Rachel, Gaby, and Rick are mine.
Rated PG : some language and violence.
Last chapter. Many thanks to Cecilia and Jenny for beta-ing, and all the support they've given me over the last more than a year. Thanks to Rach and Mr.Quinn for feedback, chat, and encouragement. Thanks to Shirley for being the first to refer to this fic as 'VD'. And to Dagmar for only threatening to do me bodily harm once.
This is the last story of this series for now, although there's every chance I'll come back to it eventually. I hope everyone who read it had a good time, and more thanks to everyone who's reviewed and/or emailed. Feedback is very important to a writer (and not only me), review early and often!
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
The tradition had been almost forgotten in Jen's time, but Wes had reminded her. Old friends. A new life. A borrowed gold necklace that had belonged to Wes's mother. As for something blue...
She smiled at her old friends as she slowly passed by, all of them smiling in return. Her eyes lingered for just a moment on Alex. Once, she had dreamed of the day she would be married, and imagined him as the groom, waiting for her at the end of the aisle. But now there he sat in the audience, a well-loved friend, a former teammate. And someone else would be her husband.
Alex's, Lucas's, and Trip's clothes showed signs of the damage done by their morning adventure. The rest of them looked tired but more or less presentable. A glance down showed Jen the marks of soot, ashes, and scorching still clearly visible on her white satin gown, despite frantic efforts to brush them off, not to mention the rips that Gaby had hastily helped sew up. Wes's and Eric's suits were also dirty and torn, but at least it was less conspicuous on the dark material. She tried to hide another smile. They definitely made an interesting-looking wedding party.
The guests certainly thought so, she could see the shocked glances and hear the whispers, and lifted her chin resolutely. She couldn't blame them, they had been stuck waiting when the ceremony was delayed for almost two hours, with little to do but eat, talk, and most of all drink, and now this.
But none of that seemed to matter anymore as her eyes settled on Wes waiting for her, Eric at his side as best man, Gaby in her place as bridesmaid. Wes, his face both happy and nervous, blue-green eyes bright, crinkling at the corners as he grinned suddenly. She had the impulse to reach out, straighten his hair, just to touch him... She stepped into her spot and stopped, sharing the smile with him.
Alan Collins had escorted her, acting as the father of the bride. Now he pressed his fingers over her hand for a moment, softly murmuring, "Ready, Jen?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." As she let go of his arm, he stepped back, and sat down. She and Wes faced each other again, taking each other's hands.
"We are gathered together here today to join this man and this woman in matrimony. This is not a condition to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, and soberly. This is the union into which these two persons wish to enter..."
They had modernized the old ceremony, while trying to keep its beauty and meaning. They had considered others, of course, both old and new, traditional and original. This, she felt, was lovely; short, simple, elegant somehow. It said all that needed to be said.
"Do you, Wesley Paul Collins, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, keeping yourself faithful to her, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." He smiled as he said it, his hand tightening on hers.
"Do you, Jennifer Scotts, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, keeping yourself faithful to him, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
There was more, about marriage and what it means, about love and commitment. About the significance of the two gold rings they exchanged. Jen looked into Wes's eyes, losing track of the words, letting them fade into what her own heart was saying, the one thing that included all the others.
I love you, not just the surface, not just the body or the face; not just the way you smile or the way you make me laugh. I love what you are inside, the part that will never change. I love you, and put your happiness above my own. And I always will.
The depths of his eyes answered her, her breath catching at what she saw there. Lost in the small world of themselves, they both almost didn't hear the words everyone else was waiting for.
"I pronounce you husband and wife."
Wes and Jen both grinned at each other again for a moment before kissing, holding the embrace as cheers broke out.
"You know how much I paid for this damn suit?" Eric grumbled.
"You told me when you bought it," Gaby answered, lifting her chin to look up at him. "And when you picked it up. And this morning. And at least five times since then."
"And now it looks like shit."
"We'll get it cleaned, and I can fix most of the damage, or we can get a tailor to do it. And I think you look very handsome."
"Hmm. Well, thanks. You look pretty good, too."
"Pretty good! Wow, what a compliment!" But she smiled, and he knew she was pleased. She did look good, in her rose bridesmaid's gown.
Eric had never been to a wedding before and had found it quite an experience. The ritual, the details, an attack of nerves that had him repeatedly checking for the ring... The unaccustomed fancy suit, being surrounded by people he hardly knew but had to smile at and shake hands with anyway. And now the reception, noisy and crowded, the guests milling about the large Collins living room. At least there was nothing left to do but be civil to a few more people for a little while longer. He didn't even have to do that right now, while he was dancing; a slow song with Gaby in his arms. He could feel himself start to relax.
"It was a beautiful wedding, wasn't it?" Gaby went on. "And on Valentine's Day. So romantic."
Eric looked down into Gaby's face again and smiled slightly. "It was okay, I guess."
"Just okay? Come on, you liked it."
He shrugged. "I dunno. All day; stand here, sit there, pose for the cameras, watch the bride and groom shove cake in each others' faces. And if I'd known I'd have to make a toast, I wouldn't have agreed to be best man."
