Man oh man, what a day yesterday. The Packers had UPSET the Cowboys. I mean, Christian Watson finally got a chance to shine and he balled out. I mean, I don't care if the Packers make the playoffs (it's a very small chance), but that game was amazing.
And Vikings-Bills? It might go down as one of the greatest regular season games of all time! Stefon Diggs with an incredible catch, but JUSTIN JEFFERSON.
That dude made one of the GREATEST CATCHES OF ALL TIME. JJ is the best receiver in the NFL, no contest. And I hate the Vikings, though.
Anyways, this chapter is probably my favorite one I ever made, no cap. It has all the fluff you can imagine. Hope you enjoy this chapter, my friends- mitch :)
paw patrol: all grown up #25: tying the knot
chapter 6: a night to remember
3 DAYS LATER
The news of Skye's pregnancy hit Adventure Bay quicker than a barefoot jackrabbit on a hot, greasy griddle in the middle of August. Everyone and their mother were excited over this revelation, and over the last few days, she and her husband were bombarded with "congratulations" messages from basically everyone that knew the newlywed couple. The new house that was planned for the cockapoo and german shepherd was finally being built, with the ground being broken ceremoniously by Rocky and Rubble the day after Skye announced that she was expecting. The mix and bulldog took their building project very seriously, and worked a minimum of 8 hours a day on the future home for the future family. So far, they have spent two full days on the work, and needless to say, things have been going smoothly as planned. The construction and recycling dogs of the PAW Patrol worked tirelessly while Skye and Chase showed up occasionally to offer advice and insight on the project. The new house was set to be done in 6 weeks, just in time for Chase and Skye to move in and set up shop for a new family to be raised there before their pups were brought into the world. But today, the pilot and police dog gave them a day off, for an important reason: Rocky (and Marshall) were celebrating their 18th birthdays together on the same day. Even though their actual birthdays were a week apart from each other, Ryder thought it made sense to pair two birthdays together. Jasen had surprised Rocky by showing up earlier than usual (just past 8 AM) and gave him a classic coming of age birthday present- a six pack of Miller Lite.
"Again, thanks for the booze. I'm gonna save it for now, though. We just woke up." The mix thanked his boyfriend.
"Well, look who just came in! It's the other birthday boy, hold up!" Jasen called out. The other dogs cheered and rushed over to the dalmatian, eager to hear what he had in store for his coming-of-age celebration.
"So, what'cha wanna do today, my homeboy? It is your birthday too, after all." Chase nudged his best friend.
"I don't know, to be quite honest with you." admitted the fire rescue dog plainly. He was very happy that he made it to 18 and was able to celebrate with the friends he loved the most. Except one.
"Where's Everest? I mean, it's your birthday. You suppose that she would be here, right?" interjected Hailey, confused as to the husky's absence. It was at this moment that everyone else finally noticed.
"Actually, she went over to the cabin last night. She's gonna stay there all day. She told me that she's working on a surprise for me while I'm here with you guys." Marshall sighed in slight disappointment. He really wanted his girlfriend down at the lookout for his birthday, but Everest repeatedly insisted that she stay up at their cabin. He agreed, knowing that the surprise was the only reason why she wouldn't join him.
"Aww, that's nice of her. When are you gonna head up there?" Skye asked the dalmatian.
"Around seven…ish. Whatever she's got planned oughta be done by then." reasoned Marshall.
"It's been around 6 years since they've been together…so…I don't know…it's gotta be an anniversary gift!" Rubble thought aloud. Just then, a brilliant idea popped into the black and white canine's head.
"I think I have an idea for what to do for my birthday though…" The dalmatian spoke up.
"Spit it out, spotty boy." Zuma teased him.
"Maybe we can just hang out at the beach down there today. It's really nice outside." The birthday dally suggested.
"Dude…I'm so down." Zuma grinned, excited to have a whole day at the beach he loved the most.
"Don't expect me to get in the water." the recycling dog scoffed.
"Dudeeeee…It's your birthday. Ya gotta relax a bit." Jasen whined playfully.
"Alright. Whatever. You're literally the only dude that could convince me…other than Ryder…ya know?" Rocky admitted, licking his boyfriend a few times across the face. Ever since he and Jasen started dating, Rocky really pushed himself mentally to improve his hygiene (which he never did for anyone. Not even Ryder). Before the mix and border collie met, Rocky only got groomed twice a month instead of the other pups, who got groomed once a week. Jasen didn't tell Rocky to improve his bathing habits, but the mix felt an obligation to do so, and it worked shockingly well for him. Rocky felt even better than he did before-outside and in.
