Disclaimer: The following fiction is loosely based on characters currently owned and operated by the producers and writers of NBC-TV's Days of Our Lives. I claim no affiliation. Gratuitous entertainment purposes only.
Stubborn and Clueless
Chapter 19
by Fidomom
Brady's eyes watered in the cold night air as he watched the love of his life walk toward him. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears of happiness and she smiled her love to him. He started to smile back but faltered when he saw her nearly lose her footing. Chloe clutched Craig's arm and regained her balance. Craig's brow furrowed in concern,
"Chloe, sweetheart are you okay? What just happened?"
She smiled up at him reassuringly. She patted his arm as they continued the walk up the makeshift aisle and she whispered out the side of her mouth,
"I'm fine Craig, really! I just got lightheaded for a moment is all! Probably from all the excitement! This is the happiest day of my life so far!"
Craig smiled indulgently and patted her hand,
"Okay sweetie, I'm sure you're right! Here we are. Be happy Chloe. It's all any of us want for you."
She smiled at Craig,
"I know and I will be; we will be!".
Friends and family looked on as Chloe took her place beside Brady on the top step of the gazebo.
Brady and Chloe exchanged traditional wedding vows and rings. Father Galen announced to the wedding guests, Brady's and Chloe's wishes to also exchange personal vows. Brady and Chloe faced each other and clasped hands. Brady silently and lovingly took in her appearance. It seemed to Brady as though Chloe had been sprinkled with stars. Her ears were adorned with heart-shaped diamond stud earrings. She wore a fragile crown of baby's breath and white rosebuds, to the back of which her veil was attached. Her long dark, wavy hair was left loose and it sparkled with silver glitter. Her unusual wedding dress was a cowl-necked, wing-sleeved, form-fitting, white, angora sweater that covered her to mid-calf. It was sparsely studded all over with tiny white rhinestones. On her feet she wore white leather boots. Brady took a deep breath and began,
"We've come a long way together, Chloe. The journey to this moment with you has been exhilirating, frustrating, fascinating, complicated and breathtakingly beautiful. Despite our initial mutual misgivings about each other when we first met we stand here today on the verge of becoming life partners. I feel amazed and thankful that our initial hostility eventually became tenuous civility because it was pivotal to us being here tonight. It was what enabled us to share a summer. In that one glorious beautiful summer I was forever changed by the friendship we built. That friendship is still valid and it is the most important friendship of my life. Our friendship didn't become love; we added love to our friendship. Every day we add a little more love to it. I love you Chloe, for so many reasons and in so many ways- human to human, friend to friend, man to woman. I love you and I am in love with you for all that you are now or ever were. I anticipate loving you for all that you will yet become. I know you and I love what I know and I love what I see. I told you someone would someday never realising I meant me. We have always had an intangible inexplicable connection and all our memories we've made together have only served to strengthen it. I believe our future lives together will strengthen it even further. I feel bonded to you at the soul level. It is a bond that I believe is unbreakable. What I believe Chloe is that our friendship and our love are forever; we are forever. I love you, Diva. With all my heart, body, mind and soul, do I love you. Now and for always. Guaranteed."
Chloe flashed her groom a liquid smile and her chin quivered as she began her personal vows to him,
"I'm sure to our families and friends it seems as though you and I had a whirlwind romance and courtship but we really didn't did we? It seems we took forever to build what we have; for us to wade through all our issues and overcome distractions and ride out the bumps along the way but we did it Brady! We really did it! All my life I wished for someone like you. Someone I could trust and count on no matter what. Someone who would see past my defenses to the real me and accept me flaws and all. You do that; you are that someone I dreamed of. I feel such a deep sense of security knowing, really knowing that you love me just the way I am! I don't understand why my dream came true but I am more than grateful.
