July 20th, 1984 (Cont'd)

Thrakos Argyros had grown up used to the spotlight. His grandfather and his father, both, had been President of Creta, and while Thrakos had never had high political aspirations, he was used to his family being in the news and being of interest to others. He had never told Minxia about the gossip magazines that had speculated about their relationship as early as college. It had been harder in high school, when their being minors and on a private campus had made it nearly impossible for the Cretan press to get in or find out more than rumors.

He had long accepted that whenever he got married—thankfully much sooner than his rakish uncle Ziro had managed it!—it would be a large affair. Traditions dictated it, even in a modern country like Creta. The people would be dying for pictures and news of the event, and the one thing Thrakos had handled so that Minxia did not have to, was arranging the right photographers to be there, and hiring a private film company to do a small film to remember the day. They were circumspect, and known for their discretion. He had also determined what would go out in the press packets when it was all over.

Minxia had looked horrified at the very idea of sending anything to the press. At least until Thrakos had explained why they needed to send out what they wanted people to see, rather than whatever people could presume, or sneak.

He had no doubt that whatever she was wearing today, Minxia would set wedding fashion trends for the next year just by virtue of who she was, and the family into which she was marrying.

When she entered the room, thoughts of everything else flew from Thrakos' head. A vision, a Cretan goddess herself floated down the aisle, flawless; perfect; with an expression of pure serenity.

Their eyes locked. It was only when her hand touched his that Thrakos realized that Minxia had walked the entire length of the palatial throne room, climbed the stairs, and handed her flowers to Angelique, who was beaming behind her.

In the last few bars of music, Minxia leaned her head in slightly, and whispered, "We made it."

Thrakos had to resist the urge to kiss her right then. He did chuckle very softly. "You're perfect." As always.

Only his nerves about misspeaking during the vows kept Thrakos cognizant of what was going on around him. He very much wanted to lose himself in the sight of his Minx. He heard the Cretan priest speaking of love, devotion, hardship and reward. He was aware of his family, seated below, and hers, all of them beaming, happy. He could feel the good will in the audience, but it was a vague awareness. Minxia overwhelmed his senses.

At least until he heard the words "the couple will now exchange their vows to each other." That was his cue.

Thrakos swallowed, and looked into Minxia's dark eyes. ::I promise myself, Thrakos Argyros, to you, Minxia Elric, as your loyal, honored husband,:: he began in Xingese, as they had discussed, ::to provide for you, care for you in need, and be in all ways a faithful husband and father to our future children; in all things to be a credit to our house and bring esteem and good reputation to our house in all things.:: Now Cretan. ::I promise to be your protector, and defend you, and your honor, from any who would challenge or in any way disparage your name, or that of your family, for we are now all one in blood and bond.::

"But most importantly," he smiled as he shifted into Amestrian, "I give my oath, that I will support you in all your dreams and passions. I will respect and value your ideas and opinions, and be an equal partner to you, so that we can build a life together that will bring us both joy, support, and satisfaction. You are everything to me, Minx, and I could ask for no greater gift in the world, than to be with you for the rest of our lives."

Minxia was beaming. Into the hushed silence of the attentive crowd, she began. ::I promise myself, Minxia Elric, to you, Thrakos Argyros, as your loyal, honored wife; to provide for you, care for you in need, and be in all ways a faithful wife and mother to our future children; in all things to be a credit to our house and bring esteem and good reputation to our house in all things.:: ::I promise to be your protector, and defend you, and your honor, from any who would challenge or in any way disparage your name, or that of your family, for we are now all one in blood and bond.:: "But, most importantly," she smiled, "I give my oath that I will always support you, in your dreams and passions. I will respect and value your ideas and opinions, and be an equal partner to you, so that we can build a life together that will bring us both joy, support, and satisfaction. I could have come this far alone, but it would not have meant nearly so much without you, Thrakos. This will be our adventure, together."

That was his Minx, all right. Thrakos nodded, and took the ring meant for her in his hand. "Then I ask, Minxia, if you will have me, from now until the end of our lives."