All the canines and Ryder hit up the beach shortly after, and needless to say, they all had a great time. The weather was just right. Not too hot or cold. The gang hung out there the whole day, and as the sun set over the horizon creating a pink hue, Marshall knew it was time to go.
"It must be around seven or so…" The dally spoke to himself. The other pups around him caught his drift in a moment's notice.
"Sooo, you're gonna head up to see the girlfriend, huh?" Hailey asked the dally.
"Yeah. And it's a bittersweet moment, to be honest with you guys." The fire dog admitted. It was that moment when they all remembered that it was time for Marshall to leave the lookout-full time.
"Oh yeah…you're moving out…permanently…" Zuma stuttered as his tail dropped.
"You know Everest and I are gonna visit, right?" Marshall inquired, hoping that his friends would see the bright side of the situation.
"Yes, but it is kinda hard for me. You and Everest are the first ones to vacate the nest, so to speak. Kinda like going to college. You and Everest are gonna be kind of on your own….living-wise. But I'll support both of you in any way I can." Ryder remarked, petting his spotted dog on the head.
"That's nice, man." The dally thanked him.
"Oh, and since you're moving out, Ryder and the rest of us wanted to give you this care package as your birthday present." Skye spoke up, giving the box to the dalmatian. He opened it and was in awe. It contained several chew toys and bones of the finest quality that both he and Everest would certainly enjoy.
"Brooooo…with friends like these…" The fire dog gushed with gratitude, his face turning red as a result.
"You know, it's kinda sad to see you go, Marshall." Rubble said. The german shepherd, the dally's best friend since he was almost two years old, put his arm around Marshall's shoulder.
"Life's gonna be a bit dull around here. No more epic crashes in the elevator that rearrange our bone structure. No more dad jokes that make all of us lose our minds. Point is…well…living with you for almost 13 years has been a privilege. We're gonna miss you a lot." Chase spoke up, embracing the fire dog.
"You're kinda like a light that shines through when we're sad and stuff…ya know?" Rocky shrugged.
"Oh, stop it. You guys do that, too." Marshall told off his friends in a joking manner.
"I remember Jake told me this when he let Everest move down here. If you love something…or somepup in this case, you gotta set it free. And you've earned the right. You're a grown adult. Remember…you and Everest are always welcome to stay here any day, rain or shine." Ryder told the dally before kneeling down and embracing him. This moment was a very hard one for the boy, as Marshall was the second dog he got (the same day as Chase) when he was only 4 dog years old. Ryder saw Marshall grow into a strong young man, and he was the first, along with his husky girlfriend, to move out of the lookout permanently. In a perfect world, Ryder would have selfishly kept the pups with him for the rest of their lives. But the boy knew that keeping them here in Adventure Bay as adult canines would not be the best idea. All the PAW Patrol dogs had plans of moving away from the lookout eventually, and Ryder respected that. He was pleased to know that they also wanted to keep serving in the PAW Patrol as well, but also kept in mind that they might want to retire down the road.
That didn't make the goodbyes easier. Marshall took the time to embrace all of his friends before he jumped into his fire truck. The minimal belongings he had were already packed inside, and he turned to his friends one last time.
"Thanks, guys. I'll let you go. Right now, I gotta see what the girlfriend wants to surprise me with. She's been hyping it up for a few days now." Marshall eagerly spoke, his insides bursting with excitement.
"You guys gonna mate?" The chocolate lab joked.
"Maybe not…but something even better, perhaps." The dally giggled. He waved goodbye to his friends, turned on the engine, and zipped off to the mountains. The canines and Ryder gazed longingly as the red fire truck vanished in the distance. The sun was completely gone, and the moon was up in its place. The stars were painting the atmosphere with the most dazzling constellations imaginable.
"You gonna drink that beer now, Rock?" Jasen asked his beloved. The recycling dog leaned close to his ear.
"Like I said earlier…I'm saving it for a special occasion. And..well…I think that Marshall's gonna do it. Tonight. Bet five bucks." Rocky whispered.
"You think he's gonna ask her?" The border collie whispered back in surprise.
"They are super madly in love with each other. Still. After so long. And I think it's gotten even stronger." Rocky acknowledged. Chase overheard the exchange and smiled to himself.
Rocky couldn't be any more right… the German shepherd thought.
It was finally time for Marshall to head up to the cabin. Driving over to the house that he and Everest had in the mountains always made him feel good. But today, it felt even more special. He was gonna propose to her tonight. But this was also their six year anniversary of being together, so the dalmatian already had a gift for her hanging above the fireplace covered in a blanket. As he pulled up to the cabin, he couldn't be more excited. The butterflies in his stomach flew at maximum speed while he ran over to the door. He knocked it a few times, letting Everest know that he had arrived. Everest had surprises of her own for the man of her dreams. Once she heard the knocking, she ran over to the door to see him.
