#nicemma

Gemma was jolted away from her hungover daze by the sound of a bullhorn blaring and squawking somewhere in their home. She groaned pulling the covers up over her head and pulling the pillow over her as well. The horn stopped, but only for a moment.

"SEND OUT THE BRIDE AND NO ONE GETS HURT... OR A BUCKET OF ICE WATER DUMPED ON THEIR HEAD AND POSSIBLY GENITALS."

Gemma was cursing Bela's name from under the pillow.

"Come on, kitty Kat. You're marrying me today," Nic murmured, pausing for a second before adding, "Baby."

After several more bouts of the bullhorn, Nic was cursing as well.

"I might have to kill your cousin first, however."

Not moving from her spot buried in the bed, a pillow hit Nic over the head.

"You're not allowed to kill my maid of honor. And... don't remind me how drunk I was. It's not fair."

"It's completely fair," Nic replied smoothly, summoning a bottle to hand and passing it to her beneath the blankets and pillows.

"There's your hangover cure in a bottle. Second ever thing I developed, by the way."

"Don't care when you developed it, s'long as you did," Gemma grumbled, taking the hangover cure from him.

Only now it sounded like Bela was setting off a siren on the bullhorn. Finally pushing the covers up and off her, Gemma glared hard at the door, her hair a mess and bags under her eyes.

"I swear on all that is unholy Abigail Marie Bancroft, I will end you if you don't quit with that bloody thing!"

The sound of Bela's laughter echoed through the house through the bullhorn.

"I'll handle this," Nic muttered, leaning over and giving Gemma a peck on the cheek.

The demon alchemist slid from the bed, entirely nude, striding utterly uncaring into the living room.

"Good morning, Bela. I hear a demotion's in order," he drawled, not bothering to cover himself or stand behind anything to block her view.

Bela finally lowered the bullhorn when Nic entered the room and she let out a short whistle of appreciation before averting her eyes.

"If making sure your wife to be makes it to the altar prepared on time is cause, then..." She shrugged. "Who do you think made sure she got home in one piece last night, boss? It's hardly the first time I've woken a hungover Katie."

"I'll promote you if you give me every detail of her grade school and college days," Nic offered, moving past Bela to start the coffee maker.

Bela turned to look at him, rolling her eyes and keeping them trained on his face.

"Do I look suicidal, boss? Not a chance. And besides, Katie didn't really do the whole... university thing. She took a class or two, but that was really it. Not to say she doesn't have degrees under various names, but it wasn't really her thing. She's a more... hands on person."

Bela looked at her watch and rolled her eyes again and looked down the hall.

"Katie, will you bloody hurry up? We're going to get your hair and makeup done anyway!"

"Kaaaaaat. Come on. You're marrying me today. Kaaaaaat!" Nic called as he finished making up her coffee just the way she liked it, shoving a mug towards Bela as well.

Bela sipped at the coffee thankfully.

"You do know that she'll kill you if you show up looking like...well, that," she said, gesturing with her free hand to Nic's...everything.

Gemma finally made her way into the kitchen, holding a dress bag aloft. Hooking it on the door frame above her head, she took the coffee mug Nic offered her with a smile, wrapping her free arm around his waist.

"She is right though. Someone promised me their full uniform," she said softly, grinning deviously.

Bela coughed loudly and sipped her coffee. "Just thought I should tell you, generally you should consider getting through the wedding ceremony before starting the honeymoon."

Nic wrapped an arm around his fiancee, kissing the top of her head and snickering at Bela's comment. This wasn't even close to their idea of a honeymoon.

"I'll never break a promise to you," he murmured to Gemma before letting her go and waving the women off, "Go on. I'll see you in a few hours."

With a snap, Gemma's coffee was in a travel mug and she leaned in to kiss Nic once more before pulling away.

"I spoke to Aldis, he's officiating for us. One o'clock. Make sure the guys are there. Make sure Aaron's sober, please. Make sure you're sober," she said, rambling and smiling brightly. "Right... one o'clock. Under the Arc?"

"Everything will be perfect," Nic promised her, not going into specifics, "Now shoo."

Bela put aside the coffee mug in her hand and reached up to take the dress bag. She grabbed Gemma's elbow and pulled her away.

"Alright. You'll see her at the altar. Make sure you put clothes on, boss."

And with a blink the two were gone.

