A/N: Yes, I know it's been a while. I sorry. I had damn
writer's block and I was writing about 3 other stories...I hope this
makes up for it.
I even made my Beta cry...
The days after my nightmare passed very quickly and before either Ian or I knew it, our wedding day was upon us. My mother arrived the day before the wedding and before she checked into her hotel, along with the rest of both families and friends, she stopped by our apartment. She had met Ian only once before. When I let her into our apartment, she embraced him as if she'd seen him more than that. When she gave him a hug, the shocked and surprised look on his face made me want to laugh.
My mother (hell, our families) did not know of Ian's past, and we wanted to keep it that way.
The morning after my mother visited, Ian and I woke up early; both of us were nervous, yet excited. We put Ian's tuxedo and my dress in the car, along with anything else we'd need to bring for the wedding, then jumped in and headed for the church. We had a few hours before the ceremony. When we got to the church and took our stuff out of the car, we walked in and my mother came up to us. After she hugged us, she looked at Ian.
"You know, it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding," she said.
"It's kind of hard not to see her when we live in the same apartment," he replied with a chuckle.
"Besides, mom," I started, stepping next to Ian and taking his hand. "I only believe that when I'm dressed and ready to go."
Ian looked down at me, as I looked up to him, and smirked. I smirked back, then he leaned down and kissed my forehead, keeping in mind that my mother was still with us. When Ian leaned back, I looked at my mother.
"Okay, so where are you stashing us?" I asked, referring to the rooms where Ian and I would be sent to get ready. We were still holding onto our clothes and accessories.
"You are down there," she pointed to a hallway to our right. "And Ian's down there." She pointed to a hallway to our left. "Come on, I'll show you." She motioned for us to follow her, so we did.
When our stuff was in the rooms, Ian and I walked around the church for a while. As we walked outside, Todd pulled up in the company's van; Dave got out of the passenger's seat. It was the first time I'd seen either of them in suits. I'd only seen them in jeans and T-shirts or something slightly dressier (depending on the photo job). I waved to them and as they waved back, Ian and I kept walking. We came to a quiet spot at the back of the church, where there was a small stone bench surrounded by all sorts of plants and flowers. I let go of Ian's hand and went to sit on the bench, where I sighed loudly.
"What's wrong?" Ian asked, standing next to me.
"Nothing," I lied, looking up at him. "I guess I'm just nervous."
Well...the last part was true.
"That may be part of it, but there's something else," he said kneeling in front of me, putting his hands on my knees, then waited a moment when I didn't answer right away. "Alex..."
I shivered slightly. "Don't do that, especially today," I grinned, but then my grin faltered when Ian just stared at me. "Okay, fine. Remember that nightmare I had a few nights ago?" He nodded, then rubbed his thumbs on my knees. "Well, I keep replaying it in my head. I don't want anything to happen to either of us today." I leaned my head forward onto his shoulder, wrapping my arms around his neck. His arms moved from my knees to my back and he pulled me off the bench onto his lap.
"I've told you many times, nothing will happen to me or you. I won't let it. I won't let this day be ruined," he reassured me in my ear.
I turned my head towards his neck, where I placed a kiss. "I know, but I can't help it," I said.
Picking my head up off Ian's shoulder, I looked into his gray-green eyes, then after he grinned wolfishly, he leaned in for a swift, yet passionate kiss.
"We better get inside before my mom starts hunting for us," I said after our kiss.
He nodded, then released me. We stood up and walked around to the front of the church, where we first went in. My mother saw us as soon as we walked through the door; she urged me to go with her, while Ian was urged to go with his cousin (since his parents weren't there yet). Before we parted, he lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it before letting go. I smirked at him over my shoulder as my mother dragged me down the hall.
When we got to the room, I saw Alison already there dressed in the sage green, halter style dress that she, as one of my bride's maids and maid of honor, was supposed to wear (my other maid was Tasha).
"Hey, Kid," she said once I walked into the room.
"Hey, Al," I said quietly, shaking my head, but grinning.
