*Okay as always I own nothing of Criminal Minds or Rizzoli & Isles just enjoying using the characters.
L
I want to take a moment before you start reading... I am referring to several artist and I want to remind everyone that this is a fiction story and a fairy tale wedding. I have written people in because of the vastness and the huge spectrum a wedding like this would be like if it were to happen in real life. I do not know if the artist in real life would do a wedding such as this or would even agree with it. I pray that they wouldn't have issues with it but you never know. I would never want to offend anyone including the characters that I'm writing about.
Now with that said let's get started... remember to have Youtube up. It will add so much to the story if you do. (I have underlined the songs.)
(Chapter Sixteen)
It was thirty minutes before the curtain went up and there was a flurry of activity behind the stage. Maura was on one side and Emily on the other having their make up, hair and clothes finalized before taking the stage. The ceremony was suppose to start at five pm on the dot. Spencer was drinking water and getting his cordless microphone set on him since he was the host/narrator of the story being presented.
Jane was coming to do her final check on Emily before migrating back to Maura's side of the stage... where she would enter in with JJ and Pen in the middle of the ceremony. She happened to make the mistake of looking out to her right when she was half way across and saw that over two/thirds of the auditorium had already been filled. She managed to get to the other side after willing her legs to move and her lungs to not hyperventilate. "Holy crap!" She said coming up to Emily and bending over to allow more oxygen into her lungs.
"What's up with you? I'm the one getting married." Emily said pulling the woman's chains a bit.
"You almost have a packed out theater." She said pointing out towards where the crowd was.
"I figured it would be. Are you going to make it?" Emily asked standing up and beginning to rub the woman's shoulder.
"I'll get it together..." She said looking up at Emily, "... it was just different with everyone out there than standing on the stage with no one there."
"I know... it can be very over whelming. Now did Maura or Jennifer send you over here to check on me?" She asked smiling.
"Neither... I wanted too. They are splashing on poofing all kinds of stuff over there." She said waving her hands everywhere. "I just needed a moment."
Emily laughed while she imagined what had just been described. "Thank you... but I am fine." She paused a moment looking at the woman, "Listen... I haven't really had much of a chance to talk with you about the thing on the plane. I wanted to thank you for looking out for me and I want you to know that I am grateful that you are in our lives and that I do love you even though at times I'm sure you have doubted it." She said hugging the woman.
"Five minutes to curtain ladies... Ma'am you need to go back across now if you are going!" A stage hand yelled at Jane before she could give a reply back to Emily. She opened her mouth to say something but took out across the stage before the man could yell at her again. When she got over to the other side she almost ran into Pen.
"Careful there Jane..."
"Sorry... but I had to make it back over here before the curtain went up. Where did all these stage hands come from?" She asked looking around at all the people working behind the scenes.
"Raphy and Emily got them including the prop people. It pays to be a supporter of the arts." She said giggling.
"Supporter... looks like they bought the whole theater for them."
"Yeah isn't it great!" Pen just beamed. Jane just gave her a look and rolled her eyes... "Where's Maur?"
"Right there heading onto the stage." Jane started to go catch her but she heard the music starting as the voices of Bette Midler and Wynonna Judd were heard crystal clear.
"Wow... that almost sounds like them in person." She said... thinking the track sounded better than it did yesterday.
"It's because it is! Penn said jumping up and down as Jane's eyes widened and she stuck her head out a bit to see for herself that indeed it was Bette Midler on one side of the stage and Wynonna Judd on the other side in front of the downed curtain singing a duet of "The Rose."
"How..."
Pen stopped Jane's full question, "Charlotte knows Wynonna from some of her church work in Tennessee and asked her to do this as a surprise for the girls."
"Wow..." Jane said shaking her head not believing she was on stage with the two stars.
"Yeah... apparently there's many more surprises yet to come." She said excitedly.
The curtain lifted to a darkened stage as the song was coming to a finish. Then as the music faded Spencer stepped forward into a spot light from Emily's side of the stage as Bette and Wynonna left the stage. He was in a black tux with a midnight blue vest and bow tie. He stood almost in the middle of the stage but just left towards where he came from as he looked out into the audience.
He took a deep breath and started, "Plato once said... "Love is a serious mental disease." The crowd laughed in agreement. " Then again Henry David Thoreau said... "There is no remedy for love but to love more." He paused to let that sink into the audience thoughts a moment. "Today we are gathered together to witness a story of two people that mirror Thoreau's saying... even though some here might be inclined to lean towards Plato's train of thought." The crowd laughed again.
"I will be your host as we travel along their story's journey. It will include their past, present and future... for these souls are destined to be joined to each other forever. Please join me now as we look into the past for a reflection of their history." He said as he turned and motioned with his right palm up towards the stage that was starting to be lit up.
There was a projected image of the alter at the Cathedral Notre Dame that began shining on the back of the stage. There were props of small stairs, railings, empty pews with two women bent over in choir robes moving some boxes around the stairs.
