Author's Note: Thanks to everyone for the great reviews! Ready for a wedding? I know Miley and Lilly are...
For my list of disclaimers, please see Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. Also, please exercise some common sense when reading this or any other story. If you don't like it, then stop reading it!
As I Am, I Take Thee
by Jo P.
Chapter 5: United
Face to face, eye to eye
You're standing there
Feels good on the inside
I don't mind, I don't care
You're standing there
Seeing me for the first time
Seeing me for the first time
--Hannah Montana;"As I Am"
As the morning sun climbed into the sky on Friday morning, Lilly felt the warmth of the sun on her face and the warmth of Miley on her body. She blinked her eyes open and saw that they were in their room at Lilly's parents' house. They had stayed up late last night watching movies, and apparently they had made their way to the bedroom sometime during the night.
Last year's Thanksgiving on the beach had been so much fun that their families had decided to do it again this year. Luanne in particular seemed to have a great time, and Lilly and Miley both had noticed how smitten Lilly's brother Ron had been with Luanne. Particularly when she took off her shirt and shorts and showed off her new blue bikini, Lilly thought with a smirk. That girl has done some serious working out! Maybe it'd be good for her brother to chase Luanne. Heaven knows he seemed much more into his music and electronic gadgets than he did in girls. Showing a bit of interest in someone besides Miley might help him break out of his shell.
Speaking of the woman I love... Lilly turned her head slightly to look at Miley's face, soft and tender in slumber. In a little over a day, they would be legally married, the next big step in their relationship and one both of them had wanted for nearly two years now. As Lilly looked, Miley's smile grew ever so slightly, then she gently pulled on Lilly's chest, snuggling closer to her lover. That put a smile on Lilly's face as well, as the warmth conducting across the two of them rose just a touch.
Well, all we've got left to do today is to finish packing for the trip and then fly out of here. "Miles?" Lilly said softly, gently nudging the warm body lying next to her. "C'mon Miles, we have to get up. We have to get ready, because we need to be at the airport in two hours."
Miley mumbled something that sounded like a complaint, prompting Lilly to whisper something in her lover's ear, then to lightly give it a teasing lick with the tip of her tongue. Instantly Miley sat up, narrowly missing Lilly's head in her haste. "Are you serious?" Miley said excitedly.
Lilly nodded, a naughty grin on her face. "But--" she said quickly, "only if you hurry and get ready." In a flash Miley had thrown off the covers and was running to the bathroom, not even bothering to cover her naked body as she ran out of the room. Well, at least I know how to motivate her, Lilly thought, quite pleased with herself as she got up and picked out bras and panties for them to wear today, finally making her own way down the hall to the bathroom.
As Lilly stepped into the bathroom, the warmth of the steam coming from their shower sent a pleasant shiver across her body. She tossed the underclothes onto the counter and eased the shower curtain back just enough to step into the shower. As she turned forward, she saw Miley standing under the water's spray, rivulets of water running down her chest as she finished wetting her hair, its long, dark strands for the moment clinging together as they fell down her back. As Lilly took in her lover's natural beauty, Miley's eyes opened and the brilliant blueness of her gaze fixed squarely on Lilly. The hunger in Miley's eyes was evident and intense, and without conscious thought Lilly stepped forward until Miley's arms wrapped around her torso, pulling her into the hot water's spray and Miley's own warmth. Reflexively Lilly closed her eyes and ducked her head to shield her contact lenses using Miley's head as shelter.
"Hey," Miley said softly as she gently led Lilly a step away from the shower's spray. "You don't wear your contacts anymore, remember?" she said as she kissed Lilly's lips softly.
Lilly blinked her eyes open in surprise. "Oh yeah!" she said with a slight laugh. "Sorry, I wore them for so long, it's going to take some time getting used to not needing them." Miley had paid for Lilly to have corrective surgery on her eyes just two weeks ago as an early birthday present. Lilly had been reluctant to have the surgery done for several months, but finally the approaching wedding and the subsequent honeymoon had given her enough impetus to proceed. She had been surprised at how quickly the actual LASIK procedure had been carried out, and her recovery was definitely pleasurable, as Miley had held her for most of the next twenty-four hours. That was the period of time during which she was to keep her eyes closed unless absolutely necessary, and the two girls had sat around and watched movies (or listened to them, in Lilly's case) that they both knew by heart. Her eyes would continue to heal over the next three months, then she'd be able to play sports again in the spring.
Lilly blinked, now enjoying the feeling of the light spray of water across her eyes. "Thank you for my eyes, Miley," she said as she kissed Miley. "It's so nice to not have to fool with my contacts or my glasses anymore."
"You're welcome, Lilly Bear," Miley said, smiling as she ran her hands through Lilly's blonde hair, slowly collecting moisture from the shower's spray. Miley turned the two of them in the shower, gently directing Lilly's hair under the stream of water to wet it thoroughly. As Lilly's tipped her head back to get all of her hair wet, Miley's right hand drifted lower until it found its target, eliciting a soft gasp from Lilly at the electric sensation of her lover's touch.
"Mmmm, got something on your mind, Miles?" Lilly sensuously asked as a smile of pleasure floated onto her face. She held Miley's body tightly but let Miley's right arm slip free slightly as Lilly shifted her legs, making Miley's access easier for both of them. Lilly positively purred as Miley's fingers sent surges of pleasure throughout Lilly's body until her orgasm overtook her suddenly, leaving her gasping as her body jerked several times. Lilly had snaked her arms around Miley's chest and reached back up to grip Miley's shoulders on both sides, and now she hung on fiercely as she rode out the intense orgasm Miley had sent her off on.
As Miley felt Lilly shiver at the onset of her orgasm, Miley tightened her grip with her left arm, holding Lilly securely as she helped her lover ride out the waves of their passion. As Lilly shook, Miley softly whispered, "I love you, Lilly. I love you so much," her own eyes tearing up at the intimacy and intensity of their contact.
