"So, cold feet?" Alexa asked with a smirk, already guessing the answer.
"Pfft! Are you kidding?" Jazz laughed. The pair stood in a small room with Shelby and Sonya, the latter helping the former get her hair just right. The big day had finally arrived. Jazz was decked out in so much white lace that under normal circumstances it would've been funny on the butch, assertive woman. Her hair had been expertly styled, a pair of simple studs decorated each earlobe and she had even consented to having makeup applied. In short...Jazz looked radiant.
The day was perfect, the sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky, the guests had all arrived safely, and things were inching closer to the event itself. Although Alexa told herself that everything would be alright, there was still a flutter of nerves in her belly. Which was odd, given Jazz was the one taking center stage, not her.
Alexa had done everything she could to make sure today was perfect, she even managed to get some level of divine assurance thanks to the sacrifice of the last of her platinum. She would've gladly made a dozen more rings the same way, but Hera assured her that bribes and sacrifices weren't necessary (didn't stop her from keeping the ring) as she had always intended to keep this day as perfect as possible.
Still, Alexa worried. She just wanted this day to be perfect so bad!
"Would you relax!" Shelby giggled. "You look like you're trying to pop out a pinecone!"
"I do not!" Alexa pouted.
"You kinda do." Sonya agreed gently. Alexa huffed and glanced at the clock. They should be heading out any minute now.
"Just think about it this way," Sonya added "The longer we take, the longer it'll be before your big speech."
"Ugh! Really Sonya? Why'd you have to bring that up!" Alexa groaned.
"Because I can get away with it today!" Sonya teased, taking her hands away from Shelby's locks. Shelby peeked in the mirror and nodded, satisfied.
"Ugh!" Alexa groaned. She'd rather fight a dozen hungry harpies than stand in front of everyone and give that speech. But, she reasoned, it was for Jazz. She'd done more for less.
A knock came from the door. Melody poked her head around the frame.
"We about ready?" She asked.
"Hell yes we are!" Jazz all but crowed.
"Jasmine, language. We're in a church!" Melody only half heartedly scolded. She was beaming too.
The four hurried out of the dressing room into a little area set before the aisle, behind the door. Four men stood waiting for them, one older man serving the role of usher hurried forward and took Melody past the door, the others waited in silence. Alexa hurried up to a black haired, toned young man in a black suit. Blaine, Sean's best man. He smiled at her and offered a loop of his arm. Under normal circumstances she may have been a bit self-conscious about the touch but given she was preparing for a drakon to burst through the wall or for the guests to start turning into salmon she was a little distracted from her nerves.
The duo walked, arm in arm, down the aisle as the music began to play. Most of those gathered were Jazz and Sean's family, of course, but Alexa was pleased to see several of her fellow campers in the pews as well; A few of Jazz's siblings were in attendance (two of her brothers were shooting the groom death glares), Melissa from Hermes cabin sat next to Rose, both in surprisingly identical dresses, and there at the tail end of the pew sat Chiron in his wheelchair, his hands politely folded in his lap.
Alexa made her way up to the altar and stood to face the assembly on the bride's side. One by one her fellow bridesmaids joined her, then...slowly, Jazz began her trek down the aisle. Everyone was silent, except for one of Jazz's brothers.
"Woo! Rock that dress!" He cheered. He was immediately smacked by one of his sisters.
"Ow! What! She looks awesome!"
"Shh!" She hissed, the little display earning equal amounts of glares and giggles.
Jazz made it to the altar and stood facing Sean. The priest stepped forward and lightly cleared his throat. A hush fell over the assembly.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness that most beautiful of things; The joining of these two young people in the bonds of holy matrimony." The older man smiled at the bride and groom. "Love is an amazing thing. Love and passion burns so fiercely it can take two entirely different people, and make them one. It can cross boundaries, even nations, and form lasting friendships and relationships. I see love here today, ladies and gentlemen. I see two people, so full of love they are willing to admit it and share it with you all."
Alexa's mind began to wander. She thought back on all the years she and Jazz had spent together, the frankly insane amount of time and effort it took to help Alexa through her issues. The question of why had always come up, but today it blazed far more strongly than it ever had? Why open herself up to sleepless nights, the occasional tantrum, broken bones and burns, all for a girl she didn't even know at the time?
She found her answer during the priest's speech. Despite her gruff exterior, Jazz was one of the most loving people Alexa had ever met. Despite everything, despite a love of combat, action movies, and an intense desire to witness a nuclear blast, Jazz was filled with love, and that loving girl had seen a child who had gone through trauma and had decided she needed stability and love to put her back together.
Alexa didn't get to hear the vows the two exchanged, the tears were running freely down her face by that point. She was so happy for Jazz, finding someone that made her happy, the emotion just spilled out. She didn't realize she had missed her cue until Shelby gently nudged her.
