Chapter 46 The Wedding part 1
1 Year Later_
Lightning sat still while Serah ran a brush through her hair. "I'm thankful you're in my wedding party, Serah. I just didn't think this would happen frankly. I put Fang in danger countless times and at times I feel I don't deserve her."
"Well not when you start talking like that Claire," Serah sighs. "Plus, if Fang hadn't wanted you, she wouldn't have given you a ring. All that planning you did for this wedding, you two deserve each other and I couldn't be happier. The fact that was her most prized possession, that's even more special."
"Yeah, but it's the ring that Dad gave her Dad so she could marry someday. When I look at it, I just get these butterflies in my stomach."
"Claire, butterflies come and go. You two have been through so much, and the fact you gave up your promotion in the Guardian Corps and became a professor that's really saying something. Face it, you two are endgame."
"Endgame?" Lightning repeated the phrase.
"Yeah sis. She loves you way too much. You practically stayed with her the entire time she was in the hospital. And when she was out, I caught you two making out on my couch several times so much that I—"
"I get the point Serah, please don't finish that sentence," Lightning felt her cheeks redden.
Serah giggled, "I'm just really happy for you Claire," she said while zipping the back of Lightning's dress.
Lightning looked at herself in the mirror, her blue eyes were starting to grow misty-eyed, as she brought the silk handkerchief to her eye and gently dabbed.
"You look beautiful, just like Mom."
Lightning could only smile as the tears slid down slowly.
"Come on Claire, let it out, and I'll help you reapply your makeup. Snow luckily has Trey, so I can still walk you to the alter."
"Luckily Trey isn't being fussy today either. You're a great mother Serah."
"You think? I feel like the world's worst mother. Getting pregnant at 19."
"Yeah, but Snow really has improved since then. I'm glad you two are working together on your relationship though."
"That's the first time I've heard you say that. Are you feeling sick sis?"
"No Serah, I'm not. I'm happy for both of you. Plus, Snow seems like he enjoys being a father, I'm looking forward for the day that he starts to play action figures with Trey."
Serah smirked, "He's either going to be really good at smashing blocks together like his father or he'll be smart like me. We'll see," Serah chuckled as she started fixing her sister's make up once Lightning finished her cry.
"That rose in your hair looks beautiful, and I'm surprised it's red."
"It was from Fang. Squall delivered it to me."
Serah quickly looked over at the celestial hairpins in her sister's hair. "Well Fang is probably just as nervous as you are."
"And extremely sexy."
"Claire!"
"What? I'm not allowed to say that when you call Snow that all the time?"
Both sisters chuckled, before noticing Cid Highwind had entered.
Lightning went to her uncle and greeted him with a hug, "I heard my niece was getting married, couldn't miss it for the world. However, they said I could be back here because I'm family and all."
"You, old geezer. I'm just happy to see you,"
Serah joined the hug as well.
Cid went out to sit down.
Rinoa entered, "Yuna is ready whenever everyone else is. Squall and I will be going out before you, and Vanille and Hope are in the front. Fang is already there and I think you're really gonna like what you see Light," she smiled. "Plus, look gorgeous. When I heard you were getting married, I was surprised at first, but look at you now. Your red manicure turned out nice too."
"Thank you, Rin, you look gorgeous too. Squall is probably stunned with you in that purple dress."
Lightning could hear the headset on Quistis' head, "Are we ready to start?" Yuna's voice asked once again.
Lightning gave Quistis the signal just happy that the SeeD captain had been here too.
"Yes, we're ready to start."
Lightning could hear a microphone check, before the music started. Zell, Selphie and Irvin had started playing.
Quistis smiled standing at the door once Vanille and Squall entered. Both looked at Lightning with big smiles.
'You look so pretty Light' Vanille mouthed to the pinkette as she felt her cheeks redden.
Hope took Serah's hand, as Quistis gave them to go ahead.
Both entered as Vanille's dress flowed slightly, as Hope took his place at Lightning's side.
Eventually, Squall and Rinoa were next as they took their respective places.
When it came to Lightning's turn, she felt frozen in place as Serah held her hand tightly. Lightning held her bouquet of pink roses tightly.
As the two entered the room, everyone rose to their feet.
Lightning's heart thudded in her ribcage quickly as she noticed Fang standing there with a smile that could make her nerves subside.
Fang was wearing a grey tux, with matching purple shirt underneath. The white collar and tie around her neck with a purple rose attached to the lapel, only made Lightning smile brighter. With her wild hair pulled up, Lightning wasn't used to seeing her mostly wild mane controlled. However, it made Fang look presentable, gorgeous, and sexy.
