A/N 1: Welcome, Creampuffs, to the end, and my love letter, of sorts, to this little story that has meant so much to me and many others. I have to admit marking this story complete is bittersweet. While it's not the first time I've done it, it is the first time I'm not already in the planning stages of the next book. This, sadly, truly is the end of a story that was only supposed to be fifteen chapters, (at most), that turned into an epic adventure that has taken just over five years to tell. This story, the feedback I've received and the people I've met because of it, have helped me through a tough five years. I will miss these characters, this story, but most of all, all of you. Enjoy, Creampuffs! Thanks for everything...
Seventy-Seven Days Ago
Deidre perched on the table in front of her sister, arms across her chest, as the door locked behind Laura and Carmilla and a small vault opened beside it. Her sister was glaring at her; even in defeat, she'd never accept it. She couldn't, it wasn't in her nature. Which is why she had to die. It was the only way to ensure everyone's safety and freedom. She raised an eyebrow as she pushed off the table and removed Lilita's gag on her way to the vault.
"So…" Lilita croaked and cleared her throat. "What's the plan?"
"Plan?" she chuckled as she took her laptop, cell phone and gun from the vault. "You heard the plan." She returned to the table and put her things down. "Or most of it, anyway," she added as she opened her laptop and checked the cameras. After checking to see where the girls were, she went and opened the second door behind the table.
"Hey Babs," she greeted as she hugged her other sister.
"What in the hell?" blurted Lilita as she stepped aside to reveal their visitor.
"Lil', meet our other sister, Barbra."
"S… s… sister?" stammered Lilita.
"You, better than most, know our parents could barely afford two of us, let alone a third with a disability," supplied Deidre.
"My adopted parents did the best they could," continued Barbra, barely a hint of speech impediment hinting at her former disability, "but it wasn't until I met Deidre that I finally heard anything…"
"Stop," interrupted Deidre, "she doesn't deserve to know your story." She checked the cameras again and found Laura and Carmilla talking in their car. "Nor does she care." She turned at a scoff from Lilita. "What? You care about anyone but yourself?" She shared a look with Barbra and then looked back at Lilita. "All she needs to know is that you're the one dying tonight, not me."
"Would she care about why?" asked Barbra.
"Probably not." She looked back at Lilita. "I found her shortly after you hatched your plan to seduce Bill." She smiled. "She was in a bad spot. I helped her and helped get her hearing and in return, she's giving me my freedom."
"Take me with you," Lilita pleaded.
"You can not be serious?" She mocked. "I have spent a lifetime cleaning up after you." She shook her head. "I'm done."
"Dee?" she turned to Barbra. "I'm sorry, I don't think I can do it, I don't think I can kill her."
"Weak," Lilita taunted.
"That's nothing to be ashamed of," she assured Barbra. "I've taken lives and been complacent in the deaths of others and that is a shame I'll never shed." She turned back to Lilita. "Except yours," she smiled, "I look forward to taking yours so I can take back mine." She looked back at Barbra. "It's probably better this way. While we might look identical, there was always a chance they'd pick up the difference in our speech."
"Will you be able to make it out in time?" asked Barbra.
"Give me a minute to think."
Deidre glanced at the cameras and wondered when the girls had left. She picked up her phone and checked their location; it seemed they had just left the storage facility. She set two alerts; one for the gym and the other Carmilla's new home.
She opened the protective case around the camera and then directed Barbra to stand next to the wall. "Closer to me," she prodded and adjusted the camera angle. She looked around for something to mark the spot against the wall and spotted something else instead; the spent casing from the blank Carmilla had shot. "Shit," she sighed; she couldn't take a chance that the fire wouldn't consume it. "No," she thought. She'd taken too many precautions to ensure Carmilla and Laura wouldn't be implicated. She slipped the casing into her pocket and found a slip of paper. "Perfect," she smiled; the receipt for the fireworks.
"I'll make my little speech," she explained, "Kill her," she put the receipt at Barbra's feet, "Switch spots with you and then run like hell."
"I'll give you as much time as I can," offered Barbra.
"But you can't make it seem like you are," she qualified as she turned the laptop so she could see what she was filming. She turned back to Lilita and asked; "Any final words?"
"Has your life really been that bad?" questioned Lilita.
"Yes," she replied simply. "While I can't deny you made Laura and Carmilla's lives a living hell, I will never outlive the shame I feel for letting it happen." She shook her head. "I can't change that." She smiled. "I can, however, make sure everyone is safe from you. Trust me, sister dearest, I will do the best I can to enjoy what's left of my life." She paused for effect. "And all that only happens if we are indisputably dead."
