We do not own "Sailor Moon" nor any of the characters.
"SAILOR MOON ETERNAL"
The 6th Season of the Sailor Moon Saga
Chapter 30
"Mademoiselle...Madame"
Over the next month, Michelle drags Robin along for several trips to Paris in a flurry of wedding details. Alex insists on tagging along, with Sayer on her heels—much to Robin's 'delight.'
Mr. Pym, the Three Lights agent, gives up on keeping this famed wedding a secret from the group's female fans. He instead builds it up to make it the most talked about, most lavish, most important event, "selling" it the public as it promised to be an ostentatious ceremony—the "Wedding of the Year." After all, it was going to be the joining of one of the world's hottest international rock stars, since the Three Lights fame, over the past year since their return, spread around the globe like wildfire with their deep, passionate music. Plus, one of the richest European socialites' only daughter's marriage truly gathered the attention of watchers of the rich and famous around the world.
Excitedly, the girls ready themselves for their Paris "fling," choosing their Paris bridesmaid gowns and new wardrobes for their French vacation. Michelle's parents had gladly picked up the bill for every bit of this expensive occasion, much to Robin's relief. His already mostly cleaned out account—from that priceless antique emerald—was no where near enough for the kind of wedding Michelle wanted—and deserved, let alone, expected. Getting everything arranged 'just so' was a difficult thing for the demanding bride to be. She scheduled everyone—all twenty or so of the wedding party—on a plane's flight, a private jet actually, in which she actually goes overboard and buys it, as her father's credit card now seemed unlimited. Alex gladly volunteers to fly the jet, though everyone held their breath as they boarded, knowing that Sayer was in the co-pilot's seat.
But the plane makes it down in one piece, Alex having firmly instructed Sayer not to touch the controls after a scary bit of competition went on in the cockpit. Everyone in back almost lost their caviar and camembert cheese lunches as the result of it.
Back in Paris for the first time since their engagement, Terry holds onto his Susan especially tenderly in the waiting limousine. Susan feels the romance as she and Terry recall what Paris meant to them, looking over the city where they became engaged.
"I remember how beautiful the stars were that night." Susan whispers from the balcony of their room in the Moreau mansion just after the sun sets and everyone in the house had been settling into their rooms.
"They're just as beautiful this night, my lady." Terry poetically insinuates his unchanging love for his breathtaking wife.
"You still think so, my darling?" Susan touches her slightly bulging stomach, the pain of the baby growing inside was a wonderful reminder of what was to come.
"More than ever." Terry murmurs softly in her ear as he wraps his arms around her, the moonlight whispering sweet things to them in darkness as they both dream of what their love was blossoming into.
"What shall we call her, my beloved?" Terry wonders aloud in Susan's hair.
"Why do you always think she's going to be a girl, darling?" Susan answers coquettishly, secretly loving how her sweet husband was so certain on this point.
"Because I want her to be—so she can be as beautiful, as perfect, as lovely as her mother." Terry kisses Susan with a caress.
"I want her to be as wonderful and brilliant as her father." Susan whispers, meeting his lips for a kiss.
"Giselle." Terry, inspired by her kiss, whispers as their lips part.
"Giselle?" Susan smiles as the name rolls from her tongue. She is enamored of the name immediately.
"The promise. I think it has a fitting meaning for us, my love. For what this child is." Terry gently touches Susan's stomach. "The promise." His warm touch feels so right. Susan smiles happily. "But it is your choice, of course, my darling. I will love any name you would choose." Terry whispers.
"Giselle, the promise." Susan speaks the graceful name aloud, letting it carry on the wind. "I adore it, my lord. Just as I adore you, my brilliant husband."
Susan rewards his inspirational name for their child with a passionate kiss, filled with all the love she felt for him and the wonder awaiting their young lives together, filled with the promise of what was to come—the promise…
Giselle.
Reflecting in a mirror sparkling in aqua lame, a beautiful young woman gazes into her own eyes, radiant with an inner light as her features examine her attire. She was well-pleased as another woman with older, wiser eyes that still had a radiance of their own, gleams in delight at her lovely daughter.
"Mémère, it's gorgeous! Thank you!" Michelle twirls in a pair of matching aqua teal high heels, full of grace and charm.
"Do you really like it, mon cherie? I knew it would suit you beautifully." Josephine Moreau's thick French accent complements her own attire and surroundings. The entire mansion had an ambiance of "Vivre la France".
"You have such a girlish figure still as of yet…though how long it will last…I do not know. Your mon amie, Susan, is how many months now?" Madame Moreau asks, her wit sharp, her words always biting in her insinuation.
"Susan is over five months now, Mémère. The baby's due around Christmas or the end of the year maybe. And I think she looks as lovely as ever." Michelle reprimands her mother.
"Yes, she is lovely, yes. Young Monsieur Terry is very tall and handsome. And is a very good husband to her I think." Madame observantly notes as she folds up Michelle's traveling clothes, intimation beneath her passing words.
"Yes, Terry's a very good husband to her, Mémère." Michelle humors her mother, finishing pulling on her aqua opera length gloves and sliding the beloved emerald ring back on her finger, adorning a graceful hand as she gazes at it girlishly.
"And…and you tell me my Amaralexis has married the other young Monsieur Starr? I didn't believe you at first, but now…" Michelle's mother flits about, rearranging Michelle's drawers and closet filled with lavish dresses and the finest clothes. Madame could never imagine in her wildest dreams that her independent niece would ever marry.
What sane man would put up with her strange ways? Obviously she has found one insane enough.
"Now…?" Michelle smirks, the thought of Amara and Sayer together always an amusing one to her as well.
"Miss Amara has lovely eyes. One can see all the way into her heart through them. I see that she is happy at last." As fickle and French as Madame was, she could still see the embers of young love burning. Her own heart was still ablaze for the man she called her husband and she was glad to see the same look in her once-given-up-for-lost charge's green eyes from the moment young Amaralexis entered the mansion.
"And what about me, Mémère? What do you see in my eyes?" Michelle asks, her blue eyes meeting her mother's exact same colored ones.
"What I used to see when you were a child often frightened me, my Michelle. And when you grew older I worried even more still. I didn't want to send you away, my dearest, but I didn't want to keep you here. I've always had this sense somehow that you shouldn't be here—that you didn't quite belong. Almost…" Eerily, Madame Moreau takes her daughter's hand in her own.
"But I see in your beautiful eyes you have found something to belong to. So I am happy at last." All the trouble they had before, all the pain and anxiety evaporates as Michelle sees the truth of a mother's love for her only child.
"Mémère." Michelle whispers, tears behind her eyes.
"Mon cherie." Josephine hugs her daughter, hoping for the happiness she had felt in her own marriage would come to their daughter.
"This one—young Robin—he still loves you?" Madame could see the change in her daughter, finding this certain someone.
"Yes, Mémère. I am certain he loves me." Michelle whispers, gazing at the flawless emerald adorning her hand and seeing Robin's soulful green eyes reflecting back at her through it.
"Bien, bien. Je suis tellement content, même s'il est petit. Cependant, il a bon goût." (Good, good. I am so glad. Even if he is short, though he does have good taste.") Madame had a teasing way as she speaks in full French, looking critically at Michelle's engagement stone.
"Mémère! Qu'est-ce que cela dit de mon amour !?" (Mama! What kind of thing is that to say about my love!?") Michelle answers back in fluent French as a knock comes at the door.
