Worlds Collide: Chapter 37 Due Date

Not long after our engagement, Lily went into labour, she was 2 weeks early, but then she never was one for the slow and steady approach. The birth was something I was honoured to be a part of, but also traumatised me enough that I consulted the professor and the doctor to double check that my contraception would work with a shifter (it does). It was not a pretty process and she had some complications, but my best friend powered through the pain like the queen she always has been and pushed out her little miracle.
As promised, their baby was perfectly healthy. I explained everything to Lily and Sky that I had learnt from professor vladimere, skimming over the details of how I had learnt it. They were reassured that their child would be ok, maybe even special due to their different dragon types.
I had to fight Sky for a chance to hold the baby, when he looked into those emerald eyes he was completely devoted to the child and I knew he would do everything in his power to protect her. I of course saw that as my cue as cool aunty to vow to make sure my god daughter was taught how to have fun and escape the over-protective dad I could see Sky becoming.
They had argued about names for weeks before deciding on Rai, a name they had discovered while travelling in Japan. Rai is a name that can mean trust or thunder and lightning. Apparently it’s normally a boys name, but I think it sounds pretty enough to suit their little angel, with a meaning akin to the fierce warrior I will help train her to become.
I took hundreds of photos and printed them off to show Juan, which I regretted slightly afterwards when it made him broody. I can’t deny that it was adorable though, seeing my dark brooding man’s cold heart melt at a photo of me holding Rai. Luckily, him seeing his cousin Sofia become a hormonal tornado when she got pregnant made Juan think twice about rushing in to having a baby.
We were always planning to have a long engagement to allow Lily and I time to plan everything properly, but her time was quickly taken up with Rai. Then when Ember and Hades announced their engagement and summer wedding date, my big day got pushed back further. I couldn’t complain though, I loved getting distracted looking after my new niece and I was so happy to see my friends happy.
My bachelorette party was wild. It was Lily’s first night out drinking since having baby Rai and she had planned it to a tee, while forgetting that her alcohol tolerance would have gone down. There were fireworks and champagne fountains and bioluminescent plankton on the beach at sunset. By the third shot Lily was dancing on a table and doing body shots off strippers. To be fair, I don’t remember much after my sixth shot, but thankfully there were no cameras allowed, so there is no proof of whatever embarrassing situations I may have found myself in.
I didn’t ask about what Juan did for his stag do, but he definitely looked rough the next day and he still had the stamina to satisfy me fully, so I assume that he had fun, but not too much fun.
Queen Ava and Sofia also invited me out, but it was a much tamer affair, more like a girly sleepover with cocktails. I was still glad that my grandmother and Zia declined the invitation though because I really loose my filter when I’m tipsy and there were stories shared that I do not think they would have appreciated.
In the end, a whole year had passed before our wedding day arrived, but I had not had a single second of doubt or so much as a chilly toe. If anything the year together had only deepened my love for Juan.
I had made not one, but 9 dresses, one in the traditional white, one in the witch’s traditional black and one in each colour of the rainbow. I had used my time well, not just to make dresses, but to research with my grandmother to find a way to allow Juan to pass through the barrier without going through the same process I had to endure with the potion. Even though I was marrying him, the high priestess still didn’t trust him enough to grant him free passage across the barrier. After a few failed attempts, we managed to create a spell which allows him to cross, but only for an hour before he poofs back home. On the few attempts we have tested it, it has allowed Juan to meet Lily in person, for her to hug him and threaten him simultaneously, but we have had to make excuses to leave before his time is up so as not to raise suspicions. Luckily, Sky knows I’m a bit of a nympho and so he never asks too many questions about why we rushed off after I kiss Juan.
Today we will use the new spell to have a small short ceremony for my friends before coming back to continue with the ceremonies here. At home we are just having a simple exchanging of vows and a brief after party, but here we have to do the tying ceremony with the high priestess, then a wedding at the emerald palace and then a wedding with Juan’s family. So yes I’m being extra and having not one, but 4 weddings, all in the one day, so hence all the different dresses. Juan has opted to be boring and remain in the same suit he wore to propose all through the day, which I would argue with if he didn’t look so sexy in it, but I honestly don’t think I could have found anything to suit him better anyway. Although a small part of me hopes he has to shift and rips the suit, leaving him no choice but to parade around naked all day.
So far today I have been waxed and plucked and then moisturised in a variety of potions that smell amazing. I felt a bit raw at first, but the potions and lotions have now worked their magic, I feel silky smooth and my skin looks like its glowing. I fly to Lily’s to get my hair and make up sorted, grateful for the relative peace after having so many people fussing over my this morning. Even if that peace is broken intermittently by Rai crying or trying to eat the lipstick. I don’t mind though, I love that little girl like she is my own.
My girls look amazing in their matching mother and daughter light lilac dresses. Rai clearly does not appreciate the frilly tutu skirt and keeps trying to pull it off, but she looks adorable so she will have to learn that sometimes women need to suffer for the art that is our beauty. Lily is still rocking her post pregnancy rack which means that the halter neck dress strains to stop her spilling out of it and leaves little to the imagination.
Soon enough, I’m ready for the ball and I don my first dress for the night, a simple white gown with a sweetheart neckline and lace sleeves, decorated with pearls. I add the beautiful diamond encrusted tiara that Juan insisted upon to show the world that I am his princess. Satisfied with my reflection, I nod to Lily that we are ready to go.