#regaljewelry

[daintyduck99]

I wish you would write a fic where Julie and Reggie meet Carrie, who is the queen of the fae folk

Julie loves to watch the snow fall from the window of her and Reggie’s apartment, and she loves her classes, but she hates it when she actually has to go out in the cold. She curses her professor for not canceling class until she was halfway there, huddling deeper into her coat as the wind picks up. 

The familiar glow of the campus Starbucks catches her eye, and Julie darts inside. The girl who takes her order must be new, because Julie would have remembered her—she's drop-dead gorgeous, the sort of person Julie and Reggie would panic over together and tease one another about. 

She nods as Julie recites her hot chocolate order, writing it out in an elegant script that Julie can't read, but then of course not, it's upside-down— 

"And what's your name, honey?" she asks sweetly, dark eyes sparkling with mirth as she leans over the counter, and in her panic, because the gorgeous new girl is flirting with her, Julie blurts out the nickname Reggie always gives for her drinks. 

"Ah—Dahlia, just put that." 

The girl frowns, probably because that's clearly not a real name and now she thinks Julie's either not interested or a total weirdo, and Julie hasn't even asked for her name or thrown out the whole boyfriend disclaimer— 

"It's pretty, but it doesn't quite suit you. It's not sweet enough." 

Oh, oh, she's still interested! Go for it! 

"Can you hurry up? Some of us have places to be," the next girl in line snaps, and Julie sighs as she fumbles through paying and shuffles to the end of the counter. When she glances back at the register, the new girl is gone. 

She texts Reggie from a corner booth, cradling her hot chocolate in her free hand, and it's not a 911 text, but by the time he bursts through the door, he looks like he ran here from the opposite end of campus. 

"Where is she?" he asks at his regular volume, grinning as he slides into the booth with her, and she loves him, she does, but he's not subtle whatsoever.

"Shh!" Julie puts her finger to his lips as she glances around, but the new girl still hasn't reappeared. "I don't know, it was so embarrassing. Maybe she quit out of second-hand embarrassment." 

"It can't be worse than the time I literally spilled my milkshake all over you and still couldn't string two words together," Reggie mumbles against her finger, and she moves it away from his mouth to kiss him. 

"You were so earnest and sweet, though. And now we live together! I don't even know her name." 

"Hers?" Reggie squeaks, and Julie barely has time to look before the new girl is plopping into the booth across from them. 

"Sorry I disappeared," she murmurs, twirling a lock of hair around her finger, "They have me doing a little bit of everything today, but I decided to take a break since things are slowing down, and I noticed you were still here. Who's this?" 

"Ah—I'm her boyfriend," Reggie stammers, just as flustered in the direct spotlight of her eyes as Julie had been, the hypnotizing movement of her finger, and he squeezes Julie's hand under the table three times, code for oh no they're hot and I've forgotten everything but you and possibly breathing. 

"I didn't catch your name," Julie manages to interject, squeezing back to say I told you so.

The new girl tilts her head, eyes flickering shrewdly between the two of them, and her mouth curls into a smirk. 

"I could say the same about you two. Maybe we'll try again next week, hm?" 

For some reason, the idea of returning next week feels a lot less mundane than it should. 

[aurumjewelers]

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[fashioncrashjewelry]

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[paradisboutique]

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[youngdinosaurcandy]

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[elegantheritagefinds-blog]

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[blodsboutique]

Not posted for awhile, so I thought I’d show you what I’ve been working on for the past few days. Just look at that fire sparkle coming off! Every part of this has been individually sewn on. There’s also some Opal on there too with Topaz! The size on these cultured seed Pearls! Currently sewing on one by one is actual Zircon. The oldest gemstone on the planet. The sparkle is just phenomenal on this piece! This is some serious BLING ✨ #blodsboutique #bling #sparklesparkle #workinprocess #workinprogess #unfinishedart #seedbeading #serioussparkle #crystaljewelry #zircon #pearls #opal #fitforaqueen #regaljewelry #redcarpetjewelry #redcarpet #jewellery #jewelryporn #madebyme #notfinished #swarovski #crysta #shellpearl #austriancrystal #seriousbling #onebyone #jewelrymaking #jewellerydesigner #jewellerymaker #sparkleoverload #ilovemyjob (at Blod’s Boutique) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1HjJwSB0d-/?igshid=1p67113otx9ia

[redheart13jewels]

Shooting new jewels today - this particular heart and crescent moon rhinestone pendant was found on my recent trip to NOLA in small delicious antique store. I had to have it! #heartpendant #nola #jewelryshoot #regaljewelry #vintagejewelry #redheartcult #redheart13

[daintyduck99]

RegalJewelry + magic AU

“How did you do that?” Julie breathes, looking around in awe at the glittering lights illuminating the trees, hundreds of purple and pink orbs that almost dance in the dark, and Carrie bites her lip like she’s trying not to smile, but her eyes are just as soft as Julie’s.

