Thomas realized that he's taking the turn now as he's both joyful and grievous, that Kel is now in the position of the deceased, and that like him before, Kel wanted a last time of making a memory that's bittersweet yet wonderful at the same time, and the fact that it's Christmas Eve, where magic is strong too, next to Halloween...
He spoke shakily yet hopefully, "How long?", and Dorji spoke through the priest, "The entire ceremony, next to the renewing vows of yours which the priest will remember only, but the rest of the ceremony will be secretly known by this family and Fate. Kel knows how painful this is, but she wants to make tonight memorable for not just herself, but for all of you. If you say yes, Kel is hoping for Poppy and Bruce to escort her down the aisle back there.", gesturing to the curtains of the homemade portcullis entrance into the aisle, several feet from the doors of the small ballroom, as Bruce took the place of best man for Thomas, with best woman for Martha, with Alfred having escorted Martha earlier.
"Do you even need to ask if we'll say yes?", Martha said. "A million times, we'd say it…", she rubbed her eyes as the tears were welting up. "Jeez, now I'm starting to ruin my makeup…", she sniffled as Thomas kissed her cheek.
"It's alright; it's understandable that we can have some tears of joy and sorrow with this whole event.", Thomas told her as he looked back to the priest/Dorji, "If I may quickly ask, Dorji… how did it end?".
"Talia found me when I was prepping the last of the explosives. Her injuries, however, kept her from stopping me. I knew even if she wasn't there at that moment; the results would've been the same, but her being there made sure that she didn't somehow by nothing short of a dark miracle was she going to escape with her life.", Dorji explained.
Poppy next to Martha in her best woman spot heaved in even more relief, "Oh, thank god! I wouldn't want her claws into this family's nightmares. I know Fate told us a bit of what happened, but not entirely…Thank you, Dorji…".
Bruce nodded, "Yes, thank you..Dad, Mom, can we talk and hug Mama for a minute before we escort her? She must be so nervous!".
"Of course.", Thomas nodded. "She'll certainly need it… plus, it gives you two a chance to say a few things before we start.". Poppy teared up by hearing that. Part of her knew the moment she would see Kel, she'd practically be bawling her eyes out, begging her to somehow come back in some way to not go away again.
Martha smiled, "Go on!", and the sister-brother duo didn't need more than that, and nearly sprinted, yet keeping intact carefully of their winter-themed wedding clothes, around the seats on the far side, and around the pergola into the curtain-closed area, and their eyes widened in tears of awe and surprise to see their mama.
Their mama is looking so gorgeous in a long, pearl-white gown that somehow accented her tall frame and muscles perfectly, with her dark green-blackish hair in long, wavy curls, and she didn't need makeup as her natural way fits her perfectly.
Kel looked at her children with tears and she tried not to fiddle with her gown, nervously asking, "Do I look right for a wedding?".
"You do, Mama…", Bruce sniffled as he tried to hold back the tears for a few moments before he just couldn't keep it up. "Mama!", Poppy sobbed with joy as she rushed over to hug Kel tightly before Bruce wrapped his arms around as best as he could to join in with the hug.
"How's my little She-Hulk been?", Kel asked Poppy; feeling so proud of seeing her in the immediate aftermath of her sacrifice, watching Poppy transform into a powerful gamma amazon like her and not only fight off Talia but beat her completely.
Poppy smiled tearfully, "I think I got a really good hang of it…My gymnastics are helping out better with my new human size and weight, and my Hulk form is having rewards from that…I know I'd have to wait for at least a couple of years before I can ask Mom to trade her usual routes with me, but I think I can be the third She-Hulk…that is, if you're not mad about it?", looking at her mama.
"My sweet flower, I am not upset, and waiting is good enough, but as soon as the others make sure that you're ready, I know you will make me proud once again. After all, Gotham needs more heroes and heroines to cover the distracts of that big city. However, perhaps you need to differentiate yourself somewhat from Martha in outfits, and perhaps name. Gotham is clearly seeing that Martha is the She-Hulk, considering that she was part of me, and I was part of her, but you are different.", Kel replied warmly.
"I have a few ideas.", Poppy chuckled. "I will admit, it would be hard not to call myself She-Hulk as well, just, something a little extra to differentiate between me and Mom.".
Kel then turned her attention towards Bruce as obviously she didn't want to neglect her son. "And you, Bruce, how have you been doing?", she asked him as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
"Okay… some nights I'm able to handle things better than others… it… it feels almost like Dad all over again, even as a young man, the feelings are almost all the same. I thought I would be able to handle it better overall.", Bruce admitted to her.
