We do not own "Sailor Moon" nor any of the characters.
"SAILOR MOON ETERNAL"
The 6th Season of the Sailor Moon Saga
Chapter 25
"A Christmas Eve Shocker"
A filling brunch was headlined with Lita's famous pancakes and anything else their healthy young appetites could scarf out of the huge pantry in Chad's kitchen. Mrs. Crossings, their cook, was luckily out visiting her grandchildren in the nearby village, or she would have had a heart attack over the chaos wreaked by scavengers on her well-kept kitchen.
Sayer and Alex joined the gang for some now cold pancakes quite a while later. Darien and Alex had even exchanged a few civil words, their past differences had faded. Darien was as glad to have the defiant woman on their team as much as Alex had finally accepted his presence. There was a time before when she questioned his place on a team full of girls. But now, the point was moot with the arrival of three more—ahem—men to fight alongside them as well.
A leisurely breakfast and a rest; and the team of fun-loving Christmas-ing companions are off again for more snow and ice, playing this time in the form of skiing. Suited up and well-insulated from the bitter cold, the seven couples take to the mountains snow-capped slopes.
Terry and Susan stay behind in the warm confines of the mansion's fireplace, but they kept their eyes out the window, watching for Tara and Sammy's safety as they sledded on the hills outside the mansion. Susan had promised Mrs. Hart to keep an eye out for him. So, Terry made Susan a hot cup of green tea, her favorite, which steamed up the window seat they were perched in, along with other warming activities. Artemis and Luna purposely steered clear of this living room where the newlyweds were enjoying each other's company in the otherwise empty house.
Hitting the slopes had turned into a raucous laugh-fest, with Mina forgetting "how to ski" and falling down on her bottom several times. Ken had laughingly joined her as they both got tangled in the web of ski poles and skis on ice. Greg was doing all right with Amy's 'by the book' instructions, though he'd never been on skis before. That is, until his unfortunate path ran along the same as Mina and Ken. The pair had been trying to get up and just about made it, when poor Greg crashed into them, not knowing how to steer sharply around them at such short notice, sending them all spiraling down the hill.
Darien, who was doing his utmost to keep his ungraceful little wife on her unsteady skiis, was just about able to pull Serena to safety towards him in time. He lifts her small frame straight up in the air, skiis and all, twirling her about in a suave pit maneuver that left the Moon Princess breathless and dizzy.
"Oh, Darien! You're so romantic!" Serena ditzily proclaims as her Tuxedo hero had once again saved her just in the nick of time.
"I know." Smirking smugly at how cool he had trained himself to be in any dangerous situation, Darien now had the unenviable task of dis-entangling himself and his skiis as well as hers from Serena's long spaghetti strands of hair. But at least his giggling wife had that delirious smile etched on her enamored features as she gazed up at her knight in shining blue and white PVC ski outfit armor.
Lita, Amy and Andrew, along with expert skiers Chad and Rei, race past them to their crashed comrades' rescue as Michelle and Robin, still stationed at the top of the hill, sigh. They roll their eyes at their juvenile companions, then race down the mountain, about to leave the final "adult" pair up here with the 'children'. Michelle turns to comment on the others' youthful silliness to Alex, who had been standing beside her, only to find she and Sayer were both gone as well.
"Where did they go?" Michelle asks, knowing Alex was just there a moment ago. She was surprised by the sudden disappearance.
"Who cares?" Robin waves away nastily, the cold and the ice and the snow all morning had put him in a very rotten mood.
"Oh, so you do want to be alone with me? How romantic you are, dearest." Michelle coos, sliding her gloved hand around Robin's insulated sweater chest.
"C'mon, let's go." Michelle's always thinking about one thing only! Robin sighs, skiing carefully down the steep hill, catching up to where the others were gathering. Luckily, all were unharmed victims from the accident, and though snow covered, were all none the worse for wear.
Michelle sighs, too, knowing Robin was still a little timid to be alone with her. "Oh, well." She chases off after him, determined to capture his cute body someday, for his mind and soul were already hers.
Another pair, this one not minding to be alone together, go off exploring the snowbound wilderness in search of adventure and excitement as well. They go deeper and deeper into the forest, slowly working their way through tall trees which hadn't seen human beings for quite a while. Most of the wild animals just stop in their tracks to stare at the foreign pair of travelers, and did not run away in fear. The further they went, the quieter it became, almost eerily, as Alex suddenly realizes why it was so strange.
"Why are you so quiet? Is anything wrong?" She asks, breaking the silence, as Sayer had not uttered so much as one word since they'd left the others. The tall golden blonde was so engrossed in the exploration of this new, pristine white world, that she didn't even notice him until now.
"No, I'm fine. Just—uhh—taking in the scenery, that's all." Sayer smiles brightly at her, she had obviously just pulled him out of his own reverie.
"Sure you are, Starr. You can't fool me. What are you thinking?" She starts to pry, curious as to his strange behavior all morning. Alex casually leans against a tree and crosses her arms awaiting his reply.
"Look! A house or something!" Sayer suddenly points down the sloping hill through a dense grove of fir trees to a small log cabin that was almost hidden from sight. The wintry icy figures pull back the veil of leaves and branches which usually concealed it from view, locking it away from the world for most of the year when dense greenery hid it.
~swishsh~
"Want to see if anyone's home?" Alex asks, her interest piqued by the mysterious lodging as an uncanny breeze that was a part of her starts toying with her hair to blow in its direction.
"Maybe Big Foot's in there." Whispering in fear, Sayer had watched far too many late night horror movies it seemed. More pragmatic Alex rolls her eyes to the heavens which she had the full command of, to ever worry of imaginary monsters.
"With what room in that tiny little shack?" Alex mocks him in amused disbelief. "C'mon, I'll race you there, my scaredy-cat starman." She takes off without a second thought, as Sayer stops to admire the sheer style of his golden beauty. She was at home in the snowy, winter weather, all a part of her Eastern European make-up.
"You're on, my Russian Ice Princess." Romantic Sayer murmurs to himself, never thinking about uttering such an affectionate thing in front of this tough woman. To himself and to the cool wind she was a part of, he could only whisper it. Shaking off his sentimentality to keep focus on the prize, he checks, for the thousandth time today it seemed, that the pack he was carrying was still securely attached to his back. Then he zips down to where fast-moving Alex was already waiting at the log cabin's front steps.
She knocks on the rustic cabin's door to no answer, and was just about to open it to see what mysteries awaited them inside…
CREAK…!
As an odd wind rustles the trees, spiraling down through the wintry branches from the sky to whip against it, the door eerily unlatches to release of its own accord, it seemed.
Nonplussed, Alex pushes the door wide open the rest of the way, the sound of its rusty hinges showing its age. One look inside the spider-webbed interior, covered with a thick blanket of dust and stale air, was enough to know it had not been used for quite a long time now.
It was that enigmatic air about the chilly old cabin that made Alex want to know more of it. There was something thrilling to her about stepping inside someplace not another soul had seen nor touched in many years. And there was something especially…unsettling…about the quiet manner of its almost otherworldly stillness that felt almost welcoming to her.
But in a good way. Uranus had seen her share of the undesirable type of otherworldly in her time as a Sailor Soldier.
"Wow. Look at this place." The sound of Sayer's awed, silky voice in a whisper added to the mystique for Alex as both step into this forgotten world near the secluded peak of this uncharted mountain.
SMASH!
The cold wind suddenly whips up and snaps the door shut behind them.
"AHHHH!" Sayer was no chicken really, but was prone to impulsive fits of exclamation. Being especially jumpy today—right now—he instinctively flies into the safety of Alex's arms.
My hero…
Holding him close to her, she suddenly feels a strange…enchantment…coming from the cabin itself, it seemed. As if it wanted her to hold him close like this forever, as if it was waiting for them particularly—waiting to keep Alex and Sayer inside of its secret folds, together, safe and warm.
"It's just the wind, Starr." Alex says comfortingly, whispering now for some inexplicable reason as she continues to embrace him tightly, stroking his tense back up and down rhythmically to calm him as she would a child.
"Oh. Silly me." Enjoying her touch greatly for several blind moments, Sayer then pulls back quickly in embarrassment. The young man turns beet red at how cowardly he must've just looked in front of her, the one person in the world he never meant to disappoint.
How weak I must've just looked! This could've been the perfect place—the perfect moment I've been searching for! But how can I give her this now, when she thinks I'm a stooge? Ally won't take me seriously; she won't know how genuine I wish to tell her how I really feel about her…
Hammering himself mentally for the perhaps lost chance, Sayer loses himself in the forest of her green eyes.
"You're cute when you blush." Alex smiles at his boyish sweetness and brushes the dark curls from his eyes in an almost demonstratively tender manner.
Maybe now is the right time! His frantic mind, seizing the odd gaze she was giving him as encouragement, wonders if this was the moment he'd been waiting for to lay it all on the line to this unique woman he had fallen so desperately in love with, now that they were alone...
Why am I worried? I know I'm good. But will she think so? Or am I asking too much? Thinking we could be, too much, too soon…
Fw-Whee! Fw-Whoosh!
There must be a lot of drafts in this place. A delicious shiver runs down her spine, as Alex feels a sudden rush of whining wind push her back from just turning around to leave this chilly abandoned cottage.
"It's no Grand Hotel, but—" Alex's deep voice states, but shockingly hushed Sayer was only trailing her around at a snail's pace. Shrugging laughingly as this was his crazy idea to come here in the first place, intrigued Alex explores the interesting cottage's interior deeper, giving Sayer some space to be with his bag.
First she finds a small nook of a kitchenette with a pair of stools placed at its wooden table/bar, hand-built to fit snugly into the cabin's small frame to best utilize its limited space. Then a small bench situated in a window box, the glass of which overlooking the hillside had been apparently etched with multiple enigmatic signatures.
More and more interesting… The guardian soldier of the wind strokes her finger over the entwined names romantically entrusted to this age-old windowpane that had seen much in its reflection over the past hundred years or so. Alex sensed an almost palpable…emotion…rising from the earth to the winds at her touch's pre-recognition of the pair by pair of quixotic etchings.
