Everything's Magic
Margaret couldn't help but stare around her in awe as she allowed Richard to guide her down the aisle to their seats at the front of the church. She had to remind herself that she was the mother of the groom and smiled and nodded at the familiar faces she spotted as she scanned the crowd. She spotted members of Molly's family, various soldier friends scattered in the small church. The lads of Two Section, actually on their best behaviour for once, were talking animatedly with a beaming Qaseem. Margaret couldn't wait to see Molly's reaction when she saw her former teacher and friend in the crowd. She had no idea he would be here. Margaret's mood darkened when she spotted a disgruntled looking Eleanor sitting at the back and eying the dimply lit church with distaste. No doubt she'd have a thing or two to say about the venue choice. She better not try or say anything inappropriate or so help me, I'll knock her teeth out Margaret vowed to herself as she felt Richard squeeze her arm in warning. Ok deep breath, ignore it. The church looks beautiful.
Charles had always maintained that there was something magical about Royal Crescent at Christmas time, but as Margaret took in the pillar candles that flickered and danced in the windows, the fairy lights that twinkled from the arches of the pulpit and the tiny lanterns that lit Molly's pathway to the alter, she finally understood what he had been talking about. The simple, personal touches were the ones that had the biggest impact and held the most meaning. The numerous candles and strings of lights, whist necessary to light the church, also helped in creating an intimate and romantic atmosphere that left Margaret feeling like there truly was magic in the air. That feeling only intensified as the first few bars of Ed Sheeran's Photograph filled the church and the guests all rose to their feet as they waited for Molly to make her entrance.
As Dave led Molly over the threshold, the soft murmur of voices increased in volume as the guests caught their first glimpse of the beautiful bride. Dave had her hand tucked firmly under his arm and looked every inch the doting and proud father. For the first time in a long time, it seemed that Dave was actually taking his title of Dad seriously. The lecture from Belinda, not to mention the heart to heart he had had with Molly, had obviously struck a chord. Dave looked determined to make his daughter proud as he did his best to reign Molly in; without his firm grip she looked ready to run down the aisle she was so excited. Margaret felt a lump form in her throat as she watched Molly glide down the aisle, her gaze barely sweeping the crowds before her eyes sought out Charles. Time seemed suspended as their eyes met and Margaret got the distinct impression that the rest of world faded into insignificance. Margaret marvelled, yet again, at the bond Charles and Molly had formed and their ability to convey the depth of their feelings with just one look. Something that many people failed to do in a thousand words. They truly did make each other whole. Don't cry Margaret, you're mascara isn't waterproof. Why the bloody hell didn't you wear waterproof mascara you fool? Feeling a slight movement beside her, followed by a sniffle, Margaret felt Nan discretely pass her a tissue, her own eyes glistening with tears as she watched Charles place a gentle kiss on Molly's cheek and whisper that she looked beautiful. Oh now you've gone and done it. Even hard as nails Nan is in tears. What hope did the rest of us have? Right, pull yourself together Margaret at least until the vows start.
With a shaky breath Charles took the ring from Sam and slid it onto Molly's finger, his thumb rubbing gentle circles on the palm of Molly's hand as he began his vows, something Margaret knew he used to do to help keep Molly calm and focused after a nightmare after her tours. Just as he was about to begin Molly's attention suddenly shifted and Charles paused. Surely she wasn't having second thoughts? Not now. She was so sure earlier. Without realising it, Margaret's hand had caught Richards in a death grip as she looked back and forth between the two of them. Margaret gave a sigh of relief as she watched Charles reach out to pick up one of the candles that had gone out and relit it. Clearing his throat, his soft clear voice carried through the quiet church as he made his vow. Seeing Charles talk so confidently and openly about his love for Molly, Margaret was reminded of the time when she had first told him about love. They had just finished reading a fairy tale one rainy afternoon when a six year old Charles had suddenly looked up and asked her what love was. Margaret had chuckled and asked him why he wanted to know. "Because at the end of all the stories the characters always fall in love and live happily ever after. How can you be happy if you fall? Doesn't it hurt?" Charles had looked so innocent when he had asked his question that Margaret couldn't help but laugh.
"No sweetheart they don't actually fall over, its's just how they describe the feeling of being in love. Sometimes being in love feels a bit like that feeling you get in your tummy when you fall or go over a bridge really fast. Like nervous butterflies in your tummy. And love doesn't hurt. At least true love shouldn't. It's not really love if it hurts you."
