Deidara sighs as he takes another look into the mirror, wondering if his eye make-up is too thick, or if his hair has any loose ends sticking out.

"You look beautiful Dei," Kuro reassures him, "Sasori is going to be floored when he sees you."

"You think so un?" Deidara is so nervous he might faint. "What if he gets cold feet and runs away?"

"That's not going to happen," Deidara's father interjects, "son, he adores you more than anything else in this world."

Deidara takes a step back to view his full body in the mirror again. He's donned a fashionable tuxedo with an elaborate blue tie to match his eyes. The outfit was Sasori's idea, he helped him pick out everything from a merchant who cut them a deal (Deidara's suspects that the merchant had previously encountered Sasori back when he was still feared as Sasori the Red).

"You're the most stunning groom I've ever seen," Deidara's father says, patting his back gently. "Are you ready?"

Deidara sighs shakily, "Yes un. And Kuro, you're my maid of honor, hurry and get ready to walk out first!"

"Alright, alright," Kuro waves her hands up, glancing up at the time, "Don't be nervous Dei, make sure to smile!"

Kuro rushes to get into position to lead the wedding trail. Deidara takes one more deep breath, thinking about all the fond memories he has had with the man of his dreams since he first met him three years ago. The two have known for a long time now that they wanted to get married, but now it's finally happening, and Deidara can't explain why he's such a nervous wreck.

He and his father get in position and wait for the music to start. Deidara wonders what the crowd will think of him – there are lots of guests at this event, some names he didn't even recognize. He hopes to heaven he doesn't trip or make a weird face.

Heart pounding in his throat, Deidara steps out with his father right on cue. He looks up the long aisle, palms sweaty, until he spots Sasori's face. All tension leaves his body immediately. Looking at the affection reflected in Sasori's eyes brings him peace, a calming wave washes over his body, and he walks forward confidently towards the man he loves.

Sasori smiles brightly, and Deidara is surprised to see tears brimming in his eyes. Deidara reaches the alter and hugs his father before taking a step in front of Sasori and quickly grabbing his hands. Sasori can't stop smiling, and a tear is actually rolling down his cheek now! Who knew that Sasori would be the one to cry at their wedding?

The officiator begins the ceremony, and Sasori squeezes Deidara's hands as the man talks about love. Sasori's parents are seated in the front row, his mother's cries are quite loud, and Sasori's father is trying his best to control her wailing. Deidara smiles at them, knowing how overcome with emotion they get when it concerns their son. Sasori's mom beams at Deidara and takes one last sniffle, holding in the rest of her tears for later.

The ceremony continues on in an almost blur for Deidara, who can't seem to keep his eyes off of his fiancé. The time finally comes for them to read their vows to each other, and Deidara begins, clearing his throat and looking into Sasori's soft eyes, "Sasori," he swallows hard, feeling a bit nervous with all the eyes in the room on him, "when I first met you, I never knew that we would build such a beautiful relationship together. You were lost in darkness, you thought of yourself as a monster…but I never saw that in you. I always saw through to your true heart, and once you let me in, I could feel you change. You became a happier, more fulfilled man. I am grateful and happy to have the opportunity to spend my whole life with you, the man who taught me the very thing worth fighting for in this life – true love. I love you with my entire being Sasori."

Tears are falling freely all over Sasori's tux now, but he doesn't bother to wipe them away. Sasori takes his hand away from Deidara's carefully, reaching into his pocket to pull out his hand written vows, "Deidara," he begins in a shaky voice, "When we met, I wasn't just unloved and unloving. I was an enemy of love. Love had only brought me pain. My walls were up, but you brought them down. You brought light into my life, you chased away all the darkness. I vow to you that I will never forget the distance between what I was and what I am now. I owe more to you than I could ever say. I may not be perfect, but I will do all I can to make sure you are loved and happy for the rest of your life."

"No one is perfect," Deidara continues, "sometimes, the best book in the library has the dustiest jacket, and sometimes, the best teacup is chipped."

"I love you Deidara," Sasori grabs his hands again, shutting his eyes for a moment as fresh tears flow.

Deidara is crying now too, and he can hear more sniffles coming from the crowd, "I love you so much Sasori."

"You may now kiss the groom," the officiator announces.

Sasori wastes no time in kissing his perfect husband, he leans forward and hugs Deidara tight as they push their lips together in an intimate embrace. Deidara smiles into the kiss, which tastes slightly salty from all of Sasori's tears mingled with his own. His heart is soaring, and they release to a round of cheers from the audience. Deidara places his forehead against Sasori's, their eyes locked together.

"You look so beautiful," Sasori whispers. "Thank you again."

"For what?" Deidara asks as he takes Sasori's hand, both of them being ushered away by the wedding processional.

