A/N: Well, yeah, sneakers. I've almost made her marry in blue jeans as well. Some actually do that...
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Emerald Bond
I do, I do, I do...
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With a bit of guilt the bridal couple turned their attention towards the registrar and smiled ruefully.
From experience, the registrar knew that the happy smile on their faces was not going to disappear for quite a while. Except for being replaced by a foolish grin maybe.
Barbara and Tommy sat down at the table, their witnesses on the chairs next to them. All faced the registrar on the other side of the desk. She cleared her throat and when the audience finally was silent she started with the ceremonial part of the day.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Jane Burnet and I'm the Deputy Superintendent Registrar of the City of Westminster. I have the privilege of conducting today's wedding ceremony, alongside my colleague Frank Lorne, the registrar who will be creating the legal and historic record of this marriage." She nodded towards her colleague before she continued. Her eyes went over the guests.
"On behalf of Barbara Havers and Thomas Lynley I would like to welcome you all here to share their special day with them. This marriage ceremony provides the opportunity to bring friends and family together in one place in celebration of this couple's great happiness. However, if anyone present knows of any lawful impediment as to why this marriage should not take place they should declare it now."
The registrar made a brief pause although in all her years of being in communal service it only happened once. Considering the aura of happiness around this couple it probably would not happen today.
"Obviously not." Lafferty's mutter could be heard clearly, followed by a sharply hissed "Stu!" from his wife and a few low chuckles.
"Obviously not." Registrar Burnet repeated, much to Stuart Lafferty's amusement. "Barbara... Thomas..." She looked at each of them for a second. "Before you are joined in matrimony I have to remind you of the solemn and lasting character of marriage, and of the nature of the vows that you are about to make to each other today. So let me say a few words beforehand. Life is not always easy for a couple, but- errm..."
During the registrar's first words Barbara's head suddenly had shot up up and she obviously was distracted by something. Registrar Burnet though did not stop talking but only blinked in confusion once.
Of course Tommy had recognised his bride's sudden change of posture too and gave her a slightly concerned look. A certain fear crept up his neck, that she might have second thoughts about all this.
But Barbara suddenly grinned broadly.
Accompanied by quiet murmur from behind, she leant over to him and whispered something into his ear. This made the registrar finally interrupt her speech. She had the vague feeling that nobody had listened to it anyway.
"Umm... Do you have second thoughts, Ms Hav-" She stopped mid-sentence when she saw the groom's face light up with the same joy that the bride showed and off from the scheduled ceremony the couple exchanged a kiss. Registrar Burnet commented it with a quiet laugh. "Well, obviously not." She harrumphed to get their attention again." Miss Havers, I'm sorry to interrupt, but is there anything we should mention?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Barbara nodded. "Just for the record: There are officially three of us attending this ceremony." She gestured towards her belly. "Bumpy's just announced that it's approving of all of this. He's just kicked me to say hello."
The mother-to-be was radiating with even more happiness than before. Her expression was mirrored in Tommy's face. He could not get his eyes off Barbara.
It had been the first time she had felt their baby kicking.
Another quiet murmur went through their audience. A choked sob was heard from Tommy's mother and the registrar had to grin. She understood what Barbara meant and could not be angry about this little interruption.
"Well, then. Hello Bumpy, welcome to the wedding ceremony. Now, where was I... Err, yes. Life is not always easy for a... family..." Registrar Burnet gave them a bright smile but turned serious again rather quickly. "...but as well as there could be hard times, there certainly will be easy times. You two have decided, from today on, in good times and in bad times, to face all these times together, whatever your future might bring, and I wish you all the best for your bond of matrimony.
Marriage, according to the law of this country, is the union of two people, voluntarily entered into for life, to the exclusion of all others."
Tommy and Barbara both nodded. They knew from their planning phase that this had to be said in the ceremony.
"But more than this, marriage marks the beginning of a new and important chapter in your lives, and is intended to provide love, friendship and support on your journey through life together.
I am now going to ask you both to make a sincere and truthful declaration that to the best of your knowledge there is no lawful impediment why you should not be joined together in marriage.
Bride, please repeat after me: I do solemnly declare-"
The bride had to clear her throat. Although Barbara had read the ceremonial text before, she was a bit surprised that she had to speak first. "I do solemnly declare-" she croaked.
"...that I know not-"
"...that I know not-" Speaking fortunately turned easier with every word.
"...of any lawful impediment - why I, Barbara Annabel Havers, may not be joined in matrimony - to Thomas William George Lynley."
"...to Thomas William George Lynley."
This had been Barbara's declaration. Now Tommy was addressed.
"Groom, please repeat after me: I do solemnly declare-"
And Tommy solemnly declared what was obligatory and when he finished with "to Barbara Annabel Havers" he turned his head towards his bride to share another smile with her.
