March 30, Spring, year 21
Here it is… my wedding day. A week of feeling like a chicken with its head cut off, in more ways than one, but it's finally here.
At the risk of sounding corny, it's like a dream come true. I found the person 'just for me,' my farm is up and running gloriously, Damien is out of my hair for good—which reminds me that I have to leave in a couple of days for the trial.
But it'll be okay. Uncle Tak says that Celia and Marlin have promised to help with the upkeep of the farm while Skye and I go into the city to testify against him.
Ah, the door. It's gotta be the girls, here to help me dress.
In Claire's opinion, the Harvest Goddess had outdone herself with the dress. Simple and yet… not. Straightforward but with secrets. Very much like Claire herself had been woven into the fabric.
And without any fittings at all, if was perfect on her.
The dress itself was pale white, with a scoop-neck and thin shoulder straps. The sleeves were connected by golden, off-the-shoulder straps, with white roses embroidered onto them. The cuffs of said sleeves—as well as the hem of the dress—were of the same gold fabric with white embroidered roses. All around the bottom part of the dress were butterflies, in rainbow hues—Claire smiled thinking wistfully of the Rainbow Swallowtails she still wished to see.
Skye had been the one to provide the belt and the circlet that she would be wearing, both surprisingly flexible for gold. They were inset with the same symbols, that he had claimed meant a union of the two worlds, that of the Earth and the Moon. The yellow gem—the Sun—was there just because it suited Claire.
She'd laughed, thanked him, and put them both away for the wedding. They had both come with their own veils, a pale ivory in shade, and sheer.
Muffy snapped her fingers in Claire's face, calling the young woman back to herself.
"You're daydreaming already?" her cousin teased. "Keep spacing out like that and you'll never be ready in time silly!"
"There's always time," Claire retorted, smiling.
"Your hair's gotten so long," Celia commented, brushing carefully. "Your Mom used to keep it so short…"
"I might cut it after the wedding," the farmer admitted. "I'm still thinking about it.."
"Oh don't cut it!" Lumina exclaimed. "It's so pretty like this!"
Claire snorted wryly.
"It gets in the way though, and shoulder length hair is much easier to take care of."
"Why not braid it back?" Flora suggested. "When working, keep it braided, when not, have it loose."
Thoughtful looks were shared, and Claire gave her a grin.
"That might work. I'll think about it."
"Hold still," Muffy ordered. "Make up time!"
Obediently, Claire closed her eyes and waited as her cousin put on the lipstick and eyeshadow that Claire had agreed—reluctantly—to wear. While Muffy was doing that, Lumina put in Claire's earrings, and Jill went looking for the ribbon that would be used on the bouquet. She came back, carrying both the ribbon and the potted Moon Rose, a look of awe on her face.
"Claire, it bloomed!"
Immediately, blue eyes opened, and the bride-to-be turned away from Muffy's ministrations—which, thankfully, were actually finished—to see the flower.
"Oh… How beautiful," came the awed whisper.
"We should put it in the bouquet," Lumina said. "Just the one," there were actually four fully-bloomed roses, "On the bottom right, I think. It's got the biggest head on it."
Within moments, the rose was cut and inserted into the center of Claire's wedding bouquet, glowing with a pure white light.
"I think our work here is done," Muffy said proudly.
All five of them—Nami, while Claire's friend, would have nothing to do with the more girly aspects—stepped back in a line, peering at the blond thoughtfully.
"What?" Claire asked, starting to feel a touch self-conscious. "Is something missing?"
"Well… other than the circlet and veil," and Muffy laughed. "Not exactly. I was just think how much Uncle Alan and Aunt Mirei would have loved to see this. They always had such hopes for you, you know?"
The farmer just smiled a little sadly, and Jill nodded slightly.
"I know. And I also know that Lauren's probably meeting them, and they're all going to be watching, even though we can't see them."
For a moment, Claire had to duck her head and take a few deep breaths to keep from crying. Jill bit the inside of her cheek, and let out a gusty sigh of her own.
"Do you think we'll get to meet Skye's parents?" Celia asked hurriedly, to stave off what could have become a tear-fest.
