Lily woke up to the hotel phone ringing loudly. In a panic, she sat up, grabbing it as she could hardly open her eyes yet, "Hello?" "Miss Lily?" The concierge asked, "Yea?" She groaned, rubbing her face, "Good afternoon. This is just a reminder you have a spa appointment booked in an hour." Lily's hand froze as she rubbed her face, her brow scrunching, "I do?" She asked, turning to the other side of the bed to look at Cassidy, but he wasn't there. "Yes, we ask you to check in 15 minutes prior." Lily dropped her hand from her face, her eyes scanning the hotel room for any sign of Cassidy, "Thanks." She said, hanging up the phone.

She collapsed back down on the bed, turning her head towards the thin curtains of the large windows of the hotel room.

"You booked me a spa appointment?" She called, not getting a response. "Cass?" She called again, with no call back. She reached for her phone, grabbing it from the bedside table, however, the screen remained disappointingly blank. She shifted her gaze back to the bedside table, where she spotted yet another handwritten note. With a sigh, she reached out again, her fatigued eyes struggling to focus on the words scrawled before her.

Lily, my beautiful, delicate flower,

the note began, and she couldn't help but scoff at the deliberate choice of the word "delicate."

There's not a single thing in my time that has made me feel like it was worth the wait of a hundred years

but I know marrying you tonight is going to change that

Lily read it repeatedly, her mind grappling with the notion that Cassidy was capable of writing something without profanity or lewd comments. It stirred a nervous flutter in her stomach, an unfamiliar sensation. When she turned the paper over, she discovered another message:

Just do this one thing for me and respect our distance for these few hours, for fuck's sake

A deep breath escaped Lily's lips, and a sense of relief washed over her as she read the concluding words. They resonated more authentically. The initial depth of emotion gave way to a more grounded understanding, allowing her to catch her breath.

When she placed the note down on the bed beside her and flopped back down, her eyes caught her arm, smeared with dried reminisce of Cassidy's blood. Her eyes quickly followed the messy trail, wrapping all around her body. She hummed sleepily, "Hmmm." Collapsing back into the lush pillows, her face feeling hot at the images from the night before that were in the front of her head.

She knew wherever Cassidy was, it wasn't beyond earshot, but she found it in her to respect his wishes this once and not pull any selfish maneuvers as she brushed her teeth and focused on getting ready. She washed off herself in the shower.

Not more than a few minutes later, there was a knock at her door. Lily groaned, making her way to the door of the room, with a towel around her body and another one on her head, "What now? A singing telegram? A basket of puppies? Something new, something blue, something borrowed or whatev-" As she opened the door with her smug commentary, she was surprised to see Quinn.

"No, just me." She said with a dazzling smile. Before Lily could question her arrival, Quinn was already explaining herself, still standing just outside the doorway as Lily held it open, "Cassidy asked me to be here with you. Heard you get up. He was adamant on not being anywhere close enough to even hear you before you exchange your vows."

Lily's arm dropped from the door she held open, pivoting around with her shoulders sinking as she dragged her feet back into the hotel room with a groan.

"Should I come back later?" Quinn asked, grabbing the door that was closing as she sensed Lily's annoyance.

"No, it's not you." Lily assured, turning to her as she spoke, still walking into the room, "It's just he's all... shoving this romantic shit down my throat. I'm not surprised to hear you say that he felt the need to follow some other out of date standard." Quinn followed Lily in, a bit confused by her frustrated mood, but not questioning it. It was her wedding day afterall, Quinn supposed that justified some mixed emotions.

"Look at it in here." Lily said, holding her arms out, "It looks like that room they throw you in at a fucking psychward, except instead of padded walls, it's floral and candle wax suffocating you. Just missing my straight jacket." Quinn cackled loudly at Lily's absurd metaphor, not understanding it, "It's lovely." Quinn insisted. With her face scrunched, Lily drank her bottle of water, "Ugh." She scoffed, as if she was disgusted, "Not you, too." Quinn ignored Lily's dramatics, her eyes amazed by the spectacle of undenyable romance around her, "Proinsias Cassidy - the romantic. Ha!" She cackled loudly, "That is rich." After Quinn finished taking in the scenery, she took a quick breath, her golden eyes finding their way back to Lily, who still wore her loungewear, her hair a sleepy mess. Their was a streak of worry in them

"What?" Lily asked

"I smell…" Quinn turned around, "Is that Proinsias' blood?"

