Final chapter here, a little shorter than the last one just to round off the series it must be finished where all happily ever afters' do: a wedding!

X-X

Chapter Four

The ceremony takes place on Minbar. Or strictly speaking above Minbar.

Marcus and Susan discarded both choices of a church and a temple and instead opted to have the wedding aboard a White Star overlooking the planet. It's small, private and ensures that they will not be disturbed.

After all Marcus thinks; even the most persistent Ranger's have trouble boarding a shielded ship hidden behind three collective moons.

There's also a certain attachment they both have for space: a fondness for the sensation of spinning alone in the star encrusted blackness.

They met in this suspended reality: on this uncharted plane between the Heavens hovering somewhere up above and the fiery depths of hell sinking below.

It was here polite acquaintance quickly developed to a relationship of bickering and teasing and occasionally deep and painfully raw exchanges of the heart.

Ideally of course they would have had it on Babylon 5 – but as that possibility's closed (even he knows his limit of miracle workings) they settle for the flagship where the proposal took place.

Both of them know some people would find the ceremony almost laughable. They're married far away from Earth, (which most would incorrectly label as their 'home'), the guest list is embarrassingly short and no family members are even around to be on it anyway. Marcus for one can visualise that scenario:

Roll Call!

Groom's brother (best man)? Murdered.

Mother-of-the-bride? Committed suicide.

Father or brother to give bride away? One killed and one rotted away from disease.

Any other close relatives? Dead.

Right then.

Even Sinclair and Sheridan aren't around to walk Susan up the aisle; both been whispered away by fantastical beings 'into the past' or 'beyond the rim' and you can't really nip back after that.

But despite all of this the ceremony isn't a funeral type at all: it isn't a day of mourning or grief or despair...it is a message of hope.

Not many would realise that but it is: this wedding is a shining example of moving forward and miracles against all odds.

Susan and Marcus being together is an unprecedented surprise of holy proportions.

Susan walks herself up the aisle in the end; it's a representation of how she's lived for the last however many years after all, Marcus loves that independent streak. Bur Delenn willingly takes on the role of maid of honour, and David's there sitting alongside Michael and Lise and their daughter. Zach and Vir come of course and for once the Emperor manages to escape his fifty man entourage.

He asks Steven to take place as best man which his friend (despite many suggestive jokes) does with pride. The wedding vows are conducted by a rather elderly Brother Theo of all people – neither of them were Catholic (Susan was Jewish which could've been awkward) but he agreed to be flexible.

When Susan glided (odd using that description, normally she was the marching type) up to the altar though Marcus forgets everyone and everything else.

She is so radiant, so beautiful that for a moment Marcus's gaze blurs and the vision hazes over so he can hardly see her – just a vague figure with hair curling against shimmering white shift, ebbing and flowing like an insubstantial angel.

Suddenly he is scared, hands numbing up and mouth dry though Steven was thrusting mugs of beer at him not ten minutes ago. Marcus had laughed it off then – now he wishes he'd accepted the offer.

This is too much, he cannot – must not – be truly living in this world, with her. The whole of the last year, the most precious months of his life; surely they must be a dream, a fantasy and any moment now he'd wake up to the bitter truth.

Then she reaches out to clasp his hand in hers and he returns to reality and the scent of Minbarii rose petals drifting through the air. She is his anchor. If Marcus wanted to extend to metaphor he could say she was so much more; his rock, his sun, his centre of being, his entire world.

So he grips her fingers tightly; gazing deeply into the startling blue eyes bubbling with the same suppressed emotion as his. That's another mistake a lot of people would make; they'd think they were an unemotional couple, lacking affection – if only they knew.

Behind them Brother Theo's steady rumble intoned the words as old as time. Marcus had always wondered why people didn't get bored of the same reciting; wouldn't they want it skipped? Now he thinks he's gets it.

"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today..."

X-X

The twins – moon and sun hang high in the sky, perfectly parallel above the green glade. Wind breezes though the fields, gentle ripples coursing their way through the whispering leaves and Susan's flowing locks. Her hair brushes against the back of her neck; warm as the rays of light showering down on them.

