A/N: Hey ya'll! Wow, I think I had this one up faster than normal. And sorry about the lack of Trouble at the Boar's Nest, I'm suffering extreme writer's block and I'm having trouble of figuring out where I'm going. I have about half the chapter done, and should have more soon. Anyways, please review and and enjoy this chapter.
Also, my sister got married about three weeks ago, and something funny happened there, so I worked it into this chapter. Try and figure out what it is that I'm talking about.
Chapter 4: Wedding Bells Ring, Unless They're Broken
Bo pulled the General into the church parking space feeling better than he had that morning. He had sort of made up with the bride-to-be, and they were gonna start their marriage of on the right foot--actually the left, considering Bo still had a considerable limp on his right foot. That's of no importance, though, since he was just about to get married.
Luke patted his shoulder as they opened the great double doors to the church. He smiled. "I can't believe your the first one of us to get married, Bo," he said. "I always thought it would be Daisy."
"Well," said Bo. "I think she's next." He looked over at his other cousin, who was making out something fierce with Enos. Bo and Luke burst out laughing as Jesse reprimanded them for making out in front of a church. The family and Enos headed inside.
Daisy immediately picked up a program and began reading. "Let's see if there's any errors. Best Man-Lukas Duke, Groomsmen, Jesse Duke, Cooter Davenport. Maid of Honor, Daisy Duke, Bridesmaids-Mary Beth Ramsey, and Sue Ann Payton. Flower girl-Becky Lee Ramsey. Looks right to me."
Mary Beth and Sue Ann were other waitresses at the Boar's Nest along with Daisy, and Michelle, too, since she had started working there. Michelle had become fast friends with the other girls, and Mary Beth's daughter Becky Lee was the flower girl.
Daisy made her way back to the bridal dressing room to help the bride. She found an undressed Michelle glancing glumly down at her dress. Daisy sat down next to her and threw an arm around her shoulder.
"What's the matter, sugar?" Daisy asked.
"I can't fit into the dress," Michelle replied. "I'm too, well, pregnant. I shoulda known, getting married halfway through pregnancy would require a bigger dress than what I fit into when I bought it."
"Ya can't fit into it at all?" Daisy wondered. After Michelle shook her head no in response, Daisy sighed. "Dang, now what do we do?"
Michelle had a lone tear slipping down her cheek, smudging her makeup. Her hair was all curled and done up in clips. "I don't know!" she sobbed. "This is supposed to be a happy day! But my dress won't fit, I argued with my almost husband about flowers, I feel like puking, and now I look like crap cause I've been crying!"
"Oh, honey," Daisy soothed. "Don't worry, we'll fix it."
"How?" Michelle choked out. "I can't just get a new dress now, it's too late!"
"Knock, knock," a voice came from outside. It was Uncle Jesse. "May I come in?"
"Just one second, Uncle Jesse!" Daisy answered. She grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around Michelle's bare body. "Okay, come in!"
Jesse took one look at his almost niece-in-law, and immediately knew this wedding was so far turning out to be a disaster. "What's wrong?" he asked the girls.
"Her dress won't fit 'er," Daisy answered for Michelle. "Guess we didn't realize her belly'd be gettin' bigger when we bought the dress."
"Well, now, there ain't no reason ta panic," Jesse consoled. "The dress ain't the important thing. The important thing is that yer gettin' married ta my youngest. An' him gettin married, now tha's a miracle."
A gurgly giggle escaped Michelle. Daisy smiled, too. Jesse was pleased he got Michelle to laugh.
"Yer havin' a bad day, aren't ya?" Jesse asked. When Michelle nodded, Jesse continued. "Maybe there's some way we can stretch this dress out ta make it fit."
"Not without breaking it," Michelle said. Before anyone could say another word, Mary Beth, Sue Ann, and Becky Lee entered the bridal dressing room.
"Hey come on Michelle," Mary Beth said. "Get yer dress on, we're gonna run late!" Michelle let out another choked sob, and Jesse and Daisy explained the situation.
"I figured that might happen," Mary Beth said. "When you showed me your dress last night, I thought, 'Man, that dress is real small fer her pregnant belly.' So I brought ya somethin'. I brought ya my weddin' dress. I'm a little bigger'n ya, so you might fit inta my dress."
Michelle smiled through her tears. "This is why you're my bridesmaid," she said to Mary Beth. "Thank you so much."
Bo nervously attempted to tie his bowtie. He kept fumbling around, until Luke noticed.
"Here buddy," he said. "Lemme help ya with this."
"Thanks Luke," Bo said. He sighed.
"What's up, Bo?" Luke wondered.
