#i thought of doing something like. maybe claire’s mother hosts something and invites her cousin (blair mother) after so long

[hsslilly-blog]

trying to figure out when exactly is it that blair and claire reconnect.. i think it’s around the time blair goes to uni and it should involve both of their mothers somehow. because everyone deserves a happy and nice and healthy relationship with their mother! 😁

[hecohansen31]

ok, so roman godfrey; reader invites him for a new year's eve party at her house. reader's parents end up criticizing roman. roman worries he's not good enough and needs cuddling. *and i need some soft boo imagines*. happy 2020, btw.

(A/N): Happy 2020, also to you, lovely nonnie, although I am late!

Thank you for sending it in, I just wanted to say that the family described in the ask is not definitely mine (if I brought Roman home, my dad would literally cry of joy, because he finally ‘managed to take out the trash, permanently’).

As always, if you didn’t like it or anything, you are more tha welcome to send me another ask so that I can rewrite it for you!

I hope you’ll enjoy it!

WARNINGS: Toxic Parents, Psychological Abuse, Self-Esteem Issues, Self-Deprecating Talk, Nadia Being The Angel She Is (we don’t deserve her, honestly).

Your family, you knew it by experience, could be a bit… ‘too much’.

So, you had insisted on Roman not coming for your New Year’s Eve party, which you celebrated each year among your family, since you had spent Christmas, alongside Roman, taking care of Nadia exchanging the little gifts you had prepared for each other.

Shelley had also visited you, dropping in her gifts for you, Roman and Nadia, who cooed softly at her aunt, trying to grab her bandaged hands, meanwhile you and Roman hugged each other at the tenderness of the scene.

It had been a calm day and you couldn’t help but be thankful for it, wanting nothing more than your beloved boyfriend and his daughter around you, for these festivities, but Roman had insisted on joining your family on New Year’s Eve.

‘What will your parents think if I don’t show around?’ he had joked, circling you with his eyes, as you finished dressing up in the elegant dress you had chosen ‘… they’ll think I am either a ghost or don’t exist’.

Which you could totally see your parents thinking, but you had just done one last try to dissuade Roman, grabbing softly his face, tucking a few rebel strands behind his ears, looking at him in the eyes and explaining that you were worried he might run away, after having met your parents.

‘Babe, you challenged my mother, Olivia Godfrey… I do think that I can handle your parents’ he had smirked all victoriously and you had been infected by his smiling confidence and ended up making him accompany you to the ‘party’.

You had arrived early, since you knew that your parents would have found it distasteful for you to arrive even simply punctual.

Your parents hosted the party at their house and your entire family attended it, although as you arrived you found only half of the actual family: your grandparents from your father’s side, sleepily lounging on the sofa, meanwhile your mother and aunt worked in the kitchen and you were greeted by your father.

For which you were low key thankful, since he was a bit calmer than your mother.

He grabbed your coats, barely giving a look at Roman, who tried to present himself as soon as you father came back, his hands empty.

‘It’s nice to meet you, Mr. (L/N)” he muttered, offering him his hands “I am Roman Godfrey, (Y/N)’s plus one!”.

“Ahhh it’s nice to finally meet you, Roman!” instead of going for Roman’s outstretched hand, he straight up hugged your boyfriend, startling him “… we almost thought you weren’t real!”.

You felt Roman shudder at that insensitive affirmation, but you put on an small fake smile on your face, gripping back your boyfriend as you joined the laugh, half looking at the kitchen, hoping to find something that might distract your father.

“… ahh isn’t that, Claire?” called you out your grandma, using your cousin’s name, but you welcomed the distraction and brought Roman, alongside you in the kitchen.

Which wasn’t the smartest move since it meant that you and Roman stepped right into the bullseye and both your mother and your aunt set their gaze on you.

You smirked through the annoyance, meanwhile Roman didn’t seem to understand the threat that your family was and smiled at everyone, helping your grandma, with moving onto a chair so she ‘could take a closer look at you and your handsome knight’.

