Chapter 12: With this Ring, I thee wed
Karone stood in her room looking at her old wedding band that sat on the table top, making it look like it was watching her. "Mommy?" Kamilah asked. Karone put her wedding ring in her jewelry box and turned to look at her daughter.
"Mommy, do I look pretty?" She asked.
"Oh, sweetie, you look beautiful," she replied.
Kamilah was wearing white buckle shoes, a pink flower dress, the necklace Zhane gave her, and her hair was pulled back in a French braid with pink flowers going through it.
"Mommy, can I call Leo daddy?" She asked.
Karone got down on her knees she placed her hands on her shoulders with a smile. "Of course you can call him daddy. If that's what you want to call him," she replied.
"I want to. Does that mean I don't love my other daddy anymore?" Kamilah asked.
"No, it won't, honey. Your daddy would want you to be happy," Karone replied.
"So, Leo makes you happy?"
Karone touched her daughter's face with a smile. "Yes, Leo makes mommy very happy," she replied.
"I'm happy too. I'm happy that you're happy," she told her.
Karone placed a kiss her daughter's forehead. "Mom, how do I look?" He asked.
Zavier was wearing black shoes, black pants, a white button-up shirt, a black bowtie, and a black jacket.
"Zavier, you look very handsome, you look just like your father," she told him. She placed a kiss on his cheek with a smile. She looked up when there was a knock on the door. "Come in," she answered. She stood up straight when she saw that it was Andros.
"Karone, you look beautiful," he murmured.
She spun around once with a smile.
Her hair was tied up in a bun and her crystal tiara sat in her hair. Her dress ended around her feet. It was made out of pure silk. She had a stripe of pink going from her shoulder to her waist. Then another pink stripe went down the skirt horizontally like the first stripe. There were no straps.
Andros walked over and held onto his sister's hands. "You look just like mom," he told her.
"Really?" She asked.
Andros nodded and hugged her tight. "Zhane would want to see you happy," he added. He kissed her cheek before pulling away. Kamilah hurried over to him.
"Uncle Andros, do you like my dress?" She asked.
Andros then kneeled in front of his niece with a smile. "Kamilah, you look just like your mommy. You are as pretty as an angel," he told her. Kamilah smiled and hugged her uncle. Andros then looked at Karone. "Are you ready?" He asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied.
He let Kamilah go and held his hand out to his sister. "Shall we?" He asked. Karone nodded and left the room.
Leo was a little nervous; at last he was marrying the woman of his dreams. Mike walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, little brother, are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm just a little nervous," Leo replied.
"That's natural. Hey remember when I married Maya?" He asked.
"Yeah, except you were ten time worse."
"Yep, but I pulled through it and now I'm a father to two great kids and another one on the way."
Leo looked at his brother in disbelief. "Maya's pregnant again?" He asked.
"Six weeks along," Mike replied.
"That's great news. Congratulations."
"Thanks, now it's time."
"Yeah."
Leo stood up and left.
Karone looked at her bridesmaids with a smile.
Their dresses were ice pink with spaghetti straps.
"You guys all look so beautiful," she told them. Maya smiled and walked over to her. She embraced her with a sigh.
"I am so happy for you, Karone. Leo and you both deserve it," Maya murmured.
Karone pulled back and held onto her hands. "Mike and you both deserve this baby," Karone answered. Andros tapped his sister's shoulder.
"Come on, Karone, it's time," he told her.
Karone nodded and slipped her arm around his. Then Andros watched as his wife and their two friends were walked down the aisle by Mike, Kai, and Damon.
Leo watched as his bride walked down the aisle. She looked absolutely gorgeous as his soon-to-be brother-in-law walked her down aisle. "Who gives this woman to wed?" The minister asked.
"I do," Andros replied.
He placed a kiss on her cheek with a smile. Leo walked over and Andros placed his sister's hand in Leo's hand and placed both of his hands onto them. "Take care of each other and love each other," he told them. Leo nodded and then he watched as Andros sat down next to Carlos, Cassie, T. J., and he rest of their friends.
"We are gathered here today to bring these two together in holy matrimony, Leonardo Corbett and Karone Silver," the minister started.
A silver light appeared in the back, unseen by the guests, and Zhane appeared. He was watching the ceremony with a smile on his face. "Do you Leonardo Corbett take Karone Silver to be your wife? To have and to hold from this day forward? Will you love, honor, and cherish her from rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, and until death do you part?" The minister asked. Leo sighed as he looked at the girl he loved more than his life.
"I do," he replied.
"And do you Karone Silver take Leonardo Corbett to be your husband? Will you love, honor, and obey him from rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, and until death do you part?" The minister replied.
Karone took a deep breath. this was the second time she would vow to love a man. the second man she would vow to stay with for the rest of her life. "I do," she replied. Then Zavier came forth with the rings. Leo took one of the rings, held Karone's hand up, and slipped the ring onto her finger.
"With this ring, I thee wed," he vowed.
Karone took the other ring, held Leo's hand up, and slipped the ring onto his finger. "With this ring, I thee wed," she vowed. Karone smiled at him and then the words that she waited to hear were finally said.
"With the powers invested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife," the minister announced.
Leo then wrapped his arms around Karone's waist and pulled her in for a kiss. Once the kiss was broken, Karone laughed slightly and hugged him tight. Leo kissed the side of her head and held her close.
During the reception, Karone was hugging Andros when she saw Zhane standing behind the trees. However, she didn't know that Leo had seen him too. Leo walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Do you want to go over to him?" He asked.
"Yeah," she replied.
He grabbed her hands and they were able to sneak by their friends without being seen, except for Andros and Ashley.
Zhane smiled and sighed when he was able to be in human form for a short time. Karone and Leo stood in front of him. "You guys are so happy. I'm glad," he told them.
"I have to thank you, Zhane," she sighed.
"What for?" He asked.
"Without you coming to talk some sense into me, I wouldn't be here with Leo right now," she replied.
"I had to see the one girl I truly loved be happy, even though I'm not there," he assured her.
"Can I touch you?" She asked.
"Yes, I've been able to stay in human form for a little while, but then I have to go."
Karone walked over and hugged him tight with a sigh. Leo watched with a grin. He knew that Zhane would always have a place in Karone's heart, but he also knew that Karone loved him. "I'm going to miss you," she whispered.
"I'm going to miss you too. However, remember that I'm going to be watching over you," he whispered back.
He placed a kiss on the side of her head before letting her get back to Leo. "You take care of my girl, Leo," he told him. Leo reached over and shook his hand. Once Zhane let Leo's hand go, he went back into spirit form.
"I'll take care of her, Zhane. I'll take care of Kamilah and Zavier too," Leo assured him.
"I know you will."
He then looked at Karone. "I will always be here, Karone. I still live in our kids. Remember that," he added. She nodded and wiped a tear away. "Goodbye, Karone, Leo," he murmured. Then he disappeared. Karone sighed sadly, but Leo wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Goodbye, Zhane," they both whispered.
Then they went back to the party.
"DADDY, MOMMY!" Kamilah called. Leo smiled and picked Kamilah up. Zavier came over and Karone placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Let's have the family smile," the photographer instructed.
The picture was taken, and then everyone got into the picture.
