We had organised everything with record speed. Bertie had always kept the garden immaculate in the hope that one day he would be rewarded with a garden wedding. He beamed pure pride when we told him that we were in fact going to have a garden wedding, the guests would walk through the formal garden to the grassed area where the wedding would be held. It was intended for the children's play area but now it was going to be something far more special. Jonah had taken the news about how a phoenix breeds rather well. I thought that until I found a calendar on his computer that was counting down the years, months and days until his fiftieth birthday. When I confronted him about it, he told me not to bother planning a birthday party because no one wanted to see what he was planning to do for his birthday. It involved me, him and our bed.

Gaston had planned an amazing three course meal that would be a gastronomic delight in his opinion. I had left it for him to decide what was going to be served, he had an amazing sense of taste and was able to create food that tasted incredible. He had selected additional staff to assist him with the preparation and had even brought in someone to bake and decorate the cake.

The invitations had gone out; all the guests were confirmed. Well, Edmund hadn't apologised as yet, and therefore he had not been sent an invitation. Jonah was adamant that he would apologise to my family or miss out. His uncle had been sent one and had confirmed their attendance, so clearly Edmund hadn't tried to stop him or maybe Franklin had stood up to him too. Franklin was about three hundred years old, I wasn't really sure and hadn't asked him. But he and Terrance were like chalk and cheese, they might have been brothers but they were nothing alike. And that was why it was likely that Franklin had stood up to Edmund. Terrance might fight with his father about things, but in the end he would always cave, relenting to the dominating nature of his father.

The Friday night before our wedding had arrived and the place was pure bedlam. My parents had decided to stay for the weekend which meant that all of my siblings were here too. I would have let them have the entire second floor to rest in, except both of my maternal and paternal grandparents decided that they too would like to stay over. My grandparents on both sides had children that were too young to be left alone, so that was another three children to add to the list. Then Terrance and Miranda decided that they might like to stay too, the twins had tried to object but were shot down pretty fast by their mother. Nat and Elston thought it was a great idea to have a weekend party rather than one night. It started to get worse by the minute, the phone rang and Muriel answered it, in her flustered state she looked at us with a quivering lip.

"What's the matter?"

"Your highness, your Aunt Josephine is on the phone wanting to know if there is room to accommodate their family as well?"

"All of them?"

She nodded with a pained look. That meant another six adults because Jayden had a girlfriend now plus the two children that Josie and Ethan had recently had. I looked to Jonah wondering where we were going to put everyone. He took the phone and talked to his aunt. With one very large sigh he hung up the phone.

"Well?"

"Well my dear aunt is on her way here now with Evie and Jayden, she's spoken to Godfrey who apparently is taking great delight in our predicament."

"Great, being laughed at by the almighty."

"Anyway it has been suggested that we put up a new building."

"Where and how?" I frowned at him "How can you put up a building in less than twenty-four hours? The witches would need several days to bring something here."

"I do believe my dear aunt has a hidden trick up her sleeve." he grinned.

Ten minutes later the rock face cracked open, a silvery glow that shined bright. The three of them walked through the door engulfing us in hugs and kisses.

"You, my darling nephew are in dire need of an upgrade. Boss man has developed some new tricks for us."

Josie flicked her long black hair off her shoulders and wandered over to the grassed section, running her hand over the wall. Jonah followed her and I watched with curiosity as they spoke.

"What's going on?"

Evie grinned at me then turned out to the land beyond the wall.

"You're going to get a new building, one that you don't need the witches to bring it in, one that doesn't need people to build it."

"Are you going to use magic?"

"We are, Jonah hasn't had many of the upgrades that he is supposed to, so he won't be able to help."

"It's not going to block the view from our top floor is it? I like looking out over the land."

"No, I think mum was intending further down. Where were you planning on holding your reception tomorrow?"

"In the house."

"You were planning on entertaining how many people in there?" she raised an eyebrow at me.

"We don't really have anywhere else."

With a sigh and a shake of the head she wandered over to Josie and Jonah and entered their conversation.

After a few minutes had passed the three of them started work. Jonah and I stood back and watched, completely enthralled. At the end of the garden the wall was opened up enough for us to walk through, the land beyond it was cleared and levelled. Then the ground started to shake, rumbling and groaning. Josie's arms were stretched out, her hands curled tight as if she was gripping two invisible balls. Sparks of rusty red flicked around the three of them. Evie and Jayden were creating a new wall that wrapped around the emerging building, protecting it and us from any unwanted visitors. The new building sat at the very far end of our section of land, it would not obstruct our view and no one from the building would be able to see into our bedroom windows. When Evie and Jayden were done with the wall, they set about creating the gardens. The building loomed over us, five levels high and very wide.