"Clothes are for the weak!" he yelled to the thin air, though Thales did give him a long, hard look, as though seriously reevaluating why he stayed with Nic.

"Fuck off," the demon growled to the hound as he found his way to the shower.

He put on his uniform afterward with a certain measure of trepidation. His hands were shaking, and he had to clutch the bathroom counter to stay balanced. He was nervous, anxious, scared. He'd never wanted anything as badly as he wanted to be married to her. He just hoped he didn't screw it up.

Bela had arranged everything at a day spa in Paris. The closer to the actual ceremony site, the better for everyone's nerves. Bela had called Evelyn and Vivien to join them when they could.

Of course, getting Gemma into the salon chair was probably the first priority. The demon was currently sitting on the floor, talking to Colette. The hound seemed to be rolling her eyes at her mistress.

"Alright, this is getting ridiculous. Gem, he'll be there. Everything is going to be bloody perfect, and come half one this afternoon you'll be a married woman. Now get your arse in the chair so we can fix your hair and makeup."

Gemma nodded mutely, letting Bela move her into the chair and the stylist came in, followed close behind by Evelyn and Vivien.

Vivien looked happy, her usual state of being. Evelyn looked tired and worn. She'd had to deal with Aaron the night before.

"Morning, Gemma," Vivien muttered, stretching out languidly in her chair, "My darling brother make it home last night?"

"Yes, he... he made it home in one piece," Gemma said, smiling softly while she looked critically into the mirror at what the stylist was doing with her hair. Her hands were gripping the arms of the chair to keep from shaking.

In almost no time, Bela had pried one of her hands free and placed a glass of champagne in it.

"The likelihood of Nic being stone cold sober is slim, coz, and you need to relax. So drink up."

"Yes, please, someone give me another bottle of vodka," Evelyn muttered, rubbing at her eyes and uttering something that might have been Aaron's name in a stream of Enochian curses.

Gemma sipped at the champagne before casting a worried eye at Evelyn through the mirror.

"Is Aaron alright?"

"Sore, but otherwise peachy," Evelyn grumbled, "He gave me the play by play last night."

Gemma raised an eyebrow and swallowed down the rest of her champagne.

"I... don't want to hear it. Not now."

"No, you don't," the Nephilim agreed, twisting her engagement ring around her finger, "No you don't."

Bela was already pushing another glass of champagne into Gemma's hand as the demon was pulling out her phone with trembling hands. The stylist was getting frustrated, but Gemma finally put her head in a position so that the woman could finish the updo.

She sent a text to Nic.

[Check on Aaron. Evy doesn't seem happy.]

After a brief thought, she sent another.

[No more Vegas nights. Not in the near future at least, please.]

Nic texted his fiancee back quickly.

[He's fine. What's wrong?]

[Oh. Okay. Love you.]

Gemma set her phone in her lap and smiled nervously as she looked in the mirror at her hair.

"Everything has to be perfect," she mumbled, turning this way and that to see all angles.

"Gemma, breathe. I promise you, he's a nervous wreck right now," Vivien murmured, examining her own reflection.

Gemma texted Nic back before putting her phone down so her makeup could be done.

[He gave Evy a "play by play" it seems. I don't want to know. I love you. See you in a few hours.]

As the makeup artist worked on Gemma, the other girls were sat in chairs for their hair to be done. She waved off the artist for a moment so she could sip her champagne, trying to get her hands to stop shaking.

"Gem, everything will be perfect," Bela said from the chair next to her. "Boss will be there in his suit, waiting for you at the end of the aisle. Deep breaths, coz."

Gemma took a shaky breath, setting the champagne aside and letting the makeup artist continue working.

Evelyn was biting her lip, not making eye contact with anyone for longer than she had to. Seeing Gemma like this, and after the night Aaron had had, she was fretting about her own wedding. Aaron had told her to arrange everything, that he'd be there when she wanted him.

But she wanted his help. She wanted him to be part of it, to give her his input. So she drank another bottle of vodka and tried to forget.

Vivien was watching the inhumans curiously, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

Once her makeup was complete, Gemma stood up from her seat and looked more closely in the mirror, checking every line. She'd long since slipped out of her heels. Within moments she was pacing.

Bela sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Gem, sit down. Eat a piece of fruit or something before you fall over. You need to be able to walk down the aisle. Aaron isn't going to drag you."

