If anyone wants to see it, I've put together a range of inspiration boards for the wedding chapters on Pinterest - pinterest. co. uk/charlottegryffindor . There are also notes on a few of the boards, which are important to read quickly if you do.

I'm going to reply to PMs and reviews tomorrow!

Eclipse, Chapter 33

Garrett strode past, stealing Carys' attention with an exaggerated wink. "Save me a dance?" he asked, a little too flirtatious for her to think he was serious. She couldn't help but giggle.

Carlisle narrowed his eyes at his Best Man; his half-brother, for all the guests knew. "In your dreams, Cullen."

"Shouldn't you be deferring to your radiant bride on the matter? Or are you worried she may accidentally fall in love with me?" Garrett dodged Carlisle's attempt to hit his arm with a laugh, all but darting into the barn to escape.

Just as soon as they were alone again, Carys sobered.

"Okay," she whispered seriously, "plan of action. We get through this bit as fast as is humanly possible-"

"Thank you for the clarification," Carlisle deadpanned, squeezing her waist, "I was all ready to zip around and throw them all into the barn."

"It would certainly take less time."

"Indeed."

"But no." Carys tapped her index finger hard against her right palm with each item. "Receiving line. One cocktail. Photos. If-" she raised her hand and stared up at him "-and that's a strong if, mind, but I think we're up to the task - we can do it all with time to spare before-"

"The wedding breakfast," Carlisle filled in with a curt nod.

"Yes. If we have time to spare: a ten-minute snogging session to get it all out of our systems."

Carlisle raised his eyebrows and looked questioning at best, disbelieving at worse. "I would say tide us over. I doubt either of us could get anything out of our systems that quickly."

The first of the long line reached them demanding their attention. The Newtons - Karen, Michael, and their equally blond son Mike. Carys tried to ignore the burning in her cheeks while she talked to them.

'Tide them over' was what she'd meant - and Carlisle knew it - but he'd made her comment sound dirty. She wished someone was listening to them so she wasn't alone in the knowledge. Unfortunately, they had decided to take on the receiving line alone so that everyone else was free to do as they pleased.

Accepting their felicitations, they thanked the Newtons for coming and swiftly directed them to the dancefloor, where hors d'oeuvres and cocktails (mocktails and soft drinks for the underage) would be served ahead of the wedding breakfast at five o'clock.

They did the same with each guest who stopped to be greeted.

The only exceptions came from the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and Bella - in other words, the Cullens, Hales, and Edward's future wife - who moved past the line as quickly as they could with a compliment, hug or high-five for one or both of them.

Carys' parents and step-grandparents stopped to have a short chat - during which Shauna babbled to Carlisle and he pretended to understand and reply to everything she said. Before they moved on, Amy insisted Carlisle referred to Carys' family as his own, to which he agreed almost immediately. It invoked bittersweet happiness in Carys.

"Take care of her," Amy told Carlisle, drawing him into yet another hug. "And yourself."

"I will," he promised before they moved on.

They were followed by Seth and Sue, who had very different levels of ease around vampires, but each of whom seemed genuinely happy to be there. Sue was far more nervous than her son. She moved behind and to the side of him so that she didn't stand directly before Carlisle, and paid the same compliments with the same polite sincerity as those who had come before her.

When Carys responded, "Thank you. Thank you for coming," her eyes said what she couldn't, 'Thank you for braving the vampires'.

Halfway down the receiving line, after about fifteen minutes or so, Carys began to flag a little. There had been so many faces, and yet they'd yet to welcome her friends from home. Had they really invited so many people? Some people had taken their cocktails outside, which made it harder to tell.

"Are you alright, my love?" Carlisle whispered in her ear between guests.

Carys smiled sweetly and moved in close. "My face hurts a little from all the uncontrollable happiness, but I'm good. Are you?"

The question was met with a squeeze of her side. "You don't need to sit down?" he worried. "I'll get someone to bring you a drink."

"No, don't worry," she dismissed softly, "I'm o-" she raised her voice "-Helen, Michael! Thank you for coming."

After their former colleagues moved on, Carys lowered her voice again to ask, "Can you see any of the London lot?"

"Hmm..." Carlisle raised his head and then his hand far higher. He caught someone's attention and pointed, then shook his head, indicating behind, and waved towards himself, a little urgently. "They are on their way. Who else would you like to jump the line?"

"You can't queue jump people at a wedding," Carys hissed. Her heart wasn't in it, but she felt someone should protest for propriety's sake.

"You can if it's your own wedding-" raising in volume, his accent switched from English to slightly accented American "-David! Thank you for coming."

"Doctor Liu," Carys greeted.

"Congratulations to you both," said the young doctor. He rocked back on his heels, a little awkwardly, Carys thought. It was obvious they weren't the only ones getting tired of the line. He turned to her with a smile. "We're not at the hospital anymore; you're not my patient. I think it's okay to call me David."

"David then," she gratefully agreed. "Thank you."

Carlisle grinned, indicating over his shoulder. "Through the doors. Cocktails at the end. Enjoy the hors d'oeuvres."

