Chapter 35: I Do
Five months after the birth of Thomas and Abigal Wayne Bruce and Harley decided it was time to finally get married. The two of them made plans to actually have two weddings, one for the public eye, and the "true" one with their superhero friends. The public wedding was a simple one, well simple in terms of one of the richest men on the planet when he throws a wedding. Bruce Wayne and his bride-to-be Silvia Nixx held the wedding outside Wayne Manor in the gardens. Not including the four or so reporters that were broadcasting the event, the guest list only included over a two dozen people. Clark Kent was there, in part as a reporter for the Daily Planet and as a groomsman for Bruce. Dick Grayson was Bruce's best man, while a disguised Poison Ivy was Silvia's Maid of Honor. The rest of the guest list was business partners of Wayne Enterprises and it's employees, such as Lucius Fox. Even government officials had come to give their best wishes to the newlyweds.
Overall, while the public wedding was certainly extravagant, it just didn't sit well with Harley. Bruce had told her that the public wedding was more of a business opportunity for the guests than an actual celebration of two people vowing to spend the rest of their lives together, a.k.a. The event was nothing more than to allow people to kiss Bruce Wayne's ass for potential business favors. The fake smiles and hollow praises from the guests irked Harley to no end. However she put on her best smile for them, for Bruce's sake and for their alter-ego's sake, but she wasn't enjoying herself.
After the ceremony was the typical bride and groom dance, along with the newlyweds and their guests enjoying a fantastic meal, which was more up Harley's alley. Harley had never seen so much food, and had to hold back from diving onto the many tables laden with a vast variety of foods. Luckily for her, Bruce was busy holding back most of the business bloodsuckers from his bride, so she was free to try all the food, albeit in a restrained manner.
"Are you really that miserable Harl?" Ivy asked, coming up alongside her friend, who was gorging on a plate of shrimp.
"I hate having to be nice to all these businessmen." Harley replied, pouting a bit. "They are only hear to kiss Bruce's ass. Granted, it's a nice ass but still."
"Well I'm proud of you Harley. You're such a trooper."Ivy said sarcastically, "By the way, where are Abigal and Thomas?"
"They are asleep in their rooms."Harley answered, smiling at the mere mention of her children, "After the many photo ops and dealing with the guests all gawking over the twins they were tired out. Alfred is watching over them while mommy and daddy still suffer."
Ivy couldn't help but smirk, "Too bad adults can't use the "tired so it's time for bed" excuse in a situation like this."
"Tell me about it." Harley grumbled, popping another shrimp into her mouth. Suddenly, one of the many guests spotted the bride and started making their way over to her. Instantly Harley's mood changed, plastering on a fake smile and putting on acting skills that would rival anyone in Hollywood.
The rest of the day went by as slow as a school day. When the reception was finally over and all the guests were gone, Harley finally was able to wipe away her fake smile as she plopped down on the sofa. She let out a sigh as she kicked off her high heels, the shoes hitting the nearby wall. She was soon joined by her new husband, who was no longer sporting his black jacket and his white undershirt was unbuttoned, a clear sign of his exhaustion at the day's events.
"Well that was...awful." Harley stated, laying her head in Bruce's lap as she stared up at him.
"Oh come now. It wasn't all bad." Bruce retorted, smiling down at her as he stroked her hair, "You seemed to have liked the food at least."
"Yeah. Although I think I ate too much." Harley replied, suppressing a burp as she rubbed her stomach, "I'm just ready for our real wedding tomorrow. Not this pretend one."
"I'm just happy that Thomas and Abigal were on their best behavior. That made this event less stressful that's for sure." Bruce said, casting a glance in the direction of the stairwell, expecting to hear their children's cries for attention.
"Let's hope they keep it up for round two." Harley stated, as her eyes started drooping. It wasn't long before she was fast asleep, exhausted from the day's events. Bruce almost immediately followed her, and the two slept on the sofa for the rest of the night.
The next day was the day of the "real wedding", at least in Harley and Bruce's eyes. Not only would Harley be able to be herself, but her friends would be able to join this time and be themselves as well. Bruce's allies were in attendance as well, and in civilian clothing no less. A good portion of the Justice League was in attendance, from the Aquaman and Green Lantern to Martian ManHunter and The Question. Some of them were hesitant to come out of their superhero persona, especially since former villains were in attendance. However, a quick reassurance from Batman was more than enough to quell their concerns.
Batman, being the overly paranoid great detective that he was, demanded that the wedding would be in a location where we wouldn't be caught unawares and attacked. Harley was about to scold him for his paranoia, until he suggested they have the wedding in the Watchtower, which Harley was actually ecstatic for. It may seem odd, but after all, not many people would have their dream wedding in space with the entire world in the background. So she agreed and the preparations were quickly underway.
