Domino walked to the centre of the village thinking about Thunderchild. He has been acting strangely just recently, she'd put it down to the visions he'd been getting but maybe it was something to do with her. Maybe she'd done something to him, she couldn't get over the fear in his eyes as he looked at her that morning, he was genuinely scared of her, she knew the look of fear when she saw it, it was a look she had received many times before in her past.

Why do you fear me my love? She thought

She couldn't help but worry, she lived her life on a knife edge now worrying whether Thunderchild would leave her. She knew that he wasn't the type but it still worried her, nothing meant more to her than him and she knew that he felt the same way but these days he seemed to spend more time worried about the disc and Jara than about her…she felt a bit, left out.

Mustn't think like a spoilt child she chided herself He has many things on his mind, life for him hasn't exactly been easy recently.

She concentrated on finding herself a nice dress for the wedding instead. Looking around the rapidly closing market place she found a stall with dresses on it, most were dwarf sized but some looked like they could fit her ok.

"Is there anywhere I can try these on?" she asked the stall owner

"If ye com' 'round to the back here we hav' a small room fer ye" said the dwarf

She nodded and followed the dwarf around to the changing room.

Thunderchild walked into his and Dominos room and sat down on the bed, rubbing his eyes he sighed deeply.

How long can I keep this front up? He asked himself How long can I pretend that nothing is wrong, that everything's going to be ok?

His mind continuously wandered back to his vision, to this nightmare of a potential future. Reiganna knew more than she was letting on, he guessed that much, she knew part of the future and had warned Thunderchild not to pull himself away from Domino but to prepare himself for the worst. He knew that Dominos betrayal was now inevitable, there was nothing he could do but prepare for it.

Where would it happen though? He wondered Where would she leave him? Here or on the Disc?

He drew his sword and slammed it into the floorboards in front of him where it stuck blade down, quivering with the force he had used.

I'm tired of fighting he thought I'm tired of the violence. I've lost too many friends to war and fighting. Where will it all end?

Watching the fading sunlight strike his blade he was reminded of the desert sun in the Klatch desert. The sun there was remorseless, it was said that a man could die many times in the desert if only in his mind. The dramatic charge of the Carpet troopers…nearly all wiped out, what chance had they stood against the enemy? What chance did he stand against Jara? Was it going to be another Operation Bazaar Oasis all over again? He hoped not, not again.

He looked at his armour folded neatly in the corner of the room and his sword in the floor and wondered why he lived the life he did. Soon, he promised himself Soon I will settle down with Domino and live a peaceful life. Hell, he thought I might even have kids! He laughed at the thought of being a father.

It was at that moment that there was a gentle knock at the door.

"Come in" said Thunderchild

The door opened and Zidane walked in. He had a determined look on his face and Thunderchild got slightly nervous as Zidane appeared to be annoyed at something.

"What can I do for you Zidane?" he asked

"Well, for one thing you can tell me why you pulled that stunt on Domino earlier"

Thunderchild shook his head

"No can do Zidane, that's a private matter. I can't even tell Domino."

Zidane frowned at him

"You know, I don't get you Thunderchild. You've got the love of your life hanging on every word you say and yet you prattle on about the disc and this Jara as if they are the only things that matter in your life. Have a bit of room for your future wife why don't you?"

This got Thunderchilds back up slightly

"Hey Zidane, that's a little unfair, you have no idea…"

"No, I don't and neither does Domino, at the moment she's thinking you don't love her because of something she's done wrong."

Thunderchild shook his head again

"No, no, no that's nowhere near it…well…maybe a little but that's neither here or there!"

"But it is Thunderchild! You've got to tell her what it is! You've got to tell her because until then she will continue thinking that she's in the wrong. She told me that you looked at her with something akin to fear when you came out of your dream. That has really unsettled her, she's used to people being scared of her but not you!"

"Zidane, I can't tell her, the truth would kill her!"

Zidane looked shocked

"Why? What?"

"I can't tell you either Zidane."

Zidane stamped his foot and turned his back on Thunderchild

"Maybe I was right about you all along." He growled at Thunderchild

"What?"

"Maybe you really don't care for her."

Thunderchild stood up now, shock on his face

"What!"

"Maybe you care more for this Jara than you do for Domino. You're too wrapped up in your own world to care about hers."

Zidane was suddenly aware of a sharp point against his back, turning around he was surprised to see Thunderchild holding his sword point first at him.

