Chapter 12: You Are Cordially Invited...
Disclaimer: I don't own Shadow Hearts. I don't own the wedding dress which does exist; I just don't remember where I saw it. I don't own Yuri's outfit either, same-o same-o.
WARNING – REALLY, REALLY BIG WARNING!!! ADULT SITUATIONS!! TURN BACK BEFORE YOU ARE CORRUPTED!! (There, I've done my legal duty!) Use back button if you're not into Alice and Yuri, weddings, HONEYMOONS or whatever. But if you do, you'll miss out!
I want to thank Aegis for her invaluable suggestions, Bella for her encouragement, and I want to thank all the faithful readers who have been coming or will come to read this entire story. And also to offer a grateful bow to those who reviewed; my most heart-felt thanks. Domo arigato gozaimasu!
Morning light was cascading into Yuri's bedroom when he finally opened his eyes; he stretched tight, sore muscles and sighed. His mind was still a bit fuzzy but he remembered washing and lying down to sleep. Vague impressions of Alice touching him came back to his memory and he smiled, remembering her gentle touch and soft healing magic. He sat up, his stomach rumbling, and looked down at himself; the deep bruises were faded to mere whispers of discoloration and the cuts, wounds and the poison-blackened flesh were totally healed - that last must have been Alice.
Yuri yawned and stretched again and rose to his feet, spotting the brown parcels lying on the chair across the room. He blinked, wondering when they had been put there, and then blinked again at the array of clothing hanging from the pole behind the chair.
"Oh, I wondered what that was for," he chuckled. He ripped open the brown parcel, shirts and underwear spilling out and onto the wooden floor. "Ah, Margarete paying me back?" He pulled one shirt from the pile and pulled it on: long sleeved, short collar, black. "I like this one," he said. Grabbing a pair of pants from a hanger, he pulled them on. However, looking for his boots, he did not find them in the room. "Oh well, barefoot I guess."
He stepped out into the relative quiet of the upstairs hall; colored boxes were stacked in front of Alice's door, and voices filtered from below. He headed for the stairs, and as he descended, he was greeted by chaos. Voices called from the kitchen, more voices from the sitting room; Alice's high-pitched 'eep' was heard from the sitting room as well and he covered the few feet to the door only to come up against the lock.
"Alice? You okay?" he called, knocking on the door.
"Oh shit!" Margarete's distinctive voice said, and then there were rustling sounds and the lock being turned. But when Yuri tried to push open the door he was met with Margarete blocking the entrance, and her Luger pointed at his nose.
"What the fuck!" he shouted and pulled back. "What are you doing?" he asked. "Is Alice all right? Why can't I ~?"
"Oh-no, sonny boy, you don't see her now. Not until tomorrow. If you're hungry, you can eat in the kitchen.."
"What do you mean I can't see her? Get the hell out of my way!" he pushed at the door and the Luger was suddenly cocked, and Yuri pulled up at Margarete's steely blue gaze.
"Not in the dress, kiddo," she growled.
"Got yer eyes back, I see. Okay. I got it. Dress..." he scratched the back of his head, thinking. "What dress?"
Margarete shook her head, eyes twinkling with laughter. "The wedding dress, Yuri. Now, go eat," she said and slammed the door shut, twisting the lock as she did so.
"We - wedding dress?" he said quietly, staring at the door. "Wedding dress." And as he turned toward the kitchen, his face took on an idiotically happy expression that only a prospective husband can wear.
Mrs. Elliot was supervising the kitchen, now filled with men and women in white shirts and aprons. Yuri stared as the taskmistress directed the food preparation and watched in awe as knives chopped, rollers flattened and shaped dough and one girl industriously stirred a pot on the stove. He stepped over to see the strange contraption that the girl was using; a pot within a pot was on the burner and inside was ... some strange white liquid bubbling and popping within. He stuck a tentative finger inside only to have his hand whacked by Mrs. Elliot.
"Get your filthy fingers out of the chocolate!" she whacked him again with her wooden spoon for good measure and Yuri, holding his hand and pouting, moved away.
"But I'm hungry," he moaned, putting on the appropriate 'I'm-starved-haven't-eaten-in-years' look he had perfected.
Mrs. Elliot swallowed her grin. "You are a rascal; but get out of my kitchen."
"But I am hungry. Margarete said I could eat. I haven't eaten in days. Please?" he whined and added on his 'I'm-a-good-boy' look for good measure and Mrs. Elliot broke out in laughter. She swept up items left stacked on one kitchen chair and indicated he should sit.
"Eggs and bacon all right?" she asked quickly, going to the panty.
"Yes, please," Yuri said, eyes brightening and his stomach rumbling again.
Yuri continued watching as food came off the stove to be put on plates and set aside; then a man in a large oddly shaped hat came in and took command of the counter. Flour was quickly poured into bowls, butter whipped, and cream added and Yuri frowned wondering what kind of thing this man was making; whatever it was, he knew it would be good enough for the Ambassador's guests at the Russian Embassy. He had seen men in just those kinds of hats before in Vladivostok. With a sigh, he wondered what he had gotten himself into. But a few minutes later a young lady brought a plate brimming with eggs and bacon and another plate with toast to the table and Yuri, grinning in appreciation of not only the food but the pretty young lady, began to eat. A pot of tea miraculously appeared some time later and he poured himself a cup, savoring the aroma of Oolong tea; Mrs. Elliot sure knew the way to win him over.
In the sitting room, things were not going so smoothly. Alice stood on a chair, her wedding dress draped around her. It was actually her mother's dress, the gown fitting Alice now after a considerable amount of stitching. Mrs. Elliot had dropped down the back to reveal delicate shoulders and added white seed pearls to the lace bodice and lace hem. The overall effect with a delicate cascade of white lace to white satin and, with the veil, would prove lovely. Alice loved the dress, but Margarete thought it should be shortened in front too, bringing the hem up to at least her knees.
"It's much more modern than the Victorian look of that dress," Margarete was saying, as Alice looked at herself in the full-length standing mirror.
"I don't know, Maggie. I like this dress," Alice said softly.
"But Yuri would like it shorter," Margarete offered.
