June 16, 2005
Day 365
The big day had arrived, and Mike wasn't sure he had ever been so happy in all his life. He knew he should be nervous - wasn't that the cliché about wedding days - but all he felt was an overwhelming joy. Maybe it was the fact that they had kept the wedding itself a small and simple affair. Maybe anything he could be nervous about paled in comparison to all it took to get to this day. Or maybe, he was just so head-over-heels in love, that nothing else mattered.
While the Byers had told them to plan out their perfect day, and they would work around any difficulties, Mike and El had still insisted on making sure the location was acceptable. As soon as planning had begun, El knew the one place she wanted to pledge her love was in the garden, the place Mike had built for her. Mike and El had approached their friends carefully, making sure they would be comfortable with it, particularly Will, and assured them they could pick somewhere else if the Byers weren't alright with the location.
Will had been nervous, and it had taken a few visits before he stopped keeping one eye on the portal every time he stepped through, but he got comfortable with visiting the garden and spending time there. If El could survive the Upside-Down and still trust stepping into this garden paradise, he could do it too. By the time the wedding arrived, he hardly thought about where it was he was going as he helped Mike carry the rented tables and chairs through the gateway from the garage. Besides, he now had a baby at home, and his whole perspective on the things in life he found terrifying had shifted entirely.
El and Jen had taken over the cabin, closing themselves away as they put the final touches on hair and makeup. While there was nothing overly traditional about their wedding, Mike had been kept in the dark about El's dress, the girls determined to keep it a surprise. Meanwhile, Mike was on guest duty, greeting new arrivals at the front door and ushering them through the garage and into the garden. It was unusual, to be sure, but everyone had known in advance what to expect.
Will had arrived early with Jen, lending a hand and putting the final touches on things with Mike. His parents arrived a few hours later, little Benjamin James Byers asleep in his car-seat, a tiny bow tie clipped to his pajamas for the occasion. Mike got a firm handshake from Bob, and a tearful hug from Joyce, still in disbelief that little Mike Wheeler was actually getting married, and to El of all people.
Joyce and El had already shared a tearful reunion the month before, when the Newbys flew out to meet their new grandson. It had been a bittersweet occasion, Joyce alternating between thanking El for finding Will and bringing him home and Mike for doing the same for El, and apologizing for any part she played in El winding up lost there. Through the years, she had tried to hold out hope that Mike's search would have a happy ending. While she understood little of how he was actually going about the search and the things he was building to locate El, she recognized his determination. It was the same determination he had clung to when promising they would find Will.
The others arrived in ones and twos. Max and Lucas, blinking hard against the bright sunshine of the garden. Karen and Ted, the relief clearly visible on their face to step through the portal into a better world than on their last visit. Holly came through with a grin, followed by Nancy, Jonathan and Eric, the youngster insisting on going back and forth a few times, enthralled by the novelty of the portal. Dustin arrived in the garden tugging at the tight collar of his suit; he was never one for getting dressed up, but this was a day he was more than willing to put on a suit and tie for.
Last to arrive was Becky, nervous about stepping through a glowing disk of light on the promise it would deliver her safely to some other world. She was proud of her niece and all she could do, and she trusted Mike's ability to safely construct and navigate the portals, but the whole idea still had her on edge. The concepts felt like something straight out of the pages of an old sci-fi paperback and they had now become a regular part of her life.
Jen emerged from the cabin, signaling to everyone the bride was ready. As the others took their seats, Will and Jen joined Mike, standing in their proper spots as best-man and maid-of-honor. Dustin, ordained online a year earlier to perform another friend's wedding, joined the others to stand and wait for El to make her grand entrance. Mike had been dubious about the legality when his friend first offered to officiate the ceremony, but Dustin assured him it was all legitimate, and added that the garden was probably outside of state jurisdiction anyway.
