Chapter 11: Union of Land & Sea-The Wedding

Jim and Linnea had both turned eighteen after the inn was rebuilt, and they had gotten engaged on the day of the grand opening. After Jim had gotten enrolled in the interstellar academy, he took Linnea to the beach where they first met as he proposed to her. He gave her a golden, custom-made, engagement ring using one of the diamonds from the jewels that Silver and Linnea had salvaged from Treasure Planet. Linnea immediately said 'yes' to Jim and they kissed before heading back to the rebuilt inn for the grand opening party.

Now, the two were getting married shortly after the inn's reopening. While Jim spent time at the academy and came home tired yet happy to see his family everyday, Linnea planned for the wedding with the help of Sarah and Amelia. Amelia helped by making many calls to her old friends at the academy, friends who had great skills other than sailing; with these skills, Amelia was able to get comfortable chairs and an arbor for the actual 'walk-down-the-aisle' wedding, a simple wedding cake, and with the help of Linnea's foster family, they were able to get flowers and jewels for the wedding. Sarah booked the wedding reception at the inn and helped with the honeymoon. Linnea even helped in her own way by making all the decorations and even making her own wedding dress based off of the steampunk dress style that people wore in Montressor. The planning was very drawn out and time-consuming, but it would be worth it when the big day came...

The night before the wedding, Sarah made Jim and Linnea sleep in separate rooms so 'the bride and groom wouldn't see each other before the wedding.' Although the couple didn't agree with this at first, they were convinced by Doppler and Amelia, who did the same thing when they married before the inn's reopening, so the young adults reluctantly agreed. Now, the big day had arrived at last and the young adults were ready to unite both the sirens of the sea and the humans of the land in the act of marriage. Sarah and Amelia woke Linnea up as the brunette mother handed the girl a tray full of food that consisted of bacon, eggs, and a glass of milk. Linnea ate her breakfast happily, sharing with Sarah and Amelia before the siren revealed her dress to her comrade and new mother-in-law.

Linnea got closer to a mannequin hidden by a dark, dressing screen as she admitted, "Now, I just learned how to use a sewing machine from you two, even though I knew the basics from Ms. Merina back home. I love the style of dress that the people of Montressor have, so I'm pleased to present my wedding dress to you..." Linnea opened the screen, revealing the beautiful white dress as she beamed, "Ta da!"

Sarah and Amelia gasped in surprise as they looked at the beautiful dress, surprised at the craftsmanship of the white, steampunk dress. The dress was white and sleeveless because of a corset attached to a skirt, and it had a cocktail length skirt that came 4 inches above Linnea's knees, attaching itself to the corset. To complete her look, Linnea wore white lace, fingerless glovelettes, a white plumeria flower headpiece with an attached veil, made out of diamonds and pearls, a leather strap on her leg with her switchblade and loaded gun attached, and brown, knee length boots.

This surprised the two mothers as they stared at Linnea in awe. Sarah was the first to speak as she gasped, "Wow! Linnea, you did a good job."

"I may be a tomboy at heart, but I must say that I wouldn't mind wearing a dress once in a while if you made them, my dear. The craftsmanship is so radiant, I'm speechless."

Linnea smiled before she replied, "I'm glad you like it...I kinda guessed that you'd like it, so I made some bridesmaid dresses for you, using the same style and technique. Here they are!" Linnea revealed two more mannequins with steampunk dresses on them. The bridesmaid outfits consisted of light blue dresses with a front slit, revealing a thin, white dress attached to the blue dress (like Giselle's dress from Enchanted). To complete the look, the adults were to wear matching, miniature blue top hats with a single plumeria flower attached and brown, knee-length boots to match Linnea. The adults hugged Linnea and thanked her for making the dresses before they all changed into their outfits.

Linnea, Amelia, and Sarah changed into their dresses before doing their hair and makeup. Linnea put her hair into a low bun (like Bella from Twilight) with a side braid before attaching her headpiece and veil to the bun. Amelia wore her hair down but curled it before putting the top hat on while Sarah put her hair into a high ponytail before putting her top hat on. The girls looked at each other in the mirror before they giggled and prepared to go down to the beach where Jim met Linnea. The beach was a sacred place for the engaged couple, so they wanted to be married in the place where they first met. When the coast was clear, the three girls walked to the beach as Jess, B.E.N's girlfriend, alerted the groom and his men. Surprisingly, Silver attended the wedding as the best man, because Jim didn't have one, when heard of the wedding on his travels, so he decided to show up as a surprise.

