Chapter Forty: Someday Love Will Find You, Break Those Chains That Bind You
Heero and Meg used the big computer in Mirek's computer room to make the jump to German AC 209, and they had gone before sunrise the next morning. They took the prototype with them, since it had worked all right for Heero more than once.
The rest of the day for Anna, Mirek, Wufei, and Cavel was spent in preparation for the wedding. It was going to be small, only the four of them and the minister. Chase could kill them all later, Anna told them.
The ceremony was scheduled for the late evening and afterwards Mirek and Anna would be taking a night flight to Chicago while Wufei and Cavel tracked down Chase, Ryuu, and Quatre. That was the plan, at least.
Mirek had reserved a banquet room for them, and Anna had contacted a minister she had met in Tokyo. Before she knew it, they were on their way.
Anna paced the Bridal room on the side of the banquet hall. She wasn't sure if she should be doing this. It was fast, and not based on love. "Of course look how my last marriage based on love went. Dead, fast." Anna murmured to herself. She stopped in front of the full-length mirror. She had donned a mid-calf length violet skirt and a white button down blouse. Neither she nor Mirek wanted a regular wedding, since it was her second and spur of the moment. Tan colored hose led down to black sandals with heels. She did not have any rings or necklaces on, but she wore diamond earrings and a diamond clip was holding half of her hair up.
Nervously she pulled at an eyelash that mascara had globbed on. Wufei stuck his head in the door. "Can I come in?" he asked.
"Of course. I was going to ask if you wouldn't mind giving me away." She replied with a grin.
"Again?" he asked wryly.
She turned around to face him. "You don't have to."
He smiled and shook his head. "I don't mind. I'm the only adult witness, after all. May as well make myself useful."
She smiled before studying the floor. Anna hated awkward moments like this. She couldn't help like feeling she had to explain why she was marrying Mirek so fast and not giving lieu to old flames. Wufei sensed the tension as well. They really hadn't discussed feelings between them in almost a decade. Maybe it was time to let go.
He stepped up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "What I said at the first hotel,"
She cut him off by cupping his cheek in her hand. "I love you, Wufei. I honestly do and probably always will. Understand that if anything happened between us it would be so much like before. I would always feel guilty, somehow."
He reached his hand up and curled his fingers around those of hers on his face. He pulled them to his lips and kissed them. "I know. I love you, Anna. When you asked me then if I still did, the answer was yes. There was just something special and especially impossible between us. But I'll always be there for you."
"Likewise." She said with a sad smile. Instinctively, they pulled each other into an embrace.
Wufei curled his fingers into the back of her blouse and she hugged one arm across his back and rested the fingers of her other hand on the back of his neck.
"It'll never be the same, will it, Fei-chan?" she whispered.
His eyes widened in surprise. It was not the first time Anna had asked that of him. "No," he murmured. "But it will get better, with time and friends." He repeated himself.
She pulled away and looked up at him. "Am I doing the right thing?"
"Will you be happy with him?"
Anna thought about it. "I believe I will. He'll always be there, and he'll be a good father one-day. Loving and being in love are two different things."
"Believe me, I know. You're sure you want children with Mirek?"
She grinned. "I'm marrying him, am I not? Seriously, even if Duo had come back and stayed alive, I could have never had children with him. Every child we had, I would look at them and think of Jack," she trailed off. "Yeah." She finished.
"Mirek's from the future too." Wufei said.
"I know. But he's settled here. He's not going back."
He smiled down at her. "You'll be happy again."
"Yeah. That's the plan." Anna smiled back.
Wufei reached up and pulled a necklace from out of the collar of his shirt. It was a silver chain with an amethyst star on it. He unclasped it and hung it around her neck. "You said it didn't belong to you here. Now it does. Besides, something old, something new, something borrowed, and something…brewed? I can never remember the last part of that."
Anna laughed. "It's something blue. Although I could go for coffee right about now."
"Do you have everything?" he asked.
She checked herself over. She touched the star and said, "Something old," she touched her earrings, "Something new," she grasped his hand, "Something borrowed, and my contacts are blue."