Alice giggled. "I'm sure he would. He would no doubt prefer me naked in any event. But I won't do that," and she had to cover her mouth to prevent further giggles from escaping. "I have been around you way too long," she added.
Margarete eyed the gown and the lovely young bride wearing it and agreed. "Yes, I hate to admit, it is lovely. Maybe you can substitute something else to entice your young man, hum?"
"I don't think he needs enticing, Maggie. If anything, he needs a cold bath!"
Both women laughed. "Well, maybe a gift from me to you, girlfriend. Something I know he'd like. Would you go for that?"
Alice looked down at Margarete, her red hair beginning to fade to blond as the dye wore off and the offending green lenses gone to reveal her own lovely blue eyes. "We'll see," she said with a smile and suppressed the giggles once more.
"Okay then, show me the veil," Margarete said and Alice took the lightweight veil from Margarete's hands and put it on.
"I still need some way of holding it on, but this is it. It's the only expensive piece I have really; it belonged to mother." She moved her hands under the veil and drew it over her face, letting the lace fall smoothly to half way down her dress.
"Wow, Brussels and Italian lace; pearls; your mother has good taste," Margarete whispered, fingering the delicate material.
"Yes, she does," Alice said looking through the nearly sheer material. "Mother and father married without her parents consent so she had to make do. Mother says she made her dress but that she and Morris, my father, bought the veil together. It means a lot to me to be able to use it."
"So you have your something old, the veil. How about something new?"
Alice thought a moment. "Not really. I have borrowed though; if Yuri's cross counts," Alice said and lifted the small silver cross from around her neck.
Margarete looked at the ornate object a moment then remembered where she had seen it before. "His mother's, right? He lent that to you? He's a regular softy, isn't he?"
Alice laughed softly. "Yes he is, really. The cross has a special property; no doubt imbued from his mother. She had given it to Ben, Yuri's father. So it's special for both of us."
"Well then, that leaves blue. Where are your gloves?" Margarete crossed the sitting room to the desk and opened the small box with Alice's lace gloves. She pulled a small blue ribbon roll from her skirt pocket and began to thread the blue ribbon through the gloves. When she was done with both she tied each ribbon in a small bow and then showed them to Alice. "What do you think?"
Alice smiled her acceptance of the small token. "Blue ribbons - thank you Margarete."
"Now, let's get this dress packed up and put away before horny Yuri comes barging in and ruins everything."
"Margarete!" Alice said, suppressing the shocked laughter which threatened to bubble out. "Really, you are horrible."
Margarete helped Alice down from the chair and laughed. "I know, I know," she said.
Yuri finished his meal and sat comfortably watching the organized chaos of the kitchen. He was sipping his cold tea when a wooden spoon tapped him on the shoulder. Looking up he saw Mrs. Elliot's grey-blue eyes staring down at him.
"If you are done here, then move!" she said, emphasizing her command with the spoon.
Yuri grinned and stood up. "Thank you for the food, Reverend Misses. But what should I do?" he asked, looking around.
"Leave. Go for a walk; go to work. Anything, just go."
Puzzled but compliant, Yuri left the kitchen. Locked out of the sitting room and forbade the kitchen that only left upstairs or outside. He looked down at his bare feet and wiggled his toes.
'I'm not walkin' around without shoes,' he thought and yelled back to Mrs. Elliot. "Where are my shoes, Reverend Misses?"
Pots clanged and there was a bang as something large was dropped onto the kitchen floor. Mrs. Elliot's voice rose above the clangor.
"Downstairs; cleaned," she called.
Yuri looked to the small side door leading down to the pantry and the small side passage leading out the back door. With a shrug, he went downstairs. He found his shoes sitting on the floor next to the crate of apples. Grinning, he pulled on the shoes, grabbed two apples and sprinted for the back door leading out to the garden. Yuri had watched as the gardeners pulled up weeds and trimmed trees over the weeks since they'd moved in and now the garden was looking neat the clean and almost oriental in it's trimmed and elegant design. He leaned against a maple tree resplendent in one corner of the garden and ate the first apple, tossing the core to the back bushes when he was finished.
"So what do I do with myself huh?" he asked himself, looking over at the house where Alice and her family were making such a fuss. Shrugging inelegantly, he walked from the garden and down the street, heading in the general direction of Regent's Park. He passed by the local newsstand and waived at the few neighbors he saw there but continued his jaunty walk to Prince Albert Road, crossing into the park and heading for the lake. Regent's Park Lake was a man made body of water, shaped roughly like a long cornered triangle, the nether portion curling around and protecting Regent's College. Boaters skimmed the water and children would sail homemade boats on weekends. Today there was the usual traffic of nannies with strollers, couples, the luncheon crowd; and the police.
Yuri hesitated before approaching the lake, wondering what the police were doing there and if he should perhaps go another direction when he spotted Lieutenant Carter among the crowd around the lake. He stopped behind the gathered crowd; arms folded over his chest, he watched the constables pull a body from the lake. There was a flurry of speculation from the crowd but Yuri ignored it, instead concentrating on Carter as he directed the local constables and the coroner.
As the body was brought out and covered, several constables entered the crowd, directing them to disburse. Yuri moved back but did not leave. He wanted to speak to Carter and waited until that man was finished with his work before approaching. Carter's face lit up when he saw the young monster hunter and waived him over to join him at the nearby police van.
"Glad to see you looking better, Hyuga. Something I can do for you?" he asked.
Yuri nodded. "In a way; I wanted to make sure someone had gone back in for those egg sacks," he said.
Carter nodded. "Army sent in a platoon with fire; messy business. You were right though – more bodies than we knew about. We pulled a few before burning. The ones we pulled were vagrants, homeless; nobody reported them missing." He shook his head, taking off his cap and running his hand through his hair. "I wouldn't be surprised if some of our missing people were among the dead. But we'll never know."
Yuri nodded. "Sorry. It happens though. The other thing I wanted to ask, that man Brittey mentioned other deaths; similar to Lars, out in the West Country."
"Yes, they occurred over the last year. Why?"
Yuri rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, while watching the coroner load the corpse onto his van. "The queen was eating the rich meat her guards were bringing her; kind of like flowers and candy, you know?" Yuri looked at Carter and waited as the realization sunk in. "Yup; there may be more eggs out there, hidden. And if any of them were a female... well they lay more eggs."
