This was a dream come true for Siesta. That's all she could think about as she admired her dress in the mirror. Black, sleeveless, with a figure-complimenting, comfortably-fit strapless bodice that had a pink rose over her right breast, with a flowing, loose skirt from the waist down. It was perfect. Just like today was.
Her admiration was interrupted by a sound of sniffling behind her, and she turned to look at her mother, in a neat, red, tailored dress that hugged her body, with her hair done up in a tight bun and curly, brown and silver locks framing her face.
"Sorry," Lucy said, coughing out a single laugh, "you just look so beautiful, babygirl." She fought a sob as she said this, and Siesta immediately went to embrace her.
"Thank you, mama," Siesta whispered.
"Yeah," Jessica piped up. Siesta looked over at her, seeing she also had her hair styled up, though in a looser bun. With twin, curled locks falling down the sides of her face going to her chest and wearing a similar-style dress as her mother, though a deep, navy blue. Jessica's breath was similarly choked on fought sobs.
"You cut a good look, cousin," Jessica winked at her while giving her a thumbs-up.
"I promised myself I wouldn't cry," Siesta looked at her Uncle Scarron, who was wearing a beautiful purple and black ball gown-style dress with steep, black heels and a black, netted veil over their face that came from a small, crookedly adorned tophat. They chuckled, the tears flowing freely upon their perfectly made-up face. "Who am I kidding? You know I have no fear of showing my emotions." They stood up to take Siesta from her mother into a tight embrace.
"I'm so proud of you. We all are," Scarron whispered to her.
Siesta smiled wide as she buried herself in her uncle's broad chest.
A knock on the door interrupted them, causing everyone to look at it in confusion.
Siesta could already feel who it was.
"Come in," she said, invitingly.
The door opened to reveal her father. What Siesta did not expect, however, was to see him without his crutch as walked towards her with a slight limp. Her father, in response to seeing Siesta's slight shock, gave a small laugh and lifted one of his slacks to reveal a metal prosthetic, glinting in the afternoon sun that seeped into this room.
"Little gift from your friend, Tabitha," Takeo explained. "I was savin' it special for today."
Siesta felt her eyes immediately sting.
"For exactly that reason," Takeo's voice wavered as he knelt to take his daughter in a warm embrace, "I wanted so bad to walk you down the aisle. It's every father's dream. And now… I can do it." They shared in affectionate sobs. Neither knew home much time passed before they separated, with Takeo fondly looking Siesta over.
"You're so beautiful, babygirl." Takeo threw himself on her once more, with Siesta clutching to her joyously sobbing father with all her might.
Lucy sniffled again as she stood up.
"I'm gonna go check on our other daughter." Lucy's announcement sounded knowing.
Siesta pulled back to nod at her.
Louise eyed herself in the mirror, smiling at her appearance. She was adorned in a brilliant, pink, sleeveless dress, a black rose accenting it over her left breast. She was never sure how her wedding dress would look, but the way this one made her feel when she beheld her appearance was better than she could have imagined.
Still.
Despite everything, she could not help but feel a deep sense of melancholy growing like a weed within her. Though everyone she loved and who loved her was here… she still dwelt on the love of those she could never attain.
That melancholy was spirited away when she felt a pair of soft, warm hands on her bare shoulders. The owner of them followed the physical contact with a sniff.
"You look so beautiful, Louise," Eleonore said, her voice hitched with joyful tears. She was wearing a simple pink, mermaid-style dress with a bright sheen to its material.
Louise met her gaze in the mirror she was facing, placing a hand upon one of Eleonore's.
"Thank you," Louise said, feeling a prickle of tears start to manifest in her own eyes as she turned to look up at her sister. "I'm so glad you're here." She whipped around and fell into a reciprocated embrace with Eleonore.
"I will never get over how much I love that you two are getting along," Cattleya brightly commented with a full mouth.
Louise stifled a giggle as she looked at her other sister, who was wearing almost the same style dress as Eleonore, gleefully filling her mouth with hors d'oeuvres that Marteau had generously provided.
"I still can't get over seeing you so healthy," Louise commented as she separated from Eleonore and walked up to her other sister who was sitting on a chair in this room. "And with such a healthy appetite."
Cattleya raised a finger as she laboriously chewed and swallowed a bit of the food her mouth was stuffed with.
"It's rude to comment on a lady's eating habits," Cattleya playfully said through a full mouth that slurred her words.
Louise giggled as she looked over her sister. Just like Tabitha said. All she needed was some special medicine and… now she had her sister back. Better, happier, and healthier than she could remember seeing her in so long. It was still enough to make Louise weep with joy.
"Oh! I'm sorry! Did you want some? It's your day after all," Cattleya sheepishly said as she offered a mostly-empty tray to Louise.
Louise laughed as she wiped her eyes. "No, it's fine." She then rolled her eyes up in consideration. "Well, maybe one can't hurt."
Just as she was reaching to take one of the last two savory, fried goods from the tray, a cloak of shadows manifested in the room, startling Eleonore and Cattleya, who accidentally caused the last snacks to fall on the floor (much to latter's visible dismay).
