Sailor Moon Eternal

by SetsunaKou

This is a full length novel over 1000 pages long of the 6th season of Sailor Moon, our 'Eternal'. The Wedding of Serena & Darien is attended by some familiar shooting stars cutting across the night sky, finding loves of their own in the Outer-most unlikely places. Romances blossom for the Inners, as a dangerous new enemy's threat could destroy Earth & the Sailor Guardians of it...

23. Chapter 23

We do not own "Sailor Moon" nor any of the characters.

SAILOR MOON ETERNAL

"The 6th Season of the Sailor Moon Saga"

By Haruka Kou

Chapter 23: A Christmas Eve Shocker

After a filling brunch - headlined with Lita's famous pancakes and anything else the healthy young appetites would scarf out of the huge pantry in Chad's kitchen. Mrs. Crossings, their cook, was luckily out visiting her grandchildren in the nearby village, or she would have had a heart attack over the chaos wreaked by scavengers on her well-kept kitchen.

Sayer and Alex had joined the gang for some now cold pancakes a while later. Darien and Alex had even exchanged a few civil words, the past anger of the moment had faded. Darien was as glad to have the defiant woman on their team as much as Alex was accepting his presence. There was a time before when she questioned his place on a team full of girls. But now, the point was moot with the arrival of three more-ahem-men to fight alongside them as well.

A leisurely breakfast and rest and the team of fun-loving Christmas-ing companions are off again for more snow and ice, playing this time in the form of skiing. Suited up and well-insulated from the bitter cold, seven couples take to the mountains snow-capped slopes. Terry and Susan stay behind in the warm confines of the mansion's fireplace. They kept their eyes out the window, watching out for Tara and Sammy's skidding safety. Terry made Susan a steaming cup of green tea, her favorite, which steamed up the window seat they were perched in. Artemis and Luna purposely steered clear of this living room where the newlyweds were enjoying each other's company in the otherwise empty household.

Hitting the slopes turns into a raucous laugh-fest, with Mina forgetting "how to ski" and falling down on her bottom several times. Ken laughingly joined her as they both get tangled in the web of ski poles and skis on ice. Greg was doing all right with Amy's by the book instructions, though he'd never been on skis before, until his unfortunate path ran along the same as Mina and Ken. They had been trying to get up and just about made it, when poor Greg crashes into them, not knowing how to steer sharply around them at such short notice, sending them all spiraling down the hill. Lita, Amy and Andrew, along with expert skiers Chad and Rei, race to their rescue as Michelle and Robin sigh. They roll their eyes at their juvenile companions, then race down the mountain, about to leave the final more "adult" pair up here. Michelle turns to comment on the others' youthful silliness to Alex, who had been standing beside her, only to find she and Sayer were both gone as well.

"Where did they go?" Michelle asks, knowing Alex was just there a moment ago. She was surprised by the sudden disappearance.

"Who cares?" Robin waves away nastily, the cold and the ice and the snow all morning had put him in a very rotten mood.

"Oh, so you do want to be alone with me? How romantic you are, dearest." Michelle coos, sliding her gloved hand around Robin's insulated sweater chest.

"C'mon, let's go." Michelle's always thinking about one thing only! Robin sighs, skiing carefully down the steep hill, catching up to where the others were gathering. Luckily, all were unharmed victims from the accident, and though snow covered, were all none the worse for wear.

Michelle sighs too, knowing Robin was still a little timid to be alone with her. "Oh, well." She chases off after him, determined to capture his cute self someday, for his mind and soul were already hers.

---

Another pair, this one not minding to be alone together, go off exploring the snowbound wilderness in search of adventure and excitement too. They go deeper and deeper into the forest, slowly working their way through tall trees that haven't seen human beings for quite a while. Most of the wild animals just stop in their tracks to stare at the foreign pair of travelers, and did not run away in fear. They further they went, the quieter it became, almost eerily, as Alex suddenly realizes why it was so strange.

"Why are you so quiet? Is anything wrong?" She asks, breaking the silence, as Sayer had not uttered so much as one word since they left the others. She was so engrossed in the exploration of this new, pristine white world, Alex didn't even notice him until now.

"No, I'm fine. Just-uhh—taking in the scenery, that's all." Sayer smiles brightly at her, obviously she had just pulled him out of his own reverie.

"Right, Starr. You can't fool me. What are you thinking-?" She starts to pry, curious as to his strange behavior all morning. She leans against a tree and crosses her arms awaiting his reply.

"Look! A house or something!" Sayer suddenly points down the sloping hill through a dense grove of fir trees to a small log cabin, almost hidden from sight. The wintry icy figures pull back the veil of leaves and branches usually concealing it from sight, locking it away from the world for most of the year.

"Want to see if anyone's home?" Alex asks, her interest piqued by the mysterious lodging.

"Maybe Big Foot's in there." Sayer has watched far too many late night horror movies it seemed.

"In that little cabin?" Alex says in amused disbelief. "C'mon, I'll race you there." She takes off, Sayer stopping to admire the sheer style of his golden beauty. She was at home in the snowy, winter weather, all a part of her Russian make-up.

"My Russian Ice Princess." Sayer whispers to himself, never thinking about uttering such an affectionate thing in front of this tough woman. To himself and to the cool wind she was a part of, he could only whisper it. Shaking off his sentimentality, Sayer checks, for the 1000th time it seemed, that the pack he was carrying was still securely attached to his back. Then he zips down to were Alex was waiting at the log cabin's front steps.

She knocks on the log cabin's door, to no answer, and was just about to open it to see what mysteries awaited them inside…..

CREAK!

Alex pushes the door open, the sound of its rusty hinges showing its age. One look inside the spider-webbed cabin covered with a thick blanket of dust was enough to know it was not used for quite a long time now.

It was that enigmatic air about the chilly old cabin that made Alex want to know more of it-of stepping inside someplace not another soul had seen nor touched in years-and of the quiet in its stillness.

"Wow. Look at this place." The sound of Sayer's awed voice in a whisper added to the mystique as both step into this forgotten world. The cold wind suddenly whips up and snaps the door shut behind them.

SMACK!

"AHHHH!" Sayer was no chicken, but was prone to impulsive fits of exclamation. Being especially jumpy today-right now-he instinctively flies into the safety of Alex's arms.

Holding him close to her, Alex suddenly feels a strange…enchantment coming from the cabin itself it seemed. As if it wanted her to hold him close like this forever, as if it were waiting for them - waiting to keep them inside.

"It's just the wind." Alex says comfortingly, whispering as she continues to embrace him tenderly.

"Oh. Silly me." Sayer pulls away, and turns beet red at how cowardly he must've just looked in front of her. How weak, how…

He gets lost in the forest of her green eyes, as Alex smiles at his boyish sweetness, in an almost…loving manner.

Maybe now is the right time. His frantic mind wonders if this is the moment he's been waiting for.

"This is a nice place." Sayer says nervously, just to have something to say. He fingers the dusty mantle towering over an old stone fireplace.

"It's no Grand Hotel, but-" Alex explores the interior deeper, finding a bedroom with a comforter still neatly in place on a large bed, making the entire cabin seem rather cozy.

"Look! It mustn't be that old. It does seem to have a central plumbing system, a working shower." She begins to comment, but she need not have worried about Sayer, for he was no longer paying attention to her wandering about the cabin. He was more than intent on opening the enormous zipper on his backpack that had been strapped to him all day.

"What's in there, anyway, Starr? You've been lugging that thing around all-" She stops, as his fumbling fingers lose their temper and finally just rip the zipper open. It reveals a neatly wrapped Christmas gift inside.

"A Christmas present?" Alex walks across the room toward him. She was suspicious of why he would bring that up here.

"It's uh-umm-for you." Sayer says, a bundle of nervous energy as he nearly drops the elongated package, while removing it from the backpack.

"Couldn't it wait till tomorrow?" Alex chuckles, the way his eyes were avoiding hers made her wonder what it could possibly be.

"I-uhh-uhh-" He stumbles over every word, and swallows hard to regain his composure a bit. "I didn't want to give it in front of everybody else. I wanted it to be when we were alone, because…." Sayer bites his lip hard, it going almost as white as the rest of his ghostly pale face.

"Here." He unceremoniously holds it out to her with one hand, the other tightened in a hard fist. The look on his face was so worried it was almost comical.

"You don't have to take it. Really you don't…if you don't want…or you can keep it….no strings attached….if you don't want to…." Sayer's jumbled words make no sense to Alex, though she was now burning with curiosity as to know just what one simple present could cause such consternation on Sayer's usually easy-going features.

"Please don't be mad at me." Just like a small child plunging into something blindly, Sayer, with a little prayer, closes his eyes tightly, as the box passes from his sweaty palms and into Alex's bemused hands. She obliges him by opening it as well as to appease her own overwhelming curiosity caused by the puzzling way he was behaving.

"Why are you being so-?" Alex starts to question as she tears the wraps off, nonchalantly opening the flaps of the plain brown box and nearly collapses with the shock of what she finds inside.

"Oh." She breathes in disbelief. Her frozen hands hover above the package's stunning contents as if she were afraid to reach out and touch it, as it would all shatter like a glass dream. "Starr." Alex's usually calm eyes turn wide in utter surprise as she just about whispers his name.

Their eyes meet for a long moment before either can say anything.

"I, I saw you looking at it in that shop window we passed by in Tokyo. And I…I figured you didn't say anything or anything, but….I…." Sayer stumbles over words again as Alex gently lifts a white satin high collared with puffed long sleeves gown from its carefully folded nest in the box. She holds it up to the light streaming through the windows in awe. In awe, for it was no mere dress she was holding so gingerly in her powerful, disbelieving hands.

It was a wedding dress and she couldn't believe she was holding it in her hands.

"Is it the right one? I-uh-you don't have to take it if you don't want to." Sayer bites his lip even harder, and it would have caused pain if he cared to notice. But not knowing how to read Alex's silence, for her face was not smiling, not saying anything, made it even worse.

Oh, what did I expect? Stupid, stupid! I probably ruined everything now! How could I even have thought she would want to…

Sayer's tormented mind had held back this gift for weeks, waiting for just the right moment, and courage, if it ever came time to give it. He had come to the decision that maybe Christmas would be perfect and that maybe, just maybe -

"Well." Alex finally says, her low voice was higher pitched than usual and slightly cracking.

