Finally! I hope that you were still waiting for it: behold the epilogue of my fanfiction!

I can explain why you had to wait for such a long time. I wrote the French version and translated it into English last year. But I lost the English version and I postponed the day to write it again. Until now.

Enjoy !

Epilogue

Someone knocked on the door, pulling Colonel Harden out of his thoughts. Since the day he had let go the man who gave him information about Liedenschaftlich's State and army operation, General Banks had let him know that his hopes of a rapid promotion had decreased. Moreover, the "precious" information of his contact was outdated or irrelevant. It has been two years and the feeling of being pushed aside was still here. He was busy with the daily life of the headquarters, and he only had to investigate on the provenance of the disgusting meat served at the mess (eventually he discovered that the meat was good, not the cook). The Colonel was resentful: if his path crossed Gilbert Bougainvillea's one, the latter would regret it.

- Come in! he said.

A young officer entered in the room. He was working for the colonel for a year and had appeared to be a good counsellor. He also knew how to calm his biggest angers.

- I brought you today's newspaper, Colonel.

- Ah! Second-lieutenant Bergson, thank you. You're one time, as always.

The Colonel liked the young man. He was polite but not flattering, helpful but not servile. He didn't seem too ambitious, which was perfect for Harden's ego. 2nd Lieutenant Bergson gave him the newspaper and sat at his own desk, where he began to sort the mail he had brought with him.

The colonel opened the carefully-folded and read the front page where the new reforms of the government were mentioned.

- Our allies are asking too much from us, he sighed. How will the economy keep up with their exigences?

A title caught his attention. The complete article was in page 8, so he opened the paper to read it, frowning. He read quickly, feeling anger growing in him. The last line was the straw that broke the camel's back. He angrily rose up, and Bergson startled.

III

- Then he roared and threw the paper on the ground. It was his worst anger and I couldn't do anything this time. I left the room and waited for him to calm down. He made confetti with the newspaper.

Erik laughed, surprising his friend.

- Ah! The colonel never liked weddings! Bergson, I assume that he spoke a lot about Gilbert Bougainvillea!

- I don't think that "spoke" is the word. He flusters because of him once a week. I can tell you, it's really distracting.

The two men laughed.

- And you? Do you have an idea of why he's so angry?

- I do, Erik answered.

He took his own copy of the newspaper and opened it at the eighth page. Bergson read the article and understood. He began to laugh, and Erik joined him in his hilarity.

III

Erik entered in his compartment where an old couple was already seated. He greeted them and put his suitcase in the net above him. Then he sat on the seat and close his eyes. He had to travel all night to reach the station where the intercontinental train stopped the nearest from Salbert. He wanted one thing: sleep until the train reached Leiden. He quickly fell asleep. When he woke up he heard the couple speaking. Suddenly, Erik heard a name: "Gilbert". He opened his eyes and turned to the two people who shared his compartment.

- Excuse me, I couldn't help but overheard your conversation. Did you just say Gilbert?

- Er… Yes, the old man answered. Gilbert Bougainvillea, do you know him?

- Of course! Erik laughed. I worked with him for almost a year.

- So, you must be Erik, the woman intervened. Gilbert told us about you when he has lived with us.

- Oh! Erik felt honoured. And who are you?

- Mr. and Mrs. Witaj, from Gardarik.

- Nice to meet you. I presume we are going to the same place for the same event.

They enjoyed the end of the travel, and time went fast.

III

Gilbert was taking care of the last details of his uniform. Hodgins was helping him. He pulled out his sleeves, straightened his collar and buttoned his jacket. Hodgins stepped back to admire his work.

- You're almost perfect. There are just two things missing.

- Which ones? Gilbert asked.

From a small wooden box Hodgins took an award and an officer badge. He hanged the first to Gilbert's chest and the second to his sleeve.

- I can't believe you haven't even shown your new rank on your uniform! You are the Lieutenant-colonel Gilbert Bougainvillea, awarded with the Iron cross for your - action on battlefield. You must show it.

- Believe me, I feel I don't deserve it.

- You're rambling, old chap. You're back for almost two years, you have been reinstated. It's because of you that we won the battle of Intense. You deserve it.

Gilbert sighed. The award felt heavy on his chest. He knew it wasn't only because of his actions on Intense battlefield, but because of the role of his battalion during the war too. He knew that some of his actions wouldn't have deserved this decoration. He shook his head, and a strand fell on his forehead.

- Stop moving. You must be perfect today. Hodgins scolded him.

Gilbert felt a sting of anxiety in his heart.

