The chapter you've all been waiting for! Hope you guys like it! The reception will be in the next chapter.
Upon request from Phieilly, the wedding is basically a smaller, more 90's version of the Breaking Dawn Part 1 wedding :)
Emery: I have seen it! :) I completely agree, I don't see Mike as Blodreina either. Me and a new friend of mine have been working on characters, and we've figured out a good bit of the main ones already, like Dustin and Lucas would be Jasper and Monty. The 100 has a lot of death in it, but I most definitely won't be killing the Party. I just can't do it. The characters will be a lot different, and some take on their own story lines as well as some others, if that makes sense? Like Nancy is more Clarke with some stuff than Jonathan is. You'll see in a couple months :D
P.S. Sorry if there are a bunch of mistakes, it's 5 AM and I wanted to finish it before I went to bed so… yeah, Phieilly will let me know if I fucked up bad and I'll go fix it XD
Thursday, November 26, 1992
"So does most of the women in the family like to make things complicated or something?" Richie asked Mike as the two of them shoveled snow out of the driveway of the Wheeler's house.
"Pretty much." Mike pulled his beanie down a little more. "Why does it have to snow this week. Like come on."
"At least it's not snowing anymore until sometime next week."
"Yeah." Mike huffed. "I'm just glad we don't have to shovel the backyard. That's Jonathan, Steve and Dustin's job." Richie snorted. They obviously had to clear the snow for the wedding on Saturday, and since it wasn't going to snow anymore, they decided to get it down while Will, Eddie and the women were inside cooking. Hopper watched from the front porch with a beer in hand, and El and Eddie would check on them from time to time with a grin. Steve and Dustin were here because they actually volunteered to help out, since Steve ate Thanksgiving lunch with Dustin and his mom, and they would have dinner with them. Those two never got full, it seemed.
"So back to the complicated women thing, have our aunts always made last minute decisions like this?" Richie asked.
"Yep." Mike nodded. "I remember when I was still in high school, they all planned to stay the girls entire two week vacations down here with us, since, you know, they only live a couple hours away in Chicago and some in Indianapolis and shit. They'd planned to come right away but then change their minds last minute and only stayed a week. Mom hates it."
"I bet. I guess that's where I get my last minute-ness from." Mike laughed and rolled his eyes. "I feel bad for the girls, they're gonna freeze their nipples off."
"Dude." Mike snorted. "The ceremony won't be long, and it hopefully won't be as cold as it is today. We're taking a bunch of pictures but they'll be quick and then we're going straight to the community center." He told him. "And I think they're all gonna have on long sleeves? So it'll help a little. I know dresses are hot as shit."
"How do you know? Have you ever been in one?" Richie stood up straight and raised an eyebrow at Mike.
"No, but I remember when El wore her prom dress she complained a lot about her legs being sweaty and gross."
"Wouldn't you know." Richie wiggled his eyebrows and Mike threw a snowball at him and he cackled.
"Wheeler! Ricky! Get back to work!" Hopper yelled, snickering when he got two middle fingers each from the two.
"Ricky's here?" Eddie exclaimed excitedly, running out the door and onto the porch, a giggling El behind him. "Ricky Toe-Z-er? Oh my God he's the love of my life! Much better than the weird giraffe guy I'm marrying!"
"And I'm the dramatic one!" Richie yelled, pouting. Mike tackled him into the snow and Richie shrieked, loudly. He'd been too busy watching Eddie that he didn't notice Mike come up behind him. Jonathan, Steve and Dustin came running around the side of the house, only to see the two rolling around in the snow giggling like children. Steve started grumbling and he and Jonathan went back to the back yard while Dustin stayed and cheered them on. The wrestling lasted a while, until Joyce finally came outside and yelled,
"Dinner is ready! Get your asses out of the snow before you get sick!" Then she went back inside, probably to tell the two in the back the same thing. Hopper went on inside and El and Eddie came out to help them get all the snow off them.
"Bet you didn't expect a pat down tonight, did ya Mikey boy?" Richie wiggled his eyebrows at him and Mike punched him in the shoulder with a roll of his eyes. El just giggled and Eddie pinched his side. "Abuse!"
They're first Thanksgiving together was one for the books. There was a tone of food, and they all ate until they couldn't anymore. Richie had them all laughing until it hurt at one point, and El ended up falling asleep on the couch, so when she and Mike left, he woke her up long enough to get her coat and shoes on, and carried her to the car. Richie had passed out too, along with Dustin, but Steve just yanked at Dustin's hair until he woke up and the two left, thanking them for the dinner. Joyce, Will and Hopper left soon after Mike and El did, and Nancy and Jonathan didn't leave until later, once Nora and Richie woke up, the former having curled up with him a little while after he fell asleep. Richie had been dramatic as usual, saying he would've eat for weeks, when in reality, he'd eat just as big a meal the next morning, the next night and Saturday thanks to the wedding festivities.
