Epilogue

A small circle of women gathered just by the altar as they toasted to being the last single women in their diminishing group. It was Tomoyo, who led the toast, making sure the married friends were out of earshot. The girls were not enthusiastic about being on the market, but there were pros to being single. Tomoyo pointed out that Sakura Li had no time for herself anymore. Cheri, beside her, argued that Sakura Li at least had a shoulder to cry on and a face to kiss in the morning. Tomoyo countered that Sakura actually had more than one face to kiss in the morning and that takes up the entire morning. The friend across from Tomoyo, Yuki, reminded them how 'happy' Rita looked when she was exchanging her 'I do' with her husband's. Nothing beats happiness. On Tomoyo's other side, Midori flaunted her promise ring around. Midori said she was still unsatisfied that the ring on her finger was just a promise ring. She wanted something BIGGER. The topic of being single was slipping away. The four girls did not even notice that the bouquet was being tossed. It would have alighted smack dab in the center of their circle if Tomoyo had not reached out and snatched it before it hit the floor.

"Congratulations, Tomoyo!" Rita cheered from a distance.

Tomoyo waved her bouquet before returning her attention to the girls again.

"I think I'm next," Tomoyo smiled.

"Yeah, when is he going to ask you to marry him? You should rush him the way this guy rushed me," Sakura, as bright and belated as ever, chirped as she walked over to her cousin. Sakura aimed her eyes at Syaoran as they came forward as a couple.

"He really should," Syaoran agreed, "in case you should accidentally fall in love with someone else and make him wait over four years." Syaoran looked at his young wife with slight scorn. Sakura pulled him closer, squeezing his arm in the process.

"Akira was a short-lived crush," Midori snorted. "Everyone saw it coming. 'It' being Syaoran."

Syaoran and Sakura exchanged loving looks that got the circle cooing and awing loudly.

"Hey, where is Akira anyway. Is he with Ms. Star today?" Sakura asked

"Shhhhh! Sakura! Not so loud. You might ruin the biggest day for Rita if you talk about her brother and you-know-who. It took the family months to get over it. The case was finally settled after three long years," Yuki whispered.

"What do you mean?" Syaoran asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

Tomoyo looked left and right before leaning in close to the couple. "The stripper lied about being pregnant to trick Akira. A month into their marriage she told him the truth and asked for a divorce in which she would get half his assets. He and his parents had to sell their business. They're practically broke now."

"That's awful! No one deserves that kind of punishment for one wrong in his life," Sakura murmured in disbelief. "I really feel sorry for his parents. I know they're nice and generous folks who do not deserve a downfall just because of their unlucky son."

"Lucky for you, Sakura, that's how the world works," Tomoyo whispered behind her hand.

"I never wished any kind of bad luck on his family!"

"You get what you deserve, Sweetheart," Syaoran said, muffling his voice in her hair as he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.

"I never wished ill on them, Syaoran," she murmured, turning in his arms for solace.

"I know."

"—Mommy!" A boy just around three squeezed his way through his parent's legs to pry them apart. "Hiroki and Ayame won't let me hold Daisuke. They say I'm too small even though I'm not that much smaller than them!"

Syaoran carelessly touched his son's unruly chestnut hair, "I say let it go, Marco."

Hiroki and Ayame joined them with a shout in unison. "Whatever he says is a lie!"

Sakura tapped her foot impatiently, staring down at the four-year-old twins. "Let him hold Daisuke."

Ayame held Daisuke, who was fourteen months, in an awkward fashion. Daisuke was having fun making spit bubbles even as his sister dangled him in the air.

"Why can't I have just one moment of peace?" Syaoran asked the air as he raked a hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry Young Master. I thought I had them all together, but turns out they have devices of their own," Wei huffed as he came up to the family.

Syaoran sighed as he picked Daisuke up from the floor. Apparently, Ayame had lost interest in showing off her little brother to the guests and Hiroki was done being the protective older brother. Children were a fickle minded bunch; especially his. They hopped from one intrigue to another without a care in the world.

"Alright diabolical children, let's get you some fruit juice."

"Stay away from the grape kind, Syaoran. I think that one's spiked," Sakura warned.

"Maybe a shot won't hurt…" he grumbled.

Daisuke laughed and gave his father a sloppy wet kiss on the face. Syaoran scoffed playfully at his infant son. "You think you're cute, huh? I'm not your mother, I'm your father. That only works until you're old enough to talk," he grumbled incoherently before planting a return kiss to his son's pale forehead. Daisuke's amber eyes fired up with laughter and delight once more for Syaoran before he returned his attention to gumming the toy in his tiny hands. "Let's go, Marco!" Syaoran tossed over his shoulder.

Marco stared back and forth between his parents before finally making up his mind. Tugging at Sakura's dress, he got her to come down to his level. He whispered something in her ear then hurried to catch up with his father.

"How did Rita afford a water fountain anyway?" Sakura asked the girls.

"She couldn't afford anything for this wedding. There wouldn't have been a wedding if it weren't for the groom's parents," Cheri replied gravely. "Poor girl. It was so embarrassing."

"She didn't tell me," Sakura said, hurt that her friend was caught up in the same mess her brother was in.

"Just like she didn't tell you about Akira," Cheri added.