Also curious at the interesting architecture that made the log cabin seem much larger on the inside than the outside belied, Alex's long legs cross into the rest of the almost enchanted place. Like stepping into an old black and white classic movie plot, she spies at the end of the hall what was obviously meant to be the cabin's one and only bedroom. More spacious than any other point in the charming cottage, this remarkable room sported a large bed with an old-fashioned patchwork comforter that was still neatly made in place on it, with matching curtains hanging on the double scenic window frames and throughout which made the entire cabin seem rather welcoming.
And there was something else about it…something indefinable, almost as if indistinguishable voices were quietly murmuring like a chorus through the still air in the background that perceptive Alex could almost—but not quite—make out…
"It's a nice place." Sayer finally answers as he breaks the eerie silence to call out to her nervously, just to have something to say as he takes several steps down the hall and goes into the room Alex had just been nosing around in.
Unceremoniously plopping down onto the big bed while fiddling with the bag's zipper, the boy who often wore his heart on his sleeve braces himself now on how most advantageous to present the message his heart had been demanding he not hold back any longer.
The dark haired man of action's decision was made. He just had to get the blasted zipper open to get the ball rolling!
"This place is ancient, but well built. It must have been refitted since the turn of the century with some archaic central plumbing system and a working shower, no less…" A bathing expert due to demanding Michelle's penchant for a suitable place to get wet and clean, Alex begins to comment idly while checking out the small bathroom that sported a creepy horsehair owl tapestry on its door.
I bet this thing would give you nightmares, Starr. She smirks at the silly boy whose imagination often got away with him. But she need not have worried about Sayer, for he was not paying attention to the century old cabin much, nor her wandering about it, idly exploring. She finds him seated on the bed, more than intent on opening the enormous zipper on his elongated backpack that had been strapped to him all day.
"What's in there, anyway, Starr? You've been lugging that thing around all day." She stops in the doorway as his fumbling fingers lose their temper and finally just rips the zipper open. It reveals that a guitar had been strapped in, along with a messily wrapped Christmas gift that had been stashed inside the torn bag beneath it.
"Uh…well…it's kinda your Christmas present…" Sayer's cheeks deepen to a shade of red that rivaled his button up shirt.
"My Christmas present is a guitar?" With an incredulous look on her face, Alex walks into the bedroom toward him, holding her tongue from saying that the instrument was more his style than hers. In fact, the closer she approached, the more it appeared to be the rock star's own faithful favorite guitar, or maybe its exact duplicate. "Umm…Thanks?" Either way Alex was suspicious of why the crazy man would bring that outlandish a gift-used or otherwise-all the way up here, but she didn't want to seem that ungrateful.
"N-n-no! Not the guitar! Well, yeah, technically it is part of the whole package…but…This is—uh—umm—for you." Giving his beleaguered guitar a rap on its shiny lacquered red body that he fluidly then situates around his, Sayer stutters the confusing admission. He was a bundle of nervous energy as he nearly drops the poorly wrapped, by now dilapidated flat package while removing it from the backpack to the wood plank floor.
"You're as bad as a little kid, Starr. Couldn't it wait till tomorrow?" Alex chuckles, stooping down to pick up the fallen gift and hand it up to him. But the way his eyes were avoiding hers, as he pretended to tune his trusty guitar, made her wonder what this strangest present could possibly be.
"No! I…need…to give this to you…Now, Ally." Almost pouting, Sayer protests at the returning package. With a little prayer, he closes his eyes tightly, as the crumpled box passes from his sweaty palms back into Alex's bemused hands. She shrugs and accepts the crookedly wrapped, yet lightweight flat object and unwraps it with a wry smirk on her amused features as she alights onto the edge of the bed beside him.
"I—I've been planning on it for…for months, waiting for just the right moment when we were—a-a-alone." Beginning to prattle nervously as he jumps to his feet, Sayer bites his lip hard with that last sentence, causing it to go almost as white as the rest of his ghostly pale face. "But I don't think I could wait to—to…show…it to you any longer, without exploding." The generally self-assured young man stumbles over every other word, and swallows hard to regain his composure a bit before ending up with a hopeful smile.
"And I didn't want to give it in front of everybody else, because you might not want me to, you know, in public. It's private…meant for just when we two were alone, because…it's straight from my heart, just for your ears only, U." Sayer's jumbled words made no sense to Alex, though she was now burning with curiosity as to know just what one simple present could cause such consternation on Sayer Starr's usually easy-going, overconfident features.
As he was speaking, Alex had opened the fairly badly dented box that held within it a single long stem red rose that had somehow survived the road trip, still ribboned to a wrinkled sheet of paper in a golden folder.
It was a piece of handwritten sheet music, with the simple dedication in Sayer Starr's bold signature style at its heading:
'For My Friend, Ally.'
Their eyes meet for a long moment before either could say anything.
"A song…written for…me...?" She breathes up at him in disbelief. No one had ever done something like this—something so personal—for her before. Her frozen hands hover above the red rose tied sheet music's stunning notes as if she were afraid to believe someone cared so much to actually dedicate a song to her. She—a wild, willful, abrasive free spirit who sought no sentimental attachments—and Alex feared the obviously poured over, wrinkled page might shatter like a storybook glass dream if she touched it.
Me? Your Friend…? She understood that if this serious Star soldier had written this word of address, it meant a great deal more to this independent, unapproachable, aloof woman, because he had poured his whole mind and soul into believing they had bonded so much.
What's more, this Fighter was about to send Uranus his heart's message in his cosmic style, as he had only dedicated this sort of expressively deep music for his beloved Princess before.
That's when his skilled guitar softly begins to fill the still cabin's bedroom with a sweet composition's gentle, plaintive, soaring notes, full of new discovery, yearning and love all beautifully permeating the enchanted cottage that had been silent for far too long...
And when golden-throated Sayer Starr starts to sing so sincere and truthful with every lovely tone uttered, Alex's breath catches in her throat for how he made her feel so completely special.
"Remembering things we said to each other
Unforgettable day we first met
I should have leaned my head on your shoulder
And searched the depths of your distant eyes for something more."
Lead singer Sayer's strong, pristine voice begins his songwriter's lyric with a bold reference to the first time he had encountered the difficult soldier of the wind. And yet, his gorgeous voice was filled with yearnings for what 'should have' been between them, questioning, than the confrontation of what was.
As his voice soared, Alex too, vividly recalled the palpable tension between the pair, as her mind races now at how the seasons had shifted that intense emotion of total distrust to romance and something entirely new and thrilling.
"The reason why we couldn't get along
I'm clever at finding answers for everyone but myself
Maybe because I've always been an immature guy?"
Taking his share of the blame spelled out so clearly of regret that proved his maturity now, Sayer Starr's lowered eyelids were directed at his shining Alex Sokova as he sang so emotionally that she was utterly captivated.
"No matter how we found each other
Our feelings have changed around now
My chest tightens when I just think of you
Desperate to do anything to hold you tight to me!"
Uranus felt that she could hear not just a pretty voice spewing random words and music, but that it was a secret message on some deeper level longing to be expressed in the best way this otherworldly creature could—through his heart's gentle song.
"I'll keep believing in that star that
Promised a future I won't be alone in!
Whenever you're close beside me
We are 'us' because my heart's right here with you
The things that tie us together
No one can ever unravel our tomorrow
We'll finally meet now as we should've then
And we can truly be real friends."
His soulful message, like a shooting star, reached out to her across the wide blue sky they indeed were both an intricate part of, tying the two fighters' hearts together to be true companions, worthy partners, and real friends now, too.
"Those times we can laugh are good, aren't they?
Talking together just felt right
Our memories play just like an old movie
One that I never want to see come to an end!
Something precious and rare these
Emotions I now have for you
So soft and tender, each and every one
Can't be wrong!
Nothing more important than you!"
Alex was realizing that this 'starman' from beyond this galaxy had a special emotional rollercoaster quality about him that could make her once believed stable heart run the gamut. Blood boiling in anger one minute, busting out laughing at his insanity the next, then the crazy, beautiful creature could touch her hardened heart enough to make her want to cry sometimes, too, with how important he made her feel.
You're right—this 'us' doesn't feel wrong anymore, does it, Starr? From where she sat on the edge of the bed, in the sunlight streaming through the lone window, Alex considers Sayer's stunning profile that could display a vast array of emotions as he sang.
"I couldn't always see the truth
Was selfish at first, rejecting to learn more
Now I need to embrace your shine
Find the moment to tell you all my throbbing words
I should have said them all before
I wish yesterday
Could be rewritten somehow
This love blowing inside my heart
I'll devote it all now to you…"
'Selfish,' 'embrace,' 'throbbing,' 'love,' 'devotion'—the string of terms play to Alex's soul in a way she never thought possible. This man's melodic voice carried across his honest sincerity and belief that their stormy past could be rewritten by a fantastic promise she was finding herself caught up in more and more...
"I'll keep believing in that star that
Promised a future I won't be alone in!
When you were close beside me
We are 'us' because you are right here with me!"
'''Us', eh? As he hit that perfect, high C note, down to earth Alex muses the sappy idea of always having this impulsively capricious rock idol in her life. It was a new and novel thought to want anyone—beyond Michelle, of course—to be so close that he could share her heart, on good days and bad of a promised future, to unendingly have him to hold tight to her like his sweet notes were tenderly pledging.
"The things that tie us together
No one can ever unravel our tomorrow
We'll finally meet as we should've then
And we can truly be real friends."
No longer alone…a tomorrow we can be real friends in?...That brand new, startling thought wasn't as undesirable as Alex once dreamed, as saucy Sayer Starr's sleek strains softly serenade her, unashamed now to reveal his new feelings, conveyed in this heart-provoking melody.
Seated close beside him on this enchanted cottage's bed, Alex felt swept up in his song's hopeful, yearning beauty while this blazing hot starlight melded true lyrics of love smoothly with his heartbeat's concentrated music.
