For those of you that read my recent story, "Being Evil has a price" consider this an apology.
Read, Review, and On with the show.
Chapter 1: Time for a Wedding
"Dude that is the hundredth time you've messed with your tie." Victor Stone, or Cyborg as he was more commonly known, adjusted the groom's midnight blue tie again, "Okay now just leave. It. Alone." he warned with a pat on his chest.
"Sorry Cy, can you blame me for being nervous?"
"Oh hell no." he stated bluntly, but a worried emerald glare made him rethink his wording, "but I'm sure it's all gonna be fine, heh."
Garfield Mark "Beast Boy" Logan slumped into the chair in front of the mirror. "I know she loves me Cy, and I love her. God with everything I have I love her,"
" . . . but?" Victor sensed his hesitation.
Garfield took a few deep breaths, "Look I know she's nervous about marriage, and a life together, I am too, I just . . . "
"Hey," Cyborg put his large comforting hands on his best friends shoulders, "I have seen the both of you grow up right before my eyes. I never had brothers or sisters, but I adopted two of each and if anyone is stupid enough, or strong enough, to build a life together, it's you two."
Garfield let a few tears before standing up to wrapped his best man in as big "bro" hug. "Thanks man."
Cyborg gave a few light pats on his back, "Whatdya say we go have another Titan wedding?"
Garfield fought tooth and nail to keep from fidgeting right out of his suit. The anxious changeling stood under the wedding arch decorated with a healthy mixture of green leaves and vines, that matched his skin perfectly, with purple hydrangea's. He glanced over those in attendence, a gentle smile tugging at his lips helping to reveal glistening fangs. Though they were all superheroes, and their teammates, they were out of uniform, but still he could recognize them anywhere. Victor's wife, Sarah was sitting with their adoptive seven year old son, Alex, next to Wally West and his pregnant wife, Jinx. Wally and Jinx wanted to be surprised about the sex of their baby, so they made sure to keep a safe distance from Raven, whose empathic powers told her what the child was a few months back.
Karen was with her husband, Kaldur'am of Atlantis, and their five year son, Garth, named after his best friend, and her teammate, Aqualad. Dick and Kori rounded off the couples that had children, minus those that were actually kids, like Melvin who was now fifteen, with her ten year old brother, Timmy, and eight year old Teether, and of course Mas Y Manos, who were the same age as Melvin. Roy and Jade were unable to make it with their daughter Lian, but they sent good thoughts. The rest of the Titans, Honoary and otherwise, came stag, in the hopes of making a connection, and with single ladies like Donna Troy, Terra Markov, Rose Wilson, and Pantha, there was plenty to chose from.
The guests rounded out with his adoptive family, the Doom Patrol which consisted of a large wide-shouldered man made of bronze metal called Robotman and a gentleman wrapped in bandages named Negative man. Those two were considered his brothers, while the members that were considered his parents sat next to them. Steve "Mento" Dayton, and his wife, Rite, Elasti-Girl Dayton. Even though Rita looked ecstatic about her "son" getting married, Garfield could tell Steve was too . . . in his own way.
Garfield made eye contact with a few of his friends and family before the opening of the doors got his, and everyone else's attention.
Finally. It was time.
Everyone turned to the door's that led to the roof seeing the five year old, Mar'i Grayson, floating a few feet in the air, littering the small aisle underneath her with purple and blue flower petals. They didn't really see a need for a flower girl, but Mar'i begged and begged for the role, so they relented, and in the end it was an adorable choice. Now the best man, and maid of honor made their way towards wedding arch with the groom still nervously standing underneath. The alien princess of Tameran dressed in a dark blue dress with her arm wrapped around the metal arm of his best friend, who was dressed in an ENORMOUS suit and tie. Once the two seperated to take their places on both sides of the arch, everyone stood and once again faced the doors.
Garfields heart stopped.
Dick Grayson escorted the bride down the aisle, there friends whispering about how beautiful she was, and boy were they right. The wedding dress was nothing fancy. A smooth silk-like fabric that clung to her hourglass shape, a ring of flowers around her short pin straight violet hair. He couldn't be sure if it was her powers to help calm him, but at this moment all of his fears were quickly forgotten, washed in the beauty that was coming towards him. She never wore make-up, nor did she ever need it, but Kori talked her into putting just a touch onto her eyes and around her lips. In the end it didn't matter since he could hardly tell, all he saw was the pale skinned beauty underneath. Once they made it to the arch, Dick gave her a quick kiss on her cheek before placing her small hand into Garfield's large, calloused, and battle worn hand, before sitting with the crowd next to his bubbly daughter who was bouncing with excitment.
