The Vampire Gabriel was the DJ at the reception as people mingled and took their seats. It was a strange mix of human and supernatural beings under this tent. Most of them were aware of each except for a few who were not, like Patrick's Parents who sat at a table with Lilith, Kevin, and Shadow. It was an awkward silence for a long time as Lilith was trying to think of ways to make Diane as uncomfortable as possible.
Suddenly walking over from the restroom was a young man Shadow noticed as he headed for their table. He sat down next to Lilith as the others sort of stared at him for a few moments trying to figure out who this person was and why he was sitting with them.
"Oh I am so sorry," Lilith said breaking the silence. "This is my date for the evening, his name is Chris."
"Hello, Chris?" Shadow said still a little unsure about him.
"Hi, sorry, I felt a bit uncomfortable coming to this occasion but Lilith Insisted I join her, you were amazing up there by the way."
"Oh, thank you, my love, would you grab me a drink?"
"Coming right up, anyone else?" He asked looking at everyone else at the table as they all shook their head no. "Be right back."
"Nana Lily, really?" Shadow said.
"I am only taking your mother's advice, she told me to be happy and right now that young man makes me... hmmm very happy."
"Poppycock!" Diane said.
"Poppy...what?" Lilith responded.
"According to the good book..."
"Oh shut up!" Lilith said responding to Diane's words about the Bible.
"Excuse me?"
"Listen, Diane, this is not a church, your god was not invited and not a single person in this place gives a damn about your good book. I know what you did, and what it could have caused, so needless to say keep your mouth shut."
"Well, I never..."
"And that right there is the problem, if you don't like my daughter that's fine, but I will not let anyone ruin this day for her, got it?" Lilith said as Jerome couldn't help but chuckle to himself a little.
"What did she do?" Shadow asked whispering over to Lilith.
Lilith had seen the vision that Patrick had seen earlier during the ceremony. She was able to sense it from him but compose herself well and complete the ceremony but that future horrified her. As she looked at Shadow seeing her death and hoping Patrick and Kevin had done enough to stop it from happening she smiled at her.
"Nothing you need to worry about Child." She said rubbing her hand gently before she looked at Kevin whom she knew was aware of this.
"Hey Shadow, you want something to drink?" He asked trying to change the subject.
"Sure, I'll go with you," Shadow said getting up and following him to the bar.
"I don't know what you are talking about, All I did was try to make sure my new daughter in law wasn't cheating on my son!" Diane spoke after they left.
"You may have had the best intentions but you put my Grandaughter's life in danger."
"How so?"
"It doesn't matter, the point is if something happens to her or anyone else I care about, I will hold you personally responsible and trust me, I am not a woman to be trifled with."
"Here's your drink Babe," Chris said coming back over.
"Thank you, Love." She said taking it and smiling at Diane before taking a sip. "Ooh, you told them how I like it."
"Of course I did."
"You spoil me, remind me to return the favor later," she said grabbing him by his tie and pulling him in for a kiss.
Over at the bar, Shadow and Kevin were ordering their drinks. Kevin noticed that Shadow seemed to have a concerned look on her face so he leaned over the counter and smiled at her.
"Everything alright?" He asked.
"What did you and my Dad do today?"
"Oh, it was nothing."
"Kevin, I feel like everyone here knows something I don't, please tell me."
"Shadow, I'm telling you it's nothing you need to worry about."
"Patrick hugged me this morning like he hadn't seen me in years, tell me what the hell is going on before I rip your balls off!"
"Ouch, well I um..." He said as Shadow's eye begins to turn bright yellow for a moment. "Alright, Patrick had a dream last night, of a future where you had died, so when he woke up I think he was just happy to see you."
"That's not the whole story is it?"
"Well, no it isn't, he and I went out to find the people responsible because it wasn't a dream, it was a message from himself, from the day he and Nessira died."
"Oh... God!" She said shocked by what he was hearing. "What happened?"
"Well, this private investigator got pictures of Nessira and Sasha, and it turns out he was working with a succubus intent on getting revenge on your mother, so I killed her, and then Patrick..."
"He killed the investigator?"
