Chapter 30
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I had never felt more awkward in my life as I sat in the dressing room, staring at the others around me.
Amanda looked to be in her element, and Robert probably looked worse than I did. Ithiell and Rtaia had somehow managed to fend off the makeup artists hands, and were mostly untouched. I however...
"I feel like I'm going to fall forward from the weight of this makeup" I mumbled, leaning back in the slightly uncomfortable chair "Why did we agree to do this?"
"You know why" Ithiell was now wiping off whatever they'd put on him, looking a little annoyed.
"You know we won't get any privacy after this" Robert folded his arms, his eyes icy as he glared at the door, where people were walking past.
"It's why we have the base" Amanda told him, sharing a look with me and winking.
"We still need to be careful. They could find a way to track my fighter, and then... well, lots of crazy people out there" Ithiell looked in the mirror, still trying to get something off his face.
It was two weeks later, and Marco had gotten in contact with us, letting us know a talk show had asked us to come on and... well... talk about who we were. Ithiell had agreed, although he had taken precautions not to be tracked here. The turtles and Splinter were appearing on another show, one which Marco would be a part of, just in case some idiot humans decided to try something... like capture them for study. Rachel and Tobias were also appearing on the same show, in the next slot they had, to talk about the Animorphs that didn't make it.
The world was alive with news of us, and until we'd stepped back into the city, I didn't realise how popular we were. Images of that fight were splashed all over the news... magazines... and all I could hear when we'd walked down the streets was whispers and excited squeals.
It kind of got on my nerves a little. I wasn't sure if it was just the fact that for over a year all I'd seen was my adoptive family, or... the fact I was now carrying something inside me, which was causing me terrible mood swings.
I touched my stomach a bit, wondering what it was going to be. According to Rtaia, I was six weeks along. So... nothing was showing yet.
"Jade, better not do that here" Amanda muttered, so instead I pretended to scratch my belly, seeing a girl probably only a year or so older than us peeking in.
"Sorry, just..." I moved to scratch my head "It's just... weird"
"No talking about any of it here" Ithiell warned "Last thing we need is have that get out"
"Ithiell is correct" Rtaia spoke up, seeing another girl peek in. Robert let out a strange kind of growl, and they both made a weird squeak, vanishing back out the door.
"I can't wait for this to be over... Ithiell!" Amanda snapped, slapping his shoulder and making him yelp.
"Ow! What?!"
"Why the hell did you have to agree to this! We're getting stared at... like... heaps!"
"Gee Mand... I thought you'd be in your element" I snorted a little, surprised to hear Robert let out a large guffaw.
"I'm not that confident! Geez..." She grumbled, crossing her arms in front of her chest and looking away, annoyed.
"Love you Mandy Mand!" I cooed at her, grinning and knowing she couldn't stay mad at me for long.
"Love you too" She said finally, before someone came in to get us, and our now awkward troop followed him.
"So, you'll be on for ten minutes, maybe fifteen depending on our host Miranda" He was saying "She may want to ask you a few more questions than what we've got for you"
"Mister Ithiell!" Suddenly a young woman was hanging off his arm, and he stopped walking, starting to stiffen when she half shoved a recorder in his face. In that moment I realised Ithiell had gotten taller...
"What happened with-"
"Dammit, a reporter... guards!" Instantly two big burly guys were grabbing her, yanking her off his arm and towards the exit. Her legs were kicking wildly...
"What... the?"
"Ithiell... you okay?" Robert asked, patting his back a little. He sighed, finally relaxing his body and nodding.
"That was... weird"
"Sorry guys, it happens from time to time... now... please come with me" He ushered us towards the stage, just as I heard the lady who hosted the talk show... talking... about us, and what we did.
"Does anyone else just feel like taking off now?" I muttered as I heard her mention our names, then "Please welcome... the shifters!"
"What a stupid name" Robert grumbled under his breath as we were led onto the stage, suddenly feeling overwhelmed at the amount of people who were actually in the studio audience. It was, well... it was crowded in here.
"Welcome, sit sit" She grinned at us, her perfect whites and bleach blonde hair catching me a little off guard, but I sat on the large couch beside the others, ending between Robert and Amanda. Again, I realised how much we'd all grown. Robert had put on some muscle, as well as being almost the same height as Ithiell, and Amanda... well... she'd really become a beautiful young woman, and the make up seemed to do wonders for her.
"So, how are you all?" She started. We all managed get out some sort of weird mutual response, hearing Amanda return the question to her.