Louise, Zeratul spoke to her as he manifested from shadows behind her, causing her to turn around to regard him. I sense unease. What troubles you?
Louise blinked in confusion as she searched her feelings. When she remembered what was clutching at her heart, her gaze became downcast. She took a breath before meeting her teacher's gaze.
"I know it sounds silly," Louise began with a wry smile, "but… I guess like any other girl? I always imagined my father walking me down the aisle on this day."
Her words were punctuated with a mirthless chuckle.
Eleonore and Cattleya each laid a hand on her for reassurance and comfort.
Zeratul took a moment to consider how to respond as he kneeled to meet the pinkette's gaze. Louise, he began, placing hand on her shoulder, I feel this weighs heavier on you than you care to admit.
Louise's wry smile persisted as she gave a solemn nod. Her sisters' grip on her became more firm.
I have told you before I greatly value the importance of oaths, Zeratul continued, and words cannot express how greatly I value you and Siesta. You are as my kin. And as such, if you would have me, I would be honored to serve in this role you have desired.
Louise met his gaze, her mouth hanging open. Her heart swelled as joyous tears manifested and she flew from her sisters and took the Nerazim in a reciprocated, tight embrace. Something Zeratul had confidently mastered by this point.
"Thank you," Louise whispered, her voice wavering.
As I said, Zeratul said, firming his embrace upon her, the honor is mine.
Louise and her sisters' eyes overflowed with tears. Ones that were not all theirs.
The embrace was interrupted by a knock on the door to this room that startled the humans within.
"Who is it?" Louise asked.
"It's Lucy, can I come in?"
"Yes," Louise said, with slight disbelief.
Lucy entered, and the moment she beheld Louise, her mouth contracted in a clear display of someone trying to fight tears.
"Oh, babygirl," Lucy began as she rushed to take Louise into a tight embrace, "you look so beautiful."
"Thank you, Missus Sasaki," Louise said, slightly awkward as each of her sisters looked at the scene, nodded to each other, and silently made their exit while giving a last, lingering, warm look to the display before they shut the door.
Lucy pulled back from Louise and frowned. "That's Lucy. Or Mom, to you."
Louise replied in a stifled gasp.
"Are you surprised?" Lucy asked.
Louise did not know how to respond.
Lucy gave her a warm smile as she took Louise's hands in her own.
"Babygirl, the moment you walked in our door with Siesta, that was it. You were one of us. That makes you one of my children, too," Lucy explained as she bit her trembling lip, "and I couldn't have asked for a better daughter." She affectionately stroked Louise's tear-wetted face. "I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner. So I could help you get ready. No girl should be without her mother on her wedding day."
Louise couldn't fight them anymore. She let out a series of sharp sobs. Words were failing her as Lucy took her into another embrace, gently shushing her.
"It's okay, babygirl. You let it all out. You can cry as much as you want," Lucy said.
"I-I'm just," Louise breathlessly struggled to speak through her tears, "so used to doing everything alone. She's not here. She never will be."
Lucy kissed Louise's head. "I know. I'm sorry, babygirl," she cooed, "but I am. And I always will be."
Louise's sobs intensified. As did her grip on Lucy. With a ferocity that felt like her life depended on it. Lest she drown in a sea of her tears.
"I love you, Louise," Lucy warmly assured her as she stroked her daughter-in-law's hair.
Louise pulled back, her eyes and lip trembling with such a fervor that she felt if one word escaped her lips, she would fall apart.
Lucy's kind look of reassurance that it would all be okay.
That no matter what she did, she wouldn't be rejected.
This allowed Louise to swallow and take the leap.
"I love you too, mom." Louise erupted in tears at this as she threw herself upon her mother, hysterically unleashing all her uncried tears borne of the one who refused to be.
It was at that moment that she realized that little discordant undertone of her life truly was being drowned out in this greater melody of the chorus she'd finally let in.
Even as she felt herself fall into a thousand pieces, she was happier than she'd ever been.
The families gathered. From so many kinds of blood. Born of, forged through battle, covenant, and more. They were gathered in a large tent that was set up before the Ladies' Sasaki manor. Neither Louise nor Siesta were inside this tent yet. As they wished to enter together. As equals.
Siesta arrived first, her right arm hooked on her father's, who was occasionally dabbing tears from his eyes and letting out small sniffles.
Louise arrived just a little after. Her arm hooked around Zeratul's.
This was the first time Siesta was seeing her wife in her wedding dress. And it made her positively tremble with delight, her stomach aflutter with butterflies the pinkette always gave her.
"Louise," Siesta said, her tone heavy with trance-like longing as she approached.
"Siesta," Louise replied, reciprocating her tone.
Their fingers intertwined and hands clasped. Louise's right in Siesta's left. Even to this day, when they looked at each other? They blushed and giggled, finding it hard to hold each other's gaze for too long lest they fall upon each other.