In it, time and space seemed to pause with only the two of them in the universe, as Uranus was quietly listening in rapt attention to this one man concert. After all, it was being performed for her single audience alone as her Star Fighter repeats the poignant stanza that summarized the entire song's aspiration.
"We'll finally meet as we should've then
And we can truly be real friends…"
When the dazzling music's stunning sound comes to its moving crescendo on his gorgeous guitar strings, Alex's usually calm eyes felt strangely mesmerized as she gazed upon him. They turn wide and go, daresay, teary, in downright pleased surprise at this greatest of all gifts—Sayer Starr's genuine friendship—laid out for her heart and hers alone.
You just wanted us to be friends…Nothing more, nothing less? No pressure to go all the way, like others of your current sex would push right now? For all your innuendo laden bluster, mister, you're really a sweetheart.
The normally tough-as-nails female could feel the significance of the wistful communication that his pretty voice was transferring to her through the airwaves in hopeful lyrics. His soulful song was replete with emotive expressions of their budding relationship in a stunning melody mix of yesterday's regret and tomorrow's endless promise.
And for once in her life, the heart-touched Sailor of Uranus was bowled over in grateful awe for his pure friendship and with it, a love offered, honestly, unabashedly, as limitless as the wide open blue sky.
Just what I thought I saw in you in Paris…I wasn't mistaken...You're serious about this…
The ghost of a musical celestial breeze softly concurs with that sentiment back to her, making Alex not just brush it off as she usually might have done.
This sincere Fighter's romantic sentimentality didn't end with the heartrending song's powerful message as his skillful instrument closes the tune. Alex turns over the hand scribbled note sheet music he had given her to glimpse one more incredibly personal dedication to her:
'My search is over. I love U, eternal and more.'
"Starr..." She was just about able to whisper his name, feeling Sayer's true emotion for her, his wishing to be her partner, her companion, her lover, come through each and every tender measure, well timed chord sequence and rhythmically flowing note that reflected true love's declaration.
And moreover, the level of commitment she felt he was promising her with this glorious song written from his heart was now hers to take and hold forever if she wanted it. Pondering the future of their relationship seriously for the first time, Alex traces her finger along the words on the paper her Sayer had written so meaningfully for her.
My Sayer? I guess you could equal me—if anyone could—because, at last, I may have found a true friend…a man, no less (well, sort of—hmph!), a fellow soldier, who understands the way I am.
She watches Sayer in the corner of her eye as he, abnormally quiet, removes his guitar over his dark blue curled head from where it had been slung over his shoulder to place it carefully at the head of the bed. He affectionately pats the single instrument that had been his clear, lovely voice's only accompaniment in serenading his unique new lover. Then the handsome, wiry performer sits back on the bed beside it, still anxious, but less nervous for his music's review. For he had put his entire heart and soul into his music dedicated to this special woman alone as he peeks over to her bashfully.
You know what, Fighter? You can do it.
Only you can challenge me to think like this. Only you can match me to feel like this. Only you can thrill me to change like this…
Without a single evocative word more as she lays the rose tied sheet music she had been holding to her lips onto the pillow, Sailor U gives in to her raw emotion and expresses her overwhelming appreciation with a crushing kiss. It lands to Sayer's unsuspecting cute mouth that was hanging open as he was waiting on tenterhooks for her response to his heart that he had just sung wide open for her.
Rising to the occasion, Sayer reciprocates her irresistible passion when Alex's long lanky body pins his back down to the bed. Moving as swift as the wind in on him, she violently knocks his blessedly resilient poor guitar to clatter across the floor as the well-matched fighters wrestle their unleashed, equally matched dynamism into an uncontrollably powerful full-mouth liplock.
"'This love blowing in my heart, I'll devote to you now.'
Feeling so alive, Alex hears Sayer's silky voice in song reverberate in her head, calming her wild soul he simultaneously excited in some strange contentious manner, as she finally comes up for air to gaze down at the helplessly gasping shooting star trapped beneath her.
A gentle zephyr sent from the stars above themselves seemed to waft a welcome warmth through the frigid cracks of the cold cabin's century old logs…
Let's test if I'm correct…how real your commitment is …Or is it just a song?
"What do you see in my eyes now, Starr?" She breathes on his satisfied, heaving cheek, enjoying how Sayer's beyond pleased eyes danced up at her in total content affirmation.
He searches the depths of her green orbs this time, and finds that something more he had been hoping for was there. Relief sweeps over his handsome features that his song which he had poured his whole self into had this positive an effect, though his moist lips were left happily speechless by her vehement review's riposte.
Although, her next two words, as Alex uses her strong arms to prop herself up to tower over Sayer as he was languidly lying on the bed with starry eyes up at her, would evoke a definite reaction, none so calm or tranquil in nature.
"Marry me." Her dark green eyes were dead serious as they stared him down, in all dared candor as the singing wind builds its deafening, yet silent forte to a sustained note's fermata.
Your brother may be an asshole sometimes, Starr, but maybe he got this right. Alex would never admit it to his face, but she did admire the selfless sacrifice Terry Starr had made in becoming a Guardian of Time for Pluto's sake, and the timeless bond—the closer than close intimacy—that he and Susan now shared through that mystery called marriage.
She seems to be a happy, complete soldier now, with a partner to fight for our Princess at her side through all time, having her back, in ways unexpected. Maybe this change hasn't been all bad for her, like I once dreaded…
That haunting music continues to whistle hope through the winds of Uranus' inner psyche as she waits for his answer…
"Huh?" Sworn bachelor/sex symbol/rock idol-in-his-prime Sayer Starr gulps down the sudden, shocking proposal from this formidable female who too had supposedly sworn off the ritual custom of marriage long ago. He was floored by this unheard of demand of the powerful woman hovering over his vulnerable, yet very manly form on the bed trapped beneath her.
"Were they just words, then?" In a more even, quiet tone, she asks and dares and almost grieves all in the same breath at his sadly slow to respond, disappointingly male predictable noncommittal as her bright eyes start to dull and shy away.
"Let's do it then, U. Tonight." Sayer whispers seductively, stretching his face up to hers to kiss that little crook of her neck to draw her attention back and prove he was not backing out of this challenge—or any other. But his enigmatic words left Alex pondering in that moment whether he was insinuating something else that both their sinewy, youthful bodies had been aching for, especially in this tense, intimate circumstance of lying here on this bed together.
"You bet I'll marry you, Ally." Without skipping one more heartbeat, Sayer then smiles broadly and agrees wholeheartedly to Alex's outlandish challenge, as if in direct answer to her withdrawn eyes' unspoken query as the wind chimes flare a crescendo over her senses.
"Remember: 'I'll keep believing in that star that promised a future I won't be alone in!'"
His smooth, beautifully crystal clear tones echo an excerpt from his soulful song up to Alex's gratified face again in true testament to her, Sayer kissing at her rigid fingers placed on the mattress beside his cheek meaningfully.
"And I hear that on Christmas Eve, stars are signs that miracles can happen, Mrs. Starr." Riding close to the edge, Sayer couldn't help but toss a snide little tease up in Alex's direction, knowing the conventional taunt would certainly irk her back into their more familiar, good humored cat and mouse game.
"Indeed they can, Mr. Sokova." Exhilarated at his acceptance of her unexpected proposal, Alex's eyes sparkle right back at him, as smug Sayer was again left speechless at this new aspect's unforeseen quandary.
As far as he understood traditional earth culture, and particularly that of Japan, the wife was the one to assume the husband's last name to show she belonged to him. Just like Susan took on 'Starr' for Terry when they had wed, without a problem. But Alex Sokova/Sailor Uranus was a decidedly different kind of woman than her fellow sailor soldier, Pluto.
"Me take on your last name? What will my fans think?" Sayer wonders aloud, only mildly entertaining the thought of telling the world at large—namely all his adoring girl fans—of this big step, and in particular his stuffy manager.
Ha! Old Pymmie's gonna murder me when he finds this whole thing out!
"Do you care what other people think so much? I never did." The sailor of rebellion in her categorically objected to doing 'everything by the book,' just because the majority demanded it so. "If I can take your name, you can take mine. It's the only fair way to start off this madness." She tosses her golden bangs back over her flashing eyes.
"Is it, Ally?" His eyes darting away from hers, Sayer bites his lip hard so that it would have caused pain if he cared to notice.
"Well, I didn't think you would've had a problem with something as stupid as ownership dominance, like other men." Alex's dissatisfaction was evident in her stiffening voice as she starts to move away, feeling that if she may have had the wrong impression about one thing, then maybe she was wrong about others, too...
"Not that! I'll call myself anything you want, do anything you want me to, be whoever you want me to be—it is only fair to have a perfectly even exchange, in all things, Ally. Names included, I guess. We just didn't have that sort of thing on my home planet. We didn't even have last names, for that matter, either. It's kinda weird." He smiles crookedly after sitting straight up with the loud denial, neither Kinmoku nor Janus' more civilized people doing anything as silly as having surname preordinance.
Sayer was as liberal minded as she on this matter of personal independence and autonomous ownership, he truly of the opinion that nobody was supposed to be in possession of another that they should be forced to affix an unwanted moniker to label a person like some bought object.
"Then what?" She was sitting up by now, only tossing him a cool, sideways look of a tiny lifeline before pulling the plug on this whole thing before it got too far.
"I was just wondering if you really think this—this us—is 'madness', U?" His voice was small again, Sayer fidgeting with his collar in that adorable way when he was feeling low and unsure.
"Oh, that's all." Alex smiles to herself, glad inside that this Fighter from a distant star really did share her values and world view. "Hey?" She lifts his sunken chin to meet her eyes, never wanting to hurt the fragile emotions of this man again. "I love crazy." Alex assures him with one of her dazzling smiles as she physically pulls his mouth into a crooked one with her powerful fingertips. "So let's be crazy in love together. All right, Starr? Sounds like a new song of yours." She teases, the pleased grin overriding his gorgeous face was unsurpassable.