"Catch," Evelyn told Gemma, tossing her a pomegranate, "Eat it. And breathe. Everything will be fine. You'll see."

She wasn't sure if she was speaking to Gemma or herself in that moment.

Gemma quietly focused on eating the pomegranate, trying to keep herself calm while the others had their hair and nails done. When she next looked at the clock, it was noon.

"One... one hour," she said, trying to sound cheerful as her nerves threatened to eat her alive from the inside out. Bela stepped up with the dress bag and Gemma's shoes. The others had already gotten dressed, and Gemma was on her third glass of champagne.

Glasses were fine, she wasn't downing bottles like the night before, and it was nowhere near as strong as her cognac. Colette was pushing at the back of her legs, leading her into a changing room where Bela helped her into her dress and shoes.

"Has... has anyone heard from the guys?" Gemma asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Evelyn cocked her head to one side, seeming to listen to something.

"They're fine. Aaron's waiting for you. Nic's...lurking around," she informed Gemma after a moment.

The Nephilim and Vivien both slipped into their bridesmaids dresses, waiting for Gemma.

Aaron straightened the shoulders of Nic’s uniform, smoothing the seam and frowning at the mirror; he didn’t notice his own reflection, focusing only on Nic. He reached around and straightened Nic’s collar, and then ran his fingers down Nic’s lapels.

“Looking good," he muttered, though his frown didn’t clear. He was more nervous than the demon appeared to be; the night before was a pleasant memory; tonight's reality was large, earth shattering even.

Nic and Gemma were getting married.

“Hey, angel face, unless you’re trying to repeat last night, stop stroking me like that,” Nic said, slightly annoyed, jerking his shoulders. Aaron frowned, meeting Nic’s eyes in the mirror.

“If you think I’m letting you walk down the aisle to marry that girl looking less than perfect, you are badly, sorely mistaken,” Aaron muttered darkly.

“Ah. I’d have thought you’d be the sore one this morning,” Nic said brightly, lips twisting in a smile. Aaron’s face colored slightly, but there was an answering smile on his lips.

“Kindly don’t distract me.” Aaron said. “She’ll kill me where I stand if you’re not absolutely perfect and impeccable.”

“Yeah, well. I can do that myself, sop fussing at me.” Nic said, stepping out of Aaron’s reach. “Have a drink, mate. Or a valium. At any rate, calm the fuck down.” Aaron sighed, stepping away from the mirror. A low feeling of dread plagued him. He tried to think that it had nothing to do with the fact that Gemma was marrying a demon- hell, she’d become one herself to be with Nic- but he couldn’t figure out where else it might be coming from.

“You know, when she and I- when we- before, when I thought of this day? I looked better in the suit,” he teased, picking lint from the suit. Nic’s eyes flashed silver.

“Watch it,” he said, but his tone was easy. Aaron put his hands in the pocket of his suit trousers, and turned to look at Nic for a long moment.

“You’ll be good to her, of course,” Aaron murmured. “She loves you.” Nic sighed deeply.

“Sin’s sake, Aaron, are you giving me this speech? Really? It’s only a formality, giving her away. She’s already mine.” Aaron bit his lip.

“Just say it, Nic. Please? For my peace of mind. Say you’ll take care of her.” The worry settled in him and he met Nic’s silver tinged eyes, his own blue ones stormy and swirling with gold. Nic put a hand on Aaron’s shoulder.

“Fine. I’ll take care of her. Satan knows, though, the girl can take care of herself, you should have seen her with McCoy, she’s-“ Aaron sighed, lifting an eyebrow. “She’s safe in my hands. I’ll never hurt her.” Aaron nodded, but he couldn’t shake the feeling.

“Well, I’m glad one of us deserves her,” he said and then grinned. “Have to say, she has damn good taste.”

Gemma was pacing in the changing room in her dress, trying to keep calm. Bela was standing near the door.

"Katie, I'm going to go on ahead and clear Nic out. Give me ten minutes and you and Evelyn and Vivien follow behind, okay? Everything's going to be fine. I promise," she said quietly, smiling at her cousin.

Gemma swallowed tightly and nodded before Bela disappeared from the room. Taking a deep breath, Gemma left the changing room to join Evelyn and Vivien.

Bela arrived at the ceremony site, eyes darting around for the doppelgangers. Once she caught sight of them, she moved quickly toward them. The two men were talking. It was perhaps the first time Bela had seen the two men standing next to one another. With a sigh she looked up at the sky.

