Chapter XLI: Wedding Bells are Ringing

A/N: It's about damn time! I've had this chapter pre-written for ages! Been a busy couple of weeks, but I am here now. Looking forward to seeing what you all think! Thank you cowgirlbookworm! Don't know what I'd do without you! SSD

February 1st, 1914

"How the bloody hell were you so calm last year? You weren't this nervous," Harry muttered at his soon to be brother-in-law as he paced the vestibule at the front of the church.

"You know full well I was more than half drunk," Roland answered before Erik gave him an "Oh really" look before amending, "Well not really. You know how well Erik hid everything over the course of the week."

"What did you do with it all," Charles asked.

"Poured the cheap stuff down the drain, gave the good stuff to his father, and the 'shine went to Antin for safekeeping," Erik counted off.

"That doesn't work for me at all," Harry replied testily.

"I hid your pistol, just in case the urge to shoot your father hits you," Will added.

"I'm surprised the urge hasn't occurred to me. He's been behaving himself. A bit too well," Harry cracked his neck.

"Antin mentioned in the past that he had... experience with family members like your dad. He, his wife, and dad are handling him to keep him from being too much of a menace," Roland made a mental note to speak to his father about giving Antin a raise.

"So... Harold. Do you know where you and your soon to be wife are going on your honeymoon," Charles drawled flicking a glance at Roland as well.

Sighing Harry answered, "No I do not. The person paying for the trip as their gift has been vague about destinations, and has only dropped a few hints here and there about it being warm and that Cecily's Spanish will be put to use."

"And who is bestowing this gift on you," Will asked.

It was Roland who cut in with, "Our aunt. She's definitely pleased by the present Cecily and our cousins decided to spring on her!"

"And what present in that," Charles asked eager for information.

"Cecily at the suggestion of our cousins, in particular Alistair, invited an old friend of our aunt's to the wedding," Roland began.

"Anything that distracts Mina from making jokes for any amount of time is a blessing. It's Arthur Rostron. I'm surprised she hasn't murdered her oldest son yet," Harry groaned.

"They knew each other before Titanic. How," Charles asked. Harry noticed a flicker of something in Will's eyes but it went away.

"Yes, they knew each other before Titanic. But not for over 20 years at that point. And don't ask me how they met, Aunt Mina won't tell me. Pretty sure Matt has an idea, I'm going to try to get it out of him tonight with an obscene amount of alcohol," Roland had an evil grin on his face that was not suited for a church.

On the other end of the church...

"Have you seen your aunt at all since he's arrived," Lucy giggled.

"A few times. But she's not been able to speak to me as she'd like. Or her sons. They've been avoiding her," Cecily grinned back, grateful for the distraction attempt from her friend before laughing in an undertone, "She's been rogered quite well. Walking a bit stiffly."

She must not have been as quiet as she though because Brandon's six-year-old daughter Myriah (and her flower girl) asked, "Cousin Cecily, what's rogering?"

Shit!

"Yes, do explain that to my very young daughter," Evelyn was clearly not amused.

Cecily thought for a moment before suggesting, "Myriah, why don't you ask your father later?"

"Make that several years later Myriah," Evelyn ordered.

Before Cecily's youngest cousin could say anything new, Aunt Mina swept in.

Her aunt, though clearly flustered, narrowed her eyes at Cecily and asked, "What were you thinking inviting Arthur to your wedding?"

"I was thinking he might like to come. Besides Alistair thought you might like it. He talked it over with Brandon, Matt, and Randall. They all agreed," she replied calmly.

Aunt Mina mulled this all over before saying, "It looks like I'll have to murder all of my boys before the night is through." It sounded like she was mostly joking.

"Harry thought it sounded like a good idea," Cecily smiled at the thought of her soon to be husband. She hadn't seen him since early yesterday evening. Bad luck and all that.

"I'll leave him be till tomorrow. You can enjoy tonight. I know you two have been chomping at the bit." As her aunt rambled, Cecily motioned to Lucy to get some whiskey. It was sorely needed for multiple people in the room.

"Aunt Mina, I saw this as a way of thanking you for all of your help. I didn't want to cause to trouble," Cecily soothed.

Once her aunt had taken a long drink she muttered, "I'm still going to have a long chat with each of my boy about surprising me like that."

"Do you appreciate your surprise, mum," Evelyn asked all innocence.

"Of course I do! I would have appreciated a warning though!"

"Then it wouldn't have been a surprise," Cecily drawled.

Brandon Sperling was headed to where the other men were waiting in the front of the church.

He knew he was getting close when he heard Will say, "Good God Lights, we're in a church!"

