"Echo!"

"Hey!" Echo said, moving to walk towards Vera but finding that her husband refused to remove his arm from around her waist. "Excuse me."

Luke smiled. 

"You're excused." He said, his grip still firm. 

"I can't move like this." She said with a fake frown. 

"That's the point." he said, leaning in and kissing her cheek and then the hollow behind her ear. Echo shivered. "You stay where you belong... here with me."

"We... we have guests to attend." She replied weakly. 

"Alright, so let's attend them!" Luke said, his arm still around her waist as he moved to meet Vera who was now just a few feet away. "Hello new sister."

Echo laughed. He was certainly in a playful mood tonight. 

"Hello new brother." Vera said with a grin, chuckling at him as she approached. "I have someone I want you to meet."

Echo and Luke glanced past Vera at the man who now stood behind her. He was gripping her hand, a little tightly, as if he was nervous about the introduction. 

"Of course." Echo said, wondering who he was. She didn't realize that Vera had been seeing someone. Of course, her sisters knew that they were more than welcome to bring dates or a friend but none had mentioned anyone, except maybe Maru who dragged along Jessica, as she always did. 

"Luke, Echo- this is Tom Dane." Vera said, tugging on Tom's hand and forcing him forward. Echo watched him closely, he looked nervous. It was actually almost comical. Echo was the one that was usually nervous about meeting new people but with Luke's arm around her waist, she felt so calm. Still, the man in front of him looked like a very scared boy... it was charming. "Tom, this is my sister Echo and her new husband, Luke Farina."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both." Tom said, extending his hand to greet them. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Echo said as she watched him lock grips with Luke, instinctively knowing that Luke was gripping his hand more firmly than necessary. "We're glad you could make it."

"Thank you for having me." Tom said, relaxing a bit as Luke released his hand. He quickly reached for Vera's again. It was as if she was his security blanket and he needed her to feel safe. 

"Of course, please have something to drink, dance..." Luke said with a smile, turning to Echo. "Actually, I could use a dance myself."

Echo laughed. 

"Excuse us." Echo said, glancing at Tom and then smiling at Vera as Luke dragged her away. She didn't say anything, didn't bother asking for details but the look on Echo's face was enough to let Vera know she would be asking all those questions later. 

"So..." Luke said, as he pulled Echo even closer than before on the dance floor. 

"Yes?" Echo asked with a grin. She didn't know if it was the champagne or just the fact that she was Echo Farina now but she felt so fearless. Completely and utterly devoid of any nerves or anxiety. She took her hand from his and circled her arms around his neck, moving in closer. 

"How does it feel?" He asked, enjoying her boldness. 

"How does what feel?" She asked with a raised brow. 

"How does it feel to be married to the best looking guy in the room?" He teased, making her burst out laughing. 

"I wouldn't know. I didn't marry Tom." She said playfully. Luke plastered on a fake frown before giving her a gentle squeeze. 

"If you don't behave, I'll turn you over my knee and spank you." He said. 

"Mmmm what makes you think I wouldn't like that?" She said, making his jaw drop. 

"Keep it up and we're going inside, our family can deal with the guests." He said, making her blush. "Ahhhh there it is."

"You enjoy doing that, don't you?" She asked. 

"More than you know, although it's becoming more of a challenge every day." He said. Echo shrugged. 

"Well, I can't make it easy for you." She said nonchalantly. 

"Do you really think that Tom is handsome?" He asked with a frown. 

"Why are you jealous?" She asked, surprised. 

"Always, Echo. I'm a very jealous and possessive man." He said, squeezing her again. "More so now that you're mine."

"You have no reason to be." She said, running her finger along the scar on his cheek. "As far as I'm concerned, there is no other man alive."

Luke reached up and took her hand, kissing it lightly before placing it back around his neck. 

"Besides," She continued, "Tom is handsome but not like you are. He has a boyish charm."

"I think I scared him." Luke said with an evil grin and Echo laughed. 

"I actually thought the same thing." She replied, "but please, be nice. Vera hasn't had a boyfriend in a very long time. If she brought him tonight, she must really like him."

"He has a firm grip." Luke said with an approving nod.

"I wonder what mom and dad think." Echo said, turning to see where Vera was now introducing him to them. Luke reached out and placed a finger under her chin, turning her face back towards him. 

"Baby," Luke said, "I'm not there, I'm over here."

"Oh?" She said.

"I'm getting a little tired of sharing your attention tonight." He said. 

"It's our wedding, we have guests to attend." She replied. 

"Exactly, it's OUR wedding and I'm feeling neglected." He said. Echo smiled, gently pulling away. 

"Oh my, that won't do." She said, "Why don't you go grab a bottle of champagne while I make a few rounds and we'll sneak off to the terrace? in 15?"

A slow smile formed on Luke's lips. 

"And you say I'm good at sneaking off with you?" He said.

"I'm a fast learner." She said, stepping out of his reach and towards the guests.

Luke watched as Echo glided around the tent for a bit, his hands tucked into his pockets but feeling a strange sense of pride. She seemed so comfortable, she seemed confident and collected in her movements. A couple of months ago, he was sure she wouldn't have been able to pull off this much socializing. She probably wouldn't have been able to handle this much attention. 

She'd grown so much and he was so proud of her for it. Not that he thought he was responsible. Echo was the one doing all the work, she was the one pushing herself beyond her comfort zone, she was the one finding things around her that made her feel strong and centered. He was just so proud that she'd chosen him because as much as she insisted that he was the one choosing her, it had always been Echo with the decision in her hands. 

