Vows and the Noble Stag

I Do

The two vampires walk out to join Charlotte who is completely enthralled in her inspection of several statues and paintings. As they approach her she is staring at a painting of Saint Jude who is also known as Saint Thaddeus, the patron Saint of Lost Causes and Hopeless Cases and Difficult situations. There is a tear in her eye that she quickly wipes away.

"Whats this about Love," Elijah asks.

"The patron Saint of Lost Causes and Hopeless Cases and difficult situations," she says indicating the painting. "I can't help but wonder if he, Saint Jude I mean, wasn't part of how you ended up pulling me out of that burning building," she says as she kisses his cheek.

"Well, if he was, he just became my favorite of the Saints," Elijah says with a smile.

"So Father, how did your talk go?"
"It was interesting," he says with a smile.
"May I ask you a personal question Father?"
Elijah speaks up as he laughs, "Paul, let me warn you she is full of questions."

"Certainly, Charlotte."

"Were you already a priest when you were turned?"

Father O'Brien looks at Elijah and laughs before he answers her, "yes, I was already a priest when I was turned."

"Who turned you?"

Elijah suddenly looks very uncomfortable but remained quite.
"Elijah, turned you?"

"There's a story behind it but yes, he did. The short version is he and I were already friends and I knew his secret. My church was attacked and I was shot. When I was found Elijah was sent for. I asked him to turn me so that the children in the orphanage and school would not be left alone. He granted my request and helped me through the transition and to control the bloodlust."

Elijah wouldn't look at her which got her attention. "What? You look at each other when I ask the question and now you won't even look at me? Was turning part of your conversation?"

"Yes, it was but please let me explain," Elijah hurriedly began. "Paul reminded me of what the traditional vows are and I told him I have 2 problems with them. For one there is one person who is an exception to the 'forsaking all others' phrase but that you are ok with it. The second one being that I hope even death won't separate us but that I am unwilling to initiate that conversation. That if you never brought the topic up it would be 'Til death does part us' and then you brought it up."

"I personally found it rather ironic," Father O'Brien adds, "so I looked at him and smiled."

"Charlotte I love you and I want to be with you. Period. I will never ask you to turn. I will never bring it up after this. If it ever is something you have questions about or want to discuss then I am more than open to discuss it with you, but you will have to be the one to bring it up."

She remained quite for a moment before she walked over to Elijah. She turns to Father O'Brien and says with a smile, "Forgive me Father," before kissing Elijah passionately.

"Elijah I have no idea what I may or may not want in answer to that topic. However, I am extremely grateful that you respect me enough to leave the decision up to me. It means even more that you said you don't want death to part us. Right now all I know is that I love you, I want to marry you and, Father cover your ears, I want you in the worst way. If we weren't in a church I'd be ripping your clothes off right now."

Father O'Brien laughed out loud at Charlotte. "I'm a priest not a saint my dear. And yes I am aware that is a quote from The Count of Monte Cristo. Actually, I'm delighted to hear such devotion from you to him and respect for the Church." He laughs even more at the look on Charlotte's face.
"Elijah my friend I would be honored to perform the ceremony for you. Should I gather some witnesses now or would you like to come back later?"

With Charlotte wrapped in his arms he smirks at Father O'Brien. "I told you she was amazing, Paul. She is embarrassed over here," he states as he squeezes her to himself and kisses the top of her head.
"Charlotte, Love, I leave it up to you. Do you want to find a dress and a photographer?"

"If you want a photographer I can arrange that for you."

"Yes, please Father and thank you. I saw a simple wedding dress in a shop Elijah but it's Christmas Day. No shop is going to be open."

Father O'Brien laughs again. "My dear, Elijah can be very persuasive. For that matter so is money."
A few hours later the couple returns with a simple wedding dress for her and a tux for him. They change at the church and are soon standing before Father O'Brien with goofy grins plastered to their faces.