Chapter Twenty-one It had to be one of the most surreal plane rides of her entire life. Lindy sat on the aisle, so she could talk to her family during the flight. Nate had given up his window seat for Amanda, who excitedly pointed out everything she saw along the way...even if it was only the moon, stars, and a few other planes passing in the distance. She and Nate spent the remainder of the time playing hangman and tic-tac-toe, their giggles making Lindy smile. They landed in Honolulu at 3am. Seeing the island out the window, and its glittering cities, she couldn't wait to get off the plane and explore. The airport was open and spacious, the warm air enveloping her as they went to get their luggage. She hadn't even thought about how they'd get to the ranch, assuming they'd take a cab, but when she saw the Jeep Grand Cherokee that Nate had rented for the duration of their stay, she admitted it was a much better idea. They drove for more than an hour, past the cities and Diamond Head, around to the less populated side of the island. While Alex sat in the front and navigated for Nate, Lindy sat in the back with Jess. They both grinned foolishly at how easily Nate had been accepted into the family. They were enchanted by the island scenery and couldn't wait to get out and stretch. They pulled off the road and onto the long driveway of the ranch at almost 4:30am. They all got out of the car as the second Jeep pulled up, containing Skinner, Anne and Jess's brother Michael. "You were lucky to find this place during the tourist season," Skinner said. Nate shrugged. "The owner is of a friend of a friend who owed me a favor." The ranch was beautiful, nestled in the hills and yet not far from the beach as well. In a pasture off to one side, horses grazed. Three smaller cottages sat off to one side of the dirt drive, and the main house sat in the middle of the property. On the porch, a stout Hawaiian man stood up from a rocking chair and started heading towards them. "Aloha." Nate grinned, walking over to shake the man's hand. "Mahalo, Niko." Niko nodded. Looking at Lindy, he said, "This must be your beautiful bride, Nakanaela." "Indeed she is." Lindy walked over to Nate to take his hand, the rest of her family trailing behind as they looked around. "Nate, I think we should get the luggage up and then go find the county office." She glanced back at her family. "If that's okay with you guys." There was an assortment of shaking heads. "Nah, we'll just nose around here and get familiar with the place," Alex said. Niko nodded. "I'll leave you to get settled then. If you need anything, I'll be around. Enjoy." As he walked back towards the house, disappearing inside, they collected their luggage. The lights in the main house went black, leaving only the porch lights on the cottages shining. Since they were all alike, they chose their rooms and got everything organized. They would have most of the time to themselves. Free to come and go as they pleased. Opening the door to the furthest cottage, Nate flipped on the lights and let Lindy pass. There was a cozy looking living room, with plush-looking cushions on dark wicker furniture. There was a kitchen area, and two bedrooms from what they could see. Also a compact bathroom. It wasn't quite as fancy as a hotel, but it looked more comfortable. Home-like. Carrying the suitcases into the bedroom, Nate said, "We'd better get going. I'm not sure if we'll make it back here before sunrise. We might have to get a hotel room for the day." Lindy nodded, bouncing a bit on her toes. "As long as were back before the moon rises, we should be okay." "Lindy are you okay? You've been a bit edgy all night." Nate frowned at her, worried. His heart dropped as a thought crossed his mind. "You're not having... second thoughts, are you?" "Second thoughts? About marrying you?" Lindy walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm edgy because tomorrow's the full moon. I never do well on flights over two hours. I'm still feeling guilty about not telling Anton and Bryn what we're up to. But second thoughts about marrying you? Not a one." Framing her face with his hands, he kissed her. Stroking her hair. "I love you, gorgeous." "I love you, too." She reached for his hand. "Let's go. The sooner we get that license, the quicker we can get in bed." "Ooh. I like the way you think." Following her out to the car, he closed the door behind him. The house was dark and quiet. It had been locked before Nate and Lindy had left, all the houseplants watered, the mail and newspaper delivery halted for the week, and the cat had been boarded at the veterinarian's. There should have been no one inside it. Someone forgot to tell that to Natasha Falconieri. She picked the lock to the back entrance and entered as if she owned the place. [How dare he!] she thought. [How dare he act like he was going to help me torment Anton and then toss me aside for the first blond bitch he sees.] She had a set of matches in her pocket. She knew she could find the right chemicals to torch the place just as easily as she had Lindy's home. But it wouldn't do her any good. He'd just find another place to live, taking the blond with him. This time, she needed to hit him right where it hurt. Sauntering through the home, she looked for any evidence of their trip to Hawaii. Once she showed the proof to Anton, he'd be seething and fired up enough to do just about anything to Nathaniel. That was a situation that made her smile. She didn't find any plane tickets or receipts. The closet in their