Gen One- Chapter Forty Six (FINAL)

I couldn't make up my mind as to whether the nerves racing through my body were better controlled by me standing or sitting. I figured it was probably better for me to sit, also because I knew I would be standing a lot during the day and needed rested feet, but how much effort it took to sit kept me on my legs instead. I didn't even understand how my mom had helped me wiggle into my dress in the first place. Losing a pound or two in the past several weeks due to my anxiety messing with my normal eating schedule felt like it was the main reason as to why the feat had been possible. I did love the dress to death, but as I kept rubbing at my arms as the material itched I wondered if I wouldn't go mad and rip the sleeves off before too long. I was already worrying enough as it was. I didn't need my outfit to add to the stress.

However, I did have a few distractions to keep me from shredding the most expensive thing I had ever owned to pieces.

     "You should stop fretting so much. You look absolutely gorgeous in that dress." Sunflower, sitting nearby, gushed.

     "It's not exactly the dress that's causing me to be anxious," I teased lightly with a roll of my eyes, "Although, I guess I have to admit that the dress does bother me on some level. It feels like it's a bit too much. I was just having fun checking out the designer websites. I should have known better than to show Quartz my favorite."

     "I don't know why you're complaining. Instead of a rich uncle, you've got a rich and famous movie star for a friend."

     "I think Amaranth is only just coming to grip with the fact that he's on a speaking terms with his idol." I laughed.

     "Who would have thought you'd gel together so well? I'm actually rather jealous. I wish I knew someone like him who spoiled me the way he spoils you." Sunflower spoke wistfully.

     "He's more like a grandfather, isn't he? I'd be surprised if he didn't see me that way, to be honest, considering he never had his own kids," I laughed, "And I could always try dropping hints for your favorite dress when your wedding comes around. Quartz is so insistent that I let him know if I ever need anything that I sometimes tell him a random thing to buy just so he'll be content and quiet for a while."

     "Ooo, please do." Sunflower accepted eagerly.

During a lull in the conversation where I could take it no longer, I fought with the many layers my dress contained to fit myself on the tiny chair set in front of the vanity. The swirling, crashing wave of intense nervousness about to break free once again, I took a deep breath to hold it back. That I hadn't felt almost scared like I did now last night was being made up for in these painfully slowly passing hours. At the same time, I couldn't believe that with every breath I was getting closer and closer until the ultimate moment. This was it. I was getting married.

In some ways, I wished this day wouldn't be happening just yet. There was a part of me that did think it was better if I gave myself more time before I said my vows. I hadn't been able to convince Amaranth to wait though. I know I had said we would manage only seeing each other on weekends if it came to that, but the past four years of that particular outcome coming to pass had been excruciatingly difficult indeed. I had been able to make it through one semester at Twilight North, but I had been forced to drop out after that. Amaranth had taken the decision hard, which was why he hadn't wasted his time proposing. It was the day after graduation when he suddenly got down on his knee. There was no way for me to have said no, because I did want to be with him more than my slight reservations had me wanting to postpone things until our situation was truly stable.

I was absent-mindedly fiddling with my dress and hair when the door on the other side of the room opened. The gentle click of Sunset's high heels signaled her arrival, and the much faster, much softer ones behind her told me she hadn't succeeded in the goal she had been trying to accomplish.

     "Sorry," she apologized with a massive smile, "I did my best, but he wasn't having it."

     "That's alright. I was expecting as much." I smiled too.

I turned my gaze to the one a few feet into the room who stared at me wondering if he was allowed to get close again. It was clear he remained hesitant that I would still be mad about him accidentally ripping my veil. Not being able to stand how adorably cute his curious pondering expression was, any lingering irritability I harbored towards him vanished in an instant.

     "Come here, Wisp." I beckoned merrily.

An excited smile graced his lips, and he rushed over cheerfully.

My little three-year-old practically leapt into my waiting arms. I expertly anticipated his ferocity, and so me scooping him up as I took to my feet once more went smoothly.

     "Aunt Sunset made your hair look real nice, didn't she?" I addressed my son's unusually controlled locks.

     "She put goop in my hair!" Wisp explained eagerly and with the drama only a toddler could make about such a simple thing, "It was cold, and it tickled."

     "Mmm, well, make sure not to touch it."

My instructions seemed to fly right over his head. Wisp was much more interested in looking at me and touching the sheer material of my dress.

