October 5, 1981

Darry POV

I was tightening my tie just as a pair of hands covered my eyes.

"Guess who!" Allie's voice said. I laughed and took her hands from my eyes. She reached over and set my hat on my head. "You look spiffy." I turned around and wrapped my arms around her waist.

"You look so beautiful. Yellow really suits you." She wore a flower headpiece on top of her blonde pixie cut and I could feel the roughness of the lace of her dress on my fingertips. I looked down at her brown cowboy boots and smiled.

"And your cowboy hat makes you look so handsome." Allie replied. "I'm happy we decided on a farm wedding."

"Me too, dear." I sighed.

"Allie? I found the eye shadow palette I wanted!" Jennifer called. Allie laughed and rolled her eyes.

"You're lucky you don't have Jennifer chasing you around with eyeliner and lipstick all day." Allie joked as Jennifer showed her the palette.

"Definitely. You don't need it anyway; you are just as pretty without it." Allie smiled slightly as she left my arms.

"I should go. I'll see you at the wedding." As Allie skipped away, Sodapop and Ponyboy walked in.

"For he's a jolly good fellow! That's getting married today!" Sodapop sang at the top of his lungs.

"It's about time." Ponyboy joked as he tied his tie.

"She's a lucky lady." Soda said as he retrieved his hat. "And your wedding theme is awesome."

"Yup. I just can't wait to see her coming down with her dad." I sighed. Sodapop patted my back and we all walked towards the gazebo.

"Hello again Darrell." The pastor said shaking my hand. "A lovely day, isn't it?" I nodded and took a breath as the rest of Allie's and my family came to their seats.

"You mean a lot to Alex." Mark said, walking up with his wife.

"And she means a lot to me." I looked over as my section filled up. Keith gave me a thumbs up and Angelina smiled next to Jennifer and all the kids.

Finally, the music signaled the beginning of the procession. My brothers escorted Allie's cousins down the aisle, one on each arm.

As Allie walked down the aisle with her dad, I took in a deep breath and sighed, a smile finding its way to my lips. This is it. Her dad kissed her cheek and shook my hand before finding his seat.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Darrell Curtis and Alexandra Jackson through the sacrament of Holy Matrimony."

As we were saying our vows, I choked up slightly and coughed to try to cover it up. Allie smirked slightly and squeezed my hands.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." I looked over as Allie jumped up and wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around her as she finished kissing me and held her. As everyone cheered I dipped one hand under her legs and started carrying her down the aisle.

"I'm married!" She shouted, throwing her bouquet to her side of the family and tossing her headpiece to my side.

I carried her to the upper level of the barn and we watched through a window as our family gathered in.

"My mother would be so happy." She sighed, looking toward the clouds.

"Mine too." I heard Paul II talking downstairs to everyone and we got ready for our cue. As they all clapped, we walked through the saloon doors and everyone started tossing flower petals at us. We reached the cake and cut each other a piece. After Allie fed it to me she painted my lips with frosting. We then sat down for dinner. I felt a tug on my shirt sleeve and looked over at Mary holding Allie's head piece.

"Come here, Mary." Allie said before I could speak. She took the head piece from her and placed on Mary's head. "It doesn't matter how long. When it's right, you'll find him." Mary beamed, hugged Allie, and then ran back to her family.

"All righty folks!" The country singer said into his microphone. "We have a special request but I'm gonna need some help. Gentlemen." Andrew and Mark stood up and went to the front of the stage.

"Thanks. Now what we're going to do now is a family favorite. But don't you worry, you'll pick up soon enough." Andrew said motioning to Sodapop and the rest. Everyone stood up and band started playing a square dance. Early on, my side was floundering, with Keith stepping on Emma's feet every few seconds and Jennifer kept landing on her ass, but soon we all got the hang it.

"This was the song playing when my father met my mother." Allie said as we finished up the final command.

"No wonder he was smiling so wide." I looked over as Sodapop waved at me, carrying Andrea in the other arm. "I'll be right back."

"Everyone had a ball bro." He said. Jennifer nodded, holding Shayne's hand and walking with the rest to their cars.

"I'm glad. I'll see you in a while." I watched them leave and said goodbye to Allie's family.

"Welcome to the family." Paul III said shaking my hand.

"Thank you." He gave Allie a long hug and then waved as he walked. Soon everyone was gone and it was a just me and Allie. We walked to our room in the bed and breakfast and I laid my hat on the bedside table.

"Wow." Allie sighed as I laid down on the bed.

"Quite a day huh?"

"Yep." She sat on the bed and rolled into my arm. "I love you darling."

"You too." I sighed, already falling asleep.