Disclaimer: Do we really have to do this again?
A/N: This is actually supposed to be the last part of chapter 8, but I guess the file was too big because it looked really funky after I uploaded it. The next chapter, chapter 10, will definitely be the last. At least in this fanfic. Enjoy.
It seemed an eternity to Pat before it was time to get ready. But once she started to get ready, time flew. In truth, she didn't have enough time at all. At least, it seemed that way. Rae was fussing with Pat's hair. One unruly brown kink refused to cooperate. It would not smooth out, nor would it curl. It simply remained as it was, defying an exasperated Rae. Mother finally came and managed to fix it. Mother could do anything, thought Pat. All around her, female members of the Gardiner and Selby clans flew about. Some were seeing to Pat, others were getting themselves ready. Winnie's three daughters ran about the room, laughing and playing, driving Winnie quite wild. But Pat saw the love in her sister's eyes as she watched them and hoped that, one day, she would have a child of her own to love.
But there wasn't any time for daydreaming. The present was too important at the moment. Hilary arrived. Pat could hear him downstairs and nearly rushed down to him before Rae and Winnie stopped her. She wanted to be with Hilary so badly and it was sheer torture to not be able to see him. Pat had her mind set on it and finally worked out a deal with Mother. Long Alec brought Hilary up to Pat's room ten minutes before the ceremony was to begin. The room cleared out, the girls leaving Pat alone. On the other side of the closed door, Hilary spoke to her. It was all Mother would allow.
"Pat, are you okay?" he tried to whisper. People downstairs were listening. He knew they were. And probably wondering if his bride had summoned him to call off the wedding.
"I'm fine, Hilary. I just wanted to hear your voice is all. I miss you."
"I'm right here. How could you possibly miss me?"
"Don't make fun. I do miss you. Even if you don't miss me."
There was an edge to her voice and Hilary rolled his eyes.
"Now, Pat. I didn't say that. Don't put words in my mouth, please. Not today."
"I'm sorry, Hilary. I don't know what on Earth is wrong with me. I just wish we were already married."
"Is the prospect of a ceremony that terrifying to you? We could still elope, you know. I've heard you've gotten pretty good at climbing out of windows."
Pat blushed at the memory of that morning. Obviously, Joe and Sid had found it necessary to relate the incident to Hilary. She knew that, on the other side of the door, Hilary was grinning.
"No, thank you. You missed your chance at elopement. Hilary, I'm really just impatient, I suppose. Aren't you impatient?"
Hilary burst out laughing. An offended voice came back at him from the other side of the door.
"Don't laugh at me. It's not funny. Hilary. Oh, Hilary, do stop laughing."
He regained control, or at least some, and managed to answer her.
"Pat, darling, I wasn't laughing at you. It was your question. After twenty years of waiting, do you really think I'd become impatient now? I'll admit, the last few days have been the slowest of my life, but they've been the best, too. Being with you and talking with you about our future. Our future together. Pat, those are three of the sweetest words I've ever heard myself say to you. Well, except for one other phrase. I'll make you happy, Pat, I promise. If I have to move heaven and earth to do it, I will make you happy."
There was silence on the other side of the door. Hilary began to worry. Was she still irritated with him? These days, he could never be sure. The stress of the wedding had made her incredibly moody, an adjective he had never associated with her in all their years of friendship.
"Pat? You're not mad, are you?"
"No," came the muffled reply. The sound of her voice startled Hilary.
"Oh, good grief. You aren't crying? Oh, Pat, please don't cry. I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry."
"Hilary, you didn't do anything. It's just that you were saying such sweet things. And I've been so horrible."
"Pat, you've got to get hold of yourself. You're crying for no apparent reason and that's not like you. I want to see my bride smiling when she walks towards me. I love you, Pat. We'll be married soon enough. How does half an hour sound?"
"Half an hour? But the ceremony starts in five minutes."
"True, very true. But we won't be married until the ceremony is over, and that will take a little bit longer. So, I repeat my question. How does half an hour sound?"
"Not as good as right now, but still wonderful."
"Well, what a coincidence. Because there just happens to be a minister, a pianist, guests, and tons of food downstairs. Do you think they'll mind if we use them for a wedding?"
Pat laughed at his teasing and Hilary's face lit up at the sound.