Reggie hums, feigning ignorance even as Julie and Carrie grab for his hands to retrieve them from behind his back, and they gasp as the lights move with them; he motions for the orbs to settle around Julie and Carrie, not unlike how he’d draped them in the trees, and Carrie scrunches her nose as one lands on the tip of it, making Julie giggle. 

“It’s easy when I have you two for inspiration. You’re so bright, already,” Reggie partially admits, because their influence does let his magic flow better, like a song that only the three of them know, and as the girls move in closer, wrapping their arms and his—their—light all around him, he thinks that they might keep him.   

[daintyduck99]

Because I have been on a Disney binge, have a Princess and the Frog themed RegalJewelry first sentence(s) prompt: "Though Carrie tries her best to turn them back into humans, time runs out, and it takes Reggie and Julie being married as frogs to break the spell. Though once returned to normal, Reggie does mention his country has much less strict laws about multiple spouses."

Though Carrie tries her best to turn them back into humans, time runs out, and it takes Reggie and Julie being married as frogs to break the spell. Though once returned to normal, Reggie does mention his country has much less strict laws about multiple spouses.

"They're still a bit backwards about it, and it's mostly to allow for polygyny, but we could have our own private ceremony for the two of you, or the three of us, and provided you don't dote on each other too much in public, it should work," Reggie muses, still marveling at his and Julie's hands, which are firmly entwined with one another's and Carrie's. 

Julie smirks, still wrapped in the dress the enchantment had preserved her modesty with, although she's let her hair loose now that they're alone, and she tosses it over her shoulder with a prim shake of her head. 

"We could play up a rivalry, create quite the bit of gossip for the kingdom. What do you say, hon?" 

"I don't see why I should have to say anything to someone who's beneath me," Carrie sniffs, slipping into the shallow role of the spoiled rich girl, all that most believe her to be, although she breaks character when Julie giggles, her features smoothing out into a fond smile. 

"I take it that's a yes, then? Or would you have me propose more dramatically?" Reggie asks, kneeling before them, only Julie and Carrie refuse to let go of him, and they all collapse into a laughing heap, one that leads to lots of mussed clothing and kisses and wandering hands.

[daintyduck99]

regaljewelery + protective boyfriend/girlfriends AU?

“I’m too old for this,” Reggie mumbles into Julie’s shoulder, sandwiched between her and Carrie on one of the benches outside of Los Feliz as they rub his back, “everyone is just going to make fun of me more than they already do.”

“Who’s making fun of you?” Carrie asks sharply, and while Julie usually reins Carrie in, she’s inclined to agree, something white-hot writhing in Julie’s chest at the thought of anyone doing or saying something to upset their boyfriend, who’s lovely precisely because he’s a little different, because he’s a sweetheart, so what if he has some metal in his mouth and—oh, that white-hot thing is indignation.

“If I tell you, will you let them live?” Reggie replies, lifting his head off of Julie’s shoulder, aiming for levity but falling slightly short of his typical cheeriness, though Julie and Carrie are rewarded with a genuine, silver-lined smile as Carrie hums like she’s thinking about it, and Julie peppers his face with tiny kisses until Carrie joins in and then he’s laughing, care-free again, not hiding any longer.

[daintyduck99]

For the kissing prompt 13 and RegalJewelry?

13. pulling your lover closer by the waistband

"Sweetheart, I should—check on breakfast," Reggie manages to remind Julie between kisses, smiling against her lips as she makes a displeased little sound and curls her fingers into the collar of his flannel. 

"Missed you," she sighs, melting as he licks into her mouth, because he missed them, too, the way Julie dissolves like sugar on his tongue, sweet and light. 

Julie releases him slowly as they share one last lingering kiss, eyes fluttering open, so bright and full of love that he and Carrie could burst with it, her affection. 