David nodded enthusiastically and ambled in.

"Why does that sound familiar?" Carys wondered aloud.

"It'll come to you. Ah. Here we are."

Taking the two cocktails proffered by Alice, he handed her one and said, "Martini for me, Old Fashioned for you." Leaning in, he turned his head so that he spoke against her ear. From the outside, she was sure it might look as if he had handed her a drink and was kissing her temple again. "We can move on as soon as you're ready. I don't think people will mind if we need to take photographs."

Carys grinned and nodded, taking a sip of her drink. They had planned around an hour for the photographer, but it all depended on the line. Sacking it all off if she got too tired was a nice option to have on the back burner.

Leah chose that moment to sweep out of the barn - Carys really did need to start calling it a ballroom or a venue - with-

Wait a moment.

Garrett followed after.

"What are you two up to?" Carys called before they could get too far.

They stopped, a good few feet apart, and Leah harrumphed. Stomping to Carys' side, she leaned in and whispered bitterly:

"We're not doing anything. He's following me so that he doesn't have to smell all the you-know-what around here, and I'm trying not to turn around and murder him at your wedding."

"So you want him to leave you alone but he won't?" Carlisle asked, faintly horrified, drawing her attention.

He motioned to her, and the three of them took a few steps back, gaining a little space between them and the next in line.

"Not exactly." Leah crossed her arms at her chest and grimaced. She had told Carys that morning that she was becoming more comfortable with the idea of Carlisle, but not the others. "I can't," she explained just as quietly as before.

Carys raised her eyebrows. "Can't what?"

Casting Garrett a glance, Carys was surprised to see that his face was a mask of innocence and open curiosity. Hands firmly contained in his trouser pockets, he kept his distance from Leah, even more than he had before, and so was too far away to lend his voice to the discussion. As far as Carys could hear.

"We have a deal," Leah admitted as if the words were pulled from her by force.

"A deal?"

"Yes. A deal." She sighed. "He suggested it. He doesn't..." she tipped her head forward and widened her eyes as if to say, 'Get tempted to murder any humans', "and I don't murder him until after the reception. As it stands, he says with my scent around, he's not at risk. It's a no go with Seth; he's with Mom and she'd freak the fuck out. For that matter, I'd freak the fuck out."

Carys slowly shook her head and narrowed her eyes a little as she tried and failed to reconcile the information. Leah hated vampires, and she hated red-eyed vampires even more than the Cullens. She supposed it made sense in the way that if Leah helped Garrett, she performed her role as protector. She could understand Garrett's involvement, at least. He was naturally curious of everything, and, almost as interested in the wolves as Carlisle was, he had been chomping at the bit to meet one. The risk to life and limb seemed to add to Garrett's interest rather than dim it.

That in mind, she slowly prompted, "So you're..."

"Keeping my friends close and my enemies closer? Yeah." Leah turned a sharp look on Carlisle. "You vouched for him," she insisted. "If anything happens-"

"I will take immediate responsibility," he assured her.

"Good."

Carys shared a bemused look with Carlisle, turned once more to Leah, and shrugged her shoulders. "Right, you are then. Let me know if-"

"If he dies, it's his own fault," Leah muttered.

Drawing away, she whirled around and strode in the same direction as before. Garrett flashed them a smile, handed Leah a drink - which Carys hadn't seen him retrieve and doubted was alcohol-free - and followed in her wake.

Carys and Carlisle watched them go with undisguised interest. Leah subtly ran her wrist over the backs of a couple of chairs, and Garrett nodded.

"Where d'you think they're heading?" Carys asked after a moment. "And what do you think she gets out of it? Apart from the obvious."

Carlisle shook his head, his lips pressing together, signalling his bemusement.

"I have no clue," he said, lifting his glass to his lips. Lowering it almost immediately, he suggested, "Perhaps bragging rights over her control? I'm not entirely clear on who I should be most concerned for, I must admit."

"Oh, definitely Garrett. Leah's used to people chatting away in her ear all day. He's not used to being murdered."

"Very true," he agreed as they pulled their gaze away from the unlikely duo and stepped forward.

Carys wasn't sure how it happened, but one minute she was chatting and laughing excitedly with her friends, and the next, Carlisle had shifted most of the remaining guests into the barn.

Eyeing him over the rim of her glass, she said, slyly, "I need to take you places more often."

His lips and brow quirked. "What sort of places are you suggesting?" When he glanced down at her, his own glass touched his lips, coming away without losing a drop of clear liquid.

"The DMV for one. Get you a job there." Carys mimed a check-out line with one hand. "You'd be universally adored."

Carlisle snorted and whined, ducking his face behind one of her shoulders to cover himself while he gripped the other. He regained his composure just as Carys caught sight of something that made her down her drink. The blood drained from her face.

"I'm ready to go gather the troops," she announced. She wanted nothing more than to walk away before Tanya, Kate, Carmen and Eleazar reached them.

Carlisle adjusted one of the loose curls by her cheek, and she turned to look up at him. The expression in his eyes gave her pause. He hid it well but beneath the joy and happiness, a slight resignation had taken hold.

