A/N: CRY I DID LOL
Song: Surrender- Natalie Taylor
Chapter Twenty-Four
I Do, Always
"Am I supposed to feel this way?" Mercedes asked looking at her friends as she looked at yet another dress.
"How do you feel?" Quinn asked holding up another dress that she quickly dismissed.
"I don't excited, screaming on the inside… nauseous like in a good way. I still can't believe I'm getting married to Sam." Mercedes said smiling and everyone noticed how happy she was before seeing the tears rolling down her cheeks and they all came to her pulling her into a group hug.
"What's wrong?" Tina asked wiping a tear away.
"No, no these are beyond happy tears. I'm marry the love of my life and I have all of you..oh, you all have been so vital in all of this. Me escaping and staying out was the scariest thing I've done but then Sam… he never ever stopped trying to make sure I was okay. He called you and Puck when I hurt myself. Then you Santana to help me grow stronger and believe in myself again, and he made sure you and Mike knew I was okay without my knowledge. Kurt, Rachel and Britt you and your kindness and willingness to let me in and accept me have shown me that family doesn't just consist of blood ties. I see all of you as my family and I love you all so dearly and I wouldn't want to be here with anyone else but you all." Mercedes said honestly looking at all of them who were now also crying.
"We love you to Mercy-me, always will… Finn was telling the truth when he said you gave us back Sam so how could we not love the person responsible for doing what we couldn't? You are family… we are family all of us and we will always be here for you like we know you'll be here for us." Kurt said with warm smile.
"Whew… I thought my hormones were crazy." Rachel said with a soft giggle making everyone else laugh.
"Yeah, let's find you the most unicorn-ist dress! Though I don't think you should wear the one you have in mind." Brittany said making everyone look at her with a confused expression.
"What dress do you suggest then?" Mercedes asked humoring the blonde and Brittany sighed before walking away and after several minutes Santana figured it was time to go find her but Brittany reappeared with a dress in her hand with a bright smile.
She walked straight up to Mercedes and handed her the dress that was covered up so she wasn't sure what was waiting for her underneath but she was willing to have an open mind. She asked Santana to hold it while she uncovered the dress and immediately gasped at the gown, slightly touching it in aww of it's beauty. It was a beaded gown with plunging neckline and galaxy sparkle tulle with an open back the thing that stood out the most was the color, it was pale lavender with a little lilac mixed in with it.
"Oh Brittany… it's so perfect!" Mercedes said hugging her tightly. "Think Sam will like it?" She asked after pulling away.
"He'll defiantly love you in and out of this dress… maybe we can find some sexy underwear since you'll be braless already." Tina said winking.
"Go try it on!" Quinn and Rachel said at the same time and she nodded taking the dress to try it on. She let out a deep breath before slipping the dress on, she had her back away from the mirror not wanting to see how she looked just yet but once she heard the knock on the door she knew they were getting impatient.
"Just a second!" She said before turning around looking at herself and forcing herself not to cry. She admired how the material look against her skin and how it felt, she looked at the fact that the once bruised covered flesh was now beautiful and soft except for the love marks Sam left making her giggle. She loved everything about the dress and knew it was the one.
"Oh daddy… I wish you were here, I wish you could meet him I know you would have loved him." She said to giving herself a slight hug before walking out to show her friends her dress.
…
The whole yard was decorated even though they were getting married by the pond, they chose a white, gold and green theme symbolizing new beginnings and growth. There were flower trails leading from the stairs inside to the pond and also out back where they planned on having their dinner. White lilies, babies breath and white rose petals scattered all around making it look as though they were floating on soft clouds and they had candles lining the trails, there was also soft white tulle draping the banisters with golden flecks and greenery. They got a massive country S shaped table that was adorned with green foliage, babies breath and candles as the table runner each end having some draping off the ends and instead of chairs they had long benches.
