As one, we both twisted to look over at my sister. Sitting in front of the vanity with our mother, doing last minute touches on the half of her head that still grew hair, she was a vision in white. Today was her wedding day. The last thing I had to take care of before we left town, was watching her walk down the aisle. I wasn't leaving her behind, until I knew for certain that she was safely in the care of another.
And she was. Christian had shown on numerous instances that he genuinely adored her. Not bothered by her looks in the slightest, he lavished her with affection. It warmed my chilly body, knowing that she would have the life I'd always hoped she'd have. And, always the strong one, she'd done it on her own terms.
As Tracey, Halina and I - her bridesmaids - walked over to her, she stood up. Tears threatening to ruin the perfect makeup around her eyes, she smiled at me. "I'm getting married today, Emma," she giggled, clasping her arms over mine.
"I know," I whispered, cinching her in a hug. "And it's about time," I added with a laugh.
Pulling back, she laughed and smacked my arm. Searching my face, she shook her head. "I love you, Emma...I'm gonna miss you."
Swallowing back the huge lump in my throat, I willed my eyes not to water. If I cried, she'd cry, and then we'd both have to get our makeup redone. And she didn't have time for that...she was about to get married. "I'm gonna miss you too, Ash." Carefully dabbing a finger under my uncooperative, watering eyes, I smacked her arm. "Now stop that, it's not like Teren and I won't be bringing the kids down every couple of months to visit with their Aunt."
She laughed and pulled me tight. "You'd better."
The small group of us got quiet as we all watched my sister for a moment. Then the sound of a church organ filled the space. Halina glanced over at me at hearing the sound, smirking. When Ashley had told us that Christian wanted to get married at a church, in a formal ceremony, I'd asked Halina if she'd be able to go. You know, being a pureblood vampire and all, churches just seemed...forbidden.
She'd actually snorted at me. "It's a building...do we need to have the conversation about me being able to go into any building I want to go into again, Emma?" I'd dropped it after that. Apparently that myth wasn't true either.
Ashley let out a quick exhale, smoothing the white satin over her flat hips. "I guess that's my cue," she said softly.
Mom hugged her and grabbed her arm, already crying a little as she prepared to walk her youngest daughter down the aisle.
Halina smiled at Ashley, gave her a swift kiss on the cheek, a very rare sign of affection from her, and then twisted to face the door. "Let's get this over with then," she muttered.
Her escort, a male friend of Christian's, met her at the door with wide eyes. Halina was intoxicatingly sensual, and men picked up on that, especially human men. His eyes glanced down her modest dress as Halina sashayed through the door. Looking back at us, she winked as she laced her arm though his. "Well, aren't Christian's friends just...edible?"
She grinned slyly and disappeared. Tracey harrumphed, still not overly liking Halina, and not really understanding her comment anyway. Mom, Ashley and I exchanged quick glances. I hoped Halina didn't mean that literally. Not that she would really take a bite of a groomsman at my sister's wedding. Well, not before the ceremony anyway...
Tracey was next, meeting up with Teren at the door. I sighed that my husband wasn't walking with me, but I was the Maid of Honor and Teren was only a groomsman. Christian had asked him to be in the wedding as a show of welcome, of melding our families together. I thought the inclusion was very sweet of him. Plus, it gave me the chance to ogle my husband in a tux again.
Smiling crookedly at him, I raised an eyebrow as he extended his elbow to Tracey. She giggled up at him as she took it. His dark hair matching his dark clothes, he looked back at me and muttered under his breath, "You look amazing in that dress...I can't wait to get you out of it." His eyes smoldered at me before he turned and left with my best friend.
I closed my eyes, feeling a flush that I knew was imaginary. My body didn't flush anymore. But Teren's words always made me feel it anyway. He was...talented in that department.
Neither my mom nor sister having heard what he'd said, they only smiled warmly at his broad back leaving. I carefully bit my lip, hoping this ceremony wasn't overly long.
Eventually it was my turn, and as Christian's brother turned up at the door, I looked back at my sister. She had tears in her eyes, watching me leave with her new family. They were in mine too as the vision of her hazed before me, softening into an angel. "I'll see you up there, sis."
What I could see of her nodded, and I twisted to the middle-aged man holding his arm out in a gentlemanly way. Smiling politely at me, he led me to the main chamber filled with pews. Each pew had a bouquet of white and pink roses attached to the end, the pale pink flowers matching the shade of the bridesmaid's dresses. Swarms of people were sitting on those benches, eyes trained on me. Some I knew, some I'd seen a couple of times, some I'd never met before in my life.
My mind blanked them all out as I stared at the altar before me. It was decked out in white chiffon, more roses, and a few tall candles. It was simple, yet gorgeous, much like my sister. My eyes drifted to the people assembled there. Halina looking uncomfortable as she held her small bouquet of flowers, Tracey looking perfectly at ease, her flowers resting right over her baby bump. The minister waiting patiently in the center, a debonair Christian standing right beside him. Last in the line of men was Christian's good friend, who was still staring at Halina, and next to him, was my husband.