You were thankful that Roman quickly moved to join a ‘casual’ conversation with your grandma, so he was sheltered by your mom and aunt, who went to quickly crowd around you.

“You look lovely, sweetheart!” mumbled your aunt, as your mother pointedly examined you and you knew all too well that she was either analyzing whether you had put on some weight or how much the dress you had chosen was worth.

And then she pushed you in a tight hug, mumbling about how much she had missed you, as you heard your grandma going on with Roman over the fact that she totally believed that you would have remained a ‘spinster’.

You saw Roman’s gripping hands tightening in his lap at that mention, but he kept a serene smile on his face.

“… ah Roman it is also a pleasure to meet you, I don’t want to bother your conversation with granny, but it is nice to meet the man who made an honest woman of my pumpkin”.

Roman turned to her, smirking lightly, before he also offered her a hand, gaining a nod of approval from your mother, since Roman completely met her personal standards: rich, beautiful and young.

“It is an honor to meet you, finally, Mrs. (L/N)” he answered, not realizing the entire tension that had been going on through you.

“Oh, please call me Sandra” she joked, and then let your boyfriend go back to the enlightening conversation with your grandma, as she asked you the details about the relationship.

You were extremely thankful when the other half of the family joined you, your sister more than anyone else, since she had shared half the traumatic experience that your parents were.

But one slip of her tongue shattered the picture-perfect image of that night that you had created.

“… where is Nadia?” she asked at Roman: she had met you and Roman, much before than your family having, once, slept on Roman’s couch, when she was in Hemlock Grove.

You loved your sister and trusted more than all the other members of your family, so you hadn’t been able to stop yourself from welcoming her, once she was visiting Hemlock Grove for a job offer, and her and Roman had seemed to have good chemistry (although she had begrudgingly threatened him with a fork, had he ever solely thought to hurt you).

She had also met Nadia, loving her role as an aunt, but unfortunately hadn’t gotten the memo about not talking of her toyour family, because first of all: you didn’t trust them with the knowledge of Nadia, and secondly, you knew how your mother would have taken such news…

So, you tried to do some damage control.

Whispering back your reply that ‘Nadia was with Destiny and Peter’, so you could hope that maybe… just maybe… your mother hadn’t heard your sister.

But your mother had caught the dialogue, already and immediately shot you a surprised look, quirking an eyebrow in a questioning way, before she uttered.

“… who is Nadia?” you half-wanted to lie that it was either Roman’s sister or a friend but couldn’t help but believe that lying wouldn’t work with your mother.

And again, your sister had another slip of his tongue.

“Roman’s daughter, mom! She is a cutiepie… you should see her!”.

Both you and Roman were frozen on your spot, and slowly your mother’s gaze finally reached yours, as you faked a smile, feigning calm and innocence, as Roman’s hand sneaked to yours.

“You have a child?” she asked, almost unbelieving, as if she had been promised a pony and got a smelly donkey.

“Ahem… yeah… Nadia is my daughter from a previous relationship… the mother died, in childbirth” explained rather calmly Roman, meanwhile your thumb drew soft relaxing patterns on the back of his palm.

“Nadia is a beautiful baby, and I am beyond lucky to have Roman share her with me” you tried to gain some sympathy from your relatives, which seemed to work on almost each one of them, except your mother, whose gaze held an immediate hostility towards you and Roman, making you both shrank in his seat.

You tried to shift the attention away from you and were beyond glad when your father suggested that you and Roman could go to get some new wine, both because of the free air and both because you could completely swallow an entire bottle of alcohol.

As you walked outside, your sister mouthed ‘sorry’, having understood her mistake and you just shook your head, as you headed outside.

“… is something wrong?” asked softly Roman once you were out of earshot, although you still felt your mother’s eyes onto you, a sensation he shook off, hugging you gently “… your mother sounded… troubled when she heard about Nadia”.

You heard completely Roman’s uneasiness in his voice and gently gripped him tighter.

