It was a warm day in April, not too hot with a gentle breeze outside, and Poison Ivy was standing at the altar waiting for her bride to appear. The treehouse they had chosen for their wedding location smelt pleasantly of cedar and the beautiful spring flowers Ivy had provided to decorate the space (as far as anyone besides herself and Eve were concerned, she had paid for them. Nobody needed to know that those flowers hadn't technically existed until about two hours before the ceremony). The room was lit with sunshine and strategically placed lanterns, creating a charming atmosphere coloured in pastel shades of pink, purple, and green, with accents of cream, against the deep brown varnished walls of the treehouse.
Ivy herself was dressed in an elegant light green gown that skimmed her curves and flowed into a short train. The neckline dipped to just above her sternum, showing soft and pale skin in an 'acceptable' human shade, and delicate lace covered the bodice in a pattern of leaves and flowers. Her hair was loose and flowing down her back, adorned only with a few spring blossoms here and there. She looked lovely, but she honestly couldn't have cared what she looked like - she was more concerned with what was coming, wanting to see Eve appear at the top of the stairs and begin the walk down the aisle, just ten short steps (she'd counted) before they were side-by-side and ready to become one.
The day had come around so quickly, sometimes she still couldn't believe it was real. After Selena had thankfully come through with the paperwork, Eve had thrown herself into planning their big day down to the last detail, determined to make it absolutely perfect even if Ivy had repeatedly told her they didn't need to go over the top. In the midst of the wedding planning, Eve had returned to the hospital for regular checkups, and finally had her stitches taken out. She now had two slight indentations, a larger one on her chest and one on her back where the bullet had first entered, pink and white scars that stood out quite starkly against her pale skin. She had gotten used to them by now, although she had chosen a high-necked wedding dress so they wouldn't be too obvious.
They had visited the venue once already, back in February, and everything was planned perfectly. They were forgoing a wedding reception, with a fussy sit-down dinner, too much cake, and dancing awkwardly around people you hardly ever saw except at big family functions; instead, they had booked two nights in one of the Wildwood Point cabins after the wedding. It was exactly what they'd wanted for their wedding day; quiet, private, and personal, just the two of them declaring their love for each other.
A slow piano melody began to pour out of the speakers set up in the corners of the treehouse ceiling, and Ivy's heart began to hammer in her chest. She swallowed hard, licked her dry lips, then turned to see Eve just as she appeared in the doorway smiling beatifically, her face flushed pink with excitement. Her blue eyes were sparkling, and the only outward sign that she was nervous was how white her knuckles were as she clutched her bouquet tightly. Ivy watched as she took a deep breath, lifted the billowing skirts of her white dress and stepped forwards, making her way down the aisle one deliberate step at a time, as if to confirm that what she was doing was completely real.
Soon but not soon enough, she had made it, setting her bouquet down on an empty seat as she passed and taking Ivy's hands in hers. They smiled at each other.
The officiant smiled at the happy couple and spread his arms wide. Besides himself, Eve, and Ivy, there were only actually two other people in the room so the ceremony could have the appropriate amount of witnesses, but this didn't deter him. "Welcome, all, on this joyful occasion. We are gathered today so Pamela and Evelyn may be joined together in matrimony, dedicating themselves to each other in love and harmony, for the rest of their lives. At this point, I must ask if there is anybody present that objects to this union for any reason? May you speak now, or forever hold your peace." He paused, as per procedure, but as they'd all expected there was only silence. He beamed again. "Wonderful. Now, I understand that the brides have prepared some of their own words that they wish to say to each other? Which of you would like to go first?" He looked between the two of them expectantly.
Ivy cleared her throat. "I would, please." Holding Eve's hands as if she never wanted to let go, she looked deep into her eyes and felt herself relaxing. Why was she nervous? There was no need for it; she was about to marry the woman that she loved more than anything else in the whole world, and here was her chance to say exactly what that meant. She spoke slowly, so that every word and the significance behind them was clear. "Evelyn, my love, the time I've spent with you has taught me that without you, I am not myself. Without you, I...I can't survive. You are the air I breathe, the water I drink, the sunlight I crave. You make me happier than I ever expected to be, and I love you more than I thought I was capable of. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you, keeping you safe, watching you grow, and loving you more each day."
Tears brimmed in Eve's eyes before she could stop them, and she hurriedly wiped them away with her thumbs, somehow managing not to smudge her makeup. After a moment, she felt she had composed herself enough to say what she had prepared, but even as the first words left her lips she felt a lump start to form in her throat. "Pamela, your...your love makes me strong; it makes me feel like I can take on anything, because you'll be right there to lift me up again if I'm down. You have given your heart and your soul to me, and in return for this privilege, I promise to look after them for the rest of my life. Come rain or shine, when the flowers bloom and when the leaves fall, as the seasons change and the world turns through each new year, I will love you for all you are and all you can be."
When Eve stopped speaking, the officiant could see that Ivy was on the verge of crying now too, and subtly brought the ceremony back on track. "Beautiful words, both of you," he said encouragingly. "Pamela, when you're ready, I'd like you to repeat after me." He waited patiently until Ivy got herself under control, smiling all the while, then began the official recitation of vows. "I, Pamela Lillian Isley.."
"I, Pamela Lillian Isley..."
"Take you, Evelyn Alice Carter..."