She stepped up to me and gave me a hug. "How're you feeling?"
"Nervous. How else?" I answered, stepping over to where my dress hung on the back of the door. "How's the dress feel?"
"Uncomfortable, but I'm willing to give up comfort for a few hours...even if it is for you," she grinned.
"Gee, thanks," I said sarcastically, then took my dress with me behind a screen in the corner and changed into it. Once I had it on, I called for my mother. "Mom, could you help me?" She stepped behind the screen and zipped up the back. As soon as we stepped around the screen, Tasha came through the door.
"Sorry I'm a little late. Couldn't find a parking spot," she said in a rush, then looked at me. "Wow, Alex, I don't think I've ever seen you in a dress." I shot a sarcastic look in her direction. "But you look fab-u-lous." She snapped her fingers as she split apart the word, making the rest of us laugh.
My dress was white (obviously) with a short train, and was halter style, just like my maids, but mine had some beadwork around the neck and bust areas.
"Well, thank you. Now hurry up and get your dress on so you can help me," I said, pointing to where her own sage green dress hung on the screen.
About ten minutes later, my bride's maids were dressed and helping me with my hair, while my mother stood next to the mirror I sat in front of. A knock sounded at the door and my mother went to answer it. I watched through the mirror as she opened the door and stepped out. I rose an eyebrow, but when she came back with two more people, I turned in my seat (making Tasha and Alison say 'Hey!').
"Alex, this is Mr. and Mrs. Howe. Ian's parents," my mother introduced.
"Oh," I said excitedly, standing, and walking over to them. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"Same here, dear. Ian has told us much about you," Mrs. Howe said, making me blush. She then pulled me into a hug, surprising me, but I hugged her back.
"I hope nothing too embarrassing," I said, once she let go of me.
"Oh, no. He said you were very smart and beautiful. And I can certainly see that," Mr. Howe said, smiling kindly, making me blush deeper and giving me a hug of his own.
"Oh, well, thank you," I said sheepishly. "Have you seen Ian yet? I know he's been wanting to see you both for a while."
"We're on our way now. We just wanted to see you first...and give you this," Mrs. Howe held out a simple, yet elegant necklace.
I gasped as she showed it to me; it was a tear drop shaped diamond about half an inch long on a small drop that led up to two other small diamonds on either side, then those were connected to a chain that went around my neck.
Mr. Howe took the necklace from his wife and motioned for me to turn around. I did so, lifting up my hair, and he clasped the jewelry around my neck.
"It's beautiful. Thank you so much," I said, turning back to them, giving them both a hug.
"Ian told us you needed something borrowed, so there you are," Mrs. Howe smiled.
"I do...did. Thank you, again," I said, feeling my eyes start to well up.
"You're very welcome," Mr. Howe said, then turned to his wife. "Come on, dear. Let's let her get back to getting ready."
Ian's parents left the room and I numbly sat back down, letting Alison and Tasha continue with my hair. I lifted my hand to the necklace as my mother came back to stand next to the mirror, again.
I felt complete; something old: my shoes (the ones from the Gala), something new: my dress, something borrowed: the necklace, something blue: the pins my friends had put in my hair.
About half an hour after I was completely ready, there was another knock to the door. My mother opened it to reveal my uncle. Since my dad had passed on, I thought my uncle (my dad's brother) would be the next best thing.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
Alison and Tasha looked at me as I sighed, then nodded. My mother left the room in a hurry to get to her seat, then Alison and Tasha went, then me. My uncle took my arm and patted my hand as we started walking to the back of the sanctuary; he also gave me a smile.
"Alex, your father would be very proud of you and I'm sorry he's not here to see you. You look very lovely," my uncle said.
"Thank you, Uncle Mark. And my dad is here, just not physically," I smiled, then kissed his cheek.
We reached the sanctuary and waited for Alison and Tasha to walk with Phil and Shippen. Once they went, my heart beat faster and I squeezed my uncle's hand tight. When we stepped up and the 'Wedding March' began to play, I looked at Ian and gasped quietly...he looked DAMN good in a tux!
