"I'm getting married today," Una says into the mirror. Her dark hair is curled and braided and pinned into some pretty fashion with baby's breath and pearls. She was in some old summer house outside of Bristol that somehow Alec has rented for the occasion, rooms and all for her family. Gisela knew people all over he told her, but she believed it to a point, but to rent out a whole mansion for a weekend? It felt crazy to think about.
"That you are," Faith says coming up behind her. "To think you managed to make it up the aisle before I did."
"Well, circumstances are different." Una tells her. Her new dress is classic and typically her. Long white, with a swishy skirt of bridal taffeta. Strapless with a fold over cuffed neckline that remind her if the dress from the Princess Diaries. Subtly embroidered, along the neckline, down the back where dozens of buttons and a bow at the back sat on her lower back.
"You look beautiful," her father says entering the room with Rosemary. "Your mother, your mother would be so proud of you, god rest her soul." he says quietly.
"Thank you for letting us have her memories," Una says moving to hug him.
"These were hers, and she would have wanted you to wear them," he says handing over a velvet box. Inside were pearls, necklace, bracelet and earrings.
"But those should go to Faith!" Una says knowing she had the dress.
"They can be worn more than once," Faith tells her quietly. "Wear them and wear them proudly."
Una nods her head and lets them do up the clasps as she switches the earrings.
"Now these were mine," Rosemary speaks stepping forward. You have always admired them and I think they would go wonderful with your hair and both dresses," she passes over two silver combs with mother of pearls and rhinestones.
"Thank you," Una breathes struggling not to cry. "Thank you for healing our family and allowing us to remember her and love you at the same time."
"I couldn't imagine anything else," Rosemary tells her tucking the combs into spots that suited them. "Now you are ready."
"Oh aren't you adorable," Faith gushes as Abby comes in holding the only little flower girl, in a twirly typical flower girl dress, while her mother was wearing a matching bridesmaid dress as Faith. Deviating from the British norm and having more of a Canadian wedding party for herself.
"I have practiced this day and got her to take a nap and just woke up and have her lunch. Which means she is just waking up and should be perfectly willing to walk down the aisle for us."
"Miracles happen," Faith laughs. "Whenever I watch Harper I am constantly fighting for her to sleep." She says before stopping short mentioning Walters child.
"It's fine Faith," Una tells her. "She's innocent in all of it."
"Where is Alec sister? Should she be getting ready for us?" Rosemary asks.
"She wanted to be with Alec," Una tells her. "She's the best grooms maid, along with Abel his best friend who is best man."
"I have one more thing for the bride," Gisela says knocking from the doorway. Dressed in what Una can only describe as a typical dress coat favoured by working royals and a hat that only she could pull off.
"You have done so much for me already," Una says confused stepping out of the crowd and Gisela's face ultimately displays a look of admiration.
"You look stunning my dear," She says to the younger woman. "You have no veil?"
"Oh, well we thought it was int he box, but some reason it wasn't and got left behind, but I don't think I need one anyway?" Una says. "I look all right don't I?"
"You look lovely, but did you want one?" Gisela asks authoritatively.
"I mean I guess, but it's nothing to cry over?" Una says simply.
"Read this, and I'll be right back," she says handing Una a letter. It takes a few moments before she comes back.
"Now I am really glad I dug this out, just in case. It was my own when I got married...well ages and ages ago." Gisela says holding an armful of white tulle that tumbles down towards the floor. "I gave a quick steam," she explains.
Una nods her head, she sits down on an ottoman to not wrinkle her dress, and Rosemary and Gisele work on pinning the veil into her hair, using the combs to know almost create a small tiara in a way.
"Now you are a bride," Gisele says and Una stands up and towns to look in the old mirror,
"Don't you dare start crying now," Faith exclaims. "You'll ruin everything. Come we need to leave soon. Read whatever you lover boy wrote to you before we leave."
Una laughs at her sister, and hugs her and takes the letter.
Inside is a single piece of paper.
See at the Alter, unless you want to run away?
Una laughs and looks around for a pen.
Never, you are stuck with me.
She refolds the papers and shoves it back into the envelope as there is a knock at the door. Bryce, Carl, and Jerry who are all looking out of place and uncomfortable in their morning suits poke their head into the door.