"You're beautiful," both girls ended up saying at the same time, which briefly caused both their eyes to widen before they laughed.
"Shall we go then, Missus Sasaki?" Louise asked, amorous.
Siesta nodded. "Where you go, I go, Missus Sasaki."
They entered the tent, causing all their family and found family to rise for them. Not a single face was without a smile. Except for the Protoss present, but their joy could be felt seeping beyond themselves. Each of those entering stepped slowly and carefully forward as the tent fell silent. They didn't know enough music to choose any specific song for their walk down the aisle, but they did get a suggestion from Tabitha. A simple, slow, romantic melody they found pleasant enough.
Once they reached the back of the tent, where Henrietta, her hair cut much shorter and adorned in a simple, brilliant purple dress with long sleeves, was waiting to officiate them, their respective escorts parted from them. Takeo needed a bit longer to tear himself from his daughter before the girls took to holding each other's hands and gazes.
On Henrietta's right, on Louise's side, stood a gently weeping Eleonore, with Cattleya, adorned with her ever-serene smile, embracing her from the side to prevent Eleonore from falling apart. To Henrietta's left, on Siesta's side, stood Jessica, Melody, Lucy, and Takeo.
"I'm very proud of you both," Henrietta said, her tone overflowing with sincere joy at their love.
The girls gave her a brief, smiling nod before then taking a moment to look out to the family they'd gathered.
Something still felt missing.
Louise turned her head, Siesta looked beyond her, to Khaydarin's resting place, feeling a wave of nostalgic mourning before looking back to each other, their eyes now glistening with tears.
"Shall we begin?" Henrietta asked them.
They each wiped the tears from their eyes before looking at her, nodding.
"I think it goes without saying," Henrietta began, addressing everyone in the tent, "marriage is a sacred union. Between two people who love each other." She looked over them, a transparent, deep sense of warmth on her face, "And I have never known two who loved each other as deeply as these two."
Both girls let out the smallest of giggles as they felt heat upon their cheeks.
"I understand you'll be doing your own vows?" Henrietta asked.
Both girls nodded at Henrietta before looking back at each other.
No amount of talking or planning could have prepared them for this moment. A moment where they would be baring the ultimate vulnerability not just to each other, but to all their loved ones. They agreed Siesta would start.
"Louise," Siesta began, squeezing Louise's hands she'd not let go of before bringing them up between them, "from the moment I met you… I felt something special. When I looked at you, when I was with you, and when I," she paused before her smile grew, "touched you. It… awoke something in me I didn't think possible. Then… later that night, when we talked, it only deepened that feeling I didn't yet know was a seed of love."
She paused, needing to shakily breathe through sudden tears before they'd choke her of the rest of her words.
"The very next day… when you stood up for me. When no one else would…" Siesta's gaze became one of purest, amorous, adoration as she gazed into Louise's own misty eyes, "I didn't know I had already given you my heart. And… from that moment on? You… took care of it. You treasured it. Proved over and over that you really did value me."
Siesta needed a moment to take one hand away to wipe her eyes, even as Louise's lip was trembling through a smile.
"There were ups and downs, I know. Neither of us were or are perfect," Siesta chuckled, with her mirth mirrored by Louise and some of their family, "But… through it all… we kept our faith in each other. And, that's my promise to you, Louise Francois le Blanc de la Sasaki," Siesta declared, sniffing as she did, "I promise, I will never lose faith in you. In us."
Siesta felt as if she would break at any moment, and fought tooth and nail to maintain the thinnest veneer of composure that she could to say this one last thing.
"You really did and have brought out the best in me. With you, I learned how to be brave. Just like you. Just like how I wished to be," Siesta couldn't take it anymore, her next words were spoken with an audible crack of emotion that sent Louise over the edge, "Thank you."
Siesta broke down, sobbing tears of joy as Louise held her in a tight embrace. Throughout the crowd of gathered friends and family, all who could shared in their joyous, warm tears. Everyone waited while the two let these emotions wash over them. There was no rush. Everyone here now had all the time in the world thanks to these two that were clinging to each other and sobbing in joy at their shared love.
After a time, the crying quieted, with Siesta and Louise both pulling back from each other and sniffling while Siesta laughed sheepishly.
"Sorry, maybe it's silly… I just… I love you so much," Siesta declared, a pressure on her throat threatening to send her back into a sobbing mess.
"I love you too," Louise said, instinctively leaning forward to kiss Siesta.
"Ew!" The younger Sasaki children cried out, giving the tent a wave of much-needed levity as chuckles rippled through it.
"Are you ready, Louise?" Siesta whispered to her wife.
Louise bit her lip as she looked out over the crowd. Truthfully, she could never be ready for this. She still found the idea of being perceived uncomfortable. But as she held Siesta's hand? And looked into her, admittedly reddened, puffy-eyed, and tear-soaked, eyes? She felt she could do anything. Even bare her soul in a manner more vulnerable than she'd ever done before this many people.