"You said it, 'Sokova'! I knew you loved me." All misunderstanding was crushed between them as Sayer's fervent arms and cocky smiling wide lips teasingly consent to acquire her stylish last name as well as everything else that came with it.
That is, if the award winning race car driver would be willing to let him be in the proverbial driver's seat—ahem—every now and then. He, out of the blue, forcefully flips Alex, who was distractedly glancing at the red rose his song had romantically been tied with, down to be the one pressed to the bed now in his place. Sexual dominance had nothing to do with the passions surging between these two equal warriors, but both honestly measured his osculation quality was every bit just as good as hers was before.
Even if he drove like a maniac.
Seeing the open invitation in her eyes, Sayer kisses Alex fiercely, not wanting to let her go, ever. Not now that she had asked them to do something neither of them would ever have considered in a million years, had they not by chance—no, by destiny, met one another…
Starr…Sayer. This is crazy. You are crazy. But I think I want to be, too. Your song was the commitment I've been waiting for. A thousand times over. I only wanted to know you really do love me. I never imagined you—you of all people—would be the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. And the funny thing is? The real kicker is? I think I can love you. Most of all, probably because you have accepted me for who I am. Never once have you tried to change me, or judge me like everyone else has. Just as I will try to never judge or change you.
I never believed in marriage before, thinking it some silly, archaic ritual where the woman always got the short end of the stick. But now, it's here, and I actually want to marry you now. Prove that I want to hold you forever…starting now…
"Right now." Alex whispers in Sayer's ear with a painful nibble after their burning lips finally parted from the passionate kiss.
"What?" Sayer breathes back, not really able to pay attention as he kisses her again like a greedy child.
"We'd better go down to the village and get married, right now." Breaking away again at his growingly insistent kisses she was having a tough time denying anymore, Alex's eyes search deep into Sayer's. "So I can make an honest woman of you." She teases their very interesting sexual identity relationship before it started getting too hot to distinguish.
"Oo-kay." Sayer manages to halt his wild kissing—just—and swallows hard, equally finding it difficult to pull back from the nice, comfortable bedding. "Boy, my performance must've been good." Innocently Sayer refers to his song dedicated to his Ally, given for an early Christmas present just minutes ago. He never imagined this all could happen so soon in a literal whirlwind.
"I'll grade your real performance later, schoolboy. After further examination." Alex sexily taunts with a ruffle of his blue-black curls and a pat to his tight abs, before the ferocious female force of nature fast and furiously leaps up from the cozy bed they'd been lounging upon.
With a long intake of the sweet red rose's scent, Alex smoothly scoops up her sheet music page from the pillow. Then she picks up his fallen guitar from the floor in one sweeping maneuver before tucking both snugly into the torn red bag she slaps to his chest, just in the time Sayer had to rise to his stunned feet.
"Well, I'm gonna ace that test for sure, Teach." Dared Sayer matches her innuendo-laden words with a flirtatious stroke all along the mussed comforter that ends with his octopus arms wrapping around her tall sleek form.
"You'd better. Wouldn't want you to get left behind." With a breezy blow-off in his face, Alex leads Sayer by the scruff of his compliant neck like a puppy out of the bedroom and through the rest of their tiny enchanted cottage where Alex was sure she was hearing a soft chorus of windblown music play from the vicinity of that name etched window.
"Desperate to do anything to hold you tight to me!" With a portion of his gorgeous song on his joyfully melodic lips, Sayer stops them short in the doorway for one last wild kiss before he had to face the forbidding cold ski slopes again.
Alex could tell from his soulful eyes and ardent liplock that he was more than ready to 'graduate' to maturity in her 'class.' And ASAP.
"Sounds good." She breathes. "Let's race back down." As fumbling Sayer finally catches up in strapping on his skis to match her proficiently professional gear-up on the bench on the porch, Alex closes the door of the log cabin behind them tight.
In doing so she felt a tinge of almost…longing sadness…as they left behind this lonely, secreted cottage where so much was discovered between them. Closing her eyes, Alex turns to immerse herself one last time in the tinkling wind that had been encouraging her all the while to accept Sayer's song of love into her heart.
The grateful, maternal winds were strongly shining a starlit lullaby across endless light years with a protective Fighter's spirit of long, long ago, still watching over the special, sparkling child who never knew her. But she had not ever forsaken his brilliant heart's melody, even after her own fighting star had burned out as the first casualty of the Sailor Wars.
Come hell or high water, I promise to take care of him from now on…Whoever you are, fellow soldier…Thank you for trusting your precious starlight to me…
Sensing her odd sentimentality, Sayer tenderly grips Alex's hand, not wanting to let go of the strong, firm confidence she gave to him in this special place, either. She squeezes it back, not willing to release his wiry fingers for a few extra moments of shared warmth in an adult mood massage to his incorrectly unbuttoned chest…
That is, until Alex snaps back to the reality of here and now again. She ignores Sayer's sneaky contented sighs and zips up his falsely 'defective' jacket rather roughly, shoving his ski poles in his incorrigibly grabby hands. Then she yanks his stylish red goggles over his enamored, petulant eyes and smacks his tight rear end in preparation to speed back down the mountain to the village.
"W-whoa-oh! MRS. STARR!" Sayer's shrieking voice cries out, loudly pronouncing the soon-to-be name of his sudden attacker, cruel tormentor, and true blue love all the way down the echoing mountainside.
I guess you're ready to shine, all right…
After sending less experienced skier Sayer screaming and veering down the slope at top speed, Alex Sokova pulls own her goggles down with a wry smirk at always having the upper hand over her man. With one final glance back at the hidden away cabin which she was almost sure possessed some magic of mystical whispers that called she and Sayer Starr to come confess their love and embrace a new sky as real friends.
"I'm coming, Mr. Sokova!' Less vocally ringing over the countryside, Alex sadistically laughs their inside joke tease before professionally traversing the slope at record shattering speed to keep Sayer from falling on his cute face, just in the nick of time.
"These times we can laugh are good, aren't they?"
Just the two matched fighters under the endless clear heavens, the incomparable pair share smiles and laughter all the way back, at last ready to dazzle life and its new exciting promise, starting with implausibly magical Christmas Eve dreams, set to the starlight wind's harmony.
"So what are you two up to in here? As if I didn't know." Robin smirks slyly as he and Michelle return to the mansion before the others. (The cold was just too unbearable for our "super" idol.) Michelle makes a loud clamor in the kitchen before they had barged into the living room where Terry and Susan were exchanging gentle kisses and sweet caresses in the window seat.
"Watching the children, of course, Robin." Terry answers what he knew to be Robin's insinuation, becoming more and more accustomed to the barbs and teasing from his two, as yet, bachelor brothers.
"Why are you back so early? Where are the others?" Susan asks curiously, though pleased that Michelle was here now to take over the monitoring of Tara and Sammy's wild sledding down the hill. Sammy had taken to the steepest hill to show off, while allowing Tara to sled down more gentle slopes. So far, Sammy had rolled off his sled in the snow, caused more than a few bumps and bruises and then his sled had crashed into an unsuspecting tree. Scratches and scrapes abounded everywhere, but other than those boyish accidents, he was quite unharmed, and the afternoon had been quite uneventful.
"Well, Robin decided it would be so much more romantic to sneak away from the group to be with me. Didn't you, dear?" Michelle asks, as Robin dutifully helped her take her ski jacket off.
"I wouldn't say that." Robin mumbles under his breath.
"What was that, Robin dearest?" Michelle twists her lip, just having a feeling that something unsatisfactory was said.
"Now we've got the whole day left." Robin looks at her with a sweet, innocent smile, trying to recover from what he had said.
"Mmm—hmm." Michelle wasn't buying that today. "I think, for that, I deserve to open my present early." Michelle kneels at the bottom of the glowing, sparkling Christmas tree, rooting around until she found the one she knew was for her from her difficult, but so darn cute boyfriend.
Grabbing it up like an excited, spoiled child, she shakes its unknown contents for a clue. "What is it?" She asks, having no hint.
"It's a Christmas surprise, Michelle." Robin takes it carefully from her and replaces it under the tree again.
"Do tell." Michelle coos, suddenly getting an idea to appease her curiosity, and begins reaching into his mind.
Oh no, you don't. Robin feels her intrusion and puts up some roadblocks as her gentle waves sweep through his mind, searching for what he would not tell her. Since knowing Michelle, Robin had learned more and more how to hide things that he didn't want her to know about, and lock them tightly away. In the end, though, he was sure that her more powerful mind could knock down any barriers if she really wanted to.
"Oooohh." Michelle blows air through her lips, but the wonderful sensation of reaching into his soul made her curiosity turn amorous. "Would you like to help me undress instead? As compensa—" Suddenly, her teasing ceases abruptly, her eyes open wide in surprise as she stumbles forward to the railing.
"Michelle?" Robin asks, concerned.
"What is it, dear?" Susan says, just about to ask Michelle to take over her post, so she and Terry could spend some 'quiet' time alone together in their room.
Wordlessly, Michelle dashes to the front door, a strange combination of shock, disbelief and wonder crossing over her features. She flings the door wide open, holding it against the cold, freezing wind that threatened to shut it on her. She, with Robin, and Terry and Susan soon at her heels, gaze out the open door to find two people not in the least bit concerned by the weather, finding warmth in each other's arms and an enthusiastic kiss.
"Amaralexis!" Michelle waits for what seemed a lifetime before Alex and Sayer's lips parted. She trembled herself, not with cold, but with amazement of what she could unbelievably sense in her partner's mind.
"Hey there, Michelle." Alex shares a smile with her dear cousin—many things passing between them as their eyes lock. Understanding of what was happening—of what was about to happen—made Michelle quiver even more though, but now in excitement.
"Oh, Amara! Are you—?" Michelle manages to utter, grasping her beloved's hands tightly as the two enter the house like nothing happened.
