Moonlight Sun 2

Today My Life Begins

Everything was finally falling into place. Satordi, Ro, and Kit were putting the final touches on the camp ground, to make it look like an authentic bonfire. I knew that Kit was putting her touches on it so it would look incredible, I couldn't wait to see Sorrell's reaction to it.

Now, came the hard part clearing everything with Mr. Garnett. Since everything was put together at the last minute, I was a little disappointed in myself for not talking to Mr. Garnett first, since it was within his power to pull the plug on the whole thing, and then the Witiki tribe had the power to forbid me from seeing Sorrell again.

I know I had to be one heck of a used car salesman to ask Mr. Garnett to allow Sorrell to stay at Beaufort overnight. I had discussed it in small part when I had first asked Sorrell to be my courting mate, only because, the traditional custom was for both her tribe elders and my tribe elders to be at the ceremony, but Mr. Garnett was a little reluctant, thinking that it was going to be a new age wedding ceremony, and some how we would elope and he would unknowingly give consent. He promised that on her wedding day that he would be there the courting ceremony was something else entirely. And I thought I was over-protective. I laughed to myself. To him this was just a bunch of kids playing dress up.

I was just happy he was over thinking that the Lougaro was some kind of cult. It wasn't until I copied a few pages of Satordi's book on the Lougaro when he understood, that the Lougaro were a peaceful tribe that were hearth protectors and celebrated the many phases of love. Much like satordi himself, who loved a reason to have a big shindig at Beaufort, so the courting ceremony was more than welcomed by him.

"Please, dad!" Sorrell was using her daddy's little girl persuasion powers. I was hoping against hopes that they were effective, then I wouldn't have much else to do. "It will be educational, how many time to you get to see a real tribal ceremony?"

Mr. Garnett let out a sigh. "An overnight ceremony?'

"Mr. Garnett, traditionally, the Lougaro courting ceremony would last into the next sunrise, but we can compromise with what ever you feel comfortable with." I assured him. "And the entire time we will be chaperoned."

He smiled. I knew that was a good sign. "I know you will be chaperoned." he said. "Satordi called me earlier, and said he would be personally chaperoning this ceremony. I trust Satordi."

"So is that a yes?" asked Sorrell.

"It is a yes." He nodded.

Sorrell squealed and hugged and kissed her dad. Truthfully I could have hugged him myself, but I decided against it. I was grinning from ear to ear. "Thank you Mr. Garnett, you won't regret this. We will take good care of Sorrell, I promise." I shook his hand.

"Make sure you do!" he said.

I smiled at Sorrell. "The Lougaro always take care of their own."

Sorrell hugged her dad once more and ran upstairs to get her clothes for the ceremony and then we got into the Mustang.

"Take a last look, sweetheart." I said. "Then next time you see home, you are going to be a Lougaro."

She looked at me and smiled. "You make it seem like, I'm going to come back with a new last name." she joked.

I smirked. "You'll be a Phallan soon enough. Don't worry."

She cut her eyes at me. I held my hands up in surrender. "I'm joking. When you're ready."

"I'm so exited!" she smiled.

I leaned over and nuzzled her. "Not as excited as I am, sweetheart. You have no idea what this means to me."

We went back to Beaufort and I dropped her off at Kit's so she could get ready. She would not show me the outfit she had picked out for the ceremony, so I had something to look forward to. I then went back to the cottage to change for the ceremony. All I kept thinking, was that other than me and Sorrell's wedding this would be the most important day of our lives.

I pictured myself in the future telling our children about the night that I had made their mother my mate. I smiled with contentment at myself in the mirror, thinking about Me and Sorrell's relationship as of this moment. From the beautiful little twelve year old in the yellow dress, to the fate encounter in the woods, where she freed me from the barbed wire fence, then running into her with the door in the school office, saving her life from a werewolf. How did a shy, nerdy, klutzy guy like me, get so lucky as to get this beautiful woman like her to agree to be my mate. It was beyond me, she could have any man of her chosing, and for some reason that was far beyond me, she chose me, and that was something that I cherished and would never take for granted.

I rehearsed the Laugaro oath in the mirror once more and took a breath. Showtime. I smiled.