"I'm good, thanks for asking" She replied "So guys, can you tell me where you all started? I've heard you've been around for a while"
"Well Miranda, it's been about nine years for us. We all kind of... well, crashed into each other you could say" Amanda chirped, and I was surprised how natural about all this she sounded.
"Wow... so you've been... fighting aliens... for nine years?!" She looked almost shocked. We all nodded.
Slowly, we all managed to tell her a short version of how we started. Then, it was up to me to explain how we found out about the Animorphs, and the Yeerks, and how we joined in on the second war. Miranda looked genuinely shocked and interested to hear about it all.
"So how did you guys manage to meet four big talking turtles and the rat they call Splinter... I think it was" She asked, crossing and uncrossing her legs.
"Well... again... this girl here" Amanda half shook me, giggling a little as I blushed.
I felt a little more awkward, trying to give a brief version of the meeting of the turtles, but avoided talking about the mutagen discovery. If that ever got out...
"Sounds like if you hadn't done what you did, you never would have met either of these other amazing groups... and we probably wouldn't be sitting here, talking to you"
"That is probably true" Ithiell told her, trying his best to smile, all of us jumping a little as the crowd erupted in cheers. It was such a weird sound to hear, especially when it was directed at us.
She waited until the cheers died down, before "Well, thank you all so much for coming onto the show. Before you go though, we do have a little surprise for you Amanda, and for Robert"
We all looked at each other, Ithiell and I half shrugging before we all turned back to her. She smiled again.
Instead of explaining herself, she indicated to the left side of the stage, and my eyes bulged a little as three people I didn't think I'd ever see again came onto the stage, as well as two more that I hadn't seen before.
"Dad!" Amanda cried, jumping up and running over to her father and brothers, seeing her almost body slam her dad, before hugging the two boys happily. I felt tears form in my eyes, moving over as well and catching Connor's eye.
"Come here you!" He grabbed me, twirling me around before hugging me tightly. Then Matt was there, half ruffling my hair before they all moved over to Amanda, who was openly sobbing.
While all this was happening, I was aware that Robert had gotten up as well, going towards the old man and the slightly younger woman, who almost looked like his mum.
"Pop pop... Auntie Kate" He murmured, hugging them both and letting out a hurtful sob.
"We managed to find some of your family members, as we knew the town you three came from was destroyed, so, we did some digging-"
I could half hear Miranda explaining herself, but my focus was now on Amanda.
She had her family back...
And even though Robert didn't have his mum, it seemed like those two people meant alot to him as well.
What a crazy and emotional day this was turning out to be!
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"Would you settle?" I asked, patting the seat next to me, but Donnie shook his head continuing to pace. I sighed, looking around at the small clearing, resting back into the fold out chair Ithiell had found for us, just looking up at the blue sky. Donnie's pacing wasn't doing my nerves any good either. And considering I'd probably need to tell them-
"I hope they like me"
I looked over at him "Why wouldn't they like you?"
He scratched the back of his head, turning to look at me "Well... I... we... um..."
"Donnie" I got up, moving over to stand in front of him, my hands on his shoulders "They're going to love you. Mum already told me she doesn't care what you are, as long as you make me happy... and you do"
"What about..." He moved my hand, lifting my shirt a little to rest it on my now exposed stomach. I frowned.
"How about well tell them... after... the wedding?"
"Hmm" Was he seemed to be able to say, rubbing my belly a little.
"You know, you won't be able to feel anything"
"I know, it's just... I'm still so confused how the two of us..."
I looked up at him "Are you having second thoughts about all this?"
He finally looked up from my midsection, seeming to be shocked by the question.
"Now why would you think that?"
"I dunno... its just... we're still... and we don't even know what it's gonna look like"
"As I said" His eyes went back down "I still don't even understand how we made... it"
I grinned, finally moving his hand and taking it in my own "Well, when a girl and turtle love each other very much-"
"Ha ha, very funny" He rolled his eyes, moving to kiss me.
"Well... we do. I mean.. we did have a lot of-"
"I know, I was there" He grinned at me, before moving himself away from me and starting his pacing again.
"Technically we shouldn't even be compatible reproductively"
"Well... it could have something to do with me being a shifter"
He shrugged "Possibly. I just... what about Kristiana then?"
"Donnie, get your butt over here"
For once, he complied, moving to stand back in front of me.
