Sam heard the sound of a car approaching the house followed by female voices getting closer and closer. Then he saw them. Santana came into sight first, with her arm linked with a taller blond woman of a similar age. Then came Mercedes. She wore a pastel pink knee length dress which emphasized her curves, pink shoes and a pink flower in her hair which, for the very first time since he'd met her, was completely down with the braids falling over her shoulders. Her hands clutched a bouquet of matching flowers.
She was the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen.
"Sam!" She ran to him and he ran to her, gathering her in his arms, swinging her round and kissing her fiercely.
She had been wearing lipgloss but wasn't anymore. What their kiss didn't transfer to his lips was removed by his tongue. Somewhere in the background was Oscar's voice and he felt someone pulling the back of his jacket. "We haven't got to that part yet son!"
Of course they hadn't. But he hadn't seen her for a couple of hours. They were overdue a reunion!
Oscar looked at his watch and cleared his throat. "Sorry guys but the sooner we do this, the sooner we can leave. And I think that at this point I can safely say that we all want the same thing!"
Reluctantly he pulled away from Mercedes and turned to face Oscar who was holding a bible in his hand. Mercedes smiled up at him and stroked his freshly shaved cheek before frowning at the bare hole in his ear. Sam said nothing as he focused his attention on the man who was about to begin speaking.
Artie winked at Sam. "As we're pressed for time, we're going to bypass the speech and just get to the important part." Nobody had any complaints about that.
Turning first to Mercedes he addressed her directly. "Mercedes, I've only known Sam for a couple of hours but it's been more than enough time for me to get a measure of the kind of man he is. His heroic actions earlier today on my behalf spoke for themselves and so does his love for you. When I see him look at you I see pure unadulterated love. Even in making decisions in purchases I saw him putting you first. And when it came to the location of this ceremony he picked here rather than one of the rooms in the office. Why, you might ask? Because he thought of you. He knows that your preference would have been a religious building so he did the best he could. He picked the greatest religious building of all. The Great Outdoors. He chose Creation and Nature. He told me that you always wanted to see the Sea. Well now you're getting married and seeing the Sea at the same time. He wants to make all things possible for you. That's the kind of man Sam is. I don't doubt that he'd move the heavens and earth if he could for your love." He paused for the words to sink in a little. "Now Sam, do you have anything that you want to say to Mercedes?"
Sam took her hands in his, staring her right in the eyes. Immediately he felt the hypnotic effect that they had on him and he gave in to it willingly. "Mercedes, when we first met, I never imagined we would end up like this, here, together and in love. I was a split second away from making the hugest mistake of my life. But just one look from you stopped me and changed me forever. And now here we are. It goes without saying that you're the best thing that's ever happened to me and I love you more than any words could possibly describe. You're my precious precious Angel. You're my saving Grace. I owe you my life and your unconditional love is the greatest gift I've ever been given. I promise to cherish it and cherish you for as long as I live. I love you Mercedes. " He brought her hands to his lips and watched as tears of happiness streamed down her face, mirroring the ones building up in his own.
Oscar smiled warmly at them both and turned to face him properly. "Now Sam, I may not have spent as much time with Mercedes as I have with you but I can tell you one thing. In all the weddings I've ever performed, I have never known the bride to not just be early, but to actually be hurrying those who were supposed to be getting her ready! This girl can't wait to be married to you, just as she can't hide the love that shines in her eyes whenever she looks at you. When you failed to think of yourself when you chased my assailant, she thought of you. She worried about you being hurt and coming to harm. She told me that she's an extension of you now. If something hurts you it hurts her. And that's what the bible says should happen when people marry. They become 'one flesh', impossible to see where one person ends and the other starts. That's what I see when I look at the two of you and it warms my ageing heart. Now Mercedes, do you have anything you want to say to Sam?"
This time she kissed his hands before reaching up and touching his face again, again stroking his freshly shaven cheek with wonder and smiling as he tilted his head toward her touch. "I just want to say that I love you so much Sam. We may have come from a strange beginning but this is definitely our happy ending. I didn't start out with any plans to fall in love, but the real you is impossible not to fall in love with. You're everything a man should be and you've proved in small ways as well as big that you feel the same way about me too. I know you're not perfect, but neither am I. I love you for the real man you are and man that you will continue to be. Always remember Sam that I chose to love you and that I love you willingly. I'm so happy to be marrying you today and starting my future with you. Thanks to you I'll never be alone and that means the world to me. I started this Journey to find the Sea and ended up finding something far greater than I could ever have imagined. I love you Sam."
Oscar smiled indulgently at them and Sam was sure he heard Santana in the background quietly making vomiting noises. A hard glare from Artie quickly quietened her. "So, this leads me to the final part of this ceremony. Samuel Evans, do you take Mercedes Jones to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to cherish from this day forward, through all hardships, until death do you part?"
