I am sooo sorry it took me this long to get this chapter done. But I found it really difficult to write. I am German, which means I am not too familiar with the British or American wedding traditions that most people here would be used to (apart from stuff I've seen in movies and such, of course).
At some point, I was seriously considering skipping over the wedding itself to go straight to the reception. But that would have been cheating, right ;)?!
In the end, I have simply mixed a couple of traditions. Some parts, for example the words for the vows/rings etc., come from the traditional Roman Catholic wedding ceremony (I am Catholic!), just shortened.
Oh, and I am 'reusing' Nya's dress from 'At Your Most Beautiful', it took me quite a while to come up with the design when I wrote that oneshot (and I still like it).
But… I'm afraid this chapter is not very good, it's kinda short and just turned out incredibly cheesy.
There will be a second part of the wedding with the reception, party and such (and, as requested, Kai finding out about Nya being pregant!), which should hopefully be better, easier to write and not take me as long. I've already worked out a good bit of Cole's speech - which is actually fun to write :).
Also, would you be interested in reading another Jaya oneshot I did for a writing challenge? It is super short and there are a few parallels to AYMB, but it introduces some of 'my' OCs for the ninja's children :).
Thanks for reading and all your lovely support xx.
To Have and to Hold
"Jay, stop messing with you tie." Cole told the very nervous auburn-haired man standing next to him at the altar. The blue Ninja was slowly but steadily driving his three friends crazy - well, actually only Cole and Lloyd, whereas Zane managed to remain his usual calm self.
"But it's too tight." Jay complained, trying to loosen the blue tie around his neck. "I can't breathe."
"This has nothing to do with your tie, Zane has checked the knot three times, and it is absolutely perfect." The Master of Earth placed a comforting hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Just relax. It'll all be fine."
"That's easier said than done." Jay sighed. "What is taking them so long? What if she has changed her mind and…"
"Jason Walker, I really don't want to slap you in front of all these people, but I will if you don't calm down right now." Cole interrupted him. "Kai texted me a few minutes ago that they are on their way. You have waited six years for this moment, now you can wait for a few minutes longer."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that…" Lloyd grinned.
"You're not helping here, Lloyd." The black Ninja glared at his younger friend before turning his focus back at the Master of Lightning. "As much as you love punctuality, this is the one time that Nya can be as late as she wants. The wedding simply won't start without her."
"But it appears that she respects how much her future husband hates to be kept waiting." Zane told his brothers. "PIXAL has just informed me that they have arrived outside the church."
"Alright, guys. Are you ready? Let's do this." Cole said to the other three men.
"This is exactly what you used to say – and even exactly how you said it – whenever we went on a mission during our early Ninja days." Jay grinned at the team's former leader.
"Just take it as your most important mission ever." Cole gave his best friend a firm hug, which was then joined by Zane and Lloyd as well. "And our mission is to get you through this day. So, everyone on their position now." He instructed his honorary brothers.
Just as the four men had straightened up again and taken their places, the doors at the back of the church opened, and the music started to play.
Nya, led by both her father and her brother, entered the church to the Allegro maestoso from Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's 2nd organ sonata.
Neither of them had wanted to use one of the traditional 'bridal marches', so it had taken them quite a bit of time – and arguing – before they had finally selected this piece, which Maya had suggested to them.
But Jay could hardly pay attention to the music anyway. He could hardly pay attention to anything – or anyone – except for his breathtakingly beautiful bride.
Her bateau neck bridal gown was entirely made from ivory satin, just lightly accented by scattered beading on the bodice and the floor length slim A-line skirt.
A beaded belt around her slim waist helped accentuating Nya's petite curves, and the sleeveless dress showed the perfectly toned shoulders and arms of the former Samurai and current Master of Water.
All in all, the simpler yet elegant design suited her a lot better than the first (much too pompous) wedding dress he had seen her in. And, more importantly, this time she looked actually happy wearing it.
The raven-haired woman had a bright smile on her lovely face, just a hint of makeup and, of course, her signature red lipstick had been applied to it.
