Epilogue
The sun was warm, though not hot, which Archimedes was grateful for since he was wearing a suit. The priest had arrived for the vow renewal and they were all waiting on the terrace for the bride to arrive.
Banks was in attendance, a little stiff in his suit, but smiling hugely.
They’d had some long conversations with him over the last year, and hatchets had been buried and bridges built.
Regardless of how they’d once felt about him, he was the man who’d brought them both up and he was the only family they had.
He wasn’t the Fagin figure of old, but a changed man. A family man even.
Now, he was cradling Eva, now just six months old, and already ruling the household.
They hadn’t wanted anyone else to come, only close family, not that Archimedes cared. As long as she was there, that was all he wanted.
He’d been the one to insist on a vow renewal, since he wanted to marry her ‘properly’ and Zoe had been happy to agree. She’d been busy with her new company, as well as acting as a consultant with the Ares developers since, apparently, they needed instruction.
Only then Eva had shown up unexpectedly, so they’d had to postpone the ceremony for a bit.
But today was the day, and he was already impatient. That was fine though. Zoe loved it when he was impatient, especially in bed.
He didn’t have long to wait, luckily, because suddenly, there she was, in a gown of ivory silk that clung to her figure before billowing out in a flurry of crystal--strewn tulle. Stars sparkled on the bodice, and he’d insisted on the diamond tiara holding her veil in place, worked as a star.
His heart ached and he didn’t take his eyes off her as she came towards him, smiling, radiating happiness, glittering like the North Star she was.
He held out a hand and her fingers threaded through his, and they faced the priest.
It had taken them a long time to find each other again, but now they were finally where they were always supposed to be.
Together.