     "You're wearing a different dress." he pointed out as if it was an amazing feat.

     "That's because this is the dress mommy's going to get married in."

     "Did your legs disappear?" he wondered, pushing his hand hard against the skirt but only meeting its many layers.

     "No, the dress is just hiding them." I smiled wider, holding back more laughter.

     "It's like a tent! Can I go under it?"

     "I'd rather you didn't." I declined in amusement.

Sunset joined in the conversation, and Wisp was content to be quiet and rest against me while I chatted with my friends. It wasn't long before he laid his head on my shoulder and started to go limp.

     "Sleepy?" I asked him gently.

A tiny nod was what I got, but the half-lidded eyes and little yawn told me the truth even before that.

     "Let's go sit down." I suggested, kissing the top of his hair-gelled head.

Wisp barely gave me the chance to fit myself into the armchair before he made himself comfortable. Sunset and Sunflower nicely moved over to the corner to continue the conversation quietly amongst themselves as I watched my son fight between his desire to remain awake and the exhaustion the chaotic morning had brought on him. With him not caring about my gaze on him at all, I was free to stare to my heart's content.

I still had some trouble accepting the fact that he existed. That he was my son, and, thankfully, the only child I had ended up being pregnant with. The past four years often felt more like one long movie I was watching than reality. Even the day Wisp had been born, remarkably- Valentine's Day, sometimes didn't seem real. In a way, that was a blessing for me, because, good lord, it had been painful. My still growing body definitely hadn't been ready to push out a baby Wisp's size, and he hadn't even been that big. The moment mothers talk about where the happiness of meeting the child takes away the pain of the labor didn't happen for me. Not right away anyway. I passed out seconds after Wisp had been born. My heart rate was too rapid, my lungs had thrown a fit, and complications with how Wisp had been angled caused me to lose much more blood than I should have. It took an hour for me to wake up and meet my newborn son. Life, naturally, wasn't easy after that. It wasn't as if Amaranth could have taken a paternity leave from school. He skipped a couple days after the birth, but he had had to go back the following Sunday. Even with so many experienced hands to help me, not having Amaranth around for the vast majority of my son's life so far had taken its toll.

     "Today you're going to get the same name as me and daddy, right?" Wisp's perfectly timed quiet yet impatient question broke into my thoughts.
     "Yes," I told him, smiling kindly, "In just a few hours now."

Wisp smiled too, and, being content, he finally closed his eyes. Amusement danced in my chest once more. I never got through a day without Wisp asking a million and one questions, but the one about me having the same last name as him had become his favorite in recent weeks. It was one I hadn't minded because it brought up my favorite memory from that Valentine's Day besides Wisp's birth. The idea Allium had planted in my head had come to its fruition in that moment. Amaranth knew the first and middle name our son would have, but he was in for a shock when I interrupted him to tell the nurse that Wisp's last name was meant to be Vivid instead of Yonder like what Amaranth was about to say. I will never forget the look that spread across Amaranth's face then, or how adorably cute his extreme embarrassment was when I explained that I didn't want to have to bother changing Wisp's name too when it came time for Amaranth to change mine. The red on his face turned several shades darker, and he had had to hide his head by burying himself against the bed and its sheets. What made the whole thing even better was that I had my mom, who had been in the room during the labor as well, to secretly record the whole thing.

Wisp was fast asleep minutes later. Sunflower came over and stretched out her arms.

     "Here, let me take him. I'll get him settled down in the cot in the next room over. Sunset told me your mom will back with your veil in just a moment more." she offered.

Wisp was transferred with ease. He didn't stir a bit. I glanced Sunset's way when she suddenly folded her arms and huffed a little.

     "I spend half an hour and fail at trying to get him to sleep, but he's with you for a few minutes and he's out like a light." she pouted.
     "He just doesn't like sleeping in unfamiliar places or with unfamiliar people around." I explained, lovingly running my hand against the back of his head.
     "I'm not unfamiliar." Sunset mumbled.
     "You've only been able to come home during holiday breaks. I don't think that's enough to make him entirely comfortable with you yet." Sunflower reminded her.
     "Hey, you managed to do his hair," I comforted Sunset when she pouted deeper, "Honestly, that is a much more impressive feat than getting him to sleep."

Sunset shrugged nonchalantly. Sunflower soon left the room with Wisp when Field came in with my repaired veil, and Sunset and my mother restarted the task of preparing me for the ceremony.