I used to think I understood what love was. I thought I knew what it was, based on what I had learned from listening to and mimicking opera. Now I know that a song can't define love; love is the reason to sing at all. You showed me that a song without heart is just words and music; that heart is what truly gives a song meaning. Brady you are my reason to sing. You are the love of my life. You freed my heart from a self-imposed isolation and in so doing you became the caretaker of it. You made it safe for me to share my heart with you. From this day forward, I entrust my heart to my guide, my teacher, my friend, my reality check, my life partner, my hero, my soulmate. I entrust my heart to you. I love you Brady Victor Black with all of my soul, with all that I have, and all that I am. You truly are my dream come true and the very best answer to my prayers! I feel so blessed to share life and love with you!"
Brady glanced at Father Galen with emotional eyes and Father Galen bestowed a benevolent smile on him as he announced,
"By the powers vested in me in so much as you have met all the requirements of church and state I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, Brady!"
Brady breathed relieved words imperceptible to everyone except Chloe who giggled nervously as his mouth met hers in a heartfelt sealing kiss. Her giggle evaporated as she responded in kind. Brady lifted his face from hers and with amused pride shining from his eyes he announced,
"I love you Chloe Black!"
Chloe laughed in delight and with Brady's arm around her shoulders they faced their wedding guests. Mr. and Mrs. Brady Black descended the gazebo steps to be hugged and congratulated by their family and friends. Brady didn't let Chloe stray from his touch and everyone respected that. During a brief respite from all the hugs and best wishes, Brady quickly planted a kiss on his wife's cheek and whispered in her ear,
"Anytime you're ready to go to our reception just say the word!"
She grinned,
"Okay! Just a few more hugs and then you can let them all know it's time to go!"
She reached for the back of his neck and pulled his face to hers for a loving kiss. A throat being cleared loudly interrupted them and they looked up into the teasing eyes of John Black,
"Come on you two break it up! Plenty of time for that later! I'd like to hug my daughter-in-law if I may!"
Brady laughed and stood aside. John wrapped Chloe in a big hug, kissed the side of her head and said,
"Welcome to our crazy family, kiddo!"
She giggled her thanks as John released her from his hug. Chloe then reached for her husband's hand,
"Okay Brady, I'm ready to go now!"
Brady squeezed her hand as he made the announcement and they all left. Love and happiness lingered on in the air, replenishing the now silent and empty gazebo with continued good karma.
To be continued ...
Stubborn and Clueless
Chapter 19
by Fidomom
Brady's eyes watered in the cold night air as he watched the love of his life walk toward him. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears of happiness and she smiled her love to him. He started to smile back but faltered when he saw her nearly lose her footing. Chloe clutched Craig's arm and regained her balance. Craig's brow furrowed in concern,
"Chloe, sweetheart are you okay? What just happened?"
She smiled up at him reassuringly. She patted his arm as they continued the walk up the makeshift aisle and she whispered out the side of her mouth,
"I'm fine Craig, really! I just got lightheaded for a moment is all! Probably from all the excitement! This is the happiest day of my life so far!"
Craig smiled indulgently and patted her hand,
"Okay sweetie, I'm sure you're right! Here we are. Be happy Chloe. It's all any of us want for you."
She smiled at Craig,
"I know and I will be; we will be!".
Friends and family looked on as Chloe took her place beside Brady on the top step of the gazebo.