She peered at him as if wondering how seriously to take him. "Don't be so cynical for once."
"I've said it before; if I ever get married, I'm eloping."
"Didn't you like seeing Wes and Jen finally get married? Seeing them so happy?"
"I give it a week."
"What!" She pouted as he began to laugh at the expression on her face. "Oh. You're teasing. I thought I was supposed to be the one with a sense of humor around here."
"Yeah, I'm just kidding. Wes and Jen are perfect for each other. She bosses him around, he's too nice to object..."
"Eric..."
"All right, I'll stop." They swayed to the music in silence for the next few minutes, her chin leaning on his shoulder, her body fitted so well against his. It felt good, warm, complete in some way that was still unfamiliar to him, as she settled even more firmly into his arms, sighing, her breath tickling as it breezed across his neck.
"Are you happy?" The question took him by surprise as she murmured it, so softly he almost didn't catch the words.
"What do you mean?"
"It's not a trick question. Are you happy?"
"You mean now? Sure, I guess."
"I mean in general."
He raised his head to see her face. She looked serious. "I haven't really thought about it."
"Shouldn't take a lot of thought, should it?"
"I don't know." He shrugged again. "I like my job. I like Wes and Alan. I like my home. My life is pretty good, I guess. If that's what happiness is, then yeah, I'm happy."
"Good." She tilted her head, and asked with a half-smile, "You left something out. Do you like living with me? Do you like me?"
He stared down into her face, seeing a deeper question in her eyes. And after all the questions he'd asked himself over the last few months since she'd said it to him, all the times he'd wondered what his own feelings were, all the times he'd tried to tell her and backed down; suddenly he was sure, and it was almost easy. He pulled her close again, chin on his shoulder, and breathed it into her ear.
"I love you."
"Seems like we're always saying goodbye," Alex said.
"Will this be the last time?"
"You know I can't tell you that." Wes saw Alex smile, his face, so like a sterner version of his own, softened by the evening light as they stood on the pathway in front of the house, the glow of a rosy sunset spread over the sky above them, the freshness of the distant ocean carried on the breeze.
The other guests had gone. Wes's father was inside, with Philips and the rest of the help, who were starting to clean up. Only their visitors from the future remained, along with Eric and Gaby, who watched from the doorway. Trip, Lucas, Katie, Logan, Nadira, and Rachel had said their goodbyes already in a round of hugs, kisses, and handshaking, and stood a little distance off, waiting.
"Jen, I guess this is it," Alex said. "I wish you the best of luck, and a happy life."
"For you, too. Happiness in everything."
"Goodbye." He leaned in to kiss her, brushing his lips against her cheek. She only smiled shakily as he turned to Wes, holding out his hand. "Take good care of her, Wes."
"Don't worry." He looked into his double's eyes, perhaps for the last time, unexpectedly saddened by the thought. "It's been great knowing you."
"You didn't always feel that way. But thanks." A quick handshake, another smile, and he walked away to join his teammates. They paused for another moment, another look, hands lifting in a last gesture of goodbye before getting into their cars. Wes took Jen's hand as they disappeared down the long driveway, on their way home.
"You okay?" he asked, seeing the sadness on her face, and the way she quickly brushed at her eyes.
"Of course. Just a little -- tired."
"No wonder. C'mon, the wedding's over, and the honeymoon starts tomorrow. Tonight we can relax."
"Looking forward to it."
He hugged her to him with an arm around her shoulders as they started back towards the house, stopping as Eric and Gaby came to meet them.
"Congratulations," Eric said, putting his hand out.
"Thanks." Wes grinned as they shook. "We finally made it. Now if only we can have our honeymoon without having to save the world more than two or three times, I'll be a happy man."
Eric smiled. "Been a long road for you two."
"Yeah." Wes glanced at Jen. "But a good one, most of the time. Worth all the problems along the way." He faced Eric again. "It's been quite a road for us, too, remember? I'm glad we got to be friends. And stayed that way."
"Yeah, well, me too." Eric looked a little embarrassed, but pleased. He reached out to grip Wes's shoulder for a moment, smiled at Jen, and wrapped an arm around Gaby's waist. "I guess we'll be going. Have a good trip."
"Try not to let Bio-Lab be taken over by evil mutants while I'm gone."
"I'll see what I can do. See ya." The two of them walked to Eric's car, indistinct in the near-darkness as they turned for a last wave, a last smile.
"Alone at last," Wes said as the sound of the engine faded down the driveway into quiet.
"Except for your father, Philips, and about fifty assorted caterers, cooks, waiters, bartenders, and cleaning people."
"Yeah. Let's just stay out here for a little while." Wes pulled her into his arms, taking the time for a lingering kiss, their mouths joining gently, lips opening after a moment. It was a tender kiss, with the ease of long familiarity, the confidence of knowing each other's reactions... but also the undercurrent of excitement that touching her always brought.
"On second thought, let's go inside and sneak into our room," he said.
"Good idea. I'll show you what I'm wearing that's blue."
