The Whispered Word, Lenore

by Lenore Parker

Lenore Parker buys the Opera Populaire to reopen it as an Opera House, and inherits all the problems that go with it. Including the Opera Ghost. Tempers flare, passion suffocates, and much more.

40. Chapter 40

Lady Taevyn: Yes, it's rather creepy that you can hear Hiroshi's voice in your head…maybe you should look into a psychiatrist, lol. See if you can't find Sebastian.

Artzee: How kind of you to name your assassin squirrel escorts. I just give them rank numbers, based on their skills.

MJ MOD: Yeah, how will Lenore handle growing old while Erik stays the same? And how will he live knowing she's going to die for good this time around? And what's making Satan so happy? You'll have to wait to find out the answers to these questions.

Jadesy: I'm glad you adore Hiroshi. Finally there's someone out there who isn't all like "Hiroshi creepy, eww." Just so long as you don't try to take him from me. I need him now that my yummy Uriel has been set free. (weeps)

Lethia: Yes, you had 11 children, you rabbit you. Lol. And yes, I have regained the keyboard!!

I'm sure you all know the spiel by now, I don't own Phantom, fic takes place about twenty years into the present, blah blah blah, REVIEW…

---

"I don't wanna," Lenore mumbled into the pillow.

Erik shook his head and sighed. Apparently she wasn't going to get up unless he took drastic measures. Going to the bottom of the bed, he shooed Bishop off the blankets. "I'll give you one more chance, chérie," Erik warned. "It's time to get up."

"No," she muttered sleepily.

Erik jerked the covers off the bed, exposing Lenore to the cool air in the room. She shivered and whimpered pathetically, burying her face in the pillow and curling up into a ball to retain as much heat as possible. Bishop trotted off Erik's pillow and started licking her shoulder.

"Bishop, stop it," Lenore commanded through a yawn. "Erik, give me back the blankets, I'm tired."

"It's eleven o'clock," Erik informed her. "Our wedding starts in five hours."

"Then I should be able to have another hour before I have to get up," she mumbled. "At least give me one of those damned robes from Hell, I'm freezing here. I'll get sick." She had a good point; the cold air was bad for her considering the fact that she lacked any clothes due to the three times they made love last night.

"That will leave you with only four hours. That's not enough time," Erik argued.

"Thirty minutes for my hair, fifteen for make up, fifteen for getting into the gown. That takes one hour. Which leaves me three hours to eat, shower, and get to the church. If I can't do that in three hours, then I'm pathetic."

"And if I let you sleep another hour, something will go drastically wrong to delay you. Your hair won't cooperate, or you'll have run out of lipstick and none of your friends or relatives will have any with them, so you'll have to send someone out to a store. And this person will have to try six or seven different shops before finding the right shade of lipstick," Erik replied. "Or you'll have difficulties figuring out how to put on the gown."

"Your positive outlook is such an inspiration, Erik," Lenore said sarcastically.

"That's nice, dear, but I'd much prefer to hear you say you're getting out of bed."

"Normal men want to hear a woman say she's getting in bed."

"Surely you know I'm far from normal. Now are you going to get out of bed, or do I have to drag you out?"

"Fine, I'm getting up," she grumbled. "And stop it with the sandpaper tongue, cat, my shoulder's clean by now."

Bishop's tiny pink tongue retreated into his mouth and he put on one of those pathetic kitten looks that always melted Lenore's heart.

"Aww," she cooed. "I'm sorry I snapped at you." Taking the cat in her arms, she hugged the furry animal to her chest, placing a kiss on the top of his head.

Bishop purred contentedly and gave Erik a look that passed as a smug smirk. The competition for Lenore's attentions was more of a friendly game now then anything else.

"Treasure that kiss, Bishop," Erik advised. Bishop would be spending the next three months with Hiroshi (as Hiroshi insisted he take care of his daughter's cat rather than letting one of Lenore's siblings take it in for the honeymoon), while Erik and Lenore traveled the Rhine.

"Couldn't he come with us?" Lenore asked yet again.

"We've already decided that he wouldn't enjoy being cooped up on a boat," Erik reminded her. The cat wouldn't have minded the lodge in the Alps, but Erik had rather glossed over that part of the trip when he told Lenore about their honeymoon.

"But…he's just so cute!" Lenore exclaimed as Bishop purred contentedly in her arms.

"Yes, and Hiroshi adores cute things," Erik smiled. "He'll love having Bishop for a few months."

"Hiroshi doesn't adore cute things, he adores sex and murder," Lenore countered.

"He also adores cute things, chérie. After all, he adored having you as his daughter."

---

"Bishop, please come out from under the bed," Lenore pleaded. She was currently laying on the floor in her dress suit, trying to get her cat so she could take him to the Madeleine to be handed over to Hiroshi. "We have to get to the church. And Hiroshi's really nice, you'll love him." Okay, so maybe that was a bit of a lie. But she needed to get Bishop out from under the bed.

"Aren't you glad you got up at eleven now?" Erik remarked from the other side of the bed.

"Bishop, please," Lenore begged. Bishop was laying under the exact center of the bed, his fish toy between his paws. He looked at her placidly, as if to say he was quite comfortable where he was and could he please be left alone for a little cat nap?

"Cat, don't force me to move this bed to get to you. It would make me cross, and today is not a good day for foul tempers," Erik added.

Bishop seemed unconcerned about Erik's mood.

"If you don't come out from under that bed this instant, we'll have Kathleen keep you instead of Hiroshi," Lenore threatened. "I hear Lucinda's current fascination is trying to put cats in a running dishwasher." Bishop mewed pathetically. "Oh no, that's not going to work this time. If you make me late for my own wedding, cute pathetic kittiness won't save you."

Bishop slunk out from under the bed, his whiskers drooping and his tail down in a rather dejected fashion, his fish toy in his mouth. He looked at Lenore with the largest, saddest eyes he could manage, but Lenore told herself that she had to be firm.

"That's a good boy," she praised, scooping him up in her arms.

---

Bishop cowered underneath a chair. He didn't understand what was going on. He was in a room he didn't recognize (that smelled far different from what he was used to), with twelve people. He knew Lenore, Erik, Lucinda, Ember, Kathleen, Sariel, and Hiroshi. He didn't know the other three men, the small boy, or the old woman. That was only part of his terror, though. All twelve of these people were bustling around the room frequently, which meant he was in serious danger of being stepped on if he came out from under the chair.

"That cat should be in a carrier," the old woman said sternly.

"Bishop's fine; he's not bothering anyone," Lenore replied.

"Regardless, he shouldn't be running around loose."

"He's not running around loose, he's hiding under a chair," Hiroshi pointed out.

"What about during the ceremony? You told me you didn't bring a carrier, what do you plan to do then? Shut him up in this room?" the old woman asked Lenore, ignoring Hiroshi entirely.

"I think he'll find someone to sit with," Lenore responded with a smile.

There were a few more minutes of people bustling around (Bishop disliked the wide skirts on Ember, Kathleen, Lucinda, and Sariel) before the old woman spoke again. "We have to get Lenore into her gown now," she said, giving a pointed look at all the males in the room (excluding Bishop). The three men Bishop didn't know, and the little boy, left with a word, but Erik and Hiroshi didn't move. "You two as well," the old woman instructed after a few moments when it was clear they weren't leaving.

"Why should we have to leave?" Hiroshi asked the woman.

"Well, you're a father figure, albeit a poor one, and it's not appropriate of you to watch her change," the old woman explained. "And"-

"I've seen her naked before, Mrs. Parker," Hiroshi informed the woman.

"Well, there's a difference between seeing a child naked and watching an adult woman change," Mrs. Parker replied tersely, assuming that Hiroshi's experiences with Lenore being naked were from bathing her as a child and the like.

"You fail to understand; I've seen her naked as an adult woman. In both lives, as it just so happens," Hiroshi commented, a smirk on his lips. "I must say, she's quite lovely. Such a shame Erik got to her first."

Mrs. Parker moved forward to hit Hiroshi, but Erik grabbed the woman's arm and held her back. "You agreed to get along with him until after the wedding, Madam," Erik reminded Mrs. Parker.

Lenore walked over to Hiroshi. "Daddy, I must point out a fact. You're Jack the Ripper. And it's a bit disturbing for a woman to have Jack the Ripper watching her change. If you recall, my reaction to the times you saw me naked was far from positive," Lenore said.