You had been beyond blessed to be welcomed in Nadia and Roman’s safe haven, and it wasn’t something that you took lightly or would let your mother taint with her affirmations: you already knew why that knowledge annoyed her so much, but you didn’t share in the slightest her opinions.

“She is just old-fashioned, but don’t worry about it… I am more than happy to be with you and Nadia” and Roman seemed to be lightly comforted by the soft smirk you had gifted him, before pushing an even softer kiss on his lips “… she’ll have to deal with you and Nadia, because I have no intention to let you go”.

“Neither do I, lovely” he giggled and as he leaned in for a kiss, but you were immediately brought apart by a rather stern cough, not even attempting to seem fake, revealing your mother, sending you two pointed looks.

“.. Roman, you wouldn’t mind meeting with my husband in the kitchen, he is having problem moving the table, so that we could have more space for each other” and as Roman tried to lightly protest, but your mother simply silenced him with a “… don’t worry, I’ll take care of the wine with my daughter”:

You sent Roman away with a smirk that stated your confidence in avoiding killing your mother, but you couldn’t help but be highly unnerved by her prolonged silence, as you moved to the wine cellar, but preferred it to words.

Which didn’t wait long to appear.

“Are you crazy about getting yourself with a man like him?”.

“You seemed to like him, mom” you retorted, meanwhile you fake of looking through the wine bottles, your hands gently caressing the glass of their bodies.

“Before I discovered he had already a daughter on his paycheck!” she made you turn to look at her in the eyes “… you know that not only you’ll never be his number one priority, but also any child that might come from you will never be loved as that… Nadia”.

“Mom I highly doubt it” your mother came from a completely different generation, the one where you married somebody and stayed with them, till they grew old and dead.

Even if they cheated, even if they were violent.

But Roman wasn’t simply ‘it’, because he had already a daughter.

“Don’t come crying at me when he breaks your heart” she retorted, almost spitting on you as she turned on her heels and left you there.

You took a deep breath, but a sob shook your back again and you couldn’t help but take your good time as you tried to calm yourself down.

In the end you chose one of wine and faked not having heard your mother talking so horrendously about your boyfriend.

Roman looked worried as you came back, and you shot him a small smirk, in an attempt to relax him, but it didn’t do much, because Roman’s worry didn’t ease up and he kept you for the rest of the night by his side protectively.

But he wasn’t able to stop your mother’s glares.

Because of those, you literally ran away after the Midnight happened and the New Year came, justifying your escape as having to pick Nadia and your mother sent you a little smirk, as if to say ‘see… this is what your life will be like’.

You and Roman had to go through a rather awkward silence as you drove back home, picking up Nadia from Destiny and Peter, the latter being extremely attached to Nadia, joking about not wanting to giver he back.

As you got her back, justifying your sadness as tiredness, you strapped her to the booster set, and after a few minutes of soft giggling, she went back to sleep.

For which you were thankful since you were honestly without a once of energy and Roman was gracious enough to suggest he set down, to let you undress, having half an idea of having a midnight bath.

When Roman came back, you were checking the temperature of the bath, dressed in a simple light robe and your hair were in a quick updo, letting Roman gently caress you from the back of your hair to your spine, a soft thrill of pleasure running down it, with his movements.

“Care to have one more in the bath” he asked, tiredly, although he was well aware that you wouldn’t have pushed him away, even more after a night like that.

“… wouldn’t have it any other way, beloved” you replied, gently grabbing one of his hands, proceeding to undress him with extreme gentleness, and then let him have the privacy to immerge himself in the warm water, as you pushed aside your robe to join him.

“… now I understand what you meant with your parent being ‘too much’” Roman softly joked, as you settled onto his chest, laying comfortably your head against his shoulder.

“I am sorry you had to deal with them” you mumbled, turning lightly to lay a soft kiss onto his neck.

“I am actually the one sorry…” he muttered, and you raised to look at him in the eyes, confused “… I shouldn’t… I come with a shit ton of baggage, that much is true”.