After being escorted into the position next to where my sister would stand, my hand was sweetly kissed as Christian's brother slid over to stand in his appointed spot, between Teren and Christian. I couldn't keep my eyes off of Teren.
Even though we'd already done this, even though it wasn't our ceremony, it felt that way standing up there. It sort of felt like a second wedding for Teren and I. He smiled at me, tilting his head. His eyes drifted down my body for a split second and a rush of desire hit me. I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to stop the sensation. He really shouldn't be turning me on in a church. That was most definitely...forbidden.
He chuckled a little, biting his lip. I shook my head at him, loving him, warmed by the bond that was seeping into me ever since I'd started walking up the aisle. It ached to complete the connection, along with other, more intimate connections, but that could wait until after.
The music shifted and I twisted my gaze from Teren to look back down the aisle. Every human in the audience stood and looked back as well. The vampires, that the crowd here was completely unaware of, also stood. Alanna and Imogen were right in the front row, along with Gabriel, Starla and Jacen. For once, Starla and Jacen were managing to keep their hands off each other, as they attempted to be respectful of the environment.
Jack and Hot Ben were on the other side of Alanna, Jack putting his arm around his wife as a chorus of, "Aaaahs" went around the crowd. My smile was huge as my eyes glassed over again.
Julian and Nika were coming down the aisle hand in hand. Five years old now, they looked a little more grownup to me. Their fangs had grown longer, their spindly legs were each at least three inches taller, and the slight baby fat that had been on their bodies had all but vanished. They were growing up so fast. Before I knew it, they'd be teenagers, preparing to find their own soul mates. A tear dripped down my cheek at the thought alone.
Julian held a basket of flower petals and Nika was reaching in and scattering some along the ground as they walked along. The crowd was eating up the adorable pair, the miniatures of Teren and me, watching their every move. When they got to the steps leading up to the altar, they stopped as one and looked up at me.
Nika smiled brightly and waved. "Hi, Mommy. You look really pretty."
She said it pretty loudly and a chorus of chuckles went around the room. I nodded, laughing myself, and shushed her, pointing in front of me. Giggling, she and Julian stood in front of me, waiting as patiently as five year olds can. I ran my free hand through Julian's black hair, looking over at my husband again. He had tears in his eyes as he watched the three of us. Oh god, if he lost it, I was doomed.
"They're right, you do look very pretty," he muttered below the music.
Smiling, I swiped under my eyes again. "Thank you...and you're very...handsome."
He grinned at me but then the music changed again. Still standing, the crowd instantly shushed. Within seconds, my mother walked in with Ashley on her arm. I'd never seen my sister so radiant. Slightly shuffling with her walk, she still seemed to glide down the petal strewn aisle way. I gave up on holding the tears in, letting them fall down my cheeks so at least my vision would be free to see her. A netted veil was in her hair, coming down over her face to her chin. Beneath it, my eyes could easily see the pure joy and love on her face.
When she finally made the long progression to her near-husband, our mother placed Ashley's hand in his. I sighed a little, part of my worry over her lifted. She was fine. She was happy. I could let her go.
As the ceremony started, my eyes couldn't leave her. They exchanged tender vows of love and devotion and I could clearly see that they both meant them. Christian slid her wedding ring onto her with trembling fingers. She in turn, enclosed him. I idly played with the band around my finger with my thumb, the cool metal not much different than my skin now.
When it finally got to the point where she and Christian could kiss, he almost timidly pulled back the veil covering her face. The older man's fingers came up to brush the scarred skin along her jaw, not an ounce of disgust in his face. She beamed at him as I clearly heard him whisper, "I love you, wife...always." Then he lowered his lips to hers.
I sobbed as the crowd clapped.
As they twisted to face the crowd as man and wife, I finally broke my gaze from her to stare back at Teren. I laughed when I did. His cheeks were wet too. Shaking my head at him while he shrugged, I muttered, "You're such a softie." He laughed, nodding in agreeance.
Watching my sister walk away, I smiled at my husband. Below human level, I told him, "I know you're always telling the kids that I'm the most beautiful woman in the world...but I think you're wrong." He scrunched his brows at me as I looked over to my sister shuffling her way back down the aisle. "She is."
I glanced back at him as he smiled warmly at me. Slowly, he nodded. "Yeah, I think you might be right," he whispered.
Teren and I both turned to watch her walk away, Julian leaning over to tell Nika that he was going to marry Auntie Ash one day. Smiling as the wedding party started to disperse, I broke protocol and joined up with my husband to walk back down the aisle. He kissed my head as I slipped my arm through his. Both kids running off to their grandparents, now that the formal stuff was over with, I laid my head against Teren's shoulder.
Happy and content, we both walked off to celebrate the new lives blossoming around us.
After a quick round of congratulations, we moved the celebration to a nearby reception hall, where we could all help Ashley and Christian keep the festivities going until the wee hours of the morning. We all raised glasses in a toast, the undead creatures in the room faking the sips that the humans were taking. We all watched the newlyweds cut the cake, Christian daintily placing a piece of the frosted confection on her tongue. And we all silently watched the couple share their first dance as husband and wife.