"Bo, I got this." Hale whispered as they stood in a thin hallway.
"I know. I know. Two days ago, we had two days. Now, it is our wedding day. Ours. Dillon was kidnapped. I'm just nervous something is going to go wrong." Bo ranted as she walked back and forth.
"Shit. Aife has this place locked down and I mean locked down. Everyone but our servants are gone. She even hired retired Naval officers to protect the skies. Nothing is going to go wrong but Lauren will be upset if you fall asleep at the altar. Now, go to bed." Hale pointed towards Bo's new suite. She had told Lauren she didn't want to see her the night before the wedding so they had been avoiding each other, other than what's going on with the kids which led Bo to Ethan and Dillon's room. Aife has Charlotte and Amani. Lauren is in bed on the other side of their hotel. "Thank you, Hale. You and I have never been best friends but I know our kids adore you. Even Charly if she never shows or says it." She smiled at him as she walked away.
"Hey, I adore those little badasses too." Hale laughed as Bo got further and further away from him.
Bo smiled and climbed into bed. Later today, they will be married. She slammed her eyes shut and wished for a speedy couple of hours of sleep.
Later that morning.
Lauren rolled over in bed just as the sun peeked through the curtains. She rubbed her eyes, looked at the clock and smiled. The alarm hadn't gone off yet. Her brain was her alarm. She knew she had slept just long enough to wake up in time so she wouldn't be late being late. Pulling her robe and slippers on, she opened the door to her suite and smiled at the sight. "She's up and ready." Aife cleared her throat as she pointed towards Amani. She looked beautiful in a white baby dress. "Perfect." Lauren smiled.
"I'm glad you think so because Charlotte wasn't that easy." Aife laughed as she moved to the side and exposed the pouting shifter sitting in her own white dress, pantyhose and shoes. Her hair was pulled into a long ponytail and hung down her back.
Lauren walked over and knelt in front of her daughter. "I know. I know you don't like this. But Charlotte, I will marry your mother. I know you don't quite know what that means but it's important for all of us to look our best today. So, just hang in there for a little while longer and we can take all of this off of you, okay?." Lauren brushed a few locks down but Charlotte still huffed. "Charlotte." She finally nodded and Lauren stood up. "The boys dressed?."
"Kenzi took care of that. She's getting dressed herself. I will shower and be ready in ten." Aife walked off and Lauren sat with Charlotte and Amani. They smell like Bo even when the succubus isn't around and Lauren loves it.
Kenzi, Ethan and Dillon.
"My boys look handsome!." Kenzi screamed with glee. "Let's go show mama Bo!." She smiled as they walked down the hall and rounded the corner leading to Bo's suite. She knocked on the door and Bo swung the door open. "I'm so late!." She walked away from the three.
"Well, good morning to you too, sunshine." Kenzi walked in. Ethan and Dillon ran and jumped on the couch. Bo stopped when she heard that sound. "Mama's sorry. Hello my little kings." She knelt and kissed them. "Where are the girls?." She asked.
"Lauren gets two and you get two. Like the both of you agreed, remember?." Kenzi asked.
Bo smacked herself in the head. "Of course.". She smiled. "Hey, how does Lauren look?."
"Nope. I don't know that answer and wouldn't tell you if I did. You know that woman will look beautiful. All of that long blonde hair just blowing in the wind and down her back." Kenzi shrieked. "Nevermind, I'm going too, too far."
Bo's eyes flashed blue and back to brown. "I know what you mean." She licked her lips. "But seriously, Kenzi. Thank you. Thank you for sticking with us even when things were bad after I found fae Lauren. My kids adore you and I know you and Lauren are closer than you two have ever been before."
"Hey, we are all a family now. A happy one. So, knock off the this is the end spiel." Kenzi put her hand on her hips and tapped her foot.
"Well, my stylist is here. I must go and get ready." Bo pointed to a brunette waving her into another room.
"We'll be here. Watching cartoons of course." Kenzi flopped down next to Dillon and turned the tv on. "Transformers, boys?." The boys clapped and bounced. "Winner." Kenzi breathed in relief and leaned back. She smiled thinking of Bo and Lauren. No doubt, bundles of nerves this morning. But if there are ever two people meant to marry and stay married for thousands of years, it's those two. Years ago, Kenzi wouldn't have been able to admit it but Lauren is good for Bo. Even when she thought she was bad for Bo. The woman simply goes all in to help whenever she sees an opportunity. Like that time Bo, Dyson and Tamsin were acting like teenagers, Lauren thought of the formula that brought them all back. Kicking Evony's ass without ever laying a finger on the woman. She sighed and closed her eyes. Those days and nights of mopey Bo are over. Days of pots and pans being thrown around because she was hurt by something Lauren did or hurt that Lauren had left. Bo showed Kenzi bags she had packed thinking Lauren would run and Bo was going to run with her. Kenzi scoffed that Bo would leave but she understood why Bo would leave. Lauren was the only thing really holding her down. Grounding her in this crazy world she spent decades trying to understand.