Brady and Chloe exchanged traditional wedding vows and rings. Father Galen announced to the wedding guests, Brady's and Chloe's wishes to also exchange personal vows. Brady and Chloe faced each other and clasped hands. Brady silently and lovingly took in her appearance. It seemed to Brady as though Chloe had been sprinkled with stars. Her ears were adorned with heart-shaped diamond stud earrings. She wore a fragile crown of baby's breath and white rosebuds, to the back of which her veil was attached. Her long dark, wavy hair was left loose and it sparkled with silver glitter. Her unusual wedding dress was a cowl-necked, wing-sleeved, form-fitting, white, angora sweater that covered her to mid-calf. It was sparsely studded all over with tiny white rhinestones. On her feet she wore white leather boots. Brady took a deep breath and began,
"We've come a long way together, Chloe. The journey to this moment with you has been exhilirating, frustrating, fascinating, complicated and breathtakingly beautiful. Despite our initial mutual misgivings about each other when we first met we stand here today on the verge of becoming life partners. I feel amazed and thankful that our initial hostility eventually became tenuous civility because it was pivotal to us being here tonight. It was what enabled us to share a summer. In that one glorious beautiful summer I was forever changed by the friendship we built. That friendship is still valid and it is the most important friendship of my life. Our friendship didn't become love; we added love to our friendship. Every day we add a little more love to it. I love you Chloe, for so many reasons and in so many ways- human to human, friend to friend, man to woman. I love you and I am in love with you for all that you are now or ever were. I anticipate loving you for all that you will yet become. I know you and I love what I know and I love what I see. I told you someone would someday never realising I meant me. We have always had an intangible inexplicable connection and all our memories we've made together have only served to strengthen it. I believe our future lives together will strengthen it even further. I feel bonded to you at the soul level. It is a bond that I believe is unbreakable. What I believe Chloe is that our friendship and our love are forever; we are forever. I love you, Diva. With all my heart, body, mind and soul, do I love you. Now and for always. Guaranteed."
Chloe flashed her groom a liquid smile and her chin quivered as she began her personal vows to him,
"I'm sure to our families and friends it seems as though you and I had a whirlwind romance and courtship but we really didn't did we? It seems we took forever to build what we have; for us to wade through all our issues and overcome distractions and ride out the bumps along the way but we did it Brady! We really did it! All my life I wished for someone like you. Someone I could trust and count on no matter what. Someone who would see past my defenses to the real me and accept me flaws and all. You do that; you are that someone I dreamed of. I feel such a deep sense of security knowing, really knowing that you love me just the way I am! I don't understand why my dream came true but I am more than grateful.
I used to think I understood what love was. I thought I knew what it was, based on what I had learned from listening to and mimicking opera. Now I know that a song can't define love; love is the reason to sing at all. You showed me that a song without heart is just words and music; that heart is what truly gives a song meaning. Brady you are my reason to sing. You are the love of my life. You freed my heart from a self-imposed isolation and in so doing you became the caretaker of it. You made it safe for me to share my heart with you. From this day forward, I entrust my heart to my guide, my teacher, my friend, my reality check, my life partner, my hero, my soulmate. I entrust my heart to you. I love you Brady Victor Black with all of my soul, with all that I have, and all that I am. You truly are my dream come true and the very best answer to my prayers! I feel so blessed to share life and love with you!"
Brady glanced at Father Galen with emotional eyes and Father Galen bestowed a benevolent smile on him as he announced,
"By the powers vested in me in so much as you have met all the requirements of church and state I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, Brady!"
Brady breathed relieved words imperceptible to everyone except Chloe who giggled nervously as his mouth met hers in a heartfelt sealing kiss. Her giggle evaporated as she responded in kind. Brady lifted his face from hers and with amused pride shining from his eyes he announced,
"I love you Chloe Black!"
Chloe laughed in delight and with Brady's arm around her shoulders they faced their wedding guests. Mr. and Mrs. Brady Black descended the gazebo steps to be hugged and congratulated by their family and friends. Brady didn't let Chloe stray from his touch and everyone respected that. During a brief respite from all the hugs and best wishes, Brady quickly planted a kiss on his wife's cheek and whispered in her ear,
"Anytime you're ready to go to our reception just say the word!"
She grinned,
"Okay! Just a few more hugs and then you can let them all know it's time to go!"
She reached for the back of his neck and pulled his face to hers for a loving kiss. A throat being cleared loudly interrupted them and they looked up into the teasing eyes of John Black,
"Come on you two break it up! Plenty of time for that later! I'd like to hug my daughter-in-law if I may!"
Brady laughed and stood aside. John wrapped Chloe in a big hug, kissed the side of her head and said,
"Welcome to our crazy family, kiddo!"
She giggled her thanks as John released her from his hug. Chloe then reached for her husband's hand,
"Okay Brady, I'm ready to go now!"
Brady squeezed her hand as he made the announcement and they all left. Love and happiness lingered on in the air, replenishing the now silent and empty gazebo with continued good karma.
To be continued ...