- I don't even know if she's ready.

- I can ask your brother, but I think she'll be ready in time. Hodgins answered, smirking.

- It's not the time for jokes! Gilbert protested. You know what I mean.

- She has accepted. Gilbert, it's been two years. For two years both of you have learnt a lot about yourself, the other, love. Both of you have evolved. Believe me, she's confident.

Someone knocked at the door. Without waiting for an answer, Dietfried entered. He was wearing his Navy dress uniform and his hair – usually messy – were gathered into a tight braid.

- Are you ready? It's almost time and Mother is waiting for you.

Gilbert noticed a vase on a table.

- One last detail and I'm ready. He said.

He took one of the flowers and put it in his buttonhole. Cattleya then entered the room.

- Is everything ready? She asked.

- He is. Hodgins answered. Is she?

- Violet is a bit stressed, although I think she's more impatient and happier. Don't worry Gilbert, she won't leave at the last second.

Cattleya smiled, reassuring Gilbert. She went near Hodgins and tenderly took his arm.

- What about we go? She asked him. I know our seats are reserved, but I would like to be on time. I don't want to miss your entrance. She added with a wink for Gilbert.

Hodgins agreed, smiling to the woman. They left the room arm in arm. Gilbert approached his brother.

- Thank you for being here. I know that you went though hard times because of me. Changing to follow my steps net to Mother might have been difficult.

- I'm glad that you're back. I can relax now that you're the head of the family. Moreover, Mother's health improved, and her reason has returned. Let's go! Dietfried hugged his brother. Mother's waiting for you.

Gilbert smiled.

- And you, go to Violet.

He began was about to leave but stopped.

- By the way, thank you for taking care of her. I know how much you hated her when I was gone.

- That's not important now. His brother retorted. I got to know her when you returned. Don't be late, you must leave before we get out of the house.

- Hay hay Captain!

Gilbert left the room laughing. He found his mother in the entrance hall.

- Here you are, son! She exclaimed when she saw him.

- Here I am, Mother.

Mrs. Bougainvillea kissed her son's forehead.

- I'm proud of you. She whispered.

She smiled and let Gilbert take her arm. He guided her to the car bearing the arms of their family. Another car, behind theirs was bearing the arms of Evergarden Family. They had sent it for Violet. Before he entered the car, Gilbert rose his head, looking for Violet's room. He hoped he could see her before leaving. However, the curtains were closed, keeping the secret safe. Gilbert smiled. Now he realised what was going to happen in one hour. He was happy, more impatient than a child waiting for Christmas. It was for a good reason: Christmas happens once a year, although a wedding happens once in a lifetime.

The car stopped in front of Leiden City hall. Gilbert and his mother got out next to the wedding hall where the doors were wide open. Gilbert gave his mother his arm, because she still used a cane to walk. Hodgins was waiting for him. His role was to tell the orchestra when they had to begin to play. He didn't wait a long time, because Violet's car arrived two minutes later. He entered in the hall and the music began. Gilbert and his mother walked down the aisle. The young officer was focused on the table and the chairs where the mayor was standing, although he saw some friendly faces in the crowd: his superiors, some of Violet's co-workers, Mr. and Mrs. Witaj, Erik. His smile widened. He was happy, surrounded by people he liked. He stopped next to the chairs and turned toward his mother. She smiled, moved. Then she squeezed his hand and went to sit on her chair.

Gilbert turned toward the entrance and waited. His left eye was wet because of his emotion. Finally, two people appeared in the entrance. Violet, her hand on Dietfried's arm, came down the aisle. Suddenly, Gilbert felt like the day of their first date. His hand seemed wet, his breath shortened, and he was stressed. He feared that he could make any faux-pas.

Then, Violet smiled at him, and his fear disappeared. He smiled back at her, moved by her beauty. She was wearing a long white dress. The top of the dress fitted her body, highlighting her thin waist. Her waist was covered by a white belt embroidered in with green crystals. Her flowing sleeves covered her arms up to her elbows. Her metal prosthetics had been replaced by flesh-like ones. Violet had accepted them only for the big day. Her V-neckline was small and highlighted the pearl necklace around her neck. The skirt of the dress fitted her hips before moving apart, almost up to the floor, so Gilbert could see that Violet was wearing white sandals. Her blond hair was lifted on her head then was falling like a waterfall.

The closer Violet walked to Gilbert, the better he could see the emotion on her face. Her lightly made-up eyes shone because of the retained tears and her red lips smiled happily.

Then, Gilbert knew that after all they both had been through, they would, at long last, live happily together.

The end