Previously:

"New Orleans? We're going?"

Charlie got excited and smiled.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Luck smiled.

"I wanted it to be a surprise. I know you miss it down there sometimes. We can only be away for a few days, but I figured…"

"Oh, thank you!"

Charlie hugged him.

"But I hope you realize, it's going to be sweltering hot. And the humidity is so thick it hits you like a wall."

"Are you trying to talk me out of it?" Luck asked.

"I just want you to know what you're getting yourself into."

"Will you two get over here and help us load your presents up?"

Berga and Keith had begun sorting through the presents.

"Coming."

Luck and Charlie went over to help them.

Kate and Kalia smiled as they watched.

"They did well."

Chapter 18: The Wedding Night

Luck opened the door then scooped Charlie up to carry her over the threshold of his home, which was now their home.

Keith and Berga carried in armfuls of presents, followed by Kate and Kalia. Charlie helped them figure out where to put it all while Luck went back out into the hall to get the boxes he and Charlie had carried up.

They continued to make trips from the car to the apartment until all of the presents were safely up there. Once they all had a chance to recover from the many trips, Luck looked at his brothers, smiled, and said:

"Thanks, now get lost."

"That eager, huh? Well, I guess I'd be tired of waiting, too," Berga said.

"…..."

"Goodnight," Kate said.

"Good luck," Kalia said, winking at Charlie.

"Goodnight. Thanks for everything," Charlie said, waving goodby as Luck saw them to the door.

"Goodbye."

Luck closed the door and turned back to Charlie.

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

Luck scooped her up into his arms again and carried her into the bedroom. He set her down so she was standing next to the bed and began carefully helping her out of her wedding dress.

As Charlie pulled the dress up over her head, the surprise she had waiting for him underneath was revealed. Luck saw the sexy, shiny, silk slip she had on and removed it to find a silky bra with lace and embroidery and a matching girdle. Beneath the girdle was a pair of matching silky, lacy, embroidered tap pants. Every piece was snow white. She had achieved her goal. Luck was surprised. He could tell it was all brand new.

Luck smiled handsomely.

"I didn't see the bill for this."

Charlie smiled a little shyly.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"You have."

Luck kissed Charlie and sat back on the bed, pulling her with him so she was sitting in his lap. Still kissing luck, Charlie began to unbutton his shirt.

—∞—

Although it was business as usual at Alveare, the talk kept going back to the wedding and the new married couple.

"That was a great wedding."

"Hey, right about now, do you think Luck and Charlie are…?"

"I wouldn't want to wait any more if I was him."

"You got that right."

"He sure has been patient."

"The wait would've killed me."

"Well, Charlie ain't that kind of girl."

"Yeah, she's surprisingly virtuous, considering her background."

"Well, only in her early years. Her adopted family was respectable enough."

"From what I've heard of them from Charlie, it's hard to imagine that they could've produced Dino."

"Every family has its black sheep."

"Speaking of families, do you think they'll be able to start one?"

"What do you mean?"

"Can immortals still have kids? And if they can, will they be immortal, too, or what?"

"… Good question."

"I never thought about that."

"Maiza?"

"I'm not sure..."

"I hope Charlie gets some kids."

"Yeah, she'd be a good mom."

"Well, whatever happens, I'm sure they'll be all right."

—∞—

When Charlie opened her eyes the next morning, sunlight was peeking through the bedroom curtains, creating a soft glow in the room. She felt a warm hand on her shoulder, and she rolled over, smiling at its owner. Luck smiled back at her. He was lying on his side with his head propped up on one hand.

"How long have you been awake?" Charlie asked.

"I just woke up myself. How are you feeling?"

Charlie blushed as she grinned. "Amazing. You were amazing last night." She could see why some people paid for it now.

Luck grinned. "You weren't so bad yourself. I think I'd use the word 'magnificent'. You were well worth the wait, Charlie."

Charlie blushed deeper, feeling pleased, and kissed him. Luck kissed her back.

"Want some breakfast?" Charlie asked.

"I can think of something I want more," Luck said, pulling her closer as he kissed her again.

—∞—

"You think Luck and Charlie are out of bed yet?" Berga asked Keith as they were starting work in the office.

"…..."

