The winner of the poll, a Twilight x Percy Jackson fic, is posted on my profile under the title Foliage.
All fics are also posted to A03 under the username, SunflowerSpectre
This chapter has been edited as of Jan. 4th, 2020
Chapter Thirty-Four
The One Ring
Carlisle does the right thing; as much as it annoys his coven (to a degree), he does at least try to keep up normal appearances. Which means making somewhat of a show of strolling through the jewelry shop in Seattle on the most rainy day of the entire week. The attending woman seems awe-struck by his appearance, with a smile too big and paying too much attention to him rather than any of the other customers in the store. She at least seems to get the hint when he makes it clear that he's there for an engagement ring; he tries to seem somewhat flattered by attention, but it makes him feel as though he's deceiving her, especially when he knows that he's not even remotely interested.
"I don't really know how much help I'll be."
Charlie Swan scratches at the back of his neck, eyes shifting as he tries to not bump into anyone within the too small shop. Carlisle doesn't seem repulsed by the statement, continuing easily, "Nonsense, Sheriff. It only seems suiting for the best man to help with the ring selection -"
Taking pity on the uncomfortable cop, Carlisle leans in and musters up the most nervous whisper he can manage, "And just between the two of us, it feels nice to have someone here who has at least been through this before."
A hint of red dusts Charlie's face, covering it up the best he can with a light cough into his elbow. His eyes don't quite meet Carlisle's as they drift away into thoughts of his marriage with Renee. He's been through a lot of things with Renee and he hopes that Carlisle goes through none of it with his marriage to Ariel.
"I think you're speaking to the wrong man, doctor."
"Agree to disagree, then." Carlisle continues easily, lips thinning as he sees the shift in Charlie's face. "Still, it feels better to not do something like this alone."
Charlie's smile is wary, not quite reaching his eyes as they drift through the store. He focuses more on Carlisle than on the rings that Carlisle carefully looks over, glancing over them meticulously. Charlie doesn't remember putting this much thought into the ring he got Renee. In fact, if he remembers right, she dragged him to the jewelry store herself and showed him exactly which one she wanted. At the time, he thought that was fairly normal, but the way that Carlisle carefully mulls over each ring muttering to himself how it would or wouldn't suit Ariel, he second guesses himself. Carlisle seems confident in each ring he turns down, never going back to any of them for a second look, so sure that he knows exactly which ring Ariel would want, which one would suit her.
Some of the price tags make Charlie cringe, but none of them ever seem to make Carlisle pause. He supposes a doctor's salary, even one in such a town like Forks, is good enough to support a nice ring. But he keeps his nose down and quickly stops that train of thought knowing that it's none of his business.
"So, uh, have you thought about the wedding? Honeymoon?"
The questions are a bit awkward on his lips, but make for conversation and seem appropriate things to ask given what they're doing. Carlisle continues examining rings as he answers Charlie, a soft smile on his lips.
"Alice was very quick to jump on the chance of planning the wedding. I have faith that she'll be able to do something that Ariel will approve of. Out of all of my children, Alice is the most excited for the wedding."
He frowns at the ring he's holding - something gold with a gaudy diamond plastered on - and immediately hands it back before moving onto the next. He offhandedly asks the retailer for something in rose gold before continuing, "As for the honeymoon…. Ariel has left the decision up to me. We have a vacation home up in Alaska that we can use, but I'm wondering if it would be nice to go somewhere different, something new."
Charlie wonders what's considered new for the doctor, while Carlisle wonders the same thing. He isn't sure where his angel has been beforehand, if she's seen the world seven times over or if there's still things for them to discover together. If she's not been humans long, then at the very least, it is in his favor that she's not seen much of the modern world. Though he makes a mental note to go over the world before with her, simply out of scientific curiosity.
"If it makes you feel any better," Charlie states simply, "There's always something new out there to do. Learned that from Renee. It's just a simple matter if you two want to go through it together."
Together. It rolls off the tongue and smoothly into the back of his throat. Carlisle smiles at the thought as he's handed another ring to look over. Unlike the others, it's this ring that makes him pause, looking over it more closely. It feels right in the center of his palm and looks small compared to the size of his palm. The rose gold engagement ring is a simple delicate row of diamonds while the matching wedding band settles nicely against it with labradorite in the center and two matching crescent moons against the side. The darker, almost grayish, undertones to it call to him.
"Ah, you have a good eye," the teller speaks easily with the convincing voice he expects of a seller, "That's one of our more unique sets - fourteen carat gold."
Carlisle can easily see it on Ariel's finger for the eternity that they hope to spend together. Something that will suit her for centuries.
"It's perfect. I'll take it."
"It's perfect Carlisle."
Ariel's voice is a soft content whisper as she's left breathless at the ring that Carlisle presents to her. His eyes watch her carefully, gleaming with admiration that is matched in her own. Ariel's eyes are focused on the ring, even as Carlisle carefully slips it on her finger. His gesture is slow, careful and meticulous as if he's afraid that she'll stop him at any moment. He relishes in the warmth that radiates off of her skin and the softness of her palm as he brushes against it. He can hear her heart pounding away at her chest, smell the faint saltiness of the tears bristling in the corner of her eyes as she tries to swallow them down. He's thankful that being what he is, his body doesn't give away his nervousness.
It is the perfect fit that they both expected and yet it looks even better than he ever could have imagined on her.
"I hope you have the warranty on this," Ariel mummers softly as she wraps her hands around his neck, bringing him closer to her. She can smell his cologne sticking to the edges of his collar. "Considering how long lived we are."
"I don't think they have a warranty that lasts quite that long, dove." Carlisle hums as his arms wrap around her waist, "But I will always get replacements if anything happens to it, God forbid."
She pulls away from him, just enough for him to see that look in her eyes as she raises a brow. It takes a moment for him to realize what his words really meant and when he does, he lets out a bellowing laugh, tightening his arms around her so she can't escape the infectious laughter. When the laughs start to subside, Ariel's forehead rests against his with her smile just barely grazing against his lips.
"I love you, Carlisle."
Such a simple statement still makes him glow with a warmth that he never thought he'd have - the feeling blooms deep in his chest and wraps itself tightly around his non beating heart. No matter how many times he hears it, it still makes him stop in disbelief. It reminds him that she's still here with him, that she's still alive and well. He can feel her nails trail soft delicate circles against the back of his neck, trailing dangerously close to the back of his ear. The gleam in her eye is full of love and mischief, a look that he knows well now.
"I love you as well, my dear," he presses a soft kiss to the corner of her lips, "Perhaps I may remind you of such love?"
Ariel merely hums before she's swept away into the confines of the bedroom of her separate house - well enough away that hopefully, the rest of the coven won't have to hear just how much they love each other.
