MGM owns all characters except OCs
Thanks to all the reviewers and scr1 and dwparsnip for beta.
"Deep breathes," Carson's brogue repeated as he rested a reassuring hand on Rodney's shoulder.
"Yeah, my ex-wife Nancy was almost an hour late for our wedding," John said from behind Rodney and to his right.
"Sarah was over a half hour late," General Jack O'Neill said.
"Kathy was almost an hour late, as well," Colonel Steven Caldwell added for good measure.
"Okay, enough!" Rodney yelled as he opened his eyes and glared at all the people surrounding him. "You three are all divorced, so you're not helping!"
"Women do crazy things on their wedding day," Lorne offered as he stood to the back of the little gathering with Daniel Jackson and Colonel Cameron Mitchell, ignoring Rodney's outburst. "My little sister screamed at the band during her reception for playing the wrong song. Never heard her raise her voice in my life ever before or since."
"I agree with that," Caldwell added, "I thought I'd surprise my wife with a romantic honeymoon, so I didn't tell her where we were going and she hated it."
"I thought it would be nice to give Nancy a family heirloom ring and she wanted a new one," John said.
Rodney's jaw dropped because he planned the honeymoon as a surprise to Jennifer and Jeannie was giving her a really old headpiece for her veil. Groaning loudly, Rodney slumped onto the closest pew for a moment. The physicist felt his heart twist in his chest at the thought of it all ending because of his mistakes hit him.
"Looks like our work here is done," Jack O'Neill said as he slapped Rodney on the shoulder.
"Rodney," the calm voice of General Samantha Carter said as she stepped between O'Neill, Sheppard and Caldwell, glaring coldly at the men which caused them to lower their heads. "Do you honestly believe Jennifer, of all people, is capable of leaving you standing at the altar?"
"But Cadman and Doctor Cole and Marie could convince her!" Rodney responded as his breathing and heartbeat increased again. "They hate me."
"Rodney!" Carson shouted once again. "I can assure you that Jennifer Keller would never do something so terrible to another human being and you know that. Jennifer wants to be beautiful on her wedding day and is taking time getting ready, that's all."
"But she's always beautiful," Rodney said weakly because he was panicking. He and Jennifer spent the last several months in bliss when alone together, mixed with fear and horror when they were trapped on a hive ship with mutant Wraith or when racing against time to stop the Wraith from attacking earth. Her love was all that got him through that time and he could not imagine her not with him for the future.
Before he could ask someone to go look for her, First Sergeant Robert Warrington, in full Marine Corps dress uniform, entered the church and nodded to Lieutenant Colonel Lorne, who smiled at the nervous groom-to-be. "Looks like your lady has arrived."
Sheppard tugged him to his feet as a new realization hit the physicist. In a few minutes, the love of your life is coming down that aisle and in front of the world you need to tell her how much you love her. Oh God, I hope I don't faint.
As music filled the chapel, Rodney glanced around the room at all their friends from the SGC and Atlantis seated in pews or, in the case of the Marines, standing at attention in the back of the chapel. Richard Woolsey was about the only one missing, since someone was needed to remain on Atlantis. Their boss told them he would be happy to stay, so the others could go. Rodney and Jennifer both agreed they would buy him a nice gift while on their honeymoon, which Rodney refused to tell his fiancé about. A wave of fear caused by Colonel Caldwell untimely anecdote
passed through him again. I hope she won't hate it.
The attendees all turned in their seats to see Rodney's teammates enter the church first. Teyla was dressed in a beautiful, earthy Athosian dress and Ronon in a tuxedo. Seeing his friends who were now strangers in a new galaxy and, in Teyla's case, someone cut off from her family, strengthened Rodney's resolve that he would help them get back to Pegasus.
Next to enter was the newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel Lorne with Marie, in a pale blue gown, on his arm, Radek with Major Amanda Cole, Carson with another newly promoted officer, Captain Laura Cadman, and finally Madison, who rounded the corner with a basket of flower petals, dressed in a light blue dress. A huge grin spread over her face as her eyes connected with her beloved uncle. A collective aw went through the crowd at the sight of the cute little six-year-old, who was marching with poise beyond her years and dropping an exact amount of petals evenly spaced down the aisle. Another genius in the McKay family.
Jeannie appeared next with a light blue gown that brought out her eyes and made Rodney glad his baby sister was happily married based on the looks some of the men were giving her. Upon Jeannie's entrance, the music changed and Rodney swallowed as he prepared to see his bride for the first time in her wedding gown. Having no idea what to expect, he glanced nervously at his best man, John, who grinned broadly.