"Why are you doing this? Giving your life for hers?" Lilita questioned Barbra.
"Dee made my life better." She smiled at Deidre. "Seems fair I do the same for the rest of hers." She shrugged. "I'm already dying, at least this way it can do some good."
"Anything else?" prodded Deidre.
"You would have been nothing without me!" spat Lilita. "Everything you are, everything you have, you'd have none of it without me."
"That's enough," she said as she replaced Lilita's gag. "Because you're right." She smiled. "However, what you have always failed to comprehend is that the only reason you've remained free all this time to enact your ploys is me." She put her hands on Lilita's wrists, squeezing until her sister winced in pain from her severed hands. She leaned in to within inches of her face. "You took over my life when we were children because you couldn't stand me having something you didn't. That I could excel, when you couldn't. You took my life." She stood straight. "Today I take it back but more importantly, Carmilla and Laura get to enjoy the rest of their lives without looking over their shoulders." She walked backed over to the table at a chime from her cell phone. "Showtime," she said quietly and put the remote for the camera in her pocket. "Ready?" she asked Barbra who responded by nodding. She smiled and went over to hug her sister. "It's almost over," she whispered, "no more pain, no more suffering, okay?" Barbra nodded against her shoulder. She pulled away and held her face in her hands. "Thank you."
"Thank me by making the most of your life." She smiled. "Enjoy it, you've earned it."
Deidre took her place in front of the camera and reviewed the little speech she'd planned on Barbra giving in her absence and realized she didn't have the energy to give it nor was it needed. She'd left nothing to chance, there was already a backup USB along with letters, revealing everything now would only be redundant.
"Good evening, Vancouver," she began her abbreviated confession.
Once she was done she bent down, her back to the camera, and picked up the gas can.
"No last words for you," she taunted quietly. "No last chance for lies."
She opened the gas can and poured it over her head before turning back to the camera.
"My sister tortured a child whose only crime was being born to parents who had wronged us." She glanced at her and then back to the camera. "Twisted and manipulated a boy who didn't know any better." She took a lighter from her pocket and lit it. "Not to mention how she ruined my life." She shook her head. "I don't know if there's a hell." She sighed as she stared at the flame in her hand. "If there is, we're both surely bound for it." She looked back at her sister. "I can't guarantee that you'll burn for eternity." She threw the lighter into her sister's lap and watched as it caught. "But at least I can ensure you'll die in fear and pain."
Lilita's screams were muffled by her gag and her head soon dropped to her chest as the flames engulfed her. She walked to her side, shot her in the head, pressed pause on the camera while her back was still turned to it, switched places with Barbra, and then restarted the camera.
She took one last look at her sisters and then ran as Barbra's 'Goodbye" echoed in her ears while the rumble of the tunnel collapsing behind her spurned her to run as fast as she could. She had a minute, maybe two, to make it to the sewer before she'd be trapped.
Diedre burst into the sewer and toppled against the far wall and tried to catch her breath, a shower of dirt and debris following her seconds later. She supposed it wouldn't have mattered if she hadn't made it. She'd completed her mission. Carmilla and everyone she cared about were safe. All the loose ends were tied or would be soon. No, the only person who benefited from her escape was her.
She gained the fresh air a few minutes later, the sound of fireworks exploding in the distance making her smile; for the first time in her life, she too had a future worth looking forward to.
Last Friday
Deidre wiped the tears from her face as she turned off the television and refilled her wine glass on the way to the patio to watch the setting sun. She'd never been more proud of her stepdaughter, though she knew she had little right to. Despite the hell her sister had put her through, a hell she'd been far too complacent in, Carmilla had become stronger than she ever thought possible. Far stronger than she ever was.
Carmilla was right, there had been ulterior motives in getting her on the show. If Laura hadn't maneuvered her onto it and gotten Carmilla out of harm's way, she'd never have been able to wrap things up as quickly as she had. They might have still been fighting.
She held her wine glass aloft; "Enjoy your lives, my darlings, I know I'm going to enjoy mine."
Tuesday morning Laura discovered she was alone in bed when she reached for Carmilla and found her side cold and empty. She glanced at the clock and frowned; why was Carmilla up so early? They didn't have anything planned for the day aside from getting ready for their trip. She felt around the bed: Trill was asleep on Carmilla's pillow, and judging from the weight on her bladder, Luna was curled up there, but no Lucy. She chuckled; to think she'd worried how Carmilla would feel about her little Chihuahua, but it turned out her girlfriend… she chuckled and corrected herself; her fiancee. She smiled. It turned out her fiancee was a big softie when it came to all animals.