"But what is it?" Charles persisted. Margaret sighed as her mind had raced as she tried to find the words to explain a concept to a six year old that some of the greatest minds who ever put pen to paper struggled to understand even after hundreds of years of trying. "Love is an emotion that comes in many forms. It can be the unconditional love that a parent feels for their child, a fierce rush of protectiveness that comes over you and never goes away. You can also feel love for members of your family, your friends or for your pets. Then there the true love that you can feel for just one other person. This love can be special and a little bit complicated. Some people spend their whole lives searching for love and never find it, whilst others do all they can to run from it. Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is a spark that lights the way in the darkness, through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weakness. It is uncontrollable and unforgivable. Whatever happens, just remember that love is a precious gift that, with a little bit of luck, can come into your life when you least expect it. But the most important thing to remember is that no matter where you are born, who you are born to, everyone deserves to be loved and nobody should live their life without experiencing it. Once you have it, don't waste it."
Margaret smiled softly as Charles took sudden inspiration from the lit candle, as he unconsciously echoed her words to him from all those years ago as he began his vows, "Molly you are the light and joy in my life and I thank Lady Luck every day that you walked onto that tarmac at Brize. It's because of you that I have been given a second chance at life and love and I promise you that I don't intent to waste it. Like this candle, you were there to light my way through the darkness during some of my toughest and most testing times. You're a whirlwind who has blown breath back into my life, waking me up and challenging me to see the world in a whole new light." Oh here come the water words. Her son sure did have a way with words. But then he'd always been interested in language and getting to the bottom of what words meant. Charles was certainly able to articulate his love for Molly better than she had as she recalled her struggle to explain to Charles how you knew you loved someone. How had she explained it?
"I suppose you know you're in love when that person is the first thing you think about in the morning and the last thing you think about before you go to sleep. It's the person with whom you can be yourself with, can tell all your secrets and darkest fears to, someone who feels like home. You know you're in love when you would say or do anything just to be rewarded with a smile or a laugh form that person. You would go to the ends of the earth to make sure they were happy and would sell your soul if it meant never seeing them in pain. When you love someone you can't imagine a world without them in it and they are the only perosn you want standing next to you when your dreams come true. That lucky person is all you ever wanted and all you will ever need. When the time comes there's will be the last thing you want to see."
Watching Charles tenderly brush the tears from Molly's cheek, Margaret knew that Charles had finally found the kind of love that she had tried to describe with Molly and she couldn't prevent the tears from falling as she listened to him finish his vows. "From this day forward I promise to always love you, even when I don't like you. Never again will you have to weather the uncertain storms of life alone because I'll be by your side, for always. I'll be your anchor, your sanctuary and your home. I solemnly swear to take care of you until we're old and grey and losing our marbles. I promise to always be faithful to you, to respect you and support you in everything you do. I'll be on hand to stick my regulation combat boot up your derrière when you forget to be brilliant. I promise I'll never run away when we argue and to let you think you're right, even when you're wrong. I won't ask you to obey me because we both know you couldn't do that even when your life depended on it. Instead I want to thank you for letting me in and allowing me to show you how much I love you. You're going to change the world someday Molly Dawes and it'll be an honour and a privilege to be the one standing next to you when you do."
Margaret dabbed at her eyes as Richard reached out and gripped her hand. Although he stared straight ahead she could see his jaw was clenched as he fought to keep it together as Molly began he vows. As always Charles was on hand with a few whispered words of encouragement as she began. "I've never been good with words but here goes. Charles…. I think everyone here will agree with me when I say that we didn't get off to the best of starts." There were a few laughs and sniggers from Two Section at Molly's statement, no doubt remembering their disastrous first meeting on the tarmac at Brize. As the chuckles died down Molly continued, her voice getting louder as her confidence grew. "You didn't think I'd be able to cut it as your medic and threatened to lob me out of the plane. I'm so glad that you didn't. I was broken when I met you, I never felt like I fitted in or belonged anywhere until you walked into my life and turned it upside down. Bit by bit with your unwavering faith and support you pieced me back together. You filled in the cracks of my life with your love and sanded away at the rough edges with your encouragement until I was whole again. Somehow, whenever I become overwhelmed by my insecurities and doubts about the choices I make, you know instinctively what to say to get me back on track. You're the calm to my storm, my center of gravity, never faltering when I need something solid to hold on to."