Friday, November 27, 1992
"Hey Mike? El?" Stan asked, walking over to them. They'd just done the wedding rehearsal and were eating dinner at Benny's before everyone split up. They looked at him.
"Yeah?" Mike asked.
"Um, I invited my girlfriend to come with me, and she'll be arriving any minute now, and I hope you don't mind…"
"Of course not!" El waved him off. "You can bring anyone you want. We told Richie to tell you."
"Oh, okay! Awesome. I'm gonna go yell at Richard for not telling me, then." The two laughed and nodded, watching as Stan walked right up to Richie and smacked him on his shoulder.
"Ellie!" Bev sang, dancing her way up to them with non existent music playing.
"Yes, Bevvy?" El asked, resting her chin on her hand.
"I have one hundred percent completed your wedding dress, and I think you will love it, if I say so myself." She grinned. El raised an eyebrow.
"Why you gotta tease me like that." She whined. Bev giggled and made her way back over to Bill. El pouted at Mike and he laughed, leaning down to kiss her. He put a hand on her stomach after he pulled away and went to say something to his grandma when he felt a slight thump on his hand. His head snapped towards El and she looked at him. It happened again and Mike jumped slightly.
"Oh my God." He whispered. El put her hand over his and smiled widely.
"Ugh, they're all lovey and gross again." Dustin groaned.
"Okay but when aren't they like that?" Elizabeth asked.
"You two aren't any better." Steve said, rolling his eyes. They snickered. "Hey, is Mike crying?" He asked, noticing as El pulled Mike into a hug, and he buried his face in her hair. Dustin shrugged.
"Wheeler! We're gonna have enough tears from you tomorrow! Quit it!" Max shrieked across the restaurant. Mike lifted a hand in the air and flipped her off, even though he didn't know which direction she was in. He knew she saw it by her laughter. A couple minutes later he pulled away and pecked El on the lips again.
"That's crazy." He muttered.
"I never thought I'd feel anything like that." She said, rubbing her stomach again.
Over at the table the Losers sat at, Stan had gotten up and run outside somewhere, but none of them could see him.
"Okay but why does Stan act like he's my mother?" Richie grumbled, eyeing the door. "I have a perfectly good one over there!" Eddie rolled his eyes and patted his chest.
"It's your own fault, Rich. Should've told him he could bring a guest instead of letting him get all nervous about asking those two."
"Okay true, but still, he didn't have to hit me. I'm gonna have a bruise on my arm tomorrow!"
"Oh shut it, you big baby." Stan sighed, walking up to the table with a dark haired woman by his side. "Richard, behave." He gave Richie a look.
"Stop calling me Richard, mom." He retorted. Stan rolled his eyes and turned to everyone else. He smiled.
"Guys, this is my girlfriend, Patricia, but she goes by Patty. That's Bev, Bill, Mike Hanlon, Ben, Eddie and… Richie." She chuckled and waved.
"Hi."
"Hey!" Bev grinned at her. "We're glad to finally be meeting you."
"It's nice to meet you all too."
"Stan the man here wouldn't stop talking about ya once he actually told us about ya." Richie said, grinning.
"Oh really?" Patty looked at Stan who blushed and glared at Richie.
"Awe I made him blush! Hey, Patty, has he shown you his bird book collection? I've seen one to many Woody Woodpeckers if you know what I mean." Stan went to hit him but Richie darted out of his seat and literally dove behind his mom. "Help!" He squeaked, peeking out from behind her, letting out a breath of relief when Stan didn't follow, instead he was introducing Patty to everyone else. "Oh, well, nevermind. I saw my life flash before my eyes. Again."
Once everyone was done eating and were ready to head out, Mike and El made their way outside to have a few minutes alone before they were forced apart for the night.
"It's so cold. You don't think tomorrow will be too bad for everyone to be outside?" El asked. Mike shook his head.
"I know exactly how to warm you up." He winked at her and she rolled her eyes fondly and grinned up at him. He pulled her into his arms. "Really, though, I think it'll be okay. Mom said that she wasn't letting the guests outside until right before the wedding starts, and we're- me and the guys- will be seating everyone before it starts. Nana, Grandpa, my aunts, uncles, all of them won't be here until about three thirty, and it starts at four so… Yeah."
