Bound by Sins of the Past

by Hellraptor

Two years after surviving the events that had bound their fates together, Ethan and Bela are living in different corners of the world. Their newfound peaceful lives are about to be shattered by a mutual foe, bringing them together once again. This is a sequel to my previous story, An Act of Kindness. Slow burn Bela/Ethan, with plenty of violent action and hurt/comfort scenes.

50. The Full Circle

Author's Note:

This will be a VERY large chapter, with many different characters making an appearance.

---

August 1st, 2024

A village in Romania

Ethan kept fiddling with the vast selection of ties for several minutes - it seemed like no matter which tie he tried out, he was just not satisfied with how his reflection looked in the mirror.

After all, today was a special day and he'd hate to appear as if he half-assed it by selecting a sub-optimal tie. It was therefore unfortunate that Ethan and ties were not on a first name basis…

Good thing that the Duke somehow learned about Ethan's predicament and called to inform the groom that his personal collection of ties awaited Ethan's perusal in the trading post overlooking the valley that hosted the Winters family for the last two weeks.

Should I go for a bold look and pick this bright red spotted tie? Or maybe play it safe and wear this gray one? Or else…

"Jesus, Ethan!"

It appeared that his best man was growing impatient with Ethan's tardiness.

Turning around to scoff at him, Ethan was confronted with Chris Redfield's scowling visage. Well-shaved and groomed, the tuxedo-wearing B.O.W. vanquisher was as formidable as he was dashing on this day. Few would assume that he recently turned fifty if they peered at his well-defined musculature or still somewhat youthful facial features.

"It's just a tie!" Chris' lack of patience for what he perceived as trivial things was obvious.

Sensing his own ire rising up for what Ethan took as dismissal of his valid concerns, for a second the groom wanted to accuse Chris of not knowing how it feels like due to never going through the process himself.

Suppressing the urge, Ethan forced his annoyance to dissipate by reminding himself that it was precisely due to his selfless nature Chris never got married despite his age. It would be undue of Ethan to devalue Chris' many struggles, so the groom went with a more simple statement - which was still loaded with the unspoken plea to respect his own feelings on the subject.

"I am getting married today, Chris."

Chris did not respond for a second, but it was clear that the point got across. With a nod, the large man's harsh face notably softened as he allowed himself a rare smile.

"How about this one, then?" Chris pointed towards one tie Ethan had seemingly overlooked and it immediately caught his eye with its black hue and elegant silver rose-patterns.

Trying it out and then adjusting it for a few moments, Ethan let out a satisfied hum. It sat well on him and its pattern was a suitable tribute to both of the most precious people in his life.

The groom gave his overall appearance one last appraising look, before nodding and taking a step away from the mirror. Despite his black suit appearing crisp and flawless, his nerves were still on fire, which was understandable given the situation, however.

Exiting the dressing room so kindly provided by the Duke, Ethan and Chris leisurely walked down the hill towards the village's church where the event was bound to take place. It was still some time before the bride would make her own appearance, so Ethan had some time to gawk around and reflect on yet another twisted turn his life took.

Even as Ethan gazed down the hill and around this sunsoaked valley, he could scarcely believe that one of the most important days of his life would take place here - a year ago he wouldn't have voluntarily set foot here.

But clearly, opinions and feelings change over time - with some encouragement to do so, usually. The encouragement in this case took the grotesquely overweight shape of the Duke, who had appeared in Los Angeles as if out of thin air once Ethan's and Bela's desire to get married became public knowledge.

The obese merchant's following proposition was initially taken by Ethan with a round of laughter, followed by a disbelieving, "are you fucking serious?", followed by yet more laughter at the Duke's firm nod. Confronted with a nearly hysterical response from Ethan, the Duke demonstrated remarkable patience and composure as he explained his point, which Ethan could recall even now with perfect clarity.

"Running from one's past is an unhealthy and ultimately fruitless way of coping with trauma, Mr. Winters. The only way we can truly overcome the ghosts of our past is by facing them - by proving that we are stronger today than we were yesterday. Confront your fears and break the shackles that bind you to your past, Mr. Winters."

Ethan had listened to the passionately-delivered speech with understandable tentativeness, as words alone, no matter how pretty, were not enough to get him to hold his special occasion in that forsaken hellhole - or so he thought, until Bela had unexpectedly taken Duke's side.

"It's not just about us, Ethan. The Duke and Mother have been working so hard at restoring that land to its former splendor - the splendor that I once remembered in a life long lost… I have to do my part to revive that spark that was tainted by Miranda's darkness and our own cruel deeds… and what better way than to host a celebration of life to overcome the legacy of death?"

The passion of her plea was irresistible, as was her earnest gaze. It was not often Bela asked him for something, and despite the dramatic flair of her request Ethan knew that she was not merely performing and had truly meant every word that she had spoken. The homeland of her reborn body meant a lot to her.

Therefore, considering all the pros and cons, Ethan had no choice but to accede to his beloved's wishes. It certainly helped that both Bela and Duke had assured him that the formerly desolate land had undergone extensive restoration efforts and was now more than fit to serve as a location for such a special event as a wedding.

On this sunlit day, Ethan could once again see with his own eyes that they were not exaggerating. From his elevated position near the edge of the valley, the whole rediscovered splendor of this vibrant place was open to his gaze. Indeed, the man struggled to simply connect this glorious vista with his first, malefic impression of it.

True, even years ago when he had first stumbled upon this isolated panorama, wounded and tired, Ethan couldn't help but take a moment to admire the breathtaking sight. But the illusion of a safe haven was shattered swiftly enough by the menacing castle, foreboding ruins and the overall desolate and lifeless appearance of the village itself; that's not even mentioning the inhospitable weather at the time or the overarching scent of death and decay in the air. The evil had been lurking down there - Ethan had known that even before encountering his first lycan.

Today, there was not a single hint of wickedness or malice, no matter how hard Ethan searched for it.

Not a single cloud was spoiling the perfect blue sky overhead, with only the bright warm sun breaking the nigh-seamless heavenly ocean - a rare occasion for the normally gloomy valley. It was not a coincidence that this day in particular was chosen for the event. Pleasant and fair warmth ensured that the cold-averse bride and her siblings could enjoy themselves in thin dresses, while the groom and the male part of the guest-list would find themselves perfectly comfortable even in full dress suits.

To contrast the sky overhead and as far as an eye could see, the seemingly endless sea of green was stretching in every direction. Beautiful, untamed forests and majestic plains took the chance to shine in the heat of summer, finally taking their much-deserved turn from the oppression of snow that dominated this region in other seasons.

Though his eyes could not see them, Ethan knew that the bountiful forests of this fertile land were home to numerous wildlife.

As if to confirm the thought, a flock of migratory birds with white bellies and black wings flew overhead. A solitary, unarguably majestic white-tailed eagle soared far in the distance; the noble bird's-of-prey cry could be heard clearly even from so far away. Nevertheless, it did little to dissuade the singing birds in a nearby underbrush from their melodic chirping. The gentle rustling of leaves and slight creaking of branches all around them completed this most harmonious of nature's symphonies.

A barrier of mountain peaks surrounded the valley on all sides, creating a truly picturesque view one could stare at for hours.

Just like the sights and sounds of nature were a feast for Ethan's eyes and ears respectively, so were the smells for his nose. Fresh mountain air was akin to panacea for a city-dweller like Ethan - a simple lungful of it felt like it extended his lifespan by a year or two. In addition to what the man could only describe as freshness, his nostrils were also pleasantly stimulated by a vast array of flowery scents as various flora all around was in full bloom.

The whole untamed valley was brimming with life and vigor, and today Ethan found it as a testament to nature's unbound beauty.

Of course, nature was not the only force that could be found in this isolated pocket of the world.

In the center of the sea of pines and oaks was a small but thriving human settlement that appeared to be mostly content to coexist with its wild surroundings in relative harmony. A single paved road, that could accommodate two cars driving side by side, connected this village to the newly established trading post up the hill, and from there - the rest of civilization that has all but forgotten about this long-lost corner of the world.

Turning around to steal a glance at Chris' face, Ethan could see mixed feelings in the larger man's eyes as he gazed upon this peculiar settlement that sprouted in the place of one he himself destroyed.

For the Village of Shadows was destroyed in the nuclear detonation caused by Chris. Even though the mini-nuke's yield was quite low and the detonation itself had occurred underground, the brief yet brutal seismic activity that resulted from the explosion was enough to level the vast majority of the old village's ramshackle buildings, leaving nothing but a desolate ruin.

Back then, the sight of destruction that would've left ordinary mortals with nothing but hopelessness, however, did not dissuade the Duke; who appeared hellbent on restoring life to this remote and isolated settlement. Ethan wasn't sure if that was remorse at play from the overweight merchant - perhaps he was determined to repent for the sins he committed as a loyal trader under Miranda's employ. Or maybe it was merely simple human pride and desire for achievement that saw the obese man pouring manpower and resources in a bid to breathe a second life into this village. An irresistible craving to leave one's own mark upon the world.

Regardless of the Duke's motivation, as Ethan and Chris walked down the short road that connected the trading post to the village, they could both appreciate the fruits of his labor.

Where there were once nothing but ramshackle shacks, today were artfully decorated houses built in similar, Eastern European village style. The fresh paint on the lumber used in their construction glinted in the sunlight. Flowers and fruit trees surrounded personal properties, adding the homey feeling to the skillfully crafted constructions. A neat cobblestone road twisted around the village, connecting all the houses into a single, eye-pleasing whole.

No werewolves or cultists inhabited these newly built houses. The unfortunate truth was that all the original denizens of this village were long gone, but that didn't mean that the houses stood empty as some kind of hollow testament to the Duke's hubris.

Instead, the newly restored village became a fresh start for those who were forced to flee their own homes. The reality of their world meant that Eastern Europe was ravaged by bioterror, with not only the terrorists and insane extremists having access to B.O.W.s but also local military and rebels alike. Many villages and even towns in the surrounding countries were wiped off the map by an outbreak or a roving gang of marauding B.O.W.s.

The Duke's established Biohazard Relief Fund sought to aid exactly that kind of people, and with charitable donations from his many colleagues and acquaintances, the Fund proved instrumental in providing safe havens for thousands of the displaced victims of bioterror. This village was one such haven.

Ethan had been surprised to learn from Bela that a particularly big donation to the Fund was made by Alcina herself of all people, who had grown quite rich during their tenure in Cuba by selling most of her trademarked Sanguis Virginis wine to the depraved elite of the world. With the aforementioned stock of wine including thousands of bottles harvested over the long decades under Miranda's employ and considering the outrageous price per bottle that Alcina had set, it was no shock that the countess was filthy rich.

Still, Ethan wouldn't have expected the noblewoman to just give away a sizable part of her wealth for the benefit of the people she didn't even know… Perhaps the countess wished to rid herself of everything that reminded her of her grim past, including the blood money that was distilled from the suffering of her many victims? Again, regardless of her intent, Ethan could only commend her for selecting such a noble course, even if he could not truly forget all the unjust violence committed under her roof. In the end, Alcina's wealth served to feed and shelter a great many displaced victims who had no one else to turn to - perhaps that, at least partially, concealed her own many sins.