"Hey, birthday boy!" exclaimed the husky as she licked her man's face.
"Yo, it's so nice to see you!" the fire dog replied warmly as they both went inside the dwelling. The cabin was well-lit, the fireplace was heating up, and the smells were entrancing.
"I made a little something…it's definitely not a cake." Everest whispered to her lover. For the first surprise, the mountain rescue dog spent the last hour making a birthday dinner for him.
"Wait…is that…what I think it is?" Marshall gasped, his tongue dropping onto his mouth as he realized what the scent was. It was his favorite human food: a simple cheese pizza, warm and already cut out for both of them.
"I made it myself! Nearly burnt my paws, but it was all worth it. And you wanna know the secret ingredient? It was love." The husky told him as they walked into the kitchen together.
"Awww…Everest…you shouldn't have!" The dally gushed in appreciation.
After a half hour of chowing down on the pizza, Marshall couldn't help but be surprised. It was actually the best he ever remembered tasting. It was probably the secret ingredient. He thought. They were walking back into the living room in the cabin when the husky felt like clearing the air on something that had been on her curious mind.
"So…what's up with that thing above the fireplace? It's been up there for a few days and I wanna know what it is! It's been driving me crazy!" Everest asked him playfully. Marshall grabbed a stepladder and walked carefully up the ladder. It was positioned above the fireplace, and next to him, was a giant object covered up with a blanket. The mountain rescue dog thought a large photograph was underneath the blanket.
"A friend of mine helped me make this gift…you know it's been six years since we got together, right?" Marshall asked his girlfriend, looking down at her.
"You remembered our anniversary?!" gasped the husky. Everest was so focused on preparing for his birthday that she completely forgot that it was six years ago that they began their relationship.
"You'd kick my skinny ass if I didn't." The dally quipped.
"I would never do that! I love you too much. Well, what are you waiting for? I wanna see it!" Everest asked him eagerly.
"Alrighty then…" The fire dog spoke to himself. He grabbed the blanket off his mouth, and yanked the blanket away. The husky was completely awestruck by what was in store.
"Wha….what the…oh my god…" Everest stuttered quietly. It was a painting-a very realistic one-of her and Marshall together. The real kicker was that the couple were not alone in the painting. In the painting, they were surrounded by Everest's parents. Her parents had died in a nasty blizzard when she was only five years old, and they never had the opportunity to meet any of her friends, let alone Marshall for that matter. The painting had all four of them pictured outside the cave that Everest and her parents lived in when she was little. Her mother, Amy, was extremely similar to Everest, while her father, Daniel, was a gray wolf.
The last night she saw them was a night that she would never forget in the worst possible way.
Her mother and father were with Everest and Marshall, all smiling together.
As if they were still alive.
The husky got emotional, tears seeping down her face as she and her boyfriend embraced one another. For almost five minutes, nothing was spoken between them.
"Who…who made this?" Everest choked up, finally taking the moment to gaze at the picture once again.
"I came up with this idea a few weeks ago. I had no idea how to paint…so I turned to Francois. I told him what I wanted and he did just that." The fire dog explained to her.
"I…I…I don't know what to say…" muttered the mountain rescue canine. She was hyperfixated on the painting. It was so amazing that she almost thought it was an actual photograph at first. Next time I see Francois, I gotta thank him. Everest thought to herself. She took a few moments to collect herself and focused on the painting again. She really liked the look of the painting above the fireplace, as it really decorated the living room. After a few moments of recollecting her emotions, Everest remembered that she had one last gift for the man of her dreams.
"I did get one more surprise for you, though." The husky said flirtatiously, winking at him to get the dally's attention.
"Really? What is it?" Marshall asked excitedly.
"It's not as great as, oh, I don't know, a photo-realistic painting with us and my parents, but I think it's cool." Everest spoke up as she walked to a little object that was covered in a sheet in the middle of the living room. She yanked off the sheet and, and boy, was the fire canine surprised.
"Woah! You got a tree carving of us!?" Marshall cried with joy.
It was a tree stump that had a heart carved onto the bark, with the initials M + E written inside of it.
"That was the reason why I told you to stay down there all day for your birthday. I was having a tough time finding the perfect tree to cut off for the job. Luckily for me, I found one this morning. I found some beavers, chopped the old tree down and made the carving. Then, I took the stump of the tree with the carving on it and brought it over here." The husky told him. Marshall couldn't believe his eyes. He had always dreamed of making a tree carving with her, but never got around to ask.
