Chapter Text
Laura is sitting on the living room floor with her legs tucked to the side. Carmilla is sitting adjacent to her with one leg propped up. Laura glares at her with her infamous why did you have to do that expression while Carmilla refuses to meet her gazes by looking elsewhere, feeling slightly busted. Laura returns her gaze to the blubbering child who’s head lays on her lap.
“It’s not fair!” Riley cries
“I know, baby. But it was a long time ago.” Laura comforts
“You haven’t even existed yet.” Carmilla mentioned
Riley cries even harder.
“Carm! Not helping!” Laura snarled
Carmilla huffs while rolling her eyes. She shifts to lay on her stomach and rests her head on a closed fists. She rubs Riley’s back with her free hand.
“Want to know how it went?” Carmilla asked
Riley turns her head towards Carmilla.
“Yeah…” Riley sniffles
“Well, your mom and I got married at this beautiful white church. All our friends were there. Auntie Perry and her partner LaFontaine. Do you remember them?”
“Auntie Perry is the one who bakes me cookies!” Riley shot up from Laura’s lap
“That’s right. And LaFontaine?”
“They taught me about bugs! And that they aren’t that scary!”
Laura smiles at Riley’s proper use of pronouns for LaFontaine. Carmilla continues on.
“Good. Auntie Danny and Uncle Kirsch was there as well. You know them of course because they’re little SJ and Tommy’s parents.”
Riley nods.
“So. All our friends were there. Laura’s family was there as well, like her father to walk her down the aisle.”
“What about your family, Mommy Carm?” Riley questioned
“I don’t really have any family, Rye.” Carmilla admitted
“Wh – why not?”
“Well, I was adopted. Just like you.” Carmilla lied
Riley crawls toward Carmilla and hugs her. Carmilla is caught off guard but hugs her back. Riley pulls back and is beaming at Carmilla with squint eyes and puffy red cheeks.
“It’s ok, Mommy Carm! Momma Laura and I are your family now!” Riley smiled
Both Riley and Carmilla glance up at Laura. She smiles down at them both with love in her eyes.
“So what happened next!” Riley mirrors Carmilla and lays on her belly while resting her head in both her hands
“So.” Carmilla shifted to propped herself up “I was the one who waits at the front, looking dapper as ever in a suit.”
“You didn’t wear a dress?” Riley asks
“No. I choose to wear a suit and play ‘the boy’ in the wedding.” Carmilla uses air quotes for emphasis
“Was it more comfy for you?”
“Yes. It was very comfy for me.” Carmilla smiled “So I waited at the front of the church with the priest, the guy who seals the deal.”
Laura watches Carmilla tell the story of their wedding as Riley is engulfed into the story. Her heart swells at the memory of it and the happiness she can see in Carmilla’s eyes as she retells the day like it was just yesterday.
“I’m standing there at the front, when suddenly everyone in their chairs stood up. I look to the back of the church and here comes your Momma with her father on her arm.”
“What did Momma look like?”
“She wore this long white, multiple layered lace dress with this beautiful floral design from her shoulders to her wrists, leaving her chest exposed. She…” Carmilla pauses and briefly looks away “In all my years of being alive, I have never seen someone looked so beautiful as your Momma did walking down that aisle.” A smile forms as she gazes back to Riley. “My heart ached at just the sight of her. Every step she took towards me, my heart beat'd slightly faster.”
Riley looks to her with wide eyes and a eager smile on her tiny face. She’s kicking her feet back and forth absentminded.
“You see, when two people get married, it’s their idea of forever. But our marriage isn’t my idea of forever. My idea of forever is your Momma.” Carmilla gazes up to Laura
Laura is covering her mouth with a hand. She is looking away as tears are quickly falling. Riley follows Carmilla’s gaze.
“Aww! Mommy Carm! You made Momma Laura cry!” Riley quickly gets up and hugs Laura
Laura softly laughs and returns Riley her hug. Carmilla sits up and moves slightly closer to Laura and Riley.
“It’s ok, Riley. These are happy tears.” Laura sniffled “Your Mommy makes me so happy.”
“You know she made me cry at our wedding.” Carmilla mentioned
“You made Mommy cry?!” Riley shrieked
“Yes. Yes, I did.” Laura laughed
“You big baby!” Riley teased as she poked at Carmilla
Both Laura and Carmilla laughed at Riley’s attempt to tease Carmilla.
“You see, Momma was so beautiful that I just started crying.” Carmilla admitted
“Aw, man! I really wish I was there.” Riley pouted as she crosses her arms
“Sorry, kido.” Carmilla laughed as she stroked her hair
“Oh! I know! I can re-marry you!” Riley added excitedly
“You want to re-marry us?” Laura chuckled
“Yes!” Riley stood up “I’m re-marrying you!”
Carmilla burst out laughing as Laura hung her head.
“What?!” Riley puts her hands on her hips
“Riley, I don –” Laura tries to explain
“You’re both doing it since I wasn’t invited to the first one!” Riley demanded
Carmilla continues to laugh and Laura can’t help but laugh along with her.
“Alright, Riley.” Laura smiles “What do you need us to do?”