My whole body tingled with a new, furious jolt of nerves when the clock chimed the warning that it was time to leave. I didn't know whether to be grateful or annoyed at all the red lights we caught on the way to the venue. The few extra minutes they added to our drive gave me both more time to compose myself and fret about everything that could go wrong. When the car took a left and the beach came into sight, there were no words to describe how absolutely paralyzed with terror I became. Frozen in my seat, it took Eden, already at the venue along with everyone else save for the group escorting me, gently pulling me out to get me moving again. My mom, Sunset, and Sunflower took Wisp to the benches to take their places. Eden led the silently freaking out me behind some shrub trees where we were to wait until it was time for us to make our appearance down the aisle.

     "I don't know what I was thinking..." I mumbled as I began to pace incessantly.
     "Wedding jitters?" Eden asked teasingly.
     "Are you sure you're okay with this going down?" I asked, my desperation too dramatic, "It's alright if you're not ready to see your baby sister married off yet. I am only twenty-two after all. If you think it's better that I wait a bit, I totally understand that."
     "Nah, I'm good," Eden continued to tease, "All I've wanted is for you to live a normal life, and you marrying the guy you love is included in that."

He then turned serious as I practically jumped a mile when music started playing. There wasn't much time left until the ceremony began. Eden smiled at me kindly and placed his hand on my shoulder.

     "Ethereal, everything is going to be fine. You want this. I know that, and you know it too. Just wait. As soon as it all gets rolling, you'll find that there's no place else in the world where you'd rather be."

Eden's smile turned nostalgic with just a hint of amused sadness.

     "Although, if it makes you feel better it is a little difficult to see this day come. I'm finally going to have to let you move out of the house," he chuckled lightly, "You've been in my life practically every day straight for the past twenty-two years, so not having you around all the time will take some getting used to."
     "Don't think you're getting rid of me that fast. It's not like Amaranth and I have a place to live just yet, or even the money to get one," I reminded him, a giggle breaking through my nerves, "Besides, with how Wisp and Little Hunt are attached at the waist, I'm probably going to be dragged back home every day even when I do move out."
     "True. Very true." Eden agreed.

He only smiled wider, and his gaze was swept off of me by his imaginings. I, on the other hand, only stared harder at him. More thinking, more realizations snatched away my panicking. The wrinkles on Eden's face were getting harder and harder for me not to look at. I had teased him about getting older many times, but now I was terrified to even think of it. My brother would be turning 40 at the end of the year. I knew compared to the regular span of a life that he still had so much more time left, but for me his upcoming birthday was just a horrible reminder that I would have to live without him someday. The despairing coldness at the thought effectively dominated my chest, and Eden was in for a shock when I suddenly clutched him to me as if I would never see him again.

     "I don't think I've ever said it, but thank you. For everything. You have no idea how absolutely grateful I am, or how much I love you." I said softly, fighting back tears that I at least had to save until I got to the altar.
     "That's probably very close to how much I love you," Eden joked back gently and with brotherly sweetness, "And, you're welcome."

A smile was tugging at my lips now. I gripped Eden tighter to snuggle him closer, but he was shifting out of my grasp.

     "Sorry, your veil..." he pointed out as he humorously blew away the material attacking his face.
     "Oh, sorry." I apologized back, laughing a true, loud laugh now.

That laughter was nowhere to be found several seconds later. The music changed, and the new song was the monumental one. The one that signified it was time for Eden and I to make our appearance. I began shaking slightly again when I heard the sound of all the guests standing up. My stomach did several impressive somersaults and heat dominated my chest as my heart sped up its tempo. Eden gave me a sympathetic, encouraging kiss on the head before he took my hand in his and led me around the bushes. My knees truly buckled and I would have turned on my heel and ran had Eden's grip on me not been as tight as it was. I crushed his hand in return, but it didn't seem to bother him. I had nearly broken his hand while he stayed by my side during my labor until Amaranth made it to the hospital from Twilight City after all. He was used to the steel grip.

