AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hope you guys enjoyed the double update! Chapters 43 and 44 are up 😊
Also: The song referenced in this chapter is "From Eden" by Hozier.
xxxxxxx
Traditionally, Paul and I weren't supposed to see each other the night before the ceremony. Originally it was planned that I stay the night at my grandmother's, and Paul spend the night at Reggie's. But, neither of us could go through with it and we stayed together at home.
Our loved ones settled for splitting us up the morning of. Paul and I didn't welcome it. Before sunrise, we laid awake together.
Today would be the day. It was here.
"Don't go getting cold feet on me." Paul dragged his knuckles between my shoulder blades, back and forth. "You're mine. You promised."
Paul had boughten a white gold ring to match mine. I could feel the cold metal brush my skin. Jewlery felt foreign on Paul, but he never complained about the ring. He swore he'd wear one with me forever.
"You couldn't change my mind if you tried, Paul."
On my stomach, I shut my eyes in bliss as Paul leaned in and kissed where he'd been gently stroking.
"You won't regret it." He promised.
"I'd never." I promised back. "You're the best decision I'll ever make."
We left the television off. Didn't turn on the lights. Our dexes were charging and untouched. In the dark, we were fine to just lay there together.
Paul didn't get up for coffee. I didn't get up for juice. Breakfast was the last thing either of us thought of. We didn't want to move. The clock was ticking away and we couldn't part knowing it was time we wouldn't get back today.
"I don't remember agreeing to this." I complained, staring at the digital alarm clock. "Did we?"
"We didn't." Paul reached past me and turned the clock to face the other way. "Don't stare at it."
The big numbers would have begun carving a pit in my stomach if Paul didn't intervene. They never felt so dire before. Time's slipping away.
"Is it too late to tell them no?" I twisted some of my pillow case between my fingers.
Paul thought about it. We could cancel the morning plan. But, there was likely a reason our family members were doings things the way that they were. They never did us harm. They wouldn't start now.
"One morning." Paul downplayed it for my sake. "Then never again."
xxxxx
Two rides pulled up to the apartment building later: Reggie's van and Alain's car. Paul reluctantly went with his brother. I wanted to follow him but wasn't allowed to.
Alain was given the task of taking me to my grandmother. I had to go with him to get this day started. I climbed in, wearing the disappointment on my face. He didn't take it personally.
"You knew we'd be splitting you up this morning." Alain reminded me. "Hating it already?"
"Yeah..."
"It's your wedding day. You'll see him again soon."
I didn't have anything to say on the drive, staring out at the road. Every tree and building we passed felt like a mile in the wrong direction. Paul was on the other side of Town...
We passed the bakery we ordered our wedding cake from and it gave me a bittersweet feeling. I'd cut it later with my husband.
My grandmother's apartment building came in to sight like a castle in the distance. Salvation? No. But, it was the most comfort I'd get this morning.
"Ready to be Mrs. Mason?" Alain asked with a coy glance.
"I'm ready to be his, period."
"Then let's get you all dolled up."
xxxxxx
I got dressed at my grandmother's, watching the antique clock on her mantle with a fluttery stomach. Murkrow flew over and perched himself in front of it. He tilted his beak down at me, giving a slight shake of the head.
"...did we have to do this?" I asked.
Murkrow nodded. The question was for my grandmother.
My grandmother combed my hair in to place, humming to herself with fondness. I fiddled with the cufflinks to my tux.
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder." She rubbed a smidge of gel between her fingers and smoothed the hairs down at the nape of my neck. "You learned that, didn't you?"
"I'm already pretty fond of Paul..."
I'm marrying the man. By choice. I'm not sure there was a need for this overplayed tradition to separate spouses.
"This world's a beautiful place." My grandmother told me. "Wherever it takes you, I wish you nothing but lovely memories with Paul."
"I already have so many."
"You'll make many more after today."
Finished with putting me together, my grandmother went to work on herself. Alain came around the corner with a lint brush, rolling it over my back and shoulders for good measure.
"Looking sharp, Man." He encouraged me. "As soon as Maggie's done, we can hit the road again."
My grandmother pulled her hair back in a braided bun and wore a sunny yellow dress. There was nothing wrong with it. But, I did a doubletake at the vibrant color.
