Hello everybody!
I am so sorry it took me so long to actually post the epilogue. I have to admit that it was hard for me to let that story go. It was such a huge part of my life for the last eight years...
But time as come for me to close this book and move on with my life. Thank you so much for your support. We'll see each other in another story.
Enjoy your reading,
Pavs.
Epilogue: The Long Ride
[Barney]
He was looking at his daughter and Trench. The first one was unconscious but finally stable while the other was asleep beside her. Yang was showing the cockpit to his son. Drummer had taken another flight straight to Washington. Maggie had fallen asleep against him, and he didn't dare move in case she woke up.
What would he do anyway?
What did he have to say?
Isaacs was finally dead. Galgo's body had been recovered from the safe house. Lee was currently lying in a stretcher beside Trench and Gabrielle. Mars was in another one.
Three people with life threatening injuries. Four dead.
At least Lee wasn't dead.
Fuck, he couldn't even think about it.
He closed his eyes as he tried to calm himself down. He felt himself losing the battle as he began shaking and crying silently.
They'd been fighting for so long. They'd gone through so much. Booker looked at Barney with a sad face. He knew how hard the man took it when somebody was hurt or died under his responsibility.
''Barns, this isn't on you,'' Booker said, and Tool went to sit beside Barney and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, careful not to wake up Maggie. ''Please don't do that to yourself.''
''Stonebanks was after me, John, not them,'' Barney said, and Toll looked at his friend.
''This isn't on you either. Remember what you told Gabrielle in the bunker?'' Toll asked, and Barney nodded.
''You can talk about it, man. It's ok,'' Hale added as Doc nodded.
''You were there,'' Barney said before Smilee scoffed.
''Yeah, doesn't mean we know what the hell is going on in your head. It won't kill you to talk,'' Smilee said, and Barney laughed a little.
''Yeah, we're here for you, old man,'' Luna added.
''I was about to say thank you for not leaving our side, but it's good to know too,'' Barney said with a sincere smile as the others laughed softly.
''You're fucking welcome!'' Church shouted from the cockpit, and they all laughed.
[Lee & Barney]
He'd woken up to the sounds of whispers and the smell of a hospital. He sat right up, and he heard Thorn shout out in surprise.
''What the hell, man, you scared the fuck out of me!'' Thorn said as Lee shot him a disbelieving look.
''The man just woke up. Have a little respect!'' said Mars from his bed.
Lee looked at them both with a dumbfounded look seconds before Smilee entered the shared room.
''Hey there, good to see you awake. I'll call the nurse,'' Smilee said before he went back out to find someone.
Lee looked at him through the room's window and saw that they were at Parish hospital.
''We're back to New Orleans?'' Lee asked, as Smilee came back in the room.
''Yep. The nurse is coming to see you,'' Smilee said while Lee tried to get up. ''Woah, slow down there. You almost died, man.''
Lee scoffed before he felt the pain.
''Yeah, I know. It sucks,'' Mars said, and Lee felt himself losing his patience.
''If I wanted to hear complaints, I'd call Galgo,'' Lee said as sarcastically as possible before he saw the sad look on the kids' faces.
He felt his heart drop before he half-whispered in a worried voice, ''What the hell happened?''
Smilee was about to talk when the nurse came in to check on him.
He didn't really need the kid to answer anyway. He knew.
.
''Of course you'd wake up in the only ten minutes I wasn't there,'' Lee heard Barney say from the doorway.
''I'm sorry, did you want a re-enactment?'' Lee asked with a shaking voice as Barney hurried to hug his friend as best as he could.
''Don't you fucking dare die on me,'' Barney said with tears in his eyes. He hadn't been able to get the memory out of his mind, and all the shit plugged into his friend hadn't helped either.
''And stop annoying you? Never,'' Lee said while fighting back the tears. He had been more scared to die than he was willing to admit, and the emotions on Barney's face… Barney let go of him before he went to sat in the chair.