"Well, I can't blame her. It's her choice what to tell me and what not to tell me. Since she thinks I still know nothing I prefer to pretend I don't know anything." Sakura dusted her hands. "Alright, I'll leave you ladies alone to your idling while I go fishing."

"Fishing?!" They chorused.

"Fishing for my son's Boner. He lost that blue stuffed elephant we got him at the fair last summer. Apparently, they were a bit rambunctious and decided to play in the 'pretty angel fountain.' I have the duty of saving his best friend before he's completely drowned."

"It must be hard being a parent," Midori said.

"It is, but I enjoy the perks."

With that said Sakura disappeared into the deeper end of the garden where more bushes grew. She followed the sound of running water. After a minute-long walk, Sakura broke through a little clearing and spotted the water fountain. This was where couples could hang out. Indeed, the fountain was 'pretty' as Marco put it. The stone fountain was sculpted in a Greco-Roman style. Three Cherubs stood in the center faces turned upward toward the sky. They all held bows and little arrows with the heart tips pointing to the stratus. Water spouted from the oversized iris that sprouted in the center. The three cherubs formed a circle around the flower and were sprinkled in light rain.

Sakura glanced around before she stepped out of her shoes. Gathering her long skirts she hopped into the water and made playful splashes with her toes. Boner bumped her leg and for a minute she started playing hopscotch, following the square stones. She splashed and laughed, kicking Boner out of the water. She was so busy twirling around and circling the cherubs and iris, the noise of someone clearing his throat drowned in her surroundings. He had to clear his throat not twice, but three times before he got her undivided attention.

Sakura looked up, crimson with embarrassment. She hopped out of the water and forlornly glanced back at the fountain before averting her attention back to the intruder.

"How are you?" He asked, wearing a goofy grin.

She returned a smile for her old friend. "I'm fine, Akira. How about you?"

He scratched his head as he studied his black shinny shoes. "That's great! I mean you look beautiful and happy… It could be a little better for me. You see… Fufu and I are separated."

"And you're telling me this, why? Ms. Star and you had something explosive, remember? No point in throwing that in my face again."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm bothering you right now and I'm sorry for… I mean… You were right…"

"Right about what?"

"Right about love."

Sakura rolled her eyes, bending down to wipe her feet with the hem of her dress. She put her shoes back on as she spoke to him. "You still remember what I said nearly half a decade ago."

"Yes, I should have seen love when it was with me all those years. I was foolish and dumb to let it go."

Sakura crossed her arms in front of her, casting a stern eye in his direction. "Well, Akira, I'm glad you got your thoughts straighten out. It must be a relief on your conscious to feel some regret for your actions. I can't offer much, but my sympathy."

"Are you getting along with him?" He blundered on.

Sakura snorted. "Where is this going? Akira, you have to understand something. I've always loved only one man even when I was dating you. I'm married to him, now. And like a normal couple we get along half the time."

"If you ever need someone to talk to that other half of the time, you're welcome to call me."

Another snort came from Sakura, "Syaoran would never forgive me if I ever ran to you for anything. Besides I never feel the need to run away from my problems."

"—Mommy!" Marco came running through the brushes. "Did you save Boner?"

"Yes, I snatched him out just in the knick of time." Sakura said as she passed the wet Boner to a relieved little boy.

"Your son?" Akira asked quietly.

"Yes," Sakura ruffled her son's hair affectionately.

Akira studied Marco with a poignant smile plastered on his face. "I wanted to be a father."

Sakura's heart went out to him when she noticed him slump in his misery. "I'm sorry, Akira."

"Feel free to take either Hiroki or Ayame off of Mommy's hands. It gets tiring handling two of the same!" Marco yelled.

"Marco, don't say stuff like that!" Sakura admonished.

"Marco! Sakura!" Syaoran broke through the brushes, carrying Daisuke in his arms. "There you are! Wei strapped the other two in and started the car. We're going back to the hotel for a swim before the reception. Are you two…?" Syaoran's question died when he caught sight of Akira looking back at him.

Before Syaoran could say anything, Akira spoke first. "You're lucky, Syaoran. You should cherish every moment of your life with her."

"I do," Syaoran said, circling his wife in his free protective arm. "With every beat of my heart." Daisuke chuckled as he was returned to his mother's loving embrace.

There wasn't much more to say. Sakura said farewell to her old love and turned to follow her family. As they clambered into the van, Sakura felt this gloom settle over her. She looked over at Syaoran who was studying her with hard eyes.

She pushed aside the gloominess and smiled at him.

Syaoran was not convinced she was alright. "What's the matter?" He asked.

"He kind of left me feeling sorry for him."

Syaoran rested his chin on a fist as he looked sideways at her. "That's all?"

"Oh, Syaoran. You know you don't have to be jealous. I love you and only you with every beat of my heart."

With that said, she leaned forward to plant a kiss on the frown that marred his face. His frown instantly melted.

"You know…" Syaoran murmured. "I kind of feel sorry for him, too. He found out too late what he has been missing."

Well, how was it all? Totally expected a happy ending I presumed. As I promised at the start of this story, the title of the book I got this idea from is Two-Parent Family by Patricia Knoll. My ending was a bit different, but the elements were kept here and there. I mean not every idea was directly from the book because I'm one to add spice to life, but you know the important stuff's there. Before I close up shop, I will like to thank reviewers for your encouraging lines. I hope to hear from everyone again in the near future. 