It was finally August 8th, the day Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor were to be married. While the U.Z.Z. base was never the most conventional place to have a wedding, the U.Z.Z. scientist and the former baddie didn't really care about conventions, did they? Anyway, they had been looking forward to this happy occasion ever since they'd gotten engaged earlier this year. It'd been a long time in the making ever since they'd first met at The School For The Chronically Gifted. That day, it had been attraction at first sight, and Professor Professor had a feeling deep down that they were likely soulmates.
For the wedding, everyone on the bridal party and the groom party was required to wear dark colors to match with the dark aesthetic Doctor Doctor was aiming for. Doctor Doctor's maid of honor Oluremi, for example, was wearing a burgundy Charmeuse Halter Bridesmaid Dress with matching open-toed high heels. Everyone else on the bridal party, however, was wearing a carmine-colored Jersey A-Line Bridesmaid Dress with Knot Detail with matching open-toed high heels. As for everyone on the groom party (including the best man), they all wore the typical black-and-white tuxedos with matching shoes. While everyone waited for the bride and groom to show up, they all got to talking.
"I can't believe this is really happening," Alphonse said to his wife. "I can't believe I helped set up this wedding. I have no doubt it'll be the most beautiful wedding the world has ever seen."
"I'm sure it will be, sweetie," Sayuri replied. "You did a great job with all the sculptures."
"Oh, Sayuri, thank you. That means the world to me."
"Of course, dear."
Victor just rolled his eyes. "He just did his usual shtick but even weirder. I mean, anatomically accurate hearts? Really?"
"Victor, just because you don't like how he makes art doesn't mean it's objectively bad," Anita said. "Sure, it can be unorthodox, but it does appeal to people."
Meanwhile, everyone else was partaking in conversations of their own. Zac Meadows and Dr. Hypno, in particular, were catching up with Zac's old partner Naomi Niles and her adoptive daughter Naomi M. on everything that had been going on in their lives. Naomi was about the same age as Zac, give or take a few months, and had to get around in a wheelchair due to limited mobility. Naomi M. towered over her mother, just standing beside her while Naomi and Zac reminisced about the good old days. Just about everyone was trying to get through the small conflicts of their lives as quietly as possible, however appropriate it was to do so here. Soon, Bobson Dugnutt came up to the very front and took his position as the officiant.
"Alright, everyone," Bobson Dugnutt began to speak. "Calm down. Doctor Doctor should be here soon, but for the time being, let's go over a few things. First off, for reasons of the tightest security, my name is Changed Daily. On this very special day, you may call me…" His cellphone beeped. "Oh… Dunkaccino."
All the guests, as well as Professor Professor and the bridal and groom parties, just started laughing.
"Second off," Dunkaccino continued. "I'd like to say my congratulations for the soon-to-be wedded couple. I know they hadn't always been this friendly and in love toward one another. It all started many years ago when they were attending The School For The Chronically Gifted…"
In the employee bathroom, Doctor Doctor took a deep breath and then another and then another. The day was finally here. She and Professor Professor were going to exchange vows in front of hundreds of people, most of whom they knew personally. God, she'd be lying, though, if she said she didn't love him. All those years of sexual tension and fighting on two different sides and dating had been leading up to this day, to this very moment. It was still hard to believe that this was even happening. Did she really deserve all this? Maybe not, but who was to really say?
She took a good look at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a black Trumpet-Mermaid Court Train Lace Wedding Dress with a spiderweb shawl and matching spiderweb veil, as well as an alloy tiara with rhinestones. She seemed to have a pretty good taste in fashion, all things considered. She thought a little about what the future could bring for her and Professor Professor when a sudden knock at the door interrupted her train of thought.
"Come in," she said as she turned to face the person at the door.
The door opened to reveal Oluremi, still wearing her burgundy Charmeuse Halter Bridesmaid Dress with matching open-toed high heels.
"Oh, it's you," Doctor Doctor said.
"Uh-huh," Oluremi replied. "I had to sneak away for a second and see how you were doing. I hope I wasn't interrupting anything."
"No, you didn't. I was thinking about the future, that's all. I think I'm still nervous about all this."
"I wouldn't worry about it too much. No one knows what the future will bring, so we just focus on the present and worry about that instead."
"Right."
"So.. are you ready?"
"What?"
"I asked if you were ready, ma'am."
Doctor Doctor took one last look at herself in the mirror and then took another deep breath. "Ready as I'll ever be. Let's do it."
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring began to play while Doctor Doctor strolled down the aisle in her black Trumpet-Mermaid Court Train Lace Wedding Dress, Min-jun walking with her hand-in-hand. She held a bouquet comprised of dark flowers like deep red roses that were juxtaposed against burgundy dahlias and ranunculus and other dark-toned foliage. Once they reached the end of the runway, Min-jun let her go and she took her place next to Professor Professor in front of Dunkaccino.
"We have gathered here today to unite these two people in marriage," Dunkaccino began to speak. "Their decision to marry has not been entered into lightly, and it is on this very special day that they've decided to publicly declare their private devotion to each other. The essence of this commitment is the acceptance of each other in entirety, as lover, companion, and friend. A good and balanced relationship is one in which neither person is overpowered nor absorbed by the other, one in which neither person is possessive of the other, one in which both give their love freely and without jealousy. Marriage, ideally, is a sharing of responsibilities, hopes, and dreams. It takes a special effort to grow together, survive hard times, and be loving and unselfish. Before we begin, I've been informed that you've both written your own vows." He looked down at the card he'd written their names on. "So will Professor Professor please start us off?"