Hiroshi sighed. "Alright. But only for you, kitten," Hiroshi finally said, placing a quick kiss on her forehead before going out into the hall.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Get going," Mrs. Parker commanded Erik.

"Madam, I've slept with your daughter on numerous occasions. I can assure you she won't be the slightest bit uncomfortable having me in the room," he replied.

"It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress before she walks down the aisle," Mrs. Parker told Erik.

"Madam, I made the dress," Erik reminded her. "And I doubt anyone other than Sariel and myself are capable of helping Lenore put it on correctly."

"Well, we have Sariel, that's enough," Mrs. Parker smiled.

"I may be an archangel, but I cannot help her into the dress without another archangel or immortal present," Sariel shrugged.

"Whyever not?" Mrs. Parker snarled, turning to look at Sariel. Which was when she caught sight of Lenore, who was already in her undergarments. "Lenore! Cover yourself, don't you have any modesty?"

"Mom, look around. There's only women, the man I've slept with and am about to marry, and a cat in the room. I seriously doubt that anyone's terribly shocked," Lenore reasoned as she removed her brassiere. Kathleen and Ember were already holding the gown open at her feet and Lenore stepped into it, letting them help her get her arms through the sleeves.

"Erik and I shall take it from here," Sariel said when it came time to lace up the gown in the back.

"Oh please! I think Kathleen and I are capable of pulling laces taut and tying a bow," Ember complained.

---

"Ember, you don't know how to properly lace it up," Erik argued as Sariel took Lenore into her arms, wrapping one arm around Lenore's waist and the other around her shoulders. Erik took the laces and began deftly threading them through the eyelets in the back of the garment. "Women of this day and age have rather lost the knowledge. As this dress is meant to be worn without undergarments, the corset must close completely in the back, leaving no gap whatsoever. While you might be able to close it, I doubt you'll tie the laces in the proper places. Also, if you don't take care in lacing it, you could end up pinching her skin, and she'll have to suffer that pain for several hours, as we won't have enough time to re-lace it between the ceremony and the reception." Erik had threaded the laces halfway down the back of the bodice at this point. "Lenore, breathe in and hold it. Sariel, make sure you hold on tightly." When Lenore had her breath held, Erik gave a firm tug on the laces and slowly increased the pressure on the laces until the fabric touched in the back. He deftly tied a knot in the laces at that point to keep it from loosening on her upper half. "You can breathe now, ma petite," Erik informed Lenore.

Her breath came out in a ragged gasp. "Now I know why these went out of fashion," she complained. "Erik, I'd rather like to be conscious during the ceremony rather than fainting from not being able to breathe."

"I would prefer you conscious myself, which is why I had you breathe in before I pulled the laces taut; that way, it will only feel like restriction if you take a deep breath," Erik replied as he threaded the long tails from the first knot through the lower eyelets.

"Wait, you're doing that wrong," Ember said. "You're supposed to go from top to middle, then bottom to middle."

"That's for amateurs who are inexperienced," Erik informed Ember. "Or for people who are lacing their corset without assistance." Erik had finished the rest of the lacing. When Erik nodded to Sariel to let her know he had the laces firmly in hand, she released Lenore from her grip.

"What are you doing?" Mrs. Parker shrieked when Sariel's hands came into contact with Lenore's breasts.

"I'm readjusting the position of her breasts," Sariel explained. "If I don't, they'll end up bruised by the end of the night." Sariel paused and stepped back, examining Lenore's bosom for a brief moment before resuming her adjustments. "I think that will do," she said when Lenore's bosom was positioned to her satisfaction, which (from what Erik could see in the mirror on the wall) made Lenore's bosom look a cup size larger than what it truly was.

Sariel took Lenore back in a firm grip. "Another breath, darling," Erik instructed. Moments later, he was tightening the laces once again. He took his time with tying this knot, as the ends of the laces had to be perfectly even for appearance.

"One of us could have held her while Sariel did the lacing," Kathleen mumbled.

"I'm afraid not," Sariel said. "As an archangel, I have far greater physical strength than mortals. When I pulled the laces, I would've ripped her out of your grip. So you can see the need to have another immortal assist in the process."

Lenore was released and went to look at herself in the mirror. "Holy satin corset, Batman! I look…really…gorgeous," Lenore exclaimed.

Erik smiled; he designed that dress to flatter her body in every way. The neckline was just low enough to catch a glimpse of her cleavage line, which was properly modest and attractive at the same time. The corset-like bodice emphasized the hourglass figure she'd been gifted with in Second Life. The skirt had been constructed with great care to ensure she appeared to float on air rather than walk. Every inch of the fabric was embroidered in a rose pattern, beads attached for dewdrops on the rosebuds. It had taken several hours for each rose, and there were over five hundred roses embroidered on the skirt alone.

Kathleen and Ember had to put Lenore's shoes on for her, as the properly laced bodice made it next to impossible unless Lenore was a contortionist. He had made the shoes as well, and it had taken a great deal of time also. The heels were made of diamond, cut so thinly that it appeared to be glass. He had etched roses onto the heels to match the dress.

Erik had gone to all these extreme pains to make sure Lenore would have the fairytale wedding she'd always dreamed of.

---

Uriel sat in the front pew, feeling somewhat depressed. She was marrying another man, and he really wished it had gone differently. He didn't blame her or wish for her marriage to go badly, but he couldn't help feeling sad.

Her family and friends filled the pews behind him, and he heard many people asking one another if they recognized the six strangers in the front pew. The six strangers being the six archangels. Many of the younger available men were discussing Gabriel's looks, as poor Gabriel had appeared as a woman yet again. And the available young women were trying to decide which of the five men they wanted to ask to dance at the reception.

The archangels avoided looking at the groom's side of the church, as eleven immortals and Satan himself were seated there, talking cheerfully amongst themselves and occasionally shooting suggestive smiles at the young women, who would blush and return to looking at the archangels.

Uriel was actually quite delighted when Bishop came tearing down the aisle. Lenore's family desperately tried to catch the poor cat, but Bishop was too determined and managed to make it to the front pew. Jumping up onto the bench next to Uriel, the cat sat down calmly as if he hadn't just been running like his life depended on it. Bishop sat his fish toy down in front of him, informing Uriel that this was his friend and playmate, Fishy.

As intelligent as Bishop was due to Uriel's help, it seemed the cat didn't understand that Fishy wasn't alive and Uriel was expected to treat it as if it breathed air like any other animal. So Uriel said hello to the rubber squeaky fish and asked how it was.

"Are you talking to"- Raphael began to ask.

"You don't want to know," Uriel told Raphael.

---

Lenore took a deep breath, which rather hurt due to the tightly laced bodice, but she barely noticed the pain. Ember had just gone out and in moments, Lenore would be walking down the aisle. She clung to Hiroshi's arm, trying not to cry.

"Daddy?" she said softly, her voice trembling. "What if"-

"You're ready, darling," Hiroshi cut her off. "I know you are. I wouldn't let you marry him if I wasn't sure." He deftly pulled the veil over her face.

Lenore nodded and sniffled, trying her hardest not to cry. She clutched her bouquet of twelve purple roses tightly, worried that if she loosened her grip, she'd drop the bouquet due to how badly her hands were trembling.

That was when she heard the music signifying her entrance. "Don't cry, kitten," Hiroshi whispered right before they stepped out.

She remembered how many times in the past he'd told her that, times when she fallen and scraped her knees, times when she'd cried to him over the phone that she didn't have any friends at Harvard. He always said life was too short for tears. And that was always followed with a short story about how she was going to marry a fabulous man and live happily ever after. And if you knew I wouldn't smack you for it, you'd say "I told you so."

As they started down the aisle on the white carpet that had been laid out for the occasion, her eyes caught Erik's and she couldn't help but smile. She didn't notice anyone in the pews at all, because he was all she could see at that moment in time. It seemed like one second she was at the end of the aisle and the next she was kneeling on a cushion on Erik's left before the priest.

"Dearly beloved," the priest began, "we have come together in this church so that the Lord may seal and strengthen the love of this man and this woman in the presence of the Church's minister and this community. Christ abundantly blesses this love." He turned his attention to Erik and Lenore, no longer addressing the entire congregation. "He has already consecrated you in baptism and now he enriches and strengthens you by a special sacrament so that you may assume the duties of marriage in mutual and lasting fidelity."