As Lilly slowly regained conscious thought, she went from panting to purring again as she straightened up and nuzzled Miley's neck. "Love you too, Miles, especially when you do that to me," she said with a smile. She gave Miley a deep, passion-filled kiss, then she settled to her knees. "Now," she said as she gently but firmly pushed Miley back against the wall of the shower, "it's my turn."
A little over an hour later, Miley and Lilly were on the way to Malibu's airport. Lilly's parents were driving them and Lilly's brother Ron in the family's silver minivan, and Lilly was being a backseat driver, much to Miley's chagrin.
"But Dad!" Lilly whined. "We're going to be late! They're not going to let us on the plane if we're not there early enough!"
Miley reached across the seat and took Lilly's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Lilly," she said quietly. "It's okay."
Lilly turned, disbelief in her eyes. "Miley! We can't miss our wedding!" she said, her voice's high pitch indicating how stressed she truly was.
Miley simply squeezed a bit more firmly and smiled. As she smiled, she willed all the love and support she could into her facial expression. Lilly quickly registered what Miley was trying to do, and slowly she calmed down. "But--"
Miley cut her off by whispering, "Shhh." As Lilly grew quiet, Miley softly said, "Lilly, we're not going to miss anything. You and I are here together. They're not going to start the wedding without us, I promise. If we get there a few minutes late, I think we'll still be okay. If some disaster happens and we miss the plane, we can always find another flight." Left unspoken was the option of immediately chartering a flight, which they were saving for a backup plan. This flight they wanted to do incognito.
At Miley's soothing words, Lilly did indeed calm down markedly. "You're right, Miles," she said with a smile. She turned her gaze to the front of the van. "I'm sorry," she said to her parents. "I'm just nervous, I guess."
"We forgive you," Ron said. "But geez, don't let it happen again, okay?"
"Ron," Lilly's mother Meredith said, "Be nice. Your sister's just very, very nervous about her wedding, and that's understandable."
Lilly's father Phil looked into the rear view mirror briefly. "So why did we have to get measured for tuxedos and bring dress clothes? As a backup plan in case the tuxes aren't ready?"
Lilly and Miley nonchalantly glanced at each other before Lilly said, "Uhhh, yeah! A backup plan!" The girls had decided earlier that they weren't going to say anything about the second wedding, which Lilly's father and brother knew nothing about, until they were in the air en route to Florida. Simply mentioning that there was going to be a second ceremony would certainly lead to an explanation of exactly why that ceremony was needed, and Miley and Lilly were waiting on that discussion until the first wedding was over.
The drive to the airport went smoothly, and in a few minutes they had safely parked the van in the parking garage adjacent to the airport. As they unloaded the suitcases and began to make their way to the terminal, Miley and Lilly fell behind the others just slightly. Lilly whispered, "That was a good idea to go ahead and send our other bags ahead with Hannah's jet."
Miley nodded and whispered back, "Yeah, that was actually Daddy's idea. He figured there was no need to carry all those other bags, plus having them with us could be hard to explain if someone were to get into them on accident."
"Smart man, your dad," Lilly said with a smile, getting a very similar smile in return from Miley.
As they entered the terminal, they quickly found the Northwest terminal. Lilly's father battled with the electronic check-in system for two minutes before her brother finally took command and got everyone registered. Their flight had a short layover in Detroit, and the total flying time was just around five hours, but with the time change they would be arriving about eight hours after their departure, making it night in Buffalo when they arrived. From there they would take taxis to Niagara Falls, where they would all be staying in the Embassy Suites Fallsview overnight. Lilly had already made arrangements to have their ceremony held directly at the falls, in a small private ceremony.
As the five of them checked their luggage and made their way through the security checkpoints, somehow they all escaped without any of them being taken aside for more rigorous inspection. Miley suspected that had to do with the fact that Lilly had already inspected everyone's carry-on bags the night before and again on the way to the airport. Lilly's frightening and rather creative threat to her brother, were he to get them delayed by bringing something troublesome, might also have influenced the sparse nature of everyone's carry-on—Miley's included. Once they were safely through the security checkpoint, they made their way back to the appropriate gate. As they walked up, they saw that several seats at their gate were already filled by familiar faces, putting smiles on almost everyone's faces.
Miley and Lilly immediately made their way to Robbie Ray and gave him a joint hug. "Good to see you two made it 'fore the plane started boardin'," he said with a grin. As he held them, he softly said, "I'm proud of you two. I'm very, very proud." He kissed each of them on the forehead, then he pointed to the others sitting in the gate's seats. "Now go sit with them other troublemakers," he said lightly.
Miley and Lilly smiled as they sat down next to Luanne, Kaela, Jackson and Oliver. Luanne was chatting up a storm with Kaela, with Oliver hanging on every word Luanne said. Jackson, true to form, was asleep, a magazine sitting in his lap. "Hey everyone," Miley said as she and Lilly sat directly across from Kaela and Luanne. Miley smacked Jackson's knee to wake him up. "Hi big brother!"
"Hey," Lilly said as she sat down next to Miley. "Kaela, we're so happy you're going with us!" she said happily.
"Hey, I wouldn't miss this for the world," Kaela replied. "Plus this'll give me a nice break from work." Kaela and Jackson had both graduated high school in June, but they had both decided to work a year before pursuing college. Kaela had already received multiple acceptances from several colleges, but she and Jackson wanted to attend the same school together. It appeared now that school was going to be the University of Tennessee, since Jackson had gotten his acceptance letter earlier in the week. While Kaela was uncertain as to what she wanted to do as a career, she had strong interests in both medicine and law, so both of them were likely pursuits for her.
"Where do you work?" Luanne asked her, leaning slightly away from Oliver.
"I'm working as a receptionist for a law firm in Malibu," Kaela said. "Not particularly glamorous, but at least it's something different throughout the day. Plus it gets my foot in the door if I decide to shoot for law school." She turned to Jackson and gave him a smile. "But it looks like we'll be heading to Knoxville next summer, now that my man here has gotten in," she said as she put her right arm around Jackson.
