Author's Note:

I have to preface this chapter with a 2-Alarm FIRE WARNING (okay, maybe a 3?). After all, it is Nathan and Julia's WEDDING NIGHT.

To be completely vulnerable, I teetered back and forth between being: descriptive enough vs. chaste and conservative enough. Throw into the mix that we've all been waiting nearly a year, for this wedding and honeymoon (my first 10 chapters were posted July 31, 2021.) That's a lot of build up.

I guess that's always the challenge of any writer: to do the situation justice, allow the reader to go along on the journey, but to do it in a way that's real and honest, while still keeping everything relevant to your audience and the story.

So, that was my heart in writing the wedding and honeymoon chapters. First and foremost, I wanted A LOT of good things to transpire for Nathan and Julia. But, I wanted you to get to journey with them, I didn't want you (nor I) to miss a single important moment.

Therefore, I tried to err on the side of conservative in my descriptions, but still keep all the feels. (And all the while, stay true to the emotions of the story). I had certain ideas of what I wanted to happen for Nathan, and for Julia - certain moments in this chapter, or on the honeymoon (to come), that I've been stewing on for a while now, and felt convinced were important to include. Love is an act of giving, after all, and the Nathan we know, has always been the master of giving love freely.

So, there were some things I just couldn't omit, and some things I wanted to leave to the imagination. It was a very fine line. I hope I walked it well.

If this chapter was too graphic or too detailed for anyone, please accept my heartfelt apologies. And please send me a PM, I would love to hear your feedback.

So, with that warning out there, I hope you enjoy Nathan and Julia's wedding night as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 124: Two Become One

The sky was beautiful as Nathan drove Lee's car away from their wedding reception. He looked over at Julia rather mischievously, and well, she knew what was coming. As soon as he started tooting the horn, she put her head back and laughed heartily. The crowd, which was a ways behind them now, clapped and whistled, once they heard the honking. And that only made Julia and Nathan wave and laugh harder, as he turned and headed down the lane to the row houses.

All the way to his house, he kept right on honking the horn. And all the while, he smiled over at Julia, with that happy smile, the one that went all the way up into his eyes. And she went right on chuckling, hard, all the way.

When the car stopped, Nathan shut off the engine and looked over at Julia. The laughter that they had shared slowly died down and they just gazed at each other for the span of two or three seconds.

Then, Nathan slowly began to move. He exited the car, came around to Julia's side, and helped her out. He tucked her hand securely over his elbow and led her up the stairs to their front door.

Once there, he turned and looked down at her. One hand came up and gently caressed her cheek. And for a split second, Julia thought he looked nervous. She certainly was. But then, he drawled out long, "Welcome home, Mrs. Grant." And she couldn't help it - a smile slowly but surely washed across her face. She liked her new name.

Nathan glanced at the door, and then, in a flash, scooped her up, into his arms. Julia let her arm gently settle across the back of his shoulders. As soon as she looked into his eyes, she knew she was right where she should be.

He gazed at her as he turned the knob and carried her over the threshold. As he stepped inside, there was a strange crunch, so they both looked down. Flower petals were strewn across the floor and made a trail straight through the living room and up the stairs.

Nathan looked at Julia and smiled, and both could easily guess the culprit. "Rosemary," they said, almost in unison. Then they laughed, together. Oh, it felt good to laugh, and they had laughed so many times today.

Finally, Nathan set her down. Though, as he did, her body slid down his in a way that made his heart race. When she was finally on her feet, Julia could hear nothing but her heart beating wildly in her ears.

Nathan stood close and Julia gazed up at him. And he felt nervous. He thought she might be nervous too. So, he offered softly, "Would you like to see how I arranged your things?"

Small talk seemed like a good idea, to calm the nerves, so Julia nodded. He took her hand and led her over to the bookshelves. He had set her bookshelf up and arranged all her books, just as she'd had them at her apartment. A few had spilled over onto his shelves. And, the dried bouquet of flowers that Allie had given her sat upon it. "I tried to arrange them how I thought…you would like them." He told her softly. "But you can arrange them however you wish…in fact, feel free to rearrange all of them." He motioned to ALL of the shelves.