"You need to quit it. All this thinking is bad for your health... and for mine"
"But-"
"No, we focus on the here and now. We're here, we're together... we have made some tiny little mutant baby... thing... and now, you will be meeting my family for the first time. I just... keep an eye on my dad, he has a habit of over-reacting"
Donnie chuckled a little "Leo told me"
"Yeah, well-" I was cut off as the wind suddenly picked up around us, and we looked up to see Ithiell's fighter uncloak, moving so he could land.
"Here goes" I told him, hearing him whimper a little as the fighter hit the ground, hearing the engines start to power down. After about a minute or so, the hatch started to open.
"Jade!"
"Maa!" I bolted towards my mother as she came out, almost crash tackling one another, feeling we'd hit hard but not caring. She was crying... I was crying...
"Baby girl!" I moved just in time for my dad to pick me up, wrapping me in his big arms and almost squeezing the life out of me.
"Dad... easy" I wheezed, and he let me go. I was able to take a short breath in, before Ryan and Tina were all over me. I was surprised how much Ryan had grown, finding he was now taller than me. Tina, luckily, had stopped around my height.
"Big sis!"
"We saw you on TV!"
"Thanks TinTin" I muttered, pulling back and looking at the two. I was amazed...they were both now fourteen... they had definitely matured, it seemed like.
"Sis" I looked at Ryan now, blinking a little and realising his voice had dropped as well.
"I've missed so much" I felt tears come to my eyes then, finding the four were all hugging me again. My family... I'd missed them so much...
"Wait... where's Phoebe?" I asked, managing to turn and look up at my mum from the big hugging pile.
"Oh... she was with your friend Ithiell... I think she likes-" They all let go of me, turning to see Ithiell in the doorway of the fighter. But he wasn't looking at us.
We all turned to where he was looking, and I couldn't help but grin madly.
Phoebe was there... looking up at Donnie, who was looking down at her.
"Uh... hi" Donnie got out, sounding nervous as he did a little wave down at her.
"You Donnie?" She asked, surprised even she sounded more mature than when I'd last seen her.
"Um... yes?" He almost squeaked now. I had warned him about her, wondering if I'd actually scared him as she turned her head a little.
His smile dropped as she just kept looking, then jumped a little as she put her arms out, closing the distance between them and hugging him where she could reach.
"Hi, I'm Phoebe!"
"Hi, nice to meet you?" He moved to pat her head, looking at the rest of us. I decided at that point the poor guy needed rescuing.
"Phoebes, hey!" I moved away from the rest of the family, holding my arms out and seeing her just now seem to realise I was there.
"JAAAAADE!" I felt myself hitting the ground, not caring as I hugged my little mini me as close as I could.
"I missed you big sis"
"I missed you too minion"
"We all missed you" Mum was above us, looking down and shaking her head. I grinned up at her.
"You love meeeee"
"Sometiiiimes!"
"So... this is the boyfriend" I heard dad say, yelping a little as he stomped past us, struggling to get back to my feet with Phoebe still half latched onto me.
"Uh... dad, don't-" I saw him stop right in front of Donnie, although instead of confused, Donnie looked almost terrified.
"Um...um... hi Mister-"
"Don't mister me!" He pointed a finger in his face, making Donnie back up a little.
"Dad!" I managed to dislodge Phoebe, moving to stand between him and Donnie. He looked down at me, annoyance on his face now.
"Dad, no" I pointed up at him now, making him back up enough so we could all breathe a little.
"I want to know what his intentions are!"
"To love me and take care of me, what hes been doing for almost three years now?"
"Wow... three years..." I saw my mother look from Donnie to me, surprising me by stepping forward, moving both me and dad aside.
"Hi... Donnie was it? I'm Jade's mum" Mum said sweetly, extending a hand towards Donnie, who gingerly took it, trying to give her a reassuring smile.
"Oh... hi. Donatello... or... Donnie" He sounded only a little less nervous, but mum shook his hand confidently, smiling up at him.
"It is so good to meet the... turtle... that has taken care of my daughter through all this time"
"It's nice to meet you too, I'm sorry we didn't... before..." Donnie trailed off, letting go of her hand and shifting his weight a little.
"Hi, Tina" Now my sister jumped forward, shaking his hand as well.
"Ryan, but you can call me Ryce" Ryan grinned at him, giving him a good hearty shake, which he tried to return.
"Nice to meet you all"
"We met your brothers" Tina piped up.
"Yeah, they were pretty cool too. I liked Leo and his Katanas... soo cool" Ryan now, and the twins looked at each other. Their acceptance seemed to relax Donnie a little.
