Lights shone and cameras flashed.

Everywhere around, monsters cheered, whooped and hollered in excitable jubilation - some voices sounding more like roars and others like actual words - all for the sake of celebration at the decked-out hotel. From the DJ's booth's boombox, an energetic and quite familiar song played for everyone to dance and sing along to. Except this time, it was not for the need to defeat a giant Kraken hypnotized into destroying all monsters - it was simply to just have fun in celebrating the union between Count Dracula and his new bride, Ericka. Arms flailed and hips swayed rhythmically as the happy pair remained at the center of it all, leading the dance and moving in perfect time with the music that they chanted out.

Dale a tu cuerpo alegría Macarena

Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegría y cosa buena

Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena

Hey Macarena, ay!

A few more passes of the classic moves were pulled off in effortless precision until the final chords rang out, ending the song and bringing the guests into applause with joyous exclamations.

Ericka laughed, clinging to her husband's arm. "Boy, that wasfun!"

"Yes!" Drac agreed. "And it looks like some of us can't get enough." He gestured with a thumb over to where Johnny - although the music had already stopped - was still rocking about, his eyes closed and a wide smile on his face. Next to him, Mavis shook her head.

"Honey," she laughed, placing a hand on his shoulder to break him out of his reverie. "It's time for the next song!"

Johnny finally opened his eyes and looked at her excitedly. "Aw, come on, Maves, one more time! It's a good jam!"

This time, Ericka approached him. "As much as I'd love to agree, I think I want to take a moment to catch my breath. Got any slower tunes in your list?"

The redhead grinned wide, eager to please his new mother-in-law. "You bet!"

Dashing over to his laptop, he dimmed the lights of the ballroom and selected a 70's-inspired romantic ballad from the list. As he pressed play, a beautiful melody filled the room and soon set the mood into something far more intimate. Couples paired off with each other and moved gently to the harmonious beat, a stark contrast to the frenzy of the previous number. In a gentlemanly gesture, Dracula extended his hand forward to Ericka with flourish, a coy grin playing at his lips.

"May I have this dance, my love?" he asked, voice light and playful.

Smiling happily, the woman took his outstretched hand and gave it a squeeze. "I would be honored."

With a twirl, they began their first waltz as newlyweds. The two were naturals, falling into step with each other in each dip, spin, and turn without thinking. She giggled each time he snuck in a quick kiss, the man unable to resist the temptation his wife presented.

Each little display of affection was met with a coo or smile from the other couples who happened to sway past and catch a glimpse of the tenderness between them. Even Mavis, who normally cringed or was quick to shield her eyes from such a sight, couldn't help but give a fond smile of her own.

The glint of the brilliant chandelier, with its many glistening gems shining against the light, caught the corner of Drac's vision from overhead, sparking an idea into his head. He gazed down lovingly at Ericka, speaking softly into her ear.

"My love… what do you say we take thisupa notch?"

Ericka gave him a questioning look, before following his gaze up to the vast ceiling above. She furrowed her brow slightly. "Drac, in case you forgot, I'm still human. I can't stick onto the walls like you and Mavis do."

"Then I'll help you," he said gently, pulling her close in a slow, graceful circle.

Ericka glanced up at the ceiling uncertainly and then back at him with a shrug. "Oookay."

He grinned at her concurrence, pecking her forehead sweetly and proceeding to guide them away from the crowd, still in their slow, measured steps. When they got to the edge where the floor met the wall, he concentrated his magic in ensuring that she stayed tethered against the surface as they continued up and up. Ericka's eyes widened in wonder at his feat, and soon she marveled over the gravity-defying position they now found themselves in, watching the party below through the upside-down view of their elevated perch.

"Wow..." she breathed, taking a second to admire her new surroundings on the ornate ceiling. "Sure is a sight up here…"

"It is," Drac sighed in agreement, though he didn't refer to the grandeur around them. Instead, his attention was fixated solely on the woman before him. Sensing his gaze, she turned to look at him, smiling in amusement at the smitten expression he wore.

"Youdoknow I was talking about the party, right?" she asked.

"I know," he replied, the corners of his mouth upturning to an impish grin.

Rolling her eyes, Ericka chuckled softly in spite of herself and leaned in so that her cheek rested against his chest, Dracula complying to the gesture by resting his chin atop her head. There she relaxed into the embrace, enjoying the moment for all it was worth - the world quite literally at her feet, and the man she loved dearly holding her close, their wedding bands gleaming upon their fingers as they allowed the full feeling of love to seep into every fiber of their being.