"I love it…I mean…That's us. On the stump. I can't believe it." remarked the dalmatian.
"It's all my pleasure." The husky replied.
"Ya know…since we got the carving…I think we're tighter than bark on a tree." Marshall spoke up, provoking laughter from the both of them.
"Awwww, Marshy! Come here, you!" Everest giggled as she started hugging and kissing the fire dog-much to his pleasure. To Marshall, the physical affection from his significant other put him on cloud nine as much as the words she said. But after a minute, she stopped and stared into space.
"I knew that surprise of yours was gonna be better than both of mine, to be honest with ya." The husky sighed. She loved surprising her man with gifts, but always felt one-upped by her boyfriend, being that Marshall would go above and beyond when it came to giving her gifts of any kind.
"Everest…I love the carving more than the painting, actually. Not that I hate the painting…it's just that I never created the painting. I just told Francois what I wanted him to do. Your surprises had all this effort put into it by you! You made the carving. And the pizza by yourself! At the end of the day, it's not the gift that matters. But it's the thought that goes into it that counts." Marshall said as he held her paws gently. Whatever he spoke seemed to have worked, as the husky licked his face once and rested her head on his shoulder.
For almost 20 minutes, they sat in front of the fireplace, watching the flames rise from the wood as they crackled away. The heat was soothing for both, tending to their bodies like a mother tends to her young. Whenever they would spend a weekend at their cabin together, Everest and Marshall would sometimes just sit in front of the fireplace and watch nature do its thing. They didn't speak to each other at all while they did it. They would smile and cuddle with one another. Just the subtle intimacy of it all was enough. But tonight? Tonight felt extra special.
"I just wanna lay next to you for a while…" Everest said quietly to her lover. Marshall stopped staring at the fireplace and turned to his girlfriend.
"You look so beautiful tonight…your eyes are so lovely…your mouth is so sweet…A lot of people understand us…that's cause they don't know us at all…I just wanna touch you…and hold you. I need you. God, I need you. I love you so much." The dalmatian whispered tenderly. He cleared his throat. He began to sing in a quiet tone, almost sounding like a lullaby.
I found a love for me
Darling, just dive right in
Follow my lead
Everest swooned as she heard his voice. She always loved it when he sang to her in any capacity. Since they started dating, he got much more confident in his singing voice and it showed. His voice got slightly deeper, but it made him sound better. Marshall gazed at his love once again and stared into her soul with the breezy blue eyes he possessed.
Well, I found a girl
Beautiful and sweet
Well, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me
Everest kind of wanted to sing with him, because when they did, their harmonies they made were nothing short of near-perfection. Sensing the moment, she stayed quiet. She smiled as she laid her head onto his shoulder and closed her eyes. Marshall looked down and saw the love of his life, seemingly more content than she ever had been. He couldn't relate more.
'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
Darling, just kiss me slow
Your heart is all I own
And in your eyes, you're holding mine
Marshall smooched the husky's forehead as he continued to sing in a whisper-like tone.
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listening to our favorite song
When you said you looked a mess
I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it
Darling, you look perfect tonight
Marshall then stood up. Feeling weirded out by the sudden move, Everest opened her eyes to see the fire rescue canine standing on all fours in front of her.
Well, I found a woman
Stronger than anyone I know
He walked around her, his voice beginning to get louder and clear.
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday, I'll share her home,
I found a lover to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own
He stood on his hind legs and extended one of his paws, seemingly asking Everest to dance with him. She couldn't possibly say no, as she got up on her hind legs as well. They slowly danced together, gazing into each other's souls. The only other noise than Marshall's singing was the firewood crackling behind them.
We are still kids but we're so in love
Fighting against all odds
I know we'll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I'll be your man
I see my future in your eyes
Everest felt as if she was in a dream. They were all alone, nobody else in their vicinity for miles. This whole night was too good to be true for the mountain rescue dog and the dalmatian, but it was reality. They really were dancing in the dark, as the only light in the cabin was the fireplace. They swayed side to side slowly as the dalmatian began singing with more passion in his heart.
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listening to our favorite song
When you said you looked a mess
I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it
Darling, you look perfect tonight
"Hey…you mind if I sing this last part with you?" The husky asked him.
"I'd love that." Marshall agreed wholeheartedly. This only caused both their heart organs to beat even faster.
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listening to our favorite song
They both were harmonizing perfectly, singing loudly for the world to hear. Never in their entire relationship had they ever been so…spiritually connected before. Marshall and Everest had sang together before, but this one, like the whole night in general, felt like a once-in-a-lifetime special vibe to it. And they embraced it. They shared a loving gaze that pulled their faces closer and closer by the second.