"Aaaand you've already met Phoebes" I told him, grabbing onto her as she tried to run towards him again. Guess she hadn't matured that much...
"Aww..."
"So... what are your intentions towards my oldest daughter?" Dad asked again, and I noticed mum had a firm grip on his arm to stop him from moving towards Donnie again.
"Dad, come on" I started to make a move, surprised when Donnie straightened up, then bowed respectfully.
"My intention is to love and take care of your daughter for the rest of our lives. She is the light of my life and I don't know what I'd do without her. I would never hurt her intentionally, and I would never disrespect her in any way"
"I...I believe you" My dad looked utterly shocked, almost rooted in place. But Donnie wasn't done yet.
"Sir... I need to tell you... I need to ask you... I want to be with Jade forever... will you give me your blessing to marry your daughter?"
I think if I wasn't holding onto Phoebe I would have fallen over.
No one seemed to know what to do, all of us dead silent. Dad was simply staring at Donnie, his mouth open. He seemed to be trying to say words, but nothing came out. I saw Donnie's fists clench a little, knowing he probably felt a little awkward in the position he was in.
"Well, I don't know about you dear" I jerked a little as mum moved forwards, touching Donnie's shoulders and gently pulling him back up into a standing position "But this boy... turtle... has my blessing"
"Us too!" Ryan and Tina were instantly over next to mum, both looking giddily up at him. He smirked a little, starting to look a little relieved as he pushed his glasses up a little. Phoebe soon joined them, Ryan picking her up and piggybacking her.
"Me too, me too" She said, patting the front of his shell "I like you"
"Thank you" He said warmly. I was even more surprised when my mum reached forward took his hand in hers.
"And boy that will take care of my daughter, and shows this much respect for her family... has my permission to take her hand in marriage"
"Well..." Dad finally spoke, and we all turned to him. I felt myself cringe a little, seeing he had the kind of face on I remember from when I was little and I did something bad. He walked up to all of them, moving my siblings and mum aside, now just looking slightly up at him.
"Um... sir?" Donnie gulped a little when my dad hadn't said anything after about thirty seconds.
We all jumped as dad's arm moved, and for a split second I thought he was going to hit Donnie. Instead, my dad offered his hand.
"Donatello... was it?"
He nodded, slowly and carefully taking my dads hand.
"Donnatello... Donnie... you have my permission to marry my daughter"
Relief flooded Donnie's face, and my dad finally smiled, shaking Donnie's hand.
"Thank you sir" He responded, nodding respectfully. The two moved apart from each other.
"Does that mean I get to be a bridesmaid?" Tina sounded almost excited at the idea. We all couldn't help but laugh.
"You all get to be a part of it" I moved to pull her towards me, putting my arm around her shoulder and kissing her temple. She pulled a face, but surprisingly hugged me back.
"What about that one?" Phoebe suddenly asked, pointing right at me.
"What, me?" I raised an eyebrow, watching as she moved herself down from Ryan's back and coming over to me.
"No silly, this one" She poked my stomach, and I froze a little. How did she...
"What's she talking about?" Mum asked, looking from me to Donnie, who now looked like he wanted to use his ninja skills to vanish.
"Well... I'm not-" I went to say, surprised when my youngest sister put her ear against my stomach, giggling a little.
"Hello little one" She said.
"What... LITTLE ONE?!" Dad roared to life, turning to Donnie and glaring at him. Donnie made a small whimper, starting to move back a little.
"Oh... dad no!" I yelled, letting go of Tina as my dad grabbed a large stick from the ground, then chasing Donnie around with it.
This part was going to be alot harder to explain... especially with my dad screaming at the top of his lungs, after my poor ninja, who was crying out trying to get my dad to stop chasing him.
Safe to say, it wasn't going to happen any time soon.
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I blew a hair out of my eyes, looking at myself in the mirror. I didn't look impressed.
And.. well... I wasn't really. Somehow... by some weird ninja mind trick was what I guessed... Splinter had convinced the government here to make these pairings between us girls and his sons... legal. Although, we wouldn't be all over the news this time. They would be discreet...but legal... weddings. So the girls... being who they were... all wanted proper weddings. Dresses, receptions, cakes... walking down isles... all that stuff. So... that's what we all planned together. And yes... even me... then again, with the other four... I didn't really get much say.