In her small hands, she was holding a bouquet of red roses. Walking down the aisle towards her future husband, Nya's waist-length ivory veil was flowing behind her.
Jay may have told Nya earlier that he would be fine with her wearing a more casual outfit for their wedding, but he certainly didn't mind marrying her in this attire instead.
The three Smiths were followed by Skylor, as the maid of honour, as well as Seliel and the rebuilt P.I.X.A.L, all dressed in long sky blue bridesmaid dresses.
While first living alone with her brother and later with the Ninja, Nya had never had many female friends. But over the past few months she and her brother's girlfriend had become best friends, and more recently, they had also found two good friends in the partners of Cole and Zane.
Jay could hear some sobbing coming from the first row, where his parents were seated, but he still kept his eyes fixed at the young woman walking towards him. And as his bride's eyes locked with his, he felt a few stray tears running down his cheeks.
"You lost." Nya mouthed at him with a wink.
"I know." He replied, wiping his cheeks and eyes with a handkerchief the attentive Nindroid had passed him. "And you look amazing."
Jay wanted nothing more than to swoop her up into his arms and kiss his fiancée, but he knew that he would have to wait until after they were married – and he would then be allowed to kiss his wife.
When they reached the front of the aisle, Ray and Kai each gave their daughter and sister a kiss on the cheek and took their respective places in the front row and among the groomsmen.
"Dearly Beloved. Welcome and thank you for being here on this very special day." The Priest greeted the assembly, and Jay finally managed to remove his eyes from the raven-haired beauty at his side, to look up at the elderly man in front of them. "We are gathered here together to witness and celebrate the uniting in marriage of Nya and Jason."
As the Priest continued to explain the importance of marriage, both Jay's gaze and mind drifted off again. But, having officiated countless weddings before, the experienced Priest was neither surprised nor bothered by this at all. That's why he had explained everything to the young couple in depth during their pre-wedding meetings.
"Nya and Jason, your marriage today is the public and legal joining of your souls that have already been united as one in your hearts. And so, in the presence of friends and family, I ask you to state your intentions." He then directly addressed the bride and groom. "Have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?"
Having been forced to remain silent for way longer than he was used to, Jay awkwardly cleared his throat before answering.
"I have." The couple replied.
"Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honour each other for as long as you both shall live?"
"I am." Nya and Jay said together.
"Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"
"I am." They answered wholeheartedly. When she noticed Jay smiling happily while taking a brief glimpse at her flat stomach, Nya beamed at him.
"Since it is your intention to enter the covenant of Holy Matrimony, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church." The Priest instructed them.
Jay quickly wiped the sweating palm of his hand on his black trousers before taking Nya's hand into his.
"I, Jason Edward Walker, take you, Nya Smith, to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honour you all the days of my life." He promised in a surprisingly steady voice, staring into her chocolate brown eyes that were – finally! – also welling up with happy tears.
"I, Nya Smith, take you, Jason Edward Walker, to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honour you all the days of my life." She sniffed.
The Priest smiled at the now wedded couple [no, this is not a mistake, a couple is officially married already after the exchange of vows!] and offered them a small cushion holding the blessed rings. They had chosen matching classic D-shaped platinum wedding bands that would be least likely to interfere with their Ninja duties.
Jay took the smaller one of the two rings into his hands and gently placed it on his new wife's finger. "Nya, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity." He told her.
"Jay, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity." Nya replied, placing the larger ring on his finger.
"I know pronounce you husband and wife." As the two elemental Masters stared into each other's eyes, the officiant said the words Jay had been longing to hear since the moment that he had first met Nya. "You may now kiss the bride." He finally said.
Jay gently placed his hands on his wife's hips. Well aware that the Priest and all their friends and families, including both sets of parents and especially her father, were closely watching them, he placed a gentle and not too deep kiss on her ruby lips. Hopefully, they would manage to find a private moment or two during the afternoon, to have a real kiss.
"I love you, Mrs Walker." Jay smiled at Nya, as they broke apart.
Nya smiled back. "I love you too, Mr Walker." She said.