Louise jerked her head to toss aside invisible locks from her face as she cleared her throat and took in one, big breath to steel herself, with Siesta giving her a look of determined reassurance that helped strengthen that resolve.
"Siesta Sasaki," Louise began, "I didn't know how much you would mean to me… the moment I met you. The moment you shared with me the wonderful, heavenly gift that is a funnel cake."
A wave of light laughter swept the crowd, as well as Siesta, once again calming Louise.
"But… the moment you showed me that kindness. That… reassurance I'd never felt in such a… tender manner? I knew I couldn't let you go," Louise took her hand, "Also, I'm kind of winging it here, so… go easy on me," she gave a sheepish laugh, with another wave of mirth sweeping through the tent. "I mean… what words could be sufficient to describe this? How much you mean to me? How much I wish to devote myself to you?" She shook her head, "It could never be enough. And yet," she reached forward, placing a hand on Siesta's face as she gazed amorously into her wife's eyes, "You keep… giving me more. And more. You fill me until my cup runs over, and… I could never, in any amount of lifetimes, pay it back." Louise's gaze fell. Her insecurity had peeked its head out, and she immediately felt shame for it.
Siesta placed her hand upon Louise's, rubbing tenderly while giving her that same reassuring smile that had won Louise's heart before she even had the words to-
That was it.
"It's that smile," Louise said, giving a single beat of a laugh as she did, "that damn smile." Louise smiled wide as she shook her head. "That's what took me away. What made me feel like I was saved from drowning. My lifeline in the storm. I would fight anything to see that smile again, and again, and again for the rest of my life. Because that smile is my life. You, Siesta," Louise was now the one who felt inches from breaking, "you are my life. And I swear. I swear on everything. I will bring you joy, and reciprocate the warmth you gave me. For as long as I can. For as long as you'll have me," Louise could not even breathe the sigh of relief she wanted to as she felt it would send her over the edge.
"For as long as you'll have me? I'll have you," Siesta whispered to her.
Louise felt embarrassed even as she did it, but she pressed her head to Siesta's and began giving choked sobs she fought tooth and nail to contain, knowing they had to proceed with this.
No one was annoyed. Everyone present could see they needed this. And all it did was move them to tears as well. They were content to be patient for these two. Who had suffered so much for this.
Once they finally felt like they could be coherent again, the girls pulled away from each other. Their heads subtly, momentarily stuck together from the shared, increased heat from their heightened emotions. They looked at each other and giggled, wiping their own eyes and sniffing as they did. After a bit, they realized all was silent, except for the sniffling coming from the audience that looked at them with overwhelming warmth. After they knew they were ready, and they knew they had no more tears to shed, they looked up to Henrietta, nodding to her.
Henrietta nodded back. "With those moving words," she began, her smile growing, "Let these two be joined in eternal bliss. For there could be no power that could possibly deny their union. Nor that could grant it. When you are ready, kiss your bride."
Siesta was caught off guard by Louise rushing forward, dipping her down in a deep kiss that brought their audience to their feet clapping and cheering for them. It was Siesta's turn to feel the briefest moment of embarrassment. Not for this affectionate display… but for being caught so off guard. Once their lips parted, with Louise giving her the smallest of mischievous smiles that felt deeply nostalgic to Siesta, she smirked up at her.
I'm gonna get you for that! Siesta sent her thought to Louise, causing her mischievous smile to grow as she winked.
I'm counting on it! Louise replied.
Siesta giggled before being pulled up, being surprised at the strength Louise now possessed. They took each other's hands as they walked down the aisle, leading their guests, still cheering fervently for them, to the reception that they had waiting for everyone both outside and within their manor.
Louise and Siesta very briefly entertained the idea of cutting their cake with the psi or warp blade but ultimately decided against it. For as brief a moment of amusement it would be to them, it probably would not be so funny to Marteau, who made it, when they ruined the cake just to do a bit that would only be fun for them. Especially when he was right in front of them.
Marteau, someone of almost identical physique to Takeo in that he was a mountain of a man with hairy arms, calloused hands, square-faced, but also adorned with a greying chin strap of facial hair, and Takeo watched as Louise and Siesta fed each other bites of their cake slices to more cheers and applause that they also participated in, with Takeo wiping his eyes and Marteau just about to do the same.
"They grow up so fast," Takeo said, sniffing as he beamed at his daughter and daughter-in-law.
"Yeah, hope it's not too forward a me to say I'm proud of her," it was Marteau's turn to sniff.
"Not at all, buddy," Takeo wrapped his arm around and then clapped the equally-sized man on the shoulder, chuckling at him, "thanks for lookin' out for her."
Marteau barked a laugh, "Of course! What are friends for?"
Lucy gave a playful sigh as she smirked up at them, "I still wonder, sometimes, if you two should get a room." She chuckled.
Both men raised their brows at her before laughing in unison, "We ain't that drunk!" Marteau barked.
"Don't know if I could ever be ya ugly bastard," Takeo mirrored his laugh while Lucy shook her head in amusement.