Mike looked over the assembled group in their small cluster of chairs, a jittery excitement starting to seep into his limbs. His eyes passed from one smiling face to another until he came to a pair of empty chairs and had to fight off a catch in his throat. It had been El's idea, setting up the extra seats for those that couldn't join their happy day. The first held Hopper's old hat, freshly cleaned for the occasion, both knowing he would have joined in the celebration if the guilt hadn't taken him. The other was adorned with a small bouquet of daisies, carefully assembled by El in memory of a mother who loved her daughter more than life itself and fought to the very end to find her little girl.
There was only a moment to reflect on the loss, when his eyes were pulled to a far happier sight, as El walked out of the cabin. Stepping off the porch and out into the warm sunshine, her dress shone a brilliant white. Held gently in her hands was a simple bouquet, daisies like her mother's, and a few of the pale pink roses from the middle of the garden. They had gone back and forth on the idea, but decided against any sort of music for the ceremony, so Mike watched with bated breath as she walked slowly toward him accompanied only by the distant twittering of birds, a gentle breeze, and the pounding of his own heart. While he never considered himself particularly religious, Mike was certain in that moment, her beauty surpassed that of angels.
As El finally reached Mike, her eyes focused only on him, Dustin motioned for the others to be seated.
"Friends. Family." he began, glancing at the speech he had prepared. "Those gathered here, and those no longer with us. We come together today, to witness Mike and El declare their love and join one another in the bonds of matrimony. Their journey to reach this moment began many years ago, and I think you would all agree, their connection was something truly special from the very start. The road that has led them here has not been an easy one, and much of it they walked alone, with only memories and hope to keep them going. But through it all, their love and commitment to one another has given them strength, and they have overcome every obstacle the universe has thrown at them."
A series of nods and quiet murmurs passed through the group, everyone thinking back across what they knew of the journey. They were familiar with Mike's trials, and had heard plenty of El's, and none were confident they could have managed.
"Mike and El have written vows they would like to share at this time. El, when you're ready."
Passing her bouquet to Jen, El reached out and took hold of Mike's hands in her own.
"Mike. I knew I loved you, before I ever knew the word. You opened your heart to a stranger in a storm, and promised to keep me safe. When you learned the truth of who I was, you could have turned away; declared me a monster. Instead, you only pulled me closer, held me tighter, promised harder. I vow, from this day on, my unending love. I choose you as my husband, my partner and friend, to love and to cherish. My heart is yours, now and forever."
It was short and simple, but spoke volumes. Dustin gave her a smile, before turning to Mike.
"Mike, when you're ready," he prompted.
"El, my love. In the darkest moments of my life, you were there to light my way. When I thought I couldn't go on, you were my strength. I vow each day to help you see how singularly amazing you are. Wherever life takes us, whatever comes along, good or bad, we will face it together. I choose you as my wife, always in my heart. I will love you now, and always."
Lifting her hands, Mike placed a gentle kiss to El's fingers as he finished.
"That was beautiful, you guys," Dustin whispered, before continuing. "As a circle has no beginning, no end, may the rings you are about to place on one another's hands represent an unending love. May they remind you each day of the vows you've spoken here, and the commitment you share."
"Mike, please place your ring on El's finger, and repeat after me. With this ring, I pledge my love. A symbol of our strength and commitment. In sickness and in health, for all the days of my life."
Mike slid the ring gently down her finger, keeping a soft hold of her hand as he repeated the words. He was doing his best to not get choked up, a few happy tears burning at the corners of his eyes.
"El, please place your ring on Mike's finger, and repeat after me. With this ring, I pledge my love. A symbol of our strength and commitment. In sickness and in health, for all the days of my life."
"Mike, with this ring, I pledge my love," she began, slipping the ring down fingers calloused by years of toil, recalling once again all they had faced and all they had survived to reach one another.
Dustin continued on, "May the love you share withstand any storm, any trial. May it serve as an example to others. May what has been joined today never again be parted. It is with great pleasure, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
For a moment, they simply stared at one another, lost in love and each others eyes, until Dustin gave Mike's arm a nudge.
"Well? Go on and kiss her already."