"Well." Sayer repeats, frozen in his spot, unknowingly wringing the backpack, now shredding in his tortured hands.

"Well, aren't you forgetting something?" Alex breathes, carefully refolding the gorgeous gown. She stashes the long veil underneath it, and touches the golden tiara before she looks up at the nervous man standing before her.

"Forgetting?" Sayer squeaks out, watching her refold the dress, and taking that as a sign that she didn't want it - that she didn't want him.

"Are you going to? Or am I going to have to ask you to marry me?" Alex puts her hands on her hips and bravely plunges forward to say what he could not. Her incredulous words came out rough and coarse, but no words could be more musical to Sayer's anxious ears. He feels a sudden hope surge through him. Maybe…maybe…

"Do you really mean it, Ally!" He exclaims, dropping the remains of the backpack to the dusty floor in exhilaration and clutches at her arms excitedly.

"If you can bring yourself to ask me, Starr. I might consider it." Alex stares at him with her eyes, wanting to hear him commit himself.

"Oh, Ally, Ally!" Sayer was almost too overcome to say anything right now, as his hands clutch at her shoulders tightly. "I'll make you happy, I promise. I'm in love with you and I have been since…since…" He trails off, the excitement overwhelming him.

"Please marry me." He whispers in a small voice. But even in a whispered tone, he was strong and true, making Alex's heart leap for something she never thought she would want anyone to say to her. She never realized, until right now, right this very second, just how badly she had wanted to hear it from this one so desperately.

"Since you said 'please.'" Alex smiles, her wit her only refuge for the excitement coursing through her veins.

He said he loved me, for the first time. But what about my independence? My defiance? I don't care about anything, as long as I can be with you. Because, maybe, right now, I'm in love with you too.

"You will?" He asks in disbelief, in shock, in totally, madly, head-over-heels in love with the woman before him.

"I will." Alex swears this vow to him in a kiss, a scandalously passionate kiss. It was long and lasting in the promise of what was to come for them.

Oh Ally, is this really happening? Are we really going to do this? To have what Terry and Susan have?

He kisses her, not wanting to let her go ever. Now that he had asked her to do something neither of them would ever have considered in a million years, had they not by chance, no, by fate, met one another…

Starr…Sayer. This is crazy, you're crazy. But I think I want to be, too. This is the commitment I've been waiting for. A thousand times over. I only wanted to know you really do love me. I never imagined you - you of all people - would want to marry me. And the funny thing is? The real kicker is? That I want to marry you too. To hold you tight, to take care of you, and call you my own. To know you will be mine completely as I will be yours completely. I can't believe I'm doing this, but…I think I do love you. Most of all because, you've accepted me for who I am. Never once have you tried to change me. As I will never try to change you. Yes, I will marry you. I never believed in it before, but now, it's here, and you're asking me. I want to marry you now. I want to hold you forever…starting now…

"Right now." Alex whispers in Sayer's ear, as their lips part from the passionate kiss.

"What?" Sayer breathes back, kissing her again.

"Let's go down to the village and get married right now. Today." Alex's eyes search deep into his.

"Today?" Sayer stops his kisses and swallows hard as he pulls back. He never imagined it would all happen so soon.

"Are you backing out on me, Starr?" Alex taunts, knowing from his soulful eyes and passionate kiss that he was not.

"Never. Not a chance, Sokova." Sayer fires back at her dare.

"Good." Alex breathes. "Let's go."

Not one for dilly-dallying, she bundles her present - her wonderful incredible present, back into his torn, but still rather functional backpack.

Her hands touch his face, his sweet blushing cheeks. She looks into his beautiful eyes.

Sayer nuzzles his cheek against her hand adoringly, sure that he had made the right decision in the end.

Why not marriage? I used to think it was crazy, but there couldn't be anyone else for me. You, Alex Sokova, truly are my shining one.

He tenderly grips her hand, not wanting to let go of the strong, firm confidence she gave to him. She squeezes it back, not wanting to let go either. Not now that I am…

---

"So what are you two up to in here? As if I didn't know." Robin smirks slyly as he and Michelle return to the mansion before the others. (The cold was just too unbearable for our "super" idol.) Michelle makes a loud clamor in the kitchen before they had barged in the living room where Terry and Susan were exchanging gentle kisses and sweet caresses in the window seat.

"Watching the children of course, Robin." Terry answers what he knew to be Robin's insinuations, becoming more and more accustomed to the barbs and teasing from his two, as yet, bachelor brothers. But Terry and Susan were both privy that maybe, just maybe, there would be only one single brother left soon.

"Why are you back so early? Where are the others?" Susan asks curiously, though pleased that Michelle was here now to take over the monitoring of Tara and Sammy's wild sledding down the steep hill. Sammy had taken to the steepest hill to show off, while allowing Tara to sled down more gentle slopes. So far, Sammy had rolled off his sled in the snow, caused more than a few bumps and bruises and then his sled had crashed into an unsuspecting tree. Scratches and scrapes abounded everywhere, but other than those boyish accidents, he was quite unharmed, and the afternoon had been quite uneventful.

"Well, Robin decided it would be so much more romantic to sneak away from the group to be with me. Didn't you, dear?" Michelle asks as Robin dutifully helped her take her ski jacket off.

"I wouldn't say that." Robin mumbles under his breath.

"What was that, Robin dearest?" Michelle twists her lip, just having a feeling that something unsatisfactory was said.

"Now we've got the whole day left." Robin looks at her with a sweet, innocent smile, trying to recover from what he had said.

"Mmm—hmm." Michelle wasn't buying that today. "I think, for that, I deserve to open my present early." Michelle kneels at the bottom of the glowing, sparkling Christmas tree, rooting around until she found the one she knew was for her from her difficult, but so darn cute boyfriend.

Grabbing it up like an excited, spoiled child, she shakes its unknown contents for a clue. "What is it?" She asks, having no hint.

"It's a Christmas surprise, Michelle." Robin takes it carefully from her and replaces it under the tree again.

"Do tell." Michelle coos, suddenly getting an idea to appease her curiosity, and begins reaching into his mind.

Oh no you don't. Robin feels her intrusions and puts up some roadblocks as her gentle waves sweep through his mind, searching for what he would not tell her. Since knowing Michelle, Robin had learned more and more how to hide things that he didn't want her to know about, and lock them tightly away. In the end, though, he was sure that her more powerful mind could knock down any barriers if she really wanted to.

"Oooohh." Michelle blows air through her lips, but the wonderful sensation of reaching into his soul made her curiosity turn amorous. "Would you like to help me undress instead? As compensa-" Suddenly, her teasing ceases abruptly, her eyes open wide in surprise.

"Michelle?" Robin asks, concerned.

"What is it, dear?" Susan says, just about to ask Michelle to take over her post, so she and Terry could spend some quiet time alone together.

Wordlessly, Michelle dashes to the front door, a strange combination of disbelief and wonder crossing over her features. She flings the door wide open, holding it against the cold, freezing wind that threatened to shut it on her. She, with Robin, and Terry and Susan soon at her heels, gaze out the open door to find two people not in the least bit concerned by the weather, finding warmth in each other's arms and kiss.

"Amara!" Michelle waits for seemed a lifetime before their lips parted. She trembled herself, not with cold, but with amazement of what she could sense in her partner's mind.

"Hey there." Alex shares a smile with her dear cousin, so many things passing between them as their eyes lock. Understanding of what was happening -of what was about to happen- made Michelle tremble even more, but now in excitement.

"Oh, Amara! Are you-?" Michelle manages to utter, grasping her beloved's hand tightly as the two enter the house.

Alex merely nods calmly in response. Terry and Susan look to Sayer, and were certain from the look in his eyes that he had managed to pull it off somehow. That he and Alex were-

"What! "Are you?" what?" Robin asks, looking from face to face, seeing everyone already knew everything of what was going on, except for him.

"Engaged?" Michelle nods excitedly, sensing Alex's happiness and contentment as her eyes dance in delight.

"WHAT?" Robin nearly flips his lid. Never, never, ever imagining that Sayer would ask anyone to marry him, and Alex!

Ah, you're crazy, Sayer! Absolutely stark, raving mad nuts! Robin nearly faints at the mere thought of Sayer wanting to spend the rest of his life with that...person.

"Not for long though." Sayer says mysteriously, looking to Terry who raises his eyebrows in confusion.

"What do you mean? When are you two planning the wedding for?" Terry asks.

"Right now." Alex's calm words nearly floor her already stunned companions. She seemed to revel in their shock.

"Today." She turns to Sayer and places a finger on his lips, which he kisses sweetly. Terry, Susan, Michelle and Robin exchange amazed glances at the display.

GULP.

"Today?" Robin's high voice scratchily cracks. "You can't just get married today!" Robin feels Sayer must be having some kind of hallucinations and should have a few days -a few months- a few years for that matter! -to think this over.

And back out, if he knew what was good for him.

"And why not, Shrimp? You've got a problem with that?" Alex's wistful expression at Sayer could just as easily turn angry at Robin. Her deep green eyes flash at him with utter comtempt.

"Because-because…" Robin stumbles under her gaze. Though he and Sayer had not always gotten along, he still wanted the poor man to have a chance to come back to his lost senses.

"Because we're simply concerned that you two should have a proper wedding. At least several weeks' worth of preparations is in order. We need time to send out invitations to those you want present. What would dear Mamere say?" Michelle takes up some slack for Robin, for she herself was a little concerned at Alex and Sayer's sudden announcement of an unexpecte shotgun wedding.

"You're the only ones we need to be there." Alex cuts Michelle off, taking her hand and squeezing it.

"Yeah, that's why we came back here. We were on our way into town to rustle up a justice of the peace or whomever we need. But Ally wanted to stop back for you, 'Shell, before we took the big plunge." He smiles at Michelle and then at Terry. His eyes told his older brother that he too wouldn't want to take the big "step" without having him at his side, either.

"Are you that determined for it to be today?" Terry asks, truly wanting to know, though in his own way, fully understanding.

"Yeah." Sayer says dreamily. "We're sure." He brushes a loose strand of Alex's hair from her eyes tenderly.

For a long moment, Michelle looks carefully back and forth between the locked gaze, studying each with scrutiny.

"All right!" Michelle suddenly claps her hands together, a buoyant smile on her face, as she found in their eyes what she was searching for. She was so happy for Amara, while at the same time, she selflessly pushes her own sadness away.