"That's the last of them Maura." The brunette said to the blonde woman.
"Good..." was said as the two sat on a step resting from their task. "Where is Sister Kate?"
"She'll be back in a few. Did you see the rings on her cincture?"
"Yes I did and I hope no one else notices them."
"Why? No one but us really knows where they came from."
"Emily... she took a vow of poverty surely someone will notice silver around her waist."
"How much poorer can you get than to be without your soul mate for the rest of your life?" Emily asked with a sadden face.
"Agreed... I never want to be without you." Maura said smiling at her then looked around the beautiful sanctuary. "Do you ever wonder if maybe someday we might can get married in a place like this?"
Emily looked at her with a half smile and a half doubt look, "I hope that people's ignorance will be rectified someday but who need's people's approval? I know that I love you and that you love me and that will never change." She said looking seriously at Maura.
"What are you two talking about all huddled up there? Are the manger scenes packed up?" A woman dressed in a nun's wear asked coming onto the stage.
"Yes Sister Kate... we have packed everything you asked for." Emily said looking at the boxes.
"Thank you..." The nun started saying but paused looking at the girls faces, "Why such serious faces? It's Christmas and you are with each other... I thought you would be happy."
"We are... we were just talking about the future." Emily said with a sigh.
"If the future causes looks and sighs like that... the world is in trouble." She said trying to lighten the girls mood up some.
"We were just talking about the world changing it's view on our love and that maybe one day we can get married in a church like this." Maura explained to the sister.
"Oh... you think you are ready for that kind of commitment?" She asked now looking at them with a doubting face.
Emily stood quickly and firmly answering, "I am!"
Sister Kate looked at Maura, "And you my angel... are you sure?"
Maura stood, "Absolutely!"
"Young love..." she said and smile, "...refreshing but blind."
"Hey... you are only a few years older than us!" Emily said raising her arms in frustration at the woman's words.
"Yes... and I was just as blind then as you are now and I lost my soul because of not realizing it." She said as they all looked down in sorrow knowing the whole story, "But I see that your love for each other is like mine was and that you are soul mates..." She paused again as a question crossed her mind. She needed to see how advanced the two's thoughts had gone on the subject. "Have you even thought about vows?"
"Actually we know our vows!" Maura said smiling at Emily.
Sister Kate looked at them and smiled, "Then my angels lets marry you now before anything can steal your joy." She said as her heart melted at the reflection of her love for her own soul mate that was being mirrored in the two young girls at the moment.
"Really!" They both said wide eyed.
"Yes... why wait for peoples approval it rarely comes. Now face each other." They did, "Maura you start... what is your vow to Emily? I will be your witness on earth and God will be one in heaven."
Maura smiled at Emily, "Oh Beloved, take me. Liberate my soul. Fill me with your love and release me from the two worlds. If I set my heart on anything but you let fire burn me from inside." She finished and Emily started without prompts.
"Oh Beloved, take away what I want. Take away what I do. Take away what I need. Take away everything that takes me from you." ***
(Behind the stage Jane and JJ looked at each other in amazement for they both recognized the poem as the one that was used in the meditation room when the women were helping Emily out of her grief by doing naked meditation. Jane mouthed a "Wow..." to JJ who shook her head in agreement.)
"Those are very strong words. They will be a good and solid foundation for your love." Sister Kate said shaking her head yes. "I truly believe you are married now my angels." She said smiling at the girls as Emily hung her head down. "Why such a long look?" She asked puzzled again.
"I wish we had rings... " Emily was saying but stopped when she noticed Sister Kate undoing her cincture around her waist. "What are you doing?"
She pulled the two silver bands off and redid the cincture, "You have rings." She said showing the girls her rings.
"We cant take your and Adeline's rings." Emily said surprised at the offer. "Those were for your wedding."
"These rings were meant to be worn by soul mates totally in love with each other. My Adeline is no longer alive so the rings will have to live a life of sorrow without the warmth of love now that she is gone. Yet there is hope for them if you two wear them... but remember to always wear them on the thumbs of the opposite of your dominate hand."
"Why?" Maura asked puzzled.
"For two reasons... one no one but you will know what they mean and my fate will not become yours. Secondly... the thumb is the hands best help mate... fingers can do a lot... but add the help of a thumb and impossible comes into play my angels." The couple turned to each other and placed a ring on each others left thumb. Sister Kate looked around and saw that no one was in the sanctuary and leaned in, "You my kiss your bride if you are quick about it." She said to the two. The couple kissed a quick peck... but now that they were in the here and now away from the shadows of the past... Emily leaned back in and kissed Maura soundly with the crowd applauding them.
Suddenly there was a flash on the stage catching every ones attention... up on the back drop in the middle of the alter scene was a picture of a sixteen year old Emily and a fifteen year old Maura standing facing each other in front of that very alter wearing choir robes... another flash and there was a picture of the quick peck of a kiss that took place after they had placed rings on each other's fingers. The couple looked up and their mouths flew open with surprise. They turned and looked at each other and mouthed "How?"
