CH.19
And just like that it was the day of the wedding. Sky woke up alone since Remy had been forced to spend the night in his old room as tradition demanded. The empty space beside her seemed so cold but it was only for the night then she would never have to be without him again. Skylar knew that she should be nervous after all she was going to be married in only a few short hours but it felt like the moment couldn't come soon enough. Before Sky had even decided to get out of bed Kat and her mother threw open the doors and started her "beautification". She was thrown into the shower, dragged out, tossed between the two women as the decided how her hair should be, which way to do her makeup, what color her toes and nails should be then suddenly the commotion stopped as her mother pushed her into a chair, "Sky honey, I don't think I've seen you're dress yet?" Kat let out a gasp, "Oh my god! We didn't pick one out! How could we forget about a dress?" The two let out a shriek in unison and made a collective panic oblivious to the fact that Skylar was trying her hardest to simply get a word in.
Finally after a good solid five minutes of them scrambling around the room as if to make a dress appear they both looked at her, "How can you be so calm at a time like this?" Sky sighed and crossed the room to step into the bathroom. Just inside the bathroom was a linen closet that, while small, had just enough room to hide a wedding gown. The women both let out a sigh of relief as they took the clothes bag and laid it on the bed.
"Oh lass you nearly gave me a heart attack."
"Sky when did you get the dress and why didn't you take me with you?"
"Because I didn't expect to find the dress when I did. I was out picking up the cake samples and right across from there was a bridal shop. I went in just to look around, saw the dress, tried it on, and fell in love with it. End of story." Although they we happy to know she did in fact have a dress they were dubious on what she had picked. To only try on one dress was practically blasphemy in the bridal world and Skylar, who even though she own several was not overly fond of dresses, was not to be trusted picking out such an important gown on her own. Kat and Clara eyed the black bag but neither moved to try and open it both to afraid of the mystery dress within.
They decided to forget about the dress for the moment and instead focus on hair and makeup. They left Sky's hair down and simply tamed the curls to a manageable waviness and pinned several small flowers in the red mass. Her makeup was just the way she liked it, almost nonexistent. Only a bit of base, hint of blush, natural neutral eye makeup and a nude lip. Finally the torture was over and Skylar kicked her mother and friend out to get dressed. While she would never admit it to them she was very happy with how her look had turned out. She didn't look like some crazy model or movie star she just looked like a very pretty version of herself and once she was in her dress she would feel perfect. She unzipped the bag and slid into the gown that was anything but traditional. First and foremost the dress was pink. A very light dusty rose version of pink, but pink all the same. Second it had a huge open split almost dead center that started at mid thigh and revealed nearly the entirety of both her legs. Finally not only did it go from solid to translucent as it descended in length, the majority of the skirt and bits of the sweetheart bodice were covered in what looked like small pink flowers. It was the complete opposite of her first dress and she loved it.
Once she was as zipped up as she could get on her own she called Kat to come back in to the room. The second Kat saw her she was almost in tears, "you bitch! You knew I was gonna cry and that's why you picked that dress." Sky laughed as she turned her back so Kat could finish zipping the dress up. Once everything was the way it was supposed to be Sky turned away from the mirror and looked at her dearest friend in the entire world.
"There's so much I want to say," but nothing came out and Kat just smiled and squeezed her hands tightly. They didn't need words to express how much the other one meant because it was as apparent as the sun and the moon and the stars. You didn't have to see it to know it existed. Before they both started crying Kat dropped Skylar's hands and fanned her face as most women did to keep them from crying.
"Alright enough mushy stuff you are getting married in," can looked at the clock on the bed side table, "32 minutes and neither of us has time to fix makeup if we start crying now."
"This is nothing like my first wedding."
"Yeah you actually look pretty in your dress this time."
"I didn't look pretty last time?"
"To be fare you looked as good as a person could in that monstrosity, but you know exactly how bad that dress was."
Sky shuddered, "I used to have nightmares about it." They both laughed and without realizing she was going to Skylar threw her arms around Kat and squeezed. "I wouldn't have any of this if not for you. I love you Katrina." Kat squeezed back with all her might before stepping back to straiten the bride's gown.
"Remy has no idea how lucky he really is."
Sky's mother opened the door to check on her and her breath caught. "I could live a hundred years and go to a thousand weddings and never see a bride as lovely as you."
"Alright that's enough gushing and tears this is supposed to be the happiest day of my life." Skylar was beyond ready to get this wedding started so she told Kat to run out and tell everyone that it was about to begin. Sky's mom helped her out of the room where her father bad been waiting patiently to walk her down the isle. The second her saw her he gave her a toothy grin and held out his arm for her.