Julia looked at him and nodded. Then he led her to the kitchen. He had put away her pots and pans and all of her kitchenware, even her spices - all of her things were all mixed in with his. He looked at her shyly. "I hope it's okay. You can change it however..."

"It's perfect, Nathan." She told him, as she eyed him. She watched him now, touched by his gestures, wondering when he'd had the time to do all this.

Nathan glanced at the counter and noticed a gift basket, probably from Rosemary and Clara, who'd brought the rest of Julia's things from her apartment and the barbershop. They'd obviously been the ones to sprinkle the flower petals, and they must have left this basket.

Julia noticed it now, too. A bottle of wine sticking out above home made muffins that were nearly spilling out. Nathan glanced at his wife and asked her. "Are you hungry…or thirsty?"

Julia looked at him and smiled. He was so thoughtful, always taking her needs into consideration. "I'm fine, Nathan, thank you." She told him awkwardly.

He looked down at his feet and back up at her. He motioned toward the bookshelves. "I just wanted you…I would like you to feel…at home."

Julia stepped close, stood just before him, in her wedding dress, feeling about as nervous as a girl could feel. She could only guess he felt the same way. She waited for his eyes to make contact with her's, and when they did, she felt a peace wash over them both. In the deep ocean of his eyes, she found an exact reflection of all the devotion that was, deep as a well, inside her. So she put her hand on his chest and told him the honest truth, "I feel at home wherever you are."

Nathan drew a ragged breath, leaned down, and kissed her. As his lips moved over hers, the fire, that was ever between them, that they had squelched so many times, smoldered hot. And they both wanted to explore that fire. That fact was evident as they kissed each other. Julia's hand moved slowly up his chest, discovering every ripple as it climbed higher, went around behind his neck, and up into his hair.

Finally, Nathan disconnected their lips just enough to catch a breath. Though, he stayed close and gazed at her - her vivid blue eyes were intense and dilated and he longed to go deeper, to know her more.

She could feel it too, and so, she whispered. "My love, will you show me how you arranged…our bedroom?"

Nathan nodded slowly and took her hand. He led her up the stairs, following the flower petals all the way. When they got to the top of the stairs they turned left, and entered.

Nathan stepped to the side as she entered. The bed was neatly covered with the quilt their friends and family had made for them. She knew it had to be Nathan who had made the bed, the straight lines and the perfectly tucked pillows gave him away. The flower petals were scattered on the floor all around the bed, but not on it, which indicated that Rosemary had probably been afraid to mess up his handiwork. Above the bed, Nathan had hung her painting of their dock. And just to the left, her painting of the overlook still hung, right where Nathan had insisted it go, after she'd given if for him for his birthday.

Julia glanced just slightly to the right and noticed her nightstand. She slowly walked over to it. He had removed her box of cosmetics and had placed her lighthouse there, right next to a picture of them - one she loved so much, from Founder's day. She picked it up and looked it over. The photo was taken just after Nathan had hit the bullseye with the baseball, and sent Mike to the bottom of the dunking booth. As soon as Mike had gone into the water, Nathan had embraced Julia - in a victory embrace. And with the camera, Fiona had perfectly captured that embrace, and the pure happiness on both of their faces in that moment - Nathan's eyes were closed and his smile was big and genuine. And Julia's head was bent back slightly, as if she was looking up to heaven, and the smile that she wore was huge, from ear to ear.

"I love this photo." She told him softly. Of course, he already knew that. Which was why he'd chosen to place it there.

"Me, too." He told her as he stepped closer. "I like that one over there, too." And he pointed to her right.

She casually glanced over but the sight that met her, made her freeze cold. Her body turned and her mouth fell open. Completely open.

On the other side of Nathan's dresser, the one in which he'd sacrificially made room for her by emptying some of his very own drawers, stood a brand new dressing table. A woman's dressing table, complete with a lovely padded stool.

Julia looked at Nathan, shocked, and then back at the table. "How did I not notice…?" She trailed off as she moved closer. "You…did this?" She asked in disbelief as she looked it over. Four small drawers set on four delicate legs. So feminine and elegant - the wood beautiful and the top lovely and smooth. On the back, against the wall, sat an oval mirror. And it was that mirror, or the frame around it, that immediately caught her eye.