She frowned as she reached for her phone when it chimed; a call this early was rarely a good thing. She raised an eyebrow as she hit 'play' on her voice message; "Hello, this is a message for Laura Hollis. If you can please give a call back at your earliest convenience, Shannon would like to discuss your fighting future."
"Now that is interesting," she commented and pushed Luna off her stomach. She sat up and rubbed her face; she wanted Carmilla at her side before she returned the call from Invicta. Besides, she needed to go to the bathroom, a fact Luna had so thoughtfully made her aware of. She sighed, pulled herself from the bed, and grabbed a sweatshirt and pants on the way there.
Laura splashed some cold water on her face after she was done and then slipped into her sweats before going in search of her fiancee. She grabbed her phone and slipped it into her pocket on the way through the bedroom to the living room. "Coffee…" she smiled and went to make a cup. "Carm?!" she called. "Must be outside," she reasoned as she slipped on a jacket and shoes and then headed outside with her coffee.
"What the… ?"
Laura had wandered out to a literal flurry of activity on their front lawn. She looked around, spotted Carmilla, and then went to join her. She'd considered calling out to her but realized she likely wouldn't be heard over the artificial snow machines covering everything in white.
"Carm?" she prodded with a tap on her shoulder.
"Hey, Pup," she greeted and kissed her on the cheek. "Can you take Lucy inside? I think all the noise is freaking her out."
"What's going on?" she questioned as she took the shivering Chihuahua from her.
"I'll be in a minute," deflected Carmilla. "There's breakfast in the oven for you."
"You expect me to just…"
"Please, Pup, I'll be in in a minute," interrupted Carmilla.
"Fine," she sighed and turned to go inside.
"Laura?"
"No, it's okay." She shook her head. "It's too loud to talk out here anyway." She smiled and kissed her. "Don't be long?"
"I won't," she promised and glanced at her phone. "Oh, good, Perry's here." She looked back at Laura. "I just have to get her up to speed and I'll be right in."
"Sure," she accepted and thought as she headed inside; "Perry gets to know before me?" She shook her head as she let a squirming Lucy jump from her arms. "Whatever," she sighed after taking off her jacket and shoes and heading to the kitchen. She had no idea what was going on outside but if Carmilla was putting Perry in charge, everything was under control.
She took her breakfast from the oven and smiled as she inhaled the aroma; Carmilla made the best French Toast. She took it over the table and frowned when she noticed a padded envelope addressed to her and Carmilla.
"That came this morning," Carmilla commented as she joined her, kissed the top of her head, and sat beside her. "I thought I'd wait since it's addressed to both of us."
"And we're just going to ignore the snowstorm going on outside?" joked Laura.
"Well, um," Carmilla stalled and looked down at her hands, "that depends on you."
"On me?"
"Well, it's um, either a very elaborate Yule Ball themed engagement party or…"
"A wedding?" Laura guessed, jumped into her lap, and kissed her. "Yes."
"Wedding?" Laura nodded. "You're sure?"
"I've never been more sure of anything," she confirmed.
"It's just, well, not everyone can make it to Florida and I wasn't able to get everything…"
Laura interrupted her with a kiss.
"You don't have to justify it and you don't have to convince me." Laura kissed her again and then returned to her own chair. "So, what's the plan?"
"I was going to wake you in half an hour and then Danny and Betty will be here at eleven to take you to the spa. After that, you've got to pick out what you're going to wear and then head back to the gym to get ready." She smiled. "The wedding is at six."
"And what will you be doing?"
"Pretty much the same except with Dark who is picking me up at noon and I already have what I'm wearing." She tilted her head. "How come you're up so early?"
"Phone call," she supplied as she took her phone from her pocket and then played the voice message for her.
"And?" prodded Carmilla.
"I was waiting for you to call back," she replied, redialed the number and put it on speaker when it started ringing.
"Good afternoon, Invicta FC, how may I direct your call?"
"Hi, Laura Hollis returning your call?"
"Please hold while I transfer you to Shannon."
"Thanks."
Laura had dug into her breakfast while she waited and had a mouthful of French Toast when Shannon connected.
"Good afternoon, Laura, thanks for calling back so quickly."
"Of course." Laura swallowed. "What can I do for you?"
"Well first, congratulations on your fight. That was some flying armbar you pulled off," complimented Shannon.
