Cindalina winked at Marreck as Dimeria kept stirring the pot, noth aving noticed Ariala's reaction in the slightest, "Well then, I believe I'd best get Emelaide's gown out of storage. She's had one laid out with me since she was a small child, you see. She actually made most of it already, all that needs to be finished is the bodice, the desert sleeves, and the hemming." Chuckling, Cindalina smiled, "But I suppose I'm getting a bit carried away, aren't I. It's not every lifetime I get to have my two favorite children getting married around the same time!"

Dimitrius, having noticed Ariala's fists and felt her tense, looked over at Cindalina as he stood up, "Auntie, Ariala and I are going to take a small walk through the town, we'll be back in time for lunch."

Cindalina nodded as she watched Dimeria struggling to stir the contents of the soup, "Yes, of course dear. I'll have everything ready for when you return."

Marreck continued to blush as he finished chopping the vegetables though he felt a little sad as he saw the realization behind Dimitrius taking Ariala for a walk. Cold feet... He pondered. I'm blind. I should've changed the subject... He sighed.

Ariala got up from the table, her stomach twisted in knots. Of course Dimitrius would notice. Giving a last smile to Erreminette, Ariala wrapped her scarf around her neck. Scared to take Dimitrius's hand, an instinct she had to fight to stop herself from acting on, Ariala made her way out the door.

When they were outside, Dimitrius put his hands in his pockets, sensing Ariala was a bit tense, if not paranoid, "Want to talk?"

"Not particularly but I should." Ariala said, smiling a humorless smile. "I'm sorry for overreacting like that." She started. "Normally a joke like that wouldn't bother me but with Adan back its like I have to relive that day everytime I see him." Ariala sighed, looking up at Dimitrius. "But its starting to hurt less. Its not as bad to think about anymore, I think its becoming more of the past then it had been. If that makes any sense." She laughed once. "But it has nothing to do with you, Dimitrius. You and Adan are so different and that's becoming clearer to me. I'm not worried about us. We belong together." Ariala said, blushing as she looked down at the snow at her feet. "At least I think so. And I hate to feel like I'm upsetting you when I get anxious like that."

Dimitrius sighed as he gently tucked a few strands of fly-away hair behind Ariala's ear, "Ariala.. I'm sorry.. we weren't really thinking.. and you know I believe we belong together, I want nothing more in this world than to love you, to marry you, and to be able to have children with you.. Ariala, you're my world, the most important thing in my life.. it worries me that Adan has this much of an effect on you.. When I hear that you're just beginning to see Adan and I are different.. it makes me wonder if maybe we're rushing.. maybe we should push back the wedding.."

Gently pulling her to a stop, Dimitrius turned Ariala to face him as he linked his fingers through hers and pulled her close, "Yet another part of me wishes to prove to you that I won't run.. that part of me is telling me we should forget protocol and marry now, with only our dearest friends with us.. then we can continue with our wedding plans and have a large ceremony for show in a couple of months for everyone else to attend.."

Blushing, he added softly, "But that's a crazy plan.. huh.."

"That's not a crazy plan." Ariala laughed as she breathed in his cool scent. "Those are two polar opposite plans but I think I'm in favor of the latter." Ariala said. She moved closer, putting her lips on Dimitrius's. "I love you." She murmured softly. "Don't ever doubt that." She said as she rested her forehead against his.

"I never will," Dimitrius whispered while slipping his arms around her waist before placing a long, tender kiss upon her lips, "I love you too." Leaning back so he could search her eyes, Dimitrius gently caressed her cheek, "So what shall we do, love? Shall we keep things as planned? Or should we marry now, against all protocol, in a private ceremony?"

"I think we should marry now." Ariala admitted. "Of course we'll have to find a priest to marry us so soon." She pondered, her arms wrapping around Dimitrius's neck. She felt small butterflies in the pit of stomach with the knowledge that she would soon be married to Dimitrius.

