"So I told the Don the truth about your mother" Lino told a five year old Lenny and nine year old Frankie.
"And to my greatest surprise, he understood completely; wasn't even mad a smooch!" Continued Lino.
"Not even the tiniest bit?" Lenny piped up upon hearing the story of how the usually stern Don Barziti had allowed Lino to take his first date with Connie.
"Not even the tiniest bit" he answered. "Now hurry up and get to bed, you've both got school in the morning" said the father to his children. His responses were a trail of long groans. Lino just smiled as they said their goodnights and hurried to their rooms. Once they were gone, Lino decided he too needed to get some Z's. He had a big meeting tomorrow, and it would not look good if he was half asleep.
Settling into bed, Lino had a good read of the daily paper. After about fifteen minutes or so, Connie snuggled next to him in bed.
"Just saying goodnight to the boys" she started, getting herself comfortable. "They couldn't stop talking about that story of the very first date we had."
Putting the newspaper on the bedside table, Lino put his fin around her "Yeah, I had to tell em' about how I met the most beautiful shark in the ocean" he said smirking at her.
She looked up at him lovingly. "You remember when we got married D?" she said using his old time nickname. Over the years it had become a name only used by Connie.
For that moment, they both seemed to ponder on the subject. Finally Lino broke the silence.
"How could I ever start to forget?"
"Will you please hold still? Your worst than my little girl!"
It was finally the wedding day of Lino and Connie. Dalmazio's best friend Chino was trying his very best to neaten the bow tie around D's neck while trying to keep him calm at the same time… he was not succeeding at all.
"D look. I was just as nervous when I was gettin' hitched, but DON'T WORRY, everything will turn out just right" Chino reassured to his friend.
Dalmazio seemed to calm down from the advice
"I know I know. I'm just excited you know? I mean I've never cared about someone so much, and, well, I just want everything to be okay" he sighed as they took their positions; Connie arriving any moment.
"I grantee you both happiness." Just then, the bridal music started playing alerting everyone that the bride had come. As soon as Connie came into view Dalmazio's fears had all but disappeared. There with colourful sea flowers around her like a necklace, and a perfect bunch of white sea lilies in her fins, Connie glowed in all her radiant beauty.
Finally she reached the alter and Dalmazio clasped her delicate fins within his. The wedding ceremony was quite quick with a few lively hymns. At last, the most important vows came to be said.
"Do you Connie Luna Marino take Dalmazio Cleoni Lino to be your husband, to have and to hold, for ever and ever?" the preacher asked.
"I do" Connie replied strongly.
"And do you, Dalmazio Lino Cleoni take Connie Luna Marino to be your wife, to have and to hold forever and ever?
Lino was so dazed from Connie's appearance, he answered with his heart.
"Yeah, baby…" Suddenly realising what he had just said from chuckles all round, he quickly corrected himself.
"I mean! I do"
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The preacher smiled.
Looking into each other's eyes, Lino and Connie shared a kiss. Cheers from all around filled the air. They had finally got married! For both family parties it was a dream come true!
Once they were outside confetti was thrown along with the white sea lily bunch. As all the single ladies made a mad dash for them, the bunch actually landed in the fins of the youngest bride's made of about six years of age. Moans of frustration and a lot of 'oh how cute' phrases flowed throughout the crowd.
The wedding party was a great success. In fact, Dalmazio, who wasn't one for speeches had to make one on this special occasion. Tapping his glass to get everyone's attention, D stood to face his guests.
"I just wanna thank all you people for coming. It's meant the world to Connie and I for everyone showing up on our big day. But, as you probably all know, I'm really not the one for these talk things, but, there is just a couple of words I'd like to say."
He turned to face Connie who was sitting beside him.
"Connie, from the times we spent together, I loved you even more each time. And, well, what I'm tryin' to say is… I love you more than life itself, and I don't ever want you to forget that."
Claps of praise spread though the room. Connie was smiling her signature smile. She swam up to him.
"Ditto" she whispered and the two shared a hug.
After that the cake was cut, pictures were taken and at last the moment everyone had been waiting had arrived… the couple's special wedding dance.
Dalmazio and Connie swam to the dance floor fin in fin. They had made the decision to choose the song 'Move Closer' by Phyllis Nelson, as at that moment, they wanted to be closer. As they began to dance to the music, their guests all watch with anticipation.
"I never thought I'd be this happy" Connie sighed as they swayed. Dalmazio smiled. "I never thought a YOU could make be this happy" he replied.
"I love you D," she said as she laid her head on his chest.
"Ditto"
Soon all the couples joined the dance in a romantic trance. It truly was the time of their lives.
The couple sighed as they remembered their wedding. Their vows and love for each other were still as strong as they were when they were married.
"Yay! More stories!" a little voices of Frankie and Lenny chorused from the doorway startling the adults. Lino didn't look pleased.
"The both of you come here this minute," he said sternly. Slowly, the brothers swam in and sat on the bed. Lino stared and Connie and she stared back.
"How do you think we should punish them for missing their bedtime honey?" Connie question Lino. Lino looked as if he were thinking something unimaginable horrible. Finally he spoke.
"Well baby, I'll guess will just have to… TICKLE IT OUTA EM'"
The boys barely had time to make a shocked expression before they all were in fits of laughter. And after five minutes they were all snuggled together in bed. Frankie and Lino were the only two still awake, but very drowsy.
"Love ya son," Lino said hugging Frankie.
"Ditto dad…"
A/N: I really enjoyed writing that. I'm very sorry for the long update guys, but I've got a lot of exams to focus on this a year, so if things are slow you know why. As for my lateness, well, I just needed to think of a good shuffle. Hope y'all like it!