"Are you?" he asked softly.

If Carys had been asked how she felt about the Denali coven four months ago, she would have said they were absolutely amazing. They had walked on water in her mind. Now she had her arm as proof of what could happen when you trusted someone to help you and they let you down.

That wasn't fair, she knew.

But what did they expect would happen?

Looking into his eyes, however, she couldn't make him leave without seeing his family. She wouldn't - no, she couldn't - do that to him. He would never willingly do it to her. She was only thinking of herself. That wasn't fair. It was even worse, seeing as it was their wedding day.

"No," she said, reaching up to stroke his cheek. Rearranging her features, she took a deep breath and grinned again. "Sorry, I'm being silly."

"I don't mind. If you'd prefer to move on, it's quite alright," he offered. There was nothing but sincerity in his voice or gaze.

Carys kissed his cheek. "No, no, lovely," she insisted again. "I really am just being silly. I promise."

Carlisle stood strong beside her as they passed the other guests along. The Denali vampires had made a point of standing at the very back of the queue. They must have been at the wedding, but Carys had missed them. It wasn't difficult. She'd missed a lot of people.

They stepped forward, Tanya at the helm. Eleazar - directly behind her, his arm around Carmen - was frowning in concentration; looking for any changes to Carys' ability, she supposed.

Carlisle took a small step ahead, hugging them each in turn. "Welcome. We're glad you could make it." It was a bit of a bald-faced lie, but they acted as if they'd not heard Carys' reservations. "Thank you for accepting our invitation."

An invitation sent before you left us to our fate.

Kate smiled at him, turning the warm look to encompass Carys. "Thank you for having us." Her gaze dropped to Carys' left arm.

Carys turned to the side a little, drawing her arm behind her back, hiding it from view as much as she could.

"I speak for all of us when I say-" Tanya paused when Kate's lips blurred "-I speak for all of us when I say how dreadfully sorry we are. You needed us, and we weren't there. We should have come to your aid; we know you would have done the same for us," she said contritely. "And we can now see how close you are to these wolves."

"We've also heard far more about Laurent and the events leading to his death than we knew before," Kate added matter-of-factly. A muscle twitched in her jaw. "Don't forget that part."

"Well it was Carlisle who told us about all of that, wasn't it?" Tanya retorted with a faint glare. Drawing a sharp breath, she smiled at Carys again.

Kate murmured, staring at Carlisle, and he shook his head a little. Carys didn't like that they were having a conversation over her head, so to speak, but she let it go. A thought flickered to life and took hold.

"You're not going to bring any trouble to the wolves, are you?" she asked nervously.

"No," Carmen assured her, stepping forward with Eleazar. His frown had eased somewhat. "Irina remains in Alaska. She sends her apologies."

Carlisle tightened his grip on Carys' waist. "We can understand the pain she suffers," he said, a little pointedly.

The meaning behind his tone was clear. Carys had almost been killed. But she did feel sorry for Irina - she knew they both did - for having been taken in by Laurent, and for losing someone she cared for.

"I know a simple apology won't be enough, but could we join you?" asked Tanya, her voice growing hopeful. "For today?"

They all turned to Carys, and she realised it was her decision. Looking up at Carlisle, she read it in his eyes. If she asked them to leave, they would, and he would stand by her decision. But then he would be left without his cousins; the only vampires who shared his ideology outside the immediate family. Most of his friends had left the afternoon before. Only Garrett remained.

She wasn't sure she was ready, but she nodded, and the five vampires smiled at once.

They exchanged polite comments, then the group moved on, promising to send the bridal party out to the pair.

Carys took the opportunity of a moment alone with Carlisle.

"Did you know they were coming?" she wondered aloud. "I know we didn't really talk about it, but when I asked, you didn't really say anything."

He tugged her against him, hugging her to his chest. Carys settled her cheek to his lapel, cradling her empty glass.

"No," he said sincerely. "I doubted they would come today. Alice didn't tell me anything to suggest it. I suppose I hoped, in a way, that they would. I can't lie and tell you I'm not happy to see them."

She tilted her head back. "And to have them apologise for their behaviour?"

"Oh, yes, of course." He frowned down at her. "If they hadn't-" his expression cleared "-they wouldn't have been welcome."

Carys smiled to herself and spoke her thoughts. "You're very forgiving."

"I could say the same about you."

"No, not really. I'm just too comfy on my high horse to give up the saddle just now."

When the bridal party reconvened, bringing the photographer with them, Carys and Carlisle broke apart. They handed their glasses to Esme when she offered to take them, and - though Carys couldn't be entirely sure, she was almost certain that that was the source of the dust that fell to the ground a moment later - Esme moved the glasses behind her back and crushed them rather than find a table.

At Edward's urging, and Carys and Carlisle's prior agreement, Bella joined their group for some family shots. Amy and Carys' step-grandmother Rachel's subtle comments suggested they didn't think it was the best idea.

It wasn't difficult to see why.

An on-again-off-again high school relationship didn't usually bode well for longevity.