"And what was one of the good Lord's requests? Wasn't it "Be fruitful and multiply?" How's he supposed to do that without hauling her to bed? There is the option of the wall, his lap, or OW!"

When he entered the room, Lightoller was rubbing his foot and Matt was returning the handle of his cane to his hand.

"Save comments of that nature for the reception please Mr. Lightoller. Some of us in this room are related to one of the parties mentioned and would rather have alcohol to dull the memory. I'll be showing Sylvia how to do that one," his younger brother grinned at the end.

"I think she'd appreciate that," Will's laugh was just this side of a cackle. Harry and Roland were laughing as well.

Brandon decided to enter the conversation with, "I'd save the wall for the honeymoon!"

Harry groaned and facepalmed. Brandon knew that he was tired of all the jokes and advice he'd been getting for the past several weeks.

He went to run his hand through his pomaded hair, Brandon stopped Harry saying, "You don't want to ruin your hair. It'd also be a nightmare to get off your hands. That's a mistake you only make once."

Harry moved his hand down saying, "I can't think of anyone more nervous than I."

"I can think of someone who's more nervous than you. She's the one wearing the white dress," Brandon snorted.

"Not helping. I wish I could see Cecily. Do you think you could sneak me in to see her," Harry begged.

"Os ewch chi'n agos at Cecily ar hyn o bryd, fe gewch chi rediad anwelladwy o anlwc," Roland muttered before pulling out a flask. Matt cackled at what was said.

"Give me the flask," Brandon ordered his younger cousin.

"It's only my first. And it's not Antin's 'shine. Ghislaine hid all of it," Roland groused but handed it over anyway. He took a sniff, it was Irish whiskey. Smooth, it would take quite a bit of this for Roland to be noticeably drunk, even to family members.

"What are you doing here anyway," Matt asked.

After taking a quick sip from the flask and handing it back to Roland, "Hiding from Mum. She's found out about our involvement in the procurement of her present and is on a warpath. I don't think she'd yell at us in a church, but she'll come at us loaded for bear at the reception."

"That reminds me Matt. You and I are going to have a long chat about Aunt Mina and her old "friend" and how well they knew each other in the past at said reception," Roland had plans for the party.

"You can try," Matt retorted.

"I'm going to get you completely three sheets to the wind. You're the family lightweight," his cousin's grin had become diabolical.

Brandon looked at his pocket watch. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I think it's time for the wedding to get started. Get out on the altar!"

It was only minutes until the ceremony started. Cecily was glad she argued for silk organza over tulle for the veil. She did not want that material against her face, it would itch.

Her necklace and bracelets were platinum inlaid with emeralds. Green to drive Harry mad! The tiara was platinum with small emeralds as well. The set was a gift from her father.

The dress was far less over the top than Ghislaine's had been last year. Then again, that dress had been from Worth! Her dress was by an American designer Nigel Buchanan. He'd outdone himself. The dress itself was in champagne silk with 3/4 length sleeves with patterns of waves done in seed pearls. A nod to how they'd run into each other again and to Harry's chosen profession.

"Cecily it is very nearly time for you to walk down the aisle. Can you think of anything else you need?" It was her father in a black suit.

"No. Well, I'd rather like to get married," she smiled.

"Right then you looked just like your mother," her father suggested.

"She's with us in spirit. She was right about Harry and I after all. Just imagine what she'd be saying to you right now," Cecily giggled.

"Both of you stop talking, it's time. And smile, it's a happy day and event," her aunt had snuck up on them both.

As they got to the door Cecily muttered, "Happy faces. All you've got to do is a quick walk say some vows, go to a party then..."

"I'm still standing here you know. I don't want to hear what you were going to say next," her father grumbled.

Soon, the strains of Mendelsohn's wedding march played. Then she and her father began walking down the aisle.

Cecily hoped Harry thought she was pretty. Oh God let him still be here!

Getting out of her head, Cecily looked towards the front. Harry was there in his delicious reserves dress uniform blues. Will was right next to him with Lights, Roland and Matt alongside. All in their blues, save for Matt who was in a blue suit to blend in with the others.

All too soon, she and her father were at the altar. Father O'Leary was grinning as he asked, "Who gives this woman?"

"I do, and her mother does in spirit," her father replied clearly.

There were "Awws" in the crowd, led by her aunt.

"Take care of her Harry," her father went to his seat.

Harry's hands were shaking as he pulled the veil over her head, though they were steady again once they were holding hers.

He mumbled, "Ah... um... ah." His eyes were wide with appreciation.

She took his hand and cut her eyes over towards the priest.

Harry got the message, then turned to face the priest as well.

"Beloved, we gather here today, to join in matrimony the man and this woman..."

