Twenty-five year old Austin stood in his father's bedroom. "I look like a damn fool in this monkey suit!" He cried looking at himself in the mirror.
"You look fine." 62-year-old Chris said. "Your brides waiting you don't want to be late."
Austin laughed at his father. "Dad after seven years do you still not know Kasey? She's going to be late even to her own funeral!" He cried.
Chris shook his head and laughed. "Come here son." He said softly.
"What dad? Please not another heart to heart! Kasey's dad just keeps having them with me!" Austin whined.
Chris laughed and smiled. "There's another person who would like to have a heart to heart with you." He said and handed him the letter from Ashley.
"I thought I got my last one on my 21st birthday." Austin said quietly.
"Yeah your mother was evil." Chris said and walked out of the room.
Austin tore open the letter slowly. He bit his lip and began to read.
Bubba,
Today you become a husband. A husband is someone who is not only the love of your life but someone who will stand by you when you are at your weakest. Your father was such a man. He loved me until I took my last breath. That's the type of man I expect you to be Austin Jacob Jericho! I want you to love and care for the woman and don't ever let her go. I hope she's perfect for you just as your dad was perfect for me and no matter what don't allow what anyone says to affect your marriage. Be the man your father and I (well mainly your father) raised you to bed. I wish I could be there to cry at your wedding but today I will be standing right by you proud my little boy has become such a good man. I love you Austin.
Love always your loving mother,
Ashley.
Austin smiled and nodded. He should've known his mother would write to him on the biggest day of his life. He smile and put the letter in his bag that he would stop by and get before his honeymoon.
He walked down into the kitchen that he had been raised in. Chris, Noah, Ash, and his best-man Troy Kendrick sat waiting for him. "You ready buddy?" Troy asked.
"Ya know it." Austin said with a smile.
They arrived at Austin's grandfather's house 68 year old Steve Austin. Steve came out and hugged his grandsons and his son in law. "How you boys doing?" Steve asked as they all began to walk inside.
"We are good Grandpa." Austin said. "Where's Kase?" He asked.
"In your mom's old room but don't you go up there it's bad luck!" Steve said with a smile.
Austin rolled his eyes. "I know!" He then turned to Noah. "Take this up to Kasey okay?" He asked handing him a long box.
Chris shook his head. "I'll take it. I wanna talk to her."
Austin shrugged. "Whatever I'll be in the den watching the game."
"Nice Austin watching the game on your wedding day. Aren't you supposed to be making sure everything's here on time?" Steve asked.
"That's what we hired a wedding planner." Austin mumbled and they walked into the den.
Chris knocked on the door and Kasey's maid of honor answered it. "Hello Mr. Jericho." She said with a smile.
"Hey Jenny. Can I come in?" He asked.
"Um let me see. Kase is it okay if Austin's dad comes in?" Jenny asked.
"Yes! Come on in Chris!" She called.
Chris smiled and entered the room and saw his soon to be daughter in law standing there. "Why don't you look just beautiful Kasey." Chris said with a smile.
Kasey smiled and hugged Chris closely who sighed and looked around. The room he stood in hadn't changed since Ashley last lived here twenty-five years ago in 2007. The bedspread was still Pirates of the Caribbean, posters of him, Steve, John Cena, Jeff and Matt Hardy hung all around the room and the desk was still scattered with pictures of Ashley's college days. "Wow blast from the past." Chris said.
"This was Austin's mom's room right?" Kasey asked.
Chris nodded. "Yeah this was Ashley's room." He said quietly.
"I am sorry that was insensitive." Kasey said.
Chris shook his head and smiled. "No it wasn't. This is your day anyways. I just wanted to tell you Ashley would've loved to have you as a daughter just like I do and that I am happy you're joining this family." He said.
"Aww thanks Dad." Kasey said and they hugged closely.
"It's no problem Kase I am just glad my son finally got the sense to ask you to marry him." Chris said.
