Disclaimer: Marvel owns 'em, except for Susana and the
still present Bobbymuse, and I really hope they have no intentions of suing
me. It would be a waste of money. Sorry it took soooo long to update, but with
moving in and classes, combined with a lack of inspiration (::glare at the
Bobbymuse::), it's taken forever to write something I'm happy with! Marc Cohn owns the song, and I think that
about wraps up this chapter's installment of the riveting author notes.
Notes:
sound
*thought*
} telepathic conversation {
Setting: 2 days later- Wedding Day!
Laeticia Alvirez-Blaine was a patient woman. Really, she was. But at this moment, if her daughter didn't quit squirming and
stand still, she was going to scream. "Susana! How do you expect
me to tie this if you won't stand still for a moment?"
"Mama, I told you I didn't even want that thing on
me."
"It's a scarf. I promise it won't hurt you at all." Laeticia's tone was strained yet patient. This was of course a big day for Susana, and
she was understandably tense.
"Dammit, Mama, I won't wear it! I'm not livestock- I won't run away, so you
won't need something to catch onto to stop me. I'm also not going to my death, so I don't need any noose around my
neck."
"Susita, it completes the look of the dress. You have to wear it."
"Mama. This is
MY wedding, and I am not wearing it. Besides, I've already got the something borrowed that it was going to
count as. Storm lent me
this." She waved a hand at her
hair to indicate the jeweled bobby pin holding it out of her face. "And the dress is new, and my undies
have a teeny blue bow on them, and the earrings are the ones you gave me, that
used to belong to your grandma. I think
I'm covered, even without the decorative restraint over there." She glared at the scarf, which her mother
had draped over the back of a chair in her room. With a resigned sigh, Laeticia pulled it off and folded it into a
small square before dropping it into a drawer. She opened the closet door and pulled out Susana's dress, then hung it
on the back of the opened door and began smoothing imaginary wrinkles from the
ivory satin.
"Fine, you don't need it. What about your makeup, do you want me to help with that?"
"What I need you to do is sit there and talk to me
while I put my lipstick on. Remind me
why Jono and I thought a wedding with onlookers was a good idea, cause right
now I can't remember at all. Vegas is
looking better and better." She sat down in front of the vanity mirror and
carefully applied a coat of lipstick, then pursed her lips as if she'd eaten a
lemon.
"Uhm...What's she doing?" Jubilee paused in the doorway of the room
and watched her friend- who appeared completely sane aside from her facial
contortions- with amusement.
"Planning an elopement in my head, why do you
ask?" Susana squinted menacingly
across the room, then laughed. "Nah, I wouldn't really want to elope...then who would listen to me
throw bride-style fits?"
"Is that what we're doing here? Cause if it is, I'd like to get out
now."
The mocking commentary continued as Susana got ready and
dressed. The morning seemed to pass in
a blur until, quite suddenly, she and Jono were standing in the back lawn arbor
listening to Kurt go through the words of the wedding ceremony. When the time came, they both recited the
vows that they had spent hours agonizing over, and Susana was relieved when she
had no problems remembering what she was supposed to say. As he leaned down so
she could plant a kiss on his face, she said nothing, merely wrapped him in an
immense hug and projected her certainty and love. Despite the ever-present stirrings of self-doubt, he returned the
projections in kind, along with a hug so strong it was nearly painful.
"I now pronounce you man and wife." The words echoed in Susana's mind, and she
had to restrain herself from jumping for joy- the low hanging grape vines and
their supporting beams might be a bit of an impediment. They turned and walked in stately restraint
back down the aisle, then rushed across the mansion grounds to the temporary
dance floor for a reception line.
After the food had been eaten, all the appropriate
speeches-by Jubilee, Angelo, and anyone else who felt the inclination to make a
speech- had been made, and the guests had danced themselves out, Jean left her
spot at the table to hover near the piano. Jono stood and extended a hand to Susana. }Come dance with me? I
picked a song out special, got Jean to learn it on piano...I just wish I could
sing it for ya.{ Frustration clouded
his features, and she stood and smoothed a hand across his forehead before
following him to the temporary dance floor set up on the mansion's back
lawn. Jean began a piano melody, and
after a few moments, Jono joined in, quoting the corresponding lyrics to Susana
as they danced.