And you softly turned to him, grabbing his face strongly in your hand.

“All my mom said is shit” you mumbled, pushing him lightly on his shoulder “… you and Nadia are not baggage, you’ll never be”.

“No, no… one day you’ll realize that… you fucking deserve better and… I can’t fucking give it to you”.

“You sound like my mother, when you say this” you shot back with an harsh glare at him, as you raised Roman’s chin so that he could see your eyes properly “I am a big girl, I think that I can decide on my own, without anybody telling me what to do”.

“You are ruining your life, with us, babygirl” muttered almost powerless Roman and you just pushed yourself back against his chest, raising lightly water, which splashed slightly outside.

“I don’t think so…” you replied, as your hand slipped to grip his softly “… you have no idea how I feel whenever Nadia smiles at me and giggles with me, it makes me feel the most cherished ever… something that not even my family could give: she is not baggage, she is family”.

“… are you going to quote ‘Lilo and Stitch’” shot back Roman, but his tone held no bite and you simply smirked, leaning down to press a kiss onto his lips “… we are fucked up”.

“… fucked up in this together” you completed, giggling as Roman’s hands started tickling you, making you squish even more water out and you were just able to lightly fight him and giggle.

In the end, your new year had started amazingly.

[kassandra-lorelei]

So, I've been sick in bed and went back through all your one-shots on here (why did I never do that before?!) Anyways... You're amazing and I love them all, but my favorite one was the AU where Niles was CC's carriage driver who got lost and they eventually run off together. It's so adorable and I was wondering if you could write a next part of it? Their wedding and /or them living on the run from her family maybe? I just want to know what happens next! Ha ha Thanks, Hannah!

Hey there, my friend! I’m sorry to hear you’ve been unwell - I hope you’re feeling better!

@missbabcocks1 @holomoriarty

Niles had been correct in his assumptions that the journeywould be long – they had left at first light and it had been very near dusk bythe time they’d arrived at the village where his cousin served as priest. Butto Chastity-Claire, there had never been a finer journey, nor a better timespent. Her fiancé, though but a servant by birth and profession, was truly themost remarkable she’d ever met. His wit matched her own, his kindness wasunparalleled, and his charm could win the heart of even the most cynicalcreature.

It had certainly won hers. She could not be completely firmin how many of her friends and family had married for love, but from the waymany of them presented themselves at dinners and balls, it was not themajority. She was amongst the fortunate few, and she would not trade her placefor all the wealthy suitors her mother would consider a more than adequatealternative.

Niles’ cousin was an amicable man, and though he had beensurprised to see them, he’d delighted in the opportunity to perform a wedding(even at extremely short notice!). He’d even gathered some of the localvillagers to serve as witnesses and as congregation, and some of the villagersin turn had provided Chastity-Claire with a fine bouquet of wildflowers, andNiles with a fresh suit. They had insisted that no man should look less than hisbest on his wedding day, and after many thanks were exchanged between allparties, they had begun the ceremony.

A faint blush had settled across Chastity-Claire’s cheeksfrom the onset, and she feared being the colour of the setting sun by the endof it. But from the gaze that Niles bestowed upon her (even from the merecorner of his eye), she felt as though she could be as red as an apple and hewould consider her no less than a goddess.

The mere thought sent a pleasant shiver through her verycore, and she beamed back at her love, before turning her eyes back to thepriest.

“If there is any person present who knows of a reason whythis man and this woman may not be married, you are to declare it now.”

There could be no reason. No person present knew-

“I demand that this wedding be stopped!” cried a commandingvoice, snatching the remains of Chastity-Claire’s thought from her head.

The replacement dread for her previous satisfaction feltcold, and with a soft gasp she spun to witness the objector’s entrance.