This was followed by a Penitential Rite, which ended with the Kyrie Eleison. There was an opening prayer and then the readings began. Sariel had the reading from the Old Testament.

Halfway through her reading, a scowl suddenly appeared on Sariel's face. She paused for a brief second, then continued on for a few more words. Suddenly, she slammed the Bible closed. "Oh fine," she snarled. "I beg your pardon for a moment." With that she disappeared, reappearing moments later shrugging off the black robe of Death. "I'm terribly sorry about that, but it seems the Pope couldn't wait five more minutes to die," she explained. "Now where was I?" The priest, choir, organists, and any other Catholics present made the sign of the cross and bowed their head in a brief moment of sorrow. "Oh yes." Picking up where she left off, Sariel didn't seem to notice the stares of Lenore's family and friends.

The priest did his absolute best not to appear in awe of Sariel's appearance and disappearance, and led the congregation through a Responsorial Psalm. Lenore noted that Erik's 'guests' didn't participate, which actually made her quite glad, as it would have been mockery if they did.

When Mark and Tori had done their readings, the wedding party sat down (with the exception of Erik and Lenore, who remained kneeling on the cushions) and the priest delivered a short sermon about marriage.

"I now ask the congregation to stand," the priest said at the end of his sermon. As soon as everyone had risen (with the exception of Erik and Lenore, as they were not to move from their cushions until the final blessing had been given) and the wedding party had come forward once again, the priest addressed Erik. "Have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to this woman in marriage?"

"I have," Erik answered.

"Will you love and honor her as your wife for the rest of your life?"

"I will," Erik promised.

"Will you accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"

"I will."

The priest then turned to Lenore. "Have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to this man in marriage?" he asked.

"I have," Lenore said as tears came charging forward. She held them back desperately, not wanting to cry through the ceremony.

"Will you love and honor him as your husband for the rest of your life?"

"I will," she responded with a sniffle, the tears starting to win the battle.

"Will you accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"

"I will." At least that statement didn't give her tears more strength to break free of her control. She already knew they wouldn't have children and it really didn't bother her that much. She'd never really been fond of children.

"Since it is your intention to enter into this marriage, I ask that the father of the bride come forward and join this couple's right hands as a sign of his consent," the priest continued.

Hiroshi rose and approached the two as Erik and Lenore turned on their cushions to face one another. Taking Lenore's right hand, he gave it a quick kiss before taking Erik's hand and joining the two.

When Hiroshi returned to his seat, the priest spoke again. "At this time, I ask that you declare your consent before God and his Church."

"I, Erik, take you, Lenore, 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," Erik vowed.

"I, Lenore," she began, pausing to sniffle as the tears won the fight and started to make their way down her cheeks, "take you, Erik, 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."

"You have declared your consent before the Church. May the Lord in His goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with His blessings. What God has joined, men must not divide. Amen," the priest said. Diego came forward with the rings, and Ember and Darius took the rings from the boy before handing them to the priest. "May the Lord bless these rings which you give to each other as the sign of your love and fidelity," the man continued as he blessed the rings.

The priest extended the Bible with the rings on it, and Erik took the ring he had purchased for Lenore, a platinum band with a single round diamond. "With this ring, I thee wed, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. With all my worldly goods I thee endow," Erik recited as he slid the ring onto her left hand.

Lenore reached out a trembling hand and took the ring she had chosen, also a platinum band with Celtic braids engraved on the outside. Inside was the phrase "Nunc scio quit sit amor" which was translated "Now I know what love is". She did her best to keep her voice steady when she replied, "Take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. With all my worldly goods I thee endow."

---

The last of the guests who had participated in the Eucharist were returning to their seats. Erik knew that in ten minutes, this wedding would be official. Nothing could ruin this moment.

A squeak suddenly echoed through the practically silent Madeleine. Everyone immediately turned in the direction of the squeak. There sat Bishop on the front pew, that stupid toy in his mouth, looking somewhat embarrassed at having disturbed the silence. The cat timidly released the toy, which made a softer but still audible squeak when it hit the bench.

Lenore, who had been in tears of joy since making her vows, started to giggle. Erik squeezed her hands gently to get her attention and gave her a stern look that he hoped would help her regain a more serious attitude. She mouthed the words 'I'm sorry' while trying desperately to get her laughter under control. After a few moments, she regained her composure.

The priest gave the final blessing and the entire wedding party moved to the sacristy to sign the register while the congregation sang the closing hymn. When it was finally their turn, Erik signed his first name in perfect script, then gave Lenore the pen, who signed her first name with a trembling hand. Erik fully expected her to give the pen back, but instead she proceeded to sign their last name. Our last name. Such a simple, yet wonderful thought.

Returning to the altar, Erik was pleased to see Lenore remembered not to kneel on the cushions. (She'd had so many problems with that in rehearsal.) As the congregation fell silent at the end of the hymn, the priest spoke. "You may now kiss the bride," he told Erik.

Erik lifted the veil, carefully folding it back over the tiara. She was close to tears again. Even though it would cheer her up immensely, a passionate kiss would be inappropriate at the moment. This kiss would have to be simple. His gloved hand gently tilted her chin up and his lips met hers in a tender kiss that lasted for a few brief seconds.

"I have the pleasure of presenting to you on this fine day Monsieur and Madam Erik Dessler," the priest declared.

---

"Remind me why we need so many photographs," Erik murmured in her ear as the photographer's assistant rounded up Lenore's immediate family for a few shots.

"Because I want them," Lenore replied with a smile.

"But why a photograph with family? Whatever do we need that for?" Erik complained. "I'd think you'd prefer to forget them, especially your mother."

"In a sense, she's your mother too, now," Lenore practically beamed. "I'm sure you'll learn to love listening to the same lectures over and over, and pretending to actually listen to what she says and change your oh-so-naughty ways."

"I'm beginning to question my sanity," Erik mumbled. "What possessed me to marry into this family?"

"What are you complaining about?" Lenore returned. "Just think of the family I married into!" A quick gesture of her hand took in the Condemned Circle.

"Yes, well…They won't bother us. Often," Erik ascertained.

"Alright," the photographer said happily. It seemed the assistant had gathered her immediate family together for pictures, and the photographer began arranging the group.

After multiple shots with her immediate family, the groom's family was called for. The Condemned Circle came forward, some rather slowly and unconcernedly, others bouncing forward enthusiastically (Satan being one of the eager members of Erik's 'family'). Hiroshi stayed where he was.

"Mr. Wolfe, I think"- the photographer began to say.

"Oh, I'm related to both of them," Hiroshi replied with a smile.

The photographer opened his mouth to dispute Hiroshi's claim, but Lenore stopped him. "This is fine. Let's just take the pictures; we have a reception to be getting to, after all." After the shots had been taken, Lenore whipped around and glared at the immortals who'd been standing behind her. "Whichever one of you groped me is dead," she hissed. Erik added his glare to hers, narrowing his eyes as he studied the immortals that were suspected.

"That would be me," Satan admitted.

Lenore grit her teeth and tried to count to ten to cool off. She ended up having to count to thirty before she could address him without losing her temper and just punching the bastard. "I'm a married woman, so keep your hands off or lose them," she snarled.

Erik gently moved Lenore to the side, then decked the prince of darkness. Some members of the Circle chuckled in amusement, others worriedly dropped down beside Satan, fanning him and imploring him to come around, and Raghnall quickly scribbled down a few notes. The photographer looked severely worried; Lenore doubted the man ever had the groom punch someone from the groom's own family before.

"It's a very…unique family," Lenore said in explanation. "Did you happen to get a picture of Erik decking Lucifer?"

"Well, it just so happens I did," the photographer replied, looking at her curiously.

"Good, I'll want eight copies of that," Lenore smiled.

"I would think one would suffice," Erik commented.

"Seven are for the thank you cards for the archangels. I think that'd be the perfect picture for their cards, don't you?"

"Kitten, that's not very nice of you," Hiroshi chided. "Just think how Lucifer will feel when he finds out."

"It wasn't very nice of him to grope me, just think how I felt when I found out," Lenore replied sweetly.