"Thank you!" Laura exclaimed with a laugh. "You're the first person to recognize it."
"To be fair, the knockout was a thing of beauty," commented Carmilla.
"It was an accident!" protested Laura.
"Ms. Karnstein?" queried Shannon.
"Yeah, hi, sorry."
"No, no, it's all good," she dismissed. "Congratulations on your fight too and on your engagement. Have you two set a date yet?"
"Um, today, actually," replied Laura with a smile and a squeeze of Carmilla's hand.
"I'll get to the point then; how would you like to fight for the Atomweight belt in June?"
"No," she replied simply.
"No?" echoed both Carmilla and Shannon.
"I'm sorry, no thank you," amended Laura.
"Can I ask why?" inquired Shannon.
"It's easy; I haven't earned it."
"I think your fight on Friday proves you have," countered Shannon.
"In a different division against an opponent I've already beaten," pointed out Laura. "Could I win? Maybe. But I'd spend the rest of my time defending both the belt and the fact that I got to fight for it in the first place."
"But…" Shannon attempted to interrupt.
"It doesn't matter what other people think, it's what I'll think. I only have two professional fights, both against the same person in a different division," explained Laura.
"So what would you suggest?"
"A top-ten opponent to start. If I win, a top-five after that?"
"We could do that," she accepted. "How does June work for you?"
"Depends on when Carmilla is fighting next but as long as we have a couple of weeks in between fights, we should be good."
"Okay." Typing could be heard in the background. "I'll get back to you in a few days with some options, sound good?"
"Sure." Laura smiled. "We're leaving for Florida tomorrow…"
"Tonight," Carmilla corrected.
"Tonight?"
"I'll explain later."
"Anyway, I'll have my phone with me so I'll let you know where we are when you call."
"That works. Congratulations again, and Laura? I look forward to working with you."
"Thank you," replied Laura. "Me too." She ended the call and looked at Carmilla. "Tonight?"
"We're leaving around midnight and then the plane will refuel and come back to get everyone else."
"Seems…"
"What?" Carmilla smiled, leaned in to kiss her neck, and then whispered; "You think I want to join the 'Mile High Club' with my new wife with a plane full of our family and friends in the other cabin?" She returned to her seat. "Even if we don't, I'd rather have you to myself on our wedding night."
"Should I expect any more surprises?"
"A few…"
"What about vows?"
"Well," she took a folded piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to her, "I thought we could say our own things, but not vows exactly and then Rick could read that."
"Rick?"
"He got a license online." She shrugged. "I figured he's someone who is important to both of us."
"And…" Laura chuckled, "imagining him reading this?" She met her eyes. "Priceless."
"Yeah?"
"Yes," she affirmed. "Now," she put the package between them, "what about this?"
"No return address," commented Carmilla as she opened and then pulled out a folded piece of paper and long rectangular jewelry box. "Hello my darlings," she read, "I hadn't planned on contacting you, but knowing you, you've already figured out that I escaped and I wanted to save you the time and worry, You won't ever see or hear from again. You're free and safe. I also thought you'd appreciate a little souvenir of the time you literally scared the urine out of my sister." They chuckled. "I'd wish you luck, but I doubt you need it. Congratulations on your fights and your engagement. Take care, D."
"She's alive?" breathed Laura.
"I wonder if Steph knows," pondered Carmilla.
"It didn't seem like it," Laura replied.
Carmilla put the letter aside and the two watched it turn to dust.
"Neat trick," Carmilla commented as she opened the box. "What the…?"
Laura took the necklace from the box and examined its pendant.
"I'd have to check, but…" she gave it to Carmilla, "but I think it's the casing from the blank you shot at Lilita."
"Shit!" hissed Carmilla. "I didn't even think…"
"She took it to protect you," started Laura.
"And we can't use it as evidence she's alive because…" continued Carmilla.
"We'd have to admit we were there," finished Laura. "I suppose the question is; do we care?"
"Care?"
"That she's still out there?"
"I don't know," Carmilla sighed and got up to pace. "She took it so we wouldn't be exposed." She shook her head. "All she's ever tried to do is protect us." She looked at the spent casing in her hand. "I say…" she met Laura's eyes, "we let sleeping dogs lie."
"We're calling them dogs now?" joked Laura.
"Ding dong, the bitch we had to worry about is dead." She sat back down. "I don't know…" she sighed and ran her hands roughly through her hair. "All the evidence points to her protecting us all this time."
"Evidence she gave us," pointed out Laura.
"Have we found anything to disprove it?" countered Carmilla.