''So, what happened?'' Lee asked, and Barney frowned. ''And don't try to tell me that it's not that bad, because I suspect at least one dead. And from the reactions of Gabrielle when Gunnar's death happened…''
Lee stopped at seeing the heartbreaking expression on Barney's face.
''Please tell me she's not dead…'' Lee whispered with so much pain in his voice that Barney actually had to blink multiple times to stop his tears.
''You should get some rest,'' Barney said as his voice began to shake.
''Barney, I don't even know what happened. Don't leave me in the dark,'' Lee found himself begging, and Barney took a deep breath.
''Galgo died about fifteen minutes into the battle. Trench told me it was a single bullet. He didn't have time to suffer,'' Barney said with a broken voice, and Lee closed his eyes.
Galgo did not deserve this. He truly hoped that the man was resting in peace. Lee then looked at Barney, and he could see his hands shaking a little.
''After you…'' Barney began, and Lee felt a lump in his throat at the pained expression on Barney's face. ''You fell…''
''We were picked out from the field, one by one,'' Tool continued from the doorway. He was looking pale and dead tired.
''We were kept in Stonebanks's mansion,'' Barney continued, and Lee felt his heart skip a beat.
''Me, Barns, Trench, Mars, Thorn, Toll and Hale,'' Tool explained. ''Barns was kept in her room. And yes, it was as bad as you think.''
''Gabrielle and Gunnar's blood was still on the floors,'' Barney said with a faraway look in his eyes. ''According to Yang, we were there for a day and a half. He, Church, Drummer, and Booker found Galgo first. Then they heard…''
Barney stopped talking. He was so close to losing his shit. Tool wasn't really doing better, but he knew that they had to talk about it…because she couldn't.
''Gabrielle found you, and that's how they found her,'' Tool explained with tears in his eyes as Barney was passing a shaking hand through his hair. ''She was screaming, begging you not to be dead. Yang said she screamed so fucking loud that it echoed through the forest. They actually had to walk for a few hundred meters to reach you both.''
Lee could hear his heart monitor speed up as he pictured Gabrielle helpless over his broken body. That image alone threw him back to when she'd seen Billy die…when she'd begged for Tool to save James…when Gunnar died…
''Then they found Maggie, Luna, and Smilee and made a plan while getting you somewhere safe,'' said Barney as he got angrier. ''Gabrielle found us and was about to get us out of there when that fucker Isaacs used Yang's son as a shield.''
''So, Gabrielle did what she did best,'' Tool said with pain in his voice as tears were rolling down his cheeks. ''She protected us. Only she might not wake up to see it. Isaacs shot her twice in the leg because she refused to kneel down before him. He was about to execute her, and we couldn't do shit about it. The only way was to kill the bastard, which couldn't happen without her getting shot. And Yang got there first, so she called out her…her life debt…''
''We lost her for five minutes,'' Barney said with a raspy voice. ''And I don't know if we're getting her back this time. She's in a coma, and she's not waking up.''
Fuck, it hurt. To see his friends like that, to hear about the pain of the woman he still loved even though she wasn't his…She wasn't his. Lee's eyes widened as he suddenly remembered the way Trench looked at Gabrielle, and he felt waves of sadness and worry for the man he'd grown to respect and sincerely care about.
''Bloody hell, Trench…'' Lee said as Tool looked at him with pain in his eyes, as Barney finally started to cry silently. ''Fuck, she has to wake up…''
Lee took his hand, and Barney tried and failed to regain composure.
''He hasn't left her for a second,'' Tool said while trying to comfort his friend too.
But he was heartbroken too. They heard a knock and saw Smilee, Mars, and Thorn in the doorway. They were back from the tests Mars had to go through for his leg.
''They rescheduled my tests to tomorrow,'' Mars said as they all looked at them.
''So, Barney, you don't have to cry anymore,'' Smilee said with a smile, which immediately caught the three men's attention.