"Take you, Evelyn Alice Carter..."
"To be my wedded wife…"
"To be my wedded wife…"
"From this day forward, to have and to hold…"
"From this day forward, to have and to hold…"
"As an equal partner in my life, to whom I pledge my deepest love and devotion."
"As an equal partner in my life, to whom I pledge my deepest love and devotion." Here, Ivy took out the ring she had chosen, designed to match Eve's engagement ring, and slid it onto her soon-to-be wife's finger. It fit perfectly.
The officiant began again. "I will love you enough to risk being hurt…"
"I will love you enough to risk being hurt…"
"Trust you when I don't understand…"
"Trust you when I don't understand…"
"Support you in times of heartache, and celebrate with you in joy."
"Support you in times of heartache, and celebrate with you in joy."
"I will receive you as my equal, throughout all of our days together."
"I will receive you as my equal, throughout all of our days together." With these final words, unbidden, Ivy lifted up Eve's left hand and placed a gentle kiss on top of the new wedding ring, keeping her eyes on Eve's all the while, with just a hint of a smile on her face.
Turning to Eve, whose face was still flushed pink but now for a slightly different reason, the officiant began to recite the vows again. She repeated them carefully, not daring to get one word wrong. Her hands shook as she pushed the ring onto Ivy's finger, and when she was done she reciprocated the kiss.
"These two women have been joined as one, through the sharing of vows and the giving and receiving of rings," the officiant announced to the room, then placed his hands over where Ivy and Eve's fingers were still laced together. "I now pronounce you both married; you may kiss the bride."
To a light smattering of applause from the officiant and the two witnesses, Ivy pulled Eve towards and kissed her soundly on the lips. She could feel her new wife's smile against her own, and when they broke apart she noticed that the kiss had smudged Eve's lipstick. "Sorry," she murmured, gesturing to her mouth.
In response, Eve stuck out her tongue and licked her lips, making the smudge even worse. "I don't care," she said, laughing slightly, "I just don't care about anything else right now."
Together, they signed the register then posed for a photo, showered in a burst of confetti that caught in their hair. Then it was all over - they could take their marriage certificate and, holding hands, make their way down the stairs into the woods outside. Together they walked over the forest floor, skirts trailing, breathing in the fresh spring air and just relishing the reality of what had just happened. They were married; nothing could ever change that. They had each other, forever and always, and neither of them could stop smiling at the thought.
The treehouse they'd booked for their two-night 'honeymoon' after the ceremony was close by, and much larger than the first one. When they climbed up the steps and opened the front door, they were welcomed with the sight of a trail of red rose petals leading across the floorboards to the bedroom, sweetly scented candles in old-fashioned lanterns dotted around even though it was still light outside, and a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket next to a huge bouquet of flowers on the counter of the little kitchen.
"So," Ivy said slyly, "we're both brides. Who's carrying who over the threshold?"
Eve made a thoughtful noise. "You know, I hadn't thought of that - hey!" Caught off guard, she was swept off her feet into Ivy's arms before she could protest, and carried through the doorway into the treehouse, Ivy kicking the door shut on the way. Laughing, she wriggled free until she was standing on her own two feet, then pulled Ivy close for another kiss, running her hands through her soft hair and scattering flowers on the floor.
It started off innocently enough, the two of them stood together in a close embrace, swaying slightly as their mouths explored each other, but then something changed. The atmosphere between them became charged, like the tingle in the air that heralds a thunderstorm; Ivy stepped forwards and pushed Eve towards the kitchen until her back collided with the countertop, where her hands struggled to brace herself and stay upright rather than fall to the floor and bring Ivy down with her. Ivy's hands were pressing down on top of her own, keeping Eve in place while her mouth made its way down her neck. Lips drew back and teeth sank in, just above the collarbone, and Eve let out a loud moan of pleasure.
"Evelyn, love," Ivy growled, nipping at Eve's neck, "while this dress looks amazing on you, it needs to go. Now." She bit down again, slightly harder this time.
"It laces up at the back," Eve gasped out, then wrenched her hands free so she could turn herself around. WIth quick, deft movements, Ivy loosened the bodice and pushed the dress down, revealing a beautiful matching set of white lingerie - corset, panties, garter, and stockings - decorated with leaves of gossamer and silver embroidery. Ivy completely lost her train of thought at the sight.
"Pamela?" Eve turned around, showing off just how close-fitting and low-cut the corset she wore actually was, and her next words were lost in a kiss so strong it almost made her lose her balance. To save time, Ivy scooped her up into her arms again and carried her across the room, still kissing her senseless, until they reached the bedroom door.
A/N: Hi guys! Merry Christmas! Sorry I haven't written in a while - things have been crazy lately. I've had pantomime shows, Christmas shopping, taking care of my husband while he's been sick, finishing up everything at work for the end of the year...and the most exciting news of all: one of my short stories has been published in an anthology of work by young writers! There was a short article about me in the local paper, and next month I'm booked to go on local radio and talk about my writing! Exciting stuff :D
Anyway, as a gift for you on this day of gift-giving and too much chocolate, I am posting this, the long-awaited WEDDING chapter (sorry it's a bit short, but I wanted it to be a chapter on its own) as well as another chapter later on tonight once I've watched some Christmas TV. Hope you enjoy them xx