"Luna! Artemis!" Michelle calls out to where she knew intuitively, that the two nosy cats were hiding and eavesdropping around the corner. "Take care of Tara for us, all right? We need to get ready." She orders the two reeling felines. "We've got a wedding to get going." Michelle becomes a whirlwind of excitement.

"Yes, I believe there may be a three hour waiting period or something." Terry says knowledgeably.

"Good. That gives me some time to-" Sayer says a bit too easily. This latching on to the idea of delay makes Alex raise her eyebrow at him. "…get a wedding tux and all that." Sayer finished smirking at her, knowing she was about to accuse him of wanting to change his intent mind - something neither hell nor high water could do once it was set and determined as he was with this.

"Don't worry, Ally. I won't leave town or anything. You just get that dress on and I'll be back before you know it! To sweep you off your feet." He leans in close for a parting kiss as Terry hurriedly puts on his coat and accompanies his inexperienced brother through the processes involved prior to the happy event.

"You'd better. Or I'll knock you off yours." Alex ruffles the curls atop his forehead, knowing she need not threaten from the look in his eyes and the promise of his kiss. But the teasing came so easily and was so darn much fun.

"Here's your dress." Sayer pulls off his backpack and hands it to her with a kiss.

"Don't keep me waiting." Alex takes the pack.

"Not a second more than I have to." Sayer pecks Alex yet another time as he tries to pull himself out the door, his mind racing with a million plans, but he was unwilling to leave this woman who he was fully prepared to swear his life to in a few short hours…..

"ENOUGH ALREADY!" Robin interrupts as the anxious couple starts to reach for each other again. He himself was feeling sick at the sight of his brother actually letting that crazy woman kiss him, and about to jump blindly into something more.

"Robin!" Michelle chides at her own unromantic lover. She found the scene being played before her so sweet and tender. But he was right, there were things to be done. If they were going to be married later that afternoon, she'd better get started.

Michelle excitedly grasps Amara away from Sayer, as the two were ignoring Robin's rude comments anyway, seeming to stretch the kiss longer just to irk the bothersome little shrimp.

"Let's see that dress on you, Amara. I'll fix her up beautiful for you, Sayer!" Michelle tugs Alex like a tall dress up doll and up the staircase.

Alex squeezes the box to her chest hard as she lets Michelle lead her up by the hand. Her eyes lock with Sayer's for as long as possible, and he sighs in a daze as his bride-to-be disappears from view.

"She's already beautiful." Sayer answers as they begin to dash outside.

Susan was about to go upstairs and join in dressing up Alex, when Sayer stops her.

"Hold on, Susie." Sayer pulls out of his reverie, and grabs his sister-in-law's arm, dragging her back. "I need to ask a favor of you and Ter." He begins to explain what he wants done as Terry helps his wife with her coat and the three of them leave the mansion to carry out some secret errands.

"Wooooo. Finally, some peace. Aren't they a crazy bunch, Luna?" Robin plops on the couch in the deserted downstairs. He pats his lap for Luna to share in some tender tickling and stroking. He finds peace and tranquillity in the simple act of petting a cat that once, for a short while, had belonged to him. Though now aware that she was no mere cat, Robin nonetheless still enjoyed her company (much to Artemis' forgotten discontentment). A low, jealous growl took the place of a feline purr from him.

"A bit wild, if you ask me." Luna starts to give her sure to be opinionated opinion, but just as she was about to expound on her take on the subject, Michelle comes scurrying back down the steps. She wanted to squeeze a few more instructions in while Alex was taking a quick shower.

"Robin, dear? There's something special I want you to get for Alex and Sayer's wedding present. I have just phoned the shop in the village and they do carry what I want in stock. But the rude woman said she wouldn't check on the colors for me, because they were so busy with Christmas shoppers. Can you believe she said that to me?" Michelle's snooty indignation flares. "Well, anyway, dearest. Go to town and pick the one out in this color." Michelle orders, in her offhand way, of expecting everyone, especially Robin, to jump at her every whim.

"Oh, Michelle. Christmas Eve shopping?" Robin whines, just getting comfortable and warmed up. He didn't relish the thought of facing through the freezing cold wind, ice and snow, not to mention the hectic crowds, all for what? Sayer? And Alex!

"You won't need a present anyway. Sayer already probably got smart and changed his mind and-" Robin tries to justify his claim to laziness, mistakenly striking a nerve in just how much Michelle would put up with his disparaging remarks about her nearest and dearest friend and cousin. And it didn't take that much at all…

"Robin Starr!" Michelle explodes loudly, her voice dripping with anger as she towers sourly over him on the staircase. She looked as though she was just about to pounce upon him like a fierce tigress.

"All right. All right." Robin cowers under her gaze, quickly yanking on his coat. The cold and crowds were nothing compared to Michelle's fury.

'That's better." Michelle lifts her nose to the air haughtily, loving her commanding power over him.

"Luna? Would you be a dear and go with him? No, not you, Artemis." Michelle stops the white cat in his tracks, as he was about to tail, literally, his beloved companion, who was innocently enough, being carried in another man's arms. "We only require Luna's feminine touch. Men have no idea of color schemes, do they, Luna?" Michelle stops for a little "girl" chat, her ears perking up at the sound of Alex's shower door slamming. "I have to dash now. Just give the clerk my name and she'll show you what I want. I'm sure she'll remember me. Luna, have it gift-wrapped. Tastefully, of course. This little present's a surprise. Don't breathe a word of this-of ANY of this-to anyone. Do you hear, Artemis? It's all going to be one surprise! I've got to fly now! Don't forget to watch the children!" Michelle disappears up the stairs, leaving the lower living room area quite and peaceful once again.

"Oh, well. You heard what she said. Let's go, Luna." Robin sighs as he goes out the door, having absolutely no idea what little "present" he was supposed to be picking up-as per her instruction. But, when it came to direct orders from Michelle, Robin did not dare question, as he trudges away, grumbling about the whole thing, out in the snow for a short, brisk walk into the village nearby.

---

Returning to their shared room, Michelle just walks in, as she always did. She finds Alex in a towel, standing, still damp, studying herself in the mirror.

"I'm sure Sayer finds you beautiful." Michelle says in her oh-so-French way, raising an eyebrow.

"Of that I have no doubt." Alex smiles back as she sits on the bed, unconsciously deep in thought.

"What are you thinking?" Michelle changes into a more suitable dress than the pantsuit she was previously wearing.

No reply. Michelle slides onto the bed, perching next to her partner. "No secrets, remember?" Michelle prompts her cousin a bit. "Or is that changing?" Michelle suddenly realizes that with this drastic change in their lives, so too may their relationship…

"No, Michelle. Nothing—no one-could ever change you and I." Alex sweeps a hand lovingly over Michelle's aqua waves of hair.

"Then what is it?" Michelle's doubts only lasted for a few seconds. She too knowing full well that her bond with Amara was strong enough to last through eternity-and then some.

"Am I…doing the right thing? If you think even a little bit I shouldn't…I know we swore to each other we would never-" Alex starts to say thoughtfully.

"And…now you're going first." Michelle clasps Alex's firm hand.

"And now I'm going first." Alex squeezes the soft hand in her lap. "Am I sure of this, Michelle?" Alex's usually confident voice is unusually small and wavering. It suddenly reminded Michelle of that little golden-haired cousin that came to live with her and be her playmate and confidant an eon ago -in another time and place.

"Am I the one you should be asking?" Michelle smiles softly in that way she had.

"There is no one in this world who knows me better than you. And whatever you say, I'll do." Alex kisses the palms of the tender hands she was holding on tightly to.

"Then the answer is 'yes.' You are sure." Michelle smiles at her beloved Amara, knowing her heart and soul was an open book to the partner who loved her so dearly.

"Yes, I am." Alex reaffirms what she knew deep within her already, just waiting to hear Michelle say it to her.

"You love him." Michelle whispers lightly, searching lightly through Alex's passionate emotions for a certain dark haired young man.

"Yes, I do." It was true. There were no secrets between them. Alex was neither afraid nor ashamed at all to share everything she felt within with her Michelle. Their eyes locked, and they reach out for one another—embracing each other lovingly. Nothing more needed to be said between them. Their understanding was complete. Their bond unbreakable and their love unending. It was just a new facet of Alex's life that was about to open and Michelle knew that she would still be a part of it. Somehow, some way, Amara would always belong to her.

And Sayer is a very lucky, lucky man to have captured her heart. Michelle could sense that her Amara was giving herself to him with open arms.

Wiping away a few happy tears that had fallen, Michelle stands, and squeezes Alex's hands with a kiss on the cheek.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's try this dress on you." Michelle spreads the gorgeous gown across the bed. She wraps her arms around Alex's trembling form as the two look on at the iridescent gown laying before them.

---

An hour or so of difficult preparations later-"Yes, Amara, you must wear the pantyhose and the garter, too!" "Here's your white high heels that Robin went out to get especially for you.", "Don't make such a face! He went through a great deal of trouble. Besides that's all they had left in your size at this time of year." "We're all being as helpful as can be. You're the one who wants to rush such an important thing-but I suppose I can understand why…"

Michelle sighs, never realizing how hard it was to get Alex properly into a formal dress-and what a dress it was!

"Sayer has such good taste?" Michelle stands back in the room, surveying her nearly completed wedding creation before her. "Well, I suppose he must. Just look at his bride." Michelle smiles at Alex, who looks at herself in the long mirror, feeling stiff and pasted up by Michelle's busy hands. But still, a strange tingling was in every inch of her, at the undreamed of reflection standing in the mirror staring back at her.

"A bride." Alex repeats in a daze, feeling like she was losing control-and still liking it.

"There." Michelle carefully places the glimmering golden tiara atop her cousin's stunned head. "You're ready." She nuzzles her aqua head against Alex's veiled golden one. Both of them look at each other in the mirror. "You're beautiful, Amara, darling." Michelle, never in her wildest dreams, could've imagined that her Amara was getting married-and to Sayer no less!

Was it only a year or two ago? That Amara would've as soon punched that wild boy as to look at him? What wonders have been opened to us all…

Michelle buries her eyes in Alex's veil. "I just hope that boy appreciates what a treasure you are, my beloved." Michelle whispers in her ear.

"He had better." Alex smirks, gaining more confidence with every passing second for what she was about to do.

"Oh! There's a car! I think they're ready for us!" Michelle, like a nervous child, rushes about the room, gathering herself up as she wraps Alex in a dark cloak. She pulls the hood gently over her head.

