That spring seemed to be a world caught in a dream. The villagers by nowthought of Leila as their own and were overjoyed to see her marrying the polite, but previously melancholy and quiet, young man who had become talkative and warm in the few months since she had shown up. After work, they would trickle through the inn to wish the couple well. Everyone seemed to reflect their happiness. Even Beth went about her work, whistling to herself and was so happy for them that she announced one day that she was taking charge of the preparations, allowing the couple to enjoy their engagement.
Some evenings, Jeremy brought Leila flowers, having heard from Beth about her love of them. Two weeks after their engagement had started, he kissed her, and she felt something stir within her and found she loved him even more. Others, she would take him out at night to lie in the meadow and stare up at the stars. He had never done this before, as the villagers considered it too dangerous, and didn't know that the night sky was so beautiful. Leila was on guard for mist devils or other dangerous frontier creatures the whole time, but she didn't see anything worrying and was glad that Jeremy got to see what had become her first love after her battle car in her hunting days.
More often than not, however, they just shared little endearments and secrets with each other. By the evening before the wedding, both found they had healed.
Beth, meanwhile, had organized to have the seamstress from the nearest town come to the village and sew Leila's gown. She had arranged to have the gown have flower patterns covering it. The evening before the wedding, as the seamstress was finishing the final touches on the gown, Leila thanked Beth for doing so much. Beth answered that it wasn't every day that one's little brother married the woman of his dreams. Leila smiled at her and then the gown was finished. Beth looked it over and paid the seamstress. Once they were alone, Beth could barely suppress her giggles. When Leila asked what why, Beth explained that she had never seen a former vampire hunter in a dress. Then, she hugged her future sister-in-law and told her she was proud of her.
The whole village came out to see the wedding. All gave their blessings, with, as Beth had promised, quite a few jokes about the famous Vampire Hunter wearing a dress. It was a short ceremony, cut down to Leila receiving a kiss on the cheek from Beth and Ian before walking up to Jeremy.A vow to love each other until death did them part -simplebutno less powerful for its simplicity - brought many villagers to happy tears. After hearingher name pronounced Mrs. Leila Ryder there was a little party to wish the couple well.Children played tag as the couple, sitting on a bench in a garden of flowers, whispered sweet secrets to each other. Late afternoon, the villagers began to return to their houses, leaving Jeremy and Leila alone in the garden.
"You know, I always dreamed of a wedding like this. Never thought it would really happen, but here I am, married to the man I love, living a dream I have no idea what I did to deserve." Leila smiled at her husband.
"You did everything to deserve it. You've brightened our village and my heart and I thank you for it." He paused, gazing into her eyes. "My Leila, my beautiful Leila."
She laughed as he picked her up, clinging to him as he carried her home.