Hi everyone, so I know what you're thinking… why start naming chapters after 56 of them? LOL. I am having a hard time going back to re-read stuff that I need to remember to fill in any holes and to keep continuity going, because I don't know which chapter is which. So, I'm starting now. I guess that's the thing with fanfics, once it's posted it's posted and you can't make changes. Hopefully there's continuity and no holes. Anyway, enjoy Molly and TJ's wedding!
Chapter 56- A Wedding, Mixed Memories, and a Confused Toddler
Alexis arrived at the church before her girls. On a small table in the foyer, was the guest book with Molly and Thomas Jr. March 14, 2020 displayed on the cover, bouquets of anemones on either side. Lucas and Curtis stood at the doorway leading to the sanctuary handing programs to Felix, Epiphany, and Amy, who then proceeded inside.
"Lexie! Lexie!" Leo, wearing a black and white suit with a red bowtie crashed into her arms, with Julian and Danny trailing behind him.
"Hi Leo!" She hugged him back, then smiled at her grandson, who also wore a black and white suit but with a pink bowtie matching the groomsmen and the bridesmaids' dresses. "Hi Danny. Are you all ready for the big day?"
He pulled on his bowtie. "Why do I have to wear pink?"
Julian grinned and tapped his shoulder. "It's just for one day, bud. Your aunt loves pink."
Danny frowned.
Julian looked Alexis up and down then cupped her face in his hands. "You look beautiful, Lex." He kissed her.
"Eeeeew!" Leo blurted out.
Alexis laughed, then straightened Julian's red bowtie. "And you look very handsome."
"Shall we head in?" Julian held his arm out for her, and she looped her hand through.
"Can I stay back here with Danny and Lucas?" Leo asked.
Julian shrugged. "For a bit, I guess. Lucas can let you know when to join us."
Alexis and Julian walked in and the sanctuary was filled with pink anemones. Felix, Epiphany, and Amy sat in the back pew on the right-hand side. Some of TJ's distant relatives took up three rows in the middle, and Stella and Jordan sat up front.
Alexis groaned. Valentin and Nina, who weren't invited, sat in the back-left row with Spencer and Charlotte who were. Dante, Lulu, Laura, and Rocco sat in front of them.
"He is my bodyguard!" Charlotte insisted. "I'm not making it up!"
"You just want to distract me from my inheritance." Charlotte and Spencer bickered back and forth as Valentin and Nina talked.
Valentin turned his head and locked eyes with Alexis, glaring at her which sent shivers up and down her spine.
They walked further down the aisle. Jax, Diane, Max, and Chase were sitting with Willow and Michael. Wiley stood at Michael's feet in a red bowtie matching Julian and Leo, and his blonde hair was slicked to the side. But Alexis groaned again. Carly, looking white as a ghost with bloodshot eyes, knelt in front of Wiley.
"Hi sweetheart," she said. "It's so good to see you."
Wiley stared at her, eyebrows furrowed.
"We're going to start seeing each other more often soon. I know it's been a while since I last saw you. But I'm your gra—"
"Gamma!" Wiley hustled past Carly and hugged Alexis' legs. "Gamma! Molly weddid!"
Alexis smiled. "I know, this is so exciting!"
She looked up. Carly's nostril flared and her eyes narrowed in on Alexis.
"Uppy!" Wiley lifted his arms up high. "Uppy Gamma! Uppy!"
Alexis scooped him up and kissed his cheek.
"Hey, buddy," Michael said. "Don't you want to sit with Daddy Michael and Willow?"
"No." Wiley shook his head, then leaned it against Alexis. "Sit with Gamma Gampa."
"Wiley." Carly rubbed his back. "I think you'll be happy sitting with your daddy."
Wiley lifted his head and moved it back and forth, then looked at Alexis and lifted his hands part-way in the air. "Daddy not here."
Michael sighed. "Bud, if you want to sit with Grandma and Grandpa, that's okay."
Carly crossed her arms. "Michael, you need to fight for your son!"
"But he wants to sit with them."
"Then I'll keep fighting for him. Come here Wiley." Carly tucked her hands under Wiley's arms and attempted to pull him away from Alexis, but he started wailing.
"Gamma! Gamma!"
"Mom, stop it!" Michael pulled her arms away. "You're upsetting him. This is Molly's wedding and I don't want you to ruin it. Now sit down!"
Carly clenched her jaw, then sat in the row in front of Michael with Sonny, Avery, Josslyn, and Cameron. Alexis and Julian walked past them, and Wiley quickly calmed down. Elizabeth was alone in the front row, turned slightly, talking to Cameron and Josslyn.
They walked over to Stella and Jordan in the front row. Alexis held Wiley with one arm and with her free hand, she squeezed Jordan and Stella's hands.
