After all the years of waiting the day had finally arrived. The calendars said December 30, and the wedding bells were ringing. Fortunately enough, the sun decided to show itself that day itself, making sure the ceremony would be beautiful. The backyard of Tino's house looked a dream with the decorations up and an ornate archway with flowers and vines standing on the one side. Under that very archway Ms.Tonitini and Dixon would be wed. After he got his tux on Tino stared out a window looking at the structure picturing the event that was to take place within an hour or two. It was odd to him to think that he was looking at the exact place where four years of romance and decisions were to come to a head. Those four years were all leading to this time and this place. That line of thinking was a bit overwhelming to Tino and he decided not to dwell on it. Instead, he went to see how Lor was doing. As he approached the door Tino heard a flurry of profanity emanating from the room. Perplexed, he approached and knocked on the door slightly.
"Arrgh, damn it! I mean come in," Lor called out.
Tino entered and saw a poorly dressed Lor.
"You know, it looks like you have that dress on backwards and upside down," Tino commented.
"Haha, hush up. You know, I don't wear dresses especially ones that are so formal like this. I can't figure out how to get this thing on," Lor said.
"I know, I know. Do you want me to give you a hand with that?" Tino asked.
"Yeah, that would be a big help. Putting this thing on is like a two person job," Lor responded.
Tino smiled slightly and moved over to Lor and tried adjusting the dress. All Tino could see was an ocean of satin, and he honestly had no idea how the dress was supposed to go on, but he figured he would keep adjusting it until it looked okay.
"Oh! Wait, hold on a second, Tino. My head is stuck in here," Lor said from within the dress.
"Okay, I think if I move it this way that will fix things," Tino replied.
He shifted the dress and instead of freeing Lor, he just entangled her more.
"Ahh! What the hell is goin' on?" Lor cried out.
"Sorry, I'm just having a bit of trouble out here. Let me try to adjust it the other way," Tino responded.
He pulled the other dress the other way and he almost knocked Lor over.
She stumbled a few steps and called out, "Do you know what you are doing? I thought you said you'd help because you knew what to do."
"Actually, I have no clue how this dress goes on. I thought I would figure it out once I started helping. I know what I'll do. I'll go get Tish she will be able to help," Tino commented.
"Hold on a second, Tino. Don't leave just yet! I can't see anything! Tino? Tino!" Lor yelled out, but he had already left by that point.
Tino rushed to go find Tish, but along the way he was stopped by Dixon.
"Hey champ, how are things goin'?"
"Oh hi there, Dixon. Things are going pretty good for me. A little anxious and all, but good nonetheless."
"That's good to hear. I suggest you take a few breaths and make sure you feel confident. Remember just to be cool about everything, okay?"
"Yeah I know. Geez, you are the one getting married not me, but from our composures you would never be able to tell," Tino commented.
"Yeah, well I was just born with an innate calmness and coolness," Dixon replied with a smirk.
"Hey, have you seen Tish around?" Tino asked.
"Yeah, last time I saw her she was out back setting up some chairs," Dixon replied.
Tino nodded and then he was off. Tino made it to the kitchen and was about to go out back, but then he noticed Carver eyeing the wedding cake greedily.
"Hey, I hope you weren't planning on taking some of that cake," Tino called out.
Carver jumped back in surprise since he had been completely fixated on the cake and didn't notice Tino was in the room.
"I wasn't planning on taking any. I was just, uhhhh, admiring it. Yeah, that's it. That beautiful, rich, vanilla frosting, the fluffy, moist, layered cake, yeah that's drool what I'm talking about," Carver said salivating.
"Okay, I think I'm gonna have to take you outside before you make a puddle on the floor," Tino said pulling Carver out the door.
Once outside Carver looked around confused.
"When did I get outside? I remember being in your kitchen and now all of a sudden I'm out here."
Tino shook his head and said, "You were in cake hypnosis and I removed you from the area of the offending pastry."
"Ahhh, I see. You know one time I spent a whole day staring at a bakery because of that hypnosis," Carver commented.
"I don't doubt that for one second. Now I was coming out here for a reason, but I can't seem to remember why now," Tino said.
"Well, if it was something important you would remember it," Carver replied.
"Yeah I guess you're right," Tino said.
Both he and Carver sat down and talked about this and that. After around 15 minutes Tish came over to the two.
"Hey guys. It looks like it's almost time for the ceremony to start. I guess that means Carver and me have to get to our jobs," Tish said.
"Yeah I guess we should be getting' to that, yep, yep, yep nose to the grindstone," Carver said standing up.
"Hey Tino where's Lor?" Tish asked.
"Oh my God! Lor!" Tino yelled.
"What's wrong?" Carver asked.
"I was supposed to get Tish to help Lor get her dress on after I got her stuck in it," Tino said worried.
"Well, it looks like she got herself unstuck in time," Carver commented looking behind Tino.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Tino said as he turned around.
He then came face to face with a none too pleased Lor.
"Hi, Lor. It, uhhhh, looks like you got the dress on haha," Tino said nervously.
Lor was not amused and continued to stare a hole through him. Tino took a small step backwards and gulped hard, afraid that Lor was going to deck him.