room—horridly painted with a sun on the ceiling that made her shudder—was picked clean. They'd obviously gone somewhere, but that didn't prove anything. It wasn't until she'd shut off the light and was heading down the stairs that she came across the proof she needed. On one of the tables in the hallway was a box of neatly addressed envelopes. She picked up the one addressed to "Mr. Rudenko and Ms. Jaegar" and eased the contents our of the unsealed envelope. "Forever by your side, my heart will have no less," she read. "To have, to hold, confide.. with you, I have been blessed." She turned her head to one side and made a retching noise. Scanning further down the wedding announcement, seeing that Lindy and Nathaniel would be married on the fifteenth, she smiled to herself. Only two more days. Wouldn't Anton just love to know the good news in advance? Of course he would. "You doing okay, gorgeous?" Lindy nodded, still watching the trees pass. Nate turned his attention back to the road. He had been right. They had been forced to spend the day in town, arriving just before the sun rose, and had rushed through the paperwork. The license had been issued. Now all that they were waiting on would be the ceremony. But that couldn't be tonight. He had almost forgotten one important fact. Tonight was the full moon. He could sense she was eager to get out of the car and get moving. He wouldn't have been surprised if she hit the ground running before he even stopped. Driving quickly down the dirt road to the ranch, he placed a reassuring hand on hers as he saw the rest of her family waiting outside. He'd have a hell of a time explaining this to Niko if the man woke up. All of them in their lupine form, with the exception of Anne and Michael who'd be spending their evening with Nate, they looked up at the sound of the Jeep approaching. Nate parked and shut down the engine, smiling as Lindy hurried ahead as predicted. He said hello to Anne and Michael, before walking over to where the other wolves stood. Grinning as he met their bright eyes, scratching Amanda behind her ears, he said, "Try to keep the howling to a minimum, all right? I don't want Niko to have a heart attack." That earned him three tolerantly amused snorts from Alex, Walter, and Jess. Jess's black furred head swung from Nathaniel to Lindy, her question plain in her eyes. [What are you waiting for?] "Give me five minutes." The four wolves sat and laid down, taking poses of lazy patience. Lindy looked at Nate. "You want to watch?" "Yeah." He followed her into the house, heart pounding. She stopped in the living room and began pulling off her shirt, back to him. Turning slightly so he could see her profile, she undid her bra and unfastened her jeans. She shimmied out of them and her underwear barely before fine yellow fur began to bloom on her body. His breath caught in his throat as she let out a slight moan. He thought that the physical morphing brought about by the Change was somewhat like what happened before he fed - a painless physical process. But from the expression on Lindy's face, he realized that no... this hurt. She was panting slightly now, and her tail punched out between what were now her hind legs. She dropped to all fours, tongue lolling out between canine jaws. Her ears untucked from her head. Only her blue eyes still looked vaguely human. She turned her head and looked at him, body language a little uncertain, almost if she were afraid of what she would see. He sat down with a thud on the couch. "That hurts you, doesn't it?" She cocked her head to the side, letting out a low whine. As he slid off the couch to sit on the floor, she cautiously padded over to him. She closed her eyes with a groan as he ran his fingers through her fur. "You're so beautiful I wish I could see you like this for months to come," he whispered. "But I don't like seeing you in pain." She placed a paw on his chest, swiping his cheek with her tongue, making him grin. "I love you, too, gorgeous." She wagged her tail at him. He continued to stroke her head for a few seconds more, before kissing her on the muzzle and standing up. "Better let you out of here before you start chewing on the furniture." He could've sworn the wolf glared at him as he opened up the door. He smiled, following her as she trotted across the porch and jumped down to join her family. "Be careful," he said, speaking to all of them. "A lot of hikers die in these mountains every year because they're so treacherous." That earned him a few more snorts, but he took it in stride as he watched them race off into the distance. He watched Lindy's golden butt disappear into the darkness, smiling fondly. Glancing at Anne and Michael, he asked, "Do you ever get used to this? I feel like a damned wreck." Michael shook his head. Older than Jess by five years, he shared her brown hair and eyes. Although his features weren't quite as refined as hers, but there was a definite family resemblance. "It scares the shit out of me every time I see her like that. I've known what she is for the last eighteen years, and I'm still not used to it. It almost ripped us apart when she told me about herself. I was ready to have her committed for a psychiatric evaluation." Anne nodded. "It's a struggle, Nathaniel. You almost forget and then something happens that reminds you that they're not quite human." Nate chuckled. "Oh, I don't think I'll be forgetting anytime soon. That would be a little like me forgetting I'm a vampire." He shrugged. "Can't blame you for your reaction, though. I