A/N: To guest who complained about the question mark at the end of the last sentence in the previous chapter, it has not been rectified!
It was at this point an RAF search and rescue helicopter flew past the house, creating so much noise that the ceremony was paused for a minute.
"If the gentleman in the helicopter has something to say he is too late." The registrar said when the helicopter had cleared, earning a chuckle from the crowd and a smile from Skye.
"Who gives this woman today to be married to this man?"
"I do." Coulson said, squeezing Skye's arm. The registrar nodded to Coulson who took his seat next to Simmons.
"Today we have come together to witness the joining of these two lives. For them, out of the routine of ordinary life, the extraordinary has happened. They met each other, fell in love and are finalizing it with their wedding. A good marriage must be created. It is never being too old to hold hands. It's remembering to say I love you every day and it is not just marrying the right person its being the right partner. We now have the maid of honour, Jemma Simmons, who is going to recount our first reading."
Simmons got off her chair and headed over to the gazebo and took her place in front of the microphone.
"Today when persimmons ripen
Today when fox-kits come out of their den into snow
Today when the spotted egg releases its wren song
Today when the maple sets down its red leaves
Today when windows keep their promise to open
Today when fire keeps its promise to warm
Today when someone you love has died
or someone you never met has died
Today when someone you love has been born
or someone you will not meet has been born
Today when rain leaps to the waiting of roots in their dryness
Today when starlight bends to the roofs of the hungry and tired
Today when someone sits long inside his last sorrow
Today when someone steps into the heat of her first embrace
Today let this light bless you
With these friends let it bless you
With snow-scent and lavender bless you
Let the vow of this day keep itself wildly and wholly
Spoken and silent, surprise you inside your ears
Sleeping and waking, unfold itself inside your eyes
Let its fierceness and tenderness hold you
Let its vastness be undisguised in all your days" She recited from the carefully printed card she had prepared.
"Thank you Jemma. If you two would now step inside the gazebo and face each other." The registrar said to Ward and Skye. He gave them a few seconds to move and adjust their positions before continuing "Let me charge you both to remember, that your future happiness is to be found in mutual consideration, patience, kindness, confidence, and affection. Grant, it is your duty to love Skye as yourself, provide tender leadership, and protect her from danger. Skye, it is your duty to treat Grant with respect, support him, and create a healthy, happy home. It is the duty of each of you to find the greatest joy in the company of the other; to remember that in both interest and affection, you are to be one and undivided.
We shall now have the reading by a close friend of both the bride and groom, Melinda May."
May extracted herself from beside Kain and walked down the aisle. She was cursing Coulson for talking her into this. The only thing she wanted to do today was stay in the background and out of view. She reached the gazebo and took her place in front of the microphone.
"Dear Heart,
I'd like it if you'd tell me
How you measure love.
Do you deal in ounces and quarters?
Or stroke it with kid gloves?
How do you pick who gets it
Because I'd really like a say
And why is it that some people
Get more and more each day?
Another thing I'd like to know
Is how love measures time?
Is it founded in an instant?
Then lasts a whole lifetime?
Does it grow and grow your whole life through
So I have more and more
Or is there just a set amount
You get at birth then store?"
*SLAP*
May looked up from the floor. She had memorised her reading but found herself looking at the floor otherwise she would not be able to take her eyes off Coulson. She could see what had happened. She saw a blush creep into Romanov's face as she slid down the chair to make herself as small as possible, while Hawkeye was feeling the side of his face which had turned a vivid shade of red.
Realising what had happened, May returned to her reading. Ward looked in the same direction May had before turning back to her. He creased his brow and looked back to Skye. She then looked at May too and saw that she was trying to hide her emotions. They could also tell it wasn't a typical wedding emotion, it was hurt based on a memory. They would need to make it up to her.
"What happens if it's stolen?
Or if I cease to love
Does it all come back untarnished?
With interest on the above.
How can I know its importance?
Do you give it certain ranks?
Could I say that's 1st or 2nd class?
Like I do with postage stamps.
Is true love like in stories?
Like old fashioned fairy tales
Cinderella meets Prince Charming
And only love prevails
Why is it then that nowadays?
Love sometimes takes the course
Of starting off with marriage
But ending in divorce
Is love equal in proportions?
For families and for friends
For husbands, wives and children
Where does it ever end?
To let me know what's going on
Lets strike a little deal
Beat slowly for the phoneys
And fast if it's for real!" May finished.
"Thankyou Melinda, That was beautiful. We now move onto the vows." The registrar said.
Ward took Skye's hand and they looked at the registrar.
"Grant do you take Skye to be your lawfully wedded wife, and in the presence of these witnesses do you vow that you will do everything in your power to make your love for her a growing part of your life? Will you continue to strengthen it from day to day and week to week with your best resources? Will you stand by her in sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, and will you shun all others and keep yourself to her alone as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Ward said with resounding confidence. He caught a glance at Coulson and Simmons in his periphery. They were both sat there, tears running down their faces. He didn't know what it was about weddings that made people cry and he didn't want to know.
Skye was starting to panic. She knew she was certain of her feelings and that their union in Asgard was a lot more final than this would ever be. She could feel her mouth drying out and her palms starting to sweat. It was her turn. Ward gently squeezed her hands. He remembered standing like this in Asgard, with Thor wrapping a sacred rope around their little fingers and declaring them joined for eternity. The registrar turned to Skye.
"Skye do you take Grant to be your wedded husband, and in the presence of these witnesses do you vow that you will do everything in your power to make your love for him a growing part of your life? Will you continue to strengthen it from day to day and week to week with your best resources? Will you stand by him in sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, and will you shun all others and keep yourself to him alone as long as you both shall live?"
As suddenly as they came all of Skye's doubts and fears evaporated.
"I do" She replied, with all of the confidence she suddenly felt.
A/N: The poems/readings are :
A blessing for a wedding: Jane Hirshfield
Dear Heart: Hayley Gait-Golding