*Sigh* The epilogue is finally here.
Which unfortunately means that this story has officially come to a close.
But, before it does, I would like to thank each and every one of you for sticking with this story, even when the chapters were not very Chalek-y. All of your amazing reviews kept me going and I couldn't be any more grateful for them than I am now.
I will continue to write, but I can't promise a multi chapter fanfiction anytime soon. Although maybe I'll try, we'll see. For now, I'm sticking to one shots. I have a bunch of ideas in store, so watch out for those.
Anyways, thank you for reading and reviewing and making this story your favorite and me as a favorite author. I can't thank you enough.
Without further ado, I present to you the epilogue.
"Darling, have you seen my cuff links?" Alek was rummaging through all of his drawers, calling out to his fiancé in hope that she would be more organized than him. Which usually was the case.
"Which ones?" Chloe called out from their master bathroom. "The diamond ones or the silver ones?"
"Good question. That actually depends. Are you wearing diamond jewelry or silver jewelry?" Alek asked.
"I was planning on wearing diamonds." Chloe responded.
"In that case, do you know where my diamond cuff links are?"
Even after eight years, Chloe was still taken aback by Alek whenever he would say such considerate words and think of things like matching. Sometimes, he was more aware of that than she was, even though it was the girl that was supposed to fret over the horrors of mismatching. She just couldn't get used to how thoughtful he was, and she didn't think that she ever would. Not that she was complaining.
"They should be in the bottom drawer. Under your blue boxers." Right! Of course, how could he forget? He hid those there on purpose, just in case. They were his favorite after all. Chloe gave them to him on his twenty first birthday.
"What would I do without you, love?" Alek chuckled. But he honestly didn't have a clue. That one day eight years ago, he almost went insane.
"Let's not find out, shall we?" Chloe chuckled back. Her voice and laughter echoed from the bathroom and Alek couldn't remember the last time he'd heard a sweeter sound.
A few more minutes went by. Alek struggled a little bit with his cuff links, having not worn them for a while, as Chloe was putting the finishing touches on her make-up and hair in bathroom.
"Alright, love. I'm ready." Alek did one final look over in the mirror to make sure that he looked to his best, not a single molecule out of place before leaning against the dresser to wait for Chloe.
"Hold on just one moment. These shoes are such a hassle to fasten." Chloe said. Alek began tapping his foot anxiously, waiting for his fiancé to exit the bathroom.
Chloe and Alek were headed off to a gala/ banquet at a posh hotel in the nicer regions of San Francisco. About a year ago, Chloe has managed to unite humans and Mai and this party was being held in honor of the one year anniversary.
Chloe's mother eventually found out about the Mai. Most of it was explained to her by Valentina, which resulted in a sudden and very close relationship.
Alek had proposed to Chloe fairly quickly after Chloe lived up to her title as the Uniter. Their wedding was in two weeks and Alek was counting down the hours until he could say "I do".
Alek and Chloe weren't the only ones who had happy endings. Amy and Paul got married about a month ago and they only came back a few days ago from their honeymoon, which consisted of island hopping in Greece. The romantic scene of their wedding caused Eric to propose to Jasmine, although he'd been working up the nerve to ask her to marry him for almost a year.
Chloe and Alek had moved into an apartment three floors above Valentina's loft. Although it wasn't hers anymore. Jasmine and Eric had moved in there to live together, and alone, leaving Valentina to find a new home. It was her idea, however. And she happily found another home with Meredith, surprisingly, who wasn't yet ready to live in an empty house and welcomed her new best friend with the widest arms possible. They felt like they were in college again.
Amy and Paul had moved into a small townhouse about four blocks away from the rest of the gang's apartment building. They had grown very close over the years. Alek and Paul actually shared inside jokes and Paul became Alek's first true friend. After he got all of his Mai questions answered by a more patient Jasmine, that is.