An hour passed and Bo emerged. "Holy shizzick, Bo!. You look beautiful!." Kenzi jumped up. "Lauren is going to take you right there at the altar!." She smiled.
"Thank you Kenz. I'm not wild about those curls but I will roll with it for a few hours." Bo looked into the mirror and down at her feet.
"She will love this look, Bo. You really look nice." Kenzi smiled and turned for the twins' reactions. They were too into the cartoon to notice their mother. "Men." She laughed.
"Ethan? Dillon? Ready to go?." Bo cooed and held out her hands. The boys laughed and ran to their mother. "Easy." Bo spoke softly.
The four walked down the hall and around the corner. "Kenzi, boys, follow Hale." Aife stood holding Amani.
"Mmm. Good morning." Bo smiled as she kissed her and took her from her mother. "Charlotte?." Bo's eyes went wide looking for their oldest.
"About to lose her patience dressed like that." Aife laughed.
"How does she look?." Bo asked.
"You will see. She's standing next to Lauren. Like a best man would. She's her best woman, so to speak." Aife adjusted Bo's dress.
"So, that would make you my Matron of Honor." Bo whispered as she watched the woman's eyes go wide. "Come on, mom. If we are going to do this right. Then, let's do this right."
"I'm touched, Isabeau. Really touched." Aife held her chest.
"So am I. I'm touched to have you as my mother. Touched to carry the Isabeau name. Touched to be carrying my baby while walking to four other babes of mine." Bo kissed Amani and they turned when the doors opened. Bo's mouth dropped open when she saw her family standing at the altar. Charlotte stood to Lauren's right with the boys on her left. When she was done looking at the kids, tears fell as she looked at Lauren. The woman couldn't be more beautiful if she tried. Her hair flanked her shoulder as her wedding veil pinned the rest over her head. She was glowing and staring directly at her. Bo gasped and was smacked in the chin by Amani's hand. "Right. Mama needs to walk to mama and your sister and brothers." She laughed through tears as she took the first step. It was a short walk but it seemed longer the closer Bo got. Aife gently pushed her towards them when she faltered and took her place just behind Bo. The succubus momentarily turned to hand Aife the baby then remembered Lauren's request that she hold her as they marry.
When the pastor began to talk. Bo couldn't hear anything he said. Lauren's eyes and beauty tuned him completely out. If she could cry she would, but she didn't want anything to blur this moment. This woman. This family flanking them.
"Who gives Isabeau to marry Lauren?."
"I do!." AIfe smiled and held her arms up before dropping them. Bo heard that and looked at the old succubus. The small group laughed and Bo turned back to Lauren.
When it was time for the vows, Bo was all tears. Lauren stepped to her and wiped her eyes dry. "This is why I want to marry you. Look at you. You're holding our daughter like a protective mother should. Our kids stand here because of you. Because you never gave up on me. You never gave up on me when you found me, not me. You never gave up on stopping me from thinking that I am a monster. You loved me through it all."
"Lauren." Bo sobbed.
"I'm not finished. You never gave up on Charlotte. You never gave up on being a mother to her when I was in my coma not knowing that I was a mother too. You never left me in that room any longer than you needed to. You never gave up looking for ways to feed her. You were given a baby shifter and loved her through it all. This is why I want to marry you. To be your wife. To be the woman worthy enough to be married to a loving wife, mother and mate like you." Lauren choked back her own tears as she went on. "I love you Bo Dennis. That's why our marriage license and my name will change to Dr. Lauren Lewis-Dennis. Dr. Lewis isn't sufficient enough to tell the world that I'm your wife, so they will address me as Dr. Lewis-Dennis, for now and forever." Lauren held on as Bo dropped her head and sobbed. When Amani gently tapped her chin, she found warmth and the strength to look up again.
"Lauren, I could never ever give up on you. From the first time that our lips touched, I knew I was never going back. I was never going to be the same again. I wanted you for however long your human nature would allow you to be with me in this world. I chose you and that was that. We were us. You and me. Bo and Lauren. Now, here we are choosing each other all over again. You were waiting for me to choose you and I almost waited too long. You could have chosen any woman out there and she would have been just as lucky as I am standing here seconds from officially being your wife. To know you is love. To love you is life. To be touched by you is precious. As precious as the smallest symbol of you in her." Bo kissed Amani. "As they are growing, walking symbols of you, now. I love you Lauren Lewis-Dennis. I love that you love me. That you chose me. That you are my wife. Now and forever." Bo shook some tears loose and they held one hand as she held Amani with her other arm.
Trumpets played and bells rang out as they were officially pronounced wives. Aife, Hale, Kenzi and the small group clapped. The kids jumped up and down. Charlotte tugged on Lauren's dress when they kissed for too long. "Mama promised huh?." The blonde laughed as she pulled back from Bo.
"Don't like that dress, do you Charlotte?." Bo laughed through tears.
"I did promise her she wouldn't have to wear it for long. Okay, Charly, let's go get you changed!." Lauren smiled as they ran towards a small room.
