Chapter Text
• 22 April 2349 •
...three alarms later.
The day before was one of the most joyful days in his life. Falk married the love of his life (in a far more fitting situation as opposed to after his Roboter Operation last October), and the daughter they adopted could have shouted the good news to all the world if she was allowed it. But he who was the Advisor to the Princesses of Radioland, and their Commander Regent, wouldn't regret the difficult road that brought him to his wedding day; his wife Geneviève and their daughter Mirabelle would feel the same.
During the reception at the Spacelab in Düsseldorf, Mirabelle received the okay to stay the night at the Observatory Royal in Radioland. This news pleased her best friend and "boyfriend" Thomas, and his father Georg — the Astronomer in Residence and one of Falk's fellow Commanders — was elated to have a sleepover on the Observation Deck. Lieselotte, Georg's wife, felt it was best as everyone would be a bit on the exhausted side the next morning. This would be proven true in particular for Mirabelle's parents.
Early that evening — 5pm to be exact — Jean-Maríe officiated Saturday Holy Eucharist in anticipation for the next morning. While he knew that Johannes, the Chaplain of the Chapter, would accompany him in the morning as was befit an Expedited Seminarian, he was well aware that Falk and Geneviève would not. And exhaustion was beginning to show as both husband and wife had been up since early morning with the final preparations. The Priest would allow them this Mass to fulfill the Sunday obligation, and it was a wise decision as would show just hours later.
“...was that the alarm?”
“...mhm.”
Falk chuckled at his wife's question before opening his eyes to look at the small chicken-shaped alarm clock on the bedside table. Geneviève had the most adorable little home, and her bedroom was nothing short of charming. The little statues of Saints Geneviève and Jeanne d'Arc that graced her dresser, the pictures that adorned the rose-colored walls, the flags of the various countries she'd visited in years past.
The bride — the Scourge of Bordeaux — patiently waited until after the wedding for her husband to finally move in with her. They'd gotten used to staying together in the Spacelab on occasion, and separately while he was either at the Lab or in his apartment in Elysium with their daughter alternating between them every couple of days. But he dared not stay with her in her own home, out of immense respect for her. Now that they were married, she could finally show him the two smaller rooms in her home that she diligently worked on: one that would be Mirabelle's room, and an Oratory for the family to pray in.
“I still can't believe you saved the bouquet from my wedding, Geneviève!”
“But of course I did, Bekah! It's right over the photos from Mirabelle's adoption day. And after all, you and Wolfgang helped tremendously with everything going on.”
Rebekah was pleasantly surprised to find that Geneviève had saved the bouquet that was tossed to her during the reception back in January. The Nurse and her husband had helped the Scourge and Advisor with the save-the-date for their wedding a few months later, much less the announcement of the engagement.
But now the two joyful wives were quietly giggling over their wedding bands, as distinct and special as they were. Wolfgang had carefully removed and cleaned the surgical thread that Rebekah had sewn onto him after they'd first met in September of 2347, and had that thread incorporated into their wedding bands; Falk chose to have "Other half of my soul" engraved on those of him and Geneviève — the text in German for the bride, and in French for the groom.
Anneke and Karl were all smiles as they captured the delightful moment in pictures, making sure to capture both of the husbands who were watching the moment unfold from a distance. It was a favorite picture (and moment, for that matter), of the entire reception.
Falk kissed his wife's forehead, still half asleep as the three Sunday morning alarms had gone off, and were all dismissed. Geneviève inquired about the alarms, which he did confirm. While the two did have a fantastic time at the reception, and the day as a whole was joyful, they were definitely worn out from it all... so much so that they went to bed not long after they'd gotten home.
Home. Something that Falk hadn't thought much of in several years. Certainly not since the war began. Definitely not since he moved to his apartment in Elysium. And while he and his family would certainly stay a few nights there in the future, considering his position, he never really had a place to call home in so long. But when they talked about it, Geneviève insisted that he move in with her, as she was already on the ball about figuring out where their daughter was going to stay. In-between everything else going down, she was able to find a bed and some dressers for Mirabelle's room.
Everything was going to be fine.
“...we should get up, mon cœur.”
“Ja, like... ten minutes ago...”
“Falk! Sir!”
“Florian, yes! What is it?”
The 1st Lieutenant of the Mensch-Maschinen was quick to approach the Advisor during the reception, all smiles. “You could not have picked a better day for this” Florian told him.
His statement caused Falk to tilt his head curiously. “Oh? How so?”
Florian smiled in gratitude. “You took what was a tough day for me, and gave it a new meaning.”
“I... how, Flori?”
“Today was the anniversary of my Roboter Operation.”
Falk's eyes widened in shock. “Oh my God, Flor — I didn't know!”
But Florian smiled all the more, tears of gratitude flooding his eyes. “I know. But you gave me a new reason to look forward to this day. And now Eliza and I can smile at today for years to come — and for that, I am grateful.”
The Advisor finally took a deep breath after a few seconds, and nodded. And smiled. “Bitteschön, Flori” he replied as the two gave each other a big hug. “And I am so glad you're still here.”
“As am I — and I'm glad you're still here, too.” Florian pulled back to smile again at the Advisor. “A word of advice, if I may... keep finding joy.” That last part Florian spoke slowly, a timely reminder that he had to tell himself from time to time.
“Keep finding joy” Falk whispered to himself, the words of wisdom causing his wife to blink her eyes and look at him with a curious smirk.
“Where did that come from, darling?”
