Rouge The Bat: Mature Goddess

Rouge and Tom have been married for twenty four years and eight months
as of this chapter.

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Tom checked his suit in the mirror. It was a wedding day and he wanted
to look good. Standing on the chair, Rouge reached his neck, adjusting
the tie. "You never could get one of these on...."

"One of many things I need you for, Rouge," he said, kissing her.

She was dressed in one of her best formal outfits. Black business
suit with a pink shirt, dark stockings and a tiny heart pin on the
lapel. "The Commander will be here soon. We don't have to rush this."

"I know, but... well," he muttered out, "your sister's getting
married, right her in our living room, but doesn't mean she shouldn't
have a decent ceremony. Crap, the pictures, who's gonna take the
pictures?"

Rouge answered, "a GUN employee is coming with the Commander to do
that. Don't worry."

"Hmm..." Tom was curious. "We always call him the commander of GUN.
Doesn't he have a name?"

Rouge answered, "of course he does!"


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Tiff was already in her wedding dress, or rather, Teal's wedding dress.
She sat in the living room, phone in hand. "Daddy... I'll bring
Tiff by to see you very soon."

"That's okay, don't trouble yourself," the man said.

"No trouble, daddy. Listen, June and I need a vacation anyway so we
should visit you."

The man asked, "and your mother?"

"Mom..." Tiff didn't want to think about it. "Mom told me what she
thought about me. Anyway, work's been good and it's been fun living
here."

"Right, you live in that big mansion now!"

She said, "listen, daddy, I have to go. They'll be here soon to start
the wedding. I'll call you in a couple days, okay?"

The voice answered back, "I love you, Tiff. You have fun and don't
worry about me, okay?"

She said her goodbyes, the receiver clicking down. Teal was watching.
"Your father?"

"Yeah." She seemed sad. "Daddy was mugged a few years ago, got shot.
The doctors saved him, but he's in a nursing home under care. He
lost both lungs and they could only give him one. I don't get to see him
much, but we talk on the phone a lot." Tiff knew that Teal wanted to
ask but was being polite. "Mom and dad were already fighting when I
came out, but it pissed mom off bad and they got divorced. Daddy was
okay with it but not mom. I don't see her or talk to her. Does that
make me a bad person?"

"I want to say it does," Teal answered, "but honestly, I don't think
so." Tiff was mildly surprised by her answer. "Mom and dad always
supported me. That's what parents are supposed to do, love their
children. If I'd come out gay, mom would've defended me to the very
last. Mom's a bit of a wild animal like that about her family. Anyway...
I need to get the twins ready."

"They carrying the rings?" Tiff asked.

"Yeah. I know they might not understand two women getting married,
but they'll have to learn eventually. They need to know to accept
something like that and not hate it."

"Thank you, Teal."

"Slate's getting ready. I know you won't get a big wedding but you'll
have something to remember.


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Everyone gathered in the living room. Furniture was pushed aside, making
a nice little aisle. Tom had found a small podium amongst the old
furniture and carried it himself. The Commander stood by it, signing
the marriage certificate. "Now then... I've never performed such a
ceremony, and unfortunately I have other matters to attend to, so..."
He produced the paper. "All you need to do is sign."

June and Tiff walked forward. The twins held up the rings, the two
slipping them onto each others fingers. Taking their pens, each one
signed their name. "And that's it. You two are now legally married."
Opening his laptop, the Commander scanned the document, putting it
into legal public record.

The photographer took pictures of everyone, single and in groups.
Content that enough pictures were taken, Tom gave him permission to
leave.

Tiff looked her wife over carefully. "You look... very pretty."

"You too," June replied. "Sis let me wear her old dress. So, uh..."

Tiff blushed. "Wanna change and go hit the town?"

Rouge approached them. "June, I'm proud of you. My little sister got
married! So..." She could see they wanted to be alone. "Tell you
what. That Twinkle Park in Station Square lets couples in free. Might
be a nice place to go... just a thought..."

"If they let us in," June commented.

Rouge smiled. "If they won't, then call me and I'll make them.
Sound good? Actually..." She looked over to Tom. "Teal?"

"Yes, mom?" she asked.

"Teal, think you could watch the twins for a bit?"

She looked over at Slate. He had no objections. "Sure, mom."

Rouge took Tom's hand. "Come on, you and me having some fun outside
of the bedroom for a change..."

He squeezed her hand back. "Sure. But let's give the newlyweds SOME
room, okay?"

She seemed offended. "Tom, I'm not going to spy on my sister. Just..."
Rouge trailed off. "Okay, I'm curious. I just want to make sure
she's not gonna be uncomfortable around others."

"Please, sis." June gave her a hard nudge. "Never was, never will
be."