AN: Italics denote flashbacks.
Chapter 12 - Epilogue
Linka was slightly out of breath when she reached the doors of the small café, her jog giving way to a brisk walk once inside. She spotted her friend in a corner booth by the window, a white tea cup in hand. Linka adjusted her small purse on her shoulder and ran a hand through her hair, the new golden band on her finger catching glints of light.
Upon noticing her, Gi smiled and stood up to embrace the Russian girl.
"Gi, I am so sorry I am late!" exclaimed Linka, before the pair took their place opposite each other in the booth. "It was all William's fault."
Gi smiled, examining the blonde girl - woman, she should say - facing her, finding her changed. Her green eyes radiated serenity and sparkled with vitality, something that Gi did not remember witnessing before. Her cheeks were pink and lovely, giving her a healthy glow, and her lips seemed to be pursed in a perpetual dreamy smile. Linka appeared softer, her walk more graceful, each stride filled with purpose, and her happiness contagious. Married life agreed very well with her, decided Gi, filled with pride.
She winked at Linka and boldly stated, "then you're probably not that sorry."
Linka blushed a scarlet color, causing Gi to laugh out loud. It had not been her intention to be late, reflected Linka in her own defense, replaying the events of that morning in her head. She had awakened with the sunlight peeking in through the blinds, a faint smile on her lips, comfortably resting in her husband's arms before reluctantly deciding to get up; the clock informed her she had less than one hour and a half before her breakfast appointment with Gi, and the drive was a lengthy one. She had lightly kissed a sleeping William, careful not to rouse him from his serene sleep and, after de-tangling herself from his tight embrace, she had headed for the shower, stifling a yawn. Their cozy two-bedroomcondo located in upstate New York already felt like home, she reflected with a small smile.Linka had almost finished washing her hair when her husband had decided to join her in the shower. At first, she had tried to tell him that Gi would not appreciate her being late, but William had been very good at convincing her, and well, here she was now, twenty-five minutes late, facing a rather amused Gi.
"I guess that's to be expected with newlyweds, especially when it's you two. Do you remember our very first week as Planeteers, when I commented that you and William fought just like an old married couple? You didn't speak to me for two whole days after that!"
Linka laughed and shook her head a little. "I was so angry at you for proposing such a thing."
"And now here you are, Mrs. Sloane."
"Da," replied softly Linka, looking down at her left hand where a delicate wedding band rested on her finger below a beautiful engagement ring, its diamond refracting the light coming in through the window.
Exactly six months after their first date, on a stormy Tuesday night, William had proposed to a speechless and flustered Linka, who, upon looking adoringly at the man kneeling before her with such love in his eyes, had smiled widely and jumped on him with such zeal that they had both tumbled to the floor in a hug. The wedding would follow three months later in a breathtaking cathedral in Russia, where, in the presence of God, the other three Planeteers, William's parents and his best friend, along with Linka's extended family, they were joined as husband and wife.
"It was a beautiful ceremony," commented Gi as if she had dived into the depths of Linka's thoughts. "It's just too bad that your honeymoon had to be cut down by a week."
For their honeymoon, the couple had traveled west to Switzerland, where they had rented a cabin in the majestic Swiss Alps. They had originally planned to stay two weeks, but days before the wedding, William had been informed that he would be starting his new position as a police officer in New York a bit earlier than expected. Before they were even engaged to be married, William had surprised her and the others by announcing that his application had been accepted by the New York Police Department, with training starting up in the fall. He had not told anyone about his application process, mainly because he had feared rejection and had not wanted to alarm the others for no good reason. This was his dream, he said, and he felt that he could no longer add to the Planeteer mission. It was time to move on. Gaia, being surprised but not entirely shocked at his revelation, had nodded in agreement, filling with pride at the vision of her Fire Planeteer and the determination in his eyes.
Soon after, much like a chain reaction, the rest of the Planeteers had come forward with plans and goals of their own for the future. Linka thought of Kwame and his decision to return to Africa. His last update recounted of his political campaign; he was runningfor mayor in his hometown and hoping for a long, successful career in politics. Ma-Ti had been traveling all over the U.S. and was now settling on the West Coast. He had become involvedwith a non-profit organization helping individuals who were battling addictions and mental health problems. His people, especially, needed guidance and support, and Ma-Ti was undergoing and advanced counselling program in order to be better equipped to help them. They were the most proud of him, Gi had disclosed to him in a group email. She herself had found employment in the Central Park Zoo in New York as an on-staff zoologist, especially involved with the endangered animals program and their adjusting patterns. She spoke highly of a young veterinarian there, with Linka finally having the chance to tease her about her love life for a change.Weeks before the wedding, Gi had told her that they were just good friends, to which Linka had replied, "that is not what the zebra told me!". Gi had chased her around the house for a good ten minutes, whining about the abuse she had to endure from her and her fiancé. As for Linka, she had decided to complete a graduate degree in biochemistry while working as a Teacher's Aid for an undergraduate biology class at the same University. It would not be easy to juggle a marriage, a demanding job, and even more demanding studies, but she felt up for the challenge.
"It was wonderful all the same," replied Linka, returning to the conversation, her smile saturated with daydreams and memories. She hoped that Gi would not ask too many questions about the secluded Swiss town because, in truth, she and William had never left the cabin. Perhaps skiing was losing its charm?
"It must have been a gorgeous place. So, were you…I mean…was that your first time, you know, together?"
