Though the day was damp, the breeze heralded that yes, spring would come. Later than Rome in any case, the winter was proving tenacious. Nor was it due to the seasons being out of date with the calender- Caesar was a meticulous Pontifex Maximus. No, it had just been a snowy winter, as last summer had been a wet summer.

Cornelia knew from her rides with her rapidly recovering husband that the lesser roads and passes were still covered with ice and snow. Not that that would have stopped Magnus in better health, Sextus, or herself given the right circumstances; simply it served to remind one just how remote they were from Rome and all that signified.

And that has its advantages she thought to herself as she looked upon her step-son Sextus and daughter-in-law Porcia in her saffron coloured seven tiered wool crown. Patchy sunlight played across the entire party in the small circular columned enclosure that had served as the stronghold temple for the lesser gods and gods of Picenum before Rome was more than a city name on the lips of occasional merchants passing through.

Now Petreius, the long trusted senior legate of Magnus took the auspices for the wedding ceremony at the little alter. IN ROme things might have been different, but in many ways, being married at the heart of the Pompieus family seat suited Sextus far more; hie suffered none of his father's prestige qualms because his father was a Senate power by the time he was born.

As if on cue, a slight stir and the squeeze on her hand made Cornelia turn to look up at her husband. His blue eyes were twinkling down on her, and his still boyish face looked on her with triumph now mixed with genuine love; he was thinking of their own wedding, and remembering his pride in capturing one of Rome's highest born women.Higher than even a Caesar, with the blood of Scipio and Lepidus and Caecilus flowing through her veins. If she had married him more out of duty, made more palatable by the fact that he was First Man in Rome rivaled only by Caesar, his unfailing kindness, respect, and utter humanity had allowed something far more intimate to bloom between them.

Cornelia looked back at Porcia and Sextus, both far more fiery in temper, and hoped that what they had would ultimately lead to what she and Magnus had. They would need each other.

The ceremony concluded, Sextus showed all his spectacular strength by picking up Porcia and carrying her across the muddy slushy earth through the throngs of clients and tenants gathered for the festivities and largess. He would take no chances of bad luck and allow his bride in her condition to slip up or stumble over the threshold.

Once inside Porcia sprinkled water and passed her hand through the flame to signify her place in the home as Materfamilias when the time came.

Seeing this accomplished, Magnus and Cornelia went back outside tp spend some time with the guest not qualified to come into the main affair. But they were neither of them chiselers, and the tables groaned under the best fare available for the time of the year. Their well shod feet stepped together through the well wishers, and Magnus' steward passed out gifts here and there as necessary. When the time came to pass into the main dining room, Magnus paused on the threshold.

"I was glad to share this day with you Cornelia. More glad than you can know. I hope we can do this more often."

Together they walked into the dinning room to see Porcia and Sextus already in the place of honour.