"Seriously. You have a fucked up sense of humour, mate," she muttered, checking her watch.

When she got to the men, she nodded to Nic before speaking.

"See, I told you the effect would be much better with clothes, boss," she said, smirking and reaching out to straighten one of the medals on Nic's uniform. "First and foremost, relax. She's fine. She'll be here soon, so you need to clear out of this area. You don't get to see her until she comes down the aisle. Is Aldis here yet?"

With a discreet wave of her hand, she summoned a glass with two fingers worth of absinthe in it and passed it to her boss.

Nic smiled gratefully at the other demon, taking the glass and draining it quickly.

"He's lurking around somewhere. You know he doesn't like crowds," he explained, noting the look Bela was giving Aaron.

"Yes, we know. We're bloody identical. The universe is funny like that," Aaron commented, giving the girl a large wink and grin.

"And you're engaged," Nic reminded Aaron, rolling his eyes and mouthing and apology to Bela.

"Even if he wasn't, he'd be off limits. Gem and I have had an agreement since we were teenagers," Bela said, plucking the empty glass from her boss' hand. "Alright, boss, you go find Aldis, let him know the bride is on her way and we're starting... very soon. I'll handle things on this end. Deep breaths."

She smiled brightly, snapping the glass away and pointing him in the direction of the small gathering crowd. Without a moment's hesitation, she grabbed Aaron's arm and dragged him over to the small tent they'd set up toward the edge of the plaza. Gemma would be waiting in here until the ceremony began and her cue.

Bela sent off a quick text and within seconds, Gemma arrived along with Vivien and Evelyn. She released Aaron and stepped toward her cousin.

"Everything is running according to plan. He's fine. Everything will be perfect Gem."

The bride nodded, taking a deep breath before sitting down. There was only so much room in the tent to pace and she didn't need to faint before the wedding even started.

Evelyn looked at her fiance for a moment before quickly glancing away, not wanting an argument, not really wanting to say more than two words to him at present. She was still fuming slightly from the night before.

Vivien checked the time on her strange looking cellphone.

"Five minutes," she told everyone.

Aaron frowned as Evelyn avoided him. He’d taken her word that she was okay with him and Nic, but maybe the reality of him being with someone else was different than the idea. He made a mental note to talk to her later, reassure her, but right now he had to focus on the wedding.

Still, he could spare her a thought. We’ll talk later, love, but I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have gone with Nic if I’d thought it would hurt you.

He stepped to Gemma, taking her hand, bowing over it, and kissing it gallantly, smile warm and eyes dancing. “You are a vision, dearest,” he murmured, pulling himself to his full height and offering her his arm. “Are you ready for a short stroll?”

Gemma smiled softly and turned to pick up her bouquet of orchids and black roses and took a steady, even breath and nodded.

Bela looked out of the tent, and getting to go ahead from Aldis, she gestured to Evelyn and Vivien to pick up their bouquets and start down the aisle first. Bela turned to Aaron and quickly pinned a small black rose to his lapel.

"Alright. I go, and Aaron, once I reach the altar with the others, the music will cue and she walks." She peaked her head out once more, and with one last smile back at Gemma, Bela exited the tent herself.

After a moment that seemed to last far too long, just as Bela said, the music changed and she stepped out of the tent, arm in arm with Aaron. As they started the walk down the aisle, she looked up and smiled. Cameras and such were flashing around them, but she locked eyes with Nic.

Evelyn pointedly ignored her fiance, making a mental note to have a very serious conversation with him when all of this was over.

Nic was getting more and more nervous the longer he had to stand there and wait, and when he finally met Gemma's eyes, his breath caught.

She was beautiful, absolutely and utterly perfect, and he didn't deserve her in the slightest. Tears started to well in his eyes as he watched her walk, getting closer and closer to him, wanting so desperately to reach out to her, to pull her into his arms and never let go, decorum be damned. But he didn't. Everything would be perfect. For her.

It was a long walk up the aisle. He felt Gemma’s light touch on him but he couldn’t focus on anything, thinking that soon enough it would be him standing at the alter waiting watching Evelyn walk towards him. He felt a glow in his heart and almost shared it with Evelyn, but she’d already ignored him once. Instead he turned a smile on Gemma, watching her face as she looked at Nic.