"Sky love you look gorgeous. To good for dat Cajun ta be sure." Sky smacked her father on the arm playfully before linking her arm through his and placing a gentle hand on his large forearm. "You're right I am to good for him, but mom's to good for you so I suppose most women just marry beneath them and get over it." Her dad chuckled and winked at his wife who handed Skylar her bouquet.
"It's true, but no one is ever gonna be good enough for my little girl."
Even though it was almost October Sky and Remy had decided to have an outdoor ceremony thankfully they knew a weather witch that would make sure their special day was as perfect as they had imagined it. Sky's mom was already seated in the first row and Kat had taken up her appointed spot next to the alter, having decided that no one but Skylar would walk down the isle. The doors that led to the backyard were about to be opened and in the last second before they did Laim O'Riley, the strongest man that Skylar had ever come across, wiped away a tear and squeezed his daughters much smaller hand, "I don' wanna lose ya lass. I know dat ya ain't gonna go no where, but before it didn' feel like you were leavin' and wit' him it's like he's takin' all of your heart and leavin' no room for me."
"Da no matter who comes along I will never love anyone the way I love you. You're my dad and I only get one of those in my entire life. Nothing will ever take your place in my heart."
The doors began to open and for the first time Skylar saw all of her life in front of her. Her mom and brothers all standing together in the front row smiling at her, her best friend trying to keep from crying, all of the new friends she'd made at the institute watching her as she begin to walk down the isle. Then she saw him, in head to toe black making his glowing red eyes stand out all the more, Remy stood next to Hank watching her walk towards him and her breath caught. She had been waiting her entire life for this moment and as grew closer to him so did his wicked smile grow. Without realizing it flowers had grown beneath her feet with every step and had her father not been holding her back she would have run to him. She would always run to him no mater how far.
Skylar's dad stopped just before the alter and turned to his daughter. Sky threw her arms around his neck and hugged him with all of her might and he in turn did the same.
"I love you da."
"I love ya too Skylar." Remy stepped towards them and Liam placed Sky's hand in his. "If you ever hurt her her bro'ders and I will kill ya."
"If I hurt her she'll beat ya to it." The O'Riley family smiled and laughed it with that Remy would be accepted amongst the men in her family. When they stood next to each other they couldn't have been more different. Skylar was bright and life and organized Remy was dark and chaos and dangerous. But the closer you looked at them the more they seemed to fit together like the most complex 3D puzzle. Together they stood in front of Hank who had prepared a very long speech about love and commitment that neither Sky nor Remy listened to. They simply stood there holding hands and sneaking glances at each other. Every now and again Remy would lift Skylar's hand up to his lips and kiss it and Sky would mouth 'elephant shoe' whenever their eyes met. By the time they were supposed to say their vows to one another they could have driven to the court house and back three times over.
"Remy you may now speak you vows of love and affection to the bride."
"Remy was always known as a smooth talker but da momen' I met you Skyla' I was at a loss for words. I didn' realize I was missin' somthin' until I found you. You're my hope, my strength, and my life. Wit' out you I'm a fraction of da man I could be. Je t'aime Têtue."
"When I first met you I hated you," everyone chuckled and Remy cocked an eyebrow at her, "well not hated, but you annoyed me. You still do actually but my mother always said that knowing someone's most irritating qualities and finding them endearing is what loving someone is all about. I love the way you tease me when you know I'm not in the mood. I love it when you lean again my desk even though I've asked you to let me work. I love it when you drink too much and you start doing card tricks. I love how every time I start yelling at you you put your finger against my lips and kiss the tip of my nose. I love every fight, every late night, and every shoe I trip over. I would pick arguing with you over working alone any day. I love you Remy LeBeau for every infuriating and perfect moment that has yet to come."
"Oddly poetic. The rings please." Logan stepped forward and handed Remy and Skylar their wedding bands.
"They made you ring bearer Logan? How adorable." Wolverine glared at Sky before shuffling back to his place on the outskirts of the ceremony. They slid the rings on each other's fingers and before Beast could get out "man and wife" they were kissing. Everyone laughed and clapped as Remy lifted Skylar up in his arms and carried her down the isle.
That night the party they had was just that, a party. The entire first floor had become a reception hall and everyone was enjoying themselves. People were dancing, everyone was laughing and joking, and the drinks were flowing. Remy was still drinking for two as to make sure no one figured out that Skylar was about two months into her pregnancy. They knew that they would have to tell everyone soon because eventually she would start to show but not tonight. Their first dance as man and wife had been a rather intricate waltz that Skylar had taught Remy a few weeks ago. She had danced with her father and also all of her brothers had wanted a turn. Three of the boys were married but all of their wives had refused to come to a mutant wedding so she knew there would be trouble ahead. Remy and Skylar were practically joined at the hip the entire night not wanting to be far from the other. Remy always had his arm around her waist with his hand resting protectively over her midsection. Skylar hadn't even realized it until Remy's dad pointed it out.
