The Greatest Secret

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 184 (End Thirty Years of Longing)

January 1st was here, Robert's heart was racing as he stood at the altar overlooking a beautiful lake, surrounded by hills and evergreens, along with mountains that were shaded perfectly in the gorgeous sunset. The sunset was supposed to be symbolic for the end of an old life apart. From now on, the skies would be blue and everything would come up roses. It only took thirty years to reach this point. It had been a long time coming, too long. The gentle breeze blew on his hair, which was skillfully tucked inside his military hat. He bore his Air Force uniform with pride.

He was currently on his own with the minister standing at the white podium in front of him. His best man and two groomsmen were not coming yet, they would walk out when the wedding began. He turned his eyes to the many guests that were seated in the white chairs encompassing the grassy hill that overlooked the beautiful scenery. His eyes were filled with anxiety. He hadn't seen Marissa all day, considering the typical rule of not seeing brides before the wedding.

Angeline was the first person he spotted, she was sitting in the Groom's mother's spot. Next to her was his birth mother. Both women were teary eyed and were attempting to dry their eyes with white lace handkerchiefs. His mom had asked about Tyrone, but to Robert's disdain, he had to tell her the man wasn't allowed at the wedding. He had been astonished when he saw the discouraging look in her eyes. Then, he wasn't surprised to know that she did have some feelings left over for Tyrone. Even after all these years. She had confessed to him that while she seemed hard against him, and it was for good reason, she really did yearn for the man she did love. That was the man who left when Tyrone got the news of his birth and how angry and distant he had become.

Robert shook the thoughts from his mind and gazed at the aisle. Was he scared? Was he nervous? Perhaps the rumbling, yet empty stomach could answer that for him, or even the slightly clammy hands. He wanted this day to last forever, but at the same time, to hurry the hell up. If this wedding didn't start up soon, he was afraid he pass out from the anxiety!

How long had he been standing there for? Five minutes? A whole hour, or maybe even a lifetime? No. A lifetime had been the amount of time he spent without her. Could anyone see him sweating? He swore he wouldn't let his emotions get the better of him. It was times like this, he did want a father to talk to, to tell him what to expect. Maybe he shouldn't have banned Tyrone from the wedding, but he couldn't allow someone so arrogant to be involved!

Police guards were everywhere. What was one to do when they were marrying the assistant chief of police, anyway? Chances were likely that nothing was going to disrupt this wedding. He could just picture his father running down the aisle, declaring that the wedding must be called off. With as many cops as there were, there was no chance in hell of that happening. Emily had decided that she wasn't going to charge Tyrone for anything, nor ever arrest him, for the simple fact that there was another man who had done the things that she always thought he'd done. It was very confusing for her and she just wanted to see what the hell was going on before she made any snap decisions. In Robert's mind, this meant Robert just got a free pass. It was before that she wouldn't arrest the man as long as he never took Carly away, but now she could if she wanted to.

Again he had to pull his thoughts away from his father. The music began playing and Jonah's voice rang out through the air. Jonah, Griffin, and Gibby were performing as the wedding musicians. Freddie and Carly were a part of the wedding, so they couldn't be a part of the band for this performance. They were playing and singing a slow love song, to which Robert quickly snapped his attention to the aisle. He smiled and removed his hat, holding it at his waist with both hands. Thinking fast, he groomed his hat hair and returned his hand to his hat visor.

As the song continued, the groomsmen, bridesmaid, Best Man and Matron of Honor were to walk in order of importance of the wedding. Before them, however, Marissa's niece, Stephanie, came walking down the aisle. She was in a bright yellow dress and was doing her best to laden the ground with flowers from her bucket. After her came the groomsmen and bridesmaid. First was Carly and Griffin, walking arm and arm with one another. Carly had a white strapless dress and some light frills at the bottom towards her ankles. Her hair was up in a bun and adorned with specks of white flowers. Behind them came Sam and Freddie, dressed up very similarly. Once they made it to the altar, they gave each other a smile and walked to their respective positions. Once there, they straightened their shoulders and kept their smiles on their faces.

Next up was Spencer and Sasha. Spencer had the ring for Robert to put on Marissa's finger while Sasha held the ring for Marissa. They were arm and arm, and beaming with joy. Sasha had on a beautiful dress filled with lace and frills. She had lace shoulders and white arm warmers pulled up to her elbows. Her dress looked the closest to the bride's.

As the music shifted and Jonah began to sing another song, the guests rose to their feet. Robert felt the air in his lungs rush out right as his eyes fell upon Marissa. She was wearing a slightly similar dress as Sasha, but it was more adorned with lace decorations, flowers, and had a much longer tail. Behind her were two girls provided by the minister's church, holding up the tail so it didn't drag. Next to Marissa, arm and arm, was Arian, grinning with pride.

He struggled to find his air. If this was a dream, he didn't want to wake up. Every step she took, she seemed to be further away. That aisle must have been miles long! When they finally reached the altar, the minister spoke his first words. "Who gives away the bride?" Arian smiled and met the minister's eyes.