"That was a very lengthy explanation." El said, grinning. He started to say something but decided against it, snorting. "What?"
"I just thought of a very Richie like pun, I'm not saying it." She laughed.
"I have an idea of what it might've been." She winked at him and he snickered, leaning down to kiss her.
"Alright, break it up! I've caught you two making out out here too many times to count." Steve said as everyone came outside. El would be staying with the girls at the Wheelers and Mike and the guys would be staying at he and El's house. The two rolled their eyes and pulled away from the kiss but didn't pull away from each other.
"You've got plenty of time to do this tomorrow."
"Come on guys, do we really have to separate?" Mike whined, nuzzling his face in her hair.
"We haven't slept apart in a long time." She pouted.
"Yes, you have to separate. We've gotta get you ready tonight and tomorrow and you're not allowed to see each other." Nancy told them, speaking to them like they were children, though playfully. Mike groaned and lifted his head.
"We tried." He whispered and she smiled up at him. She tilted her head back and he kissed her again. He'd have kissed her longer if it weren't for his brother and Dustin literally taking him by the shoulders and pulling him away while Nancy and Max grabbed El. They held hands until they were too far, trying, and succeeding, in being dramatic, making everyone laugh.
"I love you!" El yelled.
"I love you too!" He yelled back.
"See you at the altar!" She pointed at him and he pointed at her.
"Promise!"
That night, the guys didn't drink, but they did talk for a couple hours, telling stories about each other, while at the Wheeler house, the girls listened to music and took turns painting each others nails and doing facials, courtesy of Bev. She and Elizabeth would be doing the girls hair in the morning, while Nancy did their makeup, including her own, Karen, Joyce's and Holly. They painted their nails to match their dresses, while El's was a pale pink that she loved.
Saturday, November 28, 1992
"You're getting married today!" Max screamed at the top of her lungs, jumping up and down on El's bed. "Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey! Oh God, I sound like Dustin. Get up, soon to be Mrs. Wheeler!" El grinned and opened her eyes, rolling them at how ridiculous Max looked. She had curlers in her hair already, wrapped in a purple robe.
"You look ridiculous." El said, sitting up. Everyone was up and moving around, she could hear footsteps in the hall.
"Karen's getting the finishing touches outside already and we're having breakfast after you shower, so get with it! We have," She looked at the clock on the wall. It was eight o'clock. "Seven hours until you get married!"
It was different for Mike, but definitely not better. He was woken up at ten by Richie, Dustin and Lucas jumping on him and he was pretty sure he kneed Dustin in the balls but he didn't show it.
"Mikey! You're getting married today! Get your ass up and in the shower!" Richie sang loudly. Mike just laughed and pushed them off him.
"I know I'm getting married today, no need to yell."
"Many needs to yell, I'm excited." Richie grinned. He took Mike by the wrists and pulled him into a sitting position. "Oh jeez, you're gonna have to let Eds take care of that hair."
"You're one to talk, Bev has to do something to yours before the wedding starts."
"True."
By noon, all members of each wedding party were showered and had eaten breakfast and lunch. Eddie attempted to tame Mike and Dustin's hair as much as possible, and did to an extent. He didn't even attempt Richie's, knowing that with the length he wouldn't be able to do anything.
"You nervous yet, buddy?" Dustin asked, poking Mike in the shoulder. He shook his head.
"Not really nervous, just excited.
"You'll be a bundle of nerves as you wait at that alter." Jonathan said, walking in with Steve and Hopper. They were all best buddies now, apparently.
"Don't try and make me nervous, dickhead." Jonathan just laughed.
"I'm more nervous about walking her down the aisle and trying not to trip." Hopper said, plopping down. He'd gotten a fresh haircut and trimmed his beard this morning. Mike snorted.
"I'll die laughing if you do." Dustin said, and Hopper threw a pillow at him.
"Are we changing into our suits when we get to the house?" Will asked and Mike nodded.
"Yeah, we're going in the basement so we don't chance seeing the girls." He pouted slightly at that and Will snorted, patting him on the back.
At the Wheeler's, the girls were getting their hair and makeup done. Nancy had already done hers, the moms and Holly's makeup- which wasn't very much for her, just a bit of lip gloss and mascara. By the time their hair was done, all in a curly updo with curls framing the face- Karen and Joyce both had theirs down and curly with clips holding annoying hairs out of their faces- Nancy was doing El's makeup. Her hair was in loose curls, her hair pulled back halfway out of the way, a few curls framing her face. It was three thirty by the time hair and makeup was done, and the girls- save for El- were already in their dresses. Everyone except for El and Bev left the room to greet the guests arriving- Karen having been asked by one of the guys to come to the basement.
