The first guests to arrive for the wedding were Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. Even before making it through the door, she was raving over the décor. Too many flowers? No such thing for these planners. The lobby had been adorned by plenty of roses and lilies, the carnations and orchids, supplanting the otherwise dowdy setting with vintage beauty. Stephanie strutted in her three-inch leopard-pattern heels towards the guest table, the "centerpiece" of the foyer. The table displayed a tablecloth sprinkled with flower petals, an open guest book with a quill pen, and a picture of Kalisto and Sin Cara standing with Triple H. It'd been taken the night the Lucha Dragons became NXT tag team champions.
"That's a sweet picture," Stephanie said, leaning over to sign the book.
"Yeah, it is," Hunter said. He scrawled the book after his wife. "It's beautiful in here. Can't believe this is really happening."
"I know! Two of your NXT kids, all grown up."
Hunter took Stephanie's hand, and they sauntered towards the sanctuary. Dolph and Neville, dressed elegantly, were stationed in front of the glass doors, hands folded in front of them.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Helmsley, Mrs. McMahon," Neville greeted. "May I escort you to your seat?"
"Absolutely," Stephanie said, grinning at his charm. Dolph was thankful Neville had spoken before him. He still had some personal issues with their so-called authority. But today wasn't the day to let work troubles interfere with the truly important matters. Neville offered Stephanie his right arm, and he escorted her into the glowing sanctuary. Hunter shook Dolph's hand politely, then followed his wife and her escort. Dolph kept his sigh inside. He understood why they were here. Triple H had been a wonderful mentor to Sin Cara and Kalisto both in their NXT days.
He was slightly perkier when Jimmy and Jey Uso arrived with their wives as well as Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and the Rock. People he could get along with. He offered to guide Naomi to her seat, which she accepted. Jey chose to escort his wife to their own seats, and Roman laughed when Dean stuck out his arm and said, "Allow me."
Three o'clock drew nearer. The foyer was teeming with eager guests. All three members of New Day were here, chatting it up about how they totally knew the Lucha Dragons were a couple before anyone else did. Listening to them (and equally as gabby) were Enzo Amore and Big Cass, who linked arms with Bayley and Carmella respectively. Shane McMahon was careful to avoid any mentions of work around Stephanie. No drama. Not today. John Cena and Nikki Bella greeted Daniel Bryan with a handshake and a hug, and Brie Bella clung to her husband, delighted Daniel was officiating the ceremony. He'd been asked by Sin Cara personally and applied online to be a legal participant in that degree. The names filled the guest book quickly. Rey Mysterio; Epico and Primo; Cesaro, Tyson Kidd and Natalya; Zack Ryder and Emma with Mojo Rawley; Titus O'Neil and Darren Young; Heath Slater and Bo Dallas; Chris Jericho and his bandmates; Becky Lynch; Fandango and Goldust; Tamina; Stardust and Eden Stiles; Sami Zayn and Finn Balor with William Regal; Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Lilian Garcia and JoJo Offerman; and Africa, Katrina, Alyssa, Kristen, Izzy, Paige, Brooke, Stephanie and Matthew, faithful supporters of the pairing.
R-Truth ambled into the foyer, dressed head to toe in black. He seemed baffled by Becky's lacey orange dress. "Isn't that a little, uh…bright for this occasion?" he asked.
"Uh…I don't think so, no," Becky said, glancing at Eden, who wore a similar shade in her double-strap dress, though hers was lighter and on the pinker side. "I figured as long as it wasn't white, it's appropriate for a wedding."
"Yeah, me too. Even if it's two grooms instead of a bride," Eden mentioned.
"Hold on…grooms? Bride? A wedding?" R-Truth's jaw nearly unhinged from his skull. He pulled his sunglasses from his eyes, exposing wide eyes. "Oh, my bad, man…I thought this was a funeral…"
Three o'clock struck on the timeworn clerical bell. Three great gongs to signal the beginning of a delightful celebration. The foyer was empty. The guests were seated. Yet of course, since this was a WWE wedding, while some traditions would be upheld, others would fall to quirks instead.
Music hit over installed speakers. "I'm here to show the world, I'm here to show the world, come on, bring it on…"
Dolph was first down the aisle. He swaggered positively, all eyes on him. Cameras followed him like he was at work again, as though he was making his way to a ring instead of an altar. He kept pace with his entrance theme, beaming for Kalisto and Sin Cara's guests, then assumed his position up front. His music faded out, replaced by another familiar upbeat tune.
