I do not own Warm Bodies. It's just awesome.

R and Julie: The Simple Life

Chapter 2: Kind of a Big Deal

On the day of the wedding, Nora opened the door to find two children standing together on the stoop. The dark skinned boy held out a large bundle of wildflowers and the small pale girl offered a wildflower garland she had twisted together to adorn Julie's head. When Nora accepted them with thanks, they grinned happily at her and ran away before she could ask them their names. R would have recognized them and been glad to see them among the living.

The actual wedding ended up being a bigger affair than they had originally anticipated. Thanks to Marcus and Nora, news had spread quickly about R and Julie's nuptials. Theirs was the first union between a human and a newly reborn human. Most of the people of the city saw it as evidence of the continuing rebirth of the world. Humans, recovering Corpses, and newly reborn humans alike wanted to be part of yet another miracle of the newly exhumed world. It was kind of a big deal.

The serene, blue sky held lazily drifting, puffy, white clouds. Warm, gentle spring breezes wafted through the air. It seemed as though God and nature were displaying their approval of this extraordinary union as well. It would have been just as perfect to R and Julie if it had been pouring rain. All they could see were each other.

At three o'clock, without pomp or circumstance, R and Julie met together on the front steps of the Grigio house. R wore the suit Marie had given him, wildflowers in his lapel. He looked very spruce. Julie wore the dress she had been wearing the day the wall came down. She held her wildflower bouquet. Nora had insisted on putting Julie's hair up, leaving tendrils framing her face and adorning her head was the wildflower garland. R thought she looked like an angel. His angel. He wasn't wrong.

Colonel John Grigio, protective father of the bride and one time misguided shooter of the groom, officiated the ceremony. Wearing his army uniform, he stood between them, on the step above. His hands were folded peacefully in front of him. Those in the wedding party believed that his involvement in this affair would send a direct, positive message to everybody in attendance. This was the new world and it was to be not only accepted, but celebrated. The message rang clear and true for all who were willing to listen.

Marcus stood as R's best man, a step below and slightly back from the groom. He cleaned up well, in a modest suit, wildflowers in his lapel. Nora, of course, was Julie's maid of honor. She stood opposite to Marcus, wearing a soft blue knee length dress. Her hair was twisted up and she held a small wildflower bouquet. Marcus thought she looked radiant and enjoyed looking upon her without her being able to shoo him away.

Snipers stood ready at attention in key points stationed around the upper perimeter of the wedding site. Grigio had ordered them for the ceremony after Nora's market skirmish. Grigio was taking no chances with his daughter's life. He did, however, position them carefully so that they were well hidden and would not spoil the cermony.

There was no mention or hint made of R's previous state of being. However, it was in the minds of all in attendance that day. The fine, upstanding young man now before them had, a mere eight weeks ago, existed as a shambling, brain-eating Corpse. He was now a fully rejuvenated human, joining his existence to another human being. In short, they felt as though a miracle was taking place.

R's nervousness had soared to new terrifying heights. He kept wondering if, at any moment, someone was going to protest and ruin everything he and Julie had worked so hard for. No one did. He still waited. He thought he might have a heart attack and die all over again from the stress. Then he remembered Nora's bathtub advice and decided to keep his eyes on Julie and no one else.

Julie was calm and serene as moonlight. She stood still with a warm smile on her face. She never looked away from R. Her confident, loving presence seem to hold him up and steady him until his nervousness drained slowly out of his toes, leaving him peaceful.

The ceremony began.

"Ladies and gentleman, we are gathered here today, in the sight of God, to join this man and this woman in the bonds of marriage."

Colonel Grigio accepted R and Julie's union and sought to exude that confidence and approval to the gathered crowd. He chose simple words and never faltered in his speech. The crowd watched in captivated silence.

"Julie, do you choose R to be your husband?"

Julie smiled like the sun and replied confidently, "I do."

"Then repeat after me. I, Julie, take you, R, to be my husband, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death parts us."

Julie repeated the words and reached for his left hand. R was so intently experiencing the moment that he nearly raised his right to her. Julie placed the ring and gave his fingers an extra squeeze before letting go. They shared a knowing smile between them. It was alright.