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
'Cause she looks perfect
I don't deserve it, you look perfect tonight
They finally stopped singing. It had been four minutes since Marshall began singing, but it felt like two hours. After a few moments of silence, they pecked lips with one another. Everest then embraced the love of her life. The romantic intimacy they shared tonight towered above anything she had ever imagined. Her emotions finally got to her, as she held in her tears during the last part of the song.
"Marshy…I…I love you…" Everest sobbed as she embraced him. She hugged him and simply didn't wanna let go. Marshall was weirded out by how long it lasted (almost five minutes) but understood why, so silent he stayed. When they finally separated, Marshall remembered what he was about to do next.
"Hey. Can you just stay there for a sec? Close your eyes. Don't move." Marshall instructed her. Another surprise for me?! The husky thought excitedly. She stayed put as Marshall ran outside the cabin and onto the snow outside the cabin. The dalmatian jumped into his firetruck and scrambled to look into the glove compartment. He found what he was looking for: the flower ring. He held the box in his jaws as he jumped out of his fire truck and hustled back inside.
"Can I open my eyes now?" The mountain rescue dog inquired. The dalmatian walked in front of the husky and got down on one knee. He looked directly in her closed eyes. I can't believe this is happening. I'm gonna do it! Marshall thought to himself as he cleared his throat.
"Not yet…Everest, we've been together for six years. We've seen it all. We've laughed, cried and had an amazing time together. I love you more than life itself. Now, I wanna give you something that shows my love for you more than a painting canvas ever could. You can open your eyes now." The dally told her. As she opened her eyes, the husky was greeted by Marshall on one knee, his signature goofy smile showing as he opened up the tiny box.
"Oh my GOD!" she gasped. The red rose flower ring was on complete display, the diamond on it glistening. Marshall never felt more confident in his entire life. The words that would come out of him next felt natural.
"Everest…will you marry me?" The dalmatian asked her. The mountain rescue dog's heart was overflowing with joy. She had waited for this moment since they had built the cabin together. Both Marshall and Everest wanted to be together more than anything else in the world.
"YES I WILL!" Everest cried in ecstasy. She tackled him to the ground and both started kissing each other like the world was to end the very next day. Their old world of boyfriend and girlfriend was ending. Their new phase…husband and wife was going to start in just a month. And neither could get enough of it. After a few tender moments of ecstasy, they both began to howl to their hearts' content. Marshall and Everest howled in harmony like they never had before, and after a minute, they nuzzled each other. The warm glow of the fireplace being the only light in the home and the source of heat for both made the feeling even more serene. Marshall and Everest never felt so joyous in their entire lives.
"When I saw the ring, I simply had to get it." The dalmatian remarked, showing off the ring yet again. The flower ring was a red rose, attached to the white ring beneath. It had a small, white diamond encrusted in the middle of the rose.
"A rose flower ring? It looks amazing…" Everest marveled at the sight. She was never the girl who loved flowers much, but when she and Marshall started dating, he gave him roses every so often. It eventually became her favorite, because it reminded the husky of the burning romance they had shared.
"It'll look great on you, trust me! Your lavender fur will compliment the red." Marshall smirked. But that statement fell on deaf ears. Everest was staring at the ring, drooling and very excited to try it on. She snapped out of her trance, and put the flower ring on her right ear.
"Alright…how do I look… dear future husband?" The mountain rescue canine asked her beau in a flirtatious tone, striking a pose. The dalmatian was simply in shock, his eyes bugging out of his face. This was the look that, if he played his cards right, Marshall would be staring at until he was 85.
"Everest…why do you look so gorgeous with it?!" Marshall gasped, flabbergasted at how such a thing would enhance his fiancee so well.
"You gotta stop calling me gorgeous! It's getting a bit stale. You can call me your wifey. I don't mind at all. It's cute." The husky replied to his gesture.
"Not to be egotistical, but can you keep calling me Marshy? It makes me blush." Marshall admitted sheepishly, his face turning the same color as his fire truck.
"Awww, of course! For a cute, handsome guy like you." Everest smiled as the two nuzzled for a moment.
"So…where you thinking about having the wedding? Jake's Resort? I think that would be sick." The dally suggested.
"It's a great idea. But I have an even better idea, though." Everest replied. She knew that her idea would be a long shot planning-wise, but with enough thought, it would be great.
"Which is…"
"The South Pole." The mountain rescue pup said in a deadpan expression. The thought of getting married on the Earth's coldest climate threw Marshall for a loop.
"Wait…what?" The dally gasped.