All was good with the world and Alek couldn't have been any happier. He was surrounded by the most amazing people he had ever met. His future mother-in-law didn't hate his guts, which was his biggest fear, although that was taken care of eight years ago. He was seeing his aunt relax a bit and smile more, and he had friends that he wouldn't trade for anything in the world. And, most importantly, he was soon going to be married to the most beautiful, amazing and … perfect woman that he had ever met. Provided, she wasn't perfect, but she couldn't have been more perfect for him.
Alek was brought out of his musings by the sight of said amazing woman walking out of the bathroom. He could feel his jaw drop to the floor.
Chloe wasn't just walking out of the bathroom. She seemed to be drifting or floating out of there. She was wearing a black gown that fell all the way down to the floor. It was strapless and had a black and sparkly belt right under her chest. But, from under that, the fabric of the gown flowed downwards gently. As Chloe walked, the fabric followed her in a very drifting manner. He could see her legs outlined in the dress every time she stepped forward. Her feet were clad in silver heels that made her legs look like they ran on for miles, even though they were covered. Resting in her inner elbows and wrapping around her back lay a piece of thin black fabric, making Chloe seem even more elegant and fragile than Alek had ever seen her be.
Chloe had straightened her hair, making a few strands float behind her as if a gentle wind was pushing her back. She was wearing light make up, like she always did, just like Alek liked it, masking none of her true beauty behind a layer of cosmetics. She wore a thin silver strand around her neck, on which rested a small diamond in the shape of a tear drop. She had put on thin diamond strands for earrings that hung down about three inches.
She was breath taking.
"Alek?" Chloe said with concern. "Is everything alright?" She walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulders, shaking him out of his trance.
"You look so beautiful, darling." Alek whispered. Chloe loved it when Alek called her "darling". It just sounded so perfect and right coming from him when directed at her. And it was only ever directed at her. Not once had Chloe heard Alek call anyone besides her "darling" or "love" or "sweetheart". It made her feel so special.
Chloe felt her heart flutter, blushing not just because she still wasn't used to his compliments, even after eight years, but also because she was pretty sure, judging by his growing smile, that he heard her heart beat falter a bit.
"You look quite dashing yourself, Mr. Petrov." Chloe took hold off the flaps on Alek's tuxedo jacket and pulled herself a bit closer to him.
"Why, thank you, Ms. King." Alek replied, placing his hands on Chloe's hips, pulling her completely flush against his body.
"Not for long," Chloe whispered as she final reached upwards to kiss her fiancé on the lips.
She still couldn't get used to that. Alek was her fiancé. She was going to marry him. She was going to spend the rest of her life with him. It really shouldn't be that much of a surprise to her. He was all but glued to her side throughout high school and college and the whole affair of uniting different races. She had to have seen this coming at some point in her life, but she still couldn't wrap her mind around it.
She kept on expecting to wake up in the morning from this dream and find herself back in her old bedroom as a sixteen year old and the ordeal of uniting races still in front of her. But, of course, and thankfully, that wasn't the case. Instead, she woke up each morning in such a peaceful mood and in the strong and safe arms of the most wonderful man that has ever walked the planet. Her biggest unanswered question nowadays was where Alek was taking her for their honeymoon, since he insisted on keeping that a surprise.
From their soft and delicate kiss, Chloe pulled back and settled back down but remained in close proximity to Alek's body. She wore a grin on her face equivalent to that of a little girl when she gets a new stuffed animal for her birthday. Alek, on the other hand, chuckled.
"You're wearing heels and yet you still have to reach upwards to kiss me." Alek smiled down at his angel.
"Hey, that's not very nice!" That earned yet another chuckle from the British blonde.
"I'm not saying that as a bad thing! Our heights together are perfect for dancing and cuddling and…" Chloe burst out laughing, throwing her head back at Alek's attempts to seem not guilty.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, darling," Chloe said. She loved calling Alek "darling" just as much as she loved hearing him call her that.
"Come on, dear." More pet names… "We need to get going, or else we'll be late." With that, Alek placed his hand on Chloe's lower back and began to lead her out of the apartment and to the gala.