"Well, no, but…"
"She protected us, Laura. You, me, Will, everyone." She sighed. "Sat reading to me for hours while I recovered." She shook her head. "I don't know."
"Can we trust her?"
"She could have left this behind," she pondered as she examined the spent casing. "Or used it against us." She sighed. "I don't know that she's earned my trust, but maybe she's earned her freedom?"
"I guess," accepted Laura. "She's right, you know?"
"About?"
"It was bugging me." She shook her head. "Who was the other woman?"
"Does it matter?" questioned Carmilla. "I mean, it's done, it's over, right?"
"Seems so."
"So, maybe it's time to move on?" Carmilla smiled and kissed her cheek. "Finish your breakfast?"
"Yes, ma'am," teased Laura.
"Time is running short if you want a shower before you leave." She stood and kissed the top of her head. "I need to go check on things."
"Can I ask you something before you go?" Carmilla nodded. "This all seems like a lot of work, just how long have you been planning this?"
"A few weeks." She smiled. "Perry did a lot of the work, and you know, money." She shrugged. "I figured, if you said 'no', engagement party." She tilted her head. "No pressure but, you're in?"
"I'm in," she affirmed. "All in, in fact."
"Good." she smiled and kissed her. "I'll see you on your way out?"
Laura nodded, accepted her kiss, and then watched her leave. She sighed and went to get her laptop; she couldn't let it go. How did Deidre escape? She returned to the table, opened her laptop, and pulled up the video.
"There's no time stamp," she commented as she watched. "Is that why she destroyed the camera? So we couldn't examine it?" She shook her head and closed her laptop. "Does it matter?" she asked herself. "Carm's right, it's over, that's what matters." She returned her attention to her breakfast. "And I'm getting married today." She smiled but had suddenly lost her appetite. She took her plate back to the kitchen and refilled her coffee with a generous dose of Bailey's to settle her nerves.
She turned, leaned against the counter, and took a sip. To think, she'd worried Carmilla would never forgive her. All the times she'd imagined the fallout from her lies and deception, she'd never allowed her to picture something like this. She smiled; even if she could have somehow imagined any of this, she'd have never expected it so soon. Not because they weren't ready to get married, but because she never expected to be safe so quickly.
They had Deidre to thank for that, maybe the best way to repay her was to let it go. Let her have her life. After a lifetime of protecting people from her sister, hadn't she earned a little peace? Wasn't that the same gift she'd given them? Did it really matter if her questions would likely never be answered?
"No," she sighed and sipped her coffee. "It's over. We won. We're safe." She smiled. "We're getting married."
Carmilla stared at her reflection and sighed; it was the first moment she'd had to herself all day. Between overseeing preparations and getting herself ready, she'd barely had a moment to think, let alone ponder the implications of a very alive Deidre out there, somewhere.
"You okay?" Dark questioned as he gave her shoulders a squeeze.
"Dark," she turned to him, "I know you were supposed to walk me down the aisle but can you find my parents for me?"
"No worries," he smiled. "I expected it as much, though sooner, to be honest."
"You're still my best man," she pointed out. "You've got the rings, right?"
"I do," he smiled. "I'll be right back."
She turned back to the mirror and tried to adjust her curls, gave up, and reviewed her vows instead.
"Hey, sweetie, everything okay?" her mother greeted.
"Everything is amazing," she assured them. "I was wondering though if I could ask a favor?"
"Anything," replied her mother.
"Can you both walk me down the aisle?"
"Really?" blurted her father.
"Deidre knew you were both alive," she revealed. "She's the main reason you both still are." She sighed. "She defied and betrayed her own sister to keep you safe, and in the end, sacrificed everything so we could all finally be free." She smiled. "I can't think of a better way to honor that sacrifice than by having you two walk me down the aisle." She took their hands. "Something I never thought possible a few months ago. Something only possible because of her."
"How…" stammered her father.
"Do I know this?" she finished for him. "Aside from my doubt that you could have hidden one faked death, given your condition at the time, do you really think you hid two on our own?" she joked. "She told me in her letter and none of the evidence we've found since has disproven it."
"But…"
"Seriously?" she scoffed. "You were at the cabin this whole time, you really think all that construction just what? Escaped their attention?"
"She has a point, Bill," her mother stalled any of his further objections.
Carmilla returned to the mirror when her phone chimed.
"She's here." she smiled and turned back to them. "So, will you? Walk me down the aisle?"
"Of course, honey…" her mother started.
"...we'd be honored," finished her father.