A mass of photographs later, Erik and Lenore were seated in the back of a horse drawn carriage, on their way to the reception in the Opera House. Bishop had gone on ahead with Uriel, which Lenore was actually quite thankful for as she didn't want cat fur all over her gown. (Had Bishop been along, he would be quivering on her lap, shedding enough fur to make five other cats.)

"So, there hasn't been any bloodshed yet," Lenore remarked.

"I'm quite surprised Michael's restrained himself this long," Erik replied.

"Archangels are from Heaven, they're perfect. It's the Circle we have to watch," Lenore said.

"Well, we don't have to worry about Raghnall; he's far too busy taking notes on your entire family."

"Oh God," Lenore sighed, imagining him interrogating one of her family members right now.

"God has nothing to do with it."

"If He has any sense, one of the archangels will find a way to keep Raghnall occupied," she prayed.

"Must we discuss this?" Erik sighed in annoyance.

"What do you mean by that? I'm merely concerned that our reception will be ruined by your dysfunctional family."

"This is our wedding day, chérie. Perhaps, for once, we could converse without bringing up immortals or archangels," Erik suggested.

"You're a regular comedian," Lenore responded.

"I was serious," Erik informed her.

"When they're all at our wedding and reception, and one of the archangels is a bridesmaid, an immortal is my father, and an immortal is your best man, it becomes a bit difficult not to talk about them."

"Forget that they're archangels or immortals. Just think of them as normal people for tonight," Erik proposed.

"I suppose I'll need some to distraction to manage that," Lenore said with a devious grin. "Oh, Erik, just so you know, people are going to tap their glasses with a spoon at random moments during dinner. Whenever they do that, it means we're supposed to kiss. They won't stop until we do, so be prepared to comply in a timely fashion."

"What a joy this will be," Erik said sarcastically. "Would you please explain the point of the reception again?"

"No. I've told you a million times before, and if you haven't grasped it yet, then you're never going to."

"You seem to be a bit short on nerves," Erik commented. He leaned over and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

"I think I'll need a bit more than that to make me loosen up," Lenore told him.

"There's only so much I can do in the back of a carriage, ma petite."

"Then get started," she giggled.

Erik smirked before pulling her in for a passionate, soul-stealing kiss. She felt him link with her mind as he pulled away and moments later, she was panting with ecstasy as she came to orgasm. Dear God, he's not even touching me. Quite a talented husband I have.

The display of Erik's talents wrapped up mere moments before the carriage halted outside the Opera House. "You're naughty," Lenore scolded him.

"It's not at all improper, seeing as how we're married," Erik replied with a mischievous smirk.

"You and your logic," she sighed as he got out of the carriage then offered her a hand. She took the proffered assistance, despite the fact that she was more than capable of stepping out of a carriage by herself.

---

Erik was going to hunt down whomever had thought up the stupid tradition of having people tap glasses with a spoon to get the newlyweds to kiss, and when he found this person, he would torment their soul for eternity. The main course had just been served, and Erik had already lost count of the number of times during the entrée that they had to pause in the middle of eating to quiet the racket made by people wanting to see them kiss.

There it goes again… Erik thought bitterly as he heard someone tapping their spoon on their glass. Moments later, most of the guests had joined that person. Perhaps… Erik quickly moved his plate, glass, and utensils off to the side, confusing Darius quite a bit in the process. Erik then proceeded to move Lenore's things, which she protested as quietly as she knew how (in other words, kicking him under the table). Once things were out of the way, Erik stood, picked her up out of her chair, and laid her down on the table as he began kissing her rather passionately.

As he slid his tongue into her mouth, he climbed onto the table, straddling her. Perhaps if the guests got the impression things might get out of hand, they'd stop tapping their glasses.

"Save it for the honeymoon, Erik," Hiroshi called out.

"Shush!" Raghnall chided. "This is a spectacular opportunity for study!"

"You shut up, you freak," Mrs. Parker snarled at Raghnall. "Lenore, behave yourself!"

"Technically, it's Erik that's misbehaving," Hiroshi pointed out. "And even then, you can't really blame him. It wasn't his idea that someone should tap their glass."

"Lenore, get off that table!" Mrs. Parker commanded, blushing with embarrassment at her daughter's scandalous behavior.

Lenore complied with her mother's wishes, but not in the manner her mother meant. Lenore wrapped her arms around Erik's neck and her legs around his waist, pulling her body up off the table.

"Well you know she's a Parker," her uncle Beanie called out.

"Erik, do try to remember that there are young impressionable children present," Kathleen pointed out. "Like Lucinda."

Erik climbed down off the table, returning to his seat, still locked in the kiss. Lenore finally broke it, and she smiled down at him. "You're incorrigible," she accused, removing her limbs from his person.

"And you enjoy it," Erik replied as she seated herself in her chair.

"Yes, though I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing," Lenore said as Ember handed Lenore her plate and glass.

"Since you enjoy it, the natural assumption would be that it's good."

"If you say so," she chuckled. "But you know, you really shouldn't've laid me out on the table like that. My mom hates you enough as it is."

"I really don't see how she could possibly hate me any more than she already does, so it makes no difference," Erik muttered.

"Just smile and pretend to like her, for my sake," Lenore instructed.

"You want me to lie?"

"I didn't say lie; I said pretend. It's like playing a game."

"I don't like that game," Erik informed her.

"Neither do I, but I play it. And if I have to, then you do too."

"That's rather cruel."

"It's a harsh world aboveground, Erik," Lenore replied.

"Sounds like something I would say," he murmured under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, chérie."

"Don't make me kick you again," she threatened.

"If you do, I'll tip you out of that chair," Erik warned.

Lenore's face darkened; she knew he'd keep that promise and she didn't want to be embarrassed like that in front of these people. "Just wait till we're alone," she hissed.

"You're the one who wanted the reception, ma chouchoute," Erik said with a laughing smile. "Otherwise, we would be alone right now."

"Don't think you're going to have a pleasant wedding night," Lenore informed him, anger flashing in her eyes.

"We both know you can't stay mad at me for long," Erik pointed out. "And if you were absolutely determined to ruin the night…well, I can easily change your mind." He made sure to put special emphasize on the word 'change'.

"Rotten knave," she insulted him.

"Once again, you accuse me of being dishonest. I really must protest such accusations, darling," Erik sighed.

Their bickering continued throughout dinner, and if the sound of idle chatter had not been present, Erik would've thought they were back in the lair, so many years ago, sharing a meal together. They only quieted when Darius stood to make the first toast.

"Where to begin," Darius sighed once everyone had quieted down. "I don't think Allah ever created two people who were so alike. I rather feel that you deserve each other, and the hell you will suffer over the most ridiculous things, such as repainting the bedroom, or purchasing new furniture. I do not mean that in a cruel fashion. I just rather feel it's about time Erik found someone who has the nerve to challenge his authority. From what I've seen of Lenore, it would seem she's also due to find someone who won't let her have her way all the time. I believe this marriage will help both of you grow as people, and I wish you many occasions to embrace such growth. To the bride and groom."

The room echoed the last phrase and sipped their champagne as Darius took a seat, looking relieved that his toast was over.

