HOLY

"Oh God
Runnin' to the altar like a track star
Can't wait another second
'Cause the way you hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me
Feels so holy"

"Is that Swain and Cogon?" Bernard looked out the window. "I thought they would be on that cliff until the sun went down."

So did Dalla. "They're back already?" She joined her husband. Sure enough, Swain and Cogon were running, at least as fast as Cogon could manage, hand-in-hand up the street toward Blackhold.

She looked at Bernard. "They seem happy."

"Date ending early's either real good or real bad," Sloan commented.

Dalla and Bernard smiled at each other. "Oh, I think this one's good."

Swain and Cogon burst through the door and immediately had the attention of everyone in the room.

"So, how was it?" Dalla asked.

Swain and Cogon looked at each other.

"Tell them," he said.

"No, you tell them."

"What are you telling us?" Sloan asked.

Swain's left hand shot out and they both spoke at the same time. "He…" "We're…" "Proposed!" "Getting married!"

Shara squealed with excitement and Dalla examined Swain's ring. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you." Dalla had never seen Swain smile so brightly. "Isn't it beautiful?"

"I've never seen a prettier one," Bernard told her.

"I never want to take it off." Swain hugged her ring hand to her chest. "Not ever."

"Even to wash your hands?" Cogon joked. Swain rolled her eyes and kissed him.

"Just wait until your grandfather hears," Sloan said. "He'll be over the moons."

"Then he'll be as happy as we are!"

"Let's tell him now!" Swain cheered. "And then we can get married!"

"While the enthusiasm is heartwarming, you might want to wait a week or so," Shara advised them.

"Why?" Swain furrowed her brow.

"Well for one, that will be six weeks out from your last surgery and you'll be able to enjoy your honeymoon."

Cogon coughed and Swain blushed bright red.

"And it'll give us time to arrange a celebration for you two," Shara continued. "Food, decorations, music…"

"That sounds like fun," Cogon said and looked at his fiancee. "What do you think?"

"I've always wanted to have a big wedding," she admitted. "With a dress and dancing and silly little twinkle lights."

"Then it's settled," Dalla said. "We'll take a week or two to plan your wedding."

"Our wedding," Swain repeated dreamily. "Brent, we're going to have a wedding. We're going to be married."

"I still can't believe it," he replied. "I thought I'd peaked when you kissed me."

"Oh, I wish we had a wedding dress to pass on," Shara said. "I didn't have one when I got married, and neither did Dalla –."

"We'll order one off the HoloNet," Dalla said before Swain could protest that she didn't need a dress.

"No need," Sloan said. "We have a dress."

…

"Ellie bought it for our public wedding," Sloan said as he rifled through the closet in his apartment. "Never got to wear it. I found it a couple of years after she died and didn't know what to do with it."

He found what he was looking for and stepped out of the closet with a package in his hands. "Well, now I do."

Swain hedged. "That's Ellie's dress. I can't take it."

"She wouldn't want it to sit in a closet," Sloan insisted. "She'd want someone to wear it and be happy."

Dalla held her breath as Sloan offered the package to Swain. It was still wrapped in cellophane, unchanged from the moment Ellie showed it to her all those years ago. She remembered what she'd said to her sister-in-law: the color's perfect for someone with red hair.

"Are you sure?" Swain tentatively took the package.

"If you're going to enjoy it, I'm sure." He pointed toward his refresher. "Now go try it on."

Dalla waited until Swain was gone before she spoke. "That was very kind of you."

"No one's gonna argue that she deserves a pretty dress," Sloan said.

"Are you going to be okay when she comes out?"

"Dal, that's not Ellie's wedding dress. She never even took it out of the package." He blinked hard. "Ellie's wedding dress is the little blue one she wore to the registrar's office, and that one will always be special. This is Swain's dress; Ellie just bought it for her."

Dalla gave his hand a quick squeeze. "I think she would have liked that."

"I know she would."

The 'fresher door creaked open and Swain emerged.

"Well?" Sloan asked. "Do you like it?"

Swain held out the skirt. It was a simply cut yet finely detailed dress with long chiffon and lace sleeves and a plunging back which perfectly framed her selkie tattoo.

"I love it," she whispered, tears in her eyes. "It's beautiful. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

"It's a perfect fit," Dalla said.

Sloan swallowed hard. "It's yours."

"Thank you." Swain's tears fell and she swiped them away. "Stars, I don't want to cry on it but I can't stop!"

"Then cry on me instead." Dalla hugged her and let Swain cry happy tears onto her sweater.

…

It wasn't all wedding bliss. Dalla explained to Swain that while she would have liked to focus entirely on planning the event, there was a backlog of tasks that needed to be completed now that she and Cogon no longer required constant care. Swain didn't mind. All that mattered to her was that on the appointed day, she would marry the love of her life.

First Bernard had to forge them a set of chain codes. "The north doesn't really use them," he explained. "But in Iziz they definitely do, and you can't use your real names for legal purposes."

Swain examined the documents. "Hannah and Brent Flint?"

