Title: Moments in Time
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I do not own Finding Sky in any way, shape or form.
A/N: I hope you enjoy the cuteness...I had fun writing it.
Chapter Eleven
"You look beautiful," Sky dabs at the corner of her eye with a white handkerchief, patting my shoulder.
"Thank you," I whisper, staring at the girl in the mirror. The tiara glitters against her hair, the veil sweeps down her back. Large blue eyes stare right back at me.
"He won't believe his luck," Phoenix laughs, picking up the bouquet of pale green and soft white flowers tied with a sparkling ribbon. "Here you go."
I blink, tear my gaze away from my reflection, turning to face my four bridesmaids, maid of honour, and little flower-girl, Lottie, a young cousin of the Benedict family.
"You look stunning, Addie," Sabrina says, stepping forward to tweak the strap of my dress, before smiling.
I bite my lip. "I'm nervous."
"Don't be," Diamond reassures. "It is nerve-wracking, but then when you're walking down the aisle, and all you can see is him…it'll be fine. Come on Lottie, shall we go and find Vick?"
The little girl nods shyly, darting one more look in my direction before following Diamond out of the room.
The other girls lapse into silence. Sky is holding Crystal's hand, smiling proudly. Phoenix checks her pale green dress is still spotless, adjusting the elegant plait of her dark hair.
There's a knock at the door. I start, rising to my feet. Sabrina opens the door.
"Are you ready?" Vick seems calm and collected as always. "You look lovely."
"Thank you," I say, stepping forward and almost enjoying the swoosh of my train on the floor behind me. He offers his arm, and I take it, closing my eyes for a second.
"Will is nervous too," Vick reassures me as the girls fall into line behind us. "Dad had trouble getting him to stay still long enough to pin the buttonhole in."
I laugh, the sound echoing in the silence of the antechamber behind the grand doors.
"Please stand for the entrance of the bride," I hear the priest say, then the rustling and murmuring of many people rising to their feet. The organ starts to play Pachelbel's Canon in D. My hands start to tremble.
The doors swing open, and we start to move, my silk skirt trailing over the flagstoned floor of the old church. My eyes search over the colours and hats of the people assembled, before finally coming to rest on Will, standing before the altar.
His eyes are fixed on me, an adoring smile spread across his face. The world ceases to exist. All I can feel is the pressure of the floor beneath my feet, the sleeve of Vick's suit beneath my arm, and Will's gaze, making me blush and smile uncontrollably.
When we finally reach the altar, Will takes my hand, leaning forward to whisper in my ear, "You look like an angel."
I smile radiantly as we kneel together in front of the priest. "Dearly beloved," he intones. "We are gathered here today, in the sight of God and this company, to witness and celebrate the marriage of William Logan Benedict and Adrianne Rosanna Delemare."
The priest speaks for a long time, and I watch the light filtering through the stained glass windows, sending colours dancing on his white robe, feeling the warmth of Will's hand in mine.
"I, William Logan, take you Adrianne Rosanna to be your lawfully 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, according to God's holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow."
Wills' eyes are shining, and I choke up as I recite the words of the vow back to him.
The priest blesses the rings, and we slip them onto each other's' fingers, the gold of my wedding band cool against my ring finger and diamond engagement ring.
"I now proclaim you as man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Will leans forward, cradling my face in his hands, kissing me gently as the congregation applauds. My heart is pounding, and my face is aching from smiling as we turn to face our families.
Mrs Adrianne Rosanna Benedict.
Mrs Adrianne Rosanna Benedict.
"Adri!" a familiar voice calls as we stand on the steps of the church, basking in the late July sunlight. I turn around, still holding onto Will's hand.
A very recognisable shock of blonde hair appears, tall and lanky with a chestnut-haired beauty at his side.
"Leo!" I cry, letting go of Will's hand and launching myself at my brother in a whirl of silk skirt and rose petals. "How are you here? I mean, we sent an invitation, but I didn't know your exact address and…"
"I couldn't very well miss my baby sister's wedding!" he says indignantly, holding me at arm's length. "The letter actually ended up with my neighbour, but she brought it round, and Helen and I had to hop on a flight the day afterwards to get here on time."
"I'm so glad to see you," I hug him again. "And this is Helen, yes? It's so lovely to meet you."
"You too," she smiles shyly, green eyes twinkling. "You look beautiful, Adrianne."
"Thank you," I smile.
She leans in close. "And I sure approve of your new husband."
I laugh, and am about to launch into a conversation when Will waves at me. "Adrianne, they're ready for photographs."
I make my way back to the front steps of the church, straightening my dress and taking Will's hand.
The photographs go on forever in blinding flashes of dazzling white light.
Then it is the car to the hotel in Aspen, the first dance, the cutting the cake, throwing the bouquet, which surprisingly lands in Helen's hands. I shoot a smirk at my brother, who winks back.
Finally, we make our way back to our car, a storm of petals and rice being thrown over us. The door slams shut, and Will starts to drive, away from our cheering family and friends.
"I love you," he says, glancing from the road to look at me.
"I love you too," I say.
It takes hours, by car and plane to reach our destination – The Shangri-La Hotel, Paris. It is early in the morning when we finally arrive; dark as our rented car pulls up, except for the lights of the Eiffel Tower.
The doorman takes our luggage, and the young receptionist smiles when he sees the petals adhering to my hair and the way we refuse to move more than an inch from each other's sides.
When we reach our beautiful suite room, Will heads into the bathroom to shower. I stand in front of the full-length mirror, idly picking the pink petals out from the brown locks of my hair, and taking off the coat I've been wearing over my dark teal sheath dress.
The door creaks open, then shuts, and suddenly, Will is standing behind me, his arms looping around my waist as he kisses the back of my neck. A shiver runs down my spine.
"Hello, Mrs Benedict," he says.
"You're never going to stop saying that, are you?" I laugh, turning in his embrace.
"No," he runs his hands down my back. "You're stuck with it forever."
"Good," I whisper.
In the late morning, we awake in crumpled sheets. I stretch and sigh, narrowing my eyes when a stab of pain runs through my arm, before closing my eyes again. It's no wonder I'm so tired.
"We'd better get up," Will kisses the top of my head, fiddling with a piece of hair.
"No," I say, my voice muffled by his shoulder. "I'm tired."
"Okay," he relaxes back against the pillows, and tightens his arms around me.
Later in the afternoon, we are still to get up. Will did insist on putting some clothes on and ordering breakfast, but by the time he returned, I was fast asleep again, and he had to wake me before our food got cold.
By the evening, it is getting ridiculous. My body still feels heavy, my brain still sluggish, and my arms ache.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Will asks, nervous.
"Yes, I'm fine," I smile at him, rubbing sleep out of my eyes. "Come here."
"Adrianne…"he trails off. I don't need him to tell me that his danger sense is kicking in.
"I'm fine," I repeat. He sighs, and slides into bed next to me, pulling me close.
"I'm just worried because I love you so much," he mumbles into my neck.
I kiss him. "I love you too."