''What do you mean?'' Lee asked with a pained and confused expression.
''That you both are the most fucking stubborn people I know,'' Trench's voice sounded behind them.
The man looked like shit, but he was smiling. Could it be...?
''Gabrielle is awake,'' Trench said, and Barney cried from relief while Hale and Toll appeared behind Mauser with smiles on their faces.
Finally, they were going to be ok.
[Parish Hospital]
Trench hadn't left Gabrielle's side for one second, going as far as to terrorize two doctors and a nurse to get a private room with a full bathroom and a guest bed in addition to being admitted to the observatory for the medical procedures.
It took about two days for her to be able to breathe by herself. They were still waiting for her to wake up to assess any brain damage that could have been caused by her cardiac arrest.
The rest of the results were clear, according to three doctors, the head of the department, and Doc. Even Barney had told Trench to slow down, although he was impressed by the man's dedication.
''Who did I scare today?'' Trench said in a sigh as he heard familiar footsteps.
''Hopefully nobody yet,'' Toll said as Trench turned to face him and Hale.
''Wait for it,'' Trench said with a tired smile.
''I don't doubt it,'' Hale said before he looked at Gabrielle. ''How is she?''
''She should have woken up by now,'' Trench said with tears in his eyes. ''But otherwise, good. Her leg will be ok with a shit load of physiotherapy, and her chest wound his healing properly.''
''She'll be ok,'' Toll said, trying to convince both Trench and himself.
He couldn't lose her. Ever. Especially not after everything they'd been through.
''She will,'' Hale confirmed, determined to believe that she would get better. ''Which is why you should try and eat something. And take a shower. You look like hell.''
''He's right you know?'' Gabrielle said, and they all turned to look at her at a neck breaking speed.
''Gabrielle,'' Trench said, and he began to cry as she took his hand in hers.
''I love you,'' Gabrielle said as Trench kissed her hand.
''I love you too, so much,'' Trench said through his tears, and she squeezed his hand as they all started crying softly.
Fuck, it was so good to hear her, to kiss her. Fuck, it had hurt to see her suffering, to hear her heart stop…He couldn't lose her. Never again.
''I am here, mein Liebster,'' Gabrielle said as Trench kept caressing her hair.
''Don't go. No matter what, don't leave me,'' Trench begged as Gabrielle kept caressing his cheek.
''I promise to always come back to you, no matter what,'' Gabrielle said with so much love that Trench felt like his heart would burst.
Fuck, he loved her so much…
''And I'll always be there for you. I promise,'' Trench said, and he looked into her eyes, knowing it was true. ''I promise to always love you with all my heart. To support you no matter what…forever.''
''You sound like you're saying wedding vows,'' Gabrielle said as she felt a wave of love and hope wash over her. "Is this your way of asking me to marry you?"
''What if I am?'' Trench half-whispered, and Gabrielle's heart skipped a beat.
Toll and Hale were holding their breaths at what they thought was the most touching scene they'd ever witnessed.
''We don't have to marry tomorrow or even this year; we can take things slow and heal and live together first and…'' Trench said as he felt the heat rushing to his cheeks.
And the more he talked, the more breath-taking Gabrielle's smile was becoming. She waited for an anxiety attack, for a shadow of doubt, but she looked into his eyes and somehow knew that neither would come. She knew it was fast, but her heart was calling to him. He was safe, he was love…he was forever.
''Yes,'' Gabrielle interrupted him, and Trench looked at her with sincere joy in his eyes. ''I'll marry you. Tomorrow, today, or in a year. And we'll live together…Forever.''
Trench interrupted her with a passionate kiss, and her heart monitor started to speed up. The nurses came in the room, and Trench stole another kiss before he was sent out with Hale and Toll while Gabrielle told him that she would be fine. They waited for the door to be closed before they all looked at each other.
Then Toll laughed.