Reggie tucks her curls behind her ear, admiring the warm glow of her profile in the morning sun. She catches his hand, pressing kisses to each of his fingers. 

"Tell the guys we're never letting them steal you away for that long again." 

"Blame Luke," Reggie mumbles, "we re-recorded until his fingers bled. He wants our first album to be perfect, but he—" 

"He kept you for too long," Carrie interrupts, ducking out of the bedroom in her lounge clothes and striding into the living room. She gives Julie a quick peck before hooking her fingers into the waistband of Reggie’s jeans, yanking him flush against her body. "No one gets to be selfish with you but us." 

Carrie captures his lips with scorching passion, kissing him possessively, the way she always does when Luke keeps him busy with band stuff, regardless of who's around. If Julie's sugar, Carrie's spice, full of fire and all-consuming. 

"I was going to say he pushes himself too hard," Reggie pants, sharing a knowing look with Julie. Carrie draws him into another kiss, biting his lower lip just hard enough to teeter blindingly on the edge of pleasure and pain until he whimpers. 

"I'm nothing like him," Carrie mutters, plucking at Reggie’s waistband, "don't you two start." 

Julie drapes herself over Carrie's back, wrapping her arms around her waist and letting her hands dance along the top of Reggie's jeans with Carrie's. Her eyes glitter with mischief. 

"But we like it when you put us in our place, baby, and it's been so long since we've gotten to wind you up." 

Needless to say, breakfast gets burnt.

[daintyduck99]

RegalJewelry + "It's 1 am, be fucking quiet some people need to sleep."

“It’s one a.m.! Be fucking quiet, some people need to sleep.”

Reggie and Julie exchange a bewildered look before returning their attention to the tousled blonde on their doorstep. Her scowl pierces right through Julie despite the slight droop of her eyelids, and Reggie wilts, inching away from her and closer to Julie.

“We’re really sorry—do you—no one told us that someone had moved in upstairs.”

The blonde huffs, crossing her arms. Julie suspects it’s partially to keep herself upright.

“I’ve had movers taking furniture upstairs all day. Are you trying to tell me that you didn’t notice?”

Reggie’s got his fingers attached to the overly long end of Julie’s sleeve, and she slides her hand out to grab his. The blonde raises her eyebrows, waiting. Julie bites her lip, as they really have no good explanation.

“Like Reggie said, we’re sorry. We’ve been working on this song all day, and sometimes we tune the rest of the world out. Now that we know you’re here, we’ll be more careful in the future. I’m Julie.”

The blonde mumbles something about musicians as she uncrosses her arms, leaning against the doorframe with impressive grace for someone who’s half asleep. “Carrie.”

“At least it’s the weekend?” Reggie offers feebly, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand.

His flushed cheeks darken further when Carrie rakes a hand through her hair and her tank top rides up, revealing a sliver of her midriff, and Julie suppresses a snort as he fixes his gaze somewhere over her shoulder like the outer hallway is the most interesting thing in the world.

In his defense, Carrie’s stunningly pretty even though it’s one a.m.

“Let us make it up to you,” Julie suggests, smiling as Carrie tilts her head as if to say I’m listening, “if you don’t have plans tom—later, why don’t you come over for lunch? You can pick the music this time, or maybe a movie.”

Reggie nods vehemently, forgetting his embarrassment as he starts to ramble about all of the things they could do, and Julie swears that the corner of Carrie’s mouth twitches.

“Okay,” Carrie agrees, openly smirking by the end of Reggie’s spiel, “it’s a date,” and with that, she spins away, leaving Julie and Reggie dumbfounded in the lingering floral scent of her perfume and the crisp morning air.

[invisibleraven]

RegalJewelry + “ your hand is tiny. look at the size different. “ 👀👀👀

"Mr. Peters? You can go in now."

Reggie beamed at the doctor as he scrambled to enter the hospital room, taking in Carrie looking radiant and tired from the bed, Julie sitting next to her, clutching her hand. "Hi," she whispered quietly. "He's over there." she gestured to the cot by the bed.

Reggie crept over softly, and looked down at the sleeping bundle laying before him. Soft dark hair covered his head, skin pink and pale. "He's so beautiful. Can I hold him?"

"Wash your hands first," Carrie said, her voice tired, but eyes bright with pride.