Dimitrius couldn't keep the grin off his face as he placed a number of kisses upon Ariala's lips, "Leave that to me, my love. You tell everyone at Lina's, and whomever you wish to attend, about the wedding. Aunt Lina will know which church to attend. Could you send Marreck to Emelaide's for me as well? I want her at the wedding and I need to ask Marreck something important."

"Of course." Ariala said happily, returning his kisses eagerly. "Will you meet us at Cindalina's?" She asked with a smile so big she had to bite against her cheek to keep it from reaching her ears.

"Emelaide, Marreck, and I will meet you at the church," he whispered against her lips before placing a tender kiss upon them, "I can't see you in your wedding gown, it being bad luck and all."

"Right." Ariala said, standing on her toes to give Dimitrius a last kiss. "I love you." She said quickly, not waiting for a response before running back to Cindalina's house with her nerves humming from excitement.

After Ariala left, Dimitrius darted to the church, hoping to catch the Priest before he left. Finding Priest Mulckahie just finishing his service, Dimitrius waited for the crowd to file out. He then approached the Priest and explained his wish.

Priest Mulckahie was more than happy to fulfill the Prince's wish. The couple was to be expected in one hour.

Dimitrius left the Priest, after expressing his thanks numerous times, and ran all the way to Emelaide's house, his mood so elated he had to fight to control his urge to shout to the world. He felt like a child, but he couldn't help it. His dream of marrying the one woman he loved was to come true in just one short hour.

"Marreck, Erreminette, Cindaline, Dimeria!" Ariala called happily, bursting through the door. Pulling Dimeria into her arms, Ariala spun in a circle.

"Marreck! You have to go to Emelaide's. Dimitrius and I decided we're going to marry today. Spur of the moment. Romantic, isn't it?" She asked. "We'll still have the ceremony but it'll be more of a formal party rather then the wedding." She cried excitedly.

"I'll be at Emelaide's then." Marreck said, running out the door, wanting to avoid the crazy wedding talk.

"Where's the gown?" Erreminette said, jumping up quickly after Marreck left.

Cindalina hurried over to Ariala and threw her arms around her, "Oh my dear child, congratulations!" Looking over at Erreminette, she motioned towards the room down the hall, "Down the hall there's a room with my collections in them. There's a rack with Ariala's Winterglade outfits on them. Beside it is a mannequin with a gown upon it, that's Ariala's wedding gown. Fetch it for me? I still need to finish the alterations for her."

Gently caressing Ariala's cheek, a tear rolled down Cindalina's cheek, "I'm so happy for you Ariala.. You'll be part of the family sooner than I could have hoped!"

Dimeria hugged Ariala tight, "YAY! ARI'S GOING TO BE MY SISTER TODAY!"

Cindalina smiled, "Yes, she'll officially become one of my favorite nieces."

Dimeria grinned, "Yay! That means Ariala's going to stay with us forever!"

Cindalina chuckled, "With Dimitrius, yes my dear. But you, my child, will stay with me for a little while."

Erreminette ran to the backroom, taking Ariala's dress off of the mannequin carefully. "Oh, Ariala!" She cried running back to the kitchen. "I can't wait to see you in this. Its going to be beauiful on you." She said happily.

"Thank you." Ariala said, still grinning from ear to ear. Hugging Dimeria once, she sat Dimeria down. "Uhm, should I change here?" She asked awkwardly, unsure about undressing in Cindalina's kitchen.

~-~-~

"Em?" Marreck yelled as he reached Emelaide's house. "Em? Where are you, love?" He asked.

Cindalina laughed, "Let's move to the living room in front of the fire. It will be warmer there, and a bit less awkward. Ria, love, will you fetch me my sewing box from my room?"

Dimeria nodded and ran off in search of the box.

--

Emelaide awoke with a start at Marreck's voice. "Marreck? What's he doing here.. have I been asleep that long?"

"I'm in the bedroom Marreck!" she called out sleepily as she turned to face the door, but still laying down tucked into her bed.

Ariala nodded, making her way to the living room and changing into the white gown with Erreminette's help.

