My wedding ring was gorgeous. The band was gold with small Obsidian jewels intricately running down each side of the ring halfway. Wow, this is just exquisite! I fell in love with it the moment I laid my eyes on it. The engagement band looked so beautiful with the large wedding ring. As I said earlier, I'll wear my crown and rings with honor.

Everyone that came to our wedding came to the reception. I found out about it when we were leaving the Cathedral. I was so surprised it was in the ballroom, to say the least. And another surprise was that a painter was here to paint a portrait of Mark and me! I was so delighted.

Some of the townsfolk watched as the artist painted us on his canvas as others danced. I wanted to dance as well but I didn't know if I could. I didn't want to exert myself to the point of vomiting again. 'Maybe it's better to not dance.' I thought to myself with a silent sigh.

'We can dance, if you like.' Mark said to me telepathically.

'But what if I evert myself?' I asked with worry.

'We will make sure that doesn't happen.'

Wouldn't that be a delight? I couldn't wait to dance! It took about two hours for the artist to finish our portrait. Some of Mark's male staff helped to hang it upon the wall above the huge fireplace. The paint would dry quickly that way as Mark and I looked up at it with awe.

"It's beautiful." I said then softly.

He looked down at me with love and adoration in his eyes.

"You're beautiful." He said deeply.

I looked from the portrait to him and blushed deeply. Some of the women admiring the portrait sighed longingly. It was amazing to know that I had finally found the man of my dreams and I would never let him go. I remember I had been like those women before; sighing longingly and wishing for true love to grace me, wishing for a man to look at adoringly at and for him to look at me with the same look on him face and within his eyes.

I no longer had to search for that special man. I'd found him.

He grasped my hand gently within his and led me to the middle of the ballroom. When we stopped, he placed his left hand upon my waist and grasped my right hand in his. I placed my left hand on his bicep as the band began to play a slow song. People crowded around the edges of the big square of the ballroom and watched as we danced. We moved with fluid ease, his eyes on mine as we twirled around the huge square.

Glenn smiled then pulled Jay through the crowd and onto the dance floor, beginning to dance with her. I looked at Jay, who was smiling at Glenn as he twirled her around. Other couples started to join in as well. Even the other Vampires. They all smiled at us as they passed us. They were all beautiful creatures with eyes that ranged from honey colored to the clearest blue I've ever seen.

Vampires are beautiful creatures…

Space

I danced until I couldn't. I now sat in a smaller throne beside Mark's larger one. I was able to observe everyone as they either danced or conversed at individual tables on the outer sides of the ballroom. I was able to see Mark dancing with Mom, who looked happy as he twirled her around. I was happy to see her smile.

Dad and I danced to one song and it was comforting to me. Dad always made things comforting. I then looked to a table where Glenn, Jay, and Harley sat. They were talking and laughing together. I wondered what they were talking of when I noticed Glenn's crown. It looked like Mark's but this one had a Wolf's face carved into the front of it, to prove he was the Wolf King, no less. Amber jewels dotted the big silver crown as diamonds also flanked it. It looked so very kingly.

I bet Jay's crown will be gorgeous. I looked to the portrait of Mark and me above the huge fireplace and sighed. I looked to the crown that sat upon my head as I was still in awe that I was now a queen, for Heaven's sake! It was so amazing. The hours went by so fast and I soon found it to be heading close to midnight.

Mark was now beside me in his throne as the music ended. The townsfolk then turned to Mark and I as he slowly got to his feet. He turned sideways and looked down at me, outstretching his hand to me as I looked from the crowd to his hand then up at my husband. I placed my hand in his and stood. He then looked back to the crowd and addressed them.

"Attention ladies and gentlemen. This palace and Aeroso has gone without a queen for many centuries that I longed for a lovely lady to stand by my side. It is amazing when you can find someone that you can show your true self to and they love you all the more for it. Life soon becomes bearable. I've now my queen as you have your queen. Our Aeroso no longer goes without."

Everyone cheered. I looked up at Mark then to the crowd and finally cracked a small smile. Everything seemed to be going so well.

The townsfolk applauded again. Mark stopped applauding and smiled down at me. I looked at him then to the crowd when he grasped my hand in his once more.

"We've great news to announce to all of you." We looked at each other then back to the crowd. I smiled happily.

"I'm pregnant!"

Cheers erupted as everyone applauded. Mark and I couldn't be any happier.

"Hail Queen Angelica Calaway!..."

Space

It was after one thirty in the morning as the guests left and the ballroom was cleaned. Glenn and Jay went home as Mom and Dad did the same. They told us to go on our honeymoon, but we said we'd think about it. In our room, Mark looked at me as I gazed at my wedding gown. It sure was beautiful.