"Hear me out. I grew up there. It's where we first met. I know it'll be a hassle to get so many wedding guests back and forth, but with Ryder, anything is possible." Everest told him. It took her fiance a moment to think about this. They could only bring so many people to the wedding, and the cold was a concern. The PAW Patroller was a thing Ryder made for missions that would take place far away, and Ryder could get wedding guests to fly back and forth using the giant plane (with Robo-dog as the pilot, of course).
"It's pretty cold down there…and we can't have a whole lot of people show up. It's gonna have to be a small wedding. But I like that, now that I think about it. It's more intimate." Marshall spoke up.
"Sooo…what you're saying…is that a yes or a no?" The husky asked.
"It's something that only you and I could do and make sense. We met each other 12 years ago down there. I think it's only destiny that we go down there." Marshall reassured her, kissing the husky on the forehead.
"We'll have to hope it's more than 30 degrees on our wedding day." The husky remarked.
"Imagine if Tracker went to our wedding. He would be dying!" The dally joked. Tracker, being a chihuahua from the South America jungles, hated the cold immensely to nobody's surprise.
"Two words: electric blankets. I mean, it'll look tacky. But it's better than freezing to death." Everest reasoned with him.
"Just think about how many of your penguin friends are just gonna waddle on by and see us getting married. It'll be something." Marshall imagined.
"Soooo…babe…what'cha thinking about the honeymoon? Colorado? The Swiss Alps? They're the best snowboarding places in the world! But I really wanna go to Leysin in Switzerland. Just think of the slopes that we would shred over there! It's just crazy." Everest asked him excitedly. But Marshall had other ideas in mind. This wedding wasn't just gonna be about her.
"I know you might not like this idea at first, but I might as well say it." The dally admitted, feeling a lump in his throat.
"We're going to a lower-cost resort? That's ok, Marshy. I mean, Ryder did have to pay lots of money for Chase and Skye's honeymoon. I mean…almost 12 thousand dollars." Everest spoke up, not really catching his drift. The fire rescue canine took a deep breath and sighed.
"Why can't we just stay here? At our cabin?" Marshall asked him. Everest stared at her future husband in disbelief.
"Wha…Marshall…we have the opportunity to travel anywhere we want! To get outta here and leave the world behind for a whole week! What makes you think it's a good idea to stay at our cabin for our honeymoon? It's supposed to be special! Feels more like a staycation to me." The husky protested.
"That's the point. It's our honeymoon. Hear me out. It's gonna be a whole week where nobody, and I mean nobody is gonna be needing us for any reason. We're in our cabin, far away from anyone civilized, anyway. No excessive planning. No worrying about getting up early for a flight after our wedding night. Just you and me. Away from everyone and everything." Marshall whispered to her in a suave tone. Just then, everything made sense to his bride.
"You know what…I think you're onto something." Everest smiled, catching onto his drift.
"Yeah! We'll just throw our collars onto the kitchen table and just leave 'em there." Marshall exclaimed with enthusiasm. She could imagine the day after they were married. One month from now, they were hitched. Sleeping together and waking up with her new husband in the cabin they built? It was different from most other couple's getaway plans, but it was their plan. And it was just how both liked it.
"There's nobody I wanna isolate myself from the world with more than you." The husky warmly answered, embracing the man of whom she would share the rest of her life with. She couldn't imagine being with anyone else, either.
Spreading the news was going to be a bit tricky for Marshall and Everest. The dally wanted to tell his mother, Martha, first and foremost, but the husky wanted to reveal the news to Jake before anyone else. They both decided that since he was the one that proposed, Marshall would tell his mother. Since it was almost 10:00 PM, it was too late to go all the way to Orchard Park's fire department and tell Martha themselves. He hated doing that to his mother, but he felt it was the best idea to call her.
Luckily for them, Martha was awake. When her son told her the news that he and Everest were set to get married, Martha couldn't help but scream with ecstasy. She always joked around with her son with Everest being her "daughter-in-law". Ever since the day Martha met Everest, she simply adored the mountain rescue dog. Martha bombarded them with questions about the wedding, and was confused as to why they wanted to stay at the cabin for their honeymoon- and go to Antarctica for the wedding itself. She understood why and was thrilled that she was invited. Being a freelance photographer, Martha insisted that she do photography for their wedding. Even though Marshall and Everest simply wanted her to enjoy the wedding, they relented.
The now-engaged couple then decided to hit the road and tell their friends at the lookout-but had to stop by and see a certain someone first. Everest's former owner lived just three minutes up the mountain from the cabin they made. Jake was about to go to bed when he heard the knock on his front door. He answered it, and saw Marshall. The ski resort owner was surprised by his presence and let him in the house. Then, as the two began talking, Everest walked into the cabin herself. Her flower ring gave it away.
