A/N: well, this is it. The epilogue. The last chapter. It's been one hell of an arduous thing, trying to get this written, what with all the other stuff. But I'm rather pleased with the turn out, I must say. I hope you lot are as well, and once more, thanks for the reviews, for sticking with the story this long, despite the long periods where nothing happened at all. Oh, and if I may do a shameless plug, maybe you could check out my other stuff that I've got going. Thanks again.
Wren paced nervously in her room, her skirts sweeping around her ankles. Her tiara glittered at her, almost mockingly, from her dresser.
"Wren? Are you ok sweety?" DG, peeked around the door at her daughter. "Oh I'm fine except for the fact that not only is today my wedding, it's my coronation!" Wren's voice cracked and she collapsed to the bed. DG made a sympathetic sound, sliding her arm around her daughter's shoulders. Wren leaned against her, clinging like she had when she was a child, frightened by a storm.
"What if I'm not ready to be queen? I mean, you've done such a good job of it; do you really wanna give it up right now? Why don't you stay a few more years, I'm sure Wes will understand," Wren rambled. "Wren, honey, it's ok to be nervous. You'll be fine. You've made leaps and bounds in your lessons. Az and I and your father all think you're ready. Grandma did too," DG said softly. Her mother had passed on a few years ago, but had felt Wren would make a wonderful queen when her time came.
There was a knock at the door. "Hello? Wren, are you ready?" Blake called. "I've got to go downstairs, take my seat," DG tucked her grey streaked hair behind her ears and kissed her daughter's forehead. She let Blake in. He was still the handsome man she had married years ago, gone a little grey at the temples with laugh lines around mouth and eyes. She lay a hand gently on his arm and left father and daughter alone.
Down the hall, Glitch and Wyatt were trying to calm an equally nervous Wes, who was coming very close to fraying the end of his immaculate frock coat. "Wesley, you're going to ruin your coat if you don't stop pulling at it," Glitch said, pulling his son's arms away from his coat. Wes sighed, and let his hands drop. He ran his hands through his hair, which had been brushed until it trailed in loose waves to his shoulders, and been tied back with a black ribbon. "Sorry, I'm just…marriage? Coronation? I can't do this!" "Wes," Cain said from where he was leaning against the wall, "you can do this. You love Wren right?" "Yeah," his son muttered, blushing slightly. "Well, then, this just makes it official in the kingdom. Nothing changes in that matter. As for being king, the way I see it, it's just a bit of added responsibility." "You think so?" "Of course. I was advisor for years. There's nothing to it," Glitch added. "Plus, your dad and I, and Wren's parents will help out."
Visibly calmed, Wes sighed. "Alright. It's good. I'm good. I can do this. I'm ready." He paused at the door, looking back at his parents. "I guess, then, I'll see you downstairs. Could you…maybe try and keep me from doing anything stupid, like bolting?" "Of course son. I've had practice keeping people from doing anything stupid," Cain said, pointedly looking at Glitch. "I'm ignoring that," Glitch said drily. Wes chuckled, and left.
"Poor kid's like a spooked horse," Wyatt sat, plopping himself down on the bed. His back protested a little at the treatment, as did his knees, but it wasn't bad. He was still the quickest Tin Man with a gun, even if he wasn't officially a Tin Man these days. No, he had settled into retirement, finding it nice, though he was restless. He needed glasses on occasion, a result of his temporary blinding, and there were a few wrinkles at the corner of his eyes, very small ones. Glitch seemed to have good genes as well, and was aging even more gracefully. His curls, which had grown out after finally months after they defeated the Witch a second time, was just starting to get a salt and pepper look. His face remained smooth, and he'd always needed glasses. He personally thought they both looked good, though Wyatt hated that his knees creaked when he swung himself onto a horse. Glitch too wasn't advising as much as he had, and had taken well to leisure, still inventing the odd knickknack or handy little device. And on occasion, he still blew himself nearly out the lab window, much to Wyatt's chagrin; although he had gotten used to the slightly charred smell.
"He'll be fine. They both will. We've pulled through worse, what's a bit of marriage and ruling a kingdom?" "That's an absolute cakewalk compared to what I've gone through saving your ass time after time," Wyatt grinned at him. "Excuse me? Who saved whose ass? I've saved yours…on occasion. No that's a lie. Alright, you've saved me more times than I can count." "It's what I do sweetheart. Now c'mon, let's go see our boy married off," Wyatt pushed himself to his feet, slinging an arm around Glitch's waist.
The marriage/coronation was the biggest and best the OZ had ever seen. People came from near and far to bear witness to Wesley and Wren becoming not only husband and wife, but the new King and Queen. Their entire conjoined and extended family was there. Both sets of parents, Victoria and Kalm, with their adopted daughter Lyn, Azkadellia, Ahamo, Jeb and his wife and daughter. It was a beautiful affair all around. Shortly afterwards, the newlyweds were packed and on their way to Finaqua for the honeymoon, though the celebrating went well into the night.
"Oh Wyatt," Glitch called, sing-songing his lover's name. "Yeah Glitch?" "Well, I was thinking, y'know, we were all sharing good memories of Wes and Wren, of all the times we've all shared…" "What're you getting at Glitch?" Wyatt propped himself up on the bed on his elbows, craning to see what Glitch was up to in the next room. Seconds later Glitch sashayed out from the shadows, making Wyatt's jaw drop. He'd completely forgotten about the black leather pants from oh so long ago. He hadn't even known Glitch had brought them back. They still fit just like a glove, clinging in all the right places and gleaming against his love's ivory skin. "Care to reminisce about our good times, Tin Man?" "Oh always…convict."
Peace reigned in the OZ then, and continued long after the heroes had passed. Ahamo managed to stay around long enough to see his great-grandson born. The boy was named in his honor. DG and Blake, and Glitch and Wyatt were positively doting grandparents, particularly Glitch.
Let it not be said that there was any trauma or accident that took out heroes. When they went, it was peaceful, from simply old age and a certain tiredness one acquires when one has saved the world. The ceremonies for them were a celebration of all that they'd been just barely tinged with sadness. And they were reunited once more in the afterlife, eternally friends, watching over their family.
A/N: well? I hope it doesn't seem too rushed or anything. I was originally going into description of each death, but it got to be a little much, and I like this better. However, I will say this, Glitch and Cain died together, in each other's arms, never to be parted, not even in death, just in case anyone was wondering. Either way, um, reviews, yes? They are love. Really. And, as if I hadn't made this abundantly clear already, muchos gracias for hanging in this long.