This very village, under the foot of her own castle stood as a testament to the Duke's and Alcina humanitarian efforts, as today it was populated by people who had lost everything at the hands of cruel tides of fate that saw fit to plague and demolish their homelands. And while the refugees were somewhat aware of the dark reputation of this valley, they were nevertheless most grateful for this chance to pick up the pieces and restart their lives in a new place - a place they were determined to shape into a true home for themselves.

The celebration that was taking place today saw everyone in high spirits and as Ethan walked down the cobblestone road, the local men, women and even children were all dressed up in the best outfits they had, smiling and waving at him; some even throwing flowers at his feet. It was not everyday their beloved benefactor's beautiful elder daughter was getting married, after all, and Ethan himself somehow managed to enter the newly established local myth as something of a dashing hero that vanquished an evil witch and therefore liberated this region from her dark grasp - to his utter shock. Regardless, it was plain to see that today was a big day for this whole fledgling village and the festivities would not be contained to the site of the wedding itself.

The smells of delicious food and the sounds of celebrations were coming from every household and even out in the street was an occasional merrily dancing pair. Colorful handmade decorations brightened every house and every little street. Whoever could play an instrument seemingly did just that and the joy of this day was palpable in the air. A wild mix of languages and dialects all around him did not manage to disguise the unifying mirth.

A pair of village girls with flower crowns on top of their heads bounded towards Ethan and Chris, multicolored bouquets of gorgeous freshly-picked flowers thrusting forward from their outstretched hands. Ethan smiled gratefully as he accepted the bouquet and even the large captain at his side had his lips split into a gentle smile as he took one in turn. The girls' English was heavily accented, but both men had no trouble understanding the earnest well-wishes sent their way. It was beyond heart-warming for them.

As they continued walking through the celebrating village, Ethan felt no regret for consenting to have his wedding held in this, once hostile and desolate - now brimming with life and happiness village. Just like the Duke and Bela had said - they made a full circle and with their own blood and sweat forged a new destiny for themselves.

Out of the darkness, comes the light, and a place that was once nothing but death and misery was now a festival of life and joy.

In a way, it was a testament to the best humanity had to offer - the perseverance to overcome all the odds and forge out a new path for their children. The strength to weather the tide of evil and greet a brighter tomorrow.

Ethan could only hope that humanity at large would not forget what it was fighting for… sometimes it was all too easy to abandon all benign intentions for short-sighted gains…

Approaching their destination - a small park on the steps to a quaint little church, Ethan allowed his philosophical musings to dissipate for now, as he caught sight of the first guests they had invited upon this majestic day. Before his act as a socialite could begin, Ethan took a moment to admire the marvelous sight of lilies in full bloom, planted all over the park. The richness of their fragrance appeared to be in a contest with the vibrant pink hue of their petals - making for a nearly overwhelming display of natural beauty.

Bela was particularly taken by these gorgeous flowers - Ethan did not need to be a telepath to tell that when they had been on a walk here, a couple of days ago, with Bela expressing her astonishment that lilies could even bloom in this valley, considering how little overall sunlight it received during a typical year. She had then proceeded to locate the gardener responsible, only to talk her ear off by inquiring all about her trade.

Simply thinking about his beloved Bela made Ethan's lips soften into a smile. For now, however, it was time to greet the guests that arrived on this fine sunny day to partake in the celebration that was to come.

Mingling near the church, the guests demonstrated today's semi-formal style in multitude of colors of their dresses, as each tried to underline his or her personal preference. Despite their wedding being of a somewhat traditional catholic type, today was not a day of bleak colors.

"Ethan! You look marvelous!" Unsurprising, it was Daniela who noted their approach first. The keen Dimitrescu was quite gorgeous herself in her long, emerald-green, curve-hugging sequin dress, with her wavy mane of red hair flowing down her slender shoulders freely. Numerous pieces of tasteful jewelry were all over her neck, ears, wrists and fingers, giving the impression that the youngest sibling did her best to dress up for this special day of her beloved sister. A pair of high-heeled closed-toed stiletto shoes were worn on her feet, matching the colors of her dress - as was a cute little bow that was tied to the back of her head.

Momentarily forgetting about the heated conversation she was having with another redhead at her side, Daniela immediately attempted to embrace Ethan in a hug, making the man slightly uncomfortable considering the large bouquet he still held in his hands. "Easy, Red!" Sharing a brief hug, Ethan did not hesitate in placing a quick peck on Daniela's tattooed forehead - making her giggle in mirth - before offering the slightly crumpled bouquet to her.

"For me?!" Daniela's wide eyes betrayed her child-like excitement, and a confirming nod from Ethan made her squeal in joy, even as she made a grab for the flowers. Chuckling himself at her amusing reaction, Ethan had to privately note that Daniela's newfound tan suited her well. Her world-wide tour took a pause so she could attend the wedding, yet the energetic spark in her eyes told Ethan that Daniela's wanderlust was not quite satiated.

Behind Daniela, Ethan caught sight of Tom - the young tall man quite dashing in his light brown tuxedo with a tie that matched the color of Daniela's dress - Ethan smiled as he exchanged a firm handshake with the Duke's right-hand man. Tom was a kind soul who had treated Rose with kindness during their chaotic journey, and was treating Daniela with that same kindness and affection even though it was no longer his job to do so. Ethan was glad for that to be the case - Daniela deserved all the love in the world as far as he was concerned and he was overjoyed to know that she was finally living a life of genuine love and carefree adventure, just like she wanted for so long.

"Having a good time, Claire?" Chris asked his sister as the latter fidgeted with his own dark yellow tie - the one Cassandra had selected for him and the one he wore with some reluctance. Yet he still wore it - a notion that made Ethan grin. Cassandra truly was a force of nature.

"I admit I found this whole thing to be weird as hell at first… but…" Chris' sister was a stunningly beautiful woman herself, Ethan had to admit, even as he listened to her speak. With pony-tail tied hair as red as that of Daniela, and a long maroon dress covering her graceful frame, Claire Redfield was quite a prize for anyone who could manage to win her affection. "... It is really nice here." Claire was understandably laconic as she knew the dark history of this place well, but the overall atmosphere of happiness clearly got to her as well, as she gifted Ethan with a wide, toothy smile, "I wish you a long and happy marriage, Ethan - you deserve it."

Ethan hadn't had too much contact with Claire before, but he knew that woman to be as earnest and selfless as her brother - a truly kind soul. "Thanks, Claire; enjoy yourself today!" He was not surprised that Daniela managed to swiftly build a rapport with her - they shared more than just a hair color.

Exchanging a friendly hug with Claire, Ethan still couldn't help but poke a little fun at that, "I see you got a little redhead club going on here…"

"Hey!" A quick jab with a sharp finger in between his ribs made him immediately regret that, as Daniela passionately proclaimed, "Claire was just telling me about all her travels with Terrasave!" Withdrawing her finger and gaining a dreamy look to her gaze as she clapped her palms together, Daniela continued, with even more passion, "Can you even imagine - traveling the whole wide world - to help people?! Truly, there is no endeavor more noble or worthy than that!"

The youngest Redfield appeared a little shy from such an earnest compliment. Clearing her throat, she meekly tried to bring Daniela down, "It's not as fancy as you might think… most of the time we are down there in the dirt and mud… just trying to pick up broken pieces."

Daniela's spark died down a little as her overacting imagination was confronted with harsh reality, but her curiosity still burned bright and she continued to assault Claire with a barrage of questions, with Tom occasionally inquiring one or two of his own. Terrasave activities were quite similar to what the Duke has been doing lately, after all. Sharing experience could only benefit them all.

"What's this, then?" Haughty, somewhat annoyed voice that could only belong to Cassandra Dimitrescu inevitably refocused the group's attention on the noble scion.

Turning around to face Cassandra, Ethan was not surprised to see that she also remained faithful to that strange fixation with specific colors that the Dimitrescu daughters were known for. Dark gold was naturally the middle sibling's choice, and her today's dress reflected that well. While similar in overall design to Daniela's dress, Cassandra's own one was far less modest and revealed plenty of the brunette's pale skin with its short length and deep v-neck. An occasional piece of silver jewelry with moderate make-up only served to underline the woman's natural beauty - which she was never shy to flaunt.

Little about Cassandra's statuesque figure was left to imagination with its tight fit and any willing observer was free to admire her athletic prowess and feminine grace in equal measures - though her infamously fiery temper and known inclination to punch people that offended her precluded all but the bravest from having their gaze linger on her. Not that Cassandra particularly minded the occasional attention she attracted. While any advances towards her were doomed to fail, Ethan was certain that Cassandra enjoyed that spark of jealousy in Chris' eyes whenever someone tried to approach her.

Unfortunately, today Cassandra's mood must have been soiled by whatever caught her gaze - a bouquet of flowers Chris still carried around, which her amber orbs clearly tried to burn with the intensity they stared at it. A hint of jealousy in her own expression was obvious to Ethan.

Smirking, Chris was swift to demonstrate his adaptable mind, developed over countless conflicts and social contacts alike.

Unflinching, the large man thrust the bouquet forward, offering it to Cassandra, "A bouquet of beautiful flowers fit for a beautiful lady." Concise yet eloquent - let nobody say that Chris Redfield could not be a proper gentleman.

Still frowning, Cassandra accepted the bouquet and steadily her lips started to shift towards that of an arrogant, self-assured smirk, if only for a moment, before adopting their more typical shape - that of a half-smile of contentment. The conversation in the small group slowly resumed, though neither Chris nor Cassandra had eyes for anybody but each other.

Ethan didn't miss the way Chris was eyeing Cassandra's alluring frame or a spark of hunger that flashed in the woman's eyes as her own gaze roamed across the captain's formidable bulk. Neither did Daniela.

"Maybe you two should get a room."

Cassandra didn't miss a beat as she arched her eyebrow at her younger sister, clearly unamused by her suggestive tone, "What, so you could peek at us again? You little voyeuristic pest."

The way Daniela immediately went red in the face at that, only to then attempt to cover her face with her palms in shame was both embarrassing and amusing to Ethan in equal measures. The strange quirks of the youngest Dimitrescu were many, and some of them were more horrifying than others, yet Ethan still felt as if she was his own kin.

Still, the initial shock from embarrassment passed quickly and Daniela suddenly straightened up while curling her fists and stomping her heeled shoe against the paved ground, before exploding in indignity, "I told you I don't do that anymore! Why do you have to bring that up before everybody?! Yesterday was just an accident!"

Utterly unbothered by Daniela's outburst, Cassandra arched one delicate eyebrow, appearing unimpressed, "An accident, huh?"

Daniela fumed and stomped her foot once again, but said nothing, struggling to produce coherent words in her flushed state - instead, Tom suddenly came to her defense by moving to position himself between the two sisters, "We are working on Daniela's issues, but it might be helpful if you'd be supportive rather than accusative towards your own sister, Miss Cassandra."

Appearing amused more than anything else, Cassandra merely scoffed, before waving her hand at the man and opening her crass mouth once again, "Work harder then. I am tired of having our" - she curled her arm around Chris' biceps as she spoke, "private time interrupted by her ceaseless staring every time we come for a visit." A wicked grin split her mouth, as Cassandra considered her next words, "Perhaps you should consider employing your own little man-thing in your next therapy session, Thomas. Might be helpful in weaning off her bad habits, you know."

Before the man - now bright in the face himself - could respond, Daniela shrieked out for half the village to hear, "CRASSANDRA!"

