Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Katie Bell has been alone for the last four years. After the wedding of her best friend, she heads to the Leaky Cauldron. After she gets drunk, will she make some mistakes that she'll regret later? Oliver Wood/Katie Bell
Disclaimer: *sob, tear, sniff* This is the last Disclaimer I will write for Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride. How sad!!! I don't own Harry Potter, but I do own the plot, the personalities of most of the characters and several made up characters, too many to mention, considering a lot of them only had only weird tasks in the story. But that's it. Mr. Giggles, my rubber duck will miss this story.
Epilogue: Alls Well That Ends Well
I took a deep breath, calming my nerves, and soothing my stomach as I stared at myself in the floor-length mirror stationed in the corner of the room. A sudden rush of nostalgia overtook me, and I remembered at Alicia's wedding when I had ditched out early and headed to the Leaky Cauldron. The day I had met up with Oliver.
The day that was the whole reason that this day of reckoning had come.
It was a little surreal to stare at myself. My hair was longer now, now several inches past my shoulders and curled to fall down my back in waves. I had thankfully lost all the weight that I had gained during my pregnancy, with the help of Darryl and some nightmare-invoking work-out sessions. My blue-gray eyes stared incredulously out from perfectly plucked eyebrows. The most surreal part of it was the ivory colored dress that adorned my body. It was an off-the-shoulder dress, very simple, and just the way I liked it. No poofy skirts, no intricate glittery designs. A circlet of silvery leaves and tiny flowers was on my head, and hung from it was a light gauzy veil. From the mirror I could see Alicia, Hermione, Susan, Ginny and Angelina standing in their similar looking light blue dress gowns. It felt like I had transported out of my body into another's. I wasn't supposed to be the bride! I had always been a bridesmaid. I didn't know what to do in this situation.
Great. The day I choose to go mental, is the day of my wedding.
"I can't believe this is happening." I said, looking at myself and speaking aloud my fears. I turned to face my bridesmaids. "Is this happening?"
"You've been asking us that same question for the last 4 months." Ginny said, coming over to me and fixing my make-up slightly. The light caught the diamond on her left hand ring finger making it sparkle. She and Harry had decided that they couldn't wait nearly a year until they got married, so they had gotten married in January, three months ago. I could see Ginny's stomach starting to bulge and I smiled to myself, thinking how Mrs. Weasley must be thrilled at the newest generation of Weasleys, well, in this case Potters. "Don't worry, relax." Ginny stated firmly, as she put the finishing touches on my face.
I took another deep breath and let it go. I walked over to the playpen that Prue was sitting in happily, gurgling and doing other sort of cute baby things. Nat was with Oliver and the rest of the guys. I picked up Prue and she sat on my hip. In her hand she held a struggling Snitch. She let it go and it flew around my head several times. It was charmed not to go as fast a standard Snitch. Prue's blue eyes watched the Snitch intensely before reaching up to grab it out of the air.
"She's getting better at that, isn't she?" Susan asked, coming over and taking Prue off my hands.
"Yeah, she is." I said wistfully. Then I shook my head to ground myself. I reached for a baby bag that I had brought in and pulled out a full bottle of milk. "Tell Mrs. Weasley that if she gets fussy during the ceremony, to just feed her. That usually calms her down. Oh, and thank her for me for watching Nat and Prue."
"No problem." Susan said, with a comforting smile. She turned to her face to Prue, smiling happily, trying to get Prue to let go of her pearl necklace.
Fleur poked her silvery-blonde head of hair in. "It's time." She said. I guess those 'private lessons' of English with Bill paid off...
I tried to take a breath, feeling panicked. "Okay." I said, smoothing my dress, despite its wrinkle-less appearance. "Let's do this."
We all walked out of the dressing room, all my bridesmaid's ahead of me. My heart was nearly jumping out of my chest. I hoped it didn't show. "Okay, I can do this..." I whispered to myself. "I can do this...don't panic, panicking is bad." I saw Angelina looking at my strangely. "What?" I asked, but Angelina just looked slightly amused and shook her head, smiling.
I rolled my eyes. We reached the tall oak doors of the church where I was getting married. I could hear the dull rumble of talking voices inside. My beating heart would not calm down. I tried taking deep breaths and telling myself to relax. I saw my father, Thomas Bell, coming towards me. His face, which showed a great handsomeness when younger, was now lined slightly around his gray eyes, and around his larger than normal lips which I didn't get the luck in inheriting. "Spark." He said, in his deep rumbling voice and putting a hand on my shoulder. Dad had never called me Katie or Katherine. It had always been 'Spark'. "You looked beautiful." I saw tears gathering in his eyes and I felt tears starting to form in my eyes.