"If they're not busy doing anything else, I would love to use them for a wedding," she replied.
"It's all set then. Meet me downstairs in five minutes."
"I love you, Hilary Gordon," came the soft voice through the door.
"I love you, too, Patricia Gardiner," he replied, then headed back downstairs. He went into the dining room where Rae and Sid stood talking. Rae smiled at him and Sid, his best man, walked up with a rather humble look on his face.
"Listen, Hilary, um, I wanted to tell you, um, how honored I am that you asked me to be your best man. I'm sure there were plenty of other guys you would have rather had stand up for you. After all, our history isn't the best"
Hilary cut him off.
"I didn't ask you because you're Pat's brother, Sid. I asked you because I couldn't think of anyone else I would rather have for a best man. I admire and respect you. The fact that we didn't get along when we were younger doesn't mean a thing. I'm hoping we can become friends."
"I hope so, too, Hilary. I'm glad Pat finally came to her senses. You'll take care of her, I know. I won't have to worry about her for a single minute."
"But you will, won't you, Sid? Because that's the kind of brother you are," Rae interjected. She stepped up to Hilary and began to fix his tie.
"Hilary, whatever you do during the ceremony, don't take your eyes off Pat. Brook stared me down the entire time and I've never felt so reassured. Keep eye contact with her and she won't have a chance to feel nervous. She'll just be focused on you."
Hilary nodded a silent promise. Rae finished adjusting his tie, then stood on tiptoe and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He looked at her, surprised.
"You've made Pat so happy, Hilary. I always knew you would. I couldn't ask for a better brother-in-law. You know, you've always been part of our family. Now, we can consider you legal."
Hilary started to open his mouth, but Rae clamped a hand over it.
"No, sir. No smart aleck comments today. You will behave. See you after the wedding."
With that, she was gone. A few moments later, soft music began to play, the signal for Sid and Hilary to take their places. Hilary looked calm and completely in control of himself as he waited for his bride. Rae reflected with amusement that he rather looked as if he were waiting for a bus instead of waiting for the girl he had loved all his life. But when Pat appeared, the rather bored look on Hilary's face disappeared, as Rae had known it would. His grey eyes burned with such intense love that Rae was hard pressed to not start crying right then and there.
Never had Pat looked more beautiful. The dress and veil were lovely, of course, but Hilary had eyes only for his bride's face. Her dark brown hair, frosted over by the veil, gave off glints of copper and gold as she passed through the sunlight that streamed through the windows. Her sweet brown face was flushed with color from the excitement and the nervousness she was feeling inside. Sparkling golden-brown eyes met with his own and Hilary's heart began to beat wildly. How long had he dreamed of seeing that look in those eyes? How long had he waited? It took every ounce of restrain he had in him to not take her in his arms and kiss her the moment she arrived at his side. When Long Alec put Pat's hand in his, Hilary forgot about all his fears, all his insecurities. Her touch reassured him that, no matter what life brought them, they would make it through. She loved him and that, to Hilary, was more incredible than anything that had ever happened to him in his entire life.
The minister asked him a question. But so intent was Hilary on gazing at his beloved, that he didn't hear it. There was an awkward silence and Hilary was snapped back into the present only when Sid elbowed him. He turned to the minister and grinned sheepishly.
"Could you repeat the question?" he whispered. The minister looked horrified but Hilary noticed Long Alec's face turning red, Mary Gardiner pressing her handkerchief up to her mouth suspiciously, and Rae's bowed head and shaking shoulders. When he looked back at Pat, he saw that she, too, was struggling to hold back her laughter. The minister did repeat the question and, this time, Hilary answered.
"I do."
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may"
But the sentence was never finished. What was the use, thought the minister, of telling someone to do something they were already doing? A cheer rose up nearby from Rae and, soon, the Bay Shore farm was full of music and laughter and tears. Pat dashed upstairs to take off her veil, which was really quite heavy, then went back down to join her husband at their reception. She never dreamed of what awaited her.
A/N: Will update ASAP. I know most weddings focus on the bride's point of view, but I just had to dedicate this one to Hilary. He's always been my favorite L.M. Montgomery guy (next to Gilbert of course) I mean, not even Gilbert had to wait this long for Anne! Well, close to it, but still not as long. Reviews, please! I live for reviews!