I couldn't understand how anyone could possibly like having all the attention on themselves. However, I thankfully found that the overwhelming nerves were lessening as I took in my situation better. The wedding was taking place on a strip of beach Frost's father had decided to buy, specifically to host all the beach weddings couples wanted to have. Ours was the christening ceremony. I was surrounded only by family and friends, exactly like I wanted. And, the thing that calmed me down the most was seeing Amaranth. I wasn't the only one who was nervous. He was hastily fiddling with his tuxedo and sleeves until he spotted me. He then snapped into position like he would be incinerated if he moved. I couldn't help but to bite back another laugh. I truly was getting way too worked up for nothing. There was just my family. There was just my friends. There was just my Amaranth. My same silly, adventurous, gallant, cheerfully bright Amaranth.

I walked more confidentially with my head held higher. I was getting closer to the wedding platform when I was suddenly called out to.

     "Auntie 'Thereal!"

A smile had already returned to my face, but hearing those two words made it that much bigger. Hearing my nephew call me that somehow just made me giggly. I think it was because Eden had gotten such a kick out of it when he realized that you could say Aunt Ethereal or Auntie 'Thereal and have them essentially sound the same, and he had spent many hours teaching his son to call me the latter.

Hunter was his name, or Little Hunt as I liked to call him. It helped to lessen the confusion between my nephew and his namesake. The original Hunter never minded any issues them sharing the name brought about. I still remember him bursting into tears, happy ones, when Eden walked out of the labor room holding his green skinned, green haired and bright pink eyed son saying his name was Hunter Sprig Yonder. I was touched and glad that Mrs. Charm had been kind enough to let Eden basically have sole control over the name, for the generosity was much appreciated. Eden had never said it, but I could tell he loved that he was passing on his last name. I had heard from little hints that he dropped that Hunter was able to make better peace with the past now that he felt the son he had lost was alive again in some small manner.

     "You look really pretty!" Little Hunter called out again, brightly waving at me.

Wisp, having been sitting quietly, popped his thumb out of his mouth and joined his companion in waving at me. Born a mere three weeks apart, Hunter and Wisp were more like brothers than cousins. With Jac and Mrs. Charm basically living at our house after Wisp had been born so Eden could help me while still seeing his son constantly, it had felt to me as if I had gone ahead and had twins. The two were hardly alike though. Whether by nature or by Jac and big brother Allium's influence, Hunter was incredibly outgoing and bold. Wisp, on the other hand, took after me in personality like how he took after Glacier in his physical appearance.

Mrs. Charm leaned over to gently quiet him after I thanked him and the soft chuckles of the adults died down.

Hunter's distraction only further helped to calm me down. When Eden led me to the platform and placed me under the arch along with Amaranth, I was feeling practically normal. Still nervous, but they were the kind of nerves I could handle. I was given another kiss by Eden before he went to sit down at his seat. Little Hunt eagerly scrambled into his lap. Seeing the two cuddled together warmed my heart, and it gave me the ability to then look at Amaranth without flustering horribly. I had to accept that Eden was right, as usual. Amaranth truly was just Amaranth, even if he was all dressed up. I was more comfortable with him than I was with any other person. When he winked at me while wearing a lovingly flirtatious grin, I merrily rolled my eyes and soon forgot that there was anyone else around.

Blaze had been eager to be the main speaker for the ceremony, and I didn't regret my decision to let him have the chance. I didn't need some stuffy priest or whatever rattling off the same old, same old words that had been spoken a million times over. I wanted my ceremony to be true to life. I wanted Blaze to recount Amaranth's and my experiences and remark on our future together that was about to begin in the way only Blaze could. He spoke grandly and with sincerity, but the way he phrased everything he had everyone in stitches. I was risking tears more because of my barely contained laughter than from overwhelming emotions of happiness.

Those kind of tears nearly came out towards the end of the ceremony where the truly important part took place. Amaranth had pulled me into his grasp not minding all the eyes on us. With Blaze concluding his marvelous speech, it was time for me to find my voice again. I panicked again briefly as I struggled bringing to mind the sentences I had spent hours memorizing. I stumbled over the first few words and my cheeks darkened as they reddened, but I found from somewhere within me the strength to say my vow as I should.

     "I love you, Amaranth. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and comfort you in times of struggle and sorrow. I promise to love you when life seems easy and when it is hard, when our love is simple and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you. These things I give to you today, and in all the days of our lives."

There was more laughter when Allium let out a little whistle. Amaranth gave him a teasing warning glare, but I didn't mind the tiny interruption. It was also relieving to see that I wouldn't be the lone one to stumble over some of my words. Amaranth opened his mouth confidentially, but nothing came out. I smiled at him encouragingly when I saw his thoughts run momentarily blank as mine had. He needed a moment to find his courage too, and I only looked at him sweeter when those mildly nervous and embarrassed words started to come.

