Holiday Nuptials

[BENNU]

It had been some time since Ewan had popped the question to his beloved Jessie to which she had happily accepted. The two had decided with the holidays upon them it would be a good time. As the time got closer Jessie was both excited and nervous. She sat at a table looking over last minute things.

It was going to be a rebirth in a lot of ways. All her parents had planned to attend in one way or another which excited her greatly. She had hoped this would heal a lot of wounds of the past.

A smile formed on her face as a welcomed face appeared at the doorway.

[Phoenix]

Jean had spent days making sure Scott would actually arrive in time for the wedding, and after a long talk on the astral plane, she finally got through to him that not being here was not option. She wasn't even sure why Emma hadn't seemed to make the full court press herself, but Jean was not going to step into that potential mess. This wedding was much too important to stir up a stupid hornets' nest of drama.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Jessie," Jean said as she walked in. At first someone suggested an outdoor wedding, but the Hudson Valley was not the place for outdoor ceremonies past October unless one wanted their guests to freeze. The enclosed arboretum at the school would have to do. "The last finishing touches are going up. Do you want to look them over before Ewan gets here?"  

[BENNU]

"Hello mother."Jessie quickly responded as she got up and gave Jean a hug. "How is Elda settling in? I haven't seen my half sister much since she arrived but I guess she is still getting used to things in this reality." She said as they walked back over to the table. "And don't worry about being late I understand how much you and the others are doing but yes I would love to look over the plans with you."

[Blaze]

Aeryn had been standing outside the room where Jean and Jessie were speaking when she heard the mention of the newest Phoenix arrival, her sister Elda. All they needed now was for Paris, Rachel and Jennifer to come back, and then everything would be perfect. The chances of that happening were likely slim to none, but Aeryn could always hope. Those sisters were off in some other dimension doing X-Men work, and that, sadly, had to come first.

{{And the guys, too}} she thought for a second as she let her mind wander to Nate, Nathan and Ryan, the brother she had not seen since she was a toddler. {{If wishes were horses...}} she mused as she walked down the hallway and away from her mother and sister.

   

[Phoenix]

Jean felt Aeryn as she stopped near the door and then continued on her journey down the hallway. {{Aeryn, we can talk later if you need}} Jean said telepathically to her youngest child before turning back to Jessie. "I hope Elda is adjusting well to all this. It isn't easy walking into this world in a more normal setting, as we both know all too well, Jessie. But jumping headlong into the world of the X-Men is another thing entirely. I'm hoping your wedding will give us all more of a chance to deepen our family ties. We don't get moments like this nearly enough."

Jean turned to look toward the area where the arboretum was set up in the reopened school. It still amazed her that this work was all finished so quickly once the decision was made to throw the doors open once more. "Shall we?" she asked Jessie as she motioned toward the wedding venue. 

[BENNU]

"I hope so too mother. I am hoping this will be a new chapter for all of us." She said as she felt her sister walk by the doorway.

("Sis are you going to join us?")

[Blaze]

Aeryn stopped as she felt the mental tap and then heard Jessie's question. {{I'll be there in a minute. I'm supposed to give something to Quentin Quire, but he seems to be hiding. As usual}}

As she made her way down the hall, Aeryn did a sweep for the elusive Quire, but he was nowhere to be found. {{And that was a total waste of time}} she said to Jessie and Jean as she went back down the hallway. "So, where is everyone anyway? Jessie, how many of Ewan's family members are coming to the wedding?"

[BENNU]

"I think everyone is just scattered right now but as far as Ewan and his family I'm not sure but I would expect as many as possible." Jessie said as she saw her sister walk up.

"I'm sure Elda is fine I mean when your around family it makes it easier."

[Phoenix]

Jean smiled as Aeryn joined them. She wished that everyone in the family were coming, but in her heart of hearts she knew that was unlikely.

"I'm sure that everyone who can will join us for this happy day," Jean said as she turned to start walking to the room where the wedding ceremony would take place.  There was a lot of noise from the caterers and the students who had volunteered to decorate and set up the chairs for the ceremony. Then there was the band that was going to play. That was another thing entirely.