That wiped that arrogant smirk off Cassandra's face, "I told you not to call me that, you little brat!" The bouquet of flowers Chris gave to Cassandra suddenly found its way to the nearby bench.

"Catch me if you can, then, you lumbering oaf!" cackled out Daniela, before peeking her tongue at her sister from behind Tom. Seeing Cassandra's fingers twitching and left eye opening wide while right eye narrowing to a vicious slit, Daniela knew that she had her attention. Howling with laughter as she broke into a sprint away from them, Daniela was not disappointed since Cassandra eagerly followed along, with their mad chase soon resulting in both women discarding their footwear before eventually transcending the limits of human form altogether; the guests' surprise from their childish antics being replaced by shock and awe of their unleashed powers - employed for such an infantile purpose.

Cassandra's and Daniela's human bodies lost shape, becoming swarms of buzzing insects instead - two distinct swarms, in fact. If not for the clothing being partly visible through the fluttering clouds of bugs, the vast majority of sane humans would struggle to tell the two apart, but Ethan actually had a clue as to the identity of the given swarm by its composition and behavior alone.

Much like the predator she was, Cassandra's bugs strived to retain a tightly-packed formation, while lashing out as a single unit. In turn, Daniela's ones were moving far more chaotically and were heavily spread out.

The two swarms clashed against each other in mid-air, seemingly with individual flies engaging each other. The clashes lasted for only a second or two before the entire hive-minded swarms disengaged - as if to catch a breath and regroup - before slamming against each other once more. The cycle kept repeating even as the combatants fruitlessly tried to reposition and flank each other. Despite the seemingly ferocious action taking place, not a single fly dropped dead, implying that neither sister truly sought to harm the other.

The sight of two sentient swarms of flies chasing and clashing against each other was more than a little unusual - especially considering that their dresses and jewelry somehow appeared to follow the bugs along - and even the experienced observers were more than a little surprised to bear witness to this otherworldly display. Those that were not intimately familiar with the Dimitrescu sisters stood slack-jawed as they stared upon this unique - perhaps once in a lifetime - show. Not everyday one could bear witness to a chimeric half-human, half-colonies of fly mutants engage in a mock fight, after all. Though some apparently were more interested in a more mundane aspect of this performance - a male guest Ethan was not familiar with had his wide-open eyes unerringly follow a piece of dark lingerie that would occasionally reveal itself through the swarm of bugs.

For Ethan himself none of this was particularly new, however, as on a few occasions the daughters met under peaceful circumstances with him there to bear witness, this peculiar pattern kept repeating, in one way or the other.

Cassandra would try to shame Daniela, with Daniela retaliating by insulting Cassandra. After some verbal back-and-forth, they would proceed to chase one another in their swarm forms. Even without Bela telling him so plainly, Ethan had suspected that this playful display was a way for the sisters to both unwind and express the love they felt for one another in a particularly twisted way.

Was that whole performance immature - most definitely yes. Yet normally Ethan wouldn't try to stop it, since not only nobody was going to get harmed, but he genuinely enjoyed watching Cassandra and Daniela have fun in their own weird way. Likewise, Ethan could see that Chris also shared his opinion on the subject, if a slight smile tugging at his lips was any indication.

Curiously, Ethan had to mentally note that while both Daniela and Cassandra showed little restraint in using their swarmforms and would often do that both for entertainment as well as for convenience, Ethan struggled to recall the last time he saw Bela call upon her birthright. It definitely felt like it has been months since Ethan saw Bela as anything but fully human. Ethan felt like he should probably express curiosity about that to the woman in question herself, at some later point.

Today, however, this particular shape shifting spectacle did feel a little more out of place than usual. The wedding ceremony itself would start soon and Ethan would hate for the girls to make a mess.

Before he could attempt to yell for the sisters to get back down, Ethan noted a pair of familiar forms approaching the church.

Still sporting his silly hat and a pair of shades, in strolled one known as Karl Heisenberg. Dressed for the occasion, the man looked quite good in his fashionable brown vest and a pristine white shirt with short sleeves. A black tie was peeking out from one of his pants' pockets and a pair of clearly expensive leather shoes demonstrated that the Lord of Metal didn't skimp on his footwear.

At Heisenberg's side was his long-lost daughter, Millicent Stout, or just Millie as she liked to be called. The young woman had a metal gray long dress on, which seemingly perfectly matched the color of her eyes. Out of all the women here so far, only Millie seemed to eschew high heels for the occasion, instead wearing simple flat shoes. That was likely not a simple preference in taste, however, Ethan suspected.

Truthfully, he didn't expect her to show up at all, as he was quite aware of the ordeal the poor woman underwent after the showdown in France. Her timely intervention and dedication to her duty helped save the day back then, but it did come at a price.

Even Karl could lose consciousness if he pushed himself hard enough with his unnatural powers, and Millie had it even worse, as the electromagnetic organ she was born with was underdeveloped and malformed. The strain on her whole body back then was colossal to the point where she fell into a coma soon after saving her father. A coma her own body could not escape by itself.

The underdeveloped organ, pushed to the brink of death, did its best to persevere, even if it meant inhibiting its host's other vital functions, such as a sufficient blood flow to the brain. The doctors who oversaw Millie found themselves unable to resuscitate the young woman from her drained state or stabilize the unnatural organ she was born with, not with things being as they were.

A decision was reached - with Karl giving his assent - to have the organ surgically removed. Due to the fact that none of the surgeons had any experience with something that clearly had no business being in a human's body in the first place, the surgery was long and arduous, with its ultimate result being uncertain.

In the tense week that followed, Karl rarely left Millie's bedside, even eating and sleeping right there in the hospital room with his daughter.

Thankfully, on the 8th day after the surgery, Millie woke up. While she was diagnosed with minor brain damage, none of her mental faculties were impaired, and the majority of her memory was left intact - with overjoyed Karl eagerly filling the blanks. Naturally, Millie would never again be able to perform her feats of ferrokinetics, and it would be a while before she could walk again, but she was alive and reunited with her family - and that had been enough for both of them.

Even today, months after her discharge from the hospital, Ethan could clearly see that the young woman moved slowly, carefully considering every single step before committing to it, but the expression of pure joy on her face implied that she found her physical limitations to be of secondary concern.

Eagerly approaching them, Ethan did not hesitate in giving Millie a brief yet warm hug before exchanging a solid handshake with Karl, "Millie. Heisenberg. Looking good today, you guys. Glad you made it."

Millie smiled at Ethan, "Ethan, you don't even know how glad I am to be here… thank you…" Slightly blushing at the unexpected tenderness of her voice, Ethan could only nod. Millie smiled again, before slowly walking towards Tom, who in turn hurried to embrace his sister-like figure in a warm yet careful embrace of his own. Both of them then proceeded to continue watching the show put up by the younger Dimitrescu siblings above them.

"Winters. " The scruffy lord smirked at Ethan, before focusing his attention on the buzzing swarms overhead - something that Millie stared at with obvious fascination in her silver eyes.

"And here they are at it again…" muttered Karl, before dramatically raising his hands overhead. "Bothersome flies, trying to ruin my favorite niece's special day…"

Somehow Ethan thought that it was Cassandra that was Heisenberg's favorite niece, but maybe the Lord of Metal loved them all equally, with favorites changing from day to day.

"Normally, it takes their mother to get them down, but just for today, I think I'll fill in my sister's shoes, seeing as how she is absent for now. Someone has to stop them from making a real mess." Karl cleared his throat, put his hands at his sides and breathed in a lungful of air, before shouting loud enough for half the village to hear.

"CASSANDRA! DANIELA! STOP THIS NONSENSE AT ONCE AND GET DOWN HERE THIS VERY INSTANT YOUNG LADIES!"

Ethan had to note that Karl sounded exactly like Alcina in this moment. The groom was still surprised that the sentient swarms of flies obeyed him as swiftly and soundly as they would their own mother by immediately fluttering down and coalescing into two young women… two breathless young women covered in sweat and with their expensive dresses crumpled and stained by dirt. Ethan couldn't resist letting out an exasperated sigh, that, nevertheless hinted more at his affections towards the due than anything else. Some things never change…

"She started it, Uncle!" Even the formidable and fearsome Cassandra Dimitrescu seemed to shrink under Karl's withering glare.

"No - she did!" Daniela looked aghast at the accusation that she started this mess. She totally didn't!

Karl just let out a tired sigh of his own, though the amusement that was glinting behind his shades spoke volumes about what he really thought on the matter.

"You know what your mother would say." Karl visibly cringed as he imitated the matriarch's voice, "This behavior is unbecoming of a lady of House Dimitrescu!" the man continued in a normal tone, though the one that held an air of finality, "Make up and go get proper right now - you're not going to show up to your elder sister's wedding looking like that, will you?"

Thoroughly admonished, both sisters shook their heads in a negative, before responding in unison, "No, Uncle…"

In a ritual that was all too familiar - yet still incredibly heartwarming - Cassandra took Daniela into a tight embrace, before muttering, "I do love you, Dani… though you're a deviant and a doofus."

Daniela snorted, but returned the hug with the same impressive amount of affection, "And I love you, Cassi, though you are mean and crass."

Both sisters giggled amicably, and after recovering their footwear, went hand-in-hand back towards their castle, presumably to clean themselves up after their playfight. Their carefree attitude towards life, as well as their genuine affection towards each other evoked nothing but positive emotions in Chris and Ethan alike; the men could only exchange warm smiles at the display. These strange bug-mutants truly became precious for both the hardened survivor as well as the former B.S.A.A. captain, and the sight of them having such simple - simple for them, that is - fun, without anyone getting hurt was truly priceless.

"They are definitely a strange lot…" offered Claire, with a number of nods from those around her showing that her notion found wide support among the assembled faces.

"Indeed… but after all the long decades they had been stuck in their castle, I think it's a testament to their mental fortitude that they have not gone completely and irrevocably insane," Karl mumbled in a contemplative way, though not without a hint of pride in his nieces. He loved these strange girls dearly, and that showed. They were a family of freaks… but Ethan felt like the emphasis should be on 'family'.

"I am impressed at how well you were able to handle Cassandra of all people, Heisenberg," noted Chris while folding his arms. The Lord merely smirked, before tipping his hat and responding in a particularly teasing voice.

"Ah, Redfield, I am sure you've figured out by now that our fierce little fly tends to respond more favorably to…ahm… certain methods."

Chris clearly got what he meant since a slight blush managed to visit even that formidable soldier's face; Ethan's curiosity got piqued, yet he refrained from asking for clarification for modesty's sake.

"Seems like we just missed quite a show - a shame!" A new voice announced the arrival of a new group of guests, who had likely made their way into this isolated valley together.

Even though Ethan had invited them himself, he was still honestly surprised to actually see these rather important people make a personal appearance today. It was not a short flight to the middle of nowhere in Romania, with the nearest airfield being almost a hundred miles away to boot.

In the lead, dressed in a sleek dark blue suit, was Leon Kennedy - a big shot in Washington these days. To think that a newly-minted National Security Advisor of the United States of America could carve out enough time out of his undoubtedly busy schedule to visit them here was mind-boggling.