The wedding site had a huge circle arbor with flowers draped around it as well as thin fabric creating a floating effect. There were even more flowers, though the guest list was small everyone that was there was family to them both and much to his surprise Mercedes asked Roderick to walk her down the isle stating that he was like the brother she always wanted and reminded her a great deal of her father much like Sam. The chairs were decorated in soft tulle as well with flowers on the legs a few on each side so that there would be an actual isle. Even though there agreed on no bridesmaids or groomsmen the women all agreed to get dresses in matching colors but different styles so she could still have the pictures to show their children and the men agreed to wear similar flowers as Sam on their lapels for the same reason. The biggest attraction was Blue who was adorned with flowers in her mane that was braided beautifully along with Mercedes's horse who she named Hudson after her father, she had taken the time to bond with her horse and learned how to ride thanks to Sam who made sure she learned on both Blue and the other horse while he trained Hudson. Hudson was as beautiful as horses can be and she loved him dearly, they agreed they wanted to ride off into the sunset after they said I do before joining their friends for dinner.
"Where's Cedes?" Tina asked wanting to see her friend before everyone headed outside to sit.
"She said she wanted a moment alone before the ceremony started." Kurt assured Tina before heading downstairs with Tina closely behind.
Mercedes looked at herself in the mirror smiling, her hair was in soft waves cascading around her face she didn't want a veil so she settled on a small flower wreath donned with babies breath and mini roses, her bouquet was full of blooming lilies that had a hint of purple in the petals with more foliage around it. Her make up was light and very much simple she wanted to feel as natural as possible mainly because of the fear of her face running if and when she cried but also because when Sam and her met she was wearing barely any makeup. He surprised her with a pair drop diamond earrings and a matching necklace with a note attached saying
For your something borrowed and something old. These were my mother's and her mother's before, she wore them when she married my father and when we havea little girl you can give them to her.
She was moved to tears because a few days before he finally unlocked his parent's room and showed her their room. He kept everything the same as his parents left it, his father's shoes were in the same place and his mother's perfume still sitting in the same place on her vanity. He shocked her by saying that he wanted that room to be the nursery because whenever he went into there it always felt like love and he wanted their children to feel surrounded by it. She agreed under the condition that re-purposed their bed and make it in a crib, she knew talking prematurely about having children and planning their nursery was bad luck but she knew eventually they would have one so she didn't mind.
She heard the knock at the door and knew it was time, she did a quick look over before grabbing Sam's gift and her bouquet before opening the door and smiling at how handsome Roderick looked in his suit. It wasn't like the butler suit Shane made him wear it was an actual suit, she knew the Sam was wearing a Grey suit as were the rest of the men but she wanted Roderick to wear black because he was doing something she view as important, he was doing what her father never had the chance to do give her away to the man she loved.
"You look stunning." Roderick said with a proud smile, he pulled her into a tight hug careful not to mess up her hair.
"Thank you and thank you for agreeing to walk me down the isle." She said grinning.
"Always, ready?" He asked holding out his arm for her to take and she did without hesitation.
"Beyond!" She said as they started walking down the stairs, she knew everyone was already there waiting but the one person she couldn't wait to see what going to be at the end of the dock and her heart began to flutter and the butterflies that were only slightly going crazy were on high alert as the music started.
We let the waters rise
We drifted to survive
I needed you to stay
But I let you drift away
Everyone stood as she approached and they all looked at her with bright smiles which she returned and Beth even reached out for her and she was half tempted to take her but Quinn shook her head making her giggle. She finally looked up locking eyes with Sam's and she saw the pure love all over his face. She didn't notice when she first glanced but he was crying which made her smile and cry as well. His green eyes were bright and said do much but love was the loudest, he turned slightly to wipe his face before returning to look at her smiling.
My love where are you?
My love where are you?
Whenever you're ready, whenever you're ready
Whenever you're ready, whenever you're ready
Can we, can we surrender?
Can we, can we surrender?
I surrender
The closer she got the more she felt those five years fall away, all the hurt and pain washing away from her and being replaced by love, joy and kindness. Her heart was still and at peace, her mind was clear and for once in a long time she was making a decision purely made from love and wanting, wanting to be with someone who loved her for her and not wanting her to be something she wasn't. Sam was and would always be her happy ever after, he was what her father wanted for her when she fell in love.