Cecily decided to tune out Father O'Leary and just gaze at Harry, who was doing the same for her.

They were both so caught up in each other that their attention was only torn away when Lights said, "Can't you two pay attention to something besides each other, my feet are starting to hurt!"

Even Father O'Leary was smirking as they snapped out of it. The whole church was.

"I know I talk a lot, but I think you two want to move things along," he said before asking, "Does the best man have the rings?"

Will fiddled with his pocked before getting out a familiar box, "You'll need these, Harold. Take them from me before Lights tries to pick my pocket again!"

The aforementioned man shrugged his shoulders, "Tried to liven things up a bit!"

Father O'Leary rolled his eyes.

"I Harry take thee Cecily as my lawfully wedded wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, till death do us part."

When he slipped the ring onto her finger, Cecily something run through her.

Then it was her turn: "I Cecily take thee Harold as my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, till death do us part."

She hoped he felt the same thing she did when she put the ring on his finger.

"Now the power vested in me, and the state of Maryland, I declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!"

Harry decided to kiss her with everything he had. Including tongue which Cecily joined in on enthusiastically.

Nothing was off limits now!

"Hey, save something for later," Matt shouted.

It was almost time for the reception to begin. All that was needed was for the newlyweds to arrive.

"This party needs to start. They're taking far too long to get here. Don't Cecily and Harold want to get onto the fun part sooner rather than later," Charles grumped.

"The wedding is for the woman Charles. If it were up to men, we would have spat on our hands, shook on it, then you would have bent me over the first thing you could find, that could hold our weight," Sylvia grinned.

Smirking he looked her up and down, "Well, I'd like to go bend you over something right now!"

"You have that toast to give. We can see about later. You better behave," she warned.

"I always behave. I've worked hard on this speech, it's been tailor made for the occasion," he sipped his whiskey.

"That's what worries me."

"I'm not saying anything that we all aren't thinking. I'm just referencing an event I saw on board the Carpathia. Aunt Mina will know what I'm talking about," he explained.

"We're at a wedding. Everyone knows what you will be talking about," Sylvia drawled.

Before he could reply a piercing whistle came from Alistair before he shouted, "They're here!"

It was then that Charles turned around to see the entering couple. Harold was still in his uniform from the wedding. Cecily on the other hand had changed from the wedding dress to a green dress that had to be making Harold want to drag her off to bed this instant.

"What took you two so long," Matt called out.

"I had to change and Harry was ditching his gloves. Get your mind out of the gutter Matt," Cecily grinned as she sat down.

The first two courses came and went. Soon Will was standing up.

"Oh no," the newlywed couple groaned in unison.

"You two knew this was coming. And I'm sure you have an idea what I'll be bringing up," Will smirked before continuing, "When Harry here first asked me to be his best man, I immediately told him that he'd lost his mind. And that his fiancée would likely think the same."

"He's right, as usual."

"Initially, I was unaware of the prior relationship between the two. Which led to a misunderstanding on my part when I lit into Harry not having looked at the time to realize that his rounds were over and he was "talking" with Cecily. At least I think it was just talk. They also seem to enjoy gazing at the night sky together," Will paused for a drink as some people giggled.

The newlyweds blushed with Harry saying, "Fuck me, we weren't that bad!"

"That's for Cecily to do to you now! Upon arrival in New York, our lovely couple still found some time to relax a mite. Harry and Cecily were enjoying themselves a bit too much near the Florida with him pinning her to the wall to kiss her. Don't give me that look Harry, they won't kill you now. You two are married," he reminded.

"Now that they've tied that knot, I wouldn't count on seeing them for a while. Hopefully whichever ship they're on; they bring earplugs for their neighbors!"

This led to much laughter, as the tale of the Lethbridges being noisy in bed had spread far and wide. Even Cecily and Harry were laughing.

Will soon sat down. Charles took that as his cue to stand up and start his speech.

Before he could even finish standing Harry muttered, "Jesus Christ, someone tackle him!"

"I'm hurt, I worked so hard at this speech. I think you'll like it," Charles knew he was smirking.

"Obviously the best man gets to go first, but Will, I cannot let you outdo me," he grinned at his old friend.

"You never can," Will drawled back.

"The first time I saw this lovely couple together, Harry could not take his eyes off of her. I could have done anything to him, even light his trousers on fire. I almost did!" People laughed.

"Personally I never saw them cavorting about. Now the only worry is him wanting to wear trousers at all!" More laughter ensued and eyerolls from the newlyweds.

"That's only the beginning lovebirds. You both would probably prefer I not mention what happened with the Irish Setter on board the Carpathia," he chuckled.

