Lincoln looked at the diamond ring with small amethysts laid into the band critically, ensuring it looked stunning no matter what light it was placed under.
"Does everything look right? Does it satisfy the request?" the clerk said, keeping his hands behind his back making a conscious effort not to lean on the counter while there was a customer set on making a purchase.
"It does. It looks excellent," Lincoln said, having walked in with the proper measurements in mind from the start.
Though most of the items displayed were a variety of diamonds pure and clear as they were expected there was a splattering of color for variety and to make it clear other gems were available for sale. By that point he was years in and about to make an important decision, and there his eye was drawn to everything else on the path in front of him.
Just about every gem reminded him of the many he ought to be getting. The brilliant sapphire, emerald, the centerpiece amethyst, the topaz, shiny ruby, to his surprise even the dark onyx, and yet again his eyes came around after the pink diamond to several more emeralds and another color of amethyst.
"Will there be anything else?" the clerk said.
"No, just this ring," Lincoln said completing the purchase of the engagement ring setting ought to complete the selection of rings at a later time. For they deserved them too.
It was one among several moments that made him reflect on what he was doing in the last past few years. Whether there was a way to avoid breaking several hearts while in a position of not wanting to break any.
Even knowing that, life went on especially with Ronnie-Anne who he had been living with ever since they both gone through their Undergraduate completion. What had really struck him was that after four years Lori remarked that Ronnie-Anne and he were practically married for all intents and purposes. A sentiment shared by Luna.
Something he understood himself upon reflection. Ronnie-Anne and he had been working for those years, keeping the bills paid, keeping their home in ideal condition. Balancing their life as Lincoln worked for Action Times Comics and Ronnie-Anne continued her studies on top of her EMT work. A job he suspected had something to do with the need for a fast paced workplace environment. Besides building up experience in the medical field.
As for Lincoln, he had been patient with the job assignments decided on by the Editor. Though he always had the goal of working on the comic labels that had inspired his imagination there had been a certain fondness for the obscure and smaller titles of the mystic Amazon like boy, Tak. As well as the tiger themed super hero, Manny that Ronnie and her cousins had taken a liking to in their own younger years when the television adaptation was still ongoing developed over the two years working on them. It had even brought him a sense of good will to still provide a leading creative vision that had briefly raised their popularity and to draw some key art of the issues from his superiors while still working on the art and dialogue for the bigger titles.
On top of that, the fact he was able to make sudden sudden changes while still presenting good quality work on a deadline had Lincoln more often than not on the short list for having lunch with those in charge. Being heard out on possible creative decisions with talks about promotion in upcoming years if he continued to show the same work ethic and ability to lead people in the following years. In the meantime, he was allowed to ask for small favors.
When Action Times Comics wanted to make a big event of something holding it in Great Lakes City's world famous Sieras Towers was a good way to show off such intentions. Letting them have the right people ready to be on call to get the event put together. As well as secure the floor of the observation deck which was especially lucrative to allow only the employees exclusively. Lincoln, always having a plan up his sleeve having never called in a favor from his superiors until that point with the promise to not call on another favor for quite some time had secured that deck within the tower for the purposes of his proposal.
Ronnie-Anne had thought Lincoln was bringing her to a casual fun night out starting at the famous skyscraper especially when she had been told it was a dress nice kind of occasion. Something she worried would be cut short when the usual route up to the observation deck was blocked off by an attendant.
"Excuse me, but the observation deck is off limits at this time for a reserved event," the attendant said, standing straight with a focused glare clearly intent on keeping to his posting.
"An event reserved under Lincoln Loud," Lincoln said, handing the man his ID.
After looking it over the attendant nodded, handing back the card to Lincoln.
"Go on up, the space has been prepared for the both of you," the attendant said.
Ronnie-Anne looked quite impressed with her boyfriend as he led her into the elevator, and allowed them to enjoy the elevator trip up together.
"How did you get a reservation for just us to enjoy the day here together?" Ronnie-Anne said.
"I called in a favor I've been saving with the Editor staff at work," Lincoln said.
It was then that she knew she was in for something remarkable, the kind of special occasion that only Lincoln could organize. Especially once they got to the observation deck floor, the interior skyscraper floor with its floor covered in a mix of plain thin gray carpet and hard wood painted the same color occupied by a fancy restaurant table with a white cloth covering and tall red cushioned chairs.