Carter blanched, running a finger around his collar. "I don't want to hear this," he said quietly.
"Well, you can hear it from me, or from somewhere else. I don't care. I'm just saying," Yuri said with a lopsided smile. "You can always hire me. I'm good. An' I don't generally blow things up; that was Maggie," he said with a laugh.
Carter looked at the fusionist and grinned. "Nice friends you've got there, Hyuga. Malkovich for God's sake!"
Yuri shrugged. "She chose me," he said with a chuckle. "Well, you tell the Captain. Or not."
Carter nodded. "I will. He won't like it either. But say, why are you wandering around?"
Yuri grinned. "Those women have made a mad house up there; people all running around; I'm under foot. So I left."
Carter laughed, offering Yuri his hand. "Well then, I'll see you at the church tomorrow. Captain's coming too; bringing his wife – Alice sent the invitations. I'll bring you a special gift from me to you."
"Oh yeah?" Yuri asked but when Carter shook his head and walked away Yuri merely laughed.
Yuri walked off, heading around the western end of the lake and down along Baker Street heading aimless toward the docks. He had walked for nearly an hour when he stopped and looked at the bridge - Blackfriars. With a smile, he realized he had retraced the steps he took every morning to work. Shrugging, he crossed the bridge and turned down Bankside toward the pub. It was after noon and all the regulars had left, returning to work, so Yuri pulled up a stool to the bar. He didn't say anything, waiting for the pub owner to turn away from his newspaper.
"Hello, Edgar," Yuri said when the pub owner put down the paper. The older man looked startled, then grinned.
"Well now, look who's come back to haunt me," he exclaimed. "They let you out right proper did they?" the grey haired man said.
"Yup," Yuri said, not offering up anything.
"Well now, what'll be? Stout?" Edgar grinned, filling a half pint and setting it on the bar.
"Nope; no money. No job. Just walkin' around, thought I'd stop in," Yuri said and pointed at the paper. "War news?"
"Yup," Edgar said, taking back the half pint. "An' other stuff. Looky here," he pushed the paper across the bar and pointed at a picture on the first page. The headlines were dire, with the Belgians repulsed at Driegrachten and the Germans making headway in the west. The French had made a little progress in their battles at Verdun, but were repulsed at Argonne. Little good news was coming from the Western Front. There was another article reporting the American government had demanded reparations for the sinking of the W.P. Frye and just that week King George had forbad the use of alcoholic drinks in any of the royal households. Such incongruous news was followed by another headline and a grainy black and white photograph of Queenithe Dock, soldiers and police in the background and a lone man, accompanied by two women, heading for the police. The man was Yuri.
Surprised, Yuri looked closer. "When did this happen?" he asked.
"Paper came out this mornin'. I was thinkin' that was you. No name; just description. Since when you a monster hunter, Russki?"
"Huh, long years now," Yuri answered. "What does it say – the article?"
"Says 'three days ago, a monster hunter, employed by the police, finds and destroys gigantic spiders in sewers of London'," Edgar read. "'Explosions of Army munitions caused damage, but police and army assure residents of London that all the monsters have been found and destroyed.' You a hero, Russki," Edgar said and offered up the paper. You keep that, I got another. I never knew any heroes a'fore," and the half pint of beer appeared again on the bar. "Here, drink up."
Yuri continued to stare at the picture, fascinated at the article and wondering what more trouble he was going to be in now, assuming Alice and the Reverend Misses knew about it.
"You think anyone else has seen this?" he asked, taking a sip of the offered beer.
"What? You kiddin'? That paper goes all over London; even to the rest of England," Edgar said with a laugh.
"Oh," Yuri said quietly. He folded up the paper and stuffed it into his pocket, nodding to Edgar as he did so. "Thanks for the beer, but I think I should stay away from that strong stuff, eh? I'll see ya around, Edgar. I gotta find some work somewhere."
"Ya been back to the wharf? Plenty o' work over there."
"Yeah, but I got fired, 'member? Bart said..." he started.
"Ah! You never mind what that old troublemaker said. You hie yerself over t' the wharf. They need good strong backs; even if they are Russian," and Edgar laughed as he cleaned up the spotless bar.
Yuri smiled, waiving goodbye and headed at a fast trot down the street to the Barrels Wharf docks.
Alice, Margarete and Mrs. Elliot sat at the kitchen table now cleaned of wedding preparations and instead filled with plates and teacups. Supper had been a quiet affair with the three tired women eating without conversation until the tea was served. Mrs. Elliot looked askance at the empty plate in the corner and Alice frowned with worry.
"I wonder where he could be. Did he say anything, Mother?"
Mrs. Elliot shook her head, sipping her tea. "No. He asked about his shoes, that is all."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about him Alice. Where can he go?" Margarete offered, taking a slice of cake and spooning fruit onto it. "It's not like he'll fuse into the Seraphic Radiance and fly away."
Alice looked at her friend and sighed. "But you know Yuri; he doesn't look for trouble, it just finds him. I'm worried he got into trouble with the police again."
Margarete finished her cake and tea before responding.
"Look Alice, if he were in trouble with the authorities, they would have contacted you by now, wouldn't they?" And when Alice nodded, she continued. "My advice is to get a good night's sleep and if he's not back in the morning, then we worry."
Alice turned to her mother. "But tomorrow -- what do you think, mother?"
The Reverend Mrs. Elliot smiled and said, "He'll return when he's ready, Alice. He might simply be having his last bachelor fling you know."
Alice looked at her mother aghast. "Mother!"
"You know, she's right. Horny Yuri is probably out sowing wild oats," Margarete said.
Alice stood up, looking from her mother to Margarete and back. "Oh, you're no help," she exclaimed and left the kitchen.
The next sounds Margarete and Mrs. Elliot heard were Alice's feet banging on the stairs as she went to the second floor.
"You know, we are mean," Margarete said with a grin.
"Yes, it's traditional," and Mrs. Elliot chuckling softly.
"You could have told her you saw him leave," Margarete said.
"Yes, but he probably is sowing oats and doesn't need our help." Mrs. Elliot rose to clear the table. "You don't suppose he really got into trouble, do you?"