think I'd have the same disbelief under different circumstances. I just worry about her. She probably thinks the same thing every time I go out, which is a lot more often. Speaking of which, you'll need to excuse me for an hour or so. If you're still up, leave a light on and I'll drop in to say hello." As they nodded, he stepped off the porch and headed towards the Jeep. He needed to head further north, to feed. He hoped staying away from the city would lessen his risk of being seen. Most of all, he wanted to check out the spot where they'd be getting married. Only 24 hours left. He couldn't wait. Anton sat in his office, looking through auction listings for potential pieces. He had made notes on three older pieces of furniture he was interested in having a closer look at, if not placing bids on, when the buzzer on his phone rang. "Yes?" "Hi, boss," came Michelle's chirpy voice. "There's a lady here who's interested in making a few purchases, but insists that she talk to the owner first." He thought about that for a moment. Most of his clients didn't insist on meeting him, but a few actually wanted a face to do business with. "That's okay, Michelle. Send her up." He neatened up his almost spotless desk and filed away the periodicals. When there was a knock on the door, he was still putting them away. "Come in, please." He turned to look at his potential client after he heard the door shut. Immediately he tensed, eyes narrowing. "What the hell are you doing here?" Natasha frowned. "Come now, Anton...is that any way to treat a customer?" "I don't want your business, so you might as well leave." Much to his disappointment, she sat down in one of the chairs instead. "I think you'll be interested in what I have to say. It's definitely of concern to you." He stood up. "If you've come to tell me about my fiancée cheating on me, don't bother." She clicked her fingernails together, shaking her head. "You're still being rather bull-headed about that. It's a shame really. You'll only end up getting hurt." She reached into her purse, pulling out a cream-colored envelope. "Alas, that's not why I've come. I have a delivery for you." She placed the envelope on his desk, waiting patiently as he stared at it. He didn't reach for it right away, as if waiting for it to explode or worse. When he did finally reach for it, pulling out what was inside, the grin on her face gave him the creeps. He looked at the envelopes contents, and swallowed. He stared at it for a few minutes before nonchalantly tossing it back down on the desk. "It's obviously a forgery. One of your sick mind games." "Is it Anton?" Natasha grinned, leaning forward. "You give me far too much credit. Check the envelope. That's her writing, isn't it?" He didn't want to give her the satisfaction. He almost kicked her out of his office without a further thought. But morbid curiosity got the best of him. Picking up the envelope, he turned it over. Mr. Rudenko and Ms. Jaegar. So formal and impersonal, as if addressing complete strangers. But it was Lindy's handwriting. There was no doubt about that. His hand tightened on the paper, his grip white-knuckled. He read the announcement once more, seeing the names and the date in a whole new light. Not a forgery. A lie. A brilliant lie. Family reunion. He couldn't believe she'd stood right in this room and lied to his face. He swallowed heavily, feeling his throat tightening until it was hard to breathe. Natasha stood up, walking around the desk to place her hand on his arm. "I really am sorry you had to find out this way, darling. It's awful. They should be ashamed of themselves." He jerked his arm away as if he had been burned. "Get out," he growled. "Anton, darling, you're upset..." He stood up, menace flickering in his eyes. "Get the hell out, Natasha!" "I'm only the bearer of bad news, Anton. I can honestly say I was as surprised as you." She backed away from the desk, smirking. "I'll show myself out." Anton didn't respond. Instead he stared at the announcement, anger and resentment boiling through him. [How could she? How the *hell* could she?] Envelope in hand, he stood up and stormed out of the office. He was almost to the elevator when he was stopped by Michelle. "Boss? Something wrong?" He turned around, face an absolute mask. "I'll be upstairs for the rest of the evening. I only want to be interrupted for emergencies." "Sure, boss, whatever you say." Without any further words, Anton slammed the gate to the elevator and went upstairs. Sabryn was in the kitchen cooking something when he stepped into the apartment. She turned around at the sound of the door opening and gave him a wide grin...until he slammed the door behind him. She flinched, the smile leaving her face. "What's wrong?" He didn't say a word for a minute or two, standing in place as if afraid to move. Starting to get worried, she walked around the counter and stepped towards him, stopping before she reached him. Well out of arm's reach. She wasn't sure what the hell was wrong, but she didn't like the look on his face. "Anton, what's happening?" "What's happening? This." He handed the envelope to Sabryn as he walked past her to stare out the window. "Before you ask how I got this, Natasha gave it to me, just before I kicked her out." "Natasha?" Bryn scowled. "She was here?" "Yes." "What the hell did she want?" He didn't turn around. "Take a look at what's in your hands, Bryn." She was almost afraid to look. She couldn't imagine what would make him so angry. Opening the envelope, she pulled out the card