"Ah, men," a familiar, older, feminine voice got Lucy's attention. Her eyes widened and came alight in delightful recognition of who she saw. "Can't live with 'em." Mama Cassandra clapped a hand on Lucy's shoulder.
"Can't live without 'em?" Lucy continued, unsure, before she shook her head, "Well, in your case you could."
Mama Cassandra chuckled as she and Lucy shared a warm embrace, "It's been a long time, Lulu."
"Yes it has, Cassie," Lucy whispered into Mama Cassandra's ear before they parted enough to look over each other.
"Here's my other favorite bastard!" Takeo boisterously greeted Mama Cassandra, who broke from Lucy and spread her arms to take Takeo into a firm embrace while they both laughed. "How ya doin? Still seein' that, uh…?" Takeo's voice trailed off expectantly.
Mama Cassandra scoffed, "Seein' her?" she gestured behind her, "I married her."
Behind her was a petite woman leaning heavily on a cane as she limped to join the rest of the group. With thick, wavy, silver-streaked, black hair tied up into a neat bun, a sun-kissed, wizened face that had known life, and wearing pastel blue dress that reached to her ankles. She adjusted the glasses over her dark brown eyes as she looked up at everyone.
"Good to see you all again," she greeted with a gentle, if slightly raspy, voice as she leaned on her cane.
"Good to see you too, teacher," Marteau greeted the woman with a deep bow which she inclined her head to.
"It's still bullshit they wouldn't let you be head chef, Ophelia," Takeo shook his head.
"What's past is passed," Ophelia dismissed. "We have our own place now. Our own restaurant."
"Really?! We'd love to come by! I'm sure you haven't lost your touch," Lucy said.
"Your daughters have been there," Mama Cassandra proudly stated, "It's how I met them."
"What a happy coincidence," Lucy chuckled as she looked over at her married daughters, her face softening to a warm, gentle smile.
"Happy? Absolutely," Ophelia said as she waddled forward, "Coincidence?" She gave a playful shrug.
"Who knows?" Takeo said with a wistful tone before he looked down at her again, "I feel so bad we lost touch."
Ophelia waved her hand at him dismissively, "Life happens."
Takeo involuntarily felt a watering in his eyes as he sighed and looked at his daughters, "That it does."
"Well, well, if it isn't miss 'saved the world again'?" A familiar voice got Siesta and Louise's attention. They turned to see the hazel-eyed, cheekily grinning face of Melody, whose face was framed by freshly-curled locks of her normally-straight brunette hair that was styled into coiled twin tails that fell to the strapless, shoulderless beige mermaid-style dress she was wearing.
"Oh, sorry, I guess it's 'Missus', huh?" Melody raised an eyebrow. Her grin turned to a knowing smirk as she looked over the two and nodded approvingly.
Siesta and melody shared a laugh as they fell into a fond embrace.
Louise smiled and shook her head at them before they parted, their hands on each others' shoulders.
"Believe it or not," Melody began with a wink, "I always believed this would happen for you two. The chemistry was just-." Melody pinched her fingers and brought them to her mouth as she made an exaggerated, audible kissing noise before looking back at Siesta.
"You've always been so supportive of us, so I can believe it," Siesta chuckled. It was then that she realized the dress and earrings that Melody was wearing looked… very expensive. She internally gave a resigned, exasperated sigh, still unsure if she should be flattered or violated by just how much Melody believed in them.
"How are you and the other servants getting on?" Louise asked, innocently. Melody raised an eyebrow at her, causing her to redden with embarrassment, "Sorry, I-I just meant w-when you were servants and-." Louise's embarrassment faded and she frowned. "Stop giving me a hard time."
Melody and Siesta giggled, "Sorry," Siesta took her place by her wife's side, holding her hand while looking down at her fondly, "too much?"
Louise sighed and smiled up at her, "No, it's fine."
"Well, if you must know," Melody said, causing them both to look at her, "The Que-Henrietta-wow that feels weird to say-has managed to get us all gainfully employed in all the new public works projects that have been sweeping Halkeginia. I'm actually headed out to Gallia next week for training! And you would not believe the-." She cut herself off, stealing a glance at the Protoss, "Nevermind, I guess you could believe the things I've seen." Melody laughed awkwardly.
"Yeah," Siesta matched her awkward laugh, "it's been a wild year, hasn't it?"
"Sounds like an understatement," Louise chimed in, with both other women chuckling as they nodded in agreement.
Tabitha kept finding themself stealing glances over at Juliette, and just as quickly chastising themself for it. Knowing what happened between her and Saito made it more than a little awkward to try and approach their baby cousin. They wondered if they'd ever be on good terms. With Saito around.
"Here," Tabitha heard as they looked over at the source of the voice, finding their partner in a rather revealing dress that immediately made them blush. Wine red, low cut with only one visible strap, relying entirely on its tightness to keep it where it was, with a slit running up near her hip on the right side and sharp-heeled shoes that accentuated her curvy figure.
