Chapter 16

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church

They were running an hour late, and after a quick change and patch up in transit, they were ready to go inside. Biggs turned off the engine, and looked over his shoulder. "Ready?"

Max nervously squeezed Alec's hand. "As I'll ever be," she said her eyes glowing brightly.

Alec hugged her tightly. "I'd kiss you but I think we've broken enough traditions for one day," he said with a lopsided grin. "You look breathtaking," he whispered giving her one last once over. "I'll send Josh right out."

The pipe organ music filled the air and floated through the closed doors. Joshua took her hand and threaded it through his arm. They stood for one more beat in the small foyer, before Joshua gave her a gentle tug. "Time to go."

Max smiled and she hoped that her nerves weren't betrayed on her face. She wasn't nervous about what she was about to do. It was facing all those people again, walking past them, so many unknown faces. Shaking her head, she asked herself why she cared. This wasn't about them. She wasn't doing this for any of them. As the red double doors swung open and her foot alighted the last step, her eyes found the face of the one who could chase every fear away. And watching his lips form a familiar warming smile, she found that every other person faded from her vision.

Joshua put her hand in Alec's, and she followed his back, watching him take a seat next to Biggs in the first pew. Biggs had given his suit to Alec, so he was dressed causally in a leather jacket, a white t-shirt and jeans. He had played the role of best man to perfection. He'd taken care of Alec, and even made sure her lover looked the part despite looking a little worse for wear in the face. Now all Biggs had left was the care of the rings. But from the look of confidence he had, lounging back in his place, Max knew he wouldn't fail them there.

"Genesis 2:18, Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him'." Closing his book, Father Destry motioned for the congregation to be seated. "We are gathered here today to witness the union of Max Guevara and Alec Bamber in holy matrimony.

"I had the pleasure of meeting Max a few years ago. So much has changed in both our lives since that first meeting. I will forever be in debt to her for what she did to save my life, and I hope that in some small way, I was able to repay part of that debt by being a friend and showing her the One, Greater than I, who has an eternal and forgiving love for her and her family.

"In the dark times that recently plagued our country, and our sense of security, I hope many of you remembered this Psalm. Please recite with me, King David's 23rd Psalm – The LORD is my shepherd and I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presences of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Alec had never heard the reading before, but he thought the sentiment was hopeful. When he looked at Max, knew that even though he couldn't see God, he knew He must exist to have brought them together. Not only that, but to have Max fall in love with him. It was something that never in his wildest dreams would he have ever believed if someone had called it when they'd first met in that dingy cell years ago. He truly believed that nothing in their lives happened by accident. Fates, destiny, a God, some cosmic power in the Heavens, someone was watching out for them. After all they'd seen and been through, he knew they hadn't survived by chance or on their own merit.

Sketchy hovered quietly, moving from one side of the Church to the other snapping photos of the congregation, of the bridal party, of the babies in the front row – Missy, Tia and Jesse.

For Max everything seemed to pass by in a blur of color and jumble of words. All she knew was Alec holding her hands in his and his eyes on hers. She was jogged out of her trance when Father Destry touched her arm and said her name.

"Max?"

Max blinked and looked at him in surprised embarrassment. "Sorry?" she whispered.

"Are you ready to say your vows?" he asked softly.

She nodded her cheeks flaming. She'd spaced the whole first half of the ceremony?

"Max and Alec have chosen to say their own vows. Max, would you like to say yours first?" Father Destry prompted.

"Alec, I grew up having no clue about love. Seeing couples get married, and promise forever, it seemed like an insane idea. That was until you came sauntering into my life,"
she said with a grin.

The moment he'd walked through her door, he'd oozed confidence and a careless attitude, and from that moment she'd been determined to beat some responsibility into him. It had taken her a long time to realize that, that part of him already existed. He just never had a reason to show it, and it wasn't as though she'd given him much of a chance to either.

"Even though sometimes we drive each other crazy, I know I can't imagine my life without you. You showed me that it's okay to feel vulnerable - that I can trust in someone other than myself. You showed me what it means and what it feels like to be in love. I'm not afraid to promise forever anymore, so long as forever is with you." She felt her throat close over on those last words and her eyes sting with the threat of tears.

Alec looked at her and smiled. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears and he squeezed her hands tenderly. "Max, if anyone asked me even a year ago if I wanted to get married, I would have choked on whatever I was drinking. But a year ago, I didn't have you, or the two perfect kids we share. You're everything I want in a partner, Max. You're not afraid to beat me into line if I'm wrong. You challenge me to talk and deal instead of burying my problems. And you're the most beautiful woman to ever succumb to my charms."

