"Ow Lana – please don't burn my ear! Y'know, hair curlers can cause 3rd degree burns!"
"Don't stress out Ema, today of all days. Your hair looks beautiful, right Jake?"
She tossed her curtain of brown hair over her shoulder as she smiled at her husband.
"Reckoncourse! ...I learned that from one of the bambinas out there." He peered out from the dressing room. "Sure is filling up…"
Lana turned back to her sister and continued curling her hair, "Just keep still for two more minutes, sis."
Ema sighed and studied herself in the mirror, squaring her shoulders. She felt cold and naked without her lab coat. At least the white dress she was wearing was a familiar color.
This isn't happening right now. It can't be my wedding day. I'm asleep on my desk right now, waist high in court records.
But another sting from a close encounter with the curler brought her back to reality. In reaction to the pain, Ema whipped around, almost in slow motion, only to come in contact with the edge of the curler.
Luckily, she hit the outer plastic and wasn't burned, but she felt her nose begin to throb.
Ema shrieked.
The crowd outside silenced for a second, but then proceeded to buzz as Klavier Gavin appeared in the doorway. His usual purple blazer was black, with a white flower pinned to the lapel. He looked as stunning and handsome as always, except for the agitated grimace on his face.
At the sight of him, Ema let out another yelp and buried her head in her arms, blood beginning to drip onto her beautiful gown.
"You aren't supposed to see me before the wedding! Scientifically or not, it's bad luck and it seems I have enough of that already..." she said, muffled by her arms.
For the moment, he ignored her and looked at Lana and Jake. He protectively inquired, in a roar much louder than his usual sweet tone, "What have you done to meine liebe?"
Jake raised both his palms up in a surrender, leaving Lana to reply.
Whilst she tried to explain what had transpired, Ema abruptly stood up and stared pleadingly at all three of them.
She was sobbing, her tears mixing with the blood pouring down onto her dress. She carelessly tried to wipe away the blood from her face with the back of her hand and attempted to quell her cries enough to speak.
Finally, she announced flatly, "We should just call off the wedding. Tell everyone I got violently ill."
Klavier's eyes quickly darted to Ema before nodding at Lana and Jake. Lana kissed the top of Ema's head and Jake rubbed her back as they made their exit.
Klavier say down on the bench next to Ema in her puffy, blood-stained dress. He took his black handkerchief out of his pocket and gingerly cleaned her face. He then let her hold it against her nose as he pulled her into him and rubbed her bare arm.
They sat there for a few minutes, with only Ema's soft sniffles filling the room. She was beginning to feel a bit sleepy and maybe even a little happier when Klavier broke the silence, "Is there more to this, Ema?"
She pushed her lips together and nodded. The detective hesitantly replied, still short of breath, slowly thinking out loud, "It's… not that I have cold feet. I love you Klavier. I do. Um, but today has just further amplified my doubts that I don't deserve you."
At this, Klavier tensed and looked to interject. But Ema took his large hand in her free hand and continued, "I couldn't even become a forensic scientist. You have two dream jobs which you handle effortlessly. I'm a klutz, I can't-" she started to blink back tears and gulped. At this point, she averted her tear-filled gaze to the floor.
"I can't even keep it together on the day of our wedding. This just has me thinking that if we get married, my constant imbalance in our relationship will tear us apart. And I love you too much for that to happen to us. You'd be happier with someone else."
Klavier shook his head in disbelief and pulled at his bangs. He closed his eyes for a long time. Ema thought she even saw a few tears glimmering in the corners. Then he smiled and looked right at Ema, "You're right," he whispered, wrapping his arms around Ema, holding all of her.
Ema started to twist the large engagement ring off her finger, before Klavier pushed it back on and continued speaking.
"Except it's me who would tear us apart. I have two 'dream' jobs – I'll never be home. There are so many things that can, might, and will try to ruin what we have, Ema. And I'm aware of that. And I'm scared. But here I was, one hundred percent ready to marry you today. Kommen, you know me, I never let a little nosebleed step on my path to you. Do you remember our first day, albern Mädchen?"
At this, Klavier took some blood on his finger and painted his iconic G on her dress.
"Klavier!" Ema giggled through her brewing sobs. She fell onto him and gave him a loving hug.
"Mm, I love you Frau Gavin."
"You too, fop."
"When we are up there, remember what we've said right now as our true vows."
Hearing the couple's resolution, Lana and Jake crept back into the room and began snapping pictures.
Unaware of their presence, Ema loosened the embrace and leaned in to kiss Klavier.
"Easy pardner! Not till 'you may now kiss the bride'!"
Ema gasped and unwillingly backed away from Klavier, a playful scowl on her face. They all laughed as Lana dragged Ema to the doorway, cleaning the last bits of blood off her face.
"You and your dress look absolutely atemberaubend," Klavier blew her a kiss and left to go take his place in the ceremony.
A/N: Yaaaay! [/fail] Just for the record, I usually really dislike character marriages, but it's just how I was inspired. So don't take it to heart. This was just a little funsies - check out some of my other fics if you want something more legit (maybe). ;3
German translations~
meine liebe - my love
Kommen - come on
albern Mädchen - silly girl
Frau - Mrs.
atemberaubend - breathtaking
Iffff you feel like it, I think it would be really cool to do a little drawing design of Klavier and Ema in their wedding gear. Ema in her bloody dress, Klavier lookin' all classy and fly. Whatever you really think. I see them as I described them, really. Ema in a white, simple strapless dress. And Klavier in his normal wear, but all black, with a white flower on the lapel. I see them in a white walled dressing room with a few mirrors. I dunno, just setting the scene. So if you're feeling it, draw something and post it as a review. I could maybe even come up with some lame FF prize... :P
The end. :P Now go write me a big review. Thanks for reading! :D