''You know he's going to kill you, right?'' Toll said as he remembered Tool's words when they'd first caught Trench in bed with Gabrielle, and Hale laughed.
''It will be slow at first…'' Hale continued before they all burst out laughing.
''All right, better go and get it done with. The man needs to know she's awake,'' Trench said, and they followed him to Lee and Mars's room.
[Team]
Trench had volunteered to go and take the kids to Tool's place while stating that he needed to rest and get some clean clothes. Toll and Hale had followed after Mars had gotten his leave from the hospital, taking him with them after making sure that Lee was indeed stable and that Gabrielle's transfer to his room was complete.
Christmas had tried to stay awake as long as he could to talk to her, but he had fallen back asleep not long after her arrival. Luna and Maggie had both came to offer Tool and Barney some food as well as requesting an update on both Gabrielle and Lee's health before they'd gone back to help Yang settle Bohai in his new apartment on the previously unused fourth floor.
As tired as they had been, they all had needed a new project to distract their minds from the upcoming funerals. It wasn't until the visiting hours were coming to a close that Barney saw Trench coming back to the room, which made him frown. It had been hours, and knowing how hard it had been for Trench to leave her side, it seemed to him as if something was going on.
''Don't think too much, there's smoke coming out of your ears,'' Trench mocked, and Tool chuckled softly. ''Do you think I could talk with both of you outside?''
''Why? I'm already up,'' Lee complained as he opened his eyes.
''Is she?'' Trench asked, and Tool shook his head no. ''Good.''
There was a moment of silence as Trench seemed to look for his words, which was odd as the man usually always had something to say.
''You ok?'' Barney asked him, and Trench scratched his head before he took a deep breath.
''Look, I'll just say it. I am in love with Gabrielle, with all my heart, and I can promise you right now on my own fucking life that I'll always love and cherish her as best as I can, even after I die,'' Trench began, and Tool's face lit up like a Christmas tree.
Lee looked confused for a second before he saw Tool's expression, then Barney's. Then he realized…
''Oh, this is priceless,'' Lee whispered to himself with an amused smile as Barney was still looking at Trench with a shocked expression.
''Are you…uh…'' Barney asked with an unsteady voice that was unusually high, ''are you asking me for my daughter's hand in marriage?!''
Both Tool and Lee had to stifle a laugh at Barney's suddenly very feminine voice.
''I am. I told you I am old fashioned, and after seeing her die two times in a row, I can tell you that I know I can't let her go. So, she'll always have me as long as she wants me. Hopefully forever,'' Trench said, and Barney was still trying to process what was happening as he continued. ''I don't know the when. We haven't talked about it yet, but I respect you much more than I want to admit, so I thought that I would at least talk to both her dads about it before we tell the others.''
''When you say we, I take it you mean you already asked her?'' Lee asked before he looked at Gabrielle with mixed feelings. It still made him sad to have to let her go, but he was so fucking happy for her. Trench had never left her side, no matter what. That's all he wanted for her: true love.
Gabrielle dying may have made Gunnar so afraid that he'd ran, but it had made Trench so afraid that he'd fought against death itself for her. She deserved Trench's loyalty and love. Lee felt a weight lift off his shoulder as he looked at Mauser.
''I'll hold you up to those promises,'' Lee said, and Trench nodded at him with respect in his eyes.
Then he turned to both Barney and Tool.
[Barney]
He was in shock, then impressed.
''You got balls,'' Barney finally said as Trench still was looking at him straight in the eyes.
''She's worth it. Always has been, always will be.'' Trench replied sincerely, and Barney got up from his chair and moved so close to the man that they were almost touching. ''I am not changing my mind.''
''What if I say no?'' Barney asked with a serious tone, inches away from Trench's face.