Reggie did, and then oh so carefully picked up his son, the infant blinking his eyes up at him. "Hi buddy, welcome to the world."

The baby freed his arm from the blanket, waving it around. Reggie caught the arm, holding the boy's hand in his own. "Your hand is so tiny, look at the size difference."

"He'll grow before we know it. Especially if he inherits your metabolism," Carrie sassed, and then let out a yawn.

Julie brushed Carrie's hair back from her face, kissing her temple sweetly. "You should rest, he's gonna want to be fed before long."

Reggie gently laid the baby down and came to sit on Carrie's other side, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "We've got him for now. You did an amazing job gorgeous. Get some sleep okay?"

Carrie smiled and closed her eyes, quickly drifting off. Julie and Reggie smiled over her sleeping form, their son's gentle coos filling the air.

"Carrie told me next time it's my turn," Julie remarked, getting up to gently rock the boy. "Sssh mijo, mami is here."

"You and I would make some pretty babies together. But let's get to know this guy first before we plan for more," Reggie said, standing behind her, arms around her waist and beaming down at them both. "You two decide on a name yet?"

"We were thinking Peter. Peter Wilson Molina, so he has a bit of all three of us."

Reggie sniffled at that, eyes watery. "I love that." He swiped at his eyes, and smiled down at his son once more as he settled in Julie's arms. "Hey Peter, I'm your daddy." The baby yawned, and Julie slowly lowered him back into his cot.

Reggie kept hold of her, the two of them watching their son sleep, beaming with happiness, and enjoying this rare moment of quiet tranquillity together before what was sure to be a parade of relatives and friends would start streaming in.

[daintyduck99]

For the three sentence prompts RegalJewelry + secret relationship au

“I’m telling you, she’s plotting something!” Luke stresses, nodding to where Carrie’s laughing at whatever Reggie said as they hover by Julie’s locker, and Alex opens his mouth to respond that Luke’s paranoid, that Carrie and Julie have made up, when Julie shushes them, shoulders tense as she glances around.

Luke groans, throwing his head back. “See! Julie’s horrible at keeping secrets! Carrie’s trying to poach half of my band!”

Maybe, Alex thinks as Carrie soothes with quick hands, fluttering at their elbows and wrists, and Julie and Reggie subtly lean into her touch—maybe she already has.

[invisibleraven]

Spring flowers, autumn leaves, and laurel trees

Carrie, a flower nymph anxiously waits for her loves the goddess of spring and the king of the Underworld to return to her...

Rated: T

Pairing: Julie/Reggie/Carrie

AO3 link here!

I have no idea where this came from. Partially inspired by the Greek myths of Hades & Persephone and Daphne & Apollo, partially inspired by Lore Olympus, partially me challenging myself to write a RegalJewelry fic. I hope I did it justice.

Thanks to @nuandia and @daintyduck99 for introducing me to this ship, this is for them.

Carrie smiled as she skipped through the meadow, enjoying the first rays of the rising sun. The days were starting to lengthen, the chill fading from the air, which meant only one thing; it was almost time for Julie to return to her. The winter had been long and harsh, and lonely. Reggie had visited not long ago, claiming that he and Julie had finally figured out how to let Carrie come stay in the Underworld during those months, and she had been so happy she had kissed him. Reggie had blushed bright red, but leaned into the kiss nonetheless, promising to pass it along to Julie as well before he departed once more.

Honestly, some part of Carrie knew she should resent Reggie, as it was his realm that held Julie captive half the year, but he hadn’t known the pomegranate seeds would tie Julie to him and his kingdom when she ate them, no one did. Demeter had all but tried to wage war on Olympus when she found out, but eventually it was sorted that Julie would split her time between the Underworld and the mortal realm. No one asked Carrie how she felt about this situation, but then again, not many consulted flower nymphs about much. She just mourned losing Julie, as the love between them grew strained during their time apart. Reggie had been as helpful as he could, delivering messages back and forth between them, and Carrie soon figured out why Julie loved him as well as her. Because as time flew by, she grew to care for him as well.