"I'm a little nervous," Bo admitted. "I ain't never thought bout gettin' married, even six months ago. I bet we wouldn't be here taday if Shelly weren't pregnant. Ya think we'll last?"
"Bo," Luke said, a little exasperated."Have ya seen the way you and Michelle look at each other? Yer in love, an' it'll last."
Bo grinned, grateful for Luke's words.
Though it was a tight fit, Michelle made the new dress work. She would have liked an even bigger dress, but that was obviously out of the question. Pretty much as soon as it was completely on, the ceremony was about to begin.
Daisy, Michelle, Mary Beth, Sue Ann, and Becky Lee stood at the back of the church, waiting for the cue to head down the aisle. As the maid of honor, Daisy went first. She was followed by Mary Beth, then Sue Ann, and finally Becky Lee. Bo, Luke, Jesse, and Cooter were already down at the altar, waiting for Michelle.
Since Jesse was the only man alive Michelle considered to be like a father, and he was a groomsman, she walked herself down the aisle. Everyone turned to look at her, just as in normal weddings. She slowly walked down the aisle as the wedding march played in the background. She couldn't help but smile when she saw Bo watching her from the altar. She looked directly into his eyes, and knew this was right. Bo was the right man to be her husband, and the father of her children. She felt as if she had fallen in love with Bo Duke all over again. Tears streaked down her face, only this time it was tears of joy, and not of frustration as they were earlier that day.
Once she got to the altar, the minister, Reverend Gerralds began the ceremony.
"Dearly beloved," he addressed. "We are gathered here today to join in holy matrimony, these two young people, Beauregard-" he received a harsh stare from Bo-"excuse me, Bo James Duke and Michelle Evelyn Dennis. If there is anyone present who does not think these two should be married, speak now, or forever hold your peace."
No one answered, so Reverend Gerralds continued. He had them say their I do's. He gave a short reading before proceeding with the vows. "Bo, repeat after me. 'I, Bo, take you Michelle, to be my wife.'"
Bo smiled, gazing into Michelle's eyes. "I, Bo, take you Michelle, to be my wife."
"'To have and to hold from this day forward,'" the minister continued.
"To have and to hold from this day forward," Bo repeated, smiling at Michelle.
"'For better or for worse,'" he went on.
"For better or for worse," Bo echoed softly once more.
"'For richer, for poorer . . .'"
"For richer, for poorer . . ."
"'In sickness and in health . . .'"
"In sicknes and in health . . ." Bo's voice hitched slightly.
"'To love and to cherish . . .'"
"To love and to cherish . . ." he smiled again.
"'From this day forward until death do us part," the reverend finished.
"From this day forward until death do us part," Bo added with a note of finality. Reverend Gerralds repeated the same thing for Michelle and then asked Luke for the rings. Luke nodded and gave them to the minister.
"All right, Bo," the reverend said again. "Take this ring and put it on Michelle's ring finger and say 'With this ring, I thee wed.'"
Bo did as he was told, and Michelle did the same. Finally, Reverend Gerralds pronounced them husband and wife, and Bo planted a nice kiss on his new bride and they walked back up the aisle once more. They were followed by Daisy and Luke, Mary Beth and Jesse, and Sue Ann and Cooter. This was okay with Sue Ann, since she had an unexplainable crush on Cooter. She was even hoping Cooter would save her a dance during the reception.
Luckily for her, Sue Ann got that dance, and even a kiss. Turns out Cooter likes Sue Ann too. Maybe there will be a wedding in their future. Sue Ann even caught the bouquet, and Cooter caught the other thing (completely forgot what those are called, but they're the things the men have to catch). They earned a dance, but first, Cooter had to attempt to put the "other thing" on Sue Ann's leg--blindfolded.
While Cooter wasn't looking, Luke, who was running a commentary on this whole thing, secretly pulled Bo up to the dance floor, where the blindfolded Cooter and Sue Ann were. Luke sat his now married cousin down on the chair where Sue Ann was supposed to be.
"Okay Cooter," Luke said. "Let's see if you can get onta Sue Ann's leg properly." Everyone was snickering, but no one said anything as Cooter put the thing on whom he thought was Sue Ann, but was really Bo. Once Cooter had it on Bo's leg, Luke announced, "Okay buddy-roe, take off that thing ta see if ya got it on 'er right."
Cooter pulled off his blindfold to find Bo in the chair and Sue Ann off to the side laughing. He playfully punched Bo in the leg before his hard-earned dance with Sue Ann.
The reception went over well, and everyone had a good time. Most of all Bo and Michelle were happy, even though there was to be no honeymoon.
A/N: Hope ya liked it! Please review!