He followed and stood just next to her. "Actually, Dad and Joseph made it. I only carved the frame, of the mirror." He told her.

Julia sat on the stool, to try it out, and let her hands run over the surface of the table. But her eyes were still drawn to the mirror, so she leaned forward. She thought the frame around it was the very best part, so she let her fingers trace over the beautiful and intricate carving that surrounded that mirror. It was expertly and exquisitely done. "Roses." She breathed. The carving was roses, on a vine, so beautiful and life-like, they almost came out of the wood at her.

Nathan stood just behind her, studied her in the mirror, as she discovered his handiwork. "Roses symbolize love, beauty, and courage."

Julia let her fingers trace over one specifically. "The rosebuds are so perfect." She told him softly.

She'd noticed what he'd deliberately included, so he told her. "Rosebuds signify beauty and purity." There were several mixed in with the other roses he had carved.

She took note of something else, something else important he had included entirely on purpose. "There are no thorns." She whispered, as her fingers traced the vine now.

He smiled. She had noticed that, too. So he told her softly. "A thornless rose signifies love at first sight." He looked down at his hand and told her. "All of those...are things that...you embody...for me." He paused and tried again. "Symbols of what you mean to me."

Julia's eyes met his in the mirror. She held his gaze and blinked a few times. Completely taken aback, overwhelmed by his gesture, and touched to her core, by his words. What was she to do now? What could she give him in return?

And somehow, she just knew. She looked at him in the mirror, and knew what she wanted to give him. And she would take her time getting there.

Her arms came up and slowly, she began to pull hair pins out of her hair. One by one. She slowly removed them, set them on the dressing table. The little white flowers too. And he never took his eyes off of her, the entire time, though she hadn't meant him to. She wanted him to watch her, for she took her hair down, for him.

When all the pins were out, her hair fell all around her shoulders, in long, soft waves. Just the way he liked.

She looked down at the pins, now on the dressing table in front of her, and she noticed the other things Nathan had placed there, too. The jewelry box he'd given her, some of her cosmetics, her hair brush, and a hand mirror. And just next to it, was the photo that Nathan had mentioned. The whole reason Julia had even looked over here. She picked it up and brought it closer.

This photo was also from Founder's day. Just after the victory embrace, Nathan had spun her around in a little dance. And Fiona had perfectly captured it, too. Julia's head was back and her hair swinging out behind her, and she was laughing. But what was really touching about this photo, was the way Nathan was gazing at her. Julia was looking at the sky, but Nathan was looking at her. And the look on his face was certitude, happiness, and pure love. She couldn't get over that look.

She returned the photo to the spot where Nathan had so thoughtfully placed it. And she looked up at him, through the mirror. She still didn't know what to say, she was so touched and so moved.

And so, she moved.

Julia came and stood before her husband and took his hand. The one with his wedding band - and she let her fingers ever-so-gently toy with it.

"I had it engraved, you know." She looked down at his ring. His mouth fell open slightly. He obviously didn't know.

She looked up at him, still holding onto his hand and his ring. "On the inside, it says: True Love is Always and Forever." She told him. "Because…I don't know any other way to love you." The emotion in her voice was palpable, and his jaw dropped just a little bit more. "I will love you truly, because you are so honest and true." He took a deep breath. "And I know already, that I would never be able to let you go." It was she who took a deep breath now. "So, I will love you forever. To my very last breath." She told him almost breathlessly.

Then, she turned his hand over in hers, slowly opened his fingers out, one by one. And she placed his palm flat on her chest, directly over her heart. "Can you feel my love, Nathan?" She asked just above a whisper.

He swallowed hard, tried to steady the racing of his heart, and nodded slowly.

She continued with conviction. "I want you to feel my love. It's always here for you." She placed her hand over top of his. "Always." She told him.

True Love is Forever and Always.

She continued. "I never imagined my heart could hold so much…" Her voice cracked and she swallowed, hoped it would work again. "But it's surprising. Just as you have always surprised me, from day one." She smiled at him, her eyes full of love and full of tears. "My heart is so full of love for you, and it's always right here."

