Kleenex will possibly come in handy.

"The couple has chosen to forgo the traditional vows in favor of their own. Michael, would you like to go first?"

Chapter Seventeen - The Wedding: The Vows

"Syd, I know I've told you the first thought I had about you was that you were a crazy person. And for the record, I still think that."

Light laughter rings through the church at that, and Sydney shoots him a look of mock anger.

"But yet when you walked into the office, I was watching you long before I announced my presence. I was watching you, and I was loving you. From the first day, from the first hour."

He hesitates, fighting for control of his emotions.

"I can't promise to love you the rest of your life," he says quietly. "Price of work. But I will promise to love you for the rest of mine. You are who I am in every way." He grins. "Even if you can't remember I have a first name."

She laughs at that.

"And I promise, Syd, to never patronize and to always be someone you can trust unconditionally." He looks her in the eyes, his gaze serious. "Your life has had many complications, but I will never be one of them. You will never have to wonder about me. No secrets and no lies. Ever."

Jack nods approvingly.

He takes a deep breath. "And to finish, Mountineer, I, Michael Christopher Vaughn, swear to let you win at a hockey game once in awhile. A great while. And uh, I promise to never frost the pie. And to take you to Trattoria de Nardi as much as humanly possible and to never order pizza. And," he smiles devilishly, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "I promise to show you every reason why the French have such a tremendous reputation in a certain… exercise."

Somehow, Sydney manages to keep her facial emotions under control. It certainly wouldn't be polite if the two of them left early from their own wedding.

"But generally," Vaughn concludes, standing up straight and once again making his voice audible to the rest of the church. "I promise to love you, Sydney Bristow. Now and always."

"Merci, Michel." The minister decides not to tell the two Agents he and everyone else on stage had heard him clearly. "Sydney, will you now present your vows?"

Nervously, she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You said it, you know," she begins. "My life is full of complications. It wouldn't be my life without them. But you were always my steady anchor when everything else was just crazy. My guardian angel."

Vaughn grins broadly.

"You want the truth? The first time I saw you, I thought you were far too young to be my handler. Way too green, way too naïve."

Jack grins broadly.

"But that's exactly why I fell in love with you. I see so much darkness in my life… the spontaneity you have, the determination to always do the right thing and never once cross the line … it's just who you are. And I love that."

Her eyes soften as she looks up at him, seeing the handkerchief he clutches in his left fist and the passion in his teary green eyes. For her.

"I loved that I could work for the very people you were trying to take down and then I'd see you smile at the end of the day in some dirty warehouse and it would all be worth it. I loved that I could be at my absolute lowest and then I'd hear Francie cussing out the Joey's Pizza caller and I'd know that everything was going to be okay, because you were busy making sure it would."

"I loved that and I love you. Now and always. And today I promise to be all of that to you. Your guardian angel."

Still standing behind Vaughn, Weiss pulls out a spare handkerchief.

"But now, Boy Scout, on a more serious note, I have some promises I want to give you."

He raises an eyebrow, his expression one of amused curiosity.

"I, Sydney Anne Bristow, hereby solemnly swear to address you as Michael at least once a week. And I also promise to let you win once in a while when we spar."

She grins. "A great while. And I swear to laugh at all your nonhumorous jokes, to let you drive everywhere, and to give you as many drawers as you would like, but most of all…"

It's her turn to lean in.

"I swear to always cook meals that can be reheated."

Applause and light laughter rang through the church when they finished. Hiding his amusement, the minister looked up. "May we have the rings, please?"

- to be continued -

No author's note because I wanted to go right into it, but can I say again how much I love all of you that reviewed? Especially all the new readers! You're my favorite people on the planet.

Up next… Rings and Presentation. 2 or 10? ;)

Review Responses

K4e and Jasmine: I'm glad! English is a-okay by me, just 'cause I was worried it would ruin the flow if you read Vaughn's vows, paused and went "What did he say?" And THEN read the translation. Seemed out of place for me, ya know?

WishingStar: :hands you a Weiss hanky: It's only 3 parts, if that's any consolation!

Julie: Oh no! I hope you were able to read this chapter, at least! It took the longest out of all of them to write, because of all the inside jokes. lol

Sallene: Me? A tease? :whistles:

Lady Jedi, Alexr9466, star, Hermione512, erin, okelay, kay10197 and Whitney: Here ya go! Hope it was as good as you hoped!

Gaia_pylea: You know what's sad? That wasn't the chapter of the whole thing. I think Chapter 3 or somewhere around that has that honor.

Mandi: I thought of that, but then they went and used Anne on the show. Don't they KNOW Amanda means loved? I mean, it woulda been perfect! :grumbles:

Nattie700: Deal. ;)

Nana: All at once? Wow! You rock! lol

WishingStar: Here here. The Plot Device Known As The Ring™ is just so unnecessary.

Kat27: I was literally just finishing coding when I saw your review, so of course I had to stop and say hello! I hoped this lived up to your expectations!

Linda!: :gushes: :hugs: Pass me a tissue, would ya?