The door opened and the girls all looked up from the downstair foyer. Eric was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, as Emily had asked that both he and their father walk her down the aisle. Oohs and aahs, were heard in the assembly as Emily and David came into sight and they walked down the stairs.
They all hugged her quickly before heading outside and getting in the different cars.
Sonny was standing near the altar and talking with the chaplain when the rest of the guys entered the chapel and joined him.
Ray looked at Sonny. "You're not going to tell me your nervous? Are you?"
"Nah. I'm fine as cream gravy!" replied Sonny as he looked at his watch.
"Alright, you're nervous. That's cool man. It'll go away when you see her walk down that aisle."
Ray smoothed out Sonny's suit and checked that everything was in order. That was his job as best man, and he wasn't taking it lightly. He had been honored when Sonny had asked him. They'd had in the past diverging opinions, but they were brothers and being Emily's best friend, had taken a big place in her life and inevitably in Sonny's life too. The more they had gotten to really know each other, the more they appreciated each other.
"Are you sure?"
"Sonny, I would be worried if you weren't nervous. This, even as beautiful as it is, is a big thing."
Ray's phone beeped and he looked at it.
"They're on their way and should be here on time."
The chaplain joined them as guests started to enter the chapel. "Any news from the bride?"
"Yes, just got word Chaplain, we are on schedule."
Joey, Lindell, Goodwin and others came to greet Sonny before heading to their seats. Jason arrived in turn with Emmett and they headed towards Sonny and Ray.
"You look elegant in your uniform, son."
"Thanks Pops."
"I hope you and Emily are as happy as your mother and I were."
Emmett hugged Sonny.
"We will be," replied Sonny, "I don't have a doubt in the world."
Jason watched as Ray brought Emmett to his seat. "Got a minute for me?" he asked Sonny.
"Sure."
Jason showed him to the side and at first looked at his feet. He then inhaled and looked at Sonny.
"Look, I know I haven't always respected your relationship and I only thought of myself and not what she wanted or what she deserved. I'm sorry. I want you to know that I'm happy for both of you and I wish you all the happiness in the world."
"Thanks, Jace, I appreciate it. Just so you know, you kiss her ever again and I'll kick your ass for real!"
By the look on Sonny's face and in his eyes, Jason knew that he wasn't kidding.
"Copy that."
Jason tapped him on the side of the arm and headed towards the pews to talk to some of the guests as they waited for Emily to arrive.
The cars stopped in front of the chapel and the women got out. David got out of the car, opened the door, and helped Emily get out while Eric got out on the other side and joined them on the sidewalk. At the chapel entrance, Brock was keeping watch. He blinked a couple of times, in awe, as he looked at Emily. He and Eric exchanged nods and Brock disappeared inside.
Brock walked down the aisle and stopped in front of Ray and Sonny. "It's showtime."
Ray nodded and motioned to Jason and Clay to join them.
"She's drop dead gorgeous," said Brock as he whispered in Ray's ear.
Ray smiled and looked on, as Sonny had placed himself to the right of the chaplain, his hands folded in front of him. Ray joined him and took a similar posture.
The chapel doors opened, and two flower girls, including Jameelah, entered carrying rose petal baskets. Just behind carrying the wedding rings was Ray Jr. and holding Christina's hand. Ray smiled upon looking at his beautiful children.
Just behind them, Zoe, Julia, Stella and Natalie entered in their beautiful dusty rose v-neck, floor length chiffon dresses and matching colored high heel open-toe shoes.
Sonny and Ray looked at Clay and Jason and smiled as the two men beamed upon seeing their girlfriends. Zoe and Julia joined their grandmother and sat down. Sonny smiled and winked at them. They smiled and waved back. It was beautiful to see how they got so well along.
As Clay and Jason kept their eyes on Stella and Natalie, as they took their places across from them to the left, Ray smiled as Naima appeared in a floor length pearl pink sleeveless one-shoulder dress, with matching high heel open-toe shoes and a beautiful pink orchid bouquet in front of her. She walked slowly to her place as the chapel doors closed allowing Emily to prepare her entry.