A/N: This is actually supposed to be the last part of chapter 8, but I guess the file was too big because it looked really funky after I uploaded it. The next chapter, chapter 10, will definitely be the last. At least in this fanfic. Enjoy.
It seemed an eternity to Pat before it was time to get ready. But once she started to get ready, time flew. In truth, she didn't have enough time at all. At least, it seemed that way. Rae was fussing with Pat's hair. One unruly brown kink refused to cooperate. It would not smooth out, nor would it curl. It simply remained as it was, defying an exasperated Rae. Mother finally came and managed to fix it. Mother could do anything, thought Pat. All around her, female members of the Gardiner and Selby clans flew about. Some were seeing to Pat, others were getting themselves ready. Winnie's three daughters ran about the room, laughing and playing, driving Winnie quite wild. But Pat saw the love in her sister's eyes as she watched them and hoped that, one day, she would have a child of her own to love.
But there wasn't any time for daydreaming. The present was too important at the moment. Hilary arrived. Pat could hear him downstairs and nearly rushed down to him before Rae and Winnie stopped her. She wanted to be with Hilary so badly and it was sheer torture to not be able to see him. Pat had her mind set on it and finally worked out a deal with Mother. Long Alec brought Hilary up to Pat's room ten minutes before the ceremony was to begin. The room cleared out, the girls leaving Pat alone. On the other side of the closed door, Hilary spoke to her. It was all Mother would allow.
"Pat, are you okay?" he tried to whisper. People downstairs were listening. He knew they were. And probably wondering if his bride had summoned him to call off the wedding.
"I'm fine, Hilary. I just wanted to hear your voice is all. I miss you."
"I'm right here. How could you possibly miss me?"
"Don't make fun. I do miss you. Even if you don't miss me."
There was an edge to her voice and Hilary rolled his eyes.
"Now, Pat. I didn't say that. Don't put words in my mouth, please. Not today."
"I'm sorry, Hilary. I don't know what on Earth is wrong with me. I just wish we were already married."
"Is the prospect of a ceremony that terrifying to you? We could still elope, you know. I've heard you've gotten pretty good at climbing out of windows."
Pat blushed at the memory of that morning. Obviously, Joe and Sid had found it necessary to relate the incident to Hilary. She knew that, on the other side of the door, Hilary was grinning.
"No, thank you. You missed your chance at elopement. Hilary, I'm really just impatient, I suppose. Aren't you impatient?"
Hilary burst out laughing. An offended voice came back at him from the other side of the door.
"Don't laugh at me. It's not funny. Hilary. Oh, Hilary, do stop laughing."
He regained control, or at least some, and managed to answer her.
"Pat, darling, I wasn't laughing at you. It was your question. After twenty years of waiting, do you really think I'd become impatient now? I'll admit, the last few days have been the slowest of my life, but they've been the best, too. Being with you and talking with you about our future. Our future together. Pat, those are three of the sweetest words I've ever heard myself say to you. Well, except for one other phrase. I'll make you happy, Pat, I promise. If I have to move heaven and earth to do it, I will make you happy."
There was silence on the other side of the door. Hilary began to worry. Was she still irritated with him? These days, he could never be sure. The stress of the wedding had made her incredibly moody, an adjective he had never associated with her in all their years of friendship.
"Pat? You're not mad, are you?"
"No," came the muffled reply. The sound of her voice startled Hilary.
"Oh, good grief. You aren't crying? Oh, Pat, please don't cry. I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry."
"Hilary, you didn't do anything. It's just that you were saying such sweet things. And I've been so horrible."
"Pat, you've got to get hold of yourself. You're crying for no apparent reason and that's not like you. I want to see my bride smiling when she walks towards me. I love you, Pat. We'll be married soon enough. How does half an hour sound?"
"Half an hour? But the ceremony starts in five minutes."
"True, very true. But we won't be married until the ceremony is over, and that will take a little bit longer. So, I repeat my question. How does half an hour sound?"
"Not as good as right now, but still wonderful."
"Well, what a coincidence. Because there just happens to be a minister, a pianist, guests, and tons of food downstairs. Do you think they'll mind if we use them for a wedding?"
Pat laughed at his teasing and Hilary's face lit up at the sound.