Carys told them there was nothing to worry about when they mentioned their reservations to her, and they shared speaking glances with each other instead.

Carys paid them no mind. She wasn't going to involve herself in any more of the teenage couple's drama. Especially not on her wedding day. She was annoyed at Edward and Bella for treating each other the way that they had. Though she had briefly put aside her annoyance at Edward following Bella's betrayal, she'd come to realise the feelings remained. It was up to them to change.

Leah, as ever, was the biggest surprise.

Agreeing to take photos alongside everyone, vampire and human alike, she posed for each shot with a hundred-watt smile. And she did so with the express agreement that copies would be sent to her.

"I want to show them off," she said. The malicious glint in her eye made Carys understand, once and for all, what Leah was getting out of cooperating with vampires such as Garrett.

Leah was using the situation to annoy the other wolves. All her actions were undisputable. She was keeping her promise to a friend by being her bridesmaid; she was making sure no humans were harmed; she was keeping herself calm by amusing herself, and was therefore not at risk of phasing.

Good for her, Carys decided.

Unfortunately, when everything was said and done, there was no time to sneak off with Carlisle; they returned to the barn just in time to be seated.

Following the wedding breakfast - which was really a four-course dinner, and was heralded as delicious by all, save for Shauna, who exclaimed that hers was "N'ummy!" - came the toasts.

Carys made a quick trip to load up on the chocolate fountain before they began. It was a necessity. Shauna turned her huge eyes on her on the way over, and so she got her some as well.

Amy and Findlay made their speech together. Amy took the lead, cracking a few jokes between the sentimental moments, and Findlay finished it all off with an Irish toast. They were followed by Garrett, whose speech could be read two ways depending on how old you thought Carlisle was. And then Carlisle took his turn, waiting for Carys to dry her preemptive tears before he began.

She had expected the jokes, the tear-jerking, the sweetness, and the way he kept the room in thrall throughout, but she didn't expect the strength of her emotional response.

"I mean, it wasn't bad," Carys whined when he returned to her side. He sat down, settling his arm over the back of her chair. "Could've been better."

Carlisle laughed at her as she sniffled and dabbed her eyes again. "Could've been better?" he echoed, scoffing. "You're a watering pot, woman. I'd personally say it was a job well done."

She glared at him. "I was fine for most of it. It was the bit where you said-" hot tears pooled in her eyes; her face crumbled; her voice became so high pitched, he likely needed the full strength of his super-hearing to understand "-the bit about-about-"

"About?" he prompted patiently, watching his fingers as he tweaked a stray curl against her cheek.

"Loving me," she gasped.

He waited with a quirk of his brow, a smile playing about his lips. It could have referenced most of the speech.

"And having to wait 'cause-'cause you didn't know-" she stuttered and broke off.

"If you felt the same?"

"Yes. And then-" she drew a gasp, knowing people must be staring "-when the-"

"Waiting continued?"

Carys dropped her forehead to his chest to avoid getting makeup all over his shirt. His arms slid and locked around her. "Yeah," she moaned.

Though he'd only referenced it in his speech, it had been in his diaries. For months - after she'd moved past her initial attraction to forge a friendship with him - he believed he had missed his chance; she wouldn't be interested in him romantically. He'd consoled and tortured himself over his decision to wait. He'd reconciled himself that she was his mate, but he was not hers. Their friendship would have to be enough. Then, for weeks after her birthday, she'd avoided him and he'd thought he'd done something to offend her.

He'd replayed everything he'd said or done, over and over again until they'd met in the coffee shop. He had been close to telling her how he felt when she'd asked for time to get over her feelings. If she'd waited for half a minute or more, he would have gathered his courage and told her. Instead, he'd respected her wishes. Until the day she'd come to tell him about his supposed break up.

"You really don't like the thought of my waiting for you, do you?" Carlisle asked, bending over her, sliding his hands under her thick mane of curls to stroke his hands up and down her back. "I'd like to remind you that you waited just as long after we met," he counselled quietly. "And much of it was my doing."

"No it wasn't," she protested sotto voce, "but I know. The waiting, I mean. Why am I being like this?" Drawing back, she dried her eyes again. "This is ridiculous."

"It's perfectly normal," he assured her, kissing her forehead.

"No, it's not. Look at me. I'm blubbering."

"It is," he insisted affectionately. "It's entirely understandable to feel this emotional."

"Because it's our wedding day?"

He hesitated. "Yes."

At her beckoning, he accompanied her while she fixed herself up.

Only once she was truly ready did he take her hand and lead her to cut the wedding cake. Seven tiers high, trimmed with gold, iced flowers cascaded over one side of the white cake. It dominated the space, dwarfing the two fountains to the sides of the room.

As the guests - more than enough to make the sheer size of the cake acceptable - crowded around them, Carlisle wrapped his arms around her. His hard form pressed against her back, from shoulder to knee, so that he could join her in gripping the long knife. Her mouth suddenly dry, she breathlessly suggested they stood side by side. His only response was to tut nonchalantly.

It didn't help that as they raised the knife high, he whispered in her ear, his voice hoarse, "What time did we say we were we leaving?"