"This doesn't mean I've forgiven you," she told her father as she motioned them toward the door, "but I am happy you're here." She gave them both a hug. "Give me a few minutes?"
They nodded and left her alone with her nerves. She went to study her reflection again and wondered what dress Laura had chosen. She'd filled a warehouse with Harry Potter themed costumes in every size for all their guests and while they could choose from everything available, Laura's options were more limited. They ranged from a traditional white wedding dress to a movie-accurate version of Hermione's dress and the same dress in the book accurate periwinkle blue, as well as the sundress she'd worn on their first fake date and a variety of other dresses.
Carmilla had considered two options for herself; the first was Harry's dress robes from the Yule Ball as many fans still believed he was the better match for Hermione. The other, which she'd ultimately chosen, was a movie-accurate replica of Ginny's dress. She hoped Laura would recognize both it and it's significance as she'd chosen it as a nod to Laura's favorite Harry Potter fanfiction.
There was a knock at the door followed by Dark's call of; "Showtime!"
"C'mon," she chided her reflection, "you just won the Strawweight Championship and beat your evil stepmother, this?" She chuckled. "This is easy."
There were two main areas of the wedding. The first, where they were now, was set up for the ceremony and then would be transformed into a paired down version of the Great Hall for dinner while she distracted Laura at their second location; a dance floor in the middle of the trees surrounding their property.
She smiled as she approached Rick; could she have imagined going through this much trouble and money to make someone happy? As she turned and watched a beaming Laura on her father's arm approach, the answer was clear; yes. Unequivocally, undeniably, yes.
Carmilla accepted a kiss on the cheek from Laura's father and then turned to her and took both her hands.
"You look beautiful," she greeted.
"You too." Laura smiled. "Ginny?" she guessed and then looked around when Carmilla nodded. "This?" She met her eyes. "It's amazing."
"Yeah?"
"Can we begin?" interrupted Rick. He continued when they both nodded. "Dearly beloved," he started in a British accent, "we are gathered here today to celebrate the truly magical love of these two extraordinary young women." He returned to his normal speaking voice. "When I met Carmilla, she was just a teenager, but even then, she was fierce. Since then," he continued proudly, "I have watched her grow into one of the strongest, kindest, bravest women I have ever had the pleasure to meet." He looked at Laura. "As for Laura? She was just a teenager too, the first time we met, following her father around the department asking all kinds of impossible questions. The next time I saw her she was a fresh-faced cadet and in the time since I've been fortunate enough to watch her grow into one of the finest officers I've been lucky enough to work with." He smiled. "I've come to think of these two not just as daughters, but as trusted and cherished friends." He held his hands up. "Who else could have talked me into dressing up as… what's his name again?"
"Dumbledore," they replied to their guests' laughter.
"Dumbledore," he chuckled. "I believe our brides have prepared their own vows before the, um, official ones?"
"You first?" offered Laura.
"Sure." Carmilla smiled and gave her hands a squeeze. "Before we met I used to say I'd been to hell and back so many times I knew the way by heart." She shook her head. "And then one day, this prissy little nineteen-year-old journalism student walked into my gym and told me she wanted to be my sparring partner and changed everything." She squeezed her hands again. "I think," she smiled, "that I started to fall in love with you that very same day." She chuckled. "You made me laugh and then knocked me on my ass." She shook her head despite the spattering of laughter. "I'd been in such a dark place for so long," she continued quietly, "that I didn't know if I'd ever see the light." She smiled. "But, little by little, you brought me into it. You helped me find a new path." She stroked Laura's knuckles with her thumbs. "Was I angry when I found out you'd be making that path easier before we even met?" She tilted her head. "Maybe a little, but never with you, only with myself for missing the signs." She shook her head. "But do you want to know when I knew this was real and forever despite my doubts and fears?" She swallowed around the lump in her throat but let her tears fall. "When I came out of the worst anxiety attack I've ever had and you were there." She reached up and stroked Laura's cheek. "I came to, saw your face, felt your arms around me, and knew everything was going to be okay." She smiled and took her hand again. "I love you, Laura, with all that I am and all that I aspire to be." She smiled. "I can't imagine my life without you, nor would I ever want to." She squeezed her hands. "I look forward to spending the rest of our lives showing you how much."
