A/N: Okay, here it is. The big wedding chapter. :) I just want to throw in that I'm not too familiar with the exact wedding procession, so if I messed up the order it was only to enhance this chapter and I hope you forgive me what with the relatively quick update. :D
Anyway, Tommy's vows are pretty much identical to Burke's vows to Cristina from Grey's Anatomy, but I threw in a few extra details and part of Jude's vows are from Beverly Hills 90210- not that I ever saw that show, but I saw the vows online and I thought they'd be appropriate.
Enough with the chit chat. On with the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't even own the computer I'm typing this on...
Chapter 4: The Tommy Advocate, The Future & Optimism
"Honey...honey, you okay?" Stuart Harrison questioned his youngest daughter.
Jude, who was nervously wringing her hands in front of her, smiled up at her father. "Yeah, I'm just...I can't believe this is really happening."
Stuart nodded and placed a kiss on her temple. Although he'd been opposed to Jude being with Tommy several years ago, he'd seen how much he had changed and how happy he made Jude. He smirked inwardly as he remembered the afternoon Tommy had gone to see him to ask for Jude's hand in marriage.
"Stuart...Mr. Harrison. I, um, well, I..."
Stuart chuckled and grinned at the young man sitting before him, noting to himself that this was the first time he'd ever seen Tommy nervous.
Tommy sighed heavily, mustering up his courage, and looked Stuart straight in the eye. "Mr. Harrison, I love your daughter," he paused as tongue darted out quickly to lick his lips. "More than absolutely anything in this world."
Stuart raised an eyebrow at Tommy, knowing full well how much he truly cared about Jude, but choosing to look surprised just to make him a bit more nervous.
"Stuart, I...I came here to ask you for Jude's hand in marriage."
Although Stuart had known that this was precisely why Tommy was here, his eyebrows still arched up in surprise at how serious Tommy was.
This was Jude. His Jude. His baby girl. He knew this day would come one day, but he never imagined how hard it would be. He glanced up at Tommy and smirked a bit at the sight of him squirming in his seat uncomfortably. Anxiously.
Sighing, Stuart sat up straight in his chair and extended his hand out to Tommy.
"Okay."
"Daddy?"
Stuart jumped slightly and looked down at Jude staring up curiously at him. "You okay?"
"I should be asking you that," he said with a smile.
Jude exhaled and nodded. "I am. I'm just...excited...and nervous. I don't even know what to think, you know?"
"Everything is going to be fine, Jude. He loves you, that's all that matters right now," he said with a nod.
"Since when have you become such a Tommy advocate?" Jude asked jokingly.
He looked over at her seriously. "Since he made you happier than I've ever seen you."
Jude blushed slightly and leaned up to kiss her father on the cheek. "I'll still always be your little girl," she whispered.
Stuart grinned and offered his arm to Jude, who exhaled and hooked her arm through her father's, as they made their way to the doors that led to the church.
The doors that led to the altar.
To Tommy.
To her future.
Jude nervously bit down on her lip as she heard the organ play the wedding march loudly. She heard everyone stand inside and as she stepped forward with her father, in view of everyone, her breath hitched in her throat.
She looked up at the front of the church. Portia, Spiederman- whom Jude had decided to make a bridesmaid as repayment for being best man at his wedding- and Sadie on the left, and Jamie- whom Tommy had grown close to when Jude had left for London- Chaz, and Kwest on the right, all smiling brightly at her.
And then there was Tommy.
Standing at the very front of the church, his jaw practically hitting the ground.
The pounding that he'd been feeling his head from the hangover suddenly disappeared at the sight before him. There had only been a few occasions in which Tommy had seen Jude in a dress, and he had to say, this was by far the greatest. She looked absolutely beautiful.
Kwest was right.
Jude beamed up at him, her eyes locked with his as she walked down the aisle with her father. He returned the smile and Jude's grin grew even wider.
Sadie was right.
Once Jude reached the front of the church, her teary-eyed father gently kissed her cheek, then shook Tommy's hand, who sent him a reassuring look.
With a smile, Jude turned to Tommy, who offered his arm, and they stepped up to the altar.
