My Big Fat Aquios Wedding

By Nicolle

1st Note: Serious OOC-ness.

2nd Note: This episode has more relationship building than comedy.

Disclaimer: Star Ocean 3 belongs to Tri-Ace/Ubisoft/Square-Enix.

Chapter Four:

Part One: Their First Argument!

Claire dropped her bag and hugged Nel. "I'm sorry I couldn't go with you on the dress shopping expedition. Sophia mentioned that you found one."

"Yes, it's..." Nel looked over at Albel. "I'll tell you when he's not around."

"Oh Claire, she's been so mean to me. She won't even tell me what color it is."

Claire frowned and batted at the top of Albel's head. "It's an Aquarian wedding dress, you dolt. It's going to be blue."

"It's one of the really old, traditional ones."

Claire turned, eyes wide. "You mean with the..." she gestured, "and the..." she gestured again.

Nel nodded.

"Oh Apris."

Albel looked at the both of them. "I'm missing something, aren't I?"

Claire blinked several times. "We're going to need taller tapestries."

"Tapestries?"

They both looked at Albel.

"When the bride goes from her house to the temple, she is shielded by several large tapestries on all sides," Nel explained, "It's to protect the bride from the evil eye."

"Oh. Similar to the Airyglyph umbrella," he went back to his smithing plans.

"Umbrella?" Claire asked.

"When the bride leaves her house for the groom's, she is shielded from the rain of curses with an umbrella."

"Rain of curses?"

Albel shrugged. "There's always someone who wishes they were in your shoes."

"Ah."

Nel pulled Claire close. "Something's going on," she whispered. He's been following me around faithfully for the past five days helping with the arrangements. The skinny bastard is up to something. I know it."

"I can hear you."

Nel sighed. "What's going on, Albel? You haven't called me a fool, worm, or maggot in three days!"

Albel put down his pen. "Is that what's wrong? Well then, fool, how long until we start interviewing caterers?"

"Five minutes."

"Good. Feel better now?"

Nel sighed. "What's your game, Nox?"

He rolled up the paper he was working on. "My game is called, 'Help out Your Fiancé for Less Grief and More Happiness.' Apparently, it's of no use." He stood up. "If you like, I could leave you alone to the wedding crazed mobs. They at least keep a ten foot distance when I'm around under the mistaken belief that they're safe that far away." He growled. "If you want me to act like a four year old prima-donna, I assure you that I could out do Roger."

"This is wholly unlike you."

"Really? And how am I acting any differently than usual? I'm getting married, Nel, and regardless of the circumstances, I'm rather pleased. If you aren't, register your complaints with someone other than me. Your Queen would be the best choice in this instance."

"And why are so happy?"

"Because I could have ended up with any number of little twits who have to be walked to the outhouse so as not to loose their way. The obvious amount of thought that went into pairing the two of us together tells me that your Queen and my King are not entirely brain dead." He sighed. "You and Claire have fun picking out food. You're an excellent cook and I trust anything you select will be perfect. I'm going to go see a friend. I'll be back in a few days."

He left and the girls stood there, dumbfounded.

"I think he likes you, Nel."

Nel looked at Claire in disbelief. "I think you're insane." She went to the door, but Albel was already at the gate and leaving town. She turned to Claire. "Well, shall we try the food?"

Choosing a cook for a wedding in Aquios was easy. The process is better known as, 'Don't Insult the Killer Chef.' I either chose him or chose death. Thank Apris he's the best cook on Elicoor. After a week went by with no sign of Albel, I admitted that I was worried. I swallowed my pride and visited Lady Anne.

Lady Anne was seated at a large quilt frame pulling the thread through the cloth when Nel came in. "How are things going, dear?"

"Um... Not well. We had an argument."

"Take it from a married woman: You'll have more than just one. Married life is like a rose bush. You have to go through the thorns to find the flower."

Nel put her head down. "That's not what I meant. I don't want to do this."

The woman shrugged. "I didn't want to either." She put her needle aside. "Is there someone you'd rather be with?"

Nel opened her mouth and then closed it. She thought about Fayt and Cliff and for a moment, even Claire came to mind, but in the end, they had been little more than infatuations built on friendship and shared experiences. She shook her head.

"Do you think you could find a better match for yourself?"

Nel thought for a moment. "Maybe."

"Then you better let your Queen know that." She turned back to her sewing.

"Aren't you angry with me?"

Lady Anne shrugged. "Hardly. I know how you feel. Thirty some years ago, I was in your shoes."

"So, why did you marry Glou?"

"Because he did everything he could to make the situation easier for me. He spared no effort." She smiled. "And I couldn't say he wasn't attractive." She turned to Nel. "Whether or not you marry my son means very little to me. I know that who ever he chooses will be a worthy spouse."

"He didn't choose me."

"Yes, he did. Arzei loves him dearly. If Albel had said no, there wouldn't be a wedding happening right now." She took Nel's hands in her own. "When Albel's father died, a big part of him died too and nothing I could say or do could bring my son back. I don't know what happened to you and your friends in the worlds beyond Elicoor, but when Albel came back he was alive again. He was excited. His eyes sparkled. He did nothing but talk about his friends and what he saw. He was happy for the first time in ages. You are responsible for part of that happiness."

Nel looked away. "That's why he isn't complaining."

Lady Anne nodded. "So you have to decide if you want to go through with this. If you're waiting for him to call it off, you'll be waiting until death do you part."

Nel looked down. "I don't know what to do."

"Well, you can talk to him. Albel has my tongue but he does have his father's ears. He's listening, even if he makes you think he isn't."