"Did you expect me to wear black?" She laid a seashell necklace over her collarbone.
Fixing her earrings, she gave me a serious look.
"This isn't a funeral. It's my sweet boy's wedding day."
"I think we're ready to go." Alain decided. "You're both dressed."
Alain loaded us in to his car. My grandmother sat in the backseat with me. She held my hand for the ride.
I was quiet. And, still. You would have thought I'd be restless with excitement to be heading in the right direction this time.
"Nervous?" Alain peered back at me through the rearview mirror.
"Not really...it's crazy this is happening. That's all."
"Your definition of crazy must be different than mine. Of everything that's happened this year, you two getting hitched makes the most sense to me."
I chuckled. It was a crazy year. A lot went down. We learned about ourselves, each other. Found growth in calcified wounds.
Somehow, new roots broke through and here we are. Blooming together with Reggie and Maggie happily watering us all. The blossom Reggie was particularly fond of turned his eyes back to the road.
"Now, then. When are you getting married?" Maggie gave Alain her cheeky, prying inquisition.
"Me? Married?" Alain adjusted the mirror. "What makes you think I'd get married?"
"That doesn't answer my question."
Treating the question as impossible, Alain shook his head.
"Reggie doesn't need to be tying himself down to a mess like me." He sighed without malice. "I haven't earned it."
"...did he say that?" I asked, because it didn't sound at all like something Reggie would say about the love of his life.
Reggie's world turned upside with him gone. He kept it together as best as he could, but that man had a hole in his heart for years.
"No. He didn't say that." Alain clarified. "I'm saying it."
"I say you're as naïve as the day is long." Maggie chided. "That man loves you. And, you best know that right this instant."
"...He could do better. I should've never wasted his time with my bullshit when I did. I don't know what the hell I did to deserve a second chance."
A past of drugs and reckless behavior hung over Alain's head. He almost lost everything.
"You're here ain't you? You're alive, you're breathing." My grandmother told him. "Could have been six feet under years ago."
"...almost was."
"Life doesn't truly start until you forgive yourself, Sonny. Reggie already has. Don't you worry about that."
Getting close to the house, Alain called to give Reggie a heads up in time to keep Paul out of sight. I don't know where he hid him, it was most likely his own room. Reggie put me in his room while he finished getting the backyard in order.
The hardest part about this was, when I actually started to get nervous, the one person I wanted to hold my hand wasn't even allowed to see me. I teared up in frustration. I had this feeling too many times in my lifetime.
My grandmother had gifted Reggie a copy of the one photo she sneakily got of Paul and I as kids. It was on his bedside table. I sat with it.
Reggie was busy outside with something, and my grandmother helped him. I don't know what exactly it was, but it left Alain responsible for making sure no one left their room. He knocked and poked his head in.
"Hope you're not getting too antsy, Reggie's just tied up with some finishing touches." Alain updated me. "You know how he is."
Seeing me sitting there with the picture frame, Alain quickly realized my mood was turning glum.
"He's right down the hall in his room. Hang in there."
"...I don't like this."
Understanding and patient, Alain did his best to comfort me.
"If you miss him this much now, it's working."
"What's working?"
"Your grandmother and Reggie, they're keeping you separate to give you time to think this through."
Think it through?
"Noone has any doubts." Alain saw the panic in my face. "It's for your own peace of mind."
He glanced back towards the hallway.
"And Paul's."
"...he isn't having second thoughts, is he?"
"Ash. You're smarter than that, Dude."
Alain pulled his head out, hearing Paul call him from his room.
"Hold on." He shut the door.
I heard him open Paul's bedroom door, and it shut right away. He must've been in there with him because I didn't hear them talking. Oh God, what was Paul saying that he didn't want me hearing?
When Paul's bedroom door opened and shut again, I hurried to my door to ask Alain if this wedding was still happening. I put my hand on the door knob.
"Don't open it."
"Paul?"
He sat down on the other side of the door, back to the wood.
"If the door's shut, we're technically not breaking any rules." He explained. "Let's not get Alain in trouble."
I sat down, appreciative that Alain was bending the rules for us. The separation fulfilled its purpose. Now it was only creating uneasy anticipation.
