Finally, the wedding!
Monroe, his parents, and the groomsmen arrived at the parking lot to find it decorated with white and silver balloons and cute little hand-painted signs pointing the way. Some other cars were already parked, including Dakota's SUV. Monroe was much calmer now that he had seen Rosalee, and he couldn't stop smiling, talking animatedly with his parents in a German-English pidgin as they all walked down the path to their location. The sun was shining brightly, and Nick no longer felt like an idiot for wearing sunglasses. They entered the clearing and found most of the guests were already there. Dakota was on the stage talking with the minister, one Reverend Sonia Hall. The older blonde woman smiled warmly and shook Monroe's hand in greeting when he climbed onto the stage followed by his groomsmen. Bart and Alice took their seats in the front row. Dakota's assistant, a Hispanic girl in her early twenties called Maribel, gave Dakota a thumbs up, and Dakota turned to Monroe.
"We are all set to go, big guy! You ready?" Monroe nodded enthusiastically.
"For damn sure! I'm really glad we're doing a short ceremony..." Dakota clapped Monroe's arm.
"Excellent! About five more minutes, and we'll get this show on the road!" Nick felt the need to call a last-minute pep talk, so he pulled Bud, Hank, Sean, and Monroe together.
"Look, Monroe, I know you don't need us to tell you, but this is gonna be great! And even if it goes south, we're all here for you, okay?" The other men nodded in agreement. "We are getting you married today, no matter what, so you just worry about Rosalee, we'll worry about anything else." Monroe nodded, his eyes shining.
"Thanks, guys. Thanks for everything, " he said quietly. They shared a group hug just as Dakota gave a signal for them to get in their places. They all turned and faced the aisle as music began to play.
The bridesmaids walked down the aisle carrying small bouquets of lilies. Lindsey, Audrey, Mariyam, and DeEtta, all smiling in their dark blue dresses. Finally the music changed, and Nick heard Monroe's deep intake of breath as Rosalee appeared, walking down the aisle with her mother. The sunlight reflected off her shawl once more, and she was radiant. Her eyes were trained solely on Monroe, and Nick was pretty sure Monroe wasn't paying attention to anything else either. Rosalee and Gloria arrived at the steps together; Monroe went to meet his bride, accepting a kiss on the cheek from Gloria before offering his arm to Rosalee to escort her up the steps to their places. Reverend Hall looked over the assembled and began to speak in a sweet but powerful voice.
"Welcome, all! We are honored and grateful to be present here today to witness the sacred vows of marriage between Monroe and Rosalee, who were brought together by love's divine appointment and we rejoice with them in this moment of mystical matrimony.
"Now I ask you, Monroe and Rosalee, to take into consideration the magnitude and significance of the vows about to be taken. There are many implications involved when two people commit to a lifetime of love. Let us take a moment to reflect on those implications and acknowledge that along with the celebration of marriage there is depth and meaning in the pledges you will be making to one another and it is with much determination, acceptance, forgiveness, respect, loyalty and love that builds the foundation for a strong and enduring marriage.
"As an expression of your total willingness to commit yourself to one another, I invite you to face each other and join hands..." she waited as they did. "Monroe, do you come before this gathering to proclaim your love and devotion for Rosalee? Do you promise to affirm her, respect her, and care for her during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to her?"
"I do."
"And Rosalee, do you come before this gathering to proclaim your love and devotion for Monroe? Do you promise to affirm him, respect him, and care for him during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to him?"
"Yes, I do!" Monroe smiled widely and a few people chuckled at her enthusiasm.
"Excellent. Now, the couple has elected to write their own vows, so Monroe, whenever you're ready..." Monroe glanced behind him at his groomsmen, who all gave him an encouraging nod or thumbs up. He took a deep breath.
"Rosalee, before all those gathered here today, before our family and friends, I entangle my life, and my fate, with yours. I promise I will protect you and defend you, even when you think you don't need it; I will help you and encourage you, even when you think you don't want it; and I will love you, honor you, and cherish you, even when you think you don't deserve it." Rosalee sniffled, and Nick realized she was crying. She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief before letting him take it again.