"Come in!" Michelle smoothes her hair in the mirror, knowing already without looking, who was entering—for that was their bond.
"Madame." Robin nods, looking especially dapper in his freshly pressed black tuxedo.
"Are you ready, Michelle?" Robin asks her, though her back was facing him. Madame Moreau watches the light enter his haunting light green eyes as Michelle turns to face him.
Yes, it is there.
She smiles as her daughter's eyes meet her soon-to-be-son-in-law's in much the same fashion. Josephine recalls quite vividly that glow in Robin's eyes when he returned to the mansion that day nearly one year ago—the day she realized that Michelle had found true love at last.
Madame laughs lightly to herself as Michelle takes Robin's offered arm and stands at least two, maybe three inches taller than her escort in her high, stiletto heels.
"See? Still, he is short, Michelle, mon cherie." In the French she thinks he understands not a word of, Madame teases right over his head. She, a tall woman herself already in high heels, towered above the silvery-haired young fellow.
"Mémère!" Michelle chides as she walks out on Robin's arm—he tries to remain completely ignorant of their remarks, so enchanted by the creature with the eyes of the sea on his arm. Following the pair out, Michelle's mother smiles with a nod at the young couple and for a fleeing moment she sees herself as Michelle once again, hanging on the arm of the man she was passionately in love with.
Henri, you're shorter than I when I wear my heels, too…Yes, he will do. Madame follows them down the spiral staircase where many of the others were already gathered, being entertained by some jolly French tales being told by Michelle's loving father.
"Ah, my ladies! Fashionably late, of course." Henri Moreau offers his arm to his wife. "Women, ah! With all their primping they need not do, for they are already beautiful." Ever the romantic, the Frenchman kisses his wife's hand.
"Don't you know how dangerous it is, Josephine, to leave me here with all these lovely young things without your supervision, eh?" Henri teases, as he glances at the girls all dressed in the pretty Paris fashions Madame had selected just for them. They all giggle as they follow Michelle's gracious parents, Michelle and Robin, leading the way into the dining room.
The girls all come arm in arm with their respective escorts—Rei even dug up Chad's hidden whereabouts out in the Tibetan mountains Gramps had sent him to. His long wild hair had been shaved off in the religious monk look and Rei had almost left him there and then, but changed her mind when she saw his total adoration at the mere sight of her was undimmed. And, a short crew cut was the 'in' look for young men nowadays anyway.
Eternally clumsy as she tripped over where Luna and Artemis had been trying to stay discreetly unobtrusive on the floor, Serena in white frills was as hungry as ever, as she drags her frustrated Darien to each buffet table. In sparkling ice blue taffeta, Amy and Greg shyly take each other's arms, as Rei in red satin brocade, hesitantly claims practically bald Chad's hand. Lita was glowing in green chiffons on Andrew's Irish arm, while orangy Mina all in bows bounces in on Ken's stable one. Tara, dressed all in printed indigos, holds onto Sammy timidly, as Susan clings lovingly onto her stoic Terry, her dress a very stylish, empire waisted purple silk. Alex looked chic in a shining golden yellow pantsuit, but she and Sayer come in separately, having just had an argument, only to exchange cutting comical barbs at each other at the dinner table, much to everyone's embarrassment.
The wedding planning and talking went on well into the night, so late that Serena falls asleep on Darien's lap, and he had to carry her up the spiral staircase. With this scene, the entire party bids "good night" to Henri and Josephine. Henri waits to say "good night" to his daughter and her escort, about to join them on the balcony they had disappeared to a short while ago.
"No, Henri, let them be. You remember what it is like a few days before your wedding, don't you?" Josephine was inspired by her daughter's romance.
"Yes, I do, Josephine, very well. Wasn't that the night Michelle was—?" Henri says, suspiciously eyeing the balcony and his yet innocent daughter, feeling just a bit protective of her still, for at least two days more, anyway.
"Yes, Henri, that was the night. Let them be, mon amour." Josephine whispers, giving her husband a kiss as they retire to bed.
"How perfect the moonlight is tonight, isn't it, Robin, dearest?" Michelle leans her head to Robin's, her soft aqua curls falling against his silver.
"It is perfect." Robin answers absently, his mind elsewhere than on the moon.
"What is it?" Michelle's mind inquires, worried.
"I can't reach Princess Fireball. I wanted her to be here for the wedding." Though Michelle ruled his heart, Robin was still devoted to his own Princess, still loved her, still needed her and Michelle understood that—as she understood all in Robin's soul.
"She'll be here. Don't worry, she's probably just busy at the moment." Michelle tries to comfort him, though secretly she wondered how Robin's close connection to Fireball had been severed. She too, felt a strange…something slowly covering the earth, perhaps masking the psychic signals out to Janus.
I wonder what that is. Michelle squints her eyes wishing that if it were an enemy of some sort, she could see it, fight it, be done with it—anything was better than this uncertainty.
"What 'what' is?" Robin silently asks, and Michelle is surprised at how easily he could read her every thought—even ones she believed were shielded. Robin felt that "something" too, could almost hear it speak, could almost hear it calling to his subconscious, somewhere—
"Let's not think of that, Robin dear. It'll all go away if we don't think about it, all right?" Michelle whispers aloud, even her upcoming happiness marred by her tormenting abilities of sight beyond sight.
"All right." Robin agrees with her decision, although his soul, too, was still unsure if it could just forget about the voice almost…whispering…something to him.
"Do you ever wish we didn't have this…sense…more than anyone else?" Michelle's mind soars out to him once more, looking to him for the support her soul needed.
"No. If I didn't, I'd never have found you." Robin's heart whispers out to her.
"Oh, Robin, I love you so much." Michelle breathes warmly into his hair as she leans down to him.
"And I love you, Michelle." As if his soul needed to say it aloud, Robin squeezes her two hands to his chest tenderly, yet desperately. Then the two kiss sweetly, softly—the moonlight shining down on them brightly still—breaking through the growing dark mists threatening to envelope it.
En tour de France the next day, after a wedding rehearsal with very few hitches (really), Michelle and Robin spend some time in the city their romance had blossomed in, along with all the couples.
Sayer, (Paris was old hat to this experienced young man) plays tour guide to the boring old Eiffel Tower—that is, until he and Alex catch sight of the pour s'amuser motorcycle shop, renting one again as before for se marrer. They zip away from the gang, and everyone soon takes the hint—the city of romance was no place for a "group" thing. The couples break off, promising to meet later that night back at the house for the entertaining evening promised to them.
Michelle had already arranged Robin's bachelor party, having jealousy banned any women to be present (but knowing Sayer, that may just not happen). She also planned a bachelorette party of her own with the girls, surprising all their guys when women all appear in black tuxedoes for their ladies night out on the town after they return from dinner at the mansion. (Except for Sayer who was quite used to seeing Alex in a tux).
"We'll see you boys later." Mina smiles, tipping her top hat at them as she skips out with Lita as her escort with a wink, out to the waiting limos.
"And don't get drunk, Kojak." Rei says, teasing pointedly at Chad as Amy meekly nods to Greg a farewell, with Luna giving Artemis dagger eyes where kind Andrew had taken the white cat to his shoulder at Darien's request.