     "Ethereal, I bring myself to you this day to share my life with you. You can trust my love, for it is real. I promise to be faithful, and to unfailingly share and support your hopes, dreams, and goals. I vow to always be there for you. When you fall, I will catch you. When you cry, I will comfort you. When you laugh, I will share your joy. Everything I am, and everything I have, is yours, from this moment forth, and for eternity."

Sunset stepped forward to place my ring in Amaranth's hand, and Allium moved closer to place Amaranth's ring in mine. I blushed ever more furiously when I dared to take a peek at all the eyes watching us. However, my smile never left my face. I held my breath when Amaranth turned his smile to me, and when he tenderly slid my ring onto my finger. I never let his touch leave me when I returned the favor, or when Blaze said his few closing remarks.

I must be honest, the kiss was my favorite part about the ceremony. I didn't consider myself a lover of overly sentimental words or dramatic proclamations of undying desire. Amaranth's lips against mine was all I needed to know of his feelings for me. Instead of focusing on the clapping and cheering that came when we kissed for the first time as a married couple, I found security in the fact that Amaranth's kiss did to me what it had always done to me. There had been no steady fading away of feelings like what had happened with Allium. I craved Amaranth as I had craved him before, and now he was all mine to give me the relief I loved for as long as I lived.

Amaranth and I had barely taken a step away from each other when I felt someone tugging on my dress. Of course, it was the person I expected it to be. I gathered Wisp into my arms once more, and he stared up at me expectantly.

     "Do we all have the same name now?" he wondered.
     "Yes." I said happily.

Wisp beamed at that and when Amaranth ruffled his hair, but he buried himself against my shoulder when he realized there was a lot of attention on him now that he was in everyone's field of vision. I rubbed his back while Amaranth wrapped his arms around us as wet met the continuing celebratory claps and cheers of our official binding as a family.

Little Hunter refused to be left out of the cuddles, so he rushed over to be a part of the big hug. Many pictures were taken as Amaranth and I rotated through everyone to accept their congratulations directly. There was an abundance of hugs and big smiles all around. When it was all done, I was more than ready to head over to the other section of the lot where the cake had just been brought out and the food had been served to satisfy my appetite. I gorged myself slowly, as I was not going to risk anything falling onto my dress. I was already risking getting it dirty being surrounded by sand. I took to mingling after I ate, and I was quickly approached by a now incredibly familiar face. Glacier was one of the ones who had been at the house practically every day for the past four years.

     "Crest and the boys send their regards. Crest in particular was sorry she couldn't be here now." he relayed the message.
     "That's alright. Seeing her father is more important." I comforted.

It had been surprising to everyone, and most surprising to Glacier himself, when he had ended up remarried a year after his divorce from Shell. His new wife, Crest, had been widowed for a few years and had two sons with her previous husband. It had been a quick development, but one that had worked out marvelously. Glacier was getting the chance to be a true father again, those boys had a wonderful father once more, and Crest had admitted to me that her new life had lifted her out of the depression her old one had caused. It was something I had been happy to hear, for Crest was a sweetheart. It was why I worried for her now what with her father having fallen severely ill.

     "I must say, I am glad that I was right about the two of you- in that you wouldn't be broken up so easily. I've seen how these past years have been hard on you, so if you could survive them I believe you're both more than competent to make it through whatever other troubles you encounter." Glacier admitted supportively.
     "I like to think that way too, and I think as long as you're around we'll be alright. You've definitely been a lifesaver. You and Purity both."
     "Ah, well, I've just done what I could." Glacier shifted slightly in embarrassment.

Purity called for him, but I didn't let him get away without one more quick hug.

The feasting lasted for quite a while, and all the food gave everyone quite the energy burst. The time had come for everyone to get a little more active, but there was one more important thing that had to happen first. It was my chance to experience a bit of the father-daughter dance I didn't get to go to. The crowd gathered around the dance floor. Expecting Eden to follow me, another blushed scattered across my cheeks when I was standing by myself. Everyone else was confused as well. Turning my head my brother's way, I noticed that Jungle was doing the same thing. That was when Eden gave him a friendly push in my direction and said something to him that I couldn't hear.