"You've seen me in this all day, now, and it still gets you bothered?" Kirche gave her partner a sultry tease, batting her dark-shadowed and sharp-winged eyes at Tabitha as she held up the flute of drink to them, giving it a small, expectant wiggle.
Tabitha mustered a silent nod as they averted their gaze while taking the glass from her.
"There's no need to be shy, darling," Kirche draped over Tabitha, with their blush intensifying from the soft feeling against the side of their head. "You should know I find it flattering," she cooed, making them give a visible shiver that provoked a giggle from the redhead.
A tug at Tabitha's white suit jacket interrupted the moment. They looked down to see the source, Juliette, furrowing her brow at them and eyes alight with righteous anger. Tabitha, for their part, drew in a sharp breath. They set down their plate of cake and clasped their hands behind their back while looking down on this child with all their old stoicism.
Kirche, sensing the tension, backed off her partner and stood apart from the two, observing the interaction with uncertainty and concern.
"Why are you here?" Juliette accused.
"I'm family," Tabitha plainly answered.
Juliette further scowled. "You hurt me. You hurt Mama Louise. I don't like you."
Tabitha made no effort to hide how these words hurt them as they nodded solemnly at the child, "I know." There was a heavy pause between them, "I'm sorry."
Juliette's display of surprise provoked a mirrored reaction from Tabitha.
"Really?" Juliette earnestly asked, her expression softening.
Tabitha, in disbelief of this turn of events, nodded.
To further that disbelief, Juliette beamed up at them and wrapped herself around Tabitha's waist, "Okay, I forgive you."
Is this real? Tabitha simply could not believe they had been forgiven so easily.
"I know you're telling the truth," Juliette said.
Tabitha forgot that she was even more of a prodigy at psionics than Siesta was.
Hesitating, Tabitha reached down and petted her head. "You know who I am?"
Juliette pulled back, her eyes rolling up, "Tabitha?"
"Yes, that," Tabitha chuckled, "also your older cousin."
Juliette's mouth formed into a perfect "o" shape as she heard this before she beamed wide at Tabitha. "Yay! I have a cousin!"
Tabitha's eyes felt hot. They knew there was still a way to go with reintroducing Saito. She may need to be older for that. She may never forgive him. Tabitha was just going to have to keep convincing themself that it was okay. That no one owes anyone forgiveness. They felt a wave of gratitude that they were able to somehow find it within this family.
"A cousin, you say?" Kirche piped up, interrupting the two as she leaned over to better meet Julitte's eyeline, offering a hand to her, "I'm your cousin's girlfriend, Kirche. It's nice to meet you!"
Juliette looked at the hand. Then at Kirche's overflowing assets. Then into her eyes with a raised eyebrow.
"Why are you outside in your undies?"
Tabitha snorted as Kirche smirked at the child. "Something wrong with my dress, you think?" She straightened up, placing a fist at her hip as she did.
"It looks cold," Juliette plainly commented.
Kirche tossed her one eye-covering swoop of hair, "Darling I'm never cold." She gave Juliette a warm smile, "This just makes me feel confident."
Juliette's face became alight with understanding as she looked down at her own dress and frowned.
"There's nothing wrong with your dress," Kirche pointed out, noticing her expression, "This is just how I feel confident. Wear and be what makes you feel confident. Understand?"
Juliette looked back up at Kirche, raising an eyebrow as her face twisted in contemplation before she smiled and nodded. "I get it!"
Kirche and Tabitha both affectionately smiled at her.
"Thanks boob lady!" Juliette hugged Kirche.
Tabitha and Kirche exchanged giggles.
"Kids say the strangest things," Kirche commented, amused.
"Sure do," Tabitha said before they took a sip from the drink Kirche offered, "boob lady."
Kirche snorted.
"Juliette?" the whispered, choked delivery of the child's name caught the trio's attention. Penelope, the source of the voice, was drifting forward with a simultaneously haunted and hopeful look on her face as she approached Juliette. "Is that really you? Juliette?"
Juliette looked up at the Penelope with widening eyes. Her mouth fell open as she reached up to the woman, "Who are you? You look… just like Mama…"
Penelope, swallowing a sob, nodded as she kneeled into the grass before the girl, paying no heed to staining her mermaid-style, ice blue dress as she did.
"I'm… Penelope. Your mother…" she choked out, with a pair of tears trickling down her cheeks while a wide smile stretched them, "...she was my sister."
"So you're my-?"
"Yes," Penelope said as she drew Juliette into a warm embrace, "I'm your aunt."
Juliette, her eyes now also awash with tears, clung to the woman as she trembled with remembered grief. The pair shared a wave of heartfelt, bittersweet tears borne of their reunion before Penelope pulled back, looking Juliette over with a mournful smile.
"You look so much like her," Penelope brushed some of Juliette's hair from her face.
Juliette, her lip trembling reached out to feel Penelope's features. "You do, too." She choked on a sob, "I miss her."
Penelope embraced her again, "Me, too."