Margarete helped with the clearing and offered to dry. "No; he probably just lost track of the time. He can't read a clock you know," she said.
Mrs. Elliot laughed softly as she ran the soap into the sink. "Yes, I noticed. We almost missed the train from Zurich; it is odd how used to his idiosyncrasies I had become before all this."
"Yeah," the beautiful spy said, "he's like a fungus; he grows on you."
Dawn was a couple of hours away when Alice awoke. She lay in her soft bed, listening to the quiet breathing of Margarete, and wondered if Yuri had returned. She moved from the bed, leaving Margarete to sleep and, donning her robe and slippers, exited her bedroom door. The upstairs hall was still dark and quiet, the bare slip of a moon that had lit her way to bed that night had long since set in the west; only stars could be seen twinkling their cold light from the small hallway window. Alice smiled, remembering the last time she had walked this hall late at night; Yuri had come home drunk and crashed through the window, earning himself a bash in the head from her mother; of course, he had been fused as Death Emperor at the time.
Alice's smile faded and she walked slowly down the hall to Yuri's door. It was closed and she listened for sounds before quietly opening the door. The room was dark, the faded stars lending little in the way of light to the brown and white painted room. Alice peered carefully at the corner, seeing Yuri's piled bedding, but unsure if he had left it rumpled that morning. She was about to leave again when she heard a low snort and looked again. Yuri was wrapped up in his blanket, his back pressed to the wall and he had just moved, flinging up one arm over his face. Alice sighed.
'He made it home after all,' she thought and padded softly across the hardwood floor to his bed. She knelt down and gently tapped his arm.
"Yuri?"
He did not respond, and when she tapped again, he only snorted. With a smile she pulled at his blanket and used the corner to tickle his nose. With another snort his eyes flew open.
"What the-? Alice?" he looked up at her white face beaming down at him. "I'm in trouble again?" Alice shook her head. "I miss something?" Alice shook her head again. "What?"
Alice grinned. "I missed you," she said.
Yuri lay for a moment, contemplating the illogic of women, then laughed and, grabbing Alice's hand, pulled her down to lie next to him.
"I always miss you," he said, stifling a yawn. He lifted the blanket and let her nestle close before tucking the loose corner underneath them.
"Whew, Yuri, you need a bath," Alice said softly.
"You always say that," he answered just as softly. "You don' like the way I smell? I smell like a man," he said with a grin.
"You smell like a dirty man. What did you do this time to get so smelly?"
Yuri yawned broadly and settled closer to Alice. "I went for a walk; then to the pub; then to the wharf, that's all."
"You went to the pub? Yuri," Alice exclaimed, poking him in the chest with one finger.
"Well, why not? I was just walkin' around anyway. The pub owner – oh! There was a picture in the paper; did you see it? It was us; me and you and Margarete the day we killed the spiders. It's up on the -- table?" Yuri craned his neck and looked at the small table beside the window. "When did that get here? I never had a table before," he asked.
Alice giggled. "Mother and I found it in the attic. The chest too; we put your clothes in the chest by the wall."
"Oh, that's good. Maybe I get a bed now?"
Alice giggled again, poking him with her finger. "Yes; tonight."
"Oh, that's good. I don' mind the floor, but it gets old," he said, sounding sleepier.
"So what did you do at the pub? Did you drink?" Alice pursued.
"No; well, yes, a few sips. He offered it for free," Yuri exclaimed quietly. "On account of he never knew any heroes before. Hell, if I'da known I could get free drinks, I'da tol' then all about Albert and the god thingy."
Alice was hard pressed to swallow her laughter.
"I actually went to the park first; saw Lieutenant Carter? He was handling a murder there. He said him and the Captain will come to the wedding; says you sent invitations."
"Yes I did; to the lieutenant, Captain Cashiel, and to everyone else. I don't know if they would have received them by now, especially Keith and Zhuzhen and Halley. But I sent them a few days ago. In either event, I doubt anyone would be able to get here except Keith."
Yuri nuzzled the top of Alice head, kissing her. "You sent an invitation to that old drunk? Sheesh! He's bad enough any other time; you bring him to a wedding? Man, he's a pain," Yuri said softly.
"Yuri, he's a good friend, and you know it."
"Yeah, well; he knew my dad, so I can't hate him too much. But … wait a minute. You said Keith could get here? How's that?" he asked and one hand absently brushed aside long strands of her silver-white hair that had fallen into her face.
"He's a vampire. He can turn into a bat," Alice answered.
Yuri thought about that for a long minute, picturing the quiet and elegant nobleman transforming into a golden bat and flitting across Europe while enemy guns shot at him, taking him for a Sopwith Camel. He grinned, chuckling.
"What's so funny?" Alice asked, turning so she could make out his face in the slowly growing dawn.
"Oh, just thinkin' about Keith flyin' here's all," he answered and swallowed another yawn. "I gotta nap some more, you wanna stay?"
"Of course I'll stay. You sleep and I'll be sure to wake you in time," Alice said and kissed his chin. She waited until his breathing had settled into a slow steady rhythm, telling her that he slept before she reached beneath the blanket and took one of his hands in hers and closed her eyes in prayer.
The Church was beautiful that Sunday morning; nature, deciding that rain was not going to be the backdrop of the day, had sent pristine sunlight filtering in through stained glass windows and decorating the interior with rainbow prisms. Up at the altar there stood a wreath of white roses and someone had decorated the end of each pew with a white ribbon bow.
Alice and Mrs. Elliot surveyed the small church with mixed emotions; Alice was both nervous and excited, while her mother was torn between happiness for her daughter and trepidation that she was losing her to a harmonixer. Mrs. Elliot shook her head slightly, refusing to fall back into those thoughts; Yuri had proven himself without her asking, settling matters with the police, and saving London. She refused to allow herself to dislike him again. Instead, she concentrated on Alice, focusing her attention on the assorted details required in even a small wedding.
"The reception will be at our home, so all we need is to get you dressed and ready, Alice," Mrs. Elliot said, adjusting the weight of the wedding dress on her arm.
Alice, her hands full of veil and other items, nodded her agreement and gestured to the side hall. "Through there I think," she said. As they passed into the side hall and into the bride's room Alice sighed. "I think I am nervous Mother. Were you nervous on your wedding day?"