Taking the ring from Sam, Molly slid the ring onto Charles' finger, gently running her thumb over the platinum band as her eyes returned to his face. "You've taught me the true meaning of love and what it means to have a home. It's not just a building with four walls. It's a feeling of safety and security; somewhere where I can let my guard down and be my true self, without being judged or looked down upon. Home is where I can just be me and I've found that with you and Sam. I'll admit it's a bit daunting how you have this seemingly limitless faith and belief in me, but I promise to not let you down. I promise to love you, even when I don't like you. I promise to take care of you and be faithful until we're both old and grey even if that means taking care of your blisters, keeping you stocked with Rosabaya and sharing my coco pops with you in the mornings. I promise to always be faithful and true to you and to not get jealous when other women hit on my man." Charles chuckled and shook his head at Molly's words. When her eyes strayed to Sam and Charles gave a slight nod Margaret's breath caught in anticipation. Charles gestured for Sam to come forward with a nod of his head, his face a picture of confusion and fear at what was about to happen. This hadn't been part of the rehearsals they'd had in the run up to the wedding. When Molly placed a hand on his shoulder and hooked a finger under his chin, tilting his face until he looked at her, Sam's shoulders relaxed slightly as he focused on Molly's words.
"Sam. Just like your Dad I solemnly swear that I will love you even when I'm mad at you for eating all the coco pops. I promise to always look out for you and keep you safe, even if that means stopping you from doing fun things like sliding down the stairs in your Dad's old burgen. I'll do my best to cheer you up and make you laugh when you feel sad with my cockney rhyming slang, and I will absolutely love you for helping me curb my swearing, even if it leaves me out of pocket." Sam let out a giggle as the three turned expectantly to the vicar. They all knew what was coming next. Margaret was sure her heart was fit to burst. One of the things she had loved about Molly was how easily she had accepted Sam. From the very beginning she had understood that Charles and Sam had been a package deal; you couldn't have one without the other. Molly had taken great pains to get to know Sam on his terms, at a pace he was comfortable with. Not that she needed to have worried, Sam had adored her from the minute they had met when he first came charging into the room carrying a card to say thank you for saving his Dad. They'd been a dream team ever since, much to Charles' chagrin. With a soft smile, the vicar spoke the words the whole church was waiting to hear.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Charles grinned as he reached out and cradled Molly's face between her hands, tilting her head up until his lips met hers in a kiss as the church cheered. Margaret was pretty sure she'd heard a series of wolf whistles followed by a "Get a room Bossman. You to Dawesy." No doubt that comment had come from one of the lads from Two Section. When Molly finally pulled back she reached out an arm to pull Sam into a hug. For those precious few minutes they stood huddled together, a new family unit, enjoying spending time together as a threesome before the inevitable craziness and chaos of the photographs and reception took hold. As Margaret and Richard followed the crowd, Margaret couldn't help but think of Sam's surprise present and couldn't stop herself picturing the new branch that had been added to the James family tree and wondered secretly how long it would be before more tiny branches would be extending from the tree. "Don't go there just yet Margaret," Richard joked as they made their way to the lake. "I don't know what you're talking about Richard?
"Yes you do dear, you're wearing that look again."
"What look?"
"Your Granny lust look. They've only just got married, let them settle before you go demanding grandbabies alright?" Margaret laughed as she watched Charles and Molly stand by the lake and chatting with their guests. When they moved off Charles hugged Molly from behind and whispering something in her ear that made her laugh. The photographer was quick to capture the unscripted moment between the newly married couple. "They look really happy don't they?" she asked Richard softly. "Yes they do. I'm glad. It's been a long time coming." Margaret nodded in agreement as Richard offered his arm, wishing to escort her across the bride to the waiting cars. "Shall we m'lady?"
"Oh you silly man."
"I may be silly but I'm most definitely your silly man," Richard replied with a wink.
"You most certainly are. Just remember that when you and Nan are strutting your stuff on the dancefloor later on and I become a dance widow alright?" Chuckling Richard only shrugged as they made their way across the bridge to get ready for the reception.
a/N: Thankyou for all the kind words regarding this story.
The quote "Love is friendship caught fire" by Ann Landers. i thought it summed up Molly and Charles's relationship well in this story. it has been paraphrased.