("How did you get those Pen?" JJ asked the giggling woman in the wings of the stage. "Elizabeth gave them to me." JJ knew that's why Emily had to leave Maura shortly after that. Someone was there and took pictures and sent them to Emily's mother.)
The lights on the stage started to dim on the couple as Spencer came back to the front to address the audience.
"Benjamin Franklin said, "Absence sharpens love... presence strengthens it." Our couple would soon learn the full meaning of these words. For it was just a few months after saying these vows that they would be separated for decades." He started as the couple turned and walked away to the opposite sides of the stage and the lights went totally down on the stage but a spot light was still on Spencer as he talked.
("Jane you are suppose to be on Emily's side of the stage." Maura said as she made it to the side curtain. "Since when?" Jane asked confused. "Since now... we told you that the middle is evolving. Now get across quickly while the props are being taken away." Jane rolled her eyes and took out while grumbling to herself, "What the hell... evolving my..." She was stopped by the song that came on. It wasn't the song that was in the rehearsal. She looked up to the ceiling, "This is just going to be a fun free for all..." she thought standing and watching the stage waiting some kind of cue as to what the hell was going on next.)
Spencer continued after the lights went down. "One of the best definitions of love was given by St Paul to the church at Corinthian, "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends... So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
With these words we are getting closer to the present in our couples lives... as we have heard their wishes and hopes of years ago... we can see today that change is slowly taking place in the world around us. But our ladies are at best pilgrims on a quest for pure love." He paused and looked back at the darkened stage a moment then turned back to the audience, "But even pilgrims need a gentle push or help from others to propel their destinies sometimes. They spent years dancing alone remembering each other's arms with only memories to sustain their love for one another.
Their belief in love is what we are celebrating today... for we all hope for a future, try to have faith in the present and if we are successful in doing so... love will create for us a past. Now let us view the start of faith's present in our couples lives." He said as the back drop lit up with light designs as music started and he motioned with his palm up towards the stage again... then walked to the side so everyone could see the dark stage as the Melissa Etheridge's song "Dance Without Sleeping" started playing.
When the lights came back up on stage Spencer was gone and Emily was standing in the middle of the stage in a suit like she was wearing the first day she walked into the BAU. Her back was to the audience and the stage was empty except for a white back ground and a stool on the front of the stage. She had a box in her hands and was looking around the plain stage. She looked to the right... then to the left, up then turned and looked out towards the crowd with a startled look like she saw everyone. She then started walking towards the end of the stage where the stool was in front of them.
She sat the box down and climbed up on the stool, "Well... I see we have a moment." She said to the crowd and smiled. "I wanted to come and give you some understanding of what is going to take place in the next two section labeled present and future.
Cool names... you think?" She laughed to herself. "Well more like appropriate names." She paused again like she had a thought. "The names maybe the only thing some present here may deem normal but that's okay. We are not here to change any ones opinions... beliefs... or preferences. We are only hoping by doing our wedding in this manor to maybe give a view or some understanding into our world and perception of love.
You will notice from time to time that Maura or I will pull out of character on stage and conversate with you to explain certain aspects... since this is what we are calling an evolving wedding. We know that only in the present is where life is lived because the past is reflected upon and the future is glimpsed. But the present is that chaotic place where it all gets mixed together giving us faith to carry on from one day to the next. That chaos is what we feel needs to be given explanation.
With this said you will notice that even our cast will be surprised from time to time because they do not know exactly what is going to happen from one moment to the next and that is what the present is all about too. One has to live it to see what will happen." She said smiling a big smile like she knew something no one else knew.
"One last thing to discuss so this whole middle part will make some sense to you. I have always been taught that the era that human's are living in at this moment... in God's eyes is called "living under grace." When I think about that it seems Michelle Graham's words come to mind, "Shame says that I am flawed, I am unacceptable. Grace says that though I am flawed, I am cherished." She looked at her watch, "Oh... we need to finish quickly for the past is becoming the the present soon. Let me give you a quick up date to what has happened while we have been talking and we will talk more about grace later.
Maura and I have now graduated college with her becoming a medical examiner and moving to Boston. I have worked for Interpol and am now trying to start my career at the BAU." She said and stopped as something caught her attention to her right. It was Maura coming out in a beautiful green dress that she might have worn for work on any given day.
"Emily... have you told them everything... it's getting close."
"I was..."
"Did you tell them about grace?"
"I was in the process..."
"We need to get going... time waits on no one. I know you understand this." Maura said interrupting her again.
"Forgive me." Was the only sentence that Emily was able to finish as the audience laughed.
"Always..." Maura said coming up to her and giving her a sweet kiss. "...but get a move on."
"Yes dear..." Emily said as Maura went back to her side of the stage and the crowd laughed again.
(Meanwhile... Jane was having a cow on Emily's side of the stage as she learned that she had to put on prop pants over her riding ones and change into a knit shirt and suit jacket that she would have worn to work on any other day. "What do you mean they changed the dress attire for this part." She said as a stage hand helped her with putting on the Velcro pants. "For the love of...")