Emerald eyes met violet. A smile, a mile long, plastered onto his face, Raven allowing herself a small one.
"I like your smile," he whispered.
She snorted a tiny laugh that was more of a giggle, "You have no idea how long I had to meditate just to allow myself this one, or to even walk down the aisle today."
"Well I love it."
With their hands intertwined they faced the man directly under the arch who would be performing their ceremony.
Drake Daniels was dressed in the most color they had ever seen him in. Gone was his raggedy jeans, and black coat, replaced by what appeared to be ceremonical garb. He donned a long cobalt blue robe with a golden trim and decorative, well polished, steel armor placed on his forarms, shins, shoulders, and chest along with a sword strapped to his waist. Along his robe were serpentine dragon's wrapping themselves around the cloth and around his neck was the aqua blue ruby he used to keep his power in check. He gestured for everyone to take a seat and he began.
"Today we gather together for the joining in holy matrimony Garfield Mark Logan, and Raven . . uh . "
" . . Roth." she whispered.
"Roth! Raven Roth," Their was a quiet murmer of giggles from the crowd, especially from a pink haired women with an equally pink haird sixth month old in her lap. Drake cleared his throat getting everyone's attention, "The joining of Garfield Logan and Raven Roth." With everyone quieted, minus the kids that were getting fussy, Drake removed the sword at his hil and presented it to them in his outstretched hands before. "Metal, such as the sword you see before you, is forged by super heating, before hammering it into shape over and over again then super cooled in water. This process is then continued until it gets into the shape you wanted. Beautiful and strong, not unlike a diamond."
He placed the tip of the sword onto the ground placing his hands on top of the hilt. "Now I, nor anyone besides the two of you, know the details, but it's safe to assume you both have been through the 'refiners fire' at one point in your lives," The couple in front of him stiffened, their hands tightening around each other, "I'm sorry, but I wish I could say the fires would be over . . but I can't. Some days the fire wont be that bad, while others will seem unbearable, you will both be pounded by the 'forgers hammer'. However there is a big difference between then, and now," With their hands still together, he gently took them holding them upwards for everyone to see. "From this moment unward you'll go through the fires together."
Drake allowed the statement to resignate with the couple and those gathered, small sniffles rippling from the crowd, but none more then Kori. While she wasn't sniffling, tears could be seen slipping from Raven's eyes. The two had been through so much in their lives, from Garfield losing his parents at such a young age, to Raven being feared and hated her whole life. But now, after Trigon, the Brotherhood, Slade, immature fights, pranks, throwing him out of the window, and everything in between, they would never be alone again.
Drake got everyone's attention again, "May we have the rings please?" Victor handed Garfield a ring meant for Raven as Kori handed one to Raven for Garfield. Once the rings were placed on the other's fingers, Drake took the sword and motioned for them to grasp the handle together. "Garfield Mark Logan, do you take this women, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to charish, and love for the remainder of your days and beyond?"
Garfield glanced at the women next to him, his toothy grin back at full force, but also with tears of pure, unbridled, joy. "I do."
"Raven Roth, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to ch-"
"-I do."
Once again giggles exploded from the crowd, the heat rising to the brides face. "Anxious aren't we." Garfield joked. She elbowed him playfully, but was to happy to be upset or embarressed at the moment.
"Well then," Drake took the sword placing the tip upon their shoulders one by one, "May you both continue in life, as you've held this blade, together. Now as a Dragon Knight from the courts of the third temple, under the Dragon Master, and my father Corwin, hailing from the mountains of Kuarlong, I pronounce you both husband and wife." He placed the sword back in it's scabbard, "You may kiss the bride."
"Alright we're gonna slow things down a bit!" Victor announced from the D.J. booth that was placed at the front of the common room.
"Thank GOD!" Raven exclaimed. She was promised they would keep it low key for her, but since Sarah had to scramble around after a rambunctsious Alex, she couldn't stick by him to make sure he honored her wishes.
"Now we're gonna start things off with a, um, dance with the lady of the hour," Yes, the phrase "father daughter" dance concerning Raven didn't sit well with anyone, "Starting with a dance with her father-in-law, Steve Dayton."
The leader of the Doom Patrol, dressed in a purple suit with midnight blue tie, stepped onto the dance floor. Raven's small hand slipped into his own and the two gently began to sway to the soft music floating between them.