Jungle was sheepish stepping out for everyone to watch, but he walked over eagerly and absolutely beaming. My heart bubbled at his joy, for that morning I had been struck with some intense guilt. Sunflower had overheard him talking to Field. Jungle had been a perfectly wonderful father to me since I had met him. I knew that he would have been the same way if I had known him since birth. It should have then been his right to have walked me down the aisle, but Eden had been the one to do it instead. Jungle had been bitter over the fact that he was being knocked down from that important fathering role not because of faults of his own making, but because of circumstances out of his control that prevented him from doing what he otherwise would have done had he been given the chance. I wondered if word about his feelings had gotten to Eden somehow, for it had been the plan for him to be the one dancing with me. Even if it had just been his intuition or pure kindness, I was most glad the switch had been made. Not just for the sake of my feet, for Eden was indeed a terrible dancer, but because I got to see the bitterness in my father's eyes be swept away and replaced with loving merriment.

As bad a dancer as Eden was though, he loved to do it. He led Field onto the floor to share a dance with her as soon as my solo waltz with Jungle was over. His quick movement also canceled out the awkwardness of everyone hesitating to move onto the floor with us. Jungle graciously bowed out when Amaranth appeared beside me, and soon the two of us were spinning and swirling like there was no tomorrow. I didn't mind for a moment how dizzy I got or how we looked as we didn't stop for the longest time. All I could think of was that happy morning when Ethereal returned for good and how my wish to remain with Amaranth forever had finally come true.

Time flew by too fast for me. I was glad I had multiple photographers around capturing everything, for when I looked back at them I didn't recall half of what went down. Amaranth and I stuck close to each other, but we were pulled from person to person, to conversation to conversation, and from game to game. There were things I just completely missed as well, such as Little Hunt and Wisp copying the adults by trying to waltz together. The sun slipping closer to the horizon completely escaped my notice until Amaranth and I slipped out of the throng to take a break by the bonfire Blaze made. He, Sap, and Purity were there, and the five of us chatted contentedly.

     "Shouldn't you two be heading off soon?"

Then Blaze asked that teasing question. I stared at him blankly until it hit me what he was getting at. I fidgeted, now highly aware of how Amaranth felt as I had been leaning against him. Sap and Purity looking at each other before glancing our way suppressing massive smiles and laughs strengthened the new surge of nerves striking me. I had forgotten there was a lot more to do in this day besides the ceremony and celebration.

Amaranth expertly got Blaze off the topic, for it was easy to tell it was a button his uncle was about to push with fervor. We eventually ended up walking away from the bonfire entirely, but Blaze had actually planted the seed of the idea. The sunlight waned. The shadows grew longer. Amaranth kept glancing my way to silently check if it was time yet. My chest ached as my heart beat powerfully against it, although I couldn't deny that what was going to happen was something I wanted greatly as well. I gave Amaranth a silent signal that I was ready, and he picked up on it instantly. Wanting to get away as quietly as possible, we decided to say our goodbyes to Wisp only. Unfortunately...

     "I want to go too!" he cried loudly, toddler tantrum tears filling his eyes.
     "It's only going to be for a little while. Just a few days." Amaranth tried to cheer him up, giving him a hopeful little bounce.

Wisp let out a crescendoing cry of disapproval.

     "I know it'll be sad having us gone for a few days, but you're going to come on a trip with daddy and me afterwards, remember? It'll be the three of us together then, but you have to be a good boy and be patient first." I tried this time.

Wisp didn't wail again, but he pouted and sulked something awful. His grip on Amaranth's jacket didn't lessen any either. Our predicament was spotted by someone else, so Amaranth and I didn't get away without alerting at least one adult.

     "Here, Wisp. You come with me. Your aunt Purity has started a fun game of corn hole with Hunter," Glacier said, offering his reach, "And your uncle Eden has said we can take you and Hunter to Palooza Place tomorrow, but only if you're good tonight and let your parents leave for their trip."

I knew Glacier was lying about Eden suggesting the trip, for Eden hated the rowdy kids' restaurant and play place, but Glacier had always been adamant that he kept some sort of distance between him and Wisp until the day came if we decided it was best to reveal the truth. Still, that didn't stop him from swiping Wisp away from us whenever he could. I never minded, for, as much as I loved my son, I also loved the hours or even days off Glacier allowed Amaranth and I to have by babysitting our little boy.