Jackson looked back at Kaela, a genuine smile on his face. "Thanks for waiting a year, Kaela. I just.." He hesitated, because he didn't want to dredge up any turmoil for Oliver. But he couldn't lie to the woman he was completely in love with. "I was just afraid that if we spent too much time far away from each other that things might not work out."
Kaela's smile hid the fact that she herself had felt the same fear. She had been happier with Jackson this last year than she could ever remember, and she had dreaded going to college and him not going with her. When he had suggested they both take a year between high school and college, she had been thrilled at his idea. Now, it appeared that idea had truly been inspired. Now if he'd just get over his fear of marriage...
Any further discussion was cut off when the gate attendant announced, "First call for boarding for Northwest Flight 4243 to Detroit! We'll start boarding with rows 1 through 9..."
Several hours later, the party had arrived at the Embassy Suites. As Robby Ray and Phil Truscott took care of checking into the four suites reserved for them, Miley, Lilly, Luanne, Kaela and Meredith Truscott were huddled around the large pile of luggage as Miley dialed her Aunt Dolly's cell phone. Jackson, Ron and Oliver were busy arguing about whether it was harder on the human body to suppress a burp or a fart, and no one else seemed too keen to enter that particular conversation.
"I keep getting the message that she's unavailable," Miley said as she snapped her phone closed.
"Wow, you've gotten that message the last hour now," Lilly said. "When was she supposed to get here?"
"I don't know, when was I supposed to get here?" said a voice from over Lilly's shoulder, prompting a smile from Lilly and a squeal of delight from Miley as they turned and hugged Dolly.
"Aunt Dolly!" Miley said excitedly. "We were starting to get worried about you!"
"Yeah, you coulda called and told us you were here, you know," Lilly said, faking a pout.
"Shucks, my phone's been out'a its service area ever since somewhere over New York!" Dolly said with a grin. "And Momma and I kinda got caught up in sightseein' once we got here, so I guess we just forgot to call."
"Where is Ruthie?" Lilly asked, then she remembered not everyone knew who she and Miley were talking to. "I'm sorry, I'm being rude!" she said suddenly, completely changing her train of thought. "Everyone, this is Miley's aunt Dolly. Dolly is also Miley's godmother, and she helped Robby Ray raise Miley and Jackson after Miley's mom... you know." She reached over and took Miley's hand, squeezing it gently. "Dolly, I want to introduce my mom, Meredith Truscott, and Jackson's girlfriend, Kaela Davis."
By the time Lilly had introduced her mother and Kaela, Dolly had already walked over to Luanne and wrapped her up in a big hug. "This one here I already know, I think," she said as Luanne returned the hug fiercely.
"It's good to see you again, Aunt Dolly," Luanne said. "Even if it has just been a few days since I left." Luanne smiled sincerely as she realized she truly had missed her aunt, who had stepped up to fill the maternal void in her life. The time Luanne had spent with Dolly had given her a good idea of what having a mother felt like, and her appreciation for Dolly was beyond description.
Meredith walked over to Dolly and said, "Dolly, it's my pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard the girls talk about you on several occasions."
Dolly smiled as she released Luanne from her embrace. "Meredith, I have to say that you've raised a fine young lady in Lilly. She's a great example of how fine you and your husband are as parents." Dolly then turned to look as Kaela, who stood nearly a foot taller than Dolly. "Land's sakes, you are a tall one, girl!" she said. "And every bit as gorgeous as Jackson says, too!"
Kaela grinned and blushed slightly as she said, "That just won him some points," getting a laugh from all the women. She held out her hand and said, "It's nice to meet you, Dolly." She looked surprised when Dolly ignored the extended hand and simply stepped forward and hugged Kaela.
"Kaela, you're still young enough for me to be able to hug when I feel like it, so no complainin'!" Dolly stepped back and sized her up. "Jackson's crazy about you. Lord, you shoulda heard him talk about you at Christmas last year!"
"I couldn't miss this for anything," Kaela said, her face slightly red. "Maybe I'll get to see you at another family wedding sometime," she added with a sigh which left Dolly a bit confused.
Miley stepped forward and said, "Kaela's getting a bit tired of waiting for Jackson to propose to her."
Kaela nodded her head. "Sometimes I think I'm going to have to be the one to propose to him."
Dolly smiled at that statement, both at its simple honesty and because she suspected there might be a surprise waiting for Kaela this weekend. "Darlin', I bet that time will come a lot sooner than you think!" she said as Robby Ray came back over to the women. "Robby Ray, are you takin' good care of my girls here?" she asked loudly as he handed a stack of room keys to Lilly, who was closest to him.
"We all got here in one piece, didn't we?" Robby Ray said with a laugh. "Momma upstairs?"
Dolly nodded. "She can't miss her 'Wheel of Fortune', you know that. I think I'll ride up with these girls here and catch up on all the latest gossip, if nobody minds."
Luanne stepped up and said, "I think we'd all like that." She took one of the card keys from Lilly and got her bags.
"Room 411," Lilly said. "What room are you and Ruthie in, Dolly?"
"We're in 413," Dolly answered. She bent over and grabbed two suitcases, prompting Kaela and Luanne to both speak up.
"You don't have to get that," both Kaela and Luanne said at the same time. However, their words didn't faze Dolly in the least.
"Didn't ask permission 'cause I don't need it," Dolly said in a sassy voice, getting grins from Miley and Lilly.
"That's my aunt," Miley said with a grin.
Phil Truscott walked over with Jackson, Oliver and Ron in tow. "Meredith, we're going to be in room 412," he said, then he noticed the newcomer in the midst of the women. "Hello," he said, extending his hand before he noticed both Dolly's hands were filled with suitcases. "Um, I'm Phil Truscott, Lilly's father."
"I'm Dolly Stewart," Dolly answered. "And I'd shake your hand but mine are sorta busy at the moment." She looked over at Miley and Lilly and said, "I was just telling your wife that you two have sure raised a fine young lady. I tell you, when she and Miley told me the big news at Momma's last Christmas, I was as happy as a pig in slop!"