Waiting on the table for the couple were meals brought in from what had recently become their favorite restaurant, Alquds Cuisine. Ronnie-Anne looked over at Lincoln knowingly, she knew quite well when he lived up to his nickname and had a plan afoot. Nonetheless, as he reached out to hold her hand she tangled her fingers with his relishing in the feeling of being given a grand gesture as he walked over to the table for the both of them to sit down and enjoy their meal.
The couple had settled in, talking about how the day had gone became Lincoln making sure they were reminiscing about how the last few years had been for them. Ronnie-Anne had gotten better over the years at keeping herself calm when Lincoln had something clearly special in mind for her, but at that moment her heart was beating fast knowing that he had brought her all the way up on a lovely night and was waxing nostalgic for something important. Something that was making her very excited.
"I'm glad we had that road trip over the summer before we went to college. It was a lot of great memories I went back to whenever we were both in midterms or finals and we couldn't spend a lot of time with each other," he said.
"I still think about those memories to help me remember we've handled a lot of crazier things when I'm on the job seeing someone torn apart. Or worse," she said.
"We never got hurt that bad," he said.
"No, but you were still terrible when it came to making me worry sometimes. Having to pull you up from cliff hanging. Inside the New Mexico caves no less," she said.
"You weren't exactly much better, I would have thought you knew better than me to go out late in Acapulco," he said.
Despite the intensity of the memories both recalled from their shared experiences they discussed them with the humor and relief of something that had long since passed. Tribulations they survived together, because they had one another that now brought joy to the couple to reminisce on.
It was how they could discuss such experiences just as the both of them were smiling, and even had the ghost of a laugh when they finished talking about it.
"You were always daring. You didn't really have a plan for that summer trip, just to pick me up and start driving until we had to go back to be on time for college orientation and moving in. Even before you were thirteen, you faced something so much bigger than either of us," Lincoln said.
"I know what you think, but even the power of gods, well. You're still really the brave one, to fight well. It wasn't so personal as you being so willing to sacrifice yourself for your family in the face of insane super villains. I thought you might have talked me out or slow be down that day I came around riding on just my motorcycle, but I'm not so surprised now you were on board then and there," Ronnie-Anne said.
It had truly been strokes of luck and the strange intangible workings of the universe that had led to the couple, each of them experiencing more than a few life changing adventures before they had even been teenagers. Experiences that would be unbelievable to most that had led the couple to bond further with each other, and drawn their families closer together for similar reasons. Further strengthening the bond of the two families together.
"I really do wish we had more chances then to spend time with each other," Lincoln said, reaching out to caress Ronnie-Anne's fingers and then caressed her knuckles.
"You were always there when it mattered, Querido. I'll always be grateful you did everything you had to to make it there for the funeral of Mama Lupe," Ronnie-Anne said, leaning forward and kissing him. Her appreciation still apparent even six years later.
Lincoln had known Ronnie-Anne needed all the support then, even if her great grandmother had lived a long life of many years making that day expected her passing still left devastation from her significance to the Casagrandes. Going all the way to Mexico where the temple stood that Rosa now lived within and tended to, both of them had been there to witness the end to someone important to the family as a whole.
"I'll be there now, every step of the way now that I can be there to see you working hard everyday to be the best doctor," Lincoln said.
"It's been a hell of a time working that hard, and there's still a lot of hard work left. I'm glad you've never lost your patience. Thank you for still doing what you can to make it easy on me. You do hard work too, I know you give it everything to make good art everyday. To impress people who have seen that kind of work for years to the point of getting them to agree to. This," Ronnie-Anne said, punctuating her point by the end by gesturing to the space allowed all for them.
Lincoln was just as touched by what Ronnie-Anne had to say. They were both following their passions, but Lincoln still couldn't help but feel some of that anguish back when his sisters got so many more accolades than him when they were younger. His girlfriend being a doctor had more obvious weight and importance than comic book writing and illustrating. Especially to anyone who casually met the couple. Even their friends and family couldn't help but recognize the stress and work of Ronnie-Anne was regarded with more renown.
The fact that Ronnie-Anne had an appreciation for what he did and respected the work put in to help them live comfortably with one another helped those insecurities.
"Thanks, Querida. I want to go far with you, do a lot right by you. Do right by the family we'd have," Lincoln said.
His decision to arrange the special occasion having been made with there having been some time since Ronnie-Anne's go ahead of how she'd be on board with marriage, and being in a good place to start a family.
By then the couple had finished eating, walking over to Ronnie-Anne's chair Lincoln held her hand and beckoned her to stand up to which she did so gladly. Getting into position for them to dance after she grabbed her phone and set it to play the soundtrack of music she had put together just for them such was her happiness of being together with Lincoln.