Lily felt her face get hot, the flashes of the night before going through her head that made her feel just as hot and bothered as she did ashamed, "Yeah." She said simply, there was obviously no point lying about that fact. It was obvious Quinn could smell Cassidy's blood, Lily just hoped she threw the covers over the bed well enough to hide the various tracks of it... "I threw a whiskey bottle at him last night and it smacked him in the head pretty good." She lied.

"Jaysis." Quinn huffed, not questioning it too much as luckily, her mind was preoccupied, "Hey-"

"Yea?" Lily asked, her chest a bit tight at the thought of Quinn figuring out Lily had a sick addiction to Cassidy's blood.

"I know we really didn't get a chance to talk about what I'm gonna wear.." Quinn shrugged, "Thought maybe you'd want to give me some input?" She asked.

"Oh right. Yeah sure." Lily said, placing her water down as she turned, only to see Quinn had vanished. In mere seconds, Quinn came back into the room, pulling a massive trunk on wheels, nearly taller than herself. Lily stared in amazement, "Holy shit, Quinn."

"Too much?"

"No, I love a good variety." Lily reassured her with the first smile Quinn had seen since she entered the room.

"I jus grabbed at a few we picked out the night we were pissin' about it my closet." Quinn explained. Lily eagerly opened the large trunk on wheels, sifting through its contents until she found a stunning ivory dress. "Oh," Quinn said, a bit embarrassed that something white had made it into the lot, "Guess that one got stuck between some other ones I grabbed at, like." Shaking her head, Lily raised an eyebrow and declared, "This is perfect."

Quinn stared at Lily in concern, "But-" She stuck a thumb, pointing behind her, "Yer dress. That lovely one you picked, it's on the way 'ere-" "No," Lily said, turning the ivory dress around and admiring the back, "Not for me, for you." Quinn lost her words, completely confused as she searched Lily's eyes for answers, but only had more to question when the glimmer of play flashed about them, "Imagine Cass seeing the white dress thinking it's me right away, but then he realizes it's just you." Lily snickered mischievously, "He'll be so confused for a moment. Serves him right for putting me through all this shit." Lily said, half jokingly as she threw her hands up to the beautiful display of romance surrounding her. With her face still a bit crinkled, Quinn failed to understand the angle of her mind, but didn't want to argue with the bride. It was a beautiful ivory dress and she hadn't had a chance to wear it yet, so she grabbed it from Lily's hands and let out a sigh, hanging it up on a hook in the room.

"Proinsias said to make sure you get a move on fer your outing. The spa's jus downstairs, so let's go."

Lily couldn't deny the treatments she experienced were all amazing, each of them providing immense relaxation and relief - but the feeling seemed to eb and flow, her mind wandering back to the phone call with Tulip from the previous night. The masseuse pulled Lily out of her internal commentary, "Is everythin' alright?" They whispered softly, noticing how tense Lily was. With a deep breath, Lily tried to force herself to let her mind just try and be blank for once, "Yea, sorry." Each time she suppressed the stress, it was only a matter of time before it came back. The words spoken lingered in her thoughts, causing a slight twist in her stomach.

Hours later, back in the hotel room, Quinn was surprised to see the way Lily paced around, regardless of the hours of pampering and stress free spa services.

"Lily, love, you're even makin' me anxious wit yer endless pacing. Burnin' a track in the bloody carpet, like." Quinn teased softly. Lily stopped, "I'm good. Just... fine-tuning my excitement, that's all." She said, a bit too defensively.

Quinn chuckled, his eyes twinkling with sympathy for Lily's nerves, "Fine-tuning, eh? Is that what they're calling it these days? I thought you were just trying to recreate a new Olympic sport: Pacing for the Altar."

Lily playfully rolled her eyes, her tone filled with a mix of jest and unease. "I just... Can I ask you something really fucking awkward?" she blurted out, causing Quinn to look at her cautiously, sensing the weight behind her words.

"Not once has anyone here brought up Cassidy changing me."

Quinn smiled, teasingly correcting Lily, "That... wasn't a question."