The chest her head is pressed against is warm too; supporting her as they twirl back and forth, fingers of one hand laced with hers and the other cradling her back. Normally she'd feel patronised – but today is a day of first time ever's after all. Susan closes her eyes as glimpses like the bright flowers adorning the trees weave together accompanied by shimmering laughter.

They're all here; everyone who's alive anyway. Normally that thought would make her feel bitter but for once she doesn't think about all those who haven't made it; she focuses on everyone who has.

After the Shadow War and even the twenty years following Susan couldn't quite shake off the merest niggling feeling buried within her mind. It was hard to place. Not jealously but wistfulness, not resentment but regret.

After all everyone else seemed to have their happy ending, granted Leda and Lennier didn't quite get the fairy tale life but on the whole it was hard to find a sore spot with any of them.

Delenn and John were the most obvious example in their perfect little bubble; happily married, raising a son and ruling the world. (It wasn't that they didn't deserve it of course, everyone knew they'd been through a lot to get there and there was no denying the sacrifices they'd made but still...they weren't the only ones).

Steven zooming off to his dream job on Earth; any chance of life changing medical discoveries and he was content – Susan wouldn't mention the certain blonde, Number One with whom he seemed to have certain...connections with.

G'kar; no matter how much he moaned did become a renowned prophet and a legendary figure throughout his people so Susan personally felt that (despite his sticky end), he didn't have much to complain about in the big picture.

Londo was more complicated: at the time he seemed to have been granted his fondest wish and life ambition – i.e. all powerful ruler of his people. It had got a little more twisted in the following time but...well he looked happy at least.

Vir certainly was, finally having proved his worth in the world but even Susan with her cynicism couldn't begrudge the well meaning Centarii that. He was a good Ambassador on Babylon 5 and a golden Emperor, perhaps the best Centarii had ever seen. Not to the most exciting by any count, but certainly best – under his rule the people had flourished.

Zach, as always plodding stolidly along content with where the tide took him, whether it be Head of Babylon 5 Security or personal adviser to the Emperor. He'd made a difference, done what was right and now he was happy.

Even Garibaldi for crying out loud – alcoholic, paranoia freak and probably the last person you'd ever expect to settle down – got it all. Beautiful wife, sparkling daughter and multi-billion dollar company. Oh the irony.

Then there'd been Susan: the puzzle piece that didn't quite fit anymore; the odd part to the fluffy image. Throwing herself into work, absorbed in the tough military persona and all the while aching in the buried depths of her soul. It was hidden and often unfelt but when a part of you is ripped away it bleeds and sometimes sticky plasters just don't cut it. It's not that she wasn't glad for them, for her friends and family but the slight unfairness just needled.

The song comes to its lilting end and Marcus stops; stooping to drop a soft kiss on her forehead before murmuring about needing to relieve himself. The idea startles Susan for a moment – somehow she'd thought that today would be above such things but obviously males couldn't understand that.

Shrugging she slips over to the drinks table set under the dappled shade: the reception is larger than the ceremony with more than enough Ranger's and even EarthForce personnel making up the numbers. Pouring herself a glass, Susan balances it carefully (she's just worked out that the dress is white and won't absorb the mess like the trusty Entil'zh uniform) and retreats to shelter under a large tree at the edge of the glade. Hopefully she'll be undisturbed here; the congratulations are welcome but well...a little peace is welcome to.

Susan rubs her free hand against the rough bark and tilts her head back to bathe in the warm rays peeping through the leaves, lulled into the serenity of the moment.

She almost jumps out of her skin when a familiar voice pierces the air behind her. "Well, he's finally done it then." Even the dry tones of Garabaldi manage to sound impressed.

Steven's clearer chime joins him in reply. "Lucky bastard."

They've obviously got the same idea of privacy she does but half hidden behind the tree they can't see her. Susan considers revealing herself but their continued conversation intrigues her.