"Oh, Ariala." Erreminette said, her eyes filled with tears. "I know I should say something best-friend like and inspirational but you're so gorgeous that I'm crying." Erremientte sighed, laughing a broken laugh from the tears.

~-~-~

"Time to get up, love." Marreck said as he pulled the covers away from the Emelaide. "We have a wedding to go to."

When Dimeria came back, she through her arms around Ariala's waist, burying her face in her lap, "Ari looks like an Angel!"

Cindalina nodded in agreement, "You truly do, my child." Blinking back tears, Cindalina got out her supplies as she began measuring around Dimeria, "Ria, my dear, step away so I can fix your sister's dress."

Dimeria nodded and ran over to Erreminette, holding onto her leg as she watched Cindalina go to work on Ariala's gown.

---

Emelaide sighed, her mind a bit boggled and mixed up from her fever, "Marreck, they can't start the wedding without us, it's our wedding! Give me five more minutes to sleep.. they can wait," she groaned as she reached for her covers, snuggling back down into bed.

Ariala stood patiently as Cindalina measured her dress. The smile never left her face as she stared into the fire, mesmerized by the dancing flames.

~-~-~

"Not our wedding." Marreck said with a grin. "Ariala and Dimitrius's wedding. They've moved up the date." He said as he pulled at the covers once again. "Let's go, Em." He said as he picked her up out of the bed and carried her to the closet. "You need to be dressed." he teased, placing a kiss on her forehead.

Her pins in place, Cindalina looked up at Ariala, "How does this feel?"

----

Emelaide blushed as she leaned against Marreck, "Oops.. That sounded pretty dumb.. huh.. Sorry.."

Moving to her closet, Emelaide stripped down and changed into a new set of undergarments before flipping through her clothing. Finding a light blue dress, Emelaide sniffed and held back a sneeze as she pulled the dress over her head. Turning her back to Marrek, she asked sleepily, "Zip me up? This is fine, right?"

"Perfect." Ariala said happily before smacking her forehead. "I sound so cheesy right now. I don't want to be a cheesy bride." She sighed, not realizing how quickly she was speaking. "I'm so nervous, I just want to see Dimitrius." She laughed. "He seems to make all my nerves calm." She said thoughtfully, her eyes glazing over for a moment.

Cindalina chuckled as she began cutting and sewing the fabric, "My dear child, you sound like a girl in love. But I'm afraid you wont be able to see Trius until the altar. It's bad luck to see the Bride in her wedding gown before she walks down the isle."

--

Dimitrius, after stopping at his house, handed a sapphire ring with a note that read Meet you at the altar attached to a small chipmunk named Moe.

The chipmunk then ran off in the direction of Cindalina's house after a few words from Dimitrius.

In moments, Dimitrius darted down the lane to Emelaide's house.

"I know." Ariala sighed. "But I just can't wait." She laughed, her body seeming to hum with excitement.

~-~-~

"You look beautiful." Marreck assured Emelaide as he zipped up the back of Emelaide's dress. Putting his arms around her waist, Marreck set his chin on her soulder. "You didn't sound dumb at all." He said, kissing her cheek.

Cindalina chuckled, "I know my dear, Trius is surely feeling the same way."

As she spoke, the Moe popped up onto the windowsill and knocked on the window.

"Erre, can you open the window and let Moe in?" she added with a wink unseen by Ariala to Erreminette, knowing Dimitrius' ring plan due to having discussed it with him a few days ago. She hadn't expected it to happen for another couple of weeks. But since they were getting married sooner, she had assumed Dimitrius would have sent Moe here while they were getting the wedding together.

--

Emelaide sighed as she leaned back against him, "I'm sorry I said those things.. This fever's getting me so boggled, I'm hallucinating my desires.. I know you'd never want to marry me, especially not any time soon seeing as how we've practically just begun to get intimate.. Just forget my idiocy said anything, alright?"

--

Dimitrius reached Emelaide's house and opened the door. Catching his breath and he headed towards the bedroom, Dimitius knocked on the door. "Em? You and Marreck in there?" he called breathlessly as he continued to catch his breath.