"It's just-" Lily huffed, "My best friend, Tulip who I told you about, she keeps bringing it up. I mean, practically since Cass and I started seeing each other. It's like the burning question. And my brother, I mean, he didn't even know Cassidy and I were together until recently, and the way he found out-" Lily's face scrunched in disgust, remembering the awful and vulgar way Jesse had discovered that his sister and best friend had been sleeping together, "Anyways - that's a whooole other story." She groaned, her hands in front of her, "My point is, it's just been a heated topic of discussion on their mind, obviously I guess," She added, having some understanding of course, "And then last night, talking to Tulip, she said some shit. Some shit that I've kind of just been pushing in the back of my mind, and it's now in the very front, and it's fucking with me."

Quinn seemed unbothered, leaning back into the lavish couch, "You and Proinsias, you've obviously talked about all this." Quinn stated more than asked. "Well, yeah." Lily said, "It's not that, I know how he feels and all that shit. The first fucking thing he basically ever said to me was fuck being a vampire, I'll never do this to anyone I care about yada,yada,yada.." Lily huffed, "I guess I'm just wondering what everyone here's thinking. I'm wondering what you're thinking." Shaking her head softly, Quinn's gold eyes searched Lily's, "Why?" Quinn asked simply. Suddenly, Lily felt a small hug of relief encapsulate her. Quinn made a good point, why did she care? Lily's eyes fluttered, her brain trying to figure it out as she thought out loud, "I just need some unbiased view from someone outside the circle of my brother and best friend." Lily explained.

"Well, it's really no one's business." Quinn's demeanor remained composed, her response calm and nonchalant. She shrugged a shoulder, as if she was dismissing the matter. With her eyes shifting slightly, Lily let out a short sigh, "I wasn't sure if it was a requirement or something, being the only human around you guys the last few days kind of had me assuming."

"It's not about requirements, it's just there's no need for humans." Quinn said, with a bit too much calm indifference for that statement. Her eyes closed and she smiled, realizing how harsh that sounded, "I jus mean, usually, vampires have far more advantage than a human. So it's not really often we have close ties to someone who's mortal. And usually, every human who does get close enough gets changed eventually, anyways. It's sort of inevitable." Those word hung in Lily's head for more than a moment, until Quinn's voice came back to surface, "But Proinsias…." Quinn thought about her words.

"Proinsias is..." She took a deep breath, "He doesn't embrace any of this. Not in ways like the rest of us, like. Holds a lot of resentment. And it's tainted him, he's emotional and... I mean, these are all things I 'ave to assume y'know. Yer smart and he doesn't hide any of that." Quinn said, "But wot happens is between the two of you. You can say the same for any couple. Human and human. Vamp and vamp. Doesn't matter. Shit's gonna happen. Wot's gonna happen is gonna happen, regardless of yer lifespan."

Quinn could see Lily's mind moving, taking in Quinn's wisdom and factual opinions, "So, no." Quinn said softly, "No one's asked. 'Cause no one really gives a rat's arse about Proinsias or his life to begin with. And honestly, I don't think anyone is crazy enough for an eternal life with Proinsias." Quinn mused lightheartedly, softly smacking her hand against Lily in assurance, "Jus get all that stuff out of yer head and enjoy your wedding day. I'm sure you and Proinsias have talked about all this."

Ya, they had. He made it obvious he didn't want to change Lily. So Lily never really even thought to imagine what it'd be like even if she wanted it. The last time someone asked was his son Dennis, and Lily tried her best not to let her mind go there. There was the dark secret she kept that Cassidy's actions leading him to kill Dennis were a lot - if not entirely - her fault.

"If yer expecting this to be the part where I go off about my sob of a backstory, you're sorely mistaken, 'cause today isn't about me. It's about you. Marryin' Proinsias. You're bloody perfect for eachother, it's absurd."

"You're right." Lily sighed. She pushed the bad thoughts away, walking back to the bathroom as she finished getting ready. Her beautiful dress had been delivered and was hanging in the bathroom, calling to her and giving her a supportive kick she needed.

There was a knock at the door of the hotel room, and Quinn was quick to answer it, already knowing who it was before opening it, "Seamus," She reefed the door open, "Wot are ye doin' 'ere?" She asked, expecting to meet him at the venue. "Proinsias asked me to take you gals-" His words and movement stopped when he caught a glimpse of Lily further in the hotel room. "Shite." He sighed, a look on his face revealing emotion that Lily hadn't known he was capable of in her brief acquaintance with him. "Look at ye." He exhaled slowly, marveling at her appearance.