"Let me tell you something. I'm not exactly thrilled that you left me stuck inside this dress, and if I was you I would keep my distance for a bit. Got it?" Lor said in a slightly threatening voice.
"I understand," Tino squeaked.
From behind him, Tino heard someone making a whip cracking noise. He shot a glance at Carver who whistled and looked away.
Tish looked at her watch and said hurriedly, "Oh! Look at the time we all have to get going."
They all nodded and walked off. Tino was saddened by the fact that he had forgotten all about Lor, but he pushed it out of his mind because he had to focus on the wedding. He couldn't mess up his big role as best man. Soon the time arrived and the wedding started. The ceremony went off without a hitch. Tish and Carver successfully guided everyone to their seats and the procession to the archway went beautifully. Tino was quite proud of the fact that he didn't trip over his own feet or one of the chairs because in addition to not being good at dramatic exits, he tended to be just as poor with dramatic entrances as well. He thought his mom looked very stunning in her wedding dress, and he also thought Lor looked especially beautiful in her dress as well. It was very rare for Lor to be in a dress and he had to admit that he thought she was a vision in one. Although he promised himself that he wouldn't cry, Tino felt tears well up in his eyes when Dixon and his mom exchanged their vows. He held back any actual crying, but the idea that the two were officially wed now filled him up. Immediately though, any tears at all disappeared once the two kissed each other. Tino didn't want to watch his mom making out with Dixon so he looked up at the sky to avoid it. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and after the ceremony was over Tino sat down in the front row just pondering about the future ahead. After seeing him sitting there looking at the archway, Lor walked over to Tino and sat down next to him.
Tino looked over at him and immediately tried to apologize, "Lor, I'm real sorry about leaving you stuck in the dress. I just got side tracked with Carver. Honestly, I was really trying to find Tish."
Lor smiled a bit and said, "Oh it's okay. I understand. It doesn't really matter since I got the dress on right anyway. When something goes wrong you have to laugh it off, right?"
Tino's face brightened and he said, "Yeah I have to agree. Sometimes you just have to laugh."
"So what were you doing here by yourself?" Lor asked.
"Oh, I was just thinking about things. I can't really believe that my mom is married again. I finally have a step-dad, and I also have a stepsister now too," Tino said.
"Yeah, this must be quite a monumental day for you. I can't even imagine what that must feel like," Lor said.
"I can't even explain it. I mean I'm happy about all of it, but it's all so new. It will feel weird to me for awhile I think."
"Hey, it's understandable. I'm always amazed at weddings in general."
"Really? Why is that?"
"Because it's two people joining together and pledging to love each other unconditionally. I think that is such an amazing decision to make."
"I see your point, but people go back on that decision all the time. Divorce is becoming quite commonplace, and it makes not so much of an amazing decision when people can, and do, leave the commitment so much," Tino said in reply.
"Yeah I know. I mean no offense to your mom or Dixon, but I think that's a shame. I realize that people shouldn't stay in a relationship if it is a problem, but I don't think that people should make the decision unless they are 100 percent certain."
"I think that's kind of hard to tell. I'm pretty sure that would take a long time to know for certain that marriage would work out for the rest of your life."
"I guess that's true. It would take a lot of trust and a lot of time to figure that out................ What about us then? We have known each other for a long time and we have a lot of trust in each other. Could you see us making till the ends of our lives?" Lor asked.
Tino took a deep breath before replying, "I think we could do it. In our short time as a couple we have been tested and we have made it through together. If we can make it through what we have made it through during this time then who is to say we couldn't again. Yeah, I think we could make it. Definitely."
Lor smiled and leaned over and kissed Tino.
"I have to agree with you. I think we could make it to the end as well."
Tino turned and the two shared another kiss.
Tino leaned back and said, "Of course, who really knows what the future holds? If we trust in ourselves and our feelings then I suppose the future is us together, isn't it?"
"I think that's true and so that's what we have to do, trust in each other. Don't you think so?" Lor commented.
"Yeah I do, I'm just saying that the future hasn't been written' yet so other possibilities exist, but we have our trust in each other and hey, we have made it to here so I think we will make it to the end. When all hell is breaking loose, we're ridin' the eye of the storm, right?"
Lor laughed and said, "Yeah, I have to say you are right about that. C'mon, this is enough serious talk for a few years let's go enjoy the reception."
"You know it. I want to get some cake before Carv eats it all," Tino said.
The two held each other's hand as they went off looking for food and friends.
End of Chapter Seventeen
Hey there, everybody. Unlike in most chapters I have a few things to say down here. First of all, since I know someone will mention it, I'm aware that the end part here with Tino and Lor is out of character. It's on purpose. Really when you get down to it, having anyone from the show being serious is to take them out of character, but enough about that. Second of all, there are only two chapters left in this story so everything is winding down now. However, it will take me longer than usual to have those chapters posted because I have too much work to do in the next couple of weeks. I would say give me a week for each, but don't hold me to that. It's just a guess. Thirdly, and forgive my ignorance, what does the abbreviation 'AU' mean? When someone says a story is AU, what do they mean? See how long this little commentary is? Wow. That's all for me this time. Stay tuned and keep readin' and reviewin'.