inside and read the words. [Oh...oh, Lindy.] She blinked a few times, reading the words over and over again. She couldn't help feeling a little hurt that Lindy hadn't bothered to tell her. She'd always known it would happen. But she'd been hoping she'd be there. Glancing over at Anton, his back board-straight as he stared out the window, she felt her chest squeeze. He wasn't angry...he was hurt. And her heart broke for him. [Oh Lindy...how could you do this to him?] Setting the envelope down on the counter, she walked over to where he stood. She placed her hand on his back, wincing when he flinched at the touch. Even as he tried to pull away, she followed, unwilling to let him feel this alone. "I'm sorry, Anton." His fisted hand rested on the windowsill. "How could she?" he growled. "How the hell could she?" He slammed his fist against the frame. "How could she sit there, in my office, and lie straight to my face?" She couldn't help jumping slightly, frowning, when his fist hit the window. But she had been the one to tell him he should hit something when he was angry, instead of keeping it all inside. She supposed she should be thankful for that much. "She didn't want to hurt you." He turned his face to look at her, eyes blazing. "And not telling me the truth is a better fucking option?" "What did you want her to do, Anton? Tell you they're getting married and risk you doing something stupid like beating the crap out of him?" She crossed her arms. "She's not dumb, Anton. She knows you don't like Nate. I honestly can't say I blame her for telling us this way." He shook his head, not quite believing what he was hearing. "You're taking her side?" "No, Anton, I'm not." Bryn sighed. "I'm hurt too. I wish she would have told us what she and Nate were doing." "Nathaniel," Anton growled. "This is all his fault." She stared at him for a moment before walking back into the kitchen, effectively ignoring him. She went back to the food she was fixing, her movements somewhat aggressive as she chopped up the vegetables. "What? Now you're not even going to talk to me?" "Not when you're like this, no. I don't want to listen to you grouching. Go to the gym or something. Come back when you're not so pissed off." He took a deep breath, reining his emotions back under control. "I'm not so pissed off, Bryn." She looked at him from under her eyebrows. "Liar." "I'm trying, Bryn. I really don't think it would be wise for me to be alone right now." She sighed. "If anything you should be mad at that bitch, Natasha. How the hell did she get that? It hadn't been post-marked. She didn't get it out of our mailbox, and I highly doubt Lindy gave it to her. And don't you dare say it was Nathaniel, or I'll smack you over the head with a frying pan." "How'd she get it? Knowing her, she broke into wherever these were and swiped it." He walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table, crossing his arms on it. "Why couldn't she tell me, Bryn?" "You made your feelings about Nate crystal clear, Anton. She probably was afraid you'd react just like you are now. She was probably afraid you'd hurt Nate, or try to stop the wedding." "Stop the wedding," Anton repeated with a snort. "I wish I could." He glanced at Bryn. "I don't suppose I could interest you in a last minute trip to Oahu, could I?" "Anton..." Bryn said warningly. "Didn't think so," he replied. She sighed, leaning on the counter. "Aren't you even the slightest bit happy for her?" When he started to scowl again, she quickly added, "Forget for a minute that we're talking about Nate...aren't you glad she's happy? She's in love, Anton. She's getting married. I would think you'd be happy about that. I mean, she was happy for us, even when she was hurt herself." "If it were anyone else Bryn, I would fight her family for the honor of walking her down the aisle myself." He sighed. "She may be in love, Bryn, but how do we know that Nathaniel is?" "You wouldn't ask that if you saw them together, Anton." "But why couldn't she have fallen in love with someone else?" "Can you honestly see her being happy with a human man, Anton?" She walked around the counter again. "With her history, and given what she is?" "No," he sighed. He rested his head on his hands. She watched him for a moment before grabbing his shoulders and pushing him back into an upright position. Straddling his legs, she sat down in his lap and met his gaze. Resting her hands on his chest, she said, "You're really a sucker, you know that?" "What?" "It never occurred to you to wonder why the hell that bitch was here?" She couldn't seem to refer to Natasha without scowling. "She didn't come here because she thought you'd be happy about this. She wants you to be pissed off. Somehow that works to her advantage. God knows what she has planned in that twisted mind of hers. Do you really want to play right into her hands?" "No. You're right, Bryn. But don't ask me to be happy for her just yet. I need some time to adjust to the idea of her being married to... Nathaniel." He managed not to scowl when he said his step-brother's name. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, before pulling away with an audible smacking sound. "Does this mean you're done working for the day?" "Yeah...why?" "'Cause now you can take me shopping." She grinned, lifting up her shirt to show him that she'd safety-pinned her pants closed. "I don't fit into my clothes anymore. I need new ones. Either that, or," she said, slyly, "I'll have to walk around naked all the time. And I know you'd just hate that." "Mmmm.. that would be a horrible fate, my dear." He stood up and pulled her against his body. "You're trying to distract me with sex, my dear. Aren't you?" Bryn nodded against his chest. "Yup. It's always worked before." "And it's working now. Go grab your purse, my dear. Let's go shopping." Bryn pushed up on tiptoe to brush her lips against his. "I'll be right back." Anton nodded, releasing her. He sighed heavily as his eyes strayed back to the announcement, and he could feel his temper start to rise again. [No!] He told himself. [She's your closest female friend, and you're going to be happy that she's happy.] [Even if it kills you.] Lindy sat patiently, allowing the hairdresser to finish adding flowers to her hair. She was beginning to feel a bit like a planter. Orchids and plumerias sprung out of the braid in her hair, adding an almost overwhelming fragrance. She almost told the woman to stop already, but she had to admit that it did look lovely. Light curls framed her face, highlighting the bit of makeup she'd put on. She wore a white halter-style silk dress, that brushed her calves as she walked. It was casual, but just dressy enough to pass for a wedding dress. She'd be carrying a bouquet of brilliantly colored lilies, in honor of the flowers Nate liked to give her. Admiring herself in the mirror, she looked up as Jess walked back in the room. She'd been checking to make sure the men--namely Nate--were ready. "Everything's on schedule," she murmured, shaking her head as she looked at her foster-daughter. "I can't believe how beautiful you look. It's beyond anything I ever imagined." Lindy smiled shyly. "You imagined me getting married?" Jess shrugged, taking a seat close to Lindy. "What mother doesn't?" She took both of Lindy's hands in hers. "I had no idea when I found you on the streets that things would end up this way." Her eyes misted over. "Are you about ready?" Lindy took a deep breath. "I think so." "Good. There's just one more thing. You know the old saying about what a bride's supposed to carry down the aisle, right?" Lindy nodded and both Jess and Lindy chanted it together. "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." Jess laughed a little. "Well, let's review the list. You're ring is the something blue, your dress is new, and you're wearing Anne's earrings for the borrowed. That just leaves the something old." Lindy's eyes sparkled. "Doesn't Nate qualify as something old?" Jess laughed, lightly smacking Lindy on the arm. "He doesn't count." She quickly sobered. "I think this qualifies, and I hope Nate doesn't take it the wrong way." She undid her necklace, freeing the antiqued silver cross pendant from her neck. Getting up she moved behind Lindy to fasten it around her. Lindy's eyes widened. "I can't take this, Jess. It belonged to your sister." "Yes, it belonged to Rachel, and to my mother, and my grandmother. It's been passed from the eldest daughter to eldest daughter in my family. It would have gone to Rachel's daughter, if she had lived long enough to have one. So instead it went to me, and now it's time I passed it on to you." Making sure the clasp was firmly set, she came back around to face Lindy. "Jess, shouldn't it go to Amanda?" "No." Jess hugged Lindy tight, tears spilling over. "You're my eldest daughter, Lindy. And I'm so proud of you. And happy that you've found someone who's going to treat you right, that you're not repeating any of the mistakes I made when I was your age. I love you so much, Lindy." Lindy held on to Jess tight, her own tears falling. "I love you… Mom." She could feel her mother's breath catch before she pulled back a bit to meet her gaze. She smiled, her eyes brimming with tears, before reaching up to kiss Lindy's forehead. The sound of someone clearing their throat turned their attention to the door. Walter stood in the open doorway, watching them both fondly. "We're ready to get started." Lindy took a shaky breath before nodding. With one more quick squeeze, Jess said, "Let's go." Making sure she had everything they needed, including her bouquet and the marriage license, she hurried outside and got in the Jeep. The ride to the falls seemed to take forever, and yet not nearly long enough. She continuously checked her reflection in the mirror, feeling like she'd forgotten something. For a moment, she panicked, wondering where her ring was, until she realized Alex had it. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her flustered nerves. They had to drive across a lot of rocky terrain and rolling fields before they reached the area surrounding the falls. She couldn't see anyone from where they parked, but the other car was here, along with that of the wedding official. A white truck sat nearby, its rolling door opened in the back, as the caterers moved the cake and other food down towards the falls Nervously climbing out of the car, she nodded as Jess said she'd see them down there and walked over the small hill. "Ready?" Walter asked. Swallowing heavily, feeling her eyes mist over already, she nodded. "I'm ready." As she moved to take his arm, she could hear the drums and ukulele start playing in the distance. [God, this is really happening!] She felt like she'd been walking on a cloud ever since she woke up. In fact, as they started walking over the hill, she still couldn't feel her feet touching the ground. They crested the rise, revealing a beautiful tropical waterfall and a clearing next to the pool it filled. Lit with tiki torches, the entire area seemed to sparkle...but nothing