Maureen placed one last bobby pin in Penny's styled hair before standing up.
"There, you're all set," she announced.
"Thanks, Auntie Maureen," Penny smiled, glancing in a mirror to admire her twisted bun. Penny, Maureen, Joanne and Emily were outside the sanctuary, waiting for the ceremony to begin. As they hung around, Collins, Robbie, Rupert and Jerry appeared to join them. Mark was making his entry into the sanctuary separately with Roger and the minister.
"Can't I take this tie off?" Rupert complained, tugging at his suit collar. "It's choking me."
"You can take it off when we leave for the reception," Robbie replied. "Now, remember, you two. You come in right after Maureen, Joanne and Emily does, and Penny comes after you. Then when it's over, you both exit with Penny, after Roger and Mimi."
"Yeah, we know, Dad," Jerry rolled his eyes. "It was covered at the rehearsal, remember?"
"Just behave yourselves," Emily spoke up sternly, eyeing the pair of boys. "None of your normal antics today."
"What makes you think we won't be on our best behavior?" Rupert challenged.
"Where do you want me to begin? How about putting spiders in Ms. Perkins' tea when she came to the Center for her monthly inspection? Maybe hiding yourselves in the closet so you could attack people who opened it with silly string? And let's not forget the time you locked me in the trash bin receptacle when I was cleaning it. Do I need to continue?"
"Maybe we've changed," Rupert and Jerry tried to look as innocent as possible.
"I'll believe it when I see it." Before more could be said, Collins gave off a laugh of approval as Mimi appeared with Carlos.
"Da-n, girl," Collins chuckled, giving her a friendly hug. "When Roger sees you in that dress, he's just going to melt."
"Thanks, Collins," Mimi blushed from the compliment as Maureen stepped forward to follow the example.
"Youngest one here, but the first to be married," she noted. "If I didn't know the two of you so well, I never would have expected it." Almost immediately after these words were spoken, music was heard coming out from the sanctuary.
"Well, that's the cue for us to start heading out," Joanne announced.
As the Bohemians headed out to the alter in the rehearsed order, Mimi found herself replaying old memories in her head, about all of her most treasured memories that she'd shared with Roger throughout the years, such as the night they first met, to their first date, and so much more. Her thoughts came to a halt when she felt Carlos take her hand. When Mimi turned to face her father, she saw the unusual expression on his face.
"Maria," Carlos spoke. "I just want you to know. Your mother and I are very proud of you." A broad smile instantly formed on Mimi's face.
"Thanks, Dad," Carlos returned the smile, kissing her forehead, before tightening his hold on her arm.
"Well, I suppose it's time." Sharing one final smile, Carlos led Mimi to the end of the aisle leading to the alter. Mimi's eyes immediately focused on Roger, looking completely out of character in the traditional tuxedo. Even from this distance, she could see he'd stopped breathing the moment he caught sight of her. The two did not tear their eyes off one another as Carlos led Mimi up the aisle. When they reached the alter, Carlos took Mimi's hand and physically placed it into Roger's, smiling softly as the couple immediately closed their fingers around the other's hand, before taking a seat in the pews. As the ceremony finally began, Roger and Mimi stood silently, just looking at one another, lost in thought and hardly hearing what the minister was saying. They'd finally made it.
Laughter and the buzz of multiple conversations rang out through the reception hall. At the head table where the Bohemians were sitting, Mimi leaned over to rest her head on Roger's shoulder, while the musician used one hand to contently play with Mimi's hair, and the other to bring the back of her hand to his lips, kissing it in a silent sign of love. The caterers were just starting to pass out slices of the cake to the wedding party and guests, with Roger and Mimi being served first. The second she had her slice, a mischievous grin appeared on Mimi's face. With a finger, she scrapped off some icing from her cake and smeared it onto Roger's cheek. Instantly, Roger's head spun to face her with an equally devious grin. Following her example, he scooped up some of his icing. But instead of wiping the icing on her cheek, he spread it over her lips, seconds before moving in to kiss it off. Once they came up for air, out of the corner of their eyes, Roger and Mimi saw one of the caterers place a slice in front of Emily and whisper into her ear. The photographer immediately turned to them with a surprised look of gratitude. In response, they simply smiled back at her. Roger and Mimi had both spoken to the caterers ahead of time, arranging for a sugarless substitute to the main wedding cake to be prepared for their diabetic friend, deciding that she shouldn't be left out of wedding cake just because of a disorder she'd been born with.
As the guests began on their individual cake slices, everyone was so absorbed in conversation, or, in Roger and Mimi's case, each other, no one noticed Robbie excuse himself from the head table, sending a silent signal to other members of his and Roger's band. As covertly as possible, the band members made their way to a section of the room that was hidden from view by folding walls, where they had hid their special wedding surprise. Together, they set things up as quickly but quietly as possible. After about five minutes they were ready. Robbie gave the okay nod to one of the band members, who pulled back the folding wall to reveal the group of them assembled around a set of instruments. Grinning, Robbie switched on the microphone and started talking, trying not to laugh at the confused expression on Roger's face.
"Good afternoon, everyone!" Robbie called out. "I hope everyone will forgive the interruption to the festivities going on, but the guys and I thought this would be the best time to offer our personal gift to the bride and groom. After all, it's not everyday your buddy gets married, is it. Roger and Mimi Davis, this one's for the two of you." With that, the band members started playing a smooth, steady beat to a song. Letting out a breathy laugh, Roger pulled back his chair and got to his feet, holding out a hand to Mimi.