The both of them danced for some time, switching between fast intense pacing and energy or calm steady intimate dances together. Ronnie-Anne let herself be led until Lincoln brought her close to the window overseeing the most beautiful view of the city.
Then it happened, exactly what Ronnie-Anne had hoped for and anticipated reminding her of the feeling when Lincoln had first made his feelings for her clear. He was standing before her on one knee holding open a velvet cushioned box with a beautiful diamond ring with inlaid amethysts.
"Ronalda Anne Santiago. These last few years living with you have been some of the happiest in all my life. I love you with all my heart. Will you do me a great honor, and marry me?" he said.
Ronnie-Anne hardly needed time to think about it. Taking the ring she closed the box and put it away in her pocket before pulling Lincoln up and kissing him passionately.
"Of course I will," she answered breathlessly before going for another heated, passionate kiss grabbing him in the way he knew was encouragement to escalate.
"You want to? Here?" he said, just as breathless as he simply rapidly moved to kiss her again and again.
"Yes, but not out near the glass. Lame-o. Is there, a closet or something?" she said, still using the old nickname of hers such as then. In a manner that was teasingly affectionate.
Regardless of where the space for the couple to be intimate was, the daring pair were sure to find it.
The planning for Lincoln and Ronnie-Anne's planning was intensive and detail oriented, with both of them being rather keen on planning and making sure everything went well every step of the way they spent at least a few hours after work each day planning everything together.
The theme, catering, the days to have off, location, and the best way to gather everyone together among various other details. By the end their closest friends and their family weren't too surprised to find everything already set out with the plan only requiring them to settle into their parts.
For Lincoln and Ronnie-Anne the bonds of the friendships they had made held strong. Even as some members of the friend groups left and traveled far away to pursue the dreams they were so passionate about they still kept in such close touch that they were well aware of what was going on in each other's lives, and were excited when it came around to the wedding announcement.
"Clyde, my man. How is the training under Chef Ramirez going?" Lincoln said, going to welcome Clyde first as his friends were gathering together. Pulling him into a hug.
"I've gotten through the hell of proving I can work in any kind of kitchen. Now, she hasn't said but I know I'm being eyed up to be Sous-chef," Clyde said as he hugged back then pulled away.
"I know exactly how it's going for you buddy, and good on you. Your work is all over everywhere talking comics and what fans are going to want to see," Clyde said.
"Thanks, Clyde. Where are you looking with getting a cook book of your own ready?" Lincoln said.
"Almost there, every night is a busy one in a high demand restaurant but I've started to get a few recipes good and ready on the side," Clyde said.
"Good, I want to make good on that promise and be one of the first to buy," Lincoln said before turning to the rest of the group who were just as ready to celebrate being gathered in the same room together again.
He soon gave the same greeting to Liam, Zach, Rusty and Stella.
"It's so good to be back together like this. I can't believe last time was for Clyde and Penelope's wedding," Stella said visibly glad to see all her best friends gathered together in one place. A sentiment shared by her red headed fiance and the rest of their friends.
Liam had over the last few years after getting his Agriculture degree made sure to watch over and tend to the farm closely with integrity. Hiring a few extra hands who he viewed with scrutiny to make sure they did the same. Making many residents of Royal Wood still count on his farm's products for their quality. Despite the money made by the oil fields that secured a comfortable life for his grandmother, Eloise, himself and any family they'd have there had been a responsibility that gripped him the last few years to buy more land where wind farms could be set up on them.
Zach didn't speak much about his job to his friends, only that he had gotten a research position in the SETI program already well on his way to working on a doctorate. The exact details of operations he was involved in being classified leaving him to keep to that confidentiality for their safety. His relationship with Tamara was still ongoing by then, but they were set on waiting just a little longer before settling down especially with her logistic analysis projects about to hit an impressive bonus.
Stella and Rusty had moved in together after college, but with Stella having the much more lucrative position the business established by Rusty's father had been left behind for the time being with Rusty instead having franchised with his father to now operate a similar shop out in California as Stella developed a new line of advanced robotics. The ability to reach out in direct collaboration with Lisa Loud having secured Stella a notable position while she was still working on the completion of her doctorate.
Lincoln was glad to see his friends doing so well, and in one form reaching the dreams they had set out to fulfill twelve years ago by that point.
