A/N: Heya, I'm back! This is the epilogue for my story, hope you like? Oh, just wanted to say though, did anyone notice that the stranger in chappie 5 is in fact Zidane? No? Oh well...R&R!
Epilogue: Place of Memory
2 years later...
Dagger woke with a start. The light shone brightly into her bedroom and she frowned as she realised the time.
"Zidane..." she whispered softly, turning over as quietly as possible, to the soundly sleeping figure of her husband. She delicately touched his face and pushed his hair away, tucking it behind his ear. She smiled. It's hard to believe all of this has happened...she thought as she looked down on Zidane, his breathing slow and deep as he slept, his face innocent as always and peaceful.
"Zidane, wake up." she urged, lightly touching his bare shoulder. He moved slightly and groaned, but refused to open his eyes. Dagger grinned. "Wake up, sleepyhead."
"Meh." he replied shortly, opening one of his eyes. "It's not time already, is it?"
Dagger nodded, still smiling at her cute companion. He noticed and effortlessly grabbed her by the waist and pulled her towards him, holding her close. She giggled as she brushed against his familiar chest, he kissed her forehead softly.
"We can't." she mumbled gently. "We have to get ready."
"Five more minutes." Zidane said cheekily, holding Dagger even tighter. She smiled against him.
"No, Zidane-"
"Two more minutes." he replied with a grin, lightly placing his forehead against Daggers and looking into her chocolate brown eyes.
"...alright."
Zidane cheered jokingly in victory, which made them both laugh together. Dagger looked up at Zidane suddenly, her eyes bright and alert.
"Hey...you know today is two years since..."
"I came back, I know." he replied tenderly.
"It's funny, time's just flown by...I still feel like...like it was just yesterday you came back."
"Yeah, me too. Time flies when you have fun." Zidane said happily, kissing Dagger on the lips. Dagger smiled and relaxed in his arms, forgetting all about the time.
"YOUR HIGHNESS!"
Dagger and Zidane leapt to their feet at once, and quickly scrambled for their clothes. Dagger bolted the lock on the door while putting on a vest to cover herself. Out of breath, she threw Zidane's clothes at him that he was rapidly searching for.
"Uh, be there in two minutes Steiner!" Dagger rushed, frantically scanning the room for her dress.
"Your Highness, is anything the matter? Are you alright in there? I'm coming in!"
"NO!" Dagger shouted anxiously, still scanning the room and pulling the bed covers away to locate it. "Steiner, I'm fine, everything is fine." Suddenly she stopped and went to the door.
"Steiner! You're about to get married and you're standing out here asking if I'm ok!" she said, her hands on her hips. She unbolted the lock and held the door ajar so Steiner could only see her face. "Get down there right now! You shouldn't be up here asking about me, this is your big day!"
Steiner, shocked, silently nodded and ran down the flight of stairs without a backward glance. He was wearing a black tuxedo, but Dagger knew his armour was underneath. She grinned as she closed the door and began her search once more.
Zidane stopped her in his tracks. He was fully dressed and held out her gown in front of her. She grinned and took it from him gratefully.
"That was close," he smiled, a cheeky glint in his eye.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride!" the priest said happily, closing his bible and smiling at the couple.
Beatrix looked beautiful, her long white dress reached the ground and her slender figure fitted perfectly. She grinned and a stray tear fell from her eye. A blushing Steiner smiled back and they leaned towards each other, as their friends watched the pair begin their journey together.
"It's so...b-b-beautiful!" Eiko gasped, holding back tears of joy. Dagger smiled comfortingly and handed her a tissue secretly, chuckling to herself at Eiko's youth. Zidane sat deep in thought, but clearly happy for them.
Everyone applauded as the bride and groom happily walked back down the aisle hand in hand, leading the rest of the group out into the gardens where their party would begin. Zidane and Dagger followed the crowd last, looking at the beautifully prepared altar and the decorations Beatrix had specifically asked for. "It's so beautiful," Dagger said, looking around. Zidane nodded.
