The previous chapter was edited as of Jan. 4th, 2020
Chapter Thirty-Five
House Calls
Linda's home is so vastly different from her own with a bit more clutter, larger more stained fabric furniture and warmer walls with thick curtains to keep out the sun. It looks more lived in and while the decor isn't to her taste, Ariel appreciates the sense of family that radiates throughout the home as she steps over scattered toys. She vaguely wonders if she will be able to replicate that same sensation with Carlisle, if their home will be as warm and welcoming or will all of their efforts to make it more like a home fail and it will forever be stuck looking too inhuman?
She glances over toward one of the toys, idly picking it up and looking it over before placing it in a place that it won't get stepped on. She remembers all the times that she's watched Charlie, how he always seemed to be getting into as much trouble as his particular uncle. For some reason, despite the nice visits that he's had with the coven, she can't quite picture a child running around with messy hands and a runny nose through the presistine white walls covered in expensive decor; there's a reason after all that Charlie's visits are usually at her now former home or in the outdoors. She can imagine Edward's aneurysm if he had a child banging on the keys of his piano constantly.
Her heart twists as she idly twists the new ring band on her finger. Something about the action tickles a thought in the back of her mind of a passing conversation - I'm aware that it's likely impossible. I've come to terms with that a long time ago, my dear. Carlisle had looked so sad, despite his reassurance and despite her own hesitation, her convention to not get anyone's hopes up, she starts to wonder if it is just as impossible - as unlikely - as they believe. She bites at her lower lip before swallowing down her emotions as she decides that it simply will have to be a conversation that eventually, she'll have to revisit with Carlisle.
She forces a smile on her face as Charlie lights up at her presence, happily wandering to her in an effort to gain her sole attention. She eagerly scoops up the child, showering him with affection.
"Sister," Lucifer greets with surprise, but with a welcoming, open-arms gesture, "I didn't know you were coming."
She ignores the throb forming in her chest when she has to put Charlie down to address the others, her eyes flickering to everyone else in the room.
Linda relaxes against Amenadiel's shoulder while they curl on the couch, looking tired as if she just spent the last few hours acting as a group therapist. Judging from the matching tired expression on Chloe's face as she sits in a separate chair opposite from Lucifer, she supposes that the guess isn't that far from the truth. She wonders just how common it is for Lucifer to bother Linda in the comforts of her own home for couple therapy, but considering her brother, she knows that answer is too often.
In normal circumstances, she would have been more curious, maybe she would have even left to let them work it out, but considering the presence of Charlie and even Trixie nearby, she knows it mustn't have been too serious.
"I need to talk."
Trixie doesn't make any move, instead crossing her legs and resting her elbows on her knees as she cups her cheeks, looking at Ariel expectedly, eager to hear the gossip. Chloe glances at her briefly, but sighs when she knows that she won't be able to convince her daughter to leave the room if something dramatic is bound to happen. She looks toward Ariel for guidance, but Ariel's nod reassures her that this is (hopefully) something okay to announce in front of a child.
She takes a deep breath before she decides to rip the bandaid off, lifting her hand to show off the jewelry that adorns her finger.
"I'm getting married."
Ariel's statement is straight to the point as she looks at her brothers evenly, betrayed only by the worry in her eyes as she flickers her glance between them to gauge their reactions. She isn't sure how this announcement will settle with her brothers. Lucifer's still new to accepting marriage as a whole - a process that started when Amenadiel married Linda - and Amenadiel has more than once made it very clear about his stance with the Cullens.
The only ones she's not worried about are the doctor herself and Trixie. Linda's excitement is immediate, standing up with the declaration that this needs some celebratory wine. Trixie immediately screams, rambling off questions and ideas for the wedding before she tries to help Linda with the wine; her efforts are for naught when Linda immediately sends her back to the living room where Trixie doesn't seem the least bit sorry for at least trying, a grin large on her face as she hugs Ariel tightly, as if she can't get in trouble if she's busy hugging her aunt.
Chloe, however, is too much in shock to even lightly scold her daughter. Her eyes are wide with an agape mouth that does nothing to hide how she feels. She recovers quickly, hesitating with her own congratulations, glancing at Lucifer through the corner of her eyes to see if this is something that they should be excited about.
"Congratulations future Mrs. Cullen," Lucifer outstretches his arms, an easy smile on his face as he embraces his sister. She chooses to ignore the comment he makes afterward about her bachelorette party, but she can feel his sincerity in his grasp, the way he holds her just a bit too long. A genuine congrats is whispered in her eyes, a silent understanding passing between them.
Ariel's returned smile is softer, more cautious but a moment of peace flickers across her face as she relishes in the moment before she looks toward Amenadiel.
Amenadiel does nothing to hide how he feels. He furrows his brow with a minor scowl on his face, strained as if he is trying his best to hold himself back, yet just can't reach it. She can see the million things he wants to say building in his throat, the million warnings he wants to give in his eyes, instead he settles for one question.
"Are you sure about this, sister?"
Ariel gives a subtle nod - yes. She is sure of this, in fact she has hardly been so sure of anything. She can feel happiness bubbling in her chest and excitement buzzing under her skin as she finally starts to fully process the next step that she is taking with Carlisle. The smile on her face grows into something more excited and sincere; seeing it seems to calm Amenadiel down as he relaxes down into the couch with a resigned understanding.
"As long as you're happy, sister."
He gives her an accepting, if begrudging nod, but it's enough for her; she bites at her lower lip in an unfamiliar uncertainty before continuing.