Mrs. Elliot chuckled softly. "You could say that. Let me see, it was 1888 and we were eloping. My parents had frowned on the marriage, both because Morris was a priest of the church and because they had other plans for me. Social climbers I guess you could say," Mrs. Elliot said as she hung up the wedding dress and helped Alice to undress.
"You never told me that," Alice remarked. "Why didn't you ever tell me this? I always thought you had married in a church."
"Oh, we did," Mrs. Elliot said with a smile blossoming on her face. "We were married in a small chapel in France; Morris was enroute to his position in Germany actually when we got married. Then he received a letter from the Vatican and he left me in Marseille while he traveled on to see the Pope." Mrs. Elliot exhaled with a sense of finality and regret. "I miss him," she said. She hung up Alice's dress and coat and Alice took up the hem of the white satin and lace dress, pulling it on slowly, letting it fall around her head and shoulders.
"He was summoned about those books, wasn't he Mother?" Alice asked.
"Yes," her mother said and helped fasten the small pearl buttons on the dress. "He would travel around Europe for the next few years until you were born; then he would travel only occasionally. That was when he separated from Bishop O'Flaherty. I never knew what happened to that man; I cannot say I particularly liked him. He had a way about him; a secret he was harboring that I felt was driving him."
"Halley's mom, Koudelka met him. He died shortly thereafter, in 1898. He helped save a troubled soul," Alice informed her.
"Well that's too bad. I'll say a prayer for him. But I can't say I'm surprised he's dead. Those books were nothing but trouble. I am so glad you were able to find them and return them to the Vatican."
"Yes, so am I," Alice responded and sat down in front of a mirror. "Will you help with my hair?"
"What do you mean I have to wear a suit?" Yuri asked, his scowl so deep his brows threatened to meet his nose. "Why can't I wear my regular clothes now that I have some?"
"Because men wear suits when they get married," Margarete answered and pulled open the special clothing bag she had hung up on his clothing rack. The label on the bag was to an exclusive men's shop in London and Margarete hoped she could get the stubborn fusionist to put on the suit.
"I don't need a fancy suit to marry Alice," Yuri said and folded his arms across his chest, full stubborn mode engaged.
Margarete sighed. 'It's going to be that kind of a morning,' she thought. 'Hmph!' "Fine, here," she offered the black slacks, white shirt, black waistcoat and black long-tailed jacket to the young groom-to-be. "Wear it."
Yuri shook his head. "I don't want to," he answered.
Margarete's eyes reduced to slits and she turned to the coat she had hung up on Yuri's bedroom door handle. She reached in and pulled out her Luger. She loaded a fresh cartridge in the magazine and cocked it. With a smile venomous enough to poison an angel, she took the three steps to bring her face to face with Yuri and put the gun to his face.
"Put-them-on," she said slowly, enunciating each word.
"Nope. You won't shoot me," Yuri answered.
A small vein began to throb in Margarete's forehead, matching the beat of her heart and the tempo of her tapping foot. With one hand, she reached out and grabbed Yuri's trousers and pulled, tearing down the front and effectively stripping him to his...
"You don't wear underwear," Margarete suddenly realized.
"Nope."
Stepping back she looked him over, head to toe, then lowered the gun, changing its aim.
"Put on the suit, Yuri, or loose 'em," she said and Yuri suddenly blanched, realizing where the gun was aimed.
"You wouldn't!"
"Try me!"
"But-"
"Put-on-the-goddamned-suit!"
Trousers, shirt, socks, shoes; Margarete even got him to put on boxers. Grumbling the whole time, Yuri donned his formal suit. Each piece took long minutes while Yuri looked it over, trying to decide if it was worth arguing about. And each time Margarete's Luger aimed at Yuri's future generations and he would quickly don the next article of clothing and move on.
"You're not being fair, Maggy," he grumbled, as he pulled up the black trousers, cinching them with a thin belt and shaking his legs to settle them around his feet. 'They don't look that bad,' he thought, 'but I hate fancy clothes.' He pulled on the white silk shirt and fumbled with the collar, getting it turned partly in and partly out before Margarete set the gun down and helped him straighten it.
"You don't look half bad now, ruffian," she said. She took up the black cravat but Yuri stopped her.
"I refuse to be lynched," he growled.
Considering the amount he had to put up with this morning, Margarete thought of conceded the point, but decided he deserved to be lynched. "I'll tie it loose, but you're wearing it. And you'll have to wear the cuffs. And the jacket. And the hat," she pointed at the black hat sitting in its box on the table.
"Fu..."
"Don't say it. Wear it."
"I am not Albert Simon an' I won't wear it," he growled.
"Yes you will; it's not a top hat anyway. It's more of a short top hat," Maggy said and giggled at Yuri's puzzled expression.
"You are enjoying this way too much, Margarete," Yuri said, staring down at the spy.
"Not half as much as you will once you get dressed," she replied cryptically.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It means you can get married."
"Like I need a damn suit to get married?"
"In this country you do," Margarete responded and had the joy of watching Yuri's expressions run the gamut of doubt, consideration, puzzlement and then confusion.
He blinked several times before turning to pull on the jacket.
"How do I look?"
"Good enough to eat," Margarete said softly and took the hat from the box. "Let's go, handsome," and she left the room before she could say anything else.
'Handsome?'
Yuri could remember being nervous when Alice awoke in Dalian; all his hard fought battles in that haunted little town had been worth it when her clear blue eyes opened and she smiled at him. His belly had been jumping around threatening to run away by the time she awoke from the horrible curse. His next case of nerves had been at the proposal on the boat from Southampton. And again, when he first met Alice's mother. But compared to today, those nerves had been mere flutters. Yuri stepped to the front of the church and looked back at the pews; the church was not large but the pews were filled with churchgoers. He didn't know any of them. Well, except for the Captain and Lieutenant Carter and, oh! there was the neighbor down the street; and of course, Mrs. Elliot, sitting on the left hand side behind him. And Margarete was missing.
'What the hell do I do now?' he wondered just as the organ began to play and the crowd stood up, all eyes turning to the back of the church. Yuri craned his neck to see and his heart suddenly jumped into his throat, threatening to choke him.