"I will," she said as he slid the ring easily onto her slender finger. She took his in her hand, without her eyes ever moving from his. "I ask you, Thrakos, if you will have me, from now until the end of our lives."

"I will." He held out his hand as she slid on the ring. He had no intention, however, on waiting for permission to kiss his wife. Instead, he clasped her hands and pulled her into his embrace, kissing her passionately.

The hall erupted in cheers.

"That was such a beautiful ceremony."

"It was," Edward agreed with Winry's statement, feeling happy for the newlyweds, but just as grateful that that morning's near-disaster hadn't ruined the day. Minxia and Thrakos, still blissfully ignorant of Maritza's failed attempted to cause enough mayhem to cancel the wedding, were having a wonderful time.

"Almost makes you want to renew your wedding vows, if you could do it in a place like this," Elicia chuckled. "Don't you think so, Alphonse?"

Ed's brother grinned, and shrugged. "I love you even more now than the day we got married, so sure," Al agreed. "But only if you happen to have a few million extra sens lying around."

Ed didn't think he wanted to know what it would cost to rent out the place if you didn't have a long standing family tradition that got you ridiculously good discounts. "I don't, but we could always steal them, if that's what you really wanted," he grinned at Winry, who thwapped him lightly on the arm with her hand.

"It wouldn't be much of a vow renewal if you were stuck in jail."

"Why is Dad going to be in jail?" Ethan asked as he and Lia joined them.

Ed grinned. "Stealing enough money to pay for the wedding your mother always wanted."

"Oh, okay," Ethan replied without batting an eye. "At least Mom doesn't have really expensive tastes."

"She's not the one whose tastes I'd be worried about," Ed commented smugly as he watched the crowd behind his son.

"Oh, and why is that?"

"Because Lily's the one who just caught the bouquet."

Ian's stomach had finally settled, and he no longer felt ill by the time they finished the meal and the reception turned to dancing. He hadn't liked it at all that Maritza had attempted to use his reputation –however trumped up and inaccurate—to sabotage his cousin's special day. He would have to find a way to thank his grandparents, sister, and cousins for so handily clearing his name. For now, he was determined to enjoy himself, even though every time he looked at Minxia and Thrakos together—on the dance floor, eating, laughing, kissing—he couldn't help but imagine what kind of wedding Bonnie would want. Ian had never really cared much himself, as long as whoever he married was a girl he was in love with. Somehow, he couldn't imagine her wanting anything like this. Something more down-to-earth and cozy, like his brothers' weddings back in Resembool would be more her style.

Too bad she wouldn't go out with him.

Ian pushed the thoughts out of his mind, and put his mind to a more pleasant task; pleasing the large number of fan girls he apparently had in Creta who had attended the wedding. He danced with several very lovely young women, and a few not-so-young. Though he made a point of not dancing more than one or two dances with each woman, and handing them off fairly quickly afterwards. "It wouldn't be fair to keep you to myself," he told one who tried to insist she didn't want to dance with someone else. It wasn't about him he insisted, but her.

Those kinds of lines always made girls happy.

After his fourteenth or fifteenth dance, Ian came off the dance floor and picked up a glass of white wine. It was only after he had taken a sip he noticed Urey scowling in his direction. Okay, so Urey was usually frowning these days, but the look was directed at him in particular. "Something wrong, bro?"

"How can you lead them all on like that?"

"What, the girls? Who's leading anyone on? I like to dance, they want to dance with me. They'll remember today for the rest of their lives." He grinned. "What's wrong with that?"

"You really think you're that special?"

Ian shrugged. "It's not my opinion that matters, is it? Besides, it would be bad PR if I snubbed anyone."

"It's always about your career with you."

"Yeah, well, it's how I make a living, and it's not like I get a guaranteed weekly paycheck like some people." Ian frowned. "At least I've got a life."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Why aren't you out there dancing?" Ian gestured at the packed floor. "I know you know how, and plenty of these beautiful women would probably really enjoy it, at least if you didn't scowl at them the whole time."

"I don't feel like dancing." Urey turned, walking out the nearest doorway onto the railed stone walkway overlooking the gardens.