"Did Ewan mention something about a cousin of his sitting in with the band they had for Miri and Sean's wedding? Keegan, I think he said?"

Jean flashed a mental image of a red haired young man with tattoos and an acoustic guitar. He looked a tad scruffy, and she prayed he'd dress up a bit for the wedding if he did plan to attend.

  

[BENNU]

"I believe he did and from what he tells me it sounds like he's a talented young man." Jessie responded as they walked into the room she thought more about the family and friends that would be there and it got her thinking.

"Mom have you heard anything from Maddie? I'm not sure if we will see here or not but if she chose to stay away I would reluctantly understand."

[Roslea MacFeorais]

"Did I hear you mention Maddie? As in Pryor? Not as in one of my long-absent relations?" Roslea asked as she ran over to Jessie and gave her a hug.

"Yes, Jessie means Maddie Pryor," Jean said as she smiled at Roslea as she released Jessie from her hug. "I haven't heard from Maddie yet. I know Kari said Ewan reached out to her personally, but Maddie marches to her own drum. She is welcome. I know she helped you when you first came here, Jessie, and I won't stop her from attending."

Roz breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad it isn't my long-lost you were referring to. One headache best avoided," she said as the group heard a crash behind them. "One of the catering waiters seems to be a bit of a butterfingers. I'll go back and check on that lot in a minute. Did you all do the old, new, borrowed and blue yet, Jessie? If you haven't, I have something I'd like to contribute."

[BENNU]

"Yes she helped me a lot mom and she is technically my mother as well....One of these days we will have to sit down and discuss all of what makes me me...I think there are parts of me I still don't know I mean I'm formed from so many . Frost, Grey, Pryor. Even the Phoenix herself....its overwhelming at times." She responded before hugging Roslea.

"Actually no I don't have anything picked out so I would love to hear what you have in mind." She responded with a smile

[Roslea MacFeorais]

OOC: The necklace is from this site: Beading Gem

IC:

Roslea got a big smile on her face when Jessie said they had not done the traditional wedding gifting for the bride yet. "I was going through my treasure box last night. I know Kari or one of the others usually handles these sorts of things, but I felt it was important that I did it this time. To say thank you for loving my brother like you do."

The middle MacFeorais sister pulled a small velvet bag from a pocket on her dress and handed the contents of it to Jessie. "I think this will have the something old bit covered. It belonged to our grandmum Siofra, and she gave it to me a long time ago. "



As she pulled out the silver-toned necklace, the green stone in the center of the pendant started to glow. "It's a fairy stone. Grandmum got it from a good friend of hers in The Arda. The metalwork is mithril, and it was blessed by the elven high priestess back in the day. The stone glows more brightly as more love enters the room. By the end of the day, it should blaze like the sun. Welcome to the family, Jessie." 
 

[BENNU]

Jessie being silent was something that rarely happened. She was always a talker but for the first time in ages she was speechless. Suddenly she found her voice again and wrapped her arms around Roslea in an embrace as red colored tears came down her face. If one hadn't known she was vampire in part as well it might have seemed shocking.

"Oh my goodness Roslea it's beautiful!" She said taking it and putting it on. " I am so honored to be apart of your family ." She said embracing her again.

[Phoenix]

Jean smiled as Roslea and Jessie embraced. There were so many things that had gotten messed up since her return regarding these now intermingling families, and she was so very happy that things seemed to be going right again. "Jessie, that's beautiful," she said softly as she admired the necklace on her daughter's neck. "Thank you, Roslea," Jean added as she went to hug both women.  "I know Emma mentioned being here with something soon when we spoke earlier. I know she'll treasure this as well."

As she looked around, Jean could see the Stepford Cuckoos in the distance. That meant Emma was likely close by.

"Do you want to check in with the band, Jessie?" Jean asked as she looked to see Roslea had also started crying. "Happy tears all around today," she said as she handed tissues to both Jessie and Roslea.