"Can someone go run this to Alec please?" Una asks as they all stare at her. "What? Is there something wrong?"
"No no!" They all exclaims.
"It's just…you look…well like a bride." Carl stammers.
"Nice one," Bryce says rolling his eyes. "She is a bride."
"Oh hush with the teasing," Rosemary tells them.
"I think what they mean to say is that you look beautiful Una," Jerry says for them. Neither of her brothers had a place within the small wedding party, given if she put them in it, she wouldn't hear the end of a monkey suits, nor would have many on the 'bride' side of the church.
She had a few friends she made since her arrival accept invitations and her family and her Aunt Lydia also flew out.
The drive is a short distance and the small church that Alec wanted for them was pretty in the fall colours as she carefully makes her way into the church. Alec doesn't watch her walk down the aisle, a strange English thing he was stuck on, only turned when the choir stopped and she stood there on her Fathers arm, stepping down to offer her is hand.
Whispers of you are beautiful are heard from his mouth.
The ceremony is simple and to the point. It's not royal wedding there is no need for mass or overly decorative speeches or proclamations. Instead it focused on the vows and the rings. She refused to notion of writing vows, she wanted the tried and true ones. They held hands looking in each others eyes as they said spoke their I dos and the rings were exchanged. Another moment of signing the certificate and going back to the alter.
You may kiss your bride,
Alec grins, pulling her towards him as he plants one firmly on her lips, someone whistles and they is plenty of applause from the small crowd. The bells toll as they walk out of the old Harescombe church.
Alec catching her by the waist, picking her up enough to twirl around until she protested. She slides down his body slight, until she touched the old cobblestone with her toes. She looks up at him shaking her head mid laugh. She pulls at the tie of his morning suit, kissing him with more tongue than in the church.
"Gross, people are watching!" Bryce complains loudly and Alec laughs deeply.
"One day, you'll understand," he tells the tween reaching out to ruffle his hair before someone calls for photo with the family and friends.
She changes out of her one gown in a strange backroom of the church as others depart for the cocktail hour and reception, stepping out in her mothers gown she looks at Alec.
It was just them and the photographer now, in a quaint little church until she realizes her family is outside waiting for them. She shyly comes out, holding out a hand to her father who takes it.
"Do I do it justice?" She asks her father who is wiping his eyes.
"She would be so proud of you, truly Una," he says quietly, before they took one last family photo of the five of them together. Rosemary and Bryce watching from the side, understanding what this moment was for them.
Alec doesn't tell her where they are going, not at first anyway he waits until they get to the airport before he allows her to know.
"Tahiti?" Una looks at the boarding passes he gave her.
"A week in the French Polynesian, are you surprised." Alec grins, pulling her in close. "Are you surprised?"
"Completely," Una tells him kissing him.
The flights are long, and they arrive ridiculously early but they make do until they catch the boat that Alec have reserved for them after a delicious dinner. The Island is fairly secluded with only a few villa's and one was all their own.
"I don't want to know how much you spent on this," Una tells him looking around in amazement.
"Good, because that is something you don't need to know anyway," Alec kisses her nose. The villa is rustic and authentic looking. "I just hope Faith packed you all the bikinis as I asked her to."
"And if she didn't?" Una raises an eyebrow at him.
"Well, you can always swim naked," He grins at the image of her.
"Really now?" Una gives him a look.
"Though I did make sure to pack a few things myself for you, I know how modest you are around your family and they don't need to know about the delectable little things to wear for me?" Alec smirks as he plays with the strap of her sundress, pulling lightly at the neckline to get a peek at the sheer floral embroidered bra, flicking lightly at her nipple. "God…I can believe you are actually my wife."
"So it appears," Una says huskily, her voice catching as his rolls her nipple in between his fingers. "Which allows me cheaper tuition come January, fair trade in my mind?"
"Oh I see how it is," Alec whispers in her ear, his hand trailing down her stomach to the edge of her dress before creeping underneath, cupping her in his hand. "You just wanted to me for the visa and cheaper tuition."
"Damn you found me out." Una chuckles. "Now either you feed me or make love me so we can go exploring."
"Your wish is my command," Alec sweeps her up into his arms and tosses her on the bed in the other room.
