Theme Challenge: Bridge and Z
For the Ars Amatoria Ranger Romance Themes Challenge
Challenge #33: Reaction (weird how the first part of this was #3, and this is #33...)
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers.
A/N: Well, this is the second part of Secrets. I think that's all you need to know. I really hope you enjoy this chapter.
Reaction
"Any idea why we're meeting Bridge and Z at the courthouse a full hour before dinner? What's so important at the courthouse that they need us to wait around here?"
"I don't know, Syd. Maybe Cruger gave them a crapload of last minute paperwork."
"I don't think so, Cadet Landors," a low, growling voice echoes as Cruger comes in behind them, along with Kat. "I am in the dark myself."
"Commander? Kat? What are you doing here?"
"Bridge asked us to come here at 5:00. He was very mysterious as to why, though." Kat replies, crossing her arms over her chest. Syd wrinkles her nose.
"Then what's going on?"
"Oh, good, you're all here!" Suddenly, Z appears, Bridge at her side, with Bridge's parents trailing behind them. She is wearing a knee-length, soft silk dress in the palest shade of goldenrod imaginable, and Bridge wears a dark green dress shirt and slacks. Both of them are smiling widely as they approach the group.
"We're so glad you're all here," Bridge says, still smiling. Then Jack, ever the impatient one, has to jump in first.
"Yeah, yeah, that's great, but what's going on? Why are your parents here? By the way, nice to see you, Mr. and Mrs. Carson." They both nod, smiling, and Jack goes on. "Anyway, why are we here? I thought we weren't going to dinner until six." But while Syd smacks him for being slightly rude, Z and Bridge just grin at each other.
"We have a surprise for you guys," Bridge begins. "It's definitely a good surprise. I mean, it's going to shock you at first, but after that, I think you'll definitely be really happy. At least, we hope you'll be really—"
"We're getting married." Z interrupts him, and he glares at her, mock-severely. "Oh, come on, Bridge. It would have taken you another twenty minutes to get to the point, and our appointment's at five-fifteen."
Meanwhile, their friends are staring at them, not sure if they heard her correctly.
"Wh-what did you say, Z?" Syd manages to say, her eyes widened to the point of painfulness. Z shares a smile with Bridge, who takes her hand, interlacing their fingers and squeezing it gently.
"We're getting married," she repeats softly.
The group is silent for a good thirty seconds before a barrage of questions are thrown at the soon-to-be newlyweds.
"What?"
"Are you serious?"
"What are you thinking?"
"How long have you been keeping this a secret?"
"Married? When did you even start dating?"
"You can't get married! You're barely nineteen!"
"Is this because of that 'you'll never get a boyfriend' comment? Because if it is, I was joking!"
"Guys!" Z finally yells, and the clamor dies down. "If you'll just shut up for a second, we can answer your questions. Just hear us out, okay?" She sighs, glancing at Bridge. "Okay. First of all, we know this is a really big, shocking thing to process, and believe me, we would have told you about us dating so much earlier if it wasn't against the rules. No offense," she offers to Cruger, who merely raises his eyebrows. "Second of all, yes, we're totally serious. I know it's crazy, and I know we're really young, but we're in love. We want to get married."
"You guys are insane. You can't get married! How long have you been dating, anyway? It can't possibly be long enough." Sky exclaims.
"Nine months, last Wednesday." Bridge offers quietly. Syd's jaw drops.
"You've been dating for nine months and none of us knew about it? I'm kind of impressed, actually—" Glares from both Jack and Sky cut her off, and she immediately looks down at the ground. "I mean, god, you guys are insane."
"Back on topic," Jack says quickly, shoving his hands through his hair. "Fine. You've been secretly dating for nine months, and that's all well and good, but getting married? Come on! What possessed you to think of this?"
"Jack, it doesn't matter! What matters is that we're getting married—we decided this on our own, we know that this is what we want, and we're doing it, no matter what, with or without your approval! We just…we just wanted our families to see our wedding, and you guys are our family." Another moment of silence falls.
Finally, Syd is the first to step forward, throwing her arms around both Bridge and Z. "Oh, you guys! This is so romantic!"
"Syd!"
"Shut up, Sky! It's romantic and you know it is—you're just too chicken to admit it. Now come over here and be happy for your best friend and his fiancée!" After only a minute of deliberation, Sky obliges, even gracing both of them with hugs. Kat soon follows, a toothy smile on her face, and Cruger comes forward as well, leaving only Jack standing a distance away, his arms crossed over his chest. Z frowns.
"Jack," she pleads, stepping toward him, "Come on. You're my brother. You have to be there. Who else is going to give me away?"