Nathan stepped close, very close, and he sought out her lips. Passionately. When their lips met, the fire was already blazing, the emotions so high, after his sweet revelations and her tender confessions. Julia's hands moved up his chest, forcing his jacket up and over his shoulders. He removed his hand from her chest only to shrug on out of it. And his jacket lofted quietly to the floor.

Julia's hands made their way back down his chest to the buttons of his vest, and she managed them quickly. Her hands trailed up his chest again as the vest went up and over. Nathan's hands framed her face and he continued kissing her as she started on the buttons of his shirt. When they were mostly open, she pulled back a little and looked up at him. She let her eyes trail down to that last button, which she opened. Then, he watched her as she slid his first suspender off one shoulder, and then, the other suspender off the other shoulder.

Julia pulled his shirt tail out of his trousers, and finally, opened it slowly. Her breath caught when she saw his bare chest. Sure, she had seen it before, but it was all different now. Now, he was her husband, and she wanted to know him, every inch of him, in the way of a wife.

Julia started to push his shirt back over his shoulders, but then, she remembered something. His brand-new cuff links. So, she stopped right there, and let her hand blaze a trail down his arm. She brought his hand around in front of her, and worked to get the cuff link open - she removed it. Then she made eye contact with her husband, who was watching her and breathing ragged now. She watched him intently as she opened his hand, and placed a featherlight kiss right in the middle of his palm. She did the same for the second cuff link, and again, she placed a kiss in the very center of his hand.

Nathan couldn't do anything but watch her. She had entirely captivated him, from the moment she'd sat on that stool. The way she'd let her fingertips touch and roam over his carving. The way she'd looked at him, while she'd removed those pins from her hair. The way she'd held his hand and told him about the engraving. It all went straight to his heart.

Ever since she'd seen the carving he'd made for her, she'd moved with conviction and purpose, and confidence. And he was lost in her words, drowning in her affection, so tenderly displayed for him. Now her soft kiss, in the palm of his hands, sent his blood to boiling.

He'd never wanted anything so much in his entire life. How could one woman encompass every single one of his desires, and most of them, desires he hadn't even realized existed?

She went to work on his shirt again, and it met the same fate as his vest and jacket - landed in a heap on the floor behind him. The way she looked him over now, made his heart beat loud in his ears. Her hair spilled across her shoulders, her cheeks flushed and rosy, and her chest heaved with breathing as ragged as his own. He longed to kiss her again, stepped closer intending to seek out her lips.

Beautiful Julia stood just in front of him, and Nathan drew a ragged breath. He brought one hand up and touched her face, wanted to make contact with the softness of her skin. And she leaned into it - she brought her hand up, covered his, and leaned into his touch. That was his undoing, all over again.

He heard her say something, just above a whisper. "My love, I need your help..."

But Nathan was already determined, he needed the solace of her lips, was moving to kiss her as he groaned. "Mmhmm."

And his lips met hers - again, with that passion. And she kissed him back, with every bit of the passion he displayed. She pressed in closer, put her body in contact with his, wherever she could. Tried to get closer. Something deep in her belly needed to be closer to this man she loved so absolutely. So, she pressed in. And he answered her back with the same passion and the same need. He pulled her in closer, ever closer.

Finally, when they were both breathless, he remembered, disconnected just enough to ask her. "What do you need help with, my darling?"

Julia regarded him, so close, and pulled her sandy locks all over one shoulder. She turned slowly in his arms, glanced over her shoulder and whispered. "My buttons."

Nathan studied her back, now facing him. Bare and beautiful. The light dusting of freckles across the top of her shoulders, the skin so soft, leading down to that lovely curve at the bottom. Her scent had completely engulfed him, sent his senses reeling, as soon as she'd turned.

He looked down at those buttons, they were all that stood in their way now. So, with conviction, he started to work on the first one. But, the anticipation was too much, her milky skin so enticing, and those freckles...