"Don't you EVER accuse me of loving Jara. I hate her, I hate her with all of my heart."

"That's just it Thunderchild. There's so much hate in your heart for Jara that there's no room in your heart to love Domino."

"No…" Thunderchild couldn't manage anything else because deep down he knew what Zidane said was true. He had spent all of his time trying to fight Jara that he had taken Domino for granted.

"You know what I mean Thunderchild. You're becoming as bitter and as twisted as this Jara supposedly is" said Zidane and then he instantly regretted saying it as Thunderchilds sword whistled past his face and embedded itself in the wall behind him.

"NO! I AM NOT LIKE HER!" he shouted at Zidane, the fury in his eyes catching Zidane unawares.

"Then prove it…go to Domino, tell her what you saw, tell her why you ran away. End her doubt, prove to her you love her. Only then will she trust you, only then will she fully love you too."

Thunderchild sighed and nodded.

"Right," he said "Ok, I'll do it. However you're not going to like her response. You won't even like the news yourself…that's if it is true."

Pulling on his armour over his loose fitting clothing he pulled his sword back out of the wall and placed it in its scabbard. He then strode out of the door and out onto the road to the village square.

Domino had brought the dress that she had seen and was now looking for some other items to buy when she saw sunlight glint off something on the other side of the square, looking up from the stall she was browsing she saw Thunderchild walking purposefully towards her.

Uh oh she thought now what's wrong?

"Hiya Dom," he said "Look, we need to talk."

I ain't gonna argue about that she thought at him

Thunderchild blushed

I have a lot of explaining to do.

Yes, you do

Thunderchild looked around

This isn't the place, come on lets find a more private place

Domino took him by the arm and led him to a side street opposite a small fountain, she sat down on the fountains ledge, he sat down next to her.

How do I put this he thought to himself How do I tell her she's going to try to kill me!

Dom…I…, he struggled That vision, it was about you

I knew it! What happened?

He took a deep breath and continued

I met Jara again, she wanted me to join her…she still loves me.

And you still have feelings for her…

NO! Well, maybe…a little but only because of what she was, who she used to be. I love you because of who you are now.

Domino frowned a little but let Thunderchild continue

Well, I refused to join her, told her of my love for you. She got angry at that and she said… he faltered, began to lose it.

Domino could see how much of a painful struggle this was for him to tell her what he was trying to tell her.

Why don't you just show me the vision, like you did before

Thunderchild thought about this

Would it be even worse for her to experience the vision herself? Oh well, he thought I'd better prepare her for it.

Ok Dom, but remember this. No matter what happens I will always love you

He took her hand and placed it on his heart.

I will always love you and care for you. I want us to be married, I want us to be together forever and no matter what happens I will always hold you dear in my heart he thought to her

Uh oh thought Domino What is he preparing me for?

I will always love you too Thunderchild, now please…show me the vision

Very well, but prepare yourself, it's quite disturbing

Thunderchild sent his memory of the vision to Domino, he could see that she had received it as her eyes went wide and her mouth opened in shock

"Oh no, no, no, no" she stammered

Thunderchild nodded, he reached up and wiped away the tears forming in her eyes

"I know sweetheart. Now you know why I had to leave, I had to sort things out in my head. I had to understand how to react, how to proceed."

"But I never would…I would never harm you"

"I know, I know. It wasn't you that killed me, you were under her control. You couldn't help but do what you did."

Domino folded her legs up and put her head on her knees and started crying softly rocking gently back and forth. Thunderchild sighed, this was what he had hoped to avoid, and he knew she would take it badly but had hoped it wouldn't get to her too much.

"Look Domino. A wise person told me that I should prepare for the pitfalls in life but enjoy the promises. I can't…We can't go on dreading what is around the corner. Hell it was only a vision, for all I know it might not happen but if it does, it does. There is nothing we can do to stop it."

Dominos muffled voice replied

"Yeah there is something we could do…split up. I don't want any harm to come to you, especially from me…I couldn't bear it."

Thunderchild grabbed her by the shoulders and brought her close enough to put his arm around her shoulder.

"Look Domino. It would kill me to be away from you. I nearly lost you about five years ago and I don't want to lose you again."

"And I don't want to lose you…I don't want to be alone again."

"Domino, you're not alone. I'll always be here for you, if I can't be here for you in physical form then my spirit…my soul will always be with you. Now, lets not think about this vision. Nothing will probably come from it and if it does then we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now, I want to become your husband and spend the rest of my life with you, no matter what that length may be."