Wisp thought over the conditions and allowed his grandpa Glacier to take him after he got one more hug and kiss from Amaranth and I.

I kept the conversation rolling during the entire drive to the hotel where we would be staying for the night before we left the following morning for the airport to start our real honeymoon. The talking was a distraction for what would soon be happening. I wasn't sure if Amaranth noticed what I was doing or not, so he was either contributed to the conversation merely because we were having a conversation or because he was humoring me. He definitely didn't seem to be nervous like I was. He got a little cry of alarm out of me too when we were about to approach our door, but he suddenly scooped me up from behind to carry me in instead. I was laughing by the end of that breath, and with the next my lips were entangled with Amaranth's once more.

     "How does being married feel?" Amaranth asked when the kiss was ended.
     "To tell the truth, not that different so far." I admitted.
     "That is the truth, isn't it?" Amaranth laughed.

We had been married in our hearts long ago. Besides the fact that we would now live together, when we could scrape up the funds, and that our binding was legal, Amaranth and I had been acting as any married couple would for the past four years. We had even shared the same bed, although cuddling was as far as we had ever gotten.

     "Well, here's something different," Amaranth continued, placing his lips close to my ear and whispering with allure, "Mrs. Vivid."

A blush graced my cheeks for the millionth time that day. I couldn't say anything in response. Only squirm in amused embarrassment and hesitant anticipation, for the touch of my husband's warm breath against my skin had several things aside from just my skin tingling.

Amaranth merely laughed yet another time, placed a kiss on my cheek, and set me down before suggesting we dress down a bit. The idea of stripping down to lesser clothes didn't bother me too much, for my dress had become a pain. I was tired of not being able to move well, having to watch every step I took so I didn't dirty it, and my arms being itchy from the material. Still in the habit of keeping certain things out of Amaranth's sight, I went into the bathroom to undress. I carefully hung the dress up, put on a little something I had bought, and placed a complimentary robe over that. Walking back out into the room, I found Amaranth had only bothered with taking off his jacket and untucking his shirt. I heard the gentle crumpling of paper being held, and I realized he was reading something.

     "What'cha got there?" I wondered curiously.

The expression he had on his face was nothing like what I expected it to be. Amaranth almost looked distressed. He stared at me in silence before shifting his gaze to what he held in his hand.

     "Blaze gave it to me before we left. He said it was my wedding gift, and that I shouldn't open it until we were alone. It's...it's a letter and a check." he explained.
     "Oh? Well, that's a normal gift, isn't it?" I pointed out, wondering what exactly about Blaze's gift was so impactful.

Amaranth didn't waste time answering my confusion.

     "He said...the letter says a lot of this is money that should have been mine from the beginning. Inheritance passed down from my grandparents, my parents, and then their life insurance that Blaze had to use instead to put himself through college so he could get a good job to support us and for child care for me while he was at his classes. There's more than that in here though, because he didn't want to just pay me back. Blaze wanted to make sure that I had enough to take care of you too, and Wisp, and so that I had a head start on passing it down to our children as well."

He had to pause as his words were softening. Slowly but surely, Amaranth was choking up.

     "All those times we wondered what the hell Blaze was doing with the money he earned, this was what it was for. To give to me. To us."

With a shaking hand, Amaranth handed me the check. I expected it to be a decent amount given Amaranth's words, but I was forced to blink extra and do a double take when I saw what was being so freely gifted away.

     "Are you sure he didn't accidentally add an extra zero or two or something? I mean, this effectively gets rid of our housing predicament. We couldn't just buy a place now," I spoke in awe, "We could build a house with this. And, and still have enough left over for you to not have to work for years."
     "I know." Amaranth said quietly, his head now hanging in his hands.

He sunk down into the chair behind him. My expression furrowed in worry the second I saw that some tears had escaped his eyes, but I didn't let myself freak out. It had been a very emotional day for the both of us after all, and even though it was the happy kind of emotional that didn't mean our limits hadn't been pushed to the point of exhaustion. Amaranth clung to me when I knelt down in front of him. I held his hand tight and stroked his hair as he let out what he had to let out.

     "I would be so horrible to him sometimes," he revealed, "I would bitch and moan and call him selfish, and he would just stand there and smile. I thought that was his way of fighting back. Smiling and silently making fun of my anger. But, he was just smiling because he knew the truth. I would find out it was all for me in the end, and he would make me be like this. I bet he has a smug little grin on his face right now. The goddamn bastard."