"Gee, Darius, that was…different," Ember said politely as she stood to give her toast. "Most of you don't know this, but Lenore knew this was coming from the very beginning. I recall the first time I saw the two of them together. Erik had a knife at her throat and threatened to kill her if I told anyone I'd seen him. I asked her if she was trying to get herself killed, and she immediately defended him, and went on to claim they had chemistry. Her words went something along the lines of "We haven't had dinner together or anything, but I think we might have a special connection. We met, I screamed, he demanded money…all the classic beginnings of a romance." So as you see, long before anything began, our Lenore just knew. Then there was their first…outing together. I helped Erik pick out clothes, as I couldn't possibly let him go out in that ancient, fancy attire, no matter how sexy he looked in it. So I took him shopping for some modern clothes that would do him justice. We had a bit of difficulty finding pants that fit, but in the end, it all worked out, and I accompanied them on their date to the Louvre. Despite my good intentions, that didn't work out quite like I planned it. It seems the best laid plans always end up falling apart. I remember another such occasion upon which Rosalyn and myself helped Lenore into a rather seductive little outfit to encourage physical intimacy. Once again, something went wrong and the plan failed. Despite these failures, in the dark basement of the Opera House, Cupid managed to find his target. He shot his arrow with amazing precision and perhaps a bit too much enthusiasm, as love gave Erik the courage to stand up to our mother. I remember quite vividly the night he slapped Mom, challenged her ownership of Lenore, and threatened her life. I was trying to figure out who was going to kill who first, or if they'd manage to kill each other at the same moment. Erik decided to be a gentleman, though, whisking Lenore away without murdering our mother. That night, he proposed to her in a rather…unique fashion. And the first thing she said after that proposal was "Erik, did you drink a lot of wine with dinner?" Not exactly what a man wants to hear when he proposes marriage. The next day, Erik told her he would wait as long as it took for her to want to be his bride. And I give him props for loyalty, let me tell you. This man has been waiting for twenty two years. He waited through the time she ran away and was put in the psych ward, he waited through the month she spent in Italy, he waited through her indecision after she saw beneath the mask, he waited through her death and the following years while she grew up all over again, he waited through her very brief opera career, he waited through her vacation in Hawaii…Erik is unbelievably devoted to Lenore, and I doubt anyone can show me another man who would've waited and remained faithful through all that. And Lenore…let me just say, I've never met a woman so stubborn that she wouldn't give up on this romance. Erik can have quite a temper, and any other woman would've given up moments after the first quarrel. But Lenore stuck it out, even though he always got the better of her in every altercation, despite the times he slammed her into a wall, or slapped her, or washed her mouth out with soap, or spanked her for not taking her medicine, and any other occasions I haven't had the privilege of being informed of. Erik, may your loyalty never fade, despite how indecisive and difficult my sister will prove to be. Lenore, cling to your stubborn nature, as I'm certain there will be many quarrels in the future. Perhaps, just for tonight, you two could manage to stop fighting and enjoy the celebratory atmosphere, instead of threatening to kick one another, tip each other out of chairs, deny one another the bliss of the wedding night, and any of the other threats you exchanged during the meal just now. To the bride and groom, may they manage to find happiness and avoid having children."

The guests raised their glasses and drank, still chuckling from Ember's toast.

Lenore stood at this time. "Well, apparently I'm supposed to toast my parents. But before I do that, I've got another toast I want to make, as I feel I rather owe him one due to the absolutely beautiful things he said about me on Thanksgiving. He told us why he loved me, and that he was thankful for me, and I've yet to return the favor. To an arrogant, possessive, stubborn man, I raise my glass. He guides me through the darkness that I find alluring, keeping me safe from harm no matter how difficult a task I manage to make that. He understands and agrees with my view of society, and he has seen me more clearly than anyone else on this earth. For telling me he loved me and waiting for so very long to come to this day, and for not letting little facts like mortality get in the way of our relationship, he is to be commended. As Judy Garland said, "For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul." To Erik."

Erik was blushing furiously under the mask for having received such compliments from Lenore. She quickly moved on with the next toast, so attention didn't linger on him.

"Now, here is where this becomes difficult, having two rather separate parenting experiences in my life. Firstly, I propose we drink to the father that can't be here today, the man who showed me how to endure countless pains and sufferings the world would throw at me. The world would pile burdens on him, and he never said "it's not fair" or "I'm not going to deal with this because I don't want to". He said "this is the way it is and I'm going to deal with this because I have to, because ignoring it or giving up won't make it better". If I hadn't seen such strength when I was growing up, I have no doubt that I would've drowned in despair and given up on life after the accident. Without him, I wouldn't have pulled through that difficult time, and I never would've met Erik; I wouldn't be here without the strength he gave me." Tears were making steady paths down Lenore's face, but her voice had been firm. At this point, however, it broke. "And Daddy, I wish you could be here today, because I know that, even though you'd hate him for taking me away, you'd see that this man possesses all of your positive traits. He's honest and loyal. He's got that strength you gave me. He knows that sometimes, I'm a little girl who needs protection, and other times, I'm a woman who needs to be free to make her own decisions and learn life's lessons for herself. He warns me not to run, because he knows I'll trip and scrape my knees. And when that happens because I wouldn't listen, because I was too busy trying to be a woman, he'll pick me up and kiss away the tears the little girl cries from being hurt. He gets me up early in the morning, complaining that I'm wasting the day by laying in bed, and he tells me that I shouldn't eat so much chocolate because it's not good for me. He does his best to look out for me, just like you used to do. To my father."

The guests somberly drank to that toast, a good many of them close to or actually in tears.

"As for my mother. You gave me a beautiful dream, even though it was never your intent. You were always so concerned about what society sees, how people judge others. You taught me that living up to expectations could take you anywhere, could let you be anything. So I practiced and practiced, until I was a perfect actress who could know and live up to the expectations of everyone I met. I've been so many things to so many different people. I've been a friend, a close companion, a perfect daughter, a diva, a lover, a fighter, a rebel, a conformist…you name it, I've successfully played that part. I can be anything, no matter my past or how I feel at the moment. So don't ever tell anyone they can't be something, or they can't do something. Because I know that's not true. All you have to do is want it bad enough," Lenore said. "To my mother."

"Hiroshi," Lenore sighed after everyone drank to Mrs. Parker. "Well, you always gave me everything I wanted. Granted, I didn't get that doll house the day I wanted it, but I did get it eventually. Not only did you give me everything I wanted, you gave me talents Erik wished I had been privileged to have in my First Life, like being able to play the piano. You were always there right when I needed you, you always knew when something was wrong. And you told me to never let little things get me down, not to let the fact that I didn't have friends bother me. You assured me that there was a beautiful happily ever after waiting for me, if I could just hang on for a little while longer, just keep trying for a few more days. Most importantly, you brought me back to Erik. I honestly never expected that from you. You gave me that Second Life, and I was sure you'd leave me to my own devices, but instead, you jumped in and didn't hesitate to get your hands dirty clearing the road you knew I would want to take and then guiding me down it. To Hiroshi, for giving far more than he had to."

Hiroshi actually seemed somewhat embarrassed by her words; Erik could tell the man was blushing. Done with her toasts, Lenore reseated herself. Hiroshi stood, giving what would be the last toast of the evening.

"I'm deeply touched that you believe I gave more than I had to. I always worried that I wasn't giving enough," Hiroshi began. "Erik, you are a friend I deeply cherish. When I learned what was going to happen to Lenore, I knew you'd be deeply hurt. I came to visit, so that I would recognize her when she came for Judgment, I arranged for her to be offered Second Life, and it was all done to please you. Erik, when you died in my arms so long ago, I felt something I'd never felt before. Unselfish love for another. I knew how horrible your past had been, and I wanted everything else to be perfect for you for the rest of time. I hated how unfair and cruel Fate had been, and I wanted to do everything I could to force Fate to do my bidding and make everything wonderful for you. When Christine did not return with you, I felt as if I had failed. I kept looking back, trying to figure out what I'd done wrong. It took me quite a long time to ask Lucifer why my plan had backfired. And he laughed at me, making me feel like such a fool. Because Christine was never meant for you. She did not have the capacity to love you, she didn't have the stubbornness and determination to make you see her as a person instead of an object, and she was quite incapable of ever growing up, of ever needing a lover instead of a father. Fate had not only marred your appearance, it seemed she had thrown you into a time you did not belong in, a time where you would never find a woman who would be meant for you. But then, there came along a little girl, who wasn't the most beautiful and knew that personality far surpassed looks when it came to relationships. A little girl who was so tired of always being in the light, that she wanted to run for the shadows and hide in darkness, if only someone else who could love her would be there with her, keeping her safe and warm. Plans were set in motion, to do everything we could to bring her to you. Everything seemed to go right; she got excellent grades without much effort and we manage to ensure her scholarships. Our intention was for her to go to Harvard or Yale, become a wealthy businesswoman and meet you when she was around the age of twenty eight. But we stumbled when she was eighteen, tripping over part of God's plan we hadn't seen. Lucifer saw an opportunity to mold her for you even more than she already was, and took it. And so we created a new plan and pushed it forward. But it seems we shouldn't have been running, because we tripped again over that heart condition. I was determined to make sure we got everything right the third time around. When I claimed to be her father for her Second Life, it was out of love for you. But as she grew, I started to understand why you loved her, to see the beauty inside that she hid from me in her First Life. And so I came to do things out of love for her, sometimes quite forgetting that Erik was the reason I began being a father in the first place. But one day, I looked at her, and the child was gone, replaced by a woman. I knew then that I was going to make the two most important people of my life happy, that I was going to give them a fairy tale ending that they both very much deserved. May you have the most blissful of marriages, with few bumps in the road. And if Fate tries to mess things up, let me know and I'll go beat the snot out of that bitch. To the bride and groom."