They shared yet more tearful grief as Tabitha felt for Kirche's hand to prevent themself from falling apart as well, with a light trickle of tears still breaking through her defenses. And Kirche, biting on her lips, feeling a burning of sympathetic tears for them all.
Louise excused herself from Siesta to approach Zeratul about an important matter.
Yes, Cherished Louise? Zeratul asked.
Louise blinked in disbelief. That was a new moniker.
After shaking off the shock of that she cleared her throat, "With my world door ability, I believe I should be able to send your people home."
Zeratul, being unable to raise an eyebrow, simply let her feel his intrigue at the statement.
"Granted, I don't know how wide I can make the portal. I think I was only able to manifest such a big one before because of those… special circumstances."
Due to you and Cherished Siesta becoming an archon? Zeratul clarified.
"Y-yeah-damn that sounds awkward to say," Louise stuttered, then mumbled. "But I'm willing to work on it for however long it takes. Even if I have to send your people back one by one, I promise I will not stop trying."
Zeratul nodded and let her feel a feeling of gratitude, Do not trouble yourself too much regarding this. We are patient, as you know.
"But you are not immortal," the voice of an approaching Agnes interrupted them. She was wearing a white and gold suit jacket with breeches and boots. Behind her, looking like she was floating on air from her bliss, was Tiffania, for once not wearing her intimidating blacks and reds of her robes and armor, but wearing a goldenrod dress that reached to just above her knees with a thin, matching, translucent shawl that went over her shoulders. She kept, whether consciously or not, spinning and giggling to herself as she wore it.
Louise and Zeratul looked only at Agnes, who was giving them a look of conviction. She placed a hand on her chest, "I can offer you the ability to send all of them home at once."
Louise raised both her brows, left speechless from the sheer number of questions that wanted to come from her mouth.
It was then that Tiffa stopped looking like she was in bliss and paid attention to the conversation with a furrowed brow.
"No! You can't!" Tiffa protested as she grabbed Agnes by the shoulders and forcefully turned the former musketeer towards her. "Absolutely not! I forbid it!"
Agnes scowled up at her, "That is not for you to decide."
"I hate to pull rank like this but… as your ma-"
"If you dare call yourself my master I will walk away from you right now and you will never see me again!" Agnes hissed in threat.
Tiffa's conviction faltered for just a moment before she resumed her scowl, "At least then you'd be alive…" That was when her scowl broke into a look of overwhelming concern.
"W-what are you two talking about?" Louise asked, now also concerned.
"I have the power to-"
"Don't!"
"-act as an amplifier for your own power!" Agnes had to speak fast and loud to prevent Tiffa from stopping her.
"At the cost of her very life force! You'd be burning her soul for it!" Tiffa hastily added before Agnes could prevent her.
Louise was left speechless. How could she possibly decide what was the greater good in this scenario? She felt that old familiar feeling of spiraling grip her again as she felt tingly and hot from indecision.
Zeratul's hand on her shoulder dispelled this.
There is no wrong decision here, Louise, Zeratul reassured her, as I said, my people are patient, we would not force her to.
"So you say…" Tiffa nearly growled as she glared at Zeratul.
Do you truly think so little of me, Comrade Tiffania? Zeratul asked.
After a moment, Tiffa let out a breath as her expression softened. "Maybe not you, but I don't know every Protoss. Who knows who might try to… take her from me if they learn of this?" Tiffa reached out and took one of Agnes' hands as Agnes' expression also softened.
"That won't happen," Louise assured, a look of conviction on her face.
"How can you be so sure?" Tiffa asked.
Louise looked over to Zeratul with a half-smile before giving that look to Tiffa, "I have faith."
This seemed to do little in the way of reassurance for Tiffa.
"Look, even if Agnes insists upon it, I agree with you that the cost is too high. I'll find another way. Preferably one that doesn't involve anyone dying or becoming an archon, okay?" Louise assured.
This did seem to calm the elf as she gave a small smile and nodded at her, which Louise returned.
The sunlight was waning as the celebrations persisted, and while Louise and Siesta were helping themselves to more of that "barbeque" that Mama Cassandra, her wife, Ophelia, Marteau, and her father had been providing for everyone, they were approached by two wonderfully welcome presences.
"I am so glad I got to be here for this," Guiche declared.
Siesta and Louise looked him over in his formal blue and gold officer's coat, white slacks, and polished, shin-high boots, grinning contentedly at him.
"That we get to be here for this," Montmorency playfully corrected as she hooked her white gloved arm around her husband's and gave a smirk before pressing her body that was adorned in an ocean blue dress against him.
"Of course, how silly of me, Missus Gramont," Guiche chuckled as he gazed affectionately at his wife before they shared a chaste kiss.
"We were so happy to hear you'd gotten married," Louise brightly said before giving a playful scoff, "I only wish we could have been there."
"It was a spur of the moment type of thing," Montmorency chuckled. "He was just so terribly romantic about it I couldn't wait another moment." She rested her head on his shoulder.
"Don't give me too much credit," Guiche sighed as he brushed some loose strands of hair from Montmorency's face, "I stole the idea from you, after all."