"To conclude, I would like to offer the words of Søren Kirkegaard: 'Die Ehe ist die wichtigste Entdeckungsreise, die der Mensch unternehmen kann.'"
"Easy for you to say!" Rosalee joked through tears, causing a laugh to rise from those assembled.
"It means 'Marriage is the most important journey of discovery a person can embark upon', and I know I couldn't ask for a better travelling companion. I take your hand today, and I will never let it go. I will walk with you wherever this journey will take us, together, now and forever." Rosalee smiled as she began her vows.
"Monroe, before all those gathered here today..." Hank leaned in to whisper into Nick's ear.
"Dude, you got the rings?" Nick momentarily forgot where he put them, and therefore missed most of what Rosalee had to say. He was sure he'd hear it again at some point if he asked. He found the rings as she was finishing.
"I take your hand today, and I will never let it go. I will walk with you wherever our journey will take us, together, now and forever." The minister smiled.
"And now for the exchange of rings." Monroe turned and took the rings from Nick. "Monroe, please place the ring on Rosalee's finger, and repeat after me. "As a sign from my heart..."
"As a sign from my heart..."
"That I desire to live with you..."
"That I desire to live with you..."
"From this day forward..."
"From this day forward..."
"And that you may remember forever..."
"And that you may remember forever..."
"That I have chosen you above all others..."
"That I have chosen you above all others..." Monroe's voice cracked slightly, and Nick realized that the Blutbad was now crying as well. Nick smiled to himself. Monroe really was just a big old softie at heart.
"I give you this ring..."
"I give you this ring..."
"As a symbol of my love."
"As a symbol of my love." Monroe squeezed Rosalee's hand, and she once more reached up to gently wipe the tears from his cheeks.
"Now normally," the minister began, "the Bride is supposed to use her right hand to place the ring on the Groom's left hand, but since Rosalee has a good excuse, we're going to let it slide. And if it gets to be too much, Monroe, you can help her out. I'm pretty sure everyone here knows she means it..." Rosalee smiled as she took the ring the Reverend offered. "Repeat after me, Rosalee. As a sign from my heart..."
"As a sign from my heart..."
"That I desire to live with you..."
"That I desire to live with you..."
"From this day forward..."
"From this day forward..."
"And that you may remember forever..."
"And that you may remember forever..."
"That I have chosen you above all others..."
"That I have... chosen you above all others..." Rosalee was having a hard time sliding the ring over Monroe's knuckle. The minister paused.
"Honey, it's okay..." Monroe whispered.
"No! I wanna do it!" Rosalee hissed back, causing a chuckle among the assembled.
"She's not getting any less stubborn just because you're getting married!" DeEtta joked.
"Well, being stubborn got me here today, didn't it?" Another laugh. Monroe placed his hand on top of Rosalee's and she looked up at him. Her frustration seemed to melt away as they looked into each other's eyes, and together they slide the ring the rest of the way on. Reverend Hall continued.
"I give you this ring..."
"I give you this ring..."
"As a symbol of my love."
"As a symbol of my love." Rosalee and Monroe's gaze held steady as they clasped hands. Nick was pretty sure they were both trying to imprint this moment in their memories; however, if the Grimm was being honest with himself, so was he.
"Therefore because Monroe and Rosalee have pledged their love and faith to each other, sealed their vows in the giving and receiving of rings, and have expressed their complete and pure dedication to one another before God and our gathering, then it is by the authority vested in me by the State of Oregon, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride!" Monroe and Rosalee smiled at each other as Monroe gently wrapped Rosalee in a protective embrace and the couple kissed deeply, Rosalee's good arm wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. They parted and gently rubbed noses. "Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you the newly married couple, Monroe and Rosalee!" A cheer went up among the assembled as Monroe and Rosalee kissed again.
Special thanks to TheRedPenOfDoom for betaing the vows. Short epilogue up momentarily!