"Terry, darling…!" Susan rushes to her handsome husband's arms and he kisses her tenderly, much rather wanting to stay with him. He felt the same way—neither of them ever wanted to be separated from each other for very long.
"Susan, come on! Bye, Muffin!" Deafening Luna on her shoulder, Serena sings out, grabbing Susan's arm, pulling her away, while Tara takes her other hand with a squeeze. She was excited, this being her first night out with the girls in awhile. Tara had now grown up into her teenage years.
"Behave yourself, Starr." Alex gives her frisky husband the "eye" as she waits in the doorway for her partner.
"Have a wonderful evening, Robin dear." Michelle kisses Robin sweetly as she says this aloud, saving her warnings for her silent communications with him. Robin nods with a sigh as she leaves on Alex's arm.
"All right, gang! Let's party!" Sayer, quiet thus far, erupts like a wild man pulling out of his jacket several bottles (small, but potent) which he passes out to the rest of the guys following him.
"Can't I come?" Sammy asks Terry pleadingly. Serena had just informed him (to his bitter disappointment) very sisterly and authoritatively that he was not to go (hee hee), giggling to herself as she flitted out.
"Sammy, I don't want to contradict your older sister." Terry says sympathetically, wishing he could relent.
"But, Terry!" Sammy complains, seeing this responsible man as more of an authority than his stupid sister, Serena.
"Monsieur Sammy, have you explored our gaming room, yet? The local school children come to the mansion when we vacation in Canada and we've had a new—what do they call it? Arcade installed for them when they come in the summer. A VR something or the other." Monsieur Moreau offers kindly though he had no idea was he was speaking of.
"VR! Wicked cool!" Sammy's interest was piqued as he races up to the gaming room that Monsieur Moreau points out to him, the older, wiser man going with the boy to keep him company.
"Merci, Monsieur." Terry says to him with a bow, feeling responsible for the younger generation.
"Monsieur Terry, your heart is too kind. You will make a wonderful father." Madame comments, her own husband always had a kind soul to children.
"Merci." Terry bows again with a flourish before he joins the rest of the bachelor party. Sayer was honking the horn of the limo (he had kicked the driver out of the seat, feeling brave). Darien promptly pushed Sayer out of the driver's seat, he kew just how 'proficient' Sayer was in driving. Terry finally arrives and the group of jolly men drive off into the night in the city of lights singing at Chad and Sayer's prompting—Robin sighs as he slumps in the back seat, yet again just along for the ride, despite it being his party.
Across a misty, periwinkle sky, dawn rises over the French skyline of the chateau. Sleep had not claimed her for many reasons on this night, as a passionate, only slightly intoxicated, golden-haired woman leaves her similarly characterized husband alone at last, allowing him some much needed rest.
She heads in his red velvet robe towards a certain room in the mansion where she knew another particular young woman would be awake at this early hour—as Michelle always was, even when they were young girls together here.
Entering silently, Alex steps just inside the bedroom, gazing through the open doors out to the balcony. There an aqua haired beauty stands in quiet reflection, the wind tossing her soft curls over her translucent nightgown's illusion shoulders. Her eyes were closed, her stance always elegant. Alex watches her, sure this is the most beautiful creature to ever grace this earth, the wondrous being that owned part of her soul, the sweet friend and cousin, whom she was about to give to another.
And that someone had just damn well cherish the gift beyond gifts he was about to receive.
"No rest for the wicked, Amara? And how is Sayer this fine morning? You look cute in his robe." Michelle opens the sea of her ocean blue eyes towards her dearest companion with a tease. Their bond was so close she knew when Amara was nearby immediately.
"He's what you'd expect after a night of merriment out with the boys." Alex answers, with a wry smirk. Her husband had returned back to her quite drunk and passed out quite a while back.
"You didn't do so bad with the—ahem—merriment last night yourself, Amara dear." Michelle teases again, smiling as Alex hugs her warmly.
"Difference is, I can handle it better than he can." Alex smiles back, closing her eyes, recalling the ladies' night out last night also overflowing with French wine and high spirits.
"Mm-hmm," Michelle murmurs sarcastically, she drifting through Alex's emotions so easily, finding a bit of tipsiness surging through her golden friend.
And then…something else…a little deeper, too, perhaps was present...
"Amara?" Michelle whispers, becoming serious as she turns to meet Alex's eyes.
"Yeah, 'Chelle?" Alex addresses her in Sayer's annoying nickname for her, and Michelle smiles at how Sayer had slowly, almost indefinably left his mark on his wife. Their closeness, though unbelievable to some is something Michelle admired, knowing she had much the same with Robin—and on the verge of discovering something more after this day.
"You and I will always be special." Michelle announces softly to Alex's weary mind.
"I know." Alex squeezes her even tighter, this treasure would soon belong to another, though Alex already knew that Robin owned Michelle's soul as well as her delicate heart.
"Now you know how I felt when you got married." Michelle holds back the tears that wanted to run down, and she kisses Alex's cheek tenderly, looking up at her wind swept partner.
"Yeah, now I know." Alex's beautiful smile dazzles Michelle more than the bright morning sun rising in the east ever could. Michelle watches as a slur of emotions race through those gorgeous green eyes—caring, adoration, hope and then more than anything else—an overwhelming love. A long gaze passes between them, as Alex's eyes smile down on her most cherished possession.
"But, there's a big difference between Sayer and the shrimp." Alex comments mysteriously with a knowing smirk.
"And what's that?" Michelle mumbles, smiling, playing along. She knew Robin was the better man of course, but wanted to see Alex's take on the subject…
"Amaralexis!" Michelle gasps in shock at her wicked partner's insinuating glances downward to certain parts yet unknown, a wry smirk and insulting thoughts that she lets Michelle pick up so easily.
"Enjoy trying him out for—ehem—size, mon amour." With a wicked glint in her dazzling green eyes, Alex enfolds her beloved Michelle back into their broken embrace with a smile.
"I don't care what you say! My Robin is perfect!" Michelle allows Alex to hold her again, with a pout. Alex chuckles softly, amused at her pouty face. Her sweet face I swore to always protect…But that shrimp has proven himself to me, time and time again, and if Michelle wants him—if Michelle loves him…
Alex looks down on the soft head leaning against her. Every thought, every emotion exuding from her was filled with whispers of love for her beloved Robin. I can't stand in the way. I won't—because I love you too much, so very much…Alex assures herself that the decision is right—that Michelle's happiness comes first.
You will always come first no matter who comes into our lives. Alex holds her, kissing her forehead warmly, letting the sweeping winds from across the horizon sway against them softly. Alex closes her eyes, steeling herself for the coming day, knowing it would all be worth it just for a hold of Michelle's happiness…my Michelle.
"How're you holding up, Rob, old buddy?" Sayer sings out merrily as he waltzes into his brother's room, all signs of last night evaporated. Robin was sadly not able to say the same thing, his head still throbbed as he dresses into his fancy pants tuxedo.
"Don't ask, Sayer." Robin groans, his face frowning at the day ahead as well as his aching temples. The hustle and bustle of a wedding of this proportion (plus a little premarital jitters!) increases his frown until he closes his eyes and connects with someone (who was busy being primped and prepared) for a brief moment—and a sweet smile sweeps over both of their enchanted faces.
"Are you really gonna wear that—in front of everybody?" Sayer's annoying voice breaks the soft, soulful exchanges between Robin and his bride-to-be as Sayer's disapproving eyes look Robin up and down, giving the royal looking formal white with ruffles, embroidered with gold tux, a crooked smirk.
