#wedding1

[paper-lioness]

“Up! Up!”

“I don’t think Xavier’s going to last through the reception,” James told Amber.  “Do you want me to take him back to your house? I don’t mind watching him for a few hours so he can nap.”

Amber hesitated.  Although James had visited with Xavier many times in the past few months since his reappearance, this would be the first time he’d been alone with her son.  She did trust him, but it was still a little bit of a strange situation that they were only beginning to figure out.  Then again, this was her wedding day.

“That would be great!  Cora has my keys.  He’s usually pretty good about taking naps, and you can just make yourself at home while he sleeps.  Thank you so much!”

“No problem!  C’mon, Xavier, let’s go home and get a snack and lie down, okay?”

“Snack!”

[paper-lioness]

“See that, buddy?  Look how much your mom and dad love each other.  You’re a lucky boy!”

“I wuv you, Auntie Cora. I marry you!”

[paper-lioness]

Just as the reception began, Cora came running towards Amber, her phone in hand.

“It’s James,” she said breathlessly.  “He said there’s an emergency.”

Amber took the phone and waved Cora away.  “You and Huck make sure the party keeps going,” she told her before holding the phone up to her ear.

“James? What’s going on?  You WHAT?  Who--How did you even manage that?  Llama, we’ll be right there.  Don’t let X see the body.” 

She hung up and pulled Lucius away from his conversation.  “We have to go home.  Now.”

[paper-lioness]

Obligatory wedding photo shoot. Don’t mind me.

[paper-lioness]

They’re either getting ready for a wedding, or they’ve formed a really well-dressed girl gang.  You decide.

[paper-lioness]

Amber took a deep breath to steel herself.  “I just... I’m marrying an immortal half-demon today.  Me.  That’s kind of crazy?”

Gyselle stepped back and took Amber’s hands in her own.  “Is it Lucius’ past that troubles you, or your own?”

“Mine, or the lack thereof.  I mean, he’s beautiful and powerful and freakin’ immortal and here I’m--”

“The thing he loves most in this world,” Gyselle finished for her.  “I understand your concerns--in fact, originally I warned Lucius not to fall for you.”

She sighed and continued, “My brother strives so hard to be as human as possible--he even resists using the abilities he inherited from his father out of fear of becoming more demon-like, as Alaric and I are.  He surrounds himself with human things--art and music and poetry--but he had nothing of his own.  And now he has you, and your precious Xavier.  Yes, you will grow old, and you will die when my brother will not, but he will always have your love, and Xavier’s, and Xavier’s children, and so on.  You have given him a priceless gift, whether you know it or not.  I may not understand my brother’s desire for this human lifestyle, but I do understand that you make my brother happier than I have ever seen him in over one hundred years.  You are as worthy of him as he is of you.”

“Wow,” Cora whispered to Huck.  “Thank the Llama she’s here.  I would’ve just punched her in the shoulder and told her to buck up.”

[paper-lioness]

Before Amber knew it, the big day had arrived.  As she put the finishing touches on her appearance with her bridesmaids in the dressing room, a sudden bout of reality hit her.  Gyselle noticed first.

“Amber, are you well?”

Amber covered her face with her hands.  “Yeah, I’m fine.  Just nervous I guess.”

“Come here.”  The iron in Gyselle’s voice did not allow for disobedience.   When Amber approached her, she brushed a strand of hair away from her face and softened her tone.  “What troubles you?”

[paper-lioness]

After the ceremony, the guests milled around and chatted while they waited for Amber and Lucius to finish their photography session.  Both of Lucius’ siblings took turns regaling the crowd with stories of Lucius’ childhood, slightly edited to avoid revealing his true age.

“Hi there.  I’m Salim.”

“If my husband doesn’t kill you, I will.”