When the two approached the alter, Serah looked into Fang's soft jade eyes with sparkling blue eyes as she moved her sister's hand into Fang's. "I give you my sister's hand Fang, take care of her with two open arms, and a full heart. ."
"Thank you Serah," Fang breathed, "You look beautiful Claire,"
Lightning put her other hand in Fang's, as the Oerban used her thumb to gently stroke the back of her hand.
Yuna smiled at the couple, "Friends and family of Lightning Farron, and Oerba Yun Fang, welcome and thank you for being here on this beautiful sunny day. We're gathered today to celebrate a very special love between these two brides by joining them in marriage."
Lightning looked into Fang's eyes once more as the Oerban did the same.
"All of us need and desire to love and to be loved. And the highest form of love between two people is a committed monogamous committed relationship. Lightning and Fang, your marriage today is the public and legal joining of your souls that have already been united as one in your hearts."
As Lightning's eyes started to water slightly, she fought the urge to cry. It was her wedding day after all, and she felt ridiculous the closer she was to crying.
"Marriage will allow you a new environment to share your loves together, standing together to face life and the world, hand-in-hand. Marriage is going to expand you as individuals, define you as a couple, to deepen your love for one another. To be successful, you'll need strength, courage, patience and a really good sense of humor."
Fang chuckled slightly, but gently brought a hand to Lightning's cheek to catch a tear that slid down.
"So, let your marriage be a time of waking each morning and falling in love with each other all over again."
As the wedding went on, Yuna finally got to the part where the couple exchanged their vows.
"Fang," Yuna smiled.
"Claire, from the very moment you laid eyes on me, I thought you were just some woman who wanted nothing to do with me. However, a few days later you ended up at my house, I knew from that moment that you were special. I was determined to make you mine, and Lady Luck helped because this day forward, my heart is entirely yours."
Lightning struggled to keep the tears at bay, but the ex-soldier found herself in tears/
"As we continue our lives together, I promise to give you all my words when needed, share in the silence when they are not. To pick you up when you are down, love you unconditionally. To give you loving when you need it the most, care for you and say I love you before falling asleep each night. To adventure with you as we grow as a family together, and always know the deepest part of my soul that when challenges arrive we will always find our way back home."
Lightning sniffled slightly, "Aww Fang…" she whispered softly.
"Claire you are my everything and this I promise you." Fang watched as Lightning delicately dabbed at her face with her handkerchief.
Yuna slid a gold wedding band into Fang's hand, as she moved it to Lightning's finger, "Repeat after me Fang."
"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day."
As Fang repeated the same phrase, she felt slightly helpless seeing her bride had been crying.
"I will forever wear this ring as a sign of my commitment and desire of my heart Fang," Lightning responds as her words came out shaky, and the tears fell down her face.
As Fang slid the ring on Lightning's finger, she looked at the gold band as she really felt the tears slide down.
"Lightning you may now give your vows."
"Fang, of all the people you've met on your journey and all of the places you've been, somehow and someway you ended up here—with me. It's the most powerful and humbling fact I can accept. I used to think we only met by chance, but now I know without a doubt that the universe put you in front of me because we were meant to sped our lives together."
Fang felt heat spread across her face as the Oerban felt stoic in that moment.
"You have filled my life with joy and have given me a sense of peace that I have never known. You're my best friend, my biggest supporter and the best hunter, a girl could ask for. Although today marks the start to the rest of our lives, I know it will not be enough time with you."
Lightning gently placed a hand along Fang's cheek,
"I will not take our time together for granted because words cannot do it. I promise to show you for the rest of my life how much I love you, I promise to encourage you to follow your dreams, I promise to make you laugh when you are taking yourself too seriously, or upset. I promise to be loyal and faithful and to put you before all else. I promise to be your tribe, though it's small, I am thankful for them all. And I promise that when we're old and gray, we will look back on our lives together and have no regrets."
Fang actually sniffled as the tears slid down her cheeks.
"And this day forward you'll never walk alone, because today we become each other's homes."
As Yuna slid the ring into Lightning's hand, she repeated the same phrase.
"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day."
Fang responded, "I will forever wear this ring as a sign of my commitment and desire of my heart," as Lightning slid the ring onto her finger.
Yuna looked at the two as she gently placed a hand on both of their hands, "With the exchange of rings, I am pleased to announce Mrs. Lightning and Fang Yun-Farron. You may kiss the bride."
As Lightning and Fang shared a kiss, they were more surprised by the cheering crowd of their friends and family. Color creeped into both of their cheeks, as the crowd cheered louder.