A/N
Sorry for the delay. Between crazy life stuff happening this one took a little longer than I'd thought it would. It had more tweaking and is longer than the others and, given what is in here, really needed to be right! So I'm finally happy with it. Still plenty of work to go on the rest of the wedding chapters but never doubt that I'm working on them when I can and will get them out asap.
This one changes point of view, between Callen and Jessie, a couple of times but where it changes it carries on directly from the previous point. I've marked these places with the faint line break (like below) so you know and hopefully it won't mess with the flow.
Hope you enjoy, love to hear your thoughts.
Chapter 181 - Wedding Day Part 4
"G, stop worrying."
"I'm not."
Sam snorted. "She's not even late yet and you know Jessie. She won't be."
Callen turned to Sam. "I'm not worrying. I'm …. impatient. I want this done." Okay, so maybe there was a touch of worry about whether Jessie was having any issues after the nightmare last night but aside from that he was just simply eager to have her as his completely.
Sam raised an eyebrow and his lips twitched. "Can't wait for the wedding night huh?"
"Sam," Callen shook his head with a little chuckle. He wasn't going there with Sam and getting him off the topic quickly was needed. Luckily he knew just the question. "Care to tell me why you were so nervous on yours?"
It would be nice to hear the details from the big man himself. He was sure the perspective from the bride was different to that of the groom.
"Michelle was late. I was … nervous that she'd changed her mind."
"Really? You couldn't eat breakfast Sam. She wasn't late then. And that's not what Michelle told me. She was on time."
"She wasn't. Now come on G. Leave me a few secrets."
Callen raised an eyebrow, his curiosity spiked. "It was that bad you don't want to tell me the why?"
"You two ready?"
Trevor's voice unexpectedly popped into the conversation and both Callen and Sam turned to him.
"What's keeping you?" Callen asked.
Trevor rolled his eyes. "Perfection takes time." His gaze focused on Callen. "And you'd better appreciate it."
Callen grinned. "Of course I appreciate her. Always have." He knew it wasn't exactly what Trevor was referring to.
Trevor chuckled at the response. "Okay I can't argue with that but you might want to save the sweet talk for when your girl can hear it."
"Oh I think he has other kinds of talk in mind for Jessie," Sam added.
"Glad to hear it," was Trevor's response which had Eric splutter in the background. Sam chuckled and Trevor winked at Callen before he added, "Well if you're ready, she's ready."
"Well beyond ready. Stop keeping her from me." With the spark of amusement clear in the roll of his eyes, Trevor walked away. Callen watched as he stopped briefly to say something to Nell before he disappeared around the side of the house. Music started to play and Callen's heart beat kicked up a couple of notches with anticipation.
"How late?" Callen asked Sam, curiosity getting the better of him even though his eyes didn't stray from the last spot he'd seen Trevor. Because that would be the first spot he'd see Jessie. And if he didn't ask the question now, he was bound to forget to after Jessie did arrive.
Sam sighed. "Half an hour late," he said in a low voice that wouldn't carry. "She doesn't know it, at least she's never mentioned it, so I assume she doesn't know."
Curiouser and curiouser. "Half an hour?" Callen shook his head. "How could she have missed that?" Michelle was notorious on being on time for personal things because of the life they lived and knowing that being late could easily be taken as something bad had happened. Any time she was late a heads up via text, or a phone call, was made well beforehand.
"Rather not say."
Callen raised an eyebrow at that answer, one that definitely didn't satisfy his curiosity in any way. He kept his eyes trained on where Jessie would appear as he asked the question, "What did you do?"
"That," Sam said in his serious don't keep on this track tone, "is none of your business. Plus," Sam nudged him a little. "Your girl's coming."
He knew. Callen had spotted Trevor first just a few moments before Jessie had come around the corner on the arm of Gibbs.
The sun dipped behind a cloud causing the light levels to drop at that moment but Callen didn't need the sun. Because, in a way, she was his sun. With her beside him in the dark times, and there had been some incredibly dark times already, there was always a light from her, guiding him to her and them through to the other side. She made his life brighter, happier, even if at the same time the future they were headed to scared the hell out of him, even more than it used to, because he suspected if anything happened to her he wouldn't survive it. Live maybe, but his heart? No. The heart that beat for her wouldn't anymore.