Emily looked out to the crowd and shook her head from side to side like you get that "right?"
"I will say this one last thing... no one can tell your heart who to fall in love with or when... it just does." She paused again like she had gone out in thought but then reeled herself back to the present, "Now let's meet the rest of the wedding cast." She said as she picked up the box and went back to where she started from. Then as if on cue she picked up right back where she had left off with by looking around like she never had talked with the audience at all. She turned and went to her side of the stage without saying a word.
Maura walked out with her medical bag, "Jane... are you here?" She called looking around.
(Emily made it to her side of the stage and caught Jane... "Listen all you have to do is go out there and meet Maura and say "Here I am" then just freeze because she is going to walk away from you and talk to the audience. Stay facing the side stage and when she comes back to you... the two of you will walk back over to her side of the stage." Emily said as Maura started calling Jane from the stage.)
Jane made it to Maura but was totally put out with the both of them until she noticed the crowd watching her. "Here I am Maur." She got out before freezing which really wasn't so hard to do since over two thousand people were watching her. Maura smiled at her then turned towards the crowd, "Hello..." She said and came to the stool Emily had been sitting on.
"I know my pretty girl has already spoken with you some but I wanted to greet you as well. Behind me is my best friend Jane Rizzoli. We met while working together at BPD years ago and she is going to be one of our witnesses today in the wedding. She has been the loyalist of friends to me." She said and gave a big smile, "Later... you will understand why I'm telling you this but I better get back over to her." She said as she went back where she had started from. "But thank you all for joining us toady," was the last thing she said before she stepped back into character.
"Oh there you are... the body is over here." She said as the two women walked off to her side of the stage.
Emily walked back out with a small pastry box and yelled, "Hey guys I brought breakfast if you are hungry." JJ and Pen appeared in normal attire for one of there work days as well.
"OOO... yummy delights from our brown eyed princess." Pen said coming and taking the box.
"You do know how to spoil us." JJ said winking and smiling at Emily then they froze like Jane had. Emily stepped out of character to address the audience.
"This is my best friend Jennifer Jareau and one of my closest friends Penelope Garcia. Jennifer has been one of the most merciful people I have ever met... always hoping and looking for the good in people while Penelope is by far the most colorful and kindest that I've ever met. You maybe wondering why we are introducing the witnesses in our wedding..." she said and smiled, "... it's because these people are the main reason for the wedding happening here today. Their love and gifts saw Maura and I through the darkest of days when we weren't in each others lives. They also helped bring us back together and are very important to us. In a few moments you will get to see just how important." She said and walked back to Pen and JJ stepping back into character as JJ's phone rang.
"Yes sir... meeting room in ten minutes... yes sir." Was said as she closed her phone. "Sorry guys we have a case... meeting room in ten." She said to the two women making a sorry face.
"Okay... I'm going to put these in the break room and I'll be right there." Emily said taking the box back and turned then walked to her side of the stage as JJ and Pen turned and went to Maura's side.
Spencer came out... "The past has now come full circle into the present." He announced as the curtain dropped and the house lights came up for a ten minute interval.
XXXXX
Morgan, Rossi, and Hotch got up from their seats and quickly went to do a scan on their sections of the building and check with the leaders of other sections of security concerning how everything was going on that end of the wedding. This left Elizabeth sitting beside Constance Isles.
"Our daughters are very expressive." Constance said to her friend. "I'm still not getting a lot of it but I truly believe they love each other."
"I must admit that I am still in the dark about women loving women. It's just not my thing I guess..." She paused and looked up at the stage where their daughters had been, "...but those two simply adore each other from what I have been able to witness of their love."
"Do you know what this next section is all about or what's going to happen?" Constance asked.
"I have no clue and from what I have been able to gather only Emily, Maura and Raphy truly know what's going on this afternoon." She said pausing having a thought as she noticed the empty seat beside her friend, "I'm sorry Arthur was unable to make it."
"He is in the jungles of South America and I couldn't reach him... but I see that Douglas made it in from New York." She said looking down the row seeing him.
"Yes... Edward brought him in this morning, it will be the first time he will get to see Bella."
"She is so Emily." Constance said as her eyes widened and smiled.
"Isn't she though. God help our daughters." Elizabeth said as they both stifled a laugh. "If you will excuse me I think I'll go and powder my nose before Emily and Maura shock us with the next section of their expression."
"This is the most unusual wedding that I have ever seen but it fits them perfectly... they never liked the normal." Constance said as Elizabeth stood to leave.
"They may not live normal like others but they have provided us with three beautiful grandchildren."
"Yes... they have." She agreed like that covered all the wrong that the two of them thought their daughters were living. "Elizabeth..." She called having one more question.
Turning back to the woman, "Yes?"
"I'm curious... have you paid anything towards this wedding? I mean... Maura wouldn't let us pay for anything including the hotel room."
