Kimber and Christian walked down the aisle together holding hands never to let go facing the priest in the hardly ceremonial little chapel, one of the many in the area, but one that took only five minutes to process their identities.
"I believe you have your vows ready?" There was not much pausing from the official either.
Christian's mouth turned to a nervous smile, he had been thinking about this for a long time hoping Kimber will still marry him one day. He had abandoned his previous longer speech and made it short and to the point, "I promise you here before God that I will do my very best not to disappoint you and that everything will be done so that our love can flourish." Was all true, no mention of lying or deceiving that he could've been accused of.
Kimber gave a small laugh at the serious and flowery language Christian used this time and continued with her vows, "it's simple Christian," she shrugged. She didn't have much time to make up a new speech, Christian really surprised her going through with it all and she had to concentrate on the driving there too, "you know I love you and I always will, no matter what you do," she looked up to the priest, indicating she was done.
"Do you, Christian Troy take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love and to cherish through rich or poor, health and sickness till death do you part?"
"I do." That's right. In sickness. Christian answered quickly as one more stab of pain came from his stomach. Jeez, of all the times to have a damn stomach ache even if he knew it was going to come soon...He did make it through the part Kimber was worried about, but the worsening of his condition was inevitable so he wished the short ceremony was even shorter. He knew what he was going for at the practice and he picked it up too without Kimber noticing it. It was a vial with bacterium cultures in it that he accidentally stumbled upon ordering as a patient seemed to have unforeseen complications after surgery. Nobody really knew that he had transferred her to the gastroenterology ward in a hospital, and even if they'd find that out the theory could be that he could've got the infection straight from this patient since reports of person-to-person spread were conflicting. Yersinia Enterocolitica was the perfect thing to infect himself with since yersiniosis was usually was either self-limited or is responsive to therapy and additionally, it was difficult differentiating yersiniosis from inflammatory bowel disease, specifically Crohn disease.
His stomach ache worsened over the last half hour, his insides cramping and twisting, his body trying to fight against the obstruction, but unaware of his empty sore stomach, the bug and the cramps Kimber was stunningly gorgeous in those ordinary jeans with her light hair quickly put up in a bun, but with a lone perfect curl hanging down on each side of her face. She knew how to make herself pretty even in a matter of seconds; she never really needed Christian for that and she knew that now too having went through the carver experience and the knowledge from her religion. She didn't need him, but she loved him anyway. She didn't know why Christian wanted to marry her so quickly, but she rather had this scenario than a big gathering reminding her of their first attempt. Refusing to remember how wrongly that wedding ended she looked exultant too, something he would've wanted to keep up as long as possible even if they were not in the middle of an important event.
"Do you, Kimber Henry, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love and to cherish through rich or poor, health and sickness till death do you part"
That's right. In sickness and she will.
"I do."
"Please take the rings and put them on each other's fingers. Let these rings be the sign of a bond that will be forever unbreakable, and let no one put asunder the bond that these two have created in matrimony. I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride," said the priest rather bored, not even looking up.
Christian turned to his wife leaning forward, but Kimber froze in place after their lips touched, then pulled back and whispered into his ear, "how are you?"
"I'm so happy, you?" He tried to defer the question for a few seconds longer so they could enjoy being married.
"You seem to have a fever?"
"Do you mind if we go back to hospital?" They could go because everything was as it should.
"Mind? Of course we're going back!" Kimber held onto him confused as he doubled over in pain clutching his abdomen. "You fucker... you want me scared again? Please help me get him to the car," she addressed the priest who had wedded them, "he might be here marrying me with a bowel obstruction."
My God, she's so beautiful, he thought as she towered over him and she's mine all mine. His thoughts seemed to have slowed down and he felt so pleased with what he had done to get her. Everything would be all right now, she would not leave him cause if they didn't pick up on the bacteria he could simulate being slightly ill for years. And even if they found the pathogen, since the reinfection of the same person by himself was highly possible he was safe that way. As the fog set in his mind the weight of the fear of losing her lifted from him.
Tbc