FB, FW Chapter 4
The organ music suddenly changed and the familiar 'Here Comes the Bride' music started to play. Everyone stood up and looked behind them to catch a glimpse of Calleigh. The one who was the most anxious to see her was Horatio. All of a sudden he could feel the butterflies in his stomach. His eyes lit up when he saw movement in the distance of the church. Suddenly, Donna and Daisy Jo came walking down the aisle hand-in-hand. Horatio smiled from ear to ear, he was proud of his little princesses. Next was Chloe followed by Natalia and Alexx. Damien's eyes were fixed on Natalia. He quite liked her. When the girls were stood in place, it was Calleigh's turn.
"Are you ready Cal?" Eric put her arm though his.
Calleigh took a deep breath, "I think so. I only wished daddy would be here."
"I know, but you can't let what happened this morning ruin your day. Worry about it later, this is your day, not his. You have everyone else here who love you and they will never let you down, especially Horatio."
Calleigh tilted her head downwards slightly, "that's true," she put her head up and took another deep breath, "let's go."
As Eric lead Calleigh down the aisle, Horatio gazed towards his bride. Her dress was just perfect, a strapless white bodice with tiny, embroidered, pink and purple flowers round the edges, the white skirt flowing right down to the floor. Her hair was pinned back in curls and finished off with a silver and diamante tiara. In Horatio's eyes, she was just perfect. Damien knocked Horatio out of his daydream, "wow H, you got a gorgeous missus," Damien whispered into his ear, "don't let her go, she's a keeper."
Horatio chuckled quietly, "that's what I plan to do."
Calleigh reached Horatio at the end of the aisle. Horatio was speechless, he didn't quite know what to say. Eventually he managed a slight whisper, "you look beautiful."
Calleigh blushed to the same shade of pink as the flowers on her dress, "thank you."
The minister opened his bible, "dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and the presence of this company, to unite Horatio Caine and Calleigh Duquesne in holy matrimony."
As the ceremony went on, Calleigh's and Horatio's nerves calmed down as they got used to the fact that everyone was watching them. Chloe had eventually edged her way on to Hugh's lap and the twins decided to sit on the floor and pull their bouquets apart. Natalia and Alexx decided to leave them both to it as they were quiet and content.
"If you are ready to assume the obligations and duties before God, as I have defined them, you will unite your hands and pledge your love and your lives to each other.
Do you Horatio Caine, standing in the presence of God and these witnesses, solemnly pledge your faith to Calleigh Duquesne? Do you promise to live with her according to God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; do you promise to love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, and through God's grace to promise to be to her a faithful and devoted husband as long as you both shall live?"
Horatio looked straight into Calleigh's eyes, "I do."
"Horatio, do you have a token of your love for Calleigh?"
"I do," Horatio turned to Damien who passed the ring to the minister.
"Calleigh, do you receive this ring in pledge of the same on your part?"
As Horatio put the ring onto Calleigh's hand, she answered, "I do."
"And Calleigh, do you have a token of your love for Horatio?"
"I do," Calleigh turned to look at Alexx and saw that she was crying her eyes out which in turn started Calleigh off. Alexx handed the ring to the minister. Horatio grinned and wiped away a tear from Calleigh's cheek that she had tried so hard not to let out.
"Horatio, do you receive this ring in of the same on your part?"
"I do," Horatio watched Calleigh put the ring on his finger and noticed that she still had tears streaming down her face.
The minister continued the service, "the wedding ring is the outward and the visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love. The circle, the emblem of eternity; the gold, the type of what is least tarnished and most enduring--it is to show how lasting and imperishable is the faith now pledged. Let the ring, a fit token of that which is unending, continue to be to you both a symbol of the value, the purity, and the constancy of true wedded love, and the seal of the vows in which you have both pledged your most solemn and sacred honour."
Horatio took a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped Calleigh's eyes, trying to be careful not to smudge her make-up. It was, after all, the second time today that she'd had to apply it.
"By the authority committed unto me as a Minister of the Gospel of the Church of Christ, I declare that Horatio and Calleigh are now husband and wife, according to the ordinance of God and the law of the State of Florida, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."
The whole of the congregation repeated, "Amen."
The minister continued to close to ceremony, "Dear Ones, I strongly charge you both as husband and wife, to preserve sacredly the privacies of your own home, your marriage state, and your heart. Remember our Lord's urgent counsel: "What God hath joined together let not man put assunder". Therefore, let no one ever presume to come between you, or to share the joys or the sorrows that belong to you two alone."
Horatio pulled Calleigh closer for a kiss and Calleigh responded to the whole of the congregation cheering.
As they left the church, everyone threw confetti over the newly weds as they walked to the churchyard for the photos. As Horatio looked out towards the quiet road, he noticed a black car starting up the engine and driving off. He watched it drive off into the distance. Calleigh put her arm round his body, "are you okay?" she looked towards the direction that Horatio was looking towards but saw nothing.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Horatio snapped out of his trance, "let's go get the photos done."
He held Calleigh's hand and they walked round to the churchyard where everyone else was waiting for them.