The Duris Estate was abuzz with activity as they prepared for Kuu and Julie's wedding. Caterers walked back and forth from their vans to the back yard where several tents had been set up with long tables beneath them to hold all of the food. Several assistants were setting up white folding chairs and a flower arch covered in ivy and roses. Another set of workers were rolling out a white carpet over the sprawling, emerald green lawn from the arch to the elegant French doors at the back of the mansion.

Inside the house, up the curved stairway and down the hall, Julie was sitting at her vanity, breastfeeding Kuon while a stylist fussed over her hair. She and Kuu had moved into her parents' house several months before, after Kuu had accepted Producer Maeda's offer. Getting all of their things boxed up and shipped to the US had been a nightmare, and several boxes had been lost in transit, including much of Julie's clothing. What remained of their furniture had been put into storage, except for their bed, which they had moved into the mansion.

Upon getting back to her parents' home, Julie had tried to squeeze back into her old wardrobe and failed miserably. However, she was determined to lose her baby weight. After enlisting the help of a trainer, and after exercising and dieting for a grueling five months, she had managed to get down to a size four. Though it wasn't a two, she was happy with the results. Her body had changed since having Kuon, and she decided that she was going to have to get used to her wider hips and larger breasts.

Kuon finished eating and Julie handed him off to her mother. "I think he needs changed, Mama."

Tatiana peeked into the back of his little jeans and nodded. "I think you're right. I'll take care of it." She kissed her daughter's forehead. "You look beautiful, by the way."

Julie smiled as the technician started on her makeup. "Thank you, Mama."

Tatiana took Kuon out of the room and down the hall to his room that they had prepared for him. They had done their best to recreate the nursery they had in Japan, with the Dayjowey decals on the walls. That had been the thing Julie had been saddest about when leaving their apartment. She changed his diaper on the changing table, making sure to use lotion and powder. When she finished, she pinched his chunky foot and wiggled it back and forth playfully.

"Ah, Babushka's boy is all clean, and so handsome! Should we put you in your suit?" she cooed at him.

He kicked his legs and smiled up at her. His eyes were slowly changing from the light gray of his newborn days to the startling green of his mother. Tatiana picked him up and gave him several kisses, smearing her red lipstick all over his cheek. He giggled, and she set him back down on the table and wiped his cheek with a wet wipe. There was a knock at the door, and she looked up.

"Oh, sweet boy! Look at how handsome you are!"

Kuu had been away in Japan for the week, throwing a funeral for Shuuhei Hozu. Hozu-san had served his purpose, and Kuu had sent him off in style with a lavish party with hundreds of 'mourners'. It had been Lory's idea, of course. Upon coming back to the US, he stayed in a hotel with Lory so that he wouldn't see Julie just before the wedding. He had changed into his sharp tailed black tux and slicked his hair back that morning and then gotten a ride back to the mansion with Lory and Kouki in a taxi. When he got 'home', he couldn't wait to see his son. The week he had spent away from him had been the longest he had been away from Kuon in his entire six months of life.

He crossed the room and kissed Tatiana on both cheeks. "Thank you, Mama. You look lovely, too. How is Julie?"

Tatiana stripped Kuon's shirt off of him and began to dress him in his little black suit. "You're going to cry when you see her. She's a vision."

Kuu smiled, his heart leaping in his chest. He could hardly wait to see her. "I would expect nothing else from a woman with a mother so beautiful."

Tatiana laughed and swatted him on the arm. "Oh, I don't know how she puts up with you!"

Kuu's attention turned to his son. "And how was my precious boy? I hope he didn't miss me too much."

Kuon's tiny arms shot upward and he made grabby hands at Kuu, who laughed. "Shall I take over?"

Tatiana planted another sloppy lipstick kiss on Kuon's forehead. "I suppose I have hogged the baby long enough. I should go check on Julie and make sure she has everything she needs." She hustled out of the room, leaving Kuu to finish dressing Kuon. When he finished, he picked him up in one arm and smoothed his wispy blonde hair down over his head.

"Looking really good, little man."

Kuon tugged on Kuu's bow tie, and Kuu chuckled and pulled his arm away. "No, buddy. I gotta look good for Mom!" Kuu grabbed Kuon's stuffed chicken out of his crib and gave it to him. Kuon hugged it to his chest possessively; it was his favorite toy.