Nel thought about that for a while. "He said he was going to see a friend, do you know who that might have been?"

"Probably his cousin in Airyglyph."

"Hmm... He didn't leave town by that gate." Nel jumped up. "He went to the Lava Caves! That idiot! If he went to challenge Crosell...!" She ran out of the house. Rushing through the streets and across the plains she ran the entire way to lava caves. She stopped at the entrance, bending over to catch her breath. When she straightened, Albel was coming out of the cave.

He stopped and looked her over. "How long were you running?"

"From Peterny," she panted out between breaths.

He scratched his head before running his hand through his hair. "Did you miss me that much?"

Anger pulled her breathing under control. "I thought you were going to attempt the ascension with Crosell."

He snorted. "I learned my lesson the first time." He turned and looked across the plains. "Ready to go home?"

"Yeah."

"We have another hair washing ceremony tonight."

"Do I get to hear you scream like a baby again?"

He smirked and started walking.

Nel followed along side of him. "Any other wedding traditions I should be aware of?"

"So you decided you want to marry me?"

Nel shrugged. "Maybe."

"Hmm..." He walked in silence, thoughtful. "Let's see... I have to carry you across the threshold when I take you home on the wedding night."

"Why?"

"In Airyglyph, we bury our guard dogs and pets underneath the door of the house. The idea behind it being that they would still protect us in spirit if not in flesh. The bride is carried over the threshold so the spirits of the animals know that you are family."

"Interesting."

"We've got a million of them."

"So, do you actually have a home? Or do you just live in the castle?"

"I do have a house, if that's what you're asking. I just spend most of my time in the castle."

"Can I see it?"

"Sure. Now?"

"Please? Since we're having dinner with Fayt and Sophia tonight, we can drag them along."

Chapter Four:

Part Two: Complete with TWO flashbacks!

Sophia plopped down in the seat next to Albel. "Wow. This place is huge."

"It's my father's house."

"So, if you're not here and neither is your mother, who takes care of the place?"

"The Miranels, or, as my father liked to call them, the 'Miracles.' Their family has served in the Nox house for generations." He leaned back so one of the girls could put a plate in front of him. She curtsied quickly before running off.

"So they aren't afraid of Albel the Wicked?" Nel asked.

A snort came from the elderly woman beating the dust out of a tapestry across the room.

Albel sighed and smiled. "Not a chance."

"You change a few of his dirty diapers…" the woman muttered.

Sophia put her hand over her mouth to hide her giggles.

Fayt took a bite. "Almost as good as Nel's cooking."

"Thank you," Nel said as she reached for her fork.

"So I was wondering," Fayt began, "How did Elena and the King marry? I thought she turned him down."

"I had a talk with—" Nel and Albel started and froze, glaring at each other.

"With Elena," Nel finished.

"So why did you turn the king down? Because of the war?"

Elena shook her head. "I'm too old to get married, Nel."

"You're not old, Professor Elena."

The engineer smiled. "It makes a difference when you're expected to produce heirs."

Nel rolled her eyes. "When ever you get married, you're expected to have children. You may be older, but you are not in any way past your prime. Besides, you're younger than the queen and she has yet to marry and have children."

Elena looked at the Crimson Blade. "So you have no objections to me marrying the King? You certainly weren't happy when your friend stepped forward."

"That's only because no matter what else, that marriage is political. You two love each other. You should be together."

"With the King," Albel finished.

"So you're just going to let her turn you down? I suppose my faith in you was misplaced."

The King looked up from his desk. "If she doesn't want to marry me, I'm not going to force her, Albel."

"That never stopped you before."

"This situation is different."

Albel snorted, looking away. "Elena loves you. The only reason she turned you down is over some misbegotten belief that she's too old."

"I will need heirs."

Albel turned back to his liege. "You need ONE heir and it's not like I won't be around to make sure he sits on the throne after you."

The King sighed. "Your incendiary words aside, you do have a point."

Albel turned away, looking toward the window. "I'm just looking out for your best interests."

The King chuckled. "You really are, aren't you? You know, you never look at someone when you say what you truly mean or feel. Not even me." The King pulled out a piece of paper and wrote a few quick lines on it before stuffing it in an envelope. "Here. Take this to Elena for me."

Albel took the letter.

Nel stood, hands slamming the table. "What are you doing involving yourself in Elena's private matters?!"

Albel did the same, leaning toward his fiancé. "What are you doing involving yourself in the politics of my country?!"

They started growling at each other. Sophia grabbed Albel's arm and Fayt put his hand on Nel's shoulder. Their efforts were ignored.

Fayt sighed, shoulders dropping in defeat. "Both of you sit down. You both obviously got what you wanted."

Both turned their noses up at the other before sitting down. Sophia and Fayt rolled their eyes at each other.

"Albel! There you are!" Woltar's large wife walked into the room.

A look of shear terror came over the Captain. "Oh no…"

"Time for your scrubbing!" A strong hand grabbed him by his braids and dragged him off.

"Somebody help me! For love of…!" He was dragged through a door to the right, followed by several women of the Airyglyph court.

"Uh... Should we help him?" Sophia asked, eyes wide.

"Actually, what's happening is an Airyglyph wedding custom. Elena should be by in another minute or so for me. It's called, 'The Washing of the Hair.'"

Fayt starred at the door. He flinched at the scream of agony that came through it. "Will he be all right?"

"Well, I told them they couldn't undress him last time, so he'll probably be okay."

"FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, STOP TRYING TO DROWN ME!"

Nel smiled. "He'll be just fine."