Of course, Carrie can’t say as much, with Demeter decrying Reggie for ‘stealing’ Julie, even though Julie went with him of her own accord, and given Reggie’s sweet nature and adorable looks, Carrie can’t blame the goddess there. Zeus is on the other side of things, claiming Julie seduced her way into becoming Queen of the Underworld, even though Carrie knows that Reggie is just gone for Julie due to her general amazingness, no seduction needed. Plus Julie isn’t Queen yet, and Carrie hopes that they may one day share the title if she can gather her courage to ask. In her letters, Julie claims the Underworld is wonderful, that she can’t wait for Carrie to come see for herself, so that they can be together once more all year long. Reggie says he knows it will further tarnish his reputation, having stolen first a goddess, and then a nymph, but he’s never much cared about all that, and given most of the rest of the pantheon leaves him be, he doubts that any of them will say much, at least not to him.

Carrie tilts her face up to the sun, letting it’s weak rays warm her, mentally counting down the days until spring will arrive. The renewal of the earth will be a fresh start for her, she knows it, and she cannot wait. Yet… she can feel a pair of eyes on her, and she shivers. Looking around she sees no one at first, seemingly alone in her meadow, the forest close by only housing animals slowly emerging from hibernation. Then a flash of icy blue, the eyes of Apollo peer from behind a tree. Carrie shudders again, and slowly, so as not to let on that she’s seen him, starts walking away. This proved to be a mistake, as Apollo came from a family of hunters, so the thrill of the chase was mother's milk to him. Carrie quickens her pace, but the sun god seems relentless.

She enters the forest, drawing on her powers to mask her scent, though there is little growth here not lying dormant. Apollo is still in pursuit, and she has no idea why, nor does she want to ask. But there is an aura that has always surrounded him, one of malevolence and danger. Carrie has no wish to be dragged into whatever game he's playing. A quick glance shows him gaining, and the look in his eyes sends a spike of fear into her heart, so she begins to run.

"You can't hide from me nymph! I know these woods like my own and there is no refuge for you here!" Apollo calls, his voice menacing. Carrie doesn't stop to respond, just keeps running, darting in between overgrown roots and fallen trees. Gods usually only want one thing when they chase down maidens, and Carrie is not eager to find out if she will be the exception or the rule.

She keeps running, but her stamina is waning, the terrain not helping her, as she trips over gnarled vines, twisting her ankle. She can hear Apollo not far off, and begins to weep. Pleads to Demeter to save her, calls on the last dregs of her power as she stands, unsteady and in pain. But then, a sense of blessed relief as numbness sets in, limbs stretching into roots and branches, hair turned to leaves, skin to bark.

Apollo takes no notice of the tree when he passes by, still tracking the nymph, though her trail is growing cold. He can't see her any longer, no trace of her scent, not even the faintest sound of her heartbeat. He shrugs, figuring she couldn't be worth all this trouble, and doubles back, looking for his next conquest not long after.

Days later, the ground opens up within the forest, Julie smiling as she looks around, expecting to find Carrie waiting for her. She could sense the nymph no matter where she was, but there was no smiling face, no warm eyes to greet her. Reggie comes up behind her, closing the ground, taking Julie's hand with a smile. But he also looks around, and the smile drops off his face as he takes in the empty forest.

"Where is she?"

Julie scans the area, follows her feelings and then stops at the beautiful tree before her. Looking every bit the dryad, but frozen in form, is Carrie. Julie gasps, hand flying to her mouth, tears streaming down her face. She reached out, tracing the faint impression of her love’s face in the wood. "Carrie…"

"Is-is that her?" Reggie asks, voice choking up. At Julie's nod, he lets out a faint sob. "What-how did this happen?"

"Flower nymphs have protection powers, they can turn themselves into plants when endangered. I've never heard of them becoming a tree though, or how to get them back. We may have to consult my mother," Julie said, stroking the limbs of the tree with the utmost tenderness.

Reggie gulped audibly at that, he is not keen to reacquaint himself with Demeter, but for Carrie, for Julie, he would do anything. “Alright my queen, let’s hurry. Who knows how long she’s been like this, and I’m anxious to release her quickly.” “I’m not your queen yet,” Julie says, pressing a kiss to the bark before she gets up, taking Reggie’s hand.

“Only because you refuse to be married without Carrie.” Reggie glanced back at the tree, cursing himself from not keeping a better eye on the nymph, for not sending her protection when he could not be there for her. He had grown so fond of her over the course of his time with Julie, that she now held a glowing spot in his heart.

“She is my love as well as you Reggie, do you think the Underworld can handle two queens?”