"One…two…one, two, three, go…"
Neville appeared at the end of the passage, beginning an undeviating walk down the aisle. No runs or flips or even a cape for the Man That Gravity Forgot today. Instead he put himself on Dolph's right, just in front of him, as the best man. His music cut to a stop.
Then there came music few had heard before, but most received with no recognition. "Respeto", a Latino rap piece, kicking off with confident laughter and spilling into words nobody could translate right away. Yet the guests were intrigued when the groom Sin Cara revealed himself walking down the aisle to this music. It had been his entrance theme as Hunico, that man he wanted to forget as effortlessly as gravity forgot Neville. To him, this represented his former life; he was walking into this wedding as one man, and leaving someone else. A man with a life with Kalisto. After today, his old self was gone for good. This was his goodbye.
Next came the officiant, and even though most knew by now that Daniel Bryan was the minister for the wedding, guests couldn't help but revel as "Flight of the Valkyries" projected from the speakers. A smiling, proud Daniel made his way towards the altar. Dozens of arms lunged in the air respectfully, fingers pointed to the ceiling. Nobody shouted the famous word aloud but one could hear it anyway: Yes! Yes! Yes! Daniel took his place up front, shaking Sin Cara's hand.
Buoyant hip-hop music played next, and Sasha Banks strode towards the altar next. She tossed a handful of curled purple hair over her shoulder. It might have clashed with her yellow, spaghetti strap chiffon dress, but she couldn't care about that today. She stood on Daniel's other side, leaving enough room for where Kalisto would stand.
The crowd released a synchronized "Awwwwww" when Roman's young daughter and Kofi Kingston's little boy appeared next, serving as the flower girl and ring bearer. Kofi mouthed, "That's my boy!" The children were quiet and cute, dressed in matching colors. Joelle scattered her flower petals down the aisle, and Neville took the rings from Kofi's son and thanked him with a nod. The boy then twisted around and bashfully charged back towards his father. Joelle handed Sin Cara a handful of flower petals, which he accepted graciously, then slipped into his pocket as she made her way to Roman.
Kalisto was next.
"I'm gonna lose it," Cara whispered to Neville. His throat was bulging with a lump already.
Neville touched his hand. "You'll be fine."
After the presentation of accustomed wrestling tunes, those in attendance were a bit surprised when slow piano music was next to play. Knowing their cue, the guests lifted to their feet. A gentle female's voice crooned timeless words.
"Wise men say only fools rush in…"
Sin Cara pulled in a great breath.
The doors pulled open.
"But I can't help…"
There he was, his angel, his heart, his treasure, his wonderful companion and talented tag partner. Kalisto materialized as the center of everyone's attention. He linked arms with Bekke on his right and Chy on his left. They moved gradually to the slow rhythm of the song.
"Falling in love with you…"
What an angel. A true, literal, physical seraph, drawing closer and closer to Sin Cara who never in his life had felt more unfit, more undeserving, more beholden for such a gracious presence. He loved Kalisto in the moment more than he'd ever loved him before, as impossible as the idea seemed.
"Shall I stay? Would it be a sin, if I can't help, falling in love with you…"
Kalisto was glowing, positively radiating. His beautiful eyes were fastened to Cara's and Cara was nearly on his knees, worshiping his mate. He held himself up on rickety bones. His eyes burned with pending tears but none had surfaced and dribbled over just yet.
"Like a river flows surely to the sea, darling so it goes, some things are meant to be…"
Kalisto stopped where he was instructed to. He leaned over to kiss Bekke on the cheek, then Chy, telling them both quietly he loved them. They released him, giving their smol son away to his yearning groom. Sin Cara reached a hand weakly out, feeble by love, and Kalisto took it within his own.
"Take my hand, take my whole life too, for I can't help falling in love with you…"
Cheyenne and Bekke took their seats in the very front row. Sin Cara and Kalisto squeezed one another, placing themselves before Daniel Bryan, staring at and into one another wholeheartedly. They had to let go now, but not for long, each hoped.
"Geez," Daniel said to begin the ceremony, touching a finger to his eye. "Got me choked up already. Wasn't that great? Can you feel the love tonight?"
Kalisto giggled. He chomped down on his lip, then made himself stop. He couldn't risk cutting himself open and bleeding all over the place. He folded his hands in front of him, watching Cara, urged to touch him again. His cheeks hurt already for he simply couldn't stop smiling. Past the mask, he knew for certain that Cara was beaming, too.
