Hi everyone. SORRY SORRY SORRY for the delay in writing this last chapter, but life gets in the way of writing sometimes. Anyway.This is, once again, a Nick reclaims his mortality story. Everyone is alive and well here. It is only mildly erotic, but I am posting here as so many of you have been following my other erotic tales. It can stand alone, but it might be helpful if you read my other story, "The Wedding Present," first. And, once again, I have written from life. I have combined every wedding horror story I have ever been involved in, so don't scoff at the preposterousness of it all. At the end of the tale, I will divulge what REALLY happened to Me.

No intent to infringe, blah blah blah, legalese and boilerplate :-) Permission to post JADFE, Mortal Love, Mel's site. All others send chocolate first, then we talk. Comments as always to pasvee@yahoo.com.

Dedicated to CTM, and to TJM, in love always.

To Pledge Our Troth by Mistress V

"TRACEY!" Natalie gasped, "I can't get to this one!"

Tracey Vetter glanced up at her friend's struggles and said, Hang on a mo, Nat, let me." She finished tying the bow on her peau de soie slipper and struggled to her feet. A loud ripping noise was heard. Tracey stumbled forward and crashed into Natalie. Together, they fell onto the antique oak bed.

For a moment, neither said a word, then Natalie began to laugh. "What happened?" she asked, trying to compose herself. Tracey sat up and examined her dress.

"Oh NO!" she whispered in horror. The back of the dress, which had several layers of flounce leading to a short train, had been pulled away from the v necked bodice. A large rip showed, right through to Tracey's merry widow corset beneath. The effect was somewhat unusual, as the dress was a pale slate blue, but Tracey's corsetry was bordello red on black.

"Tracey, you harlot"! Natalie laughed as she examined the damage. "At least mine is white, even if it is see-through."

"Is it ruined?" Tracey asked as she turned to survey the problem. "Naah," Natalie said. She picked up the phone.

"HI, this is Natalie, can you send up a needle and thread? Or a stapler? Thanks!"

"Now," Tracey said as she sat Natalie on a stool, "let's cover up that last lovebite or YOU''LL be blushing down the aisle too! Honestly, you think Nick could have restrained himself the night before your wedding..."

Natalie smiled. She and Nick had gotten a headstart on the honeymoon that morning. and despite Nick's full mortality, his penchant for neckbiting had followed him into his new life. She looked at the reflection before her. Bride and bridesmaid...a pair of...medusas!

"So," Tracey asked a she applied the finishing touches to Natalie's makeup, "Nervous?" Natalie nodded. She'd already shared the impossible events of the night before. "I keep thinking some of LaCroix's goons will show up, just to ruin things, you know?" She shivered.

"I dunno," Tracey replied thoughtfully, "it sounded pretty real to me. I think everything is fine. Now let's get you dressed. And where's that stapler?"

Almost on cue, the door opened and a maid entered. She silently proffered a silver tray, which bore sewing supplies as well as two crystal flutes of champagne. After bobbing a curtsey at Natalie, she left as soundlessly as she had arrived.

"I guess Catherine has a full staff on today?" Tracey remarked as they set about mending her dress.

Catherine had offered them full range of her estate for the wedding and reception. The ceremony itself would be held in the wood-paneled great hall, presided over by a magistrate Tracey's father knew. The reception would follow in the orangerie, across the grounds. It was filled with exotic plants and flowers, and the atmosphere would be fabulously romantic. Even if it was April. Nick had insisted they marry on her birthday, even though the weather might prove a factor. And it did---rain was forecast later that night.

A short time later, Natalie and Tracey again looked at themselves in the oak-framed mirror. Everything looked perfect, all mistakes had been rectified, and they were still ahead of schedule. Dusk had fallen, which meant that vampiric guests would also be making their way here. Tracey picked up her glass of champagne and handed Natalie hers.

"To mortal love, and a love immortal," she toasted. As they clinked glasses, the phone rang. It was Grace, who was overseeing the finishing touches to the hall, in a panic.

"Oh Natalie, oh Tracey, the flowers..." she began.

"What, the flowers?" Natalie almost shouted. She sighed as she listened to Grace's tale. "C'mon, Tracey, we have a minor problem downstairs..."

Bride and bridesmaids stared at the boxes of sprays and bouquets. Exquisitely designed, beautifully done, they were...yellow.

Natalie suppressed an oath. "What happened?" she demanded as calmly as she could. YELLOW???? The wedding's theme was blue, and the colors were horrendously mismatched!