He laughed and the bridal march began to play in the banquet hall. "That's you're cue."
She nodded. "Chase is going to murder me."
"With as many men as she's torn between at the moment she has no right," Wufei laughed.
Anna frowned. "What do you mean? She's got Heero and I don't think her loyalties would lie with Trowa anymore."
Wufei looked surprised. "Ryuujin."
Anna's jaw dropped. "Oh, crap. I forgot about him. I helped him escape from Victor's hide-a-way. I didn't think of the problems that would cause."
"Don't worry about it. Chase will make the decision that she feels her heart leads her to."
"Chase. Always believing love conquers all," she met his gaze, "It doesn't."
He brushed his thumb across her cheek. "No morbid thoughts. You're getting married, and you're going to be late." He walked over to the door and pulled it open. He turned back to Anna and offered his arm. "Your future awaits, malady."
She inhaled deeply and took his arm. "Dramatic entrance, ne?" she murmured.
They entered the banquet room. It was devoid of tables for the event, and the gold curtains hung over windows that surrounded the entire room. They were on the eleventh floor, so they had a perfect view of the city. The minister was on a platform, Cavel was standing to the side grinning like a fool, and Mirek was standing below the minister and to the right. He was wearing a dark suit and was smiling. The lady at the piano was looking a little teary. The ornate ceiling hung overhead painted with clouds and cherubs in a remake of one of Michelangelo's works. The cherry wood was carved into patterns of Sakura blossoms.
Wufei led her through the room, almost holding his breath. The sun was setting making the gold tone of the room glow. Anna squeezed his arm gently as they reached Mirek and Wufei smiled at her. He gave her hand to the older man. Mirek nodded and took Anna's hand. Wufei stepped back.
"Shall we begin?" the minister asked.
The lady ended the song as Anna and Mirek nodded.
"Very good. Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."
There was no disturbance in the banquet room. Anna breathed in deeply. Mirek squeezed her hand. It was an offer out, and he was giving it to her. She forced herself to smile through her nervousness. This was what she wanted to do.
"Mirek, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?"
Mirek gave Anna one last meaningful look and she gave a slight nod of her head. Mirek smiled. "I do."
"Anna, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"
Anna's nervousness fled from her. She opened her mouth, the words on the tip of her tongue. The room was suddenly engulfed in darkness.
1 "Anna?"
"Mirek?"
"Wufei?"
"You don't seem to have much luck with weddings, woman."
"I hadn't even said anything yet!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I enquiry as to what is going on?" the minister asked.
"We aren't sure, Father." Mirek answered.
"Fei-kun, where did I leave my purse?"
"It's on that one table they left up." The Chinese man answered.
Anna pulled her hand from Mirek's and groped her way over to the table. She felt around for the fuzzy countenance of her purse and pulled it to her. She fished around in and pulled out a high-power penlight. She shined it on the windows.
"Blackout tarps." Mirek said.
"I don't understand." Wufei said.
"Neither do I." Remarked the minister.
Anna darted the penlight around in order to illuminate where her gaze fell. "I do."
"Care to explain?" Wufei asked.
She shined the light on he and Mirek. "Where do you hide?"
"In the dark." Mirek answered automatically.
"In the dark?" Wufei repeated.
"During the Eve war, one of the things they taught their soldiers was to always find shadows and hide in the dark. It's also a childhood pastime." Anna said.
"Hide and seek." Mirek said.
"Exactly. It's a game." Anna muttered.
"Quite, Ms. Mei. Or should I say Mrs. Maxwell? The former Mrs. Maxwell? The current Mrs. Sloan? Oh, I'm terribly sorry I interrupted your nuptials. However, I find myself in the disfavor of my superiors. So, I want to play one last game with someone who can appreciate it." Victor said from somewhere in the vast darkness.
"I'm not interested, Victor. I'm leaving the war and I'm going to build a normal life while I still have the chance." Anna said, trying to locate the voice.