Ian followed. He'd had enough of his brother's sullen funk. "You never feel like doing anything. Cayla's been gone for four years, Rey. You don't date. Hell, you don't even spend time with your own son!" The anger that welled up inside came out with surprising vehemence. For years, Ian had tried getting his brother to talk, but Urey's stubbornness had only grown in the unbroken silence. "The son your wife died for; the son she wanted more than anything in the world. She wanted to be a mother, and what have you done to her dream? You dumped him on Mom and Dad. You've been hiding from everyone. You've given up on your dreams."

"Don't pretend you know anything about me." Urey's face was slowly turning red. "You've always gotten everything you wanted, and you've never taken anything seriously. You've never been in love—been a parent— had to worry about any responsibility for anyone other than yourself and what you want. Don't tell me how to live my life!"
Never- "Is that what you think?" Ian had no idea he had fallen so low in his brother's estimation. "Just because I've never lied to a woman I love about wanting kids, and don't have a regular job, suddenly I'm irresponsible and selfish?"

"Sounds right to me." Urey sipped his wine.

He didn't even deny the lying. Ian shook his head. "I- I can't believe you. At least I'm living my dreams. If I had a son, I certainly wouldn't be ignoring him."

"You so sure about that?" Urey's expression turned snide.

"I am," Ian straightened up. "Believe it or not, I know for absolutely certainty that none of my exes have any kids that could in any way be mine." He had kept careful track of that, though he wasn't about to detail to Urey exactly who his exes had ended up with, and how many children they did or did not have. All that really mattered was that none of them could be his. "But if they were, I'd want them to know their father cared." He quickly banished the image that came to his mind of Bonnie. "You can't ignore him forever."

"I do not ignore him."

"When was the last time you did something alone with Yurian? Just the two of you doing something he wants to do?"

Urey's mouth worked for several seconds, but he didn't seem to be able to come up with an example. Ian wished Urey could have surprised him with at least one example.

"Don't pretend you understand me either." Ian didn't wait for his brother to come up with a comeback. Instead, he turned and went back inside. He didn't want to cause any more kinks in Minxia's day. If anyone needs to get laid, it's him. Well, maybe not, Ian thought as he finished his wine and set the glass on an empty tray against the wall. What Urey needed was something that would break him out of his rut. Ian was starting to think that wouldn't happen until his heart healed, and that was going to take a woman, because Ian couldn't imagine anything else working after so long. He wasn't a big believer in miracles.

"Are you okay?"

Ian turned and found Gia standing beside him. He smiled. "Yeah, I'm all right. Would you do me the pleasure of another dance?"

Gia didn't look like she believed the first part, but she smiled and held out her hand. "I'd love to."

"Good," Ian led her out onto the floor. "Beautiful flowers belong in the middle of the arrangement, not tucked away along the walls."

Gia's faced flushed with pleasure, then her eyes widened and she punched him—playfully—in the shoulder. "Will you stop quoting your own lines at me?"

Ian laughed. "I should have known you'd recognize them."

"Well I have seen all your movies."

::I can't remember the last time I saw a girl so happy,:: Ren beamed as she watched her daughter and her new son-in-law dancing together.

::Oh, I don't know,:: Mei commented to her daughter as they stood together. ::I seem to recall you looked just the same when you married William. So blissful, so content.::

::So slim.:: Not that Ren didn't work to stay fit, but after three children, there were just some changes that had never gone away.

Mei chuckled. ::I don't think we should hold our breath for children,:: she suggested, sipping from her glass of champagne.

Ren shook her head. ::I expect they will wait a few years. Minxia has so many big plans for her work, and most of it involves travel.::

::At least they'll be doing it together,:: Mei replied. ::It's certainly worked before.::

It had. Ren still remembered fondly the short years between her marriage to Will, and when they had actually settled in Central just before Minxia's birth. ::I admit, I'm a little envious.::

::Who wouldn't be?:: Mei smiled, her expression softening. ::I got to know her young man rather well when they helped rescue the family. He's quite the catch. In fact, in some ways, he reminds me a little of your father.::

::Does he?:: Ren remembered her father, though the memories were dimmer then they had been as a girl.