So... a month later... Serah and Leo were the first ones to get hitched. It was a beautiful wedding... they had found someone who would make some kind of formal looking clothing for the boys... so Leo looked very dashing in something other than his gear, the only thing on him remaining was the bandanna he wore over his eyes. Even with it, I could see the tears as he saw Serah for the first time walking down the isle... she really was beautiful in white...
Then, Mikey and Kristiana. I had honestly never seen Mikey so happy and hyper as he did that day. I think we all had a good laugh when Kristiana shoved the cake in Mikey's face, with him returning the favor to her afterwards.
Even Raph shed tears when he and Rachel finally tied the knot. For the two hot heads, they had a fairly mellow wedding.
I think everyone was brought to tears when Amanda decided to sing at her and Ithiell's. She had always wanted to be a singer, and her sweet voice reverberated through the hall that night. She sung a song about the love she had for Ithiell, and I think pregnant or not I would have bawled my eyes out. It was just so sweet... and it spoke volumes for their love...
But now... it was my turn.
I was three and a half months along at this point, and my middle was just starting to slowly bulge out. But that wasn't what was making me uncomfortable.
"Come on Jade, sit up" Amanda cooed, pushing my back a little as suddenly she was up against my face, some kind of torture instrument in her hands.
Torture instrument... being a make up applying... thing.
I felt like I'd been in the same chair for about an hour, not sure what they were doing, but knowing I was quickly getting sick of it.
"Why can't you be done already? I already look like some overdone version of myself"
"Its not overdone... we're trying to make you look beautiful for your big day"
Big day... it was weird... I was getting married today, and yet... it just felt like any other day.
Well... any other day with the girls ganging up on me.
Serah was doing something with my hair, and Amanda and Kristiana were taking turns with putting make up on, both of them mumbling to each other what would look good. Rachel was getting my dress ready so I could just step into it, as well as running around for the other girls. They were all going to be my bridesmaids... and Tina would be the maid of honor. But she, as well as my mum and Phoebe, who would be the flower girl, were all in the next room getting ready.
"You know, I just realised something" Kristiana said from somewhere, clicking her tongue a little.
"What's that?" Rachel asked, and I saw her behind me in the mirror when Amanda moved away. She was looking at whatever Serah was doing with a few strands of my hair.
"Us five girls had been through alot together" She said, coming into view as she rubbed her slightly swollen belly.
"Yeah... and now we're all going to go through pregnancy together... whoopee" Rachel rolled her eyes a little, moving away to do something just beside me.
"Well, Kristiana and I are I guess halfway through, so... I think we're doing all right"
"So when is Rtaia going to get that scanner working anyway?" I asked, slightly eager to find out what we were all carrying. From what Serah had told me, whatever she had enjoyed pretending it was a tumble dryer from time to time.
"Oh, another few weeks I think. She's been busy with... something or other" Amanda muttered, rolling here eyes a little.
"Hope it's soon. I want to know if whatever this is will be painful or not"
"Whatever it is... we can take it" Rachel smiled, clenching her hand into a fist and shaking it a little. She was dead set determined...
Soon, the torture was over, and I found Serah had made little ringlets in my hair, putting them in a strange half up, half down style. The makeup I thought was a little too over done, but the girls insisted it wasn't. They helped me into my dress, which had a long trail, and didn't seem like me at all, but... well... we'd all had to find dresses that would cover our bellies. This one splayed out at the waist, falling to the ground almost elegantly. The top half was a little tight, and the top of the dress rested off the shoulder. There was a deep dip in the middle, showing off my slowly growing...uh... assets.
The girls helped me adjust the dress, shuffling around to get their own dresses on while I carefully slipped my shoes on, going to look in the mirror.
"Hooooly crap" I think it all started to finally sink in then, realising...
Well, realising I was going to walk down the isle. Towards my Donnie...
"Jade?"
"I'm really doing this, aren't I? I'm really going to marry... my turtle boyfriend..."
"Oh don't be so dramatic! We've all done it... now it's just your turn..."
"But... I... never thought..." I moved to a table to lean on it, my head spinning a little.
I was getting married to Donnie... a my ninja mutant... not a teenager anymore... turtle... and I was pregnant by him... we were going to have a mini us running around...
"Whoa hunny, you okay?" Kristiana was there, holding me up a little. I took a deep breath, trying to nod.
"It all just kinda... hit me..."
"That happened to me too... don't worry, it'll pass soon" She moved to sit me down slowly.
"You'll be okay" Amanda was now there, kneeling in front of me and smiling "Come on Jade, we've been through a whole shit ton together... what's a little wedding gonna do?"
