This is it…the event we've been waiting ten long years for!
They all went into the side of Confuse-Us's mountain. It was obvious that a pre-wedding cleanup had just taken place. His main ceremonial room had that fresh-cleaned look. The floors were shiny and there were fresh candles in their shiny holders at the ends of the pews. There was a huge red carpet leading to the crystal alter at the very end, with a huge golden cross on the wall directly behind. Confuse-Us came forward and stood directly behind the crystal alter. "Hunter? Colleen? Will both of you join me up here?"
Hunter and Colleen smiled at one another, took each other's hand, and slowly made their way up the isle, Colleen holding her rose bouquet happily as the Space Rovers formally filed into the pews. Exile, Blitz, Shag, and Muzzle sat in the front pews, making sure that Starbright and Cherie Blair sat the closest. Confuse-Us cleared his throat. "Shall we begin?" Everyone around him nodded as he opened his book and everyone around him got solumn. "Friends, family. We have all gathered here today on this special night to witness the joining of these two dogs before us as mates for life. To witness the pledges they will make and the new life they will take together. Let us pray," and they all bowed their heads.
Meanwhile in the White House Clinton and Hilary came into the kitchen for a late night snack. "Hey," Bill told one of the cooks. "Grill us up some French Fries.."
"Bill." Hilary said,.
"Uh…chop up some carrot sticks.." Bill said quietly. He sat down next to Hilary. "Well.." Bill sighed. "It's almost over…and what a long, strange trip it's been. " Hilary nodded. "Gonna miss this place, ya know."
"Oh, I know," Hilary mumbled to herself. But she said. "Well, hopefully it might not be too longer until I'm here again!"
Whoo-Whee…that'll be real nice!" Bill agreed. He looked around him. "It's pretty quiet around here tonight, ain't it? Wonder what Hunter's doing? Is he in his doghouse?"
"Go look," Hilary said. "He's probably asleep." Bill went outside,. But came back in a short time late. "He's not there."
"Not in his doghouse?"
"Nope."
"Maybe he's gone off on a walk. You know that dog of yours, he's always off on some adventure. He'll be back."
"Yeah," Bill laughed, sitting back at the table. "Wonder what he's up to right now?"
"TOday and always, Amen!" Confuse-Us finished.
"Amen!" the guests all said.
"This is a very special moment..for all of us," Confuse-Us said. "The moment when any pair of dogs take the solumn sacred vows that unite them for life is always holy, loving, and special. But for these two it is no doubt one of the most special things to have every happened to either one of them. For, Colleen and Hunter have come together, not just from two separate streets…not from two separate cities..not even from two separate states. They have come together fro two different countries entirely. Colleen was born and raised on the streets of London, and Hunter is American born and bread…yet fate, and I believe the will of Our Lord, have lead them to cross the ocean separating them..to overcome that great obsticle, and to be chosen..both of them…as the courageous warriors known as the Road Rovers that we all know and love. Fate intertwined as they became Leader and Second-In-Command..and allowed them to spend so much time together..so much so the seeds of love took root among them, which lead to us being here tonight. We all celebrate with them tonight. Celebrate the love that has developed here, and celebrate the destiny that was and is. The destiny and the fate that always was, and their souls which will be joined together as we speak. I happen to know both of these individuals personally. I know their birth and their backgrounds. Both of these individuals have had hard childhoods. Losing their parents, or having them be taken away. Growing up on the streets fighting for food, being forgotten by negligent masters, defending themselves in Shelters. Courting death and hunger. Yet, from the ashes of these hard childhoods, they have found the greatest miracle of all. One another. Their hard lives as puppies have lead them to be strong independent individuals. However they have decided they would be better off taking the rest of life's journey together, rather then continue separately." He turned to Hunter just then. "Hunter, will you in the eyes of God and in front of these witnesses to take this woman as your mate and wife? Will you promise to love, honor and cherish her all the days of your life? Will you help her, honor, her stand beside her and cherish her through good times and bad, through happy times and sad? Through sickness and health will you treat her right and forever be faithful till the end of your life?"
"I will," Hunter said happily
"Colleen, will you in the eyes of God and in front of these witnesses to take this man as your husband and mate? Will you promise to love, honor and cherish him all the days of your life? Will you help him, honor him, stand beside him and cherish him through good times and bad, through happy times and sad? Through sickness and health will you treat him right and forever be faithful till the end of your life?"
"I will," Colleen said with tears of joy in her eyes.
Confuse-Us waved his hand over the company. "I now ask all the people I now see…is there any reason this marriage cannot be?"
Persia stood up. "For the Space Rovers and me, there is no reason this marriage cannot be."
Exile stood up then. "For Muzzle, Starbright, and me, there is no reason this marriage cannot be."