Jake couldn't have been more ecstatic for both of them, and was thrilled to hear that the wedding was taking place at the South Pole. He avowed to be a part of the wedding planning and help to get the understandably limited amount of guests to and from the wedding location, which Marshall and Everest appreciated very much so.
Finally, it was time to spread the news to all their friends. They made the 10 minute drive down to the lookout and saw all their pup friends and Ryder watching a movie. But the movie wouldn't matter to them much longer. Marshall made his presence known by walking through the lookout doors, with a little pep in his step. The canines all turned around, saw him and were surprised, to say the least.
"Whatcha doin' round these parts?" Chase asked his spotted friend.
"I thought we kicked you out!" Rubble called out jokingly.
"You and Everest changed your mind on moving out? That's nice to hear." Ryder added.
"Nahhhh…" Marshall giggled.
"Then why did you show up outta nowhere?" Hailey asked. Just then, Everest made her entrance. She then stood beside her new fiance, showing off her rose flower ring for a second and then glancing at her friends. The canines and Ryder gasped at the sight. It could mean one thing-and one thing only.
"We're getting married!" The husky and dalmatian proclaimed. All 7 of the other canines in the room exploded with howls of sheer jubilation. The male canines pounced onto the young dalmatian in excitement, and the female dogs rushed over to Everest to congratulate the future bride.
Ryder sat beside himself, hands on his head in shock and happiness. He couldn't believe how fast life had been going over the last couple months. First, Everest turned 18. Then, Chase and Skye turned of age. Three days later, the german shepherd proposed. A month later, they were married. A week later, the newlyweds revealed that they were expecting six puppies in two months. And just days later, both Rocky and Marshall turned 18 and the dalmatian proposed to the love of his life that same day. It was quite a lot to unpack, but man, what a time to be alive.
"You guys are getting married already?! I can't believe it!" Skye cried with joy.
"Where did he find that ring?! It fits you so well?!" Hailey exclaimed when she saw the husky's beautiful flower ring.
"I'm getting married to my best friend!" Everest screamed with ecstasy as she hugged the two canines she truly saw as confidantes.
"I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU, BRO! YOU EARNED IT!" Chase rejoiced, slapping his best friend in the back.
"Thank you, my man!" Marshall replied, loving every single moment that the day had to offer. Celebrating with his boys made him feel like he had truly done what he had set out to do.
"MY MAN! THAT'S HOW WE DO IT!" Zuma beamed ear to ear as he bro-hugged his spotted pal.
"Looks like the story of fire and ice is headed to the aisle…man, that's CRAZY." Rubble proclaimed.
"I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT WAS COMING!" Rocky cried, playfully shoving his boyfriend.
"Wait…you knew we were getting married?" Marshall and Everest questioned the mix.
"Well, I knew it was coming. Marsh and I went shopping for flower rings the same day I got mine about two months ago." Chase spoke up.
"You got my ring the same day as Chase got Skye's ring?" Everest asked her beau in surprise.
"Yeah…I hid it pretty well." Marshall admitted as he blushed.
"You sure did!" The husky smiled as she licked Marshall's face several times.
"Speaking of predictions, I overheard Rocky talking to Jasen just after you guys left." Chase told the newly-engaged couple, pointing at the mix and border collie.
"Yeah. I bet him five bucks that Marshall was going to propose tonight on his 18th birthday. Sooo…Jasen…pay up…" Rocky smiled, silently begging his boyfriend to hand him the money.
"Are you kidding me?! You bet on us?!" Marshall and Everest laughed.
"Yeah. I didn't believe it was going to happen tonight…so…here you go, pal." Jasen sighed, handing the cold, hard cash to the mix.
"Thanks, babe. Anyways…I wanted to grab something really quick." The recycling canine muttered, dashing to his pup house without another word. He came back with the same six-pack of Miller Lite that Jasen gave to him earlier that day. Rocky then grabbed a bottle from the pack and held it up with his right paw. Catching the drift, Jasen did the same.
"This…this is a toast…to Everest and Marshall's engagement and hopes for an amazing life together as one!" Rocky proclaimed. The two clinked their bottles, and began chugging to the cheers and howls of their friends.
"Well, that was the first drink you've ever had! Congrats, Rocky! You're officially a man now." Rubble told his PAW Patrol comrade. But Rocky had one more thing up his fur coat. He gave Marshall a sneaky look that had the dalmatian guessing the mix's intentions.