"Alain said you're upset. I should have put my foot down and kept you with me." Paul berated himself in his dull way. "I know how your mind works. You worry until it makes you sick."
"I try not to."
"You can't help, Baby. It's not your fault."
"You won't get sick of me for it, will you?"
Paul answered calm, and firm.
"Not at all." He said. "Stay there. I'll be right back."
He left and came back in less than a minute.
"That was fast. What did you do?"
"Grabbed something."
Before I could ask what, guitar notes came through the door...I thought it was odd he'd grab Alain to play for me.
"Babe. There's something tragic about you. Something so magic about you. Don't you agree?" Paul himself sang. "Babe, there's something lonesome about you. Something so wholesome about you. Get closer to me."
He...he was playing his guitar. And, singing.
For me.
"No tired sigh, no rolling eyes, no irony. No 'who cares', no vacant stares, no not from me." Paul sang in his low voice. "Honey, you're familiar like my mirror years ago. Idealism sits prison, chivalry fell on his sword. Innocence died screaming-Honey, ask me I should know."
He rested his head back along the door between us.
"I slithered here from Eden just to sit outside your door."
I rested my forehead along the polished wood, holding on to every lyric.
"Babe, there's something wretched about this. Something so precious about this. Where to begin? Babe, there's something broken about this, but I might be hoping about this. Oh, what a sin..." Paul trailed off. "To the strand, a picnic planned for you and me. With a rope in hand for your other man... to hang from a tree."
I shouldn't have smiled at the last bit. But, Paul's faintly withheld chuckle from his own joke made me.
"Honey you're familiar like my mirror years ago. Idealism sits in prison. Chivalry fell on his sword. Innocence died screaming- Honey, ask me I should know."
I shut my eyes blissfully, palms flat along the door.
"I slithered here from Eden just to sit outside your door."
xxxxxx
The beauty of Reggie's backyard was in the comfort it brought. The life, the greenery and the nurturing that made it what it was. No matter where you came from, this space was universally soothing to the eyes and mind. Dare I say it, it was magical.
But, the backyard had never been quite as magical as it was today. All the Pokémon gathered together, sitting around the chairs in the grass. In their hands and mouths they held different colored flowers.
Reggie, Alain, and my grandmother sat in view of the altar adorned in white roses. In a modest, charming way it looked like something out of a story book.
Paul stood waiting. I smiled immediately. While neither of us were nervous, it was a relief to see each other. I'd seen him that morning, and being separated for hours was harder than I thought it'd be. I kept reminding myself I'd have him back
My grandmother got up to walk me down the aisle that the Pokémon cleared to the altar. Altogether, the group seamlessly divided in two and parted for us.
"Come along, Ash." She took me by the bend of my elbow.
I'd never get tired of hearing those words.
At the altar, she handed me off to the true love of my life. My soon-to-be husband.
Reggie and Paul stopped at the hair salon today, it looked like. His shoulder length hair was trimmed at his chin. He looked great.
Relief washed over the both of us to be physically reunited. I took Paul's hand, squeezing it lightly.
I had no doubts this was the right person. If my grandmother trusted him with me, she'd trust him with her life. And the rest of mine.
"Ready to get married, sweet boy?" She asked.
"I love him, Grandma." I didn't anticipate myself getting choked up. "So much."
"Then, let's get to it." She gave us each a pat on the arm. "There's no time like the present."
So enthralled with Paul, I didn't notice until just then that there was no marriage officiant waiting for us at the altar. It was empty. I scanned the yard, looking for someone to come walking.
"...where's the marriage officiant?" I brought my gaze to my grandmother.
"You're looking at her."
There was never a dull moment with her. She was full of surprises. If anyone were to marry us, my grandmother was the most deserving.
"I haven't always been a little shopkeeper in these parts." My grandmother winked. "Imagine that?"
Reggie cried tears of joy before we said our vows. He did his best to contain himself, wiping his eyes with the back of his wrist. Though dry-eyed, Alain was happy for us.
But, he was happiest for Reggie.
This man lived to see the boy he raised find love against all odds. His little brother made strides this year. He was a happier person. With that, Reggie was a happier person.
"You did great." Alain whispered. "Paul turned out fine."
The proof was at the altar.