Baby I've been searching like everybody else
Can't say nothing different about myself
Sometimes I'm an angel
And sometimes I'm cruel
And when it comes to love
I'm just another fool
Yes, I'll climb a mountain
I'm gonna swim the sea
There ain't no act of God girl
Could keep you safe from me
My arms are reaching out
Out across this canyon
I'm asking you to be my true companion
True companion
True companion
So don't you dare and try to walk away
I've got my heart set on our wedding day
I've got this vision of a girl in white
Made my decision that it's you allright
And when I take your hand
I'll watch my heart set sail
I'll take my trembling fingers
And I'll lift up your veil
Then I'll take you home
And with wild abandon
Make love to you just like a true companion
You are my true companion
I got a true companion
True companion
As Jean played, Susana closed her eyes and followed Jono's lead in the dancing. }D'you like it? It seemed like somethin' you'd like listening to...and the guy who wrote this's better at puttin' stuff like this into words than I am.{ Jono pulled her closer to him and rubbed circles on her back as they moved in lazy swirls around the floor. When the years have done irreparable harm
I can see us walking slowly arm in arm
Just like the couple on the corner do
'Cause girl I will always be in love with you
And when I look in your eyes
I'll still see that spark
Until the shadows fall
Until the room grows dark
Then when I leave this Earth
I'll be with the angels standin'
I'll be out there waiting for my true companion
Just for my true companion
True companion
True companion
"I love it. S'wonderful. You're
wonderful." She sniffled and
blinked repeatedly, then broke the solemnity of the moment with a choked snort. "What the hell is he doing over there?" Jono turned to look at the guest in question, and was rewarded with the
sight of his former headmaster struggling to detach his feet from their
frozen-to-the-floor position.
}Why'd we let Bobby play groomsman again?{
"Simple expediency. I had three bridesmaids, you needed three groomsmen. Sean and Ange were natural choices, and
Bobby's a mutual friend, remember?"
}I'd remember better if he hadn't distracted you just
then.{
"Calm down. You
get me all to yourself for a week after this. I think you can cope with my noticing Bobby demonstrating his idiocy for
five minutes." She ran her hand,
which had been resting on his shoulder, up his arm to the back of the neck and
tickled him softly. He tilted his head
back slightly and pinned her hand, then gave her side a retaliatory
tickle.
}Stop that, woman, or I'll leave you here when the limo
takes off for the airport.{
"You wouldn't." She smirked and leaned against him, glad to be free of any pressing need
to plan.
}You ok?{ He looked
down at her, mildly concerned because she hadn't stopped moving, it seemed,
since they started planning the wedding. To see her still was going to take some getting used to.
}Well, mister, get used to it. I've done enough moving for the decade, seems like.{
}'Ey now...out of my head, gel.{ He tapped the end of her nose lightly, then pulled his hand away
when she pretended to snap at it. }Ready for two weeks of fun in the sun? It looks like our wedding party has bailed.{
"Yeah, I'm sure Jubes is coordinating the bubble
ambush...that's been her project since we got engaged, and Nat and Claud loved
the idea. And I don't even want to know what Bobby and Ange have done to
the car...even with Sean standing around trying to stop them and Emma rolling
her eyes at how silly we all are."
}Nope. You sure
don't. Just a thought- you might want
to check for questionable packages in your suitcase before we hit airport
security.{ He looked down at her and
waited expectantly for her inevitable question.
"What'd they do to my suitcase?" Her tone was positively frosty, and he felt
a momentary flash of gratitude that he wasn't the focus of her anger.
}Your suitcase...and your stuff...is fine. They just added some new packages.{
"And what, pray tell, is in those packages?"
}Pair a' cuffs, and a whip. Bobby's taking a camera to the
airport so he can get blackmail material. Sana, what are you planning? I know
that look.{ He crinkled in amusement
and brushed his thumb over her lip affectionately.
"Oh, nothing." She batted her eyes in feigned guileless innocence, then grinned. "If Bobby's tryin' for blackmail
pictures, maybe I should give him something he can think is real blackmail
material."
}What's that gonna involve?{ He eyed her skeptically.
"You saw what Jubes got me for my bridal shower gag
gift, right?"
}Yer gonna test what airport security thinks of a
full-length bullwhip and an industrial size bottle of body oil?{ He winced, then shook his head at her.
"Yup. I'm
shameless. It's why you love
me." She bared her teeth in a
wide, fake, toothpaste-commercial grin, then gave him a thumbs up and an
exaggerated wink.
}Ah, yes. That, and
your sophisticated acting skills. Hey,
no more of that!{ He unwrapped his arms
from her and stepped back to avoid the jabs she was directing at his side.
"Are you mocking me? I have skills you can't even imagine. And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go get that stuff so Bobby can
get his silly thrill. Soon as I get back
it'll be time to go...you
ready?"
Instead of responding, Jono pulled her back against him and dipped her backwards, then bumped her nose with his. He met her eyes and raised an eyebrow. }Course I am. You, no missions, no Danger Room practices, no supervillains, and did I mention minimal clothes? What's not to be ready for?{ He straightened and let her go, and she blew a raspberry at him before taking off across the lawn.
