AN: All right, so how this is going to work is very simple. This story hit a divergence point. What I'm putting here are the divergence chapters. In a week, I'll post the original ending as a seperate story, so that I don't confuse people. Thanks for the sweet reviews gang, I'm glad you're all loving this! ^^

December 4, Winter, year 36

What. A. Day! From running up the stairs to ensure that Tsuyu's dress was perfect to hurrying down the stairs to ensure that my kids were dressed, it's no wonder everyone's ready to go to be early. I thought I was done with weddings…

Had it not been for the fact that Claire had promised to help Tsuyu with her clothes—and the minor fact that it was Daisuke's wedding—she would have suggested that they all play hooky for the day. Getting out of the palace, even for a few short hours, would have been nothing short of paradise.

Especially after everything that had happened…

But she had promised, and it was Daisuke's wedding—which Skye was obligated to attend anyways—which meant that they had to stick around for a short while.

So it was with a faint, reluctant sigh that Claire woke up early that day, and took a quick turn in the bathroom before hurrying up the stairs to Tsuyu's rooms. Skye went up to Daisuke's, both of them being an old hand at relaxing a soon-to-be-wed couple.

Tsuyu was already standing on a small stool in the center of the room when Claire entered, looking for all the world like she hadn't slept. The Princess hadn't even put on the emotion-blocking under-robe that she would have to wear all through the ceremony.

Personally Claire disapproved of the idea, but who was she to tell them how to run their weddings?

Pale blue eyes looked uncertainly down at Claire as maidservants bustled around, pulling out this sheer gauze and that silk over-robe, laying their choices over the Princess as if she was nothing more than a doll for them to dress.

Promptly, they were chased out, and the blonde got to work. Despite massive reluctance, Tsuyu pulled on the blue-trimmed white robe, and tied the silver belt tightly. Claire watch with misgiving as the uncertainty and nerves faded from the Dew Palace princess, feeling more strongly than ever that this was no way to deal with healthy emotions.

Tsuyu was little more than a doll now, obeying docilely as Claire instructed her to hold out her arms. Over the short robe, Claire draped another robe, pale blue silk trimmed in silver and pearls, the color of which just matched Tsuyu's eyes. A silver cord belt tied it closed, with another, slightly darker shade of blue gauze hanging from it. Here and there in the multitude of gauzes that Claire carefully placed over Tsuyu, threads of silver, and sapphire blue caught the light, glittering softly.

Then Claire, unable to help herself, pulled it all off and removed the emotion blocking robe. Instantly Tsuyu's face came alive with nerves and uncertainty.

Which was how it was supposed to be curse it all. Claire reassured her every step of the way as she replaced the silks and gauzes, that everything would be fine. Privately, in the back of her mind she had this sneaking suspicion that Skye had convinced his brother to do the same. If changes were to start, then it had to be in the place where the influence was the greatest.

"You going to be able to hold yourself together while I go get everyone ready?" Claire asked as the annoyed maidservants filtered back in, to dress Tsuyu's hair and make up her face.

"Y-yes," Tsuyu nodded slowly. "Thank you Claire."

"Heh," the blonde winked cheekily. "No problem."

She was very pleased to make it back to her room and discover that all her children were not only up, but had bathed and dressed as well, in a mixture of their own 'fancy' clothing and the numerous gauzes, silks and satins that were at their disposal.

It didn't take her more than a few minutes to find the right shade she wanted—her color was yellow, both in tribute to her returned joy, and the happiness a wedding should bring—and a few strokes with her hair brush set long blond strands to rights.

Skye returned just as she was finishing up, looking somewhat harried and annoyed.

"Brothers," he snorted as he rifled through the closet himself. "It took me longer to convince him not to wear the robe than it did to make him dress."

Claire laughed.

"I had everything all set up… then I had to redo it all because the robe annoyed me," she confessed, grinning. "Nice to know that we both had the same idea."

Skye chuckled, leaned down and kissed his wife, running a soft hand against her hair. She leaned into the caress, sighing softly in happiness.

Not only was the wedding long, and full of pomp and ceremony, but it was solemn… and full of standing. Lots of standing.

No one was more grateful than Claire to adjourn to the post-vows banquet. Not only was everything to stiff and formal, she couldn't help but wonder where the usual joy was in a wedding.

Even though the bride and groom were clearly nervous, it was also clear that they were happy. Maybe it was just because their emotions were so obvious?

When she asked though, Skye shook his head with a faint, rueful smile.

"Weddings here are always more serious than joyous. Truth be told, a lot of them aren't happy to be married, Dai and Tsu are luckier than most. They at least like each other."

Skye chuckled a little at the looks shared by his wife and eldest children. Clearly they liked the idea as little as he did.

"At least they are happy," the blonde sighed finally.

"Mhmm," Skye leaned over, wrapping an arm around his wife. "I'm glad for my brother. Even more glad that he didn't chose that female."

Claire just smiled, and leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Don't think about that right now," she murmured. "Let's just have fun."

Ruined. Again the plans were ruined! How, how, how did such a female inspire such things, create such damage to all the carefully laid plans? Now there would have to be two deaths at once, much harder to cover up than just a single.

At least the first fool hadn't told the entire story to the human. Perhaps things were still salvageable. As long as there was nothing to connect him to the deaths, he could still get away from this unscathed.

It was almost a pity the he had given up the throne in favor of the second son. It would have been more satisfying to kill him.

Skye promised to go wandering with me the day after tomorrow. I can hardly wait! He says he has another secret place to show me.