After a whirlwind few months in Avesbury, the wedding was upon us. Annabeth had graciously worked her magic and prepared our ceremony. I would ask to return the favor, but I think she rather enjoyed this. The dress was finished completely the week of, to ensure that the final fittings were just so. During the final weeks, it allowed me to spend more time with Derek. He was with me nearly every hour of the day. It was mostly a precaution against Jack. After that morning, I was weary of being alone with him in the house. Derek assured me that he wouldn’t be there often. His Grace had built him a cottage on the grounds where he could stay if he wanted to. Derek and Annabeth said that he spent most of his time between the tavern and the cottage.

The days leading up to the wedding were hectic, to say the least. I spent a lot of my time chaperoned by Johnny, Bambi or Annabeth. The night before my wedding was terribly nerve-wracking. In one of the few moments we were able to catch, Derek informed me that Colin was home and demanded to give him a proper send off. He promised to drag Johnny along, and when he found out that he was joining…well, he was none too pleased. He much rather would have stayed with me and the girls.

He fancied Bambi, although he wouldn’t admit it.

After they left, the girls piled into my room, their hair tied up in rags. We spent the night giggling and preparing for the morning. To the vicar by nine, married by ten. And a mother by summer. Well, at least I hope not. I’d like more time as I am. I’d like more time to be together, without the distraction of a child.

After a good night filled with laughter and teasing, the girls had fallen asleep. I couldn’t sleep. Not yet. I couldn’t stop thinking about my life in the near future. How drastically it would change, and maybe for the better. Near quarter of one, a quiet knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Before anyone woke, I snuck from my bed and tiptoed to the door. My poor Derek looked utterly spent from his night out. He leaned against my door frame, a crooked smile about his lips.

“Derek,” I whispered, pushing him into the hallway.

I closed the door behind me, praying that none of the girls woke. Our wedding was only hours away, and according to Annabeth, Derek could not see me until then. I thought that was utter hogwash.

“My darling,” He pressed his lips to my cheek.

He didn’t smell of alcohol, which made my inner turmoil quiet. He was just tired. Although, I was aware that I was just in my nightgown. He took my hands, pulling me down the hall towards his room. Tomorrow, it’d be our room. What a daunting thought. He shut the door behind us, immediately moving to stroke the fire. One he was satisfied with that, he moved around to his closet, finding his robe.

“Here, you look cold.”

He wrapped it around my shoulders, his hands lingering a moment. I stood quietly as he moved about the room, shedding his jacket, vest, and so on until he remained in a plain shirt and his trousers. He came and stood before me, taking my hands in his. He felt different somehow, more relaxed perhaps? I couldn’t place it, I truly couldn’t.

He pressed his forehead against mine, absentmindedly toying with my engagement ring. The glow of the fire against his skin made his blue eyes glow. In less than a day, I’d be here as his partner. A small part of that statement frightened me. He pressed his lips to my nose, tugging his lips into a lazy grin.

“I missed you this evening.” He admitted.

I smiled, releasing his hands to wrap my arms around his waist. He smelled of ivory soap and tobacco. He returned the hug, tucking my head against his chest.

“I missed you as well, although your sisters kept me well occupied.” I teased.

He hummed in response, playing with the fabric of his robe.

“Stay the night?” He whispered.

I looked at him with wide eyes. I knew the meaning behind his words; stay to sleep. He had been sneaking into my room through the closet after Johnny or the girls would leave. It had become a constant comfort over the past few weeks. However, tonight was very different, and I hesitated to answer.

“Please,” he begged. “We shall wake in time to get you back. I cannot stand the thought of sleeping without you.”

I licked my lips, running my hands over his back. What was the worst that would happen? Were already to marry in the morning, and there was the matter of a binding contract signed when I was only ten.

“Alright—but no funny business! I mean it,” I ordered light-heartedly.

Derek chuckled, raising a hand to brush away a stray lock of hair. Suddenly, he moved his arms under my bum and lifted me into the air, carrying me swiftly to his bed. I prayed that the way he made me feel never went away. He would be my husband until one of us passed on, and I hoped that I would love him as he deserved.

As we both deserved.

We laid in bed together, our legs entangled together, along with our arms. We talked, just of little things. He told me how Johnny spoke of Bambi during the evening, how Collin was prepared to propose to Annabeth. He told me of so much good happening in our little world. I had fallen asleep in his arms, the beating of his heart comforting me. I didn’t worry about our future, I didn’t worry about the morning. All I cared about was staying in his arms, safe from everything and anything.

Morning came too quickly.

Still wrapped in his robe, and mildly aware that I was snug in his arms, the constant rapture on his door stirred me awake. It mustn’t have been much past seven, since the sunlight was barely peeking through his curtains. I knew that his footman would be in to help him ready any minute now, but his arms were just so divine.

“Derek!” Annabeth’s muffled voice shouted from the opposite side of the door.

I sat up immediately, shaking my nearly-husband awake.

“Derek,” I hissed, tapping his cheek with some intent.

He groaned, stretching his tired muscles.

“Hmm?”

“We’ve overslept!” I hissed. “Annabeth is outside your door!”

 He opened his eyes finally, his eyes widening slightly.

“Bloody hell,” he mumbled, his hands finding my waist. “Go, through the closet. I shall distract her.”

He leaned up slightly, one hand gravitating to my neck. He pressed a kiss to my lips, lingering slightly as the door handle jiggled. I pulled away, a ghost of a smile gracing my own lips. Derek returned my smile, stroking my neck gently.

“I shall see you in a few hours, my darling.” He murmured, sitting up fully.