"What's all this for?" Alex asks curiously, as Michelle bundles her up.

"Mystery adds to romance, don't you think? Besides, you don't want Sayer to see you yet. It's supposed to be bad luck." Michelle giggles, outwardly seeming more excited about this whole wedding thing than Alex-but inwardly….

"Let's go." Michelle grabs Alex, and gives Terry a quick thumbs up wave in the window, to where he was waiting for them in the car outside.

"Artemis? Is the coast clear?" Michelle whispers conspiratorially, glancing up and down the hallway like a sneak thief about to make off with the crown jewels.

"The girls are all downstairs baking Christmas cookies in the kitchen. And the men are all out shoveling snow from the walkway out back. You'll have to pass right by the kitchen's side entrance. But other than that, your getaway path is clear." Artemis is very exact in his reconnaissance over everyone's whereabouts.

"Very good. Thank you." Michelle exchanges a serious nod with the helpful cat. Both of them treat this like it was some kind of secret military operation. Alex rolls her eyes.

"Come!" Michelle grabs hold of her arm and they make a dash through the empty halls. Michelle peeks down the stairs before they run down. She halts an exasperated Alex, who just wanted to get going already. But the two of them slither past the kitchen and Michelle grabs a fully dressed Robin (I waited for your signal. Sigh) from the living room as they rush through and out the door.

"Did I just see Michelle and Robin run by with Alex in a long dress?" Lita peers past her stove to where she, the tallest one, was just about able to see Michelle and her companions hurried departure.

"Michelle and Robin run?" Mina asks incredulously.

"Alex in a long dress!" Serena asks in disbelief.

"You must've put too much sugar in that last batch of cookies, Lita. Your mind's going." Rei chuckles at her silly friend.

"Yeah, must've been some flour in my eyes. No way. Alex wouldn't wear a long dress! Never!"

Just then, she sees a flash of a car pull out from the driveway.

---

"I thought you were coming to sweep me away?" Alex whispers with a smirk as she strides in the little village church, having spotted a certain young man seated quietly the back pew. She slumps down beside him.

"In this monkey suit?" Sayer motions at himself, his dark black hair and crooked smile in stark contrast to the perfect white spotless wedding tuxedo he was wearing. "Besides, after finally finding a tux that would fit me, most of the suits in this place looked they were made for bears - Terry insisted we do it in a church. I mean, get married." Sayer's cheeks sweetly blush at the words he was whispering.

"So what are we waiting for?" Alex whispers too, something about the quiet chapel made them reverent somehow.

"The priest-eh, reverend—or whatever he is," Sayer answers, "He's out doing some Christmas Eve thing for the children of this town. I've been waiting for him. The nun here said he'll be back soon." Sayer says, tugging at his collar, feeling suddenly hot as the minutes of his bachelorhood slip away…

"Oh. Was she pretty?" Alex asks with a teasing smile.

"A gorgeous lady of about 80 or so. You might just have some competition." Sayer teases right back with a giggle.

"Nervous, Starr?" Alex ask openly as she studies him though the sides of her eyes.

"Me? Nervous? No way!" Sayer smiles at her toothily.

"Don't start this out with a lie." Alex says, looking deeply into his eyes.

"Yeah, a little." He says then, truthfully, blushing as he meets her gaze. "How 'bout you?"

"I might've been, if you didn't look so darn sexy in that suit." Alex smiles at his honesty, wanting him to always be as open with her as she was going to be with him.

"Can you say that in a church?" Sayer's eyes open wide as he looks around to see if there was any passing nuns or anything whom might've heard.

"If it's the truth, why not?" Alex supposes, and straightens his upturned bow tie.

"What about you? When do I get a peek at that dress somebody nice got for you?" Sayer's gloved hands toy with her cloak's strings.

"When Michelle says you can. You know she's more nervous than either of us? You'd think she was the one getting married." Alex chuckles. Sayer's nervousness slips away and he joins in a laugh with her.

That's something I love about you, Ally, your sense of humor. You're sure going to need it if you're going to marry me." Sayer closes his eyes as Alex caresses his cheek.

"I wish." Michelle comes in the double doors, sneaking up so quietly that neither heard her approach. She squeezes Robin on her arm. "I thought you said you were going to the ladies' room?" Michelle raises her eyebrows at the disappearing act Alex just played on her, despite her warnings of ill fortune if the groom saw the bride before the actual ceremony.

"Fooled you." Alex smirks. "I make my own luck." She fluffs Sayer's little curls, and kisses him tenderly.

"Ahh, the happy couple." The village reverend comes in the side church door, silently just appearing before them all.

"Hey, Padre." Sayer winks as he and Alex stand to greet him.

"Yes, your brother," The Reverend nods at Terry as he and Susan come into the church as well, "was just telling me outside that the two of you are interested in having a quiet Christmas Eve wedding ceremony."

"Yeah, that's us." Sayer smiles dreamily at his green-eyed beauty.

"So young." The old man, despite his hectic Christmas schedule, was more than happy to be able to join two people in wedding bliss, adding to the joy of the holiday season.

"Do you have the license, young man?" He asks the young lad, knowing they were city folk right away, no doubt on vacation here, but there was something more than foreign…it was something indefinable about them-about them all. He glances around at the group of six gathered around, he could tell they were extremely close family and friends just from the aura about them.

"Uh…license…ugh…yeah…I put it…uh.." Sayer digs through his pockets, twisting his lip as he just couldn't seem to find…

"Here." Alex almost laughingly pulls out the folded slip of paper-the very important slip of paper-from his inside vest pocket, knowing Sayer well enough that she knew just where to go, much amusing the reverend.

"Right. I put it next to my heart. I knew that." He smiles brightly at her, holding her hand to his chest.

"Everything seems in order, Mr. Starr, Ms. Sokova." The Reverend smiles. "Shall we begin then?" He could see how anxious everyone was. "Please step up to the altar. He leads them to the center of the small church.

"Does this mean I FINALLY get to see that dress on you?"

Alex removes her wrapping to reveal the stunning wedding gown, it's grace and beauty, its classic style all enhanced so much by Alex's poise as she leans in close to Sayer's adoring ear.

"And then 'off' later" she whispers amorously, making him blush once again.

"Lovely, lovely." The Reverend did not hear Alex's sly comments, so awed was he by her captivating tall beauty.

Ahh, if there was such a beautiful vivacious lady in my younger days, I may not have become a priest…He smiles at the days of his youth. But of course, it's better this way. God always knows what's best for His children.

"Yes, it's growing dark. Let us begin."

The Reverend pulls himself back to here and now, as he watches the groom's taller brother and an aqua-haired gentlewoman take their places at the couple's sides. The young silver-haired man and the stately green haired woman stand behind the maid-of-honor and best man.

"Please join hands." The Reverend begins, "And repeat these words after me." Sayer clasps Alex's hands gingerly, feeling the nervousness coming on again in droves…Until his eyes lock with hers and it all fades away.

"I, Sayer Starr."

"I, Sayer Starr," he repeats with a smile.

"Take this woman, Amaralexis Sokova."

"Take this woman, Amaralexis Sokova," Sayer rolls his tongue on her full long first name, liking the sound of it. Alex raises her eyebrows wondering how they had found out her birth name that she had scoffed at for being too feminine and difficult to say.

"To be my lawfully wedded wife."

"To be my lawfully wedded wife," Sayer says, disbelieving these words were passing through his lips.

"To have and to hold from this day forward."

"To have and to hold from this day forward," Never has his voice rung so true in his life.

"In sickness and in health."

"In sickness and in health," His eyes were unwavering in hers.

"For richer or for poorer."

"For richer or for poorer."

"For as long as we both shall-" The reverend recites the age-old vows he has repeated at over a hundred ceremonies in his long practice as a man of the cloth.

"Forever." Sayer cuts him off, looking meaningfully into Alex's eyes. Her deep green ones sparkle at his revision, knowing he was not just reciting-but meaning each and every word, changing the last to what he wanted it to be—to what he was promising to her. Alex squeezes his hand tightly.

"Yes. Forever." The Reverend smiles at the intent young man standing before him.

"Ms. Sokova?" He prompts, turning to her.

"I, Alex Sokova," Alex just starts off, having memorized the words, and saying the short version of her name she had adapted.

"Take this man, Sayer Starr."

"Take this man, Sayer Starr." She repeats, smiling at the words.

"To be my lawfully wedded husband."
"To be my lawfully wedded husband," Alex felt she was inside of a dream-the endless sky of his blue eyes was engulfing her.

"To honor and obey from this day forward." The reverend didn't know what a rise that traditional verse would get out of the untraditional Alex.

Honor? Obey? I don't think so…

"To have and to hold from this day forward." Alex states what Sayer did, doing some revising of her own, with a raised eyebrow at the reverend, who seemed a bit alarmed that the groom was about to burst into laughter.

Oh. She's that sort. Poor lad. The Reverend nods and continues on thinking Alex must be the independent, unreliable type. But she wanted nothing more than to be on equal terms. Sayer understood that. And that's all that mattered to her.

"In sickness and in health."

"In sickness and in health," Alex revels in Sayer's laughing eyes.

"For richer or poorer."
"For richer or poorer." Her mouth quivers into a small smile.

"Forever." He takes the new line, rather liking it better in fact, planning on using it again.

"Forever." Alex breathes, never saying anything more heartfelt before in her life.

"May we have the ring?" The Reverend asks.

"Oh, ring." Sayer bites his lip, knowing he had missed something. Oh, what can I use-? He pulls off his right glove and tugs at his single silver metal ring—his own, which he had always worn.

"I-uh-" he holds it out to her, a bit embarrassed to offer her such a thing…

"It's perfect." Alex pulls his hand to hers, and he slides it on her left finger, both feeling a surge of power passing between their bonded hands…

"As sure as there is a God in the Heavens, He will bless your love." The Reverend words, strangely only spoken for this couple, bring tears to Alex's eyes. She was certain that it was indeed a blessing, from the Lord above, from her beloved mother as well. The sweet words ring though Alex's ears, proving to her, screaming it through her, to her very core, that this was right. That someone was looking down telling her that at last she had found what her closed soul had always longed for…..

Sayer knew what she was thinking, knowing what she was feeling for he was feeling it too….

He reaches out and seals their bargain with a passionate kiss even before the Reverend directs them to.