She can hear Garibaldi sipping from his drink (not alcohol of course; he's been sober for years now and showing no sign of slipping up yet. Of course if he messed up at her wedding of all places it would be more than just his pride and self respect at state – she'd probably kill him). "Who would've thought though? I mean those two were the last people I'd expect at making it work with anyone, let alone each other – they're both train wrecks for relationships."

Susan pursed her lips wryly at his typical complimentary comment. Thanks for that Garibaldi. Still he was right and what she'd been thinking moments before.

But he was carrying on, albeit more quietly. "But here we are and honestly I've never seen two people so damn happy in my entire life. It's exhausting really just to watch them."

Steven chuckled quietly at that.

"What?" Garibaldi asked irritably.

She could almost see the doctor shaking his head. "No I was just thinking..."

"About? Do I have to extract it from you?"

"Well," he chuckled again, "when Marcus first ah...admitted he had an – interest in Susan I shot him down so fast he wouldn't have time to blink. Told him that, what was it? She was so far from his type they were practically in separate galaxies. Of course we were surrounded by some life threatening parasites pointing guns at us at the time, (that could have affected my terseness) but even so; I thought that there was more of a chance we'd master cloning manipulation than him ever having a chance with her."

Susan rolled her eyes, trying to remember when Marcus first started showing an 'interest' in her; it must have been about the time of that incident with all of the damn bugs creeping into people's spines. A nightmare and thank goodness she hadn't had to deal with it but that was certainly when she noticed something...different about Marcus, even if it was just with the rose mix up.

Of course, her being aware of her own attraction to him hadn't aided his cause in any way. The opposite in fact: she'd slammed down the emotional doors faster than he could spout one of his ridiculous quotes.

Garibaldi spoke again, pulling her back to reality. "Well you and me both, we all told him it was a lost case before it began...except maybe Delenn but then what can you expect from Mnbarii? Especially irritating hopeful, starry eyed types."

Susan heard a small thwap and guessed Steven had hit Garibaldi on the shoulder. "Don't be rude."

There was silence for a moment before Steven spoke again. "I'm glad for them though you know? If anyone deserved happiness it's these two."

Susan had to strain her ears to hear Garibaldi's answer it was so low. "Yes." He agreed. "They deserve this." He took another deep draught of his drink, swallowing noisily. "Well come on then; I don't want to let my wife moan on for me neglecting her. I tell you what, I'm going to have a lot more to live up to in husband standards now Marcus is on the scene, mind you; a tip or two for him wouldn't hurt..."

Their voices faded off with vanishing footsteps and Susan had hardly had a chance to lean back and laugh before a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around their waist. She gave a sudden start and relaxed the smooth voice warm against her neck.

"You'd better not be hiding."

"And so what if I was?" She replied, stroking the rough hands encasing her own.

"Well, if you were..." He paused meaningfully and Susan tried to ignore her racing pulse and the fact he could probably feel it breaking all decent speed limits. "I'd have to say you haven't quite grasped the concept that a wedding reception is meant to be a celebration with people and I'd have to drag you back for another dance."

Susan laughed, ripping free of his embrace only to slip her arms back around his neck. "And if I'd been spying on people's opinion on this apparently miracle breaking marriage?" She asked, staring up at him.

He bent his head, eyes caressing the contours of her face without even making contact and she felt her breath catch. "Then I'd tell you, you still haven't realised that people are meant to be talked to not spied on, never listen to gossip and I'd still make you dance anyway because you're obviously still suffering from suspicious paranoia and need to relax."

This was so typically Marcus; the way all their conversation had started all those years ago and the way they were still going now.

Susan didn't envy John and Delenn anymore; in a way she felt sympathy for them. They'd had this – this all encompassing, powerful joy and the happiness has shone in their every day together – but it had been cut away, ended far sooner than was right. Now it was her, their turn, hers and Marcus's and dammit she was going to make it last and make it worth it.

Laughing Susan dragged her new husband back to the dancing and the future awaiting them.

The End

(As all happy ever after stories finish)