"No... we haven't. They have apparently been saving for this moment since I pulled Emily out of boarding school. They had over three million dollars just growing in two separate accounts." She said smiling at the girls financial savvy.
"Our girls are amazing!" Constance said with pride.
"Yes they are!" Elizabeth agreed with a big smile as she turned again for the restroom.
XXXXX
"What the hell is going on Maur... why did I have to wear these stripper pants?" Jane asked as she pulled the Velcro pants off and was handed the rest of the riding suit to put back on instead of her knit top and normal jacket. Then she started sputtering and coughing as she got a mouth full of hair spray as the hairdressers were touching up all the women's hair after the taking of clothes off and putting on of the wedding attire. "God..." she started waving the air with her hands trying to clear out the fumes, "... you people are trying to asphyxiate me."
Maura knew that Jane was really having issues with taking off her own clothes in front of so many people that were behind the stage. "No we are not trying to kill you but you can change in that restroom over there if you like. It will be out of the way of the hair spray fumes and the air should be fresher." She said smiling at the woman in the mirror. Jane looked at her and smiled then blew her a kiss. She took her clothes and went over to the bathroom to get dressed.
"Maura..." JJ spoke trying to get the woman's attention.
"Yes..." She answered turning her head to the left to look at her.
"I know this ceremony is evolving but how are we suppose to know what to do out there?" She asked pointing to the stage.
"You will know your cues when they come up I promise and when you have to speak... just speak from your heart. There is no script to memorize... the words will have to come from you at that moment."
"I've done theater before but you two are atomically over the top with this evolving thing." Pen said wide eyed and just a little nervous. "I've never heard of writing a play or a wedding as you go."
"It's really fun isn't it." Maura said smiling then drifting off into her thoughts leaving JJ and Pen looking at each other like "crap... what's next."
"Ladies... we need the first couple in the elevator now so we can get you positioned on the stair case!" Was yelled by a stage hand.
"That's us butter cup..." Pen said to JJ, "... break a leg out there." Pen said to Maura as they hugged the woman and left to get ready for part two.
Jane returned a few moments later... "Where are the girls?"
"On the stair case."
"Oh..." Jane said knowing exactly where they were. She looked at Maura in her dress and sighed deeply, "You are absolutely stunning in that dress."
Maura smiled and stepped forward and gave her a peck on the lips as they heard, "We need the last couple in the elevator now!"
"I think they mean us." Jane said smiling at her best friend.
"I believe they do." Maura replied and slipped her arm through Jane's as they made their way to the make shift elevator to get to the top of the stair case.
XXXXX
The house lights dimmed letting everyone know to return to their seats. After another moment they went totally out as a spot beam came on where Spencer had been standing as the narrator. He walked out and cleared his throat so the audience would quite down.
"Paulo Coelho said... "When you have an intense contact of love with nature or another human being, like a spark, then you understand that there is no time and that everything is eternal." He paused, "We have come to the present moment in our couples lives... as you've heard from Emily chaos can ensue in the present." He said and smiled. "With Emily Prentiss every moment is in the present... so we have come to expect chaos to erupt at anytime."
"Hey!" Was yelled and heard from somewhere behind the curtain as the crowd laughed knowing that more than likely it came from Emily.
"Just being in the moment and truthful at the same time Em... sorry." He said making an "ut oh" face but then smiled. "Let's just see what the present will afford us this day with our couple." He said motioning like before as the curtain started lifting.
As the lights came alive on the stage the audience could see a huge staircase that was almost as high as the curtain top and descended in small steps from the back to the front of the stage. Pen and JJ were already halfway down the case and standing when the curtain came up and Emily was in the center of the stage looking towards the top of it waiting for Maura and Jane to come out. The stage back drop was lit up with a nature scene of a mountain waterfall. There were tulip and daisy arrangements lining the front of the stage.
Spencer was still on the stage as the house lights came up to dim and he motioned for everyone to stand for Maura's entrance. The sound system came alive with horns of expectancy when Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time" started playing. Pen and JJ started down the rest of the staircase and were on the carpet heading towards Emily when Jane and Maura appeared at the top of the stairs as the first words came through of the song. They started their slow and methodical descent down towards the stage as Emily was transfixed on Maura. The couples' eyes did not leave each others the whole time the descent was taking place.
Jane guided them right in front of Emily... she bent and kissed Maura's cheek as she took the woman's hand and gave it to Emily. JJ came and took Maura's bouquet so that the women could hold both hands and look at each other in their wedding attire until the music finish.
(Both JJ and Jane were having slight jealousy issues... both knew and wanted their friends to marry each other but they couldn't stop the natural response of that could have been me marrying...)
Emily let go of one of Maura's hands as they walked out towards the crowd just a few steps past the girls after the music stopped.
"So here we are..." Maura said turning towards Emily.
"Yes we are." Emily said and looked at Maura and had a shutter go down her spine. (JJ stifled a laugh because she was the only one who saw the shutter and knew it was Emily getting worked up seeing all the cleavage that Maura was showing.)