There was a knock on the door and her bride's maid and Noah's girlfriend Toni came in. "Hey guys! Um Chris it's almost time so you should go down."
Chris nodded and jogged down the steps. He walked into the backyard and gasped. It was a blast from the past. It looked exactly like it had on Ashley and his' wedding day. Tears came to his eyes but he felt a calming sensation and he smiled up at the sky. He knew his wife was there that day and he took his seat in the front row.
The music started and Austin, and Troy appeared next came out Glen Jacobs who had been the officiant at Ashley and Chris' wedding. "God this is weird." He whispered to Steve who just nodded.
The first couple to step out was Ash and his sister Sierra. Then came Taylor Kendrick and his sister Sabina. Then came Noah and Toni who were all smiles. Finally, Jenny the maid of honor came out by her lonesome.
Finally, after what seemed like forever Kasey appeared with her father. She came down slowly and Austin grinned. He had a surprise for his father on this day. He went out and escorted Kasey back to the Glen.
Glen smiled and began. "We are gathered here today to witness the coming together of these two souls, Austin and Kasey, whose hearts and spirits are entwined as one. They now desire to profess before the entire world their intention henceforth to walk the road of life together."
Glen paused as Austin turned to look at his father. Chris realized that Glen was performing the same ceremony as Chris and Ashley's wedding. "To these two souls, this marriage signifies the birth of a new soul, a soul which is a part of each of us, yet not of any one of us alone. This "birth of a soul" reminds us of spring, the season when all life is reborn and looms again. It is appropriate, therefore, that this wedding be in the spring, and that it be under the open sky, where we are close to the earth and to the unity of life, the totality of living things of which we are part. The beliefs and thoughts about love which motivate these two souls are perhaps best expressed in the words of poet Kahlil Gibran:"
"You were born to be together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in your silent memory.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heaven dance between you.
Love one another, but make not bondage of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread, but eat not of the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone, though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping,
For only the hand of life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together,
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in shadow."
Austin started to tear up and Chris grinned at him. "I love you." Austin mouthed.
Glen continued. "I believe you both stole your vows." He nodded at Austin and then winked at Chris.
"There was darkness for a long time and then there was light, and that light was you. Your love has given me wings, and our journey begins today. I pledge before this assembled company to be your husband from this day forward. Let us make of our two lives one life. I want you for today, tomorrow, and forever."
Kasey wiped her tears away and looked over at Chris. "Thank you Mr. Jericho for being such a great writer." She paused as the group laughed and she recited her vows. "I have dreamed my whole life of having someone as wonderful as you love me the way you do. I give myself to you as your wife, and I promise here to treasure for all of my days the love we celebrate today. Let us bring together our lives and find ourselves anew each day."
Glen smiled and said. "Kasey do you take Austin as your husband, in happiness and with patience and understanding, through conflict and tranquility?"
"I do." She said softly. She then slipped Austin's ring on his finger.
"And Austin do you take Kasey as your wife, in happiness and with patience and understanding, through conflict and tranquility?"
"I do." He said and slipped the matching ring onto Kasey's left finger.
Glen smiled and made them hold hands. "In the years which shall bring Austin and Kasey into greater age and wisdom, we hope that their love shall be ever young; that they shall be able to always recover from moments of despair. In this hope, may they keep the vows made on this day, in freedom, teaching each other who they are, what they yet shall be, enabling them to know that, in the fullness of being, they are more than themselves and more than each other, that they are all of us, and that together we share joyously the fruits of life on this earth, our home."
Glen paused and then finished. "Inasmuch as Austin and Kasey have declared their love to each other before family and friends. I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jericho. You may kiss the bride!"
Austin kissed Kasey softly and turned around.
"God could've given her a better kiss!" Misha cried.
Austin laughed and dipped Kasey back and kissed her passionately. Therefore, it went on June 23rd 2032 Austin married Kasey.