Next to Leon ambled the humongous form of the moldy gang's biggest benefactor himself. Dressed in an immaculate ivory suit that was designed specifically for his unusual proportions, the Duke was all smiles as he gazed around at the fruits of his labors. He clearly liked what he was seeing. In turn, Ethan could only gape as despite his peculiar, lumbering gait, the Duke was somehow easily capable of keeping up with Leon's brisk pace. It's like the very laws of physics slackened their hold on reality whenever this enigmatic merchant was present… Regardless of his somewhat humorous appearance, however, Ethan knew Duke to be a highly-influential figure, with a finger in seemingly every pie and an international network of contacts at his disposal.

At the Duke's side were two more people, one of which Ethan knew well.

Dion Wilson, in a simple but tidy black tuxedo - probably the most formal out of the guests so far; an outfit that clashed with his vibrant personality, yet the one that made him look formidable while remaining approachable. An easy smile decorated his handsome face, showing that the man still retained that spark of life that he was known for.

It was no coincidence that Dion arrived with the Duke. While the former Hound Wolf operative was proud of the part he had played in shaking up the established corrupt world order, he had fought enough for the sake of others. Nobody blamed or questioned the man when he had decided to resign from the B.S.A.A… but a veteran with his kind of experience is a rare commodity - the Duke was swift in offering the operative a position as the security chief for his own many operations.

Dion accepted the offer just as swiftly, though perhaps not entirely because of its tempting salary or many benefits associated with working with the Duke. As strange as it may sound, the biggest deciding factor for Dion was the proximity this position offered to the one his heart ached for - quite literally even, for a while.

Anna Smirnova had also moved up in the ranks after the incredible ordeal she had suffered as a puppet of Paxton Fettel. The Duke, instead of harboring malice for the one who had sunk his beloved yacht, showed incredible empathy by personally attending her recovery and eventually promoting the resilient young woman to a position of his personal assistant.

But even the Duke's generosity and forgiveness was not nearly as shocking as an astonishing romance that somehow managed to bloom between Anna and Dion. Back then in that France showdown, Fettel had wanted to go straight for the heart as he wielded Anna like a tool, yet the woman focused her every being into making sure that the strike would not have been a fatal one for the man who had treated her with nothing but kindness. Anna might have therefore missed his heart with her knife… only to then pierce it with that strange emotion that apparently could bloom in every conceivable situation.

No less miraculous was the fact that Anna managed to preserve the child she bore throughout all of that mess, a child belonging to a long-deceased lover of hers that perished on shores of Mauritania. Dion swore that he would love young Alexei as if he was his own. This was a twisted fairy-tale love story if Ethan ever heard one, though he was not the one to judge, considering his own imminent wedding to a certain vampiric bug-lady.

Ethan was actually looking forward to meeting both Anna and Alexei, though unfortunately but understandably, the woman chose to remain at home with her newborn baby boy, with only Dion representing their strange little family at the wedding here.

The second person that was eagerly chit-chatting both Leon and the Duke was unfamiliar to Ethan, however.

It was a striking woman in a crimson dress with a daring thigh slit. The ease with which she moved in her black stiletto shoes underlined the incredible grace that was exuded by her feminine figure. Her Asian features were delicate, yet there was an unmistakable sense of danger in her eyes. Somehow, her whole frame reminded Ethan of a coiled spring; a deadly weapon that could be unleashed in an instant. Despite her breath-stealing beauty, this was not a woman to be trifled with, Ethan could tell that much from just a glance.

That particular observation was supported by the fact that the woman appeared to be on equal footing with both Leon and Duke - Ethan wasn't exactly sure who claimed seniority in their little elite club, but it was obvious that none of them saw her as the lesser of the influential trio.

Seeing his gaze linger at her, the woman promptly marched towards Ethan, while giving him a slight smirk, as if she was on something he was not.

"And you must be the groom… the bride is a lucky one indeed!" The gorgeous woman offered Ethan the top of her hand for the traditional greeting. In turn, Ethan placed a small peck on her delicate hand and before he could inquire about who exactly she was, the woman beat him to the punch.

"I am Leon's friend - Ada Wong. A pleasure to finally meet you, Ethan Winters. I've heard a lot about you, you know!"

"Only good things, I hope," Ethan responded before smiling - Ada's charisma was undeniable and he already wanted to become friends with her. Purely platonic, of course.

Ada curled her blood-red lip as she pondered, before giving a slight nod and a smile, "Indeed… your affinity for flies was quite unexpected, yet it served us all well in the long run. More people than you know are grateful to you for your many deeds, Mr. Winters - maybe one day you'll make use of their gratitude, hmm?"

As she talked, Ada moved even closer to Ethan, until her ruby lips were all but pressing to Ethan's left ear, "by the way, keep this between us, but your former wife wanted to pass her own well-wishes."

Ethan's blood chilled in his veins at her whispered words. He wouldn't be too shocked if Ada stabbed him in the heart right now, after she had mentioned Mia.

Perhaps figuring out his thought process, Ada swiftly amended her previous sentence, "Mia had moved on and she is content that so did you. She only hopes that you will take good care of your mutual child and don't let her forget who her real mother is."

"The hell are you whispering to him, Ada? Leave the poor man out of your goddamn intrigues!" Leon's voice was filled with annoyance and upon hearing it, Ada quickly relented by pulling pack and shrugging her petite shoulders, with Ethan momentarily stunned speechless by her unexpected confession.

"Just delivering my best wishes in private, Rookie."

Leon clearly didn't appreciate that nickname, though he refrained from commenting beyond grumbling under his breath; instead he approached Ethan for a handshake and a greeting, followed by Dion and finally the Duke.

As he exchanged pleasantries with the men, Ethan pondered on the mysterious message delivered by Ada. Apparently, not only Mia was alive and in good health, but also had supposedly moved on from their relationship and bore no ill-will towards Ethan. If that was the truth - and he had no idea how Ada even knew Mia, much less if she was truthful about the whole thing - that was a very good thing, as Ethan likewise didn't bear any ill will towards Mia herself. Still, the last part of the message somehow made Ethan feel like Mia would eventually resurface in his life, if only to visit Rose. Surprisingly, the protective father didn't feel too opposed to that notion.

Shaking off musings about Mia, Ethan concluded the pleasantries by stating, "I really didn't expect you guys to actually come here in person!"

The Duke made a face at that, "Why, you wound me with such words, Mr. Winters! I would not miss this marvelous occasion for the world itself! History is made today, mark my words."

The humongous merchant was as dramatic as always, making Leon chuckle before adding his own two cents, "While I might not go as far as our friend Duke, I have to say that today is a monumental occasion, and I'd say that my duties for the U.S. are being met by being here today."

"This wedding is a powerful symbol, a sign that the world is ready to move on, in a way," mysteriously added Ada, while smirking at Ethan, "many interested parties are watching how it unfolds with great curiosity and greater still hopes."

"Eh, don't listen to her gibberish, Ethan." Leon waved Ada off before seemingly losing interest in the current company - with the next focus of his attention being a certain redheaded sister that had no direct relationship to the Dimitrescu family. "Hey, Claire!"

"Hey, Leon…" responded Claire, seemingly genuinely happy to see the man. Ethan took a moment to glance at those around and was surprised to see that seemingly perpetual smirk wiped off Ada's face as she narrowed her eyes at Claire. In turn, Chris appeared to want to burn a hole in Ada's back as he glared at her. There was probably some bad blood between them…

If that was the case, however, none of the parties involved made the first unfriendly move, with Chris eventually being distracted by Dion entering a conversation with his old captain; while Ada returned to the Duke's side to discuss something in hushed tones, with Millie and Tom eventually joining their patron and his acquaintance.

With the current guests separating themselves into familiar groups, Ethan was free to greet the newest pair of arrivals - someone he hadn't seen for a while, yet someone he was eminently happy to behold on this special day.

"Zoe, Joe! I am so glad you've actually made it here!"

Zoe and Joe Baker lived their own semi-normal lives lately, only occasionally getting into trouble with authorities due to their overly-snoopy attitude. While Ethan remained in some contact with Zoe due to their shared journey across Dulvey's nightmare - and since they genuinely liked each other as friends - he didn't share the news about Eveline's resurgence with her. And now, with Eveline's apparent demise, there was no need to.

That particular thought suddenly made Ethan tear up as a spike of grief shot through his heart. There were many amazing people present here today: loyal friends, stalwart companions and reliable comrades… yet one face was missing.

Eveline

The girl who was turned into an unwitting monster, only to later become their beacon of hope, to ultimately sacrifice herself for the greater good - for her family; for the world that turned its back on her.

"Oh, wow, I didn't expect you to be that happy to see us, Ethan." Zoe clearly noticed the wetness glinting in Ethan's eyes, though it was unlikely that she managed to divine their true origin.

Today was a celebration for the living, but that didn't mean they would forget the ones that were gone from their lives. For as long as he would live, Ethan was resolved to remember Eveline; by honoring her memory, she would continue to exist through him.

With that thought giving him a measure of solace and allowing him to overpower the sudden onset of grief, Ethan brushed the wetness away from his eyes and returned to the present - just in time, as Joe Baker appeared concerned for his lapse in attention, "Are you alright, son?"

"Guess my nerves are starting to get to me, heh," Ethan tried to play it off, without revealing too much. Despite his newfound affection for Eveline, he knew that she had taken everything from these people. They would probably react with outrage if Ethan suddenly spurted out that Eveline had been inhabiting his body all along.

Forcing himself to return to here and now, Ethan decided to once again focus his attention on his guests. Good old Joe had a well-worn yet clearly cared for suit on, which was presumably a black one once upon a time, though now it was more of a dark gray one.

Zoe, however, had a very pretty yet modest teal gown on her slender body; a gentle touch of make up on her face, a moderate amount of tasteful silver jewelry and her long dark locks running down her bared shoulder revealed something Ethan could not truly catch during his time in Dulvey - Zoe Baker was quite a beautiful woman in her own right.

As she smiled at him - a genuine smile of a true friendship - Ethan briefly contemplated where his life would have taken him if he had made a different choice in that unforgiving swamp, so many years ago.

Zoe, instead of Mia.

Would they all have survived then? Would Zoe end up with Ethan? Would they have a child together?

At that last thought Ethan made a mental dead stop. Even merely contemplating having a different child than Rose was wrong on so many levels the man momentarily felt repulsed by his own thoughts.

What happened, happened.

"So where is little Rose? I've been dying to meet your little angel in person…" Zoe's soft voice allowed Ethan to focus on the present. Pointing a hand towards the castle looming overhead, the proud father responded without missing a beat.

"She is with Bela and Alcina in the castle."

Joe whistled at that. The wealth on display here must have been truly overwhelming for a man who had been a simple swarm hermit for such a long time. In turn, Zoe merely nodded, appearing uncertain about something.

If Ethan had to guess, he'd assume that she must have been at a loss for words for the ease with which he would trust his own flesh and blood to what she knew to be dangerous creatures - even if he was about to marry one of them. That made sense - even if she was not aware of the true scale of atrocities committed by the Dimitrescu family - like most present here today - she knew that they were a product of callous biogenetic research - monsters, or victims, depending on one's point of view.

Exchanging some small talk, Ethan proceeded to better introduce Joe and Zoe to Chris, who then started to ask some earnest questions from the Dulvey survivors. It was obvious that even the battle-hardened veteran like Chris had eminent respect for the duo.