"Of course I am, Sayer! What do you know, anyway? You don't have any taste at all—in anything, especially marriage." Robin answers angrily, shooting Sayer a sophisticated nose up in the air and a snide insinuating smile.
"What was that!? You'd better not be—" Sayer, looking dashing and threatening at the same time in a grey tux (all escorts had to wear grey, Michelle insisted on color coding) was ready to attack at the slightest insult to whom he knew Robin was meaning.
"Sayer." Terry's low voice enters the fray as he puts a calm hand on his fiery brother's arm. "It's a very nice suit, Robin." Terry puts his other hand on Robin's shoulder, the three "brothers" standing together in a close triangle—so much a part of each other (through all the bickering and the arguing that Terry often had to play mediator for) as they knew they would always be. Terry was glad that Robin was now going to join them in the ranks of the blissfully wedded. He himself found no truer happiness than in the arms and heart of the woman who he was lucky enough to call his own.
"Thanks, Terry." Robin's angry face turns into a smile. Though he himself was technically the oldest (by only 3 months!) Robin too felt Terry's place as the "big brother" of their little group as the three of them exchange grins.
"I just wish you were going to be my best man and not him." Robin scornfully breaks their little brotherly triangle, still smarting at Sayer's rude comments on his sophisticated style of dress.
"Hey!" Sayer twists his lip as Terry chuckles at their everlasting feuding.
"But Michelle insisted because she wanted you to match Alex—I don't know why! So—" Robin sighs, but Terry notes the small wry smile creeping over his lips. "I guess I'm stuck with you." Robin smirks in Sayer's face, who smirks right back.
"I'm not the only one you should worry about being stuck with. Take it from an experienced married man, Rob. You're really in for it now." Sayer teases, putting on a serious air as he hums out a deadly dirge to Robin's wide, horrified eyes.
"You certainly are in for it—Starr." Alex's voice intercedes as she leans (very unladylike, I might add) in the open doorway, her arms crossed in a threatening tough guy stance, over a beautiful aqua gown (chosen and insisted upon by the bride).
Artemis takes this opportunity to peer into the groom's changing room, just to make sure the young heartthrob was really going through with it. (Plus to make sure a missing all morning Luna was not inside helping the stylish young man bathe or dress, as she was wont to do.)
Good! Not in there with those guys! Wonder where she is…Probably off sulking…When will you care for me like you do him…? Artemis audibly sighs as he turns, about to skulk away defeated.
"Ally, I was just—" Sayer starts to defend his teasing. Alex merely raises an eyebrow at him and he decides to take a different tactic, "—you look gorgeous, maid of honor." He saunters up to his smirking wife, Artemis leaping down from the golden sailor soldier's firm shoulder as he does.
"Don't give me that cr—" As Alex starts to answer back, Sayer instead kisses her annoyed mouth in response, halting her crass remark. Alex pulls away quickly with a smacking sound between their parted lips.
"It's time to be going, Shrimp—and don't let this good-for-nothing scare you off. Michelle is waiting—and I wouldn't want to be the man who left her standing at the altar." Alex threatens unnecessarily. She knew he wouldn't, but she did enjoy tormenting the shrimp—just for fun. Then she shoves Sayer back into the room, giving him a pair of warning eyes as he trips over Artemis in the doorway, the poor white cat getting kicked back out into the middle of the hall in the scuffle.
"Is marriage all that wonderful?" As the door closes behind Alex, Robin swallows hard. Sailor Uranus was certainly not his idea of a model wife, the way she treated her husband.
"It sure is." Sayer smiles wistfully, his eyes alighted with the fire Alex blazed within him, for he loved her for everything she was.
"The most magnificent thing in the entire universe and beyond." Terry sighs, inspired by his own perfect lady and wife.
"If you guys say so." Robin says distractedly, biting his lip as he watches his two brothers go all spacey and sappy like that over their…
Robin suddenly finds the same thing washing over him as he senses Michelle reaching out to him, landing soft caresses and kisses on his soul.
Yes, you are wonderful. Robin sighs in absolute assuredness as he, Sayer and Terry leave to attend the wedding of the century. Not a cloud—not a single strand of darkness was able to penetrate this happy, happy summer day.
"Artemis! Are you injured? Poor boy! Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!" Worried Luna comes bounding down the hallway in search of her furry feline friend with a small, grey bow tie between her paws.
"Luna! I—I thought…" Artemis stutters as she checks his unintentionally walloped vitals. The male cat's pride did not wish to be found so untrusting and accusing of his feline guardian partner's fidelity.
"—You thought I would come here to help my favorite young man get dressed?" In a condescending British tone, Luna purses her kitty lips and looks down her pink nose at the guilty-faced white cat.
"Well…" Artemis knew he was caught red pawed for not having faith in his future partner, even after he had confessed his love to her at their romantic city's Eiffel Tower visit when Luna seemed so distressed and forlorn of her idol's impending marriage they were about to attend.
"Yes, I am." Luna declares to Artemis' wide-eyed surprise. "I came here to dress you, you silly cat. You are my favorite young man." Luna contritely smiles as she uses her indigo 'hands' to expertly tie the grey silk bow tie—the one Luna had gone this morning to Pluto help her fashion in his size—around Artemis' previously undecorated neck.
"Luna?!" Artemis cries in a puddle of tears at her words and soft touch that she was finally accepting him as her 'favorite' now, over the heartthrob rock star standing in the room behind them.
"It may have taken me a long time to realize it—over a millennia, in fact—but you have, and always will be my partner in destiny, Artemis. No one else. I suppose I do love you." Searching deep into herself, Luna goes above and beyond, perhaps struck by the amorous cupid's arrow which epitomized Paris, as she bestows a sweet kitty kiss on Artemis' joyously shocked muzzle.
"Then why don't we make it official, Luna?" Artemis, in his overwhelming exuberance, finds the boldness in this whole wedding atmosphere, to prod Luna to take their realized relationship to the next level.
With a sucked and held-in breath, the white cat gets down on his kitty elbows and knees to propose to his one and only true love. Artemis offers his heart and soul to her in marriage as he had wished to long, long ago, but never had the guts to ask his strictly Moon business partner.
"Will you marry me, Luna?" Artemis had only waited forever for this moment, and was not going to let this chance slip away now that Luna had shown him some encouragement.
"Oh, dear! Artemis?" Luna's flabbergasted crimson eyes blink several times before they sparkle with tears. The usually serious, organized guardian of the Moon Princess surprises herself to be even considering to so readily agree to his abrupt request.
"Do you think Michelle would mind too much if we intrude on her and Robin's special day?" Luna muses aloud, the ambiance of this monumental Paris wedding ceremony had not gone by her own girlish heart unnoticed. Yes, she may have come to France with a broken heart aching for her secret crush's loss, but somewhere along the way, the logical heart within Luna had seen true love obvious in her rock idol's sensitive eyes.
Robin Starr—Sailor Star Healer's—hard fought for love was undeniably now and forever intertwined with Michelle Moreau's, our own Sailor Neptune. As appointed by Queen Serenity to be Guardian Protector of the sailor scouts, even though Neptune belonged to the more mature set of Outer Scouts who safeguarded the distant planets of their solar system, Luna still felt responsible for Michelle's care, too.