Jessie caught his gaze and smiled. Callen smiled back. As he watched her walk closer he got to witness the special smiles she shared with certain other guests, different and specific for each one, but eventually her gaze was drawn back to him. And this time it didn't leave.
Jessie got closer but it was much too slow for his liking, even though the progress was in time with the music. A quick glance at Gibbs told him all was good and a small amount of tension Callen hadn't realised he still had slipped away.
She was here. Would be by his side in a few moments - his to love and protect. His to ensure that the day went better than she could possibly dream because he didn't intend to leave her side again today. He refused to think of worst case scenarios. He'd only go there if he had no choice.
Jessie's hand was soft and strong when it was finally in his. Callen squeezed it gently and smiled. Her eyes were deep brown, shining with emotion and potential tears but they'd be good ones he knew, because there was no way he could miss the happiness that also shined bright and strong in them. She was barefoot, they all were, since the original plan had been the beach, which meant she was slightly shorter than him. He reached out with his other hand and caught the curl the breeze had blown across her cheek.
Callen smiled. "Hi."
"Hi." Jessie's response was soft, both smile and words. Callen felt a strong urge to tug her forward, close enough to bring her body against his and easier to kiss. But he didn't, not yet anyway. He let his gaze settle on the heart that hung from the chain around her neck. It was his first chance to see it on her. It fell perfectly in between her collarbone and the neckline of the dress. Trevor had a hand in that because Callen had left it up to him to get the right length chain since he had no idea about the dress. The necklace almost hadn't made it in time. The jeweler had been hunting for another gem similar to the one he'd had used for her ring since he'd first spotted it but it had been more difficult than either had expected. Last week the jeweler had finally called to say he'd been able to source it. Hetty had brought the finished product with her when they'd arrived yesterday. His thumb rubbed over her ring and felt a little jump in his heart and smugness that he was the one who was smart enough to place that ring on her finger and would be claiming her completely with the one he'd add to it today.
"It's beautiful," Jessie said. He lifted his gaze. "Thank you," she whispered and stepped closer. Before he knew it her lips brushed his cheek and her scent enveloped him. "The flowers are perfect too."
"Glad you like them." Callen turned his head but he wasn't quick enough to catch a kiss from her with his lips.
"Now now," Eric said and Jessie jumped. Callen fought back the grin because she wasn't the only one who had forgotten about everyone else.
"Dearly beloved," Eric started. "We are gathered here… Wait. What?"
A drop of water fell on Callen's cheek and he looked up at the clouds that had hidden the blue sky and sun. At that precise moment they opened and released their load.
Deeks' voice stated the obvious. "It's raining."
Eric squeaked. There were squeals and rushed footsteps as the guests all made a beeline toward the back porch.
Callen and Jessie looked from the clouds to each other but neither moved. Considering the heaviness of the sudden downpour it probably didn't matter since they were well and truly wet already.
"Seems appropriate don't you think?" Jessie smiled.
Callen knew exactly what she was thinking. The first day they'd met it had been pouring with rain. Callen had gotten more than a little wet with Hetty's punishment. Hindsight told him it was the best punishment he'd ever received.
Callen grinned. "It does." He glanced down at her, the off-white dress he'd barely glanced at now wet and clinging to her body. Not see through but certainly hinting more at what was underneath. "At least this time you're wet with me."
"Do you think they'll come back on their own or do we have to drag them out here?"
The rain eased off just as suddenly as it had come, retreating to a light sprinkle.
"Callen!" Gibbs yelled. "What are you waiting for? Get in here."
"No," Callen called back. He watched the smile grow on Jessie's face and his own responded without any conscious thought involved. No, this was perfect. It was how their relationship had started and it was the perfect way to shift into this next stage. "We're wet," Callen added loud enough for the others to hear. "Might as well keep going as planned." He wasn't sure if any others would make the connection to their first meeting but it didn't matter. They didn't need to know. "Come on." He pulled his gaze from Jessie to glance back at the wet and bedraggled wedding guests on the porch. "Not afraid of a little water are you?" he challenged.
There were murmurs, glances and shrugs before slowly, one by one, they returned to Callen and Jessie. There was some good natured grumbling and teasing along the way.
"You've got to be kidding me," Eric said when he was next to them again. "You really want to do it like this?"
"Yes Eric," Jessie said. "We really want to do it."