"I'm glad to see you guys are all doing so well, and there's going to be a lot of fun to come. I've let Clyde have a few surprises ready while you're all here, but we need to get everything on the plan done. Starting with everyone trying on their tuxes," Lincoln said, bringing out the coordinated set of suits everyone in the group would be wearing.
An impressive day was in store for the groom's attendants.
With a lot of planning and coordination already having been invested in the wedding preparations so far, Ronnie-Anne had appreciated her friends making it on time where right front and center was Sid to meet her.
"Ronnie-Anne! Oh you're looking so great," Sid said, looking at her best friend with a calm sense of relief after having seen her more and more frequently through video calls in an exhausted state from the work she put in on the job and studying.
"Thanks, Sid. You're looking good too," Ronnie-Anne said remarking that her best friend was looking well as ever.
"How have things been going in the lab?" Ronnie-Anne said.
"Great! I've been thinking for awhile now to keep Bradley as private technology, all my own so I've got another robot I'm building coming up for a pitch. I'm thinking of calling them Vern," Sid said.
"What about you? How close are you to being called Doctor Santiago?" Sid said.
"Four more years, I just need to go through residency," Ronnie-Anne said.
Sid provided her best friend additional congratulations and encouragement, glad to see her friend having gotten quite far already.
Sid herself was in a similar position as Stella, and in fact had found herself working within the same department many times as they worked in the same company. Developing an advanced line of robotics even as she was still working on obtaining her doctorate thanks to being able to reach direct collaboration with Lisa Loud, making Ronnie-Anne glad her soon to be sister-in-law was being a big help to her best friend. Though Laird and Sid had been much more quick to marry, Laird being quite comfortable financially the couple were patient in having any kids as Laird worked on getting tenure in his Physics Professor position.
Soon following Sid were Kali, Becky, and Nikki. All of whom got an enthusiastic welcome from Ronnie-Anne.
Kali and Becky had been through thick and thin. While Kali had gone through the rigorous requirement of becoming an attorney licensed to practice in the state of Michigan, Becky had gone through academy training to become police officer with her current eyes set on becoming a detective. Among their friends the couple were known as the tough on crime hammer.
Nikki had drifted for the last few years from customer service job to customer service job somewhere else until now being a bank teller. Not helped by her recent separation from Casey she was nonetheless set on finding herself a promotion by getting an Accounting degree as her Business degree had done little to meet the necessities by then demanded from her.
"This is going to be awesome, the wedding sets are complete," Nikki said, glad to see the friends of hers in the room with her having gotten married.
A comment not followed up on as the rest of the group allowed her the grace to have the time to see if there was someone else out there for her. To settle down with if not outright marry.
Even with these different positions in life, the friends were happy to be gathered together again.
"I'm glad everyone is so excited to be here! I know I'm excited, and I'm glad everyone is looking forward to the Bachelorette Party later but there's some work to do before we play," Sid said, pulling out the paper schedule that Ronnie-Anne had entrusted her with.
"That's right. For one, this line up isn't complete yet. We still need to go meet with Carlota," Ronnie-Anne said. Leading the way as she needed her whole group together before the dress fitting.
An impressive day was in store for the bridesmaids.
With the wedding event coming together, Lincoln had time to spend with his family as Clyde arranged the parts of the Bachelor Party that would still be a surprise. As all his relatives wished him congratulations, and his sisters especially gathered making sure things went well with the complicated feelings abound. Something that Lori and Luna especially were aware of. For at the moment Leni, Luna, Lynn, and Lucy had a request.
Something each of them were looking for the time and chance to discuss which Lincoln was quite aware of as he was used to noticing the signs of conspiring when his sisters sought out to do so. At the moment Lori was taking the lead in giving the four of them the privacy to speak with him.
"Hey Lynn. Hey Lucy," Lincoln said, taking a look around the hotel room before giving them both a kiss on the lips.
"Hello, Beloved," Lucy whispered in greeting.
"Hey, Stinkin," Lynn said.
"Congratulations on the big day," Lynn said.
"Thanks, and by the way I really do appreciate you both being here. Supportive," Lincoln said.
"Of course, Beloved. We know how much Ronnie-Anne makes you happy, and it's what we want for you above all else," Lucy said.
"We know it's your big day. We just want to make sure you keep in mind when you can be with us since you could be busy with Ronnie-Anne for awhile," Lynn said.
"I always make time for you guys, you don't have to worry. That's not going to change. Unless, there's more to it?" Lincoln said.