"I, hee hee hee, now pronounce you man and wife." Reverend Browning chuckles at the pair, who had not heard a word he had said, as they continue to kiss.

"There's no point in telling you to kiss your bride, is there?" The reverend had quite a good sense of humor and found the whole ceremony rather amusing.

"Thank you very much, Reverend." Terry takes up his brother's slack, smiling at them from the corner of his eye. He offers the man payment for his time, but he declines, though saying it would be wonderful if they instead donated something to the church offering plate. "Have a Merry Christmas, all of you." The Reverend then takes his leave, ready to prepare for the Midnight mass that night.

"These two certainly will." Michelle says naughtily as Sayer and Alex's lips finally part, the newly weds breathlessly happy.

"Congratulations." Terry pats his brother on the shoulder, proud of him.

"We're so happy for you." Susan kisses Alex on the cheek and then Sayer.

"Congratulations." Even Robin wishes happiness to his brother and his new….wife.

"Amara." Michelle puts a hand on her dearest's shoulder, feeling the sheer joy from deep within, finally released.

"Michelle." Alex envelops her in a hug, both of them coming back out of it in tears.

"I know you're crying, Ally." Sayer giggles with a tease, "it's cause you just realized Rob's gonna be your brother now, right?" Sayer chuckles, holding back his own overwhelming emotions.

"That's right." Alex laughs as she smiles at poor Robin, who was minding his own business and didn't deserve such a rude swipe.

"Well, come on, everyone." Michelle laughs too. "There's a Christmas Eve party I'm sure we're late for and after that-"

"A honeymoon." Alex finishes, taking his hand in hers.

"A honeymoon." Sayer whispers, his eyelashes lower at his new bride.

"C'mon then! Let's hurry it up!" Sayer pulls Alex out of the church, while the others all smile and race to catch up to the hurried couple.

"Oh. Here Ally, I forgot to give you this before." He produces a bouquet of bright crimson red roses and hands it to her.

"Something else you forgot?" She takes the flowers from him with her left hand, the tarnished silver wedding band glimmering faintly in the lights of church's front hall.

"I'll get you a new one-a great big gold one with diamonds and rubies and-" Sayer lifts her hand, touching her finger with the ring, knowing she deserved more than just his old beat-up ring.

"No." Alex wraps her hand around his tightly. "I like this one. Just the way it is." It was because it was so spontaneous, so sweetly placed on her, it had belonged to him, that Alex vowed nothing could ever replace it. Not gold, not jewels, it was symbol of his genuine love.

Alex plucks a rose from her bouquet and sticks it in his vest pocket. She then, unexpectedly tosses it over her shoulder to where, without even looking, she knew where it would land.

"Thank you." Michelle's mind calls out to her Alex as she catches the bouquet, knowing Alex had intended it for her.

For what? Putting that blasted curse on you with that shrimp? Just look where Susan's bouquet got me? Alex projects back sarcastically. Michelle felt again the true bliss that Alex had, as she watched the couple kiss and embrace in the back seat of the mini van. Terry helps his lady into the car, as Michelle and Robin were the last to enter. She notices Robin eye the bouquet she held with a bit of fear on his features.

"Don't worry, our turn will come soon." Michelle teases him, shoving him into the middle seat and cuddling up close to him. But she knew full well that he was worried about that precisely…

---

Christmas Eve was always a very special night to spend with friends and family and all those you love. And no friends could be closer knit than the group gathered at the Levington household tonight. Bonds far deeper than mere friendship stretched between the girls, with more than a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure…

"Look, Kenny! Mistletoe!" Mina shuts her eyes tightly as dutiful Ken bestows a kiss upon her forehead and Mina glows all over like, well, like a Christmas tree. She dances about it, with more exciting things catching in her starry eyes.

"When can we open our presents? Can we open them yet, huh, Rei?" She begins innocent as a little child.

"'Can we open them yet? Can we open them yet?'" Rei explodes with sarcasm as she nearly knocks Chad (who was rehanging blown out Christmas lights on the ladder she was supposed to be stabilizing) down to the floor. "For the millionth time, Mina, NO! Did you hear that Serena? Just in case you were about to ask me that too." Rei was an old grinch when it came to giving leeway on present opening time, for here in this house, Rei believed she was ruler and adoring Chad would not say one word to the contrary.

"I wasn't going to ask again, Rei! I'm not a baby!" Serena says, as she stuffs a frosted cookie into her mouth, getting the green and red icing all over her face. Darien, sitting next to her, watches in amusement, and gentlemanly comes to her aid, wiping his "baby's" mouth almost sweetly.

The holidays before Serena once put him in a rotten mood-when he had no one to share them with. But not now, not anymore. There was Serena, and she had come into his life and taken hold of him.

"Thanks, Muffin." Serena smiles up at her husband adoringly, offering him a cookie in gratitude, which he refuses. She shrugs, and eats it, along with a few more herself.

"Lita! Lita! I think we need another batch of cookies in here. Serena just scarfed them all down." Mina mischievously taunts, grabbing the last Santa faced cookie from the dish, right from under Serena's nose as she was reaching for it. Mina sticks her tongue out at her playfully.

"Amy, did you see what she did?" Serena whines. "A girl who sticks her tongue out at people in public doesn't deserve Lita's homemade cookies!" Serena makes a pouty face at Mina, and just can't help herself from sticking her own tongue out at her behind her back.

"Oh, Serena." Amy giggles at her friend's immaturity, as she and Greg continue their game of chess on the coffee table. Greg actually did pretty well against an ace opponent such as Amy.

Tara keeps Sammy occupied across the room with a round of "Old Maid."

"LITA! More cookies! And some of those muffins too!" Serena calls, jumping up from her comfortable spot on the floor.

When no reply comes again, Serena stops, and feels a strong hand on her shoulder.

"Don't Serena. Lita's in the kitchen, talking." Darien says knowingly.

"With Andrew!" Serena, the matchmaker, asks excitedly. Her smile broadens as Darien nods. "Do you think it's finally going to happen?" Serena asks softly, laying her head to her husband's warm chest.

"I sure hope so. Andrew better realize soon that a girl like Lita doesn't come twice in one man's lifetime. Just like lightning…"

The girl Darien was speaking of-the one who could channel lightning itself-was at this moment wandering to and fro in the delicious smelling kitchen. She was preparing a scrumptious ham dinner for her friends as Andrew helpfully assists her in the cooking process (mostly he just watches). Lita felt his eyes upon her as she kneads the homemade bread she was preparing.

"Lita?" Andrew's calm, easy going voice says suddenly, as he unconsciously keeps stirring the stirred-out bowl of pumpkin for a pie.

"Yeah, Andrew?" Lita smiles looking up into his green eyes and…

"Is this pumpkin done yet?" He covers quickly, and Lita knew that wasn't what he meant to say.

"Oh, yeah. That's great. Thanks." She takes the bowl, her mind flitting from her busy dinner as she pours the pie filling into its crust. All afternoon when we were skiing and skating, I've been feeling so much "something" from him…something…and he's been so nice wanting to help me with all this…I wonder why…

Lita just happens to catch a reflection of herself in the shiny stove glass front, as she puts the pie in the oven. She gasps in horror.

"What's wrong, Lita?" Andrew immediately comes rushing up.

"I…almost burnt the sweet potatoes, that's all. Really. I'm sorry." Lita tries to cover up quickly.

"I'll get them out for you." Andrew says, gallantly taking the glove mitt and removing the hot pan for her.

"Thanks." Lita steps back and when he wasn't looking, grabs a dishrag, rubbing her face frantically. I'm a mess! Flour everywhere! Even frosting! I know I've been busy cooking. Oh, my hair's a mess, too! I didn't bother to fix it since we went skating, did I? Oh, Andrew! Every other girl has already changed into pretty dresses and got fixed up for their guys. Me? I didn't even brush out my hair. What kind of girl am I? Too boyish, I know. And even though I'm cooking, I do things like a boy. I talk like a boy, and like a boy, I don't primp over myself. You'd probably like me better if I was more of a girl. Maybe I should change. Only normal girls get the kind of life I want—the kind I dream of. Only girlish girls get married and have a family…

Lita's thoughts are cut off when she sees, out the window, the Three Lights mini van pull up into the drive. Oh, good! Maybe I'll have a chance to talk to Alex again! See what she thinks about my dilemma. Lita rushes to the door, and opens it up, just as Michelle and Robin walk up to her. Terry, with Susan on his arm, was close behind them.

"Where'd you guys all disappear to? Oohh! And all dressed up too!"

"Some party you didn't tell us about?" Mina demands as the other girls run up. She looked Michelle's fancy gown up and down.

"Well, you could say that." Michelle smiles mysteriously.

"Where's-?" Lita starts to ask of Alex's whereabouts, leaning out the front door, into the shivering cold, not at all prepared for what she sees with a blast of wind in her eyes. "Oh my gosh." She whispers, as her eyes go wide.

"What! What!" Mina, Rei and Serena-even Amy and Tara-see the mystified into shocked look on Lita's usually calm face. All of them push each other to have a peek out the door at what so shocked their levelheaded friend.

And…

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Mina shrieks at the sight, nearly fainting as they all look out into the frozen darkness to see two figures standing in the walkway, hopelessly lost in each other's embrace. And the moon shines brightly down upon this Christmas Eve night.

Sayer, in a white tuxedo, and Alex, in what could be nothing but a wedding dress, stood before them.

"Alex and Sayer?" Amy whispers in disbelief.

"Got married!" Serena blinks at the kissing couple in shock.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Mina could just not take any more, and just fainted dead away-luckily into Ken's arms.

"Alex, Sayer! This is Christmas! Not Halloween!" Rei was the first to recover and in total, utter disbelief, her mind could not even grasp the idea of wild Sayer and independent—ahem-Alex even thinking of….

"We know." Alex laughs at the shocked expressions on every face. She exchanges a pleased look with Sayer, as both seem to relish it.

"Then…it's no joke?" Lita breathes in wonderment. She was stock-frozen, holding the door open as Alex smiles at her. She physically removed Lita's hand from the doorknob and shut it behind them herself.

"No joke, pretty girl." Alex smiles dazzlingly. This off-the-wall news slowly sunk in as the girls looked her up and down.

How stately Alex looked in that gorgeous gown. How perfect her golden tiara veil cascaded down her shoulders, and how unexpectedly happy she looked as Sayer, looking handsome himself in a white tux, sidled up to his new wife.

