We walked down the hill towards the ice rink, where everyone would meet us. "I can't believe it, we are finally married," I whispered as the tears that had welled in my eyes finally cascaded down my face.
"Indeed we are, Mr. Nikiforov," Viktor said, grinning as he wiped the cascading tears away and kissed me again. We had gone into the locker room to switch into our skates, something that I'm glad I had packed after all. He knelt in front of me, tightening my laces. "Ready to do this?" he asked, looking up.
Before he could move, I knelt to tighten his laces. I stood, nodding. Together, we walked to the rink, hand in hand. After taking a deep breath, we pushed the doors open to thunderous applause.
A sudden hush descended over the crowd as I took to the ice and stopped in the center as the music filtered through the speakers.
Bwana ni mwokozi wangu,
Tena ni kiongozi wangu
Ananipenda leo kuliko jana
Baraka zake hazikwishi, si kama binadamu habadiliki
I closed my eyes, losing myself in the music as I always do. I launched off the ice, landing the Triple Axel, Triple Toe Loop combination that I was known for.
Ananipenda leo kuliko jana
Kuliko Jana
Kuliko Jana
Yesu nipende leo kuliko jana
Kuliko Jana
Kuliko Jana
Yesu nipende leo kuliko jana
I launched off the ice again, landing the Quadruple Axel that had become my signature during the Grand Prix Finals. The crowd roared as I moved in time with the music.
Nakuomba Mungu awasamehe
Wangalijua jinsi unavyonipenda mimi wasingenisema
Na maadui wangu nawaombe maisha marefu, wazidi kuona ukinibariki
Ujue binadamu ni waajabu sana
Walimkana Yesu mara tatu kabla jogoo kuwika
Ujue binadamu ni waajabu sana
Walimsulubisha Yesu Messiah bila kusita
Hearing thunderous applause again, I opened my eyes as Viktor took my hand in his, our rings catching the light. He interlaced my fingers with his as we moved as one and skated in time with the music.
Bwana ni mwokozi wangu,
Tena ni kiongozi wangu
Ananipenda leo kuliko jana
Baraka zake hazikwishi, si kama binadamu habadiliki
Ananipenda leo kuliko jana
Kuliko Jana
Kuliko Jana
Yesu nipende leo kuliko jana
Kuliko Jana
Kuliko Jana
Yesu nipende leo kuliko jana
He pulled me in front of him, and, wrapping his arms around my waist, lifted me into the air to the thunderous applause of the crowd.
Bwana ni mwokozi wangu, Tena ni mkombozi wangu
Ananipenda leo kuliko jana
Baraka zake hazikwishi, si kama binadamu habadiliki
Ananipenda leo kuliko jana
Kuliko Jana
Kuliko Jana
Yesu nipende leo kuliko jana
Kuliko Jana
Kuliko Jana
Yesu nipende leo kuliko jana
I leaned back in his arms as he spun me close to the ice. I straightened and let go of his hand. We launched off the ice, both landing another Quadruple Axel.
Wewe ndio nategemea (wewe), kufa kupona baba nakutegemea (wewe)
Chochote kitanikatsia (uh-huh), kuingia mbinguni utaniondolea
Wewe ndio nategemea (oooh), kufa kupona baba nakutegemea (nakutegemea)
Chochote kitanikatsia kuingia mbinguni utaniondolea
He wrapped his arms around my waist again, tossing me into the air and catching me again before I hit the ice as the music reached its apex. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause again.
Bwana ni mwokozi wangu, Tena ni mkombozi wangu
Ananipenda leo kuliko jana
Baraka zake hazikwishi, si kama binadamu habadiliki
Ananipenda leo kuliko jana
Kuliko Jana
Kuliko Jana
Nipende leo Kuliko Jana
We spun in each other's arms, lost in each other's eyes. We landed one last combination and glided to a stop as the music faded away. I threw my arms around Viktor's neck as he leaned in to kiss me once more.
The crowd once again erupted into thunderous applause and cheering that could have definitely broken the sound barrier. We bowed and greeted the crowd and left the ice. We went back to the locker room to switch back to our dress shoes.
"Vitya, that was beautiful!" Katya cried, tears pouring down her face as she wrapped Viktor in her arms, squeezing him as soon as we stepped into the hallway.
"Katya! Let your brother breathe!" Aleksei said, pulling me into an equally as bone-breaking hug.
The four of us headed back to the lobby of the rink we could head back to the hotel for the reception.