"It's simply that, if your focus is in having your family with Ronnie-Anne. To be honest, Beloved. I worry the rest of us may have lost our chance for spawn of our own," Lucy admitted.
"Guys, I get why you'd be worried, but, I still love you all. If you want kids, we'll have them. You were right to wait. Our older sisters and Lisa waited until they had a home to give the kids," Lincoln said.
They both smiled, remembering what they had spoken about. Lynn had reached a career height she had wanted to experience without obstacle. Going to the Olympics and winning the gold, she'd simply be competing against her personal best from there on. Lucy, through a publishing deal and the funeral home work she had done while having waited for it had a home ready for a child of Lincoln's and her own.
"Thanks, Stinkin. I hope you'll be around to see them a lot too," Lynn said.
"If things go well enough at work that I can make all the comics from home, I'll be able to see them almost all the time," Lincoln said.
The possibility of that being enough to leave the two sisters hoping that exactly that would happen.
Shortly afterwards, Leni and Luna came around as well.
"Hey, Dude. We were wondering if we could talk to you about something, but thought it'd be awkward on your big day," Luna said.
Rather than respond immediately, Lincoln leaned in kissing his older sisters. Somewhat to Luna's confusion and to Leni's happiness.
"You both want to have another kid and were worried asking for another would be rude?" Lincoln said.
"Yeah! Luna said asking to make another kid with you might be a little rude since some of our sisters haven't had one with you yet, and that you'll probably want to focus on making kids with Ronnie-Anne," Leni said.
"Yeah, that's about right. How did you know, dude?" Luna said, blushing.
"It made sense that would be it after what Lynn and Lucy were worried about and wanted to talk about," Lincoln said.
"Right," Luna said, figuring that would be the case after sending them in first.
"Thanks, Lincoln," Leni said, pulling her brother in for a tight hug.
"Yeah, thanks bro," Luna said, a small smile on her face as she agreed with the enthusiastic response.
After a movie marathon and the arrival of a few strippers themed around Ace Savvy and David Steele, Lincoln and his friends were participating in a drinking game based around trivia. A combination of traditional trivia and questions about each other and their past adventures. The ideal recipe for the player falling behind to rapidly lose momentum.
"So, Liam. What color did Zach dye his hair in Sophomore year?" Clyde said, reading the hand made trivia card up.
"Uh," Liam said, covering his eyes with his forearm as he kept grasping the whiskey bottle he was keeping an iron grip on.
"Come on, come back to me memory. I can't down another drink," Liam muttered to himself as he tapped the bottom of the whiskey bottle to his forehead.
"Green, for the aliens green," Liam said.
"You got the gist of the reason why, but it wasn't green. It was gray," Clyde said.
"Gosh darn it," Liam said before downing another shot of whiskey, leaning back about to tap out on his drink limit as Zach ran a hand through his still bright red hair.
Lincoln reached in grabbing another card then turned to Rusty to direct the question on the card to him.
"This one is for you, Rusters. What did we find in the basement laboratory of Doctor Rutherford?" Lincoln said referencing one of their Action News Investigations.
"Trick question, it didn't happen," Rusty said.
"Wrong, take a-" Lincoln was about to have Rusty take the loss only for Stella to lean in and remind him that he was blasted by an amnesia beam during said investigation.
"Well, sorry for your broken up memory Rusty. Let's just, put that over here," Lincoln said putting it in the pile of trivia questions to now be asked to anyone that wasn't him now that he had seen the answer. Not that he would remember with the amount of drinks he had already ingested.
Such was the game that led to all of them being drunk, and being in a state that they would have to go through the effort of recovering from the next morning. For the meantime, they would have much looser tongues which for the most part would mean nothing to the others.
As the group of friends reached a deeper and deeper state of losing their ability to maintain lucid thought, Lincoln start to speak more openly with Clyde.
"When we were Freshman, I have to admit. I thought, Penelope, really? But I get it now," Lincoln said.
"Really? I made the weird choice? With who Rusty was going out with?" Clyde said.
"No, he was actually making bad decisions in the day. Now, I get it. I went back and forth not thinking, for me it was going to be Ronnie-Anne. Then it was," Lincoln said.
"Yeah, we could all see it though. You acted annoyed about it, waiting to pick up her stuff. We could all see it. You wanted to be there, helping like that," Clyde said.
Lincoln laughed jovially, remembering how that ended by the end of the day in yet another Ronnie-Anne prank.
"Clyde. Clyde. My man, you know I try not to yap on about this. How I fought a dragon, and almost got launched into space. For my family," Lincoln said, pausing long enough for Clyde to respond.
