She walked down the aisle just as the sun was dipping low in the horizon, painting her immaculate white dress a brilliant vermillion – mirroring the saffron and orange robes of her husband-to-be. There was no fancy music, or flowers down the path – Lin Beifong walked barefoot to the tune of the waves crashing against the cliffs while the gulls darted here and there, cawing noisily in the sky.
Tenzin watched as his bride seemed to glide gracefully towards him and at that moment he realized it was true what they say about ladies – they were always at their most beautiful during their wedding day. She's always been beautiful, he thought – and suddenly his shirt collar seemed too tight. Bumi elbowed him – a bit too sharply, it seemed – and wiggled his eyebrows when Tenzin looked at him.
"When we grow up, I'm gonna marry you right here!" Nine year-old Tenzin pointed at the spot where he stood with Lin, his best friend.
She looked at him with disgust. "I'm not marrying you."
"Yes you will – Daddy said we're twin souls, like him and Mommy. So you'll marry me when we grow up," he defended.
"Stupid," Lin stomped her foot and before long, Tenzin was encased from the neck down in solid earth. "I'm gonna tell my Mom. I'm not gonna play with you anymore! You're horrible!"
He wondered whether Lin remembered, because here they were, surrounded by friends and family, about to get married in the same spot where Tenzin first told her that they were twin souls all those years ago.
"Hey," she laughed nervously as she stopped in front of him. It was adorable the way she always looked so bashful and flustered whenever she talks to him.
"Hey."
They locked hands, and turned to proceed to the dais where Aang was waiting only to be stopped by Toph.
"Hey, Tenzin – just because you've effectively whisked my kid away from me doesn't mean I'll stop protecting her. So you better love her true and never hurt her, because if I hear even a single sob from my Lin, you better forget about repopulating the Air Nation," she told him snarkily.
"Mom!"
Toph laughed. "Nah, just kidding. You go on ahead and get married."
As the happy couple stood on a pedestal, Aang smiled and began talking.
"Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning, a flame, very pretty; often hot and fierce – but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, hearts mature and love becomes as coals, deep burning and unquenchable. Most think that a soulmate is a perfect fit, but a true soulmate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. Today we bear witness to the union of two souls – Lin and Tenzin. You may now say your vows to each other."
Tenzin took both of Lin's hands in his and looked lovingly into her eyes. "I remember the moment when I knew I couldn't be without you," he began. "It was the last day of summer – you were on break from the police academy's intensive summer program – and we were telling each other goodbye before I left with my father. Without saying a word, we smiled at each other and I gave you big bear hug. We both just didn't want to let go, and that's the moment I knew."
"During our time apart, it was this same hug that we shared at the end of every visit. We often never knew how long the next break was going to be, but within that hug was the deepest unspoken commitment – that we would stay true to each other, that we would wait for each other, knowing that with each visit, we were one step closer to being together again."
At that point, Lin started to cry. She knew Tenzin to be a man in touch with his emotional side, but she didn't expect him to remember that day – even more so to attach a deep, significant meaning to it.
Upon seeing his bride crying, Tenzin smiled and immediately wiped away her tears. "It's this deep commitment you've embodied throughout your life that makes you so special, and it has taught me so much. Your commitment to music, developing your incredible talents, and love for work inspire me everyday. Your commitment to your friends and your family had helped me realize how important it is to maintain our relationships."
"But it's your undying, unwavering commitment to our relationship that makes me so lucky to have you in my life. Despite my nail-biting, my sleeptalking, my weird wardrobe and my bald head, you love me for who I am, and with you I have never felt more comfortable being myself."
"And now, what used to be a goodbye hug at the end of every month will transition into the happiest welcome home hug at the end of every day. You are my best friend, the love of my life, and we are together – at last."
"I promise to be your lover, companion and friend; your partner in parenthood; your ally in conflict; your greatest fan and your toughest adversary. I will be your comrade in adventure, your student and your teacher; your consolation in disappointment, your accomplice in mischief. This is my sacred vow to you, my equal in all things."
Tenzin's little speech earned a resounding applause from the guests, along with little sobs – obviously from his mother – and hoots from his brother and sister. Lin herself took quite some time to calm down – she was so ecstatic, so elated that she felt she was going to faint. After breathing deeply, she cleared her throat and began.
"We've been together all our lives and frankly, I never thought we'd end up together. Do you remember the night I turned fourteen? Your parents hosted a surprise party for me, and all night we danced – just you and I, Airhead and Rocky, in this very courtyard. When you held me in your arms that night, I realized that I saw you as more than just a sparring partner and a friend… and now here we are."
"Tenzin, you make loving easy. For starters, you're the best friend I've ever had. You're able to deal with my annoying habits – and fortunately for me, I have almost nothing to deal with, because you have very few. You pick up my half-empty coffee cups that I leave everywhere I go, you bring me lunch and dinner at HQ, and you always know where my keys are before I go into full panic mode and scream that someone stole them."
"I am used to a very fast-paced life, but with you I learned to take it slow. When we were younger, all I knew was that you made me laugh and you were a dork – I mean, you still are – but I also thought you were hot," she giggled. "Time allowed me to see your true colors, Tenzin. You're generous, loving, sensitive, kind, an insomniac, a lover of daily man baths, and, Spirits forbid – girly cherry blossom tea."
"When I'm scared, you make me feel safe. When I'm sad, you make me smile. I promise to always be honest with you, to support your goals and dreams, and to put our family first above everything else. I promise to make sure I'm not just hungry before I yell at you, and I promise to do the stuff neither of us wants to do, if you really don't want to do it more than I don't – yes, even the dishes."
"I take you to be my husband, the father of my children and best friend until death do us part."
"In front of family and friends, I hereby seal these two souls," Aang said as he produced a red silk scarf from his robes, proceeding to tie Lin and Tenzin's hands together, "Binding them as one heart, one soul, one mind – for all eternity. Look upon each other and say the words."
With a fond look at each other, Lin and Tenzin chorused:
With these words, I take you
In the eyes of spirits and men
As my other half, my equal,
My lover, partner and friend,
And I promise you my love
As passionate as fire,
As refreshing as water,
As free as the air,
And as steadfast as the earth.
From this day forward, until the end of our days –
Together forever.
"I now declare you husband and wife," Aang smiled. "I don't suppose I need to tell you what to do next, right?"
Lin smiled at Tenzin. It took both of them thirteen years, four spurned proposals, a really bad break-up, twin babies, a trip to the Spirit World, and an entire festival to reach the altar. "So I guess we're married now," she shrugged.
"Finally," Tenzin sighed.
"Kiss her, airhead!" Toph shouted.
And kiss her he did.
A/N: The conclusion to "Vows" will be uploaded on Wednesday evening, guys! You're in for a treat! As usual, reviews are greatly appreciated! :))