"Yeah, I doubt it, too. I bet they end up staying in it all day."

"…..."

"They're not leaving until the day after tomorrow. They'll still have a whole day to send thank you letters for those presents."

"…..."

"Yeah, I guess it is a lot… Okay, so maybe they will get out of bed. Eventually."

—∞—

"I don't want to, but we really do have to get out of bed now."

This was said by Charlie three hours later as she rolled from her lying on her back over onto her side next to Luck, facing him.

Lying on his back, Luck sighed. He knew she was right. They still had things to take care of before they could completely relax. They had moved Charlie's belongings—with the exception of what she would need for the wedding—into his place the day before they got married so it would all be waiting for her afterwards. But they still had to unwrap all their gifts and write thank you letters for them. Then they had to pack for their trip.

They left their bed and pulled on their robes. Charlie started breakfast, while Luck started opening the presents.

"You don't mind, do you?"

"No. I think the quicker we get this done, the better."

"My thinking exactly."

They were both hungry after waiting so long to eat, so Charlie cooked up a big breakfast (although it was more like brunch) of eggs, bacon, and pancakes. By the time she was done, Luck had unwrapped eleven presents. They were all the usual items one might give a couple of newly weds, until he reached Miria and Isaac's present. The box was huge, but not very heavy, so he wondered what it could be. It turned out to be a giant teddy bear.

"What the…?"

"What is it?"

Charlie brought over the food.

"Miria and Isaac sent us this."

Luck showed her the teddy bear. It was hard to miss. Charlie also brought over a mug of coffee for him.

"Oh, that smells so good."

Charlie took the teddy bear from him, and he started helping himself to the food. She looked at the bear and smiled wryly.

"Maybe it's to keep me company when you're too busy to come home."

"I doubt they thought that far ahead. Besides, I'm hoping to make that a rare occurrence."

"You'd better."

Charlie smiled and set the teddy bear in one of the empty chairs at the table. She sat down and helped herself to breakfast, piling a stack of pancakes onto her plate.

"What else have we got so far?"

"A gold flower necklace… looks like a water lily. A casserole dish. Sugar, flour, and tea canisters. Wine. Liquor. Liquor. Embroidered tablecloth and matching napkins. Bed linens. A vase. Wine. And a hand mixer."

"That's nice. Who are they from?"

"In order: Lia, Ennis and Firo, Seina, Maiza, Randy, Pezzo, Keith and Kate, Berga and Kalia, Tony, Claire, and Mr. Ronny."

Charlie was a little surprised to receive such a mundane item from someone known as a "demon." It was a good gift, though. Lia had been the one who owned everything like that in their apartment, and Charlie had found out when she was moving in that Luck didn't already have one.

They finished their breakfast and got back to unwrapping the presents. Charlie decided it would be easier to write the thank you letters as they opened the presents, rather than try to remember who gave them what as they wrote the letters after. Luck agreed. They split the presents and each wrote a letter for the corresponding gift.

They unwrapped more useful presents such as: a tea set, more kitchenware, tableware, flatware, and silverware.

There were more, some were duplicates of what they had already received, but they thanked the givers nonetheless. The kept working until Charlie's stomach growled.

"Time to take a break, I think," Luck said, checking the clock. It was about dinnertime.

"I guess so."

Charlie smiled wryly. She stood up and started getting supper ready. She had stocked up on food the day before the wedding so they wouldn't have to go anywhere.

Luck continued to work on the presents while she cooked. It was hard to concentrate with the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen, but eventually he heard:

"Come and get it."

Luck abandoned the presents and saw that Charlie had made hamburger steaks with gravy, baked potatoes with butter, and broccoli. He was starving, and he enjoyed every bite.

"It's delicious."

Charlie smiled.

"Thanks. Well, we managed to get halfway through."

"Let's do a little more tonight, so we'll have time to pack tomorrow."

"All right."

They continued to work on the presents and letters until they could barely keep their eyes open. Charlie yawned as they headed for their bedroom. Luck walked in behind her and put his arms around her.

"I don't know about you… But I have a little energy left."

Charlie suddenly found that she had energy left too.

"So do I."

Charlie turned around and kissed Luck, and she kept kissing him as he backed her toward the bed.