[[Wedding]]

[survivesitall]

Christmas Eve had seemed the perfect time to get married. Elena loved Christmas, a holiday she'd only come to celebrate as an adult and part of the Pack. This would be her first away from them; away from all of the effort Jeremy would go to, making sure Stonehaven was absolutely perfect. Here it was just Clayton and her, her hand drifting to her already curving belly at that thought. It would be their last Christmas alone, that was definite. But without the Pack, without Jeremy, it had made sense to them both that they try and make it as much a celebration as they could.

They'd decided to have the wedding at the house, clearing out the living room to make room for their friends. A crackling fire gave the room warmth, and the tree they had felled together stood proudly in the corner, covered with little lights but nothing else in the way of decoration. On the mantle there was a snow globe with two wolves in it, their only other Christmas decoration and a recent acquisition.

Elena wore the same dress that she'd worn to Hermione's wedding. Beaded and off-white, it didn't fit as well as it had then. By their count she was ten weeks pregnant, but already she looked closer to four months. She didn't care about that, she would have been happy getting married in jeans. The celebrant spoke of simple things; committment and love. Elena knew that they had that already. She knew that in the nearly thirteen years since they'd first come together they'd been through more than most couples could ever dream of. Being turned into a wolf, kidnapping, magic attacks, killer mutts... The list went on and on and that didn't include the things that they'd done together.

When she said I do she could feel the tears welling, and for once she didn't care about that either. She'd grown up needing to be strong and tough, and finally she could let another side of herself show. The side that was scared for what they were getting into, but loved Clayton completely and wouldn't want to have her life without him.

She kissed him and heard the cheers of their friends. It was done. They were now Mr and Mrs Danvers.

Comments

OTA

[rulesofthewild]

Malia can barely believe she'd been invited to such an important ceremony. She can't remember the last time she ever had been. So she'd wanted to look good, maybe even make Elena proud. That's an odd feeling. She'd gotten help from the department store clerk — that woman had certainly earned her pay that day — and she'd also texted Stiles incessantly: first, to learn how to take and send pictures of herself, and then to make sure that everything she'd been looking at actually looked as good as the lady declared.

What she ends up in isn't that bad, even in her opinion. She feels awkward at first, but seeing everyone else dressed nicely is a relief.

She smiles when she sees the Danverses together. They make good mates, she thinks. A good couple, a tiny mental voice corrects. She doesn't understand why a little tear slips from the corner of her eye, though. She reaches up to wipe it shyly away, looking around to make sure no one has seen.

Re: OTA

[survivesitall]

"Thank you so much," she says to Malia after the ceremony, taking her hands and kissing her cheek. If this had been home Paige would have stood by her at a wedding, and maybe Savannah. Here, it was Hermione and Malia, and she was so happy they had agreed. "For being a part of this."

[rulesofthewild]

Malia hesitates when Elena kisses her cheek like that, but she turns her head enough to press one back. "You invited me," she reminds. She reaches up to touch her hair and smiles. "You're really pretty." And Malia knows it isn't like she's dressed particularly stunningly. But she is. There's something about the way she carries herself today. It's like all of her feelings are the sun, and it's glowing out from inside her. She's beautiful.

[survivesitall]

"I did, but you said yes." No one had to come to be a part of this celebration, Elena knows. That they chose to make time for Clayton and herself on Christmas Eve is a special thing. "So do you. It's a really nice dress."

[triskehale]

Derek has been keeping his distance from most everyone, staying in wolf form a lot of the time. He'd gotten the invitation from Elena and Clayton and he wasn't sure if he was being invited as a friend or a fellow alpha. He assumes it's the latter. It's not like he's done much to earn their friendship recently.

He knows that he can't decline the invitation. It would be disrespectful as an alpha, for one, but also he finds that he does not want to. Going to wedding isn't high on his list of things he feels like doing, but he really is happy for them. They're good people, good wolves, and Derek is genuinely glad they found each other.

Derek lingers near the back of the ceremony in wolf form, red eyes glowing. He wants to be there, to show support, but he doesn't want to intrude. He has his black pouch strapped to his flank with a change of clothes, his phone, wallet, and keys in it, just in case.

When they say I do and everyone claps, Derek lifts his muzzle into the air and howls in celebration.

[notaretriever]

It's a lovely wedding and Luke does his best to dress properly so as to fit in. He doesn't own anything besides jeans and flannel, so he'd made a trip to a little store where an enthusiastic blonde woman had helped him pick an outfit. She'd spent far more time with him than he thinks was strictly necessary and referred to his flannel and work boots as 'lumbersexual' more than once, a term Luke hadn't understood, but in the end she had really done an excellent job, he has to admit. She'd found something for him that is appropriate for the wedding, but also allows him comfort. It's not a suit, not even close, but a pair of knit pants and a sweater that Luke thinks he can see himself wearing in other scenarios.