It may have just been four of them to witness their vows, but Lily was dressed up as if the entire world was going to be watching. Suddenly, Seamus furrowed his brow, his confusion evident. "Why are ye the one wearing white, Quinn?" He inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity. Quinn shrugged, her shoulder lifting in a nonchalant manner. She let out a soft exhale through her nose before responding, "Sure, 'twasn't me first choice either. But Lily thought it'd be a way to take the mickey out of Proinsias, seein' as her dress ain't exactly... traditional." Seamus's gaze shifted from Lily to Quinn and back again, his confusion lingering in his eyes. He nodded slightly, though it was clear he didn't grasp the humor behind the plan at all. He found himself feeling the way he did often times he talked to Cassidy - completely lost and uninterested in figuring it out - And he couldn't help but see some sort of dysfunctional metaphor buried somewhere in that. "Hmph." He chuckled softly to himself, each moment with Lily proving more and more how it was the two of them could work as a couple.

"C'mon." Seamus motioned towards the doorway, his gaze unwavering. As much as a moment this was, he didn't exactly have the time or desire to drag things out, and his mind had already started making sappy connections he didn't much want to entertain, "Car's waiting downstairs." He said.

As they settled into the luxurious vehicle, which resembled a regular car from the outside but boasted a lavish limousine interior, Quinn positioned herself on one side, while Seamus sat facing the opposite direction, his proximity to the driver almost palpable. Lily's dress cascaded gracefully in the center, her hand lifting a glass to her lips. Quinn, attempting to break the silence, felt compelled to fill the air with chatter. "Are ye nervous?" Quinn asked, realizing the futility of the question even before she finished speaking. She watched as Lily downed another glass of champagne, her expression betraying her true emotions.

Lily let out a sharp exhale as she set down the empty glass, her voice tinged with honesty. "Yeah," she admitted, her vulnerability shining through. Seamus settled back into his seat, the sleek fabric of his suit conforming to his form as he leaned against the backrest. His demeanor remained composed and collected, and without uttering a word, he leaned forward in a smooth motion. He extended a hand forward, offering Lily a newly uncorked bottle of champagne. The effervescence danced within the crystal glass as he skillfully refilled it, his movements precise and deliberate. Lily pressed her lips into a polite smile, unable to be anything but entranced by how Seamus operated. He was a reader, he could sense things far away and he knew how to deal with them.

As Seamus poured more liquid into Lily's glass, his discerning eyes caught a glimpse of unease that played across her features. He couldn't quite comprehend. His own nature, cold and stoic, often shielded him from the intricacies of basic human emotions, but there was a faint stirring within his ancient, vampiric heart.

Seamus leaned back, clearing his throat as he placed the bottle back in the mini bar at his side. With a deep breath, Seamus peered out of the car's windows, his gaze fixated on something beyond the glass. The sun was gone, and Lily couldn't make out much from the windows as she tried to follow his gaze. He leaned backward, tapping the driver's shoulder. "Pull over up 'ere for a moment, will ya?" he requested.

The car came to a stop, and Lily's brows furrowed in confusion as she glanced out the window. They hadn't reached the intended venue yet, but Seamus, ever composed, took the initiative. Opening one of the doors, he stepped out onto the pavement, his presence commanding and deliberate. With a subtle nod, he leaned down, his face peering into the car with a surprising flicker of enthusiasm. "Come," Seamus beckoned, his voice carrying a hint of invitation and urgency. Stepping away from the vehicle, he gestured for Lily and Quinn to join him, his demeanor giving away nothing of his intentions. Curiosity mingled with apprehension in Lily's mind, but she trusted in Seamus's guidance, knowing that his motives were rarely revealed in advance.

It was soon obvious that Seamus had stopped them at a pub. When they opened the doors, The scent of aged wood and rich spirits enveloped them, accompanied by the lively chatter of patrons. The interior exuded a distinct Irish charm, with rustic wooden beams adorning the ceiling and dimly lit lanterns casting a warm glow upon the worn yet inviting furniture.

Lily, all dressed up the way she was, stuck out like a sore thumb. A good looking sore thumb, at least. She drew the attention of the strangers in the bar, their curious gazes followed her, momentarily enchanted by her presence. Seamus led the way, his presence commanding the respect of both patrons and staff alike. The trio found themselves a cozy spot near the corner, where they could observe the vibrant tapestry of Irish culture unfolding before them. The air was thick with a blend of stories and music, "Fuck." Lily swore, "Cass is going to be pissed. First time in a bar here in Ireland and he's not even here." She teased, only half joking. She was surprised to see a server deliver three drinks, seemingly unannounced, as Seamus nodded to him.

