you like to dance Serena?" He asked suddenly. He wanted to feel close to her, to hold her, to feel her.

"Yes." She answered. She wasn't quite sure what was going on, but she knew one thing. Hiiro had once again managed to anger her, and then to startle her in a way she didn't understand.

As he led her onto the dance floor, she shivered when his hand clasped hers, and the other the small of her waist. Leading her in an old fashioned waltz, the lights around them dimmed, and they swayed gracefully around the dance floor, blissfully ignorant to everyone around them.

But they could no longer tune everyone out when they realized their song had ended, and that everyone else was now crowding the dance floor, talking and laughing with each other. Serena's father whisked her away, and Hiiro found himself slipping into the shadows of his own wedding. He saw Relena and Quatre dancing, Zechs and his wife Lucy, Wufei and Sally, and Mina and Duo and Ami and Trowa, switching partners constantly. Mina and Ami even jokingly danced a dance together, which Duo and Trowa refused to watch because the two were so bad together.

"Everyone seems to like our wedding Hiiro." A calm voice echoed in the shadows. He turned his head slightly to see Serena had joined him.

"Tired of dancing?" He smirked.

"Yes. I want to go home. But…"

"Bouquet and garter." He cut her off. She nodded.

"How did you know? You never knew any of this before."

"Quatre had the decency to pull me aside and warn me ahead of time."

"That was nice of him. Do remind me to thank him for the general improvement of your manners. I'm sure he is behind it after all."

"Maybe. But maybe I had them all along, and you're only just now noticing them."

"I have a good eye for this sort of thing Hiiro. You've had not a lick of manners since day one, don't try to deny it." She yawned. "Can we please just end this?"

"Very well." *

~~~Marriage. Ahh. Need I say more? PLEASE REVIEW! Break my 450! Please! Much love, Vixen~~~