21
Ianto stood nervously about half way up, facing the doorway while Jack stood a few feet away beside his brother.
Ianto had spent some time admiring his husband until Jack had shown a rare blush, telling him he had stared both too hard and with too much open lust for the occasion.
Now Ianto stood calmly watching the door as Jack furtively took his own drink of long, sweet Ianto.
The music changed and became "How long will I love you" as Meme appeared with Rory in her arms. Ianto resisted the urge to cringe as he lifted the microphone he'd hidden by his side. He hated singing in public, something he only did when sozzled but this was a special occasion, telling himself that it was Rhia's day not his.
As Mica walked slowly up the aisle with Rory, who remembered to drop some of the flowers she was sampling from the basket Ianto relaxed.
David came next, proudly stepping with Walter holding his hand as they grinned and carried the cushion between them. Trust them to do it together.
Ianto held his breath and counted the sing beats, there … now!
Rhia appeared with Eugene one side, James the other.
Ianto let out his breath and she shone in the sunlight as she stood just outside the French doors, then stepping down to the grass and onto the white runner that formed the aisle to the pagoda.
Ianto heard several intakes of breath as they watched the gorgeous creature walking slowly up the aisle. Ianto stole a quick look at Gray and was satisfied with the tear he was wiping away.
Her dress was not the meringue style she had first wanted. He had gushed over a simple silk dress with a "blinged up" bodice and pinched waist, the skirts flowing like milk over the hips and down to the floor. She had been unsure until she tried it on. She had wept when she saw how lovely it looked and Ianto's hands gently pulling at the fabric as he whispered endearments showed her how flattering it would look to her figure.
The pink Perspex shoes with silver flecks in them were something straight from Cinderella and she had screamed when Ianto had knelt to replace her simple white pumps with her dream shoes that he had produced from the shoebox with a flourish.
She squared her shoulders as she looked to her man, his tears now flowing freely as he watched her approach and she knew without a doubt that Ianto had done it again. Made a purse out of a sow's ear. He hated her saying that and had told her she was beautiful. Now she saw her love fall slowly apart she wondered for the first time if Ianto was right. She really was his world.
Ianto is really doing it, I chose just the right song for his soft voice.
She stopped at the entrance to the pagoda and looked up at Gray, who broke from his trance and few down the steps to pull her into his arms.
"Oi! Not until the ring in on her finger!" Gene shrieked slapping at him as the crowd laughed.
Gray went back to his spot with a huge grin as she left her two fathers to take the two steps into the pagoda and the rest of her life.
"I love you" Gray whispered and she shone.
The service was simple, a few vows and words of endearment then the kiss.
The crowd clapped as Ianto accepted his husband's arms and celebratory kiss as well.
As the two newlyweds began to walk down from the makeshift stage, Rhia suddenly lurched back and Gray yelled as he reached out to stop her falling.
Ianto rushed forward as she laughed and looked behind her.
On her train a cat sat watching proceedings with a disinterested air. A tortoiseshell heathen who saw Ianto bearing down and did the most natural thing in the world. It climbed the train, caught the veil and reached Rhia's headpiece as Ianto reached his sister.
Her laugher had turned to shrieks as the kitten tried to chew on her tiara and Ianto roared as he tried to untangle the monster from the veil.
The laughter was infectious until even Rhia was gasping for breath as Ianto dropped an angry, spitting beast into Walter's arms and he hurried to lock her in his room, where she was supposed to be in the first place.
Only problem with that was Myfanwy who had woken from her nap, rushed out the bedroom door as soon as it was opened. She barrelled down the aisle, knocking Gray over as she tried to reach Ianto with big slobbering barks.
She turned and placed herself between Ianto and the crowd in full "Protect" mode and now Ianto was laughing as Jack tried to convince her to stand down.
Jack was on his knees, face to face with the dog as he quietly argued his case and Ianto realised the whole place saw Jack's wriggling arse as he faced Ianto.
Well, what was there to do but laugh?
Really!