Turning a space station that is the headquarters to the Earth's most powerful superheroes into a gorgeous wedding wasn't as hard as you would expect it to be. Especially when the Flash was helping with the decorating. It no time(literally) the observatory deck's ceiling was lasciviously decorated with white streamers and a mix of pink, white, and purple colored flowers were centered on the clothed tables.
Using the teleportation pad that allowed the Justice League to travel between Earth and the Watchtower with ease, food was delivered onto the station, granted none as extravagant as the ones served during the Wayne Manor wedding, but the food was diverse and guaranteed to be delicious. It was decided that they couldn't very well hire a company to create and then deliver the food to space, so the many guests brought a home-cooked dish of their making. Since the members of the League came from all across the globe(and some not even from earth) the many dishes the League members brought were dishes of many variety and flavor.
Last but not least two potted plants, with the same flowers on the guest tables, were placed on either side of the window that was overlooking the planet. The view was breathtaking. Between the two plants, with the earth in the backdrop, Bruce and Harley would exchange their vows and become man and wife( at least officially in their eyes).
With the Watchtower now decorated for the event and the many trays of food ready to eat after the ceremony, the procession was now ready to start. Guests started filing in through the teleportation pad, including Harley's friends. Killer Croc was the first to arrive onto the station, wearing a bow-tie, with almost comically, no shirt to match it(although the cost of a custom-made shirt for him would probably be astronomical). He did however have fitted black dress pants, but of course no shoes for his clawed feet. Despite his odd appearance, Croc still looked great. His attire felt like a mix of the wild and suave civilization, and it worked for him.
The next to arrive was Jonathan Crane and Edward Nigma, wearing traditional black tuxedos. Crane wore horn-rimmed glasses, giving off the appearance of an elderly college professor, which fit him really well. Nigma's attire was slightly altered from a standard suit for a wedding( of course he would want to stand out). Edward wore a bowler hat similar to his Riddler outfit, only black with a green band around the base of the hat, which matched his green tie that he was sporting. He was also totting a black cane, once again reminiscent of the cane he wielded in his Riddler persona. Despite his outfit being a bit flashy, it was a standard thing to expect from Nigma, and it worked well for him anyway.
Following Crane and Nigma were Pamela and Dick, arm-in-arm. Dick looked nervous with Pamela leaning on him, but Pamela looked pleased with herself, smirking at how the younger man was acting around her. Try as he might, Dick couldn't help growing close to Pamela in their many months of working side-by-side as Batman and Batwoman. Seeing the blooming romance between the two, Harley wasted no time teasing her friend about going after younger men. Ivy had simply waved her jabs away, stating that when she wants something she will get it, no matter what anyone else thinks. Despite her teasing Harley was more than happy for her friend, and in fact encouraged the relationship. She had noticed that Dick was too immature most of the times to take anything that was always a problem that could get him in trouble, or worse, hurt. Perhaps Dick needed someone more mature, and in fact older, to handle him and keep him grounded, which Ivy was more than willing to fill that. At first Dick resisted Pamela's advances, but of course her constant flirtations and touches wore away his resolve and he relented. After a heated night of passion on the rooftops of Gotham(neither of them had shared this tale with anyone, and planned not to), the pair decided to see in what direction this would go. So their first date of sorts was Pamela dragging Dick to Harley and Bruce's wedding as her date, and while nervous about the whole thing, he was excited to be with her.
Pamela was sporting a pink and purple bridesmaid's dress, and looked absolutely stunning in it. She had her red hair pinned up in a bun, with a pure white flower placed delicately in her hair. Dick was sporting the typical black tux( it seemed sadly that men's fashion was limited when it came to wedding attire). However Dick did put his personal touch, adding a blue tie and cuffs to his suit. Guess both he and Edward had more in common than the two would ever admit.
With all the guests, groomsman, and bridemaids in attendance, the wedding procession began. At the altar, being the minister of sorts, was Dr. Fate, with Bruce Wayne waiting beside him. Cradled in his right arm was Abigal Wayne, in a mini-dress similar to the bridesmaids. She was fast asleep in his arms, her right hand clutching his tuxedo jacket in her sleep. As the stereotypical wedding music began to play over the station's intercoms, the guests stood from their seats and the bridemaids and groomsman began to walk down the aisle. First was the Maid of Honor, Pamela, with Dick escorting her. Then followed Diana(everyone was just as shocked as Harley was that she agreed to be a bridesmaid. However she did not wish to start anything anymore, so she begrudgingly agreed), with Clark Kent in tow. As the rest of the bridesmaids and groomsmen took their places, that was when the bride herself,holding Thomas in her arms and mirroring Bruce, took her cue and started walking towards the alter, being escorted by none other than Alfred Pennyworth. He was the closest thing Harley had to a father figure, and when she had asked him to walk her down the aisle, he was more than happy to. As Alfred finished escorting her to the altar, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
"You know years ago Miss Quinzel...I mean Mrs. Wayne, I never would have thought that a person could change so much. Seeing the darkness in humanity in that dreadful cave made it harder to see the light that was always out there. I'm overjoyed to see that you pulled yourself out of that darkness, found your light, and in the meantime...found Master Wayne's light as well." Alfred said, whispering this to her, for this was for her and her alone. Harley had no words for what she was hearing. She was having a hard time to keep from crying tears of joy at his words, "Please continue walking in that light with him. He needs you."