Domino looked up, tear marks streaking her otherwise perfect face.

"Are you really prepared to take that risk?"

Thunderchild wiped away more of her tears and looked into her eyes

"Yes"

She hugged him tightly

"Then lets do it. Lets get married."

Thunderchild smiled

"It's about bloody time!"

Domino smiled and hugged him back

"Ok, but I have to go get changed"

"Changed? What into?"

"That's my secret"

Thunderchild raised his eyebrows but let her go, walking back to the room to get changed himself. He didn't have much to get changed into but he found some items that looked fairly decent.

When we get back to the Disc, I must remember to get some of my decent clothes to bring back with me he thought

After he changed he walked back outside where he was greeted by Steiner.

"Are you ready?" he asked

Thunderchild laughed

"To be married? Hell Steiner, I don't think anyone is!"

Steiner smiled

"Oh well, you'd better do the best you can then."

Thunderchild laughed again, nervously this time

"Yes…the best I can…"

Steiner frowned

"Is something wrong?"

Thunderchild shook his head

"No, nothing yet. Lets go."

They walked to a small pool in the middle of the village, not far from the marketplace. At one end of the pool there was a raised platform that faced the front of a boat that was suspended above the pool by two branches that ran from either side of the pool underneath the boat. It was quite a beautiful scene.

"Woah…now that's a place to get married." Muttered Thunderchild.

Steiner indicated that he should walk up one of the branches and onto the boat, Thunderchild did so and faced the raised platform where a dwarf had arrived.

"Err…hi?" ventured Thunderchild

The Dwarf bowed but said nothing more.

Thunderchild shrugged and rubbed the deck with his boot…he was getting more nervous by the minute…he was beginning to wonder if Domino had stood him up, just to get him back for his disappearing act earlier in the day, when a hush came over the crowd that had gathered around the pool and he felt a presence beside him.

Turning he saw Domino and his heart skipped several beats.

She stood beside him wearing a beautiful purple dress that matched her highlights, he couldn't see her tail, she must have hidden it under the dress but she looked absolutely stunning.

"Domino…I…You…look beautiful!"

She blushed

"Thank you…You looked quite nice yourself."

He smiled

"Are ye ready tae begin?" asked an elderly voice from the platform

"Yes Father David, we're ready." Said Domino

Father David nodded and opened a small book and placed it on a pedestal in front of him.

"Speerits o' the mountain, speerits o' the wood…" he began

Thunderchild felt Domino take his hand in hers and clasp it tightly. He turned to look at her, she looked back deep into his eyes and he felt his heart feel light, and himself feel giddy.

"Watch ower this man an' woman as they begin their journey…"

Domino herself felt light-headed…only months before she was convinced that she was going to spend the rest of her life alone and that out there there was no-one for here…despite assurances by Sam and Alex that "Mr Right" was waiting for her she had dismissed their claims as nonsense.

And now…suddenly this guy with a bad attitude and a hidden past had burst into her life and opened up so many memories and so many feelings that she never knew existed…it had all happened so quickly that she still felt that this was all a dream, that soon she would wake up and be back on her own again.

Her attention drifted back to the here and now as the Priest continued his speech.

"…In sickness an' in health…"

She saw Thunderchild look at her again, she didn't know what he was thinking, whether he was as amazed at the speed of events as she was or whether his mind was full of what his vision had shown. She trembled at the thought of herself being controlled, no way to manage her own actions…back to the days of Lawrence…back to the days of violence and murder.

"…Have the strength to cairry ye through the trials…"

She knew that she couldn't face being a soul-less drone again…it would be the end of her…and yet she couldn't leave Thunderchild…Yissan…not again. They had been torn apart by one enemy and now she couldn't let it happen again. No matter what the consequences, no matter what lay ahead, she couldn't leave his side.

"…An' the wisdom tae follow the path…"

Thunderchild smiled as he looked at Domino once again, he couldn't believe that he was getting married to this beautiful lady, the girl of his dreams…of his memories. He knew that the near future held many, many pitfalls but he was determined to see them through…after all, he thought what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

"May the blessin's o' heaven be upon this man an' woman."

The loudest cheer Thunderchild had ever heard went up from around the pool as Domino placed her hand on the back of his head and pulled him close for the biggest and longest kiss he had ever had.

They were now officially married.