Wife? Wife? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! Shock over, Lita's joyous eyes take in what was happening-that it was truly possible for tough, tomboyish women to have a normal life too. Alex blasted that path forward as tears fall slowly down Lita's cheeks.

"Don't cry, Lita." Sayer says sweetly, joining Alex's loving hand on her protégé's cheek. "It's not like you're the one who lost your mind and married me." He jabs playfully at himself.

"Did I lose my mind?" Alex looks at him, her eyes dancing upon him.

"That makes two of us then." Sayer smirks that crooked smile.

"I'm so happy for you both!" Serena was the first to congratulate this unlikeliest of unlikely couples.

"Congratulations." She whispers, landing a kiss on Sayer's and then Alex's cheek, more than glad inside that her two wild friends-both very, very near and dear to her heart-had found some kind of connection to share in each other.

"Meatball." Sayer smiles, squeezing one of her "meatballs" with a caring touch.

"Kitten." Alex puts a hand on her princess's shoulder, gratefully knowing that it was true and genuine happiness for them, even though she knew full well that perhaps once, Sayer and Serena were…

Alex knew it, and accepted the past. She was determined now to take what Serena chose not to, and make it her own, just as she vowed.

"Congratulations." Darien could not have been more pleased. Marriage for Sayer meant keeping a pretty clear distance away from his own wife. (He hoped anyway.) And marriage to Alex almost certified that as fact. He knew she would keep more than a watchful eye on him. Darien was not at all disturbed that yet two more of his soldiers were swearing themselves to each other—when it was once believed that they should only to the Princess devote their lives. Darien knew that with these fighting souls, he need not worry that any fire or spirit in battle would be diminished because of their..joining.

"Thanks, Dar." Sayer slaps Darien's back with a loud thud. He now joined the ranks of married men as Serena and the girls lead Alex to the living room for all the juicy details. They ooh-ed and ahh-ed over her dress and veil. Alex rolls her eyes, knowing that this was coming, for she was not one for idle gossip—especially when all she wanted was to be alone with Sayer.

"Uhh, guys, uhhh…." Ken's voice raises above the chitterings of girlish gossip. "What should I do with Mina here?" He asks, pointing down to the fainted girl in his arms.

"Hopefully she'll wake up soon to the little party we're about to throw in celebration of this joyous occasion." Susan slinks down the stairs in a very…slinky…black mini dress on her husband's suited and very pleased looking arm.

"Party? Party!" Mina's fainted form suddenly jumps up from Ken's surprised arms. For even in the depths of unconsciousness, she could hear the word "party."

"Yes." Susan smiles. "Come, girls, get changed. I've gotten you all new party dresses for Christmas and you can choose which one you want." Susan says generously, knowing how the girls all loved a new dress. "Let's get Christmas started early, all right?" Susan was glad now that she had chosen these dresses and the means to make everyone happy. The girls drop their questioning of Alex like a sack of potatoes and race up the stairs to claim their prizes.

"I want the prettiest one first!" They nearly knock Susan and Terry down the stairs in the excited rush. They crash into Michelle who was near the top, and scream, seeing her style of skimpy black mini dress-much like Susan's. That meant theirs were probably like that too.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Mina screams.

Like a troupe of wild elephants they tromp up the stairs to the second floor.

BANG!

Goes the door to Susan's bedroom. Though raised voices could still be heard ensuing inside over who gets what dress. Susan and Michelle hurry to calm the gaggle of girls, leaving Alex the only female in the living room with 9 men. She looks up towards a departing Susan with grateful eyes, quite needing that rescue from the inquiring, giggling girls.

"I have one for you, too, Alex, if you…" Susan returns, offering, but knowing Alex's style was usually pants, and certainly not mini dresses. But maybe she wouldn't mind tonight.

"What do you think, Starr?" Alex watches Sayer look Susan up and down approvingly.

"Right now, Ally, I wouldn't mind if you didn't wear anything." Sayer winks at her, his mind too looking forward to what was coming up.

"I'll see if I can arrange that later." Alex leaves him with a kiss on the lips, and joins Susan's arm as she flows in her wedding gown up the stairs.

Sayer ducks beneath the banister to catch the last glimpse of her as she and Susan disappear up the stairs.

Sigh.

Sayer plops down onto the couch. "So. Anything interesting happen while we were gone?" He asks, nonchalantly, all the men's eyes looking at him strangely. All who knew that woman named Alex Sokova would think him crazy for wanting to take her on.

---

Crashing up the stairs like a torrential stampede, but magically they return like a soft gentle wind a little time later. The girls—ahem—ladies drift down the stairs and appear at the dining room entrance.

They find our industrious men have set the table and put out the already cooked (is something burning?) Christmas meal spread.

"Ladies." Terry looks up and was the first to spot the gorgeous group of women fully decorated in short styled mini dresses. All of them were lovely, breathtaking, and very, very revealing.

"Ally! Sexy!" Sayer was anxiously awaiting her return (leaving the work of setting tables and such to the others). He opted instead for the "tough" task of taste testing each dish. His eyes were rewarded with his new bride. She was wearing an extremely low cut dress.

Wow! That is low!

"Hey!" Alex grabs his chin, and forces his wandering eyes up to meet hers. "You'll get enough of that later." She whispers seductively in his ear.

"Is this a free preview then?" Sayer amorously teases back as she pushes him down into seat at the table.

Sitting down next to him, Sayer could tell that Alex had not had much experience with tight short skirts. He watched in amusement as it slid up despite her constant tugging.

"Oh, well." She shrugs, and gives up on the darn thing.

"Oh, Lita! Oh…you…uhh…I….uhh…." Andrew stumbles guiltily as Lita comes into the kitchen where he was just starting to mash the potatoes on the cluttered with food and pans and dishes counter. The rest of the kitchen was a blooming mess in the way only a group of men could transform a perfectly well run kitchen into a total disaster area.

"Oh, Andrew!" Andrew closes his eyes, ready for the chastisement any sane woman would dole out for such a chaos in her kitchen. (Chad had a little accident with the gravy bowl right after Sayer and Robin had an insulting war with the green beans.) Man, the stains are still on the ceiling!

"You didn't have to do all this! You're so good to me, Andrew." Lita's lovestruck eyes look past the mess, only seeing the sweetness of his trying to be helpful. Andrew looks up, his embarrassment changing into a smile.

No, Lita, you're the wonderful one. Enchanted already, his eyes now look her up and down.

"Lita….you look…beautiful." He says, making her, resplendent in her black dress, blush under his gaze. Though Andrew thinks how she was just as lovely before, even when her hair was askew and scattered with flour and frosting.

"Thank you." Lita blushes. "Here, let me." She takes the mixer from him, and begins to mash the potatoes. "Can you get me the milk, Andrew?" She says, trying to keep her mind on the potatoes.

"How much?" Andrew pours the milk slowly over Lita's shoulder.

"Just a-" Lita looks over her shoulder, noticing Andrew breathing close to her ear, not really paying attention to the milk pouring at all.

"…little…" Lita whispers, lost in his eyes. She moves the mixer too quickly and it splashes the mashed spuds all over.

"Oh! My dress!" Lita pulls away, feeling the warm, gooey potatoes spluttered all over her dress, her face and in her hair. "I must look horrible!" She whimpers, her glorious moment ruined by the unfortunate accident. Andrew must think I'm such a klutz! She wipes the potatoes from her new dress and embarrassed face.

"No, Lita. Never mind that. It's not just the dress that makes you beautiful. It's you." Andrew whispers, and leans in towards her mashed potato stained face. He kisses her lips sweetly, not realizing before just how much he wanted to do that for the longest time, until this very moment.

"Hey, Lita! What's taking you guys so long in there with those—" Rei stops short as she comes in the kitchen door. Her beckoning hand calls in the other girls to see and the whole group, save for the "adult" crowd- Terry, Susan and Darien all remaining in their places at the table, not to mention the two newlyweds who were far too interested in each other to notice Rei's sudden call. Amy and Greg were curious to see; Mina (in a very revealing front lace up outfit that only she would dare wear) drags Ken and Chad along with her. Tara and Sammy tag along behind, and even an intrigued Michelle and her faithful Robin peer in mischievously as they all spy on the budding romance going on in the kitchen.

Quietly, secretly, taking it all in, until…one more joins the scene…

"Ahhhh! Ahhhhhhhhh!" Serena trips on Chad's big foot and the two of them fall, turning the rest of the group in front of them into a line of black mini-dressed dominoes, all of them going, tumbling down…

CRASH!

In a jumble of arms and legs, the gang of eavesdroppers look up with guilty faces at the sacred moment between Andrew and Lita-their first kiss-that they all had just noisily and rudely intruded upon.

"Oh, hi, Lita." Serena, the culprit was atop the pile somehow, and wiggles her fingers, feeling oh-so-guilty to have interrupted such a sweet event.

"Hey, Andrew." Mina similarly sings from the bottom of the heap-no, not the bottom bottom-that spot was reserved for Rei, who was positively steaming at Serena's stupid clumsiness.

"Hi, guys." Lita smiles dreamily, truly a nice person inside, not to be a bit angry with her nosy friends. How could she be angry when her heart was doing somersaults? Oh, Andrew! Andrew! You do like me! Lita looks up shyly into his green eyes. How handsome you look! How adoring he's looking at me! Ooooh, I'm so happy! Lita's heart jumps again as Andrew tenderly brushes the potatoes from her cheeks. He hands her the bowl of slightly soggy mashed spuds, neither of them caring as they carried it, arm-in-arm into the dining room. They were in a cloud as they walked right past the heap of people on the ground.

"Wow." Serena breathes.

"That was so romantic." Michelle coos in a wispy voice as Tara nods in agreement, atop Robin who just rolls his eyes.

"Really, it was." Amy adds, seeming close to tears.

Sigh. Mina sighs loudly with a dreamy expression on her face.

"Yeah, yeah. It was great. Now, get off you bunch of saps!" Rei, buried on the bottom underneath all the sighing girl bodies, angrily shoves Mina's arm and Ken's leg from her back, sending them all flying again. Dinner was nearly cold by the time everyone got untangled and settled back in the dining room, where they all find Darien himself unhappily sighing at the three couples ignoring him totally at the table.

Terry had tried to make pleasant conversation-but who needed conversation when you had a gorgeous wife to kiss? Sayer must be thinking the same thing of his new wife. It was still a difficult word to associate with Alex.