So, in deep reflection, the dark indigo guardian cat had come to terms with being the better individual, the mature guardian Queen Serenity relied on her to be. She would be unselfish as to her own feelings, be content to be happy for the soulful couple who had found one another across the galaxies.
And maybe, just maybe, in that altruistic moment of enlightenment, Luna had come to know herself more. Her truly good heart was blessed by this generosity of spirit to finally let her unrequited longsuffering love in.
As for ever-patient Artemis, he was doing mental somersaults to hear Luna even considering his sudden proposal—and she was even wishing to ask for a double wedding with him right here, right now! Ahh!
"Artemis, you sly dog!" Bridesmaid Mina had obviously been alerted by observant Alex, who had caught this sudden proposal in the corner of her keen eye, as to this very heartrending kitty romance surprise going on here in the hallway behind her back.
"Did you just—?!" The sailor of Venus had personal, privy, inside information concerning the love life of her best friend/guardian kitty and his unrequited relationship with Serena's equivalent Moon cat protector, Luna.
All the blissfully happy, drooling starstruck white cat could do was nod to his companion.
"Did she say—?!" Mina's contagiously excitable voice queries of the next all important response as she drops to her knees to squeeze her pal's trembling paws as Venus and Artemis look up to Luna, both on open-mouthed tenterhooks...
"Michelle said it'd be okay with her." Alex, sensing this was a pivotal scene for the pair of faithful cat guardians, had speedily raced like the wind to the bride-to-be to get approval on their behalf. "Mostly because 'my Robin said he'd be overjoyed to share our wedding with his Luna,' when she contacted the shrimp just now." Tapping a finger to her temples, smirking Alex relays the messages that had psychically passed between she, the bride, and her bridegroom of this last minute alteration to their well-orchestrated, royal-quality wedding extravaganza.
"Then the answer is 'Yes.' Yes, Artemis, I will marry you. Today." Luna's own eyes may not have been as glamorously glossy, nor full of the gleam of shooting stars she once had a hankering for, but they were sure and true and serene in the fact that her lifelong partner was offering her his absolute devotion, that had been hers and would always be forevermore.
"Mina, would you please send Serena in to the bride's chamber? I must have a proper chat with Michelle to settle the arrangements to her satisfaction. I don't believe it will be too obtrusive, since I'm to be right up front at the head of the bridesmaids, right beside Alex." Luna puffs up with pride as she straightens her exquisitely sophisticated, aqua chiffon elegant lace shawl and ivory hat upon her head, never imagining the exquisite haute couture (high fashion) point lace châle (shawl) and antique floral pearl vintage netting French bridal chapeau (hat) she wore would be her own wedding attire.
In Artemis' lovestruck gaze, Luna was the most beautiful, flawless creature he'd ever seen as she turns her demanding crimson orbs upon her future mate.
"And of course, you, as my escort, will also be close to the front at the cathedral altar, on Robin's side." Conscientious Luna's mind was already busily rearranging Neptune and Healer's most opulent church wedding to squeeze in hers, as well, but perhaps in a more low-key way, as the marriage of two intergalactic, mystically enchanted, talking cats may not be as well-received in this most important holy Notre Dame Cathedral, even if this was Paris.
I am to be wed in the Notre Dame Cathedral…
Luna had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't only imagining this fantasy wedding was happening to her and her enduring partner Artemis, when she always believed they were but background side characters in the Moon Kingdom's millennia spanning saga.
"Now, get your head out from the clouds, Artemis, and move your lazy backside to assemble the other groomsmen! We have a special double ceremony to attend." After her usual berating, Luna pauses in her mile-a-minute, heart-pounding preparations to pet her lifelong partner—her future husband—on his moon encrusted forehead.
Artemis was on cloud nine, as on her way to the bride's changing room, Luna drags her new 'favorite guy' down the hall authoritatively, without so much as a sneaking glance back to the dashing Robin Starr. After all, that Three Light was on the cusp of his marriage to the intuitive Frenchwoman who knowingly gave Luna special placement at the wedding, for shared fondness and good taste of their silver fox, and Luna had a sleek silver cat of her own to pledge her forever to.
So, Luna and Michelle would also forever share the joy of being brides in this doubly enchanted wedding of perpetually flowing, sensitive love.
The Wedding of the Century, on this final year of the millennium, promises to live up to its hype, as the countless guests of the highest French society stream into the large, 15th Century gothic Notre Dame Cathedral in the center of the busy city. The huge crowd (plus a little string-pulling by Michelle's well-connected father) warranted the closing off of one of the busiest avenues in Paris. Reporters and photographers were sanctioned off at the front entrance to the Catholic Cathedral as onlookers and spectators alike awaited anxiously the arrival of the celebrated bride and famed groom of this highly publicized wedding.
Those not formally invited, just caught up in the spectacle, are indeed rewarded for their eager waiting, awed by the beautiful aqua laced bridesmaids and their handsome grey clad escorts (including the groom's two famous dashing brothers amongst them) who greet their arrival from sparkling white limousines with style. The mother and father of the bride come next, proudly standing aside as they motion the audience towards the arrival of their daughter.
The splendor and radiance of a sparkling ocean wave washes over all the onlookers as the white Clydesdale horse drawn carriage, gilded with gold, slowly trots through the cleared, tree-lined avenue. An inviting sea breeze flows in with the beautiful bride, the glittering veil making her lovely cheeks softly flushed, her eyes alight with the stars within, as she gracefully descends her classic ride. The summer sun shining resplendent on her ivory white gown—a gown beyond all gowns—was as elegant as it was ostentatious, as beautiful as it was breathtaking. Delicate point lace and silken brocade flutter towards the church on her father's arm as the 'oohs and ahhs' follow her as she makes her way in slowly, in perfect timing.
Her eight bridesmaids finish their travel up the aisle in the crowded church. Alex takes her place at the front, exchanging a short sly glance with the best man, then a long, meaningful one with the groom. His golden trimmed suit caught the rays of the sunlight, his silver hair was aglow as he stood tensed, a little jittery inside until the wedding march flares, and the bride in all her glory steps lithely into the aisle on her adoring father's arm.
Across the distance, down the long aisle, Michelle floats on ocean waves to him, her father giving her away to Robin as he lifts her veil and the bride and groom's eyes meet at the same time their hearts touch psychically. Robin's lime green ones melt into Michelle's bright blue ones as their minds complement each other, their souls caress each other with the promises as they hear the vows begin. Michelle was on Robin's arm, and Alex stands proudly at her beloved cousin's side.
Luna, her designer chapeau and filmy châle, was adorned with no less than the Silver Crystal brooch Serena had wished for her dearest friend to wear at her wedding. The indigo furred cat, though diminutive amid the expansive, decked out cathedral and ornate wedding attire long train veil of endless sea foam lace of the French bride, still glistened in her Artemis' besotted eyes.
Sailor Moon's Silver Crystal was only accentuated by her shining bright eyes, as Luna indeed looked resplendent where she was perched on the center altar step just behind the bride. Artemis, with the special golden Elysian rose Darien had lent him placed in his starched collar above the grey silk bowtie Luna had tied around his neck earlier, had stepped up to be at her side to the groom's rear as the holy wedding ceremony begins.