Callen rubbed his thumb lightly over the inside of Jessie's wrist. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion and he grinned at her. "Yeah Eric," he added. "We really want to do it .. like this." It was the barest hint of a pause but Jessie's lips twitched in amusement at the double meaning that went right over Eric's head.
"Lucky I don't need my notes." Eric lifted up the wet pieces of paper in his hand. He grinned. "I'm sure I can wing it well enough."
"If I catch cold," Arkady grumbled, "Expect pretty doctor to look after me. Yes?"
Callen glanced at Arkady and shook his head. "Nope. She's all mine." He glanced at Hetty and back to Arkady with a grin. "Hetty'll look after you though."
Arkady's eyes widened and he swore under his breath in Russian before he switched back to English. "I be fine. Just move it. Vodka calling."
"Vodka's always calling," Sam muttered, not quite soft enough that Arkaday missed it - deliberately Callen was sure. The Russian fired a look at Sam before he shrugged in acceptance. Callen wasn't entirely sure there had been many meetings between the two men where vodka hadn't been involved at some point.
"Dearly beloved," Eric started in a loud, confident voice.
"That's stretching things a little isn't it Beale," Deeks said, "at least for some." Callen didn't need to look to see that Deeks was watching Arkady as he spoke.
"Enough," Michelle said firmly. Callen saw Jessie catch her bottom lip between her teeth in an attempt to stop herself from laughing. He could see how close she was in her eyes. It wouldn't take much and boy was he tempted to do something to get it.
"Thank you Michelle." Eric took a breath and continued, though not quite as confidently as before. "We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Jessie and Callen. It cost me a surfboard and a trip to Hawaii, but I digress."
Callen and Jessie both turned to stare at Eric.
"A trip to Hawaii?" Callen repeated.
"Yeah." Eric glanced away and a blush rose on his cheeks.
"Oh please," Jessie said with more than a hint of amusement in her voice, "tell me you didn't bet with Nell on us again?"
Callen raised an eyebrow when Eric's head and shoulders dropped in admission.
Nell giggled behind them. "He did. He thought this would happen while you were still in hospital." So Eric was going for sooner rather than later this time and still lost. "I figured," Nell continued, "once Callen was back walking and…" She trailed off making more than just Callen curious about where she was going with that, especially considering the blush that surfaced on Nell's cheeks. "Anyway, he's taking me skiing."
"It's just like surfing Eric," Sam said with a firm pat on the younger man's back which almost took Eric off his feet. Sam was ready for it and bought his other hand up onto Eric's shoulder to stop the expected stumble. "You'll be fine."
"It's not surfing," Eric protested.
"It's water," Callen said deliberately provoking Eric.
Eric looked up and narrowed his eyes. "Frozen water … Snow. It's not… Michelle!" Eric looked pleadingly at Michelle but this time she wasn't any help.
Michelle shrugged and held up her hands. "You should've learned last time not to bet on these two, or against Nell. You're on your own."
"Callen?" Eric turned back. "You want to be married or not?" A hint of surprise shot through Callen at the implied threat behind Eric's question. Even if he wouldn't be able to pull off the hinted at blackmail, because there was no way Hetty would allow it, the fact that he'd gone there was surprising.
"Yes," Callen said.
"Then tell them to stop," Eric pleaded.
Callen turned to the crowd. "Okay, enough. Let him marry us … then he's all yours."
"But -" Eric sighed in resignation. "Moving on… please. Who gives this woman to this man?"
"I do," Jessie said softly as she stared into his eyes.
Callen shifted a little closer, his thumb still working over the inside of her wrist, enjoying the sensation of her skin under his.
"Anyone object?" Eric asked.
"Will shoot who does so think carefully," Arkady piped up behind them. A chuckle went around the guests and this time Jessie lost the struggle not to join in. Callen let himself enjoy the sound he loved to her. He winked and she smiled.
Eric cleared his throat. "I believe you two have something to say yourselves first before I get to the rest of the official part."
"We do," Callen said. "I'm first."
He tightened his hold on her other hand, lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of it. It had taken him a lot longer than he thought to try and put into words the most important things he wanted to say. Luckily he'd had plenty of time to focus on it over the last several weeks. Though he suspected there might be a little bit of winging it. He'd never really been that great at reciting lines.
"Jesinta Valentina Blake." Callen smiled. "Jessie. I love you. You are the key to my heart. A heart that without you, your love and patience, would still be locked up tight. Because of you I have the love of family, blood and otherwise."
