Chapter 16: Alex

I wake early on the morning of November 30th, 2004. My wedding day. I see Karl on the sleeping bag next to me. Instead of waking him, I hear a baby crying, so I head down the beach to Charlie and Claire's tent. Claire's awake although she looks sleepy. "Ready for the big day?" I ask, coming up behind her. She turns. "Alex!" she cries. "You excited?" "And terrified." I admit. "But I'm so in love right now, it hurts." She smiles. "I know how you feel. By the way, how are you feeling right now? Nauseous? Hormonal?" Claire was one of the few people I ha told about Karl and I. "No, just nervous." "Good," She says relieved. "We don't need a Second pregnant girl here." I nod. "So Claire, Thanks for being the maid of honor. And Charlie's an usher, right?" She winks. "Right." I head back to my tent to get ready and Claire stays behind to wake up Charlie so he can watch Aaron. A few minutes later, Karl gets up and sees Claire. "Out of the tent for a minute, please Claire. Thank you." As she walks out, he closes the flap behind her. "Alex," he says comin over to me and cupping my face in his hands. "I got something for you, Angel." He pulls out a wedding veil. I gasp. "Oh Karl, it's beautiful." There are tears of joy in my eyes. "You, Karl are the best thing that ever happened to me." He kisses me, just as Sawyer walks in. "Hey you two, save it for the honeymoon!" He laughs. Karl straightens himself and says. "We'll be in Sawyers tent, getting ready." I smile and say. "I hope you packed a tie." He gives me a kiss on the cheek before Sawyer ushers him out. Claire comes back in, and sees the veil. "Oh Alex, it's gorgeous!" She breathes. Then she helps me put on the dress, and the veil. She has a dress too, not as clean, but still pretty. "I finally shook off all that baby weight!" She laughs. Then we head out of the tent to the skeleton church, where there are candles, and Eko holds a bible. Karl is standing at the front looking as proud as can be, with Sawyer next to him looking happy. Charlie's holding his guitar. I raise my eyebrows at

him, and he smiles. Then he plays the wedding march. I walk up, and stop when I get to the front. Everyone is sitting on pieces of driftwood, made into benches. The day is perfect. The sky is blue, and the sun is shining. Eko goes through the service, and has us sign a certificate, legalizing it. Then he says: "Karl Elijah Martin, do you take Alexandra Emily Linus to be your wife, in sickness and health, good times and bad?" Karl looks straight at me with those soulful eyes and says. "I do." Then he says. "Aaron, could you come up here for a second?" Sun, who's holding Aaron, comes up and brings him with her. He has two rings tied to his arm. Gold rings. Then Eko continues. "Alexandra Emily Linus, do you take Karl Elijah Martin to be your husband, in sickness and health, good times and bad?" I smile at him and say. "I do." Then he slips the rings off of the string, and slides one on my finger. I look on it, and it says. 'Alex and Karl, Always together. Nov 30, 04.' "It's amazing." I whisper. "How did you-" There are tears welling up in my eyes, tears of joy. Eko then says. "I now pronounce you, husband and wife." He turns to Karl. "You may kiss her now." Karl leans down and gives me a long, loving, lingering kiss. It goes on for a while, when out of the corner of my eye, I see Tom. Oh no. He sees my dress, and veil, and his eyes widen considerably. Then I see Danny behind him. Worse, they've both seen us making out under an arch, with a guy with a bible. Then I reach up, and pull Karl in closer. Then I whisper. "Very slowly, look to your right." He turns and sees them. Then they're running, just as Charlie starts a new song on his guitar. Then it is time for the feast. Desmond has caught a boar in honour of the wedding, and after we finish eating, Karl brings out a cake. I squeal, and jump in to his arms while he spins me around. Then we cut the cake, and I throw my bouquet of island flowers over my shoulder. Claire catches it, and blushes deeply. However, Charlie looks better than he has in days. Then Karl and I go down the beach, for a romantic walk at sunset. It's been the perfect day, except for that one little snag. Everything was perfect.