Nightshade: A SimLit | Chapter 62: For Better or Worse

"I do."

Orion's entire body was tense as he said those two words, unsure if it was the late summer heat or his nervousness that was making him sweat. He loved Tiffany. But as he stood here at the altar, he couldn't help the racing thoughts and doubts in his mind. What if he'd given into her pressure too soon? What if they were rushing into this recklessly? As much as he tried to forget his worries, they wouldn't stop surfacing. 

But it was too late to go back now.

His racing mind blocked out everything the minister was saying after that, and he was only snapped back into reality with Tiffany's confident declaration: "I do." Their eyes met, and Tiffany smiled. He managed to smile too, even through the deep anxiety. The words echoed in his mind. I do. It was a sudden surge of confidence and reassurance, his doubts beginning to fade away. Tiffany loved him. They loved each other. That's all that mattered.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Just as shyly as always, he moved closer and wrapped an arms around her, gently tugging her down to his height. His eyes fluttered closed as their lips met, pushing the lingering worry to the back of his mind.

-----

Tiffany and Orion watched as everyone in attendance to their wedding had a good time, and although they were having a conversation of their own, it was hardly cheerful. 

"I know I shouldn't be surprised that my dad didn't show up. But... it still stings," Tiffany sighed. "And somehow I'm not that happy that mom's here. I wonder if she really even cares about any of this. She lives with me but rarely even talks to me! Why the hell did she even bother coming?"

Orion frowned. "I'm sorry... but at least Onyx and Amelia are here with you, right? I was kind of expecting someone to show up too, but he's never really around. Busy work, he says."

"I guess you're right..." she nodded. "Are you talking about that guy you've been staying with since you got here?"

"Yeah." He sighed. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised either, though..."

Things were silent between them for a moment.

"Hey, Orion?"

"Yeah?"

Tiffany hesitated before continuing. "...Onyx and Amelia seemed to like you pretty well those times I brought you over before the wedding. Now that we're married, I think... maybe... you should tell them the truth about who you are."

Orion tensed. "Oh. Um... I--"

"Please?" Tiffany interrupted. "They won't judge you. You're going to live with us, and if you tell them, you can be yourself around the house instead of the stupid disguise form, right? And I know the rest of my family is here, but they've been around vampires and they're fine with it. Aliens probably wouldn't be any different."

He silently considered what she said, then realized she was right. "Okay... I'll tell them."

Tiffany grinned and took his hand, tugging him toward Onyx and Amelia. "I bet the look on their face will be priceless, though! I don't think they even know you exist."

Orion managed a slight laugh as he was dragged behind her, but his smile faded as they came to a halt and Onyx and Amelia turned from their conversation to face them.

"Congratulations, you two!" Onyx exclaimed. "How does it feel to be married?"

"Great. Anyway," Tiffany quickly dismissed his question, "there's something important that I... we... Orion needs to tell you."

All eyes were suddenly on him, and his heart began to pound. 

"Really?" Amelia nodded slightly. "What is it?"

"W-Well, I..." Orion struggled to find the right words. "There's something I've been hiding... and, um... I can't keep doing that. I was just scared you might judge me... a-and..." His voice trailed off as he noticed Onyx and Amelia's eyebrows slowly raising in skepticism. 'I'm just making it worse!'

Tiffany elbowed him impatiently.

"This isn't the real me!" He blurted, then paused as their expressions turned to confusion. "I-I mean... I'm a..."

Onyx frowned. "You're a...?"

Onyx and Amelia gasped as a pink light engulfed and transformed Orion, effectively answering the question.

He averted his gaze nervously and whispered just barely loud enough for them to hear. "I'm an alien..."

Onyx and Amelia's expressions slowly turned to smiles. "Well... that's surprising," Amelia began, "but--"

She couldn't finish before loud, collective gasps could be heard a short distance away. Orion and Tiffany hesitantly turned to the source.

Although Brynn stood in stunned silence, Alexander seemed intrigued and Claire was clearly just unamused. 

"What the heck is that thing?" Claire's eyebrows furrowed.

"That 'thing' is an alien." Alexander rolled his eyes. "You really don't have to be so rude."

Brynn raised an eyebrow. "How do you know what he is? Since when do aliens even exist?"

Alexander tensed. "Well, uh, I..."

Amelia spoke up. "That reminds me! Alexander, I saw something very... intriguing regarding you and aliens on the news just a few days ago..."

Brynn frowned. "He was on the news? I've been so busy with work this week I haven't even had the time to keep up with it."

"Oh, that!" Alexander cringed. "I can explain--"

Amelia approached him with crossed arms. "Well, you better start!"

Orion stared at the ground. "I knew this was a bad idea," he whispered to Tiffany.

"Ugh, great..." Clearly stressed, she brought her hand to her forehead. "Okay, maybe it was, but..." Her voice trailed off as Claire approached them.

"I can't believe this," Claire growled. "You've always been a disappointment, but this beats all I've ever seen," she laughed dryly. "My daughter! Married to a purple martian man."

The words stung. Orion looked away, unsure of how to react, but Tiffany retaliated. "I didn't ask for your opinion or approval. Like you can even talk about me being a disappointment when that's all you've ever been!"

Alexander found himself in quite the pickle. "You see," he began, "the whole alien thing was kind of top secret. I couldn't tell anyone--"

"But what about the experiments?" Amelia frowned. "Don't tell me you were in on them!"

Brynn's eyes widened. "Experiments? Alexander! You were experimenting on people!?"

Alexander averted his gaze. He couldn't tell them the truth. They would hate him for what he had done... and if it weren't for Aurora, maybe he'd still be doing it. Another thing he couldn't mention. "I... of course not! I had nothing to do with them. I knew we had discovered aliens and were researching to find out more. I put an end to it immediately after I became the CEO." The guilt struck him, but he had no choice other than lying.

Brynn sighed in relief. "I know. You could never do something like that. I was ridiculous to jump to conclusions."

Amelia barely smiled. 'He's hiding something... but I trust him. She's right, he couldn't do something like that...'

"Listen to yourself!" Claire snapped. "You disrespect the woman who gave birth to you, fed you and raised you...!"

"Just shut up, Claire!" Tiffany snapped, refusing to even refer to her as her mother. "You didn't do anything for me and I don't want to deal with your bulls--"

"I've had to deal with yours for eighteen years!" Claire interrupted before she could finish. "All I wanted was a normal daughter and look what I got! Of course, I knew you'd be nothing but crap, but I hoped at least my future grandchildren would be worth something! But now that's a lost hope, too. Can you even have children with him? What kind of weird mutants would they even be? Is it--"

"I don't know!" Tiffany yelled. "But I don't give a rat's ass what you want or hope anyway!"

Orion was shaking. "Just stop, Tiffany, it isn't even worth arguing with her..."

"Shut up," Claire growled to him. "No one asked you anything."

Onyx could do nothing more than quietly watch the drama around him. 'Well,' he thought, 'this wedding is going great...'

-----

That night, the two newlyweds were lounging in bed and discussing the chaos from the wedding.

"It didn't go at all like I expected," Tiffany frowned. "Honestly, today was kind of crappy..."

Orion sighed. "I'm sorry it didn't live up to your expectations... but at least we got married, right? That's what you wanted the most."

"You're right," Tiffany said, then smirked. "And besides... the day isn't technically over yet. We still have time to make it great..."

Orion smiled, but a blush spread across his cheeks at her suggestive implication. Before he could respond, she captured him in a passionate kiss. The two of them hoped they could make the most of their night and that tomorrow would be a brand new, better day...