Now Simon, to Tommy's left side, pulled a small glass vial from the pocket of his suit coat and Yazza, sitting on Barbara's right side, retrieved something similar from her handbag. They both gave it to the bride and groom while the registrar placed a larger glass vase in front of them. Registrar Burnet began with an explanation.
"Barbara and Thomas have chosen to affirm their commitment with a sand ceremony, which may be new to some of you. Their relationship is symbolised through the pouring of these individual vases of sand into one. By blending these sands together, we are recognising the importance of blending two families together." Addressing the couple she made an inviting gesture. "I ask you both now to pour your sand into this third vase. As you do so the sands will mix together as a visual representation that the bond of love and respect that you share can never be divided. The special sorts of sand you've chosen and the coloured stones you've decided to add represent the fusion of two different worlds and your hopes for your marriage."
Barbara recognised that the glass they poured their sand in was much bigger than the one they originally had chosen for this special ceremony but the registrar gave her no time to wonder. Together with Tommy she had to poor the sand from her vial into the vase.
"Barbara, you have chosen the sand from the shores of River Thames here in London, representing your part of the new bond, and Thomas, you have chosen sand from the Cornish coast near Nanrunnel, representing your part of the new bond."
In the vase there still was room for more but both only briefly questioned it. The registrar enlightened them soon.
It was a surprise for both.
"Barbara and Thomas, you have bound your different lives together as a couple, but it is also fitting to celebrate and acknowledge the importance of your friends and family to your relationship, so at this time I would like to invite Winston Nkata to come forward to add the sand he had chosen for you."
Winston got up, walked around the desk and added blue sand, explaining "This is blue sand, mixed with white glitter. It represents the Metropolitan Police. It is a great part of your lives. We're all proud that you serve with us, and I know you two feel very dedicated to your job, which isn't just a job for you."
Barbara swallowed down a lump in her throat and Tommy acknowledged the Constable's gesture with a solemn nod.
There still was more than enough space for the stones.
"Barbara, you can now add your stone. It is a white stone symbolising the faith you have in that bond. And Thomas, you add sour red stone which stands for the love and passion you want to bring into your partnership."
The couple topped the mixed sand with Barbara's roughly polished piece of white marble and Tommy's red rhodonite in the shape of a heart. They had found the stones at a small stall on Portobello Road a couple of months earlier.
Another big grin was shared between the two but it was not the end to the sand ceremony.
"I also would like to invite Dorothy Lynley to come forward to add the stone she had chosen for you."
Tommy grabbed Barbara's hand.
"This stone which I'd like to add is green." Daze explained. "It is a piece of jade which cannot be easily broken. It is a sign of harmony. And green also is the colour of the Asherton family. I chose it to show everyone that you, Barbara, and you, Tommy, are both, on your own and as a couple, an important and solid part of our family and you will always be."
Tommy had a tear in his eyes when Daze added a jade stone marble to the glass. Barbara squeezed his hand but beamed a big smile towards her almost mother-in-law.
As everything was in it the registrar closed the lid to the now completely filled glass. She pushed it a bit towards the couple.
"Barbara and Thomas, I now present to you your first gift to one another as husband and wife. May it be a treasured reminder of your wedding day and of the support you have of so many of those close to you."
Registrar Burnet finished the sand ceremony with a smile towards the couple.
"Now, dear bride and groom, if I could ask you to turn and face one another now." They did so. "Many cultures place great importance on the hands of a couple entering into marriage. With our hands, we affect the things that surround us and shape our lives. Our hands can be considered a representation of who we are through what we choose to do.
I ask you now to join hands as a symbol of the union that you are making today."
Barbara and Tommy took each other's hands. Both were slightly shaking, but it subsided with the warmth they were exchanging and the security they gave each other.
"Barbara, Thomas, these are the hands of your best friend, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to work together to build your future. In times of struggle may your hands always reach out to join in support; and in times of joy may they join in celebration, just as they do now.
It is fitting that I now ask you, Barbara Havers,
do you take Thomas Lynley to be your husband; do you promise to comfort him in life's sorrow and pain, to rejoice with him through good times, and do you promise to remain true to him for the rest of your lives together?"
Barbara answered with a light tremble in her voice, but very impulsively "Oh, I do!" and added another more earnestly spoken "I do."
Tommy's face turned into a wider grin.
"And I ask you, Thomas Lynley,
do you take Barbara Havers to be your wife; do you promise to comfort her in life's sorrow and pain, to rejoice with her through good times, and do you promise to remain true to her for the rest of your lives together?"
"I do."
In the back Daze audibly sighed.
After his promise, Tommy also had thought 'very much so' but refrained from saying it aloud. Their own special words to each other, their personal vows, would be spoken now anyway. He did not know what Barbara was about to say as well as she did not know his words. Vows to their shared future, that was all they had agreed on. The rest of their vows was written in secret.
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A/N: We're not yet finished with the official parts...