Pouring my heart and soul on the chapter before this caused me to include this one. The mood's there, so why not add a little more?
Enjoy~
EPILOGUE
16 years ago
"Nii-chan, Nii-chan!" a young girl with brown hair and blue short dress exclaimed as she dragged an older boy towards a certain booth by the distance. "There's a wedding over there!"
The two children watched as they dashed towards the booth. They made it on the scene where the couple garbed in casual clothes—but the woman was with a veil and a bouquet of flowers—shared a quick kiss.
There was a fair that day, so the boy couldn't figure out whether that wedding was real or not. He knew this booth was just the same with the rest: they were managed for everybody's enjoyment. But he saw the couple's faces when confetti rained on them.
He saw joy and contentment he saw on his parents once, when his father was still alive.
"Nii-chan," the young girl broke his thoughts. "They're so lovely. I want to be married, too."
His indigo eyes were suddenly full of mischief. He stifled a laugh. "Nobody's gonna marry you when you're that short. Your husband will have to lift you just to kiss you."
She slapped his arm, frowning. "I WILL be tall! You'll see!"
This brought a round of light laughter from the boy. "What I mean is—" he patted the young girl's head as he spoke, "—you're too young yet."
"I'm too young?"
"Yeah. You still need to grow taller and older to meet your husband. And Mom and I will have to meet him, too."
She pondered on that idea, glancing at the couple who now left the booth with hands and gazes locked at each other. "Nii-chan, will you be there at my wedding?"
What kind of brother wouldn't? he thought.
He smiled. "Of course. In fact, I promise I will walk with you to the altar with Mom."
"Promise?"
He nodded. "I'll keep my word, Chelsea."
Mystic Islands
Year 6, Spring
"There you go," Claire said as she fixed Cliff's vest. She glanced at her husband's apprehensive face and smiled warmly. "A little nervous, dear?"
He exhaled. "One lifetime I saw Chelsea so little; the next, she's in a wedding dress."
She chuckled. "You sound like a father."
"I AM one."
A blonde young man carrying a toddler who was playing with his purple top hat called from the church door. "Miss Claire, is it all right if Chrys will be with Natalie and me throughout the wedding?"
"Sure, Pierre. But we'll sit close by."
Ecstatic, Pierre went inside the church and approached a pink-haired young woman and let her cradle the toddler. Cliff smiled as he watched them. Those two have been attached to his daughter ever since he and his family first visited the islands. No sooner did he know that they ended up together.
Claire tapped her husband on the shoulder. "Ah, here they are, dear."
Cliff turned. In front of them was a group of young women, but one stood out. Here was Chelsea, looking vibrant and elegant in a long white gown, with the hem designed with real flowers that matched her eyes. Her long brown hair was ponytailed and tousled, pinned with the same flowers.
My little sister is indeed a lady now, Cliff thought blissfully. Slowly, he approached the bride.
"What do you think, Nii-chan?" Chelsea asked as she gestured at her attire.
He smiled. "Remember what I told you when we were kids? That you should be taller and older when you would marry?" He held her gloved hand. "Chelsea, I wouldn't need to mention that time that you should be more beautiful, too. Because you already are. Especially now."
Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled brighter than usual. "Thank you."
A young priestess, as seen by her clothes, approached them. "Shall we start now?"
Chelsea nodded. Everybody else went inside the church—after cheering her on—leaving the siblings behind.
"OK." Cliff held out his flexed arm. "I guess it will be just me who'll walk with you today. Imagine Mom's here, feeling so happy for you."
She locked her hand to his arm. "Will she?"
"She always will be."
Slowly, they made their way to the altar, where a blonde and green-eyed young man in a black suit was waiting for them. As they met him, Cliff shook his hand.
"Take care of my sister, Mark."
Mark smiled at his future brother-in-law. "Yes, Mister Cliff. With all my life."
"Well, I better hear it in the vows later." Everybody who heard it laugh, including Nathan—the priest he just met yesterday—and the priestess who was at the side of the altar. She then cleared her throat when Cliff went to his place beside his wife.
She gestured to all of the islanders. "We are gathered here on this most joyous of days to witness the marriage of Mark and Chelsea."
He glanced at Chelsea and Mark as Nathan asked the vows. He could really notice that there was something with the way they stared at each other.
"You see that?" Claire whispered to him. "Mark looked at Chelsea the same way—"
"—I looked at you, Claire. Back at our wedding." He turned to her, holding her hand. "Up to now."
He couldn't quite point out the exact words to describe it, but it's somehow the same from a vague memory years back. Oddly, an image of two children watching a couple in the wedding booth flashed in his head.
END
So, this is it. The last chapter. Well, I can't blame myself. This fic is family-themed after all, so this chapter seems to fit. This is the best I could do, so I'll allow you readers to review whatever you want to say.
I have said at the start that this is an experimental fanfiction, and I wasn't expecting the results. Personally, I can say it was a success, thanks to you readers. ^_^
To that anonymous confessor who inspired me with the idea of the siblings, thank you! And I hope I haven't disappointed you.