"Friends, family, coworkers, wedding crashers," Daniel's voice resounded in his clip-on microphone. "We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of these two men, Sin Cara and Kalisto, and to celebrate the love they share. We have the honor of witnessing the power of true love and everything it stands for. Kalisto and Sin Cara have blessed us as observers of this beautiful declaration of their affections. And I'm truly privileged that they asked me to conduct this ceremony. They must know me for my amazing mic skills or something."
The guests laughed. Kalisto giggled. He was thankful for Daniel's sense of humor. It certainly helped ease his nervousness. He wondered if Cara was feeling it, too.
"Love is perhaps the greatest gift that God has given us. It is our inherent nature and our call in life, to love one another. Love provides us with the core sustenance of life; it nurtures our spirits and fuels our souls. Love compels us, motivates us, brings joy to our hearts and truly gives us life. We can endure many things in this world, but without being able to share and feel love, our lives would be empty. When we are able to give and receive the gift of love, our lives become full and hopeful with limitless possibilities. These two people that you see standing here before you, their souls have made a commitment to each other to love, support, and share life. This is not simply a legal or verbal commitment, but a promise of the heart and soul. Today is about love and about celebrating love's purpose and importance in our lives."
Kalisto was impressed. He must have done this before, or spent quite some time rehearsing for this occasion. His fingers wiggled, impatient to hold onto something. Preferably the fingers, the hand, of his handsome, handsome partner Sin Cara.
"And now, the best man has been asked to do a reading of 'My True Love Hath My Heart', by Sir Philip Sidney."
Neville cleared his throat. Without reading off a paper, he addressed the couple and the guests:
"My true-love hath my heart, and I have his, by just exchange one for the other given: I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss; there never was a bargain better driven. His heart in me keeps me and him in one, my heart in him his thoughts and senses guides; he loves my heart for once it was his own, I cherish his because in me it bides. His heart his wound received from my sight, my heart was wounded with his wounded heart; for as from me on him his hurt did light, so still methought in me his hurt did smart: both equal hurt, in this change sought our bliss, my true love hath my heart and I have his."
Kalisto nearly applauded Neville when he finished. He'd only hesitated on a couple of lines, fighting the urge to sob.
Sin Cara couldn't take his eyes off Kalisto. Not to look at Daniel as he spoke, nor down at the floor and his spiffy shoes, nor out to the crowd to see just who'd responded to the invitation to attend this wedding. Kalisto was all that mattered to him. Kalisto was all that existed.
"And now, for a declaration of intent." Daniel looked at Cara. "Sin Cara, will you have Kalisto to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort and keep him, and forsaking all other remain true to him as long as you both shall live?"
"Sí, acepto," Sin Cara swore. His lips nearly split open from his wide smile.
Daniel faced Kalisto. "And Kalisto, will you have Sin Cara to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort and keep him, and forsaking all other remain true to him as long as you both shall live?"
"I do, claro que si!" Kalisto cheered, nodding.
Daniel grinned. "Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. May I have the rings?"
Neville handed over both ring boxes to Daniel.
"Make me do all the work," Daniel chuckled, removing the rings from each box. "From the earliest times, the circle has been a symbol of completeness, a symbol of loyal love. A symbol of unbrokenness, of commitment, of loyalty. As often as either of you looks at this emblem, I hope that you will be reminded of the promise to love each other, which you will make today. Will each of you repeat after me? I, Sin Cara…"
"I, Sin Cara…" Cara repeated.
"Give to you, Kalisto, this ring…"
"Give to you, Kalisto, this ring…"
"As a symbol of my commitment…"
"As a symbol of my commitment…"
"To love, honor, and respect you…"
"To love…" Cara's voice broke, and he cleared his throat. "Honor, and respect you."
"With this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed." Sin Cara slipped the ring onto Kalisto's finger. It took the place of his engagement ring, which he now wore on his right hand.
"Repeat after me," Daniel said to Kalisto next. "I, Kalisto…"
"I, Kalisto…" Kalisto repeated Daniel's words as Sin Cara had done, and by trembling hand, the ring glided onto Cara's finger. A perfect fit. At the end of it, he took a breath, only now remembering how. He felt giddy. Not like passing out, but as though he was actually in heaven, solely a cloud holding him up.