"Probably not," the farmer let out a long sigh, then looked up with a faint smile. "It would probably be a bad idea to start off my married life by fighting with my mother-in-law, yeah?"
Laughter instead of tears. Muffy had already changed into her bridesmaid outfit—Jill, being pregnant had agreed to be the matron of honor instead of a bridesmaid—and both took up their respective items quickly as Flora put the circlet over Claire's hair, and adjusted the veil.
"Let's go knock em dead!" Jill cheered.
Claire laughed again, and they swept out of the farmhouse, heading for the Goddess Pond.
Skye had spent several hours of his own at the spring, prior to getting ready for the wedding. Hours spent in tandem with the Harvest Goddess and the Witch Princess, convincing the seeds planted on Lauren's grave to grow and bloom, just for the wedding.
It had been tiring, but the amazement on Claire's face when she saw the glow of light made it well worth the effort.
This time Jack stood in for their dad, since Takakura was conducting the wedding ceremony. Eve, in the crowd, waved to Claire, beaming brightly as she kept one arm wrapped carefully around her burgeoning stomach.
"You let her come?" Claire whispered to Jack, amusement lacing her voice.
"I didn't get a choice," was the grumpy comment. "She threatened to come on her own if I didn't bring her."
The blonde had a hard time smothering her laughter, and had to scan the crowd so that she wouldn't look at her older brother's expression. Everyone from the Valley had turned up—naturally—and several families from Mineral Town had joined the crowds too. Karen and Rick, Grey—naturally, considering Jill was there—Ann and Cliff, Doctor Trent and Elli… Only Popuri was left unmarried still, but that didn't seem to bother the pink haired girl in the slightest, she was grinning brightly and bouncing on her toes to see over the heads of some of the people ahead of her.
And there in front of the Spring and Takakura was Skye, a picture in dark gray and silver. His eyes were lit with a warmth that filled Claire from top to toe, and called up an answering, love-filled smile.
"Take care sis," Jack whispered.
"Naturally," was the cheeky reply.
The ceremony seemed to blur once she placed her hand in Skye's, but one part stood out very clearly in the years to come. Claire and Skye had spent almost two nights together, working on their own vows, and when they faced each other, hand in hand… It was like magic.
They spoke the words in unison, and even the Witch Princess had to admit that—though sappy—it was sweet.
We were two, now are one
In heart and soul and mind
We will walk the road together,
Sharing in our time.
I promise now, unto the world,
To never leave your side,
To share your joy, your pain, and tears
Until the day I die.
For a long moment, even Takakura was speechless, hearing a depth of love that he'd only seen once, within Alan and Mirei. But then, that was their legacy, wasn't it, the old man mused. Both of them had been so full of love that it had passed on to their children.
In the crowd, of the married couples, several women leaned their heads against their husband's shoulder. Others simply clasped hands, smiling fondly at each other.
After a minute Takakura cleared his throat, nudging Hugh for the rings. The young boy had been in almost all the weddings since he himself was the only one qualified to be the ring bearer, as Kate was the only one qualified to be flower girl.
Naturally, once the wedding was over and Claire returned to her farming chores the ring would be worn around her neck, to prevent accidental breakage or a myriad of other ring-related accidents that would be—as Claire herself put it—Very Bad and Very Painful. But for this one day, it went where it belonged, and she found herself sighing with happiness.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife… you may kiss your bride."
A brief kiss, but full of promises for later. The Goddess in her pond cheered, almost loud enough to be heard by the non-farmers throwing magic over the pair of them.
Then, an even greater surprise took place, as several Swallowtailed butterflies began fluttering around the newly wedded pair. Claire's eyes went wide, and she laughed in sheer delight.
It was a band of Rainbow Swallowtails, circling both of them, as well as crowding around Lauren's grave. Several actually landed on the farmer, who held absolutely still as they searched for the Moon Rose.
"We are blessed indeed," Skye's sea-green eyes twinkled. "I think that life will be a wonderful event from here on out."
"You know," Claire smiled warmly at him. "You just might be right about that."
-Fin-