"I do."
Mercedes let out a small squee.
"And Mercedes Jones, do you take Samuel Evans to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish from this day forward, through all hardships, until death do you part?"
"I do."
Sam bent his head down to kiss her but Oscar cleared his throat loudly. "Rings?"
Pulling himself together Sam reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out the ring box. Taking out the smaller ring he took her hand. "I really hope this fits."
It did. Perfectly. "With this ring I thee wed."
Mercedes stared hard at it then back at him. "Where did you get this?"
"I sold something precious to get something else precious."
Her eyes drifted back to the gaping hole in his earlobe before gasping as it dawned on her what he'd done. "Oh Sam!" She completely broke down and sobbed so loudly that he had to hold her and whisper soothingly in her ear.
"I wanted to do it Mercedes. I was happy to do it. I can always buy back the earring with my own money, but I wanted to get you something that came from my sacrifice. It's a way of proving how serious I am." He wiped away the tears on his own cheek and held out his left hand. "Now it's your turn before we both completely lose it!"
Finally recovering herself with a small smile she took the other ring and slid it onto his finger. "With this ring I thee wed."
Oscar smiled and took their hands in his. "Before these two witnesses", indicating towards Santana and her blond friend, "and by the power vested in me by God and the authorities of Sea Sector 5, I pronounce you husband and wife. What God has put together, let no man put apart. You may now kiss the bride!"
So he did.
Thoroughly.
After a quick round of thanks and congratulations the others made a hasty exit.
They stood and waved until the taxi was completely out of sight. Then Sam noticed the sadness in Mercedes gaze. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It was perfect."
He agreed with the perfection but still saw that something wasn't right with her. Pulling her into his arms he kissed the top of her head then tilted her face up to meet his gaze. "What is it?"
She shrugged. "I'm just being stupid."
He said nothing, waiting for her to speak in her own time.
"I guess I miss… I just wish my dad had been here to see it. I would have loved his blessing and for him to give me away."
It hurt Sam in the gut to see the pain in her face and know there was nothing he could say or do to make it better.
Or could he?
"I think you're wrong babe. Firstly, your dad helped us plan our escape and supported us. It may have been grudging but in that sense he did give his blessing and contribute. Secondly, that last morning when he said his goodbyes he asked me to take care of you. He may not have walked 'up the aisle' with you, but he sure as hell gave you away to me." He reached down and gave her a comforting kiss. "He let us go, believing that we were going to be married. By doing this we're actually meeting his expectations."
He watched her think about it and her expression relax as she realized he truth behind his words. Maybe things might have been different if Mr Jones hadn't been led to believe there was a baby involved but the way things stood, he had as good as given her away. "It's okay to miss him and think about him Mercedes."
She responded with a fierce kiss that left him breathless and turned him on completely. With a groan he pulled her to him, practically lifting her off the ground as he grabbed her ass. She'd started to do this thing where she nibbled and sucked a his bottom lip which was sure to kill him slowly. If they were going to finish what they were clearly starting they could stay standing outside!
He broke away reluctantly. "What are we doing still stood here?
Sam quickly swept the giggling Mercedes off her feet and carried her down to the house. "Baby, I've got something amazing to tell you. This is Oscar's house. He says that as he's already moved out, we can live here as long as we like until we get settled!"
Mercedes literally screamed with delight. "Really? That's amazing! Are you sure? How are we ever going to thank him?"
"I don't know. He still seems to think he should be thanking us."
"I think it's a blessing Sam. I really do."
Sam knew that it was a blessing.
He nudged the door open with his shoulder and carried her over the threshold before giving her a quick, literally running tour of the house and the food he'd purchased as a mini stock up. "Slow down Sam, I need to see this place properly!"
"Not yet! There's something I have to do first…" He swept her back up into his arms bridal style and carried her over the threshold of the bedroom before placing her on the bed. "…It's our wedding night baby, everything else can wait."
"But it's not even six o' clock yet!"
"The time on the clock doesn't matter. Any time after the ceremony ends is technically the wedding night."
"Sam, stop being so…" He stopped her mouth with a kiss and felt her melt against him.
Just as she started to deepen the kiss he pulled away, smiling to himself at her whimper of frustration at the broken kiss. "Although I suppose if my beautiful new wife wants to go back to the kitchen then her wish is my command!"
She looked up at him with lust filled eyes that registered disappointment that things were suddenly going off track. "You're hungry? I guess the way to a man's heart is through his stomach…"
Sam laughed and caressed her cheek before suddenly turning serious, her innocent expression humbling him. "I am hungry. Ravenous in fact. But, my beautiful little wife, my hunger is not for food…"