Chapter 37
The wedding:
Nerves were fluttering through Michaela as they put the final touches to her dress, and hair, and finally she was ready, letting out a nervous sigh.
...
Before Sully got ready he had gone to explain to Abbey and Hanna that he would never forget them but he had to live in the present and not the past. He had changed at Robert E's as the homestead was to be deserted that evening for the married couple. The children were with his Indian friends who would be staying at the apartment to look after the children while the newlyweds had a brief honey moon in Denver. Others were staying at various motels nearby.
Sully did not want to be a traditional bride groom and had asked his best man for ideas that would make this a memorable day, and Cloud Dancing came up with the suggestion of a traditional Indian wedding shirt. Michaela as Snow Bird had found out, wanted a more traditional wedding. When Cloud Dancing's wife had discovered a wedding shirt that was from the Cheyenne nation it was decided not to inform Michaela but to surprise her at the ceremony.
Sully was thrilled to be able to incorporate his brother's culture into their special day.
Finally all the guests had arrived and Hank, slapping the nervous groom on the back, jokingly said, "Although I like ya place I think it's been a bad idea marrying here. I'm sure ya'll have run for the hills. I really should have taken bets."
Tim the reverend, was waiting under the flower covered arbour with the groom and best man, all looking towards the front door. Finally it opened and out came the bride's maids and Matron of Honour as well as the ring bearer. Sully was holding his breath as Michaela emerged, looking beautiful. The veil set off the whole effect, making her look like an Arabian Princess.
Looking over she was just as surprised as she saw he was wearing a superb wedding shirt and she knew he'd put just as much thought into their special day as she had.
Gliding down the steps she was surprised that her mother stepped forward to accompany her down the aisle. When asked who gave this woman away Elizabeth said with conviction she did, and Michaela squeezed her mother's hand in thanks understanding she had given her blessing to her new family and life.
Neither remembered much of the service and Sully had asked for the song of Kenny Loggins's "For the First Time"to be played.
(Listen on you tube if you want to hear this song and imagine it being sung in this wedding)
Are those your eyes, is that your smile
I've been lookin' at you forever
But I never saw you before
Are these your hands holdin' mine
Now I wonder how I could of been so blind
They remembered the first time they looked at each other their souls being dragged together on arriving in Japan, touching each other's hands and the bolt of electricity that had passed between them.
For the first time I am looking in your eyes
For the first time I'm seein' who you are
I can't believe how much I see
When you're lookin' back at me
Now I understand why love is...
Love is... for the first time...
Japan had changed their lives for the better, inexplicably being sent there. Cloud Dancing had seen that there was someone out there for Sully while she needed to take a chance on happiness.
Can this be real, can this be true
Am I the person I was this morning
And are you the same you
It's all so strange how can it be
All along this love was right in front of me
How did they come to be in the right place at the right time? Both had been following the need for something different in their lives, not looking for a partner but finding each other anyway.
For the first time I am looking in your eyes
For the first time I'm seein' who you are
I can't believe how much I see
When you're lookin' back at me
Now I understand why love is...
Love is... for the first time...
All that had happened in such a short time and now with the children they were creating their family. Finally Sully mouthed the words as their eyes shimmered with all their memories. Then he bent forward and sang the next verse so she could recognise that he had given up on finding love again before he met her; how he had felt he would never be given another opportunity of finding it.
Such a long time ago
I had given up on findin' this emotion...
Ever again
But you live with me now
Yes I've found you somehow
And I've never been so sure
Was Japan just within this year, and the accidents that could have robbed them and ended their dream in a heartbeat? How they had overcome it all to be standing here on this their special day?
And for the first time I am looking in your eyes
For the first time I'm seein' who you are
Can't believe how much I see
When you're lookin' back at me
Now I understand why love is...
Love is... for the first time...
At the end of the song Sully leant forward and sighed into her ear, "Ya' my Heartsong forever." Smiling she couldn't have been more pleased with her surprise present.
For those who had shared some of their history saw the miracle that was their unique pure love for each other. Their feelings were rare and special.
Things did move in mysterious ways. Grace, Rebecca and Elizabeth began to sniff watching them declare their love for each other.
After the ring was blessed Sully placed it on her finger. It had Heartsong engraved on the inside.
Brian looked at Michaela who nodded and he removed something from his pocket and handed her a flat silver torque bracelet with "Heartsong Forever" in Cheyenne symbols engraved on it. She asked for it to be blessed too, and then she slipped it onto his wrist. He ran his fingers over the inscription as she leaned in and whispered in his ear, "You're my Heartsong forever." The realization that they both had of the same thought just hitting him he smiled, tears in his eyes.