Alex merely nods to her cousin calmly in response. Terry and Susan look to Sayer, and were certain from the look in his eyes that he had managed to pull it off somehow. He and Alex were officially a couple now, Sayer's romantic rendezvous/secret Santa song plot was a success.
"What?! Are you what?" Robin asks, looking from face to face, seeing everyone already knew everything about what was going on, except for him.
"Engaged?" Michelle nods breathlessly, sensing Alex's change of attitude towards the maddening young man as her eyes danced in delight at him.
"WHAT!?" Robin nearly flips his lid. Never, never, ever imagining that Sayer would ask anyone to marry him—and Alex!
Ahh, you're crazy, Sayer! Absolutely stark, raving mad nuts! Robin nearly faints at the mere thought of Sayer wanting to spend the rest of his life with that...person.
"W-what?" Even usually calm Terry was unmitigated shocked at this revelation. He and Susan were privy to Sayer's 'top secret Santa plot' to privately find some romantic nook to present Alex the gift of his heart's song that the idealistic young romancer had personally handwritten in her honor. Terry had even helped him arrange it for guitar solo, since Sayer did not wish his less receptive brother Robin to be part of his secret for his Ally, even if Robin was the Three Lights' usual music arranger.
But how did an innocently saccharine gift as a sweet song result with his admittedly confirmed bachelor younger brother Sayer trading in his swinging single status?
Terry and Susan exchange baffled, yet amused, glances at the mysterious turn of events.
"Not for long though." Sayer announces just as mysteriously, looking to Terry with the more and more perplexing circumstance. The taller man raises his eyebrows in confusion.
"What do you mean? When are you two planning this…wedding…for?" Terry asks, wondering aloud the question they all had in mind.
"Right now." Alex's calm words nearly floor her already stunned companions. She seemed to revel in their shock factor. "Today." She turns to Sayer and places a finger on his lips, which he kisses sweetly. Terry, Susan, Michelle and Robin exchange amazed glances at the open display that tough, independent woman Alex had shunned previously.
GULP.
"Today?" Robin's high voice scratchily cracks. "You can't just get married today!" Robin feels Sayer must be having some kind of hallucination and should have a few days—a few months—a few years for that matter!—to think this over.
And come to his senses, if he knew what was good for him.
"And why not, Shrimp? You've got a problem with that?" Alex's wistful expression at Sayer could just as easily turn angry at Robin. Her deep green eyes flash at him with utter contempt.
"Because—because…" Robin stumbles under her irritated gaze. Though he and Sayer had not always gotten along, he still wanted the poor man to have a chance to come back to his lost senses.
"—Because we're simply concerned that you two should have a proper wedding. At least several weeks' worth of preparations are in order. We need time to send out invitations to those you want present. What would dear Mémère say?" Collecting herself, Michelle takes up some slack for Robin, for she herself was a little concerned at Alex and Sayer's sudden announcement of an unexpected shotgun wedding.
Hmmm…That must be the reason why…Michelle concludes in her oh-so-French way as she scrutinizes this impulsive young rock star with knit brows. But when did loose morals ever prompt wild boy Sayer Starr to take the high road before? Michelle knew first hand that this dark horse of a Three Light was more than willing to undress a lady. Alex probably couldn't resist…? No, I KNOW she could resist any man's unwanted advances, and he would not live to tell the tale. This doesn't make any sense…Unless… The perceptive sailor of Neptune believed she knew her lifelong planetary partner far better than that, as her muddled by emotion, psychic senses were too confused to grasp the reality right off.
"You're the only ones we need to be there." Alex cuts Michelle off, taking her hand and squeezing it, with that certain air of getting what she wanted in her deep green eyes. Much like how Alex looked when she sped past the blue checked flag in many an automotive race…
Amaralexis Sokova! This is your doing, not his! You asked him to marry you, didn't you?! And you didn't even tell me… Michelle didn't know to laugh or cry, this whole relationship was so unheard of before to the close cousins who had sworn off all men in their youth.
"Yeah, that's why we came back here. We were on our way into town to rustle up a justice of the peace or whoever we need. But Ally wanted to stop back for you, 'Chelle, before we took the big plunge." He smiles at Michelle and then at Terry. His eyes told his older brother that he too, wouldn't want to take the big "step" without having him at his side, either. Maybe even Robin, for that matter, though neither would ever admit it.
"Are you that determined for it to be today?" Terry asks, truly wanting to know, though in his own way, fully understanding.
"Yeah." Sayer says dreamily. "We're sure." He brushes a loose strand of Alex's hair from her eyes tenderly. And for once, the independent female doesn't shun a man's advances. In fact, her dancing orbs seemed to revel in his touch.
For a long moment, Michelle looks carefully back and forth between their locked gaze, studying each with scrutiny.
"All right…" Michelle suddenly claps her hands together, a buoyant smile coming to her lovely face, as she found in both their eyes what she had been searching for. She was really so happy for Amara, for she loved her cousin and the other half of her soul so much. But, at the same time, she must selflessly push her own thoughts of loneliness away.
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, Robin-dearest? We'll see about that…
"Luna! Artemis!" Michelle calls out to where she knew intuitively that the two nosy cats were hiding and eavesdropping around the corner. "Take care of Tara for us, all right? We need to get ready." She orders the two reeling felines. "We've got a wedding to get going." Michelle becomes a whirlwind of excitement.
"Yes, I believe there may be a three hour waiting period or something to that effect." Terry says knowledgeably.
"Good. That gives me some time to—" Sayer says a bit too easily. This latching on to the idea of delay makes Alex raise her eyebrow at him. "—get a wedding tux and all that." Sayer finished smirking at her, knowing she was about to accuse him of wanting to change his intent mind—something neither hell nor high water could do once it was set and determined as he was with this.
"Don't worry, Ally. I won't leave town or anything. You just get ready and I'll be back before you know it to sweep you off your feet." He leans in close for a parting kiss as Terry hurriedly puts on his coat and accompanies his inexperienced, flighty brother through the logistical processes involved prior to the happy event.
"You'd better. Or I'll knock you off yours." Alex ruffles the curls atop his forehead, knowing she need not threaten from the look in his eyes and the promise of his kiss. But the teasing came so easily and was so darn much fun.
"Here's your song." Sayer pulls off his backpack and hands the sheet music and tickles the long-stemmed red rose to her chin after giving its velvet petals a seductive kiss.
"Just don't keep me waiting." Alex takes the pack, threatening his favorite guitar's tense strings sticking out its fret-ful neck with a forebodingly low strumming.
"Not a second more than I have to." An easy perfect chord is struck as gifted guitarist Sayer fingerboard strums the strings on its neck with one hand while the other caresses Alex's warmer, matching body part yet another time as he tries to pull himself out the door. His mind was now racing with a million new plans, but his body was unwilling to leave this woman whom he was fully prepared to swear his whole life to in a few short hours…
"ENOUGH ALREADY!" Robin interrupts as the anxious couple starts to reach for each other again in a farewell-for-now kiss. He himself was feeling sick at the sight of his brother actually letting that crazy woman kiss him, touch him, and about to jump blindly into something more.
"Robin!" Michelle chides at her own unromantic lover. She found the scene being played before her sweet and tender. But he was right, there were things to be done. If they were going to be married later that afternoon, she'd better get started.
Michelle excitedly grasps Amara away from Sayer, as the two were ignoring Robin's rude comments anyway, seeming to stretch the kiss longer just to irk the bothersome little shrimp.
"That must've been some song, Amara." She gives her dearest cousin a pair of insinuating eyes. "I wish my Robin would write one for me." The French female tosses her less romantic stud a coy look and mental desire across the room, to which he sighs at how both his brothers keep showing him up.
"Don't worry, Sayer! I'll fix her up beautiful for you!" Michelle tugs Alex like a tall dress-up doll up the staircase.
Alex pulls the thoroughly crumpled sheet music she had extracted from the torn red bag, reading its lyric as if reassuring herself as she lets Michelle lead her up by the hand. Her eyes lock with Sayer's for one more moment, and he sighs in a daze as his bride-to-be disappears from view.
"She's already beautiful." Sayer spacily answers as Terry coats him up for their urgent dash outside.
Susan was about to follow the ladies upstairs and join in preparing Alex with a thousand and one things one must do before a wedding ceremony takes place which Michelle was counting off on her fingers—oh, the little things, like the cake, the flowers, catering, the orchestra…not to mention secure the perfect wedding dress! Ahh! No pressure, Michelle!—when Sayer stops her mid-step.
"Hang on, Susie." Leaping like the shooting star he was halfway up the flight of Chad's mansion steps, Sayer pulls out of his reverie, and grabs his sister-in-law's arm, dragging her back down to the first floor. "I need to ask a big favor of you and Ter." He begins to explain what he wanted done as Terry wordlessly helps his wife into her coat and the three of them leave the mansion to carry out some secret errands of their own.
"Whew! Finally, some peace. Aren't they a crazy bunch, Luna?" Robin plops on a couch in the deserted downstairs foyer. He pats his lap for Luna to share in some tender tickling and stroking. He finds peace and tranquility in the simple act of petting a cat, who once, for a short while, had belonged to him. Though now aware that she was no mere cat, Robin nonetheless still enjoyed her company (much to forgotten Artemis' discontentment). A low, jealous growl took the place of a feline purr from him.
"A bit wild, if you ask me." Luna starts to give her sure to be opinionated opinion, but just as she was about to expound on her take on the subject, Michelle comes scurrying back down the steps. She wanted to squeeze a few more instructions in while Alex was taking a quick shower.
"Robin, dear? There's something special I want you to get for Alex and Sayer's wedding present. I have just phoned the only shop in the village that carries what I want in stock. But the rude woman said she couldn't hold it for me, nor would she specify the exact tone of its color for me, either. Simply because they were 'too busy with Christmas shoppers.' Can you believe she said that to me?" Michelle's snooty indignation flares. "Well, anyway, dearest. Go to town and pick the one out in this color before they sell out." Michelle orders, in her offhand way, of expecting everyone, especially Robin, to jump at her every whim.