“Florian told me that at the reception yesterday.”
Geneviève giggled. “Perhaps he knows something about finding joy that we do not. He may not say much, but when he does it's best to heed it.”
Falk nodded. “This is true, Liebe.” He always had a tremendous respect for Ralf's Second-in-Command; and when Florian Schneider-Esleben spoke, you were quick to listen and slow to speak.
The Scourge looked to the alarm clock, and back to her husband. “Makes me glad Jean-Maríe had that Vigil Mass last night. I'm still exhausted.”
“Same, honestly” the Advisor sighed as he gave her forehead another kiss. “Makes me glad we had Mira stay the night at the Observatory.”
Geneviève chuckled at his comment. “I forgot about that!!” She then sighed quietly, “What a day we had, both of us... all of us.”
“Claudia successfully asking Jean-Maríe for a dance” her husband recalled with a stunned look. “Kometen nearly fainted at the sight.” He still couldn't get over the moment when the Princess Emeritus of Radioland watched as the Spy Master and the Cleric had a dance. Normally Claudia wasn't one to want to dance with anybody so for Kometen to see that...!
“Honestly the two looked rather cute together, Falk” Geneviève replied with a smile. “And it was a delight to see my parents again!”
“Your parents are precious and to see them talking with Sören and Viktoria was a treat.” Falk smiled wistfully at the memory. “And Ralf and Johanna...”
“They were adorable” the Scourge sighed dreamily. “I can't wait to see how their wedding will be like. It'll be magnificent.”
The Advisor smiled at his wife. “Well considering that she is the Princess, their wedding will take place in the Cathedral in Metropolis. The same with that of Fritz and Kometen, as she is the Princess Emeritus.”
Geneviève nodded. “Makes sense. I suppose we'll all be fitted for proper uniforms for those?” she asked, which he affirmed with a nod of his head. But it also prompted her to ask, “What about you? Why didn't you want your wedding at the Cathedral?”
“Because I may be the Commander Regent, but I wanted our wedding at a place that held so much meaning for the both of us” he replied. “When I explained it to Kometen, she more than understood.”
“The Spacelab has held so many memories for us, hasn't it?”
“Mhmm.”
It was now almost 10 in the morning.
Falk hugged his wife tightly. This all still felt surreal to him — having a family of his own. He quietly reflected on the events of the past six months... the Shooting Star Incident, the revelation of the Radiostern, his Roboter Operation, meeting Mirabelle, Operation Strikeback. Christmas. He and Geneviève adopting Mirabelle. Wolfgang and Rebekah's wedding. Jean-Maríe being conditionally ordained into the Anglican Priesthood. And now, more to look forward to, as Johannes would have her Deaconate exam next month and her Ordination in June.
He was brought back to the present moment as Geneviève kissed his cheek a few times, a small giggle escaping him. And for a moment, he remembered the night he recovered from his Operation: how she promised to love him “for better and for worse, come what may.” How they sealed their vows well before they took them at the Altar. How they made sure, once they knew that Jean-Maríe was in town, to deal with that matter under the seal of Confession!
“Gen, Liebe” he whispered with a small kiss to her shoulder. “We should get up at some point.” If he were honest, he didn't want to get up out of bed yet... he wanted to stay with her just a while longer.
His wife raised an amused brow. “Oh? How long were you thinking?”
“Five minutes” he replied with a light kiss to her neck.
Geneviève snort-giggled. “More like two hours?”
Her husband smirked at her. “Two, Gen?”
“...two and a half then?” Her little pleading made him roll his eyes as the two chuckled and shared a kiss — which was quickly broken as both of their stomachs then grumbled low. The two blinked and looked at each other. It was then that they realized, a shower and some breakfast wouldn't be a bad idea soon. Geneviève made a face — “Hour and 45?”
“Deal.”
“Hour and 45 minutes it is then” Geneviève confirmed as she took her phone off the bedside table and set the timer. Once she placed it back on the table she smiled at him. “Now, where were we?”
Falk blushed with a small smile. “Uhm... I think we were about to have a repeat of what happened after my Roboter Operation.” He then shrugged bashfully. “I mean, if that's what you were thinking...”
She gave him a knowing smile. “Well given that we made sure we wouldn't repeat it until after yesterday...”
He snort-chuckled. “Look I wasn't sure how that was going to happen now that it's official.” His admission drew a soft laugh out of her, the two hugging each other tightly. Sure, they didn't always have a clue about the next day, much less the next situation; but that didn't mean that they couldn't figure it out. They always knew what to do, even when they didn't.
“What am I going to do with you, mon mari bien-aimé?” Geneviève whispered with a little kiss to his chin.
“Not sure, meine geliebte Frau” Falk replied with a few kisses to her cheeks. He then touched his forehead to hers, “But I do know this — I will love you until the end of the world.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Both you, and our precious Bella.”
“And I will love you both well beyond the end” she replied with a smile. The day before, Mirabelle was elated to meet her French maternal Grandparents, and the three shared stories about life during wartime in Düsseldorf and Bordeaux. Geneviève's parents were smitten with the girl, and promised to keep in touch. Mirabelle would happily talk about it with Thomas once the two were alone at the Observation Deck of the Observatory.
That was a memory that Geneviève would reminisce on with Falk while in the shower later on — the two still had another hour and 40 minutes to themselves, and they were not going to waste a single minute as one kiss became another, and a gentle making out became an echo of what she would call, the sealing of the vows.