For notes and disclaimer, please see part one.
A few more notes… I'm fast running out of opportunities to talk to you, so bear with me!
Firstly… Happy Birthday, Cindy Ryan! The fic-y godmother, if you will, of this story is having a birthday today! Wishing you all the happiest, finest, most wonderful wishes, my dear, sweet friend.
Secondly… I realized just Friday that this story was actually up for an Awesome Award. I was officially blown away that this received a nomination. Humbly, thank you to the nominator… nominators? of this yarn.
…On with the show! ~K
Here's a couple things you might need to know or maybe you just forgot: Casey is treated to a surprise bachelor party, and Ellie is treated to a surprise bachelorette party.
To Have and To Hold
It all made sense after her evening with Alex and Sarah. Why go through the trouble of coming up with a perfect venue when they lived there? The lights, the candles were simple and wonderful. She'd decorated that courtyard any number of times, and had learned tricks over the years, to ensure that the space was comfortable, workable for whatever.
While she'd never thrown a wedding there, it felt right.
That was where she'd met Casey. That was where Downy had entered their lives, bringing them closer together. It was so hard for her to believe that Downy's first soft little meow had been over two years ago. Life was so different then, and so very different now.
Chuck straightened his tie. While he wasn't in a tux, the suit was nice. Ellie had, of course, helped him pick it out. "You about ready, sis?"
She looked at the tiny bonsai tree that had arrived on her doorstep that morning, reminding her to take a deep breath, to find her center. It wasn't that she was worried, or nervous, or scared. It was only the end of one thing, the beginning of something else new and exciting. That always warranted a moment to be calm and reflect, to be thankful for the past and to be prepared for the future.
The smile she gave Chuck was absolutely beaming. "Very ready."
She didn't bother checking her makeup one last time—she hadn't put much on. Her long dark hair wasn't pinned back or glued to her head, it flowed freely down her back, pooling on her shoulders. The gown wasn't fussy; it was just a simple strapless tea-length number. Instead of impossibly tall heels, she wore simple white sandals, with her toes painted a garnet-red to match the roses she carried and the accents on her engagement ring.
When she linked her arm through his, Chuck smiled. "Aces, sis. Aces."
When the sultry strains of Etta James' "Sunday Kind of Love" began, Casey stood taller, straighter, if that was even possible. The song, like the rest of the wedding ceremony, just seemed to fall right into place. They'd fallen in love, after all, during a whole series of Sundays.
Without a doubt, it was the best kind of love to have in his opinion.
The front door to Ellie's opened, and Downy bounded out first, with a garnet and white bow for a collar. While the cat had been present at the rehearsal the night before, she had meandered about the courtyard, taking in the decorations and the familiar and new people rather than obediently following directions. However, she padded straight to the fountain, with its floating candles and flowers, and jumped onto the ledge, walking to sit beside where Casey was standing.
As though she hadn't needed to practice.
Casey didn't realize he was holding his breath, not until he felt Alex's light touch on his arm with the gentle reminder to inhale. He was glad he'd followed her order, because the moment his lungs had filled to capacity, she walked out and with her first step, all the air left him. Ellie—his Ellie—his soon-to-be-wife—was, quite literally, breathtaking.
Her eyes never left his, and for that he was eternally grateful that Chuck was guiding her. The closer she came, the more he realized that maybe he hadn't actually worn his dress blues for her before. After all, he hadn't been able to be himself, not for such a long time, that the Marine part of the story seemed like something that could easily be forgettable.
"Colonel," she murmured softly when she arrived at his side, as the song came to an end.
"Hi," he managed in return. "Wow."
"Wow yourself," she said, squeezing his hand.
The crowd that had gathered was small, intimate. In addition to those in the ceremony, Morgan, his mother, Bolonia, and Big Mike sat on Ellie's side of the courtyard, while General Diane Beckman and Sarah sat on Casey's. Lurking in the shadows, near the exit to the parking lot, were Jeff and Lester.
The ceremony was officiated by a Marine chaplain, who ran a tight ship. Everything was going smoothly until he asked for the rings. More specifically, until it was time for Ellie to place the ring on Casey's finger.
Chuck reached into his pants pocket—no ring. He casually checked the exterior pockets of his jacket—still no ring. Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he reached for his interior coat pocket. "Just, um, one sec, here, guys, I…" The relief that washed over him was nearly instantaneous as he emerged with it. "Ah-ha!" As Ellie accepted the ring, Chuck shrugged at his impending brother-in-law. While he was fairly certain the big man had grunted, it didn't have near the bite that it once had.
Married life, Chuck knew, would suit Casey well. It had suited him, well, too, and he glanced at Sarah, who was looking back at him with a slight smile.
Once the rings were exchanged, and the vows were said, there was little left to do except kiss the bride.
Casey was flooded with memories, of rain-soaked afternoons doing laundry, of dancing and fireworks, of rescuing Ellie from scary movies, of spending holidays with family, of endless hours of talking. And he never talked that much, to anyone. No one except her.
Ellie's thoughts drifted to chicken soup deliveries, Batman costumes, and shared slices of pie before traveling on to Black Friday sales, a late Valentine's Day dinner and, of course, the proposal. While it all seemed to happen in the blink of an eye, it had been a long time coming.
After all, the best relationships were founded on mutual trust, which had to be built. There was no one stronger to her, than him, and there was no one more resilient to him, than her.
Casey slipped an arm around her waist, gently pulling his wife closer. "Dr. Casey," he said softly.
"John," she returned before rocking up on her toes to kiss her husband.
Stay tuned…