Wedding Bells

BY: Kash

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone and I'm not making any money.

Author's Note: I apologize for any and all mistakes...I'm sorta rushing...okay really rushing, and my beta is in New Orleans having fun without me...so please bare with me...and if there are any problems let me know.

Rating: PG-13 (Just a little bad language...its a wedding for the love of pete.)

For the past couple weeks I'd been walking around with nothing but black clouds and rain hanging over my head...but finally it seemed the sun had decided to how its face again. I was so glad that it had. Pug had, had his hands full trying to keep me from bouncing around the receiving chamber after I left Luce's apartment. I admit it I was ecstatic. I had been so afraid...it still made my breath catch in my chest when I thought about him leaving me.

I'd been so worried that it had all just been a game to him...another ploy in a long line of them to break my spirit or bring me to his side of things. I'd been having wild mood swings...first angry then sad, then scared, and back and forth and back and forth. Oh did I mention the self delusion...yeah I kept trying to convince myself that everything was fine, he wasn't REALLY avoiding me. No it was all just peachy. I'm not very good at self delusion. I knew even then that we had a problem...and I wasn't sure what to do.

When I walked in, it'd been with the intent to just ask him if he still intended to marry me or not, weeping all over his pants hadn't been on the agenda...have I ever mentioned that I'm also very spontaneous and have a hard time sticking to plans. Well I am...and I couldn't help it...watching him watch me...like I was some insect. I just knew he was gonna say no...that he never wanted to see me again, unless it was strapped to the rack. I tried to imagine life without him...it didn't work...I couldn't...and hell...see there I go again getting emotional and wanting to weep. I'm not going to do that...it'll ruin my make up. No...I'm going to take a deep breath and relax. I have to walk down the aisle in a minute. There is no reason for me to be crying.

In any event, when I got back to my house, I was bouncing. Lyza was there to hug me and force me to sit still long enough for the hair dresser Jean-Claude had abducted. Well actually he'd paid the man a small fortune to come and do my hair and everyone else's. He was French and Jean-Claude kept making comments...helpful or otherwise in French...and the man would smile in pleasure and "Monsuier" what exquisite taste he had and rattle something back in French. I was getting very annoyed. Fortunately Anita arrived and dragged the vampire off to get him to...well I'm not sure, but she came back about and an hour later, freshly scrubbed and smelling of lavender...funny thing Jean smelled of lavender as well. What are you willing to bet he was 'Helping' her get ready.

She was wearing her dress, and I thought it looked wonderful. The purple looked lovely against her skin and only the scars at her collar and neck were visible. That was fine, pretty much everyone in the wedding party had a few nice reminders of a stupid error or a bad encounter. Jean-Claude was also in his finery...he looked fabulous...he was wearing a suit similar to Luce's, it was a version of dress armor...with a long cape...his happened to be done in black and blue...well you know Jean-Claude if he isn't stunning in crimson he's gonna be brilliant in blue.

They both looked more relaxed now, and my hair was done...now all I had to do was get into my dress without destroying it, or brushing against the make up Tam had helped me apply. She'd left about an hour ago to make sure all the decorations were in place and the cake and food were arriving on schedule. I wasn't allowed to be in charge of that...Dathan said something about my "anal retention to every minute detail" being "mind boggling and annoying." So I wasn't allowed near the lupnar till it was time to take the vows.

I was getting fidgety...okay so that's a major understatement, but hey I try and blase about my failings. It was ten thirty by the time everyone's hair and makeup was done. Gigs hadn't liked the style the frenchfry had designed for her...but then to give her credit, it did look like something Marge Simpson would do to her towering blue hair. Asher had made some threatening comment in French and the little man went back to work undoing his creation and coming up with something a bit less...uhm...tall? It looked really nice...but the room was so full of hairspray by the time he finished that if anyone had lit a match the air would have caught fire.

After that, they all left. That's right...they abandoned me each and every one of them. Okay maybe abandoned is the wrong word, but Gigs refused to teleport to the lupanar...and Richard had forbidden anyone but Tanya, Lyza and I have that courtesy...and he only allowed me AFTER he saw my dress and realized that my skirt and train wouldn't FIT in a vehicle. Tany and Lyza got the privilege because they were out of town.