Still, the wedding makes him a little sad. He's happy for Elena, but it makes him think of all the things he's missed out on while waiting for Jocelyn. He'll never have this. No mate, no child of his own.

He's hanging near the edges when he spots Derek and he pauses, then walks over to him. "Could you not find anything to wear?" he asks with a small smile. "I should have come as a wolf, too."

[triskehale]

Derek huffs out a sound that's something like a laugh and nods his big shaggy head, fixing ruby eyes on Luke. It's been a long time since they've spoken, and Derek regrets that. He knows that Luke is an alpha, or the equivalent thereof in his world, but Derek ignores ceremony and just greets his friend. He gets out and shakes out his fur, nosing at Luke's palm and sniffing a bit, re-familiarizing himself with Luke's scent.

He tilts his head a bit when Luke says he should have come as a wolf and lets out a quiet bark, nodding almost enthusiastically. He'd love to run with another wolf. Sometimes he aches with how badly he wants it. He's an alpha without a pack, and sometimes it's hard to bear.

[notaretriever]

Luke laughs a little at the bark and nudges his knuckles against Derek's forehead lightly. "After the wedding," he says, because it has been a very long time since he's willingly shifted, a long time since he's been able to able run. It would be nice to run with another wolf, it would be such a freedom to just disappear into the trees for a little while.

"It would be nice," he says. "It's been a very long time."

[modern_alpha]

It was just like Lord Maccon's pack at his wedding, all of them changing shape and circling around their alpha and his new bride, singing their joy. It seemed right that at least one howler present to sing.

"That was lovely," Biffy assured him, sitting down across from the wolf and wishing his change could come easily enough for him to communicate properly.

[triskehale]

This a new wolf, one that Derek hasn't met yet, and he eyes him warily as he sits down. His experiences with meeting new wolves in Darrow have all gone well, but he's had enough bad experiences to make him a bit cautious. This one seems friendly enough and Derek flicks his tail, leaning in a bit to sniff and familiarize himself with his scent.

He nods in agreement and looks at Clayton and Elena with longing that's evident even on this face. Someday he'd like to have something like what they have. It just isn't going to happen for him, he doesn't think.

There isn't any easy way to communicate in this form so he reaches down to grip the strap of his pack in his teeth, tugging it free so that it falls to the ground. He pats his paw against the ground twice, hoping it conveys wait here well enough, and trots off to find a private place to change.

A few minutes later he comes back over in jeans and a t-shirt, barefoot with messy hair, and lowers himself back down to the man.

"I'm Derek," he tells him, and his voice is rough from misuse.

[modern_alpha]

Well goodness. Biffy wasn't sure where to start, be it with the man's impressive physique or with his absolutely appalling outfit. Really, he was well aware that shifting could do horrors to one's wardrobe, but really this was a wedding. He was barefoot. Barefoot!

Rather than voice such critiques, Biffy simply rose to his feet to meet the man's eyes properly. "Biffy."

ota, tag Elena

[thelocalpsychopath]

Honestly, Elena could have told Clayton that she wanted to get married any day, any time and under any kind of circumstances, and he would have said yes. It was more than the fact that he wanted her to be his wife, he wanted to see her happy. Especially since this day had taken so long to finally come around. It was the right time though, he knew that. They had gone through their ups and downs, nearly losing each other more than once, and they had come through it stronger than ever. Now he knew their relationship and everything they had fought for would work out.

So he said his vows with conviction and every emotion that he felt as he watched her tearing up a bit. He said it all clearly, not grunting or staying silent like he usually did. He wanted her and everyone to know that he meant what he said when he promised himself to her for the rest of their lives. Not that he hadn't made that promise before to her but it felt more real when they slid their wedding bands on.

Once they were done, he kissed her with everything he was feeling despite everyone watching. That moment was only for them, after all. Then he drew back with a wide smile as he kept an arm around her middle and nodded to the people who attended the wedding.

---

After he didn't venture far from his new wife's side. He did give her some space though as he knew she would want to wander around and talk to people. He was even willing to be a little social himself as he was in a great mood. His only wish was that Jeremy was still there or that anyone in the Pack could have come. Still, he smiled as he glanced around and sipped his drink.

Re: ota, tag Elena

[survivesitall]

"I love you," she says softly as she comes up behind him. She's watched him most of the night, happy that he seems content tonight, even in a small crowd of mostly her friends. Elena rests her head on his shoulder, taking her hand in his. "Are you happy?"

