At the docks, then out to sea, Sunday

[vdistinctive]

The colors from the previous days were still holding, if maybe slightly more muted, Fandom's magic slowly fading but still managing to hang on for another day.

Seemed like a good omen as any for a wedding that Eliot still couldn't quite believe was happening.

Eliot's boat wasn't big enough for all their guests so they had "rented" (long story) a well-appointed yacht for the day. It was docked in the Port of Fandom, waiting for all the guests to board. Once the last person had crossed the gangplank, it sailed almost to the edge of the island, where blue water lapped with gray. Eliot's boat was already there, anchor down, Hardison in a tux, playing around with a sound system.

A few minutes to futz with mics and the speakers set up discreetly around the yacht came to life. "Testin'...Testin'..." Hardison murmured. Good. Everybody would be able to hear the ceremony on the second ship.

Looks like it was time to begin.

[TIME FOR A WEDDING! If you think you were invited, you were. Some OCD coming]

Comments

Re: The Ceremony

[vdistinctive]

“Yeah, darlin’,” Eliot said, and flashed her a wink. Then he rolled his shoulders back and cleared his throat. “The two of you have known me better, and for longer, than anyone else in my life. You know me better than I know myself. I spent twenty years thinking I’d ruined my chances for love. For a family. But even before the two of you showed me I was wrong, I was yours.”

He looked between the two of them, and his voice shook faintly as he continued. “Parker, you’re the most beautiful, most competent, and most — inconceivable woman I’ve ever known. I’ll never get over the amazing way your mind works. Hardison, your capacity for compassion and empathy are as astonishing as your intellect. You’re so amazing together; I honestly would have been happy enough to watch you grow together as your friend. Instead, you let me into your hearts.

“You already know I’ll take care of you until my dying day. So today I promise to let you both do the same for me. I promise to guard and to honor you both, to value your guidance, and—“ He quirked a rueful smile. “—To make sure that ‘dying day’ doesn’t come too soon. I trust you both with my life and my heart. I look forward to every minute of the rest of our lives together.”

Re: The Ceremony

[merciful_parable]

Pastor Carter was absolutely teary-eyed just listening to them, but that smile of his was going nowhere.

What an absolutely lovely wedding and now, now it was time to wrap up the formalities, which meant Pastor Carter took over to speak again.

There wasn't too much to say, but he said it with the same solemn joy that he'd said all the rest.

"It will take dedication, to stay open to one another - and to learn and grow together.

"It will take faith, to go forward together, without knowing exactly what the future brings.

"And it will take commitment, to hold true to the journey you have all pledged to today.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husbands and wife." Carter's grin was broad, at that, as he finished with, "You may now kiss!"

Re: The Ceremony

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Hardison beamed, full of a sudden and incandescent joy. They were married. Absolutely married. The pastor had said so and that made it true.

...Maybe not legal, but when had that ever stopped them?

Re: The Ceremony

[whoisalicewhite]

Parker shrieked, and immediately hugged Hardison and kissed him. Then let him go and kissed Eliot. Then danced around in a circle singing, "We did it we did it we did it!"

There may have been a cartwheel in there.