''She already said yes,'' Trench replied, his tone deadly. ''I do respect you Barney, but I want her happiness more than anything. She wants me? I'll give her my fucking soul. I am asking you because she loves her family more than anything, and you are her fathers. I respect that because I respect her. So, unless she wants to rethink her answer based on your opinion, I will marry her regardless of your opinion about it. She always comes first.''
Barney looked at the man and saw nothing but love, determination, and honesty. He smiled before he grabbed Trench into a friendly embrace.
''Welcome to the family then,'' he replied as both Tool and Lee shared an amused smile.
Trench found himself chuckling as Barney let him go.
''Well, you almost got me,'' Trench said, and Barney smirked.
''Had to make you sweat, alright? She's my only child, you know?'' Barney replied, and Tool chuckled before he put a friendly hand on Trench's shoulder. ''So, you got a ring yet?''
''Yeah, that's what took me so long,'' Trench replied while retrieving a small, old box from his pocket and opening it. ''It belonged to my grandmother.''
''It's beautiful,'' Barney said sincerely while looking at the gold ring with a diamond on it.
It was simple and delicate, which made Tool smile.
''She'll love it. I'm so fucking happy for you both,'' Tool said, and they all smiled.
''And we're all really happy for you, but the visiting hours are over. You'll have to give it to her tomorrow,'' a nurse said from the door, and they all heeded her stern stare and left without arguing, heading back to Tool's place.
[Gabrielle]
I woke up in the middle of the night to see Lee sitting on his bed, trying to get a look through the window.
''Lee,'' I whispered while tears were filling up my eyes. ''You're awake.''
''Gabrielle,'' Lee replied, turning to me, and I started crying, which caused my heart monitor to speed up. ''It's ok, I'm here.''
I saw him frown in pain as he somehow made his way to my bed. He made sure that our respective wires wouldn't get caught together as he sat beside me to hug me as best as he could.
''I thought you were gone,'' I said before I was sobbing into his arms.
[Lee]
He felt his chest tighten at the raw pain in her voice.
''She was screaming, begging you not to be dead. Yang said she screamed so fucking loud that it echoed through the forest. They actually had to walk for a few hundred meters to reach you both.''
''I promised you I'd always be there for you, remember?'' Lee comforted her as he struggled not to cry.
''You looked dead. I can't get it out of my mind you were dead,'' she panicked as he caressed her back.
''I'm alive, I'm here. You saved me, Gabrielle. You succeeded,'' Lee added as she cried harder.
''I almost didn't. For a few minutes I thought you were…dead…that I had no way to save you…'' Gabrielle said before she looked at him with so much pain in her eyes that he felt his heart break. ''Lee Christmas, it almost broke my soul. Never do this to me again, you hear me? I love you. I can't lose you. I can't…I just can't…''
''You won't, I promise,'' Lee swore before he kissed her on her forehead, and he held her against him until she fell back asleep.
[Sweden—Days Later]
Gabrielle was holding on to Trench for dear life as they were looking at the boat that held Gunnar's body in it. Barney had promised the man a Viking funeral, so that's what he'd gotten. Gunnar's body had been covered, and all the rituals had been made.
''It's time,'' Barney said to his daughter softly, and Gabrielle nodded as she played with her engagement ring.
She waited for Hale and Toll to push the boat out and then for the others to shoot flaming arrows at it. Once she saw the flames rising, she began to sing Gunnar's song with a beautiful, sad voice.
They saw the boat disappear slowly, and no matter the pain, the tears, and the cold, nobody dared to move until they couldn't see the smoke anymore. They would be with him until the very end. He would be in their hearts forever.
Gabrielle closed her eyes as she visualized those beautiful blue eyes.
''Adjö, min älskling (Goodbye, my love),'' Gabrielle said through her tears as Trench squeezed her hand tighter.
[Spain—The Next Day]
They'd been welcomed into Galgo's family for the night as they had given them the urn containing his ashes. It was a beautiful outdoor reception. They were on a terrace filled with lights and colors, and everything that reminded them of the man.