It was her mother, Lady Barbara-Beatrice Babcock, who hadspoken, and whose heeled shoes were marching with tempestuous purpose towardsher daughter through the murmuring congregation. Her father, Lord StewartBabcock, and her brother Noel both soon followed, appearing much more reluctant.The instigator of this interruption was clear, and though Chastity-Clairelowered her bouquet in one hand, she used the other to take Niles’.

She would not allow him to feel intimidated, which was oftenthe case when her mother approached servants. And though she knew her love tobe both sharp and stalwart in his own honour’s defence, her encouragement wouldnot be unwelcome.

“Chastity-Claire,” it was not a greeting that her mothergave. “Step away from that man this instant!”

Chastity-Claire would do no such thing, “Mother-”

“Silence, child,” Lady Babcock came to an imperious haltbefore them. “We did not leave the Goodhues’ home in search of you, only to beinformed by the landlord of an inn some miles away from your intendeddestination, that you had left in this direction with your fiancé! I will notallow it to continue! You are a highborn lady, you shall present yourself assuch, and you shall marry as such!”

Chastity-Claire had never heard such a silence follow anorder her mother gave. But it was to be expected – she was the recipient, andshe was not going to obey.

It was only broken by a clearing of the throat designed toattract attention.

“Perhaps,” Niles’ cousin leaned discreetly into the colloquy.“It might be more prudent if this discussion were to be conducted privately?”

Lady Babcock turned on the priest with the amount of respectowed to a man of his position, but also with an equal amount of condescensionthat was typical of her interactions with…well, any working man or woman shecame across!

“Good sir, I shall be the one to decide where my affairs arediscussed.”

“This is not your affair, Mother,” Chastity-Claire finallyfound herself able to speak. “This affair is between Niles and myself.”

Lady Babcock cast a disdainful eye over Niles, “It certainlyalmost was…!”

Chastity-Claire set her jaw hard to prevent it from gaping, butshe knew her eyes were alight with righteous anger.

“I am a woman of age, Mother; I may decide which man Imarry!”

“Not when your choice brings shame upon our family!” hermother retorted, her chest slowly swelling in indignation. “Unless, of course,you are choosing to renounce the Babcock name?”

That irked Chastity-Claire.

She slowly tilted her head to one side, “Is that not anobjective of marrying, Mother? To give up one’s maiden name and take up that ofone’s husband?”

Her mother’s eyes flashed, and her hand gestured, “This manis a servant! He has no name!”

Chastity-Claire felt Niles let go of her hand. In a momentof unprecedented fear, she thought that perhaps he had decided that her motherwas correct, and he was intending to step away so that she might marry a manher family deemed worthier of her. Though she would never do such a thing, whenshe now knew her love to be him.

But Niles did not step away. He merely stepped forward toaddress Lady Babcock.

“If I may beg your pardon, my lady, us of the lower ordersdo also possess surnames,” he said, calm and collected in his manner. “Though Icannot fault you for believing otherwise, Your Ladyship having never stooped tospeak to any man below the rank of Duke.”

More than a whisper of a gasp, intermingled with variousnoises of amusement, went about the congregation, and Lady Babcock was deeplyaffronted.

“How dare you address me in such a fashion?!” she turnedfrantically to her husband. “Stewart! Say something!”

Chastity-Claire’s father appeared composed. However, therewas a glint of mirth dancing in his eyes.

“Do I have permission, Barbara?” he asked, cocking his headin a similar fashion to his daughter. “I only possess the rank of Lord…”

The hilarity spread further amongst the congregation,including to Noel, who barked a laugh.

And though Chastity-Claire knew her mother would have deniedpulling such an unseemly facial expression, Lady Babcock gaped.

“You cannot possibly be in agreement with Chastity-Claire’sdecision?!”

“I am, in actual fact,” Lord Babcock wandered to theirdaughter’s side, placing a gentle hand on her upper back. “Our girl has becomea woman, Barbara. She has fallen in love. And I understand completely heraversion to attending any party or ball in which Elizabeth Goodhue is present.”

Lady Babcock spun on her heel, eyes searching for her son.