"We've gathered here today to see these two young men married." My grandmother announced. "But, let us also celebrate two boys who found their way home. The journey wasn't easy. With this union, we honor every step."
When I kissed Paul, tying our lives to one, I couldn't cry. I was too happy to shed tears. We were at peace.
The world around us seemed to stop and melt away when our lips met. It was only a moment. But, a moment was all we needed. We had years ahead of us. Forever started now.
Today marked the end of our trial. We weren't fighting our burdens, anymore. Or, our differences. It wasn't us versus ourselves. It was us against the world, now. That, we were sure of.
The weight of the world lifted. The scales tipped in our favor. With good intentions, and a little help along the way, we found balance.
xxxxxxx
Reggie hired a professional photographer. The woman posed us under the big tree in the yard, taking some shots of us there before we cut the cake. She got pictures of everyone, including the Pokémon.
Pikachu got a dab of cake frosting on his nose, which she quickly snapped for our album. She also got a great picture of him and the Pichu playing with Electivire. The Shinx were eager for their turn in the spotlight, posing together for a photo with their mother.
"They're so photogenic." The photographer praised. "They have such strong personalities for Pokémon."
"They're special." My grandmother agreed, stroking down the Luxray's head. "Oh, so special."
Reggie was ordering three copies of our wedding album. One for Paul and I, one for himself, and one for my grandmother.
"...Aren't those like super expensive?" I whispered to Paul as the photographer showed Reggie the digital photos a few yards away.
"Just be glad we don't know anyone else who'd like an album. He would have gladly paid for more."
I could only laugh. It was entirely Reggie's way to overspend on mementos. At least the album he was buying for us counted as our wedding gift.
We later learned that it counted towards it. There was more.
A surprise honeymoon was arranged for Paul and I. We intended to plan one for the Summer but my grandmother and Reggie had already made our reservations and bought the plane tickets. They bought five plane tickets.
"We're all going on vacation next week." Reggie showed us the plane tickets. "Our wedding gift to you."
"Alola?" I read.
"Your grandmother said it's beautiful this time of year."
Knowing for herself first-hand, my grandmother promised it'd be great.
"It's time you see where you're from." She added. "Our family goes generations back. Oh, I miss the homeland. This will be good for everyone."
I was a justified combination of apprehensive and excited. My dad still lived on the island the last I'd been told. But, my grandmother promised me this trip was strictly for us.
"I wouldn't do that to you." She reassured me. "You've been through far enough."
xxxxx
I would never suspect my grandmother of lying. But, I ruminated over the possibility. The thought felt irrational. It was irrational.
"Margaret wouldn't put you in a position like that." Paul said it so confidently. "She'd give her life before she let anything happen to you."
His tux was hanging in the closet alongside mine. Paul carefully put our shoes away on a shelf.
"You don't really think she'd do something like that, do you?"
"Logically? Absolutely not."
"People like us will always distrust to some level. It's part of growing up the hard way, is all."
In bed, I used the indigo blanket my mother made for me. I balled it up and held it close like a pillow. Paul took it and shook it out before throwing it over me.
"Next week, you're going to have the time of your life." He laid himself down. "Just us, the beach, and the resort."
"Three other people are coming with us." I reminded him.
"I'm keeping you to myself as much as I can. It's our honeymoon."
I wasn't particularly exhausted from work day to day, but having some time to just be with Paul sounded nice.
The quaint resort my grandmother chose for everyone didn't have a traditional hotel. It was a smaller attraction in the heartland of the Island with individual cabanas that were truer to the way of life there. She knew the owner and had no trouble reserving the best ones.
They had one specifically for newlyweds. Paul and I got a partially secluded cabana by the ocean to ourselves. It was big for two people and towards the other end of the beach where regular guests stayed.
When we arrived that night, jet lag hit us hard. It was dark out, but we were wide awake.
"Switching time zones is tricky." Paul opened his luggage to pull his things out for the night. "Downside to traveling."
"The good outweighs the bad." I stayed optimistic. "There's a lot of cool stuff to do here…or there will be when it's not like three in the morning."
Not knowing what to do with myself, I followed Paul's lead and opened my luggage.
"We should try and get some sleep." I suggested. "Get used to the time zone here."