"Oh, Michelle. Christmas Eve shopping?" Robin whines, just getting comfortable and warmed up. He didn't relish the thought of facing through the freezing cold wind, ice and snow, not to mention the hectic crowds, and all for what? Sayer? And Alex!?
"You won't need a present anyway. Sayer already probably got smart and changed his mind and—" Robin tries to justify his claim to laziness, mistakenly striking a nerve in just how much Michelle would put up with his disparaging remarks about her nearest and dearest friend and cousin. And it didn't take that much at all…
"Robin Starr!" Michelle explodes loudly, her voice dripping with anger as she towers sourly over him on the staircase. She looked as though she was just about to pounce upon him like a fierce tigress.
"All right. All right." Robin cowers under her gaze, quickly yanking on his coat. The cold and crowds were nothing compared to Hurricane Michelle's fury.
'That's better." Michelle lifts her nose to the air haughtily, loving her commanding power over him.
"Luna? Would you be a dear and go with him? No, not you, Artemis." Michelle stops the white cat in his tracks, as he was about to tail, literally, his beloved companion, who was innocently enough, being carried in another man's arms. "We only require Luna's feminine touch. Men have absolutely no idea of proper color schemes, do they, Luna? Particularly not this one." Michelle stops for a little "girl" chat, purposefully drumming the pale silver haired idol for his previous, completely rude criticism swipe of her excellent taste lipstick color when he was but an immature high schooler.
Then, Michelle's ears perk up at the sound of Alex's shower door slamming. "I have to dash now for Alex so we can go pick out her wedding attire. We'll probably see you in town, dearest. Just give the clerk my name and she'll show you what I want. I'm sure she'll remember me. Luna, have it gift-wrapped—tastefully, of course. This little present's a surprise. Don't breathe a word of this—of ANY of this—to anyone. Do you hear, Artemis? It's all going to be one big surprise! I've got to fly now! And don't forget to watch the children, Artemis!" Michelle disappears up the stairs in a chaotically churning, fast-paced maelstrom of a to-do list, leaving the lower living room area quiet and peaceful once again.
"Oh, well. You heard what she said. Let's go, Luna." Deflated Robin sighs as he goes out the door, having absolutely no idea what little "present" he was supposed to be picking up—as per her instructions. But, when it came to direct orders from Michelle, Robin did not dare question, as he trudges away, grumbling about the whole thing, out in the snow for a short, brisk walk into the village nearby.
Returning to their shared bedroom, Michelle walks in without knocking, just as she always did. She finds Alex in a towel, standing, still damp, studying herself in the mirror.
"I'm sure Sayer will find you perfect." Michelle says in her oh-so-French way, raising an eyebrow at her usually more prosaic partner.
"Of that, I have no doubt." Confident Alex smiles back as she sits on the bed, unconsciously deep in thought. Her hand brushes over the even more wrinkled sheet of music Sayer had dedicated to her as a Christmas gift that became catalyst for this entire rushed marriage.
"What are you thinking?" Like a counselor, Michelle asks as she changes into a more suitable dress than the warm pantsuit she was previously wearing.
No reply.
Michelle slides onto the bed, perching next to her partner. "No secrets, remember?" Michelle prompts her cousin a bit. "Or is that changing?" Michelle suddenly realizes that with this drastic change in their lives, so too, may their relationship…
"No, Michelle. Nothing—no one—could ever change you and I." Alex sweeps a hand lovingly over Michelle's aqua waves of hair.
"Then, what is it?" Michelle's doubts only lasted for a few seconds. She, too, knew full well that her bond with Amara was strong enough to last through eternity—and then some.
"Am I…doing the right thing? It's up to you, Michelle. Truthfully, I can still back out if you wish it. If you think even a little bit that I shouldn't…I know you and I swore to each other we would never—" Alex starts to say thoughtfully.
"And…now you're going first." Michelle clasps Alex's firm hand, the sea of her blue eyes deep and oddly understanding.
"And now I'm going first." Alex squeezes the soft hand in her lap. "Am I sure of this, Michelle?" Alex's usually confident voice is unusually small and wavering. It suddenly reminded Michelle of that little golden-haired cousin who came to live with her and be her playmate and confidante an eon ago—in another time and place.
"Am I the one you should be asking?" Michelle smiles softly in that way she had.
"There is no one in this world who knows me better than you. And whatever you say, I'll do." Falling to her knees at Michelle's lap, Alex kisses the palms of the tender hands she was holding on tightly.
"Then the answer is 'yes.' You are sure." Michelle smiles at her beloved Amara, knowing her heart and soul was an open book to the partner who loved her so dearly.
"Yes, I am." Alex reaffirms what she knew deep within her already, just waiting to hear Michelle say it to her.
"You love him." Michelle whispers lightly, soulfully sifting lightly through Alex's passionate emotions for a certain dark haired young man.
"Yes, somehow in this crazy way, I do." It was true. There were no secrets between them. Alex was neither afraid nor ashamed at all to share everything she felt within, with her Michelle.
Their eyes locked, and Michelle and Alex reach out for one another—embracing each other lovingly. Nothing more needed to be said between them. Their understanding was complete. Their bond was unbreakable and their love unending. It was just a new facet of Alex's life that was about to open and Michelle knew that she would still be a part of it.
Somehow, some way, Amara's soul would always belong to her.
And Sayer is a very lucky, lucky man to have captured your heart. While her curious eyes peruse that very persuasive piece of music her own classical eyes could appreciate the simple, yet romantic arrangement thereof,Michelle could sense that her Amara was giving herself to that quixotic, 'indiscriminate about women' boy with open arms.
'For my Friend, Ally'
Remembering things we said to each other
Unforgettable day we first met
I should have leaned my head on your shoulder
And searched the depths of your distant eyes for something more
The reason why we couldn't get along
I'm clever at finding answers
For everyone but myself
Maybe because I've always been an immature guy?
No matter how we found each other
Our feelings have changed around now
My chest tightens when I just think of you
Desperate to do anything to hold you tight to you!
I'll keep believing in that star that
Promised a future I won't be alone in!
Whenever you're close beside me
We are 'us' because my heart's right here with you
The things that tie us together
No one can ever unravel our tomorrow
We'll finally meet now as we should've then
And we can truly be real friends
These times we can laugh are good, aren't they?
Talking together just felt right
Our memories play like an old movie
One that I never want to see come to an end
Something precious and rare these
Emotions I now have for you
So soft and tender, each and every one
Can't be wrong!
Nothing more important than you!
I couldn't always see the truth
I was too selfish, rejecting to learn more at first
Now I need to embrace your shine
Find the moment to tell you all my throbbing words
I should have said them all before
I wish yesterday
Could be rewritten somehow
This love blowing inside my heart
I'll devote it all to you now…
I'll keep believing in that star that
Promised a future I won't be alone in!
When you were close beside me
We were 'us' because you were right here with me
The things that tie us together
No one can ever unravel our tomorrow
We'll finally meet now as we should've then
And we can truly be real friends
We'll finally meet now as we should've then
And we can truly be real friends
'My search is over. I love U, eternal and more.'
Secretly wiping away a few stray tears that had fallen in heart-touched emotion as she read through Sayer Starr's honest, idealistic, surprisingly tenderly sentimental Christmas present for their beloved, special fellow soldier, Michelle sits up straight on the bed.
With a shared smile and embrace full of their undying devotion that could never be shaken, the empathic woman squeezes her best friend's hands, placing her blessing kiss on Alex's strong cheek.
"Then, what are we waiting for? Let's go find the most stunning wedding dress for you." With a shushed finger to her partner's twisted lip before Alex had a chance to protest, Michelle gathers herself from where she had been spread luxuriantly across the bed. Leaving the sweet sheet music on her pillow, the artist in Michelle idly toys with the long-stemmed rose as she mentally imagined the gorgeous gown her Amaralexis Sokova deserved while moving across the room to her.
"Any man who can pen such an adoring song for his friend…his love…deserves nothing less." Michelle wraps her arms around Alex's naked upper form standing before the mirror as she was dressing to go out, the taller female trembling with excitement more than cold, or fear. The special pair stare at one another straight in the eye through the dresser mirror, both knowing their beautiful shared destiny was about to shift its spotlight to be one with the stars now.
And they were going to be ready to dazzle and embrace it, always side by side and back to back.
An hour or so of difficult shopping and preparations back at Chad's mansion pass where the two diametrically opposed in the fashion sense females had met up with a frustrated Robin and Luna later in the small, yet wealthy sophisticated, privileged mountain village.
"Yes, Amara, you must wear pantyhose and a garter, too!" and "You are not wearing those hiking boots underneath! I don't care if they're more comfortable! Take them off right now! Here're your lovely white high heels that Robin chose especially for you." "Don't make such a face! He went through a great deal of trouble to convince the jewel shopkeeper to relinquish that one of a kind, 24 carat gold tiara they've been holding for a visiting foreign princess that I wanted for you!" "We're all being as helpful as can be. You're the one who wants to rush such an important thing—but I suppose I can understand why…"
Michelle sighs, never realizing how hard it was to get Alex properly into a formal dress.
And what a dress it was!
"Thank God there was a Victorian themed wedding planned for the spring season here, where Princess D of the Pavlosk Diamond Imperial Kingdom, who adores that era, mind you, wanted to have her bridal tour with her handsome, engaged Prince Igor in these gorgeous mountains. Did you know that the Pavlosk Imperial Kingdom is the single most country to produce high quality diamonds and gemstones in the world? Can you imagine?! Over 23,000,000 carats of gems of the first water per year!" Prattling off useless royal info that defiant Alex couldn't have cared less for, snobbishly elegant Michelle smiles at her stately figured friend when she intuitively sensed Alex had long zoned her out by now.
Alex was instead critically looking at herself in the long mirror, feeling stiff and pasted up by Michelle's busy hands for the past hour or so after they had procured the 'perfect wedding dress.' Between Robin Starr's 'glamorous idol bewitchment' of the fashion designer and well-turned Michelle Moreau pulling enough connections (and monetary bribes), the formidable, sophisticate duo had managed to 'borrow' the entire wedding outfit from the soon-to-be visiting Princess' just about completed wedding wardrobe.
