The look on Harry's face as she walks into the room is worth the effort she's put into getting ready ten times over. He looks stunned and she could have sworn that his jaw went slack for several moments before he recovered and his eyes began running over her appreciatively with barely masked desire. She's wearing a simple, ice blue wedding dress with thin straps over her shoulders, fanning out into an overlapping bodice that tastefully displays her cleavage and is much more revealing than is usual for her. The material tapers down to her waist, the right side swooping round to her left, where it's gathered in folds decorated with shimmering, ice blue beads that catch the light and sparkle. From there, the dress seamlessly glides over her hips and swoops down to the floor, a few pleats here and there giving it the illusion of flowing water. She'd fallen in love with it the moment she'd seen it and Catherine had been adamant that this was the dress for her.
On her feet, she's wearing a pair of silver flats that she's had for ages in the back of her wardrobe and she's hardly worn at all because, normally, she wears boots or heals, and she can feel the silver sixpence nestled inside her right shoe. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe, she thinks with a smile; she's got everything covered. Her wedding dress is blue, and her matching underwear is new; Catherine's lent her a beautiful, silver necklace with one, large, clear blue stone dangling just above her cleavage, she's wearing her special mother of pearl ring that has been in her family for three generations, and Harry's sixpence is in her shoe. Perfect.
"Ruth," he murmurs huskily as she stops beside him and turns to face him, "you look... stunning."
"Thanks you," she smiles. "You look rather dashing yourself." And he does, dressed in a light grey, three piece suit with a crisp white shirt and silver-grey tie. "I love you in a grey suit."
"I know," he smiles and at her puzzled frown adds, "You mentioned it some time ago to Sam and I... overheard."
"And you remembered?" she asks in surprise. She remembers having a conversation about the men on the Grid one day, discussing their looks and wardrobe. Harry had been wearing a light grey suit on that occasion and she'd mentioned how much she thought it suited him. Harry had been across the Grid talking to Adam at the time, so he can't have overheard her on that occasion. Perhaps she'd said it more than once, though it would have been most unlike her. She'd never really confided in anyone about her Harry crush and she used to stay clear of conversations that might betray her partiality to anyone. Perhaps Sam had told him about it. She wouldn't put it past her to make a thoughtless remark to him, saying something like, "I like your suit, Harry. Ruth and I were agreeing that you look good in a light grey suit." She'll have to ask him about it sometime.
"Yes," he nods, interrupting her musings.
She leans forward and kisses his smooth cheek softly, feeling touched that he's remember something like that after all this time. Then she whispers in his ear, "Did I also happen to mention that I love you in braces?" her musings having reminded her of how sexy she'd always thought him in braces and how much she'd wanted to just reach forward and twang them on occasion. He hasn't worn them in a while now, opting for a belt instead, just as he's stopped wearing a waistcoat too.
His eyes widen in surprise at her remark and he takes a moment to clear his throat before he replies, "No, but... it appears that I can read your mind today." Then he pulls back smirking before giving her hand a squeeze and turning towards the official who's finally turned to face them and is waiting patiently to begin.
"Ready?" the man asks.
"Yes," they both answer in unison.
His kiss is soft and chaste, but she can feel the undercurrent of emotion that's running through him, through them both, a current so powerful that she half expects there to be sparks flying through the air, or tremors shaking the earth under their feet.
"I love you," he whispers when he pulls back and his eyes are filled with a passion and love so intense as to leave her unable to breathe. All sound is sucked from the air in that moment and she feels herself falling towards him, drawn by an irresistible force. His arm wraps around her waist securely, pulling her into his embrace, one warm palm pressing against the small of her back and the other cupping her cheek as he smiles down at her and then presses his cheek against hers, whispering in her ear, "A few more minutes, my love, and then we'll be together in every way, always. Let's sign the register."
She feels his lips press softly against her cheek and takes a deep breath to steady herself, feeling him release her slowly and turn towards their left.
"Congratulations, Dad!" Catherine exclaims, giving him a warm hug.
"Thank you, Sweetheart," he smiles as she steps back, running his hands down her arms and clasping her hands in his, adding, "You look gorgeous, Catherine." And she does in the simple, halter neck, royal blue, satin, backless, floor length dress, embellished with sequins and rhinestones.
"Thanks, Dad," she smiles. "You look rather smart yourself," she winks and squeezes his hands before letting go and enveloping Ruth in a warm hug. "Congratulations, Ruth. You look radiant. You almost had me in tears a moment ago as you exchanged vows. They were beautiful. Thank you for making Dad so happy."
"He makes me happy too, Catherine," she replies, her voice cracking slightly. She squeezes her step-daughter tightly and then pulls back, clearing her throat and adding, "I'm so glad you came." Then she turns to Malcolm who's standing quietly in front of Harry having congratulated him already and adds, "Both of you. I'm so glad you're here to celebrate with us."
He smiles a lopsided smile and steps forward to embrace her, murmuring, "Congratulations, Ruth. I wouldn't have missed this for the world. It was beautiful and you look lovely."
"Thank you, Malcolm," she smiles, pressing a kiss against his cheek.
"Come on, you lot," Harry grumbles just then, and as they turn to look at him, they see that he's already standing in front of the low table to their right, brandishing a pen. "Fat lot of good you are as witnesses if you take forever to sign the register."
"What's the rush, Dad?" Catherine teases. "It's not as if we'll leave without signing."
"Don't even think about it," he growls, narrowing his eyes at her and making her laugh.
"Relax, Dad," she smiles. "I wouldn't dream of it. I happen to really like Ruth and the person you become when you're with her."
"Hear, hear," Malcolm calls. "However, it took them so long to get here, Catherine, that we'd better sign quickly before something else occurs to delay it further."
"Fat chance of that happening," Catherine winks, "not when the best part's still to come, and I'm not talking about the wedding breakfast."
Malcolm and Harry both look completely stunned for several moments and Ruth can't help it - she bursts out laughing, unable to contain her mirth at the look on their faces. Soon Catherine joins in and both women have tears in their eyes by the time they manage to get themselves under control again. "Oh, God, Catherine," she gasps eventually. "That was priceless."
"It was. It's ruined my make up though," Catherine complains as she dabs at her eyes with a tissue. "Does it look bad?"
"You both look lovely," Harry replies quickly, adding in exasperation, "Now can you please get over here so that we can get this damned thing signed already?"