Trying was pointless. We were in bed for maybe ten minutes before Paul decided there was no way he would fall asleep.
"So much for that." He laid on his back.
"Wanna watch TV?" I asked, with few options to be had otherwise.
"Couldn't hurt."
I climbed out of bed and fetched the remote off the TV stand. Not being a huge television person, Paul let me flick through the channels for anything remotely worth watching.
"Nothing interesting." He grunted. "Figures."
You can imagine our surprise when we stumbled upon some mature content. On screen, there was a petite man getting bodied pretty hard by someone notably bigger than he was.
"I take it back." Paul decided, holding back a laugh at my stunned silence. "This looks interesting."
"…porn and TV aren't the same thing."
"I don't think it matters right now."
I put the remote down. We laid together, watching the erotic programming. The men on screen were in bed. The larger of the two had the other clutching at the headboard, it rattled with his thrusts.
I shifted my hips when the man on screen gave pleasured yelps. I felt Paul's stiff cock pressed in to my ass.
"That sounds a lot like you." He kissed the back of my neck. "But, I like the sounds you make, better."
Paul snaked a hand up the front of my shirt. Lightly pinching a nipple, he played with it while we watched. His open mouth kisses made it all the more stimulating. He was paying more attention to me than he was the screen.
"Whose ass is this?" The man on screen demanded.
He pulled the bottom's hair, forcing his head back.
"It's yours! It's yours, it's yours, it's yours!"
Paul's hand changed paths, moving south. An involuntary moan slipped my lips as he took me in hand, stroking with his warm fingers. I fidgeted under his touch, making more pleasured sounds.
On screen, the top ripped the smaller of the two off the headboard and pinned him face first to the sheets. The steady beat of flesh hitting flesh grew louder until the man pinned gave muffled screams.
At this point, I was completely turned on. The top seemed particularly familiar. I wouldn't have minded the same treatment. I focused on the feeling of Paul's cock pressed against me as he worked me below the waist.
What started as slow, sensual strokes became increasingly aggressive. Paul touched at me faster and harder until I was at the brink of losing it. I cried out, about to have my orgasm ripped from me and all over Paul's fingers when he abruptly let go.
"No." I whined, grabbing his hand before he could completely take it back. "Paul-"
"I want to fuck you." He growled outside my ear.
He ripped his hand back and flipped the sheet away, dragging my briefs down and off my legs in one fowl swoop. I rolled back towards him and he shoved me back in to place.
"You packed lube, right?" I asked.
"It was the first thing I packed."
Retrieving it, Paul slicked himself down liberally. He left me on my side, penetrating from behind. He pushed me slightly forward and I curled around a pillow to push my waist back for him.
The position was close and snug. Paul's thrusts were short and hard. Blind to what he was doing behind me, I didn't see him lift a hand.
He sharply let it fall along the swell of my ass in a swift swat. I was already so close from him touching me, I desperately rammed myself back in to him and met his thrusts halfway.
"Do it, again."
Paul spanked me again. My skin stung for a moment before the warm sensation just seemed to evaporate in to the thin air.
"Harder." I told him. "Hit me harder."
He hit me harder. The sting was fleeting. It wasn't enough. In the moment, I didn't know Paul had been really holding back.
"I said harder!" I pleaded.
A sound I hadn't heard Paul make before touched my ears for a moment before I found myself shoved cheek to the mattress. He struck me across the ass with an open palm. I knew he left a hand print because that cheek burned as he rammed himself in to me.
"That hard enough for you?" He demanded.
He struck my sore flesh again and a pained squeal cut the silence of the night.
"Harder?" Paul patronized. "I can still give it to you harder."
He doled out another hit, ripping that pained squeal from me a second time. My mouth hung open with Paul's fierce thrusts. He was right where I needed him and a few dirty words away from losing it
"Fuck, you're going to make me cum." I bit my lip, holding back from screaming. "Nng-"
I was going to sleep good tonight.
xxxxxx
"Good morning to the newlyweds."
It was almost Noon when Paul and I woke up. We didn't want to get out of bed. But, everyone was up and Reggie sent a text asking us to join them by the beach for something to eat.