"Carm," Laura smiled, "I fell in love with you long before we met. Or started to, anyway," she amended. "Our eyes met for the briefest of moments and I couldn't breath." She shook her head and looked down. "I didn't know our fates were entwined before we met. That helping you would lead to avenging my mother's death." She sighed, sniffed, and met her eyes. "I wanted to help you because it seemed everyone else was too afraid to." She chuckled. "Little did I know how much help you already had." She took a deep breath. "I was terrified I'd lose you when you found out the truth but even if I had, I'd have never regretted a thing as long as you were safe. I never imagined…" she looked around, "this." She smiled. "I'd have married you. Any time. Anywhere." She squeezed her hands. "I love you Carmilla, with all that I am," she echoed, "and all that I aspire to be." She smiled. "I look forward to spending the rest of our lives showing you how much."
"May I continue?" asked Rick with a smile, continuing when they nodded; "Do you, Carmilla Karnstein and Laura Hollis, agree to the unbreakable vow of marriage? From Sorting Hat to Newts? Through sunny days and rain? With either sickles or galleons? From Dragon pox to the elixir of life? To love and to cherish until Avada Kedavra do you part?"
"We do," they replied.
"The rings?" he prompted, took them from Dark, and handed them each one. "Repeat after me; with this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring," they repeated as they took turns putting on each other's rings, "I thee wed."
"Dearly beloved, with the power invested in me, I pronounce you married," he smiled. "You may kiss the bride."
Carmilla smiled, placed a hand on Laura's cheek, and the other at the small of her back, dipped her low, and kissed her deeply to the cheers and whistles of their guests.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and all those in between, it is my very great pleasure to introduce…" he lowered his voice, "sorry what names did you go with?"
"Hollis," answered Carmilla.
"Mrs. and Mrs. Hollis!"
Their guests stood, cheered, and clapped as Carmilla led Laura from the dais to the path through the trees.
"This…" Laura gasped as the path lit up before them. "How did you do all this?"
"Lots of help and even more money." She squeezed Laura's hand. "I seem to remember someone telling me I should use my money to make myself happy." She pulled her to a stop when they reached the middle of the ice-like dancefloor. "And making you happy?" she smiled. "Makes me so happy. You are, right? Happy?"
"Carm…" sighed Laura. "You didn't have to do any of this to make me happy." She took her hands. "I'm happy just being here with you."
Fairy lights lit up the treetops and top of the tent as the band started playing 'A Thousand Years."
"Mrs. Hollis?" Carmilla held out her hand. "May I have this dance?"
"You can have all of them," Laura replied as Carmilla took her into her arms and kissed her. "I do love all of this," she whispered. "Did I pick the right dress?"
"You'd have looked beautiful no matter what you'd chosen," she replied with a smile as she distanced herself to appraise her, "but yes, you picked the dress I hoped you would." She pulled her close again and kissed her cheek. "I've always loved you in blue."
"You picked these because of the fanfic?" Carmilla nodded and then chuckled as Laura pulled her closer. "Everything is perfect." She sighed. "A dream I didn't know I had come true."
Carmilla stepped back and took her face in her hands.
"You deserve all this and so much more." She kissed her. "You changed my life for the better. Changed me for the better." She smiled. "Before you, I was barely surviving. But now? Thanks to you, I'm finally thriving." She kissed her again. "For the first in my life, I have a future worth looking forward to." She pulled her close. "I can't wait to explore the world with you." She chuckled. "Since we were always going to Florida, maybe you should pick our honeymoon?"
"Easy." Laura met her eyes. "New Zealand and/or Australia."
"Done," chuckled Carmilla. "We can start booking it tomorrow." She looked around as their guests joined them. "Enjoy tonight, Pup, we've earned it."
They spent the rest of the evening dancing, eating, drinking, and laughing with their family and friends. Finally, around eleven, they said their goodbyes, changed into something more comfortable and headed to the airport in a limousine.
"We're here," Carmilla prodded as Laura had fallen asleep on her shoulder.
"I fell asleep?" Laura asked with a yawn as she sat up and stretched.
"About ten minutes after we left." The car door opened. "Shall we?"
They made their way across the tarmac to the plane and were greeted by their new flight attendant as soon as they were settled.
"Good evening, ladies," she greeted. "We'll be taxiing out shortly and arriving in Orlando in approximately eight and a half hours." She smiled. "Can I offer you a couple of glasses of iced Patron? Or perhaps a couple of Coronas?"
"I see you've done your homework," joked Carmilla. "Patron?" she asked Laura who nodded. "And two waters, please."
"Of course," she smiled. "And your champagne is chilling in the bedroom."
"Thank you, Abigail," dismissed Carmilla.