Kel gently shushed him as she reached to caress his cheek, "It's okay, Bruce. You are human, and if you need to let it go, you can, this family understands, and they love you, as much as I do, my handsome pup, or rather, wolf. You deserve to be healthy mentally, emotionally, and physically, do you understand me?".
"I do…", Bruce nodded as he took a deep breath while Kel gently brushed both of her children's hair. "Please, don't cry, you two, this is not the sort of event for shedding tears unless they're ones of joy.", Kel told them as they both nodded. "Now then, will you honor my request and escort me to my loves?".
Poppy and Bruce smiled brightly, and took their spots, with Bruce on the right, and Poppy on the left, taking their mama's hands, and she took a shaky, deep breath.
"It's okay, Mama, you look really amazing.", Poppy reassured her, and Bruce nodded, "Yeah, if I know Dad and Mom, and I'd probably be copying them by saying this, but you are gorgeous, Mama. And besides, green is a Christmas color, fitting perfectly with white as a bride color.", with a smile.
Kel, now reassured by her children, gave a nod, and as if by sensing that she's ready, a wedding hymn echoed through the small ballroom, and magic drew the curtains, maybe Fate's magic, and they stepped into the aisle.
Kel took a deep breath as she looked to Martha and Thomas; her heart swelling and beating fast; if only in a spiritual sense as she walked with her two children escorting her until she stood between them. "Thomas… Martha…", Kel whispered. "How have you two been?", she asked.
Thomas and Martha looked at her in bittersweet joy and adoration and love as Thomas replied softly, "I've been doing well…It's actually strange to be behind the spotlight in Wayne Entreprises with Martha technically still in charge for some time still until Bruce turns 21 in the new year, but it means so much to catch up with ideas to give fresh perspective and my dear friends in Lucius and Leslie. And every weekend, family days are more than just the best for me, it's memorable with photos, laughter, and feeling our love and children's company.".
Martha exhaled, "I've been handling things better with Thomas by my side, but some days, and nights on patrol, it is sometimes more than I or Thomas could feel, but keeping your promise and imagining your proud face keeps me going on those patrols, and I look to our children for hope and motivation to smile…You are marvelously beautiful, Kel…I'm happy to marry you on this miraculous, if bittersweet day.".
"Me too…This day wouldn't be the same without you, living or spiritual, Kel…You're gorgeously beautiful, Kel.", Thomas agreed with a smile, and Kel blushed, choking back tears, "Thank you, my loves…You're quite strapping, Thomas, and you are very stunning, Martha.".
"Thank you, Kel… not my original dress, of course… our first night; well, obviously stopped fitting for sure after that.", Martha blushed. "Meanwhile, Thomas can still fit into that old suit.", she chuckled.
"Hey, if it works, it works; besides, we were originally renewing our vows.", Thomas playfully argued. "If you wish, I could quickly get ano-".
"It's fine.", Kel interrupted. "It's perfect; you two as you are now…", she whispered before she looked to the priest/Dorji. "I… I think we're ready to start, Dorji.".
Dorji/the priest smiled warmly, and cleared his throat, "Today, on Christmas Eve, where hope, miracles, and love are made, we all are here to witness a union that almost the world doesn't know with the exception of this unique family, their friend, and of course, Heaven, where this groom marries his two loves, and vice versa.".
"If anyone wishes to protest this miracle of a union, speak up or hold your tongue.", Dorji's voice continued, and thankfully this time, no interruptions for a few moments, either good or bad, and then Dorji/the priest nodded with a smile, "Now, we will start with the renewing vows for the groom and his first love, and so, if you please.".
Thomas felt a tiny bit annoyed on the spot when Dorji mentioned 'first love'. In all honesty, what he had to say for Martha was practically the same for Kel; since he'd always seen them as part of the same person while at the same time, their own separate people.
"Martha… I honestly don't know how lucky I am to have ever met you before; I dreaded deep down that the type of woman that I would be saying all this too was someone who was fairly distant to me and I shared the similar feeling; an arranged match or worse, someone who cared more for what I had attached to me rather than what I was.".
"And thankfully, I found that in you; a woman who I share so much with, personality, generosity, a kind spirit, the type of woman that I had dreamt of for years. And now here we are, able to say those special words and plan to make a long life together as close as two people could be.".
"And these are added from what was the original vow…", Thomas quickly cleared his throat. "Martha; it's been a long time since we first said these vows and have gone through so much. Love and pain; life and death and yet somehow, we're right back here after everything, it seems that had tried to part us ways on this mortal coil. And hopefully, we'll make sure to not allow that separation to happen again for many years until we both decide it's the right time for us to move on. I love you so much, Martha Rosalyn Wayne.".