No one will win this time
I just want you back
I'm running to your side
Flying my white flag, my white flag
My love where are you?
My love where are you?
When she made it to him, he gently stroked her cheek and mouthed 'I love you' which made the officiant chuckle at his eagerness. Sam looked at Mercedes with so much love and admiration, his heart was so full that it felt like it would burst. Seeing her come down the isle in her beautiful dress took his breath away because she was walking towards him, to be his forever and he knew he would hold onto her until his last breath because she was his everything.
Whenever you're ready, whenever you're ready
Whenever you're ready, whenever you're ready
"Who gives this woman to be married today?" The officiant started.
"I do." Roderick said proudly before smiling at Mercedes and placing her hands into Sam's.
"We all do!" Everyone else added making them both laugh.
"Well I see that this union is indeed favored..." The officiant said smiling.
Can we, can we surrender?
Can we, can we surrender?
I surrender
"Now the bride and groom wanted to release these three doves in respect of their late parents so-"
"Four actually." Sam said with a smile looking at Mercedes who was sporting a confused look.
"We only needed three baby." Mercedes said still confused.
"I know but the fourth one is… I know you don't like talking about this but I wanted to release this baby dove to symbolize the one you lost." He said softly and Mercedes's heart thumped loudly against her chest in shock. "I know I didn't know you then and I know how it came to be that you lost it but I wanted you to know I would have loved him or her as if they were my own. I wanted to release this one especially since you and I are trying for our own little miracle, not to replace the one you lost but to add." Sam finished handing the smaller dove to Mercedes how held it close to her heart while looking at Sam with so much love.
"Thank you." She said as he handed her another dove she kissed them both and they let them all go at once and in that moment a beautiful beam of light flicked making them both smile.
"Do you Sam take Mercedes to be your lawfully wedded wife and live together forever in the estate of holy matrimony? Do you love, comfort, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse for as long as you both shall live?
"I do. I do so much." Sam replied lightly squeezing her hands as he felt tears forming again.
"Do you Mercedes take Sam to be your lawfully wedded husband and live together forever in the estate of holy matrimony? Do you love, comfort, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse for as long as you both shall live?
"I do, always." She replied smiling up at him.
What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. With the power vested in me by God and the state of Tennessee I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride. Sam didn't hesitate he pulled her into him cupping her face and kissed her like it was the first and last time he ever would be able to kiss her, she smiled against his lips before wrapping her arms around his neck and deepened their kiss before pulling away when everyone started cheering loudly.
Sam grabbed her hand and walked her down the isle they stopped and hugged everyone before he helped her mount her horse then he with his own and they told everyone they join them after their stroll. Mercedes looked a her husband beaming at him as they rode slowly away from their friends as the watched them fade off.
"I have something to give you." She said once everyone was out of ear shot.
"You've given me everything today." He replied smiling at her.
"Well this will just add to it." She said handing him the gift she had been holding on to since Roderick gave it back when she walked back down the isle. He shook hie head taking the gift from his wife smiling and feeling extremely lucky to have her as his own.
"You really didn't need to do this-" He said before realizing what it was and looking at her with more tears in his eyes. "Mercy..."
"Technically I didn't do it, we did." She said smiling as he made both horses stop, he quickly dismounted his horse and reached up for her to help her down.
"I love you, I love you both!" He said caressing her face before dropping to her stomach and kissing her belly.
"And we love you too." She replied pulling him up to kiss him.
I surrender
Soooooooo! They're married! I know her name is now Diane but I'm still calling her Mercedes Diane is for legal reasons only lol Also THAT WEDDDDDINNGGG! Roderick giving her away! The doves! SAM! SHE'S PREGNANT! (Yes we knew that already but still) Aslo him wanting his parents room to be the nursery! LIKE I LOVE HIM OKAY! LOL
Also I know the song I chose was a little odd but thinking back on what they've both been through it's perfect for them because they had to surrender to the things around them to make it to each other.
Until next time XOXO