Epilogue: A Happy Ending

Four years later. . .

“This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind,” Celeste said, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck.

Jonathan grinned. “What? I promised you a fun afternoon.”

“I seem to be missing the fun part of this.”

He stopped. “I thought you were beginning to like skating.”

“Sometimes you can be the densest man. You know that, right?” Her smile took the bite off her words.

He took her hand, pulling her to him. “You forgot devilishly handsome.”

“Did I forgot amazingly full of it, too?” she asked, gazing up at him.

A boy, probably about twelve, skated by. “Get a room already,” he grumbled loudly. His friends snickered as they followed.

“The kid does have a point,” Jonathan said, once they passed. “Want to go find a room?”

Celeste pulled away from him, shaking her head. “If you’ve dragged me all the way out here for skating, you had better deliver, mister.”

“I knew you were beginning to like skating.”

She winked at him as she began to stride confidently away. Each winter he had taken her to rink, hoping she would learn to like the activity. While it wasn’t her favorite pastime, it wasn’t so much of a fight to get Celeste to join him on the ice.

“Are you coming, slowpoke?” she called.

He skated after her. He caught up with her quickly. Linking arms, they began to make laps around the rink.

They watched the kids chase each other across the ice. Aspiring figure skaters practiced their jumps and twirls. Couples were skating hand in hand.

With a contented sigh, she moved closer to him. She could catch a hint of his cologne on the winter breeze. She smiled when he squeezed her hand.

Without warning, he skated in front of her. He was skating backwards so he could face her. She was pleased that he was still holding her hand.

“Show-off,” she chided, smiling. “You’re going to fall.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

He did figure eights around her and other stunts. She tried not to laugh at his antics, knowing it would only encourage him. However, she couldn’t hide her smile. That seemed to be enough to keep him going.

But he didn’t see the uneven patch of ice as he skated backwards, once more holding her hand. Celeste tried to call out a warning, but Jonathan was already falling. He grunted as his back collided with the solid ice. A second later, Celeste crashed on top of him, threatening to rob him of breath. Laughing, she brushed her hair out of her face and Jonathan found himself laughing too.

“Told you you would fall.”

Shouting from the side of the rink drew their attention. One of the attendants was banging on a metallic sign bearing the facility’s rules. He was emphatically pointing at Rule #3: “No horseplaying! Skate or get off the ice.”

“Think he’s meaning us?” Celeste asked.

“Good possibility.” They reluctantly got to their feet. “What to skate a few more laps?”

“No, I think I’ve had enough skating,” she replied. “I’ll stay though, if you want to.”

He shook his head. “We can go.”

They skated to the edge of the rink. They fought hard not to laugh at the indignant expression on the attendant’s face as they passed. They headed to the benches, took off their skates, and reclaimed their shoes.

Celeste was tying her shoes when Jonathan knelt in front of her. “Um, Jonathan, I can tie my shoes. Really, Mrs. Pendergrass made sure of that in kindergarten.”

He took her hand, still kneeling before her. “Celeste, we’ve been through a lot together.”

“That’s the understatement of the century,” she said, smiling.

“If we can get through all that, I think we have a pretty good shot of surviving anything.” He took a deep breath. “Celeste, I love you. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

She squeezed his hand. “I love you, too, Jonathan.”

“Will you marry me?” He pulled the ring from his pocket. “Will you be my wife?”

She stared at him, her expression unreadable. He waited as several thoughts flashed through his mind. Had he moved too fast? Was she going to say no?

“Celeste, please, say something.”

She blinked. “Yes.”

“What?”

“Yes.” She threw herself at him, knocking him backwards. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He was relieved to see her smiling. “For a minute there, I thought you were going to say no.”

She laughed. “You really can be the densest man at times, Jonathan.”

“But you love me.”

“Always.”

He took her hand, slipped the ring on her finger. With a huge smile, she leaned down and kissed him. They were soon interrupted by now familiar shouting. With a sigh, Jonathan reluctantly released Celeste. “I’m going to hurt that guy.”

“He’s just doing his job, Jonathan.” She traced his jaw with her fingers. “I didn’t just dream all this, did I?”

He shook his head. “No, Celeste, this is too good to be a dream.”

* * * * *

Tomiko turned from the happy couple to her companion. “So, what’s the verdict? Do they live happily ever after?”

“It’s really up to them.”

“Oh, come on, Setsuna. Don’t give me that!”

She shrugged. “Nothing is certain, least of all the future.”

Tomiko snorted as she glanced back the couple. “They do look good together. I’ll give them that.”

“You could give them privacy as well,” Setsuna stated as she began to leave the rink area.

“Believe me, those two are lost in their own little world right now.” However, she followed the Guardian of Time. “Well, at least Sol and Charon are together again.”

“In a way.”

“Were the sacrifices worth it?”

Setsuna gave a real smile. “Definitely, Morpheus. Definitely.”