::He's a selfless, devoted boy.:: Mei nodded. ::Despite his upbringing, he is not spoiled, nor does he have a sense of entitlement. In these ways, he is much like your father, and reasons I loved him so easily. He will never try to make our Minxia into something she is not, and he loves her for all that she is::

::I'm glad you're here, Mother.:: Ren leaned in just enough to give her mother a hug, which Mei returned. ::It's such a long trip.::

::As if I would miss my granddaughter's wedding. It's a shame the rest of the family couldn't get away.:: Mei had gotten on a train and come all the way from Xing, across Amestris, on the fastest route she could manage, arriving just the day before. Ren had felt bad that she couldn't stay with them, but Mei had been quite happy with her own hotel room.

::Someone has to run the empire,:: Ren pointed out with a smile. ::How does ruling suit Tao?:: Her nephew certainly seemed to be doing fine from the outside perspective.

::As if he were born to it.:: Mei's eyes twinkled with amusement. ::Xing is getting used to him. He's enough like Mao that there hasn't been too much adjusting necessary.::

::That's good. I'm just glad we're all safe.::

::May it stay that way for a long time.::

"This is such a beautiful wedding," Alyse gushed as she danced in Cal's arms, enjoying the quality of the live musicians and the feel of her husband's hand on her waist. Everything had been perfect so far, though she had laughed when her father told her over dinner about the pigeon delay.

"Almost as beautiful as if you'd organized it," Cal grinned as he pulled her into a spin.

Alyse laughed. "Thank you, but this is truly flawless. I'm impressed. Of course, they did have the best coordinator in Creta. I'm told she does all the major weddings of anyone important."

"I bet she costs a fortune," Cal replied as he pulled her in close again. "Thank goodness we got off cheap."

Alyse leaned in, so her face looked up at his as they paused. "Are you calling me cheap, Calvin?"

"Never," Cal didn't miss a beat. "You're priceless."

Alyse's face flushed with pleasure. "Then how did you ever afford me?"

"Hocked everything I owned, stopped buying liquor, and begged."

"Sounds like you still got a pretty good deal," Alyse teased him softly as the music came to an end, and she found herself pressed against his chest.

"Best ever." Cal pressed his lips to hers, and Alyse melted.

"So you or me next?" Kamika teased Michio as they watched their sister and Thrakos flirting outrageously.

"It better be me, baby sister," Michio snickered. "Though if you keep dressing like that, I may have to beat up a few boys."

Kamika beamed. As one of her sister's bridesmaids, she had gotten to dress in the most beautiful gown she had ever owned, and was drawing her own circle of attention. Unlike Minxia, who was more comfortable in jeans, flannels, and dirt, Kamika enjoyed dressing up from time to time. Watching her sister get married, and so obviously in love with as close to a prince as Creta had to offer, Kami didn't even feel jealous, just happy. She had always thought Thrakos was perfect for her sister, and their many year sometimes long-distance relationship had made her worry that Minxia would meet someone else, or Thrakos would grow tired of waiting. "If you do have to beat them up then, big brother, please don't hurt their feet. It's hard to dance with a man who can't walk."

Michio shrugged. "I'll think about it."

"It's too bad we don't have dates for this thing," Charlie griped as he, Aeddan, and Eamon hung out near the punch, finishing off slices of cake. Shelby would have loved this, and he would have enjoyed having her with him.

"At least you have a girlfriend," Aeddan complained.

"There is that," Charlie grinned. "Not that it does me much good when I can't bring her with me to my cousin's wedding."

"In another country, without her parents," Eamon quipped. "At least I chose to come stag."

"You don't have a girlfriend right now," his younger brother pointed out.

Eamon shrugged. "There will be plenty of beautiful women at the university. There's bound to be a few worth dating."