"For saving me," Sasori states as they begin to walk away from the alter.

"I love you endlessly, my husband," Deidara tells him, giddy at the word 'husband.'

Sasori leads Deidara out into the reception hall, his heart fuller than it ever was before.

/

"I came as quick as I could!" Deidara bursts through the doors, looking on in a frenzy at Konan on the bed, with Sasori holding her hand reassuringly. "How is she?"

"She's fine," Sasori says, looking down towards the doctor at the foot of the bed. "I gave her a pain relief potion, she can barely feel anything down there."

"Yeah," Konan says to Deidara, not looking at all like a woman in labor, "I really don't feel much…it's kind of weird."

Deidara smiles, grateful that his caring husband took the time to make a tricky potion to give to Konan to help her through this process. Konan is a fellow neighbor in the village who mistakenly got pregnant with her boyfriend Yahiko – upon hearing the news, Deidara and Sasori asked if they could adopt her baby. She was eager to comply with their wishes, especially considering all the money Sasori gave the young couple for their trouble.

Deidara goes to her other side, about to hold her hand when he realizes, "Ah, silly me, I forgot to wash off the clay from work."

"It's okay," Konan reaches her palm out and Deidara grasps it and squeezes. He's truly so grateful to her for mothering their child.

The doctor orders Konan to take another few pushes, and before long, there's a languid sound of wailing in the room. The doctor pulls out the naked and crying baby, and Deidara and Sasori hold their breath.

"It's a girl," the doctor announces, "you did very well Konan."

"Thank you," Konan smiles.

"A girl," Sasori chokes out, "Dei we have a little girl!"

"I know!" Deidara rushes to his husband's side and hugs him, impatient for the doctor to clean off the baby so he can hold his daughter.

Konan lays still in bed, and Yahiko rushes to her side, checking over his girlfriend. Deidara and Sasori take a seat by the bed, and the doctor comes back with a swaddled infant in his hand.

He gives the baby to Sasori, "congratulations you two."

Sasori and Deidara peer down at their daughter's face, which is wrinkled and small. She is asleep, peacefully dreaming. A drop of water falls to her cheek, and Deidara realizes that it's his own tears spilling forth onto the little baby.

"Wh-what should we name her?" Deidara asks, taking his turn to hold her now.

"Hm, how about Mio, our beautiful blossom?" Sasori suggests.

"It's perfect," Deidara agrees, "welcome to the world Mio."

/

"Hey daddy," Mio looks up at Sasori inquisitively, "how did you and father meet?"

"Oh," Sasori chuckles and looks at Deidara for help.

Deidara sets down his clay and grabs a towel to wipe his hands. Mio is already 7, and she's so curious about everything around her in the world. "It's quite a romantic love story," Deidara says, thinking back fondly to living alone atop the castle in the mountain with his 'master.'

"Your father was working for me as a servant," Sasori begins.

"You have to set it up right un! You can't just jump in like that," Deidara scoffs, astounded that his husband would jump that far ahead without giving the back story.

"Then you tell it Dei. You're better at these things than I am anyways," Sasori says, nodding to the couch for Deidara to come over.

Deidara sits next to his husband and Mio jumps up on their laps, snuggling herself between them. She stares up at the both of them, listening intently as Deidara describes the story of how their love unfolded. As Deidara goes through the details, he feels his heart yearn and pulse maddeningly for the man seated beside him. They've known each other for nearly 15 years now, but not a single day has gone by where Deidara hasn't felt an intense and passionate love for Sasori.

Sasori listens to Deidara's story eagerly – it's his favorite story of all time. He places an arm around his perfect blonde, and kisses his cheek every so often as Deidara gets to the good parts. He's so incredibly in love with Deidara, that he sometimes wonders how his heart could ever have been shut off and cold from the world. Deidara has shown him a new light, a new way of life, since the minute he met him.

The two share a knowing look as they continue to tell their tale to their daughter. Mio listens with shining eyes, gasping and sighing at various points in the story.

"Wow," she breathes as Deidara finishes, "it sounds like a fairy tale."

Deidara laughs, "Yeah, it sure does."

"But it was real," Sasori says, "and your father and I still love each other just as much as we did back then."

"More," Deidara chimes in, "I love you more each passing day." He looks at Sasori adoringly, and Sasori shares his look of affection.

"You're right Dei. I love you more and more each passing minute," Sasori says, his chest warm.

Mio gives each dad a hug and thanks them for the story before running off to play with the neighborhood kids, leaving the lovebirds alone. Sasori wraps his arms around his husband and kisses him passionately, feeling romantic after hearing the re-telling of their story.

For the love of Sasori and Deidara, there is no ending. The two will continue to love each other, even after they've passed. As far as Sasori is concerned, this is only the beginning of their tale.