"Leave the war? Nonsense, I'm afraid. The only way a soldier leaves a war is by death." Victor said.
"What if the war is over?" Mirek asked.
"A war is never over for one who fought it. Memories remain and the pain is always there." Victor snapped.
"Is that why you play games? To cover the memories?" Anna asked. She had him.
Victor smiled in the darkness. "Like I said, I wanted to play with someone who could appreciate it. And it appears you understand it as well."
"Oh, I understand. I'm just not interested." Anna said, flashing the light on where he was standing.
He smiled a dark smile, and Anna noticed something in his eyes. Rather, she noticed something lacking in his eyes. Feeling.
"Interest has nothing to do with it, I'm afraid. Thirty soldiers of mine surround this entire building. They will attack if you do not play."
"He'll attack anyway, Anna." Cavel said.
"I hate you, Victor. I swear." The girl muttered.
"You have two minutes, Ms. Mei. Be outside. Two minutes." He vanished.
"Don't, Anna," Wufei said warningly.
"I don't have a choice, now do I?" Anna turned off her penlight and grabbed her travel bag from under the table. She pulled on a pair of black jeans that were in the bag and pulled her skirt off over them. She shoved the skirt in the bag, put on her leather jacket and holstered her magnum. "Damn psychopaths." She said flatly.
"Anna," Mirek said softly.
She shined the light on him and took a deep breath. "Wait for me." She said.
"I will."
"Don't get carried away, Anna. He's crazy." Wufei said.
"I know. Take care of Sparky. I'll be back."
"Be careful." Mirek said.
The promise escaped her lips before she could think. "Always." And she was gone to play the game.
A/N: Thanks to everyone for being patient. I know it's been a while since I updated last, gomen nasai! I had to figure out how to upload then change the chapter and oi! Ff.net made it slightly confusing, ne? Anyhoo, thanks again. Chapter 41 is in the works, (and has been for three and a half weeks….) and should be back soon. You reading this, Ryuujin? We want the next chapter!! (It's in his hands now, folks, be very, very afraid. Keep reading! Thanks!
Heero and Meg used the big computer in Mirek's computer room to make the jump to German AC 209, and they had gone before sunrise the next morning. They took the prototype with them, since it had worked all right for Heero more than once.
The rest of the day for Anna, Mirek, Wufei, and Cavel was spent in preparation for the wedding. It was going to be small, only the four of them and the minister. Chase could kill them all later, Anna told them.
The ceremony was scheduled for the late evening and afterwards Mirek and Anna would be taking a night flight to Chicago while Wufei and Cavel tracked down Chase, Ryuu, and Quatre. That was the plan, at least.
Mirek had reserved a banquet room for them, and Anna had contacted a minister she had met in Tokyo. Before she knew it, they were on their way.
Anna paced the Bridal room on the side of the banquet hall. She wasn't sure if she should be doing this. It was fast, and not based on love. "Of course look how my last marriage based on love went. Dead, fast." Anna murmured to herself. She stopped in front of the full-length mirror. She had donned a mid-calf length violet skirt and a white button down blouse. Neither she nor Mirek wanted a regular wedding, since it was her second and spur of the moment. Tan colored hose led down to black sandals with heels. She did not have any rings or necklaces on, but she wore diamond earrings and a diamond clip was holding half of her hair up.
Nervously she pulled at an eyelash that mascara had globbed on. Wufei stuck his head in the door. "Can I come in?" he asked.
"Of course. I was going to ask if you wouldn't mind giving me away." She replied with a grin.
"Again?" he asked wryly.
She turned around to face him. "You don't have to."
He smiled and shook his head. "I don't mind. I'm the only adult witness, after all. May as well make myself useful."
She smiled before studying the floor. Anna hated awkward moments like this. She couldn't help like feeling she had to explain why she was marrying Mirek so fast and not giving lieu to old flames. Wufei sensed the tension as well. They really hadn't discussed feelings between them in almost a decade. Maybe it was time to let go.