They shared a smile, bittersweet now, as they had planned to wed Carrie as soon as they could, their marriage would allow the nymph free passage anywhere they were. Thus there would never be a need to be apart again. If only they had been able to come up sooner! The grip on each other’s hands never faltered as they neared Demeter’s realm, and Julie set her expression to one of ferocity, knowing she would need all her mettle to gain help for her soon to be queen.

Demeter barely spared them a glance when they entered her domicile, consumed with thoughts of the harvest, of the crops that must be planted and tended now that spring was here. “Reginald. I thought I told you to never darken my doorway again,” she said, voice frosty cold. “Daughter, you have responsibilities to tend to, your temples will soon be overburdened with supplicants and offerings. You have had your time to galavant around with this… with Reginald, now it is your time here with me.”

“What happened with Carrie?” Julie asks, blunt and to the point.

Demeter finally looks up at that, laying down her quill. “Who? Oh, that nymph you were always taken with. She disappeared some days ago. Stuck as a tree from what I can tell, though I’ve no idea how she came to do so, none of my other followers have such power.”

“Can you help turn her back?” Reggie asks, trying to sound sincere, though the withering glare Demeter levels him with makes him doubt that it came through.

Demeter sighs, “No. Once a nymph changes forms, no power in this realm can force them to change back. She’ll free herself eventually. Never mind about her. Go back to your dead and damned Reginald. And Julie? Get to work.” The tone of finality is heavy in the goddess’ voice, so the duo leave her, looking defeated.

“I’ll… I’ll figure something out Julie, I promise you. Maybe my brother knows of a cure, or even what occured for Carrie to be trapped. I promise we’ll fix this my love,” Reggie says, bringing Julie’s lips to his for a kiss. “Summon me if you have need of me, I’ll check back in a few days.”

Julie lays a hand over his heart, the place she knows both she and Carrie dwell. “Stay safe my king.”

Reggie lifts her hand, placing a delicate kiss to the knuckles before winking and disappearing in a puff of smoke, the faint scent of brimstone left in his wake. Julie smiles, despite the acrid smell, and then turns towards her temple, preparing to begin the dance of spring.

Unfortunately, Zeus can do nothing for them, saying if Demeter has no solutions, then he’s at a loss as well. He at least has some sympathy for them, genuinely growing to like Julie, despite his earlier slander of her, and wanting Reggie to be happy. He promises to keep searching for answers, and wishes Reggie the best of luck. Reggie tries to find the Fates, but the three sisters are incredibly elusive when they want to be, and it leads to many fruitless dead ends. Julie tries asking the other nymphs, but Carrie had been alone that day, though Kayla takes Julie aside and whispers that she had spied Apollo in those parts as of late. Julie gulps, and summons Reggie, knowing that she cannot face the sun god, not after what he did to her.

“No luck my queen?” Reggie asks as he appears, then takes in her serious expression. “What did you find out?”

Julie rushes into his arms, burying her face in his chest. “Kayla suspects Apollo has something to do with it.”

Reggie swore, clutching Julie to him tighter. That bastard had assaulted his love, would have done the unthinkable had Reggie not appeared when he did. To think he may have, or even tried to do the same to Carrie fills him with a white hot rage. Yet without proof it isn’t as though he can strike Apollo down, and with Zeus doing worse in his past, there are no real repercussions for gods who do harm to maidens. It’s an unfair, stupid system, one that Reggie hates, and has all but abolished in his realm, but the mortal world isn’t under his control, so while he may wish to feed Apollo to Cerberus, he is stuck.

Time passes quickly as both Reggie and Julie look for answers, searching in vain for some solution. Until they are only days away from the autumnal equinox. “I can’t leave her here alone Reggie, I just can’t,” Julie weeps as they sit at the base of Carrie’s trunk, her tears hitting the roots.

“I know my love, but the rules dictate you have to return to our home, and they will pull you under, willing or not. I can visit every day, make sure she’s not alone,” Reggie offers, one hand holding Julie’s, the other touching the bark of the trunk behind him.

“Do-do you think she knows we're here?”

There is a slight rustle of leaves, the both of them looking up, bittersweet smiles painting their faces, as without a breath of wind around them, they know the answer. Julie leans her forehead against the trunk, Reggie copying the motion, the tree warm despite the cooling temperatures. “We love you Carrie,” Reggie whispers, “We wanted to marry you, make you our queen, make sure you were never left alone again. I’m sorry we failed you.”