"I figured you wouldn't be using them until after the wedding, so why make two different last names?" Bernard shrugged. "The Flints are a massive family; no one will think twice. And if anyone asks about your maiden name, just say Murphy."

Then they'd gotten baptized in the light of the salt gods. After a good amount of research, contemplation, and discussion both among themselves and with Father Trevon, she and Cogon had decided to join the northern religion. On a quiet evening they'd made their way to the sacred pool on the other side of the salt formation, pledged to live their lives in the light of the salt gods, and were gently lowered into the water. She felt like a new person when she broke the surface. The gods had washed her sins away.

Now she was on the docks with Dalla, helping her unload supplies. Well, she was more supervising than helping since she still wasn't allowed to lift heavy things. But the crew of Ellie's Revenge was becoming familiar with her, they smiled when they went by, and she was learning their names. She knew soon enough she would be just one of the gang.

So it didn't initially surprise her to hear a gravelly voice ask "Hannah Flint?"

Swain turned around and a chill ran down her spine when she saw the unnaturally tall, thin man.

"That's me," she said, her hand creeping toward the holstered weapon on her belt. That had been another matter she and Dalla took care of.

The thin man's expression didn't budge when he held out an envelope.

"Delivery from your grandfather," he said, and somehow the simple statement sounded mocking.

Instinct told Swain to bolt, or call for backup, or throw herself at him. But just in time the thin man tilted the envelope and she saw the script on the back. That was Yularen's handwriting; she recognized it from his Life Day cards. And even more assuring, the envelope was addressed to Little Star.

"Thank you," she said and cautiously took the envelope.

"Hannah!" Dalla shouted from the far side of the docks. She was running full tilt across the sea-sprayed docks, worry splashed across her features.

The man saw her. "Do you know where I could get a haircut?"

Swain wasn't expecting that. "Uh, Genna's out of town so she closed the salon."

He grimaced and then walked away without another word while Swain stood frozen, too shocked to follow.

Dalla reached her a moment later. "Who was that?"

"I don't know. I've never seen him before and he didn't give his name." She showed Dalla the envelope. "He said he had a delivery from my grandfather."

Dalla examined the handwriting and nodded. "It looks like it. Be careful opening the envelope."

"No kidding." Swain cautiously popped the seal and removed the folded piece of flimsi. She held back a sigh of relief when the only thing on the flimsi was a message in Yularen's handwriting.

My dear granddaughter,

Your grandmother and I were overjoyed to learn of your engagement. While I regret that I can't attend your wedding in person, I would be honored to accept your invitation and witness the event via hologram. I wish you and your young man all the happiness in the galaxy.

As a token of our love and good wishes, we have enclosed a wedding gift. I gave these to your grandmother during our engagement party, and since then she told me she wished to pass them down to a daughter upon her own engagement. It's our pleasure to bestow them upon you.

Sincerely,

Your loving grandfather

"Well that could certainly be worse news," Dalla said.

"There's something else in the envelope." Swain wedged the letter under her arm and poured a set of earrings into her free hand. They were starburst-shaped, set with diamonds and sapphires and pearls.

"Well," Dalla whistled. "Those are beautiful."

"Do you think I could wear them to the wedding?"

"They'll perfectly match your dress." She took the letter and envelope so Swain could put the earrings in. "Salt gods, I'm glad I hired you before the modeling agencies found you." Swain blushed and she shook her head. "You're a bride, Hannah. It's a known consequence that you look beautiful in everything."

…

"Where's Hannah?" Shara ran through the Hold, brandishing a curling iron. "I can't find her anywhere. The wedding is in four hours and we still have to do hair and makeup before she puts on her dress!"

"Maybe she snuck off to see Brent?" Thias suggested.

"Not likely. Sloan has him back at his place and he won't let Hannah in," Dalla said. "Everyone, split up and look for her. It wouldn't be the first time a bride's gotten nervous and run off."

…

Swain wasn't in the pub ordering a drink, or the drugstore nervously sucking down soda, or at Sloan's apartment complex trying to sneak a peek at her groom. Instead she walked between the candlelit pews in the sanctuary until she reached her favorite spot.

"I know you can do anything," she said to the gods. "I'd like to ask you to carry a message for me, if you would be so kind."

She took a deep breath.

"Hi, Kallus.

"I know you're not expecting to hear from me, and you probably don't want to hear from me either." Swain swallowed hard. "So I'll make this quick. I want to tell you that I'm getting married today."

She chuckled. "To Cogon, which I know you're going to love. I'm so excited Kallus, he's such a great guy and I can't wait to spend my life with him. It's going to be a beautiful wedding. We're getting married on a cliff with all our new friends, and Yularen's going to be there. But even so, it doesn't feel right to get married without you."

Tears ran down her face and she blotted at them with her sleeve. "I want you to know that even though we've fought, and you can't understand what I've done and why I've done it, you're still my dad." The tears were flowing in earnest now. "You'll always be my dad. I love you even though it hurts, and I wish you could be here to walk me down the aisle today.

"I hope you're happy, Kallus, because I'm happy and I want you to have this joy too."