Gabrielle saw Luna sitting alone in a corner and went to join her.
''The lights are beautiful,'' Luna said through her tears, and Gabrielle hugged her with the arm that wasn't holding her cane.
''They are,'' she replied with a sad voice.
''They remind me of his soul,'' Luna admitted, and Gabrielle held her tighter as they both cried.
Smilee, Thorn, and Mars joined them as soon when they saw them and decided that this called for a group hug.
.
''What is it?'' Barney asked Maggie as he saw her crying suddenly. They had been sitting at one table as people were beginning to leave.
She held his hand while nodding into the kid's direction, and Barney, Tool, Trench, Booker, Lee, Doc, Toll, and Hale turned to see all the young ones holding onto each other for dear life as they cried.
''Thank you,'' Galgo's mother suddenly whispered beside them. ''It's good to know that in the end, he was loved.''
''Always,'' replied Barney with a shaking voice before the woman left.
''Always,'' confirmed Tool, and he saw the others agreeing with them.
[New Orleans—Days Later]
It was raining heavily as they stood beside Woodsman's casket. Tool was looking at it with tears in his eyes while Gabrielle was holding his hand.
''Is there someone who would like to say a few words?'' the priest asked, and Tool began to walk towards the small podium.
''I would,'' Tool said before he looked at James's picture. ''You were one of my biggest regrets. I never thought I would have found a way to get out of it. But of course, you had to have things your own way and get your own redemption. Thank you. I love you, brother.''
Tool stepped back, and Barney was next in line.
''I know I didn't forgive you,'' Barney said with a shaking voice. ''I should have. You brought me back my daughter, the love of my life. You proved to me that no matter how dark you can get, love can always bring you back to light…Like Gabrielle brought you back to us. I am so fucking glad you had her in the end.''
Barney paused as the tears were rolling down his cheeks. Gabrielle felt her heart break for James, Tool, and her father.
''James, I hope that wherever you are, you are at peace knowing that Gabrielle is safe because of you. And I want you to know that whatever you think you owed us, we're good. I forgive you,'' Barney concluded before he went back to the side to join Maggie as Gabrielle walked forward.
''James, we met in the worse possible circumstances. I know that my fiancé always tells me that I am his own light in a dark world but know that I would have lost it if it wasn't for you. Thank you for everything,'' Gabrielle said through her tears before she smiled. ''And yes, you should have seen my father's face when he learned about me and Trench. It was quite something.''
They all chuckled a bit at that. Trench looked at Gabrielle with a sad smile as she was holding onto the man's tags for dear life. He surprised himself and began to walk to the podium after her.
''Uh…'' he began before thunder could be heard, and it started to rain even more, and he found himself laughing. ''Of course, you fucker, you had to answer to my right hook.''
They all laughed at that.
''Well, now that I'm all wet because of you, know that I am grateful to know that you weren't a complete arsehole,'' Trench joked as they all struggle to keep from laughing. ''I mean, I do miss you, but you didn't have to go to Stonebanks to get our attention. A text would have gone a long way.''
Barney began to laugh softly as Gabrielle snorted.
''Anyway, I do hope you rest in peace. You'll be missed,'' Trench concluded as the priest waited for someone else to talk.
Booker and Doc exchanged a look before they went together. They began recalling every single good memory they had of the man back when they'd been working together. Some made them cry, some made them laugh. By the time they were finished, the rain was gone, and the sun was back again.
Gabrielle looked at the grass and the trees that were almost shining from the previous rain, and she smiled while looking at Trench.
''Guess he wanted me to see the light once more,'' she said to him, and Trench smiled at her before he kissed her softly on the lips.
She was his light; she always would be.
[Old Point]
''Oh my God! Look at that ring!'' Lacy exclaimed as she took Gabrielle's hand to get a closer look, and Gabrielle looked at Lee with a frightened expression that made Tool, Barney, and Trench laugh. ''It's so pretty! Have you chosen your theme yet? Your bridesmaid dresses? The menus?''