Kuu took him downstairs to put distance between himself and the bedroom where he knew Julie was getting ready. He found Lory lounging against the counter in the kitchen. When Lory saw Kuon, he laughed. "Ah, they pawned the kid off on you, huh?"

Kuu kissed his son's forehead. "No such thing."

Lory pinched Kuon's cheek. "Well, look at you. You got really big since the last time I saw you. Do you remember your Oji-san?"

Kuon fixed Lory with the most comically bored stare and Kuu laughed. "It's been five months, and I think he's still sick of your shit."

Lory laughed. "You know, I think you might be right."

Kuu looked out the back window. The guests were being ushered into their seats. The who's who of Hollywood and Japan were filing into their seats, including such names as Kotetsu Uesugi, Hirotaka Date, and Leonard Herbert. He let out a low whistle. "Damn that's a lot of people."

Lory shook his head. "That's intimate by Hollywood standards."

Kuu chuckled. "It's a pretty good turnout for two people who are already married, though." Kuu and Julie had actually been married in Japan one year ago that day. Kuu remembered their imperfect wedding day and hoped that this would be enough to erase those memories for his wife.

A severe-looking woman in a black power suit and chignon appeared in the kitchen with a clipboard. She checked her watch. "Mr. Hizuri, we're starting in 20 minutes. Are you ready?"

Kuu nodded. "I think so. Is everyone here?"

She frowned. "Still no sign of the ring bearer."

Kuu took a deep breath. Tora and Tatiana had talked them into allowing Cedric Bennet to be the ring bearer at the wedding. Relations with the Bennets had not improved since Lana's phone call to Julie; Lana had never apologized, and had avoided her sister since they moved to the US. Julie had agreed that Cedric could be the ring bearer. She wanted to be able to have a relationship with her nephew, despite his parents' misbehavior.

It seemed to Kuu that once again, Lana was trying to make things about her. He imagined that she must be trying to hold up the wedding to get as much attention on her and her son as possible. He did his best to contain his anger; he would not ruin this day for Julie. If he had his way, nothing would ruin this day for her. He offered a small smile to the wedding coordinator.

"I can't go upstairs; it's too close to show time. If you would be so kind as to run this past Julie's mother and see how she would like this handled?"

The coordinator nodded and disappeared up the stairs.

Lory shook his head. "Unbelievable."

Kuu sighed. "Unfortunately, it's completely believable. She can't let Julie have just one fucking day."

The coordinator reappeared a few minutes later. "Mrs. Duris has agreed that we need a new ring bearer." She produced the tiny white satin pillow from her purse. The wedding bands had been tied on it with little bows. "Kuon is obviously a little too young. Are there any children in the audience?"

Lory ducked out the back door. "I'll grab Kouki. He's a little long in the tooth, but he'll work."

He reappeared with his son a moment later, and Kouki pinched the bridge of his nose when they explained what they needed him to do. "You're joking, right? Come on, Dad, this is baby stuff!"

Lory shook his head. "Nope. Oji-san needs a ring bearer, and tag, you're it."

Kouki looked up at his father with worried eyes. "There won't be pictures, right? You're not going to show anyone pictures of me doing this, are you?"

Lory crossed his heart. "Wouldn't dream of it." His other hand was behind his back with crossed fingers.

Kouki sighed, resigned to his fate. "Fine. I'll do it."

Kuu shook his hand. "You're a lifesaver, Kouki-kun. Thank you."

A harp started to play outside, and Kuu took a deep breath. "That's our cue. Ready, guys?"

Lory nodded. "Let's go get you hitched… again."

Kuu walked out the back door and down the aisle with Kuon and his chicken. There was a chorus of awwws as he smiled and nodded his head at the crowd as they passed. He took his place at the front of the flower arch.

The harp music changed, and Lory walked down the aisle arm-in-arm with Tatiana. When they reached the arch, she kissed Kuu on both cheeks, kissed Kuon on his cheeks, and then sat down in the front row. Lory took his place beside Kuu as his best man.

Kouki was next. He did his best awkward teenager shuffle down the aisle and took his place beside his father, to whom he offered the tiny pillow. A pair of tiny girls, the daughters of Julie's cousin, with blonde curls in poofy white dresses and pink satin bows around their waists, made their way down the aisle. They threw pink rose petals down on the white carpet as they went. When they reached the end of the aisle, they sat with their parents in the front row.

