o Strange You Are My Lover
Epilogue

author:  silent moon
mail:  silentmoonstar@yahoo.com
rated:  R
genre:  romance/alt. reality

An's:  on impulse, here's in epilogue--since I'm in a writing mood and loved Ashley's epilogue
to 'marriage by contract' to pieces!  ^_^

Hope ya like!

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Five Years Later.........


Rei and Chad met up with Amy and Greg in the gallery parking lot.   Rei with her glossy dark
hair pulled up into a sophisticated bun and Chad with his once rather straggly hair cut shorter
made a very striking couple.  Rei had the air and appearance of someone very important, almost
distant and haughty but her face broke into a wry grin as she spotted Amy and Greg.

"Amy!  Greg!"  She rushed over, dragging Chad after her.

"Hello!"  Amy managed before Rei was choking her in a hug.

Greg and Chad shook hands politely, laughing at their suddenly emotional wives.

"How are you?"
"Wonderful and you?"
"Great!  How's work?"
"Same old same old."
"Amy, are you pregnant again?!"  Rei suddenly noticed her stomach.

Amy nodded, smiling madly.

"Congratulations!"  Rei cried, crushing her again into a hug.

Amy laughed, "Thanks!  We thought it was about time...."

"Did you bring your little guy with you?"

"No, no, he's at home with a sitter."

"Mine too.  I wanted this to be just about them y'know?"

"Exactly."


"Hey over there!"  A cheery voice called.

They all turned to see Lita and Ken coming over, smiling broadly.

"Hey guys, looks like we're all here---except for Mina and Malcolm but I think their
flight was delayed..."  Rei smiled.

"Well, let's head in then."  Lita chirped.

"I'm eager to see this new show."  Greg said amiably.

"She said it was spectacular over the phone."  Lita returned.

"She always says that!"  Pointed out Rei and they all laughed.

"Yes, but she's never insisted we all come and see."  Amy smiled.

"Well, it's about time we all got together!  What has it been---a year since we all saw
one another?  That's dreadful!"  Rei said.

They reached the entrance doors when Mina's voice called out from behind, "Wait!  Wait for me!"

She and Malcolm came huffing up to them, all blond hair and good looks--both of them.

Mina was grinning, "Hey everyone!"


Then they all went in together to see Darien's new show.  And most importantly, to see their
longtime friend.

It had been five years since Serena and Darien married--quietly in the park, with friends
and loved ones around them.  Five years since Serena had tossed her bouquet and Mina had caught
it (as planned). And over a year since they'd all gotten together to talk and catch up.

Darien's work had taken him over to Europe and beyond a few times and Serena always found
a way to go with him and take work along.  But work wasn't the priority is had once been
for her.  Over the past years she'd published two books and even sang every other weekend
at an old style club downtown....

And just a few weeks before she'd called all of them rapturously and insisted they come see
the show.  They'd all agreed of course and done everything in their power to make it--especially
on Mina's part. 

Now they hurried down the hall excitedly, eager to see Serena, but the title of the show
made them all stop short.  All four women stared in shock until their husbands began to chuckle
at them.

~Why is my baby beautiful?~

Rei was the first to recover and Mina second with a positive squeal of delight as she grabbed
Rei's arm.  Lita and Amy joined them and they hurried into the crowded showroom, searching
madly for her.

Suddenly her voice cut across the room, "Rei!  Mina!  Lita!  Amy!  Everyone!"

Serena rushed over and hugged them all as they bombarded her with questions and mock scolded
her for not telling them.

"I wanted it to be a surprise!"  She protested, then grinned, "Come over, you have to see
her, she's absolutely beautiful--that is, if I can pry her away from Darien!"

They all walked over to find Darien sitting to one side, his tall, handsome figure completely 
absorbed in holding the small baby girl sleeping beneath his chin.  

But as if on cue, she opened her big eyes and woke as their friends came over and became very
animated, waving her chubby fists and making adorable baby noises as they all cooed over her.

Serena raved on and joked with the girls about how Darien was with her, and how delightful
she was....how sweet to bath, how adorable to greet in the morning....

Darien caught up with the four men who had become good friends of his over the years, holding
his baby girl with unspoken, barely contained pride that the other four were familiar with 
already.

Finally Rei asked to hold the baby and Darien carefully passed her over, laying the little
blanket over Rei's shoulder and watching to make sure nothing happened with amusing concern.

Serena smiled at her husband and came over beside him.

The girls all smiled at the baby and reached over to touch her tiny hands and feet--save for
Rei who was smiling at her cousin and her best friend....married happily....now with a baby.
She was smiling at the way Darien's hand found it's way to hers with a gesture so natural it
was obviously practiced often.

She was heart-glad for both of them.  They seemed polar opposites to start with and yet....after
everything they went through it turned out they both offered the other the one thing they were
seeking.  

~And besides,~ she thought with something akin to awe as she looked at the various
paintings of their baby girl on the walls......~look what they make together....~

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