"Oh Daddy." I said, and I threw myself into his arms, not caring if I mussed up my hair, dress or make-up.
"He'll take good care of you." Thomas said, pulling away and held me at arms length. "I wouldn't be giving you away to just anyone." He grinned lopsidedly.
I nodded, without speaking. I heard the music starting up inside the other room and I lined up with my five bridesmaid and two flower girls. (Sidonie, and Calais, Fleur and Bill's oldest girls. Sidonie was now 7 and Calais was 6) I hooked my arm around my father's arm, feeling more nervous than ever. I couldn't believe I was doing this. The doors opened and I heard the soft music ahead of me. Sidonie and Calais stepped forward together, holding hands and giggling in delight. They started throwing flowers to the chorus of "How cute!" of the people gathered to watch. I linked my arm with my father's and watched my bridesmaids walk out in front. I heard from a distance the beginning of the fateful music of "Here Comes the Bride" and thought of how much I used to hate that song. I took my first step down the aisle.
All faces turned towards me, and I smiled watery at all the familiar, and unfamiliar faces. I couldn't breath as I looked up towards the altar. There was Oliver in the center, next to the High Priestess that would be conducting the ceremony, with his best man, Peter the man from his Quidditch team that he asked to do the honors, and my bridesmaids. Calais and Sidonie had sat with their parents in the first row. I continued to walk forward, until, without realizing it, I had reached the altar. My dad gave my hand to Oliver, who took it warmly, smiling at me. I gave my father a kiss on the cheek and turned to Oliver.
I took Oliver's hand in mine and he gave it a tight squeeze, as if he could feel my heart shaking. I have him a small smile. We both turned to the High Priestess that stood there. "Family, friends, and strangers." She said in a loud clear voice that stretched to the very corners of the hall. "Today is a sacred day. A day that two souls have come together, to join willingly together, in the eternal bond, of this life and after. Katherine Eleanor Bell, and Oliver Wyatt Wood, are you both here under your own free will?"
I looked at Oliver. "Yes." We breathed together.
The High Priestess nodded. "Very well."
The ceremony continued. The High Priestess made a speech about love and devotion and the rules of having a magical marriage, which Oliver and I had discussed at great length and decided on it. Finally she told us to take out our wands, so we did. "Please cross your wands with each other." She instructed, and we did. "No repeat after me, ...."
As Oliver and I repeated the words, sparks began to fly from the tips of our wands, swirling around us, making my eyes hurt. We said the words again, chanting louder, looking straight at each other. The world had no meaning in that moment, only Oliver. The sparks faded. The High Priestess nodded to Alicia, my maid of honor, and Peter, Oliver's best man. They stepped forward and handed the rings to Oliver and myself. The one I was giving to Oliver was a simple gold band. Oliver's to me was a circle of silver. "A simple circle, no beginning, no ending, just like true love. May these rings be a symbol of your everlasting love. Katherine, you may recite your vows."
I took another deep breath. I seemed to be taking a lot of those lately! "Oliver." I said, barely noticing the crowd anymore, drowning in Oliver's chocolate eyes. "You make me feel beautiful, worthy and complete. There might be hard times, good times, and times where we might just want to plain kill each other." I laughed. I took another deep breath. I think that I might be a little hysterical. "But I am willing to weather those storms, bask in the sun with you, Oliver. Whatever comes, I wi8ll love you for this life, and for whatever comes next." I slid the ring on his left hand ring finger.
Oliver smiled and took my hands in his. "Kates. My soul mate, my love, but most of all, my friend. If you had not been my friend during all the time we've known each other, we wouldn't be standing here right now. I will cherish you, adore you, and admire you until both our dying days. I hope that if I live to be a hundred years old, that you live to be a hundred years and one day, because I don't want to live one day without you."
My eyes filled up with happy tears. I hadn't heard his vows until now. He had been very secretive about them. I felt the cool metal slip onto my finger, next to my engagement ring. "Join hands." I heard the High Priestess say and we did so. She put a red rope weaved with golden strands (Gryffindor colors of course.) around our joined hands. "This rope symbolizes this ceremony. " She recited. "Joining your fates together." She smiled. "My your lives continue in happiness and love...together. Blessed be." She winked at Oliver. "You may now kiss the bride."
