Nope, it's not the end.
Here goes another one...
Sorry if it's too much fluff for some of you!
Chapter 13: Romantic Getaway
The Wedding Reception:
The after party was extravagant to say at the least. It was held in the best of Spargus's restaurants, the party expanding from inside it to the outside deck.
Keira and Jak sifted through the crowd, greeting and thanking everyone who had come.
Jak had hardly had time to take off his suit coat before he and Keira were rushed towards the tall and intricately designed wedding cake inside.
In tradition, together they sliced two pieces of cake for each other, and naturally they ended up smashing it into the other's mouth playfully.
Soon afterwards, everyone was ushered to the seating arrangements inside and the drinks were served. While they were waiting for their meals to come, as is usual with receptions, friends and family of the newlyweds offered their congratulations and toasts in their favor.
King Damas signaled for the band to start and the soft, smooth music of strings and woodwinds swept throughout the restaurant patio. The lights dimmed and Jak stood up, offering his hand to his new bride as everyone watched in silence. The couple walked onto the wooden dance floor. Slowly, they began to dance, swaying in fluid motions with the music. They never took their eyes off of each other, not even for a moment, letting the serene atmosphere engulf them.
Minutes passed and the sweet melody began to transition to another song as Damas and Claire stepped towards the pair; Damas taking his daughter-in-law's hands and Jak taking his mother's. Before long, they were joined by other couples as well. Jak smiled warmly at the sight of Ashelin in Torn's arms and almost chuckled when he saw Tess spinning around with Daxter cradled to her chest.
Keira soon returned to her husband and they continued to dance for what seemed like hours. They ended the last dance with a long and affectionate kiss, then returning to their seats at the center of a long table shared by their family and closest friends.
An appetizing meal was served to all and Jak and Keira talked together cheerfully. The young King held his cooing son in one arm as he ate and talked.
"Nope, I'm not telling you until we get there," Jak grinned slyly and shoved another forkful into his mouth.
"Just a hint?" Keira pleaded, poking his side.
"Uh-huh..." Jak grunted cheekily, refusing to tell her where they were staying for their honeymoon that night.
"Oh fine!" Keira laughed and reached for Trajan.
It was beginning to get late and a few of the guests began to saw their goodbyes.
Samos took Trajan back to Haven in one of Jak's transports along with Ashelin, Torn, Daxter, and Tess.
"So, we're not going back to Haven, then?" Keira tried to pry answers out of Jak but he just rolled his eyes and laughed.
"Turn around," he asked, and when she did Jak put a cloth over her eyes as a blindfold.
"What -?" Keira began, but Jak turned her back around and pressed his lips to hers, quieting her.
"You'll see..." He whispered as he led her to a zoomer he had sent to Damas ahead of time.
He instructed her to hold tight as he kicked off the ground and they hovered effortlessly in the air.
The young bride was still in her wedding gown and it caught lazily in the wind with the speed of the zoomer as Jak flew towards his mystery destination.
She nestle her face between his powerful shoulder blades as she felt his speed increase. Where could we be going? We're definitely not in Spargus and I don't think we're heading back to Haven...
Her question would soon be answered as she felt the vehicle begin to descend.
Carefully, her new husband lifted her off the zoomer and she felt her feet dip into soft, wet sand. Pushing up the blindfold, Keira saw that they were at some kind of oasis; a hidden paradise in the middle of the Wasteland.
Jak then turned her around to her right to reveal a small sort of condo/ mini house he had had built in the week leading up to their wedding.
"Jak..." she whispered in awe, tears welling in her green eyes.
He smiled, resting his chin on her shoulder and wrapping his arms around her from behind, "I'm glad you like it."
That night, the two watched the sun sink low beyond the desert dunes as they sat by the small body of water, tiny waves lapping at their feet. They then proceeded to go into their lavishly furnished, private honeymoon suite.
Of course, this wouldn't be the first night the couple spent together, but it was by far the most special. It was their night; neither rushed nor too slow, it was just right.
Later on in the evening, going into the early hours of the morning, Jak tossed and turned in his sleep.
...Coming for the boy...He shares your gift...
...He is born of the dark substance – yet pure. We need him... Another voice echoed in his mind.
These voices though, did not seem of a malevolent nature. Strangely, they were almost angelic.
Jak tightened his hold around Keira, who lay in the comfort of his arms. Looking around in the darkness of the room, he told himself that he was just imagining it, that he was making himself paranoid for no reason. Soon, as abruptly as they came, the stopped and he found himself drifting off into a pleasant slumber.
The catch was, they could only spend one night there. After all, Jak was King of a city and had spent too many of his 'vacation' days as it were. And also, there was the ever-present duty of raising an ever growing son.
"So...uh, Daxter told me to open these today...Any idea what they're about?" Keira asked, reaching over the side of the bed to her pack and pulling out a pack of pictures in an envelope.
"Nope," Jak answered innocently, not able to think of what the pictures could be of.
All of the sudden, Keira burst out in laughter, shoving the first picture in Jak's face.
Jak's eyes widened and his cheeks flushed. They were of course, the pictures from his birthday/bachelor party. The first one involved Jak's closed eyelids painted over to look like he was awake and him apparently 'making out' with a cardboard cut out of the late Krew. Unfortunately for Jak and only adding to Keira's uncontrollable laughter was more pictures of Jak in various positions with the other men that had been present.
"Well at least I know there weren't any strippers! Seems like you were the entertainment!" Keira joked, pointing to another picture.
"Someone is definitely going to die when I get back..." Jak half laughed, his face still a shade of pink as he went though the pictures that Keira passed to him.
Keira stifled her giggles and ran her hand along his face, "Aw, baby...Its all just good fun..." She kissed him, making him forget any emotion besides love.
Their short post-wedding getaway ended all too soon, and before they knew it, Keira and Jak were heading for Spargus for a quick goodbye to Damas and Claire; then proceeding to take a sky car to the Palace in Haven.
On the trip back to Haven, Keira was having a sudden, sad awareness about all the excitement of being a bride being over.
"...And I'll never get to wear my gown again!" Keira began to cry and Jak held her, at a loss for what to say; as most men would be.
"Keira...I, uh...I would buy you a wedding dress for everyday of the year if it would only make you feel better..." Jak offered sweetly, wiping away her tears and smiling reassuringly.
This, of course, wasn't the answer she was looking for exactly, but she gave him an 'A' for effort.
"I love you Jak..." Keira sniffled and leaned against his shoulder, sighing contently.
I know...mushy...but it was necessary...kinda ;)
Tell me what you all think?! Thanks for reading!