Though not sure they understood everything he'd said, the guests took another sip of the champagne.

"I've had enough of this emotional soberness, so I believe it's time we moved on," Hiroshi said. "Start the music, George." George, Olivia's boyfriend, was the DJ for the night. (Erik was still a bit uncertain as to what a disc jockey was, much less what a disc jockey did. Lenore had told him that a disc jockey had nothing to do with horses, but Erik couldn't see how a jockey could exist without having some relation to horses.)

---

"Yo, 'sup people?" George said into the microphone. "I'm gonna need the bride and the groom on the dance floor, cuz we gotta do that whole first dance thing."

Lenore shook her head, still wondering why they'd agreed to let George be the DJ. Oh well, can't change it now.

"Come on," Lenore said to Erik, standing up.

"Do we really have to do this?" Erik asked, already getting up and taking her hand.

"Do you really have to ask?" Lenore replied.

"If I say no, does that mean we don't have to do it?"

"You could say 'pink elephants' and still have to do it," Lenore answered as they headed for the center of the entrance hall. (Dinner had been taken along the side of the entrance hall, and George was set up in a balcony above the main floor.)

"Okay, it looks like they've reached the center. Can't really tell, I'm so far away from the whole thing," George complained. "Anyway, it's my honor to present to you in public for the first time, unless you count the church, Erik and Lenore Dessler."

The music began to play, and Lenore slipped the middle finger of her left hand into the small loop Erik had placed on the skirt of her gown so that she could lift the train and make dancing easier. The song was a karaoke version, as Lenore wanted to sing this song with Erik rather than just dance to it. Lenore began:

We were strangers, starting out on a journey.

Never dreaming what we'd have to go through.

Now here we are and I'm suddenly standing

At the beginning with you.

Erik took the next few lines:

No one told me I was going to find you.

Unexpected, what you did to my heart.

Lenore joined in with a harmony at this point.

When I lost hope, you were there to remind me

This is the start.

Life is a road and I want to keep going.

Love is a river I want to keep flowing.

Life is a road, now and forever,

Wonderful journey.

I'll be there when the world stops turning,

I'll be there when the storm is through.

In the end I want to be standing at the beginning

With you.

The next lines were back to Lenore solo.

We were strangers

On a crazy adventure.

Then Erik took over once again.

Never dreaming

How our dreams would come true.

This time, Lenore took the melody and Erik slid into a harmony.

Now here we stand, unafraid of the future.

At the beginning with you.

And life is a road and I want to keep going.

Love is a river I want to keep flowing.

Life is a road, now and forever,

Wonderful journey.

I'll be there when the world stops turning.

I'll be there when the storm is through.

In the end I want to be standing at the beginning

With you.

At this point, they both had the melody.

I knew there was somebody somewhere,

Like me alone in the dark.

Now I know my dream will live on

I've been waiting so long.

Nothing's going to tear us apart.

Life is a road and I want to keep going,

Love is a river I want to keep flowing.

Life is a road, now and forever,

Wonderful journey.

I'll be there when the world stops turning.

I'll be there when the storm is through.

In the end I want to be standing at the beginning

With you.

Life is a road and I want to keep going,

Love is a river I want to keep going on…

Starting out on a journey.

Life is a road and I want to keep going,

Love is a river I want to keep flowing.

In the end I want to be standing at the beginning

With you.

As the last few strands of the music floated through the air, Lenore slid her arms around Erik's neck, pulling him down for a kiss. "I like irony," she whispered when they broke apart. Erik raised an eyebrow questioningly. "The first time you spoke to me, I was standing in the entrance hall. Maybe not this exact spot, but…we're standing at the beginning."

"So we are. But this time, I'm not in the walls," Erik replied. "I find it an improvement."

"I'm quite fond of it myself. Kinda hard to dance with someone if they're hidden in the wall."

"Okay, now we've got the father bride dance," George announced.

Erik escorted Lenore over to Hiroshi. Lenore was actually glad to see Hiroshi for once; her mother had tried desperately to have it be a mother bride dance, but Lenore used the excuse that Hiroshi was a father to her, and since she had a father, she should do the father bride dance.

"I didn't think you'd want to dance with me; you were never very fond of me in First Life," Hiroshi commented softly as they took the dance floor.

"Well, you're a hell of a lot better choice than my mom. And besides, you were a good dad," Lenore responded.

Lenore had chosen "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion for this dance. Most of the traditional father bride songs just weren't right for them, but this song felt right to her. She had opted not to sing this one, which turned out to be a good thing. Barely thirty seconds into the song, she was already crying.

"Don't start that," Hiroshi whispered. "If you cry, then I'm going to cry."

"I can't help it," she sniffled. "Everything's going to change, and I won't be with you anymore."

"I could move in with you and Erik," Hiroshi proposed. She chuckled in spite of her tears. "Well, everything is going to change, that's true. And you won't be living with me anymore, another fact that can't be disputed. But that doesn't mean I'll stop being your father. So there's nothing to cry about. And I'll come visit. As often as you like."

When the song ended, Lenore did one thing she'd never thought she'd do. She hugged him with all the strength she possessed. One last moment of clinging to her father, one last moment of being a little girl who was scared to be on her own. "I love you, Daddy," she whispered in his ear. And she meant it; memories from her Second Life had showed her a side of this man that she wouldn't have believed existed, and she knew that the only thing that kept her from loving him as a father had been her stubborn hatred from First Life.

"I love you too, kitten," he replied.

---

Erik checked his pocket watch. Almost seven thirty. The reception had begun two hours ago. After the first few dances, there had been more pictures, and then more dancing. There was a good deal of socializing mixed into all that, and Erik wondered exactly how much longer this reception was going to last.

Lenore was hanging on his arm, talking with one of her aunts, or maybe it was a cousin. He wasn't really sure. Olivia came over and tapped him on the shoulder. "Time to cut the cake," she whispered.

"Chérie, I believe we have somewhere to be," Erik said to Lenore, interrupting her conversation.

"Oh, alright. I'll talk to you later, Tamara," Lenore promised as Erik dragged her to the cake.

"You know, I find weddings have far too many traditions that require execution," Erik complained. "I'd like to be in our hotel suite at a reasonable hour tonight."

"We'll get there eventually, don't fret," Lenore advised. "And whatever you do, don't drop cake down my dress."

"I had no intentions of staining the garment," Erik replied.

"Mark dropped cake down Tori's dress at their wedding," Lenore explained. "A bit of the icing was in plain sight on her bosom and Mark didn't hesitate to lick it off. But I'd rather not have you do that in front of my mom. I know we're married, but I think she's had all she can take what with the table incident."

"Well, I'll try not to let my fingers slip," Erik promised.

"If your fingers slip, mine just might mash the cake in your face," she chuckled, clearly not meaning a word of that.

George announced the cutting of the cake moments after Erik and Lenore reached the table holding that exquisite specimen of cake. When the guests had gathered around, George started the music. Erik didn't recognize the song, but Lenore seemed to, for she started laughing.

"Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard," she explained as she picked up the knife with her right hand.

Not the explanation meant anything to Erik. He placed his left hand over her right, as he was left-handed and therefore needed to use his dominant hand if they wanted to make a cut resembling a straight line.

When they had the first slice, Erik took a small chunk of it and prayed that he didn't drop any down her dress. The lyrics to this song were quite…interesting, to say the least. He extended his hand and Lenore leaned forward a bit, taking the cake from his fingers with her mouth. Before he could retract his hand, she grabbed his wrist and licked the icing off his fingers in a rather suggestive manner. And you advised me not to lick icing off your breasts as you thought your mother wouldn't be able to tolerate it?

Lenore got a piece of the cake in her hands and held it out to him. She was singing along with the chorus, the lines "Pour your sugar on me, I can't get enough." Erik tried not to chuckle as he ate the cake from her fingers, returning the favor she'd bestowed on him and making certain her fingers were devoid of any icing before he pulled away.

As the cake was sliced by one of the caterers to be served to the guests, Lenore made her way up the central stairs, stopping a foot onto the landing that housed his trap door for quick escapes.