"Congratulations Mrs...what's your name again?." Kenzi laughed.
"Lauren's wife. That's my name." Bo smiled.
"That's sweet, but you still need a name. Dennis-Lewis?." Kenzi tapped Bo's shoulder.
"That works! That will work!." Bo smiled and twirled Dillon in the air. She kissed him all over his cheeks and did the same with Ethan. "Mama loves you boys, so so much." She knelt down and stayed there until Lauren and Charlotte returned. "Comfy now, Charlotte?." She laughed.
"Come on Ethan and Dillon!." Charlotte screamed.
"Congratulations ladies and I got this." Hale laughed and bowed. "And I got him." Kenzi laughed as she followed the siren.
"Spoiling them with these beaches will make them long for a swimming pool." Lauren laughed.
"Charlotte doesn't want any water." Bo laughed.
"She doesn't mind ocean water, it seems." Lauren cooed as Bo constantly kissed her neck. "Can't you wait until we get to our next hotel?."
"Uh, you're my wife now. I can kiss you wherever and whenever I want." Bo smiled as she kissed her neck again. "Hey!. I want to change my name too."
"What? Why?." Lauren asked.
"The world will know I'm your wife. So, my name from now on is Bo Dennis-Lewis." Bo held on to the woman.
"Bo, you don't have to do that." Lauren blushed.
"You didn't have to either but we are wives. The world will know who we are without question. Without a single doubt that I am your choice and you are mine." Bo replied and wiped a tear from Lauren's eye.
"As long as I know I'm your wife, I really couldn't care less who knows." Lauren smiled as their rings touched.
"We might have a few reasons to remove these tonight." Bo whispered as she kissed them.
Lauren laughed and her eyes went wide. "Yes, I'm still standing here." Aife laughed.
"Shi...ucks, mom. I forgot. You can go. You can go!." Bo turned bright red.
"Oh, I'm going. I just wanted to tell you the details before you head out of here. Hale and Kenzi will have the boys and Amani. That leaves me with you know who." Aife laughed hard.
"Try not to spank her." Bo and Lauren said in unison.
"That's the only rule? That's it?." Aife rubbed her hands together.
"Keep her out of bars and out of fights is the second one." Bo and Lauren got a little louder.
"Look at you two. Matching and shiz." Aife laughed again.
"We are leaving Hawaii. The rest of the world is not as safe." Bo stared at her mother.
"I will drain the fool that thinks your kids are easy pickings. They are mine too. Mine to protect. Kenzi, Hale and I will take over a compound just to have everyone close but far away." Aife pulled her hair over her shoulders.
"Keep them safe, fed and healthy." Lauren brushed Bo's hair over her shoulders.
"Charlotte will probably call on her gang at the thought of a threat. I'm sure her people will find her through the grapevine." Bo laughed with pride.
"Yeah. You have that to contend with too, Aife." Lauren smiled at the succubus.
"If that's her fae, that's her fae. Nana will watch and learn." Aife smiled and shrugged. "I need a camera." She laughed.
"Let her do her thing, as long as it doesn't start fires or cause unnecessary deaths." Bo held Lauren's hand and squeezed it. She knows as much shit as Lauren has been through, she still values life.
"Oh, I want a front row seat to the animals my granddaughter will summon or those that will come to her. They already know who's coming up in the Fae world. This will be a treat for an old succubus like me." Aife clapped.
"Right now playing is her priority. When she has to leave, that will likely change. We will fly back together but separate at the Toronto airport." Lauren explained.
"Well, the sooner we get them packed up and to the airport, the sooner all of this will likely come into play. Go on your honeymoon. Enjoy being wives. Everything else will be handled per your wishes with the highest condition that I can make changes as I see fit." Aife folded her arms.
"Only if there's no other way." Lauren held her hand up.
"I could put them, well nevermind. That's a painful thought." Aife bowed her head.
"No comas." Lauren shook her head.
"Hey! This is a happy day. Mom will bide by our rules or face her own consequences when we return, unless Charlotte handles everything." Bo pulled on Lauren.
"Right! Let's go!." Lauren kissed Bo's rings and they went to gather everyone so that they could leave.
Aife made a few calls so the natives of Hawaii could return home. They boarded their plane with Bo holding hands with Charlotte and Lauren. She smiled when Charlotte pulsed her to get loose and this time she allowed it but she never allowed her out of her sight. Not even to use the ladies room. Ladies, Bo shuddered. Someday this kid will grow up to be a lady. Aife will really love life then. If there was ever an old soul in a child's body, it is Charlotte. Right now. Maybe she's the second coming of Isabeau McCorrigan. Bo smiled again as she looked at Charlotte watching the other passengers movements. Her eyes were innocent and that relieved Bo of the anxiety that could hang over their honeymoon. Oh hell no. This is going to be fun. She squeezed Lauren's hand and winked. Kenzi laughed into her drink. Aife is in control of an ever growing Charlotte for an entire week. Good luck, Nana, good luck.
TBC.