A violinist joined the harpist, and all of the guests stood. Kuu's heart hammered against his rib cage as the French doors opened and Tora led Julie into the sun.

Her dress was ivory satin with puff sleeves. The front was sheer lace dotted with pearls that wrapped around her neck in a high collar. The sleeves were matching lace that came down to points on the backs of her hands, held in place by little loops around her middle fingers. Tiny pearls hung in strands over her forehead, attached to a bushy tulle veil that rested over her bright golden waves. The veil trailed down her back to join the long train on her dress, which was being carried by two more little blonde girls, more cousins. When she saw Kuu, she wanted to run down the aisle, but she stayed by her father's side and opted to smile brightly at Kuu instead.

Kuu used his free hand to wipe his eyes. He knew how hard she had worked to be so blindingly beautiful on their day, and he appreciated every effort she had made. He looked down at Kuon, who was also staring down the aisle at his mother, his eyes bright with fascination. Kuu chuckled. "Mommy looks really beautiful, huh?"

When they reached the end of the aisle, the officiant smiled. "Who gives this woman to be married?"

Tora wiped his eyes. "Her mother and I do." He kissed Julie's forehead and placed her hand in Kuu's. He winked at him. "Don't make me regret liking you."

Kuu chuckled. "I won't."

Tora took his seat beside Tatiana and took her hand. They both ignored the two empty seats beside them.

Before they could begin, Kuon reached out toward his mother and started to fuss. Julie promptly tossed her bouquet to her mother and took her son, and his chicken, in her arms. The guests laughed, and she kissed his forehead. "I know, my angel. I missed you, too."

The officiant continued. "We are gathered here today to join Kuu and Julienna in the bonds of matrimony. At this time, the couple would like to exchange their written vows."

Lory passed a piece of folded paper to Kuu. Kuu unfolded it and read from it. "Julie, the last year and a half has been absolutely nuts. No sooner did I meet you than we were having a baby and moving in together and getting married. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I fell in love with you that day at the pool. I fell in love all over again as I watched you struggle to do the right thing for our son before he was even here, and I fall more in love with you every day as I watch you love Kuon and do everything you can to raise him right. I'm so lucky and thankful to have you, our son, and our family. It's more than I could have ever hoped for, and I look forward to spending the rest of my life making sure that you and our son have everything you need. I promise to always take care of you, and to love you as much as I did the first time I laid eyes on you. I love you, Julienna."

Julie sniffled, and Kuu pulled a tissue out of his pocket and passed it to her. She laughed as she dabbed at her eyes. "I don't know how to follow that."

Everyone laughed. Tatiana stood up to take Kuon from Julie and give her the vows she had written. Julie cleared her throat.

"Kuu, this last year has been the wildest and best year of my life, all because of you. We've been through a lot, and you were always there to take care of me and reassure me when I needed you to. I hope to be able to do that for you as we stumble through the process of getting your citizenship and settling here in the US. I never told you this, but that day when I came to visit the set of Tsukigomori, I wasn't there to meet Minamoto-san. I was there to get another look at the cute guy that I had shell-shocked at the pool party. Fate brought us together, Kuu, and as many times as Fate has laughed at us over the last year, it has granted us many wonderful things, including our son." She stopped to wipe her nose. "He is so perfect, and the best thing that I've ever done, and I couldn't have him without you. You're an amazing father, an incredible husband, and I am so blessed to have found you. I promise to always be there for you, and not throw sushi at your head when the tabloids get it wrong." Kuu doubled over with laughter. She smiled tearfully at him. "I love you for eternity."

Lory handed the rings to the officiant, who gave Julie's wedding band to Kuu. He looked at Julie. "Do you, Julienna, take Kuu, to be your wedded husband, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

Julie smiled. "I do."

Kuu placed her ring on her finger. The officiant passed Kuu's wedding band to Julie and then turned to Kuu. "Do you, Kuu, take Julienna to be your wedded wife, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

Kuu offered him a mischievous smirk. "That depends on if she'll make good on that promise about the sushi."

The guests roared with laughter and Julie giggled and swatted him.

He smiled at her. "I do, my love. I always will."

She placed the ring on his finger and they joined hands.

The officiant smiled widely. "Then it is my great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. Kuu, you may kiss your bride."