It took the Blackwells forty-five minutes before anyone thought to check the sanctuary. By the time Dalla found her, Swain had dried her tears and was sitting peacefully in her pew.

Dalla sat next to her. "Are you alright?"

She nodded. "I was asking the gods to bless my marriage and help me be a good wife."

The fence indicated her approval. "Always a good idea. Are you ready to head back to the Hold and get ready to become a wife?"

Swain beamed. "Stars, yes."

…

Never in a million years did she think she could look this beautiful.

Swain stood with her eyes glued to her reflection while Dalla fastened the veil to her hair. It had been a whirlwind of hairstyling and makeup application and glittery polish brushed over just-grown-back fingernails, and then she'd stepped into her dress and didn't recognize herself.

Dalla laid a hand on her shoulder. "You look gorgeous."

"Thank you," She swallowed hard. "Are we ready to go?"

Dalla bent down and gathered up her skirt and veil. "Lead the way."

They proceeded to the trailhead, Dalla carrying Swain's dress train.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

"Nervous," Swain admitted. "And excited. I'm pretty sure my heart's going to beat out of my chest. Is that normal?"

"It means you're taking this seriously," Dalla said. "I didn't when I first got married and I certainly paid for it."

"You did?"

"I got married for all the wrong reasons, ignored a million signs, and it took an intervention from Yularen to get my head on straight all because I didn't understand what I was getting into. But your being nervous tells me that you do understand, and you're getting married for the right reasons. You and Brent are going to have a wonderful marriage."

"Do you regret any of it?" Swain asked. They were almost to the top of the cliff, and somehow it seemed both very close and very far away.

"My marriage? Not a single thing. But there is one piece of advice I'll give you for today."

"And what's that?" They were about to round the corner and Swain's heart felt like it was about to launch.

Dalla spread the dress train behind her and whispered. "Enjoy it."

Swain looked ahead and her worry melted away.

The Blackwells all rose from their seats, and Yularen's hologram flickered from a place of honor. And on the far end of the aisle, Cogon's mouth fell open at the sight of his bride.

Swain felt a smile warm her features and suddenly she couldn't get down the aisle fast enough. She stepped onto the carpet as if in a dream, and the next thing she knew she was taking Cogon's hand.

"Hi."

"Hi." They laughed quietly and Cogon said "You look beautiful."

"You look great too." He was wearing one of Bernard's suits, but it had been perfectly tailored to fit him.

Behind them Sloan cleared his throat. "Who comes before the salt gods today?"

"We do," Cogon said.

"Brent Cogon and Hannah Swain, do you come freely and without reservation to enter into marriage?"

Swain squeezed Cogon's hand. "We do."

"Then join hands and face each other for the binding." Sloan picked up the silk net and wrapped it around their hands. "With this I bind the two into one, sealing them together forever."

He loosened the cloth just enough for them to slide the wedding rings onto each other's fingers and then completed the handfasting with a sturdy sailor's knot. "Now please say the words."

Swain looked into Cogon's eyes and they spoke in unison according to northern tradition. "I will voyage where you voyage and I will find rest in your harbor," they said. "Your clan will be my clan and your gods my gods."

"I am his…"

"And she is mine," He finished a split second after her.

Sloan beamed. "Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!"

He didn't have to tell them twice. With the hand that wasn't bound to hers Cogon cupped her cheek with his palm and they kissed to the cheers and applause of the audience.

They separated with a smile. "We're married."

"Aye you are!" Sloan said. "Now get out of here so we can celebrate!"

Swain and Cogon lifted their hands and faced the applauding crowd. Perched in the very back, she spotted the mollymauk watching intently. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a grinning Sanjay and back again.

"Thank you for coming!" She shouted as they went down the aisle, gaining speed with each step. By the time they reached the trail they were running and ran all the way to the front door of the pub where Dalla said she'd made dinner reservations.

Neither one was prepared for the twinkle lights and decorations attached to every beam and rafter of the pub and the cheering from every occupant when they walked through the door. The tables had been rearranged to clear a space in the middle, and was that a wedding cake?

Swain managed to speak first. "What's all this?"

"It's our gift to you," Dalla said. She had just come up behind them. "We heard you've always wanted a big wedding."

"With twinkle lights," Swain remembered in disbelief.

Dalla gestured to the reception with a smile. "They won't get started without the bride and groom."

…

Swain and Cogon danced their hearts and souls out all night. They stopped to eat and cut the cake, and then they were dancing again. Slow dances, fast dances, Swain even accepted a heart-melting request from little Sandor Wallace to dance with him while Brent took a break.

At first he was hesitant, but soon Cogon worked his limp into his dance and smiled like a thousand suns. When Swain saw the joy on his face once again, she couldn't imagine the day getting any better.

Now, in the inn room Sloan had gifted to them, they finally got the chance to speak alone.

"So, did you have a good time?" She asked, pulling the pins out of her hair.

"It was perfect. How about you?"

"It gets better and better every minute." She finished with her hair and sat down beside him on the bed. "But the best part is the moment I married you."

Cogon grinned. "Wife."

"Husband."

They fell into each other's arms and the rest of the night, together, was absolutely perfect.