"Little...wedding?" I squeaked a little.
"Donnie is gonna love that dress... brings out that-"
"Oh Rach, please... just...shush" I groaned a little.
The door opening startled all of us, and we made similar noises of surprise as my mum and sisters came in, shutting the door behind them.
"Oh, my beautiful baby girl... look at you" She had tears on her eyes as she came over to me, and I got up to go give her a hug.
"No ruining each others make up!" Amanda half scolded, but I felt her hand on my back. She knew this day meant alot to the both of us...
"Come on mum, Jade... girls... we gotta get this show on the road" Tina clapping brought us all back to the present, and the other girls got themselves ready as I sat again, talking to my mum a little.
Then... before I knew it... I was there.
The girls fussed around with my dress as I stood just out of sight of the isle, trembling a little as they handed my flowers to me, seeing my mum finally give the people in the hall a big thumbs up.
Then the music started...
"Oh... boy..."
"You'll be right... now, where's dad" Tina looked around, surprised at how mature and helpful she was being. She made sure Phoebe went first... then paired the girls up to go down the isle together... then prepared to take herself down.
"I love you little sis" I blurted without realising it, trying my hardest not to just burst into tears.
She turned to me, surprised when she smiled, giving me a quick sideways hug, saying "Love you too big sis, no matter what happens"
My dad was suddenly there, looking me up and down and looking like he wanted to cry.
"Dad, I-"
"I'm so proud of you baby, now... let's give you to your future husband" He offered an arm for me to take, which I grabbed into gratefully. Then, after taking a deep breath, we slowly walked into view.
Husband...
I felt a little dizzy again, looking at all the people in the chairs, waiting for us to walk down the isle. Then up at the five boys down the front, all dressed up and waiting. Then... my eyes caught sight of Donnie...
He looked like the other boys, dressed up... but...
Something about him just shone, looking at him. He was smiling the cutest little lopsided grin as he met my eyes, and I could have sworn I saw tears in them...
I blushed a little, and my dad slowly led is down the isle, the music playing softly as people started to take pictures.
I felt my heart start to pound the closer we got to the front of the room, trying my hardest not to cry as well as feeling like I was going to faint.
This was it... this was the day I thought would never come...
"Hello Beautiful" Donnie greeted me as we reached him, and it was then I saw he really was crying.
"Hey Handsome" I responded, watching as he wiped some of the tears away, shifting his glasses again as he did.
My dad let go of me, kissing my hand before grabbing Donnie's, placing my hand in his.
"You take care of my daughter, you hear?" I know the threat was meant to be serious, but I heard the waver in my dad's voice, watching as Donnie nodded to him.
"Yes Sir, I will"
"Good" With that, my dad moved away, and Donnie took both my hands in his as I turned to look up at him.
"Stop crying... you're gonna make me cry" I murmured to him as the celebrant finally started to speak.
"Can't help it... you look... I don't even have words" He said, still with that silly lopsided grin.
"Don't get used to it" I warned him, hearing the celebrant clear her throat, looking at us as we muttered apologies, then fell silent as she continued.
Her words seemed blend into one another as I looked up at Donnie, feeling like at that moment, nothing else mattered.
It was just him and me... just...
We said the words we had to... exchanged some short vows... and then those familiar last words were said.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife"
Slowly, I leaned up and kissed him, hearing cheers in the hall as our family and friends celebrated. His arms went around me, our kiss getting deeper, before both of us knowing we had to pull apart.
We moved down the isle together, holding hands tightly as we made it out of the hall, then out the door and outside.
We heard the others cheering still, and for what seemed like a small moment, time stood still.
I looked up at Donnie as he looked at me, both of us smiling.
"So... what happens now my dear husband"
"I'm not sure... my lovely wife"
I giggled, nudging his shoulder a little "Wing it?"
"How about" He pulled me back into his arms, his hand resting on the small of my back as he kissed me deeply. My arms snaked around his neck, my heart flying. Finally, he seemed to gather his wits enough to pull back a little, looking into my eyes.
"How about we just... enjoy the ride?"
"I like that" I responded, smiling up at him, before the others came through the door after us.
END.
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I hope you all enjoyed this story... I sure did!
There may or may not be another short story after this, but it may not be for a little, as I hope to finish some other projects I'm working on first.
Either way, feel free to R&R, and let me know what you thought!
And...as always... constructive criticism appreciated!