Eliot was finishing up his bowtie as he trotted down the stairs into the conference area where the girls had taken it over as the bridal suite. Sophie was adding the finishing touches to Parker's hair and makeup. She looked perfect. She had her hair pulled up in an elegant braided bun with tendrils of hair framing her face. Sophie had her makeup natural and glowing. She looked ethereal.
"Did you need an escort down the aisle?" a posh voice asked from the direction of the front door. Parker whipped around in surprise, recognizing the voice instantly.
"Archie!" The tears came immediately as she squeezed the silver-haired thief.
"You? A crying bride? Have I been called to steal you from this wedding?" There was a touch of concern in his smile.
"No," Parker declined with a laugh as she squeezed him again. "I just...I was trying to get a hold of you and everything happened so fast and here you are…"
He dabbed a finger on her nose. "You know I only show up at the precise time I mean to. And Sophie wanted it to be a surprise. You know I wouldn't miss this for the world. I do like the boy."
Parker turned to wordlessly thank Sophie as she swiped the tears from her eyes. "This is why I put waterproof makeup on you. For once, I wanted you caught off guard," Sophie said wryly. She checked the time. "Oh, we're cutting it close. Eliot you should already be upstairs. As should Savannah and I."
So Eliot made his way to the roof ushering Savannah and Sophie in front of him. Nate waited at the altar with Hardison. Nate had gotten reordained for the occasion. Nate wore solid black while Hardison contrasted with a classic black suit accented with an emerald green bow and pocket square. Eliot stayed classic black with a sage green shirt. He jogged to Hardison's side as Sophie and Savannah took their places on the other side of Nate.
The archway was simple, almost. It was two curved sides that met at a point made of dowels covered in clear and green crystals that caught the light beautifully from the slowly setting sun. Off to the side of the ceremony area was a table draped in sparkly fabric akin to the overlay on Parker's dress. Atop it was a a three foot tall chocolate covered pretzel traced in regular chocolate covered pretzels. Around it were a dozen bottles each of orange soda and Thief Juice II wine and beer (drinkable batches) . At one end of the table was a bone-in prime rib large enough for the seven of them (probably more) ready to be sliced, and at the other was a small mountain of squid ink pasta, both a top low flames to keep them warm, a courtesy of a late night from Eliot.
Archie and Parker appeared at the end of aisle constructed from metallic silver tiles. Hardison's smile got bigger and bigger with every step she took as did Parker's. They got to the altar and Parker and Archie kissed each other's cheeks. He said quietly to Hardison, "I'm obligated to tell you that my canes have been upgraded in case you hurt my daughter."
Hardison couldn't stop smiling. "I expect nothing less, Sir."
Archie had his own smirk as he took his place next to Eliot. Nate began. "As pretty much everyone here knows, I struggle with expressing my emotions in a way everyone agrees with." The opening was met with giggles. "These two people standing before me did a lot to help me overcome my demons and become a better man and a better husband. I'll be direct in saying that I couldn't be prouder and happier that they're here today ready to share the love they encouraged me to pursue with each other. They have written their own vows because the traditional dribble would never do for these two. Hardison?"
Hardison held up a finger and placed a small metal box with a shiny black dome on top of it a few feet down the aisle that he retrieved from the side of the altar. He pulled a remote from his pocket, clicked it, and replaced it. A projection of stars lit up the roof. In the projection, clips began playing; clips of Parker and Hardison; working, gloating, in the offices, out on the town. Some were images Hardison had collected of their dating life. Others, it seemed, were snippets of security footage he saved and scrubbed and edited them all together into this romantic black and white montage. As the images floated through the sky, sound bites were heard; sound bites collected from the coms, saved, and curated, to create this.
"I think people are like locks…you have to take time and be fiddly."
"I like how you turned out."
"Do you hear me, Alec? I need you!"
"You're not alone anymore...you have me."
"Kiss for luck?"
And there was a vaguely familiar humming. Parker smiled wide as tears fell freely. Sophie was quietly sobbing. Every eye was glassy at the least.
Hardison took Parker's hands. "Parker, it is a known fact that I have loved you since the day we met, and I promise I will never stop loving you. I promise I will put you before every video game, every new gadget release, and every job. I promise to hold your hand through every dark night and every awkward social interaction. I promise I will never hold you back, unless you're trying to stab somebody. And I promise I will never stop trying to make you smile." As he finished his vows and the giggles quieted, he reached up and thumbed a few tears away from her face, ignoring the ones that slipped down his own.
Before anyone could disintegrate any further, Parker cleared her throat, her voice surprisingly steady. "Alec, there aren't a lot of people that have been patient with how different I am, and I'm really glad you were one of those people. I promise you that you'll never be alone, and I'll never forget you're there. I promise I'll never climb higher than I'm willing to take you. I promise to never hide from you. I promise I'll love you more than anything, even money. And I promise you'll never be bored."
More laughter. They had to make it funny. "And with that leap of faith into the next phase of your relationship," Nate started with an air of anticipation. Parker and Hardison pulled closer. She reached underneath one of the slits in her dress and clipped something to a belt that blended in with his waistcoat. "And by the power vested in me by the state of Oregon," Nate continued as the anticipation built further. Parker gave a yank. Nate skipped gracefully to the side. "I now pronounce you husband and wife." Hardison and Parker, clutching each other and grinning ear to ear, went flying over the edge of the roof. Everyone turned to lean over and look. Somehow, Hardison was unshaken. "You may kiss the bride!" Nate called to them. It was a kiss years in the making. It warmed the heart. It filled the soul.
As lips parted, Hardison tried to sound calm as he asked, "Can we go back up now?" but his voice trembled just enough to give him away.
"Yeah," Parker answered, a little shake in her voice too. She reached up and gave another yank, and the newlyweds sprang upward. The wedding party helped them over the edge and worked the harnesses out of their clothes.
A song started that Eliot didn't care to listen to as Parker and Hardison shared their first dance. Nate took Sophie. Eliot took Savannah. Archie swung his cane to the rhythm. It was bliss. Every tragic turn in their lives lead to this moment, and it was worth it.