Julie looks up at that, meeting his sad eyes. “Why can’t we? Marry her that is?”

“She’s a tree Julie.”

“She’s still here, somehow,” Julie says, then stands, pulling Reggie up. “We can at least have the ceremony, involve her as much as we can, a promise that when we fix this, because we will, that she will come back to us as ours.”

Reggie looks at her, and then at the tree, giggling a little. It was a mad plan, but he’d been aching to marry Julie for ages, to marry Carrie for a shorter time, but no less intensely. “Alright. Let’s go find Eros, see if he’ll do this for us.”

Eros, as it turns out, is more than happy to do so, though he questions the whole tree aspect, when he’s told it’s Carrie, the understanding washes over him. Deep down he knows the nymph will never return but he doesn’t wish to diminish Julie and Reggie’s hopes. He meets them in the forest on the last night before Julie must return to the Underworld, smiling at his friends as they stand before him, bedecked in their finest garb. Julie had taken a few pink ribbons and flowers to decorate Carrie’s branches, the forest floor beginning to become littered with stray leaves from other trees.

Eros begins, making them recite their vows, and though Carrie cannot speak, her branches twitch when it would have been her turn, so they take that as close to her consent as they can muster. A goblet of wine is passed between them, the last dregs poured into the earth where Carrie’s roots lay. Then they pull out the cloths for the handfast, Reggie binding one of Julie’s hands to a low hanging branch, and her doing the same to him before Eros binds their hands together, the three of them united as much as they can be. There are tears in their eyes, happy to finally be wed, but also bittersweet that it is not as they hoped, with their missing piece still essentially absent between them.

Eros wipes his own tears away, and urges them to seal the union with a kiss. Reggie leans down, kissing Julie soundly, a few dahlias popping out into her hair, one nestling behind his ear, making him smile into the kiss. They pull apart, and stand on their tiptoes as much as they can, both pressing a kiss to the place where the faint impression of Carrie’s face is. Their tears mix, hitting the wood, a small trickle of sap appearing and enveloping the tears as well.

“I declare you married then,” Eros states, releasing their bonds, grasping both Reggie and Julie’s hand tight in his. “Thank you for letting me do this, though I wish the circumstances were different.” With that he nods and flies away, the both of them watching until he is but a speck in the skyline.

“Well my queens, I know we’re no feast, no music, but we can still celebrate being wed,” Reggie says, smiling at Julie. Suddenly a loud crack rings out, a fissure forming through the middle of the tree, both Reggie and Julie rushing back and clutching at one another, terrified panic painting their features. Neither know what is happening, or if Carrie is okay, as soon a blinding light streams from the crack in the tree, causing both of them to shield their eyes.

The noise ceases, and Julie peeks her eyes open, and gasps, as there, at the base of the broken tree, is Carrie, shaking and smiling, body covered in flowers to maintain her modesty while she trembles and stands. “Julie, Reggie…”

The two of them rush in, gathering Carrie into their embrace, kisses raining down on each other’s faces as their happiness radiates around them. “How?” Reggie asks.

“I have no idea, but I am so happy to be free once more,” Carrie replies. There are happy tears streaming down all of their faces, and Julie can’t seem to stop smiling.

“Come on, let’s go home,” she says, signalling Reggie to open the ground, Carrie tentatively taking the stairs down into the Underworld, shuddering a little as the opening closes above her. Yet, she feels at home here, surrounded by her loves. Gets a grand tour, meeting many souls who seem to revere her, and when she catches sight of her appearance, sees that all three of them are now sporting crowns to signify their royal status. Reggie brings them to his opulent home, and Carrie is thrilled to be there, Julie beaming as Cerberus comes running to greet her, the giant sook that he is. Reggie shakes his head but his smile betrays him as both of his queens spoil his hellhound rotten.

“So, what now?” Carrie asks later, the three of them laying in bed, their marriage long consummated many times over, the three of them comfortable and sated.

“I think this is the point of the stories where everyone lives happily ever after,” quips Reggie.

“I like the sound of that,” Julie says with a yawn, snuggling further into his embrace, pulling Carrie to her, and the three of them allow themselves to drift off to sleep, finally united and together once more, as they always would be.