Without another word, I slid from the bed, securing his robe as he made his way to the door. I glanced at him once more before slipping into his closet, lingering near the door only for a moment. I listened to him answer his sister, her berating him for being dressed only in his trousers, then asking if he had seen me. I had taken that as my cue to slip into my own closet. I pretended to busy myself with my dress, checking that it was clean and everything was neat and clean. A few moments later, I heard Annabeth come back into the room, muttering something aloud before throwing open my closet door.

“How long have you been in here!” She exclaimed, walking over to me. “That is not your robe.”

I pulled the dress into my arms, mentally cursing myself for not leaving the robe in his room. I forgot that she is much like a hawk in that respect.

“It’s not? I wonder how it came to my possession” I amended, playing with the ties.

“Are the girls up? I couldn’t sleep and thought it would be a good idea to spend a quiet moment to collect myself.” Annabeth hummed in response, eyeing me suspiciously before taking my arm.

“The girls are mostly awake, and your mother will be joining us in half an hour. Let’s get your hair done before the chaos begins.”

*

Derek pressed his hand against the small of my back, drawing me closer to him. He gave me his infectious smile and I could not help myself. I leaned in close and kissed him for the second time that day, savoring the taste of his lips. Derek cupped the back of my neck, not caring in the slightest bit that we were surrounded by friends and family. We were in our own little world. Our wedding was strictly family, and I liked that. Weddings were meant to be intimate. The reception consisted of our close friends and family. Derek was so kind to pay for my friends' passages over to England. I had not seen them in years.

"Mm, Mrs. Goddard. We cannot continue this here, for I fear I will not be able to part from you if we do." Derek mumbled as he pulled back from our kiss. "Go, your friends are waiting for you. We must depart for our honeymoon in an hour."

I flashed my husband a smile before running over to my friends. My best friend in the entire world, Alannah, engulfed me in her arms first. I moved over to her brother, Connall. My other friends, Declan, Colleen, Enya and Ida congratulated me with warm hugs. I would miss them terribly, but I would visit them as often as I could. The only married persons, besides me, in our group of friends were Enya and Declan (married to each other, and Ida and Connall (Also married to each other). Alannah and Colleen were the last single people in our group of friends.

"Och, does the man have any other brothers?" Alannah asked, keeping her arm around my shoulders. I giggled and put an arm around her waist.

"Yes, but they are quite young. I hope you don't mind waiting another ten years for his twelve-year-old brother to turn twenty-two." I said softly.

"Eh, it's better than the drunkards Enya and Ida keep setting' us up with." Colleen muttered. "To think, my own sisters would set me up with people like that."

"Well, you’re not given' me much ta work with, Colly." Ida grumbled, resting a hand on her swollen abdomen. Alannah's stupid brother finally did something right, besides marrying Ida. I saw Derek move towards us out of the corner of my eye.

"Soo, Immy, when are you going' ta give us a babby ta fawn over?" Enya asked as my husband looped his strong arms around my waist.

"Not for a while. But no more than a year," Derek replied, kissing the crown of my head. "I have heard so much about all of you. I am Derek."

"Och, Im, ya never told us that yore hubby was a full blown Soldier!" Connall said in awe. "We would have classed up the accents!"

"Is that why ya don't have much of an accent anymore? Ya tryin' ta become English by proxy?" Declan asked. I blushed as my friends continued to speak. I never voiced my dislike for my native tongue. I never wanted Derek to know that. I was self-conscience.

"No." I whispered. "I haven' decided to become English by proxy." Derek took my hand and laced our fingers together.

"Let us share another dance or two before we must depart, my dear." Derek said in my ear. I nodded and bid a quick goodbye to my friends.

"Imogen, do you not like your roots?" Derek asked as he pulled me close to him. I pressed my face into his shoulder.

"I feel outta place." I mumbled. "With me hair, an' me freckles, an' me accent an' just everthin' 'bout myself." I confessed. Derek pressed his lips to my temple.

"Mrs. Goddard, I love all those things about you. I love that you stand out. I am so tired of humdrum young ladies throwing themselves at me. I very much like you, Imogen. I like everything about you and I wish you could see that in yourself." Derek whispered in my ear.

"How do you have such feelings for me and we've only known each other for a month?" I asked him. Derek stared at me with confusion.

"Imogen, what are you talking about? We spent our childhood together." Derek stated. Oh my, Da never told him.

"Derek, I experienced a trauma when I was young. I lost most of my childhood memories." I whispered.

"So you don't remember anything about Avebury?" He asked, sadness lacing his voice.

"I remember coming here once, when I was just a tot. Not much other than that." I said. "But you an' I will make new memories. Together." Derek smiled at me as the music stopped. He never let me go until we had to leave for our honeymoon. Derek refused to tell me where we were going until we were age away from home.

"Derek. Where are we?" I groaned, leaning my head on his shoulder. Sleeping in a carriage is worse than sleeping on a boarding school cot.

"Scotland, my dear," Derek said, slipping his arm around my waist. "Father has a summer home and he wants us to spend our honeymoon there." The carriage passed many hills and shacks on the dirt road.

"You will never have to live like that ever again." Derek whispered. I bit my lip softly. He was right. I would never have to live like that again. But my young siblings did, and that was unfair.

"But my family does." I replied quietly. I felt horribly guilty. Derek kissed my temple and pulled me into his lap. "It's not fair to Miguinty an' Aiden an' Alastar an' Keegan. They are seein' Mum now that she is the sole provider. They need me mum, Derek."

"Shh, Imogen, they are being taken care of." Derek murmured. "Now, you will be all mine for the next few weeks." He said as I turned my head toward him. I giggled as he cupped the side of my neck and kissed me softly. My first real kiss was stolen by him this morning. I've been on cloud nine ever since.

"Lady Goddard," Derek mumbled against my lips. "We have arrived."

Finally.