Momentarily free and by himself, Ethan felt a bit overwhelmed by all the colorful personalities he had already encountered today. Judging that a moment of peace and quiet was exactly what he needed to get back in the loop, Ethan decided to get just that by silently moving through the small park-like space they all occupied right now and into the quaint little church itself.

Much like the rest of the village, the church was a rather recent construction, with paint still wet in some places.

In a peculiar twist, despite the majority of Romania adhering to Eastern Orthodox church, this particular temple of God was anointed to represent a little known independent Catholic denomination that originated in the Transylvania region - something that Alcina's family apparently was devout followers of, before the tragedy that left them all dead and Alcina herself in Miranda's care.

The overall style of this quaint church and the accompanying decorations conformed to that origin, though without any overbearing fanaticism, creating a place that was both fit for worship as well as for quiet meditations, or even simply to just lay back and relax for a moment.

The slightly stale air inside the church was a welcome change from the incredible fresh mountain air outside - which could be overwhelming for a city dweller such as himself. The church's simple yet beautiful ornamentation conveyed a sense of solace and tranquility - this little place truly felt like a quiet haven.

Sitting on the backmost pew, Ethan let out a small sigh, a bit overwhelmed from all the colorful personalities. While he would not consider himself a truly introverted person, he was not a shining extrovert by any means and such large gatherings felt a bit draining, even if he did greatly enjoy seeing all these people attending the event.

The sweet and pleasant smell of the fresh maple the pews under and around him were made of, as well as the scented candle wax put the man fully at ease, allowing him to reminisce a little bit.

He missed his own family. His own loving mother, so cruelly taken by cancer when he was still just a boy. His stern but caring father, lost in a random car accident when Ethan just reached his own adulthood.

Ethan wondered if his parents would've looked upon his union with Bela with pride or scorn today. Would've they understood the love they felt for each other, or merely judge him crazy for falling for a murderous vampiric bioweapon? Both of them were rather open-minded, so Ethan hoped for the former, even if he could never truly know the real answer.

Likewise, there were no other close relatives Ethan still had in this world. Their family was always a small one, and him being a single child, he never knew the joy of having a sibling.

If not for the ties he had made, Ethan Winters would've been all alone in this cold world; an unbearable thought to bear.

Straightening up in his seat as he finished reminiscence, Ethan finally realized that he was not alone in the church.

On the very front pew, a trio of figures sat as they conversed in hushed whispers, seemingly unaware of his presence.

Peering at them closer, Ethan could easily recognize the tall and broad frame of the priest that would be holding the ceremony that was dawning ever closer with each passing moment.

Father Grigori was a peculiar man that made a poor first impression on Ethan. Always carrying around a customized rifle; bombastic and eager to misquote the Bible, he didn't appear too suited to preside over a quaint little church like this, much less officiate a wedding ceremony.

Yet as Ethan learned more about the priest and as he talked with the man himself, Ethan realized that his first impression couldn't be further from the truth. The priest's story left Ethan speechless by once again confirming that Ethan's own tragic encounters were not exactly unique. Many others had suffered through similar enough events, as well.

The conflict that ravaged Edonia in 2010-2012 had a vast and lasting impact on the whole region, including the surrounding countries. Both the rebels and the government forces during the struggle demonstrated horrifying disregard for civilian casualties as they resorted to extreme measures to get the upper hand. Moreover, as it later turned out, the rebels were not the only faction that employed bio-organic weapons.

The Connections and their ilk were only too happy to oblige both sides by eagerly peddling exotic and unstable B.O.W.s to whoever could afford to pay for it.

As a result, the conflict was vicious beyond words. Whole settlements were wiped off the map; entire regions became desolate wastelands.

Father Grigori hailed from one such place. A town that was once known as Gavrangrad - something to do with ravens, if Ethan recalled Bela's translation correctly - the place was turned into a zombie-infested hellhole by an experimental B.O.W. that broke out of its containment during transportation and which then proceeded to swiftly and efficiency zombify the local populace by producing some kind of rapidly-multiplying parasites that attached themselves to the victims' craniums.

With Gavrangrad being a simple mining town far out in the boondocks with no real significance, it was left to its own unenviable fate as the conflict raged across the country. Even when B.S.A.A. came to clean up the mess, Gavrangrad was among the last places they cleansed from the viral infection. By the time they got there, there was little left but infection.

Father Grigori was the only survivor from a town that once supported thousands of households. Instead of trying to escape the doomed town, Grigori had been resolute in holding his ground until the very last member of his corrupted congregation was put to rest. He performed the final rites with fire, steel and a generous amount of buckshot.

All alone and surrounded by nothing but death and zombies, the priest somehow managed to persevere in the face of overwhelming odds. Even though it took the B.S.A.A. reinforcements to finally cleanse the town, Father Grigori's wish has been granted and he felt like his duty to his God was fulfilled, allowing him to move on.

Therefore, it was all too fitting that the good Father found this new settlement, for those lost in the world; for those craving a second chance. Even with his oddities and quirks, and, if Ethan was being honest, probably a tenuous grasp on sanity, Father Grigori was most welcome in this village of outcasts and survivors.

That's not even mentioning that very few priests would agree to marry Ethan and Bela if they knew their true origins, and neither felt like deceiving men of cloth by pretending to be normal humans; lies and pretense would not be a good start to their union. Father Grigori had accepted them both for what they were - a moldy freak that was barely human and a colony of sentient flies that could shapeshift into a woman. In his eyes, they were children of God, just like anybody else.

As Ethan continued to peer at the backs of Father Grigori and the two people that shared a pew with him, recognition about the identities of them started to dawn on him. A man with a hunched back. A woman in a veil.

Bela did mention that her other relatives might attend the wedding, as well. When Ethan had expressed curiosity at that notion, she just smiled and told him to, "wait and see."

He saw them now, alright, just when he saw them more than three years ago. Two Lords, from whom he had recovered two pieces of his beloved Rose - two freaks of nature he could've chosen to slay, but did not.

Donna Beneviento and Salvatore Moreau were here now, where they belonged.

It wouldn't have been unreasonable for Ethan to feel anger or disgust at seeing two more of Miranda's once loyal lapdogs sharing this special occasion with him. Instead of it, however, Ethan felt compassion for the two former Lords as they quietly spoke to the priest. That lenient attitude was born from the many conversations he had shared with Bela in the months of their relationship. The eldest Dimitrescu daughter explained much about the origins of those that would be known as Lords in the valley of the Cult of the Black God. None of them asked for the 'gift' Miranda so generously bestowed upon her hapless flock. Even Alcina - the First Lord - had to be pushed to the point of utter despair to accept Miranda's offer of immortality and great powers; the other three were never even given a choice.

Not moving from his spot but edging his upper body slightly forward in a bid to catch a hint of what the trio was talking about, Ethan struggled to hear a word.

Donna spoke in an incredibly soft voice, barely above whisper and Ethan imagined that it would not be easy to decipher her words even in immediate proximity, much less on the opposite side of the church. By comparison, Moreau was far less subtle.

"I still see them, Father. Every time I close my eyes, I see them. They are begging me to stop, but I don't. I can't. Their transformation would please Mother. But I fail. Always fail. All the deaths were for nothing."

Moreau's voice was quivering; his whole frame shaking.

Nodding as he had heard them both, Father Grigori suddenly stood up from his spot next to Donna, only to unceremoniously plop down in between the two Lords while putting a hand around each one's respective shoulder. This priest clearly had little in common with the ordinary members of the church. Ethan leaned even closer while allowing his fingernails to rest on the back of a pew in front of him.

"My brother and my sister: your deeds are sinful indeed; your hearts full of wickedness. Oh, merciless ones, you have caused great affliction without a righteous cause!"

Ethan frowned. While Father Grigori was technically correct, his judgment still felt crushingly harsh. However, the boisterous priest clearly wasn't done yet, so Ethan remained in his seat.

Grigori's voice was loud now, no longer meant just for the two Lords next to him, but for any who would listen. He suddenly shot to his feet and faced the large cross behind the church's podium, while raising his hands above his head in a dramatic fashion of one who sought to exult his God.

"Woe to all, for our dwelling place is distant, and we wander through the domiciles of Chaos."

"I have been laid down in a pit of darknesses and the shadow of death. And thy anger has pressed down upon me; and all thy cares have come down upon me. And from this bed I cry out for the kindling of thy Light!"

Ethan scowled. This sounded more like generic ramblings than a proper response to what felt like a confession from the two sinners that sought redemption. Perhaps seeking it from a half-crazed man was a mistake - but not as big as having him officiate his and Bela's wedding.

"Turn not thy face away from me; incline thy ear and hear me when I shall cry to thee in my affliction!"

Finishing his ranting monologue, Grigori swiftly turned on the heels of his boots to behold his congregation - his eyes glinted in the half-darkness of the church as they briefly connected with Ethan's.

Ignoring the groom, Grigori focused his wide-eyed gaze on Moreau and Donna. Instead of containing yet more of his boisterous ramblings, his next words had remarkably more clarity to them, as well as a crushing sense of quiet finality. There was no mistaking the recipient this time.

"In his infinite benevolence, the Lord has seen fit to extend your stay on this sinful earth. There is no further salvation to be gained but the one you wrought with your own two hands."

No salvation but the one you make with your own hands - that sounded like something Ethan could relate to, especially after all the tribulations of his life. The groom smiled; somehow that last sentence was enough to reassure Ethan that the priest could be trusted to perform the ceremony.

As his thoughts lingered on that particular matter, Ethan found it curious that it was Alcina who suggested having the wedding ceremony performed in a traditional church fashion. Perhaps, after her anathema of existence as a loyal, high-ranking member of the Cult of the Black God Alcina sought to go back to her roots and Christianity offered just that. Moreover, judging by Moreau's and Donna's current activity, it was apparent that they shared that particular longing as well.

Ethan himself was never a particularly devout follower of faith, despite being baptized as a baby by his somewhat more pious parents. Furthermore, after all the crazy shit he had seen in the last several years, he had a really hard time imagining that there was a benevolent old man up there in the clouds, watching his creations like a proud father would. Surely he would not have permitted the terror and chaos to permeate his world, if that was the case…

If there was a higher power up there, Ethan was certain that it was cold and indifferent to the immeasurable suffering taking place down below.

Even with that thought in mind, however, Ethan was not going to go and dismiss other people's convictions or mock their faith. He was not conceited enough to presume that he truly understood how this world works, instead, he knew that he barely had a clue of what was going behind the scenes - his mind-boggling confrontation with Fettel and Alma taught him that much. In the grand scheme of cosmos, all of them were but motes of dust, no matter how hard they tried to change that fact. Faith tried to fill the void of knowledge, for good or evil.

All throughout the ages and ever since its inception, religion - in all of its myriad of forms - gathered the disorderly masses into a single whole, unified by a common cause and tied together by imposed solidarity.

With the wider world dark and full of terrors, faith was an essential pillar that offered comfort of knowledge that the fate was preordained, and all the people had to do to gain salvation was to follow along the beaten path.

Even in this day and age, faith in the higher power promised a certain sense of normalcy; of belonging to something greater than oneself. It was not an inconceivable development for the former Lords of this valley to seek to return to whence they came from. Of course, repenting for one's sins was a different story altogether, but simply desiring to do so was a step in the right direction, at least as far as Ethan was concerned.