"It's tradition for the bride to be walked down the aisle," Ariel's voice wavers, but it gains apt attention from her brothers, "It would be - nice - if both of my brothers would -"
She doesn't get the chance to finish her sentence before she's swept up in a tight embrace from Lucifer, "Of course! We will absolutely walk you down the aisle! In fact, we'll make sure that everything goes absolutely perfect and get you everything you need, just let me make a few calls -"
"-I would be honored, little sister," Amenadiel comments quietly, gently joining the embrace by placing his hand on her shoulder, his eyes much warmer than they were before.
"I'm very proud of you, you know," Linda comments as she makes her way into the living room juggling wine glasses under one arm and a bottle underneath the other. "You've made so much progress that now not only are you working in a hospital, but you're getting married. Granted, you do still spend more time with vampires than with humans."
Chloe winces at the term, her eyes hardening as she glares at Lucifer harshly. She hisses vampires under her breath as he rejoins her side, but he simply waves her off as he whispers that he'll just explain it more to her later. Though still not very pleased, it does at least appease her as she tries to wrap her head around the idea, spinning with questions.
"Dr. Carlisle and his coven won't hurt anyone," Ariel reassures, taking pity on Chloe's lack of knowledge of their existence though her eyes still glance toward Trixie in amusement as the teen vibrates with absolute thrill at the idea of meeting vampires. "None of them drink the blood of the humans and Carlisle is even a doctor at the hospital. He's surrounded by blood all day and hasn't slipped up once since becoming a vampire."
"Will there be others there," Chloe questions hesitantly, "Other vampires, I mean?"
"Oh most definitely," Lucifer is the one who answers, swinging his arm around her casually, "Vampires have always been a social lot, at least among each other. Sure, they have covens all around the world, but they've always done their best to get together for the real big stuff. I imagine a wedding between one of their own counts. Just steer away from the ones with red eyes and you'll be fine, detective."
Amenadiel's eyes shift uncertainty toward Ariel, as if waiting for confirmation that Lucifer is right. To his dismay, she doesn't disagree with his words and the idea of so many vampires mingling together, especially around his family, makes his stomach twist.
"Can you really guarantee everyone's safety," Amenadiel asks sternly, looking for any sign of hesitation from his sister as his wife starts pouring glasses. Lucifer is the first one to grab one the moment that it's filled.
"Carlisle and his children won't let anyone get hurt," Ariel speaks without hesitation, "And I won't either, you know this Amenadiel. We plan on something small. Just the ones in this room, the coven, and maybe a few others." She glances around briefly, "-And maybe Mazikeen and Eve, but I doubt that she'd even accept an invitation when she hears that it's being held in Forks."
"Though that definitely brings up some things," Ariel briefly hums in thought before she turns her attention toward the humans in the room, "Whatever you do, don't bring up the fact that you know they're vampires."
Linda winces, thinking of her eager questions to a certain doctor, but Ariel doesn't even glance her way; considering that nothing bad has happened from it, she figures that Carlisle just simply hasn't mentioned it - either to save them the embarrassment or to save his skin. Instead, Ariel's tone is sharper toward Trixie and Lucifer, though only the former has the mind to at least look sheepish.
"Vampires have super hearings so please," Ariel's voice verging on begging as her eyes meet Lucifer's, "even if you think no one can hear you, keep your mouth shut."
Lucifer sighs dramatically, but makes a cross sign on his chest with his pinky nail, "Mums the word, I promise."
Reassured by his promise, Ariel continues.
"I have no doubt that the Volturi, or at least a few members of it, will show up to the wedding, whether they're invited or not. The vampire council doesn't take kindly to when humans find out their secret. Just pretend that everyone's human and ignore the fact that they're not all good at hiding it."
Chloe accepts the warning with a serious gleam in her eyes, used to holding such secrets, and she doesn't bring up the fact that Ariel makes no mention of Dan attending the wedding; she would be more surprised if the angel did invite him considering their limited interactions, not to mention the fact that he's very bad at acting. Linda seems more hesitant as she hands Ariel a glass of the wine, mulling over the information carefully as she glances toward Amenadiel and then Charlie in concern while Amenadiel seems to be even more cautious at the information.
"There will be other humans in attendance, ones that don't know anything about the supernatural," Ariel reassures them, "Or at the very least the sheriff will be there considering he is such a good friend - and aside from the Volturi, I believe the other covens are, for lack of a better term, vegan as well. The other coven are much smaller compared to the Cullens, so no large foreign groups will be attending - I believe I'm inviting more people than Carlisle is. No humans will be on the wedding menu, I can assure you."
"That still sounds like a lot of vampires," Amenadiel voices, his voice thick with worry as he finishes his glass of wine in one go, "If something goes wrong -"
"-It won't." Ariel cuts him off sharply, "Neither Carlisle nor I are going to let that happen. If you can't trust him, then at the very least trust me, Amenadiel. Do you really think I would do anything that puts any of the family at genuine risk? Would I ever do anything to hurt any of you? Hurt Charlie?"
At the sound of his name, Charlie rushes to her with a large, sloppy grin. She humors him with a smile that doesn't quite match her eyes, picking him up when his small arms reach out for her. Her smile turns more genuine, softer around the edges as Charlie snuggles into her chest. She glances toward Amenadiel as if to dare for him to say something.
"I suppose," he hesitantly speaks up, Linda putting a hand on him for reassurance. He glances at his wife who nods at him before continuing, "I trust you, Ariel. If you say nothing bad will happen, then I will believe you. We'll all be happy to attend your wedding - and walk you down the aisle."