"Twelve," she breathed immediately. It had been two, but...

He waited until they were slicing the bottom tier to speak. "I thought so." The arc of the cut and the cramped space moulded their bodies together even more - and she was already all too aware of him. The moment it was over she broke free of his hold and snatched up a plate to hide her reaction. He grinned, free from the fear of giving himself away. Lucky bastard.

If she had expected the presence of the crowd to save her once the cake was cut, she would have been mistaken. Under the cover of readjusting the back of her dress - which had been flattened against her by his body - his hands brushed her thighs, his fingertips trailing up over her hips to her waist.

Carys tried to get her own back. Pressing up against him, she took a bite of cake - red velvet for the last tier - and slowly licked her lips. The moment she did so, she knew it had been a mistake. His eyes darkened for a moment. In a blink, the blazing hunger was gone, but the promise remained.

He leaned in and kissed the last of the frosting from her lips. "Later," he whispered, taking a bite of his own slice. As he had with the wedding breakfast and their first few dates, he ate food, which to him tasted like dirt, without letting his calm, unaffected facade slip.

"Later," he'd said, and yet things worsened for Carys almost immediately. At every opportunity - every time he could without attracting notice - he touched her. The lightest touch here, a blatant stroke there.

By the time they moved on to the dancefloor, she was quivering and overheating.

He allowed her a brief reprieve from the teasing touches, calling a truce just before Esme returned her bouquet.

Once a group had formed, Carys looked them over and made her choice. She moved into position and threw the flowers over her shoulder. Whirling around, she clapped her hands over her mouth and laughed. Her aim had been true, but she hadn't factored in the clamouring. The bouquet she'd thrown towards Monica glanced off the tips of Abigail's fingers, bounced off another hand (she couldn't tell who it belonged to; they were lost in the cram) and hit Sarah square in the face.

"I'm sorry!" Carys called over the shouts of laughter. When Sarah mock-glared at her, she held her hands up. "So sorry!"

The laughter died down, and Carlisle turned to Carys with a warm smile. "My dance, I believe." Taking her hand, he drew her into his arms just as the musicians struck up, sweeping her onto the floor for their waltz.

They had practised the day before, to make sure they made the most of the large space. After dancing together so often at home, the steps were now second nature to her. They moved in sync, spinning, whirling, moving elegantly, he assured her.

He drew her closer.

The crowd faded into the background all over again.

"I'm amazed," she told him after he'd navigated yet another smooth turn, "the dress isn't more of an issue."

His brow crinkled. "Is this really what you want to talk about?" he asked dubiously.

"I don't know," she admitted. She bit her lip, and he followed the move intently. "I'm not sure what we're supposed to talk about. Any ideas? And don't say-" she glanced out at the crowd as they whirled past, then cast him an arch look "-sex," she whispered.

His golden eyes melted and shifted as he grinned down at her. "I was thinking nothing of the sort."

Liar.

She couldn't help but grin.

"How are your butterflies?" he asked, quickly changing the subject.

"They're good. Still strong, still coming and going. I'm surprised. I didn't think you were that interested earlier."

"I'm always interested."

"Are you?"

His hand firmed; he applied just a little more pressure to her lower back, drawing her closer still before he answered. "Very much so. Never more than now. Ah. I forgot. Emmett and Jasper offered me some talking points last night. Have I mentioned how perfect you are?"

"Not for a few minutes," she teased. "Have I told you how perfect you are?"

"Oh, not for an hour at least."

"How remiss of me."

He nodded gravely. "I thought so. I thrive on compliments, as you well know."

"Well, I'd say you're by far the best-looking groom here... Are you having a good time?" she asked.

"I wouldn't say good, perse. The best time of my life? Yes."

"Oh, come on," she chuckled. "I know I'm having the best time of my life, but you've had so much more time. There must be things that topped this, even by a little?"

He shook his head.

"What about when you discovered medicine?" she offered. "That was your personal zeitgeist. Are you sure this is better than that?"

"Grooms are supposed to say that they're the happiest man on earth, aren't they? In this case, I wouldn't be overstating. In fact, I think it might well be the understatement of three centuries."

Carys couldn't find a hint of teasing insincerity.

"You mean that," she asked in amazement, "don't you?"

He nodded as he guided her through the last steps. "Absolutely."

She would have asked more, drawn out their conversation to soak up more of the overwhelming feeling she'd gained from it, but Amy claimed him for a dance. Carys danced with Findlay, and then Sarah - who, though she said she'd never waltzed before, was a very quick study. Garrett claimed her for the next, but only after she'd hugged Leah for a full ten seconds.

The wolves' scent was magical.

They wrinkled their noses, but Jasper, Emmett and Edward had no problem whirling Carys around the dancefloor. And during their dance, Jasper begrudgingly admitted he had far less trouble navigating the throng once Leah and Seth had made their way around.

Seth stole the last dance before the musicians took a much-needed break. He was unsure of the steps, but he made up for his lack of knowledge and ability with an abundance of enthusiasm. Carys made him promise to save a dance for her when the DJ took over, and he immediately agreed.