"Well I guess I am going to have to tell you the next part..." she said to the crowd, "... since Emily is preoccupied." Maura said as she looked at the woman who opened her mouth then closed it... being speechless but managed to get out, "It's your fault..." Maura looked at her to explain, "You are just so stunningly beautiful."
"That's it sweetie... charm your way out." The crowd laughed as Maura kissed the woman's cheek. She then turned back to them, "This part of the ceremony most of you will not understand or agree with and that's okay... all that we ask of you is to be respectful. You have already heard Emily speak of grace. Now... the number five is commonly referred to as the number of grace." She said and paused looking at Emily.
Who picked up where Maura paused, "You maybe wondering why we keep talking about this so much. It's because I like most of you were raised in a church that does not believe in love between women. But I couldn't stop loving Maura so we did some studying and we found out a lot of things. Things that gave my heart peace about my love for her." She said looking at the woman and smiled, "Now we are not going to go into the information we found out here because that is up to you. If you truly want to know about... research for yourselves. But what we are doing here... is establishing a family in the love that we know." She said motioning between the two of them.
"That family..." Maura started, "... begins and ends with grace. We found that everyone has the components of grace but that one component usually shines brighter than the others in an individual. For example... understanding is one that shines brightest in Emily."
"And forgiveness is the one that shines the brightest in Maura." Emily said smiling at her lover. "As you have witnessed already... Understanding married forgiveness but then we were separated. We are going to complete our family right now in the present." She said as they made their way back towards the girls as the song "Can't Help Falling in Love" came on by Pentatonix. They started hugging and holding the girls' hands but neither said a word leaving the girls wondering like the crowd what was going to happen next.
Sister Kate made it on the stage after the song ended and faced the audience, "Our angels do know how to shake things up a bit... don't they." The audience laughed in agreement. "They have asked me to come and be a witness like I was so many years ago to vows and commitments of love." She said as she turned and went between Maura and Emily... ending up standing just behind them as they all faced the audience.
"We are going to start with mercy... for it was the bright shining component of mercy that first brought us back together." Maura said then turned to JJ.
"Jennifer..." Emily started as JJ looked up wide eyed at her, "...you have always been a merciful and compassionate friend. You have been there for me then Maura so many times. I can't even begin to express what you mean to me or to us." They both took one of JJ's hands as she gave Pen the flower bouquet, "Will you be my warrior mate forever..." Emily paused letting her words sink in, "... and by becoming my warrior mate becoming Maura's for we are one?"
JJ was stunned and honored at the same time. She stood there for a few moments until she realized that she had to answer something and glanced at Will who was smiling and shaking his head yes. She shook her head yes to him and continued shaking it yes as she looked at the two women speechless. Emily took a silver band from her jacket pocket and gave it to Maura who slipped it onto Jennifer's left thumb. The music came on and it was Sarah McLachlan "Angel." JJ looked up at Emily knowing now why the woman had asked her to pick a song that reminded her of their relationship. Up on the screen the audience was seeing the video that Pen had made of JJ and Emily in various settings like kicking a soccer ball with Henry at the park, sleeping on the plane, then of JJ and Maura cooking in the kitchen.
JJ enveloped Emily in a hug as she tried to stop the sobs coming up in waves. When she finally caught her breath she opened her eyes and reached out for Maura to join their hug. "I love you two so much." She said in both of their ears and when the song stopped she kissed them both fully. "We love you too Jennifer and we always find comfort in your love." Emily said and hugged her one more time before letting her go.
The couple joined hands again and looked towards Jane who now was moving from foot to foot knowing for some reason the two were going to hit her next with that very same question.
(JJ stepped back beside Pen who immediately lifted the woman's hand up to look at the ring. She leaned in to JJ's ear, "That's the ring you liked when we all went with Maura to pick out Emily's wedding ring." She whispered as JJ said shhh... but looked at the ring again and sure enough Pen was right. It was the ring that she had tried on months earlier when the group went out for the day spa event before the Ambassador's dinner party.)
"Now we turn to loyalty who stands firm and solid beside forgiveness." Emily said smiling at Jane who looked like she wanted to bolt thru the two of them and on out of the theater.
"Jane... I know we have surprised you." Maura started trying to calm her friend down as she stepped forward and took Jane's hand and started rubbing circles with her thumb on top of the woman's hand. "We are going to ask you as well and you are free to say no. But you need to know that your loyalty and love kept me here and protected. We are grateful because it allowed Emily and I to find each other again by giving me stability to stay in one place."
"Loyalty is an amazing component..." Emily started, "...it stays when all others run and it protects from a deep place of love from the heart."
"Jane... will you be my warrior mate for life and in doing so become Emily's too for we are one?" Maura asked the nervous woman. Jane... took in a deep breath and upon blowing out happened to see her mother in the audience shaking her head yes. That seemed to give her the courage to answer what her heart had wanted to say the moment the question had been asked. "Yes... Maur... I'll do it." Maura smiled and kissed the woman knowing how much courage it had taken for her to say those words. Emily took Jane's right hand and slipped the band that she had in her pocket for Jane on the woman's thumb as Mariah Carey's "I'll Be There" came through the speakers.