It certainly helped that most of their victims were either long dead and gone; with the ones still around having actually forgiven them, such as Ethan and Rose.

That said, while Rose was simply too young to remember the atrocity committed against her, Ethan wasn't, so it would be a bit of a stretch to claim that he had completely moved past their transgressions against his family - perhaps not even time could fully heal the scar left behind. Still, today was definitely not a day to hold petty grudges, not when the actual mastermind was brought to justice and the powerless underlings left behind so desperately wanted to move on.

Putting an end to Ethan's conundrum, Karl Heisenberg strolled into the church; his bombastic presence immediately spoiling its pristine aura of peace and quiet. Acknowledging Ethan with a nod, Karl cleared his throat before loudly announcing his presence, "There you are, clowns. Come out of your hiding hole - some people are dying to meet you, after all - even though I was kind enough to inform them that neither of you are of any interest whatsoever!" Despite his callous words, Ethan could detect no hints of malice in Heisenberg's tone.

Like an obedient hound, Salvatore leapt to his feet, bowed deeply before the priest while blabbering out both apologies and gratitude. Not wasting a further moment, the hunchbacked mutant rushed to obey the Lord of Metal. Clearly, even years after Miranda's demise, Moreau didn't dare to question the established hierarchy they had for so many decades.

In comparison, Donna was far more reserved, standing up slowly and with dignity. Like her brother, she also expressed gratitude to Father Grigori, though in her typical hushed tone. The clicking of her heels against the stone floor of the church was steady and methodical - every single movement the veiled woman made was carefully calculated.

For just a second, Salvatore's and Ethan's gazes connected, and the latter could swear that an ocean of regret was open to his gaze, if only for a moment. As they passed Ethan on their way to Karl, both former Lords shied away from the groom, as if shame and guilt of their actions still gnawed at their souls, making them unable to look him in the eyes. Or maybe Ethan was simply looking too much into it and they were just resentful of the way he had bested them back then - somehow Ethan chose to see the best in people these days, however.

Without being able to peer in the eyes of the Lords who had once so severely wronged both himself and his beloved daughter, Ethan had to satisfy himself by cursorily examining their outfits for today.

Donna Benievento had a simple dress on, not unlike the funeral garb she wore during that fateful day when Ethan confronted her in her own manor. The one notable difference was the coloration of the outfit - the woman had discarded her grim black from a more neutral gray. Black shoes with a low heel adorned her feet while slim white gloves covered her hands - the only skin Ethan could see was the one that hid behind her closed veil.

The hideous disfigurement still dominated the right side of her face, though - while hard to fully see behind her obscuring veil - it appeared to Ethan that it had reduced in both severity and volume over the years.

Likewise, Moreau Salvatore seemed to dress up for today, as he sported a very tidy gray tuxedo, with a decorative red rose attached to his left breast pocket, as well as a peculiar red spotted bow tie. The very sight of the repulsive swamp mutant having such a neat outfit left Ethan speechless, though he was not blind to the fact that Moreau's physical appearance changed just like his clothes did, since the last time he saw him.

Clearly, the years had been kind to what was once a hunch-backed creature that would struggle to pass for a human even in a dense crowd. Somehow, his hunched back was remarkably less noticeable - especially while standing; the fish-like scales around his arms seemed to vanish altogether, leaving behind patches of pale skin; with his face also adopting a more human-like proportions. In fact, the only feature that betrayed his inhuman origin was his pair of bulging eyes that were somewhat larger than what you'd expect an ordinary human to have.

The duo passed Ethan's pew without incident, though at one point Ethan was sure that Salvatore would stop and exclaim something - only Donna's intervening hand caused the submissive Lord to abstain from doing so. "Not now…" The woman's whisper was barely heard by Ethan, and it left the situation ambiguous.

With the former lords departing, the church returned to its peaceful and quiet state. Ethan remained seated in the back pew, pondering about the unresolved situation. It was clear that Donna and Salvatore wanted to have a word with Ethan - and from the pleading look that he managed to catch in Moreau's gaze, Ethan could assume that the former Lord was about ready to fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness. It's a good thing he was stopped by Donna - today was not a day for such dramatics; they will have plenty of time in the future to settle their differences and grudges in the future - hopefully.

Standing up from his pew, Ethan couldn't help but glance towards the church only other remaining occupant.

Father Grigori stood right below the podium; his back turned towards Ethan and reflections of candlelight dancing on his bald head. The priest did not move a muscle as he appeared to be in some kind of contemplative mood, so not wanting to disturb him, Ethan started to quietly make his way out of the church.

"You've done well in sparing these sinners from your righteous wrath, Brother Ethan." The claim was sudden and unexpected, making Ethan stop dead in his tracks.

"Those are wicked souls, who have wandered in utter darkness for so very long, yet still they crave the gentle touch of Light - not even they are beyond redemption."

Father Grigori sounded more lucid than he usually did and his words had an usual level of transparency to them - unlike his typical riddle-like rants.

Ethan stood still for a second after Grigori went quiet. Turning around to regard the priest, Ethan was treated to a completely empty church, now eerie in its utter silence. Just like the wind, the priest was gone. A light goosebumps appeared on Ethan's skin and without missing a beat, the groom turned around and went on his way out.

No wonder the Duke personally invited this guy. A creepy and enigmatic bastard like him sounds exactly like the Duke's kind. Probably helps that he is also handy with a shotgun and racked quite a high zombie kill count… am I seeing a trend here…?

Exiting the church and back out into the garden with the assembled guests, Ethan just barely managed to catch a glimpse of the three Lords, accompanied by the Duke, Ada and Leon, vanishing into a house that Ethan knew to be not yet settled. Clearly, some important conversation was about to take place, and while Ethan was naturally curious, he decided that he didn't want to poke his nose into other people's business too much. Chris - noticing Ethan peering at the closing door into the house, gave the groom a nod. That was enough of a reassurance for Ethan that nothing malicious was going on as he trusted Chris implicitly.

Instead of meddling in the affairs he wasn't invited to, Ethan turned his attention to two newest arrivals standing next to Chris - Jill and the man he could recognize from the description provided as Carlos.

Carlos Oliveira had a rather dashing dark green suit that fitted his tanned complexion and unruly hair exceptionally well. Of course, Ethan suspected that the suit likely cost a fraction of the man's choice in today's footwear, which the groom recognized as an outrageously expensive pair of Testoni shoes. Carlos' youthful features and passionate eyes bellied his vast combat experience as a soldier of fortune who had fought across countless battlefields.

No less stunning was his female companion. Jill Valentine's ocean blue dress seemed a perfect match for both her striking eyes and her lithe figure alike. Its peculiar asymmetrical design left her right arm bared up to and including the shoulder, while the left arm was covered fully; a simple black leather glove hiding the limb entirely. While few would fail to notice her beauty in such a glamorous attire, Ethan suspected that its design was not entirely motivated by Jill's fashion sense - not that even that superficial aspect of that magnificent woman was lacking.

"Rolando decided to give this a pass, I guess?" Inquired Jill, seeing no aforementioned Hound Wolf operative anywhere.

"Yeah, poor guy has had enough of all this - and I quote, 'unnatural fuckery'. He is happily working as a manager in some boring Sao Paulo transportation company now and didn't budge on his refusal to travel out here." Helpfully replied Dion, while sipping on a chilled soft drink he had procured from somewhere.

Jill winced, but nodded in understanding before noticing Ethan walking towards them and waving right at him, "Ethan! Thank you so much for inviting us! This place is truly wonderful - and what an amazing site for a wedding!" The woman appeared genuinely taken by this exotic locale - it was easier for her to do so, considering her personal lack of experience with its former darker side.

Smiling in turn, Ethan happily exchanged greetings with the duo, while taking time to properly introduce himself to Carlos. An irritated voice of that same irritable person once again interrupted their carefree banter.

"Oh, Jill is here, as well. That's great. Awesome." Few could miss the bitter sarcasm that seeped from every word.

Cassandra, with her dress smooth and hair silky once more made her second appearance while glaring daggers at Jill - as if she was a direct contender for the heart of one man she cared for.

In turn, Jill merely smirked at the taller woman, before offering a heartfelt greeting that lacked any hostility whatsoever, "Hello, Cassandra. Chris has been speaking a lot about you!" As she spoke, Jill offered her fully clothed left hand in greeting - a very suspicious gesture that immediately perked both Ethan's and Chris' attention.

That comment instantly toned down the brunette vampire's aggression, though not to the point where she would not leap at the opportunity to attempt and crush her rival's palm in a handshake that was far too strong to be a friendly one. Chris rolled his eyes in annoyance, while Ethan felt like facepalming as Cassandra reached her own left hand towards Jill's obvious trap. Surely she couldn't be that dense?

Clearly, she could. The instinctual desire to establish dominance clearly glinted in Cassandra's expressive amber orbs as she was prepared to exert bone-breaking force, though the resulting handshake did not go her way, as everyone but her expected.

"Argh!" Cassandra's left hand momentarily turned in a buzzing swarm of flies before reassembling back into her human flesh and bone - though that clearly failed to alleviate the pain Cassandra felt as her poor limb was subjected to an inhuman force, "What the fuck?!"

Jill just giggled, before wiggling her left hand's gloved fingers in front of her face, "Turns out a titanium-aluminum cybernetic hand is far stronger than a normal one! Who would've thought!"

As Ethan let out a chuckle himself, he reconsidered his previous thought - Cassandra was totally the kind of person who would forget someone else losing a limb. Therefore, she wouldn't be able to put two and two together and find something amiss in Jill offering her left hand in greeting. Or maybe she just thought that everyone was like Ethan and was able to reattach their limbs at will.

Regardless, a little bit of karmic retribution for her mean act back in France was delivered, and everyone but Cassandra herself found amusement in the process.

"You should see your face, sis!" Daniela appeared particularly lively at this unexpected (totally expected) turn of events.

"Not another word from you!" Cassandra ruefully pointed her index finger at her younger sibling, before returning it to nursing her left hand. She was already getting riled up and her famously short temper could not possibly handle further public humiliation, regardless of how minor it was.

Getting the message and not wanting to provoke another fight, Daniela just giggled before playfully covering her mouth with both of her palms. Cassandra hmphed but refrained from taking out her remaining frustration at anyone nearby. Neither of them wanted to spoil this day, after all, and the hour of the ceremony was drawing closer.

Happy that the situation was resolved amicably and that everyone got a couple of laughs from it, Ethan decided to politely express his curiosity about Jill's unusual predicament, "Acclimating must have been rough…"

Jill gave a slight nod at that, before peering at her outstretched cybernetic arm with a contemplative expression, "I couldn't even hold a cup without breaking it for the first month. It's better now as my brain works on figuring it out, but even so - it may take years to develop fine motor functions comparable to the old one…"

"At least it must pack a mean punch," offered Cassandra, appearing genuinely supportive for once. Despite what some thought of her, the brunette Dimitrescu was not completely lacking in empathy, and now that she had her painful reminder that Jill had actually lost an arm in the struggle against their mutual enemy, there was no further enmity from her, only respect.

"That it does." Jill flexed her fingers, though her face was mirthless, "I could say that I never asked for this…" She looked at Chris next, as she spoke her next words with conviction of a truly selfless person, "but that would be a lie. We made our choice to dedicate ourselves to rooting out evil long ago. We all knew there would be a price to pay."