Alexa hurried forward, and plucked the two gold rings out from behind the small bundle of flowers she clutched. She put both in front of the priest and stepped back to her original position.
"Thank you, my dear." He said before turning back to Sean and Jazz. "Sean McDonnell, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold in sickness and in health, in richer and poorer, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Sean agreed.
"Jasmine Sherman, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband,to have and to hold in sickness and in health, in richer and poorer, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do!" Jazz said, beaming like the sun.
"Then you may now exchange rings." Said the priest. He gave each a short list of vows and promises before each put the ring on the other's finger. Jazz admired hers for a second and had just started to turn to look at Alexa when she caught herself.
"If anyone has any reason these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace." There were several beats of silence as the priest waited. No one spoke.
"Then by the power vested in me by the church, our heavenly father, and the state Minnesota, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Before he had even finished talking Jazz moved in and kissed Sean, long and deep. The crowd erupted in cheers, Alexa loudest among them.
The reception hall was exactly as Alexa had imagined, mostly small round tables, one wide one which she and the rest of the wedding party sat at, a small stage where a man and four women with matching golden locks were setting up instruments and several long tables where the catering was setting up the food for the evening, and a big area set aside for dancing.
Alexa sat near the middle of the table with Jazz on one side and Shelby on the other.
"See, told you it was a good thing she didn't have mascara on!" Sonya teased from the end of the line.
"Yeah, yeah." Shelby huffed, reaching into her purse and pulling out a twenty.
"Did you two bet on whether or not I'd cry during the ceremony?" Alexa growled. Shelby had the good sense to look sheepish but Sonya had an impish look plastered across her face.
"Of course not!" Sonya scoffed "We were betting on when!"
"I thought for sure you'd hold out until the speech." Shelby grumbled under her breath.
"I wasn't allowed to play." Jazz added with a grin.
The glare from Alexa, only got the table laughing again. Eventually Alexa caved and began giggling as well. The guests began to trickle in, finding their seats over the next few minutes. Jazz and Sean welcomed them all, a few stopped to say hello to the rest of the wedding party, but for the most part they were left alone.
"About that time." Blaine said, leaning forward to look at Alexa. "Want to go first or do you want me to?"
Alexa sighed and shook her head.
"I don't want to go at all...but since I got to, I'd better go first so I can get it over with."
"Better you than me!" Blaine chuckled.
"Alright, alright, alright!" Cried the man from the stage, producing a microphone "How's everyone doing today? I'm the master of ceremonies here this evening! We'll get the music started for you lovely people here in a minute, but first a show of appreciation for the Man and Woman of the hour, for the first time ever, Mr and Mrs. McDonnell!"
The assembly clapped and cheered as Sean and Jazz waved.
"Now, so you can blame someone else for keeping you all from the food and fun, it's time for the speeches!" He hopped off the stage and made his way to the wedding party's table. He grinned and winked at the group.
"Don't worry, I know how hard it is going after me! It's okay to flub a line or two!" He flipped the mic over, catching the opposite end deftly, and held it out to Alexa handle first. Alexa took it and gently tapped the other end before speaking.
"Hello everyone." She said, getting to her feet. She looked out at the assembly and felt a pit open in her stomach. Her mouth went dry. She had been training for her entire life to fight monsters! Why was giving a speech so hard! She cleared her throat, trying to get more moisture to her tongue.
"For those of you that don't know me, my name's Alexa. Jazz has been my best friend since I was six." She took a deep breath. Think about Jazz, she told herself, ignore the people and think about Jazz!
"I'm sure you've all heard the stories. All the trouble this woman caused growing up, all the broken things, fights, people with missing teeth. Well I'm here to tell you today...those are absolutely right." This got a few chuckles from the crowd.
"This woman...I've seen her punch dents in metal, break china plates with her face, and make people run with a crack of her knuckles!" She paused dramatically for a moment before softening her voice. "I've also seen her dive into a lake to rescue a poor swimmer without a moment's hesitation, climb a tree to help down a very angry cat, throw herself in front of a very angry horse to save another kid, and time and again show just how big her heart is. This woman took one look at a scared, traumatized little girl who had just lost her whole family in a night, and said 'Screw the world for doing this to you! You have a new family right here!'"
She turned to face Jazz now, smiling and fighting back more tears.
"Jazz, I've been wracking my brain for years, just trying to find a way to live up to your example, to be just as brave and as kind as you. Still working on that, that's how much I think of you. I don't think I'll ever really get to that point. When you're with Sean you're the happiest I've ever seen you. To know there's someone out there who can make you smile like that just makes me so happy."
She looked a little further down the line towards Sean.
"Sean, you're married to the greatest person I've ever met, the fact that she chose you automatically makes you pretty good in my book. But even after that you've shown me that you're kind, gentle...and a complete dork, and I mean that in the best way!" Another small laugh from the crowd
"So long as I keep seeing that smile on Jazz's face I'll be a happy camper. Welcome to the family!"