And even though Alex would've preferred to wear the more male-pattern white tuxedo and tails suit of the royal bridegroom, if it were up to her, Michelle would hear none of it. Despite Alex swearing she'd feel a fool in the traditional Victorian, long sleeved, flowing satin garb that Robin, shopping alongside them, dared to snigger at the idea of her ability to don it.
Maybe that was the proverbial nail in the coffin that got Alex to at last agree to 'own the damn dress,' much to Michelle's clapped delight and thumbs up behind her back to her psychic soulmate Robin for their successful mastery of reverse psychology.
But still, a strange tingling was in every inch of the Sailor of Uranus, as she gazed at the undreamt of reflection standing in the mirror staring back at her in the classical white gown.
"Me…a bride?" Alex whispers in a daze, feeling like she was losing control—yet not entirely not liking it.
"There! Sayer had better appreciate the amount of effort Robin and I put into this!" Michelle carefully places the glimmering golden tiara atop her cousin's stunned head. "You're ready." She nuzzles her aqua head against Alex's veiled golden one. Both of them look at each other in the mirror with awe on their reflected faces. "You're beautiful, Amara, darling." Michelle, never in her wildest dreams, could've imagined that her Amara was getting married—and to Casanova bad boy Sayer Starr, no less!
Was it only a year or two ago that Amara would've as soon punched that wild boy as to look at him? What wonders have been opened to us all with a little maturity…
Michelle buries her eyes in shockingly stately Alex's veil. "I just hope that rock star knows what a gorgeous treasure you are, my beloved." Michelle whispers in her ear.
"He had better." Alex smirks, liking to be unpredictable and gaining more confidence with every passing second for what she was about to endeavor.
"Oh! There's a car! I think they're ready for us!" Michelle, like a nervous child, rushes about the room, gathering herself up as she wraps Alex in a voluminously large, dark cloak. She pulls the hood gently over her best friend's head.
"What's all this for?" Alex asks curiously incredulous, as Michelle bundles her up like a hidden surprise doll.
"Mystery adds to romance, don't you think? Besides, you don't want Sayer to see you in it yet. That's supposed to be bad luck." Michelle giggles, outwardly seeming more excited about this whole wedding thing than Alex, but inwardly…
"Let's go." Michelle grabs Alex, and gives Terry a quick thumbs up wave through the window, to where he was waiting for them outside, holding the door open to the car.
"Artemis? Is the coast clear?" Michelle whispers conspiratorially, glancing up and down the hallway like a sneak thief about to make off with the crown jewels.
"The girls are all downstairs baking Christmas cookies in the kitchen. And the men are all out shoveling snow from the walkway out back. You'll have to pass right by the kitchen's side entrance. But other than that, your getaway path is clear." Artemis is very exact in his reconnaissance over everyone's whereabouts.
"Very good. Thank you." Michelle exchanges a serious nod with the helpful cat. Both of them treat this like it was some kind of secret military operation as Alex rolls her eyes.
"Come!" Michelle grabs hold of her arm and they make a dash through the empty halls. Michelle peeks down the stairs before they run down. She halts an exasperated Alex, who just wanted to get going already. But the two of them slither past the kitchen and Michelle grabs a fully dressed Robin (I waited for your signal for like forever! Sigh) from the living room as they rush through and out the door.
"Did I just see Michelle and Robin run by with Alex in a long dress?" Lita peers past her stove to where she, the tallest one, was just about able to see Michelle and her companions hurried departure.
"Michelle and Robin run?" Mina asks incredulously with a chuckled scoff at the posh pair exerting that much energy childishly.
"Alex in a long dress!?" Serena asks in disbelief at the unheard of fashion no no for her rebel rough and often guyish, independent friend.
"You must've put too much sugar in that last batch of cookies, Lita. Your mind's going." Rei laughs at her silly friend as she and Amy were icing some sweet Santa shaped treats fresh out of the oven.
"Yeah, must've been some flour in my eyes. No way. Alex wouldn't wear a long dress! Never!" Just then, a nervously giggling Lita sees a flash of a car pull out from the driveway.
"I thought you were coming to sweep me away?" Alex whispers with a smirk as she strides in the little village church, having spotted a certain young man seated quietly the back pew. She slumps down beside him, her dark cloak spreading across the pew bench yet covertly covering every inch of her clothing inside.
"In this monkey suit? I can barely move in this starched collar." Stretching his itchy neck, Sayer motions at himself, his ever-wild, mussed curly dark hair and crooked smile in stark contrast to the staid black wedding tuxedo and spotless white vest he was wearing. "Besides, after finally finding a tux that would fit me—most of the suits in this place looked they were made for oversized bears—Terry insisted we do it in a church. I mean, get married, that is." Sayer's cheeks sweetly blush at the words he was whispering.
"So what are we waiting for?" Alex whispers, too, something about the quiet chapel made the two reverent somehow.
"The priest—eh, Reverend—or whatever he is." Sayer answers. "He's out doing some Christmas Eve thing for the children of this town. I've been waiting for him. The nun here said he'll be back soon." Sayer says, again tugging at his collar, feeling suddenly hot as the minutes of his bachelorhood slip away…
"Oh. Was she pretty?" Alex asks with a teasing smile and raised brows.
"A gorgeous lady of about 80 or so. You might just have some competition." Sayer teases right back with a giggle and a wink.
"Nervous, Starr?" Alex asks openly as she studies him though the sides of her eyes.
"Me? Nervous? No way!" Sayer smiles at her toothily.
"Don't start this out with a lie." Alex says, looking deeply into his eyes.
"…Yeah, a little." He says then, truthfully, blushing as he meets her gaze. "How 'bout you?"
"I might've been, if you didn't look so darn sexy in that suit." Alex smiles at his honesty, wanting him to always be as open with her as she was going to be with him as her fingers trace his velvet lapel seductively.
"Can you say that in a church?" Whispering Sayer's eyes open wide as he looks around to see if there were any passing nuns or anyone ecclesiastical who might've heard the naughty word.
"If it's the truth, why not?" Alex supposes, not caring for conventional opinions of others as she straightens his upturned white bow tie.
"What about you? When do I get a peek at that dress I heard Rob picked out for you?" Sayer's gloved hands toy with her cloak's strings, teasing with a twist of the knife at her dislike for his silver-haired bro.
"Boy, you're asking for it!" She says in retaliation to his joke concerning Robin. "When Michelle says you can. You know she's more nervous than either of us? You'd think she was the one getting married." Alex chuckles as Sayer's nervousness slips away and he joins in a laugh with her.
That's something I love about you, Ally, your sense of humor. You're sure going to need it if you're going to marry me." Sayer closes his eyes as Alex caresses his cheek.
"I wish." Michelle comes in the double doors, sneaking up so quietly that neither heard her approach. She squeezes Robin on the arm. "I thought you said you were going to the ladies' room?" Michelle raises her eyebrows at the disappearing act Alex had just played on her, despite her warnings of ill fortune if the groom saw the bride before the actual ceremony superstition.
"Fooled you." Alex smirks. "I make my own luck." She fluffs Sayer's little curls, and kisses his lips tenderly.
"Ahh, the happy couple." The village reverend comes in the side church door just then, silently appearing before them all.
"Hey, Padre!" Sayer gasps guiltily as he jumps up to stand to greet him, causing Alex to chuckle at his sweetness.
"Yes, your brother," Affording the obviously tense young man a kind smile, the Reverend nods at Terry as he and Susan come into the church as well, "was just telling me outside that the two of you are interested in having a quiet Christmas Eve wedding ceremony."
"Yeah, that's us." Sayer now smiles dreamily at his green-eyed beauty, motioning to them both with a wagging thumb.
"So young." The old man, despite his hectic Christmas schedule, was more than happy to be able to join two people in wedded bliss, adding to the joy of the holiday season.
"Do you have the license, young man?" He asks the young lad, knowing they were city folk right away, no doubt on vacation here, but there was something more than foreign…it was something indefinable about them—about them all. He glances around at the group of six gathered around, and he could tell they were an extremely close family and friends just from the aura about them.
"Uh…license…ugh…yeah…I put it…uh…" Sayer digs through his pockets, twisting his lip as he just couldn't seem to find…
"Here." Alex almost laughingly pulls out the folded slip of paper—the very important slip of paper—from his inside vest pocket, knowing Sayer well enough that she knew just where to look, much amusing the reverend.
"Right. I put it next to my heart. I knew that." He smiles brightly at her, holding her hand to his chest.
"Everything seems in order, Mr. Starr, Miss Sokova." The Reverend smiles. "Shall we begin then?" He could see how anxious everyone was. "Please step up to the altar." He leads them to the center of the small church.
"Does this mean I FINALLY get to see that dress on you?" Sayer was growing impatient as his excited eyes gaze upon his covered up bride as they traverse the aisle side by side.
"And then 'off' later." She whispers amorously low, making him blush once again violently with her adult mood in this hushed religious setting.
Without further ceremony, Alex removes her wrapping to reveal the stunning wedding gown to her intended's hungry eyes. Its grace and beauty, its classic style all were enhanced much by Alex's confident poise as she leans in close to Sayer's adoring ear.
"Lovely, lovely." The Reverend did not hear Alex's sly comments, so awed was he by her captivating, golden haired beauty.
Ahh, if there was such a beautiful, vivacious lady in my younger days, I may not have become a priest…He smiles at the days of his youth. But of course, it's better this way. God always knows what path is best for His children.
"Woo! Woo! Ally! You look like…like…" At a loss for actual words, floored Sayer Starr whistles loudly in awe, murmuring softly as his wide eyes approvingly appraise the creamy white, classy, high collared and stately Victorian wedding dress that transformed the tall and imposing soldier into a princess bride.
"Well, I heard that being 'a princess, too' was a requirement of yours, Starlight. So, here I am." With a pet under his breathlessly astounded chin, droll Alex fills in her lovesick drooling puppy's unspoken sentiment in a deep whisper.