Chris', Carlos' and Dion's eyes went downcast. They knew that harsh lesson as well, as they all carried the survivor's burden. It was not an easy thing to watch your comrades die, and they still remembered all the good times they had shared with their lost friends.

Neither Chris nor Dion would forget Charlie Graham, John Perlman or Emily Berkhoff and their noble sacrifice for the common good of all; while Carlos still recalled his old U.B.C.S. squad members with fondness - though not all of them, naturally.

"And while I can't speak for the dead, I don't regret my choice whatsoever."

Jill's conclusion resonated throughout the assembled crowd, and as they gazed around them at this beautiful new world, they all felt the same. Their many sacrifices and suffering were not in vain - even if just for a little bit, the world became brighter from their efforts.

"Enough with all the gloomy stuff! Today is a happy day!" Naturally, Daniela wanted to move past the darkness of their past more than anyone else.

As if to support her words with something more substantial, a loud bell started ringing from the direction of the castle. Not long after, an old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage slowly made its way down the hill the castle was built upon. The hour of the ceremony was drawing near and Ethan could feel his heartbeat quickening.

A support pat on his shoulder from Chris was the encouragement he needed to exit his sudden stupor.

"It's time."

---

The quaint little church was filled to capacity with well-dressed guests. A cacophony of colors of their vibrant outfits was a testament to the family's desire for this event to be a merry one. A multitude of happy faces reflected the mirthful atmosphere that had settled in the church. Ethan was certain that this was the most colorful church wedding he had ever attended.

Still as he stood next to the altar, Ethan had to struggle with a sudden onset of anxiety. He was never particularly good with the crowds and today a lot of eyes were on him. It certainly helped that he knew the majority of those present, not even mentioning Chris' reassuring presence at his side, but still, the man connected his gaze with the most familiar form of his beloved daughter - standing next to the front pew, with Alcina and two other young kids nearby.

Surprisingly, Alcina decided to wear an unassuming gray dress today, much like her own so-called brother and sister did. Perhaps even this formidable countess grew tired of being in the spotlight and finally decided that it was time for her daughters to shine?

The two young kids at her side were Sarah and Haru - the two mold mutants crafted by the Connections in the image of Eveline in hopes of taking absolute control of their political opposition. It took a long time to break the behavioral control techniques that were ingrained into their minds by callous associates of Mia, and truthfully, it was still work in progress, even after more than a year has passed since their liberation. The scars left by their experience as Connections' subjects would take a long time to fully heal, if ever. Thankfully, it appeared that Alcina's loving treatment of them worked at slowly restoring their prior personalities - that of joyful little kids without a care in the world. They were still very shy and seldomly spoke unless spoken to, but the progress was obvious to anyone they opened up to - such as the three sisters, the countess herself and Rose - who happily agreed to be their playmate during the Winters' stay in the valley for the last two weeks.

Haru had a white shirt and a blue vest on him, while Sarah sported a vibrant orange dress. Both kids appeared to be both anxious at being surrounded by so many adults, but also happy at being at the center of so much genuine joy.

In the background, Ethan saw the maids of honor entering the church - Daniela and Cassandra both strolled in, wearing pride and joy as their expressions. Bela could've never chosen just one among her beloved sisters, so it was only natural that both of them were afforded that prestigious title for today. Thankfully, both of them appeared up to the task, with no signs of their earlier scuffle visible and their pristine dresses reflecting the gentle candlelight.

Turning his attention back towards Rose, Ethan smiled warmly. His beautiful little angel had a cute light pink dress on, with no less cute bows in her hair. Seeing her dad looking at her, Rose smiled at Ethan, though the man could still see some internal conflict going on in the child - he could understand it well. This was a major celebration and Rose appeared genuinely happy for both Ethan and Bela, yet the young child still missed her true mother dearly. Not seeing Mia around on this supposedly happy day was a source of grief for her, and no amount of reassurance could hope to fully alleviate that.

Considering all that he had learnt in the past and knowing that Mia was apparently alive and well, Ethan thought that maybe it was not out of the realm of possibility to one day reunite Rose and Mia - something that would fill both of their hearts with joy, no doubt.

As if reading his mind, Rose's smile grew even larger and the child showed Ethan a thumbs up.

Struggling to suppress a chuckle of his own, Ethan didn't get the chance to further ponder on the subject, as a new presence took over everyone's attention - especially his own.

For as gorgeous as all the assembled ladies were and as handsome the men were, none could match the bride's radiant beauty in this moment - at least not in Ethan's eyes.

Dressed in all white, Bela appeared almost blinding to Ethan as she took her first steps through the aisle on an inevitable collision that would see them wed.

Almost like a proud father, Karl Heisenberg led his beloved niece on this symbolic journey, while holding his head straight. Many female guests in the audience couldn't take their eyes off the handsome and youthful Lord, though naturally, Ethan could only gape at Bela.

From her elegant white stiletto shoes, up her gorgeous snowy gown that seemed to flow alongside her, Ethan's wide eyes roamed all across his beloved bride. Somehow, despite seeming loose, the dress didn't fail to accentuate Bela's feminine figure, while leaving open the upper parts of her body, including her toned arms, slender shoulders and lovely bust.

For once, her delicate neck was unadorned by any kind of jewelry, but that made Ethan all the more eager to shower it in affection, delivered by his roving lips. That would've had to wait, however.

And of course, Bela's beautiful face - the face that Ethan had grown to love more than life itself - was smiling at him - seemingly only at him at this priceless moment in time. Her full lips, delightful cheekbones, lovely nose and gorgeous golden eyes all appear to declare her undying loyalty and love towards him - something that he was only too happy to return in kind. Her long, golden hair flowed behind her, akin to an angelic halo.

To Ethan's Bela physical form was a perfection that was only matched by the strength of her spirit and the brightness of her mind.

Ethan's heartbeat quickened even more, with his sight hyperfocusing on the object of his affection, with the rest of the colorful guests becoming a blurry background.

As Bela approached the altar, so did the dazzling effect she had on Ethan increased in intensity; its radiance becoming nearly blinding.

Once Bela and Karl were close enough for Karl to perform the tradition of entrusting her future to Ethan, the husband-to-be could hear nothing but the ringing in his ears, even as he saw Karl's lips moving around as if speaking something, before settling into a mildly threatening smirk.

Understanding the meaning even with it being inaudible to his crippled senses, Ethan nodded at the man, before tenderly grasping Bela's offered hand in his own larger palm.

Even though by this point Ethan was implicitly familiar with Bela's hand - as he was with the rest of her body - he still could only marvel at just how soft and warm it was, or how perfectly it seemed to fit into his own.

As Ethan turned his gaze up from her delicate hand towards her beautiful face, Bela gifted him with that special smile of hers, that she seemingly saved only for him. He felt like the happiest man alive.

With the procession concluded and the groom, the bride, the best man and maids of honor taking their assigned places, Grigori invited everyone present to join in to sing an opening hymn. It was a very long time since Ethan last took part in something like that, but the man found the words flowing naturally out of his mouth, to his own surprise.

After the brief but heartwarming hymn, Father Grigori continued the ritual by reading several passages with a solemn expression, a spark of lucidity glimmering in his eyes for once, yet Ethan could barely hear even these hallowed words that blessed their union in the eyes of the divine. The pressure of the moment was increasing, causing his ears to ring.

It took a second longer than was appropriate for Ethan to respond to the first question the priest demanded an answer for.

"Ethan Winters and Bela Dimitrescu, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?"

"Yes." was Bela's instantaneous answer, with Ethan's following along.

"Yes."

Several more questions followed, with the duo answering them in perfect tandem. There was no doubt in their minds about what they wanted. Still, when it came to the vows themselves, Ethan hesitated just for a moment, as Bela spoke the hallowed words of devotion.

"I, Bela Dimitrescu, take you, Ethan Winters, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life."

Ethan had already spoken similar words once… yet he clearly failed to live up to them, considering that there was little love left between him and Mia. Was he truly worthy of repeating them?

As if sensing his inner conflict, Bela offered a comforting smile, as well as gently squeezing his hand. The doubts were vaporized from Ethan's mind by her reassuring touch.

Everyone deserves a second chance… even I do…

"I, Ethan Winters, take you, Bela Dimitrescu, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life."

There was no hesitation in his clearly spoken vow. A couple of guests cheered, mixing this formal occasion with casual joy.

Ignoring them, Grigori reverently accepted the rings from Chris before blessing them and in turn offering the two lovers the physical manifestation of their undying affection for one another.

They exchanged the rings and Ethan took utmost delight in gently placing the wedding band on Bela's lovely finger, right next to the engagement ring. This priceless moment symbolized their unity and Ethan would remember it for as long as he lived.

The rest of the lengthy traditional ceremony was but a blur to Ethan, as he simply lost himself in Bela's mesmerizing golden orbs. Both the groom and the bride followed Grigori's lead as he took them through several traditional rituals.

As they lit the candles, all Ethan could see was the flames' playful reflection in Bela's enchanting eyes.

When Grigori placed garland wreaths fashioned as crowns on both Ethan's and Bela's heads, Ethan stared at the altar in front of him, yet all he could think about was how fortunate he was.

After that, once they took three sips of wine from a shared cup, Ethan was certain that he managed to taste Bela's distinct flavor when his turn came.

Following the common cup ritual, the couple was led by Grigori around the altar three times, with a small yet clearly enthusiastic choir gathered from the villagers singing hymns. These were their first steps as the married couple and Ethan felt as light on his feet as ever.

Finally, after Grigori finished reciting the blessings upon the newlyweds, came the grand conclusion.

"…I now pronounce you husband and wife."

"You may now kiss the bride."

Bela flashed him a gorgeous smile as she took a step closer. In turn, Ethan, as gentle as he ever was in his life, brought his hands around her back, drawing them closer together.

Still smiling, Bela closed her eyes, with Ethan following along, even as his lips inched closer towards her own.

The beautiful kiss they shared in the next moment was not nearly as long as some of their more lustful ones, yet it still sent sparks of electricity throughout both of their bodies. The love they conveyed to one another through that brief touch of lips was all-enveloping and it filled their souls with warmth, like a roaring fireplace on a chilly day.

The marriage sealed, not a single guest managed to refrain from cheering as the newlyweds exchanged their first kiss as husband and wife.

---

The rest of the day and evening passed fast, as all good things tend to do.

After the ceremony had concluded, the wedding procession moved on towards Castle Dimitrescu, where the reception was to be held.

There, in its brightly lit and welcoming corridors, and especially in its decorated inner courtyard, the newlyweds and those around them were free to indulge in carefree conversations and bountiful feast alike.

The once menacing and snow-covered courtyard today was a place of boundless joy as the arranged tables creaked under the weight of luxurious foods and drinks that were delivered just this morning. The freshness of the offered amenities, as well as the mouthwatering smell were exquisite - the Duke had really outdone himself with helping to prepare the reception. Exotic fish, quality meat and premier alcohol filled the guests' bellies and pleased their taste buds alike.

With the tables brimming with delicacies and the warm sun shining from above; with his beloved wife by his side and good friends all around, Ethan was exuberant. The newlyweds listened to well-wishes, accepted gifts and expressed gratitude for speeches given by their loved ones.