I spent the next half hour waiting for Dathan or Pug...or whoever to arrive so that I could get on with it already. It was like waiting for the dentist. It wouldn't be all that bad and when it was over maybe I'd get a sticker. I began pacing...and the shoes pinched....and my hair was heavy with two extra pounds of mousse and gel for extra hold...not to mention the veil kept trying to get tangled with the potted palm and I was triping over my skirt ever two seconds. I was nervous so sue me.

Pug's laughter startled me and I swung around to glare at him only to get caught in the damn veil and nearly choke myself to death. He came to my rescue and I managed to catch my breath...eventually. I tried to kick him, but the skirt cushioned the blow, bloody naffing skirt. I straightened my shoulders and tried to appear calm and decorous. He nodded giving me an impressed look then ruined it by laughing. "I'd believe it if I hadn't just seen you almost strangled with your own veil."

"Funny." I managed between gritted teeth before taking the hand he offered. He smiled at me and leaned close enough to give me a kiss on the cheek. "Except for the bit of palm frond in your hair you look lovely." I glared, but he just reached up and removed the offending piece of greenery. Which reminded me that I needed my bouquet.

A voice from the kitchen surprised me. "Flowers?" Saul asked as he strolled into the room holding up the bundle of wild flowers, that Tyler and Jack picked for me. I'd cried when I saw them. Jean-Claude had ordered a beautiful arrangement of lilies, but when it comes right down to it...I'd rather have wildflowers any day of the week.

I smiled and took walked very slowly to his side (damn stupid dress) and hugged him. Saul had been like a father to me since I joined the Avi's. God knows I'd needed someone to guide me when I first joined...can you say hot headed little know it all? I can. I've mellowed...I swear...maybe not much...but some.

God knows I'd needed someone to guide me when I first joined...can you say hot headed little know it all? I can. I've mellowed...I swear...maybe not much...but some.

Pug cleared out pretty quick...wonder why...couldn't have anything to do with being in the room with a man sworn to defend mankind against all evil...and him being an imp and all could it? Naw, it probably had more to do with the fact that he saw tears in the immediate future. Coward.

Saul shook his head. "I can't belive I survived long enough to see the day you would actually MARRY." He grinned. I shrugged. "You know me, I've gotta keep you on your toes...do the unexpected...bet ya didn't see this one coming." I said saucily.

He laughed. "No...can't say I did. And the groom." He sighed. "I wish it could have been Da" I put my hand over his mouth. "No you don't, and neither do I. I love Dare, he's my best friend, but we..." I didn't have the words "It just wouldn't work." I looked down at my flowers and blinked the tears away. Yeah I was being emotional...I couldn't seem to help it, but it was my wedding day I was allowed to be emotional.

"Is Mona coming?" I asked referring to his wife, They had worked...still worked together like Dare and I did, but they had found out that they WERE meant to be. Most the Avi's who were married were married to other Avi's...those who had married mortals...well they tended to retire. Its hard to fight when you're worrying about which Demon will figure out who your mortal loved ones are and then use them as bait. I'd never met anyone who eventually retired, but then I was young yet.

He smiled. "Of course, Chelane and Phyra are with the guys at the...lupnar isn't it?" I nodded. Chelane was, the other newbie...well she was still a hundred years my senior...but the next youngest was Dare and he was seven hundred my senior...well seven and change...but he refuses to give a specific number...and no one else will tell either. She was one of my best friends...next to Dare she was it. The three of us were known trouble makers. Ahh the sweet folly of youth.

I nodded and took a deep breath. "Okay, lets do this thing." I said grabbing a good portion of my skirt and looping it over my arm. I could do this and NOT fall flat on my face. I took a step and was amazed when the heel didn't get caught in the silk lining of the dress, score one for me.I could hear Saul laughing behind me.

"Would this be easier if I just carried you?" Pug asked as he popped back in. Saul had just managed to stop laughing, and this sent him off in another round. I glared at both of them. "We have to go...how are you getting there?" I asked frowning as Saul, I didn't want to annoy Richard...okay so that was a lie, annoying Richard was like chocolate...I just ate it up. But having Saul 'blinked' in was rude, when we'd already been asked not to do any of that at the lupanar.

Saul smiled. "Oh I have my ways, I'll see you at the church." He turned and walked out of the room. I looked a Pug who just shrugged. I shook my head and took a deep breath. I'd been taking lots of deep fortifying breaths lately...can't imagine why.

