AN: My first straight couple fanfiction on this account... Please bear with me as i get used to writing a straight couple story again...

The bride was standing off to the side with one of her cousins somewhat trying to avoid looking at her husband. This was an arranged marriage so neither spouse was in love with the other. They barely even knew each other but weren't complete strangers. The only reason they wer doing this was because the bride was the granddaughter of the England mafia's boss and the groom was actually the leader and sole family member left of the Irish mafia. The marriage was to form a pact between the two mafias and to give the groom a chance to make heirs.

"It'll be okay Aren..." Tyki commented looking down at his cousin who seemed rather nervous and uncomfortable. The ceremony was over, now they were all at the reception which meant Aren and her groom would soon leave on their honeymoon. Aren was nervous because that meant it was likely she was going to have to sleep with her husband. That was the long standing tradition of marriages. As a Catholic Aren had followed the rule of not having sex or anything until she was married. Her very first kiss was earlier that day when the priest said that usually happy phrase of 'You may now kiss the bride'. So the honeymoon was making Aren very nervous and a little sad. She had to give away her virginity to a man she didn't love. But...at least the man wasn't hideous or old.

Marian Cross was Aren Wa-...Cross' husband as of today. He was twelve years older that Aren making him 34 years old. Apparently he was too much of a womanizer to settle down on his own earlier. Which that also made Aren a little worried as well. Yes they weren't in love but that didn't mean she really liked the idea of her husband sleeping around.

"I know...It's just... awkward for me..." Aren replied to her cousin sort of wishing her family had more single girls of marrying age. The only single girl left in their family now was Road but she was barely 15 years old so she was safe for another five years or so. Not to say arranged marriages were that common in the mafia but it tended to happen. Suddenly Cross walked up with a glass of champagne he was drinking. Aren was pretty sure that was like his tenth glass.

"Hey. Is this almost over?" Cross asked in his deep voice making Aren blush a little. But only a little.

"We can leave if you want... Since we did everything needed for the reception we can leave whenever... It's actually common for the bride and groom to leave first..." Aren replied looking up at Cross. He was so much taller than her...so she was constantly having to tilt her head up a little to look at him properly.

"Great. Let's go." Cross huffed deciding he had enough of the reception. Sighing softly Aren excused herself to say goodbye to a few important people before they left. Once Aren said her goodbyes she went back to Cross who was standing in a corner smoking. With Aren back Cross led his bride out of the church to his car that already had their luggage for their honeymoon.

"So...Where are we going?" Aren asked sitting in the passenger seat of Cross' red sports car as Cross drove out of the parking lot a fresh cigarette between his lips. Cross sighed glancing over at Aren out of the corner of his eye.

"Apparently on some cruise. For a week." Cross replied after a moment turning his attention back to the road as the light turned green. Aren took a small deep breath looking straight ahead as they made their way down the street. There wasn't really anything else for the two to talk about. Aren wished she had known they were going on a cruise...she would have changed out of her dress before leaving. For some reason the thought of walking onto a cruise ship in her wedding dress embarrassed and made Aren nervous.

As they were walking up the ramp to get aboard the cruise Aren looked around in awe. She had never seen such a large ship in person before so of course she was intrigued by it. Cross was practically dragging her along by her wrist so she didn't get separated from him. Last thing Cross wanted was for Aren's family to give him hell because he lost her on the cruise. Finally Cross let Aren's wrist go as they reached their room they would be sharing for the next seven days. It was labeled Honeymoon Suite. Why did that make Aren blush? She had no idea. Once they had their bags in the room and unpacked they both sat in the sitting area with Cross sitting on the couch across from Aren. Cross was quick to open the bottle of champagne that had been left for them by the staff on the ship.

"Want some?" Cross offered as he poured himself a glass of the champagne. Aren studied Cross before shaking her head in response. She wasn't too big on drinking alcohol for the fact that she couldn't tolerate much of it. "You know you are allowed to drink right?" Cross replied figuring Aren might be saying no for religious reasons.