Phil looked a bit uncertain but he managed a smile while he leaned over to his daughter and whispered, "Is that good?"
Lilly whispered back, "Oh, yeah," a sly grin on her face.
Robby Ray handed a card over to Jackson and said, "Oliver, I expect you'll be bunkin' with Jackson and me. And Ron, you're welcome to stay with us men, too, if you'd like."
When Ron's answer wasn't immediately forthcoming, Lilly chirped, "I bet Ron wants to stay wherever Luanne is is!" Miley immediately smacked Lilly's shoulder. "Ow!" Lilly said as she rubbed the stinging body part.
"That wasn't very nice," Miley said, softly chastising her girlfriend.
Lilly looked at her brother, who was turning a light shade of red. "True though," she said defiantly. "Oh Ron, I'm just giving you a hard time!" But then she glanced at Luanne, who was trying her best to keep from blushing herself... and failing. Oh no. No way. Does she really... But she just met him yesterday!
"Thanks for trying to embarrass me, sis," Ron said as he grabbed his bag. "Mr. Stewart, I'd love to room with you guys. No offense to Mom and Dad, but sharing a room with my parents on vacation kinda went out a few years back for me."
As Ron started to walk to the elevators, Luanne reached out and gently touched his shoulder. "It's okay," she said to the slightly older young man. "I kinda think you're cute myself," she said, instantly putting a surprised smile on his face.
"Really?" Ron said, a sentiment immediately echoed by his sister.
"Yeah, really?" Lilly said, with a significantly louder voice.
Luanne smiled and said to Ron, "We'll talk later," then she gathered her own bags and began walking to the elevator.
"Heck, we're talking sooner, then!" Lilly said, practically pulling Miley and their bags to the elevator in pursuit of Luanne.
The wedding party quickly sorted itself into two groups, separated neatly along gender lines. In one room, Robby Ray, Jackson, Oliver, Ron and Phil spent most of the night watching whatever sports they could find on the television. In another room, Miley, Lilly, Luanne, Kaela, Dolly, Meredith and Ruthie talked, laughed, gossiped and joked well into the night. Miley and Lilly had already decided that no rehearsal was going to take place before this wedding. They wanted the ceremony to be as natural as their love for each other, and no one had expressed any objection to that idea. The wedding was still going to be formal dress with a professional photographer and videographer, but otherwise the young women had insisted upon restraint.
After the younger girls retired to their own room for at least a few hours of sleep, Meredith, Dolly and Ruthie spent some time discussing exactly what the wedding meant to Miley and Lilly's relationship.
"Well, I told Lilly a few months ago that Miley really was my daughter-in-law already, it just wouldn't be official until the wedding took place," Meredith said as the night crept on, getting knowing nods from Dolly and Ruthie at her realization.
Dolly added, "Heavens to Betsy, those two have been closer'n any married couple I ever set my eyes on since Christmas a' last year! It's a dang shame that they had to go to all this trouble to get up here just to get married and it be legal."
"Well, if they lived in Massachusetts, they could get married there, but they have to have lived there for some time first," Ruthie said. When both Meredith and Dolly turned to look at her with surprised expressions, Ruthie said, "What? Can't a grandmother research some things for her granddaughter and her fiancée?" As the two other women laughed, Ruthie smiled and added, "Well, I coulda saved 'em some money if not for that whole resident thing!"
"Oh heavens," Meredith said as she carefully stood, her legs popping as her joints started to wake up. "I have had so much fun talking tonight that I nearly peed on myself several times."
Ruthie nodded sagely. "Just one more gift your kids leave you," she said. "And it never goes away." She walked over to Meredith and gave her a friendly hug. "It's so nice to meet you, Meredith. Your daughter is one of the finest young ladies I've ever known."
"And the same goes for Miley," Meredith said, looking from Ruthie to Dolly and then back again. "What the two of them have is really amazing."
"That it is," Dolly said in a voice softer than any Meredith had heard from her tonight. "Those two girls have already been through some hard times, and I bet there'll be more trouble for 'em sometime in the future, but I don't think there's nothin' they can't handle together."
"I have a feeling you're right, Dolly," Meredith said with a smile. "Well, good night, you two. See you in the morning."
"Night, Meredith!"
"Good night, Meredith," Ruthie said. "You're welcome to join us for coffee in the morning, say, six-thirty?"
Meredith thought for a second, then she said, "That sounds great. I'll see you two then."
"And bring that husband of yours with you!" Dolly said. "We need to get him and Robby Ray to loosen up a bit, or they're liable to blow a fuse tomorrow!"
Down the hall, Miley, Lilly, Luanne and Kaela were getting ready for bed. The wedding gowns had been taken out and hung up, dresses had been laid out for tomorrow, and an arsenal of hair and cosmetic products had been painstakingly assembled on the bathroom counter, ready for action in the morning. As Miley and Lilly finished brushing their teeth, Kaela and Luanne took a moment to chat with each other as they got ready for bed.
"So how long have you and Jackson been seeing each other?" Luanne asked as she slipped into her shorts and light blue baby doll shirt.
Kaela pulled up her pajama pants as she stood, then she tossed her t-shirt onto the bed. "About fifteen months," she said as she pulled her long red hair back into a ponytail. She tugged on the oversize shirt she liked to sleep in and undid her bra once the shirt was safely in place. As she tugged her bra out through the right sleeve, she said, "You know, Miley and Lilly are really thrilled that you're here, Luanne."
"Really?" Luanne said, looking up. "I mean, I'm family. I ought to be here."
"Yeah, well, the two of them have talked more about you the last two weeks than the wedding itself, they were so happy you were going to be able to make it." Kaela turned down her side of the bed and slid in. "I asked them why I hadn't met you yet, but they said you had some things that were keeping you in Tennessee for a while."