Everyone prepared for the walk down the aisle as the music began to play, causing the guests to rise from their seats; Linnea's family members were among the guests in the crowd. As the music started, Amelia locked arms with Doppler while Sarah locked arms with Morph after he turned into a handsome man with brown hair and blue eyes. Since the bride had no father to walk her down the aisle, Silver, the best man, stepped in to do so since he viewed Linnea as a daughter. The bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle as Jim stood at the alter with the pastor of the local church, looking for his beautiful Linnea as she gracefully walked down the aisle with Silver. The siren looked more beautiful than ever as the cyborg smiled sheepishly, holding Linnea's arm tightly before they reached the alter. Linnea kissed Silver's cheek before she took Jim's hand and smiled as he smiled back, enchanted by her beauty.

The pastor gestured for the guests to sit before he announced, "Guests to this beach, welcome to this glorious day as we unite this man and this siren in an act of harmony and marriage. Now, as you know, it is traditional for the bride and groom to recite their vows before the real ceremony begins...Linnea, you go first."

"Thank you, Pastor...Jim Hawkins, I was found on this very beach a year ago by you, and you were a rebellious kitchen boy who loved adventure and machinery when I met you. You saved my life and treated me like family when I had nothing to go back to, so I'm grateful to you...We have had many journeys and found many treasures, but no journey is too much for us because we chart our own course in life. I want to take the helm of my life's adventure and go on the long journey...with you by my side. I love you so much, Jim, and I want to be your wife, your partner, and your friend...if you'll have me as yours forever...Your turn."

"Thank you for those wonderful words of love...Jim."

Jim nodded before he answered, "Thank you, Pastor...Linnea, your accusation was filled with truth when you said I was a delinquent, literally...We also did have many journeys and found lots of treasure, but no treasure is better than you. You've always been the greatest treasure of my adventures, and I only wish to love and protect you in the way you deserve...I too wanna take the helm and chart my own course with you, if you'll be mine...I think by now, you know I love you...Your turn, Pastor."

Linnea smiled up at Jim as he finished his speech, causing the pastor to begin the true ceremony, "Thank you for your words, you two...Now, I can begin the ceremony. In Montressor, it is also tradition for the bride and groom to exchange their wedding bands and repeat after me...As always, ladies first...Linnea, do you take James Pleiades Hawkins as your lawful, wedded husband? In sickness or in health, in life or death, and for better or for worse for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do..." Linnea grinned as she mouthed 'I love you' to Jim. Jim smiled back as he heard the pastor, "James Hawkins, do you take Linnea as your lawful, wedded wife? In sickness or in health, in life or death, and for better or for worse for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do, Pastor...I always have."

"Then, by the power vested in me, by me...I now present to you today Mr. James and Mrs. Linnea Hawkins...James Hawkins, you may now kiss your bride." Jim smirked at his new wife before he flipped her around and leaned downwards with her, kissing her passionately as she threaded her fingers in his brown hair. The crowd went wild with cheers of joy before Jim and Linnea walked back to the inn for the reception. The crowd brought the wooden chairs back to the inn with them as they placed them at long, wooden tables covered in plumeria flowers and white table cloths.

The guests sat down and ate a fresh, warm meal made by Silver and Linnea the night before before they indulged in the wedding cake. After eating, the guests danced to the beautiful acoustic music of Mrs. Dunwoodie and the harmonizing vocals of Linnea and her foster family. After Linnea sang a special song dedicated to Jim, the lullaby she sang after Arrow's death, she joined Silver in a traditional 'father-daughter' dance before dancing with Jim again while Sarah and Silver danced together. The reception lasted far into the night until Jim and Linnea changed out of their wedding clothes and into some more comfortable clothing, hopping onto a solar surfer of Jim's; the two had their bags packed for a special, honeymoon vacation booked by Amelia to a special location. Jim and Linnea both knew where the location was because of a map that Amelia gave them, but they had never been to the area before. With wishes of good will and good fortune for the newlywed couple, Jim and Linnea left for their planned honeymoon, the start to their journey of marriage together. The couple kissed on the surfer before Jim kick-started it and flew off with Linnea in his arms as they waved to their guests on the ground below. The honeymoon would change their lives and the lives of their friends and family forever...

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