He stepped up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "What I said at the first hotel,"
She cut him off by cupping his cheek in her hand. "I love you, Wufei. I honestly do and probably always will. Understand that if anything happened between us it would be so much like before. I would always feel guilty, somehow."
He reached his hand up and curled his fingers around those of hers on his face. He pulled them to his lips and kissed them. "I know. I love you, Anna. When you asked me then if I still did, the answer was yes. There was just something special and especially impossible between us. But I'll always be there for you."
"Likewise." She said with a sad smile. Instinctively, they pulled each other into an embrace.
Wufei curled his fingers into the back of her blouse and she hugged one arm across his back and rested the fingers of her other hand on the back of his neck.
"It'll never be the same, will it, Fei-chan?" she whispered.
His eyes widened in surprise. It was not the first time Anna had asked that of him. "No," he murmured. "But it will get better, with time and friends." He repeated himself.
She pulled away and looked up at him. "Am I doing the right thing?"
"Will you be happy with him?"
Anna thought about it. "I believe I will. He'll always be there, and he'll be a good father one-day. Loving and being in love are two different things."
"Believe me, I know. You're sure you want children with Mirek?"
She grinned. "I'm marrying him, am I not? Seriously, even if Duo had come back and stayed alive, I could have never had children with him. Every child we had, I would look at them and think of Jack," she trailed off. "Yeah." She finished.
"Mirek's from the future too." Wufei said.
"I know. But he's settled here. He's not going back."
He smiled down at her. "You'll be happy again."
"Yeah. That's the plan." Anna smiled back.
Wufei reached up and pulled a necklace from out of the collar of his shirt. It was a silver chain with an amethyst star on it. He unclasped it and hung it around her neck. "You said it didn't belong to you here. Now it does. Besides, something old, something new, something borrowed, and something…brewed? I can never remember the last part of that."
Anna laughed. "It's something blue. Although I could go for coffee right about now."
"Do you have everything?" he asked.
She checked herself over. She touched the star and said, "Something old," she touched her earrings, "Something new," she grasped his hand, "Something borrowed, and my contacts are blue."
He laughed and the bridal march began to play in the banquet hall. "That's you're cue."
She nodded. "Chase is going to murder me."
"With as many men as she's torn between at the moment she has no right," Wufei laughed.
Anna frowned. "What do you mean? She's got Heero and I don't think her loyalties would lie with Trowa anymore."
Wufei looked surprised. "Ryuujin."
Anna's jaw dropped. "Oh, crap. I forgot about him. I helped him escape from Victor's hide-a-way. I didn't think of the problems that would cause."
"Don't worry about it. Chase will make the decision that she feels her heart leads her to."
"Chase. Always believing love conquers all," she met his gaze, "It doesn't."
He brushed his thumb across her cheek. "No morbid thoughts. You're getting married, and you're going to be late." He walked over to the door and pulled it open. He turned back to Anna and offered his arm. "Your future awaits, malady."
She inhaled deeply and took his arm. "Dramatic entrance, ne?" she murmured.
They entered the banquet room. It was devoid of tables for the event, and the gold curtains hung over windows that surrounded the entire room. They were on the eleventh floor, so they had a perfect view of the city. The minister was on a platform, Cavel was standing to the side grinning like a fool, and Mirek was standing below the minister and to the right. He was wearing a dark suit and was smiling. The lady at the piano was looking a little teary. The ornate ceiling hung overhead painted with clouds and cherubs in a remake of one of Michelangelo's works. The cherry wood was carved into patterns of Sakura blossoms.
Wufei led her through the room, almost holding his breath. The sun was setting making the gold tone of the room glow. Anna squeezed his arm gently as they reached Mirek and Wufei smiled at her. He gave her hand to the older man. Mirek nodded and took Anna's hand. Wufei stepped back.
"Shall we begin?" the minister asked.
The lady ended the song as Anna and Mirek nodded.
"Very good. Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."
There was no disturbance in the banquet room. Anna breathed in deeply. Mirek squeezed her hand. It was an offer out, and he was giving it to her. She forced herself to smile through her nervousness. This was what she wanted to do.