shone more beautifully than Nate. She felt her chest squeeze as she took in the wide grin on his face, and moisture brimming in his eyes. He wore cream-colored pants and a white-linen shirt, the collar open, with a purple and yellow lei around his neck. He'd never looked more beautiful. Walter felt her pause for a moment, before proceeding. He hadn't known Lindy as long as Alex had, and not being used to children, had worried that he'd have a difficult time relating to her. Much to his surprise, he found that he quickly started thinking of her as his daughter, and was having a difficult time letting her go. From the look in Alex's eyes, it seemed that he was having the same difficulty. Alex watched his lover escort Lindy towards him, and felt his eyes dampen. Not only could he see the beautiful young woman walking towards him, but the 10 year old who asked if he had ever had a pet cat the first time they met. He glanced at Jess and then his other daughter, wondering how long it would be before he had to repeat this with Amanda. Jess followed Alex's glance before her eyes flitted back to watch Lindy. She wiped away a tear, and gratefully took the tissue that her brother offered. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the music until she could open her eyes without crying. That's when she first noticed it wasn't the traditional choice of 'Here Comes the Bride.' She listened for a moment, and her eyes caught Nate's. "Blue Moon?" she mouthed at him. He smirked, before looking eagerly back at his bride. He didn't hear much of what the wedding official said as Walter shook his hand and passed Lindy over to him. He was too busy staring at her. "God, you're beautiful," he whispered, making her smile. He almost missed all of his cues. Luckily, the official must've been used to it because he repeated himself. Nate said "I do," and let out a sigh of relief as Lindy did as well, making everyone present laugh. When it came time for him to speak his own vows, he completely drew a blank. Swallowing heavily, blinking away tears, he decided to speak from his heart. Taking both of Lindy's hands in his, he looked in her eyes and smiled. "Words...could never possibly express the love I have for you in my heart, Lindy. It grows bigger with every passing day, and just when I think I've had my fill, I find out that I was wrong. In you, I've found everything I ever wanted." He was quiet for a moment, pressing his lips together, staring at her hands as he willed the tears not to fall. "I found a friend, a lover, a wife, and a family." He glanced at the others, feeling slightly foolish when the tears fell anyway. "I've never really had a family of my own. I had a father I never got to know. A mother that I never had enough time with. And I have a brother, whom I wish could be here beside me, but I guess that will have to come later. Still, this moment in my life feels complete, because all of you are here with us. And I will love you until I cease to exist." He cleared his throat, quickly wiping at his face with a shaking hand before meeting her gaze once more. "There was a time in my life when I was ready to give up. I didn't see any point in me being here any longer, and I couldn't possibly see what use I'd be to anyone. To think that I might not be standing here with you shakes me to the core. And I will thank God for the rest of my life that I had the will to keep going. I was given a gift when I met you, Lindy. One that I'm not quite sure I deserve. But I swear I will spend the rest of my life trying to prove I'm worthy of your love. And if it takes a million years, all the better. Because I'm not about to let you go." He lifted her hands to his lips, kissing them. "I love you, Alinda. So much. Thank you for loving me, too." "Oh God, Nate. How do I follow that?" She waited for the ripple of soft laughter to die down. "You met me just after I had made a mistake I would have beaten myself up with for the rest of my life. But now I'm glad I made the choices that led to that night, or else I wouldn't be here. Because ever since that night, you've been giving me precious gifts - your patience, your understanding, your love, and yet you keep acting like you're the unworthy one. You kept coming back, confident in what we shared, even when I wasn't, which I am so grateful for. "I know that there will be challenges to our love in the future, and I will gladly face those by your side. 'Til death do us part' has a slightly different meaning for us, yet I will honor that vow as long as there is breath in my body." Her eyes shone bright with emotion and unshed tears. "I love you, and nothing anyone can do, or say, will change that fact. Thank you for taking a risk and opening my eyes to a world I was sure I'd never see." She squeezed his hand tightly. "Thank you for everything, Nathaniel, but especially your love." He squeezed her hand in return, leaning forward to press his lips against her forehead. He stayed that way for several moments, until the official cleared his throat, making everyone else laugh. Nate couldn't take his eyes off of her as they exchanged their rings. His hand shook as he slid her ring into place. Lindy's hands were shaking as well, her heart beating a mile a minute. She was so lost in his eyes she didn't hear the rest of the ceremony. At least not until the official said, "You may now kiss your bride." Solemnly, Nate stepped forward, eyes never wavering from hers. Gently he framed her face with his hands, fingers threading into her hair, and he kissed her. Lindy