"I want all the single ladies over the age of thirteen to get together at the bottom of the stairs. It's time for the bouquet toss," George informed the crowd.

A rather large cluster of women stood at the bottom of the stairs. (Erik certainly wasn't surprised to find Christi among them; only a man who lacked intelligence would marry that creature.) The song I Want Candy started playing, and Lenore turned her back to the women. He knew she wasn't aiming for anyone in particular, as some women were rumored to do.

The bouquet went sailing and the cluster of women seemed to writhe like a pit of snakes as it descended. Two different hands clasped the bouquet and Erik heard Christi shout, "GET OFF, IT'S MINE!"

"NO WAY, IT'S MINE!" Olivia argued.

"There are a dozen roses, you could split it and share," Lenore proposed from the top of the stairs.

"No, it's mine!" both girls yelled at the same time. The cluster of women was dispersing, and the two women clutching the flowers were clearly visible. And the girls seemed to be done with talking about it, as they started swinging fists at one another and kicking viciously. Within moments, the two were rolling around on the floor, each with a hand still firmly gripping the bouquet.

Raghnall walked over to the brawling women unconcernedly and began prying Christi's hand from the bouquet. "Let go of it, Christiana. I plan to study you for a good hundred years or more, thus Olivia's bound to get married before you," Raghnall said.

"Stay out of this, you damn demon," Christi hissed, trying to fend off Raghnall and Olivia both now.

Moments later, Raghnall was dragging a struggling Christi over to his seat while Olivia crowed over having won the bouquet.

Erik headed for the stairs, grabbing a chair along the way. Why do we have to do this bit with the garter? Reaching the landing, he set the chair down and Lenore immediately plopped down on it.

"Now, Erik is about to boldly go where no man has gone before in quest of the sacred relic known as the garter," George called out.

Erik blushed beneath the mask. Why do they have to make this sound so horribly epic? I'm merely removing a simple article of clothing. As the music started, Erik got down on his knees, going for the hem of the gown. The lyrics registered in the back of his mind, something about loosening up buttons. Erik lifted the gown almost to her knee, and Lenore shifted the position of her leg, making him chase after it. She gave him a little smirk and it became a battle; every time he came close to catching hold of the garter, she moved her leg somewhere else and he had to relocate it all over again. He was distracted when she sang a few lines:

You've been sayin' all the right things all night long,

But I can't seem to get you over here to help take this off.

Have it your way. Erik, lunged forward, knocking the chair over backwards and pinning her beneath him. In moments, he managed to pin her left leg in place and his hands located the garter with ease. Most brides tended to slip the garter down to around the knee so that it would be easy to locate and she could keep her gown hem down a good bit. But Lenore had left it at it's proper position, and as such, the hem of her gown was currently situated around mid-thigh.

Erik noted that many of the men were cheering and most of the women chuckled good-naturedly. Mrs. Parker was scowling fiercely, the archangels were shaking their heads as if this were scandalous and should not be condoned, the members of the Circle were either chuckling amusedly or staring at Lenore's legs, and Hiroshi was actually praising Erik for that "spectacular show of dominance".

Lenore wriggled out from under him, suggestive smirks appearing on her face every few seconds, then made her way down the stairs.

"I need all the available men over thirteen at the bottom of the stairs," Mark announced, having taken over for George. "And Erik, George asked that you aim for him, as Olivia will kill him if he doesn't catch it. Personally, I say you aim as far from George as possible."

Erik saw Christi struggling in Raghnall's grip, shouting quite loudly that she wanted to catch something, so let her go! Hopefully this could be done before that creature managed to free herself and join the flock of men awaiting the garter toss.

---

Lenore tried her best to ignore Christi's shouts as "Sexy Boy" started to play. Erik turned his back to the men and gave the garter a rather good throw. It went flying far beyond where the men had gathered, and as such, the men turned and started running after it, staring up at it without paying the slightest bit of attention as to where they were headed. It reminded Lenore of football.

A hand shot up into the air and snatched the garter from its flight. The men fell in a pile, as if tackling the quarterback. After a few moments of men trying to untangle themselves from the heap, George shot up from the floor. "Olivia, I got it!"

Of course, had the men been paying any attention, they would've realized their tackle had occurred right in front of Raghnall and Christi. Christi finally broke free of Raghnall and leapt onto George.

"Your bitch took my bouquet!" she snarled as she started punching him. "Give me that garter!"

"Christiana, don't make me have to give you another tranquilizer," Raghnall sighed as he pushed men aside to get to her.

"I deserve something from this wedding!" Christi proclaimed. "I didn't put up with Lenore all those years for nothing! Now I want my reward!"

"I'll let you have Veleno if you'll behave yourself," Raghnall offered as he pulled her off of George. "You'll like Veleno, he's a spider demon."

If I remember correctly, Erik said they weren't allowed to mention anything that isn't related to the mortal realm. Last time I checked, demons were related to the realm of Hell. Lenore shook her head.

"Okay, George and Olivia, come on up," Mark said, sounding terribly perturbed. "George, you need to put the garter on Olivia. Every inch above the knee is worth five years good luck. And George? Don't give the Desslers too much luck."

George wasted no time in putting the garter on Olivia's leg, and Mark went to measure how far up it was. George earned a dark glare. He'd gotten it a good twelve inches up Olivia's thigh, coming rather close to a very personal area.

"Mark, I want my extra twenty years of good luck," Lenore called out.

"No, George has done enough," Mark argued.

"George, if you can get it off with your teeth, I get more luck," Lenore informed the boy.

"You've got sixty years, how much more do you need?" Tori snarled. She didn't want George removing the garter from her daughter's leg with his teeth, especially considering where the boy had put it.

"Go on, George, I won't let Mark hurt you," Jon promised.

George grinned devilishly and went after the garter.

---

Uriel had struggled to keep calm when Erik tackled Lenore off the chair. Bishop had told him that it was nothing to worry about, as the two had done the same sort of thing three times last night, though they'd taken off their fur for those occasions. (That was quite frankly far more than Uriel needed to know.)

He waited patiently through the garter toss and then that boy George placing the garter on Olivia's leg (and then removing it). When George had returned to his position as DJ and dancing had resumed, Uriel went to make a request.

---

"We've got a request here," George announced at the end of the song. Lenore looked at him curiously, as she hadn't anticipated requests for certain songs. "So, if Lenore would make sure she's on the dance floor…"

Lenore excused herself from her conversation and left Erik there as she made her way through the people who were looking at her curiously. The strands of music drifted over the floor and Uriel emerged from the crowd, extending his hand. She took it and he pulled her close. Uriel sang softly in her ear.

My life is brilliant.
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I'm sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won't lose any sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.

But I can't escape the truth.
I will never be with you.

Yeah, she caught my eye
As we walked on by.
She could see from my face that I was,
Flying high.
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.

But I can't escape the truth.
I will never be with you.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth.
I will never be with you.

Uriel released her then, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I wish you the best of luck," he told her. "Take good care of Bishop, alright?"

"I will," she promised. "Thank you."

---

Erik was getting increasingly…well…fidgety was the best way to describe it. They were almost finished opening the pile of presents, and Lenore said after that was done, they would have the last dance and then head for the hotel.

Erik had felt a good deal of anxiety when she was dancing with Uriel, but the lyrics of the song pacified him enough to keep him from going out there and seeing if he couldn't remove that other wing.

"I'm afraid to open this one," Lenore mumbled, picking up a gift whose tag claimed it was from the Condemned Circle. Erik didn't blame her. He wasn't even remotely curious as to what they'd gotten from the Circle. "You open this one," Lenore said decisively, handing him the box.

"Why me?" Erik inquired as he began slowly untying the ribbon.

"Because it's from your family."

"Our family."

"Fine, it's from your side of the family then."

Erik shook his head and opened the box. He looked up, glaring pointedly at the Circle.

"What'd we get?" Lenore asked, leaning over to have a peek. "Hm. Somehow, I wasn't expecting to receive something like that from your family. At least it's not some little mixed breed demon of Raghnall's creation."

The gift turned out to be a black leather thong that laced up the front, a black leather corset covered in chains with fishnet as the material for the cups, manacles, and a whip.

"Corrupt, sex-obsessed bastards," Erik mumbled under his breath. He knew that these would fit Lenore perfectly, as Hiroshi was sure to have given the Circle her exact measurements.