A Happy Ending Four years later. . . “This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind,” Celeste said, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. Jonathan grinned. “What? I promised you a fun afternoon.” “I seem to be missing the fun part of this.” He stopped. “I thought you were beginning to like skating.” “Sometimes you can be the densest man. You know that, right?” Her smile took the bite off her words. He took her hand, pulling her to him. “You forgot devilishly handsome.” “Did I forgot amazingly full of it, too?” she asked, gazing up at him. A boy, probably about twelve, skated by. “Get a room already,” he grumbled loudly. His friends snickered as they followed. “The kid does have a point,” Jonathan said, once they passed. “Want to go find a room?” Celeste pulled away from him, shaking her head. “If you’ve dragged me all the way out here for skating, you had better deliver, mister.” “I knew you were beginning to like skating.” She winked at him as she began to stride confidently away. Each winter he had taken her to rink, hoping she would learn to like the activity. While it wasn’t her favorite pastime, it wasn’t so much of a fight to get Celeste to join him on the ice. “Are you coming, slowpoke?” she called. He skated after her. He caught up with her quickly. Linking arms, they began to make laps around the rink. They watched the kids chase each other across the ice. Aspiring figure skaters practiced their jumps and twirls. Couples were skating hand in hand. With a contented sigh, she moved closer to him. She could catch a hint of his cologne on the winter breeze. She smiled when he squeezed her hand. Without warning, he skated in front of her. He was skating backwards so he could face her. She was pleased that he was still holding her hand. “Show-off,” she chided, smiling. “You’re going to fall.” “No, I’m not.” “Yes, you are.” “Am not.” “Are too.” He did figure eights around her and other stunts. She tried not to laugh at his antics, knowing it would only encourage him. However, she couldn’t hide her smile. That seemed to be enough to keep him going. But he didn’t see the uneven patch of ice as he skated backwards, once more holding her hand. Celeste tried to call out a warning, but Jonathan was already falling. He grunted as his back collided with the solid ice. A second later, Celeste crashed on top of him, threatening to rob him of breath. Laughing, she brushed her hair out of her face and Jonathan found himself laughing too. “Told you you would fall.” Shouting from the side of the rink drew their attention. One of the attendants was banging on a metallic sign bearing the facility’s rules. He was emphatically pointing at Rule #3: “No horseplaying! Skate or get off the ice.” “Think he’s meaning us?” Celeste asked. “Good possibility.” They reluctantly got to their feet. “What to skate a few more laps?” “No, I think I’ve had enough skating,” she replied. “I’ll stay though, if you want to.” He shook his head. “We can go.” They skated to the edge of the rink. They fought hard not to laugh at the indignant expression on the attendant’s face as they passed. They headed to the benches, took off their skates, and reclaimed their shoes. Celeste was tying her shoes when Jonathan knelt in front of her. “Um, Jonathan, I can tie my shoes. Really, Mrs. Pendergrass made sure of that in kindergarten.” He took her hand, still kneeling before her. “Celeste, we’ve been through a lot together.” “That’s the understatement of the century,” she said, smiling. “If we can get through all that, I think we have a pretty good shot of surviving anything.” He took a deep breath. “Celeste, I love you. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.” She squeezed his hand. “I love you, too, Jonathan.” “Will you marry me?” He pulled the ring from his pocket. “Will you be my wife?” She stared at him, her expression unreadable. He waited as several thoughts flashed through his mind. Had he moved too fast? Was she going to say no? “Celeste, please, say something.” She blinked. “Yes.” “What?” “Yes.” She threw herself at him, knocking him backwards. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” He was relieved to see her smiling. “For a minute there, I thought you were going to say no.” She laughed. “You really can be the densest man at times, Jonathan.” “But you love me.” “Always.” He took her hand, slipped the ring on her finger. With a huge smile, she leaned down and kissed him. They were soon interrupted by now familiar shouting. With a sigh, Jonathan reluctantly released Celeste. “I’m going to hurt that guy.” “He’s just doing his job, Jonathan.” She traced his jaw with her fingers. “I didn’t just dream all this, did I?” He shook his head. “No, Celeste, this is too good to be a dream.” * * * * * Tomiko turned from the happy couple to her companion. “So, what’s the verdict? Do they live happily ever after?” “It’s really up to them.” “Oh, come on, Setsuna. Don’t give me that!” She shrugged. “Nothing is certain, least of all the future.” Tomiko snorted as she glanced back the couple. “They do look good together. I’ll give them that.” “You could give them privacy as well,” Setsuna stated as she began to leave the rink area. “Believe me, those two are lost in their own little world right now.” However, she followed the Guardian of Time. “Well, at least Sol and Charon are together again.” “In a way.” “Were the sacrifices worth it?” Setsuna gave a real smile. “Definitely, Morpheus. Definitely.”


Sailor Sol: Battle Against the Winds