After the Priest's Introductory Rites and the abbreviated Mass, the thickly French accented Archbishop, who had been called in special for this stately occasion of such an important family of France, starts the ceremony in the revered Notre Dame Cathedral. After several classical hymns and sweeping religious music befitting a wedding of this significance, all in the beautiful French language of love, the Archbishop speaks of the holy sacrament of marriage and all its responsibilities for the bride and her groom, again in strictly Français.
Soon, the Archbishop begins the lead-in for the bridal couple's wedding vow exchange, starting with the groom first.
"S'il vous plaît répétez après moi. Please repeat after me." Addressing the silver-haired groom directly in translated, low key English, the patient elderly Archbishop was articulating a little slowly at first to give this obviously foreign-born young man some assist in the language category. He was instructed to conduct the ceremony in full French, despite the international differentiation between the French bride and her foreigner groom. 'Interplanetary' would more describe this match made in the heavens, but the man of the cloth was not aware of that information. Nor the bride's family either, for that matter.
"Moi, Robin Starr, je te prend, Michelle Josée Moreau."
But when monsieur Robin Starr begins to speak the well-versed vows in fluent Français, the Archbishop felt a wave of relief sweep over him. After all, Madame Moreau was a formidable parishioner and patron of his diocese and would not look kindly on a public embarrassment of her future son-in-law.
"Moi, Robin Starr, je te prend, Michelle Josée Moreau." (I, Robin Starr, take you, Michelle Josée Moreau.) Robin had spent hours and hours studying the French language and its correct pronunciation just for this moment, just for Michelle. And this once reticent-to-learn-anything-of-this-world, wandering shooting star pulls it off flawlessly, like French was his second language, accent and all.
Pleased as punch, glowing Michelle couldn't be prouder of him for the sensitive endeavor, undertaken just for her, as her Robin's scratchy voice recites their wedding vows in her native tongue of love, much to her parents' delight.
"I, Artemis, take you, Luna." Locked in Luna's wide, attentive eyes, Artemis silently mouths each subsequent pledge simultaneously (though in his own, well memorized, heart's language) in response to the Archbishop, as if he and Luna were in the room alone.
Just as the intuitive bride and groom had generously agreed to share their cherished wedding vows with their just as cherished Moon guardian friends who were center stage as well, albeit a bit lower on the altar steps, beneath the radar, so to speak.
"Pour être mon épouse." While Robin continued to repeat the helpful holy man's Français words aloud, his mind reaches out to ask Michelle's receptive one in his own tender way, too: 'To be my partner in destiny. To share in your beautiful destiny.' Robin's soul guarantees their fated bond.
Your wife…Oh, Robin dearest! Michelle mentally breathes in the absolute thrill of his sensitive soul so delicately touching hers with this first extremely intimate vow passing between them.
"To be my…gulp…wife?" It was Artemis' turn to say the bold vow, though the sheepish feline was a little hangdog to take such liberties to utter that dreamt of term aloud to Luna's face. But his confidence was bolstered when the female cat nods to her shy mate with a quiet acquiesce.
"Pour avoir et tenir de ce jour vers l'avant." Proving he could care for someone greater than himself to wish to hold her close always, Robin utters the foreign words—which he did comprehend, Madame—without a stumble, his gaze in Michelle's eyes strong and true. 'To hold you close to my soul for all time.' At the same time, Robin adds to each vow one of his own, directly to Michelle's euphoric mind.
"To have and to hold from this day forward." Artemis, too, continues to silently recite the next pledge to his kitty love, as Luna's rapt attention was on him and him alone, all thoughts of Robin Starr vanishing, even though the man was standing right there. (Though Artemis was secretly glad Luna's favorite silver haired idol's vows were being made in French, so as not to compete with his. Hee hee.)
"Pour meilleur ou pour le pire," Robin repeats the time-honored words of the Catholic archbishop, with a small smile. He knew that monetary problems would never be an issue for the well-heeled pair, but his Michelle's true value meant far more to him than all the priceless art the world had to offer. 'Your tender heart's mirror is the most precious gemstone in the universe to me that I will always long to be reflected in.' Robin's paler green eyes catch the gleam of his bride's inner talisman, to alight them both.
"For richer or for poorer." Artemis mouths, his dry muzzle glad he didn't have to actually voice the words for fear of his constricting throat catching on the hallowed words.
"Pour la prospérité et la pauvreté;" Robin at last recognized that his lonely soul had been enhanced, his distant heart a far better thing for love of her. 'Before I met you, I was alone. Before I knew you, I wasn't really me. I never understood what life was about.'
"For better or worse." Artemis would easily categorize his existence a better one with Luna help him be a better guardian to their important charges, to guide them to the heights of success, and be the one to share in his heartaches over them, too.
"Dans la maladie et dans la santé." Robin repeats in a quieter, more serious tone. His hand balls to a fist imperceptibly, as if hearing an inner voice remind him of this vow's more sobering subject. 'No matter what darkness comes, I promise to cling to your captivating shine!' Robin's following passionate delivery of desperate mental message would have been disturbing to Michelle had her senses been less than euphoric as their wedded bliss now so was close at hand she could taste it.
"In sickness and in health." Artemis mouths his part of the ceremony, unaware his male counterpart was experiencing any emotional struggle on this somewhat commonplace line of the marriage ceremony.
"Pour aimer et chérir;" Calming himself with the strength of a true star as he speaks again, this time distinctly with just the right je ne sais quoi indefinable quality, Robin forges forward in his near-flawless performance as he emphasizes the Français turn of phrase for "love" here. This entire expressive presentation proved that this special young man could surprise with his untapped capabilities, impressing all his friends, his brothers—not to mention his demanding mother in law—to no end. 'Nothing will ever come between us and our bond.' While in flowing rhythm that doesn't miss a beat, this astounding musician was still able to arrange the tempo of his mind as well to personalize vows of his love to a swooning Michelle's celestial plane, too.
"To love and cherish." Artemis, unaware of the commanding exertion that Robin Starr's increasingly powerful mind was instituting, employed all his own heart and soul to sit up straight and tall before not only the frightening awe-inspiring backdrop of the Notre Dame Cathedral where he and his surprise bride were shockingly being wed in, but more petrifying to him was his Luna's eyes which he never wished to disappoint.
"Jusqu'à la mort nous sépare. (Til death do you part?)" The Archbishop speaks the mortal-bound final phrase that concluded the first half of the holy wedding ceremony's vows which Robin innately grasped was wholly untrue.
Even in death, Robin was sure Michelle would never leave him alone. And for that sweet assurance, Robin was eternally grateful.
'You'll live in my heart forever, because you have become a part of my very being.' Robin's mind, heart and soul whispers this additional, uncharacteristically sentimental vow to Michelle as the entire congregation of the filled cathedral—plus the crowd that turned out to stretch down the packed street for miles to glimpse this monumental wedding of the famed Paris daughter take place—anxiously awaits his reply.
"Oui. I do." Unafraid, unashamed, unfettered by the laws of culture, physics, and even nature, this Sailor of the Star Healer had crossed millions of miles, surpassed galaxies, and even transformed genders to be as God intended to answer this important question aloud, his voice ringing loud and strong and clear, as it had never before.
'Yes, I do want to spend a lifetime with you, Michelle.' The slightly more diaphanous voice of Star Healer's resolute, yet sensitive mind whispers softly in Neptune's ear as the soldier of the deep sea's eyes fill with an ocean of grateful tears.