trembled, pressing her lips against his. She never wanted this moment to end. It seemed he didn't either. He gently deepened the kiss, careful not to embarrass her in front of her family. Softly pulling at her lips, he lowered his hands to her waist and lifted her up into his arms. She let out a small squeak as her feet left the ground, gripping him tightly. It felt like several minutes before either of them heard the small crowd around them laughing and clapping. She pulled back to look at his face, returning his wide grin, and closed her eyes tightly as he hugged her tight against his chest. "I now present to you, Nathaniel and Alinda Adrik." Dinner had been good, and the company better. On the spur of the moment, Bryn had suggested that they invite Mack and Chandra for dinner, and he had jumped at the suggestion. Anton's mood had brightened considerably when his friends had arrived, keeping him distracted from what was occurring on the other side of the Pacific. Sitting in the living room with coffee and cake, they talked about their own wedding plans. Instead of driving back and forth two days in a row, for both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding itself, they'd decided Mack and Chandra should stay in one of the guest bedrooms. It would be more convenient, and it would keep Anton company since Bryn wouldn't be staying at home the night before the wedding. She purposefully avoided mentioning just where she hoped to be staying, thinking the topic had already been covered enough times lately. Unfortunately, Chandra had no idea of what was going on. Sipping her coffee and then setting down the mug, she said, "I was hoping to see Lindy downstairs so we could say hello, but someone told me she was on vacation?" Bryn shifted uncomfortably, taking another bite of cake, leaving Anton to answer that comment. Anton put down his coffee cup. "Yes, she took some time off to go to Hawaii with her family." "Funny, I thought her family was back east," Mack said. "They are." Mack frowned at Anton. "Okay, Anton, what's wrong?" "Who said anything is wrong?" "Because the moment Lindy was mentioned, you tensed. Something's up, so you might as well tell us." He cleared his throat. "She's getting married. Tonight." "Married?" Chandra asked. "I didn't even know she was seeing someone. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard of her seeing anyone." "I take it you don't approve?" Mack asked, still watching Anton's face. "You could say that." Anton clasped his hands together in front of him. "He's my step-brother. They guy who killed my father." Although she didn't say a word, he could feel Bryn's disapproving gaze on him. "Or at least that's what I believe, given all the evidence. And Lindy doesn't want to see it that way." "Have you told her?" "She knows. She's known for quite a while. She doesn't care." "That's not true," Bryn said, quietly. "She does care. But she's heard both sides of the story and you haven't. I think that makes her more qualified to be the better judge." "Judge?" Anton snorted. "She's already made up her mind." "And you haven't, Anton?" Chandra asked. Anton gave a long suffering sigh. "Why does everyone automatically take her side?" "Sides? Who said anything about taking her side?" Mack said. "No one seems willing to believe me when I say he doesn't change. He's been the same person for almost nine hundred years. Why would he change now?" "He's a vampire, too?" Chandra asked. When Anton nodded, she said, "You two have such a weird family dynamic." "Tell me about it," Bryn mumbled. Picking up empty plates, she got up off the couch and headed towards the kitchen. "I hope you guys will excuse me if I don't participate in this particular discussion. I've had this same argument more times than I care to count." "It's not an argument when I'm right, Bryn." He turned to look at her in time to see her stagger and the plates slip out of her hands. "Bryn?" He flew over to where she was swaying, grabbing her before she could fall. "What's wrong, Bryn?" She leaned heavily against him. "Dunno. Just felt dizzy like before." She took a few deep breaths, getting her strength back. She started to reach for the plates on the floor. "I'm fine--" "Yeah, well you can do some cartwheels later. I think you should sit down now." She gave him a dirty look. "Smart ass." "What's going on?" Mack asked. "Nothing, I just got a little dizzy." Leading her back towards the living room, Anton shook his head. "Yeah, that's what she said last time right before the transfusion." "Transfusion?" Mack watched as Bryn sat down carefully on the couch. "Why did you need a transfusion?" She licked her lips, propping her feet up on the coffee table. "The baby seems to think I'm an all-you-can-eat buffet." Anton clarified a little when he saw the puzzled look on Mack and Chandra's faces. "Our doctor thinks that the baby is not only absorbing nutrients from Bryn's bloodstream, but blood as well." Chandra looked confused. "So is this baby a vampire or a human, or something in between?" Anton shook his head. "We don't know. Bryn's had a fainting spell once before, and she needed a transfusion to return to normal." He reached out to check her pulse, frowning when he realized how rapid it was. She looked at him, her eyelids droopy. "Think it can wait until tomorrow?" "It might, but it's probably not a good idea. Remember how weak you got last time? You couldn't even stand up on your own." She nodded, looking at Chandra and Mack. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm not the greatest dinner companion." "That's okay, Bryn," Chandra said. "I think you've got a perfectly good excuse." Mack made a gesture towards the door. "I think we'd better be going now. We've got to be up early to take care of the horses." Anton glanced from Bryn to Mack. "I'll walk you to the door." He shook his head. "No, you stay and watch over Bryn. We can show ourselves out." The couple gave Anton and Bryn a hug goodbye. "I'll call you later this week." Anton nodded absently. He and Bryn called 'good night' as Mack and Chandra left. Then he turned to look at his fiancée. "Think you can make it to the bedroom, my dear?" Bryn nodded and tried to stand. The room spun around her again. "Whoa..." Anton caught her, and carried her to the bedroom. Bryn tightened her arms around his neck, glad for something solid and stable (in more ways than one) to hold on to. But still, she felt compelled to whisper, "You're wrong about Nathaniel" as he lowered her to the bed. He gave her a smirk before pulling off her shoes and covering her with the blankets. Going to the closet, he got the tripod for the transfusion. "Looks like I get to do this myself this time. With Dr. Anne out of town." He didn't mention the wedding, but the words still hung in the air anyway. "I'm sorry about dinner," Bryn mumbled. "I was hoping to take your mind off of that stuff. Then it just went from bad to worse. They're never going to want to come over here again." "Don't worry about that, my dear. Mack and I have had interesting debates over the years, and still manage to stay friends. You know, one time he actually accused me of being a stubborn bastard." Bryn gave him a wide-eyed look of innocence. "Nooo..." Anton snorted. "I'll go get the blood, my dear. I'll be right back." He kissed her on the forehead before leaving the room. She settled back on to her pillow, wondering if Lindy was married yet. She felt a little bit of sadness at the thought. As much as she was happy for Lindy, there wouldn't be much time to congratulate her. As soon as she returned home, Bryn knew she and Anton would be leaving for Pennsylvania. They'd return just in time for the wedding, only to leave again for Europe. The first time she'd really get a chance to talk in depth with Lindy would be over a month from now. And even then there was no telling what their friendship would be like...considering Anton's blatant disapproval and anger. Watching him walk back into the room, she waited patiently as he got everything set up. "It's after ten in Hawaii, you know. The sun has been down for almost an hour." Anton nodded. He was trying hard to concentrate on where he needed to stick the needle, and not the wedding, or what would be happening afterwards. "Hold still, my dear." Bryn whimpered a little as he inserted the needle. He adjusted the tripod, and watched as the blood began to flow into Bryn's arm. He reached out and stroked her hair back from her face. "How are you doing, my dear?" "Okay." She looked away from the IV, her face looking slightly green. "We might have to do this again before we leave for Europe. I don't want to have to go to some foreign hospital and explain why I need more blood." He nodded. "Probably a good idea." Sinking back to the pillow once more, she swallowed heavily. "Tonight's going to be Lindy's wedding night." "Are you trying to make me ill?" She smirked. "No, I'm trying to make you face reality. However, speaking of being ill, you haven't fed yet, Anton." "I'll risk Dr. Anne's wrath and have a snack from the fridge. I'm not going to leave you alone while we're doing this." He took her left hand, thumb brushing over the back of her hand. Bryn smiled weakly. "Anton, you were doing so well until you found out about Lindy's wedding. Can't you let it go?" Anton sighed heavily. "Maybe if she came to me beforehand, yes, I'd be doing better. But can you honestly tell me that you're not hurt, Bryn?" She closed her eyes briefly. "Yes, I am hurt. But I understand why she did what she did." She squeezed his hand, before saying, "And I also knew it would happen sooner or later. I've known...I've known for a while now that they were engaged." He looked down at her, not quite sure he heard her right. "You knew that Nathaniel was going to ask Lindy to marry him." He swallowed when she nodded. "And you didn't tell me." Again Bryn nodded. "Why?" "Because I was afraid of what you'd do. That you would try to stop the wedding, or beat up Nate." Anton took a deep breath. "I think I've changed my mind, Bryn. I think I'll go out and feed tonight after all." She reached toward him as he got up from the bed. "Anton, wait..." He paused, turning back to look at her. "I need a little time, Bryn, to think things over. I'll be back in about two hours." Anton then continued walking out of the room. Bryn heard the front door of their apartment open and softly shut. She closed her eyes, fighting the urge to scream. She was getting so damned sick of this. Anton maintained that he didn't have strong feelings where Nate was concerned, and yet he was so damned stubborn about letting this go. He was the only family Anton had. And considering her own relationship with her family, she couldn't for the life of her understand why he was acting this way. Picking up the book off her nightstand, she used her free hand to fling it at the wall. At least she felt some sort of satisfaction as it slammed hard before falling to the floor. For now, it was all she could get. End Chapter <- Previous Chapter | Home | Next Chapter ->