"I think you just made his month," Carlisle observed, watching Seth disappear into the crowd.

"From a dance?"

Carlisle smiled to himself and said nothing, leading her over to her friends from home. They joined the group, sitting at their table, chatting for as long as they could before moving on.

Leah came to find Carys just before eleven. She found her sitting with Carlisle, having just waved goodbye to Rachel, Shaun, and Shauna.

The little one had stayed awake long past her bedtime, and no one had the heart to force her to go home when she was so clearly enjoying herself. She'd finally fallen asleep on her namesake's lap. Though none of them claimed responsibility, all four adults wore matching expressions of guilt. The top of Shauna's dress was stained with chocolate; likely the source of her energy.

"Macarena's up in two songs!" Leah exclaimed, grabbing Carys' hand. It was all she needed to say.

Carys abandoned her laughing groom with a brief kiss and a promise that he would join them in time and followed Leah to the other side of the barn.

The music was far louder on the dancefloor than anywhere else. It thrummed through Carys' chest as they pushed past a small, dense crowd.

Aided by her heels, she looked over their heads to see her friends Kathryn and Steve, and her parents in the middle, engaged in a dance-off that didn't appear to have a clear winner. She wasn't surprised by either pair and wanted to watch, but Leah tugged her hand.

They found a group to the side of the overcrowded floor who were happy to move, giving them enough space to dance.

Leah motioned to her mouth after half a song, signalling "Drinks?".

Carys nodded enthusiastically and went to navigate her way out again, but Leah held out a staying hand. Raising the other high in the air, she snapped her fingers twice.

Nonplussed, Carys looked around. She couldn't see anything to signal a response, but Leah was still dancing so she accepted Leah must have seen what she had not and joined in again. A minute later, as the song changed, she felt a tap at her back, and a pair of champagne flutes were held over her shoulders by pale white hands. Glancing back, she was surprised to find the glasses were attached to Garrett, who winked and disappeared the moment they were taken.

"What was that!?" Carys cried, looking Leah over quizzically.

It occurred to her that she'd not seen them around each other for hours. Not since Leah had finished her tour of the area, covering enough of the humans' scent that he wasn't tempted. They'd been smart about it. According to Carlisle, it wasn't too strong in most places.

Leaning in to half-shout against her ear as they danced, Leah announced, "I can't get served. Too young. Don't worry, my metabolism burns it off quickly."

"I thought you hated him?" Carys called back, tempering her words for the humans surrounding them. "Isn't your job done?"

"I do! It is! But we have that agreement, remember!? Every time he brings me a drink, he earns himself another minute of life!"

"How many has he earned?"

Leah shrugged and examined her glass. "Almost enough to make a run for it at the end of the night, I guess!"

"I'll cheers to that!" Holding her glass out, Carys clinked their glasses. "I've never admired anyone more!"

Leah smirked and winked, downing half her drink. Carys joined her.

The bubbles burst on her tongue.

Strange.

It tasted the same, but the fizzy alcohol went to her head almost immediately. The effect was far more potent than most of the other drinks she'd had, except for the cocktail in the receiving line. She wondered if it had something to do with having been chilled by Garrett's cold hands on its way over. Maybe it was a cumulative effect.

Catching Leah's questioning glance, she grinned and took another sip.

Carlisle stayed true to his word, sidling up beside her just as the Macarena began, taking their glasses to dispense of them quickly. He'd shed his jacket and cufflinks on the way, rolling his sleeves up for the event. Unlike the party at their house, the lighting had been chosen to lessen the vampires' differences rather than accentuate them.

The song was another of Carys' requests. It kicked off an hour of back to back dance crazes. As soon as it began, people flooded into place, lining up with enough space between them and those ahead of them that there was no risk of hitting one another. As the crowd jumped and turned as one, thrusting first one hand, then the other in front of them, Carys caught sight of almost all of their family and close friends.

Edward and Bella were conspicuously absent.

On the third jump, she located them, in the middle of a row of chairs to the side of the room. Observing the dance, Edward was laughing, one arm slung over the back of Bella's chair.

"Hold my place," Carys yelled, gesturing to Carlisle and Leah, to either side of her. She didn't need to raise her voice. Rosalie and Emmett - ten lines ahead and three people across - looked back at her when she did. Leah sidled just a little further away from Carlisle without Carys as a buffer.

Now that they were lined up, people moved out of her way with ease. Lifting her skirts, she passed Charlie, Sarah and Monica on her way; it looked as if the two women were trying to teach a resistant Charlie the moves. Something caught her eye, and she looked up to see Esme, Kate, Tanya and Garrett alone on one section of the deep balcony above. Though she doubted any except for Esme had known the dance before, they looked to be performing the moves with practised ease.

It warmed her heart to see. Charlie and Garrett were the last people she'd expect to find on the dancefloor, but Charlie had smiled awkwardly at her as she passed, and Garrett, especially, looked as if he was having fun.

