They got married one month later.

The church as beautiful, full of flowers and music and everything they had actually deserved, surrounded by a small number of people who they cherished and loved.

Blake took her right hand in his, whispering, "I, Blake, take thee Sophia. to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.

He released her hand and the she picked his right one in hers, as per custom and whispered, "I, Sophia, take thee Blake. to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.

The reverend placed a ring in his hand and Blake slipped it on Sophia's ring finger, whispering with every ounce of love, with this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Blake and Sophia barely even registered the words they were saying, so trapped in the moment and looking at each other, swimming in each other's eyes, swimming in each other. Blake look impeccable in a a dark suit and her ethereal in a beautiful dress with lace and golden rim. Her hair had been artfully tousled on her head, her face touched with the hints of blush and rouge.

But she didn't need it. She looked beautiful in any form.

The rest of the ceremony passed by quickly, and the soon exited the church to the breakfast reception which Olivia Cavendish organized. People bustled about the room, lounging on the chaises or leaning against the tables. The furniture had been artfully re-arranged to make space for a small dance floor. Heaps of food adorned the halls, more than Sophia had ever seen living under her father.

Her dead father.

The mourning period was to be for one year, but Sophia and Colette unanimously decided that one month was enough for a man who had been everything but a father to them and a murderer who names was on everyone's lips. No need to further honor his memory, but they could very well not disregard him and not honor him.

That one month, Sophia and Colette dared not to step outside in fear of being pelted with whatever the daughters of murderers were pelted with- insults or rocks. They weren't sure which was worse.

But Sophia's now marriage to the marquess, quelled the rumors. Nay, that was not true. It was just pushed more underground and didn't reach her ears as often. And with the Duke of Cambridge, James also backing them, his name carried power and London kept their mouths shut.

Which was ironic considering James was currently drunk beyond measure and was snorting bubbles into his champagne. He was behaving like a child and was laughing raucously. Wine was not even supposed to be flowing that freely, but James had gotten his hands on it and was now acting like madman. It was quite entertaining to see him stumbling around and mumbling. Blake had informed Sophia that James drunk was a sight to see, and she had to echo him.

Quite improper behavior for a Duke, but everyone had the sense to not bother him, for he did provide amusement.

It had been a small ceremony, in the church and a ceremony, and the breakfast reception smaller. Olivia, Sophia, Blake, Colette, James, her siblings Jeanne and Jeffrey, some of Blake's closest friends, and other members of Blake's close family, like his sister, brother and aunt and Sophia's family, like Alessandra and her husband. Nothing much. Quaint and quiet. It was tradition for the upper class to throw th biggest wedding to flaunt their riches and titled and standing, but it was a unanimous agreement by everyone in light of recent events, that was not the best choice.

But all that mattered was they were married. Everyone, of course, noticed Sophia's pregnancy but no one raised a word again it. They knew better than to, though judgment still lurked in some of their eyes.

Sophia leaned into Blake, smiling as they gently swayed to the faint music, played by one of the guests, because they wanted to. "I can't believe we are finally here. Married. Going to start a life together."

He snaked an arm around her waist, tucking her closer to him. "I know." He pressed a kiss to the top of head and saw Alessandra was gesturing at her cousin. "Go now. Your cousin beckons you." She squeezed his hand and walked, or rather waddled to her cousin, her face aglow with happiness. The music continued to paint faintly and Blake noticed it was his sister doing so, her face twisted into a small mask of joy. She always did like her instruments.

Colette took that moment to approach him. Blake immediate donned a detached demeanor.
She noticed and gulped, clenching her jaw, but stood her ground, staring at him with those big, crystal blue eyes, which immediately dropped as his own met hers with a brimming rage.

And then it all came out in a rush. "I am sorry Blake. For all I have done to you. For what I let happen you because I was far too much of a coward, I am sorry. I truly am. I should have told Sophia what was happening but I was too scared and I... made stupid choices. But I am glad you are alive. I am. You don't have to forgive me, but I wish you can find it in your heart to do so."