At that instant, the waitress decided to show up and take their orders, the ill timing and Linka's flustered reaction causing Gi to laugh. Linka decided that whatever Gi was having was fine for her as well, and the waitress disappeared into the kitchen, definitely too perky for that time of morning, thought Linka.
"I'm sorry, Lin, that's too personal and probably none of my business," said Gi, surprising them both with her maturity (AN: ha-ha!).
"It was my first time with anyone," offered Linka with a small smile.
"Oh!" voiced Gi, eyes widening at the disclosure. "I mean, yeah, I kinda figured so… not that I mean to say that I thought you were a prude or anything like that because that's not it at all… no, that's not what I mean, either…"
Linka broke into a hearty laugh at the trouble Gi was having expressing herself. Throwing her hands up in frustration, Gi gave in to a laugh of her own.
"What I actually meant to say is good for you, that's pretty special, Linka. I hope that it was everything you wanted it to be." She reached for Linka's hand across the table and squeezed it.
"It was," nodded Linka with amystical love-filled look in her eyes, "And much more than that."
How to put into words the magic, the myriad of feelings, of their first night together as husband and wife? Or her sense of completeness as their souls and bodies had merged into one? Or the power of William's touch, the deep shade of blue his eyes acquired when they made love, and his abandon in her arms? It was easier to reach out and touch the moon than trying to explain such complex notions, such unparalleled feelings.
"I'm also proud of Will for respecting your decision," added Gi, taking a sip of her forgotten tea. Linka nodded a little. Her mind was inundated by a flashback, and she let it color her thoughts as she looked out the window to the outside world.
"Babe, are you still upset at what Gi said?" asked William beside her on the porch swing, three months into their dating relationship, his profile illuminated by the soft yellow light above the door. The night was animated by a cool wind and Linka pulled her cardigan sweater closer to her body to keep warm. That morning, they had been involved in a particularly difficult mission (AN: see, they do work!) and by the time evening came around, William and Linka had decided to relax curled up in front of the TV, sharing a blanket and a few kisses before Gi and Ma-Ti, ever the inseparable duo, had strolled in, turned on the lights, and wrecked the romantic mood. They were very supportive, if at times a bit immature, about her relationship with William, but that evening, Linka felt annoyed by their antics, especially when Gi had made a slightly inappropriate comment, which elicited laughter from Ma-Ti and a blush from Linka.
"She was kidding, you know how she is," went on William in an attempt to comfort her.
"There is something I want to tell you," Linka said after a brief silence. She took in a small breath and examined her hands in her lap. "My plan is to…uhm, remain as I am until I am married."
William gave her a confused look beforepondering this over for a bit.
"I don't think I follow you," he finally admitted.
"What I am meaning," continued Linka,unsure of how to phrase such a delicate topic, "is that I am waiting to be married in order to be... uhm, intimate with someone."
She was sure he had understood her the second time around, bitingher lip in the silence that followed. Internal panic ensued as she wondered if her revelation had come too soon, too late, or too strongly. Perhaps he was disappointed, mused Linka, fidgeting with the bracelet Gi had made for her. Perhaps he was tired of waiting around for her, of her indecisiveness and incessant rules. She loved William, more than anything in the world, in fact, but she refused to compromise who she was as a person in the process. Aside from her Russian Orthodox religion and her conservative family upbringing, Linka knew thatit would just not feel right giving herself away to anyone but her husband. William, even though most likely not a virgin himself, could understand that, right?
"Okay, cool," said William at last, his tone so nonchalant that Linka's mouth opened in surprise.
When he did not continue, she remarked, "is that all?"
He shrugged and turned his head to look at her. "Linka, this is your decision and what I think makes no difference. I'm for whatever makes you happy, babe."
The simplicity and sweetness of his reasoning made her smile despite herself. She crossed her arms over her chest and focused her attention on the barely visible horizon line in the distance.
"You are not wishing I was... uhm, what is the word?"
"Easy?"
"Da," she nodded, cringing at the unceremonious word. "That is a very ugly term."
"Well, what it represents is not exactly of a lovely nature," observed William. "Anyway, babe, I happen to like the fact that you have morals and are not afraid to stand up for them. Someone very pretty and smart once told me it's an admirable thing."
Linka smiled as she remembered using the same words to describe William's sense of altruism and compassion.
He placed a finger underneath her chin, bringing her closer with the movement, before speaking again. "Sweetheart, let me tell you, I think you are the definition of sexy and you do a very good job of driving me completely insane on many occasions, but above all that, I am madly in love with you. I still can't believe we're together sometimes. I've already proven to you that I can wait as long as it takes, and nothing has changed." He kissed her softly before smiling at her.
"I think I will keep you, Yankee," Linka teased, returning the smile and wrapping her arms around his neck in order to draw him closer.
"You know, Lin, I don't think I've ever seen you this happy before," commented Gi as their breakfast was being placed in front of them. "And it's all because of my meddling!"
"In that case," smiled Linka, patting her hand across the table, "thank you very, very much, Gi."
AN: It's a little sad to see this fic ending! Tears… Anyway, I am thinking of writing an Alternate Universe (AU) story next, as I do not particularly like the CP plot (or lack of), therefore I will just steal L/W, hee hee! Thank you to all those who read the story and those who reviewed. What did you think of the final chapter? I know, I know, I'm a total sap, but I love romantic stories!