"There." she huffed with delight. "One hotel for your guests. Anything and everything they could ever want is waiting for them. Is your chef prepared for the entire weekend, for feeding a lot of people?"

"He has brought in extra staff; we should be fine."

"This is a temporary solution, Monday lunch time it will crumble back into the earth. You need to ensure all are aware of this otherwise they will be digging themselves out of the dirt." she grinned. "There is also a function room for you to use, large enough to seat all of your guests."

I could hear a murmur from behind, I turned to see a crowd had formed. First out was Muriel, she was stunned as she stared at the building. Then Harold emerged wandering through the wide garden path. It was a delicate garden of flowers, every colour imaginable. There were so many different types of flowers, large trees hung over creating a shaded path, it's flowers were a pretty lilac colour. The wind knocked some of them out, slowly falling to the path in front of us. We walked into the new building, a grand foyer with two large curling stairs that led to a mezzanine floor.

"So, to the left is the function room, to the right, behind that wall is the kitchen. The area at the top of the stairs is the children's play area."

I looked around at the cavernous room, it seemed so much larger inside than it did outside. The walls were a rich warm red, the reception desk was nestled in between the two sets of stairs. Where the kitchen would be being two elevators, engraved on the matte metal doors was the mark of the phoenix. From behind the reception desk a door opened which I was surprised at, I didn't think anyone had entered before us.

"There is a staff rock face in their area." Josie explained "You will need staff to attend to your guests, will your steward be able to oversee them?"

"Of course, Harold?"

"Yes your highness, with pleasure."

So now the rising list of people wanting to stay for the entire weekend was dealt with, there was one very new hotel sitting in our back yard. Jonah and I stood by the rock face and greeted everyone that entered, told them about the building and ensured they understood they had to be out by Monday morning. Everyone was here, the place was now closer to a controlled bedlam. I was grateful for Harold and Muriel ensuring everything was dealt with, making sure that our guests were looked after. I didn't have to worry about a thing. After dinner Jonah and I made our way back to the house, leaving our guests to entertain themselves. Jonah started to pack a bag of things, pulling a dress bag from his side of the robe.

"What are you doing?"

"Adhering to tradition." he grinned "I am going to sleep in the hotel tonight."

He flicked the bag over his shoulder, the smaller bag in his hand. Leaning into me, his lips hovered over mine, a grin curled into the corner of his mouth.

"Are you going to miss me?"

"Absolutely."

"Good, I'm glad. I'm going to miss you too."

One little peck on the lips was what I got, then he wandered out of the room leaving me alone and missing him already.

************************

I laid on the bed with my head at the foot end so that I could see the building. It was only the corner of it that was visible but it was enough. I laid there for hours, watching the moon rise and the star's twinkle, wondering where my love was resting. Wishing he was here with me. The bed felt so cold without him, he would always snuggle into me, warming me with his body heat. I heard my phone buzz, the glow of the light lit up the room. It was a text from Jonah that made me smile even if it was a little strange.

*I miss you too*

*how did you know? *

*because I know you. Oh, I love you too. *

I grinned, wiping the tears away.

*always with the right words, counting the hours. *

*****************

My mother was the first into my bedroom, somewhere around mid-morning. I had actually fallen asleep, something that wasn't what I normally did.

"Morning sunshine."

She hummed as she moved through the room and into the robe, pulling clothes out for me.

"Dress quickly, you have a visitor."

Five minutes later I was downstairs, walking into the lounge room. Edmund stood, watching as I warily walked in. This was an unexpected turn of events.

"Good morning Ivy."

"Your highness." I curtsied.

My grandparents and my father were already sitting with him; Terrance had walked in behind me. He sat beside his mother saying nothing.

"I have asked that my son bring me here, I know that Jonah had changed the gate code after that day and my..." he sighed painfully "appalling behaviour. I was wrong to say such harsh things about you and your family. My words have caused a great rift in my family and caused yours much pain. It was unnecessary and uncalled for and I apologise. It was the heat of the moment; I do not think those things about any of you. I know I am a man of tradition but since that day I have been awakened to a new reality. Jonah has given something to me without even realising it. It was the reality check that I was long overdue for, I have been thinking about it for many days now. I would have come sooner but I wanted to ensure that my presence was not a hindrance to your wedding preparations. I understand that the morning of the wedding is not the ideal time but I didn't want to let the day pass without offering my apology and assure you that I have no wish to retract Jonah's placement from the line of kings."

