The Wedding

Authors note at the end. Enjoy!

"Shizuo, where are my shoes!" Mercy called from Shyanne's guest bedroom.

After nearly six years of planning, it was surreal to finally getting ready for her friend's wedding. Mercy tilted her head, eyeing herself in the hot pink dress with a black sash dress. Her silver hair pulled into a half up-do bun, with small curls of hair dangling at her temples. Up until today, neither she nor chan thought the hot pink mini length scoop with capped sleeves would look good on them, but Mercy was happily proven wrong. Shizuo rounded the corner, holding her strappy black heels in one hand and her pink rose bouquet in the other.

"On the dining room table, like I told you after breakfast." He smiled. "How's the bride?"

"She's showering right now. The makeup artist is running five minutes late, and the hairstylist is coming early." Mercy rolled her eyes. "How's the groom?"

"Halfway dressed, and bubbling with joy."

Mercy slipped her shoes on, using Shizuo as a balancing object as they spoke. Somewhere her child was rushing through the brand-new house, trying to stay both clean and out of the way. When the doorbell rang, Shyanne was already out of her bathroom, and putting on her undergarments. Shizuo took his hint to leave, as Mercy and Chan rushed to the master bedroom. The two-story house buzzed with activity, as the bridal party took care of their friend upstairs, and the grooms party made sure to arrive in pristine shape. Two children rushed to meet Shizuo at the door, the ring bearer wearing a black suit with a hot pink sash across his waist, and the flower girl in a white tulle gown and pink sash.

"Is aunty Shyanne ready?" the two mused, in unison.

"Almost." Shizuo hummed, opening the door. "She's upstairs and all the way down the hall. You'll be doing her hair before the make-up artist." He breathed to the hairdresser. "Kids, can you do me a huge favor?"

"What is it Uncle Shizuo?" the boy asked, shifting uncomfortably.

"You need to tell the men that their ride is here." The ringbearer shot down the hall screaming his directions. "and you little miss, need to stay here, and keep the ladies on schedule."

"Will do Shizu-chan."

Her dark curls bounced as she stumbled up the stairs. The women had an hour to get Shyanne's hair and make-up done, and get her dress perfectly on before they had to leave. There was no doubt that they'd stay on track with Mercedes, but having an extra pair of hands always helped. Shizuo sank into the limo with the other groom's men, now all they had to do was wait. The doorbell rang again, only this time, Mercy rushed down the stairs.

"Thank god you're here." She mused, ushering the make-up artist up the stairs. "You'll be working with the hairdresser, she's halfway done."

It was hot under the Ikebukuro afternoon sun, as the wedding party filed down the busy streets. All the sights and smells felt like home, bringing a bright smile to Mercedes features.

"Do you regret anything?" Shyanne questioned, lacing her fingers with her friend.

"Hm?" Mercy asked, watching as the two children played in the square. "What is it that you are suggesting I regret?"

"Being a single mother, owning your own branch of Wolfmen and Heart, leaving Izaya."

Shyanne's mouth dried out at the mere mention of the man she still distasted. Mercy on the other hand sent her dearest of friend a saddened smile, she still loved the idiot, and harbored no hard feelings towards him. Her fingers lightly pressed against Shyanne's bare shoulders, before her attention went around the area no longer hearing the laughter of children.

"Shizuo," Mercy's voice shook, fear shaking her being. "Where are the children?"

The park square bustled with hundreds of people, brining tons of different possibilities for entertainment. A cute couple sat neatly in the corner, whispering sweet nothings in to each other's' ears. Izaya took special note, of when the female was looking somewhere else, the boy would eye the young brunette across the way. That may come in handy later, he thought as his eyes darted around the rest of the park, until a small child with raven black hair danced into view. Her sparkling emerald eyes fluttering to his, before she marched to his feet, arms on her hips.

"Why hello little girl," Izaya chuckled, amused by the girl's directness. "How may I be of service to you?"

"I lost my aunties wedding party." She hummed, glancing around the area. "Do you happen to know where it is?"

"I do not, but I'm sure we could find…"

His thought was intruded, hearing someone frantically calling out a name. Again, Izaya's eyes flickered up, to the direction the girl came. His blood running cold, when Mercedes parted through the crowd, fear shaking her eyes. Izaya paled, glancing down to the child, it's been almost six years, meaning this small girl…. He took a shaky step back.

"Hanako," Mercy's voice wavered, as she picked up the child. "What have I told you about wandering off."

"Don't do it."

The small child looked to the ground, a mild pout touching her features as her mother chastised her. Izaya stood, looking from child to mother, unsure if he should just back away and leave, or to stay. Mercy didn't age a bit, though her long silver hair seemed shorter, or maybe that was the hair style she'd chosen. She hadn't noticed his presence yet, he could still make a dash for it, as if the little girl could hear his thoughts, she pointed to the informant.

"Mommy, this nice man was going to help me find you again."

Mercy glanced up, meeting his eyes. He'd expected she'd get upset, maybe even sick the blond bouncer on him, instead Mercy's eyes softened. Her eyes saying something, neither of them should be thinking, 'I miss you.' Her strong arms scooped the young child into her body, as she stood to her full height.

"Hanako, I don't know how you did it, but you've managed to find your daddy." Mercy hummed, kissing the girl's cheek. "Hanako, this is your father Izaya…. Izaya, this is your daughter."

"You don't look like how I imagined you." Hanako's face wrinkled into a scowl.

"And I thought Mercy would have a boy." Izaya rolled his eyes.

Mercedes's name echoed through the courtyard, the voice is one Izaya could never forget. Shizuo rounded the corner, finding them almost instantly, his arms wrapped around another young child. This one a boy with blond fluffy hair and the most captivating blue eyes. Izaya's smile fell to a grimace, had Shizuo taken his place in Mercy's bed? He wondered watching as the tall man stiffened, but still approached.

"Uncle Shizuo, look who we've found!" Hanako shouted, nearly tipping out of Mercedes arms.

"Looks like you've found a flea." Shizuo growled out.

"Shizu-chan, be nice." Mercy sighed. "Thank god you've found Tsume, Chan would have killed me if we lost her child."

Izaya sighed, glad to hear they were still only friends.

"We should be going; the reception will be starting soon." The blond murmured.

"I-uh- we should go," Mercy sighed, "But, maybe we could have lunch and catch up."

Izaya nodded, knowing that he fully meant to disappear after this. He'd successfully erased her from his life, and didn't want to go through that process again. He watched as they disappeared into the crowed, at least the question of what his child looked like was answered. Mercy smiled, feeling as a single tear slid down her face, knowing this was the last time they would see each other again.

"Mommy, I'm glad I got to meet him." Hanako hummed, lightly hugging her mothers side. "I wont see him again, will I?"

"We don't know that." Mercy breathed shakily. "We'll just have to see."

Announcements: Ok, I know, it's a bittersweet ending. I also know that I'll have disappointed many of you, and I'm sorry for that, but this was always the ending. From post one, I've known this is how it was going to end, though, if push comes to shove I would be willing to do a short sequel.

PM me if you have any requests for my next series, and if you haven't already checked out my In-Captivity story, please do. Thank you all, for following this story!