Kuu grabbed Julie and dipped her for the kiss. The guests erupted in applause.

When he stood her back on her feet, the officiant gestured at them. "I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Hizuri."

They opted not to do a cocktail hour. The guests were shown to the other half of the lawn where tables had been set up next to the food tents. The wedding coordinator caught Tatiana and whispered in her ear. She scowled and turned to Tora. "I need you to take Kuon. I have to take care of something." He took the baby from her, and she followed the coordinator to the back doors of the house, down the hall, and into the living room where Lana Bennet was pacing the room as her son toddled around the floor.

Tatiana scooped her grandson up and showered him with kisses. "Ohhh my Ceddy! Babushka has missed you!" She passed the toddler over to the coordinator. "Please take him to my husband. I need a word with his mother."

Lana made to stop the coordinator, but Tatiana glared at her. She shrunk at the look on her mother's face. "Mama, I can explain-"

"Svetlana, there is no explanation that you can give as to why you have behaved the way that you have. You have known the date and time of your sister's wedding for months."

"We got caught in traffic-"

"No, you didn't. You got here late so that you could try to ruin Julienna's day. You should be ashamed of yourself. Do you know that Julie didn't want you to know that she was pregnant just so it wouldn't hurt Ceddy if you got upset? And then you called her while she was pregnant and yelled at her! And the awful things you said! Lana, I am disgusted!"

Lana turned pale. "How did you find out?" She didn't think that Julie or Kuu would say anything about it, just to keep the peace, and she had been right.

Tatiana rolled her eyes. Her informant had been Lory. "Does it really matter? You called my grandson a bastard and a halfbreed, Svetlana. Your own nephew, Cedric's cousin! How could you? What is wrong with you that you would say such an awful thing to your sister? Did your father and I not love you enough? Did we not give you enough of ourselves?" The woman was in tears now.

Lana, at last, found some shame. "I… I'm sorry, Mama."

Tatiana shook her head. "You are not sorry enough. If you want to stay today, you will apologize to your sister and her husband. If you refuse, then you will leave this house, and I will see less of you."

Lana nodded her head, chastened. "I will apologize." She could not afford to lose the support of her parents. Just a few weeks earlier, Cecil had been caught fucking their nanny. Lana needed her parents' support for what promised to be a tumultuously messy divorce. She followed Tatiana into the back yard.

The wedding coordinator had brought Cedric to Tora, who immediately took the boy over to Julie and Kuu. Julie had burst into tears upon seeing him. She had wanted so badly for him to be in the wedding, and was saddened when she realized that Kouki had to take his place. She had mopped up her tears so as not to scare him, and then got down on his level. "Hi Ceddy! I'm your Auntie Julie." She looked up at her father. "Where is Lana?"

"With your mother." Tora's face was stony; he didn't approve of Lana's antics, either. Julie pointed at Kuon, who was clinging to Tora. "This is your little cousin, Kuon." Tora knelt down so that the boys could meet. Cedric blinked, confused that there was another baby that seemed close to his grandfather. Then he smacked Kuon in the face.

"Whoa!" Tora scrabbled to his feet as Kuon started screaming. Then Cedric was screaming. Then Lana appeared and scooped her son up and held him to her bosom.

"Ohhh my Ceddy, what's wrong!? What happened!?"

Tora sighed as he handed Kuon to Julie. "Ceddy didn't like that I was holding Kuon, and he hit Kuon in the face."

Lana resisted the urge to smirk. "Oh, Ceddy, you can't hit the baby. That's not nice."

Julie rubbed Kuon's back and bounced him. "Shhh, it's okay, my love." He whimpered against her chest as he calmed.

Kuu smiled winningly at Lana. "Lana. Glad you could make it."

She knew he was being petty, but she played nice. "Yes, I'm so sorry we're late. We got held up in traffic."

He nodded. "Understandable. Did Cecil not come with you?" Kuu had heard that Cecil had gotten caught banging the nanny. He couldn't resist sticking his finger in the wound and twisting a little.

Julie had to stifle her smile. She knew she shouldn't laugh at her sister's misfortune, but after what she had said about Kuon, Lana deserved some form of comeuppance.

Lana's jaw clenched, but she smiled. "Cecil is indisposed today."

Kuu gave her an exaggerated frown. "That is a shame."