As Alex and Sayer kissed as an "appetizer" while they waited, Andrew and Lita both, Darien finds impossible to speak to. They were so engrossed in each other's eyes.

"Ooh, it's so cozy in here, Muffin!" Serena bounces up to her husband, sliding in next to him in her seat. She lifted her face to be kissed too, but Darien was not in the mood.

"I'll finish carving the ham." He offers instead, as Terry had abandoned that job as Susan tempted him with something far sweeter than honey ham and pineapples. Darien places some of the delicious meat on his wife's plate, knowing that she would enjoy that almost as much.

"Ham!" Serena takes the bait, sitting up like a proper young woman, straight in her seat. "I'll say grace." She announces excitedly, as everyone takes their places. Each couple was seated next to each other, all around the table.

"Grace!" Mina commands of those not paying attention, she jabs Sayer in the gut with one elbow and Sammy with her other, as her eyes close and her hands clasp together reverently as if she were a perfect little angel.

"Ow!" Sayer pulls away, rubbing his side. Alex laughs at him as he shoots Rei a nasty look.

"Dear Lord," Serena starts her prayer as all eyes close, all ears listening raptly to her sweet voice.

"Thank you for this wonderful meal that we all helped to make—especially delicious, because we made it together. Thank you for this Christmas Eve night to share with our dearest friends. Bless our families near and far wherever they may be. Thank you for the joyful surprises of today. Bless their happiness and their love."

Under the table, Sayer grips Alex's hand tenderly, and she does not pull away. Lita and Andrew open their eyes, exchanging a shy smile.

"And thank you for giving us this special present that this life would be so empty without - friendship. Amen."

Serena, though sometimes, well, often, was ditzy and silly, could also be wise in her genuine way. The overwhelming goodness of her heart-truly a God-given gift-to which she had touched each and every one gathered around that happy table.

"All right! Let's dig in! Pass me those marshmallow yams. Will you, Chad? Oooh, ooh, some of Lita's yummy rolls, too!" From wise to ditz in .03 seconds, Serena was an original and a lovable one at that. Everyone chuckled at her as they dished out the delicious ham meal, flooding the hall with cheerful conversation (and a few whispered promises too) as the room fills with Christmas Eve spirit and happy friendship as our group enjoy each other's company, and Lita's home-cooked meal too.

After dinner, the girls decide to enchant their guys with a spin or two around the dance floor. Those musically inclined-which was nearly everyone—took to the conservatory and take up the instruments therein.

Terry plays the piano even more beautifully than he ever had before, with Susan next to her beloved, playing along with him. Everyone was surprised at how well she could play, and she explained that Terry was a good teacher.

Lita and Andrew shyly lean into each other's arms, as they dance sweetly, while Alex and Sayer, dance very slowly cheek to cheek.

Michelle plays a special song on her violin dedicated to her beloved Amara. It's sad, soft melody slowly becomes confident and strong, then suddenly triumphant though the sweet melody never changes. Alex blows a kiss across the room to her cousin over Sayer's shoulder as they dance.

A few spins around the room for all our romantic couples, except for Tara and Sammy. She didn't push him when he just lounged around the refreshment table. She was considerate enough to realize that maybe he wasn't confident to dance yet. She begins to devise how she would give him that extra nerve he needed.

---

And then, it was present opening time! Mina and Serena had finally cajoled Rei into letting them open just a few hours early. What helped them most was the huge package tempting her that held her name upon the lid, though she swore she didn't know whom it was from. Mina and Serena both knew the scrawled handwriting belonged to Chad and they knew they Rei knew that too.

Like wild children, Serena, Mina and Rei rip open their loads of gifts each. Tara sweetly goes beneath the monstrous tree, delivering the gifts to the more "adult" crowd who sat quietly chatting on the couch by the crackling, roasting chestnuts fireplace. They were amused, watching the "children", as Alex affectionately dubbed them, and even more so to find Sayer one too, he crawling beneath the tree's limbs and knocking down many ornaments onto Rei's head. She, however, pays no attention to this as she opens the big box first, finding a gorgeous red silk kimono of the finest quality within. Chad blushes as she promptly loses her mind and kisses him on cheek, then hurriedly covers up her outburst with a complaint or two about the color (which she really loved anyway!).

Watching the others open her little homemade gifts—a pair of mittens for Serena, a stuffed doll of Sailor Pluto for Tara (her favorite heroine ), etc-Lita is surprised to find a box to her written in Andrew's handwriting. Opening it, she finds a chef's hat, just like the kind she'd always dreamed of having someday.

"It's for when you're head cook at your own bakery." Andrew says proudly of he well though out gift.

'Thanks for that vote of confidence." Lita kisses his cheek, as their hands grasp tightly to each other. Lita was pleased to finally have found someone who understood her dreams so well.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Mina holds up a sparkling new microphone, acting as though she were onstage, instead of under Chad's Christmas tree.

"Thank you, Kenny!" She sings into it, hugging the poor lad so hard he could hear his ribs almost cracking.

"Pots and pans?" Serena's exuberance over her noisy-clanging-in-it's-box-as-she-shook-it gift from her husband fades as she looks at the boring things unsatisfactorily.

"To replace all those ones you've burnt holes into." Darien says seriously, then smiles at her disappointed face. "Look inside them, won't you?"

Serena pulls off the lids on the steaming pan and a cute little bunny rabbit plush pops out. Giggling like a little girl, she pops open the rest of the lids to find a whole family of bunnies, each holding a heart shaped protective picture frames of different styles and colors.

"Muffin!" Serena hugs her husband adoringly, he knew how she cherished her photos of her loved ones.

"Here!" She hands him her gift proudly. Darien opens it to find a new, electric shaver inside.

"When we were packing, I dropped your old one in the toilet by accident-and I flushed it down." Serena bites her accident-prone lip.

"So that's where it disappeared to" Darien smiles until he sees every other male around him, save for Sammy who got a video game, the same exact electric shavers in their hands.

"Serena. You didn't!" Darien whispers, knowing how much these shavers cost…

"Oh! I took your wallet, too. I didn't know what else to get everyone I got all the guys the same shavers and the girls all bracelets." Serena nods at her own ingenuity. Darien holds his spinning head at her over-spending tendencies.

"Thanks, Meatball!" Sayer calls across the room, holding his gift up. "I forgot mine at home so I've been borrowing Rob's but it doesn't shave as clean." Sayer rubs his slightly stubbly chin, as Alex reaches out to examines it for herself.

"What! You've been using mine!" Robin shrieks angrily, now realizing where those little black hairs came from-—his being of a lighter shade.

"Oh, Robin!" Michelle exclaims as she opens his gift to her - a gorgeous gold necklace, with a huge flawless emerald set within it.

"It's beautiful." She holds it up to the light. "Here. Put it on me." She hands it to Robin, flipping her hair over her shoulders, stealing a kiss as he leans his hand in putting the necklace clasp around her neck.

"Look, Susan! Isn't it wonderful?" Michelle bubbles at the elegant jewelry now adorning her shapely neck.

"So lovely!" Susan smiles brightly, sifting through the many presents on her lap, all of them sweet little tokens from each of her dearest friends. A little bracelet, a box of chocolates, a set of porcelain figurines, but not the one she was especially looking forward to.

"Where is it, darling?" Susan says anxiously, looking into his eyes, his beautiful dancing eyes. She joins in his playful smile and frisks his suit pockets.

"Where? Tell me!" She giggles, tickling him when she finds the pockets bereft of any hidden presents. She continues until he falls backward to the couch, chuckling at the delight on her features.

"Inside left pocket." What a wonderful sound his laughter was, Susan tickling the answer out of him. She excitedly looks into that pocket and finds a tiny, little velvet box with sweet little gold and silver ribbons tied around, sealed artistically. Carefully undoing the wraps, her excitement overtakes her, and she yanks off the final ribbon, opening the box to reveal a beautiful heart-shaped pin inside. It was delicately engraved with golden ribbons and classic designs. A sparkling, iridescent glass dome was tastefully centered in the middle of its elegant jeweled surroundings.

"Terry." Susan whispers, touching the gorgeous heart pin with adoration.

"Hold it up to the light and look inside the center." Terry caresses her fingers, and removes the pin from its case, holding it up for her to see in the light, words which seemed by magic inscribed within:

The Gift

Within a lifetime there are so many things a man can experience

Joy, hope, love—the ones he can strive his entire life for

I need not any longer search for their true perfection

In you, I have found the sweetest of sweet joys

In you I have discovered the most treasured of treasured hopes

In you I have been blessed by absolute and unending love

To which I will always promise to you

My joy, I swear

My hope, I pledge

My love, I vow

For you are my perfect gift

Susan, my beloved wife

I will cherish you eternally

"Oh, darling." Susan's eyes well up with tears at the beautiful poetry he wrote just for her-the poetry of his soul. This first Christmas together meant so much to her.

"I love you." Terry whispers in her hair as he pulls her close.

"I love you." Susan whispers back, one joyous tear drops on the purple tie she hand crafted for her husband lovingly. He had worn it with pride, pleased with the handiwork of love given to him by his beloved lady.

"Look what Sammy made for me!" Tara runs up to Susan and Terry, holding out a darling little statue mounted on a wooden platform, of Sailor Saturn.

---

In the background, Amy and Greg laugh because they bought each other the same books for presents.

"It's a very good likeness, Samuel." Susan says smiling, wiping away her tears as Terry pins the brooch onto her dress as he whispers something into her ear.

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Sayer says, plopping his tired out self next to them, squeezing over Susan until she slides onto Terry's lap-neither of them much minding that arrangement at all-as Alex sits next to Sayer herself.

"Here." She simply slaps a very plainly wrapped box into his lap as she sits.

"Is this all the trade I get for the Christmas present I gave you?" Sayer teases as he, just like a typical man, rips open the package of his favorite cologne.

"I nearly used it up on you last time we went to the disco. I figured you needed some more." She says, shrugging. "Besides, I'll give you the rest of my 'presents' later." Alex breathes, opening the cologne and rubbing a bit behind Sayer's ears.

A few minutes later, everyone had finished their early Christmas Eve gift giving ceremonies, all pleased with not only their new presents but with the thoughtfulness that came with each one from each friend. The true joy of Christmas was bringing friendship and love to the hearts of those we care about.