""The florist," Grace explained. "They had two custom weddings today, and I guess they mixed up the orders. Our flowers are about 60 miles away...on an island in Lake Ontario..."

This time Natalie did swear. Tracey giggled nervously. "Oh, c'mon, Nat! we can pretend we're elegant UCLA cheerleaders, ok?"

From nowhere, a tall, handsome young man appeared. "Dr. Lambert," he said in a polished British accent as he bowed low, "I am here for the flowers. Please allow us to rectify the matter."

Natalie was taken aback. What could the florist possibly do at so late an hour? Well, they probably knew best. "The ceremony starts in an hour," she told him. "do what you can. Thank you." Without another word, he gathered up the boxes and headed for the door.

"Oh, Tracey?" Grace continued, "Your young man is here, he's in the kitchen with that peculiar English friend of his? Doesn't;t look too good, if you ask me..."

Now it was Tracey's turn to swear. "This is Nick's fault, I will deal with him later," she said to herself, ignoring a familiar WHOOSH! of air as she entered the kitchen.

***

Javier Vachon was leaning his forehead against the cool stainless steel of the refrigerator. Nick had warned her he was hung over, but in his newly-emerging mortal state, such physical happenings tended to be magnified tenfold. He looked positively chartreuse! Screed, almost unrecognizable in a tuxedo (!?!), was quaffing what looked like bloodwine, although she didn't dare speculate what KIND of blood it was, and eyeing the comelier members of the catering staff.

"Right, love?" he said to her with a smile.

Tracey wanted to yell, then changed her mind. Nick and Natalie had gone through these same phases as Nick had become mortal. Natalie had shared all the details when she learned Javier was doing the same. It was a question of learning to judge new situations, and everyone was bound to make mistakes. If only he hadn't chosen last night to try getting plowed!

"Javier," she murmured, running a hand across his surprisingly warm brow. He opened his eyes and gave her a crooked grin. "Hey, mija," he said softly, "sorry..." Tracey's heart melted within. She wanted to take him somewhere quiet and hold him the rest of the night, but her bridesmaid's duties were calling. She nodded at Screed, "Take care of him, ok" and headed back upstairs, nearly running over Nick and Schanke, who had just arrived. "DON"T say it!" she hissed at Nick. He stared back, puzzled, then saw the object of her frustration. "Coffee," he shouted, "and lots of it!"

****

Upstairs, all three women were wrestling with Natalie's veil, with little success.

"It won't work," Natalie sighed, "it needs a headpiece. And I cant raid Catherine's safe, even if she did have a tiara. I guess I am bareheaded down the aisle, and we're all bloomless..." Tears trembled in her eyes.

A knock sounded, making them jump. Tracey opened the door, and there stood the same young man who had taken away the yellow mistakes not twenty minutes earlier. In his hands, he held two boxes. Once again he bowed, handing Natalie the flowers, and then left. Grace tore the boxes open and exclaimed in delight. The flowers were there, perfectly blue, even more beautiful than they had remembered designing, and Natalie's beblossomed headpiece soon held her veil firmly to her auburn tresses.

Tracey and Grace started down the stairs as Natalie looked at her reflection one last time, her final view of herself as a single woman. "To becoming Mrs. Nick Knight," she said to herself with a smile.

Captain Reese appeared in the open doorway. "It's time, Miss Lambert," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Grace met them at the entry to the hall. "A miracle, Natalie!" she squealed. "The florists managed to get the hall decorated! It looks stunning! I don't know how they did it!" Behind her, Natalie caught a glimpse of motion, as the maid hurried back into the kitchen.

The sight of Nick at the altar made her forget all the questions whirling through her mind. She smiled at Captain Reese and they started up the aisle.

***

"And do you, Natalie, take Nicholas du Brabant Knight, to be your husband..." the magistrate continued. Natalie opened her mouth to reply, but movement caught her eye.

Javier Vachon, next to Schanke, was swaying on his feet. He was going to hit the deck, she knew it. Tracey gasped audibly, so loud that the magistrate glanced over as well.

Javier didn't disappoint. His knees buckled and he started to fall, but in a heartbeat, someone flashed past them and caught him neatly before he hit the floor. Natalie stared. She had seen that man before, where? The rescuing angel quickly hoisted up the comatose Spaniard and hurried him out a side door.

The ceremony continued without incident, Nick kissing her solemnly but erotically enough so that the audience burst into applause.

Suddenly, a noise louder than applause crashed through the hall. Thunder. Then something that was like...birdshot on metal. Hail. Minutes passed in an agonizing silence, then, as quickly as it had begun, the weather calmed.