"I know that. I drank one time...It was a bad idea... Half a glass of wine later and I was out cold..." Aren responded before she stood up. She needed to go get dressed since she was still in her wedding dress.

"I'll be back..." Aren said walking into the bedroom shutting the door. Cross sighed with a shrug. Who knew he would be stuck with such a boring wife?

After Aren was changed into a simple sun dress that reached a little past her knees with a pair of white flats Aren hung up her wedding dress in the closet before leaving the room walking out to see Cross on his second glass of champagne. Cross preferred wine but he would drink any sort of alcohol especially if it was free.

"Is it okay if I go check around the ship?" Aren asked standing near the couches looking to Cross. Lowering his glass a little Cross looked to Aren.

"I don't care. Just don't get lost. I don't want to hear it if you do." Cross grumbled now looking away from Aren. Aren sighed shaking her head a little before she left the room silently closing the door behind her as she did.

The ship had so many levels to it and so many activities it was amazing. Roaming around the ship Aren checked out a few of the different attractions stopping at a few shops too. Very happily she bought some...or a lot...of sweets from one shop. Sweets were definitely her weak spot. After a while Aren was sitting out on the deck watching the sun start to set. As she sat eating her sweets some guy walked up to her in only swim trunks since he had just been in the pool swimming.

"Hey there cutie~. What are you doing all alone here?" The guy asked even though Aren was looking away from him now.

"I'm not alone. My husband is around here somewhere..." Aren said looking around avoiding looking at the half naked man.

"Aw aren't you a little young to be married sweetie~? Plus I don't see him so its okay to talk..." The guy commented making Aren rather uncomfortable. Aren was too nice to tell this guy that she didn't really want to talk to him. Now she was really wishing she could be a little mean and tell him straight out she didn't have any interest in him.

"Brat. She said she was married. Take a damn hike before her husband throws you overboard." Cross growled at the guy as he stood behind him looking rather irritated with a cigarette between his lips.

"Um...Marian...I'm not sure you can smoke here..." Aren spoke sort of holding a hand up to Cross. When Cross narrowed his eyes at her she pulled away a little looking down. The guy grumbled walking away from Aren and Cross. Huffing in annoyance Cross sat down in the seat next to Aren's ignoring her comment about his smoking.

"You should be more careful." Cross grumbled leaning back in his chair looking up at the sky more above him than to the sunset.

"Sorry...I was just sitting here eating..." Aren replied glancing over at Cross before she turned facing the sunset so she could watch it. Even if they weren't really watching the sunset together it was still nice. Maybe Cross wasn't as bad as he seemed. Shortly after the sun set Aren stood up ready to head back to their room since it getting kind of late. Cross stood up as well as he had no real reason to stay there.
Once in their room Aren wasn't too sure what to do. She had no idea what Cross expected out of tonight. And she had no idea how to ask Cross what he expected from her. Letting her hair down from all the bobby pins and such that had her hair held up from the wedding. Her hair fell free down around her waist in curly locks, her hair was usually naturally wavy but her hair had been curled and pinned up for the wedding. Cross stood with a cigarette between his lips as he watched Aren undo her hair, he hadn't realized how long her hair was since he had only over seen a handful of times and it was always in a messy bun.

"What?" Aren asked looking over her shoulder as she ran her fingers through her hair to ensure she had gotten all the bobby pins out. She had just happened to look over her shoulder for some reason and noticed Cross was looking at her.

"Nothing. Was just looking at your hair." Cross huffed a little as he looked away before he walked over to the couch sitting down.

"Okay..." Aren replied untangling her fingers from her hair letting it fall once again now sure she had gotten all the bobby pins out. There were a lot of bobby pins, at least twenty of them in her hand now. Walking into the bedroom Aren made her way to the bathroom setting the many bobby pins down on the counter out of the way of everything. Standing in front of the sink and mirror Aren brushed her teeth before she left the bathroom heading over to her little closet she had pulling out a white spaghetti strap night gown that stopped a little above her knees. This sort of outfit was completely new to Aren, it had been a gift from Road. With a soft blush Aren got changed before crawling into bed laying on her side.