An angel had descended from heaven and stood in the church doorway, a vision of loveliness in white satin, with small pearls in the lace over her shoulders, glittered in the sunlight and a cascade of delicate nearly transparent lace fell from her head, a circlet holding on the lacy veil, and a glitter of diamonds caught his eyes.
"My god, she's beautiful," he breathed.
The strains of music were lost to him as he watched Alice come down the isle, all eyes captivated by her loveliness. His heart was pounding so hard in his chest he thought the world could see and he stood, mouth open like an idiot. A soft voice said behind him, "Close your mouth, stupid," and he blinked, seeing Margarete come up to stand next to him. She had changed clothes and now wore a floor-length skirt in indigo blue with a white blouse and dark blue jacket and a white rose pinned to her lapel like a boutonniere.
"Maggy, what are you-?"
"I'm acting best woman here, kiddo. I've got your ring. I'll help you if you need it. Now shut your mouth and pay attention."
Yuri did as directed, turning his attention to Alice who now approached the altar. He could make out her slightly down-turned face and her hands clasped beneath a small bouquet of button roses and he marveled at her beauty. How had he ever thought that anyone else in the world was as lovely as she?
Alice took the final steps to the altar and knelt for a brief moment before rising to stand next to Yuri. The minister stood at the head of the altar, a bible in his hands, and he smiled at the two young people standing before him. Yuri gave a brief nod, before turning his attention to what the man was saying.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony," the minister began and Yuri looked quickly at Alice to see if she was smiling; he knew he wore a smile on his lips.
"Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined," the minister continued his voice resonant and carrying to the back of the church. "If any man can show just cause, why they may not be lawfully be joined together," the minister continued and Yuri growled, "They better not." The minister paused, glancing down at Yuri before continuing: "let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."
Again, the minister paused, letting the words sink in before he looked down at Yuri and continued speaking. To Yuri the voice droned on for long minutes, the lips moving but him not hearing. He heard instead the whispered prayers that Alice had said each night of their journey across China and again through Europe. He heard the small assurances she offered him when he messed up and felt that he had failed her somehow. He heard the tinkling giggles she tried to suppress whenever he did something totally inept and stupid.
Margarete dug a finger into his back and whispered, "Pay attention boy, he's talking to you!"
"Huh?" Yuri looked up at the minister and smiled sheepishly. "I didn' hear you," he said softly.
The minister smiled, realizing the young man was nervous and repeated, "Yuri Hyuga, wilt thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"
Yuri blinked up at the minister, thinking that worthy had lost his mind. "What are ya nuts? Of course I will," he answered. There was a susurrus of amusement behind him and he turned to see the churchgoers smiling.
The minister swallowed and then turned to Alice, his own eyes sparkling at the beauty standing before him.
"Alice Elliot, wilt thou have this Man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"
Alice glanced quickly at Yuri before looking up at the minister. "I will," she said softly, and the flutter in her voice betrayed her nervousness.
The minister then took Alice's and Yuri's right hands in his and joined their hands and said: "Please say after me, I Yuri, take thee Alice to be my wedded wife..."
Yuri, grinning, repeated, "I Yuri take you Alice, to be my wife! To have and hold forever, for better, for worse, for rich ... for poor, although probably poor, healthy or not; to love and to cherish, until we're dead..." he paused and looked up at the minister. "Oh, what a load of shit!" He then looked at Alice, his amber eyes glowing with his barely held emotions. "Alice I love you. You are the breath that I breathe; the light to my dark. You are my savior as much as I am yours. I will always love and protect you. I promise."
A chorus of giggles erupted from the parishioners but quickly died down when the minister gestured. He then asked Alice to repeat after him.
"I Alice, take thee Yuri, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and obey, till death us do part, for I love you to," she said.
With a sigh the minister continued, instructing them to take up the rings, Yuri taking the simple band that Margarete handed him and placing it on Alice's finger.
"With this Ring," he said, following the minister, "I... thee... ah hell, I marry you, Alice and give you all I got. Hope you like claws," he finished with a grin.
The minister continued with further prayers but neither Yuri nor Alice heard, each looking at the other with mesmerized eyes. To Yuri, his hands held an angel. To Alice, seeing Yuri in his finery, she saw the gentleman; the knight in shining armor she had always wanted, only this one usually wore leather. She smiled up at him through her delicate veil and they both missed the minister's words.
"Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder. I pronounce that they are Man and Wife, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. You may kiss the bride, Mr. Hyuga," the minister said and this time Yuri did hear him. He stepped closer to Alice, releasing her hand from his and lifted the delicate lace that shielded her from his gaze. He hesitated, glamoured a moment by her brilliant blue eyes looking up at him before he finally bent down and kissed her.
The minister then indicated they should face the assemblage and he said, "To all assembled, I present, Mr. and Mrs. Yuri Hyuga." Applause from the parishioners greeted them and one lone wolf whistle from Margarete, who laughed when everyone looked her way.
"Down the isle, kiddo. Time to party," Margarete said and gave each a gentle push down the isle to a fluttering of flower petals. Just as they made the church doorway they spotted Keith Valentine standing in the background, a grin splitting his face and he applauded them as they ran outside.
A rented car awaited their arrival as a small crowd tossed flower petals and rice and Yuri grinned like an idiot as he assisted Alice into the back seat. The car took them up to Alliston Road and the reception at the house, and with a sigh, Yuri resigned himself to socializing before they could retire upstairs.
"At least let me take off this stupid suit," he grumbled, but Alice looked at him, pinning him with her blue gaze.
"You may remove your jacket, but you're staying here, Yuri. If I have to stay in the dress, you have to stay in the suit," she said.
Yuri removed the jacket and hung it on the peg in the vestibule, muttering the whole time.
"Yeah but you look good in that dress; I don' see why we have ta stay dressed isn't this our wedding day don't we get to finally..."
"Yuri Hyuga!" Alice called putting a stop to his muttering.
Yuri joined Alice in the sitting room, which had been decorated with ribbons and bunches of early roses. A table set along one wall was covered in a white cloth and held a large punch bowl and a beautiful multi-tiered cake. Yuri made instantly for the cake but Alice cut him off just as the other guests began to arrive. Soon the room was filled to capacity and many more spilled out into the hall and the kitchen. Yuri wondered where they all came from.