Undressing her slowly, relishing how time seemed to stop for them. They had been to drunk and too tired after the wedding to do anything more then get out of their clothing and fall asleep on the bed, and woke up late as her sister was pounding on their door that they missed breakfast and needed to check out soon.
It was a rush to gather everything and take last minute photos.
Rosemary and her Father were going to spend some time in Scotland, while Faith and Jem were flying back with her brothers, because Bryce had school that he couldn't miss too much school to stay in England.
What surprised Una the most was the suitcase that Faith had packed for her and Alec driving them to their honeymoon after she hugged her parents goodbye. She would see them again when they came back.
"It's strange to think that this now completely allowable by the church," Alec teasing her through her bra. "I can do the most dirtiest things to you and it's all concentrated by god."
"Consecrated Alec," Una rolls her eyes at his mistake.
"Same thing," He says shrugging,
"Entirely different," Una shakes her head.
"Where we almost, nay more than married are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is;"
Alec whispers Donne-The Flea in her ear, throwing back to the first time they had come together. Teasing and poking each other with poetry like they always had even before they met.
Una is uncertain if it makes her legs fall apart quicker or if she loves him more now, but she wants and needs him more then humanly possibly she thinks.
He strips her down to her bra and panties, before pulling off his own shirt and shorts and boxer briefs. Already well at attention in the dim lights of the open air room that was their bedroom,
"Wife," he mumbles as he fumbles for clasp of her bra.
"Husband," Una laughs lightly back at his attempt at her bra, sitting up slightly to give him better access before she feels it unhook and he drags it down her arms.
He tosses it aside, kissing the small implant in her arm before kissing her deeply before he kisses down her neck and valley of her breasts to her belly button to the edge of her panties that he begin to drag downwards. Bare and smooth skin greeted him and he raises an eyebrow to her.
"What? I wasn't going to worry about shaving this week and while I know you don't care I don't want to worry about wearing white bikinis and having dark hair," Una tells him, lifting her hips so he can pull the knickers out of his way.
...
Later they lay there catching their breath and revelling in the feelings of their love, until Alec stomach grumbles.
"Snack?" He asks reaching for his underwear.
"Please," Una nods her head and reaches for a nightgown. "I have something for you, actually." Una tells him as he comes back.
"You already got me something," Alex says looking at the watch she had given him on their day as he comes back with a bowl of a fruit. "Actually, the inscription, I can't place it? Who is it by?"
"Open this first," she says handing him a wrapped gift as he puts the fruit a side.
He opens it carefully to find a book, with a bookmark part way through it. He looks at her confused but she motions for him to open it.
From summer flowers to winter hours
In empty towers built from great powers
To see the meteor showers
With falling stars throughout the night,
Intercepting in passing lights
Never knowing how it could be right
Because oceans divide them apart
Until they break their uneven chart
Leading them find each other hearts
Love shines, even when one is unsteady
Torn apart by all their heavy
Soon though they'll be ready
Soon they'll be one
In a their world of sun.
Una Marie Meredith
"I entered a contest last winter…and well my poem was one of the ones chosen," Una explains. "I didn't know until they sent me the book and a cheque. I know it's nothing crazy,"she says quietly.
"Nothing crazy, you got a poem published Una!" Alec exclaims. "Why didn't you say thing? I knew you wrote, I also knew you were extremely private over your writing but a simple….hey this happened so why do we celebrate could have been nice."
"I was…embarrassed I guess, I never though it I would good enough to ever make something like this. They want to see more of them as well," Una tells him.
"This is amazing, Una truly!" Alec says kissing her. "I can't wait to show you off! You sure you need fancy school?"
"I need some sort of a career Alec!" Una laughs. "It will do me good to go to school and make friends."
"I know, and having you in Cumbria while I'm working is the best thing I could have hoped for," Alec reminds her.
They spend their days relaxing and exploring the island and the ocean. Snorkelling, cooking, watching movies and ignoring emails that came through.
They made love whenever they felt like it, where they liked, often dodging the resort workers. He found her flowers somehow every morning to go with her morning coffee.
He read her poem every night, still marvelling that she had kept this from him somehow. While Una's favourite thing was to lounge outside watching the sun set every night within the hut of the dock.
There is an unedited version A03 and a whole other section and scene lol.
Una's poem was written by me.
Next chapter is an epilogue, if you have enjoyed this story please consider leaving your thoughts about it.
Tina