Author's Note: Part III of a three chapter series that coincide with Ch. 31 and Ch. 32, of Blight & Bliss. I will be designating time periods for this chapter, to help with flow. This is set the day of Grace and Alistair's wedding and the morning after.

Day of wedding, mid-morning to late afternoon:

Grace woke up feeling wonderful. She was marrying her love. She had wonderful friends. She was not going to think about the doom that was prowling around the corner. She stretched in bed, feeling Alistair's warm body along hers. She went to relieve herself and upon finishing looked at what she was wearing. At first she smiled thinking about the night before, and then she frowned thinking about the night before, and then came the panic. She tore, more or less successfully, her gown, teddy, whatever, off and changed into a robe. She ran, without really noticing all the Wardens she passed studiously avoiding eye contact with her, to her father and Sunshine's room. She took a steadying breath and put her ear to the door.

"- so stop asking," she heard Sunshine say.

"No, you must tell me. Grace is my daughter and you are my wi...my, you know what I mean!"

"Duncan, I would be violating the 'International Sisterhood of Women' code. Section I, Article I, Big Fucking Title: What Happens in 'Girl Talk' Stays in 'Girl Talk'. So leave it."

All was quiet, but Grace knew her dad was stubborn, and he was angry. So like the wise Commander he was, it meant he was trying a new strategy. Please don't tell him, Please don't tell him, she silently begged Sunshine. "I know you talked about masturbation with her." Grace began to beat her head against the wall next to the door.

"Ah, overheard that bit, did you? I guess I now know how the door got locked. Well, see you only have yourself to blame for the use of the window. No sympathy."

"Did you see what you were wearing?"

"Yes, I'm still wearing it. That was a bit of a miscalculation on my part. Still, Loren could have acted a little more, hmmm, appreciative of the view."

"What!"

Oh, Sunshine, why do you have to tease him right now?

"Hah! Gotcha! In all honesty Duncan, there was a lot of personal information that went down last night. I love both of you enough to know that discretion is key. I will not betray Grace's confidence because you feel entitled to know every last detail. Last night with her was so special. I won't let you take that away from me. I know, deep down, that's not what your intention is, I know you're just being a growly papa bear. There are some things that it is easier to confide, as a woman, to a woman. Please, trust me. Trust her."

Grace felt fresh tears on her face, from relief and from love. Thank you, Sunshine. Grace had been so afraid that Sunshine would tell Duncan everything. She knew that Sunshine was in a hard place between father and daughter, but it seemed she was worthy of that place. Grace's resolve materialized. She opened the door and ran up to the bed, ignoring Duncan's surprise at seeing her, and leapt into Sunshine's surprised arms. "My Mama Sunshine," she whispered fiercely into Sunshine's ear. "You are mine too, I love you." Duncan watched from his seat at the desk, his heart over riding his anger, discontent, embarrassment, jealousy, possessiveness and everything dark, as the light of his life embraced his Sunshine with love. He let this one go; witnessing this was more important. He realized that if Sunshine had caved it would have set everything back with Grace for both of them, he was glad she was wiser in the ways of family. He had much to learn, he just hoped Grace and Sunshine would bear with him. Duncan realized he still hadn't been able to talk to Sunshine about the two of them.

Sunshine and Leliana were able to drag Grace out of the fold of overprotective men and pamper themselves in preparation for the wedding. Leliana took them to some equivalent to a hoity toity Earth spa and salon. Why the hell was this place still open? Sunshine wondered, didn't the well-off understand anything? Nah, probably too inbred. It worked to their advantage. They got the engagement story from Leliana.

"So, congratulations are in order, huh? I'm sorry we put a halt to your celebration last night."

Leliana laughed at Sunshine's words, "oh, no, my dears, that was better than any party. Seeing you and Grace traipsing about, and I being the only one who could enjoy it. So sad for our poor men, Duncan and Alistair had the most comical expressions on their faces."

Grace nudged Leliana, "so tell us all about the romantic things Aedan did." Leliana smiled privately.

"Well, he took me up to this little hidden rooftop Gazebo, of sorts. It was quite lovely," she sighed in memory. "He just sat sweetly for a while, holding my hand. It was quite a while before he started talking. He began by telling me about his childhood, then the attack on his family and everything that he's experienced since this nightmare began. The poor man began to cry, but it was not baby tears, but man tears." Sunshine and Grace shared a slightly bewildered expression at that. "It moved me so much. I did as you suggested, Sunshine. And I told him, everything. Yes Grace, about Marjoline too. We were both in tears. He held me gently and told me that he loved me and he trusted me. And this ring! Oh, so beautiful. It had been his Grandmother's, on his mother's side. He said, 'life is short, and perhaps we won't have much time. What is left I want everyone to know we love each other, that we trust each other and that we will fight for our love.' It was so romantic. I love him so very much. I'm glad now that Marjoline sent me on this mission, it has given me a real life and real love."