''Help me,'' Gabrielle mouthed to Hale and Toll as they were joining them at the tables, and they all had to stifle their laughter.
''Sorry!'' Lee mouthed back, and Gabrielle sent him a dark look. She hadn't entirely forgiven him for getting back with Lacy after leaving the hospital.
''OH MY GOD YOU DIDN'T?!'' Lacy exclaimed as she interpreted Gabrielle's silence as confirmation that nothing had been planned yet, and then she hugged her. ''Now we just have to go! Three months is way too short! The decorations, invitations, flowers, tables, the cake…''
''She's your mess! Take care of her, or I will,'' Gabrielle silently warned Lee over Lacy's shoulder, and Trench laughed along with Tool and Barney.
''Don't look panicked I know people, girl, I got you!'' said Lacy before she took her phone to go and make some calls.
''I'll fucking kill you!'' Gabrielle threatened Lee as the man started to laugh.
''You love me way too much for that,'' Lee replied with an amused smile.
''I do, but I still don't like her,'' Gabrielle stated as her father gave Lee a pointed look.
''It was half-truths and all; besides, she isn't that bad,'' Lee began before Lacy tapped on the windows.
''I GOT YOU A BACHELORETTE PARTY IN A LUXURY HOTEL! WE'LL HAVE MANICURES AND MASKS AND A SPA! TELL IT TO LUNA, SHE'LL LOVE IT! IT WILL BE SO GIRLY!'' she exclaimed through the window, and Gabrielle's look of horror made Toll choke on his drink.
''So which half should I kill then?'' Gabrielle asked as they all lost their shit and laughed loudly.
[Austria—Three Months Later]
Gabrielle looked through the window with a smile as she remembered the first time she and Trench had kissed. She still felt her heart melt every time he kissed her. She then looked to her right with a smile as she remembered the way he'd proposed to her again.
''Gabrielle, would you come here?'' Trench had called as she was getting out of the shower.
She didn't bother dressing up as she went down the stairs straight to Trench's office. She did stop at the sight of a trail of candles and roses leading to his plane, where he was waiting for her in a suit.
He looked very handsome, and she dropped her towel as her hands went straight to her mouth.
''Not how I thought it would go, but I love your style,'' Trench said, and Gabrielle laughed as she went to picked up her towel before she secured it around herself.
She then made her way to him as Trench got the ring out of his pocket, and she gasped at the beauty of it.
''It was my grandmother's,'' he explained with a smile before he kneeled in front of her and took her hand in his.
''Gabrielle, I know I already asked you this two months ago, but I want you to know that I am not making promises out of fear, relief, or grief when it comes to you. I always make promises from my heart and soul. I will be forever yours if you'll have me,'' Trench said as Gabrielle's tears of joy were rolling down her cheeks. ''Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?''
''Yes, a thousand times yes,'' she replied seconds before Trench got up and kissed her passionately.
''Don't cry! You'll ruin your makeup,'' Lacy said as she was coming back from the bathroom with Maggie and Luna. ''There you go.''
''Who's crying?'' Barney asked as he entered the room with Tool.
Then they saw Gabrielle, and they both began crying too.
''You are so beautiful,'' Barney said in awe as Gabrielle fought back the tears.
Gabrielle was wearing a beautiful white dress made of silk that had details made of lace that was encrusted with diamonds. Her makeup was very natural, and her hair had been put in an elegant bun.
''Thank you,'' she said, her voice filled with emotion as Tool wiped his tears.
''So fucking beautiful. I mean wow. Sweetheart, look at you,'' Tool added as Gabrielle laughed. ''Why were you even crying?''
''I just...I remembered my first kiss with Trench and how he proposed a second time, and I just…'' she said with so much love in her eyes that it made them all emotional. ''I am so fucking glad to have him in my life. I love him so fucking much. I am so happy.''