"What's on your mind, beautiful?"

I blinked then smiled and turned to him.

"Nothing, Mark. I'm glad we are married and if our baby is a girl then she can wear my gown on her wedding day, if she likes."

"Sounds good to me, love." He said and flitted behind me, wrapping his arms around me.

I smiled and put my hands on his as we stood silently. Mark brought the case in here for our crowns and we put them back inside of it. We changed our clothing and now in our evening wear, we stood silently and happily together. Now that we were married, there was nothing that could ever come between us.

"What's your say on the honeymoon idea?" Mark asked softly.

"I really want to do something, but I cannot exert myself or risk the fact of the beast's minions or whatever they are to come after us."

Mark tensed all around me as if he forgot all about it.

"We don't have to go anywhere," I quickly added to try to not get him upset.

"You're right. I don't want you to exert yourself." He said then released me.

I frowned and turned to watch him stalk to the window and look out as the snow slowly fell. I bit my lip, wondering if it was me that got him upset. I didn't know whether to get upset as well or cry. This was our wedding night and he was upset at me. I wanted to cry. Isn't that nice on such a wonderful evening?

"Did I upset you?" I asked, my voice quivering as tears filled my eyes.

He turned back to me and looked at me as those damn tears ran down my face. I was always emotional and now more so because I was pregnant. Mark frowned and flitted before me. I couldn't stop crying even if I wanted to. Another fun fact of the matter was my hormones. Crying felt like I had some kind of control over at least something. Then again, I had no control over this so what was the fucking point?

I didn't know anymore.

He pulled me into his arms as all I could do was sob. He flitted to the bed and pulled me onto his lap. Then slowly he began to rock back and forth. I cleaved to him and cried against his chest, grabbing his shirt in my fist. I hated crying and doing it in front of him? I didn't want him to see me as weak.

"I don't see you as weak, Angie. I know that you are fragile right now. Before you became pregnant, you were fragile. Now that you are pregnant, you're even more fragile. That is why I am here to protect you with my life, Angie. I am here to protect you from anything and anyone."

My sobbing had calmed as I listened to him. His deep voice rumbled through his chest and I found it soothing. He was talking about me being fragile. I was and there really wasn't anything I could do about that. Sometimes I hated that, being fragile as I am. I was not a dainty little flower, mind you. No, I'm immortal, supposing to be strong and dangerous. But instead, I was so damn fragile. Inside and out.

And it wasn't fucking fair!

"I know it's not fair, love, but you've mistaken something." He placed a finger beneath my chin and tilted my head up. My eyes were black from the emotion I felt as I looked into his green ones.

"You feel like you're not strong but love, you are very strong. It takes great strength of the mind and heart to stay sane inside insanity. It takes great mind strength to be a writer. Not many people have the imagination and when times are low, you remain strong. Not many people can do that, beautiful. Your strength gives me strength. You don't know how proud I am of my queen." He said with a soft smile.

The black slowly receded from my eyes as I looked up into his eyes. As a Vampire, he could not lie. I was so moved that I couldn't seem to think.

"Really? You're proud of me?"

He smiled and nodded.

"Yes, love. Really, really."

I flung my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. A person could get used to such praise. But it all wasn't one-sided as it never was and never will be. When Mark needed reassurance, I'll make sure he gets what he needs.

"Thank you." I whispered.

He held her close and smiled against her hair. He knew that she needed reassuring and he gave it to her. He hadn't lied about any of it. He couldn't lie, first of all. But even if he could, he wouldn't. He loved his small fragile queen too much to lie to her. Now that they were married, nothing would be kept between them.

Now he needed to apologize. He grasped my waist and slowly pulled away.

"Love, I'm sorry for what I did earlier. Pulling away from you and whatnot."

"Why did you?" I asked finally.

"Because of the fact that the beast's minions could be after you. Those fuckers will never lay their filthy hands on you again. I vow it to the Immortals that will kill them before they try to hurt you." He growled, his eyes flashing from green to black.

I placed my hand upon his cheek and nodded. He closed his eyes and took a breath. I was happy that he was trying to control his temper for me, trying to calm the madness he felt within his soul now because of that fucker. I wasn't going to become angry. Mark was here with me now and he was safe.

We were safe for now.

Suddenly the fetus began to move, and I gasped. I placed my hand against my stomach and smiled. Mark's eyes were open as he looked at me, his lips lifted at the corners as I looked at him.

"Our baby's hungry. Not to mention the queen…"