"R, do you choose Julie to be your wife?"

R locked his gaze on Julie's beautiful blue eyes.

"I do."

"Then repeat after me. I, R, take you, Julie, to be my wife, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death parts us."

R carefully spoke the vows as he took Julie's hand and turned her ring facing toward her as a symbol of their special commitment.

"What God has brought together, may no one separate," Colonel Grigio intoned, looking out over the hushed, expectant crowd.

"I, Colonel John Grigio, now pronounce you husband and wife and present you to . . . us."

The gathered crowd applauded and many cheers lifted into the air from everyone gathered as R and Julie shared their first kiss as husband and wife. Julie could feel R's lips trembling and as he touched her cheek, he gently brushed away the happy tears he discovered there.

People shook hands, hugged, and clapped each other on the backs. Many people were crying, but the tears seemed to be of happiness. John Grigio turned away for a moment and wiped at the corners of his own eyes. He thoughtfully twisted his own wedding band around his finger for a moment, remembering his precious Diane.

An informal reception was held on the grounds outside the house. Though the world was being exhumed, Colonel Grigio could not bring himself to welcome strangers all the way into his house. His pragmatism could not be overruled even on his daughter's wedding. It was a beautiful day to be outside anyhow. No one gave it any thought.

A small spread of food was provided by the well-wishers. Since most people usually felt disinclined to share their salvaged food stores, these offerings came as a welcome surprise. Even more surprisingly, the canned and few fresh food items lay in decorative containers. When asked, most people just shrugged their shoulders and insisted they had found the fancy dishware lying around with everything else. But there was a gleam in the eye of everyone present. There was even champagne and wine available.

Another surprise awaited the wedding party and guests. Some of the people in the audience came bearing guitars and other musical instruments that they had rescued from extinction. They played a variety of songs with varying degrees of success to the appreciation of all. The children in the crowd and even some adults danced for the first time in years. People seemed to forget for a moment that the world had, at one time, been on its way out. Or, perhaps, they were celebrating because it had been and was no longer.

It was undeniably clear that the people were embracing the warmth and hopefulness of the event. Moved at the show of acceptance and effort being made by these people, many of whom they did not know, Julie and R humbly thanked those gathered. They were rewarded with additional cheers and applause. The entire experience was a little overwhelming.

As it so happened, Julie simply could not bear to throw her fresh wildflower bouquet. A small plastic bouquet was quickly found and she threw that instead. A young teenage girl Julie did not recognize caught it and sent a meaningful look to a boy about her age who laughed nervously and darted away. She chased him through the crowd and disappeared. Good natured laughter followed them and the celebration continued.

At some point during the festivities, Marcus found R and put his left hand on his best friend's shoulder. They looked into each other's eyes. They did not speak. They did not have to. It was all there. Then Marcus held out his right hand for a shake and after obliging, R hugged him, this time out of happiness instead of crushing despair.

After a while, the well wishers began to depart. Some helpful women in the crowd took it upon themselves to portion the food out so no one left with an empty stomach. People expressed their final congratulations and left to return to their regular lives. They would remember this day, and the events leading up to it, and retell the stories for many years to come.

Near the end, Colonel Grigio caught a few quiet moments with his beloved daughter and her new husband.

"Everything seems to be going well here," he casually stated. "I'm going to be out in the field for the next few days. I just wanted to say goodbye for now. I love you, Julie. I'm very proud to be your father."

He hugged his daughter tightly, then turned to R as Julie once again wiped at her eyes.

"R, you've proven yourself to be quite a valuable human being. Thank you for bringing the light back into my daughter's eyes. You're a good person."

They shook hands and R felt a lump growing in his throat. John Grigio politely excused himself from the festivities and departed. R and Julie looked at each other, well aware of the real reason her father was staying away. They shared a blush of anticipation at the thought of finally physically consummating their union.

Soon after, they went into the house. Nora had already changed clothes in preparation for her evening working in the medical tent and left. They were alone in the house. Ascending the massive staircase slowly, they walked close, their bodies lightly touching. Entering their room, they closed the door and locked it. They stayed there for quite some time.

Hopefully that was a nicely sappy wedding. They deserved it, right?