Lana nodded and then cleared her throat. "I just want to say, I'm sorry if your feelings were hurt. I regret what I said on the phone. You know I didn't mean any of it. I was so uncomfortable from my pregnancy. You know I would never do anything to purposely hurt you, Julie."

Julie's smile was radiant with the heat of her anger. It made the hair on the back of Kuu's neck stand on end. She took a breath to allow herself to process Lana's non-apology and then spoke.

"Lana, what you said was not only an affront to me. It was an affront to my family. The things you said about my son and my husband were despicable. Let me make myself clear; I am maintaining a relationship with you for Cedric, and for Mama and Daddy. If you ever say anything so vile about my husband or my son again, I will make you suffer more than Cecil's lawyer is about to."

Kuu watched as Lana's face went pale with anger. She gave them a curt nod and then turned on her heel to make her way back to her car, with Cedric in tow.

Tora and Tatiana stared after their eldest daughter, disappointed that they had raised someone so hateful. The wedding coordinator approached again. "Shall we cut the cake?"

They cut the cake and set everyone loose on the buffet. Once most of them were seated, Lory tapped on his glass with a spoon.

"Can I get everyone's attention? Thank you." The wedding coordinator brought him a microphone. "I know you all know me, so I'll get to the point. I'm the best man, so I'm supposed to make a very humorous speech that embarrasses the hell out of the groom."

There was a smattering of laughter. Kuu put his hand over his face. Oh god.

Lory saw Kuu's reaction and smirked. "Oh, I promise it won't be that bad, Kuu. I mostly just wanted to take credit for this entire relationship."

Julie broke into a fit of giggles. "You can't take credit for the whole thing!"

Lory shook his head. "Oh, but I can, Julie, and I will!" He addressed the guests. "About a year and a half ago, these two met at a pool party. After seeing the look that was exchanged between them, and cutting through the sexual tension with a machete," the audience laughed uproariously, "I decided that these two were meant to be, and needed to be together. So, I sent Kuu to a club where I knew Julie was going to be hanging out with her friend, and the rest is history. I will be accepting shots as a token of your appreciation. Or, investments in my next project. Whichever you all prefer!"

Kuu shook his head, laughing. "Lory, sit down!"

Lory doubled over with laughter and then righted himself. "But in all seriousness," he said, "I have not seen a better match than these two in a long time, and I wish them all the best as they make their life together here." He raised his glass. "To Kuu and Julie." The crowd echoed his toast and there was a round of applause as he handed the mic off to the coordinator and made his way to their table to hug them both.

At around midnight, the festivities wrapped up, and they went upstairs to their room. Kuu helped Julie get her dress off and she flopped backward onto the bed in her bra and panties. "Thank you. Holy shit that thing is heavy!"

He laughed as he kicked his shoes off. "Was your wedding everything you hoped for, my love?"

She nodded. "It was incredible, everything I had pictured and more. Did you enjoy it?"

He smirked. "I enjoyed the part where you put Lana in her place."

Julie giggled. "You liked that, huh?"

He crawled over her body and kissed her neck. "I find it extremely sexy when my wife defends my honor."

She laughed as he kissed lower on her chest. "Ugh, Kuu I'm sweaty and gross. I smell like old taco meat and hairspray!"

He kissed down her belly. "You don't taste like old taco meat." He pulled her panties down her legs.

Then the baby monitor on the side table lit up as Kuon started to cry.

Kuu collapsed on the bed as though he had been shot and Julie laughed at him. "Shall I go get him?"

He shook his head and got up. "I'll take care of him."

Julie laughed. "I'll go shower then." She got up from the bed and slapped his ass on the way to the bathroom. "Don't take too long."

He watched her disappear into the bathroom, admiring her silhouette in the lamplight. I'm so lucky, he thought. He walked down the hall to Kuon's room and lifted him out of the crib. "It's okay, son. Daddy's here." He walked him down to the kitchen and made him a bottle. As he fed him, he watched Kuon's eyes grow heavier and heavier. He smiled down at his son as he fell asleep mid-meal.

Kuu carried him back upstairs and put him back in his crib with his chicken, then he crept down the hall toward his and Julie's room, unbuttoning his shirt as he went.

When he opened the door, he found Julie laying in bed, her mouth wide open and snoring, her wet hair splayed out on the satin pillow.

He chuckled quietly and went to wash up. He couldn't be too disappointed; they had forever, after all.