Luanne lowered her head slightly as she took off her glasses and set them on the night stand. "Yeah," she said. "That's one way to put it." She sat down on the bed and turned to look at Kaela. "Kaela, Jackson really loves you. I mean, I know you know that, but he really, really loves you. I can tell."
Kaela rolled over to look at Luanne. "I love him," she said softly. "When we first met, he was so silly and impulsive, but that was part of what made him so adorable. But now..." She lifted her head and looked toward the bathroom as Miley and Lilly walked out in their pajamas and closed the door, leaving it slightly cracked and the light on inside. "Now, after watching the good example of his sister and her girlfriend, Jackson has turned into a young man."
"You talkin' about my brother again?" Miley said as she turned down the covers for Lilly, letting the blonde slide into bed first.
"Yeah," Kaela said with a grin. "How'd you know?"
Lilly scooted across the bed under the covers as she said, "Well, the little hearts and rainbows floating over your head are a dead giveaway."
"Hush, you!" Kaela said with a giggle. "I can't help it. I just..."
Miley climbed into the bed beside Lilly and slid right against her lover, draping her arm over her protectively as she clicked off the lamp, steeping the room in darkness with only a sliver of light from the bathroom. "I know," Miley said after a slight pause. "It's how I feel when I tell someone about how much I love Lilly. It's like, words can't really give you a good enough picture."
"Yeah," Kaela said dreamily.
Luanne laid down and said, "You three are so lucky." Quickly she added, "And I'm happy for you, all of you!"
Lilly and Miley laughed in the dark. "Luanne, it's okay," Lilly said. "You're going to find someone who's crazy about you before long!"
"Unless Ron beats them to it," Miley added with a naughty grin that Lilly felt more than saw, given that Miley's mouth was nuzzling the right side of her neck.
"Yeah, my brother does seem to have a crush on you," Lilly said. "Sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" Luanne said. "I think he's sweet... and a bit cute, too."
Now Kaela laughed as the sound of covers rustling informed her and Luanne that someone, probably Lilly, had just sat straight up in the bed next to them. "Ron?" Lilly said, the high-pitched lilt in her voice rather prominent. "Cute?"
Luanne grinned into her pillow. "Yeah... kinda."
"I thought I saw you winking at him earlier tonight at dinner!" Kaela said as she playfully pushed Luanne. "You work it, girl!"
Miley said with a light voice, "Now that would make for some interesting family stories, huh?" She left unsaid the exact extent of how interesting a story that would make, but Lilly felt what Miley was asking. However, where she went with it was a total surprise to Miley.
"Miley?" Lilly said softly.
"Yeah?"
Lilly lowered her voice to a mere whisper as she quietly said, "I think we should tell Kaela."
Lilly's warm breath on Miley's ear made her heart pound fiercely, but she willed herself to not pounce on her lover, not with Luanne and Kaela both in the room with them. "Are you sure?" Miley whispered back. Lilly nodded, a gesture easily felt by Miley given how close their heads were. "If it's okay with Luanne, sure," Miley replied. She lifted her head slightly and said in a normal voice, "Lu?"
"Yeah?" came Luanne's reply, her voice a bit tight. When nothing else was said for several seconds, Luanne said, "It's okay with me, you two, if you want to tell her."
"Tell me what?" came Kaela's voice out of the dark.
Luanne got out of the bed and turned to look at Kaela. "Kaela, come over here. Please." She walked over to Miley and Lilly's bed and sat down at the foot of the bed.
At this point, everyone's eyes had been adjusting to the dim light trickling out of the bathroom, so everyone had a small degree of sight. Kaela walked over to the other bed and stood beside it as she asked, "What is it?"
Miley said, "Kaela, we love you very, very much, and we already consider you like a sister."
"I know," Kaela said, nodding her head. "And you know I feel the same way about you and Lilly."
"Well, you should feel the same way about Luanne," Lilly said quietly. "I mean, we know you just met her and all, but you should."
"For a very good reason," added Miley.
"A very, very good reason," Lilly said.
Kaela was obviously confused. She sat down at the foot of Miley and Lilly's bed across from Luanne, whom she looked at closely. "But... why would I feel that way about Luanne?" Realizing how that might have sounded, she hastily added, "Oh, I didn't mean that in a bad way, Luanne, but I just... I just don't know you that well." She looked back at Miley and Lilly, who were sitting up and leaning against each other. "I mean, if Jackson'll ever get around to asking me to marry him, then I'll be your sister-in-law, Miley, and Lilly's sister-in-law too. The only way Luanne would be my sister or sister-in-law too was if--" Her words froze in her throat as she looked into Miley's eyes. The way the low light entered the room, it cast Miley's face into sharp perspective. Shadows fell in a certain way across her face, her eyes, her cheeks, her lips. Kaela turned her head and looked at Luanne, who had the light falling on her face exactly the same way, just from the opposite side. Oh my God... Their faces! They're almost identical, now that Luanne's glasses are off and Miley's hair is pulled back for bed! "Are you--" Her voice failed her, so she tried again. "Are you two--"
"Sisters," Luanne said softly. "Miley and I are sisters. We just found out last year, and no one else knows." She didn't mention Ruthie's knowledge of this secret. Even now Luanne's feelings for her grandmother were very confusing, and now was not the time to start digging through them. "Miley and Lilly were kind enough to not tell anyone else, because I wasn't ready to deal with having another family just yet. Lord only knows I've had enough trying to get over the one I had growing up." In the hazy light, she smiled. "But I'm getting there. Having these two love and support me has helped me get through some really tough times, Kaela." Luanne shifted on the bed slightly. "I used to be a really bad person. I hurt others, I lied, I stole, I... I was trouble. My--" She sighed. "The woman I thought was my mother died during labor, my childhood was pretty much hell, and I threw away several years of my life by getting lost in anger and hate. But last Christmas, Miley and Lilly saved my life, both literally and symbolically." She reached out and took first Miley's, then Lilly's hand. "They helped me to see that there was so much more to life than I was seeing. They helped me find the strength to fight for my own life, and whenever I felt those damn black, evil thoughts start to creep back into my mind, I thought of them and how much love they have together. Not just love for each other, but love for all of us." Tears were running down Luanne's face, but she released Lilly's hand long enough to wipe them, then she reclaimed Lilly's hand. "Love for me. Something I hadn't known for a very, very long time. It's because of my sister and sister-in-law that I have a life today."
