Chapter Seven
Two weeks later the late afternoon sun shown down over the park as a wedding ceremony prepared to get underway.
"Where's Matt," Leo asked his best man.
"I'm not sure," Mike replied looking around for him, "He said something about you and Karone's wedding present, and then said he'd tried to make it back here in time."
"Any ideas as to what it might be?"
"Just that he said it was something that both you and Karone would have wanted," Mike replied.
As the ceremony began everyone took their places. First Mike and Kendrix whom Karone had asked her to be the maid of honor and Kendrix had graciously accepted walked down the aisle. Next came Damon and Maya. Everyone rose as Karone appeared escorted by Kai.
Leo felt his legs suddenly go weak at the sight of Karone. She was wearing a beautiful white silk dress with a short sleeved silk shirt, that made her normally glow even brighter and her beauty only intensified. She smiled at Leo as she took his hand and Kai went and stood next to Mike and Damon.
Leo and Karone turned and faced a smiling Captain Stanton who and just recently been promoted from Commander to Captain.
"Since the days of early travel," Stanton began, "The greatest honor for any captain is the privilege of joining two loving people in the hands of holy matrimony. So this day is an honor for me as well. Before I continue, if their is anyone in this audience who thinks that these two people should not be wed, then speak now or forever hold your peace."
After a moments silence, he continued. "Who gives this bride away?"
"I do," said a young man as he made his way down the aisle, followed quickly by Matt and four other people.
"Andros!" Karone cried in surprise as her brother came up to her and hugged her. "How did you get here?"
"Matt contacted me and the others and told us about the wedding," Andros replied, "We got here as soon as we could."
Matt walked up after showing Ashley, Cassie, T.J. and Carlos to their seats. He grinned and said: "Surprise."
They all stared at him in amazement. Mike just shook his head and said: "Looks like another one of your plans worked."
Matt laughed, "Yeah but pulling it off was the hard part." He took his place standing next to Kai and said, "Sorry Kai, no hard feelings."
Kai grinned, "No problem man. It's better that Karone be given away by family."
Andros shook Leo's hand and said: "Take care good care of her Leo."
"I will," Leo said.
Andros took his seat with the other Astro Rangers and the ceremony resumed.
"Do you Leo take this woman to be your loftily wedded wife," Stanton continued, "To have and to hold, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Leo said smiling at Karone.
"Do you Karone take this man to be your loftily wedded husband, To have and to hold, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Karone said smiling back at Leo.
"The rings," Stanton directed.
Mike reached into his pocket and produced the rings. He handed one to Leo and the other to Karone.
"Leo place the ring on Karone's finger and repeat after me, Stanton said, "With this ring I thee wed."
"With this ring I thee wed," Leo said as he slipped the ring on Karone's finger.
"Karone place the ring on Leo's finger and repeat after me, with this ring I thee wed."
"With this ring I thee wed," Karone said as she slipped the ring on Leo's finger.
"With the power invested in me, by the Galactic Space Alliance, and under the eyes of God, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Leo lifted Karone's vale and she greened eyes seemed to sparkle more than they had before. He leaned in and they kissed. As they separated, Captain Stanton concluded by saying: "What God has now joined, let no man tear apart. Ladies and gentle I present to you for the first time, Leo and Karone Corbett."
The audience applauded as Leo and Karone slowly made their way down the aisle, followed by closely by the others.
Two hours later everyone gathered the wedding reception. Mike stood up and spoke. "I'd like to propose a toast to my brother Leo and my new sister-in-law Karone. Leo you've been my little brother for twenty four years and I've never been more proud of you then I am on this day, I wish you and Karone a long and happy life together. To Leo and Kendrix."
Everyone raised their glasses and said: "To Leo and Kendrix."
The bride and groom smiled. Then Leo looked over and notice Matt was once again missing.
"Where'd Matt go to this time?" he asked.
"He said something about the other half of your wedding present," Kendrix said as she and Karone turned at his question.
Before anyone could say anything further Andros stepped up onto the platform in front of them where a small band stood waiting and said: "Ladies and gentlemen it's time for the bride and groom's first dance. And as a special gift, Matt and Maya have come up with the perfect song for you."
Everyone watched in amazement as Matt walked up onto the platform and shook hands Andros before taking his seat in front of the piano and speaking into the microphone and saying: "Leo and Karone this is the other half of my gift to you two wonderful people on your wedding day."
He nodded at the rest of the band as he began playing the piano, he and Maya began to sing:
Maya: We were strangers, starting out on a journey
Never dreaming, what we'd have to go through
Now here we are, I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
Leo took Karone's hand and they began to slowly dance across the floor. Never taking their eyes off each other.
Matt: No one told me I was going to find you
Unexpected, what you did to my heart
When I lost hope, you were there to remind me
This is the start
Matt and Maya: And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
Maya: We were strangers on a crazy adventure
Matt: Never dreaming, how our dreams would come true
Matt and Maya:
Now here we stand, unafraid of the future
At the beginning with you
And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
Knew there was somebody, somewhere
A new love in the dark
Now I know my dream will live on
I've been waiting so long
Nothing's gonna tear us apart
And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
Matt: Yeah
Matt and Maya:
Life is a road that I wanna keep going on
Love is a river, I wanna keep going
Maya: Starting out on a journey
Matt and Maya:
Life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
As the song ended, Leo looked at Karone and they shared a long and passionate kiss. They knew where their lives lay. With each other.