He is silent for a moment, looking away in thought, and Z shifts anxiously. Finally he turns to her, a rueful smile on his face. "Well, I very well can't say no to that, can I?" Z's face breaks out in a wide grin, and she rushes forward to hug him tightly.
"Delgado-Carson?" The secretary at the main desk calls, and Bridge goes over to her. She hands him a few papers and says, "Go to room 103—it's the first room on the right over there. Give these to the judge inside, and he'll have you sign them at the end of the ceremony. Congratulations." Bridge thanks her, then gives her a genuine smile and moves back to Z, who stands waiting for him, a huge smile on her face.
"Let's go get married," he says, and unshed tears glitter in her eyes. He takes her hand and begins to walk toward the room.
"Hey, hold on a second!" Jack exclaims, and rushes forward to take Z's arm. "She's not yours yet—I have to give her away first."
The group moves into the small room, led by Bridge and his parents, then Cruger and Kat, then Syd and Sky, and finally Jack leads his sister in, kissing her cheek lightly before letting Bridge take her hand. The judge smiles kindly at them as he looks over their paperwork.
"Well, Mr. Carson, Ms. Delgado—let's get this done, shall we? Do you have rings?"
With this ring, I thee wed.
The judge smiles at the two young lovers as they exchange rings tearfully. "Now, repeat after me."
"I, Elizabeth, take you, Bridge, to be my husband…"
"I, Bridge, take you, Elizabeth, to be my wife…"
"To have and to hold…"
"To honor and to respect…"
"To love and to cherish…"
"For better, for worse…"
"For richer, for poorer…"
"In sickness and in health…"
"From this day forward…"
"For all the days of my life."
The judge gives them another smile. "Now, if you'll just sign here…Good, good. And now, with the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
And Bridge does; it's the most perfect kiss Z has ever received, soft and wonderful and full of promise…her first kiss as someone's wife. Well, not just someone…Bridge. She smiles against his lips. She is now Bridge Carson's wife, and it's absolutely unbelievable. Clapping erupts around them, and she turns to face her friends—no, her family—grinning madly.
"Congratulations," the judge tells them, and they thank him and spill into the hall, laughing and cheering ringing in their ears. Cruger and Kat each hug them tightly, and then Bridge's parents embrace them both.
"Congratulations, son." His father says, placing a hand on Bridge's shoulder. "We couldn't be more proud of you."
"Yes," His mother adds, smiling widely. "Welcome to the family, Z." At this, Z begins to cry, and they embrace, daughter- and mother-in-law. Bridge hugs his mother, too, then slips his hand around Z's, kissing it gently where her fingers meet her knuckles.
Syd looks at them, the happy couple, and can't get over how beautiful her best girl friend looks. But it isn't just the pretty dress, the wavy hair, the soft golden makeup…she's radiant. She's happy. Truly happy, in the purest sense of the word. She watches Bridge take Z's hand and squeeze it, ever so slightly, and Z's smile is small but blinding. Syd feels tears come to her eyes. She doesn't doubt that Z's air of serenity and joyous contentment is because of Bridge.
Syd moves quickly to them, eyes shining.
"Congratulations," she says sincerely, blinking away the tears. "I'm so happy for you!" And Z embraces her roommate (well, not anymore) tightly, crying even as she thanks her.
Sky lets a huge grin take over his face. He may have been skeptical at first, but now he looks at Bridge and Z and wonders how he didn't see it before—their love practically makes them glow with happiness. This is right, he decides. This is the most right thing I've ever witnessed.
The thought alone makes him smile wider, and he claps a hand on Bridge's shoulder.
"Congratulations, Bridge." The younger man grins, and hugs his best friend.
"Thanks, Sky."
At this, Jack moves forward, shaking Bridge's hand and then pulling him into a hug.
"Take care of her, man."
"Oh, I will. I mean, obviously she can take care of herself—she's not an invalid, after all—but I'll still be there if—"
"Got the point, man." Jack's eyes are sparkling as he hugs his new brother-in-law. Brother-in-law. Never in a million years did he think he'd ever get to have one. His family is steadily growing, and for all his reservations earlier, he really couldn't be happier, because Z was happy, and really, that was all that mattered.
Z envelops him in a bone-crushing hug, and he returns it with his whole heart. His sister is married. His little sister, skinny little Z who was all elbows and knees only five years ago, has grown into a beautiful young woman who just got married, and he's so very proud of her.
"I'm starving." Bridge says suddenly, and laughter echoes in the hall. Z kisses him soundly and leads him out of the courthouse.
"What are you guys waiting for? Let's go have a wedding reception!"
LOL I really really hope you liked it! Please review, and I'll see you next challenge!