Barney hugged her tight as he was now crying too.
''I am so happy for you,'' he said before he wiped his daughter's tears then his own. ''Alright, let's get you married.''
Tool offered his arm, and she took it as Barney copied him.
''Let's get married,'' she said between them, and they went to the ballroom.
[Trench]
He saw the room fill with their friends and family and felt a rush of excitement. Gabrielle was becoming his wife that day, and he couldn't be happier. He saw Lee preparing himself for the ceremony as Doc, Booker, and Yang took their places beside him.
He saw Bonaparte, Drummer, Church, Bohai, and Galgo's family (whom they had stayed in contact with after the funeral), some of Gabrielle's old and new friends (which had been the new recruits' friends), then his own old friends. It was a small wedding, but they both had wanted it to be that way.
The music started, and first came in Toll and Hale with the flowers, which had made Gabrielle laugh to no end when she'd suggested it. And well, they had lost a bet too, so they had to. Then he saw Maggie, Luna, and Lacy and smiled politely at them before he froze.
Gabrielle in her wedding dress was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. He felt the tears rolling down his cheeks as he smiled sincerely at her, and he saw her beginning to cry too.
Both Barney and Tool brought her to him, and Lee had to shake himself not to get caught up in his own feelings.
''Who gives this woman to be wed?'' he asked.
''We do,'' said both Barney and Tool as they put Gabrielle's hands in Trench's before they went to sit.
''You're so beautiful,'' Trench said through his tears of joy as Gabrielle smiled through her own tears.
''I love you so much,'' she replied, and Trench laughed a little from sheer joy.
''I love you too,'' he said, and Gabrielle wiped her tears as best as she could.
They heard Hale sniffing loudly and turned to see him cry.
''Don't look at me you're the ones who caused this!'' Hale exclaimed, and everybody laughed.
''I'm not sorry,'' Trench said as he looked at Gabrielle with all the love in the world.
''Me neither,'' she replied sincerely, and Trench caressed her cheek lovingly.
They all looked at them in awe at such a sincere love being shared between the two of them. Even Lee got caught up in the moment before he got a grip of himself.
''So, you all know why you're here,'' he said, and they all chuckled. ''So, we're going to get something out of the way. If anybody has something to say against this union, I would ask them to stand up, so it'll be easier to shoot them.''
They all laughed for a moment before Lee could continue. When he could speak, neither Trench nor Gabrielle were listening to him as they were both looking into each other's eyes.
''Since you both are obviously ignoring the greatest speech ever made, let's get straight to the point,'' Lee said with an amused smile that turned into general laughter as they looked at him confused. Then they laughed a little too. ''Do you, Trench Mauser take Gabrielle as your wife, for better or worse, in health and sickness, for richer or poorer until the end of time?''
''I do,'' Trench said with a smile as Gabrielle looked at him with nothing but love in her eyes.
''And do you…'' Lee began before Gabrielle interrupted him.
''I do,'' she said, and Trench chuckled.
He couldn't blame her, though; he couldn't wait to be her husband. And watching them happy and in love with each other like that, they all thought it was about time too. Toll brought the rings, and Trench and Gabrielle exchanged them with bright, loving smiles.
''So, by the powers invested in me by, well, a couple of countries and states because this was hard to plan,'' Lee said as they all laughed, ''I now declare you husband and wife. You may kiss…''
Trench didn't wait for Lee to finish before he kissed Gabrielle passionately, and she responded back with as much love as her new husband.
Fuck, he loved her.
Fuck, she loved him.
''…the bride,'' Lee concluded as they all cheered and whistle.
''To Trench and Gabrielle,'' Barney said with a smile.
''To love,'' Tool added.
''To family,'' Toll concluded as they looked at the newlywed couple.
''To family,'' they all agreed as they felt a wave of love going through all of them.
The grief was over. They could finally live.