Woman of the Hour // volturi kings

40. no pressure

Claire said yes. Of course, she said yes. Practically screamed it at the top of her lungs. She threw herself into Marcus' arms, before he passed her to his brothers and let her smother them in kisses and affection too.

It wasn't how they imagined proposing to her. They pictured a romantic holiday, Paris maybe, a candle-lit dinner and a suite littered with rose petals. They'd each get down on one knee and ask for her hand in marriage. 

Admittedly, this was better. It was more...her. She had made it clear that all she needed was them and their love. Wooing her with the cliches was unnecessary, in fact she might have found it a bit pretentious. 

While Claire affectionately clung to his brothers, he flittered away and returned with a navy-blue velvet ring box. He clutched it tightly, still wound on adrenaline. He was elated to finally put a ring on her finger, to finally marry her, to give her their last name.

This was the start of the rest of their lives, an eternity they now got to share with the love of their lives.

---

"Hello?" The groggy voice of Ryan answered the phone.

Claire had completely forgotten about the time difference, but she was too excited to care. It had been a few hours since they proposed, and she had finally stopped crying with happiness. Her kings had left to get her something to eat, leaving her in peace to make a phone call to the two people that got her through the hardest time of her life.

"Ryan! It's Claire."

"Oh, hi, sweetheart," he sounded more awake now, slightly worried as to why she was calling at such an odd hour.

"Can you get Layla? I have some news."

He mumbled a response and went to fetch his wife, gently waking the slumbering woman.

"Claire?" The older woman asked, slightly concerned.

"Hi," she responded. "I have some great news."

She took a deep breath, steeling her confidence. She knew Layla would be happy for her, but Ryan was... protective, to say the least. But she treasured them both dearly, she wanted them to be part of the new phase of her life. They supported her through the worst, she wanted to share the best with them.

"I'm engaged!"

---

1997

Claire enlisted the help of Jane and Heidi to help plan her weddings. She had decided that she needed two separate celebrations, like her kings had suggested.

The kings also suggested a summer wedding, taking advantage of the idyllic Italian weather, but she didn't want to wait that long. She wanted to marry them, as soon as possible. She loved them, why should she wait?

She wanted a small, intimate event that Layla and Ryan could enjoy. The Volturi coven would be present, as well as the human staff she got along with. She wanted to keep the Malloys as safe as possible, so she didn't want to mix them with the numerous covens that would be at her larger wedding.

She dreaded her second wedding. It would be her official introduction to the world that her kings ruled. She'd have to make a lasting impression, solidify her place in their world while her heart was still beating. It was a mountain of pressure. It would be more extravagant than she was comfortable with, and there would be too many strangers in attendance. 

But she was sure she could carry the expectations she knew they had of her.

Marcus, Aro and Caius would support her, protect her. They would be her backbone, until she could stand in their world on her own. They had so much faith in her, and she refused to let them down.

Claire had put Jane in charge of writing invites and organizing a small caterer for her first wedding, and she had asked Heidi to help her pick out linen and decorations for the larger event. Layla had been on the phone to her almost every day, helping as much as she could from a distance. 

She and Ryan would be flying over the week before the wedding, doing some sight-seeing and spending quality time with Claire before her big day.

Ryan was still apprehensive, understandably. But he was trying his best to keep an open mind. If Marcus made Claire happy and treated her like she deserved, he would be better behaved than he was the first time they met.

---

"Do we have to get new suits, amore?" Marcus questioned, as the tailor fluttered around him, taking his measurements.

"Yes, handsome," Claire responded. She was sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table in one of the castle's many sitting rooms, going over her plans and selections for what felt like the millionth time. Despite the kings' insistence that they already owned enough suits, something she never thought that they would admit, she was very clear that they needed new ones, special ones for their special day. "I've already had them designed; we just need your measurements."

"You're being very secretive, my love," Aro pointed out from his seat in the lounge behind her.

"I know," she grinned, looking back at him over her shoulder. "But it's a surprise! Don't try to ruin it."

"Alright,' he conceded. "I'll try."

He had mastered his gift, completely. He could now touch Claire without her every thought flooding him. He was now able to live in the moment, enjoy the present with her. Sometimes, he would still take a peek, just to be sure that she was as happy as possible. But he never dove further without her permission.

"Are they still going to be black?" Caius crinkled his nose at the thought of having to wear a color. He'd do it without complaint, of course, but he wouldn't be thrilled about it.

"You'll have to wait and see," she turned back to the pages in front of her, trying to decide between two different table clothes that looked exactly the same to her. How did women do this? She really wished her mom was here to help her.

a/n: ok 2 quick q's.

1. do people actually want to read the wedding ceremony/s? i never do, i find them boring. 

2. would anyone be interested in a stranger things story? eddiexoc?