"Hey Let's get goin'." he said, watching the people outside waiting for them. "They're waiting."
Dagger nodded and followed him out the door. The crowd began to make speeches one by one, going from the Knights of Pluto to some of Beatrix's soldiers who looked very tearful as they said their kind words. Dagger looked around as the endless procession of speeches took them into the night, the sky darkening and stars beginning to dot the sky. Dagger quietly placed her 'toasting glass' of wine on the nearest table and slipped out of the crowd. Zidane noticed her absence and followed her after a moment of watching her graceful body vanish in the swarm of guests.
Dagger walked slowly to the fountain and sat down on its edge, watching the water fall gracefully as the night closed in. faint cheers came from the wedding party, it seemed they were cutting the cake. Dagger felt happy for them, but she wanted to be alone for just a moment. She had done the same thing at this time of year, where she could look into the water and drift off into old memories and feelings of the past. It felt wonderful to be able to be with Zidane every day, when for so long she had believed she would never see him again.
Dagger lost herself in her reflection, the water trickled through her fingers absent mindedly and the sound lulled her into her deep thoughts.
Zidane approached her silently, watching her beautiful figure silhouetted in the moonlight. She turned hastily as she saw a familiar reflection in the water.
"Zidane," she whispered; a smile on her face.
He grinned back and held out his hand for her. She accepted and they began to walk back to the wedding party hand in hand. Suddenly music began to play faintly, and Steiner and his bride led the rest in a dance. Zidane stopped and turned to dagger.
He bent down on one knee and with a cheeky smile looked up into dagger's eyes, his hand on his chest. "May I have this dance?"
Dagger giggled and curtseyed jokingly, "It would be my honour," she said, as Zidane grinned and took her hand.
Zidane placed his arm around her small waist and gently laid the other on her head, stroking her hair fondly. Dagger placed her arms around his neck and buried her head in his chest, feeling safe in his arms once more.
Looking at the pages of my life
Faded memories of me and you
Mistakes you know I've made a few
I took some shots and fell from time to time
Baby, you were there to pull me through
We've been around the block a time or two
I'm gonna lay it on the line
Ask me how we've come this far
The answer's written in my eyes
Dagger smiled as Zidane pulled her close, slowly spinning around to the music. His hand brushed her back and played with the ends of her hair affectionately, making her tingle.
Every time I look at you, baby, I see something new
That takes me higher than before and makes me want you more
I don't wanna sleep tonight, dreamin's just a waste of time
When I look at what my life's been comin' to
I'm all about lovin' you
The music continued as Dagger and Zidane lost themselves in each others arms, as dagger looked up into Zidanes big blue eyes and stared into them longer than she could remember. A small smile fell upon her porcelain face as fireworks suddenly sparkled in the air, bright greens and pinks dazzled in the black sky as cheers came from the crowd.
You can take this world away
You're everything I am
Just read the lines upon my face
I'm all about lovin' you
"I love you, Dagger." Zidane said suddenly, his eyes boring into hers with sudden devotion and care. Dagger's heart leapt, it still felt amazing even after so long to hear Zidane speak those words.
Every time I look at you, baby, I see something new
That takes me higher than before and makes me want you more
I don't wanna sleep tonight, dreamin's just a waste of time
"I love you too." she murmured, the same adoration and emotion in her voice. He kissed her, as the music played and the fireworks pursued, the colours reflecting on Alexandria's waters and its people. The crowd continued to cheer and applaud Steiner and Beatrix, who were still dancing alone, just like Zidane and Dagger, the fireworks cascading across the now starry night sky, andthe moon shining bright upon the people below.
When I look at what my life's been comin' to
I'm all about lovin' you
All about lovin' you…
The End
A/N: OMG! Can you believe that I actually finished a goddamn story? Hope you enjoyed and thank you to the people that reviewed and supported the story from the beginning. Hopefully it wasn't a disappointing ending; they're still in lurve aw!