The Wedding

[smelltheashes]

Two weeks ago, the Greenbrier's courtyard was an overgrown mess, the product of twenty years' neglect. Now, the grass has been cut, the weeds have been pulled, and a couple of small saplings have been chopped down to make room for the day's festivities.

On the east end of the courtyard is a simple stage, fashioned mostly from plywood with a coat of white paint slapped on, upon which the wedding ceremony will take place. The rest of the space is filled with folding chairs, and various crates and boxes the organizers resorted to when they ran out of chairs.

If you want to get a good seat, you'd better hustle.

Comments

[hecu_marine]

It damn well surely has been. Shephard's kept his worries about his adoptive little sister to himself this whole time; there's been far too much else to deal with and nobody needed to hear it. Besides, his momma was taking care of her just fine, so-

Well, he's doing the best man's job now, and he's got Chell to look after, and it's all gonna be just fine.

[g00d_d0ggie]

Flying just behind the pair is Skitch, bearing two rings on a throw pillow (one of the few in the Greenbrier that survived intact) and looking quite pleased with himself.

He's Helping!

[vance_prime]

And now... here comes the bride.

Dressed in a lab coat that matches Gordon's, with a bouquet of wildflowers in her hands and a circlet of tiny white flowers in her hair. Walking very slowly down the aisle, arm-in-arm with Judith Mossman, who looks like she's blinking back tears of her own.

[acts_of_gord]

There is no power on Earth or in any borderworld that could make Gordon speak right now.

Heck, even Barney's looking kinda choked up at this point, the big softy.

[vance_prime]

"Are you okay?" Alyx murmurs sidelong to Judith.

The older woman nods. "It's just... your father would be so proud of you right now."

Alyx sneaks one hand over to squeeze Judith's tightly. Judith squeezes back.

And then they're at the altar and there's no more time for conversation.

[smelltheashes]

Gordon reaches over to take Alyx's hand, although he glances towards Barney for permission first. There are ways these things ought to be done, after all. Barney nods, and then raises his voice for the benefit of the crowd.

"Thank you all for coming," he says. He's got a precedent to set today- it's been a long time since anyone's bothered with an actual wedding, and there's no sense not starting off with being polite. "We are gathered together here in the presence of friends and family to celebrate one of life's greatest relationships - the union between man and woman, which we call marriage."

As we join together Gordon and Alyx in this marriage, let us search our hearts for the wisdom of this covenant, which has from ancient times been expressed with those ideas that come from the heart. Ideas like love, loyalty, trust, fidelity, and forgiveness. Let us also decide to share our knowledge of these things with them as they start this journey together."

The next part, he's pretty sure, is not going to be important now- but it's best to make sure people remember it for future use, just in case.

"Into this estate these two people come now to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not be lawfully married, speak now or forever hold your peace. And no laughing," he adds in an undertone. "Don't think I can't see you, Floyd."

[vance_prime]

You could hear a pin drop.

Alyx just smiles softly at her husband-to-be.

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon smiles back. And Barney breathes a sigh of relief.

"All right, then. Gordon? Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in this union? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others keep only unto her so long as you both shall live?"

There's a pause.

"You have to actually use words, Gordon..."

[vance_prime]

Alyx might be suppressing a chuckle of her own.

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon coughs. "I will," he says aloud.

"Good," says Barney firmly. "Now. Alyx? Will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together in this union? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others keep only unto him so long as you both shall live?"

[vance_prime]

"I will."

[smelltheashes]

Barney nods. "All right, then," he says. "It's time for the exchange of vows- that means we're back to the words, Gordon. You know 'em by heart, so..."

Gordon nods. He spent long enough memorizing them, after all.

"I take you, Alyx, to be my wedded wife," he says. "I pledge that I will love you and tenderly care for you in sickness and in health, when life is peaceful and when it is in disorder. I will honor your goals and your dreams, and help you to realize them."

A deep breath, because- well.

"And I vow to share my life with you through the best and worst of what is to come."

[vance_prime]

Alyx takes a deep breath of her own (as deep as she can when she's as pregnant as she is.

"I take you, Gordon, to be my wedded husband. I pledge that I will love you and tenderly care for you in sickness and in health, when life is peaceful and when it is in disorder. I will honor your goals and your dreams, and help you to realize them. And I vow to share my life with you through the best and worst of what is to come."

[smelltheashes]

"Almost there," Barney murmurs. "You're doing just fine, both of you... At this point we'll be needing the rings."

[g00d_d0ggie]

And that would be Skitch's cue! He hovers over and holds up his cushion with a cheerful chirp.

The rings are simple steel bands meant to be worn on the pinky finger; the only embellishments are a tiny steel lambda engraved on each one.

[acts_of_gord]

Barney nods and reaches up to take the rings and hand one each to Gordon and to Alyx. "A circle," he says, "is the symbol of the sun and the earth and the universe, of wholeness and perfection, and peace and love. These rings mark the beginning of a long journey together. Wear them proudly, for they are symbols which speak of the love that you have for each other. And now, Gordon, if you don't mind..."

He gestures to Gordon then. Gordon nods and reaches for Alyx's left hand, and says, "In token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love, with this ring I thee wed."

(Sometimes the older forms just have all the impact.)

[vance_prime]

Alyx slides the other ring onto Gordon's finger in turn. "In token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love, with this ring I thee wed."

[acts_of_gord]

"With this statement made of love and trust, which we have just heard," Barney says, "I now wish you to greet Gordon and Alyx as husband and wife. You two can kiss now, if you're so inclined."

Well, Gordon certainly is...

[vance_prime]

And so is Alyx. Funny how that works.

[smelltheashes]

And this would be the part where the assembled crowd cheers themselves stupid.

[vance_prime]

And the happy couple? Just keep right on kissing.



Until Alyx finally gets a polite tap on the shoulder from Chell.

"Um. Alyx? Kate wants us all to get into the receiving line for the reception..."

[acts_of_gord]

"Sorry," says Gordon a little sheepishly, as he lets go of Alyx. Not that he's going far, you understand. "We, um. Should."

[vance_prime]

Alyx is beaming and probably will be for the rest of the night.

"Shall we?" she says, offering Gordon her arm.

[acts_of_gord]

He takes it.

"Let's."