"The church mostly, and some neighbors. Believe it or not, you are known by our neighbors," Alice supplied when Yuri commented.
"Is that good?" he responded with a lopsided smile.
Yuri and Alice were given chairs to officiate near the fireplace and plates were brought out and a standing supper was served; roasted chicken with basil pesto, and an herb crusted port loin with vegetables and fruits and glasses of sparkling wine. Yuri offered his glass to Alice, who sipped delicately then giggled with the bubbles floated up her nose. Yuri laughed before downing the rest in one gulp.
"Wow, that's different," he told her quietly. Together they shared another glass, while first Margarete then Keith offered toasts to the happy couple. Finally Mrs. Elliot pointed out the cake and Yuri and Alice did the honors, cutting the first slice, then taking their slices to their seats once more, Yuri offered a bite of his to Alice.
"I have never seen cake like this, Alice. You let me know if is good, yes?" he said and gave Alice a small bite from his fork. Alice's blue eyes grew wide with the taste, and she licked icing from her lips.
"Try it Yuri."
Eyebrows raised in question, Yuri took a taste, running his tongue all through the icing in his mouth before finally swallowing. "Mmm, is good," he said. "What is't?"
"It's chocolate, Yuri; white chocolate," Alice said, licking her lips from another bite.
'Mmmmm," Yuri mumbled as he stuffed in another piece.
"Hey kiddo, you'll choke," Margarete laughed as she joined them.
Yuri nodded but continued to put cake into his mouth, getting white icing on his chin, and then dropping it onto his shirt.
Margarete shook her head. "What a pig," she said pointedly.
"Hey," Yuri managed to get out before popping in another piece of cake.
"We must forgive him Margarete," Keith said as he joined them.
"Why?"
"He has not had the advantages of society as we have," Keith said diplomatically.
"In other words, he's an ignorant savage," Margarete supplied.
Keith shook his head, trying to assuage Margarete from further slander, but Margarete laughed and put her arm though his and pulled him away.
"Come on, Lord Keith. The festivities are dying out; why don't you show me the town?" Margarete guided him through the hall and into the vestibule, her jovial laughter carrying back and with a jaunty "Ta-ta kids," they were gone.
"Isn't that just like Maggie, running off like that?" Yuri said as he finished off his cake.
Alice took a napkin and wiped his mouth before taking their plates and setting them aside. "Dance with me, Yuri?"
Yuri sat in shock. "What? Dance? Me?"
Alice looked down at a befuddled Yuri.
"I – I never – I don't …"
"Oh, never mind, just stand up and hold me close for a minute, will you?"
"Oh, okay. But when do we…?"
"In a few minutes."
Yuri gamefully stood and took Alice into his arms, she guiding his hands where they belonged and not where he wanted them.
"Just move your feet from side to side, no one will notice you're not dancing," Alice said into his shirt, her face lying against him, his radiant warmth a balm to the long day behind them.
Yuri did as Alice instructed, stepping left, then right then left again, careful to not catch her dress and reveling in the closeness. He kissed the top of her head, letting his chin rest there a moment, unaware of the pleased and silly smile that wormed it way onto his face; unaware of the few remaining guests watching with approval as the young groom danced with his wife.
Finally, Yuri nudged Alice's elbow, asking quietly, "Can we go now?"
Alice took a quick look around and noticed that most of the guests had indeed departed.
"All right, but let's thank Mother for her efforts first, though," Alice suggested but Yuri would have none of it. He pulled her close, swept her up into his arms and carried her out of the sitting room to rapidly ascend the stairs to the second floor. The bedroom door was pushed open by his foot and then slammed shut the same way as he took his new wife into her, now their, bedroom. Then setting her on her feet he kissed her, his mouth pressing against her lips until she opened them, slowly inviting him in to taste the warmth of her mouth, still redolent with chocolate. His tongue made one more quick exploration before he pulled back, letting her go.
Alice sighed, shaking her head. "You just couldn't wait another minute?" she asked, more to give herself time.
Yuri rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at his shoes. "Well, I've given you almost two years; at least since I fell in lov—" he stopped suddenly and then laughed. "You teasin' me?"
Alice removed her shoes before looking up at her new husband. "Maybe a little; I'm nervous too, you know," she said and her breath caught in her chest, making her blush.
"Oh, well, it's jus' me. I don't bite... much," Yuri offered with a grin. "Here, let me help with that," he said and turned Alice's shoulders to reach the small buttons of her gown. After fumbling with the first half dozen, he frowned. "How the hell did you get into this thing?"
Alice giggled. "Mother helped. Would you like me to call her for help?"
Yuri's eyebrows shot up into his bangs and he laughed. "Like I need help undressing my woman!" he laughed again and then slipped his fingers inside the dress and with a quick pull, popped the buttons off. "There, all done," he said.
"Yuri Hyuga!" Alice yelled and turned to slap at his hands. "That's not how you do it," Alice, her face pinking, turned her back to him and swept over to the bed. "This is my wedding gown for heaven's sake!"
Yuri, puzzled but uncaring, grinned. "Yeah, so?"
"Ohh," Alice growled. "I wanted to keep this for my daughter," she said after a minute, touching the delicate lace at the shoulders.
Yuri came up behind her, pulling her into his arms. "It's only the buttons. The dress is fine. 'sides, it's only a dress," he said and kissed the top of her head. "It is the person wearing th' dress who is important," he said softly and nuzzled her left ear.
Alice leaned back into his embrace, knowing full well he was trying to manipulate her, and deciding that it didn't matter. He was right; it was only a dress, and the buttons could be sewn on again. This was their night together, their first night. She didn't want silly material things to get in the way of their happiness. She reached up and took his hands in hers, leaning closer, feeling the warmth that radiated from him, feeling the firm muscles bunch as he tightened his hold.
"I love you Yuri," she said.
Yuri nibbled on her neck, kissing down the curve until he reached the lace at her shoulder. With a sigh he pulled lose and turned her around to face him.
"Are you afraid?" he asked softly.