Oliver took me into his arms and kissed me deeply. I closed my eyes and inhaled his incredible scent. I heard the onlookers start clapping and whistling. Oliver finally pulled back and I started giggling. I was was now Mrs. Oliver Wood. I realized that Oliver was laughing as well.
"You look..." He looked me over. "...radiant."
"Thank you Mr. Wood." I said, sure there was a twinkle in my blue eyes.
"You're welcome...Mrs. Wood."
*+*
Nat was on my lap while I was sitting down watching Oliver dancing playfully with Prue. Mrs. Weasley had given Prue a pink headband with a flower on it, making her look adorable. Like she needed any help. Prue was gurgling with a happy baby smile on her face. I smiled as the song ended. I saw Fleur come over to me. "Hello, Katie." After several years in England, I could barely spot her French accent anymore. "Let me take Nathaniel. Go have fun with your husband."
"But..."I stammered. I looked up at Oliver and I saw Mrs. Weasley taking Prue from him. She also gave him a nice push in my direction. One would think we were embarrassed teenagers, not a married couple. Oliver smiled his wonderful 1,000 Watt smile. "May I have this dance?" He asked pompously.
"Charmed, I'm sure." I giggled and I let Oliver lead me out to the dance floor. A new song started up and I nearly gasped in surprise.
I wake up in the morning, put on my face
The one that's gonna get me through another day,
Doesn't really matter, how I feel inside.
This life is like a game sometimes.
I looked up Oliver to see the grin dawn on his face. "You did this!" I hissed.
"Right in one." Oliver tapped the edge of his nose.
"You sentimental, mushy-gushy..." I said, smacking his tuxedo lightly with my hand.
Oliver grabbed my hand and held me close. "You need to be sentimental and mushy-gushy once in a while, or life gets rather boring."
Then you came around me, the walls just disappear
Nothing to surround me, keep my from my fears,
I'm unprotected. See how I've opened up.
Oh, you made me trust.
"My life? Boring? Never." I said with my nose in the air.
Cuz I've never felt like this before.
I'm naked around you, does it show?
You see right through me and I can't hide
I'm naked around you, and it feels so right.
Oliver laughed. "And just what is so funny Mister?" I asked offended.
"I'm just remembering a night last year." Oliver said, a wistful look in his eyes. "When a drunk young women asked me to marry her." He looked at me, deeply. "She said that it would solve all her problems."
I'm trying to remember, why I was afraid
To be myself and let the covers fall away
Guess I never had someone like you
To help me fit in my skin.
"Yes?" I whispered, holding my arms over his shoulders, as his wrapped around my hips.
"I'm just wondering, Katherine Wood." Oliver said, with a wicked smile on his face. "Did it solve all your problems?"
I've never felt like this before.
I'm naked around you, does it show?
You see right through me and I can't hide
I'm naked around you, and it feels so right.
I smiled widely. "I do believe so, Mr. Wood. Life is perfect."
I'm naked. Oh, oh, yeah. Does it show?
I'm naked around you...does it show?
I'm so naked around you.
And I can't hide. You're gonna see right through!
You're gonna see right through!
I'm so naked around you.
And I can't hide. You're gonna see right through...
Baby...
*+*
It was at the very end of the night, when Susan came up to me. I was sitting in a chair again, this time with Prue in my lap. She was struggling to release herself from my grasp so that she could chase after her favored toy, the Golden Snitch. Prue, not Susan. Oliver was sitting next to me, holding Nat, who had fallen blissfully asleep. Susan came up to the both of us, looking absolutely ecstatic. "Katie, you'll never believe this!"
"Martians just invaded planet Earth and taken Mr. Tea Kettle and want payment in Reese's pieces for his safe return?" I cranked out before I could think.
Susan looked at me as though I was completely nutters. I was. I was madly in love and married. "Sorry, go on, go on." I said, waving a hand at her.
Susan dodged the flying Snitch as it flew around her head and then locked eyes with me. "Jake asked me to marry him!"
My eyes widened and my jaw went slack. "What?" I exclaimed. "That's wonderful!!"
"I know!" Susan said, squealing slightly. "I just wanted to come ask you...will you please be my Maid of Honor? I know how you don't like the whole 'bridesmaid' gig, but..."
I gave a look to Oliver, who smiled slightly, trying to wrench his finger away from Nat's strong grip. I turned back to Susan, who looked incredibly nervous for asking me this on my own wedding night. But I grinned for all intensive purposes.
"I might always be a bridesmaid, but at least I was once a bride."