A Wedding Story Part 4
By Carol M.
Author's Note: …… There's some cyber birdseed for you! Put on your dancing shoes everyone, it's going to be a wild party. If you want a soundtrack for this part, go find "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, "We are Family" by Sister Sledge, "Got to Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye, "We Dance Alone" and "Fields of Gold" by Sting! Don't eat too much wedding cake!!!!
Kensington Beach Pavilion – An hour later
The pavilion had been decorated very tastefully for the wedding. Five round tables had been set up in a circle for the guests, with one long table set up in the middle for the wedding party. The tables all had shimmering silver table clothes and white flowers in the centers.
The guests chattered quietly, enjoying their shrimp, lobster and barbecue. The sunset from the ceremony had turned into a clear starry night, with a gentle breeze blowing through the air.
Bobby stood up from his position next to Darien and tapped his champagne glass with a fork. The chatter instantly quieted. "Excuse me, folks, but before we all get too drunk, I thought I would start the toasts to the bride and groom," he said as he smiled at Darien and Claire.
Bobby raised his glass and looked around the room. "Well these two people sitting here are my best friends. Knuckle head over there is my partner and has saved my butt more times then I can remember," he said as he looked at Darien. Darien smiled widely. "I don't know what Claire sees in him, but I have never seen the two of them happier. I wish you guys the best of luck. Bobby Hobbes has got both of your backs," he said as he ended the toast.
"Here, here," some of the guests said as they raised their glasses and took a sip of their champagne.
The Official stood up next. He looked over at the newlyweds. "Darien, Claire, I wish you nothing but happiness. Just don't let your marriage interfere with your work," he said gruffly. "And Fawkes, just because you're on the Keeper's good side, doesn't mean you're on mine," he said jokingly.
Darien raised his glass. "Yes, sir," he said with a smile as he took a sip from his glass.
Claire stood up next. "I want to thank you all for being a part of this day. I wanted to share my wedding day with friends and that's exactly how it turned out," she said. She looked over at Darien. "I love you, Darien," she said softly. Darien stood up and hugged her tightly. "I love you too, Claire," he said.
He turned toward the guests. "Okay, everyone, I need you to do me a favor, okay. I need you to tell Claire how cute she looks with cake all over her face," he said. Darien picked up a piece of white wedding cake with silver frosting that sat next to his dinner plate and smashed it into Claire's face. Claire squealed. "You slippery little lab rat," she whispered softly to him. "Two can play at this game," she said as she picked up her own piece of cake and rubbed all over Darien's face.
"Hey wifey, watch the hair," said Darien jokingly.
The guests and the rest of the wedding party all laughed and clapped wildly. Claire and Darien wiped the rest of the cake off of their faces and then whispered quietly to one another. Darien then looked out at the guests. "Okay guys, enough this sit down dinner crap, it's time to PARTY!"
The DJ they hired instantly started to play "Dancing Queen" by ABBA.
Darien shook his head as the song came on. "This one's for you, you Swiss Miss Motherfu..."
"Darien, there will be no swearing," scolded Claire.
Darien nodded. "Right," he said as he extended his hand. "Want to dance Mrs. Fawkes? " he asked.
"Of course, Mr. Fawkes," she replied.
Darien and Claire made their way out on the dance floor and started dancing wildly to the song. The guests watched for a few minutes and then a few brave souls started to join them, including Viv and Brock and Kate and her new husband.
"We are Family" by Sister Sledge played next over the speakers. Darien looked towards the wedding table and motioned the Agency family to join them. "Come on guys!" he shouted.
Bobby stood up and eyed Alex. "Care to dance, Ms. Monroe," he asked with his arm extended towards her.
"With pleasure, Mr. Hobbes," she said as she took his arm and walked out on the dance floor.
Bobby started spinning and dipping Alex widely and then started to do some moves on his own.
Darien and Claire stared at him in disbelief. "This is why I don't take you anywhere, Hobbesy," yelled Darien.
"Yeah, whatever, Darien Fawkes has got nothing on Bobby Hobbes," he said as he started to move his arm up and down in imitation of John Travolta.
"Yeah, thank god," Darien yelled back.
Claire laughed through this whole exchange and looked at all the people dancing around her. The Official was dancing with Darien's Aunt Celia, Jessica was dancing with Eberts and Gloria was dancing with her husband. She saw Darien's grandma watching all the festivities with joy. They all continued dancing happily for the next couple of hours.
When "Got to Give it Up" by Marvin Gaye started playing, Darien and Claire reluctantly broke apart and found new people to dance with.
Darien ended up dancing with his grandma and his Aunt. "You two having fun," he asked.
Madeline Fawkes nodded. "Your mother would be see happy right now, Darien. Your father is too," she said. Darien nodded. "I know," he said softly as he looked towards his beautiful bride.