Once the bridal march started, Rodney lost focus on everything except the doorway into the chapel. A vision in white entered his consciousness, obliterating everything else in his mind. Jennifer did look more beautiful than ever before and her smile lit up the universe as far as he was concerned. A long white gown caressed her body like his hands enjoyed doing, accentuating his favorite curves along the way. The off-the-shoulder sleeves of the dress revealed the smooth skin of her shoulders and upper chest, allowing the diamond necklace he bought her to sparkle under the translucent veil, which was hanging down to her waist. When their eyes connected, Rodney saw pure joy reflected in Jennifer's and felt a huge, dopey grin spread over his face.
Jennifer's heart was racing and she was terrified she would trip in the high-heeled shoes or forget to breathe and then pass out. As the bridal march began, her father squeezed her arm and leaned over to whisper, "You are as beautiful as your mother and I love you very much."
The only child looked at her father and saw tears in his brown eyes. "Oh, Daddy…."
"Don't cry, it will ruin your make-up... and don't forget to smile. Today you are marrying a man who will give his life for you in a heartbeat. Don't ever forget that, Jenny. Rodney loves you more than life itself and that's pretty incredible," Robert whispered to his little girl as they stepped out into the doorway.
Jennifer's eyes glanced past all their friends in tuxedos, evening gowns or military dress uniforms. When she saw her future husband in a black tuxedo with bow tie and white shirt at the end of the aisle, everything else vanished and she focused on him. The walk down the aisle went by quickly because she was being pulled to her other half like a magnet.
After her father raised her veil, kissed her forehead and told the priest that he offered his daughter for matrimony, Jennifer stood with Rodney feeling a sense of peace and belonging that she never felt before. Rodney took her right hand in his left, as soon as her father stepped aside after giving Rodney a nod, and laced their fingers together.
Sergeant Dusty Mehra and Radek Zelenka did readings from the bible, several hymns were sung and the chaplain spoke, but Jennifer and Rodney only had eyes for each other.
"Jennifer?" a voice spoke.
Jennifer continued to smile at Rodney and stare at his blue eyes, which she realized had light shades of blue like a bright, clear sky and dark shades blue, like the depths of a deep pond.
"Jennifer!" Jeannie's voice nearly shouted near her left ear.
"What?" she jumped and said too loudly as laughter could be heard.
"I realize I put people to sleep, but not usually while they are standing up with their eyes open," the Air Force chaplain, who was conducting their wedding ceremony, said with laughter in his voice.
"What?" Jennifer felt herself turn bright red as she glanced from Rodney to the chaplain and back.
"It is time for you to say your vows," the priest said with a smile.
I can't believe I missed half my wedding ceremony standing around smiling like I'm an idiot or something. Looking with fear at Rodney, only to find him looking as guilty as she did for not paying attention, made her let out a sigh and a laugh. "Sorry, Father, I… I'm..."
"I believe you each have something you want to say to each other before you exchange rings?" the chaplain asked with a smile of forgiveness.
Jennifer swallowed hard because she could not remember a single thing she memorized and rehearsed with Teyla, Amanda and Marie over the past few weeks. Glancing at Rodney, who was looking just as nervous, she realized he must have forgotten too.
Turning fully toward Rodney and letting him take her left hand to interlace the fingers of those hands as well, she began saying the first things that came to mind hoping Rodney understood. "I… I've loved you since you welcomed a scared kid from Wisconsin to Atlantis with a smile and a handshake. You comforted me at the loss of a friend, you were there for me after I lost all confidence in myself and you saved my life, in many ways."
Jennifer paused to clear the lump forming in her throat, "My life before you... was about research and medicine and patients. I went through life without ever really living it. Since I met you, I've been more aware of everything happening around me just because I couldn't wait to rush off and share my experiences with you. I had to pay attention because you would grill me on every detail and I had to impress you." Chuckling and laughter could be heard from the crowd and Rodney's grin widened even more as he squeezed her hands. "Your passion for life and your courage gave me strength. I learned so much from you and most importantly, I learned how to share my heart with another person. I don't expect our life to be easy because it hasn't been so far, but no matter what we're going to face, I know I have to do it by your side or I won't be able to do it at all. I love you Meredith Rodney McKay. I always have and I always will."
Silence permeated the room and Jennifer saw tears in Rodney's eyes. He mouthed I love you as he pulled their joined hands up to his mouth to press a kiss to her fingers.