Emily thought, "That's a perfect song for loyalty," as Jane held Maura tightly to herself and the video that Pen had made played for the audience. The song finished and Maura kissed her again. Jane then gave Emily a look of I meant the words to that song as Emily nodded in understanding. Then Jane stepped forward and kissed Emily on the lips surprising everyone including the people on the stage. She held on and requested entrance in Emily's mouth that startled the woman a moment but she granted it. After the kiss Jane pulled the woman into a hug and whispered, "I love you too Emily and by the way kissing is still my trigger." She said pulling back to see her reaction.
Emily closed her eyes trying to figure out if what she had heard was what she thought she had heard. She opened her eyes and looked at Jane who had a serious look on her face then she smiled a beaming smile as they both lost it in a massive laughing fit that had Emily bent over trying to get air into her lungs. Their laugh was contagious as everyone started laughing on stage thanking God that Emily didn't punch the woman.
"Oh... God... I needed that." Emily said trying to reel in herself. She hugged Jane again like buddies would and turned to look at the audience. "Sometimes life requires a good laugh." Was the only explanation that she gave. "Now we have covered four components of grace... the last one is kindness." She paused a moment, "Now there isn't another person on this earth that I know of that just exuberates kindness more than Penelope Garcia." Emily said as Pen's eyes went wide. "This woman has taught all of us the value of family and that family doesn't necessarily mean a mother, father, and children. That family is those you love and cherish every day." Emily said smiling at the woman.
"Penelope will you be our warrior mate too?" Maura asked smiling at the woman.
Pen looked at them and thought a moment, "I will on one condition..." they looked at her like "what?"
"That I do not have to kiss you all." She said waving her finger in the air around pointing at all of them.
The four women made a circle and huddled up like discussing the condition. They broke after a moment, "You won't have to kiss us because we are going to kiss you." Emily said as they ran and caught the woman and gave her big kisses on the cheeks that left lip imprints of lipstick as she squealed. The audience laughed at the antics on the stage. After they stopped laughing at Pen's squealing... Emily handed Maura the ring that was in her pocket for the woman. The ring was slipped on Pen's right thumb and hugs were given as tears started down Pen's cheeks mixing with the lipstick the women had left there.
Sister Kate came to the front of the stage and looked at the girls, "I believe you are a family forever my angels." She said as the crowd applauded as the lights went dim on the stage as Pen's song of Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" started playing. The ladies laughed and hugged and danced until the stage started going dark after the song ended.
XXXXX
All the women left the stage except for Emily... who was pointing at things for the stage hands to move or fix. Spencer came out to his familiar spot beam of light.
"Well... we have finally made it to the future part of the ceremony. One might ask how can we glimpse the future sitting in the present? Abraham Lincoln said, "The best way to predict the future is to create it." I think our ladies have shown that they are very creative. I do not believe I have ever seen a wedding like this before but I must admit... I like it." He said smiling, raising his eyebrows, and then gave the audience a moment to evaluate what about the wedding they liked.
"Eleanor Roosevelt said... "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I think Emily and Maura believe many things and they are actually starting to help us all believe in a wider scope... especially where and when it comes to love. So let us glimpse at what they are dreaming and planning for their future... shall we." He said and motioned again towards the darkened stage.
(The women made it to Maura's side of the stage... they all looked at their new platinum bands on their thumbs and realized that the rings were the ones they all had picked out the day Maura chose Emily's wedding ring. "You two have planned this for a long time." Pen said to Maura. "We have." Was all she said and smiled. "Now... I'm not sure what Emily has planned in the start of this next section..." She said looking out on the stage to see where everything had progressed to hoping she hadn't missed a cue from Emily. We will have to listen carefully for her cues." She said letting the girls know not to get too lost in their thoughts because there was still one more section to be played out.)
The lights didn't come back up when Spencer pointed to the stage but the spot light went from him to Emily. "trianta'fyllo mou (My rose)... trianta'fyllo mou (My rose)... she yelled from the stage. Maura came on to the stage and Emily pointed to a velvet backed chair just a few steps from her side of the stage. Maura sat down and waited her next cue as a soft beam of light shown on her so the crowd could see her too. The music started and Emily started dancing as though she was holding someone in her arms...but they were empty. The music was Doris Day singing "Till We Meet Again."
Maura took in a deep breath as the music faded into the back ground and Emily's voice was crystal clear above it... as she continued dancing. "My rose... I had to prerecord this because I know my voice will fail me. I have danced this dance so many nights hoping that by magic you would appear in my arms and many nights some magic happened through the memories of dancing this dance in our dorm room, stables, school stages and anywhere else we needed a moment to hold and touch each other. I would hear your laughter and would almost feel the breath of your whispered words of love in my ears but the warmth of your touch eluded me for so long.