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
"Uh, maybe just a tad bit." Dustin said. "Mike's sort of staring at his tie and not saying anything to anyone." She raised an eyebrow and he shrugged. They went down to the basement and he was doing exactly that. She walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"What's wrong, baby?" She asked.
"Dad used to always put on my ties for me." He whispered, just loud enough for her to hear.
"Oh baby." She pulled him into a tight hug, sort of rocking a little as he cried quietly. She pulled away a bit and wiped his tears away. "He would be so proud of you, Mikey." She told him."So, so proud of you. I know he'll be watching." He nodded, sniffing. Richie handed him a tissue quietly and Mike nodded to him in thanks.
"Thank you." He whispered to her. She kissed his forehead.
"Do you want me to tie it for you?" She asked and he nodded.
Upstairs, Bev buttoned the last button on El's dress with a satisfied smile. It fit perfectly.
"You ready to see it?" She asked, doing a little happy dance. El nodded, smiling. "Ooh, hang on, let's put your veil on first." She grabbed it and put it on where her hair was tied back. "We'll put your shoes on in a bit." El nodded again and slowly turned around. She gasped as she stared at her reflection.
The silhouette of the dress was an A-line, fitted just under her breasts, flowing out over her bump and to the floor, joined with a sweetheart neckline, sheer sleeves going down her arms, stopping at her wrists, lace flowing down the tops of her arms, the top of the dress and down until about mid-thigh. The dress itself was made out of silk, and hugged her bump perfectly.
"Oh my God, Bev…" She fanned her face, turning and hugging the redhead tightly. "I love it!"
"Really?"
"Of course I do!" El chuckled, releasing her and turning back to the mirror. Joyce and Max walked in and stopped in their tracks when El turned around. "How do I look?" She asked shyly.
"Like a mother fucking princess." Was Max's reply.
"I'm gonna cry…" Joyce whispered, fanning herself, much like El had. She rushed over to her and hugged her. "You look so beautiful!"
"You'd better not- Holy shit! El!" Nancy gasped, freezing like Joyce and Max had. "You look amazing!" El blushed.
"Thank you."
"Mike's gonna drop dead." A gruff voice said, and they turned to see Hopper standing there. El smiled and he walked in. "El, you look… God, you look beautiful."
"Thanks, dad." She held her arms out to him and he leaned down to hug her.
"Awe, he's crying." Max whispered to Nancy, who giggled and sniffed and pulled away.
"Well, everyone's been seated and they're waiting on you." El nodded, swallowing, and sat down to put her shoes on. She'd put her jewelry on before hand.
"The flowers are downstairs waiting for you girls." Hopper told Nancy and Max as they left to reunite with their significant other. "So is yours." He told El. She nodded.
"I'm gonna go on down and give you two a minute, okay?" Joyce told them, kissing their cheeks and leaving.
"I'm so proud of you, Ellie." He told her as she stood up and walked over to him. "I can't believe you're getting married today. And you have a baby on the way." She smiled, nodding.
"I can't believe it either. We've come a long way, huh?" He grinned down at her and nodded.
Before Richie joined Mike at the altar- Max walked by herself first and then the two walk together after- he pulled Eddie aside and kissed him.
"What was that for?" Eddie asked.
"You look amazing, babe." He told him, his hands sliding down Eddie's arms until he got to his hands.
"You look amazing too, Chee."
As Hopper and El headed down the stairs to get in line, Mike stood nervously at the altar, just as Jonathan had said. He'd seated his mom and Joyce, who looked amazing.
Karen's dress was a dark grey with a purple tint to it, ankle length. The sleeves were off the shoulder, and the silhouette of the dress fit closely to the body until the mid-hip and then widens gradually to the hem. She had a matching jacket that went to the wrists, lace woven carefully down the arms and over the shoulders, much like the top of her dress. Joyce's dress was a dark purple, floor length dress, fitted at the waist, with a neckline that followed the curve of her collar bone, with a cap sleeve. The silhouette of the dress was sheath, fitted closely to the body with no waist, and the skirt flowed straight to the floor. The neckline was sheer, with a scattered pattern of lace, adorned with a matching jacket that went to her wrists.
Richie- who's hair had been been done by Bev, half of it pulled away from his face- squeezed his shoulder.
"Don't be nervous dude, just a few more minutes."
"Wait until you're up here."
"Actually, I'm El in this situation." Mike looked at him weird. "I'm walking down the aisle while Eddie Spaghetti waits for me." Mike chuckled at that.