Re: ota, tag Elena

[thelocalpsychopath]

"I love you too." He turns towards her slightly, sensing her before she even starts to speak. That's just how in-tune they are with each other after all this time. Reaching to take her hand, he nods as he links their fingers and smiles when he feels her wedding ring brushing against his. "I'm always happiest with you, you know that."

Re: ota, tag Elena

[survivesitall]

"I do. It makes me happy when you're okay with other people too, though," she says, but there's no admonishment in her words, only affection. Elena looks at their hands, at the rings that they have - though his was a ring he already wore. It's such a little difference considering that they are already mates on a deep level, and yet it means so much she's realised.

[modern_alpha]

This was, Biffy realized, hsis first wedding since Lord and Lady Maccon. In the scant year or so that had passed, much had changed. At the Maccons' wedding, he had been a vampire's drone, human, and deeply beloved as well as in love. Today, he stood an unwilling werewolf and an attendant to a wolves' wedding, and alone. Even now, separated by species, time, and universe, he longed for Lord Akeldama.

Those regrets, however, he saved behind a stiff upper lip and a fine smile as he congratulated the new couple. His grief, as always, was of no consequence.

"A lovely wedding," he said.

[survivesitall]

"Thank you," she says with a smile, sipping at her champagne glass filled with sprite. It's nice to see friends here, those she's recently made as welcome as ones she met on her first days. "I'm glad you came."

[modern_alpha]

"I am glad to have made a friend so readily," he replied. Certainly, much could be said for their senses of smell and the immediate sense of community of being a pack animal. "I hope this day continues to be a marker of joy for you."

[survivesitall]

It's a different way of wishing her happiness than she's used to, but it's not unwelcome. She does hope that nothing happens to make her regret this choice and this day, her hand grazing her belly as she thinks that. "Me too. I almost never thought it would happen, formally."

[cleverness]

While clothing had never been one of Hermione's primary concerns in life, there was something almost academic about navigating maternity clothes that had become a recent source of her joy. Having long since known the perils and stereotypes about sticking to empire waists in pregnancy, Hermione had gone to lengths to find something that didn't exactly fit that mold. A dress comfortable enough to accommodate her growing bump, but also nice enough to be worn at such a nice occasion.

After the difficulty of losing Molly so soon into her stay in the city, it's nice to witness a happier event.

Wiping away a couple of tears as the couple kissed, Hermione stuck around to meet and greet the other attendants of the party. It was small, intimate, and reminded her dearly of her own ceremony not many months before. Hermione swayed to and fro on the dance floor, humming along to the music and looking for familiar faces.

[survivesitall]

"Thank you for being here," Elena said, finally making her way to her friend. Everyone had wanted to say something to Elena and to Clay and that was fine, these people were invited because they were important to one or both of them. But it feels nice to be at the end of the congratulations, echoing out to hug her friend in an unusual moment of non-Pack physical affection. "For being a part of it."

[cleverness]

"I wouldn't have missed this occasion for anything," Hermione admitted, already feeling tears welling as her friend pulled her in for a hug. While she hadn't known Elena for terribly long, there was so much that they had managed to find in common, philosophies and experiences that they shared, that Hermione felt like they were kindred in more ways than one.

"It was a beautiful ceremony, and I'm so honored to have been part of it. Now we're both married!" Hermione exclaimed, pulling back with a wide smile. "How are you feeling? How's Clayton doing?"

[alphomega]

Scott wasn't looking for a pack, but he was grateful for the loose "pack" that had formed in Darrow, a lot of it thanks to Clayton and Elena, a network of support for the wolves (and other shifters, he didn't want to leave Malia out) that arrived in the city from all different worlds.

Which is why he was happy to be here, watching them get married and being a part of this day. It was why he was spending Christmas Eve here instead of with his mom or Bay. He'd make it up to them both tomorrow, but tonight--tonight he was with the wolves, celebrating this union.

[survivesitall]

"Scott, thank you for coming," Elena says, reaching out to touch the younger man's shoulder. It's made her so happy to see everyone here to support Clatyon and herself. "I can't believe everyone came."

[alphomega]

"Of course I came. I wouldn't have missed it," Scott assured her, smiling. "You guys look so happy. It's awesome. I'm happy for you." Two weddings he'd been to here in the city, now. It made him start to think, to wonder if maybe one day it would be him and Bay getting married. Not yet, he still hadn't even finished high school, but...maybe one day. If they both stayed here long enough.

But that was a depressing thought, and this was a happy occasion. He pushed away thoughts of disappearing loved ones and focused on those that were here, his--not pack, he didn't want a pack, but his community. His family.