But now we are here... and we plan on giving future vows of love to each other. Forgive me my rose but I need to fulfill a vow I made myself years ago... I need to dance this waltz with full arms." Emily stood still, "Will you come and fulfill my vow of the past while we make a new vow of no more empty armed dances." The song abruptly stopped and waited Maura's answer which came quickly as she filled Emily's arms as Raphy played the song again. The audience was treated to a perfect waltz as many wiped their eyes watching the two lovers dance. When the song ended the couple enveloped each other trying to contain sobs and emotions that were flooding them as they fell to their knees.
JJ grabbed a silk white sheet that was on a table back stage and yelled at Jane to grab the other end. They came and held it up in front of the couple so the audience couldn't see them giving them some privacy for the moment. The warrior mates both knew how much crying in front of others bothered their friends. Pen came out with a cordless microphone and handed it to JJ as she took over her side of the sheet.
"I guess I have been elected to talk at this moment." She said as the crowd laughed. "Grief needs an audience. Emily and Maura have taught me that... but I believe that love needs a moment of privacy to heal sometimes too. That was the first time I believe that they have danced that dance together since boarding school and it means a lot to them. Let's just give them a moment or two." She said smiling and turning the microphone off. She gave it back to Pen and then went behind the sheet to check on the couple.
They were standing up now and were holding each other up arm in arm. "They are good." JJ said as Jane released her side and came wrapping her arm around Emily's waist like JJ was doing to Maura. They got the couple to their marks but both were still wiping tears away. Jane reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief for Emily... who took it to wipe her eyes. She raised it up and noticed it was tied to another so she pulled and pulled until six had come out and the last one said "Kiss me I'm Italian" on it. She looked at Jane puzzled and lost it laughing when the woman batted her eyes and puckered her lips at Emily.
When she got a hold of herself Emily told the audience, "I knew this would be a rough spot and I asked Jane to do something to make me laugh so I wouldn't totally lose it." She said laughing again as she looked at Jane's face.
"Oh... God... Maura what have we created?"
Maura took Emily's hand, "A family." She said and kissed Emily's hand that she was holding.
Sister Kate made her way back out on stage, "Tell her your heart my angel she said to Maura."
The woman looked at the hand she was holding and saw the new scars joining the old ones, "My pretty girl..." She started and looked up into Emily's eyes as she placed the hand she was holding on top of her chest so Emily could feel her heart beat. When I was fourteen love walked into my dorm room and into my heart one night and her name was Emily Prentiss. I see these scars on your hands and I know that your love for me has put them there..."
Emily started shaking her head no until Maura's other hand came up and caught her cheek, "...but that's how I know your love will last and is real. Love hurts sometimes just like it has joy but I want it to stop hurting now. Love creates and we have created a beautiful family... and that's what I want Emily. I want our dreams to come alive now in the protection of our family."
Emily shook her head understanding exactly what Maura was saying. "Pretty girl... Will you make dreams and memories with me?"
"I...I..." Emily had to blow out a breath to gather the tears back, "I will my rose." She finally got out.
JJ handed Maura the ruby wedding ring and she slipped it on Emily's finger and brought it up to her lips and kissed her finger.
Sister Kate looked at Emily, "Now tell her your heart... angel."
Emily nodded and took in a deep breath, "Maura... you were the first person to call me pretty or say you loved me..." She had to close her eyes as she started shaking. Maura cupped her cheek again like saying, "it's just you and me love." Emily opened her eyes into emerald green, "... I gave you my heart at fifteen and I have never wanted it back. My love for you has grown so much..." She paused again as though a thought hit her... she started reciting,
My rose you have sent moonbeams to fulfill my dreams with the fragrances of honey. The universe oceans are full of stars and yet it's banks can not contain my love of you in its sea.
Thankfully dreams have no boundaries so I will flow my love... so you can now set all free... no more storing them behind the winter's leaves." She turned to Jane and held out her hand asking for Maura's wedding ring.
"Maura Isles... you already have my heart... will you share life and the universe with me?"
Smiling a beaming smile, "I will share life and the universe with you forever." She said as Emily place the emerald wedding band on her finger.
"Well... I believe our girls may kiss their brides." Sister Kate said smiling because it wasn't necessary to tell the two women who were already in a lip lock. "As I have said before my angels I believe you two are married." She said as the audience stood and applauded the couple. When they had finished kissing everyone came to the front of the stage. They were expecting for music to start but nothing happened. Emily looked back at Raphy who smiled as the group whose music that should have been playing came from her side of the stage and started singing. It was Pentatonix singing "Imagine." They came and joined the girls hands as the crowd joined hands with everyone starting to sway to the song.
After the song Emily stepped forward, "Thank you all for coming for those who are not coming to the reception. To our unexpected singing guest..." she said as she turned looking at the group, Wynonna and Bette, "...you are more than welcome to join us at the reception."
okay one more section... the reception with the wedding night.
I'm breaking this up because it's long and I've made you wait to long. :)