Charlie tried not to envy Eamon his freedom. His cousin would be hundreds of miles from home, free to study what he wanted, spend his time how he wished. Not that Charlie didn't love his family, but he couldn't wait for the day when he'd have the chance to do what he wanted with his life without having to tell his mother everyplace he was going, when he'd be home, and that he had finished his homework, his chores, and everything else she prioritized above elements of his social life. At least Gloria was still home for one more year. After that, his mother would only have one of them to keep track of, and he wasn't sure he would ever get any privacy then. "The Pylos campus is supposed to be huge. That's got to be what, thousands of women?"

"Intelligent women," Eamon grinned, "who can hold a good conversation."

Somehow conversation wasn't what Charlie thought of when he thought of guys dating in college, but he did like that he and Shelby had a lot in common they could talk about, and then there was always something new and interesting that would come out of her mouth because she was not only cute, she was an avid reader. Life was never dull with her around. She was also an excellent kisser. "Definitely the best of both worlds then," he had to agree with Eamon.

"Well aren't you the worldly bunch."

Charlie turned around to see Franz Heimler joining them. Franz reached for the nearest glass of punch.

""Just deciding which of all these beautiful ladies to ask to dance, Uncle Franz," Eamon nodded towards the dance floor, and the many beautiful Cretan girls on and around it. "I couldn't help wondering why none of you had dance partners yet."

Aeddan looked embarrassed, but Charlie grinned as Eamon shrugged. "Just taking our time choosing," Eamon assured him.

"I see." Franz sipped his drink. "A word of advice boys, if you see a girl you like, don't wait for someone else to dance with her first." With that, and a jaunty wave, he moved off through the crowd.

Charlie watched him go, a little surprised, then thoughtful. It was interesting advice coming from a widower. Of course, he'd been married to a heck of a woman. Charlie had always respected his aunt's cousin, but Sara had been a very intense woman. Charlie liked that Shelby was down to earth; sometimes serious, but a little more likely to just enjoy relaxing and watching a movie.

Suddenly, Charlie really missed his girlfriend. Maybe it would be okay to just dance with his cousins, or sociably. Unlike Eamon and Aeddan, he realized, he really didn't want to try to pick anyone up tonight.

He had a girl he liked. Maybe that was what Franz had really been talking about.

They had eaten dinner, cut the cake, danced their feet off, and lived through dozens of toasts to their good health and long marriage. Minxia had been thrilled when her cousin Lily caught the bouquet. Now, with them a little more out of the spotlight, she was enjoying herself while all of their guests mingled and talked with each other.

Though it was kind of nice to have an excuse to stick to Thrakos like hot glue. She had always liked how he looked in a suit; somehow, he always made them seem relaxed and comfortable. She had to admit, she also enjoyed the looks he kept giving her all afternoon. He had always looked at her with love, sometimes bordering on adoration. Today it seemed a mixture of startled worship and passion.

"This is it," Angelique said in almost a whisper as she came up to them between songs.

"What's it?" Minxia asked.

Angelique gave her a wicked little smile. "This is where you two slip away out back to the sports car and drive off into the sunset while everyone else is too busy drinking and playing who's who politics to notice."

Thrakos chuckled. "Sounds perfect," he said, taking Minxia's hand. "Come on, Minx, before we lose our opportunity."

She didn't need to be told twice, Minxia was grateful they made it to the door with only half-a-dozen people stopping them. None of which, she noticed, were family members. They glanced there way, but every time she made eye contact with her parents, her grandmother, her cousins, they all grinned, offered a wink or thumbs up, and pointedly looked in another direction as if there was nothing to see.

Clearly, they all knew the newlyweds were making their escape.

Ten minutes later, they had changed clothes, grabbed their suitcases, and slipped down to Thrakos' sports car, which had the top down on such a gorgeous evening.

"That was perfect," Minxia smiled with relief as they pulled away from the palace grounds.

"Wasn't it?" Thrakos chuckled, keeping his eyes on the road as the cool evening air washed over them. "I can't remember the last time I attended an event of any kind that went that smoothly."

"Almost too smoothly," Minxia admitted thoughtfully. Then she thought she knew why. "You know, I don't think I saw your Great-aunt the entire time."