With a smile and a chuckle, he turned towards the kitchen, in search of that bottle of champagne and greeting guests along the way. 

Echo took a deep breath every time someone new flagged her down or smiled at her. She just kept reminding herself, smile- wave, tell them you're happy to see them. She might have freaked out, maybe have panicked but she was much too busy feeling so ridiculously happy. It was true. Her wedding  day was the happiest day of her life. Any doubts or concerns had completely dissipated when she said 'I do'. 

Now, as she grabbed Luke's coat from where it sat on the back of his chair. It was much thicker than the one she had that matched her dress and as she stepped out of the tent and felt the bitter cut of the winter night, she knew it wouldn't do. Echo swung Luke's coat over her shoulders, smiling as she climbed up the hill that led up to the terrace and not bothering to behind her shoulder in case someone should try to stop her. 

"Hey!"

There it was- the sound of someone coming to stop her. 

"Hey." She said, turning as Marco caught up to her. 

"Running off?" He asked with a grin, walking with her instead of slowing to a stop. 

"You caught me." She said, glancing up at the terrace as it came into view. 

"A romantic rendezvous." He said under his breath with a chuckle. "I'm sorry to interrupt."

"You haven't interrupted it... yet." She said. 

"Well, I'm looking for Luke." He said climbing up the terrace steps next to her. "But maybe I'll just come back later."

"Is it really important?" She asked, raising her brow and stopping on the top step. 

"Nothing that can't wait." Marco said with a smile, turning to walk away. Echo smiled back, before turning. 

"Oh god..." Echo muttered, making Marco turn just in time to watch her lose her balance. Echo flapped her arms around wildly, looking like a baby bird as she tried to reach for the balustrade.

"Woah." He said, reaching out and hooking his arms under hers from behind her. "There you go..."

He slowly pushed her forward onto the top step, keeping his arms hooked under her. 

"You got it?" He asked, smiling as she caught her breath. 

"Yeah." She said with a nod but her hands had caught his and she was clinging tightly. 

"Gave me a scare there." Marco said with a chuckle, still not releasing her. Echo nodded. 

"Me too." Echo said, shaking her head. 

"Am I intruding?" Luke asked as he walked out the side doors slowly, his hands in his pockets and a big smile on his face. Echo laughed but her eyes widened as Marco practically pushed her away in a panic and she once again stumbled back. 

"Jesus." Marco said, wrapping his arm around her wait to catch her. Luke laughed. 

"I think someone's had more than her fair share of champagne."  Luke said, moving towards them. 

"I think so." Marco replied, lifting Echo up and handing her to Luke, who set her down beside him. 

"Woah." Echo said with a giggle. 

"I think I've got it from here." Luke said and Marco nodded. 

"Then I'm out of here." Marco said, "No worries, I'll keep them distracted."

"Thanks." Luke said as Echo nestled herself up slowly to him. 

"It's cold." Luke said after Marco walked away. He rubbed his hands up and down Echo's arms as she rested her head against his chest. 

"I feel fine." She said softly, enjoying the way he smelled. 

"Look at them." Lena said, shaking her head gently as she gazed at Echo and Luke in the distance.

"Give them a little privacy, will you?" Maru said with a sigh but she didn't take her eyes off them. 

"If they wanted privacy they should have gone off to somewhere more private." Lena said. 

"That's plenty private, you two just have to stop being so nosey." Romy said without turning to look. Lena frowned. 

"It's just so... sweet. All the cooing and the kissing, I'm going to hurl." Lena said, facing the dance floor now. "Look, even Vera's dancing with that guy... Bob."

"His name is Tom." Maru said, turning to look at Vera, who at the moment was smiling dumbly at something Tom had whispered in her ear. "Besides, since when did you start taking after Romy?"

"Yes, your cynicism impresses even me." Romy said with a grin. In typical fashion, Romy sat back against her chair, Lena and Maru on either side of her, chatting away as she watched the party silently.

"I'm not cynical." Lena muttered, "I guess I'm just tired."

"Right." Romy repeated, skeptically. 

"So when do you suppose that happened?" This time it was Ben approaching the girls, Adelia on his arm with a big bright smile. 

"Not very long ago, I think." Romy said, still glancing at Vera. Adelia moved to stand behind Romy with a big grin. It was adorable, everyone had noticed and Romy was even flattered as the 15 year old had proceeded to cling to her like glue, watching her every move. 

"Have you seen Luke?" Nadia said, making them all turn to her as she appeared. They'd only met her the day before but so far, they liked her just fine. Nadia stood on one leg now, rotating her ankle. "I hate these shoes."

"Not used to heels?" Maru asked before pointing behind her. 

"Oh, I see." Nadia said with a frown as she watched Echo and Luke in the far distance. "They shouldn't be neglecting their guests."

"Oh, let them have their moment." Adelia said with a twinkle in her eye. "And no, Nadia never wears heels."

"I'm too tall for these things. As it is, I feel like a giant." Nadia said, taking her glasses off and wiping them before setting them back. 

"You can't be that tall- 5'9"?" Ben asked. 

"Yeah, but at least 6 in these things." Nadia replied. 

"That's the same as Romy." Maru volunteered. Nadia looked at her. "And Romy always wears heels."

"I started wearing them before I knew how tall I was going to be." Romy said with a shrug. 

"Come on, Nadia." Ben said with a sigh, "you're the last one."

Nadia frowned. 

"No, I'm fine. I don't dance." She replied, preparing to walk away. 

"Yeah, but I do and you're the only bridesmaid left." Ben said, grabbing her arm and practically dragging her away.