"So," started Carmilla as she took Laura's hand, laced their fingers, and gave her hand a squeeze. "New Zealand, eh?" She smiled. "Have anything to do with the Lord of the Rings tours I saw on your laptop?"
"You were snooping?"
"You left the window open," she provided as they took their drinks. "Thanks," she smiled. "We're going to take a nap as soon as we level out." She yawned. "It's been a busy few days."
"Would you like me to wake you when we're half an hour out?" offered Abigail.
"No." Carmilla took out her phone and frowned. "We'll set an alarm."
"What's wrong?" Laura questioned once they were alone.
"Email from the UFC," she confided as she opened it. "Jessica Penne, beginning of June." She shrugged, set an alarm, turned her phone to silent, and put it back in her pocket. "Makes sense. She had a great fight with Carla in the semis and I'm pretty sure she won on Friday." She glanced out the window as the plane started to move and then back to her with her glass held aloft. "To us."
"To our future," added Laura. She took a sip and regarded her a moment before asking; "I'm surprised your dad walked you down the aisle."
"You saw that?"
"Dark showed me the video he took." She smiled. "You looked…" she sighed, "radiant. I thought Dark was…"
"He was." She pulled her necklace from her sweatshirt and studied Diedre's last gift. "I thought; they're only there because of her. She had no reason to keep them safe beyond it being the right thing to do, but she did it anyway." She shook her head. "She sacrificed everything." She sighed. "I don't know if I'll ever stop resenting him for putting his safety and comfort over ours, but…"
"So, why then?"
"I have more than enough regrets to last a lifetime," she admitted. "I didn't want to look back at tonight and have one more."
"That's fair," she accepted. "Were you wearing that all day?"
"From just before the ceremony, why?"
"Did anyone ask about it?"
"No, it was under my dress, why?"
"What would you have told them if they had?"
"Will," she replied simply.
"That's still in evidence." Laura shook her head. "I'll ask Rick for it when I get the chance." She considered her next question. "Why are you wearing it?"
"A reminder."
"Of the time you made your stepmother piss herself?" Laura joked.
"Yes, but no," she answered. "So the next time we hit a weird bump in the road, I have proof it can't be her."
"And, going with your cover story," Laura smiled, "it's a reminder of the time you saved my life without even being there."
"Only because our brother was too lazy and stupid to steal a different gun," she scoffed. "Never was more grateful for that, by the way."
"Me too," Laura laughed and gripped Carmilla's hand as the plane sped up for takeoff.
"Hey," Carmilla cooed, "it's okay…"
"I wasn't a big fan of flying before your last plane blew up," admitted Laura.
"Then," she leaned in, kissed her neck, and continued in a husky whisper, "I guess I'll just have to take your mind off it."
"Promise?" sighed Laura.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Abigail intruded, "but you're free to move around the cabin."
"Thank you," they replied.
"C'mon," urged Carmilla as she undid her seatbelt, waited for Laura to do the same, and then led her to the bedroom.
"Carm…" sighed Laura as she looked around and Carmilla locked the door. "It's…"
"You like it?" Laura nodded. "We couldn't have real candles, of course," she opened the champagne and poured two glasses, "I thought this would do."
"It's perfect." Laura smiled and accepted her glass. "This whole day…" she sighed, "it's been…"
"Perfect?" Carmilla teased. "I know I didn't have to go through all the trouble." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind Laura's ear. "But today is the first day of the rest of our lives." She smiled and stroked her cheek. "After all the shit we've been through to get here…" she shook her head. "I wanted our next chapter to start with all the magic I could muster." She smiled, kissed her softly, and then met her eyes. "I love you, Laura, always."
"I love you too," echoed Laura as she took her glass, put them both aside, and led her to the bed. "Always."
They let their bodies speak for them as their touch, while at once so familiar and comforting, was still as exciting and fulfilling as their first time. As they surrendered to their bodies wills, they knew, whatever their future held, they'd face it together. That even though sometime in the future they may again feel beaten, as long as they had each other, they would never be broken.
A/N 2: Well, that's it Creampuffs, the end. But never fear, while it might only be prolonging the inevitable, the 'Five Years Later' chapters I was talking about are already in the planning stages. I don't know when they'll be posted though, as I want to post them at the same time, but I hope to have them out to you in the next few weeks. After that, it's rereading my Harry Potter fics and finally rewarding those patient fans with an ending they deserve. And yes, last and maybe most exciting, I'll be working on an original version of this story. I'll be posting updates on Twitter and Facebook when I have them.
Until next time Creampuffs; take care, be kind, be safe, and again, thanks for everything!