He ground his teeth together, as she once again stared at him with those pitiful oceans, wishing for his heart to not twist in pity for her. He didn't want to forgive, but perhaps he had to. For everyone. She had acted out of love and fear. Blake could understand that. Yes, he had died, but she felt it and she would for the rest of her life.

"I," he said, pausing, thinking, deliberating. "I forgive you."

When he had opened his mouth to speak, she had grimaced, curving in on herself as waited for the inevitable verbal blow of rejection. But his words caused to look at him with such a relief, stupefied. Her lips parted in gasp of surprise and before he could stop it, she had launched herself at him, causing everyone in the room, despite being close friends and family to him and the more advanced in thinking of the Victorian lot, to raise their eyebrows.

"Thank you."

Colette seemed to realize this seconds later and she drew away from him. But she whispered, "Truly. Thank you. So much." Tears were shining on her cheek where they had slid down, shimmering and catching in the light.

Blake let loose a soft breath. "More than me, you need to mend the bridge with your sister."

Colette gulped and turned her head to the side, blinking back more tears. "I don't know how. And I don't think she will ever forgive me."

"If the man you indirectly tried to kill, my lady, forgave you, I think the love of his life can do the same thing."

She had grimaced at the word kill, but then gave him a small, tight-lipped smile. "I deserved that. And perhaps."

"You know she would do anything for you, right? She loves you more than she loves herself."

"Which it makes it worse. Because like I fool I was a coward not to ask for her help. I thought maybe she would laugh...or father would hear and hurt her as well. But now I just realized that my own stupid, stupid, self-refused to believe that I wasn't alone. That... that family was everything."

"We all make mistakes, Colette." Blake's voice was like water, soft, and soothing.

The nerve in her jaw ticked and her blue eyes swam. "Not one that gets people killed." Blake could not counter argue that.

He, however, spoke a few seconds after. "Nonetheless, you should try. You are family, and family is the one thing in the world you should never forsake."

"But I have already done so."

A sudden bout of anger filled Blake and he hissed. "Stop rekindling pity for yourself. Pick your pieces up, Colette." He blinked at his own sudden sharpness but then realized he had nothing to feel sorry about.

She stared at him aghast at his sudden sharp words. He thought she was going to snap at him, but she just bobbed her golden-haired head slowly. "Yes. I am being rather a pathetic creature, aren't I?"

"I am not going to answer that for I fear my answer may not be very complimentary," he teased.

The traces of a genuine smile curved her lips and then sighed softly. "It's not going to be easy."

"It will take time, Colette, for her to trust you again, though she will always love you."

"Yes. It will."

As if she knew they were whispering about her, Sophia tilted her face up at them, her eyes shining with love for Blake. When it fell on Colette, it dimmed but there was not a trace of hate or loathe. Just endless pools of disappointment and betrayal and Colette noticed too. She flinched. Blake wanted to echo her.

When Sophia trained that gaze on anyone, it was painful to watch the person under scrutiny and ever worse being them. Her gaze had enough power to feel even the hardest of men feel guilty.

"I wish you the happiest of lives, Blake. Truly." Colette spoke moments later, turning away from her sister's lacerating gaze which still burned holes into her back.

"Thank you," he replied and she bobbed her head turning away to leave, her hands still fisted in her dress, clenching it tight enough to turn white-knuckled.

"You deserve it too."

Colette turned and blinked up at his words, and he too paused for a moment, shocked at his words.

But he meant it. She did. Even after all she had done.

Colette nodded curtly and left, sneaking out the parlor door. Blake watched her retreating back and did not say a word.

A few months later

Sophia delivered twins. And she cursed Blake every day for giving her children instead of one child, spewing the filthiest curses in her state of delirium. Or so the doctor told him.

But the minute the babies were born, all of it- the anger, the irritation-dissipated in a flash. Like her own younger siblings, her children had been one boy and one girl. Sophia had never seen anything more beautiful in her entire life. If the love she had felt for Blake had been fireworks, this was... something else entirely. Her heart was melting.