"It's a beautiful day!" Stella said, beaming. "My little TJ and your little Molly getting married!"
"It's hard to believe this day has finally come," Jordan said.
"I know." Alexis rubbed Wiley's back. "They grow so fast."
They made their way over to the bride's side and sat next to Elizabeth. She turned to them, but Cameron was still leaning forward. "The church looks beautiful. Ric has been talking about this day for weeks."
Cameron closed his eyes and brought a fist to his mouth.
"You two have been spending a lot of time together," Alexis commented. Wiley rubbed her bracelet between his fingers.
She smiled a little. "Yeah. He's been so good to my boys. Reminds me when Aiden was a baby and he rescued him from Heather Webber."
Alexis scrunched her face. "I remember Franco abducting Aiden, but I don't remember Ric rescuing him. When did Heather Webber have Aiden?"
Elizabeth jerked her head back a bit. "Franco never abducted Aiden. Heather was about to jump off the hospital roof with him, but Ric grabbed him just in time."
Alexis raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Because that sounds like Jason saving Dan—"
"Daddy! Lexie!" Leo was standing in front of them. "Lucas said it's starting."
Julian patted the seat beside him. "Come sit, bud."
As Leo sat between Julian and Alexis, Unchained Melody began to play through the speakers. Alexis handed Wiley to Julian, and she and Stella walked to the front and lit the candles. They exchanged a warm smile and returned to their seats. TJ walked to the front, wearing a black and white suit with a white bowtie, and stood next to the priest. He smiled at Jordan and Stella and folded his hands before turning his attention to the back of the church.
Alexis twisted her head around and Danny and Scout began to walk up, but Scout paused. Her face was pale, and her eyes grew wide as she looked around the room. But Danny squeezed her hand with his free hand and held a tiny pillow with his other. He whispered something in her ear, and they started walking again. Scout scooped some pink flower petals from her white basket and scattered them beside her. Each time she scattered some, she'd stop and curtsy causing the room with be filled with "Awws". Danny let go of her hand at the front and stood several feet from TJ. Scout looked out, eyes wide again, then ran behind Danny.
Alexis smiled at them and winked, then turned her attention to the back again. Lucas and Sam's arms were linked as they walked up the aisle smiling. Lucas kissed her cheek, then moved beside Danny. Sam stood on the left side and held her hand out for Scout. She scooted over to Sam and clung to her leg, peeking out at everyone.
Alexis' eyes moved to the back once more, and Curtis and Kristina walked up, arms linked. Alexis smiled at them as Curtis stood between Lucas and TJ. He patted the groom's back. Kristina stood on the other side of Sam and they sideways hugged each other.
The music grew louder as Ric and Molly entered the sanctuary and everyone rose to their feet. Alexis pulled out a handkerchief to dab her wet eyes. As they walked up the aisle, Alexis pressed the tips of her middle and index fingers to her lips and blew Molly a kiss. When they reached the altar, Molly hugged Ric. Everyone sat down—excluding Alexis. She walked over and held Molly tightly in her arms and kissed her forehead, then she returned to her seat. She glanced over at Ric who slipped his arm around Elizabeth, Cameron's lips were in a thin line. She turned back to the front. Molly stood between Kristina and TJ. She handed her bouquet to Molly, then held TJ's hands, her eyes welling with tears.
"Dearly beloved," the priest spoke. "We are gathered here today to join Thomas Ashford Jr. and Molly Lansing-Davis in holy matrimony. Their time together, they have seen their love and understanding of each other grow and blossom and now they have decided to live out the rest of their lives as one. Now, the groom's mother, Jordan, would like to read a poem."
Jordan walked up to the pulpit and unfolded a piece of paper. "Sonnet 116:
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me prov'd,
I never writ, nor no man ever lov'd."
Jordan returned to her seat and Alexis smiled over at her.
"Now Thomas, repeat after me," the priest continued. "I Thomas…"
"I Thomas," TJ repeated.
"Take thee Molly to be my wife and love from this day forward."
"Take thee Molly to be my wife and love from this day forward."
"For better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part."
TJ repeated, smiling at Molly.
"Now Molly, repeat after me…"
"…until death do us part," Molly repeated.
"And now, the rings," the priest announced.
Danny walked up to TJ and Molly and handed them the rings. Molly touched Danny's cheek before he returned to Lucas' side.
"Thomas, repeat after me," the priest said. "I Thomas…"
"…give this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you." He placed the ring on Molly's finger.
"Molly, repeat after me," the priest said. "I Molly…"
"…as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you." She placed the ring on TJ's finger.
"By the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
TJ cupped Molly's face in his hands and kissed her.
Alexis rose to her feet and clapped with everyone else, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her baby was officially married.