With a blush and a smile, Mike leaned in, raising one hand softly to her cheek as their lips met. It was official, he was hers, and she was his, forever. He used to think the old phrase 'til death do us part' had an ominous air to it, but it no longer gave him any pause. Death and every other terror had already tried to pull them apart, and all had failed. As they parted, Mike opened his eyes and saw nothing but El staring back, joy and love painted across her face. He felt the doors of their past closing one by one, like so many dismissed portals, and an infinite future opening up before them.
The afternoon was spent among family and friends, cake and punch shared. Stories were passed around amidst smiles and a few happy tears. Will gave a toast to the happy couple and El gifted her bouquet to Holly. Soon enough, the party dwindled and guests said their goodbyes. Jen and the baby headed home, while Will stayed behind to help cleanup. Together, he and Mike broke down the tables and chairs and brought them back as far as the garage. Will would deal with the rental company picking them back up while Mike and El were out of town on their honeymoon.
When all was settled, Will gave Mike one final clap on the shoulder and bid him goodnight with a final congratulations. After watching his friend go, Mike locked up the house and stepped back through to the garden in search of his beautiful bride. She had whispered to him hours earlier that she had a surprise, but had refused to elaborate. Traversing the carefully tended path, he found her waiting expectantly at the front door of the cabin, the interior lit by dozens of flickering candles. He pulled her into his arms, their lips meeting once more, as El gave the door a gentle nudge shut with a thought.
The honeymoon was unlike anything El could have imagined. While they weighed out a lot of options, El decided she wanted to visit Hawaii for their special trip. Although many of the pictures reminded her of their own garden paradise, she knew from all the bridal magazines she and Jen had poured over, that it was a classic choice for many couples. As much as people strive to do unique things, she found herself drawn to doing something perfectly ordinary. The flight was not her favorite - a little too loud, a little too fast - but stepping out into the warm, fragrant sunshine was like nothing she had ever experienced. The island was gorgeous and their hotel was better than she could have imagined. Sitting arm in arm on their private balcony, looking out over the ocean and watching the sun go down amid more colors than she even thought possible, El found herself willing the world to come to a stop, so they could live in that quiet moment forever.
To prepare for their trip, El had faced her lingering fears of water, and let Mike teach her to swim in the lake not far from their garden. That opened up more perfectly normal activities on their trip: splashing in the waves on the beach, lounging about the hotel pool and taking a day-trip snorkeling out at a reef. After a few days of watching surfers riding the waves, El decided she wanted to try her hand at a beginners class their hotel offered. Mike fell plenty of times, but El took to it quite naturally. He playfully accused her of giving herself a little mental assistance, but she insisted it was all her own doing. He had to accept her answer, after all, because friends don't lie.
It was a week and a half of spectacular, wonderful, perfectly ordinary things. They were a couple in love, without a care in the world but each other. Warm breezes, good food and a quiet pace left them at peace, the nightmares staying blissfully away. Before they knew it, ten days in paradise were done and it was time to head home. Already getting an itch to see more of the world, El spent most of the flight back flipping through a travel magazine, excitedly pointing out to Mike all the places she'd like to visit. Without her noticing, Mike started writing down a list, determined to get her to each and every one of them.
There was a familiarity arriving back at the house, and yet, for El, it somehow felt brand new. As she unlocked the front door, El suddenly found herself off her feet as Mike scooped her into his arms. It was an old tradition, one neither of them even knew the origins of, but Mike insisted on carrying her through the doorway that first time. Fighting off a giggle, El met his lips with her own as he set her gently back on her feet in the front hall.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Wheeler."
Home. A word she hadn't even known growing up. A word she had tried to define for herself over the years: a place, a person, a feeling? Home was a promise. A promise made, and a promise kept; one that carried her through her darkest moments. A promise and a dream that helped her survive...how many days was it? She couldn't really recall off the top of her head anymore. The numbers seemed less important with each passing day.
"Home," she agreed with a smile.