"You were serious when you said that since he proposed to you, it makes you the bride, huh?" Richie nodded. Before either of them could say anything else, the music began and Max walked out with the widest grin on her face. Will and Holly walked next, then Jonathan and Nancy, Lucas and Bev, and finally Dustin and Elizabeth. Once they were in their places, Nora walked out, the biggest grin on her face as she all but ran down the aisle, throwing flower petals out left and right.
"Uncle Mikey, Aunt Ellie looks like a princess!" She told him quickly, as if she couldn't believe it herself. He smiled at her.
"I bet she does." She nodded and skipped over to her grandmas. The wedding march began and Mike took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a few seconds, and when he did, he literally stopped breathing for a good thirty seconds. Flowers clutched in one hand, one arm wrapped around Hoppers, her dress flowing behind her, was El. The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Richie smacked his shoulder as discreetly as possible.
"Breathe, dude!" He whispered. Mike took another deep breath and wiped his eyes, which had filled with tears without him knowing, quickly.
When El laid eyes on Mike, she picked up her pace, trying to walk just a little faster, but Hopper just chuckled and patted her arm to slow her down. She stared at him until he looked at her, really looked at her, and then she looked at the rest of him. She's seen him in a suit before, but damn.
The two finally reached the altar, and Hopper handed El's hand over to Mike's with a kiss on her cheek and a smile at Mike. He joined Karen and Joyce, picking up Nora and wrapping his arms around her to keep her warm. Mike couldn't stop looking at El, his mouth dropped open slightly.
"You'll catch flies." She whispered.
"It's winter." He replied, but immediately after, "You look… Wow. Gorgeous." She smiled shyly at him and gave her flowers to Max so she could hold his other hand.
"Friends, family… we are gathered here today to celebrate the love these two have for each other. I remember how small Mike use to be, he was so short compared to me and now he's taller. I remember this one time when I was sneaking into Nancy's window and he was sneaking out to ride his bike wherever he was going." Everyone laughed at that. "And the first time I met El, here, I was wondering who and why Mike was crying and hugging this girl like she was his lifeline. Honestly, they're eachothers lifelines. You're allowed to be all sappy today, and no, this isn't one of the traditional weddings because I've never done one before, so here it goes- El, you're going first." Mike snickered a little and turned to El.
"Mike." El smiled at him. "When we met, you were one of the first people to show me any kindness. You took me in and took care of me, you have always taken care of me. You've taught me so much, including how to love. I remember when you tried to explain like to me, and then again, a year later, but about love instead. All the romance shows, movies, love songs, love stories… none of them compares to the love I have for you, and the love I feel from you. It's hard to believe we met over nine years ago, the time has flown by, but I'm so happy that I got to spend this time with you, and that I'm spending the rest of my life with you. You're all I could ever ask for and more. The love of my life, the father of my child, who, by the way, will not stop kicking me." Mike chuckled, sniffing. She reached up and wiped away his tears. "I love you, Mike, forever and always." He smiled at her.
"Mike." Steve looked at him. Mike took a deep breath.
"I… I don't know where to begin." He said simply. "You saved me, so many times. When you were gone I… I didn't know who I was anymore and when you came back? It's like the year you were gone just disappeared, at least for a while. I'll never forget when we first met," He gave her a knowing look and she giggled. "I'll never forget the first time I saw you; I've always thought you were pretty. You're beautiful, gorgeous. You always try to help others, you're patient, kind… a wonderful person all around and I'm so glad to have met you and have you in my life. I can't remember a time where you weren't in my life. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, El, you and our child. I'll love you forever, El, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you." She smiled, sniffing, and he wiped her tears away like she had his.
"Mike, please repeat after me." Steve said. "I, Michael Wheeler..."
"I, Michael Wheeler, take Jane Hopper, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part." El smiled.
"El, please repeat after me. I, Jane Hopper…"
"I, Jane Hopper, take Michael Wheeler, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."
"The rings, please?" Richie and Max handed them their rings.
"Repeat after me…" Steve turned to El.
"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, my faith in our strength together, and my covenant to learn and grow with you." She slipped the ring onto his finger. Mike repeated the action once he repeated the words.
"Do you, Mike, promise to love El, selflessly and unconditionally from this day forward?"
"I promise." She smiled widely at him.
"Do you, El, promise to love Mike, selflessly and unconditionally from this day forward?"
"I promise."
"With the power invest in me by the whoever of Indiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bri- Oh, you already are."
Mike barely let the words come out of Steve's mouth before he was kissing El, everyone cheering and clapping in the background, but to them, it was just the two of them in that moment, never mind the freezing cold. They only felt each other.