Kaela's eyes were red with tears as she said, "I didn't know, Luanne."
"You couldn't know," Lilly said. "We decided to not tell anyone until Luanne was ready to deal with all the fallout that would come with telling this secret."
"And I don't know if I ever will be ready," Luanne said honestly. "But for now, I know I have a sister and a sister-in-law who love and support me. We still let everyone think that Miley and I are just cousins, but the immediate parties all know the truth," she said with a smile and a warm look at Miley and Lilly. She turned to look at Kaela. "And now you know the truth, too."
"So Jackson doesn't know?" Kaela asked.
"No," Miley said quietly. "Not yet. Sometime, we need to tell him, but the time doesn't feel right yet."
Kaela shook her head as she said, "Well, it's not my secret to reveal. I won't say anything to him about it, I swear."
"We know," Miley said. "We're trusting you with this because before long you're going to be part of our family officially. If my thick-headed brother ever wakes up and gives you a ring!"
Laughter went around the circle of young women on the bed, adding an air of levity to the darkness of the room. "Okay, bedtime," Miley said. "Otherwise we're all gonna have a hard time gettin' out of bed in the mornin'!"
"Good night, you two," Lilly said as she leaned forward and hugged Luanne and Kaela at the same time.
As soon as Lilly released them, Miley leaned forward and grabbed them both again. "See you in the morning, and thanks for being here," she said softly.
"Thanks for having me," Kaela said. "Sis," she added with a grin.
"It'll happen, Kaela," Miley said with an understanding look as she reclined. Lilly followed suit, resting her head on Miley's left shoulder. Rather than saying good night verbally, Lilly stretched upward and kissed Miley, telling her good night in a more intimate way.
Luanne and Kaela retreated to their bed and quickly turned in. In seconds, Luanne and Kaela were asleep. After a long, passionate kiss, Miley and Lilly followed them.
"This table is cold," Miley grumbled. "And my butt's cold, too."
"Oh Miley, stop whining," Lilly said playfully. "You know how much we both want... this..." She looked around, trying to determine where she was. She felt Miley squeeze her hand suddenly.
"Lil?" Miley's voice said, uncertain and shaky.
"Yeah, Miles?"
"What are-- WHOA!!" she yelled as a woman in a white lab coat stood up from between her legs, prompting a shriek from Lilly as well. A peach-colored drape had hidden her until she stood.
"Oh my gosh, you scared us to death!" Lilly said, her heart racing as fast as Miley's She looked around at the sterile-looking room filled with cabinets, counters and various pieces of equipment, finally taking in the woman standing in front of them. She was a bit taller than either of them, looked to be in her late thirties, and wore a lab coat and goggles.
The older woman grinned and said, "Did you forget I was there?" She smiled gently at them and said, "It's okay, lots of couples get nervous at this point."
Lilly looked down at the drape covering Miley's waist and legs, finally realizing they were in a doctor's office, with Miley in position for a pelvic exam or procedure. "Miley, are you okay?" she asked. "Does this feel, um, like a dream to you?" she asked, winking an eye for emphasis.
Miley nodded her head. "Yeah, exactly what I was thinking. C'mere." Lilly leaned down so Miley could whisper in her ear. "Night before our wedding?" she whispered.
Lilly nodded. "Yeah. We're dreaming."
Miley smiled, then her smile instantly disappeared as a very, very cold sensation suddenly entered her vagina. "WHOA! What the heck was that?" she said loudly.
A voice came from the other side of the drape. "Miley," the doctor said, "I'm inserting the tubing into your uterus now. It's going to feel a little cold."
"Ya think?!?" Miley practically yelled as her back started to arch off the table. Lilly instantly leaned over and stroked Miley's forehead.
"Shhh," Lilly said, trying to calm her wife down. "Miles, I think I know what's going on."
Miley swung her left arm over and grabbed Lilly's shirt. "Then would ya be good enough to TELL ME?"
Rather than try to pull away, Lilly instead leaned further over until their lips were almost touching. "I think we're getting ready to make a baby," she said with a brilliant smile. She grinned until tears formed in her eyes, making them sparkle a shade of blue that reminded Miley of the blue sky she remembered from her childhood. The blue sky that stood for all the wonder of the world, a world with no limits beyond what a young girl could dream.
"Are we really?" Miley said, the cold and discomfort pushed aside as she focused on her wife's beautiful face. She released Lilly's shirt and instead ran her left hand through Lilly's hair.
"Yes, you are," came the doctor's disembodied voice again. "Mrs. Truscott?"
"Which one?" Miley and Lilly said simultaneously, followed by both of them laughing.
"Sorry," said the doctor, mirth in her voice as well. "Lilly, I meant."
"Yes," Lilly said, taking a step toward the foot of the bed but not releasing Miley.
A hand appeared holding a small cylinder with a green button on one end. "This is yours. The delivery tube is snugly in place in your wife's uterus, and the sperm delivery system is primed and ready."
Lilly gingerly took the cylinder, being careful to hold her thumb above the button without actually contacting it. She looked at Miley and whispered a bit too loudly, "Whose sperm did we use?"
The doctor's head poked above the cover of the drape. "You two really are nervous, aren't you?" she said.
"Yeah, of course we are!" Lilly said. "This IS our first baby, after all." She turned to Miley. "Isn't it?" Miley just shrugged, not offering Lilly much help.