"I'm sure it could be worse," Lenore said comfortingly.

A few minutes later, the guests were dancing and mingling while Lenore and Ember organized the gifts and made a list of who'd given which gift so Lenore could send out thank you cards during the honeymoon. Erik stood close by, practically dying for this night of socializing to end.

"So, it seems you got some rather nice gifts," Satan commented, coming up to stand in front of him.

"I suppose," Erik shrugged, wondering what the point behind this idle chatter was.

"I'm sure it didn't escape your attention that you didn't get anything from me," Satan remarked in a not-so-subtle hint as to what his point might be.

"I noticed that. I figured it was a blessing and I should simply overlook your rude manners," Erik replied.

"Well, my gift is a bit hard to wrap up in a box with ribbons and tags," Satan explained. Suddenly, his hand touched Erik in a rather indecent place. Erik was reaching out to strangle him when Satan's hand dropped. "Twenty four hours, Erik."

"Twenty four hours what?" Erik snarled, still ready to choke the bastard.

"Twenty four hours that you're fertile. I suggest you make the most of it," Satan responded, turning to walk away. "This is a one time thing; I can't give you this opportunity again."

---

"Hello darling," Satan purred in her ear, standing behind her.

Lenore narrowed her eyes and continued scribbling out her list for thank you cards. "Go away," she said casually.

"That's not very nice; I'm family now," Satan informed her.

"No, you're not. And even if, in some twisted way, you are, I don't have to like you," Lenore pointed out.

"I'm sure you'll warm up to me eventually," Satan whispered in her ear as his hands snaked around her waist and rested on her lower abdomen. Just as she was about to verbally protest (and quite loudly so as to make certain someone removed Lucifer's hands from her person), he let go. "I'll see you in a few months. Have a nice honeymoon, darling."

"Well, that was just creepy," Ember commented.

"Wasn't it just?" Lenore agreed.

"I seriously think Erik was insane when he said they could come."

"I know he was insane at that moment."

"What did he say?" Erik asked, coming over to make sure Lenore hadn't been harmed by Satan.

"Oh, something about warming up to him," Lenore responded dismissively. "I'm a bit more concerned about where his hands were."

"And where precisely was that?" Erik said softly, his eyes narrowing and flicking over to where Satan was, conversing with Mrs. Parker.

"Right about here," Lenore informed him, gesturing to where Satan's hands had briefly rested.

Erik quirked an eyebrow momentarily before a smile crossed his lips. "Well, I suppose I can overlook it just this once," he mused.

"Such a caring husband, to let the devil all but molest you and get away with it," Ember quipped.

"I know. He just smothers me with protective tendencies," Lenore said.

"You speak of an altercation with the devil as if it were a simple schoolyard scuffle. Until you've tangled with Beelzebub, Ember, I suggest you don't contribute your opinion on such matters," Erik returned. There was a brief pause. "Are you almost done with that list?"

"About three quarters done," Lenore answered. "Don't worry, we'll get to the hotel soon enough."

"Pick up the pace," Erik commanded.

"I don't want to forget anybody," Lenore countered, not even bothering to speed up the process.

"I don't care if you forget someone," Erik snarled. "Finish this up in the next few minutes."

"It's gonna take at least ten," Lenore told him.

"That's not quick enough."

"If you don't like it, then go find something to occupy yourself with for the next ten minutes; time goes by faster when you're doing something. You could try conversing with people, there's a thought."

"You just slowed down deliberately, didn't you?" Erik accused.

"Hm, look at that, I did," Lenore shrugged.

"Ember can finish this by herself, I'm sure she wouldn't mind," Erik suggested.

"Marriage isn't all about sex, Erik," Lenore sighed, slowing down a bit more.

"Stop slowing down, woman!" Erik snapped. "While it's a nice thought and proper etiquette to send cards with thanks for the gifts, I rather find this to be ridiculous. Ember can finish this, and you can call her on the honeymoon to get the list."

"Or I could finish it now and not have to waste a half hour listening to her recite the names as I recopy them," Lenore said.

"I don't care if you spend a half hour recopying names."

"But it's our honeymoon. It's supposed to be our alone time. I'm thinking of you, really."

"You're making me wait," Erik snarled. "That would be evidence to the contrary, don't you agree?"

"Oh, stop whining. You can wait ten more minutes to have sex," Lenore grumbled. Erik suddenly snatched the paper from her hands. "Give that back!" she hissed, trying to reclaim her list.

Erik ignored her protests entirely, picking up where she left off, scribbling names down sloppily but legibly. Within three minutes the list was complete and Erik stuffed it into his pocket. "There, it's done," he said.

"You…you…" Lenore stuttered, seeming incapable of producing an insult.

"Perhaps you'd like to include a verb and a direct object in that sentence," Erik recommended. "You could even throw in an adjective for good measure."

"You want a verb, adjective, and direct object?" she snarled. "Fine. How about 'You are a fucking jackass'?"

"Watch your language," Erik admonished.

Lenore produced a few strangled noises, then smacked him on the arm in an attempt to feel slightly better.

"Not even married six hours, and already there's problems in paradise," Ember commented.

"You try living with the man sometime," Lenore griped.

"You're the one who decided to marry him," Ember returned.

"So I had a moment of poor judgment. So sue me," she snapped.

"Ember, would you inform George we're ready for the last dance?" Erik inquired, taking Lenore by the arm and heading for the dance floor.

"Sure, no problem," Ember said, making her way over to George.

"I should beat you," Lenore mumbled darkly.

"I believe that's called domestic abuse, and if I'm not mistaken that's frowned upon in the vast majority of society," he replied.

"Smartass."

"We're about to have the last dance, chérie. Surely you can manage to put your anger aside for that."

"I don't know, I'm rather upset."

Erik turned to face her and captured her lips in a kiss before she could say another word. He flooded her with passion and love, and her anger dissipated in the tidal wave of emotion.

"Cheater," she whispered with a smile when he pulled away.

"People! It's the last dance," George declared over the microphone. "So if you've been sitting on your butt all night, get up and get moving, this is your last chance!"

Lenore had selected "Love Changes Everything" for the final song. Rather than dancing a waltz with Erik (as he had insisted upon for the first dance), she let her skirt drag the ground as she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him against her and resting her head against his chest. She closed her eyes and gave a contented sigh as the music washed over her.

Love, love changes everything,
Hands and faces, earth and sky.
Love, love changes everything,
How you live and how you die.
Love can make the summer fly
Or a night seem like a lifetime.
Yes love, love changes everything.
Now I tremble at your name.
Nothing in the world will ever be the same.

Love, love changes everything,
Days are longer, words mean more.
Love, love changes everything,
Pain is deeper than before.
Love will turn your world around,
And that world will last forever.
Yes love, love changes everything,
Brings you glory, brings you shame.
Nothing in the world will ever be the same.

Off into the world we go,
Planning futures, shaping years.
Love bursts in and suddenly all our wisdom disappears.
Love makes fools of everyone.
All the rules we made are broken.
Yes love, love changes everyone,
Live or perish in its flame.
Love will never never let you be the same.
Love will never never let you be the same.

---

"Aww, is the reception over?" Lenore asked Tammy.

"Yeah, that's it for the reception," Tammy replied.

"Thank God," Erik sighed in relief.

"I thought it was quite enjoyable," Raghnall remarked. "Christi, sit still."

"I wanna jump on people for great heights, yelling 'bonzai!' as I plummet onto my unsuspecting victims," Christi whined, struggling against the manacles from Hell.

"Oh, that could be a wonderfully entertaining observation," Raghnall mused. "Let's go out and see how many college students you can frighten." That said, he stood and pulled Christi behind him on her leash.

"About time they left, Christi was annoying me," Tammy muttered.

"Cupcake, could you please release me?" Hiroshi pleaded.

"No. Now be quiet or I'll poke you with the shocky spork again!" Tammy snapped, glaring at the immortal whose wrists and ankles were bound with a layer of duct tape, covered by a layer of rope, and manacles over the rope. "Erik, can I borrow the whip you got from the Circle?"

"Be my guest," he said, handing Tammy the whip.

"If you readers would be so kind as to review…" Tammy smiled. "I'll have to blare my music to ensure no one hears Hiroshi's yelps of pain. Living in a dorm can be such a pain at times."