Clearing his throat, the smartest man in two galaxies started to speak, "Everyone knows I like to talk and usually have a lot to say without thinking it through." This caused a lot of people to laugh and Jennifer could not help but join in.
"However, I am smart enough to know I'm in way over my head on this one, so…" He paused as he released her hands and turned to look at Carson, who pulled a note from his tuxedo and handed it to Rodney. "I came prepared." Rodney cleared his throat as he smiled shyly at her. "Jennifer,
Love is a friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and is loyalty through good and bad. It settles for less than perfection, and makes allowances for human weakness. Love is content with the present. It hopes for the future and it doesn't brood over the past. It's the day-in and day-out chronicle of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories, and working toward common goals. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don't have it, no matter what else there is, it is not enough."
Rodney put the note in a pocket and took her hands in his again. "Jennifer Anne Keller, you're the love of my life and I cannot face any future, good or bad without you. I've loved you since that day so long ago when Caldwell delivered you to my city…" Rodney smiled as people laughed once again, "…And I befriended you. Just like the poem says, our love was a friendship that caught fire and I don't ever want it to extinguish."
Tears flowed freely down Jennifer's face as she fought not to sob uncontrollably, which Carson was not successful at. Never could she imagine Rodney being so eloquent.
"May I have the rings," the chaplain asked John, who took a moment to fumble in his pockets.
An angrily cleared throat from Jeannie Miller behind Jennifer caused the Colonel to stop his joking around and pull a black box out and hand the rings to the priest to bless. Jennifer looked at the two matching gold bands and noticed a familiar pattern carved into them. In addition to not knowing about the honeymoon, the wedding song or Rodney's vows, Jennifer did not have any part in picking out the rings. She had told Rodney she trusted him and she truly did, but her curiosity was now piqued.
Rodney was handed the first ring and he repeated the traditional vows of loving, honoring and cherishing her as he slipped the ring on her finger and raised her hand to kiss it. Jennifer repeated the words and put on Rodney's ring, also kissing his hand.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," the chaplain said with a smile.
Rodney and Jennifer had discussed this kiss because they never kissed in public since their first passionate kiss in the parking lot. Rodney wanted to make sure the IOA could never say they were acting unprofessional on Atlantis. In light of that, they agreed that a chaste kiss in front of their family and colleagues would suffice.
As Rodney slid his arms around Jennifer's waist to pull her close, she had a feeling her husband did not care about what they discussed. As his lips descended to hers, a smirk crossed his handsome face and Jennifer slid her arms around his shoulders to hang on for whatever he had planned. If this was their first kiss as husband and wife, so she knew he wanted it to be memorable.
As Rodney's mouth pressed against hers, a cheer could be heard from the crowd, so Rodney dipped her back and deepened the kiss for a moment. Not too long to be uncomfortable for those viewing, but just long enough to let everyone know there was a passion below the surface of these two seemingly uptight geniuses.
When Rodney brought them up from the dip, Jennifer felt a bit light-headed and had to wrap an arm around his waist to stay up. Rodney pressed another kiss to her lips as they turned to face everyone. Jeannie and Carson had tears streaming down their faces.
As the new couple walked down the aisle to the sounds of Beethoven's Ode to Joy, Sergeant Major Richards could be heard calling out, "Center face" and "Arch sabers". Four Marines in full dress uniform lined up on either side of the aisle with Sergeant Major Richards and Captain Laura Cadman in the final positions with raised swords to form an arch for the couple to walk through. Jennifer gasped and said to Rodney, "This is only for military weddings, they shouldn't be doing it for us."
"I guess Richards is not as by-the-book as you think he is then," Rodney said with a smile. "You don't think they'll chop my head off do you?"
"I'll protect you," Jennifer laughed as she leaned over to kiss her husband.
Mrs. Rodney McKay smiled at the Marines as she walked past Stackhouse, Warrington, Carter and finally Richards. Jennifer knew it was tradition for the final soldier to slap the bride on the backside with the flat of his sword and she glared at Dwayne daring him to do. The usual stoic expression was on his face and it appeared that he did not see her.
"Hey!" Rodney yelled as he jumped on Jennifer's left. Glancing over, she saw a giggling Laura Cadman putting her sword back into position after swatting Rodney on the backside.
"Just putting him in his place," the Marine said, winking at Jennifer.
A/N: I know this does not really follow a particular style of wedding ceremony, but don't hate me. You know by now anything can happen with these two. Rodney's poem from myweddingvows website. My apologies to military and Marine readers, I know the Arch-of-Swords ceremony is not by the book, but it is fiction.