The doctor said, "Lilly, you and Miley have been working with us for several years now. This facility is the most advanced fertility center in the world, and we've spent over a year transforming some of yours and Miley's epithelial cells into stem cells. Once that was done, then we steered a quantity of your re-engineered stem cells, Lilly, into a particular line of development that transformed them into sex cells. Spermatozoa, to be exact. And now we've matured them into a sufficient quantity of sperm to get your wife pregnant." She paused and looked up at them again. "I wanted to thank you two, again. Without your generous support over the years, it would've taken much, much longer for fertility medicine to reach this point. And now we're about to show the world that reverse-engineered stem cells from adult epithelial tissue are a scientifically equal and ethically superior option to embryonic stem cells. In a huge way." Her head once again disappeared behind the drape over Miley's legs. "Now, remember, this might not take on the first try. We have enough sperm engineered for several more tries over the next few days if need be."
Lilly looked down at Miley. "I have the oddest feeling it's going to take this try," she said with a smile on her face.
Miley looked back up at Lilly. "Me too," she said softly. Lilly leaned down and kissed Miley warmly. "Go ahead, Lilly Bear," Miley said in her sultry voice. "Knock me up."
Lilly closed her eyes and kissed Miley deeply, not holding any of her love or passion back. As she felt Miley's hands cup the back of her head and pull their mouths together even more tightly, she lost herself in the pleasure of their kiss. And she hit the green button.
A gentle shaking woke Lilly from her dream. "Lilly," said the sweetest voice she had ever heard, "it's time to wake up, sweetheart." Lilly opened her eyes and saw Miley's bright blue eyes and broad smile looking down at her.
Lilly instead wrapped her arms around Miley and pulled her down onto her chest. "Good morning, Miles," Lilly said warmly.
"No fooling around," Miley said gently. "Kaela's in the bathroom and Luanne is right over there."
"Your discretion is much appreciated," said Luanne with a very sarcastic voice, prompting Miley to turn her head and stick her tongue out at her sister.
"Party pooper," Lilly added. She looked up at Miley, who had turned her gaze back to her fiancée. "We need to wait anyway, until after the wedding."
"Things are going to be happening fast after the ceremony this morning, you know," Miley said.
"I know. What are we going to tell Kaela until we get on the plane?"
"Well, we can tell her part of the truth, I guess. That we have another ceremony to go to, and that we want her there." Miley chewed her lip, a habit that Lilly found absolutely adorable.
"I think she'll be flipped out when we tell her the truth," Lilly said with a grin. "But I want her to know."
Miley nodded. "So do I. But now we have to get up and get dressed, Lil. It's seven-thirty, and Dolly and your mom are on their way to help us with our hair and make-up." She saw a look of something flicker behind Lilly's eyes. "What?" she asked curiously.
"Just our dream," Lilly said, her voice lower and her face slightly flushed. "I loved it," she said with a smile and a kiss.
"So did I," Miley replied, "except for how cold that thing was. Ugh." She kissed Lilly again. "But I'd do it a hundred times for our baby."
"Well, let's hope you won't have to," Lilly said with a grin and then a giggle. She gently pushed Miley, helping her back up, then the two of them stood. Lilly stepped behind Miley and lifted up her lover's shirt slightly, rubbing Miley's flat abdomen tenderly. "One day," she whispered in Miley's right ear, "one day that'll be our baby girl in there."
Miley reached back behind her head and gently ran her hands through Lilly's silky blonde locks. "I get the first one," she said in a voice just slightly above a whisper, "then you can have the second."
"Deal," Lilly said, patting Miley's abdomen and finally releasing her.
Luanne walked over and stood in front of them, eying them closely. "As much as I love you two, I think you act pretty weird sometimes."
Miley and Lilly both laughed at Luanne's comment. "We resemble that opinion," Lilly said with a giggle.
"Completely," Miley added.
Luanne leaned forward and kissed first Miley, then Lilly on the left cheek. "Go get ready. You two have a big day today, and we want to get out there while it's still halfway warm."
Miley looked up at the clock. It was almost nine-thirty, and it was very nearly time. She looked back at herself in the mirror again, and she had to will her heart to calm down.
"Miley darlin', you look as beautiful as your momma did on her weddin' day," Dolly said as she brought Miley her veil.
As Miley took the veil, she looked at it and wondered if this was how her mother felt right before her wedding. She looked back into the mirror and remembered the photo she had in her room of her mother and father at their wedding. Dolly was right; the resemblance was striking, from the thick, curly dark brown hair, to the brilliant blue eyes, to the warm, round face, to the long arms, to the same sleeveless raw silk wedding gown, unchanged from when her mother had worn it. "I do look like her, don't I?" Miley said softly, more to herself than to anyone else.
Dolly put her right arm around Miley as she also looked into the mirror. "You sure do, little ladybug. You've grown up into a fine young lady, and your momma's proud of you."
"I know," Miley said. The sound of the door to the dressing room opening drew her attention away from the mirror. She turned to see her father walking in, looking quite sharp in his black and white tuxedo. As he took in the sight of his daughter in her wedding gown, he froze in place. Miley smiled and said, "So what do ya think?"
Robby Ray took a moment to catch his breath. The resemblance of Miley to her mother was striking, although Miley was quite a bit younger than her mother was when she and Robby Ray had gotten married. Still, the effect was a bit unnerving. He composed himself and walked over to Miley. Wordlessly, Dolly stepped out of the room to give them their privacy.
"You look every bit like an angel," Robby Ray finally said. "Even knowin' this day was comin' up, it's still sorta hard to believe that it's here."
Miley looked back into the mirror. "I know what you mean." She looked down at the engagement ring on her finger and smiled. "But this is a good day. This is what we've waited for." She looked back at her father. "So why am I so nervous?" She felt tears starting to form, and she closed her eyes tightly to try and hold them off.
"Miley," her father said softly. "Lilly sent this to you." He held out a note in front of his daughter.
With a shaking hand, Miley took it and opened it. She felt a tear slip out as she read the simple note, spattering as it struck the small piece of thin paper upon which Lilly had written a few words:
Together, Miley. We can get through this together. Now pull yourself together, cause I know you're trying not to cry right now. It's time for us to do this, to make our pledges to each other in front of our families and God.
I love you.