"Thank you, your highness. I accept your apology. May I suggest to you that you offer that same speech to your grandson, he is in the hotel with the guests."

"Of course." he smiled softly.

"And if he has no issues with you, I do not object to you attending the wedding."

"That is very kind of you Ivy, especially after what has passed."

"It is in the past; I have learned that the things that would try to drag us down with negative memories are best left there."

"Of course."

"If you will excuse me, I have to get ready."

******************************

There was a soft knock at the door, my mother left to open it. My father walked in looking so handsome, beaming pure happiness.

"Look at my little girl." he grinned.

"Dad." I chastised him "I'm not little anymore."

"Jeez Patrick what did you put on your jacket?"

My mother started batting at his jacket, muttering about the pollen from the garden. He shrugged with a slight smile, completely unfazed. She readjusted the deep purple sash over his body, smiling at him in a way that I didn't really want to look at.

"Time to get going people!" Natalie yelled from the next level down.

She had been in the kitchen sampling the canapes, she had Gaston wrapped around her little finger, giving her lots of samples to try. My father held out his arm, I wrapped my arms around him with one very happy smile. Slowly we descended the three flights of stairs.

"Did the old coot manage to get himself invited?"

"He did."

"And Jonah's ok with him now?"

"Begrudgingly I'm sure. I think he's far too nervous to be worried about his difficult grandfather."

"Jonah, nervous? Surely you lie."

"I do not lie Ivy, he is a complete write off." he laughed lightly "Much like I was when your mother and I married."

We had reached the bottom of the stairs, he turned and loosened a tendril from my swept up hair style.

"But once she stepped out onto the aisle, nothing else mattered. All of the negative feelings were washed away and all that was left was love, happiness, elation. Your mother on the other hand wasn't as happy as I was."

He grinned wickedly at me.

"Morning sickness, you were giving her hell that day, you naughty thing."

I laughed as we continued to the front door, stepping out into the garden. Natalie was waiting at the end of the path, ready to indicate our approach.

"And kicking, she thinks you broke a rib. She also thought it was a sign that her unborn child didn't want her parents to marry. Lucky for me she chose to ignore you."

"Yeah, lucky." I laughed again.

I stopped at the end of the path before we turned the corner to the wedding guests.

"Thanks for the distraction, how did you know?"

"Because you are my daughter, I can see the freaked out look on your face. Relax, it's just a wedding. Repeat what the minister says, put the ring on his finger, give him a big smooch and it's all done."

"You make it sound so simple."

"It is Ivy. It is so simple. And besides..." he pulled me around the corner "You don't have any choice now."

His hand clamped down onto my forearm as the music started, the butterflies in my stomach took flight. My legs felt like they were made of jelly, watching as the guests stood up from their chairs. Natalie swanned down the aisle like it was her day all over again, like she had nerves of steel.

"What happened to my warrior princess?" my father whispered.

"She is hiding under the bed right now."

"Smile darling, you will only get this day once."

I smiled hoping that it didn't look forced or that I was in pain and trying to hide it. Both of which were in fact true. I wasn't one to enjoy being on show like this. I was nervous that I was going to stuff up the vows even though all I had to do was repeat them and of course I was worried that I would trip and fall flat on my face. But with my father's iron grip on my arm, I wasn't going anywhere. The household staff had stepped away from their duties, leaving the hired staff to continue the work inside, for a few minutes they would watch us get married. They curtsied and bowed as we approached, standing behind the row of chairs. As we passed the first row of chairs, I turned my attention back up the aisle. Jonah had emerged, no longer hidden by the crowd of standing guests. At first I was stunned that he wasn't in his military suit but thought that he probably didn't want to taint the day with memories of what it represents. He was in a grey suit, perfectly fitted to his tall frame. His best friend Lachlan was here, standing beside him, both of them grinning like a pair of mad men.

My father passed my hand to Jonah, I stood there deliriously happy. The nerves were gone, replaced with one very rapt woman. The minister started to speak, I wasn't listening to a word he said, too busy staring into Jonah's eyes. Swirling with flecks of gold, showing his true happiness.

"Fancy seeing you here." he whispered.

I grinned back at him, whispering my response.

"Yeah, I thought I might marry the love of my life today."

"Do I know him?"

"Oh I think you do. He has protected me and loved me, stood up to his family for me. He is my everything."

"You are my everything too, my world, my love."

"Forever."

"An eternity together. I love you."

The minister cleared his throat, frowning at us. We both giggled like children, I turned back to Jonah.

"I love you too."