I was afraid that if I looked anywhere else, I would freeze up, so I kept my eyes on my soon-to-be husband. It seemed as if he had the same idea...or he was just shocked.
When my uncle and I reached him, my uncle kissed my cheek, then put my hand in Ian's, before walking off.
"You look absolutely breathtaking," Ian said softly to me, grinning.
"You don't look so bad yourself," I said back, also grinning.
Then the ceremony began.
When it came to the part where Ian and I exchanged rings, I felt myself start to shake a little. Since Ian was holding onto my hand, I'm sure he felt it too, and he squeezed my hand.
After rings were exchanged, I waited for the ambush, but it never came. I did take a glance towards the back of the church and saw someone I never thought I'd see again...
Ben Gates.
He was just sitting in the back row and didn't look like he was going to signal the FBI, so I looked back to Ian and the ceremony continued.
We kissed and the minister pronounced us man and wife, then we walked down the aisle. As we were about quarter of the way down, when Ian paused, then put an arm behind my shoulders and knees. He picked me up and carried me the rest of the way down the aisle...I was laughing the whole time and so was Ian.
I barely remembered Todd taking any pictures...
When we reached the back of the sanctuary, Ian kissed me again, then we greeted and said our thanks to everyone who attended as they passed us. I think Ben skipped out early, for I didn't see him with everyone else.
Once everyone was passed, Ian and I exited the church. We walked through the mass of guests, who blew bubbles (instead of throwing rice), and got into our car, where Victor was our chauffeur to the reception.
Once in the car, we waved as we drove off. Then once they were out of sight, I looked lovingly at Ian. Putting my hands on either side of his face, I leaned towards him and kissed him, passionately.
"See? I told you nothing bad would happen," he said, once we parted.
"I know, but did you see Ben in the back?" I asked.
"I thought I saw him, but dismissed it," he said. "I had something better in my sights." He smirked, then rested his forehead against mine. He then brought a hand up to finger the necklace. "Where did you get this?"
"Your mother. She said you told her that I needed something borrowed," I replied, leaning back, and smirking.
"I didn't expect her to give you the necklace. I thought a pin or something," he admitted.
I grinned, then kissed him again.
About an hour later, after eating at the reception, Ian and I shared our first dance as husband and wife. We danced cheek to cheek, whispering in each other's ear, laughing, as Todd snapped pictures. Once the song ended, we kissed as everyone clapped. More couples joined us on the floor, and I eventually danced with my uncle, Todd, Dave, Mr. Howe, Phil, Shippen, Victor, and most, if not all, my family and friends.
I decided that I didn't need to throw my bouquet...I just decided to give it to Alison, since, well, I just had a feeling.
By the time things started to calm down, most of our guests wanted to either head home or back to the hotel. So, Ian and I said our good-byes and see you laters, then headed home.
When we got home, Ian picked me up again to carry me over the threshold. After he set me down, he closed and locked the door, then turned to me. Smirking hungrily, he gently pushed me up against the wall and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck as his wrapped securely around my waist.
"God, Ian," I said in between kisses and breaths. "I love you so much...my husband."
"And I love you...my Alex...my wife," he answered, also in between kisses and breaths.
At the sound of my name being murmured from his lips, I shuddered, arching my back, pressing myself closer to him.
I sighed, content with things right now...content with my life.
Ian then picked me up again, never breaking our kiss, and took me to our bedroom, kicking the door closed with his foot. Once he set me on the bed, the phone rang. He pulled back, sighing, as he took off his tuxedo jacket.
"Ian," I said softly, trying to get his attention. When he looked back at me, I grinned. "Let the answering machine get it." I then grabbed a hold of his tie and pulled him down on top of me onto the bed, into another searing kiss.
That night was the longest, most passionate, most exhausting night of my life...
But I was happy...
I was with Ian...
I was with my husband.
A/N: No, this is NOT the end...I still have a few more tricks up my sleeves. There'll probably be either one or two more.
So...what did you think?