One Year Later

Emma's dress was itchy.

It was also really beautiful, in a sea-green colour that glimmered like the ocean in the right light, made of tulle and lamé and crinoline - but it was still really, really itchy. However, she would never have pointed this out to Isabelle, who could probably kill her with a look for suggesting that there was something wrong with the bridesmaid's dresses that she, Clary, and Maia were wearing. So instead of scratching it, she looked around the room. Isabelle's dress was gold, as all Shadowhunter wedding dresses were, while Simon wore a black suit with a gold tie and gold rune bands stitched to the cuffs.

Julian was across the aisle from her, standing behind Simon, next to Alec and Jace, wearing the same suit he'd worn on the night of the Lottery, which felt like years ago now. It fit him just as well now as it had then, clinging to his shoulders; he looked taller in it, more grownup somehow. He winked at her with a sly grin. Emma winked back, then turned away as the Silent Brother performed the rune ceremony.

She stared out at the guests there, their faces dim and blurry in the evening light. Far above them was the open night sky - starlight, she thought, Julian Blackthorn, I love you more than starlight - and it shone down on their faces. She could spot Mark and Cristina and Kieran, all sitting together, arms around each other with their heads resting on each others' shoulders. No one could ever tell if it was Mark and Cristina, or Kieran and Mark, or Kieran and Cristina who were together. It didn't really matter by now - over the months at the LA Institute, they had become inseparable.

Standing next to her, Clary's red hair tumbled down her back in a knot of loose curls, held in place by a paint-splattered brush. Beside the older girl was Maia, her tresses forming a dark cloud around her face as she watched the loving couple with a smile. Emma watched as Isabelle kissed Simon, and they walked down the aisle together. Joy and love swelled in her heart, threatening to burst it; happiness for the couple in front of her, and love, for all the Blackthorns assembled in the front row.

Drusilla was watching with a contented sigh, Livia looking far-off and dreamy, Ty with a very serious expression, Kit next to him seeming apprehensive, and Tavvy half-asleep next to him. And of course the one Blackthorn across the aisle from her, who was looking at her with an expression that broke her heart and put it back together.

She went over, took his hand, and they walked to their family together.

:::

The champagne was sparkling as much as any of the stars watching over them, and it tickled the back of Emma's throat as she swallowed it.

Julian had gone off to talk to Clary about something - a drawing technique, or some kind of paint, she wasn't really sure - and she was alone, with her champagne. It was excellent champagne, not that she had had very much, and rose up in her chest in tiny bubbles like laughter.

By the side of the tent that had been set up for the wedding reception, she could see Kit and Ty sitting next to each other, talking shyly. Dru was gazing at Jace with much the same expression that Emma had given him at her age. And Cristina was dancing with Mark, Kieran holding a glass of something blue that looked like a faerie drink, his expression unreadable as he watched them.

Suddenly, there was a warm hand at her back, the heady scent of cloves and paint filling her lungs: Julian was back.

"Hi." She smiled up at him, the sand soft beneath her bare feet, her high-heeled sandals lost quite some time ago. "You're back."

"And you're tipsy," he replied, taking her glass from her and draining it with a quick bob of his throat; she watched with unbridled desire. "Want to dance?"

"Why not?" She mused, stepping into his arms. "Nothing better to do."

He chuckled as her head hit his shoulder; she felt it in her body, like some part of her soul would always echo the music of his. Maybe it did.

Julian's hands slid down her sides, and she imagined them covered in paint, leaving streaks of bright colour, as well as heat, on her skin. Emma shivered, despite the warmth of his form so close to hers. Somewhere in the room, soft piano music floated towards them - it was probably Jace who was playing - and chitchat of the party guests was but a muted backdrop for this moment, his arms around her, the two of them swaying to the rhythm.

Even without the bond that marked them as parabatai, Emma could feel the world quieting down, blurring around them so that only she and Julian, only this dance, was in focus. It was her and her best friend, at the centre of the world.

:::

A/N: As this story draws to a close, I would like to take the time to thank every single reviewer for their kind words, feedback, and general motivation. Here's to: hpdude-4life, More (Guest), Natz14, Tiddler07, bearose, Too Wicked For This World, Viv (Guest), Frost145, Lucas, Guest / Me Alain, OTP-addict, realbigfan (Guest), pleasedeletenow, Kathleen, Krystyna (Guest), bree (Guest), Nymphoftheglade, Christine (Guest), Emma Carstairs Blackthorn, Miss Katris, Shauna Kullden, BookwormWRITINGwhiz, sprinkles4cookies, Wooo hoo (guest), and countless guests with no names. Thank you!