Alice, not answering, reached up to undo the buttons of his shirt, pulling free the cravat and letting it slide to the floor. She took her time, concentrating on each button as she pushed it through the small buttonhole, slowly revealing the muscular chest beneath. Reaching up, she slid her hands inside the shirt and pushed it down from his shoulders, sliding it down each arm until it too fell to the floor.
"Will you get the door? And the light?" she asked.
Yuri stood for a moment, a stunned and stupid grin playing across his face before he shook himself and, kicking the offending shirt out of his way, crossed the room to push home the lock on the door and flip the light switch. When he turned, it was to see Alice lying on the bed, the covers turned back and a small light illuminating her; she had completely disrobed save for her stockings, which were still on her pulled up legs. Yuri leaned back against the door and stared. He looked in wonder at Alice's breasts; not covered by satin nor sheltered by lace, they were beautiful. Round, full, beautiful. He was glad she had not shown him these wonders before, instead leaving him to wait for this night; the anticipation had been worth the glory. He felt himself getting hard; harder than he had ever been before. He knew it was because of her. Because of Alice. He finally could make love to his angel.
Kicking off his shoes and unbuttoning his trousers, he crossed the room in a half dozen steps to stop at the edge of the bed, looking down at his beautiful wife. She had pulled her legs up tightly now and wrapped her arms around her breasts, a sudden return to modesty warring with her desire to have Yuri see and hold her. Yuri reached down and caressed the nearest stockinged leg, running his fingers down the patterned silk. He bent down and kissed the knee then spotted something on her thigh.
"Oh, oh-oh," he chuckled and pushed down the one leg revealing a little bundle of lace caressing her thigh; black ruffled lace with a white ribbon weaving through it and Yuri licked his lips as he bent down closer to nip the thigh below the garter. The ribbon was secured by a small pink rose and Yuri's teeth pinched the rose, pulling the garter down, down, down the white silk stocking while his hand deftly pulled the stocking itself down over her knee, then down her leg. When he looked up Alice gasped slightly, seeing his dark eyes shift to pale amber, flecks of red beginning to show around the edge.
Deftly he pulled the second stocking down to join the first then pulled them both off her feet, kissing each toe that became exposed to his view. Alice giggled, her face blushing at Yuri's playfulness then blossoming scarlet when his kissing took him up her legs. He paused, threatening, before continuing up to her navel, thrusting his tongue into the little buttonhole, and then laving it with his tongue before moving upward. His next move was to kiss the cleavage, snuggling the warmth there and pressing each breast with his hands, caressing them and rubbing his thumb over the little pink nipples.
Alice felt her stomach fluttering, her legs trembling, but she tried to catch her breath and reached out to run her fingers through Yuri's hair, tugging gently before stroking down to his neck, then dancing nervously over his shoulders. He quickly snatched one hand, pressing his lips to her fingers and putting each long nailed finger into his mouth, one at a time, gently nipping the soft web of skin between each one. His eyes were turning feral as he looked up to her heart-shaped face and Alice trembled at the hunger she saw there.
Yuri was beginning to burn inside, his trousers tight and uncomfortable. With a growl, he released Alice just long enough to snatch the waistband of his pants with his thumbs and push them down, climbing onto the soft bed and pinning her to the clean white linen. He could smell the delicate flower perfume she always wore and the food she had eaten and something else. He nuzzled her breasts, breathing in and smelling her; the scent of her was intoxicating and he kissed her breasts, sucking on each rosy nipple. One hand caressed her breasts, and then slowly roamed down her side, squeezing gently the flesh in his fingers, passing further down to visit warm places he had yet to explore.
He pushed one knee between her legs, pinning her beneath him and giving his roaming hand free access, his fingers exploring the delicate flesh she kept hidden beneath her flouncing skirts. He felt her warmth and it excited him further, sending his lips scouring up past her breasts to kiss her chin, then her lips, drawing them in slightly and nipping the lower lip. His tongue flicked out, broaching her parted lips and wrestled with her own pink tongue, conquering her mouth as his hand was conquering her below.
Her breathing was rapid now, soft moans coming from lips left ravaged by Yuri's kisses and Yuri was quickly losing control of himself, his own breathing coming like a bellows, a low growl coming from deep in his chest. He pressed his advantage, pushing her other leg out of his way, freeing her for his exploration and entry. The next few minutes were lost for both of them; Yuri feeling the driving need build in him that pressed him deeper and deeper into Alice's warm embrace, while Alice passed beyond the initial pain of his entry and rose higher and higher until they both crashed down on one wave of pleasure, only to climb back up for another crescendo.
The clock in the hall chimed midnight and Yuri stirred, his head resting on Alice's breasts; Alice's fingers were entwined in his hair, gently twisting the long strands around her fingertips. He opened one eye to take in the luscious mound he was facing then offered the breast a kiss before pushing himself to his elbows. Alice smiled down at him, her intense blue eyes softened by their lovemaking.
"You all right?" he asked an almost boyish expression on his face.
Alice smiled. "Yes, I am fine, Yuri," she answered with a sigh.
Yuri grinned. "I didn't hurt you?"
Alice closed her eyes for a moment, reliving the intimate moment before answering. "Not too much."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I – I got carried away?" he said with a grin. "Was it good for you?"
Alice chuckled softly, opening her arms to invite him into an embrace. "I love you, Yuri," she said into his hair as he settled into her arms, a goofy grin on his young face.
"I am good," he said, nuzzling her closely, nipping gently at her neck.
"Don't push it, lover," Alice said with a smile, her voice breathy in his ears.
"Lover, hero, savior," he said as he offered up kisses. "Bow down to me for I am yer God," he added with a laugh.
Alice grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked hard.
"Whatyadothatfor?" he whined, trying to pull away unsuccessfully.
"You deserved it. Now, show me how good you truly are," Alice said, smiling an invitation to her husband.
'Oh yeah."
Endnote: For those interested, the wedding, slaughtered as it was by Yuri, was the 1892 ceremony from the Book of Common Prayer, USA edition. It is the basis upon which the modern wedding ceremony is built. You can check it out at: for the "other" scene, I know you wanted more, but there are rules to this house and I don't want to be booted out. You can always check adultfanfiction.net for more exotic faire; I'm there too (blush).
