Page 139 of Origins of Eternity

“Yes, they did. I’m just happy they got to see us happy together, walk me down the aisle, and that they got to know you.”

“Me too, my love,” Iro said.

Arwen looked down at the ring Iro had placed on her finger eight years ago. It was made of black gold, with a ruby in the center, smaller emeralds at the sides that Iro had said brought out the green in her hazel eyes, and accented small diamonds. Arwen had fallen in love with it the first time she’d laid eyes on it. Iro had chosen a black gold band for herself, not wanting a stone, and they’d married in Virginia, with Zara acting as Arwen’s maid of honor. It had been a small group of people, and Iro had worn a suit. After they had said their vows and danced for hours, they’d gone back to their hotel, where Arwen had torn that suit off her body, and they’d made love for days.

“Are you okay?” Iro asked her.

“I’m okay. It’s just sad to be leaving the only places I’ve ever really called home, Virginia and DC. I don’t really count college.”

“I’ve lived all over the world, you know? Everywhere practically. Ten years here. Five there. It’s something you get used to. But you know what makes it different this time?”

“What?”

She met Iro’s eyes.

“I’m finally moving somewhere new with the woman I love. Part of me can’t wait to live in Scotland with you. Harsh, stormy weather that makes us hold on to each other tightly; long walksoverlooking the water with us holding hands; no one around, so we can make love under the stars at night. I can chop wood for a fire.”

“With a tight T-shirt on?”

“If that’s what you want.” Iro laughed.

“Yes,” Arwen confirmed.

“Then, I’ll chop wood for the fire in a tight T-shirt.”

“Or, maybe no shirt at all if we’re really alone.”

“No shirt at all, then,” Iro said with a smile.

“But only from downed trees, right? I don’t want to–”

“I will not chop down any live trees, my love,” Iro said and leaned in to kiss her. Then, she turned to the headstones and added, “Your daughter is very dedicated. I have never, in more than three hundred years, met a vegan vampire.”

“I’m not really vegan anymore, am I?”

“You have to drink animal blood to survive, sweetheart, but you’re still vegan in every other way. I’ve lost count of the amount of money we’ve donated to animal shelters, rescues, nature preserves, and–”

“You love me. Got it.”

Iro laughed and said, “More every day.”

“I know things are calming down, with the vampires on her list actually listening to you, but do you think we’ll have to kill again?” Arwen asked.

“Five out of a hundred and three isn’t a bad percentage when you think about it. I was able toconvinceten others, and it seems to have stuck this time. I think we’re okay. I’ll still be keeping an eye on everyone, and we will address things as we have to in order to protect ourselves and humans.”

“We should go. It’s getting late, and the cemetery is technically closed now, so we could get in trouble.” Arwen stood up and looked down at her parents. “I love you both, and I’ll be back for a visit as soon as I can. I hope you know that I’m happy;that I’m still madly in love with the woman I’m going to spend eternity with.” When Iro stood as well and took her hand, Arwen asked, “Do you think there’s a heaven for real? Not just some fairy tale to make us all feel better about what happens when we die?”

“I don’t know,” Iro replied.

“I hope so. And I hope they’re there, but it also makes me sad sometimes that I’ll never see them again if I live forever. If it’s real, maybe you reunite with the people you love.”

“I like to think that my own mother is up there, watching over me,” Iro said. “She’s been disappointed in me and angry with me at times, but her love was unconditional. She’s been proud of me, too. My sisters are up there, watching me. Mary is, too, I think.”

“She is.” Arwen turned to her wife. “She is, babe.”

“I don’t care where my father is, but the rest of them are okay. I can feel it; they’re still with me. Your parents are with you now, too, and they always will be.”

“We should go. We have to stop by Florence to have a wedding. Then, it’s off to our new home.”