Chapter 12: Mr. and Mrs. Fries
You are cordially invited to the wedding of
Victor Joseph Fries and Nora Christine Fields
To take place on December 21, 2009 at St. Nicholas Church,
Following a reception at Mr. and Mrs. Fields' residence.
"Sounds good." Nora approved, handing the invitation back to Victor, as he counted all the invites.
Victor sighed and taking his glasses off, rubbed his face. "This is exhausting."
Nora giggled, and went to the kitchen to make coffee. "Don't worry, luckily Melissa is pretty much all over the rest of the planning, so there is that."
"No offence, but I sometimes wish we just went out an eloped."
Nora smiled, and came back setting the coffee mugs down to sit on his lap and wrapped her arms around him. "Hmm, that does sound appealing, but so does being able to share the day with our friends and family."
"You friends versus my one friend, and your family really."
"Hey now, they are going to be your family too. My dad certainly has been for a long time. And besides, I like to be able to wear a beautiful dress that people will 'awe' and 'oh' over."
Victor smiled. "You don't need to wear a long dress for people to do that now."
Nora swatted at his shoulder teasingly and hugged him. "I love you, you big goof."
Nora was right, Melissa pretty much took care of everything, leaving Victor not much to do, except picking a best man. Picking the best man was easy, he had only one friend. Frank was thrilled to be asked to be best man, even though he wouldn't admit it often, Frank did considered Victor a friend. It did occur to Frank later that besides the Fields, Frank was the only person Victor had in his life.
He knew his friend was odd, shy but brilliant. That is why it had tickled him pink when Victor asked him rather privately just how he would please a woman. After giving a good laugh, Frank directed him to certain websites and books where a scientist like Victor could do proper research on. With this in mind, he knew that the strip club was out of the question.
Victor and Nora had decided December 21st, that way they could always celebrate the day that they meet and fell in love. They also decided to have their honeymoon in one of the cabins that are rented out during the winter seasons. They also decided to give Bruce Wayne a generous gift of a Rolex, showing their appreciation for all that he had done for them. He humbly accepted the gift, but gladly accepted the invitation.
Many people from Victor and Nora's work were invited, but they both agreed that Boyle wasn't allowed. Victor teased about sending him an invite just to rub it in, but Nora wouldn't hear of it.
Nora was excited to go and get her dress fitted, it was the kind of dress she had imagined since she was young. With her mother and maid of honor, Melissa, on hand, Nora tried on her dress, feeling more of a bride than she had ever been.
Susan came up behind her and with tears in her eyes, kissed her daughter's cheek and said, "Oh Nora, how beautiful you look."
"If Victor doesn't get teary eyed when he sees me, I think I might just turn around and walk out." Nora laughed.
"If he does, I will personally come up to him and kick his balls up in his body." Melissa teased. "But seriously, he will barely see you through the tears."
Victor tried on his suit, and feeling more adult than he had ever felt in his life, he had almost wished that his father was there to share with him the greatest day of his life. But when he looked back in the mirror to see his professor, his soon to be father-in-law, made him feel as if his father was here again.
When they had the rehearsal dinner the night before, Nora and Victor were pulled apart too many times by friends and family, and so Nora pulled him away silently to be alone with him. She asked him to kiss her as if he wasn't going to see her again. "Tonight, it will be the last time you see this Nora. Tomorrow, a new Nora, your Nora will be there. Just like how tonight it will be the last time I see you, and tomorrow, I will see my Victor and start a life with him."
Victor kissed her gently, because, as he hoped, he would be kissing her much differently. The couple watched each other leave, watching the old selves walk away, ready for the biggest step in their lives.
Victor slept in for the first time in his life, jumped out of bed and ate breakfast despite the fact that he felt too excited to eat. He showered and tried his best to comb his hair down, and spraying himself with cologne that he borrowed from Frank. After getting all that done, Victor put on his suit.
He took a look in the mirror and found himself unable to recognize the man that was in the mirror. Flashes of the past came back to him, and he remembered just what a lonely weak boy he was, but now, he was a loved man, maybe not a strong man that he expected, but he knew he could endure more things mentally.
Giving his apartment a quick turn over, he makes sure he has the ring, his speech and his other notes, and simply waited until the car came for him.
He eventually heard the car honking for him, and he tried to go down gently, not wanting to rip or dirty his suit, knowing his luck. Frank, John and few of the groomsmen that he had not fully remembered all their names were there, waiting for him. Frank took control of the whole situation, and made sure that everything was going as planned.
Victor looked out the window, waiting to see the church. John patted his back and said, "Don't worry, I was nervous too. Every groom feels the same. And I promise you, once you see her, you will lose very nerve that you feel right now."
Victor felt at ease at this and said, "You should know that you are the only father I had ever had, and I am forever grateful for everything you have ever done for me. I am just trying to say thank you for everything then, now, and forever."
They reach the church and giving one quick hug to his soon father-in-law, Victor stepped out feeling better.
When in the church, Victor had his flower pinned to his lapel by Frank, and before going down the aisle, he gives his friend a hug.
"Knock 'em dead."
Victor took a deep breath and walked down the aisle, keeping his eyes on the priest, he reached the altar and shook hands with the priest, and he saw sitting on the pews two separate pictures of his parents, as if they were alive and watching him get married. He could tell Nora had a hand in that and was so glad she did.
He waited with anticipation as each bride's man and groom' men walked down, and he had to laugh at the pairing of Frank and Melissa, two larger than life personalities that lighten up the room.
Finally, Nora walked out, with both parents in arm at both sides, and Victor was sure that he would have died from beauty, if such a thing was possible.
Nora, walking down the aisle in her usual ballerina grace, had a beautiful white dress on, with an A-line skirt that had snowflakes falling down from the top of her bodice like falling snow, she had a sweetheart neckline and laced capped sleeves. Her hair was very similar to how it was when she had played Clara in the Nutcracker when he had first seen her, even with the blue hair ribbon, decorated with small Christmas roses.
Victor had to wipe clean his glasses, as it had been wet from tears. Nora felt like tearing up seeing Victor react the way he did. She had wanted to run up to him and hug him, but she remembered where she was and how she was unable to do so. But she was there, and she didn't have to run.
John and Susan kissed Nora on the cheek, Susan gave Victor a peck as well, patting his cheek, and John giving Victor a hug, then took Nora's hand and guided it to Victor's.
Both Nora and Victor didn't seem to be fully interested in what was going on around them, just between the two of them. Nora felt more at ease when her hands were in Victor's steady hands. Her eyes were watery, but she spoke with clarity while it was Victor's whose voice had slightly cracked when he had said his vows.
From one second they were two separate beings, but in a split second, they were one. Nora wrapped both arms around her husband and kissed him. Victor never felt more loved than he did in this particular moment. Especially when he could hear the priest call out, "I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Fries."
That is all for the moment, I am hoping to post the next chapter by the end of this week, hopefully. Sorry I keep you guys waiting, but with a story like this and the places I want to go with them, I want to make sure I got this right. I am very thankful to all of you who are sticking by and being so patient with me. Thanks to PastOneonta, doggy bye, Gcucullu-0, Lily of the Valli, Snow Slayer, chocolatelover1234, Sweet Silver Nightmare, James Birdsong, LOKILUVER2014, pinkwolf69, MusicLover2462, PhanNeverDies, and Guest.