Sonny gently tapped Ray as Naima neared them, and he could tell how madly in love they were with one another. That was also the kind of relationship he wanted for Emily and him. The one that no matter how often he would see her, it would bring a smile to his face and warmth to his heart.
Sonny took a step forward, placing himself slightly away from the others. He looked at his dad, then at Christina and the girls, before looking down at his hands remembering what his father had told him the night before as they smoked cigars and drank whiskey.
"You know, I wasn't looking at the doors as they opened. Some might of thought that I was nervous and heck, son, I was. But you know what the most amazing thing was?"
"No."
"She had already started to walk down the aisle when I looked up at her and she was the only thing I saw. I will never forget the way she looked or the way she was looking at me, with anticipation, with unwavering love. It was the best decision I made. Who cares about the chapel doors? You understand what I'm telling you son?"
"Yeah Pops, I understand."
Pachebel's Canon was heard starting and Sonny heard the doors open.
Emily entered the chapel with her dad on her left and Eric on her right, each one of them an arm hooked in hers, as she held a cascading white orchid bouquet in front of her. She had no idea how she managed to walk, she was so overwhelmed with anticipation and emotions.
Sonny heard the different reactions from the assembly. He counted to five and then lifted his head in her direction. His father had been right. When his eyes landed on her, he suddenly felt overwhelmed with emotions he had never felt before. His heart was pounding in his chest and she had caught his breath to the point that he had to inhale with all his might to be able to breathe again. She was a vision, she was beautiful, she was his. He beamed and she smiled back, and he too saw that she was mesmerized by him.
They stopped walking when they reached him. Eric, hugged and kissed his sister and joined his nieces and mom. In turn, David first shook Sonny's hand before taking his daughter's hand and delicately placing it in Sonny's open palm. Almost like a rite of passage, after years of having held his daughter's hand it was now time for another wonderful man to be her protector. He then too kissed his daughter and joined his wife.
The chaplain led the ceremony and made beautiful speeches and sermons.
"You can now exchange your vows."
Sonny and Emily turned to look at each other. Julia brought Ray Jr toward them, so that they could take the wedding rings from the satin pillow.
"Emily. Before I met you, my life was a puzzle with a missing piece. I felt like I was roaming aimlessly, like a lost soul. Because of you, I find beauty in each day. Because of you, I have discovered what my heart was missing: the love of an exceptional woman. I can't wait to see where this journey takes us. And honestly, it doesn't matter as long as you, are by my side. I have waited for this moment for a lifetime and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life loving you!"
He took the ring and placed it on Emily's finger. Emily had a hard time not crying at what he had just told her. She inhaled and regained her composure.
"Sonny. In the beginning, I was swayed by your charming smile. Your sense of humor and your playful ways. And then I grew to love you for your kind heart, your devoted spirit, and the joy of simply being with you. I never dreamed I could find a husband like you. You have been my defender, my protector, my comforter, and friend. I promise to be your safe haven, your refuge in the storm of life. I promise to remind you of your strength, your abilities, your worth. I will support you in every venture, and I will never stop loving you!"
She took the ring and placed it on his finger. They held hands.
"I'd like to call Ray and Naima up along with Sonny and Emily to sign the marriage license."
The two couples headed up to the altar and signed before returning to their respective places.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Petty Officer and Mrs. Sonny Quinn!"
Sonny and Emily turned holding hands toward the assembly under the fire of applause. They headed down the aisle and then met up with the photographer.
As the assembly headed outside waiting for the arch of swords, Emily and Sonny took photographs within the chapel.
Even if it was supposed to be an Arch of Rifles because Sonny was a noncommissioned officer, as Emily had been Captain, the rifles were replaced by the swords. When the doors opened, the Arch was in place starting at the top of the stairs with Full Metal and Thirty, then Trent and Brock, Jason and Clay and finish with Eric and Ray. When they reached Eric and Ray, both put down their swords in front of Emily and Sonny.
Sonny took Emily in his arms, kissed her and dipped her as the crowd applauded and cheered. When they were done, Eric and Ray smiled, and lifted their swords to let them through.
Eric tapped his sister's behind with his sword, "welcome back to the Navy."
They laughed as they headed for the car and drove off to the reception.
End flashback