"Arian Davidson, the father." Arian led Marissa's hand to Robert's and shook his other hand. "Take care of her." Robert nodded and looked into Marissa's misty eyes as Arian walked to his seat. The minister smiled at the two and looked out among the guests. Jonah's song soon ended, and he lowered his microphone to his waist. The band were to remain where they were, as they would be needed right after the talking was done.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to celebrate the matrimony and union of Colonel Robert Benson and Marissa Davidson-Benson." They wanted to avoid confusion, but the guests knew that Robert had been the brother of John Benson, biologically. "It is customary for the brother of a widow's husband, in Hindu culture, to marry his brother's wife. For Robert and Marissa, this is not quite the case of that fact. After thirty years apart, they have found each other and have decided to share the rest of their lives together. If there is anyone here who does not believe these two are meant to be together, please speak now or forever hold your peace."

Nobody spoke a word. The silence was like music to his ears. The minister took note and smiled pleasantly as he opened his bible. Robert, Marissa, and the others turned to the minister and waited calmly. "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and it is not arrogant, love does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek its own, love is not provoked, does not take into account wrong suffering. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; love bears all things, believes all thigns, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails this is the way the bible says you are to love your bride, and if you will do that, it will bring more joy and happiness into your life than any other relationship you will ever have in the future."

Robert nodded to the minister and felt Marissa gently squeeze his hand. He wasn't sweating so much now that he had her next to him. A sense of peace overcame him as the minister turned to Marissa. "As his bride, you must love him at all times, follow the words the Bible speaks. Together, you two will walk the roads of life and endure all together. This bond that will be formed on this day will be the greatest bond that could ever be formed and it will be an inseparable bond."

Marissa and Robert nodded their heads and listened to the women in the guests sobbing. Arian was perhaps happy nobody was using his sleeve as a tissue. "Now. As you two have expressed a desire to be united after all this time. You have come before God and requested to be joined in holy matrimony…I am going to ask you to take up a vow." He turned to Robert and locked his eyes with him. "Do you, Robert, take your bride to be your lawfully wedded wife, and do you promise before these witnesses, to love her; to comfort her; honor and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her so long as you both shall live? Do you promise?"

There was no hesitation in his response, only a calm and confident answer leaving his lips, ending thirty years of loneliness. Only two words were uttered, two very powerful and impacting words. "I do." The minster smiled and turned to Marissa.

"And do you take your groom to be your lawfully wedded husband, and do you promise to before these witnesses, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him so long as you both shall live? Do you so promise?"

"I do." Robert's heart swelled up with those words, bringing tears to his eyes. He quickly wiped them away, not wanting anyone to see him crying. The minister and Marissa smiled at him. He flinched for a split second, but was lightened by the bright smile coming from his bride.

"Let us exchange the rings and speak your vows." Robert nodded as Spencer handed him the ring. The happy couple turned to each other and he held the ring to her hand and kept his eyes with hers.

"Marissa, I have longed for this moment for thirty years, never have you left my thoughts. True love is never fleeting, and I believe that we were meant for one another. On this day, I'm more than happy to call you mine and to have you by my side for the rest of our lives. There has never been anyone in this world that I have cared for more than I have you. I love you, I love seeing you walk in the room and brighten everything in sight." Marissa sniffed and brought her other hand to her eyes, wiping away a tear. Robert took a deep breath and released it. "With this ring, I finalize three decades of waiting and unite us together as one. Everything we have together, our souls, our love, our worldly and spiritual possessions, all unite and become one. This is a symbol of my promise to you, my promise to love, to have and hold, to cherish, to be everything you could ever hope for…Amen." Marissa gasped joyously as he pushed the ring onto her finger.

The minister turned to her and gave her a smile as Sasha handed her the ring. "Marissa, please speak your vows." She took the ring and held it to Robert's ring finger.

"This ring symbolizes all that I have, all that I hold, and an end to thirty years of waiting. With all my heart, I love you and I promise to cherish, to love, to be everything you could ever want. There is nobody else in this world that I would want to join my heart with than I would want to join it with you. When this ring slides onto your finger, remember my promises and know my love for you is true and forever." She pushed the ring onto his finger. It was heavy with meaning, but light on his finger. Finally he felt truly whole, no longer would they be apart. The minister smiled as they turned to him.

"Now, you two have agreed to this journey together, with the symbols of your union on your hands and your hearts locked together, hereby pronounce you husband and wife. Robert, if you will remove Marissa's veil, you may kiss your bride." He turned to her and looked into her eyes. As he lifted his hands to her veil and pulled it up off her face and rested it on her head he was drawn in by her wondrous eyes. She moved her hands around his neck and moved closer to him, letting him reach down and kiss her lips.

When the two parted and turned towards their guests, holding each other's hand, the minister spoke up one final time. "Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Robert Benson." The guests stood and started applauding for them as the band kicked into gear and started singing a new wedding song. The newlyweds smiled at each other and squeezed their hands together. Now that the ceremony was out of the way, they just had the reception, then the rest of their lives. The day could not be any more perfect than it was at this point.

Oh beautiful day, finally they are wed.