Chapter 7

Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

The day of the wedding dawned beautifully, with not a cloud in the sky. James had very quickly dragged Christian and the others to his home to get ready. But now they were back at Christian's home, in the back, standing in the gazebo. James stood at Christian's side, acting as best man, with Toulouse and the Argentinean acting as groomsmen. "Nervous, my friend?" James asked. "Just a bit," Christian answered. "But Harold will be in my place soon enough," he said, snickering slightly. "I may be dragged into your place soon, as well, Chwistian," Toulouse added.

Christian raised an eyebrow at his friend. "Don't tell me you're thinking of giving up your free Bohemian bachelor life style for Andrea, Toulouse." The young painter just shrugged. "What can I say? Love is infectious." "That it is," James agreed. "Oh? Have you got your eye on someone?" Christian asked. James nodded. "Nini," he admitted. Toulouse and Christian had a short laugh at that before the music began, and the small entourage began to make it's way towards the alter.

First came Marie, Satine's matron of honor. Then came Nini and Andrea, and finally Satine herself, escorted by Harold. Satine was beautiful. She wore a long white dress of real silk, the sleeves just off the shoulder. Around her neck was a diamond choker, with matching ear-rings in her ear. They were what Christian's mother had worn when she and his father had married, and now Christian had wanted Satine to have them.

Her hair was pulled back into a twist, with a few curls framing her face. Christian smiled as she reached him and the priest began. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join in holy matrimony Satine and Christian and to celebrate the love which has brought them together. Who gives this woman away to be this man's wife?" he asked. "I do," Harold answered. The priest nodded and continued.

"Christian, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to cherish and to love, through sickness and in health, for better or for worse, as long as you both shall live?" Christian nodded. "I do." The priest turned to Satine. "And do you, Satine, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to cherish, love, and obey, through sickness and in health, for better or for worse, as long as you both shall live?" "I do," she replied.

"May I have the ring please?" the priest asked. James handed it to him, and the priest handed the ring to Christian, who slipped it on Satine's finger. "Repeat after me," the priest said. "With this ring," "With this ring," "I thee wed." "I thee wed." With this, the priest looked up to the small audience. "If there is any here who have any reason why these two should not be wed, let them speak now, or forever hold their peace."

No one spoke. There wasn't a single person there who was about to stop Satine and Christian from pursuing happiness. "Then by the power invested in me by God and by the King of England, I pronounce thee husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the priest finished. As he said the words, James and Nini released a group of white doves to fly into the air, and everybody there came up one by one to hug the happy couple.