Martha sniffled, tears as she dabbed them away, as she took a deep breath at Dorji/the priest's clearing of throat, and spoke, "In those original words of the vow before, I say this again, Thomas, I've never imagined in a long time that I'd find a man to harmonize with my beliefs of generosity, my caring habits to help, and my kindness, yet I found you, for I was also dreading a political match or a rich match who wanted me as a prize trophy.".
"You are much more than those imagined matches, for you gave me love, happiness, and a sense of belonging, the kind of man I've dreamt of for years, and now we are to begin a life together, to take anything that faces us in the future.".
Martha then cleared her throat, "Now this is added; Thomas, for years, I'd never thought I'd have the chance to say those vows again, but you were there for the family even if we couldn't see or hear you all the time. Love prevails death, but we won't stop death when we are ready on our own terms, because I'll know that I've lived a long time with you. I love you so much, Thomas Dorian Wayne.".
Thomas' heart swelled as he smiled tearfully, and Dorian/the priest then nodded with a smile, "Now, for the groom and first bride to share their vows with the second bride, and vice versa. The groom first, if you please..".
Thomas nodded before he turned his attention to Kel. Of course, he didn't have anything written down, so he was going to have to wing it.
"Kel… our meeting obviously was a very different one than either of us would truly have wanted. You saved Martha and Bruce's life the night my life had ended and kept up protecting the family that I left behind through so much. Not only that, but you slowly grew more and more human in many ways; becoming much more the woman that I love today…".
"I fell in love with your passionate heart, your strength in protecting Martha and the family, and your unique way of seeing the big picture with your gamma powers. You used to doubt yourself often, but you never gave in, thanks to the family. You truly have a marvelous soul, and I love you so much, Kel Emerald Wayne.", Thomas finished his vow.
Kel's heart raced and swelled in both shock and joy, hearing the absolute sincerity and love in Thomas' voice, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks, and Dorji/the priest spoke, "Now, this is a bit unusual out of tradition, but I ask the first bride to share her vows with the second bride.", smiling at Martha.
Martha smiled happily to hear that, and followed her heart on winging it, taking a deep breath, "Kel, our first meeting was quite the most confusing yet shocking one than either of us would have imagined honestly, yet I don't regret it that night after Thomas's original life ended. You saved our son, and you gave life to our daughter, and I somehow realized that I wouldn't have wanted my life wasted when you were there for me and this family, with moments of having Thomas at short miraculous times to see that my heart truly grew to love the woman of my life, and that our Thomas loved you and me equally.".
"Yes, it was true that you were angry and hurt at first, but that's because you never learned to be so human before until I came into your life, and you changed my life. I fell in love with your remarkable heart, your passionate will, and your compassion for equality, even if you are determined to fight the world for us. I love you so much, Kel Emerald Wayne.".
Kel teared up by hearing that from both of them; she wanted to wrap the two of them in such a tight hug but there would be a time for that in a bit, for sure. Right now, was what she was expecting to come next.
"Now then, if the second bride would like to share her vows with her groom and bride, we shall start with the bride to bride.", the priest/Dorji said as Kel turned to look at Martha.
"Martha… what can I truly say sometimes?", Kel gave a small chuckle. "The events that led to my sheer existence… heck, just who I mostly am, would be nothing without you. Call it a sheer accident or fate somehow, but there was a reason why I came into existence as a part of you and slowly grew to have such a beautiful bond that I was happy to share with…".
"I never knew love or family until I saw your memories, and then being with you, I learned what love and family meant. Love may be tender or passionate, but it's pure all the same, and family may be chaotic or protective, but it's definite all the same. You showed me so much, from playing in the snow and raising a baby and a child to a pair of amazing young people, and beyond. I fell in love with your funny wisecracks, your compassionate way to lean an ear, and your ferocity to take care of our family. If I hadn't called you an alpha wolf so much, I would have sworn that you are a lioness. I love you so much, Martha Rosalyn Wayne.", Kel finished her vow for Martha, seeing a blush and happy tears in her wife-to-be…God, she's literally getting married to Martha and Thomas, hitting her in the heart.
Dorji/the priest's voice cleared their throat, and asked politely, "Now, for the bride to groom.", with a smile as it's Thomas's turn to hear Kel out. Kel almost felt a slight bitterness to what she wanted to say. She loved Thomas with all her heart, but it practically felt at times almost one sided, considering that he was pretty much dead throughout her whole life. But those few times that he had come back from the great beyond… it allowed her to find the words.