Claire was struggling to do some weird kind of tango with Bobby. Darien laughed and shook his head. He looked further on and saw Eberts and Alex were now dancing together and the Official was now dancing with Jessica. He smiled brightly, feeling nothing but happiness surrounding him.
His Aunt nudged his cheek. "You look so handsome, Darien. I'm so happy for you," she said with misty eyes. "Thanks Aunt Celia," he said as he kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks to you too, Grams," he said as he kissed his grandma on the cheek.
A slow song started to play and Darien realized that it was "We Dance Alone" by Sting. His grandma gave him a small push towards Claire. "Be with your wife, Darien," she said.
Darien nodded. "Yes, ma'am," he said as he walked over to Claire and Bobby.
He tapped Bobby on the shoulder. "Excuse me, Fred, but can I cut in?" he asked with a smile.
Bobby patted him on the back. "You bet, partner," he said.
"Thanks man," he said as he took Claire in his arms. He put his head on her shoulder and she did the same to him. Darien closed his eyes and listened to the words of the song.
Dancing with the missing
Dancing with the dead
Dancing with the invisible ones
Their anguish is unsaid
Dancing with their fathers
Dancing with their sons
Dancing with their husbands
They dance alone, they dance alone.
Darien instantly thought of the people that weren't here with them for the celebration. Allianora, Claire's mother and father, his own mother, Kevin. This song was for them. Tears started to well in his eyes as he thought of how many people he had lost. He had almost lost Claire too. He was so happy that he had gotten her back. He leaned back and looked Claire in the eyes, a tear falling down his cheek.
Claire looked up with tears in her own eyes. She took her finger and wiped the tear off of Darien's cheek. "We're still here, Darien," she whispered. She pulled him tight against her and rubbed his back softly. When the song ended, Darien pulled out of the embrace and kissed Claire passionately, wanting to show her how much he loved her. She gave it back to him as good as she had gotten it.
When they parted, Darien pointed to a place outside the pavilion in the sand. "Let's dance under the stars," he whispered. Claire smiled and let Darien lead her outside.
The Official, Bobby, Kate, Viv, and Casey saw what they were doing and decided to join them.
The music stopped for a second and the DJ started to speak into a microphone. "This is the last song everybody. Please join Mr. and Mrs. Darien Fawkes in celebration by dancing with them to their wedding song," he said as he put a record on the player.
Sting's "Fields of Gold" started to play. Darien and Claire once again started to sway lovingly in one another's arms. All the other couples joined them, taking pleasure in the breezy, starry night. It was like a beautiful dream.
Darien felt so safe in Claire's arms as he danced. He had gotten to pick the wedding song and he had agonized over the decision. He had finally decided on Fields of Gold because it reminded him of the day Jessica Semplar had left him. He had been sitting in the park during sunset, feeling incredibly depressed and Claire had come to see if he was all right. Looking back, he realized that that had been the start of it all. He realized that she was going to be the woman who would stick by him no matter what.
Claire remembered the day with just as much clarity. She could remember seeing Darien's sad, sunlit form sitting on the fence. She had felt so bad for him that day. She also had felt something that at the time she couldn't put into words, but now realized that it had been the beginnings of attraction. That day, had been the start of a long, slow journey that had brought them to the present.
As the song ended, they hugged one another tightly, both sad that they now had to leave the wedding. When they parted, Darien looked at the crowd, searching for Bobby, but he didn't see him.
A few seconds later, he heard the sound of cans dragging on the pavement. He turned around and saw Bobby pulling Golda from the parking lot into the sand. She was decorated in tin cans, streamers and shaving cream.
He stepped out of the van proudly and walked to Darien. "Your carriage, sir," he said as he handed the keys to Darien.
"Thanks, buddy," Darien said as he hugged Bobby.
"Okay folks, time for the bride and groom to leave. Line up," he shouted.
The guests formed two lines between Darien and Claire and the van.
Darien and Claire slowly walked between the two lines of people, getting pelted with birdseed as they walked. They both eyed Bobby, Eberts, Alex, the Official, Gloria and Jessica with warmth, appreciation glowing in their eyes.
Darien opened the passenger door for Claire and helped her in. When she was safely in, Darien put his thumbs in the air. "I did it! I got married! I am the man!" he shouted with joy.
The crowd roared with laughter and applause. Darien quickly ran to the other side of the van and got in the driver's seat, starting the van. He honked the horn several times and joined Claire in waving to all of their friends. "Love you guys," they shouted.
Then Darien slowly pulled the van off the sand and into the parking lot, leaving the guests to stare at the sign on the back of the van that read "Fawkesy and Keepie, Just Married."
That's All Folks!