Because he knew without her encouragement and understanding he would've given up on Garrison a while ago.
"Something I fought hard against because with that came the risk of pain and abandonment and I didn't want anymore of that in my life." He took a breath, brushed another kiss on her fingers this time and held her hand to his heart. "I thought it was better if I was alone and had little to lose." Because he knew that he hadn't had nothing to lose since that day Hetty came into his life, even if it took him a while to admit it to himself. Callen took a deep breath when the emotion welled a little more than he was used to. "I was wrong. So very wrong. Life is so much better now. Because of you I can, not only accept their love, but love them the way they deserve."
He was more open with Sam, more open with the team and Hetty because of Jessie, because of the changes in him that her being in his life brought within him, both conscious and unconscious - but all very welcome. Callen left her hand on his chest and reached out to wipe away the tear that had fallen onto her cheek. He knew exactly which drop it was even with the other drops from the rain. He returned his hand to cover hers.
"I've learned so much about love from and with you. It's not just about being willing to give up your life for someone. It's also about being willing to live for them. Be there for them and give them what they need, even if it comes at the expense of your own needs sometimes. You are the reason my heart beats Doc. The reason it feels and loves again."
Now came the harder part. It wasn't fun but it was something he wanted her to hear and know and never forget, even if it wasn't entirely happy.
"Would I die for you? Yes. If that was the only way to save you. Yes I would. Without hesitation and I would not regret it." Jessie caught her lip with her teeth and another tear fell but he kept his hand over hers, both above his heart that was beating a little faster than normal. "Yet you are the reason I want to grow old and grey." His voice started to choke up a little and another tear fell at the same time her fingers brushed gently on his chest in a reassuring comforting motion. "You are the reason I will fight every day to do so and be by your side until that day comes and so many more after. You are the other part of my soul. A part I didn't know was missing until you slipped right through all the walls, gates and protection I'd placed. Until you made me whole. You helped heal parts of me that were broken, find things that were hidden, even from me. You," he squeezed her hand and fought past the increasing tightness of emotion in his throat, "you are my home. Something I craved and wanted my entire life but was terrified to reach and find. Home wasn't a house or address like I thought for so long. Home is you. And no matter where we are, as long as I have you, I am home." He lifted her hand to his lips once more, smiled and kissed it. Jessie sniffed and pulled her hand away to wipe away the tears that had fallen.
"Thought I told you," Jessie managed to get out though the tears were heard in her voice, "to stop getting better at tell."
Callen grinned and leaned in close so his next words were just for her, in all ways. "Not a chance. And I'll prove it more later."
Jessie took a deep breath and reached for his hand once more. She held it against her cheek. His thumb shifted ever so slightly in a gentle caress that made her heart leap and yet another wave of emotion rush over her.
"Grisha Aleksandrovic Nikolaev Callen." She smiled. No, not quite right. "G." Much better. "I love you. You are the final part of my soul. You are my home. My safe place." Her smile grew knowing what he'd probably be thinking when she referenced safe, "even if you don't think you are." She took a breath and turned her head to press a kiss to his fingers. "But you are more than that. You are my courage and my strength. Without you there are things I could never have faced. I have done things because of you that I never dreamed I could do or overcome. You make me better and braver and stronger. I trust you completely. With my heart. With my soul. With my body and my life, my future." She shifted his hand from her cheek to her heart to match with her next words. "You hold my heart in your hands. You have the power to crush, hurt or destroy it." Her eyes stayed locked on his and even though the tears were slowly, yet steadily, escaping neither reached to brush them away this time. "Yet I'm not scared for it. I'm not afraid. Because I trust you to protect it, and me, with everything that you are." He'd proven it more than once. "Losing you scares me. Living life without you by my side terrifies me but because you are my courage, because you make me braver and stronger, I will fight those fears. I will grab hold of you with both hands and live this life with you by my side. Facing whatever comes our way. Together. Always. What I feel for you is so much deeper and stronger than I ever dreamed possible." To feel something that was so much more than she felt for Trevor was something she didn't expect but then he himself was completely unexpected. "You are the man who helped me face my deepest and darkest fears. The man who held me when I cried for those I didn't even know, who took care of me when I needed it and couldn't ask. The man who would give his life for me if necessary - even before he truly knew me, before there was an us." Jessie took another deep breath and let it out slowly to gather a little more control of the emotions before she continued with this next, very important part. "G, I know that somewhere inside you continue to fight against feeling unworthy of love. I know it's not so frequent anymore," but she did see it in his eyes sometimes. He'd push it away fairly quickly but she wanted it gone. "And I am very glad of that but this I promise to you here and now." Her voice got stronger. "One day it will all gone. Because I will not stop fighting until you know completely, deep down and all the way through, just how worthy you are of the love that surrounds."