Max squeezed his hands hard at that comment, and noted the wicked twinkle in his eye. 'Just wait,' she said with her eyes.

Alec chuckled and knew she was saving her retaliation to his words for later. "I'd be crazy not to hang onto you. And I want you to know, I need you to know, that without you, I'd be like part of me is missing. You make me whole, Max. Life won't be a picnic, but we've never had anything easy. What I can promise you though is that I'll always love you. And I'll spend my life making sure you always have a reason to smile." He winked at her and looked over at Biggs. 'Rings,' he mouthed.

After they slid rings on each other's fingers. Max thought it was all done and the next thing coming would be, you may kiss the bride. She didn't know it, until then but she'd been itching to kiss Alec all day. And after he'd stop short of doing so in the van, she'd been about ready to argue a point and say screw tradition. But her jaw dropped a fraction when Father Destry's next words reached her ears.

"We will now sign the Marriage Certificate. And while we do so, we will be treated to a special musical performance by Gem on the violin, accompanied by Our Lady's boys choir, singing 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring'."

While they sat down to sign the register and the certificate, Max couldn't help but be mesmerized by the sound of the choir voices blended with the expertly played chords of Gem's violin. The music that filled her head was truly fitting for the saying, the voices of angels.

Father Destry concluded the ceremony with a prayer. "Father, by your plan man and woman are united, and married life has been established as the one blessing that was not forfeited by original sin or washed away in the flood. Look with love upon this woman, your daughter, now joined to her husband in marriage. I ask your blessing. Grant her the grace of love and peace. May her husband put his trust in her and recognize that she is his equal and the heir with him to the life of grace. May he always honor her and love her as Christ loves his bride, the Church. Father keep them always true to your commandments. Give them strength, which comes from your Heavenly throne, that they may stay true to their promise of love and faithfulness to one any other. And bless their family, grant them fullness of life, and one day life eternal among the saints in the kingdom of heaven.

"By the power vested in me by the Church, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and the State of Washington. It is my joy to present to you, husband and wife, Mrs & Mrs Bamber."

It was Alec's turn to look surprised and Max nudged him slightly as he looped her arm through his. "Didn't know I'd caved on that huh?"

One of the first people Max approached as they made their way down the aisle was Logan. She knew he had been the one to organize the citizenship of the transgenics with Veronica and he would have been the one to help Alec arrange the Marriage Licence. It was a truly unique gift that he'd given them and she didn't know how she could thank him. Over the past couple of weeks Logan and Alec seemed to have patched up their differences, and having them make eye contact, even greeting each other warmly, was more than she could ever have asked for. Something she never thought she'd see again after that strange encounter with Mia though was Alec and Logan embracing, but today was a day full of surprise.

"Thanks man. For everything," Alec said giving Logan a strong, brotherly hug.

"You're welcome. Wish you two the best," Logan said sincerely.

Alec could tell that he was being genuine even though his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Maybe it would always be like that, or maybe not. Who knew, Logan might meet someone that could fill the void Max had left. He wasn't a transgenic and he didn't have the history they had of torture and darkness but he had had his fair share of hardship because of Manticore the past few years. It wasn't his fight but he'd stood by them anyway. If anyone deserved a chance at real happiness, it was Logan. And he hoped that it happened for him sooner rather than later. Alec watched Max hug Veronica tightly and his eyes traveled between Logan and the other woman. They had something once. Did he sense a spark still there?

Alec saw Veronica's tears as she held Max. He was so happy for them both. He'd never really spent a lot of time thinking about his genetics or how he was born. Letting his brain dwell on the whole gene tinkering, splicing game, and how many different people, not to mention animals, had been thrown into the mix gave him the creeps. He might have created them to save humanity, but Sandeman had to be one strange guy. And rather than thinking about the woman who'd served as a human incubator and whether or not she'd cared about him, wasn't something Alec wanted to think about. Besides, the woman beside him more than filled any void he was supposed to feel about absentee biological or surrogate parents.

Max didn't want to let go of the woman holding her. Seeing her today, talking with her and hearing her voice, was as close to her mother as she would ever be. Veronica was everything she dreamt of in a mother, smart, beautiful, caring and supportive, someone who could soothe all your hurts and hang on your every word. And from what Veronica told her about Susie, her real mother would have been that too.