---

Everything settling down, Rei recruits just about everyone to help clean up the wrapping paper mess, ordering Chad about like a queen to a slave, wrapped in her new kimono. Lita and Andrew go off to the kitchen to prepare some good old holiday egg nog and cocoa, with cookies. Upon their return, all of the friends gather around the fireplace, as Terry lifts his glass high towards his brother and his new wife.

"I believe in view of this happy occasion, I'll take the honor of proposing a toast." Terry smiles warmly at Sayer and Alex. "To your marriage." Terry starts with a nod.

"Hey, Chad, old buddy, you got anything stronger than this stuff?" Sayer whispers loudly, holding his glass of egg nog up, his eyes full of devilish mischief.

"Yeah, for me too. Lord knows I'm going to need something to put up with you." Alex's tongue was as sharp as ever, marriage certainly didn't dull the blows she regularly dealt out to Sayer when he deserved it - which was quite often.

Sayer makes a pouty face, as everyone giggles at this rocky road their lives starting together already seemed to present. Two glasses of brandy are soon in their hands -that's all that Chad could find on such short notice as he was not a drinking man -and Terry clears his throat.

"If we can begin again?" He exchanges a smile with Susan, and stands again.

"By all means." Alex says nonchalantly, swirling the contents of her glass around.

"A toast, to you, Alex and Sayer. May your marriage be as blessed as I know it can be." Terry smiles down at his wife who blushes sweetly. "May troubles be washed away by understanding and your lives enveloped in love for one another." Terry lifts his glass.

"I'll say 'Cheers' to that. How 'bout you, Ally?" Sayer lifts his own glass.

"Doesn't sound too bad…at the moment." Alex uses her own brand of humor as she lifts her glass.

"Congratulations." Terry starts the glasses clinking, everyone enjoying their egg nog after exchanging congratulatory clinks with the newlywed couple. Sayer and Alex save their clinks with each other until last, and look meaningfully into each other's eyes as they do.

"To a certain golden beauty who taught my wandering heart what love truly is." He holds out his glass to hers.

"To a certain dark beauty who captured mine in that wanderlust." Alex mumbles softly so only he could hear what is intended for his ears alone. Clink. Alex sips her drink first, then offers it to Sayer who accepts it as he puts down his own. The significance of their sharing warms their hearts, as the rest of the gang chatters amicably.

---

DING DONG.

A surprising ring of the doorbell and Rei opens it as if it were her mansion (hee hee).

"I've got a special delivery her for a…" The young lad reads of the name on the package…."Mrs. Starr."

Able to hear, Susan looks up at Terry with wonder, until the boy repeats "A Mrs. Alex Starr." The lad unknowingly sets off a bomb as he reads off the name.

"Mrs. Starr? Don't you ever call me that!" Alex snaps angrily at the poor frightened messengerboy.

"Yes, she's here." Rei quietly accepts the package, as the young man and everyone else in the household cowers at Alex's explosion. He simply hands Rei the package without getting the required signature and dashes away with a "Merry Christmas!" on his frightened lips.

"I didn't, Ally! Really, I didn't!" Sayer says innocently to her angry gaze, his eyes wide as Rei hands Alex the controversial package.

"Yeah, right. Who else would know ahead of time about our…." Alex opens the box as he speaks, to reveal a very, very scanty red and black lace negligee, obviously a honeymoon surprise. Blinking, she looks up from it to Sayer in accusation, as everyone else's jaws drop in awe of the gift intended for tough guy Alex.

"Starr-" She says threateningly at his seemingly presumptuous attitude that she would have just definitely accepted his proposal to have ordered such a thing for her. But with one look in his shocked eyes and blushed face, she knew he was telling her the truth.

"Ally-I didn't-" He shakes his head innocently as Alex studies the postage on the box. It was from a well-known shop in Tokyo. Special delivery-shipped today. Someone else who would buy her such a thing DID know, she remembers suddenly.

"Michelle!" Alex turns to the young woman seated across from her, her eyebrows raised and lip twisted at the French culprit.

"Don't you like it, Amara? And moreover, do you, Sayer?" Michelle coos in her amorous manner.

"Michelle!" Robin cuts off her embarrassing words in front of everyone, burying his head in his hands.

"What, Robin? Anyway, well, Amara dear, I know your wardrobe. You have absolutely NOTHING appropriate for a honeymoon, especially everything being so spur of the moment. Just consider it a little extra Christmas gift from Robin and I." Michelle thinks it very gallant of herself to make sure Amara was prepared for every part of her wedding.

"Poor Robin had such a time getting it too! The local shop here just didn't have the right colors. Did it, Robin dear? So we had to send away express from my….friend in Tokyo." Michelle babbles on, Robin keeps his head down with a sigh, as Alex looks at Sayer, who looks up at her meekly, then smiles.

"Michelle." Alex chuckles, then stuffs the red and black lace back into it's box. "Thank you." Alex brushes her aqua curls with care, smiling at Michelle's sweet-ahem-thoughtfulness.

"I'm sure it won't go to waste." She smirks at her blushing new husband, enjoying his cute embarrassed expressions as she stands.

"So what do you say, Starr?" Alex asks.

"About-?" Sayer's mind was still reeling from the last scene enacted before him.

"Are we going on a honeymoon- - or are you just all talk?" She smirks as she leaves the room, stopping in the doorway.

"I'll meet you down here in 5 minutes. Don't you be late." Alex throws over her shoulder, as Michelle trots along after her.

"Ahhhhh! I've gotta pack!" Sayer jumps up, about to dash up to his room.

"Don't worry, Sayer. You're all ready. Just bring down your suitcases." Robin says, his lip twisted in disgust.

"Gee….thanks…Rob." Sayer was surprised and grateful for his brother's unusual helpfulness.

"Don't thank me. Thank Michelle. Besides, I'm glad to have the room to myself. I hope Alex can get used to your snoring - I sure couldn't." Robin complains but even as he says the words he still is appalled by the thoughts they conjured up.

"Maybe she won't have the chance to hear my snoring all that much." Sayer smiles, his meaning going over most everyone's heads save for a few more experienced souls in the room.

Darien raises his eyebrows, Terry and Susan look at each other, as Robin shakes his head in horror at the very thought of sleeping…with Alex. AHHHHHHHHH! As he watches Sayer's lovestruck gaze up the stairs after the departing difficult creature…

---

"Amara darling, don't ever change, my beloved one." Michelle stops her cousin with a hug and a kiss.

"You know I never will, Michelle. Just as my love for you." Alex hugs her back tightly.

"I love you, too." Michelle kisses her cheek again warmly.

"Just...promise me you'll behave while I'm gone." Alex teases, only half seriously, as she buries her face in Michelle's soft hair.

"How can you ask me to promise something when I know you're-" Michelle pulls away, smirking at Alex's shocked serious expression, causing her to stop in her mid sarcasm.

"Yes, I promise."

"Good." Alex nods, winning once again as she affords Robin a warning glare.

"The 5 minutes are up! Now let's get you off to that honeymoon! Where're you going anyway? Abroad? I want to go around the world when Robin and I…" Michelle trails off, a dreamy expression on her face.

"Michelle. You and that shrimp better not run off and…" Alex warns again, the silver haired young man appearing more shocked than she as he unsuccessfully tries to fade in the background.

"Yes! Yes! I'm only dreaming of the future! You're the one who's got her present to worry about. Where is Sayer taking you?"

"I don't know. And I don't care. Just as long as we get there soon." Alex need not explain to Michelle her growing impatience.

Michelle was sure she would feel the same way…someday (sigh)…She shuts the door to the room now only she and Tara would share, taking Alex's arm as they start down the stairs to a new life….

"I thought you said 5 minutes." Sayer leans lazily on the banister's edge, smiling with a smart-aleck remark at his new wife.

"It's only been-"

"6 minutes." Sayer holds up his wrist to display his watch.

"Who's counting anyway?" Alex says nonchalantly, flipping her golden hair back.

"I am." Sayer leans towards her as she and Michelle reach the bottom level at the end of the staircase.

"So am I." Alex whispers low, pulling him close to her. Michelle considerately moves out of the picture as their mouths draw near.

"Is the engine warmed up?" Alex asks.

"And revving." Sayer says, his context conveying to Alex more than just the automobile's current status.

"So, where are you two going!" Serena bounces in on her husband's arm. A small "oh" erupts from her face when she sees she was interrupting something.

"Secret, Meatball." Sayer answers her over his shoulder, he then turns back to Alex, which causes her to start getting curious.

"A secret? Not even a hint, Alex?" Mina and her drag-along companion Ken come into the main hall entrance, the other trailing in behind.

"Not a chance. A honeymoon is a honeymoon. The secrecy adds to the…mystique, don't you think?" Alex says as she pulls on her leather jacket.

"Well, anyway, have fun, you two!" Lita smiles at her mentor warmly.

"Oh, we will." Sayer says with mischief in his eyes.

"Take care, pretty girl." Alex caresses Lita's cheek tenderly, and gives Andrew a thoughtful glance.

"Good luck!" Mina springs out of nowhere.

"You're sure gonna need it." Robin mumbles under his breath, which in turn gets a killing look from Alex, who knew exactly what he was inferring.

"Don't be gone too long. I miss you both already." Serena gives each a hug, looking as if she was about to cry. Darien twists his lip, wondering why she always gave special attention to that man.

"No promises, Meatball." Alex ruffles her princess's meatball head.

"Bye, Alex-papa. Bye, Sayer…" Tara trails off, wondering if she should call him "papa" now too, but one look at his youthful eyes made her doubt she ever could.

"See ya, Pip-squeak." Sayer pops Tara's little nose.

"Have a wonderful time." Amy smiles sweetly, Greg nods politely, though he didn't really know either of them well at all.

"Come back in one piece, okay?" Rei smirks.

"REI!" The girls say in chorus. "What kind of thing is that to say to a newly married couple?"

Alex and Sayer ignore the snide remark, going out the door with Michelle, Terry and Susan following to say their goodbyes.

"Enjoy yourselves." Susan whispers into the cold night air, everyone's breath turning into mists.

"If you insist." Sayer kisses her new sister-in-law on the cheek, exchanging a silent grateful look with her and Terry, whose arm was around his wife's waist.

"And for heaven's sake, keep each other warm!" Michelle and Alex exchange a final kiss. Sayer turns to give her an excited "thumbs up" sign, happy as a puppy, as he and Alex speed off into the Christmas Eve night in her red Ferrari.