"Remy you can get ya hands off her she ain't goin' anywhere." Remy glared at his father and tightened his grip slightly. Skylar smiled at Jean-Luc who had taken the hand she offered him and kissed her knuckles. "I'm so glad you came monsieur LeBeau Remy might not want to admit it but he's happy too."
"Don' tell him t'ings I ain't said Skyla'." Sky pinched the back of Remy's hand but he only smoothed the front of her dress out and placed his hand over her abdomen again.
"I'm sorry about him. You raised him so I assume you know his temperament better then I do but I assure you he isn't normally so flippant."
"No need to apologize cher and you can call me Jean-Luc or grandpa if you like." Skylar blinked at him a few times before she cleared her throat and spoke again, "excuse me?"
"Who do you t'ink taught ol' Remy all his tricks? He been drink' ya drinks all night and he's had his hand on ya belly any chance he gets. You are pregnant ain't ya cher?"
Kat, who was clear across the room, heard what Jean-Luc had said and was on them in an instant. "I'm sorry I must have misheard what was just said. Skylar can't be pregnant because as her best friend I would surely have been told about such a thing." Skylar tried to quite her while Remy looked around to make sure no one else had heard what was going on. Kat sniffed the air around Sky before shoving her face in the crook of Sky's neck and inhaling. Kat's eyes became narrow slits and she pulled back and gasped, "Oh my god you are pregnant!" This time Sky's mother and father heard and it was in that moment Sky regretted having an actual wedding. Skylar's mom rushed over to inspect her daughter while her father went to go round up her brothers. Clara eyed her daughter from head to toe before clasping her hands to her heart, "By the saints child you are havin' a baby. I thought it was just the glow of bein' a bride but that's mommy glow I would know it anywhere."
Suddenly there was a loud "what" and the dropping of a wine glass. The O'Riley boys had just heard the news and her new husband was about to have six highly volatile Irishmen out for his blood. Shamus' voice rang out above all the others, "kill the Cajun!" This was it. Sky and Remy were about to have the shortest marriage in history because her family was going to kill them both. Remy began to loosen his tie and Sky stared at him, "you aren't actually going to fight them are you?" Gambit peeled his jacket off and handed it to his new wife. His sleeves got rolled up and he began cracking his knuckles as her brothers descended upon them.
"Têtue dis seems to be how your family solves d'er problems. I'm just tryin' a fit in."
To his credit Remy didn't throw the first punch Patrick did, but once it had started no one was going to back down. Five O'Riley boys against one X-man who was refusing to use his powers. Skylar watched as they all traded blows, for some reason her brothers had also started hitting each other, and her father and the other patrons cheered them on. Only her wedding could turn into a grudge match and she had officially had it with all of them. Sky handed Remy's jacket to Kat and grabbed a potted plant from the wall. She threw it down right at the edge of the brawl and willed the fern to grow and coil around each of the boys. This was the first time her brothers had actually witnessed her powers and as the fern leaves grew around them they were stunned silent.
"This is my wedding day and for once I would like it for there to be no fighting. The next person who pisses me off is getting a watermelon grown in their gut am I making myself perfectly clear?" Everyone in the room nodded their head. Sky relinquished her control over the plant and it went back to its original size. She marched over to Remy's side grabbed the back of his head to pull in into a kiss that she practically dared her brother's to complain about. Surprisingly they didn't, instead they looked from her to Gambit to the plant to back at her. None of them knew the potential power she wielded and now that they had seen her in action they knew she didn't need the to protect her. That didn't mean that they wouldn't step in if it was necessary but she could certainly handle one meager Cajun.
After that everything quieted down again. People came up and congratulated Remy and Skylar on the baby and the night came to a perfect end. The next morning everything was being cleaned up people were packing to get ready to leave and just as soon as the wedding had come it was now gone. Jean-Luc was the first to leave, but he assured them that he would be visiting from time to time to see them and his grandchild much to Gambit's chagrin. When it was time to say goodbye to her family Sky was a little choked up. This was the first time they had all been together in so long and no it was all ending.
"Don' cry love we'll be back to see the baby." Sky hugged her dad and kissed his rough cheek. The boys began the ceremonial passing of the sister around giving her fond words and gentle teasings as they each squeezedher. Finally Skylar's mom came and gave her daughter a tight hug and kiss in the cheek.
"I hope the baby has his eyes dear."
"Mom." Clara giggled before hugging Remy and showing her boys out the door. Once everyone was gone Sky let out a sigh of relief.
"Miss them yet?" Remy kissed the top of her head.
"They'll be back in a few months. I don't know if I'm ready for that."
"We can handle anything together Têtue."