"Sin Cara and Kalisto have chosen a special tradition to uphold in the ceremony today." At these words, Dolph, Neville, and Sasha stepped forward and took into a shared hold a large loop of rosary beads, which had been planted on the steps and unnoticed by the guests until now. They draped the coil in a figure-eight form over Sin Cara's shoulders, then Kalisto's.
"This is El Lazo, for the uncultured folks out there. The infinity symbol made with this cord around this necks is symbolic of their love, which should bind the couple together every day as they equally share the responsibility of marriage for the rest of their lives. With their vows, the love carries on eternal, and it shan't end.
"The grooms have prepared their own vows. The vows represent meaning in words, truth in speech, dedication in commitment. May they be lived out daily, hourly, not just as quixotic discourse, but as a promise to one another in everything you say. Will you take each other's hands now?"
Sin Cara and Kalisto's hands practically lunged for one another, and Kalisto grinned, almost laughing again. Cara felt warm and pleasant. The rosary beads rattled gently in their motion.
"Sin Cara, please look into the eyes of your beloved and state your vows."
Right…how'd they go, again?
"Kali…before we met, I was a man incomplete. A man with a past, with demons, with regrets. In you, I find completion. I find hope. In you, I find the confidence to love myself, and more importantly, love another. In all the days and through the nights, I will be not behind you as an aid, but beside you as an equal. I will lift you when you fall; I will praise you on days you stand tall. You are my prize, so I will cherish you. You are my partner, so I will protect you. You are my heart, so I will care for you until my last breath."
Nailed it. He was relieved, proud of himself.
Kalisto's head sagged, and he wiped his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. It was the hardest fight of his life not to cry, a battle he was losing. It was the hardest fight of Cara's life, not to take Kalisto into his arms and hold him until he calmed.
"Kalisto, whenever you're ready," Daniel said, "please look into the eyes of your beloved and state your vows."
"Yeah, no problem," he chuckled. With a sniff, he straightened his stance, clutched Cara's hand lovingly, and began.
"I've believed in fighting for your dreams all my life. When I set my heart on something, it's my every intention to reach that goal, to see that dream come true. Hunico, you were my hero when I was just a young guy with hopes. To work with you was an honor. To date you was a gift. To marry you?" Kalisto smiled, mouth open, shaking his head like even so he couldn't believe all this was happening. "That is a dream come true in itself. And as you've been a wonderful, enduring, patient, hardworking, faithful partner to me…" Kalisto bounced on his knees enthusiastically. "I vow to always be that tower of strength for you. Sometimes we'll succeed, and sometime we'll fail, because life requires risks to advance. I will share these ups and downs with you as one; we will celebrate the successes and learn from the failures, as one. Because of you, I still believe, and I'll always believe con todo mi corazon, that dreams do come true."
Thank God Cara didn't have anything else to say for the ceremony, as far as he knew, because Kalisto's vows had rendered him speechless. Kali talked daily of what lucha meant, about the fight and the dreams…but hearing them in this context, as a man declaring Sin Cara was his dream come true…now it was like hearing them for the very first time. It flattered him tremendously.
And he'd called him Hunico again.
That name Cara wanted to forget, Kali remembered. Remembered and loved above all.
In the moment Sin Cara finally felt worthy. Humbled, yet claimed worthy, by Kalisto's fortitude and jubilant spirit. I am his, and he is mine...and this is what's meant to be.
Daniel Bryan concluded: "Now that you have given yourselves to each other with solemn vows, and the giving and receiving of rings, in front of God and all who are assembled here—it is with great joy that I pronounce you as husbands. You may now seal your vows with a kiss."
"Con gusto," Sin Cara said, and he shoved his mask halfway off as Kalisto elevated to his toes like he was flying. In front of their guests, Kalisto and Sin Cara kissed fervently as their first and sincerely as their last. The entire sanctuary erupted into roaring applause, cheers and whistles with the crowd on their feet.
Sin Cara smiled through the kiss, and Kalisto's mask dampened with tears that finally trolled free from his eyes.
"I love you!" Kalisto said.
"I love you so much, mi tesoro," Cara responded.
The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" played as the recessional song. Hand-in-hand, Kalisto and Sin Cara swayed back down the aisle. Kalisto had to hold himself back from running, skipping, shouting. The wedding party followed behind, as the guests unrelentingly acclaimed them.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Daniel Bryan announced, "thank you so much for your appearance today. If you would like to attend our reception, it will be held in the Gold Ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel just down the street. Cocktail hour will begin at five o'clock; the first course will be served at six. The wedding party will be taking pictures here at the church until then. Hope to see you there!"