Her children. Something she thought she would never have.

Blake cocooned the little boy in his hands, while Sophia cradled her son. "What shall we call them?" she whispered, stroking a finger across the child's cheek. It felt so soft under her finger and her heart pounded, as she gnawed at her lips, as she glanced at them with adoration.

"Lillian for the girl, in honor of your mother."

Sophia looked up at him, and nodded. "Yes. And for the boy? Our boy?"

"Something that is appropriate for our time. I already get plenty of jests from my friends for my mother choosing a name that isn't common to the men of our time," he said wryly.

"What's wrong with Blake?"

"It's a last name, angel. My mother thought it would be funny to name me after the poet, Willian Blake, disregarding the fact that no one in our time has Blake has their first name."

Sophia let out a low chuckle, which caused her stomach to slightly hurt. "I never thought out how odd it is. But now that you mention it..."' She gave him a wolfish grin, though she suspected it like looked like a limpid one on her haggard face.

Blake grinned. "Yes. My mother never ceases to be an oddity."

And that moment, Olivia Cavendish took to bustling into the room, her face carved into two with her ferocious smile.

"Oh, I just heard!" Stalking over to Blake, she practically snatched the child from his arms and crooned, and Blake gave his mother an exasperated glance.

"Mother."

Olivia Cavendish ignored her son and cooed at the baby. "Oh, what a sweet boy he is. He looks like you."

It was not strictly true. Though he vaguely resembled Blake, his hair was the reddish gold of Sophia's aunt and his eyes... he had his grandfather's eyes. Her father's eyes.

And her girl... with one eye blue and another eye green with a golden strip in the middle, and dark brownish black hair, she was q mix of her parents. With her discolored eyes, Sophia had no doubt she would fit right in with their odd family. Sophia, Blake and Olivia included in the mix.

Suddenly she heard a scuffling of feet and she glanced up, to see Colette staring at her. "Congratulations, sister."

Though the ice between them still existed, he past few months, Colette had done in everything in her power to thaw it and slowly Sophia succumbed to her efforts. Much faster than she would have liked, but despite everything, Colette was her sister. Forgiveness was in order.

Colette still stood nervously at the threshold of the bedroom taking in the haphazard room and the servants clearing everything out, like bloody sheets and cloth, unsure of whether she should cross it.

Lillian suddenly cooed and Sophia grinned. "I think she is calling for her aunt."

It took a beat for her sister to understand. Colette stared at her in surprise and then slowly walked over a small soft tender smile caressing her face. Taking Lillian from her sister, she cocooned her in her arms and gasped. "She's beautiful. She's so small! Oh!" her niece had gurgled and some of her baby spit had dribbled onto her pale blue muslin dress. But she didn't seem to mind, as she caressed her in her arms.

A few minutes later, she held her nephew in her hands as well, her face aglow with such tenderness, giggling ever so softly.

"You can name him." It came out on a whim and both Blake and Olivia looked at Sophia in surprise. But she gave them a light nod and they backed off.

Colette's jaw dropped t the floor. "No...I cannot..."

"Yes. You can."

This was how they would make her peace and the truth slowly dawned on Colette. She tilted her head in respect. "Thank you."

Taking in his red hair, and smoothening the soft silkiness with her fingers, she regarded her nephew softly. "Elijah. We'll call him Elijah."

"It's beautiful."

"You think so?"

"Yes."

And for the first time since everything happened, the two sisters grinned at each other, no restriction on their happiness.

Finally, everything was all right in the world.

Perfectly all right.

A/N: So, we've reached the end guys. Wow. I will be posting a small bonus chapter/ epilogue for you all [ if you want it so you have to let me know by commenting ;)] and a LENGTHY thank you soon, but holy f*** I finished a novel. WOW

Make sure to read the epilogue as well for more feels ;)

Readers! Thank you for taking your time to read this chapter! Be sure to vote, comment and share it with others! Every single thing means the world to me! I love you all!