"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here among family and friends to celebrate as Michael Christopher Vaughn and Sydney Anne Bristow make public their commitment to one another and are joined in marriage. Marriage is an honorable estate instituted by God and not to be entered into without thoughtful consideration, lightly or unadvisedly but rather discreetly and reverently."
The minister glances at the crowd. "Who gives this woman to be married?"
Jack steps forward again, waiting awkwardly for Irina to join him. They stand together, a united front. Sydney visibly glows at the sight.
"We do," they say together.
"Then I welcome you, Michael and Sydney, to this moment in your lives and to the place you have come to in each other's hearts. We join with you on this day as you commit before God and humanity that from this point forward you shall live as one. I remind all of our guests that you have been invited here for a holy purpose, not just to witness but to participate fully with your thoughts and prayers, asking God to bless this couple and their married life."
"Unless, of course, someone here has reasons for which they should not be wed? Speak up now or forever hold your peace."
Silence. Vaughn and Sydney both chuckle nervously.
"Excellent. The next step is the vows. The couple has chosen to forgo the traditional vows in favor of their own. Michael, would you like to go first?"
He nods nervously, clearing his throat before beginning. "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 echoes when they finish. Hiding his amusement, the minister looks up. "May we have the rings, please?"
Laughs and coos of delight ring through the church as Donovan slowly pads up, the ring pillow attached to his head.
"The wedding rings serve as a symbol of the vows you have just spoken. They are the outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible love that binds your hearts and souls together. As they're made of the most precious of the earth's materials, so your love is the richest of spiritual values. As rings are without end or seam, so they symbolize the perfection of a love that does not end, a love that is eternal. A love that is shared between you two."
Carefully, they place their chosen rings on each other's fingers, though their hands are trembling so much that such a simple task is quite difficult to accomplish.
"With this ring, I thee wed," they each repeat. "Please accept it as a token of my love."
Light applause scatters throughout the church when they finish, but Sydney and Vaughn, busily admiring the rings, neglect to hear it.
"Michael and Sydney, although you are God's gifts to each other, you are not intended for each other alone. You are asked by God to love each other so that in your love, you might find yourselves as God created you. Beautiful and strong and brave and true, that the entire world might be blessed by the presence of a love that shines so."
He held his hands out in blessing.
"May you relax in each other's arms as you have never relaxed before. May you both know, from now on, that there is one on whose love you will depend, forever. May you create, with God, a piece of heaven on Earth. Into a darkened world the Lord has sent your love for one another, and accomplishes between you the miracle that will heal us all."
Smiling broadly, he raises his eyes to the rest of the attendants.
"And now by the authority vested in me by the State of California, but much more importantly, by the look of love in your eyes, and the seriousness with which you make this commitment; it is my honor and delight to now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride, son."
Beaming so tremendously that he is literally shaking, Vaughn pulls an equally joyous Sydney to him and does just that.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to present Mr. and Mrs. Michael Vaughn!"