Your Lilly Bear
Miley laughed as she read the simple note. "She always knows just what to say to me," she said as she gingerly wiped the tears from the corner of her eye. Her makeup was minimal, but she still didn't want to smear anything. She looked at her father, fighting tears himself. "I'm ready, Daddy."
Jackson made sure everyone not participating in the ceremony had been seated in the small heated pavilion overlooking the spectacular falls, then he gave the signal to the organist to begin playing. Since there were no guests to speak of and only a minimal number of attendants, Oliver and Luanne walked down the aisle first, with Oliver moving to the left to stand as Lilly's best man and Luanne moving to the right to serve as Miley's maid of honor. Jackson caught Kaela's eye and gave her a wink, then he turned to look back as Miley and Lilly both stepped out of the sides of the pavilion, each with her father in tow behind her. Lilly's subdued ivory white dress, made of the same raw silk as Miley's, had required a bit of alteration, as it originally been long-sleeved and sized for Lilly's mother, slightly too large for Lilly's body, but now it looked stunning. Now sleeveless like Miley's dress, it clung to her shoulders with a choker wrapping lightly around Lilly's neck. The sleeves that had been removed had been made into long elbow-length white gloves which Lilly was now wearing, making her look amazingly like a princess from some fairy tale as her golden hair fell in strands and braids behind her.
As Jackson looked at his sister walking the aisle beside Lilly, he also was struck by how much she looked like their mother did in her wedding photos. He saw Miley look up and smile at him, bringing him back to the present. As the brides passed him, he smiled at both of them, then he took his seat beside Kaela.
As Miley and Lilly reached the minister, the older man smiled and waited for the music to stop. Once that had happened, he turned to Lilly and said, "Who gives this young woman away?"
"Her mother and I do," Phil Truscott said, holding his daughter's hand as he stepped up beside her.
The minister turned to Miley and Robby Ray. "And who gives this young woman away?"
"I do," Robby Ray said as he likewise stepped forward, holding Miley's hand. Together he and Phil put their daughters' hands together, then they stepped back and took their seats, leaving Oliver, Luanne, Miley and Lilly standing in front of the minister.
The minister opened his small Bible and said, "Marriage is one of the most sacred ceremonies recognized across the world today. It is a holy ritual to unite two people who truly love each other for all eternity, recognizing their devotion and fidelity to each other above all else. Entering into this covenant is not to be done lightly, but instead only to be done by those who have wisely considered their relationship and their future from all angles and sought the counsel of God in their decision."
He looked past the brides to the families seated. "Lilly and Miley have chosen to write their own unique wedding vows to pledge their dedication to one another."
Lilly looked deeply into Miley's eyes as she removed her gloves, handing them to Oliver without ever breaking eye contact with Miley's moist eyes. She took a deep breath as Oliver gently pressed Miley's wedding band into her right hand. "I, Lillian Jessica Truscott, take you, Miley May Stewart, to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, to honor and to protect, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. I offer myself to you, as I am, wholeheartedly. I take thee, Miley, above all others, for now and forevermore." Lilly gently slid the brilliant white gold wedding band onto Miley's left ring finger until it touched her engagement ring. Lilly looked up at Miley and smiled at the tears running down Miley's face, tears that she knew were reflected on her own face. She took Miley's hands again as Miley closed her eyes for a second, then opened them again.
"I, Miley May Stewart, take you, Lillian Jessica Truscott, to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, to honor and to protect, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. I offer myself to you, as I am, wholeheartedly. I take thee, Lilly, above all others, for now and forevermore." As Miley finished her vows, Luanne placed the wedding band into her hand. With a shaking hand, Miley placed Lilly's wedding band on her finger and slid it until it was also resting against her engagement ring. They smiled as they looked at each, and each of them laughed slightly as the tears continued to trickle down their faces. As the minister spoke again, they never took their eyes off each other.
"By the power vested in me by the nation of Canada and the state of Ontario, I hereby pronounce you wife and wife. You may each kiss your bride."
As Miley and Lilly put their arms around each other, the rest of the world faded away as they closed their eyes. When their lips touched, they each felt a small spark, a gentle shock at the moment of contact. They kissed deeply, finally registering the cheers of their families and friends watching them. As they broke contact, they still held each other, laughing and smiling as the minister proclaimed, "I now present to you Mrs. Lillian Jessica and Mrs. Miley May Truscott! May your union be blessed by God always!"
Author's Afterword: Okay, that was eerie. I was just typing the scene with Miley and Lilly declaring their vows to each other, when "As I Am" began playing on my mp3 player. Very serendipitous, and a nice sign that their union is truly blessed. Sorry about this chapter taking so long to finish, but it turned out to be quite a bit longer than I had been expecting, and it had to be done right. I'm planning on probably two more chapters in this story, with the really big wedding on deck next. And yes, I have used this chapter's Intro music for a chapter in a previous story, but it so captured the scene of them looking into each other's eyes during the wedding that I just had to use it again. Hope no one minds.
For those of you interested in knowing how much of the stem cell reverse-engineering in Miley's and Lilly's dream is science fiction and how much is reality, you might be surprised. Back in 2007 researchers had already successfully taken epithelial skin cells from mammals and were able to "de-age" them back into fully functioning stem cells. This process was first done on small mammals (mice) and then advanced to larger mammals (goats). Work on human cells is currently proceeding. Once stem cells are available, they have shown tremendous versatility, as they can be developed into any type of descendant cell desired through careful manipulation of their environment. The greatest obstacle concerning stem cell research until now has been their source: embryos and lines of cloned embryonic cells. Reverse-engineering stem cells offers the promise originally seen with stem cells years ago while avoiding the ethical and moral quagmire of using embryonic stem cells. So one day we might indeed see same-sex couples able to have children made of genetic material from both parents (although female-female parents will be much easier than male-male parents due to potential problems from the Y sex chromosome). Now you can see how Miley's and Lilly's daughter Brooke will have features from both her mothers!
I'll see you next chapter. Until then, happy reading!
-- Jo --