Drac shifted slightly, enough to bury his nose within her hair and inhale the sweet floral fragrance that clung to the delicate white curls.

"How are you enjoying the wedding, my love?"

Ericka hummed, drowsy with contentment, and snuggled up against him. "Do I have to answer?"

Drac chuckled and brought a hand up to gently comb through the soft white strands. "No. But I wouldn't mind it if you did."

She removed her head from his chest and instead leaned it against his own forehead. Alight peck was bestowed onto his lips before she spoke. "It's amazing," she whispered. "I can hardly believe it's real." She breathed a light little laugh as he lifted her up in a sweeping motion, easily spinning her around and taking full advantage of the vacant space the ceiling had to offer for their dance.

When they finally came to a stop, Ericka wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again, this one deeper, firmer than the last with all the intention to showcase her appreciation. "Thank you so, so much."

"What exactly are you thanking me for, sweetheart?" Drac asked, caressing her cheek lovingly. "I should be the one thanking you. I was so lonely for so long. I didn't want to open my heart up to anyone else after I losther..." His face fell a little at the mention of Martha. But an instant later, he perked up, a bright twinkle shining in his eye. "But then a certain little lady came along. Sure, she wanted to kill me at first…"

Ericka rolled her eyes. "Ha, ha, don't remind me."

Drac snickered and went on. "… but she helped me feel that love again, and she helped me remember how wonderful a zing can be." He twirled her again, and Ericka let herself enjoy the sensation once more. The vampire smiled with satisfaction. "And you know what? She learned something too that day."

"Oh, yeah?" she asked, eyebrow raised. "And what was that?"

A slyness crept into Drac's voice. "That it'simpossibleto resist the Dark Prince of Loviness!" And before Ericka knew what was happening, he attacked her with smooches, peppering them across her cheeks, nose, chin, and jaw, wherever he could reach.

She squealed at the unwarranted assault and unsuccessfully tried batting him away. "Draaac, quit it!" she cried between laughs, finally managing to pry him off. Ericka gave him a serious look. "While it might have beenoneof the takeaways, I think there were much more important lessons learned thanthat."

Drac feigned a hurt look at this. "Sweetfangs! You don't think I'm handsome?" He puffed out his chest and put on his most charming smile.

Ericka blushed. Ofcoursehe was handsome – too much for his own good - and he looked twice as stunning in his groom's tuxedo, his hair as sleeked back as it always was and a masculine cologne wafting deliciously around his person. And the way he looked at her with those adoring blue eyes made her heart race.

Suddenly flustered, she nodded her head. "Y-yes, you are."

Drac smiled triumphantly and held her in his arms. "I knew you cared," he teased.

Ericka scrunched up her nose, playing along. "If I didn't, why in the world would I be marrying you?"

He shrugged. "Maybe I hypnotized you."

Ericka blew a raspberry. "I doubt that. If anything, I thinkyou'rethe one hypnotized, with the way you've been acting all night."

Drac laughed. "Oh, come on, a man can't be in love with his own wife?Especiallywith how beautiful you look in that dress…" He gestured to the lovely gown, a flowing concoction of fabric and lace custom-made to Ericka's liking. It hugged her slender form perfectly, accentuating her curves and emphasizing the woman's natural grace.

He leaned forward so that he could whisper hotly into her ear. "And I bet you'll look even betterwithoutit on."

Ericka gasped, her face turning a deeper shade of red at the blunt comment. She smacked him on the arm. "DRAAAAC!"

Drac just laughed. "Come on, honeybat, you know I'm right!"

"I refuse to answer that," Ericka huffed, trying but failing to hide a bashful smile that wormed its way to her lips. "But maybe if you let me finish this dance, we can head off early so you can find out for yourself."

The words were accompanied with a suggestive wink that stirred certain parts of the vampire's anatomy into arousal. His mouth went dry and he nodded slowly. "D-deal."

Ericka smiled. "Good. I'm getting kind of dizzy up here, anyway," she admitted, the rush of blood gravitating to her head causing it to throb lightly.

"Say no more, my love," he murmured. In a majestic swoop, he separated them from the ceiling, floating down and turning them right-side up in a carefully executed midair pirouette. Feet finding the floor again, Ericka balanced herself accordingly, sharing a wordless look of admiration with her husband as they happily rejoined their elegant extravaganza.