Vows
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.
Thanks once again to Wendylouwho10 who read over my story for flow, content, and the occasional grammar/misspelling!
Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Series started as kinda blue spine with a touch of Casefiles but is now completely AU. F/20 J/19
Summary: Part of "Taken" series. F/20 J/19. Sequel to "Where My Demons Hide." Will Joe and Vanessa get married? How will things change or will they stay the same?
Author's Notes: This took a little longer than expected to write. :-) Sorry for the delay. So this story is ten chapters and I consider it a 'bridge' story from one large adventure story to the next. As with other shorter stories of mine that were also bridge stories, things happen in this story that are very important to the timeline, so take note! LOL It took me longer than expected to write this due to real life and a slight brain freeze in the story. ;-) I have NOT started on the next one but plan to begin work soon.
Series List (just the teenage fics listed below):
Taken
Recovery
Retribution
Wild Pitch
Undercover Trouble: Covert Contention (yeah, little bit wordy there)
For Who You Are
Mission Parameters
Debts
Survival Instincts
Where My Demons Hide
Vows
Chapter One: Introduction
From: Where My Demons Hide
Looking up at her, he took her hand and said, "Yes, I'll marry you. Will you marry me, Vanessa Bender?" He slid the ring on her fourth finger and smiled up at her as he asked, "Changed your mind?"
She dropped to her knees and threw her arms around his neck almost knocking him over. "Yes! Yes! I'll marry you!"
Joe laughed as he regained his balance and held her tightly. After a moment they stood and embraced again.
"I didn't know you had the ring with you," she said as she gazed at it in amazement.
He smoothed her hair as he said, "I've worn it around my neck every day since I returned home." He smiled as she continued to look at the ring. "You know our parents aren't going to be very happy that we're engaged."
Vanessa chuckled and turned her smile upon him. "They're going to be even more surprised that we're married."
Joe frowned. "Married?"
"I guess I didn't finish my proposal." The smile was still on her face as she put her arms around his neck. "Let's elope."
.**********.
Joe's grip around her waist tightened slightly as he looked at her in surprise. "Elope?" He saw her nod; the grin still on her lips. "You and me?" he asked somewhat dumbfounded. She nodded again but still he had to confirm. "Elope as in get married without telling anyone? Go to Vegas type elope?"
At this she laughed and stepped back but her hands found his. "Well, I can't say I was planning to be married by an Elvis impersonator. But the rest is about right." Her eyes went to the lovely diamond and sapphire ring on her left hand and her smile faded a little as she looked back up at him. "Can you honestly say that anyone will be thrilled at this?"
Joe stood silent; there was nothing to argue there. "But the wedding… the dress…" He dropped one of her hands to wave his in the air in a circular motion. "All the stuff that girls dream of-" he paused. "You don't want that?"
A small smile formed on her face. "I want you."
He grinned a little at that. "You have me. But wouldn't you want to wait a few months? By then everyone will probably be thrilled."
"Is that you talking or what you've been told?" she asked with an arched brow.
Joe laughed. "It's me talking. I don't want you to regret marrying me-"
Vanessa put a finger to his lips. "I would never regret it." She looked behind them to a bench and pulled him by the hand over to it and sat down. Once he was seated next to her, she continued, "You know my mom eloped."
"Yes."
"She has told me lots of times that she has never regretted it."
"But this is you and not your mom. Wouldn't you regret it? We'd only need to wait a few months-"
"Would we?"
"What?"
"Would it just be a few months? Would something come up? Would our family say,' oh, why don't you wait a few more months?'"
Joe looked out to the dark blue water of the bay. "You know I can't answer that. Too many uncertainties."
"And that's why we'll elope." Vanessa's voice was confident. "I've checked into the law; I know what we need to do. Joe, in just three days we could be married!" Her voice was low but excited.
Thoughts about what Andrea would think as well as his family went out of his head as he joined in her excitement. Life was too uncertain for him and Vanessa was willing to help him fight his demons…. "Let's do it." He whispered back and had no idea why he was whispering.
Vanessa giggled.
"But one change," Joe said. "I want to tell Frank. I want him to be at the ceremony."
Vanessa didn't stop smiling. She had probably already planned on this. "Of course. And I'll ask Callie to come to. They can be our witnesses."
Joe breathed a sigh of relief. Vanessa really did understand him.
"But let's not tell them where we're going. We'll get all dressed up for a fancy dinner out and we'll get married and then go to the fancy dinner."
Joe laughed out loud. "I guess that will work but I think we'll need to work on the details or Frank will never buy it."
Vanessa smiled. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out all in the next week."
"Next week?" Joe said as the immediacy washed over him.
"Too early?" she asked with just the first hint of concern.
Joe squeezed her hand. "No it's not too early. I just have to get used to the fact that next week I'll have a wife."
Vanessa leaned over to kiss him but before she did she whispered, "And no more having to say Aunt Gertrude's name."
Joe laughed as his lips met hers.
.**********.
On the boat ride back, they were both a little overwhelmed with emotion and didn't say a lot except for 'I love you.' But once they were back in the van, Joe put the key in the ignition but didn't turn it over. Instead he turned to Vanessa and returned to an earlier subject. "But what about your mom? Won't she be disappointed? Won't you miss out on all the… stuff that goes with a wedding?"
Vanessa didn't hesitate. "I've thought about it, Joe. You know that I'm not the most girlie of girls but I'll still buy a special dress. I'll get a bouquet. We'll have someone take some pictures at the ceremony." She shrugged. "They might not be professional, but you and I can go to a professional sometime afterward and get a picture we can hang up." And then she smiled. "And I have a feeling we'll have a reason to dress up in a few years' time anyway. I can't picture Callie and Frank waiting but so long and I'm sure you'll be part of the wedding party." Then she waved in the air, mimicking his earlier gesture. "There you go. Fancy dress, flowers, formal pictures, the music, the reception… It'll be Frank and Callie's day… but in our hearts and minds, we can make it ours too."
Her voice ended softly and he was touched at the thought that she really had put into it. Then his mind was brought back by the drama an elopement would cause.
"What about your mom, Joe? Are you ready to handle her disappointment?"
Joe sat back in the seat and reached out to play with the keychain dangling from the ignition. "I wish she was ready for this. She's not. But she will be disappointed…." His voice faded off and then he added, "Maybe even devastated."
"Do you want to do this? Don't let me be the deciding factor-"
Joe broke in almost angrily. "But you are," he said forcefully. "You are the deciding factor. Not my mom. My mom made a choice. I'm making one. It's my life, not hers." His voice had lost its angry tone as he reached a hand out to caress Vanessa's cheek. "You are the one to be with me the rest of my life. I want my mom in my life too. But you are the one that I'll be spending it with." His hand dropped. "I guess we'll both have to deal with the reactions of our parents." He smiled slightly, "Are you willing to face those with me?"
Her smile was in her eyes and her tone as she answered, "I will face anything with you, Joe Hardy."
Joe tore his gaze away from hers and reached for the ignition once again. "Well, in that case soon-to-be Mrs. Hardy, let's plan an elopement."