"Wait. Hey, oh damn wait you're right. No, man. You talk about it almost never. I actually forget sometimes you had actual hero adventures," Clyde said.
"Thanks for, downplaying it, buddy. It's just that, I need you to know how much I love my family. How much I really love my sisters actually. I love them, as much as I do. Ronnie-Anne," Lincoln said.
"That's a really strong, love," Clyde said.
However, in that moment a few facts seemed to line up and make too much sense in that context. If he loved his sisters as much, in any way the same that he did Ronnie-Anne. There was a lot more that was meant by that. It was a fact that sobered him up for a moment.
"Wait, what did you say?" Clyde said.
"I love my family Clyde, I'd give anything for them. Even my life, and now. Ronnie-Anne is family too. Has been, awhile," Lincoln said.
It was a set of reassuring words that put Clyde at ease, and pulled him back into the steady state of inebriation making him wonder by the next day if he had even heard Lincoln correctly or if it was part of an imaginary stupor.
Something that would be in the back of his mind whenever his time was spent particularly close around his sisters and the awkward fact that nagged at others among the friends and family of the families as well. How Loan appeared to not be a mix of her supposed mother and father, but instead seemed to be pure Loud.
After the night of fun parties and making sure all the final arrangements were in place, Lincoln was standing at the altar. A rare moment for him that made him feel lucky spending so much time around Lucy made his superstitions run askew from the regular expectations of the holy religion. Lest he feel guilty for pursuing matrimony as the many women he had laid with were now on the side of the pews with his half of the family along with the fruits of those unions in their mother's arms or watching waiting for the ceremony to get on.
Not that it made the guilt go away completely.
Then came the pivotal moment, Ronnie-Anne had arrived in her beautifully immaculate sheath style wedding dress walked down the aisle by her father who by then had hair and a beard that was starting to gray truly taking on the appearance of a grandfather.
Looking forward towards the ordained Priest, Lincoln was able to follow just closely enough to know which part of the ceremony they were at. The advice of Lori was loudest in his mind, being the one he most wanted to listen to. The reminder that he loved Ronnie-Anne sincerely and truly. That he could be honest if only it weren't for the circumstances of the world that deemed things ought to be as they were.
Something that was difficult to insist on seeing all the people in that building who counted on them, thought highly of the Loud siblings. Despite the children born of their affairs sitting in the pews too. Most of all what was getting to him was peering over at Ronnie-Anne seeing the pure joy in her face knowing that this really was the happiest day of her life. A fact which ought to have been the same for him, if only he had realized those ramifications twelve years ago.
It was something else that made him realize that Lori was right, their sisters had been counting on her and him. They had been counting on Lori who had kept her marriage strong with Bobby for years despite what they had done. Now, he was to do the same with Ronnie-Anne and find happiness in that.
Turning to look at Ronnie-Anne he held hands with her as they exchanged vows.
"You've been my best friend for twelve years now. The one I could count on for love and support. Always there for me who I could count on to be true and ready for anything that came our way. It's because of how reliable you are, with a big heart that was never lacking in love for me putting everything you had into my happiness that I've felt so confident in rushing into the future with you. Now I know that our future is together, and I'm excited to go rushing faster than ever into the unknown waiting for us. I want to be there with you through much more than sickness and health. Through the literal Hell and high water because I know you would find a way to make it through that too," Ronnie-Anne said.
"When I met you, years ago when we were still so young I had no idea just how lucky I was and I promise to never forget how lucky I am to have you in my life. I will always remember and appreciate the strong, sweet kind woman that brings the joy of life, the light through any darkness in my life everyday. I promise to live up to your expectations of me, to have a plan ready so that we're always safe and sound. Strong in our roots, and ready to give that strength to our family. I have followed you to places people would call the ends of the Earth. I would follow you even further still to make sure you are always well and flourishing by the end. So I will keep loving you with all my heart, and I will do everything to help you make a home for us. A warm home of love from today and forever," Lincoln said.
The couple looked at each other with watering eyes as they exchanged their rings and 'I do's'. By the end Lincoln tried not to let his eyes linger on his sisters, those he loved just as much with all his heart. Those who were cheering in congratulatory glee as he and Ronnie-Anne concluded the ceremony after the kiss the bride proclamation. That day was for showing Ronnie-Anne how much he cared about and loved her. One day, the reckoning of the truth would make itself known.
Especially as more children followed. Those with his lawfully wedded wife, and those with his sisters.