The three women were very happy, and enjoying themselves immensely. While having a light lunch back in Leliana and Aedan's room, Sunshine enjoyed how the younger women were basking in the glow of young love. She forgot, however, how weddings and engagements can inspire high levels of romanticism in youth and so choked on her wine when Leliana asked her about marrying Duncan. As she was recovering, Grace jumped up and down, "yes, please say you'll do it! It would be so good for him, and that way you would never leave!" Grace was unaware how hard the mention of her leaving hit Sunshine, she had a moment where sadness covered her eyes. She shook it off.

"So, he asked the two of you to propose to me for him, did he? Ah, he's clever knowing I'd have a hard time saying 'no' to the two of you." Turning it into a joke, because she would cry otherwise. Grace and Leliana giggled.

"Of course not. Can you imagine him doing that? It's a great idea though, at least think about it."

"Tell you two wild girls, what. I promise to think about it ifhe ever proposes. Remember though, we've only been together briefly." And she thought about how she would be torn away before Duncan ever asked, so it felt like a hollow promise. She was glad that it was time to prepare for the wedding and got up to set off to find Duncan and Alistair to help them out while Leliana stayed with Grace. Before she left she grabbed Grace and whispered, "I love you so much and am so happy for you." Hugging and kissing her.

Early evening:

"Duncan, you look handsome, so stop fidgeting. Alistair, stop it, as well. Grace will have my hide if the two of you manage to ruin your fine looks and appear like you just rolled out of bed." Sunshine kissed Duncan and moved him to go wait for Grace, and she gave Alistair a hug and a kiss and shooed him over to Aedan. She resumed her spot with the rest of the guests, still ignoring this Mother Airana, who had been asked to marry the couple. The wedding was sweet and simple, and Sunshine loved how beautiful Grace looked with her natural coloring. And went happily with everyone to the small reception.

It was beautiful. There was food, there was punch, and there was love and happiness. Everyone was in the highest of spirits, and consumed copious amounts of the punch. It had a delightful edge that made Sunshine's body tingle. She noticed that everyone was so happy and friendly, even Loghain was permitted to attend. She was in such a good mood she even let him dance with her. "Duncan is a lucky man, Sunshine." He said her name with a little twist. "I think if I had found you first..." Sunshine winked and shook her head.

"Oh, Loghain, you know I only have eyes for him, so stop being silly." He pressed her against his body and she could feel his erection. Huh, that was odd. He didn't seem the type, truly. Duncan intervened before she thought too hard about it, taking exception to how close Loghain had held her and pressed her even closer to him. Sunshine thought he was being silly too, but her body appreciated his closeness. It seemed his body did too. Must be something in the punch, she thought. A truer thought she had never had that night. Oghren was happy to see that the entire bowl of punch was consumed and that everyone, including himself, had some. He whistled happily and wondered if he could find a mixed group of four Elves.

Wedding Night:

The people who were coupled before the wedding headed out early. Riding the high of romance they found themselves tearing at each other's clothes while heading to their respective quarters. Sunshine was on too big of high to complain about all the love Duncan showed her body, and all the love he allowed her to share. They had used few words, letting their bodies convey everything. She loved him so much, but knew that if she said the words, outside of passion, that night she would cry. So she said everything through her touch:

I love you. I wish this night would never end. I will never regret this, even when the grief of being away from you seems immense. If I can fight for you, I will. I want us to be a family. I want to be yours, for always. I want you to be so happy, so very happy. Please, please, please, please, let me keep my loves here in Thedas. Please don't take me away.

Duncan was having trouble finding his words as well, and his body tried to tell her his love.

Please let me be more than you have ever had. Please let me be your true love. Stay with me, I love you, I need you here. I want you to be mine. Please don't hate me if I die. Please, please, please, please stay here with me. I need you.

Day after wedding, morning:

It was interesting to find that every person from the estate, including the aged butler, had found love the night of the wedding. There was quite a bit of humorous couplings that had taken place, and some outright surprising ones. Like Gavarth and Danforth with the menopausal Housekeeper. Oghren with a male Elf. And Loren with Liam and three young maids. Everyone else had managed to make it to their beds without everyone finding out who their partners for the night had been, which was good as no one wanted to admit who the randy butler had been with - apparently he made the rounds having found himself potent for the first time in years. It would be the last bit of amusement that anyone would find that day as the grim knowledge of what they faced lay before them.

* The next chapter will be Sunshine's whereabouts during the Archdemon fight.