"Thank you for coming, mr. Dayton. I know Gar was concerened that you weren't going to be able to come."
He snorted, the side of his lip twitching at a smile, "Rita was adament, and I was . . . eager to see Garfield take the next step in life. I can honestly say though, that you are a very nice young women, so I approve."
Raven blushed touched by his words, especially since he wasn't too entusiastic about his "son" marrying a half demon girl, but she was sure that was just his way of not wanting to see his "little boy" grow up. Rita was beyond excited and took the title of Raven's mother eagerly.
"Thank you," his words brought her from her thoughts, "For . . falling for him. After everything you, and he have been through, you deserve some happiness." Once again, some moved by his words, she got to her toes for a kiss on his cheek, eliciting a crimson color to softly color his cheeks.
Suddenly there was a tap on his shoulder causing them to stop. "May I cut in?"
Steve eyed the charming, british gentleman in the dark red suit, but Raven squeezed his hand. "It's okay, he's a . . . " the word tasted funny on her tongue, especially when addressing the englishman, " . . ffffffriend." Steve glanced at him again, his azure colored eyes searching his dark eyes quizzickly, but handed her hand to his and the two began to sway as she had before with Steve.
"Lovely ceremony, darling," Even though the common room was darkened, illuminated only by candle and soft lights from above, his smile pieced the darkness easily.
"I was hoping your invitation got lost in the mail Landon," she said with a roll of her eyes.
"Oh please, it's not a party without me. So do me a favor and roll those eyes into the forward position." She shook her head, but couldn't help her smile. With the song coming to an end, Landon spun her out, brought her close to himself and gave her a generous dip towards the ground to finish the song.
"Always the charmer," she smirked.
"And yet I'm the one whose always a bridesmaid." He brought the bride to her feet and gave her a small kiss on her cheek . . . . then slapped her gorgeous round behind as he walked away.
"Now it's time for the groom to share a dance with his mother. Gar, come on up here."
Garfield led Rita to the dance floor, his signature grin still cemented to his face, but upon closer inspection there was the smallest hint of sadness. "My little Frog," Rita said soothingly, "Is a man today."
"Mom," he shuffled with reddening cheeks, "She doesn't know that one."
She giggled, "Sorry." She placed the palm of her hand against his cheek, "You'll always be my little frog." A small tear slipped from his eye. He held his mother tighter and the two moved gently with the rhythem, but he couldn't help the feeling deep inside that wanted his birth mother to be dancing with him, but the feeling was quickly exstinguished. At the end of the day, there was no one he would rather call "mom".
"Now we need the bride and groom to step up to the dance floor were they will share their first dance." Garfield kissed his mother on her forhead and exchanged for his new bride.
He placed his hand on her waist in took her other hand in his own. "Okay, just like we practiced," he said quietly, "we start with the left foot."
"Okay, which one." They shared a laugh and their song began. The Broken Road, by Rascel Flatts.
The lyrics floated through the air wrapping around the married couple like a blanket that was blocking out everything else around them. She ventured to look into his eyes, those sparkling swimmable emeralds that she loved so much. She remembered when she first saw them, ACTUALLY saw them, ironically it was the same time he really looked at her for the first time, though he never knew in a million years that the gorgeous, purple haird introvert that stood next to him on that day on the island would some day be his wife.
"What?" she whispered seeing him stare off into space.
"Huh? Oh sorry, I was just thinking about the first time I, um-"
"-Actually saw me?"
He brow furrowed in surprise. "How did you know?"
"I was thinking the same thing, and believe me, I've regretted it ever since."
He laughed, "Come on, you know I'm hilarious."
"Hilariously unfunny."
"Ha ha. Well I got you to smile didn't I?"
She shrugged, "Sure, but it was never because of any jokes you told. You were just being . . . you."
He smiled placing his forhead against her own, his love flowing into her from their connection from her chakra stone. "One of these days, you'll laugh at my jokes."
Raven smiled as she leaned her head against his chest, "Don't bet on it."
Their dance continued, but now other couple's had joined them. Dick and Kori, Drake and Kole, Cyborg and Sarah, and Karen and Kaldur'am, even Mas Y Manos made it to the dance floor with their newest crush, Donna Troy. The children remained on the side lines making gross faces at their parents all lovey dovey, except for Drake and Kole's baby who accidently lit some table cloths on fire with one of her sneezes.