“Noel,” her voice was verging on desperate. “Your father hastaken leave of his senses! Speak to him at once!”

Chastity-Claire’s brother was concealing a full look ofamusement; she had always been able to tell when he was intending on mischief andhis current countenance matched each scenario.

“Unfortunately, Mother, that will not be possible,” Noelannounced. “I also choose to uphold Chastity-Claire’s decision, and I also hateElizabeth Goodhue.”

Lady Babcock’s eyes widened, her form growing weak as shelooked as though she might faint, “You…hate…?!”

Chastity-Claire restrained herself from laughing at hermother’s behaviour. The Goodhue family were the wealthiest amongst all thelocal families. Her mother most likely still had visions of her betrothal toJames Goodhue, Elizabeth’s son. Not that such a venture would come to fruitionanymore.

Noel smiled, “Vehemently.”

“With untold fervour,” Lord Babcock agreed. He then becameapparently thoughtful, though it was clear it was feigned. “Although, “untold”is a changeable factor. A factor which might easily be changed, say, out loudand at the next function we host, to which the Goodhues are invited…?”

Silence hung in the air before his wife answered.

“You would never dare to do such a thing.”

“For my girl and her happiness, I would live the very day Idid over, tenfold,” Lord Babcock replied. “A servant for a son-in-law ispleasing compared to the embarrassment of the scandal I would cause.”

The silence returned as Lady Babcock cast her eye over thewedding party, the flush of potential humiliation staining her cheeks. It wasobvious to all that she had been defeated on the matter.

“Well. Then I fear you leave me no choice but to accept thisappalling state of affairs. Though I want it noted that I do so under protest,”she huffed her declaration. “If I were not under duress, then neither bride norbridegroom would be welcome in my home!”

She followed her statement by storming away, no doubt toreturn to the carriage from whence the Babcock family had made their journey tothe village.

“Fortunately, they are welcome in mine and we share thathome together,” her husband called after her vanishing frame, before turninghis attention to the soon-to-be-married couple. “Though the blushing bride andher groom might find it more acceptable to have their own, might they not?”

There was only one possible implication that he could bemaking in his statement.

Chastity-Claire felt her breath catch in her chest, whichshe clutched, “Father…are you suggesting that you will…?”

Her father smiled, “The family along the way from us haverelocated to the city. They are poised to sell me their house, as well as allthe surrounding land. It shall be my wedding gift to the pair of you.”

A house. A home of their own, which Chastity-Claire couldnot imagine being long empty. Herself and Niles would soon move in, and then…well,it was inevitable that children would follow! Her mother had made sure she was very well educated in what to expect, after all, and the thought of being withNiles (while also slightly intimidating) was…well, more than stimulating to her.

She beamed, “Father, I…words cannot express how grateful Iam!”

He took her free hand, matching her countenance in return, “Thinknothing of it, my Kitten.”

Niles stepped towards them both, resting his own hand overhis heart, “I feel that I must express my own thanks as well, sir. I cannotimagine how many numerous fathers would have attempted to pay me to keep awayfrom their daughter, or perhaps given me a sound thrashing.”

Lord Babcock laughed, “I would not insult any feelings hereby offering money, sir. And you will receive no thrashings from me, for as longas you keep my Chastity-Claire happy,”

“You have my word when I say that I intend to spend my lifedoing exactly that,” Niles bowed.

Chastity-Claire watched as her father considered her futurehusband, before stepping away from her and offering Niles a hand to shake.

“Then you have my blessing,” Lord Babcock said. “It iswell-deserved; not many men can claim to have stood up to my wife, and evenfewer can say that Chastity-Claire would willingly forgo all she has known andloved for them.”

Niles took the proffered hand and turned a look of adorationon his future wife, “I already count myself amongst the most fortunate of menfor that very reason, sir.”

“As well you should,” Lord Babcock grinned, grasping Niles’hand tightly before releasing it. “And please, think of me as the mostunfortunate of men – I cannot stay for my own daughter’s wedding, and must insteadface the wrath of my wife the moment I set foot off these consecrated grounds.”