The wedding party contemplated the scene before them. Swift but deadly, the weather front had dumped an inch of pea-sized hailstones. It looked like December. Natalie felt like crying. But then she knew exactly what to do. She handed her bouquet to Tracey, ducked out of Nick's embrace, picked up a handful of hailstones and threw the impromptu snowball at Nick. Everyone yelled their approval and a spontaneous, though short-lived, snowball fight erupted

After crunching across the grounds, everyone arrived safely in the orangerie. The florists had done their magic here too, Natalie realized in wonder. Blooms festooned everything, lit by hundreds of candles. Enchanting. At last realizing everything was fine (even Vachon had made a remarkable and speedy recovery!), Natalie allowed herself to relax.

It was during the toasts that Natalie's mind clicked onto an answer. She caught sight of one of the bartenders raising his glass to them. The florist. But he was surrounded by the "special guests"---Screed, Urs, Milos---and they wre ALL raising glasses in tribute. Who WAS he?

At a quiet interlude, Natalie whispered to her husband. "Who is that bartender? Does he work at the Raven?" Nick followed her gaze, paled visibly, and nearly choked. "It CAN'T be," he gasped softly.

"Nick?"

Nick swallowed. "Milos was supposed to work..." he began, "uh, Natalie, that bartender...he was one of the enforcers that was with Florian and Jeanette last night..."

Natalie's heart threatened to stop. LaCroix had prevailed. They would be dealt with after the reception. How thoughtful. But then she remembered something else.

"The flowers," she nearly babbled, "he replaced the flowers." Nick looked so puzzled that she quickly explained. "Are there female enforcers too?" she asked.

"I think so," Nick said,"but I've never met one, why?"

Natalie kissed him. "Never mind," she told him.

The reception went on smoothly, the cake was cut, the dance was danced, the toasts were drunk, and all the guests, vampiric as well as mortal, enjoyed themselves hugely.

On the dance floor, as a number ended, Natalie felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to face the mysterious florist/rescuer/bartender standing before her. He bowed and kissed her hand. "May I have this dance?" he asked.

Natalie allowed herself to be swept into an elegant waltz. She was too stunned to speak, wondering what on earth was happening.

"I trust," her partner remarked lightly, "that you are pleased with how well things went?"

She nodded wordlessly, astounded at his smile. His eyes were mirthful as he continued. "Sorry about Senor Vachon," he admitted, "I had planned to revive him before the ceremony, but the flowers sidetracked me. I gave him plasma in the vestry, though, and it worked a treat."

Natalie laughed in spite of herself. "It WAS you!"

He sighed. "One of the duties of a senior enforcer, I fear," he said, "although much more pleasant than usual. I am Martin Clifford. The community has heard much of you and your husband. It is an honor to be here."

An honor? Natalie wondered if she had heard correctly. Nick was watching them, eyes wide, as he danced past with Catherine.

Martin continued. "Florian sent a few of us here to ensure all would be well, especially after that unfortunate incident last night."

"You mean where he beaned LaCroix with his walking stick?" Natalie asked innocently.

Martin;s shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. "Priceless," he reminisced,' And well-deserved. You should have seen it." The music ended and he once again bowed low. "May I wish you and Nick every happiness," he said, "but I must return to my bartending duties."

Nick hurried over and escorted Natalie back to their table. "What was that all about?" he inquired, sliding his hand sensually across Natalie's backside. She smiled and pressed herself more firmly against his hand.

"Oh nothing," she said, "just small talk!"

Across the room, hidden from view, Martin, Jeanette and Florian raised a silent toast to the newlyweds.


OK, you ask, what happened to YOU???

Weeeellll...

My friend Dianne ripped the hem of her dress. We stapled it in the vestry!

One wedding had a lilac theme. The flowers we got were tiger lilly orange, but we had to make do, no one could find the florist's van!

One wedding was interrupted by a hailstone so massive we all ran out to see if our cars were ok. The ensuing damage to the soft fruit crop that year for California was unbelievable...all the blossoms were ripped right off the trees! (this wedding was in Fresno, CA). Then we skated across the churchyard to the reception.

One wedding had a groom passed out at the reception. But he was awake later that night to hear his new wife berate him...we ALL did, as the wedding party was staying in the same B and B inn...

And one wedding was delayed because the bride and groom were asleep. But that was ok. We ALL had stayed up at the tables the night before (in Vegas!)

Ciao, mistress V :-)

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