Veronica fussed with Max's veil and dabbed the tears from her cheeks. Both of them were crying, and she was grateful the beaming bride was wearing minimal make-up. She was naturally beautiful, and the make up artist had only applied rose tinted gloss, a hint of dusk colored eye shadow, and mascara to highlight her vibrant brown eyes. Nothing had smudged for Max. Which was more than she could say for herself; she dreaded looking. She smiled at Max proudly and squeezed her one more time. "You're more than I ever dreamt Susie's daughter would be," she said huskily.

Max smiled brightly, and looked at Logan while hugging Veronica. "You always said you'd help me find my family. Thank you Logan."

Alec touched Max on the elbow and held out Jesse to her. "I swear he's a mamma's boy." As he switched Tia to sit more comfortably in his arms now that he had another free one, he looked at his children. When they were first born, it was hard to tell who's features they had aside from the obvious like nose and hair color. Jesse definitely had Max's coloring, olive complexion with a mop of dark curls covering his head. But as Max has so lovingly pointed out, Jesse seemed to have his attention seeking, cheeky character. Just last night he'd kept them up, just because he felt like playing in front of an audience. Thankfully he hadn't disturbed Tia. His daughter, though she looked like an angel with her porcelain complexion and straw-colored blond tufts of hair, and sky, baby blue eyes, she could holler a house down and was stubborn as an ox. If she didn't want to sleep, she wouldn't and that meant no sleep for Max, or himself if it was his turn to watch them. Praise heaven again for Veronica's godsend gifts. He'd wheeled Jesse into the lounge and stayed up with him, letting Max and Tia sleep, which was a rarity for both of them.

"Group shot, people," Sketchy called loudly. "Family in front, and everyone else just mingle behind." He left Biggs to direct people, and disappeared into the preacher's room.

Max laughed as Jesse attempted to dig into the bodice of her dress. "Sorry hon but this dress is baby proof." She immediately stopped laughing when she caught sight of his wavering bottom lip though. He bought his chubby fist to his mouth and began to suck on it vigorously. "Okay, aww Jesse, I'm sorry." As Alec came to stand beside her at the front of the group, she winked at him. "Maybe daddy can help you out."

Alec rolled his eyes after looking at Jesse. Tia was doing the same. Drooling down the front of her clothes and sucking on her hands. "Do they ever stop eating?"

Max shook her head. "And there's no way I can get out of this dress."

Alec leaned close and whispered in her ear. "I can help you with that."

"Everyone looking this way," Sketchy yelled from halfway down the church.

He was standing on a stepladder, although where he'd managed to grab one on a moments notice, Max wasn't going to hazard a guess. Beg, borrowed or stolen… perhaps the less she knew the safer she'd be. She had underestimated Sketchy. He was reliable, resourceful and loyal. Maybe deep down she'd always known that and that's why despite his antics, womanizing and binge drinking, she'd stuck with him. One thing she had never doubted though was his talent with a camera. She'd seen the some of his work. He was really quite artistic. Her favorites were his colorized black and white shots of the twins when they were two weeks old.

"Oh come on, what's with the long faces? Seriously what's a guy gotta do to break smiles out of transgenics?" Sketchy threw up his arms and then grinned when he spotted a familiar face in the crowd. "How's free beer at Crash? Normal's buying."

Max could almost feel the floor quaking with the riot of energy Sketchy's announcement had caused. But if the satisfied grin he had on his face as he lowered his camera after taking his shots was anything to go by, it had resulted in the desired effect.

"Calvin!" came a shout from behind them.

Max and Alec looked at each other and burst out in snickers at Sketchy's sudden change in composure. It took Normal less than a second to reach his target and start his verbal assault. "Should we go and save him?"

"Nah, let him sweat a bit," Alec said with a grin. "We've got other matters, or mouth's, I should say to take care of."

As she took Alec's hand, and felt the warmth of her baby boy flow through the fabric of her dress to bathe her skin, the reality of the promise she had just made and who she was, dawned on her. She wasn't just Max anymore. She was a wife, a mother and she had a family. All that she'd never dreamed would happen to her had come her way and even though she knew it hadn't been like this forever, feeling the way she did now, it was hard to remember the loneliness she had once thought would be her constant companion.

Interlacing his fingers with Max's, Alec bent his head to kiss Tia. Feeling her soft baby skin against his lips brought tears to his eyes. He wasn't under any illusions that life was perfect. There would always be challenges, but right now he couldn't think of anything he wanted or needed. Perhaps just one thing - that the twins would sleep for just a few hours, so he could steal away their mother. Just a few hours…

References:
Bible text quoted from New American Standard

Father Destry's prayer of blessing. Paraphrased from The Marriage Book. Redemptorist Publications, 2000