Harry growled, "Lights no!"

"What Irish Setter on the Carpathia," Captain Rostron asked.

Ignoring the groom, Charles forged onwards, "It was a complete accident, you two getting tied up by that animal.

"Lights come on, my brother doesn't need to know about this," Cecily begged.

"I think I'd rather like to know this tale," Roland sipped his drink.

"Well, this rather large red dog's leash was so tight around their ankles they couldn't move well. Their bodies were pressed up against each other. I thought I was going to have to bother Captain Rostron to not have Mr. Lowe thrown in the brig but to have a short marriage ceremony! Ow!" Sylvie had kicked him in the leg. Hard.

"Turns out, he just needed a quick dip in the ocean," Cecily grabbed her husband's arm, calming him a bit.

"I may tease, but I am happy for them both. Not only about the marriage, but that not once did Albert have to reach for his shotgun or Roland his pistol. Do enjoy the party! To the bride and groom!"

After giving all four of her boys swats (with a smile) while she danced with them, Mina took stock of the ballroom.

Cecily and Harry were dancing together and laughing away. They were taking not so subtle glances at the clock, clearly counting down the time when it would be appropriate for them to sneak off to enjoy the more private part of the evening.

Sylvia and Charles had just slipped back into the ballroom. All of their clothes were in perfect order and yet... Just a bit too perfect. Sylvia's hair looked a mite off.

Randall, her shyest son, was dancing with Lucy's youngest sister Gwen. They were talking a mile a minute the whole time. Mina also spied James and Olive dancing.

"He seems to be enjoying himself," Arthur had snuck up on her.

Jumping a little, "Arthur, you're aware I don't like being snuck up on!" Mina gave him a slight swat to his chest.

"When I first met him, I was shocked to see how shy he was. You were never that shy," he replied.

"Randall's been that way since he was a boy. Especially with girls," Mina explained.

"You're the only Lethbridge not dancing. Might I have this dance," Arthur held out his hand, grey eyes gleaming.

"How could I say no to you," she smiled, taking his hand, letting him lead her out to the dance floor.

Mina saw Matt dancing with Cecily now, give her a smirk. She wanted to give him a rude hand gesture, but Arthur quickly occupied her hands.

"Your brother's away from the dance floor, where's he headed," her partner asked.

Taking a glance, "Off for a drink. Good God, he and George are drinking Antin's moonshine!"

"I haven't had any of that. I imagine it's quite strong."

"I've had it. It can be substituted for cleaning fluid," Mina laughed.

Soon the waltz ending, but before Mina could leave, Arthur grabbed her face with both of his hands to kiss her gently yet firmly on the mouth.

Once he was done he whispered, "I'm not going to let you get away from me again," as he led her off the dance floor."

Will grinned at the display before him. Roland had been making Cecily dance will every man there it would seem, the later the hour became. As the bride, she couldn't say no to a dance.

Her brother was clearly abusing the tradition.

"If we don't get her out soon, I believe Cecily will beat her brother severely," Charles drawled.

"I'll cut in with Cecily, you and Sylvia bother Roland. How's that sound," he spitballed a plan.

"That's as good as any. I'll go get Sylvie."

Will headed towards Ada, "Go get Harry and wait. I'm going to dance with Cecily for a bit then get her out."

"About time. Go on," Ada shooed him.

Cecily was dancing with Erik. Lucy saw him heading their way and caught her husband's eye.

"May I cut in," Will asked. Erik just smirked and let him in.

"I never thought I would be so glad to see you. Roland's being a complete menace," Cecily grumbled.

"Give it a few more minutes, Lights and Sylvia are going to distract him," he explained.

"I'll thank them in the morning," she replied.

Soon enough Charles, Sylvie, and Ghislaine were bothering Roland. Will took that as his cue to get Cecily off the dance floor.

They were quickly in the entryway to the rooms where Harry, Ada, and Brandon were waiting.

Once Will handed Cecily off to Harry he said, "Now get on your way. Try not to keep everyone up tonight!"

"Mind your own advice, you have to be quiet for Colin," Cecily retorted as they hustled upstairs.

Looking around Ada asked, "Brandon, I haven't seen your mother for nearly an hour. I thought she'd see Cecily off. Where is she?"

"Not being quiet."

A/N 2: And that my friends, is a wrap. Took me entirely too long to type this up, but I've had a busy couple of weeks. Prep work for an event, a major family medical anniversary is coming up, so that's been sapping my energy. This chapter was 13 pages handwritten. I am proud of myself for this. Yes, next chapter begins with the wedding night, and it is being a pain in the ass! But it will be worth it! Looking forward to seeing what you all think! SSD