The sailor of Uranus didn't need her space sword to stab her now speechless, wandering star soldier with the little dig at his previously wandering heart for another special Princess, (or two) once upon a time. But she could clearly see that this Fighter's heart, offered to her now, was shining pure love for her alone in his gratified, starstruck eyes.
Then, discomfited by all this attention as she feels all eyes upon her in this outlandish dress, Alex coughs and adjusts that 'silly' gold tiara on her head. But she was secretly glad now that Michelle insisted to place it upon her wedding veil as her beloved painstakingly dressed her along with the rest of this borrowed royal outfit.
Though Michelle and Terry were shamefully startled as Sayer's low wolf whistle may not have been apropos to the serene church locale, the Reverend almost could not blame the fortunate young groom at the sight of his tall and stunningly stylish bride, who was indeed glowing, as every bride should.
"Ehem…Yes, it's growing dark. Let us begin."
The Reverend pulls himself and the rest of the party back to the here and now, as he gestures for the groom's taller brother and an aqua-haired lady take their places at the couple's sides. The young silver-haired man and the graceful forest green haired woman stand behind the maid-of-honor and best man in this tight family circle.
"Please join hands." The Reverend begins, "And repeat these words after me." Sayer clasps Alex's hands gingerly, feeling the nervousness coming on again in droves…Until his eyes lock with hers and it all fades away.
"I, Sayer Starr."
"I, Sayer Starr," he repeats with a smile.
"Take this woman, Amaralexis Sokova."
"Take this woman, Amaralexis Sokova," Sayer rolls his tongue on her full long first name, liking the sound of it. Alex raises her eyebrows wondering how they had found out her birth name that she had scoffed at for being too feminine and difficult to say.
"To be my lawfully wedded wife."
"To be my lawfully wedded wife," Sayer says, disbelieving these words were passing through his lips.
"To have and to hold from this day forward."
"To have and to hold from this day forward," Never has his voice rung so true in his life.
"In sickness and in health."
"In sickness and in health," His eyes were unwavering in hers.
"For richer or for poorer."
"For richer or for poorer."
"For as long as you both shall—" The reverend recites the age-old vows he has repeated at over a hundred ceremonies in his long practice as a man of the cloth.
"—Forever." Sayer cuts him off, looking meaningfully into Alex's eyes. Her deep green ones sparkle at his revision, knowing he was not just reciting, but meaning each and every word, changing the last to what he wanted it to be—to what he was promising to her. Alex squeezes his hand tightly.
"Yes. 'Forever.'" The Reverend smiles at the intent young man standing before him.
"Miss Sokova?" He prompts, turning to her.
"I, Alex Sokova," Alex just starts off, having memorized the words, and saying the short version of her name she had adopted.
"Take this man, Sayer Starr."
"Take this man, Sayer Starr." She repeats, smirking at the words.
"To be my lawfully wedded husband."
"To be my lawfully wedded husband," Alex felt she was inside of a dream—the endless sky of his deep blue eyes was engulfing her.
"To honor and obey from this day forward." The reverend didn't know what a rise that traditional verse would get out of the untraditional Alex.
Honor? Obey? I don't think so…
"To have and to hold from this day forward." Alex states what Sayer did, doing some revising of her own, with a raised eyebrow at the reverend, who seemed a bit alarmed that the groom was about to burst into laughter.
Oh. She's that sort. Poor lad. The Reverend nods and continues on, thinking Alex must be the independent, demanding type. But she wanted nothing more than to be on equal terms. Sayer understood that. And that's all that mattered to her.
"In sickness and in health."
"In sickness and in health," Alex revels in Sayer's laughing eyes.
"For richer or poorer."
"For richer or poorer." Her mouth quivers into a small smile.
"Forever." He takes the new line, rather liking it better—in fact, planning on using it again.
"Forever." Alex breathes, never saying anything more heartfelt before in her life.
"May we have the ring?" The Reverend asks.
"Oh, ring..." Sayer bites his lip, knowing he had missed something. Oh, what can I use—? He pulls off his right glove and tugs at his single silver metal ring—his own, which he had always worn.
"I—uh—" He holds it out to her, a bit embarrassed to offer her such a thing.
"It's perfect." Alex pulls his hand to hers, and he slides it on her left finger, both feeling a surge of celestial energy passing between their bonded hands.
"As sure as there is a God in the Heavens, He will bless your love." The Reverend's words, strangely only spoken for this couple, bring tears to Alex's eyes. She was certain that it was indeed a blessing, from the Lord above, and from her beloved mother as well who always spoke that phrase when Alex was a small child. The sweet words ring though Alex's ears, proving to her, screaming it through her, to her very core, that this was right—that someone was looking down telling her that at last she had found what her closed soul had always longed for…
Sayer knew what she was thinking, knowing what she was feeling, for he was feeling it as well…
He reaches out and seals their bargain with a passionate kiss even before the Reverend directs them to.
"I, heh hee heh, now pronounce you 'man and wife.'" Reverend Browning chuckles at the pair, who had not heard a word he had said, as they continue to kiss. "There's no point in telling you to kiss your bride, is there?" The Reverend had quite a good sense of humor and found the whole ceremony rather amusing.
"Thank you very much, Reverend." Terry takes up his brother's slack, smiling at them from the corner of his eye. He offers the man payment for his time, but he declines, saying it would be wonderful if they instead donated something to the church offering plate. "Have a Merry Christmas, all of you." The Reverend then takes his leave, ready to prepare for the Midnight mass that night.
"These two certainly will." Michelle says naughtily as Sayer and Alex's lips finally part, the newlyweds breathlessly happy.
"Congratulations." Terry pats his brother on the shoulder, proud of him, giving him a warm hug.
"We're so happy for you." Susan kisses Alex on the cheek and then Sayer.
"Congratulations." Even Robin wishes happiness to his brother and his new…wife.
"Amara." Michelle puts a hand on her dearest's shoulder, feeling the sheer joy from deep within, finally released.
"Michelle." Alex envelops her in a hug, both of them coming back out of it in tears.
"I know you're crying, Ally." Sayer giggles with a tease, "It's 'cause you just realized Rob's gonna be your brother now, right?" Sayer chuckles, holding back his own overwhelming emotions.
"That's sure something to cry about." Alex laughs as she smiles at poor Robin, who was minding his own business and didn't deserve such a rude swipe.
"Well, come on, everyone." Michelle laughs, too. "There's a Christmas Eve party I'm sure we're late for and after that—"
"—a honeymoon." Alex finishes, taking Sayer's hand in hers.
"A honeymoon." Sayer whispers, his eyelashes lower at his new bride. "C'mon, then! Let's hurry up and party!" Sayer pulls Alex out of the church, while the others all smile and race to catch up to the hurried couple.
"Oh. Here, Ally, I forgot to give you this before." He retrieves from the pew he had been sitting on earlier a bouquet of bright crimson red roses and hands it to her.
"Something else you forgot?" She takes the flowers from him with her left hand, the tarnished silver wedding band glimmering faintly in the lights of church's front hall.
"I'll get you a new one—a great big gold one with diamonds and rubies and—" Sayer lifts her hand, touching her finger wearing the ring, knowing she deserved more than just his old, slapdash, beat-up one.
"No." Alex wraps her hand around his tightly. "I like this one. Just the way it is." It was because it was so spontaneous, so sweetly placed on her—it had belonged to him, that Alex vowed nothing could ever replace it. Not gold, not jewels—it was the symbol of his genuine love.
Alex plucks a rose from her bouquet and sticks it in Sayer's vest pocket. She then, unexpectedly tosses the rest over her shoulder to where, without even looking, she knew where it would land.
"Thank you." Michelle's mind calls out to her Alex as she catches the bouquet, knowing Alex had intended it for her.
For what? Putting that blasted curse on you with that shrimp? Just look where Susan's bouquet got me? Alex projects back sarcastically. Michelle felt again the true bliss that Alex had, as she watched the couple kiss and embrace in the back seat of the mini van. Terry helps his lady into the car, as Michelle and Robin were the last to enter. She notices Robin eye the bouquet she held with a bit of fear on his features.
"Don't worry, our turn will come soon, dearest." Michelle teases him, shoving him into the middle seat and cuddling up close to Robin who looked like a deer in the headlights.
Alex's dazzling laugh at this whole ridiculous situation couldn't be more sparkling to Sayer's happy ears as the newly married couple leave the church to walk out into the cold night, arm in arm.
As he looks up at the Holy Cross at the little church's steeple reaching high to the sky. Sayer pauses, smiling in gratitude for this mind-boggling new future with his Ally, just as endless as the starry sky.
"We'll finally meet now as we should've then
And we can truly be real friends…"
Greetings, Sailor Moon friends! ^0^
How's that for a Christmas Eve Shocker?! Fighter and Uranus getting married?!
And our independent Soldier of Rebellion the one to ask the man she most despised in the show previously?! Whoa! No one could've seen that coming!
The song "For My Friend" featured in this chapter was recorded by Sayer Starr/Star Fighter's silky voice singer Shiho Niiyama and fit right into this romantic storyline for our dramatically volatile, fiery warriors of the sky Uranus x Fighter. ^0^ You can sing along with the translated lyrics of Sayer's heart-rendered song dedicated to the powerfully independent Soldier of Rebellion.
There were many references sprinkled throughout to a beloved classic black and white movie from Hollywood's Golden Age called "The Enchanted Cottage" reviewed by critics as the 'greatest love story of all time' (1945) starring Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young, and Herbert Marshall that we grew up watching the wonder and magic and romance of with our beloved Daddy since childhood.
"A man and woman in love have a gift of sight that's not granted to other folk." That quote fits in perfectly with our star-crossed windblown lovers today.
Thanks for reading this long and deliciously exciting 'Christmas Eve Shocker' chapter! Please review this thrilling, unexpectedly reversed proposal entry of our tale of Outer x Starlights' romances!