After the first groom finishes vowing his messages, second groom Artemis mouths his eternal pledge to Luna succinctly, echoing the devoted sentiment with his own dedication for his eternal partner.
"I do, Luna!" Artemis's own green eyes were shivering with tears of his honest love for his fellow cat guardian from beyond this world, knowing their destined future together was, at last, about to unfold. Whether or not it meant remaining in these feline forms or to revert to the humanoid bodies they once knew in the Silver Millennium, Artemis was beyond ecstatic to have his Luna as his bride, in any form, time, or space.
Luna, too, had eyes full of tears as she had clearly understood, in all the minutiae, that her Artemis had just pledged his life and his love to her, there was no doubt in this unique double ceremony for the main participants that their male partner's love was true.
"Est-ce que vous, Michelle Moreau, prenez cet homme, Robin Starr, pour votre mari légitimement marié? (Do you, Michelle Josée Moreau, take this man, Robin Starr, to be your lawfully wedded husband?") Before beginning to ask the vows of the bride, the Archbishop pauses to smile. The old gentleman was somehow aware that things beyond mere human understanding were passing between this unique couple as tears fell from the lovely bride's eyes, entranced in her groom's soulful ones.
Michelle's sweet thoughts resound in Robin's soul as the bishop speaks the bride's vows aloud in her native dialect. She swears herself to him in their own realm beautifully discovered within each other.
"Moi, Michelle Josée Moreau, je te prend, Robin Starr."Michelle's very feminine voice repeats the words that had given her most precious dreams flight. 'I take you, Robin dearest.'
"Pour être mon mari." 'To be my husband, my partner in destiny, to share in your beautiful destiny now, too."
Luna follows suit, accepting Artemis' outstretched paw in hers, mouthing the first part of her eternal pledge: "I, Luna, take you, Artemis, to be my husband."
"Pour avoir et tenir de ce jour vers l'avant." Michelle felt the tears of joy begin to well up in the sea of her soul that reaches out to embrace her perfect love for this distant star who responded to her call on that unforgettable starry night. 'To hold you close to my soul for all time.'
"To have and to hold from this day forward, Artemis." Luna adds her intended's name to her silently mouthed vow, sensing his need to be certain he was the true object of her affections.
"Pour meilleur ou pour le pire." Michelle was so touched by her Robin's soulful messages of love that she echoes his psychic vows spoken straight to their conjoined hearts: "No matter what darkness comes, I will be your light." She promises, tenderly, softly stroking her Robin's soul.
"In sickness and in health." Luna recalled her own cruel remark once of how only 'fools didn't get colds,' concerning her perpetually healthy partner, who she was now so proud of for his enduring strength and benevolent compassion, even when she was unkind.
"Pour meilleur ou pour le pire," Michelle had only known what it was to be rich her whole life. She wanted for nothing, until she met the richness of him. 'You are my priceless treasure, my dearest heart. Everything I have is yours.' Michelle was offering much more to Robin than her family's abounding financial account, as her every mental thought makes the lost prince of the Star Healer feel valuable.
"For richer or for poorer." Luna recites the line, inaudibly smiling upon her always reliable partner who had always given up everything he had, selflessly for her comfort more than his own over the years, knowing she was the fool for only contemplating it now.
"Pour la prospérité et la pauvreté." Michelle's heart soars as their wedding vows to one another were so very intimate, though so very public at the same time, in this special bond that only they two shared. 'Robin, before I met you I was filled with longing. Before I knew you I never imagined my life could be so full.'
"For better or worse." Luna had been together with Artemis for as long as either could remember, and the cat people had witnessed both 'better' and 'worse' in their well more than nine long lives. So she, right here and now, in this august setting of the most famed holy shrine in Europe, was at last ready to accept that it was he who saw her through it all.
"For as long as you both shall live?"
'Beyond that, Robin, forever you'll live in my heart. You are part of my soul, for this present, for tomorrow, for all time. I thank fate for you, Robin dearest, my destiny fulfilled."
"Oui. I do." Lucid-eyed Michelle felt waves of love as majestic as the ocean flow through her spirit as she answers the Bishop's query. Searching her bridegroom's endless eyes, with the very next breath she takes Michelle is sure, with her clear gaze into Robin's soul, she is certain. Michelle then turns to her maid of honor, her darling Amaralexis, who had been stoically standing at her side throughout this most important event of her life. When the two inseparable young women's fingertips touch, Michelle felt her Amara's deep love surge through her every breath, her every heartbeat with their close bond's utmost caring unwavered.
Much unspoken passes between their locked eyes as her faithful cousin hands her the golden wedding band that would seal this troth with her Robin, forever, to match the one best man Sayer had, thankfully smoothly, without a hitch for once, been holding to give to the groom.
"I do." Luna silently mouths, her starry eyes glowing at her lifelong mate as she pledges her love to the patient cat at long last while their human counterparts slip golden wedding bands on each other's slender hands. In this pivotal moment, the Moon Kingdom's silver crystal brooch that Luna was wearing shimmers in conjunction with the golden Elysian rose tucked in Artemis' collar, signaling the cosmic blessing of their forever bond.
"Je vous prononce maintenant homme et femme. (I now pronounce you man and wife.) You may kiss your bride, Monsieur." The Archbishop declares the final call in English as a gratefully nodding Robin sweetly leans over and kisses Michelle's moist lips softly to the audience's delight.
Artemis was about to bestow the same type of chaste, pure kiss on his Luna's feline lips when the black cat nearly knocks off her fancy hat to lick her kitty tongue across his pleasantly surprised muzzle first instead.
"Me-ow." Artemis couldn't refrain from letting out the little satisfied sound when a contented Luna sits back to gaze upon her new furry husband.
"I love you, you silly cat." The Guardian of the Moon mouths to her grinning like a Cheshire cat mate as the pair nuzzles their noses together, feeling complete at last after millennia untold.
'I love you.' The same profoundly delivered, whispered words also sweep in sync through Robin and Michelle's linked hearts, their minds and souls touching as their spirits freely meld together into that one phrase.
The doubly wedded pairs leave the famed Notre Dame happier than any of them could have ever imagined, each giving homage to Serena, their dear Moon Princess as they pass by the shining young woman in the pew, for bringing them together in her world of love and friendship.
On angel's wings, dashing groom Robin, leads them out from the Cathedral with gorgeous bride Michelle on his arm. A jubilant Artemis and glowing Luna, paw in paw, trail behind the idyllic bride's long train, with the rest of the wedding party close behind as the handsome group of sailor soldiers and their friends emerge to the cheers of thousands of onlookers.
The most elegant couple in all of Paris, the most beautiful bride in all of France, young Madame Moreau-Starr was now already being revered by that title, as this wedding party continues the lavish affair with a reception like none other (after Lita, with a blush at Andrew, catches the fluttering bouquet). No expense was too great, no length unmet at the celebration for the newly wedded couple.
Michelle and Robin seem to waltz through the air, everyone dancing around them seeing how lost they were in one another. The elegance, the splendor surrounding them in the Great Hall was nothing compared to the beauty seen in each other's hearts as the afternoon drifts into the evening, the beautiful bridesmaids resplendent in their aqua empire waisted gowns (all matching to accommodate Susan, of course). They charmed the high class audience well with their youthful exuberance, as the newlyweds, after enduring many a long speech and traditional post-ceremony rituals, steal away to begin their long honeymoon together.