With a bowl of fresh fruit, I carefully sat under an umbrella. I leaned my weight off the sore cheek, resting against Paul's side. Paul picked at some sandwiches, impressively holding back that wry smirk I knew was twitching at his lips.
"Morning." I forked a chunk of melon in to my mouth. "How long has everyone been up?"
"About an hour." Alain answered, inspecting his own fruit bowl with apprehension. "...the hell is this?"
He poked it with the prongs of his fork, like it would jump out and bite him.
"That's a chunk of kiwi." I glanced over. "Try it."
"What does it taste like?"
"Like kiwi."
Alain gave me a bullshit look. Coconut water almost came out of Reggie's nose.
"Just try it." He encouraged. "It's kind of like the inside of a strawberry."
Taking the bite, Alain made a face.
"That does NOT taste like a strawberry." He chewed tried to decide if he liked it, or not. "...Fruit is weird here."
My grandmother pushed a bowl of just grapes toward Alain. Reggie took over his original fruit bowl.
"The tropical fruit's a bit different than what you're used to."
"That's the truth."
Reggie jokingly offered Alain a sip of coconut water and I almost spat mine out at the glower he got. Paul didn't care for the stuff, either.
"Breakfast ended at Ten." Alain complained. "We missed it."
"The buffet opens for Lunch at One." Reggie let us know. "Your grandmother went and made a special request for the snacks."
Sounded like everyone struggled with the time difference last night. But, we'd all sleep well later after a full day of whatever we wound up doing.
Being the first afternoon, we kept it simple. My grandmother stayed at the resort to spend time with her old friend. Reggie and Alain took a bus tour. Paul and I went on a hike.
"You've got the map right?" I checked.
"Right here." He unfolded it. "There are paths and signs for the tourists."
Of course, Paul wanted to get some exercise. I didn't mind. It meant some quality time alone. There were different paths you could take. We started with one, taking a rest when coming across a shady spot under some palm trees off the path.
"You should reapply your sunscreen." I suggested, twisting the cap off my canteen. "You'll burn here."
Paul was much lighter skinned than I am. Living in Sinnoh didn't exactly prepare him for Alolan sun. Rather than risk a sunburn, he pulled the sunscreen from his bag.
"Get my back and shoulders." He poured some in his hand and then passed the bottle.
When he was all set, Paul put the sunscreen away and pulled his own canteen out. He took a big swig, surveying the scenery.
"Everything's so green."
"It's nice." I brushed the fluffy grass under my palm. "It's super-hot out here, though."
A family must have been here at some point because there was a child's toy in a patch of grass.
"Someone lost their little Tirtouga." I squeezed the squishy foamy toy.
"Poor kid's probably long gone. That toy looks dusty with dirt."
"I'll keep this with my rubber Psyduck when we get back home. I don't want to leave him out here alone."
Xxxxxx
When we got back before sunset, I stood in the sand by the tide and washed off the little toy I found. I shook it dry and sat with Paul in the sand.
The gift shop must sell these because a family with two little kids went by, and they each had one. The kids ran along the shoreline, making their Tirtouga swim in the air. Their parents strolled along behind.
"Little kids are pure." I chortled.
"Do you like kids?"
"I think they're charming."
The two kids broke out in to a game of tag down the beach. They circled around their parents until both were scooped up in their arms. They broke out in to a fit of giggles. They couldn't have been any older than maybe four and six.
"I don't know the first thing about kids." Paul drawled. "But, most people who have them tend to like it."
"I could see why." I reasoned. "The kids at our apartment building all seem super sweet. I watch them play from the balcony, sometimes."
"Do you want any?"
The question landed like an anvil.
"Do you?" I countered back, shocked he even asked.
"I wouldn't mind one."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really."
Paul never talked about children. I mistook him for someone who was indifferent to them.
"I guess I wouldn't mind one, either. At some point. We're still super young."
"Reggie raised me before he was old enough to." Paul reminded me, somewhat bluntly.
"It was hard wasn't it?"
"His heart was always in the right place and he had his priorities straight. That's what mattered."
Holding the toy Tirtouga with both hands, I squeezed it thoughtfully.
"I'll raise a kid with you, if you want. Just maybe not right now...um, I'm not ready."
"I can wait." Paul looked down at my hands. "We have the rest of our lives together."
xxxxxxx