The moment she left the dancefloor, the music quietened. Carys still wasn't sure how they'd done it, but she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

When she reached Bella and Edward, she placed her hands firmly on her hips and grinned.

"On the floor," she told them. "I won't take no for an answer."

Bella's eyes grew round. "I'm not a good dancer," she said. "No hand-eye coordination. I trip all over the place."

The young couple had shared a dance earlier, but Carys could understand Bella's nervousness. It was one thing swaying in a small circle, quite another to follow light choreography.

Sweeping to the side, she pointed towards her godmother, Hannah, who was getting every move wrong and tripping over her own feet. She was also laughing heartily about it with Carys' mum, her other godmother Adjoa, and Findlay. "You can't be as bad as Hannah, and she's having a whale of a time," she coaxed. "Come on, it'll be fun. Even your dad's out there."

"Is he!?" Bella stood up and searched until she found him. "Wow. He is!"

"Right, so come on? You'll have fun, I promise. No one's going to be watching."

Bella shook her head, curling in on herself again, sinking to her seat.

Edward let out an exasperated sigh, lifting then dropping his arm over the back of Bella's chair. "I've tried."

"But your problem is dancing standing up?" Carys queried with a sly smile.

Bella hesitantly nodded. "Yeah."

"Boy, have I got the dance for you. Rock the boat."

"Rock the... what's that?"

Carys jabbed a finger in her direction, eager to get back before she missed the whole song. "Boat. It'll be up soon, and none of the Cullens are doing it; they'd be too close to people. It's floor-based. No excuses for that one if you're sitting down for it. I'll see you there." With that, she spun and ran back in time to catch the rest of the Macarena.

By the time she returned, Seth had squeezed his way in, to the other side of Leah. He'd left for a little while to wave Sue off, and greeted Carys with a high-five.

"This counts as our dance," he yelled.

Carys threw him a thumbs up as the song moved seamlessly into the next.

She soon discovered Carlisle's placement had been purposeful. When any of the dances called for it, he managed to find himself directly behind her, in the perfect place to haul her back against him as they sank low.

When the time came for them to change for the journey, Carys had to be all but dragged from the dancefloor. Carlisle refused to be the one to do it. Esme took the hit instead, reminding them both that they had a honeymoon to get to.

Carlisle caught up with them just they reached the entrance, stopping to speak to Esme. Carys couldn't hear what they were saying, but Esme turned back to her after a moment and said:

"You go ahead. I'll catch up shortly."

"Oh, 'course." To Carlisle, Carys asked, "Don't keep her long?"

She knew there was no way she would be able to get out of the dress on her own. The placket was set in such a way that it was awkward to navigate.

"I promise," he said with a bright smile, swooping down to steal a kiss.

Heading through the near-darkness, Carys pulled her arms tight against her chest to stave off the slight chill. They hadn't thought to line the route back with more than a couple of lamps, she realised. It didn't bother her too much. She was wrapped up in her thoughts. It was odd to think that she'd been so nervous and worried that morning. The whole day had gone off almost perfectly.

She was so happy. Too happy to allow herself to dwell on anything other than her joy.

Before long, they would be leaving on their honeymoon. Three weeks together. Just the two of them. No interruptions, no feuds, no work, no stress, nothing. Nothing but sun, sea, sand and Carlisle. And - she chuckled to herself - she didn't plan on seeing too much of the sea or sand.

When she reached the safety of the hut, she closed the door behind her and skipped to sit on one of the chairs in front of the mirror. She thrust a hand under the counter. Grappling about, she located the bag with her change of clothes and popped it down before her. The suitcases were already stowed away in the back of the car, and so the bag only held her white tea dress, flat shoes, and bra. Wrestling with the layers of her dress, Carys took off her heels, stretched her arms high, leaned back, and closed her eyes.

Magical.

Peace.

The door swung open and shut.

"Ez," she sighed, half-chuckling, "d'you think people'll notice if I have a nap before we leave?"

A hand laid over her collarbone. Her eyes snapped open with a gasp. "Wha-" Hard lips pressed against hers, cutting off her exclamation.

Carlisle grinned against her lips when she scoffed out a laugh and tried to push him away.

"I don't think anyone will mind you having a nap," he told her. His hand trailed lower and he drew away just enough for her to take a deep breath. "Though I can suggest a better use of your time."

Shaking her head, she tried not to laugh too much in case it encouraged him. She didn't want poor Esme to walk in on something she didn't want to see.

"Esme's going to be here soon," she warned, pointing towards the door. "You need to get out before she does."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," he said smoothly. His lips pressed and clung to hers. "Esme is... otherwise occupied, I suppose you could say. I thought I might be able to help."

"No," Carys giggled. "You can sod off. I know what your help looks like, and-"

"Did I not say 'later' earlier on?" he asked, ham-acting his bewilderment as he squinted and pressed his forefinger and thumb to his chin. "No, no, wait a moment... Yes," he tapped his finger to her skin, just above the edge of the bodice, "my perfect recall does have me saying, 'later'."

Covering her face with her hands, Carys sank low in her chair. Her body shook with mirth. They couldn't. Could they? No. They couldn't. People were waiting for them.

