Eunice didn't even manage to speak to me that night at the beach. The Full Moon overtook her and she bounded off into the woods, all feral and terrifying. When I got home, I looked for Freddie to try to talk to him about what'd happened, but Ophelia said he'd gone to talk to a holistic therapist about his feelings on getting older.
So, I talked to Mom. I expected her to tell me that I'd have to dump Eunice and find a viable (male) dynasty spouse on the double, but she was strangely understanding.
Mom is an expert about most things, and supernatural folks are her specialty. I suspect she knows all about my witchiness, but she never brings it up. She had a load of good advice for me regarding Eunice, and a special gift that she left on my desk that night while I was sleeping.
The first thing I did when I woke up in the morning was to call Eunice. She claimed to not remember much of last night, but agreed to meet me back at the beach. Mercifully, she arrived in human form, though in a dress that was almost as startling as her transformation the night before.
"Nini, what
are you wearing?" I giggled.
"Oh, shut up. Not all of us are Watched. It's what I aged up in. Come here. I'm so glad to see you. So glad."
We talked for a long time about what had happened. About the wolf that had attacked her and her sister on the night of her young adult birthday.
"Honestly, it's a miracle I aged up at all," she said, then took a deep breath. "Look, Eden, I know you have to end it. I know bringing a werewolf into your home would destroy your family's goals. I just want you to know I understand. And I don't hate you for it."
I cut her off, breezy as you please. "I've been thinking about that. On one hand, weres tend to live a really long time. We could be together well into my immortality, even if we could never live together. On the other, the idea of marrying someone else makes me want to barf. So yeah," I said and dropped to my knee in the traditional pose, clearing my throat.
"Eunice Ruby Watkins. Will you?"
"But, Eden!" she said, clearly confused with all her good and bad feeling swirling up in her head.
"Look, I found this potion on my desk today. I'm gonna throw it at you now."
"What? What is i--"
"Yay, you're healed!"
"I ... what just happened? Feel weird."
I waited for her to recover her balance. She took a deep breath and looked at me, elated realization spreading over her face like a blossom.
"So do you want to be my Lady Wife or no?" I asked.
"Of course I do, Eden," she said with a grin. "Have you asked Freddie about the other thing?"
"Freddie will be up for it, I'm sure," I assured her and glanced around.
Wouldn't you know it, when my Gran upgraded this park, once upon a time, she'd set up a wedding arch on the beach.
"Let's just do it," I whispered to Eunice, grabbing her hand and tugging her toward the arch. "Let's just have it done."
"Our families..." she said.
"Will kill us, yes," I laughed.
She looked around, paranoid that we'd be caught and in trouble. Sometimes it's hard to remember you're a grown up now.
Hotdog fairy Bianca Monty did decide to witness our matrimony. I guess you do need a witness for it to be bonafide, anyway. She was a weird wedding guest.
I said some stuff to Eunice about eternal love and immortality and another life together and junk. I called her my queen and my love and said I could even look past her ugly dress in the face of true passion.
She told me I was amazing and had changed her life. That I'd rescued her from a curse, just like a real fairy tale, and that we'd be happy forever.
And that was it! We were married now! Joint Queens of the Classic Empire!
I ran off ahead home to tell everyone that Eunice would be joining the family that night and she went home to pack. I really hope she's happy with me.
That night, we cuddled in bed, actual married grown ups. Romeo chirped int he corner, approvingly, and I said to Eunice, seductive as you please, "Let's get you out of that dress!"
"Oh, Eden!" she giggled, tickling me.
But seriously, I'm setting that dress on fire while she's asleep.
The first thing we did after copious woohoo was to set Eunice up with what she calls Watched-quality fashion. Here's the rundown -
Every Day:
Formal:
Sleepwear:
Swimwear:
Outerwear:
We honeymooned in France for nine magical days. Mom did come along, but only to keep working on her visa. She wants to buy us a beautiful vacation home. She was only with us for the bit right after we landed, but she said we were constantly sighing and mooning over each other.
Isn't that how it should be?
While Mom was off doing whatever it is that she does to secure higher visa points, Eunice and I were camping in the French countryside.
It was a lazy week of romantic alone time. Lots of chances to realize how good the decision we'd made really was. I didn't even miss Freddie for once.
For the last two days, we tore ourselves away from our little retreat to explore the village and the food. Eunice is excited to choose a career and get settled into the house and life with me. She also says, quite shyly, that she's looking forward to the nooboo. After all, she'll be its mommy too.
When we got home, I knew Mom would be going into overdrive to finish her immortal requirements. She'll be an elder soon. Everyone is super annoyed with her tutoring attacks, so she has found a way around that. Ha. Bet he didn't see skill tutoring as a side responsibility when he took his job.
Enjoy the next fifteen hours of logic skilling, my fine blue gentleman.
I'll get back to my garden soon and everything. And eventually I need to talk to Freddie about Things. But for now, I just want to cuddle up with Eunice and remember our honeymoon. Perfection is out there.
"Looking for a Bride" by the Brothers Grimm - A shepherd could not choose which of three sisters to marry. His mother told him to give them cheese. One did not cut off all the rind and so ate some. The second cut off good cheese with the rind. The third carefully pared off the rind, and so he married her.
Obviously the plot of that tale is a weird one, but the title fit this particular chapter