I laughed a tiny laugh. I was never going to get past Blaze and Amaranth and the two of them cussing out each other as their way of showing affection. Amaranth pressed his head tighter against the crook of my neck.

     "It wasn't the just money either. The whole coal on Christmas thing...he only did it to take over for my dad. That was his idea. It was him who found it funny. I'm such an idiot. Coal giving out coal. It's so damn obvious now..."

I kissed his hair and found that my frown had transformed back into a smile.

     "Despite what one would think, Blaze actually makes a great parent." I realized.
     "Yeah." Amaranth agreed softly.

Holding Amaranth until he calmed down, I was pulled onto his lap when I went to stand. His smile was back too, and I gently wiped away the last traces of his tears.

     "Hmm, well, that was fun," he joked, "And not exactly the way I planned to start this off. Blaze isn't exactly what I want to be thinking about right now."
     "And what do you want to be on your mind?" I queried coyly.
     "You. Only you, and me," Amaranth answered, his voice growing softer in a different way than before, "Of what kind of house we're going to build. The places I want us to go. The things I want us to do..."

I had lowered my face closer to his, and our lips had just met in another kiss when I felt that his fingers were already working at the knot holding my robe closed. Truthfully, I froze for a second, but I dove back in for a deeper kiss before Amaranth could halt due to my knee-jerk reaction. There wasn't much more talking after that. Just some more laughter on Amaranth's part when he found he had another layer to go after he dispersed of the robe.

Rebelling against my nerves which demanded I be nothing other than a statue, I helped Amaranth remove his shoes, socks, and shirt. Much closer to being totally clothes free, I was swept up in his arms again to be sweetly placed onto the bed. The kissing steadily built up in intensity, and Amaranth was perfect at reading the signs to know which place to move his hands to at what time. I did my best to return the favor, but it was clear he was the more knowledgeable one. In fact, it was him who allowed me to ask the question I had never thought to ask before but was now a burning curiosity.

     "I suppose I have to ask," Amaranth began, his words lightly breathy, "I probably should have brought this up at a slightly different time, but I was scared of what answer I might get. So, did...you and Al ever..."

He couldn't finish the question. I looked at him encouragingly.

     "No. There was one time where we almost did, but we decided to wait."
     "I see," Amaranth responded, sounding thoroughly relieved, "What about on your own?"
     "N-no. I never even really thought about it." I mumbled, that question embarrassing me much more.

The conversation paused due to another kiss.

     "What about you and Cocoa?" I reciprocated the pondering.
     "There wasn't even a point where we almost did, or where we even really tried. That should have been the biggest warning that I wasn't into her like I thought I was. I had absolutely no desire to be with her in that way. Even kissing seemed more of a chore than anything I enjoyed," Amaranth grinned before he pouted nervously, "Although, I have...y'know...by myself..."

His voice truly trailed off towards the end there. I only kissed him again.

     "It doesn't bother me. One of us having some sort of experience is probably better than both of us having nothing. Even if you had slept with Cocoa too, I wouldn't mind. You're mine now. That's all that matters."

Amaranth relaxed and pulled me closer to him. Content to be clothed a little bit longer, he moved me to his side where he slowly hovered more and more over me. Though my heart still raced with understandable nervousness, it was desire my body was beginning to shake with. I trusted Amaranth much more than I was scared. Even in this kind of situation, he remained my silly, adventurous, gallant, cheerfully bright Amaranth whom I believed in with all my might. True to my thoughts, he surfaced from our tightly locked kiss to stare at me as he so often did- with wonder and with unfailing love.

     "We've come a long way from me being jealous of Sap Spring kissing you on the cheek, huh?" he said with a victorious smirk.
     "Indeed. You are the person I cherish. The one I give my all to today, and in all the days of our lives."

Amaranth smiled tenderly.

     "And everything I am is yours," he spoke with utmost affection, "I will catch you when you fall. I will comfort you when you cry. I will laugh along with you when you laugh. I vow to always be there for you."

He placed his forehead against mine. One hand lightly ran its fingers over my cheek and the other intertwined with mine. There was no longer any space between our bodies. I knew in that moment, when Amaranth whispered softly against me once more, that I had found the place I belonged and the place where I would forever belong.

     "I will always be there for you."