Sypha was concerned for Trevor. It had been about two months since he had returned from the dead. Certainly, he was healing well and had just about recovered his full strength. He was excited about the child and very, no - extremely affectionate and attentive to her. She had nothing to complain about in that regard. Yet he was constantly distracted and worried about something and avoided any talk of wedding plans.

It wasn't that he was getting cold feet. No, he was still insistent upon marrying Sypha, for she had iterated many times that she found it unnecessary. It was just that any time she tried to get him to pick a date or make any plans he changed the subject.

His preoccupation had started about a month ago. One morning he had holed himself up in Alucard's study and did not emerge until dinner. He handed a letter to Alucard and asked him to have it delivered. His anxiety started then. He would pace around the castle, incessantly running his hand through his hair and staring out the windows as if he were waiting for something. He would not tell Sypha what was bothering him but she knew it had something to do with their wedding.

Sypha had trouble distracting him from his concern. Well, she knew of only one way to successfully distract him and no matter how much she and Trevor enjoyed it they couldn't do THAT all day long.

Not even beer could alleviate this new anxiety. But Sypha thought that was a good thing. Maybe he would give it up entirely.

Finally one day a messenger arrived on horseback with a letter from the new Archbishop of Targoviste. It was curiously addressed to 'Count Trevor Belmont.'

As Alucard handed Trevor the envelope he said, "The last time correspondence arrived here addressed to a Count..."

Trevor glared at his friend as he took the letter. He looked at Sypha who rolled her eyes at the new appellation as well as the friendly ribbing. They excused themselves and retired to their chambers to read the correspondence.

Trevor stood in the middle of the room, broke the seal and started reading.

The Archbishop thanked Trevor for writing to him and apologized for not reaching out to him sooner as he did not know where 'the head of the House of Belmont now resided.' He went on to explain that he had received instructions from the Papal Nuncio to Wallachia, including a letter from the Pope for Count Trevor Belmont which was now contained within his own.

Trevor hastily scanned the rest of the Archbishop's letter and then tore into the Papal epistle.

Pope Sixtus IV, after hearing of the death of Dracula and at whose hand(s), had issued a blanket and retroactive reinstatement of all members of the most honorable House of Belmont back into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

In recognition of his unwavering faith in the face of such opposition the Pope had also decreed that Trevor Belmont was to be made Equiti Aurati Sancti Romani Imperii, i.e. Golden Knight of the Holy Roman Empire and would heretofore be referred to as Count Trevor Belmont.

The Pope went on to apologize profusely for the severe lack of support, not to mention outright (and often violent) opposition of some of its clerics, Count Belmont had received from the Church. His Excellency's contrition was palpable. He vowed that all subsequent members of the House of Belmont would be forever revered as honorable protectors of the Church from the powers of darkness.

The Pope ended by inviting Trevor and his family to Rome where he would be given an audience with his Excellency and receive his blessing at any time.

When Trevor finished reading the letters he gave an audible sigh of relief and sank into a chair.

Sypha who had been reading over his shoulder (or more accurately, over his elbow as only her shorter stature would allow) proclaimed, "This is good news, yes?"

"Very good news," replied Trevor, "Now we can get married and the child can be baptized."

"I did not realize that this was so important to you," she said.

"It is my family's faith and tradition. I wish my heirs to carry on as my ancestors did. It is also required as a monster hunter – to be born legitimate and to be baptized in the Church. One cannot wield the holy weapons otherwise."

Sypha scowled at him and crossed her arms. It was not her faith or tradition and he knew it.

"Well, it's your own fault," he accused.

"My fault!" she exclaimed.

"Yes," he replied, "you were the one who convinced me to take up the mantle of my family and fight Dracula. Well," he shrugged, "with that comes all that my family believes and stands for."

"Then Alucard must be held culpable as well," she proclaimed.

"Yes, and even he said, 'We are all, in the end...slaves to our families' wishes.'"

"But I thought you were angry at the church for excommunicating your family!"

"We were excommunicated by the corrupt Archbishop of Targoviste, and you know what happened to him," he retorted.

"Yes," she replied.

"I plan to be wed but one time," he stated, "So I 'll do so in a way that would make my family proud."

Sypha melted at this sentiment. Trevor may have a rough exterior but he was a truly dedicated and loyal man.

"Boy, the Pope was really tripping over himself to make amends, wasn't he?" noted Trevor.

"He sure was, Count Belmont," she teased with a swish of her hips.

Trevor grabbed those hips and pulled her down into his lap. Wrapping his arms around her and placing a hand on her belly he whispered in her ear, "You are soon to be my Countess." He kissed the sensitive spot below her ear and continued his ministrations down her neck.

Lifting his head, he commented with feigned offense, "You know, he could have made me a Knight Templar, but I suppose Golden Knight is a close second."

Sypha let out a long sigh, turned toward him and laid her head on his shoulder, "Well, I'm glad we can finally get married." After a moment's thought she said, "But wait," she pulled away to look at his face, "won't we need a priest to make it valid?"

"Yes," replied Trevor, "That's something I asked the Archbishop. The nearest priest is himself but we are not traveling that far in your condition. His letter goes on to explain that in the absence of a priest the local Domnul, or Lord of the Manor, can preside over the ceremony. You see, in the sacrament the spouses confer marriage on each other, the priest is merely there to assist. The Archbishop included the documents that we will need to complete and return to him."

"And the local Lord of the Manor is…?"

Trevor smiled mischievously and shrugged, "I did bequeath him the Belmont hold."

"Oh no!" said Sypha when the realization struck her, "You think you can get him to do it?"

"No," replied Trevor, "But I know you can. He'll do anything for you, and Greta will help you convince him. I'm sure we have all of the volumes of the Roman Catholic Rites and Rituals in the Belmont hold. All he needs to do is follow the instructions and read the words for the marriage rite. Do you think the pointy toothed dhampir can read Latin?"

...oOo...

A/N: I got all of my information from Wikipedia and I borrowed a quote from Outlander, the series.