They arrived just in time, being greeted by various Mai pride leaders and even some human officials. Chloe turned on her business mode as she made her rounds of protocol, greeting each man or woman of importance, engaging in small talk for a moment, and then proceeding to the next person. Alek remained with her at all times.
One might think that a man like Alek, the cocky bastard that we have all learned to know and love, would not be okay with having his woman be more important or more powerful than him. He would want to be the one that has greater importance, following the social protocol of years and years of history where the woman would stay at home while the man worked.
But Alek wasn't envious of Chloe's authoritative position in their world. His manhood wasn't threatened by the fact that he held a position in the human world as a lawyer to San Francisco's most highly esteemed law firm and that it was Chloe who was practically the number one Mai in the world. Instead, he gazed at his Chloe with pride and adoration, wondering how in the world he got so lucky and what in the world had he done to deserve her.
Alek still couldn't believe that he could call Chloe "his". Even after eight years, he was still surprised every day when Chloe uttered the words "I love you" instead of "I'm leaving you". Not that he ever wanted her to leave him. Dear goodness, he'd probably sulk for years if that ever happened. But there was something in the pit of his stomach and in the back of his head and in the depths of his heart that told him that Chloe had no plans of leaving him and that he had absolutely nothing to worry about.
Finally, Chloe had finished making her rounds and the banquet was just about to begin.
Chloe and Alek sat down at one of the tables that were in the front, the closest to the stage. The only other truly familiar face at the table was Valentina's. Amy, Paul, Jasmine, Eric and Meredith all sat at the table behind them. If she needed to, Chloe could just lean back and easily have a conversation with Amy.
There were some officials at their table, so Chloe was aware that the atmosphere would be more of a business-like one than the relaxed kind that she was looking forward to, but dinner wasn't supposed to last for too long.
While the atmosphere was that of business, the conversation most definitely was not. The topics spoken of ranged from the weather (yes, that's how dull the conversation started out being) to the latest Britney Spears single (which surprised both Alek and Chloe that men in their fifties and sixties actually listened to her, let alone enjoyed the songs).
Finally, the speeches had been made and dinner was over, leaving the rest of the evening to be used as a time for dancing and merely socializing. Some people were even prepared to leave, but Alek and Chloe were not one of them. They, instead, decided to dance, remembering that first time when Alek attempted to teach Chloe how to tango.
She didn't fail, which was good, but Alek did end up giving Chloe a few more lessons. Although that was more of an excuse to hold Chloe than to actually teach her how to dance, even though he stopped needing excuses a long time ago.
The dance that was being performed wasn't exactly the tango, but it was the waltz, which was such a gracious dance and always made Chloe feel as if she and Alek were lost in their own world as the cautiously spun around the room.
"I love you," Chloe whispered suddenly, just because she felt like she had gone too long without saying that to him. Even though she's said it at least five times since they've arrived.
"I love you." Even after all of these years, Alek still refused to add the "too", making Chloe melt into his arms, figuratively at the moment.
They waltzed around the room for a little bit longer, making some couples around them envious at their grace. Eventually, they grew tired and just wanted to sit down and enjoy each other's company.
They took a seat at their table, one that had been emptied of unwanted businessmen, and just sat for a while, exchanging a few words but mostly just enjoying the company of the other.
"Chloe, do you want to head home?" Alek asked, sensing that his fiancé was growing quite tired.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea." Chloe muttered, getting ready to stand up and leave. "Oh! But can we walk home instead of taking the car? It's not that far of a walk."
Chloe had this expression on her face that made her seem so alive and so childlike and adorable that Alek simply didn't have the heart to refuse her. He'd even carry her home if it came to that.
"Of course. Come on, love." Alek stood up and offered Chloe his hand. In this manner, they bid their farewells and left the building.
The hotel in which the event had been held was right across the street from the water. The two lovers made their way across the road and began to walk along the railing that prevented them from falling into the water. In front of them, they could the Golden Gate Bridge, illuminated with lights, making it actually seem golden.