Like never before, Ethan felt like all the struggles and hardships he had endured were worth it in the end. He has finally found happiness and their newly minted family of three was free to live their lives in peace and prosperity. No gloomy clouds threatened to appear on the horizon anymore. This fairy-tale ending to the horror story that was his life almost felt like a dream, but this time Ethan knew that this was his reality, and he was not going to wake up surrounded by monsters again.

He was free to love Bela forevermore, and hopefully, she felt the same about him. Rose was free to grow like any child should - carefree and happy, to then have a joyous youth and fulfilling adulthood of her own. The only thing Ethan still secretly craved for was a chance to bring a new life into this world, together with Bela, even if he knew that to be an impossibility. But even if that was the unfortunate case, his existing family was the source of endless happiness for Ethan. He would not dare to want more.

Moreover, with so many people - some of them former enemies, even - wishing them nothing but the best from the bottom of their hearts, Ethan genuinely felt like this majestic day simply could not get any better.

He was wrong, though this time he didn't mind that.

After a deeply fulfilling yet still exhausting day, it was not a surprise that the couple retired to Bela's room in the expansive Dimitrescu family castle - though not before seeing Rose fast asleep in the room next door.

Likewise, the guests with busier schedules departed the village altogether, though a number of those with more free time on their hands opted to stay for a day or two more in this rejuvenated valley and bask in its newfound vitality, as well as in the hospitality of the locals - for tonight, Alcina Dimitrescu welcomed every guest to rest at her not-so-humble abode.

Shockingly to Ethan, Alcina's hospitality extended even further when it came to Chris. One would assume that the noble countess would scorn the gruff soldier's further presence in her home, especially considering his romantic involvement with her hellion of a daughter.

Instead, with Alcina's blessing, Chris and a number of people associated with him had repurposed a notable part of the dungeons under the castle for their own use as some kind of makeshift operation center for their clandestine activities - a topic Chris absolutely refused to discuss with Ethan, citing the latter's safety as paramount. Naturally, Bela and Ethan had a clue just what kind of activities Chris and his associates were engaged in due to Cassandra's occasional vicious bragging. Truthfully, neither Ethan nor Bela wanted to be involved in any of that, so they limited themselves to wishing Chris and Cassandra best of luck in whatever it is they were up to.

Returning to Bela's room after taking a quick but refreshing shower, Ethan allowed his musings about Chris' peculiar activities dissipate. He trusted his friend and was honored to have him as his best man today, but what the former B.S.A.A. Captain did in his spare time was none of his business. Ethan had more important things to attend to anyway, as he gently grabbed the knob of Bela's door.

Even though Castle Dimitrescu was not Bela's primary residence anymore, the elder daughter's room was ever ready to receive its mistress - and her guest.

The new contingent of loyal maids and servants saw to that, per Alcina wishes. No matter how far the Dimitrescu daughters would venture in their exploration of their brave new world, Castle Dimitrescu would always welcome them back.

Ethan mused at how well Bela's room fit her character as he quietly closed the door behind him.

Everything was tidy and clean; though Bela had a number of paraphernalia laying around in accordance with her wide circle of interest, each item appeared to be in its rightful place. A number of small but beautiful figurines decorated a case in front of him. A bookcase, filled with neatly-stacked tomes was to his left, while a large ebony desk stood in the corner next to it. Seemingly out of place in this medieval castle, a modern-looking desktop computer occupied the space under the desk, while the monitor was on top of it. An expansive wardrobe to his right hinted that the elder Dimitrescu daughter was not above splurging on fashion, on occasion. A potted plant here and there added nature's touch to the room.

Through an open doorway that led to her bedroom, Ethan could see an ornate fireplace. Though unlit now, a number of pillows neatly arranged around it implied that the owner of the room really liked to simply relax near the soothing warmth it could provide.

Of course, as neat and pretty the room was, Ethan couldn't truly focus on any of that, not with his attention being immediately drawn to a very specific spot.

A queen-sized bed with black and red bedding dominated the bedroom, and Ethan couldn't help but wet his lips as his eyes spied a certain blonde figure resting atop it.

"I really liked your wedding gown, though I can't say you look any worse without it…"

Bela, just in her lacy lingerie, grinned wide at Ethan's admittedly lame lane. Her delicate index finger beckoned him closer, while her lips formulated words that made Ethan's heart beat even faster. Her glistering after-shower body was irresistibly captivating.

"Are you going to gawk at me all night, or are you ready to perform your marital duties, dearest husband?" Bela savored that last word, as if she took an immense amount of satisfaction from merely pronouncing it. Ethan could relate to sentiment fully, as he smirked at his lover, while struggling with unbuttoning his shirt.

"It will be my pleasure, oh dearest wife of mine."

The lustful spark in Bela's expressive orbs told Ethan she was very happy with his response. Despite the fact that their relationship was more than a year old by now, the flames of passion between them did not vane in the slightest - it seemingly only grew to the point where Chris joked about Ethan being addicted to Bela and their midnight activities - to which Ethan justly parried about Chris being obsessed with Cassandra in turn - the large man had nothing to respond to that.

Even though both of them were rightfully tired after the eventful wedding and more socializing than either of them did in an ordinary week, the lovemaking session that followed Ethan joining Bela in bed was both vigorous and lengthy. Perhaps the knowledge that they were not merely having sex but consummating their marriage gave enough energy for both of the lovers to quench the lust they had for one another… for tonight.

After achieving yet another release - the one that has left him utterly spent - Ethan allowed his sweaty body to collapse next to Bela. Panting hard, Ethan allowed his ears to feast upon the lovely sounds his wife made as the remnants of her own release still held her body in throes of ecstasy.

"Have I…hah…" Ethan struggled to manifest his speech as something more than a slurred mess, "performed my marital duties to your satisfaction, oh noble lady of mine?"

Bela half-laughed, half-snorted something that Ethan deciphered as an affirmative response.

Feeling contentment like rarely before, Ethan still had to expend some effort to stand up in a bid to turn off the light in the bedroom before rejoining Bela on the bed.

Lying on his back, Ethan had expected to drift off to sleep almost instantly, yet somehow the man found himself wanting to stay awake for a bit more. For a couple of minutes, he simply stared at the ceiling while contemplating just how fortunate he was, despite all the harrowing hardships he went through.

Turning around to behold his wife, Ethan found that Bela likely thought the same, as she mirrored his position, with her gorgeous golden eyes locked onto his. Pale moonlight managed to reach them all the way through the tall window in her room, providing a modest source of natural light - just enough for them to be able to gaze at one another. Offhandedly, Ethan noted that the moon's current position implied that they were consummating their marriage for quite a while.

Bela stared at him with contentment; a small smile played on her full lips. Ethan tasted these lips countless times, yet he still craved more - a quick peck made her let out a giggle of amusement.

"I love you so much, Ethan…" the suddenness of her claim, combined with its passion, made Ethan lose the gift of speech for a second.

"And I love you, Bela… so, so very much."

Bela beamed at him, then opened her mouth as if to say something, but apparently changed her mind as her mouth closed without letting a sound off; the woman averted her eyes, making Ethan quite curious as to what was going through her head at the moment; it was not like her to not speak her mind to him.

Bela lightly cleared her throat - a little habit she had when she was troubled about something, as Ethan learnt - before speaking, "Have you thought about where you want to spend our honeymoon, Ethan?"

Most people planned stuff like that far in advance, but with the Duke's assurances that they had but to name the place for him to arrange everything, Ethan had allowed that subject to fade into the background as they prepared for the wedding. He honestly didn't care that much about where, as long as they were together. Bela pretty much told him that she felt the same, therefore her current query felt like a change of topic to Ethan, though he happily played along, nevertheless.

"Not really, what about you? I am really fine with wherever you wanna go, Bells."

The woman frowned a little bit, adopting a pensive expression. "I've always been fascinated by Asian culture… Japan, perhaps?"

As the mention of the island country, Ethan was immediately assaulted by the vivid imagery of Bela dressed in a beautiful Japanese kimono, with her hair tied in that traditional bun style; pink sakura petals falling all around her.

It was rather dark despite the moonlight, yet a knowing grin implied that Bela was quite aware of Ethan's sudden blush. In a bid to get back at her, Ethan tried to regain his composure with a playfully teasing remark.

"Japan, eh? Sounds good… but I get to call you Bela-chan, then."

Her amused response was instantaneous, "Only if I get to call you Ethan-kun."

"Sounds like a deal."

The newlyweds shared a quick laugh, both finding amusement in their shared interest in a certain product Japan was known for.

The laughter died quick enough, but the sense of silent joy remained. Bela was often taken as a closed individual by strangers, aloof even. But with him, she was entirely open, trusting Ethan implicitly - knowing that he would always support her; never mock her insecurities or peculiarities. Just like he did. They could jest around or have banter about some nonsense; they could be weird around one another with no judgment - only mutual respect and love.

The duo allowed silence to reign in the room, content to simply gaze at one another, though Ethan went further by wrapping a hand around Bela's shoulder, bringing them closer together under their shared blanket. With the window open, it was getting a little chilly in the room and Ethan would hate for his beloved to get cold, after all - not that there was a lack of personal interest in holding her warm, soft body close to his own.

"There was…" Bela appeared unsure, even a little afraid as she nibbled on her lower lip. Ethan immediately wanted to comfort her, yet he allowed her to finish her sentence first, "...something else I wanted to tell you."

Ethan figured as much. He caressed her smooth back with tender motions, even as he asked in a gentle tone, "What is it, hon?"

Bela let out a small awkward giggle at the fond term of address, before averting her eyes for a second. Ethan would lie if he claimed he was not getting worried at the strange behavior. He still patiently waited for her to assert her thoughts, hoping that his gentle ministrations of her back would give her all the reassurances she needed - no matter what she was going to say, he would still love her with all his heart.

After a couple of moments that felt far too long for Ethan, Bela let out a nervous sigh, before finally reconnecting their eyes.

Ethan knew that today would mark the start of a new life for him, but he couldn't even begin to anticipate just how much things were going to change. A new family life of unbound joy awaited.

"Ethan… I am pregnant."

---

Author's Note:

So this was actually the biggest chapter in this story; even though it took me quite a while to write it and though I've decided about wanting to write it like half a year ago, I am still not sure if I did this scene justice :/ Hope you guys enjoyed it at least and it was not a tedium to get through it.

I bet not many saw it coming that the wedding would be held in the Village of all places, right? xD I honestly allowed my fantasy to roam free in this chapter, so I hope it worked out. I've been thinking about who could be the one to officiate the ceremony, and my mind came with a blank when it came to RE universe... a sudden inspiration helped me come with a peculiar guest character from another fandom - I hope at least someone recognized Father Grigori and I am not 'that' old xD.

Also, it was not my idea that Chris could use Alcina's castle as a sort of a base for his activities - that peculiar yet catching idea belongs to PotCFan101 and his vast array of interesting crossover stories on ! I really felt like it would be fitting here, that Alcina in her quest for redemption would offer Chris a hand in his and Cassandra's mission to purge the world of evil in the most direct and brutal way possible.

Finally, I've decided that there will be one more chapter for this story - a 51th one, the true epilogue. It will be much shorter than this one and will occur after a very long time skip. You could probably guess exactly who it will involve :)

As always, thanks for reading! Feel free to leave any piece of feedback you'd fancy; regardless of that - have a splendid week, everyone! :)