"Wait…why are you giving him that face?" Jasen whispered to the recycling dog. Rocky decided to ignore his boyfriend and let his actions do the talking. He grabbed another bottle from the six pack and ran over to the dalmatian at full speed.
"Oh shit!" Marshall gasped as Rocky dumped the beer all over him, much to the delight of his friends. They laughed and cheered in delight.
"This is for all the times you doused me with water, my guy!" The recycling dog smirked.
"Thanks…now I smell like a guy coming home from a bar after a Packer game." Marshall joked.
"Well, he deserves it!" Jasen justified.
"I'll pass on the beer shower, thank you very much. I literally just got groomed yesterday." Everest spoke to the two beer-chugging canines. Normally, she would have loved to get one as well, but she really liked the grooming that Katie did on her.
"That's fine. Rocky didn't want to get your ring wet, after all. It's really nice." The border collie responded.
"Sooo…well….where's the wedding gonna be? Jake's Mountain?" Zuma asked the husky and dalmatian.
"Actually…we thought of something different." Everest answered. The dally took a moment to shake a few of the alcoholic scent that covered his fur.
"Spit it out, then!" Hailey called out in anticipation. None of the pups-or Ryder, for that matter, were prepared for what they were about to hear next.
"The ceremony is gonna be in Antarctica." Marshall and Everest said in unison.
"THE SOUTH POLE?!" The other pups and Ryder cried in shock.
"Are you guys nuts?!" Rubble gasped.
"What kind of weed are you smoking, guys?!" Zuma shouted in surprise.
"What makes you think going there is a good idea to get hitched, man?!" Jasen asked in disbelief.
"Two words: small wedding." Everest insisted. The other pups and Ryder took time to think. The lightbulb popped off in their heads simultaneously.
"Now THAT makes sense." Rocky remarked.
"You're gonna work up a plan with Ryder on that, right?" Hailey inquired the newly-engaged canines.
"Actually, I do think it might work. We actually have two PAW Patrollers here. We can transport a small number of guests and such on those two planes, along with supplies and whatnot. It's summer, so the weather would be pretty warm over there. And by that, about 35 degrees." Ryder spoke to everyone.
"So…does that mean a yes? Or a no?" Marshall asked the PAW Patrol leader.
"We'll work something out tomorrow morning with Mayor Goodway. How's that?" Ryder reasoned with the husky and dalmatian.
"That sounds good. We'll take it." Everest answered. Ryder then left to go to the garage to work on some much-needed maintenance on the PAW Patroller.
"What about the honeymoon?" Skye inquired Marshall and Everest.
"Oh, I got a good one! How about Mount Everest?!" Chase chuckled, causing everyone to laugh except a certain mountain rescue dog.
"Oh, for crying out loud…" The husky groaned.
"Keep it up! She just loves the Mount Everest jokes." Marshall grinned playfully, much to the disappointment of his fiance.
"What about Leysin? Great slopes over there." Zuma recommended.
"Colorado? More like the Rocky Mountains!" Rubble interjected, causing everyone to laugh except the husky-and a certain recycling dog.
"Everest…I love geography puns as much as you…" Rocky muttered to the mountain rescue dog.
"Thanks…I don't feel so alone anymore." Everest mumbled in agreement.
"Alright, we give up! A smaller ski resort, perhaps?" Hailey interjected.
"We're just staying at our cabin for a whole week." Marshall and Everest answered casually, again to the surprise of their friends.
"Well, that's the most Everest and Marshall answer that I could come up with." Zuma remarked, as his other pals nodded in agreement. All the other canines knew how crazy passionate the husky and damatian's relationship could get, and their cabin would be a very comfortable place for them to start out their marriage.
"You come up with the groomsmen yet, Marsh? Or you want me to guess?" Chase playfully slugged his best friend.
"Why would I want anyone other than my boys to be my groomsmen?" Marshall grinned as his male pals cheered and embraced him.
"You got any ideas yet for bridesmaids?" Hailey asked her lavender husky friend.
"Well, for one, Skye's gonna be maid of honor. Like I did for her wedding. Hailey, Liberty, Katie, and…well…I guess that's it. I really don't need very many bridesmaids, to be honest." The husky replied candidly.
"It's still a great group, though. Imagine how much diplomatic relations Liberty is gonna get down there, though." Skye giggled to herself.
"What is she gonna do? Start her own colony down there with the penguins?" Everest chuckled. It was sure going to be a cold day, but the love in the air was gonna be much, much hotter.
P.S. if you're interested, the song I used in this chapter was Perfect by Ed Sheeran. One of my favorite love songs of all time. I had this exact scene in mind for almost a year and a half. Again, hope you like what you read- mitch :)