"If they're not busy doing anything else, I would love to use them for a wedding," she replied.
"It's all set then. Meet me downstairs in five minutes."
"I love you, Hilary Gordon," came the soft voice through the door.
"I love you, too, Patricia Gardiner," he replied, then headed back downstairs. He went into the dining room where Rae and Sid stood talking. Rae smiled at him and Sid, his best man, walked up with a rather humble look on his face.
"Listen, Hilary, um, I wanted to tell you, um, how honored I am that you asked me to be your best man. I'm sure there were plenty of other guys you would have rather had stand up for you. After all, our history isn't the best"
Hilary cut him off.
"I didn't ask you because you're Pat's brother, Sid. I asked you because I couldn't think of anyone else I would rather have for a best man. I admire and respect you. The fact that we didn't get along when we were younger doesn't mean a thing. I'm hoping we can become friends."
"I hope so, too, Hilary. I'm glad Pat finally came to her senses. You'll take care of her, I know. I won't have to worry about her for a single minute."
"But you will, won't you, Sid? Because that's the kind of brother you are," Rae interjected. She stepped up to Hilary and began to fix his tie.
"Hilary, whatever you do during the ceremony, don't take your eyes off Pat. Brook stared me down the entire time and I've never felt so reassured. Keep eye contact with her and she won't have a chance to feel nervous. She'll just be focused on you."
Hilary nodded a silent promise. Rae finished adjusting his tie, then stood on tiptoe and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He looked at her, surprised.
"You've made Pat so happy, Hilary. I always knew you would. I couldn't ask for a better brother-in-law. You know, you've always been part of our family. Now, we can consider you legal."
Hilary started to open his mouth, but Rae clamped a hand over it.
"No, sir. No smart aleck comments today. You will behave. See you after the wedding."
With that, she was gone. A few moments later, soft music began to play, the signal for Sid and Hilary to take their places. Hilary looked calm and completely in control of himself as he waited for his bride. Rae reflected with amusement that he rather looked as if he were waiting for a bus instead of waiting for the girl he had loved all his life. But when Pat appeared, the rather bored look on Hilary's face disappeared, as Rae had known it would. His grey eyes burned with such intense love that Rae was hard pressed to not start crying right then and there.
Never had Pat looked more beautiful. The dress and veil were lovely, of course, but Hilary had eyes only for his bride's face. Her dark brown hair, frosted over by the veil, gave off glints of copper and gold as she passed through the sunlight that streamed through the windows. Her sweet brown face was flushed with color from the excitement and the nervousness she was feeling inside. Sparkling golden-brown eyes met with his own and Hilary's heart began to beat wildly. How long had he dreamed of seeing that look in those eyes? How long had he waited? It took every ounce of restrain he had in him to not take her in his arms and kiss her the moment she arrived at his side. When Long Alec put Pat's hand in his, Hilary forgot about all his fears, all his insecurities. Her touch reassured him that, no matter what life brought them, they would make it through. She loved him and that, to Hilary, was more incredible than anything that had ever happened to him in his entire life.
The minister asked him a question. But so intent was Hilary on gazing at his beloved, that he didn't hear it. There was an awkward silence and Hilary was snapped back into the present only when Sid elbowed him. He turned to the minister and grinned sheepishly.
"Could you repeat the question?" he whispered. The minister looked horrified but Hilary noticed Long Alec's face turning red, Mary Gardiner pressing her handkerchief up to her mouth suspiciously, and Rae's bowed head and shaking shoulders. When he looked back at Pat, he saw that she, too, was struggling to hold back her laughter. The minister did repeat the question and, this time, Hilary answered.
"I do."
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may"
But the sentence was never finished. What was the use, thought the minister, of telling someone to do something they were already doing? A cheer rose up nearby from Rae and, soon, the Bay Shore farm was full of music and laughter and tears. Pat dashed upstairs to take off her veil, which was really quite heavy, then went back down to join her husband at their reception. She never dreamed of what awaited her.
A/N: Will update ASAP. I know most weddings focus on the bride's point of view, but I just had to dedicate this one to Hilary. He's always been my favorite L.M. Montgomery guy (next to Gilbert of course) I mean, not even Gilbert had to wait this long for Anne! Well, close to it, but still not as long. Reviews, please! I live for reviews!