"Someone else is getting better at tell too."
Jessie smiled. "I've had an exceptional teacher. G, there I things I wish I could promise you, things I wish you could promise me but we both know the world we live in doesn't allow those kind of promises. But this I can promise you. I love you. I will always love you and nothing and no one, will ever be strong enough to stop me."
Callen shifted closer and put his forehead to hers. They both took a deep breath. The tears fell from her eyes, down her cheeks, heavier than before. Her throat was tight but she wanted to say it again.
"I Love you," Jessie whispered, just soft enough to reach his ears.
"Love you too," Callen replied marveling as he did so at how easy, and right, those words were these days.
Eric cleared his throat. "So are we ready for the official stuff." The sniff at the end of Eric's words, as well as the tone of his voice made it clear that Jessie wasn't the only one with tears.
"We're ready." Callen lifted his head and smiled at her. "Very ready."
"And you will let me do it right?"
The laughter that slipped from Jessie's lips was a mix of the emotion the vows had brought out in her and happiness. To Callen's ears, and heart, it was the sweetest sound.
"We will Eric." Jessie caught Callen's gaze with his. "I promise we will." There was a look of warning in her eyes, along with a twinkle of amusement. She'd didn't need to warn him. There was no way he would interfere with this part.
"Do you G take Jessie, to be your wife. To have and hold, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health from this moment on?"
"I do."
"And do you Jessie take G to be your husband. To have and hold, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health." There was a slight pause and Callen expected something else to come out of Eric's mouth but he continued the way he had before, "from this moment on."
"I do too."
Eric passed Jessie's ring to Callen and Callen's to Jessie. They slid them onto each other's fingers as Eric continued.
"With these rings you promise to laugh often, smile frequently, kiss even more. To hold on to one another even tighter when the world is crashing around you. You promise to support and lift the other higher when needed. To walk side by side, hand in hand, and live one more heart beat, always just one more, for each other." Callen had to say he was pretty impressed with Eric's ability to craft together these words. They were perfect.
"We do," they said together.
The wedding ring Callen had made for Jessie slipped perfectly in beside her engagement ring. Twelve small gems had been embedded into the ring in a gypsy setting, each gem just a touch different from the others but cut from the same stone that had created her engagement ring.
Callen's ring slid on just as easily as Jessie's though his was a simple plain band. Jessie had insisted on adding an inscription to both rings, one that she hadn't shared with him yet. He was curious about when she'd let him in on that secret.
Callen stepped closer, close enough that their bodies lightly brushed together and for Jessie to need to look up into his face, as Eric continued with the official part Callen was looking forward to the most.
"Then I am very pleased to pronounce you husband and wife."
Jessie and Callen turned to Eric when he didn't continue.
"You may…. Now," Eric said very slowly with a grin and twinkle in his eyes. "Kiss…."
"Eric," Callen warned.
"The bride," Eric finished quickly. "You can kiss her. Go for it."
Callen pulled Jessie closer, their bodies now flush against each other, slipped his hand into her hair, carefully as he was unsure how wet and tangled it would be but was pleased to find it almost dry deep under at the back of her neck.
"With pleasure," Callen whispered. His lips brushed hers lightly once and then settled firmly. Their clothes were wet and a touch cool but her lips were warm and giving, welcoming and familiar. The sound of the gentle crash of the waves a short distance away on the beach disappeared, as did the cheering and the whistles as they sealed this additional set of promises with a kiss that was sweet, tender and full of emotion. And one that didn't go anywhere near as far as their private version did … that would come later. Where their bodies touched, warmth grew and Callen's arm tightened around Jessie's waist, bringing her even closer. Jessie's arms slipped around his neck, her body shifted against his. A jump in the heat of the kiss indicated a promise of what was to come, later when they were alone. They both pulled back together and Callen rested his forehead against hers.
"Mine," he whispered.
"Mine too," she replied.
"Always."