“Are you certain you cannot stay, Father?” Chastity-Claire asked,disappointed at the thought of her father or brother missing the ceremony. “Thevillage inn has offered us a reception after the ceremony…”

Her father took and held her upper arms, “I would lovenothing more, my sweet, but your mother will be waiting in the carriage toleave.”

Chastity-Claire turned to her brother, “Noel?”

The man returned an unfortunate look.

“Alas, I must assist Father in appeasing Mother,” he said. “Ourpresence would only spoil the ambience.”

If it were truly possible to physically deflate, then Chastity-Clairewould have achieved it in that moment. Though she knew they were correct – her motherwould never agree to sitting through a celebration for an occasion of which shedid not approve. Her father and brother would have to mollify her, somewherefurther away than the ceremony.

Niles must have noticed her displeasure, as he came closerto her and placed his own hand upon her back.

“Then we must all have dinner together when we return,” he stated. “I may have no living relations, but I will not allow my wife tomiss celebrating with hers.”

Chastity-Claire felt the warmth of affection coming over herheart, and she leaned carefully into his half-embrace.

“You truly are a gentleman. Niles, was it?” Lord Babcockasked, slapping his future son-in-law heartily on the upper arm. “We shallarrange a meal for the day after you come home, so that you may rest from yourjourney.”

The man then took one last look at his daughter, approached,and kissed her on the cheek.

“Farewell for now, my Kitten. I could not be prouder of you,or of your decision.”

Chastity-Claire returned the kiss, “Thank you, Father.”

Noel moved closer to do the same, “Farwell, little sister.Enjoy your elopement as though it had never been interrupted!”

The couple certainly intended to. And after Lord Babcock andthe future Lord Babcock left with more wholehearted farewells, the ceremony wasresumed.

The reception at the inn might not have been full of spectacle,but it had the warmth and true jubilation Chastity-Claire often felt ballslacked. Beer and wine flowed freely, joyous laughter and music floated throughthe air, and there was a wondrous amount of enthusiastic dancing.

The bride and bridegroom tired of it long before the guestsdid – they craved some time to themselves, and were thoroughly applauded asthey excused themselves for the night.

Chastity-Claire held her husband’s arm as they walked alongthe corridor, to the room the innkeeper had insisted on giving them for thenight, with the rent already paid.

“I had once imagined my wedding would be some grand affair;flowers and ribbons, a great feast laid out, all friends and relations upstandingto make a toast,” she sighed, relaxing in the quiet and the comfort of Nilesnext to her.

Niles also sighed, though it conveyed a very differentemotion, “I am sorry that we could not have had such a ceremony.”

Chastity-Claire stopped him outside the room door, windingher arms about his neck.

“There is no reason to be,” she told him, resting herforehead against his. “I preferred the one we just had to any fantasy, my darlinghusband.”

Niles began to smirk at that, “The night is not finishedyet, my dearest wife.”

Chastity-Claire matched his expression, thinking of how onlythe night before, they had been forced by decorum into separate rooms. And nowthey would share not only a room, but a bed.

She brushed her lips close to his, “Oh, yes…the matter of myhonour…”

Niles, understanding what she wanted, caught her lips in a shortyet passionate kiss. It felt like a foretaste of what was to come.

“Might I be allowed to escort you inside?” he near whispered.

“You may,” Chastity-Claire murmured in reply.

Without so much as a muttered word, Niles lifted her intohis arms, causing Chastity-Claire to let out a soft giggle.

Her husband smiled lovingly at her, “I might not have beenable to give you the ceremony you deserve, but I can certainly bring flourishwhere possible.”

Chastity-Claire stroked his cheek with one finger, “I shallbe holding you to that promise…”

Even from the sly grin he gave to her words, she knew hewould not disappoint. And as Niles carried her over the threshold into their room,using his foot to close the door behind them both, the celebratory music andcheerful laughter carried on below.