Then once again the ceremony went by like in a dream.
It didn't even register the service was over until Brain's voiced came through, "Well, aren't you going to kiss mum, dad?" Suddenly they were back in the midst of the group who were all laughing.
The rest of the day was equally blurred with the reception and finally guests leaving all melted together in a haze. They truly thanked their friends for helping make their day so very special.
...
"Look my friend, this union is truly blessed," Cloud Dancing tugged at Sully's arm. They looked up to witness two red hawks circling lazily above. "The spirits have sent their blessing as hawks mate for life," Cloud Dancing smiled happily at the couple.
After the children kissed their parents wishing them a happy honeymoon and saying they'd see them in a week, the Indian couple ushered them into the car before heading off.
...
Climbing the front stairs Sully again swept Michaela into his arms and carried her over the threshold. She giggled delightedly. Instead of stopping he continued to carry her to their sanctum and gently placed her on their bed. Climbing on beside he began kissing her softly at first but the flame quickly grew.
Then he could take it no longer, they had waited so long to show their love to each other. Slowly pulling her to her feet his glance asked permission to begin undressing her. She gave an imperceptible nod.
He encircled her with his strong arms and began gently undoing the long row of pearl buttons down her back, never taking his clear sapphire gaze away from her mismatched eyes that held the colour of the forests. Sully wondered who would have thought the sky and earth would meet like this, fused together in a look.
Michaela ran her palms up and down the Indian shirt and played with the decorations silently wanting to feel Sully's strong muscular chest under her hands. Seeing her need he stepped back when he had completed his task and slid the beautiful dress over her delicate shoulders, and undoing the small buttons at her wrists he gently slid the top off. It hung from her waist and he marvelled at her beauty.
"You are so beautiful," he said in a husky voice never lowering his eyes from her face, grazing her shin softly with his finger tips he caused her to quiver all over.
He placed his hands over hers inviting her to help him shed the shirt. Pulling it up and over his head she saw the gleam of his skin under the soft mat of curly hairs on his chest. With a sigh she ran her hands up his arms and down his torso to his waist. He groaned with pleasure, her touch sending tremors of desire into the pit of his stomach.
Guiding her to the seat at the vanity saying "here, let me," he began pulling out the pins and flowers from her hair and ran his figures down its length brushing the skin on her back that sent shivers down her spine. He marvelled at the softness and feel of it as it tumbled down to her waist like a copper curtain. Watching in the mirror as she closed her eyes and leant into him at the sensation he lent forward and whispered, "First time I saw ya' I thought ya' had the most gorgeous hair I'd ever seen." Sucking her ear lobe while smelling the fragrance he loved that was distinctively her, he elicited another sigh from her. Then he removed her shoes and stockings kissing her toes after he had finished.
Moving back he pulled her up and slipped his own shoes and socks off before he again encouraged her to undo the clasp in his trousers and tug them and his boxers off. Finally he stood in front of her, tanned and muscular as only he could be. She began caressing his chest again and stepped into his embrace. After a tender kiss he stooped to assisted her to step out of the only piece of clothing between them. She was perfect, more than he had ever imagined. Tenderly he run his hands over her soft body.
Never taking his eyes off her their gaze locked and they marvelled at their good fortune once again. As the evening sun was filtering golden through the lace curtains it cast a halo around them. They stood perfectly still looking at the most gorgeous being in front of them, their love reflected in the mirrors of each other's eyes.
They wanted to savour every moment they had, as he had said ages ago: they'd take it ever so gently. She knew that Sully loved her with all his heart as she did him and she knew he wouldn't hurt her, even though she was still very shy and bashful.
"Oh Michaela I love ya' so much it hurts," he said. "As I said I will love ya' all my days, honour you and worship ya'." His voice was husky with emotion.
"And I will you," Michaela replied back to him. "It's no longer you and me, it's us." Feeling secure, she continued, "You are a part of me now. That's a very powerful feeling. One I've never felt before." And once again she gave her lips for an adoring kiss that soon consumed them with a passion they had been denying themselves for so long.
Overcome he scooped her up, gently placed her on the bed and joined her laying along side of her. They were both on fire caressing each other lovingly, kisses becoming deeper, *healing hearts* beginning to race as their enthusiasm soared.
...
So as two souls came together as one they stilled. They marvelled how the universe that had brought them together. They knew that less than a year ago they were still looking for their other half, never thinking they would be given the gift of a second chance of happiness. He feared he'd lost her in Japan. She thought she had lost him when the helicopter crashed and now they were together as soul mates never to be parted again.
...
Torque bracelets don't meet and will come off and not get caught if snagged in case of accidents.