She’d never loved him like that. Oh, she’d loved him; he never doubted that for a moment. And she’d done it with her whole heart; Gemma never did anything by half measures. But with Nic, there was something there that had never been between them, some understanding that meant in all of creation, these two creatures were meant for each other. Just before he they reached the altar he leaned in to whisper to her.

“I love you, Katherine dear, and I’m truly happy for you,” he told her, covering her hand with his. He stepped away from her and lifted her veil, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “You’re beautiful, my dear.”

He took her hand and presented it to Nic then stepped back. He couldn’t help opening his connection to Evelyn, her resentment be damned; he flooded it with love and hope and happiness.

Gemma looked away from Nic for only a second to hand her bouquet to Bela, who was arranging the train of Gemma's dress as well. When she turned back toward him, she squeezed his hands tightly, smiling. She was otherwise oblivious to everything going on around her, and she was doing everything she could not to cry.

I love you. Everything is perfect and we're here, and I love you.

Her train of thought was interrupted by Aldis clearing his throat and looking at his colleagues pointedly.

Nic swallowed, nodding at Gemma.

I love you too. Everything's going to be perfect.

"Ladies and Gentlemen from the kingdoms of Earth, Heaven, and Hell, it is my duty and honor to present today the marriage of Nicolas Flamel and Gemma Carrigan. There is a time for speeches and fanfare, and there's a time for honesty and simplicity of thought. I feel that this is the latter. So," Aldis paused, looking from Nic to Gemma, "If you would clasp hands as I speak the vows."

Nic hastily complied, taking Gemma's hands in his own and squeezing them reassuringly.

"Do you, Nicholas Flamel, King of the Crossroads of Hell, General of the Infernal Armies, Second in Line to the Throne of Hades, take this woman, Gemma Carrigan, to be your wife for all eternity? In dischord and peace, in trouble and gladness, in all ways and for all the rest of time? And do you so swear to protect, care for, and love her as long as you draw breath?" Aldis asked, looking to Nic for his answer.

"I do so swear that I will defend and love her until my dying breath. I promise to uphold this covenant as I do the covenant of Hell, with all of my heart and all of my care," Nic replied, a strand of black shadow encircling their clasped hands as he spoke.

Aldis then turned his attention to Gemma.

"Do you, Gemma Carrigan, Second in Line to the Head of the Crossroads, Third in Line to the Throne of Hades, take this man, Nicolas Flamel, to be your husband for all eternity? In dischord and peace, in trouble and gladness, in all ways and for all the rest of time? And do you so swear to protect, care for, and love him as long as you draw breath?" the Chief Torturer asked as he repeated the vows.

Say the first thing that comes to mind. Don't worry about phrasing, Nic thought to Gemma, thumb running lightly over her knuckles.

Gemma squeezed Nic's hands and smiled, never taking her eyes off him for a moment, even as Aldis spoke.

"I do so swear," she began, trying not to trip over her words in her excitement. "I take Nicolas as my husband for now and forever more, for as long as we both live and breathe. I promise and swear my love, my devotion, and everything my heart and soul can give."

Another black strand wrapped around their hands as she spoke.

"Then by the power vested in me by the monarchy of Hell, I now pronounce you husband and wife, bonded for life," Aldis proclaimed, "You may now kiss and seal the spell."

Nic licked his lips before dropping Gemma's hands and gathering her in his arms, kissing her as if they were the only people in the room. She was his. And he was hers. Finally, officially, married.

Gemma's arms went around Nic's neck in time with him pulling her close. She smiled against his lips, kissing him with just as much fervor. She felt something light through her as they kissed, and she murmured I love yous to him. Vaguely, she could hear the sound of the crowd, but she was focused on Nic.

Begrudgingly, Nic broke their embrace, keeping one arm around her waist as he turned to the crowd.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked Gemma as he beamed at their audience.

She looped her arm around his waist and leaned against him, beaming as she gave him one more quick kiss.

"More than ever," she said before turning to the crowd and raising her voice.

"Everyone, on behalf of my husband and myself, I'd like to thank you all for being here today. The reception will begin in about an hour at the ballroom of the the hotel La Tremoille. Cocktails will of course be served prior, and we'd love for you to join us."

As the crowd applauded once more and began to disperse, she turned back to Nic with a bright smile. "Shall we, mon mari?"

"Yes, we shall, ma femme," he murmured in response, leading her under the Arc, in the direction of their hotel.