"He did, it was hard for him, I could see it in his face."
Before Kevin could continue any further she looked over and saw Patrick who was mingling with some guests while Nessira was still in the dressing room. Patrick saw her walking towards him with tears in her eyes and turned towards her.
"Shadow, what's wrong?" He asked as she wrapped her arms around him.
He was a bit surprised but he embraced her as well holding her tightly as she said: "I love you Dad."
"I love you too." He said getting emotional but not exactly sure why she was so upset. "Is everything alright?"
She just stood there and held him tightly for a good long while until she finally pulled away wiping her eyes before she said: "everything is great, now go and get your bride." She said with a smile before she turned and headed back to Kevin.
Patrick was a bit confused but he turned to go find Nessira as they were about to do their grand entrance together. As he headed towards the dressing room he saw Sasha come walking out of it looking like she might have been crying before she put her sunglasses back on. She looked up and smiled at Patrick before she walked passed him and headed back to her seat.
As he walked in he saw Nessira wiping her eyes a little before he said: "everything alright?"
"Huh, oh yes, just some last minute business with Sasha."
"How'd she take it?"
"She, well she understood anyway."
"Okay, well, you ready for this?"
----
After a few minutes, Gabriel got on the microphone and said: "if everyone could return to their seats for a moment, it is time," he said as everyone looked towards the main entrance to the tent. "For the first time ever, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson!" He said as Patrick and Nessira came walking in together while everyone stood and applauded them.
Nessira still felt strange as she was not used to situations like this at all but as long as she had Patrick by her side she felt she could do anything. They walked over to the dance floor as their song began to play and Patrick put his arms around her.
"I really don't know how to dance." She said with a nervous look whispering to him.
"Me neither, my plan was grabbing your butt and shuffling my feet."
"That could work." She said laughing as they did their best to just move with the music.
They stared at each other for a moment blocking out everyone else as they just slowly turned in the middle of the room. They were the center of attention but they felt like they were the only ones there as everyone watched on. Creatures from all walks of life who had no problem killing or eating human flesh in their lives had tears in their eyes watching the Red Witch dance with her new husband. It was a glimmer of hope for many that even they someday could be happy.
Soon everyone else joined them on the dance floor including Shadow and Kevin who also wasn't much of a dancer but as he had Shadow in his arms he didn't care. He had not been the same since being resurrected by her after he died a second time. He had been feeling useless and even a burden to her but the look in Shadow's eyes when she looked at him made him feel like he could move mountains, and for her, he would try.
Nessira began to look around at the others dancing around her. She looked over and saw her mother dancing with some young guy with her arms over his shoulders getting very close to him, even kissing him occasionally. Nessira nudged Patrick to look over as well and even he was a bit shocked at what he was seeing.
"You think that'll last?" Patrick asked.
"I think it will be whatever it is."
"Yeah, we haven't all find our witch yet."
"Or our Wizard?"
"It's still weird that you call me that, I was thinking of growing a beard though."
"Oh please no!"
"Okay, how about a goatee?"
"Maybe, we'll see how it looks before I decide."
"Deal." He said holding her tightly. "So is this everything you dreamed it would be?"
"Honestly, I never dreamed of anything, I wasn't the little girl planning her perfect wedding day, just wanted the perfect partner."
"I see, and how do I measure up?"
"You need some work, but close enough I guess."
"Ouch!"
"You know I'm just screwing with you?"
"Yeah, but still, I can still try to be better."
"Just as long as you are here, I'll be happy."
He leaned in and kissed her just as the music stopped. Everyone turned to them and gave them another set of applause as they separated their lips almost shocked that everyone was staring at them.
"Oh stop it," Patrick said to everyone with a chuckle "well you ready to get drunk and party?" He asked his wife.
"Do you even have to ask?"
Patrick and Nessira headed to their table which was just big enough for the both of them as the food began to be served. Patrick was given a beautiful looking steak while Nessira was given strange looking strips of meat that made her face light up.
"I dunno if it was a good idea having the Safari Cater our wedding."
"Don't worry, Sasha will take good care of us."
"Yeah but, what is that?" He said looking at Nessira's dish.