Everyone watched as Professor Professor took Doctor Doctor's hands into his own and looked up at her. Professor Professor then took a deep breath before speaking.
"Doctor Doctor, I don't say this lightly but you are simultaneously the best and worst thing that's happened to me," Professor Professor began to speak. "When I met you at The School For The Chronically Gifted all those years ago, I was blown away by your beauty. You and I seemed to be on the same wavelength, and I thought you were perfect. Of course, things changed over the years, and we ended up fighting on different sides after you founded a terrorist organization hell-bent on destroying people's lives. It took a long time, but eventually I forgave you for what you did. With you, I realized that anyone can be capable of redemption. Despite everything, words are not enough to describe how much I appreciate and cherish you for all your faults. May we always recognize our faults and love ourselves and each other despite those faults."
"Touching," Dunkaccino remarked. "Now your vows, Doctor Doctor."
"Professor Professor, out of everyone I have ever known, you are the one who's stuck around the longest," Doctor Doctor began to speak. "You're also the most immature person I've ever met, and that's saying something. You can barely go five minutes without going off on some new childish activity, and you've infuriated me to no end. No matter what I've done, I've never been able to get rid of you. Honestly, I think it's for the best. You helped me become a better person and showed me a side of myself I wasn't even aware existed. Thanks to you, I was able to avert nuclear disaster at the hands of the North Koreans and help U.Z.Z. protect the world from even more disasters. I love you not despite your faults, but because of them; and I know you love me for those same reasons. May we always continue to save the world and always ride or die no matter the situation at hand."
"Do you both pledge to share your lives openly with one another and to speak the truth in love?" Dunkaccino asked. "Do you promise to honor and tenderly care for one another, cherish and encourage each other, stand together, through sorrows and joys, hardships and triumphs for all the days of your lives?"
"We do," Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor simultaneously replied.
"Do you pledge to share your love and the joys of your marriage with all those around you, so that they may learn from your love and be encouraged to grow in their own lives?"
"We do."
"May these rings be blessed as a symbol of your union. As often as either of you look upon these rings, may you not only be reminded of this moment, but also of the vows you have made and the strength of your commitment to each other."
It was at that moment that Liam (who had been designated as the ring-bearer) walked up to both Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor and held out the pillow with the wedding rings (which were made of titanium and stainless steel, respectively) on it.
"Professor Professor, please repeat after me..." Dunkaccino began to speak again. "'I, Professor Professor, promise to love and support you, Doctor Doctor, and live each day with kindness, understanding, truth, humor, and passion. With this ring, I thee wed.'"
Professor Professor took Doctor Doctor's hand, repeated the vow, gifted the ring that was made of titanium, and then placed that ring onto Doctor Doctor's finger.
Dunkaccino then turned to focus on Doctor Doctor. "Doctor Doctor, please repeat after me... 'I, Doctor Doctor, promise to love and support you, Professor Professor, and live each day with kindness, understanding, truth, humor, and passion. With this ring, I thee wed.'"
Doctor Doctor took Professor Professor's hand, repeated the vow, gifted the ring that was made of stainless steel, and then placed that ring onto Professor Professor's finger.
Dunkaccino, looking almost relieved that his job was just about done, held up both of his hands. "Go now in peace and live in love, sharing the most precious gifts you have- the gifts of your lives united. And may your days be long on this earth. I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Doctor Doctor picked up her groom so they could seal the deal.
With the wedding now behind them, Doctor Doctor and Professor Professor were now off to have their honeymoon in County Clare, Ireland. Ray had recommended it to Professor Professor once after he'd gone on holiday over there. Professor Professor, in turn, suggested having the honeymoon over there and that was that. For the time being, the newlyweds were staying at the Old Ground Hotel Ennis on Station Rd.
The Old Ground Hotel Ennis was a fairly modest place, which boasted of offering things like a casual bistro, a corner bar, and lastly a formal style restaurant that offered traditional cuisine with a modern twist. Doctor Doctor and Professor Professor got a deluxe room with a large king bed that offered complimentary Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. Upon arriving at the Old Ground Hotel Ennis, the newlyweds went to the reception area to check in and then had a porter show them to their room.
"You have a lot of nerve coming back here after what you did to us last time, Doctor Doctor," the porter told her. "I still haven't forgotten that time you had your djinn send bees after us. I had nightmares for weeks."
Professor Professor didn't need to ask about the djinn incident. He knew already. Dunkaccino had had Victor and Anita stop her from abusing the djinn's power and then return the reality-warping being to her rightful owner. Of course, that had happened a few years ago, before Liam and Millie were even born.
"Don't worry, my days of being a baddie are truly over," Doctor Doctor assured the porter. "Even if I wanted to, I'm not as nimble as I once was."
The porter begrudgingly agreed and then showed the newlyweds off to their room. Soon, Doctor Doctor and Professor Professor were alone. Professor Professor had enough excitement for both of them, which left Doctor Doctor with all the other emotions that came with this honeymoon. Hopefully, they would get to experience some carnal nights up ahead.