The evening continued with the usual marriage traditions from the boquet and garter toss, which was caught by Terra and Bushido, to cutting the cake that the kids had been hovering over the whole night. Though they didn't do any of the smashing cake into the others face thing, Garfield JUST got married after all, he wanted to enjoy life now. Once that was all said and done with, the knew couple flew off in their own T-Ship that would take them to their honeymoon destination.
Upper Lumumba
"Gar you don't have to carry me over the threshold of everywhere we go." Raven rolled her eyes as her husband carried her into their hotel room.
"Well I don't remember any rule that said I can't." He placed her on top of the knig sized bed and quickly followed after, throwing one leg over her in a straddling position and began to gently kiss her. Though she was exhausted from the long day, she would allow a few kisses . . . and a few more . . and a few more until his sweet warm lips went from her mouth to her chin, to her neck, then her collar bone, then her-
"Gar," she moaned. He looked up at her with dialated pupils, and with all of her willpower she was able to push out the words, "Not tonight."
He looked as if she had killed his dog, "B-b-b-but I-I-It's our wedding night." he whined.
In all honesty she wanted him then and NOW . . . but, "I'm sorry, I'm just exhausted from the long day, from feeling everyone ELSE'S emotions, to the god awful heat of this place, I'm just . . . not tonight." His lower lips began to pertrude from his mouth, his eyes hinting at "the face". "Oh don't look at me like that, it's not like we haven't in the past."
He suddenly went from a sad to nostaligically giddy, "Oh trust me, I remember. It was a good thing though, if we hadn't, then it wouldn't have pushed you into marry me."
She was about to snap at him, but it was true. They had dated for years, and sleeping together for almost the same amount of time, she was just to scared of the whole "commitment" part. "Yeah, I guess it's a good thing. It helps that I had some motivation too." Her hands instinctively went to her lower abdomen were her womb was located.
Garfield then placed his hand on top of hers with a loving gleam in his eyes. "I still say I found out first."
She rolled her eyes shoving him off of her, "It's MY body, and I'M the empath, I found out the SECOND it happened."
"Oh bologna, I could smell how your body changed, you thought something was wrong with you."
She shook her head as his attempt at arguing, "This is pointless, it happened we're here, and when we get back, I'll need to go in for a check-up." She got up from the bed, "Now If you excuse me I need to take a cool shower-"
"-I'll join you-"
With her powers she held him down, "ALONE!"
"Awe man! What am I supposed to do while your in the shower?" he whinned.
She glared at him, "Don't even THINK about doing anything nasty."
He sprawled himself out on the bed, the soft mattress reminding him of just how tired and exhausted HE was. "Fine, I'll just wait till your done and you can help me."
She groaned in disgust, "You can always go through the money we got, that you insisted on bringing with us to see how much we have." She slammed the door shut, but was still able to hear his goofy laughter from the other side.
She shook her head as she began to undress.
Wow, I'm married now, she thought to herself, To Beast Boy of all people. This wasn't supposed to happen, I wasn't supposed to get married, or be in love or . . . she glanced at her self in the mirror, her hands traveling to her bare belly, wasn't supposed to have children. Her throat tightened as sobs threatened to escape. Yet here I am, married with a baby on the way, and in love with someone who loves me back. She couldn't help the tears now, or the smiling.
Suddenly she felt a wave of panic and fear flow through her, causing her to gasp and jump slightly. It was so sudden and so powerful, that she couldn't believe that it was gone as soon as it came. Were did it come from? Was it Gar? Still in her bra and panties she pulled the door open, only to find him still on the bed with a punch of cards, envelopes, checks and money littered around him.
A sly grin crept across his cheek, "Did you change your mind?"
She ignored the comment, instead glancing around the room looking for anything out of the ordinary, but found nothing. Then her eyes landed back on him. "Are you alright?"
He looked at her with genuine confusion, "I think I got a papercut, if that's what you mean. Wanna kiss it make it better?" He held out his pointer finger, but showed no injury whatsoever. She did one more glance around the room, but couldn't sense anything out of the ordinary, or that he was lying.
"Hm, never mind," and she ducked back into bathroom, ignoring his pleads to join her.
What she didn't see was the card that he had hastilydiscarded into a nearby waste basket that read. He knew his emotional output of fear and anxiety were quickly gonna be registered so he had to be quick and squash the feelings as quickly as he could. Now there just sat the card,
Congratulations on your wedding. See ya soon Craig.
Love Nick.
I hope you guys have enjoyed this, and will come to EVENTUALLY forgive me for my latest story.
Read and Review and We'll see you next time.