They had their hands clasped together and walked in silence. But in this silence, everything that needed to be was spoken. They could walk for hours together and never be bored, with or without a conversation. This all just told them what they already knew: they were made for each other.
Chloe abruptly stopped and tugged Alek towards the ledge, leaning on it.
"Let's just stay here for a moment, can we?" Chloe asked, looking up into Alek's eyes, knowing that he wouldn't be able to refuse her.
It's not like he was planning on doing so anyways.
Alek leaned on the ledge next to Chloe. They stood still there for a bit, admiring the view. It was magnificent, truly. You would never think that San Francisco could look as beautiful as it did in the moment, and that really was saying something.
Alek looked to his left to admire Chloe, who was completely oblivious to his current admiration. She was leaning on the railing and staring off into the distance. Her arms were crossed at the wrist, giving Alek the perfect view of her engagement ring on her finger.
Her hands seemed so delicate and the diamond made them seem even more delicate, it not being the smallest of sizes. But that was an element that Alek enjoyed. He kind of liked having this feeling that Chloe needed his protection, even though he knew perfectly well that she didn't need it.
But, that ring. That ring meant so much to both Alek and Chloe. He still thought that Chloe saying "yes" to his proposal was all a dream. He would even dream about the moment he asked her sometimes, and then, once he had woken up but his eyes had remained closed, he would think to himself that what he did in the dream was a good idea and that he should propose to her like that. Thankfully, the ordeal has already been accomplished, because Alek had been nervous for weeks on end planning the proposal. His palms were damper than a lake after rain during the moment that he proposed. He would never forget the beautiful feeling of relief that washed through him when Chloe said "yes".
He loved seeing the ring on Chloe's finger. It reminded him every time that he saw it the Chloe was his and only his and that he never had to share her with any other man in the world. Well, except for Paul and Eric, of course, but that was all platonic, thank Bastet.
He noticed Chloe's hand suddenly shake and looked up at Chloe's in face in concern. When he understood that there wasn't any immediate danger near them, he realized that Chloe simply shivered and was cold.
Alek began to shrug off his jacket, but Chloe tried to stop him.
"Oh, Alek. You're so incredibly sweet, but you don't have to!" She didn't want him to be cold at her expense!
"Nonsense, love. I don't mind. In fact, I insist. You know how much I love seeing you in my clothes." Chloe blushed and turned her back towards Alek, allowing him to put on the jacket for her.
Once Chloe turned back around, she caught a proper glimpse of Alek. He had undone his bow tie so that it looked like just a thick strand of fabric around his neck. He had also unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirts, showing off his collar bone that Chloe absolutely loved to look at. The wind had thrown his hair around into a sexy tousled mess from the neat and combed back hair he donned earlier in the evening. He definitely was a vision.
"Thank you." Chloe whispered. She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her heard into Alek's chest and making him wrap his arms around her shoulder. She tried snuggle into him even deeper, in an attempt to keep him warm without his jacket. Alek kissed the top of her head that had rested right underneath his lips as a form of a "thank you", touched by Chloe's simple yet meaningful action.
Both looked out onto the water, admiring the view and reveling in the mere presence of the other. How either of them got so lucky, they never understood. And, in all honesty, they didn't want to.
The line "ignorance is bliss" isn't as hollow as one would think it would be. Neither of them actually wanted to explore the realm of the reasons why they supposedly didn't deserve each other, which we all know completely crap. Instead, they chose to simply stay in the clueless state of mind that they were in.
"I love you," Alek whispered into Chloe's head. The breeze carried his voice away, but Chloe still heard him loud and clear, like she did every time.
"And I love you." Chloe closed her eyes and drew an imaginary bubble around the two of them, taking them into a private world that they would revisit endless times throughout their life together.
And that's the end! It's officially over!
I hope you liked it! Thank you all so much for reading this story! And for reviewing it (I'm getting around to responding…)! Thank you SO FUCKING MUCH!
Watch out for future one shots of mine, by the way! I already have a few ideas brewing.
Alrighty, I guess that's all for now. Thank you again, and bye! See you in another story