He leaned forward and planted a soft, wet kiss, right between her shoulder blades. A soft moan inadvertently escaped Julia's lips. He smiled and kissed her again, farther up this time, almost at the nape. This time, she arched her back just slightly and sucked in breath, and that made his blood run even hotter. He loved the way she reacted to him. So, he let one hand, and then the other, leave her buttons altogether and discover the softness of her skin. They roamed over her back, the part where it was bare - first up her spine, then down each side of the V made by her dress. And he couldn't help but notice the visible tremble of her body, at his touch.

His hands met in the middle again, and opened a few more buttons. And he placed another kiss on the skin where those buttons had been.

The remaining buttons were rather low now, and he was having to bend over. So, Nathan reached around her and grabbed the stool. Then once he sat on it, he kept going.

Four buttons left, and he was nowhere near done with his discovery of her. He wanted to kiss every inch of her back and memorize every freckle. So, he took his time. And each time he opened a button, he placed a kiss along her spine. And he let his hands enjoy the softness of her skin.

When the last button was open, he realized she had been watching him in the mirror. So, she knew when it was done, and she turned to face him. He stood up.

Julia watched him now, as she shrugged her shoulders completely out of her dress, and let it fall to the floor. His eyes were tender and sweet, as he looked her over. She stood before him now, in only a corset and her chemise. Though, she reached up and pulled the ribbons of her corset, which untied the bow. Once open, it fell to the floor on top of her dress. She watched his perusal of her - it was obvious he liked what he saw, and even what he couldn't see, though there wasn't much left to the imagination, now.

And then, she did something deliberate - something so obviously - for him. An act of giving, a response to his love so freely given: Julia locked his gaze and brought one shaky hand up. She slowly but surely pushed one strap of her chemise clean off of her shoulder. Nathan visibly sucked in air. And then, she slowly pushed the other strap off her other shoulder.

And that thin chemise lofted to the floor in a soft whoosh.

It took Nathan nearly a full thirty seconds to react. He was stunned - by her beauty and by her obvious intentional act. She stood before him now, wearing nothing but her soft, lacy, panties.

Though when he finally moved, he moved with purpose. He stepped forward and sought out her lips - he cupped her face and kissed her. Her arms came around his back and pulled in close. And as soon as her bare skin touched his - something like fire burned at the point of contact - and he gasped. He let his hands run down her bare back and he pulled her in closer. Again, that need to be closer, was nearly all-consuming. It was so strong, he wanted, needed to be one with her.

Finally, he pulled back just enough to look into Julia's eyes. He had to know she was okay, that this was what she wanted. That it wasn't too soon, even if they were married. He searched her face, her eyes. And she seemed to understand what he was doing. So she whispered. "Nathan, make me yours." She looked into the profound depths of those eyes. "I give myself to you."

Her words were like honey, making him even drunker with desire. Nathan tried to swallow, but gave up. He scooped her up in his arms, and carried her to the bed. He laid her down, and he admired her. Her hair was sprawled out all around her, her chest flushed, her lips rosy. And the rest, well… she was breathtaking.

He let his lips go wherever they pleased - he showered her with soft, tender kisses. His hands moved over her body too, and she was overwhelmed by all the new sensations he was able to create in her. She landed her own kisses, too. And soon, they were both unable to escape the building fire.

Julia's hands moved to the button on his trousers, but only fumbled, as Nathan continued his discovery of her. He had such a powerful effect on her, she was overcome with desire and longing, and could only press her body harder into his at every point possible. He felt the need too, and somehow managed to wrangle himself out of the trousers he had forgotten all about.

And then, he kissed her. In a way that made sure she wouldn't forget. Every emotion was in that kiss, and she relished it. And she kissed him back, giving over to every emotion. All that they had been holding back - for Nathan it had felt like a team of wild horses, for Julia it had been a huge sea swell - all of that passion and desire, was loosed, and washed over them.

And two became one. In a gentle storm of love, adoration, and giving. Giving of one to the other. And when the final breaker rose and washed over them, it washed over them together.

Then, trembling, they basked in the afterglow.

Nathan held Julia close, and reveled at such a union. He had never imagined that love between a man and a woman could be like this. He was in complete awe.

Together they laid, entangled with each other, lingering long in the state of bliss that settled over them.

And that's how they drifted off to sleep - cherished and spent, and in each other's arms.