Casey lay in bed trying to get the last bit of rest before the most hectic, crazy, wonderful, fabulous day of her life began. Today was the day that she would finally marry Derek. It seemed strange in one sense because she already felt like they were married, but still, to know that it would be official and that she would be taking the last name of the two most important guys in her life was overwhelming. The thought that they were officially going to be a family and were about to embark on the beginning of their lives together made the anticipation almost more than she could bare.
The past few months had flown by for them. It had been quite an adjustment, to say the least, raising a baby. Gage was absolutely wonderful and the sweetest baby they thought there ever was, but still, babies are demanding and they were worn out. Casey didn't know what she would have done without Derek. Who knew that a person who could literally sleep their life away could have enough energy to walk a crying baby every night? Thank goodness it was summer and they could nap when the baby did.
On top of everything else they'd had to plan a wedding. Of course Nora had wanted a huge elaborate ceremony but Derek and Casey had put that idea to rest rather quickly. They weren't interesting in putting on a show or parading around for the amusement of others. All they wanted was a small ceremony at home with their family and close friends. Nora had been disappointed but she had said she understood.
She lay there with her eyes closed until she heard the small whimpers coming from the crib. Taking a deep breath she opened her eyes and blinked at the bright light that was streaming through her window. Walking across the room she found a wide-eyed Gage staring up at her.
"Hello, baby boy. Are you ready for our big day? Today you and Mommy and Daddy get to be an official family. I know, I know, we already are, but now everyone else will think so too."
The baby looked up at her as if very intent on what she was saying.
"Are you hungry? Do we need to go get Mommy's big boy a bottle?" she asked as she walked toward to the door.
Just as she was opening the door, she heard Derek's door opening.
"Case?"
"Stop, right there!"
"What?"
"I said stop right there. It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride on their wedding day. Don't come out that door."
"You're kidding right? Come on, you don't really believe that silly stuff do you? I heard Gage and I was coming to check on him."
"He's fine. I'm just going downstairs to get his bottle. Now I'm serious, you need to go back in your room and shut the door. And no peeking!"
"I can't believe you're serious."
"I'm as serious as a heart attack mister, now back in there and shut the door!"
"Fine, but that doesn't mean I can't see Gage. I expect someone to bring me that baby as soon as he's through eating."
"Fine, I'll need to be getting ready anyway. I mean how long could it take you to throw a suit on and make your hair look like you just got out of bed."
"Hey, don't start with the bed head. You'll be looking at it for the rest of your life."
"And I'm thrilled about it, but I don't want to see it right now, so shut the door."
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Derek had spent most of the day with Gage which had suited him just fine. It was four o'clock now and the wedding was at five. The women had spent most of the day running around crazy like, well, crazy women and he had been content to stay in his room taking care of the baby.
There were days when Derek still couldn't believe he was there. It still amazed him how there could ever be something so absolutely perfect. He was brought out of his thoughts by a knock on his door. "Come in."
George stuck his head inside the door. "Can I come in? There is absolutely nothing safe about being out there right now. You've made a very wise decision keeping Gage shielded from all that…"
"Craziness?"
"Exactly."
"Yeah, come on in. I was just sitting here admiring my son."
"Not too hard of a thing to do is it? I remember when you were first born; I would just sit and stare at you. It was all so new and I was afraid that I was going to do something that would bring about undoable damage"
"Yeah, I know what you were thinking. I guess from now on I'll never make another decision without thinking if it's best for him."
George came over and pulled a chair up beside Derek. "Derek, I really came in here to tell you how proud I am of you. To see the man you've become these past four years. To watch you learn to care about someone more than yourself, to sacrifice your wants for the wants of others."
"Come on Dad, stop with all the sappy emotional stuff."
"I can't help it. I'm proud of you son. You could have done anything you wanted with your life. You had a wide open future, but you chose the path that wasn't the easiest."
"Yeah, well a lot of that had to do with Casey. There wasn't another path I could even think about taking. Never in a million years did I ever think she'd feel the same way about me. Two years, Dad, two years I tried to hide my feelings. Once I knew she felt the same way, there was no other path to take."
George looked at Derek and grinned. "When did you get so prolific?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe it comes for being a dad."
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Derek stood in the living room waiting for Casey to come down the stairs. One thought kept running through his head, how in the world did he ever get lucky enough to reach this moment in time?
He looked up in time to see Casey start descending the stairs. He held his breath for a moment at the sight that was before him. There were no other words for him to describe her other than breath taking.
Slowly she made her way towards him never taking her eyes off him. This was it, the moment they had waited for, the one they had felt like at times would never get here.
Casey took her place beside Derek and the minister began, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here before the sight of God to witness the union of these two people, Derek and Casey. They have chosen to say their own vows, so at this time, Casey would you begin."
Casey handed her bouquet to Lizzie and turning took both of Derek's hands in hers. She could feel them shaking just as her own hands were. Pausing for a moment to gather her thoughts and looking Derek straight in the eyes she began, "Derek our relationship would seem unconventional to most, but as I look at it, it seems like the most normal thing in the world."
"We've already been through so much together, more than some people will ever go through in a lifetime. But that only goes to prove that our relationship can withstand pressures from the outside and within. Derek, I promise to keep the good memories alive and let the bad ones fade away. I promise to treat each new day as a gift from God, one that He's allowed me to have so that I might spend it with you. When you need someone to encourage you, I want it to be me. And when you need a helping hand, I want it to be mine."
"I want to spend the rest of my life hearing your thoughts and seeing your dreams. Life is full of moments, ones that define you and make you who you are. You have been there for the majority of my life changing moments, and from here on out I want you to be the one that experiences every one of them with me."
A tear slowly ran down her cheek and Derek moved his hand to gently wipe it away. "Derek, you've made sure that all my dreams have come true and I promise that I will spend the rest of my life making sure that our dreams are fulfilled. I promise to give you my all, knowing that I will receive the same from you."
Then taking the ring from Lizzie, she placed it on his finger. "With this ring, I thee wed. This is my solemn vow to you."
Derek looked down for a moment trying to compose himself. He knew that this would be an emotional time but never did he ever imagine it would be like this. Finally trusting himself to speak, he began.
"Casey, I'll never forget the first time I saw you. I could see that fire in your beautiful blue eyes and the passion that burned in you. At the time, I looked at that as a bad thing. As something that would get in the way of my needs and what I wanted. But as we grew, I came to understand what motivated you, what drove you. I learned that your fire and passion actually compliment me and complete me. I love your convictions and the things you stand for. I love the way you take care of everyone, putting their needs above your own. But I promise that I will take care of you, that I will always put your needs above my own."
"Casey, I take you to be my wife, my partner, my friend, my confidant, my soulmate. I know that together we can accomplish anything and that together we will be better than we could ever be alone. Though life may not always be as perfect as it is in this moment, I promise to always keep my love as pure and perfect as it is today."
"Though four years ago, I would have never believed it, I know now that this is the moment that I have waited for my whole life. Casey there was only one word that came to my mind when I saw you walk down the stairs and that word was breath taking. Casey, you take my breath away and today, I promise that I will spend the rest of my life making moments with you that will take your breath away."
Taking the ring from Edwin he slipped it on Casey's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed. This is my solemn vow to you."
Still holding each others hands they turned towards the minister.
"What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. I now pronounce you husband and wife. Derek, you may kiss your bride."