The years have changed them, no doubt.

Definitely in the physical sense, at least, Verosika thinks as she steals a peak at Wally buttoning up his shirt. After all this time, their time together, it still gives her a little giddy thrill.

Wally's hairline is receding, and his moustache and goatee is in the process of going properly silver. His perpetually smiling face now sports a few wrinkles; but on the whole ageing really suits him, makes him look all the wiser and all the more mischievous. He could play the role of kindly, eccentric grandfather exceptionally well in a few year's time… if he ever stops panicking at the merest hint of his little girl Whitney settling down.

Verosika glances back at her own reflection in the vanity mirror, her hands slowly exploring her metamorphosed form.

Her platinum-blonde hair is more platinum than blonde these days, though still as long and luscious as ever. She's dodged wrinkles – she can thank her succubi genetics and a very time-consuming skincare routine for that. But twenty-odd years of hearty home cooked meals and having three kids has noticeably altered her waistline and given her a pronounced mom bod. She said goodbye to her hourglass figure long ago and hasn't looked back – hello pudge, hello stretch marks, hello forty-two thirty-nine fifty-six, you can see she got it all!

(Whenever Wally calls her a MILF she wacks him – heh – with a pillow, and then they end up having a pillow fight, and then more often than not end up having to lock the bedroom door.)

So, yeah. They look older. But feeling older - nah, not really. Wally's taken up surfing, tapdancing, gone climbing the high mountains at the borders of Pride, dabbled in his innovations and ventures and schemes with the same keen mind as he's always had – he's as energetic as ever, if that's any indication.

And Verosika? She doesn't feel stretched so thin like she used to, balancing on the precipice of binge-drinking every other night to fill the void within. Sure, she's thicker around the middle, but she's also full of energy; lasting energy that gets her through the sound checks, the concerts, the debriefs, the meet-&-greets, the VIP functions, the press conferences. She's got the energy to properly enjoy her free time, to revel in her continued reign as one of Hell's most enduring musical legends, the energy to be truly happy without the aid of a bottomless flask of Beelzejuice.

And her and Wally's love for one another? Now that hasn't changed a bit.

Which is why they're here in Lust, the ring in which they met, borrowing one of Ozzie's private lakehouse properties to renew their vows. Nothing fancy, just close friends and the family they've built, a deliciously-scented table of catered cupcakes, a view across the lake to double-die for… and of course, the two of them.

Wally's practically finished dressing by the time Verosika shakes herself out of her reverie and starts getting properly dressed herself – a ruffled white tie-back dress with gold lining. It's not traditional or formal, but honestly? Screw dress codes.

"Hmmm…Wally?"

"Yes, love?"

"Could you tie me up at the back, please?

Her husband chuckles. "Of course, I say." There's his gentle presence behind her, and he takes each end of her dress's waist tie and weaves it into a bow at the small of her back.

Verosika turns around, clasps Wally's hands, and kisses him; he returns, pressing against her front. It would have been a chaste kiss for Verosika twenty years younger… but now it might just be her all-time favourite expression of love. It's gentle, caring; it's s un-succubi-ish and all the more special for it, a reminder she's partnered with someone who sees her as far more than a popstar-sex idol.

"Twenty years, huh?" she whispers against his lips.

"What a twenty years, I say," Wally sighs contentedly. "No regrets. I'd do it all the same all over again in a flash."

"I regret not having a few more of the homemade chocolates at Apple & Coco's hen night," Verosika admits cheekily.

Wally laughs. "I tell ya, darlin', I'm this close to replicatin' the recipe! I'll get it someday soon!"

She pinches his cheek fondly. "I know you will. But even if you couldn't…you're sweeter than any chocolate, Wally."

"Thought you'd know well by now I am a savory!" Wally boops her playfully. "You're the sweet one, love."

Her heart swells, where long ago it might have shrunk with insecurity and self-doubt. She leans in to kiss him again, and the kiss lasts a long while.

The prepubescent warble of Willy's voice echoes through the lakehouse. "Ma! Da! Are you ready yet? Everyone else is."

Verosika and Wally break apart, only slightly reluctantly. "I say, we're comin', kiddo!" Wally calls back, without taking his eyes off Verosika.

He proffers his arm. "Ready?"

"With you? Of course."

So they link arms and walk on out together, through the exorbitant vaulted hallways of the lakehouse, out onto the patio and the garden beyond. A path leads through the symmetrical arrangements of blue phallic conifers, and suggestively trimmed hedges, to a gazebo on the shore of the shimmering lake.

Lining the path are Verosika's posse; her closest associates and her longest friends. Milky; stouter and hair going grey. Apple and Coco, beaming tiredly and cradling their new twins. Kiki; slender and sly and elegant as ever. Kat, who's gone the whole hog and dressed semi-formally for the occasion; flushing under Kiki's bemused gaze. Josh and Ace, rockin their own dad bods; their son Zak perched merrily on Ace's broad shoulders. Vortex and Bianca; with their gaggle of hellhound pups in toe.

A few from Wally's side have shown up as well; the eccentric inventors Loopty and Lyle in eye-wateringly neon suits, wiping tears from their eyes with equally neon handkerchiefs. Verosika owed the sinner pair a favour after they repaired and improved all her gear on that one nightmare of a tour, so here they are breaking out of the Pride Ring for a day.

And then – their prides and joys, their children. Whitney, her neat-and-tidy makeup and outfit betrayed by her wide smile and arched eyebrows; she tosses a handful of lavender petals onto the path as her parents approach. Violettie, in her favourite purple dress, bouncing up and down on the spot with excitement. Willy, caught in the throes of early teenagehood in his baggy dress pants, he just looks pleased to be there.

Her family. Their family. A more meaningful audience than the tens of thousands who cram into stadiums to see her in concert.

Verosika and Wally reach the gazebo at last, take in the view across the lake to the white-capped summits of Mammatus Mons in the distance. Her dress flutters in the breeze. If the rest of her existence could be just like this moment, she'd call it her own Heaven.

They turn to face each other, joining hands, and staring deeply into each other's eyes. From the garden side they can hear Josh sniffle emotionally, and Violettie's shoes go tippy-tap on the path.

Verosika breathes in.

"Wally. We've been together twenty years. Twenty sexy, fulfilling, amazing years. To steal a lyric from a song I adore – 'if this is Hell, it's heavenly.'"

"My darling Verosika, my love, it's been the most fantastic journey of my life with you. And I'd say, I'd like to keep on going. Make new memories with ya. I love ya, baby."

"I love you too, beau."

The question is obvious, and the answer is too. It was the first time, twenty years ago, and it is now. Verosika and Wally Wackford-Mayday's red diamond rings sparkle on their fingers, just as the light catches on their pearly smiles, just as elated wetness sparkles in both their eyes.

"I do."

"I say, I do."

To a smattering of cheers, wolf-whistles, and blowing-of-noses, Wally dips Verosika, and for the one-hundred-and-twenty-eighth time that day, they kiss.

Here's to them, and here's to another twenty years.

A/N:

Whitney, Violettie, and Willy are Mayford fankids created by danidraws666 - thanks Dani for letting me borrow them in this fic!

And that's a wrap for Mayford Week 2022! It's been one of the most frenetic writing storms of my life, I think, and I've really enjoyed coming up with various cute, sappy, spicy, and heartfelt Mayford scenarios and snapshots. I've also really enjoyed reading the stellar Mayford fics by Cyan and Bookworm (do go check those out too!) and I've really appreciated the reads and reviews and responses on my set of stories!

Thank you, and see you next time around - fingers crossed for Mayford Week 2023 (and maybe even canon Mayford by then? please Viv?)