Harley simply nodded to the old butler, sniffing slightly and quickly placing a kiss on his cheek before joining Bruce in front of Dr. Fate. Bruce smiled at her as he took her free hand in his own, holding it tightly yet softly. With the soft mewling of their sleeping children, the two stared with lovingly into one another's eyes.
"Now the bride and the groom will exchange their vows." Dr. Fate announced to the now-sitting guests, before motioning to the pair to continue.
Bruce started, " Harley, I never would have thought that I would reach this stage in my life. A wife...kids...me being able to smile and actually be happy again. I always thought I would be stuck. Stuck in that Batsuit, never taking it off, never being able to be more than the Batman. Ever since you've came into my life...and not tried to kill that is."
That earned a light-hearted laugh from the guests and a fake-annoyed puffing of the cheeks from Harley, before she giggled and smiled at him. He then continued, " My life was as cold and empty, and I no reason to believe that I would grow past my darkness and history. You have brought back a side of me that I have not experienced since I was a small boy...I love you Harley...I love our kids Thomas and Abigal...and I will spend the rest of my days with you, loving you and our family, and keeping them safe."
Having his vow ended, it was now Harley's turn. Taking a few seconds to compose herself at his moving speech, Harley started her own, " Bruce, there's no sugarcoating what you have done for me. You saved me from an abusive relationship and showed me what love really was. You rescued me from the cage that had imprisoned me for so long, and in the process, had made me feel wanted...something I have never felt in all my life. A concept such as a husband and kids was a far off dream I thought that would never come true for me. You proved me wrong, made me feel loved, and have given me my dreams and my life back. My body, my love, my future, and my soul belong to you Bruce. You won't have to keep our family safe alone, because I'll be by your side...always."
Wrapped up in her own speech, Harley had unconsciously tuned out the crowd. Only now was she hearing the sniffs from their moving vows. She shot a quick glance at the guests, and was shocked to see Waylon dabbing his yellow reptile eyes with a small handkerchief. The image was so sweet yet funny Harley couldn't decide whether to smile or burst out laughing. She managed to keep herself in check and turned back to Bruce just as he placed the wedding ring on her finger, which she responded by placing a similar one on his own finger.
Once again Dr. Fate spoke to the couple and the crowd, "Do you Harleen Quinzel, take Bruce Wayne to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do." Harley answered, nodding with fierce determination.
"And do you Bruce Wayne, take Harleen Quinzel as you lawfully wedded wife?" Dr. Fate continued.
"I do." Bruce responded, flashing Harley a smile.
"By the powers vested in me by Nabu, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the-" Dr. Fate was cut off when Harley grabbed Bruce by the tie and pulled him down to her lips, kissing him passionately, a wide-eyed Bruce reciprocated the kiss. Dr. Fate finished, " the groom..."
Instantly afterwards the guests burst into hooting and applause, which for some odd but lucky reason, did not wake the sleeping twins. The pair squirmed in their parents arms, but otherwise were sleeping the event away. Holding each other's free hand tightly, they walked down the aisle past their friends and League members.
The rest of the event was one of the most joyous celebrations anyone in attendance had experienced. The guests dined on the many cuisines that was brought by everyone, and in the history of the Watchtower no one has ever danced on it, much less almost the entire League. Not even Abigal and Thomas could sleep through this noise level, and watched wide-eyed at everyone, including their dancing mother and father, from the arms of Crane and Martian Manhunter, who both had been dying to hold the babies since the beginning of the ceremony.
As the event began to wind down, everyone wanted a group picture to commemorate the wedding. Placing the camera on a tripod and a few second timer, Flash quickly set the camera and zoomed into place besides Bruce and Oliver Queen. Every single person who was at the wedding was in the group photo, and everyone smiled as the flash went off, and everyone wanted a copy of the picture. After all, it wasn't everyday that the Justice League would see a smiling Dark Knight, holding his daughter alongside his smiling wife, who was holding their wide-eyed son.
*Sorry this one took so long but since its the wedding I figured it deserved to be longer than most chapters. I hope you enjoy it! Also if anyone is a great artist, I would personally love a drawing of the photo with Bruce, Harley,and all the guests, to commemorate a huge event in this story. Please let me know!*