Guiche winked at Siesta.
She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Your proposal to Louise," Guiche reminded her, causing her to make a silent, drawn out "oh". "It… stuck with me. Inspired me to be better," he smiled amorously at Montmorency, "for her." They held and shared their lovestruck grins for a moment before Guiche looked back at Siesta.
"I may have basically copied your proposal to Louise word for word when doing the same with Montmorency," Guiche very lightly blushed as he gave the barest of sheepish chuckles.
"Well, you can't argue with results," Siesta took Louise's hand and winked at Guiche.
"Indeed you can't," Guiche tittered as held his own wife's hand as he looked back down at her.
"Oh, Guiche," Montmorency sighed as she shook her head, "you really are shameless, you know that?" They shared another brief kiss. "Lucky for you? In just the right way."
Guiche smirked at her before they kissed again, with both Louise and Siesta giggling.
"Stop doing that," Julien, in a formal suit he found itchy and uncomfortable groused at Aly, who was in a short, red dress that matched her reddened, modestly full lips.
"What? She likes it!" Aly chuckled as she offered another bit of her grilled chicken to Ichi, who perked up expectantly before Aly tossed it in the air, with the Zergling expertly catching and devouring it with a ravenous, wet growl.
"You're gonna make her fat," Julien furrowed his brow at Aly.
"Wouldn't that be fucking hilarious? Can you imagine? A fat Zergling?" Aly barked out a laugh at her own imagination.
"It's not funny! It's sad when animals are fat!" Julien protested, a slight pout manifesting on his face.
"You're just totally wrong about that," Aly scoffed as she threw another piece of chicken up for Ichi to catch.
"What are you two bickering about, now?" Henrietta exasperatedly asked as she approached them.
"Henrietta! She won't stop overfeeding Ichi!" Julien tattled on Aly.
"Fuck you, snitch! I'm not even doing anything wrong!" Aly huffed as she crossed her arms.
Henrietta groaned as she sat between the two, pinching each of their cheeks, "You're ruining the wedding with your whining! Both of you calm down and keep it together!" She hissed as both of them slapped the table and whimpered in surrender.
"Henrietta, please don't pinch my brother," Siesta sighed as she approached, making Henrietta release Aly and Julien as they rubbed their pinched cheeks.
"They were just causing a fuss and I-."
"Let them work it out," Siesta gently chastised Henrietta, causing her to give a frowning pout.
"Haha, you got scolded," Aly whispered a snicker, provoking a light slap on her arm from Henrietta.
"What'd I just say?" Siesta sternly warned her.
Henrietta gave a resigned sigh, turning red as she did.
"Sorry, Siesta."
"It's alright," Siesta gently said as she walked behind the three and draped herself over them, "we're family. Families argue sometimes. It's natural." She patted Aly and Julien's shoulders before placing her hands on Henrietta's shoulders looking down at the trio before looking at a blatantly begging Ichi.
"Please don't encourage Ichi to beg," Siesta sighed before she patted Henrietta's shoulders and left them.
"Told you so," Julien smugly snickered.
Aly reached over Henrietta to punch his arm, "Shut the fuck up."
Henrietta rubbed her temples to stave off a coming headache.
The party wound down. The laughter and conversations faded. The people slowed down, weighted by fatigue that was generously a byproduct of joy. Siesta couldn't help herself as she started cleaning up after everyone, with only Louise's frown reminding the former maid that she needn't do such things.
Everyone said their goodbyes, with some more tearful than others. The couple, left relatively alone with, admittedly, still a bit of a mess on their hands, gave contented sighs as they took seats at one of the many tables. They turned their gazes to the stars, holding each others' hands as they thought of everything that had happened.
So many new memories. So many new friends. New families.
They squeezed each others' hands at all the remembrances. Both the ones that warmed their hearts. And the ones that pained them.
Louise got up from her seat and plopped down on Siesta's lap, gigglign as she threw her arms around her wife.
"I can't believe we did it," Louise said in a dream-like tone as she nuzzled against Siesta's face.
"I can," Siesta said as she held her wife, "I always believed in you. In us."
They shared a giggle as they enjoyed the cool, summer night air.
"By the way…" Siesta said, causing Louise to look at her with confusion, "It's a good thing you made an honest woman of me. Because I'm pregnant. And it's yours."
Louise became immediately flustered before she suddenly remembered the impossibility of that and frowned.
"Sorry, too much?" Siesta giggled as she pecked her wife's forehead.
Louise returned the giggle as she sunk into Siesta again, "Not when it's you, it's not."
The sounds of the summer night were all that was left between them as their spirits swelled with contentment. They each gazed at each other amorously, their faces growing warm with affection for each other.
"I love you, Louise/Siesta," the girls said at the exact same time, making them both laugh as they clung tighter to each other, their hearts full to bursting.
Each of them looked forward to endless days and nights such as these. Together.
End of Arc 3
Next chapter will just be a teaser of possible endless adventures. So this can be considered the true ending.