"Mirek, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?"
Mirek gave Anna one last meaningful look and she gave a slight nod of her head. Mirek smiled. "I do."
"Anna, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"
Anna's nervousness fled from her. She opened her mouth, the words on the tip of her tongue. The room was suddenly engulfed in darkness.
1 "Anna?"
"Mirek?"
"Wufei?"
"You don't seem to have much luck with weddings, woman."
"I hadn't even said anything yet!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I enquiry as to what is going on?" the minister asked.
"We aren't sure, Father." Mirek answered.
"Fei-kun, where did I leave my purse?"
"It's on that one table they left up." The Chinese man answered.
Anna pulled her hand from Mirek's and groped her way over to the table. She felt around for the fuzzy countenance of her purse and pulled it to her. She fished around in and pulled out a high-power penlight. She shined it on the windows.
"Blackout tarps." Mirek said.
"I don't understand." Wufei said.
"Neither do I." Remarked the minister.
Anna darted the penlight around in order to illuminate where her gaze fell. "I do."
"Care to explain?" Wufei asked.
She shined the light on he and Mirek. "Where do you hide?"
"In the dark." Mirek answered automatically.
"In the dark?" Wufei repeated.
"During the Eve war, one of the things they taught their soldiers was to always find shadows and hide in the dark. It's also a childhood pastime." Anna said.
"Hide and seek." Mirek said.
"Exactly. It's a game." Anna muttered.
"Quite, Ms. Mei. Or should I say Mrs. Maxwell? The former Mrs. Maxwell? The current Mrs. Sloan? Oh, I'm terribly sorry I interrupted your nuptials. However, I find myself in the disfavor of my superiors. So, I want to play one last game with someone who can appreciate it." Victor said from somewhere in the vast darkness.
"I'm not interested, Victor. I'm leaving the war and I'm going to build a normal life while I still have the chance." Anna said, trying to locate the voice.
"Leave the war? Nonsense, I'm afraid. The only way a soldier leaves a war is by death." Victor said.
"What if the war is over?" Mirek asked.
"A war is never over for one who fought it. Memories remain and the pain is always there." Victor snapped.
"Is that why you play games? To cover the memories?" Anna asked. She had him.
Victor smiled in the darkness. "Like I said, I wanted to play with someone who could appreciate it. And it appears you understand it as well."
"Oh, I understand. I'm just not interested." Anna said, flashing the light on where he was standing.
He smiled a dark smile, and Anna noticed something in his eyes. Rather, she noticed something lacking in his eyes. Feeling.
"Interest has nothing to do with it, I'm afraid. Thirty soldiers of mine surround this entire building. They will attack if you do not play."
"He'll attack anyway, Anna." Cavel said.
"I hate you, Victor. I swear." The girl muttered.
"You have two minutes, Ms. Mei. Be outside. Two minutes." He vanished.
"Don't, Anna," Wufei said warningly.
"I don't have a choice, now do I?" Anna turned off her penlight and grabbed her travel bag from under the table. She pulled on a pair of black jeans that were in the bag and pulled her skirt off over them. She shoved the skirt in the bag, put on her leather jacket and holstered her magnum. "Damn psychopaths." She said flatly.
"Anna," Mirek said softly.
She shined the light on him and took a deep breath. "Wait for me." She said.
"I will."
"Don't get carried away, Anna. He's crazy." Wufei said.
"I know. Take care of Sparky. I'll be back."
"Be careful." Mirek said.
The promise escaped her lips before she could think. "Always." And she was gone to play the game.
A/N: Thanks to everyone for being patient. I know it's been a while since I updated last, gomen nasai! I had to figure out how to upload then change the chapter and oi! Ff.net made it slightly confusing, ne? Anyhoo, thanks again. Chapter 41 is in the works, (and has been for three and a half weeks….) and should be back soon. You reading this, Ryuujin? We want the next chapter!! (It's in his hands now, folks, be very, very afraid. Keep reading! Thanks!