"It'll be our secret." Seamus insisted to Lily, clinking his glass onto hers on the table. Quinn grinned, grabbing hers and enjoying their impromptu pit stop.

Lily took in the sights and sounds, her senses overwhelmed by the unique charm of the pub. It was a departure from the formalities she'd been dreading of the impending event, a brief respite in the midst of anticipation. The pub radiated busy energy and exciting sights, yet she felt a sense of ease begin to wash over her. It reminded her of Cassidy. Her eyes caught an old fashioned phone up against the bar, and her body seemed to move on it's own as she stood up from the seat she'd barely just taken,

"I'm going to call my brother quick." Lily said. Neither Quinn nor Seamus argued, allowing her the space she needed while maintaining a close eye on her.

Lily asked quick permission from a bartender to use the phone before she quickly dialed Jesse's number. He picked up with curiosity in his voice. "Hello?" Jesse greeted from the other end of the line, wondering about the unfamiliar caller ID.

"Jess," Lily began, her words carrying a hint of uncertainty.

"Where are you calling from?" Jesse interjected, "I got a blocked number up on my phone.."

"I'm at a bar," Lily responded, her voice a mix of contemplation and restlessness.

"Oh, Lil-" Jesse sighed, his mind quickly jumping to conclusions. "You're not seriously getting cold feet, are you?" He questioned, hoping to alleviate any concerns.

"No. I'm not." Lily assured, a tinge of frustration in herself coming forward in her tone, "Which is why I'm kind of freaking out."

"You're freaking out... because you're not freaking out." He stated flatly, attempting to help her untangle her thoughts by vocalizing them.

"I guess." She sighed, annoyed at herself.

Jesse tried to think of anything that would be eating at Lily in the moment, "Lil, whatever you and Tulip talked about-"

"It wasn't that. She was right about it all, I knew all that before I agreed to this. But nothing to do with any of it never gave me this unsettling feeling." Lily explained, her eyes facing the bar in front of her as she picked at a paper coaster, "He just made it a lot more formal than I imagined." She sighed, "I just wanted to sign the papers at the fucking city hall and be done with it, you know? I mean, you should've seen the hotel room, Jess, it was like someone fucking died, there were, like, a million fucking flowers and petals everywhere. It looked like he was trying to burn the building down with the amount of candles there were," Lily continued to rant, completely unaware of the men around the bar as they couldn't help but stare at her curiously, "And I wake up to a sappy note and the concierge of the hotel telling me I have a fucking spa day booked."

"Lily," Jesse sighed sympathetically, "I think you're just not used to being taken care of."

"I'm sure Cass was just trying to set the mood and be romantic. Not that I know a whole lot about what goes on between you two, but I can't say the last while has been exactly the picture of a love story…"

Her thoughts swirled as she absorbed Jesse's wisdom. His words acted as a lifeline, pulling her out of the internal conversation she had been having with herself. "Lil?" Jesse's voice broke through her contemplation.

"Yeah," Lily responded, her voice laced with a mix of gratitude and resolution. She swallowed a lump in her throat, her determination growing stronger. Lily took a quick breath in, "Tulip there?" "No," Jesse said, "She's out shopping, I think, or robbing a bank, maybe." He joked. A small smirk came across Lily's mouth before she took another deep breath, the nerves creeping in on her again.

"I feel like throwing up." She said.

Jesse let out an exasperated huff, a smirk unable to refrain from spreading across his lips, "It's just the anticipation, Lil. Just get to him and you'll be fine." He placed a hand on his hip as if she could see his confident stance through the phone, "Finish your drink and go." Jesse said, before quickly correcting himself, "You know what, don't even finish your drink. Just go. Call us after." He encouraged her with the exact energy she needed.

"Okay." Lily said, more confident than she felt, "Bye Jess."

When Lily hung up the phone a man at the bar pushed a shot glass her way, his gaze empathetic as he'd clearly heard the entire conversation being directly at her side, "Sounds like ye need one of these, lass. Trust me, it'll set ye right."

"What is it?" Lily asked, turning towards the man as her beautiful satin gown encroached even more into his space.

The stranger grinned warmly, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mystery, "Ah, lass, this here is a traditional Irish remedy. It's called a 'Liquid Courage'," he explained, a smile across his face as he raised one of his own. Grabbing the shot glass, Lily raised it up, "Perfect."