Blitz stood up then. "For Shag and me, there is no reason this marriage cannot be." When he sat down there was a pause. Exile gentily nudged Mrs. Blair and whispered quickly into her ear.
"Oh..oh..," she quickly stood up then. "For Tony and me, there is no reason this marriage cannot be." She sat down and mouthed a quick 'Thank you' to Exile.
Confuse-Us waved his hand toward Hunter and Colleen. "I now ask the both of you now, have you now come here willingly and of your own free wills to be joined forever as mates for life?
"Yes," Hunter and Colleen both said together. Starbright sniffled and wiped tears from her eyes. Shag pulled a hankerchief out of his fur and gave it to her. She whispered 'Thank you,' to him as the tears fell from her happy eyes. Shag pulled out another hankerchief and blew his nose tearfully.
"Please face each other and pronounce your vows that will reunite you forever." Hunter and Collen faced each other.
'Colleen," Hunter began. "Ever since I was a small puppy I never understood a lot about the world. What the world held for me..what I was meant for. I never knew what it was like to do or feel a lot of things, like love. I never honesty knew what love, aside from the love I had from my Mom, was. (Starbright's eyes got more teary) But in you, Colleen, I found y answer. In you I've found someone who accepts me as I am, you've believed in me and cheered me on even when the times looked bleak. You might not have agreed with some of my plans, but you helped me with them anyway, and I honestly don't know what I'd be without you. In you I've found someone who I enjoy being with more than anyone else. Every moment we've ever spent together…I remember every minute, every second. The happiest times as a Road Rover to me are the timmes I spent with you. In you I've found what I was looking for..the meaning of love. Colleen, I promise from the bottom of my heart to always let you know how much I love you every day. I promise to stand beside you and help you, the way you've always stood beside me,. But most of all, Colleen, I vow that I will be the most honest and faithful husband to you forever."
Starbright sniffled. "That's my boy!" she gasped to herself.
Colleen faced Hunter with tears in her eyes. "Huntie, growing up on the streets of London, I never thought I'd ever meet someone like you. You are without a doubt the sweetest, kindest, most honest, most thoughtful dog I've ever met in me life, and me life would be empty without you in it. I never thought I would ever see a day like this, I never thought I'd ever find true love with anyone. But the moment I laid eyes on you, the second we greeted each other in the Headquarters two years ago, I knew that you were the one I wanted to love. You were the one I wanted to stand beside me…and you were the one I wanted to stand beside. You always treat me like a equal, you never speak down or are condescending to me because of my gender, you believe in me and you're always there for me. And I vow to always be there for you. I vow to you tonight all me love and e faithfulness. I vow I will never leave your side no matter where fate takes us. I will never stop believing you and all we've ever stood for. And I vow with all me heart that through sickness, through health, through tears, through laughter, I will always, always love you, like I have when we first met."
By this time even Exile had teared up. 'I LOVE happy nights!" he sniffled.
"Re roo!" Shag sniffed, blowing his nose. Mrs. Balri was blotting tears from her eyes.
Exile noticed out of the corner of his eye Blitz had his head down. He tried to look into his face. "Blitz, are YOU crying?"
"No, no, I'm good," Blitz said, but it sounded like he was choking on his words.
"Now we come to the exchanging of dog tags," Confuse-Us said. "This part of the ceremony represents thes two dogs belonging to one another for the rest of each other. Who has the tags?" Shag stood up and pulled two dog tags out of his fur. Confuse-Us said a blessing over them, took Hunter's tag and gave it to him. "Please fasion this tag to Colleen's collar."
Hunter did so and repeated the vows after Confuse-Us. "I give you this tag as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. With the giving of this tag, may I forever belong to you and you alone in the eyes of God."
Colleen then took her tag Confuse-Us gave to her and fashioned it to Hunter's collar. "I give you this tag as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. With the giving of this tag, may I forever belong to you and you alone in the eyes of God."
"With the exchange of these tags..and the joining of your left hands," He took their hands and blessed them. "by the power invested in me as the Great Wise Dog, the Lord God Almighty and His Lord our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, I now declare that you, Hunter, and you, Colleen, are united as mates for life and husband and wife!' He smiled. "You may seal your union!" Hunter pulled Colleen into his arms and kissed her with such a deep love and tenderness it took everyone's breath away. Everyone stood up and applauded loudly.
"I am not going to cry..I am not going to cry.." Blitz tried to will himself..but even he couldn't stop the tears.
Starbright was the first on her feet to embrace Colleen and Hunter. Soon everyone was surrounding the newlyweds, hugging, them congratulating them.
"Come, Confuse-Us! You are invited to reception too!"
"Why thank you," Confuse-Us said happily. "Just let me blow out the candles and I'll join ya there! But neither Hunter nor Colleen heard him, for thy were lost in another kiss so full of love it filled the room with it's sweetness.