But not before a few tearful exchanges, after all said and done, and a fond farewell to each of her dearest friends, with all of her bridesmaids giving their lucky Neptune sister a tender hug and send-off with her cute 'rock star.'
After Serena had made a big scene in fawning over 'lucky Luna's' phenomenal wedding at the Notre Dame, Michelle had a special embrace farewell for the Princess of the Moon herself. Serena was first in line to wish her older friend the best of luck in this new life together with Robin.
"I never said 'thank you' for bringing these three boys back home to us, Michelle. I'm so happy that Susan has Terry, Alex has Sayer, and now you've married Robin, because you're all so right for one another. They're truly part of our family now, aren't they?" Serena was beginning to display the wisdom her kind heart could feel for her dearest friends, she thinking how none of this joy would have been possible without Michelle and Robin's bond across the galaxy that brought the Three Lights back to earth for her own wedding.
"I know you're both going to be every bit as happy as Darien and I are!" As her Prince of the Earth husband joins her to nod at the pair of just-wed soldiers, the effusive blonde predicts with a pleased giggle while shaking Michelle's gloved hands excitedly. In the spirit of the moment, Serena then throws her arms in an awkward hug around Robin's never too affably forthcoming neck as invisible wedding doves fly past at the weird scene.
But the Sailor of the Star Healer appreciated this young girl who opened up a whole new wondrous world for the wandering stars with her generous shine and warmth.
"Thank you, Princess. You are more than a good friend." Confabulating this Moon Princess with his own absent Fireball whom he missed terribly for not attending his wedding day, Robin surprises a gaping mouthed Serena with an uncharacteristic warm hug back.
"Bye, Luna." He doesn't neglect to give the indigo blue cat a tender rub behind the ears as he passed her where Luna and Artemis were perched behind the wedding cake.
"Treasure her precious jewel, like I'm going to cherish my Michelle's, Artemis." Robin addresses his fellow pale haired, Luna enthusiast for the first time, as the perceptive young psychic could sense Luna's true affection blossoming for the white cat whom he was leaving her in the charge of, as Serena's borrowed silver crystal gleams up at him.
"It was a lovely double wedding. I almost was tempted to trade handsome grooms." Michelle teases the predilection of her now special bond with the Moon guardian felines. She masterfully taunts her new husband's previous fondness for the indigo kitty, with an eyelash batted wink down at longsuffering Artemis, whom she tickles the chin of coquettishly.
"I'd offer you a ride around the world on my private cruise ship, but there are some reasons a girl wants to be totally alone at midnight, under the stars with her gorgeous man on the silvery high seas. I'm sure you understand, Luna." In a flirtatiously outrageous whisper full of innuendo directed down at her once rival for her Robin's attentions, but really intended for both parties in the pair of newlywed felines to hear, Michelle giggles girlishly in giddy anticipation behind her silk gloved hand.
"Indeed, I do."
"I have the feeling yours may be more an animal on your honeymoon than mine, Luna dear." Michelle couldn't help but toss one last whispered insinuation in, feeling as flirty as a kitten herself right now.
Artemis blushes, as Luna purrs in agreement. The dark cat rubs affirmatively to the pale one's pleased side, giving the unsure Artemis hope beyond hope at last that his fickle Luna really had chosen him over that rock star Michelle now owned.
Mina tosses the grinning deliriously cat a big, rabid thumb's up across the dance floor where she was cutting a rug with her Kenny. Then the Sailor of Venus sends a great big love and beauty shock sized kiss to smack against her favorite idol Robin's cheek as a fond farewell, too.
Michelle couldn't contain a raised brow chuckle at the boisterous blonde Venus bombshell, having long come to the conclusion that her Robin's taste had become far too refined to entertain a single thought more of bold Mina. At least, not to garner too much envy as she possessively wipes the vague impression of love me lipstick traces from her mate's yet innocent cheek.
I'll attend to that soon enough…
Still, it was nice of each of the girls to wish she and her new husband a sweet goodbye where enthusiastic Michelle did most of the animated talking.
But in the end, when it came down to her parting with Alex, Michelle was at a loss for words. Her tough cousin was as well, so their eyes said it all for them. Alex kisses Michelle tenderly, holding her close, knowing herself what her sensitive partner, whom she had always protected and would defend with her life, was about to head into—wonders, trials, and the closeness to another that was already enveloping her soul even more so.
"Take care of her, Shrimp." Alex passes on her role as sole protector–though she would always be Michelle's and Michelle hers— intricately aware of the bond forged between the silver-haired man from the stars and her beloved. She knew those bonds were strong and true, his place at her side that Alex, through unlimited love for Michelle, was willing to share.
"I will, Alex, with my life." Robin pledges, for once without a trace of sarcasm, not a bit of snideness to this hard woman. He too, was recognizing her not so much as a rival for Michelle's affections but as a partner in this elegant creature's protection.
"Farewell, my love." Michelle whispers in Alex's ear as Alex kisses her goodbye again. Michelle and Robin silently disappear from the Great Hall unbeknownst to most of their guests, save those who knew them and loved them best. Alex stands in place, her eyes frozen as she watches her sweet Michelle leave her side, until a hand touches her shoulder gently.
"Care to waltz your cares away with the best dancer in the ballroom, Madame Starr?" His words were teasing, but Sayer's eyes were soft and caring. Alex smiles at the complete understanding in them of her torn heart.
"I don't mind if I do, Monsieur Starr." Alex teases her boyish husband right back, as she gently sways in his arms to the romantic music. She felt so complete, so right, together with him in a way she never could have imagined before in what seemed a lifetime ago. Alex silently hopes for Michelle to find the same level of equal caring, of complete understanding, of honest love that she was certain she had found within Sayer Starr.
Good luck, my Michelle. You'd just better love her like she deserves, Shrimp. Alex tightly closes her eyes, as she places her most precious treasure in the care of another, seeking solace in leading her own streak of starlight through the Parisian slow dance long into this night of all trying nights.
Happy Greek Easter weekend, dear friends!
I hope you enjoyed the magnificently romantic setting of Notre Dame for this magnificently romantic double wedding of our psychic duo in beautiful destiny Michelle x Robin Starr and longtime coming since Silver Millennium guardian cats Luna x Artemis, too! ^0^
Please drop me a review of this very special chapter full of Eternal promise and forever soulful love! I'd love to hear what you thought of this double wedding and HealerNep's oh-so-tender and sensitively embraced, yet complex dual-lingual and multi-level telepathic vows of true love!
God bless you and yours during this joyous season of the Lord's sacrifice and loving devotion to give us blessed assurance of Eternity.
Your friend,
HarukaKou
P.S.
Fun Pop Quiz Contest!
Now that all 3 'wandering, shooting Stars' are hitched to our mature Scouts, which of the Three Lights x Outer Sailors' weddings did you enjoy most? ^0^
1) Maker & Pluto's very romantic, beautifully serene, and private, small friends and family Church service in Tokyo?
2) Fighter and Uranus' spontaneous, unexpected, 3 pairs' only attended shotgun marriage in the snowy mountain chapel?
3) Healer & Neptune's richly ostentatious, extremely public, well attended by all of Paris wedding at Notre Dame Cathedral?
Three very different moods for 3 very different couples! Can't wait to see which Outer Light couple wins this contest?
I'll be sure to write the tally in the next installment! :)