"Might as well humor them," Roger chuckled, a cheeky grin forming. "You wanna dance?" Mimi accepted his hand and allowed him to lead her to the space that had been left open as a dance floor, holding back a laugh at hearing Roger repeat the same question she'd directed at him the night they'd first met. The gleam in Roger's eyes told her that the repetition of the quote was fully intentional. When they'd reached the dance hall, Roger wrapped his arms around her waist, with Mimi draping her arms around his neck. For a moment, they simply swayed to the music, but Mimi soon laid her head against Roger's chest, listening to the beat of his heart. A contented smile stretched across Roger's face as he rested his cheek to the top of Mimi's head, inhaling the smell of her hair, and letting the words to Robbie's song surround them.
I see your momma, and the candles and tears and roses
I see your daddy walk his daughter down the isle
Now my knees start to tremble as I tell the preacher
Don't she look beautiful tonight
All the wonderful words in my head I've been thinking
You know I want to say 'em all just right
I lift your vale, and angles start singing
Such a heavenly sign
Lost in this moment with you
I am completely consumed
My feelings so absolute, there's no doubt
Sealing our love with a kiss
Waitin' my whole life for this
Watching all my dreams come true
Lost in this moment with you
I smell the jasmine floating in the air like a love song
Watch my words draw sweet tears from your eyes
Bow our heads while the preacher talks to Jesus
Please bless this brand new life
Lost in this moment with you
I am completely consumed
My feelings so absolute, there's no doubt
Sealing our love with a kiss
Waitin' my whole life for this
Watching all my dreams come true
Lost in this moment with you Lost in this moment with you
I am completely consumed
My feelings so absolute, there's no doubt
Sealing our love with a kiss
Waitin' my whole life for this
Watching all my dreams come true
Lost in this moment with you
After the dance had ended, and the applause had died down, Roger and Mimi headed up to thank Robbie and the rest of the band for the musical gift.
"Hey, anytime, guys," Robbie grinned, lightly slapping Roger's back and giving Mimi a friendly hug. "Anything for friends, right?"
"Yeah," Roger agreed. "But I'm surprised you didn't have someone else sing and take the chance to ask Emily to dance. I thought you wanted to get on her good side." Robbie glanced at his feet for a moment before looking back at Roger, a sheepish smile on his face.
"I did," Robbie agreed. "But I'm not blind, and I'm no idiot. I can tell that she'd much rather be with someone else." Roger followed Robbie's gaze to see Emily over at the hors d'oeuvre table, where she was having a conversation with Mark, the two of them laughing and clearly enjoying each other's company. For a moment, Roger stood watching Mark and Emily as they talked before chuckling to himself, smiling down at Mimi as he led her back to the dance floor as another slow song began to play.
When the reception began to come to a close, the Bohemians all approached Roger and Mimi. After a series of hugs had been given, Mark made a private announcement to the newly married pair.
"Roger, Mimi, I know the two of you knew about our lack of money, and so you probably weren't expecting anything big from us," Mark began. "That's why we all pitched in to get you something from all of us. Because, after all the sh-t the two of you have gone through to reach this day, we all agreed you deserved something very special." Without further preamble, Mark handed Roger a large envelope which he silently opened. As he read the papers that were inside, his jaw dropped silently.
"What is it?" Mimi asked curiously.
"They're reservations," Roger whispered in surprise. "For a week in a Fallsview Whirlpool Suite at the Embassy Suites Hotel. In Niagara Falls." Mimi instantly gasped in surprise, turning to her friends who were all grinning, visibly pleased with Roger and Mimi's reactions to their wedding gift.
"You two deserve it!" Penny smiled brightly. Fighting sobs of delight and gratitude, Mimi once again hugged her friends in thanks before throwing herself into Roger's arms, embracing him tightly with her arms and legs, and kissing him deeply, being met with a passionate response.
Mimi stood by the suite window, taking in the sight of the falls, which were illuminated by a series of rainbow-colored lights to make the view visible in the night. For what had to have been the millionth time, she silently thanked her friends for this incredible gift. To think they had this suite for an entire week.
As Mimi continued to enjoy the choice view, she sensed more then felt Roger come up behind her to share in the scenery. After a few seconds, Roger wrapped his arms around her, hugging her from behind, before placing small kisses on her shoulder and neck. Mimi gave a soft moan, and turned around to face Roger, taking his face in her hands.
"Can you really believe it?" she asked softly. "We actually did it! We're married!" Roger fixed her with an extremely loving gaze, and covered her hands with his.
"I just wish I'd asked you sooner," he replied sincerely.
For a long time, they were absolutely quiet, doing nothing but looking right into each other's eyes, chocolate brown meeting with emerald green. Giving into emotion, they came together for a seemingly endless kiss. When they broke apart, they remained in each other's arms, with Roger gently rocking them back and forth. After a few seconds went by, he began to hum Your Eyes into Mimi's ear, which brought a contented smile to the dancer's face.
As the night wore on, the lovers could only wish for one thing, that this night would never end.
AN: The song Robbie sings is Lost in this Moment, by Big & Rich. I also hope this chapter wasn't too rushed and jumbled. I had to drop some things I had originally planned to include into this chapter, because I couldn't fit them in without making things too bunched together. Anyway, as you might have guessed, the next chapter's the last. (Just to warn everyone, it's super short, only about a paragraph long. But it can't really fit into this chaper, so it's on it's own.)