Pug reached out and took my hand lightly in his and gave it a squeeze. I looked back up and the scenery was decidedly different. I was standing not that far from the lupanar...where a glow of candle light and garden lights made strange shadows. Maybe a midnight ceremony in the Lukoi's gathering place wasn't such a wise idea. It was a place of power after all...not to mention that the shadows in the nearby woods were a little creepy.

The area where the ceremony was going to be conducted was beautiful though. The candles were set in large free standing candelabra, and lined the aisle, and threaded through all the trees around the clearing and the path coming to it were little white lights, they weren't twinkling, but they did put off enough light to give a romantic feeling and to enclose the space. I suppose we could have done this in the dark, but not everyone here had preternatural senses.

The seating was a little awkward, there were a few benches, and of course the rock throne, but otherwise everything had needed to be brought in. I'd made sure that an altar was NOT one of those things...I still have nightmares about the last altar I...well that's another story altogether.

We had brought in lovely wooden folding chairs. There'd been arguments about what color they should be, we'd finally settled on wood stained a nice honey brown, it wasn't white and it wasn't black, so it worked nicely. There was a rather decided lack of white in this entire affair. Of course we hadn't really done much by way of decoration so there wasn't much of any color that wasn't natural. I still thought it was beautiful though. Of course I'm a nature freak and getting married around midnight on Halloween in a secluded forest glade was just perfect in my opinion.

Pug had released my hand while I stared around the clearing, and moved away. I was left alone at the end of a long aisle...a beautiful carpet stretched down to where Luce waited for me. In the darkness it looked black, except in the pools of candlelight where you could see its true color...a deep Burgundy red. I turned as Tam, Gigs and Anita arrived. Kylie was standing off to one side engaged in conversation with Maggie and Sarai about something...I wondered if it was an innocent discussion or if Gigs and Tam had put them up to something.

Tam claimed my attention though as she reached out and enfolded me in a hug. I smiled up at her.

"Do you think its too Goth?" I asked. She shook her head.

Gigs smirked. "Oh I think its fitting, all we need is a little brimstone and it'll be perfect."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah the smell of rotten eggs is just what I need...I'm already nervous, do you really want me to spend the next five minutes throwing up?"

Tam tried to look sympathetic but I could see the laughter dancing in her eyes. "A little pre-wedding jitters Kash?"

I smiled. "Of course not...nothing to be jittery about...nope, not me, nerves of still...." I paused and grimaced. "That obvious huh."

Tamara started laughing. I glared. "Don't worry, you'll be fine in a few minutes." She assured me after her laughter died down.

I hoped she was right, I was so nervous...I will not say the word afraid...I shall leave it hanging in the air unsaid, but understood...that works doesn't it? I took gave her a wide eyed look and nodded. I don't know if she'd have started laughing again because Tanya and Lyza arrived and occupied our attention for a few minutes, long enough for Jason to hurry over to where we were all clustered, exchanging hugs, reassurances and advice, to tell us that it was time and we needed to "Shake a leg."

Lyza and Tanya hurried off, after Lyza squeezed my hand one last time and told me that it was all gonna work out beautifully not to worry...she HAD planned it all after all. I even managed a shakey laugh for her. Tanya gave me a sympathetic look...it'd be her turn soon enough.

Fortunately we were all in line by the time the harp music started. Gigs was stationed with the Orchestra, and wouldn't be walking down the aisle like a happy little bridesmaid, she was going to sing Faithful Heart....it was a beautiful song, and I thought it was appropriate. So we all walked down the aisle on the arms of the best looking men in St. Louis, to beautiful music in a glow of candlelight.

Jean-Claude was walking me down the aisle, Anita was stuck walking with Damien. Kylie was being accompanied by Ramses, and then Gigs was to be escorted from the orchestra by Gideon. Asher was already at the alter standing as best man to Luce.

I was starring down the aisle watching as Kylie took her place next to Anita when Jean-Claude interrupted my thoughts, "It is are turn bruns yeux, best not keep him waiting." I looked up and smiled. That was about five seconds ago...and now I'm doing my dead level best not to step on this stupid skirt as I walk down the aisle to the man I love. God I hope I don't trip.



to be continued....yeah yeah I know.



INDEXor To Be Continued