*All right, here's a sweetness warning: this chapter is terribly, almost revoltingly, sweet and sappy. It's a wedding for god's sake it's supposed to be. So just in case you don't want to feel a little queasy lovey dovey stuff, I would not read this. No lemons included here. It also has a little bit of Greek mythology mixed in at the end which kind of adds to the romantic nature of their unconventional relationship. I did not make it up to fit my story either. You can find it on Wikipedia if you look it up.*

Wedding of the God and Goddess

The next day, Naruto and Keiko stood on the empty beach with the officiate performing their ceremony. She was dressed in a plain white gauzy sundress with dark blue embroidery down the front and he was dressed in loose white linen pants and a tunic top to match with the same dark blue embroidery on it that matched her dress. They were facing each other and holding hands while the waves rushed at their feet, swirling around their ankles and sucking the sand from between their toes. The mythological story about Aphrodite was that she was born from the foam of the rushing tide that ran up the shore of this island. She smiled as she stared at the gorgeous young man that was about to become her husband. Her mind was plagued with thoughts of doubt and negativity but she kept pushing it away not wanting to let anything ruin her happiness or his today.

Naruto was shocked that she was still here and had not ran away yet. He had halfway expected to wake up alone this morning with his return plane ticket sitting on the nightstand because she had already caught the next flight home. His eyes looked her over from head to toe, and he smiled at her. Neither one of them were listening to a word the minister was saying as he began the ceremony. When it was his turn to speak the vows he had written on his own, Naruto spoke them out with a loud strong voice to declare, and hopefully get it through her maddeningly thick skull, just how much he loved her.

"I have loved you for a long time in different ways. You mean more to me than you will ever know. Now you have given me two extraordinary gifts, your love and our little miracle inside of you," he said, reaching out to touch her belly. He looked into her tear filled eyes, watching one sparkling tear escape her eye and course down her face like a liquid diamond glinting in the sun. After inhaling a deep shaky breath he continued. "Today it will be my honor and greatest joy to become your husband. I will be yours forever as you are mine. I promise to love you and protect you always. To be true to you as we build our lives and family together. I will cherish all the days of our lives together."

Keiko had tears of joy flooding down her face now, wanting to unleash loud wailing sobs of the happiness that flooded over her like the waves over her feet. She could not believe all of that had just come out of his mouth. Apparently he had just allowed whatever he had in his heart to come flooding out straight to her. It was shocking really; he was like an old man trapped in a young man's body sometimes. Never would she have guessed that he was capable of expressing such profound feeling.

"Oh, sweetheart, I love you so much," she sniffed when she finally found her voice. She reached out to touch his cheek, trying to remember the words she had for him but her mind was a muddled mess. Okay. Time to just say it; to admit what she truly feels and quit running from it. "Naruto, I love you. I have had the unique experience of watching you grow into a man before you became my man and the father of our child." She paused to cast a sidelong glance at the preacher who did not seem effected at all by her strange statement. "I pledge my love to you that has already been yours for so many years. We will continue to walk through life's journey together as we always have. Where ever life's path takes us, we will go there together. No matter what lies ahead, I vow to be faithful and loyal to you. I loved you yesterday as a boy. I love you today as a man. I will love you tomorrow and eternally as my husband and the father of our child."

"Congratulations! I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride!" the pleasant and very jovial officiate announced in his thick Greek accent, grinning broadly at the unusual but beautiful couple in front of him.

Naruto took his gorgeous blushing bride into his arms, thrilled to kiss his wife for the very first time. He held her tightly as her fingers twisted into his hair and pulled his lips harder against hers. He felt as if she would never let him go in that moment as she returned the deep emotions held in his kiss. In her heart and arms was where he always wanted to be.

"Oh, Blondie, I love you so so much. I can never be without you," she cried, a whole new flood of tears coursing down her cheeks.

"You never will be. I will always be yours. I will be right here with you helping you. I promise I will be a great husband and father," he said, kissing her again.

"I believe you will be," she rejoined, embracing him tightly.

"Hey, lovebirds, come with me," the friendly older man who had performed their ceremony said. He waved at them to follow him to his house which was right up the path from the beach. "My wife and I have prepared a wedding feast for you. We even invited our family to celebrate with you."

Mr. Xenakis believed that special occasions, especially something like a wedding deserved much revelry and merrymaking. So much so that he even supplied the food and family. The confused yet happy couple decided to go along with it rather than offend the man and hurt his feelings for refusing his amazing display of hospitality. They walked onto the cement balcony to be greeted by strangers who acted as if they were the closest of family members. They were given kisses and hugs and congratulatory pats on the back by at least a three dozen people packed into the small space.

Keiko looked at her new husband and shrugged. They were both feeling a little overwhelmed right now but decided to just relax and have fun, enjoying the reception and acceptance from the exceedingly friendly strangers. The celebration lasted way into the night until the moon was high in the sky and the stars twinkled in the velvety night sky. The happy couple was sitting at the table on the balcony overlooking the ocean with Mr. and Mrs. Xenakis, their wonderful hosts.

"When I talked to you on the phone Keiko, you explained to me why you picked this island and wanted a wedding on the beach. Do you know the rest of Aphrodite's story?" Mr. Xenakis inquired, blinking at her as he waited for an answer.

"I know she was forced by Zeus to marry Hephaestus, the lame god who served as blacksmith to the gods. She had a son who was Eros, or Cupid, the god of lust and love. Erotic love more specifically," she said, placing her hand on Naruto's upper thigh. She smiled when her touch startled him and he jumped.

"Did you know she had another son? One she adopted?" Mrs. Xenakis asked.

"No, I didn't," Keiko answered, wondering where this was going.

"She adopted him as a baby and when he grew up to be a man, she fell in love with him. His name was Adonis, the gorgeous golden god who was the epitome of male beauty and desire," the older woman explained, staring at the blushing blond sitting next to his new wife. "It's as if the Fates brought you here, my dear. The two of you were meant to be together."

Keiko almost fainted she felt so lightheaded suddenly because she had not known that party of the mythology. This was just too amazing. They had to be making this part up. It was if her and her husband were replaying a part of a fictional history from ancient Greek times. That would explain why the Xenakis' were so accepting and understanding of Keiko and Naruto and comfortable with their relationship. These kinds of things had been accepted and purported in their culture since the ancient times even in their mythology.

"Maybe we should name the baby Eros or Adonis if it's a boy," Keiko joked, looking at her young blond husband who had a thoughtful expression on his face as if he were actually considering it. "Oh, hell no! Don't even consider it!"