"I'll make it worth your while," Carlisle sang. His smooth tenor was as enticing as his hands wandering up over her bodice.

Peering up at him between her fingers, her lips twisted beneath her palm. She widened her eyes. "But people are waiting..."

"Is that a challenge?" he asked, cocking his head.

"No, it's-"

He wrinkled his nose, nodded, and said, "It sounded like a challenge to me."

"It wasn't!" she whined.

Carlisle relented with a chuckle, drawing his phone from his pocket. He waved it by his shoulder. "Esme will send me a text in ten minutes when they're ready for us - no more, no less. She insisted. She's gathering everyone together to say goodbye as we speak."

Carys narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms at her chest. The move drew Carlisle's now heated gaze down past her shoulders.

"Couldn't you have done that?" she asked suspiciously.

"I could have," he murmured. Stepping closer, he shifted her chair back a little and leaned against the counter in front of her. His gaze remained riveted. "But I need to get changed as well, and I want to remember."

"You want to remember," she rolled her forefinger and tilted her head, "helping me take off my dress?"

"Yes," he breathed. Looking up, finally, he fixed her with a hopeful smile. "Please?"

Carys couldn't control her roar of laughter.

Precisely ten minutes later, they left the hut. He really had wanted to help her out of her dress and nothing more. Unlike earlier, he was careful to keep his hands almost entirely to himself. He had gone so far as to walk behind the changing curtain to switch from his tuxedo to a crisp white shirt and less formal trousers. He was unbearably sweet, she thought. The thought sparked a memory, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

After they took their leave of the remaining guests, he opened the passenger door for her, settled her into her seat, then rounded the car and slid into the driver's seat.

Halfway down the winding drive, he took her hand and lifted it to his lips.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"Thank you," she echoed, just as softly. The words were loaded with meaning, just as his had been.

Silence fell, and Carys soon found herself battling her heavy eyelids.

Carlisle's lips brushed her knuckles. "You should try to get some sleep," he said. "It's been a long day, and it'll be an even longer drive to Seattle."

"I thought we were-" Carys covered a long yawn "-going to Forks Airport?"

"No... I... Darling, I'll wake you before we get to the plane and explain everything. There's something I need to tell you, but I think it would be best if you were compos mentis when you hear. It's a lot to take in."

"What is it?" she yawned, already shifting about to find the most comfortable position. She closed her eyes before he answered, and drifted off almost immediately.

In her dreams, Carlisle's hand stroked and settled over her belly as he said, "I found the answer to your symptoms and the blood loss. The problem is, I read the manuscript as a human. We need to go to London to find it... because I was wrong, darling. We all were. Dhampirs are real."

It was an odd thing to dream, but the words followed her down, twisting and repeating until even the happiest dreams they created receded and fell away, giving way to oblivion.

Later, when the butterflies returned stronger than ever and she whimpered sleepily, his hand firmed, and soothed.

"Hush, little sweeting. You'll wake her."

A/N: NOTE: Carys drinks in this chapter, but it will be explained more later - Carlisle switched her drinks (and the champagne bottle) and she had two genuine drinks through the entire day, which is why she remarked on the champagne being the first she felt an effect from since the cocktail. According to UK health advice, this is fine as long as it's not a daily occurrence.

And thus, the end of Eclipse. If you've been with me through other book endings, you'll know I'm planning on taking a break now to work out more of a chapter-by-chapter rundown of the next book. Not sure if I'll be back in a few days, next week, or in a few weeks, but knowing me, it won't be too long. Blue Moon, the next part after this, is going to be a short story ahead of Breaking Dawn. It will bridge the gap so to speak and tell us more about how dhampirs work etc. Guess who gets to research with Carlisle!? No me, sadly. But Carys does.

British Library, here we come! And no, Carlisle hasn't told anyone else. Except for the dhampir, who he's talking to, and that might be because it's the only thing stopping him from freaking the eff out.

Thank you to: chellekathrynnn, BMBMDooDoo-Doo-Doo-Doo, Nana (You were right! He does! Timing isn't quite right though - it took him longer to find out, but we'll learn about that in the next little book, but yes, he freaked out and is now holding it together until Carys knows, when he can freak out again! And yes, you were right about his motivations as well! He's not exactly broken the news to her yet, but he's going to before they go to London. And nope! Carl would be hilarious, but judging by their talk at the start of New Moon, they'd want to call it Henrietta/Henry after Carlisle's mum, so that's a working name for now (it might get changed later).), Joseph Cullen, animexchick, Guest (my sentiments exactly!), seconddragon, 0oKitteno0, Momochan77, CarlaPA, NeonKat (I'm so happy you liked it! I loved writing it, to be honest. So much so that I made a pinterest purely to share inspiration boards that come close to certain things in the story! The link's at the top if you're interested, and on my profile too. I plan on doing a completely different spin on dhampirs and conflicts etc! Or, at least, I do at the moment!), LeeForShort, Serena Salvatore, BubblyYork, KEZZ 1, Shelly J88, and Anita Simons for your reviews!