Paegan smiled at the two of them and cleared his throat. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man, Thomas Michael Dutois, and this woman, Jude Elizabeth Harrison, in Holy Matrimony. If any man can show just cause why these two people may not lawfully be joined together, let him speak now or forever hold his peace."
He paused and scanned the crowd out of habit, knowing that no one would say anything...especially under Sadie's death glare.
"Very well," Paegan said with a smile, turning back to face Jude and Tommy, who were grinning lamely at each other.
"These two have stood the test of time and stand before us all today to be wed. They will now recite vows in which they have each written," Paegan turned to Tommy and nodded slightly, letting him know to begin.
Tommy returned the nod nervously then turned to face Jude. Any feelings of nervousness immediately vanished at the sight of her beaming up at him, her blonde hair beautifully framing her face. He smiled back at her and began.
"I, uh, I had this written out, but...I'm deciding to just wing it," he said, so only she could hear.
She smirked and nodded at him.
Taking in a deep breath, he looked up at her. "Jude, I could promise to hold you, and to cherish you," he said slowly.
"I could promise to be there, in sickness and in health. I could say 'til death do us part.' But I won't. Those vows are for optimistic couples, the ones full of hope. I do not stand here on my wedding day optimistic or full of hope. I am not optimistic. I am not hopeful," he paused for a moment, smiling at Jude who was frowning slightly in confusion.
"I am sure. Jude, you are my partner. My lover. My very best friend. My girl. You are my heart, Jude. My heart beats for you. And on this, the day of our wedding, I promise you this. I promise to lay my heart in the palm of your hands. I promise you," he paused, his picking up her hand in his.
"I promise you me."
Tears freely fell from Jude's face and Tommy reached up to wipe them away. She briefly looked over at Paegan and smiled at him when he nodded, signaling for her to begin.
"When was it that we fell in love? When I was 15 or 16, maybe 17? I don't know, because the truth is, I can't picture a time when I wasn't in love with you, Tommy," they exchanged a smile, briefly reminiscing of their past and the early years of their relationship.
"I always knew you were the one that could look into my eyes and see my soul. I don't question your commitment to us, and I know that there's nothing that we can't work through. And I accept you as my partner and as my best friend, above all others. It's a miracle to find the kind of happiness that you have given me, Tommy. And in honor of that miracle, I pledge before our family and friends to love you and to stand by you for the rest of my life."
Jude smiled at Tommy, tears slowly streaming down her face. She nodded again at Paegan and walked the short distance to the organ. She winked at Tommy, who was clearly confused.
Placing her hands delicately on the keys, she slowly began playing a song both she and Tommy held close to their hearts.
"Dark cloud moving in
Just one fall of rain
Would wash away
Wash away the pain.
Just one ray of sun
To warm my skin
Rid me of the cold
You're drowning
I could say that I don't care
But the truth is I'd follow you anywhere
I've been waiting such a long, long time
Don't you dare change your mind,"
Tommy grinned at her, remembering the first time she'd played this song. In this church that they were standing in now, being wed.
"Seems so close to me
But still beyond my reach
Calling me and playing hide and seek
Look behind that door
I'm the one you've been searching for
And I'm not a little girl anymore
I could say that I don't care
But the truth is I'd follow you anywhere
I've been waiting such a long, long time
Don't you dare change your mind,"
Jude smiled over at Tommy, feeling as though her whole body would combust from the joy she was feeling.
Four years ago, she'd sat at this very same organ, in this very same church, and played this very same song to him, hoping he would realize what she was trying to tell him.
And now, she was playing it for a different reason. To remind him.
She was trying to remind him that the love that she felt for him on this very day, their wedding day, was burning just as brightly- if not, more- than it had been on the afternoon that she had first played this for him.
"Don't wander 'round looking
For someone to replace me
Don't wander 'round wasting
The rest of your life.
Don't wander 'round waiting
For someone else to save you
And don't you make the same mistake twice
I could say that I don't care
But the truth is I'd follow you anywhere
I've been waiting such a long, long time
Don't you dare change...
Your mind."
Jude played the last few notes on the organ, stood, then walked back over to Tommy. Grasping his hand once more, she smiled sweetly as she saw several tears stream down his cheeks.
And she knew.
She knew that he would never change his mind.