"It is my understanding that you are both freely agreeing to be bound together, for better and for worse, for as long as you both shall live."
The Binding Ceremony took place at noon two days later at the front of the dining hall. Everyone from the farm had gathered to witness it as Mistress solemnly presided.
"I do," Hotch, sporting a fresh haircut and wearing an open necked white dress shirt with black trousers for the occasion, smiled at 586, who shyly smiled back.
"As do I," she quickly added. For the occasion, she was wearing a white top embroidered with colorful flowers and a long white prairie skirt. Wildflowers had been twined through her hair, giving her a festive look.
"As you have both, in front of witnesses, confirmed your desire to be bound," Mistress held up a long piece of braided red thread, "Please join right hands." She then wrapped the thread several times around the joined hands and tied it tightly.
"You are now bound for the rest of your lives, and may they be long and prosperous," she declared with a smile.
"You can kiss her now," 415 called out helpfully as Hotch and 586 stood grinning foolishly at each other.
When the kiss finally ended, the crowd swept forward and engulfed the newlyweds with congratulations and good wishes.
"It took you long enough," 479 told Hotch as he shook his hand.
"It's the haircut that finally won her over," 658 claimed.
"We have arranged a surprise for you," 539 told them with a smile. "And it involves the two of you having some alone time."
"So, 765 will spend the afternoon in the nursery, as usual, and will then be coming with my husband and me back to our room," 502 announced. "He and 749, who we currently have living with us, are good friends and they should have a great time playing together this evening."
"Don't worry, everything will be just fine," her husband assured 586.
There was, however, one more item that needed to be addressed before the newlyweds left the dining hall. Commander and 479 took Hotch aside for a private word.
"We thought you should know, 537 will be working in the cotton field for the remainder of the growing season," Commander told Hotch. "And, at night, he will be going to Farm #4. Beginning tomorrow he has been permanently moved there and he won't be bothering 586 anymore."
"It seems I was so busy watching you that I neglected to see what was going on with him," 479 added ruefully.
"Thank you both," Hotch said sincerely as he shook hands with first the Commander and then 479. "We appreciate that."
Following 539's directions, Hotch and his new bride soon found themselves standing in a shady glade just outside the big house where a picnic lunch had been set up for them under a decorated arch.
"This looks familiar," 586 commented with a happy sigh as she looked at the scene.
"If I remember rightly, the last time we had a set-up like this we were rather rudely interrupted," Hotch remembered as he sat down on the blanket.
"And we never got around to – " 586 sat down practically on top of him.
"It's a good thing all of these foods are intended to be eaten cold," Hotch observe with a knowing smile as he pulled 586 onto his lap and positioned her so that she straddled him. "Because it is going to be quite a while before we get to them."
"What exactly do you have in mind?" 586 asked with a smirk as she leaned in to kiss him.
"Just you wait and see!" Hotch promised as he put his hands under her top and began moving them slowly upwards towards her breasts.
"Just you wait and see!"
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
It was well after dark when the disheveled newlyweds crept through the common room of women's dorm and into 586's room where they found the striped tiger cat sitting on the bed patiently waiting for them.
"That didn't take you long," Hotch whispered to the animal.
"I told you I wanted a cat," 586 said happily as she reached over to pet the creature.