InsaneJournal

Current mood:	excited
Current music:	Wedding March

Unbreakable


Dani fidgeted nervously as she waited for her cue to come out from behind the curtain separating her from Rhys, their guests and the Reverend Mother in the small rose garden of Shangri-La's main dome. She'd just arrived in the dome after dressing in the lovely pink gown that Bethany had somehow managed to find and have altered to fit her in her current state, and in moments she would go out before her 'family' to formalize her union with Rhys.

She'd been surprised at how many had accepted their invitations...there had been a limit on how many people from Avalon would be allowed to take off duty to attend, but there was still a fair number. All the Black Hydras were there, Jilleen, Colonel Mackenzie...even the Admiral! That was the one that had surprised her the most, and she was deeply honored that the woman had chosen to attend.

All of the members of Rhys's deck crew were there, the other sections volunteering to cover their shifts, and others from non flight related areas of the ship.

Peeking out from behind the curtain, she could see the Reverend Mother waiting at the front of the aisle to perform the ceremony, the trellis rising and providing a perfect backdrop behind her.

Standing at the front of the aisle, Rhys adjusted the collar of his uniform jacket and tried not to fidget. He only wore his dress grays about three times a year, for the rare special occasions he attended, but he'd had the uniform cleaned and pressed for today. He'd taken special care with shaving that morning, even spent extra time polishing his shoes. A few of the deck crew had waylaid him the night before to host a bachelor party, and his heart felt lighter than it had in months.

He thought he saw Dani's face across the room, and he dropped his gaze to the floor. Superstition, he guessed, not wanting to see his bride until she was there beside him. The only thing that could possibly cast a pall on this day was the absence of his family, but even that melancholy fact paled beside the knowledge of the life that lay ahead of him now. A wife and children, a family of his own. A small space of normalcy amid the chaos of war. Comfort, happiness. Love.

He'd even managed to find a proper ring before the ceremony, wanting to have a token to give his bride. Getting married was something he only intended to do once, that meant he had to do it right, all the trimmings. He fiddled with one of the buttons on his jacket, adjusted his new insignia. The best day of his life, definitely.

A last check of her reflection and Dani reluctantly decided that it was good enough. She'd taken extra care with styling her hair, even getting enough flowers woven in them to create the illusion of a crown of them surrounding her head. This was the first and only time she was getting married, unless she and Rhys decided to renew their vows one day as some couples did, and she wanted it to be perfect.

Well, as perfect as it could be when one looked like a beached whale.

She'd secretly commissioned a ring for Rhys. It cost her more than she cared to think about due to the scarcity of available gold, but it had been worth it. For some reason physical symbols were important to her beloved, and she wanted to show that she understood that. It would be a physical symbol of her love and commitment to him, and the young woman couldn't wait to see the look on his face when she produced the ring.

Colonel Mackenzie stepped through the curtain, his face lighting up as he took in her appearance. "Dani, you look beautiful. Gaither won't know what hit him."

Dani knew that Jester had been surprised when she'd approached him about giving her away at the wedding. Of all the senior officers, she'd known him the longest and couldn't think of anyone alive she'd rather have perform this task. "Thank you Colonel, I hope you're right." He looked a little tired and she wondered how late he'd been out partying with other players from the pyramid tournament.

The music started up and the still smiling Colonel gestured toward the curtain and offered his arm. "I think that's our cue, ready?"

"As I'll ever be, I guess." Dani moved into position beside him to march down the short aisle to her destiny and put her arm through his, trying to control the butterflies in her stomach. The curtains pulled back and she could see everyone had shifted in their seats, turning to look at her as she started to slowly make her way to her beloved's side.

The mechanic stood up a little straighter when Dani actually appeared, and all his nervousness evaporated as he squared his shoulders. He didn't care what she thought she looked like, she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. His mouth twitched at the corners, and he looked down at his shoes for a moment before returning his gaze to his intended.

Married. He was getting married. Gods, what if he wasn't ready? He hadn't intended to start out with a ready-made family, not so soon. Raising children was hard enough without being on a Battlestar full time. He had his father's example, sure, but that was just second-hand knowledge. What if he was going to be a terrible dad? He couldn't afford to screw this up, if only for Dani's sake. There were so many 'what ifs'.

And then the brunette was standing next to him, and looking down into her face made all of his worries evaporate like steam clouds. He had the best of all possible starts with the best of all possible women. And he was going to be the best damned father he could be. It was a lot more than some people started out with. Rhys took Dani's hand between his own and smiled, then turned towards the Reverend Mother so that she could begin the ceremony.

Reverend Mother Miral Ordade, leader of the Sisterhood of Aphrodite, Quorum of Twelve member for Virgon, and unofficial leader of the Virgonese people, smiled at the young couple as they turned to face her.

A middle aged woman who had seen and performed many such ceremonies in her life, she was especially pleased to do so yet again. Miral had known Daniella since the girl was in diapers, and here she was full grown and blooming with new life inside her as she joined in holy vows with her chosen mate.

"Daniella, Rhys, welcome. To all the dear friends and family in attendance I welcome you as well on their behalf and on behalf of Lady Aphrodite and all the Gods. Let your hearts be glad that even in these dark times love can still bloom and grow, today we gather to celebrate that love and ask the Gods to bless it."

"For some time now, Daniella and Rhys have known they loved each other. At first they tried to deny what their hearts told them, coming from such different backgrounds and colonies, but eventually they realized that neither of them was complete without the other. When love unites two souls, it will not be refused for long."

"Today they make a solemn pledge before the Gods to commit themselves to each other for the rest of their lives."

The rest of his life. It caught Rhys flat-footed all over again, that he had been waiting for them two of them to be standing up here together, and he swore to himself one more time that he was going to make his best effort at being someone his parents would be proud of. Even a minimal return to hearth and home had a contented feeling trying to settle in despite the butterflies, and he smiled down at his bride as he held her hand.

He'd help her get through the first months of the adjustment period, work with her so that she felt less awkward about being a new wife.This was right, this was where they were supposed to be. When the Reverend Mother turned back towards him, he removed the ring from the inside pocket of his uniform jacket and held it out so that the grounded pilot could see it.

"With this ring, I pledge my troth," he said quietly, taking the small gold band between his thumb and forefinger. "Before the Gods and this gathering, I, Rhys Harlan Gaither, take you, Daniella Kypros, to be the wife of my heart, the bride of my soul, my life-mate. Our lives became joined by chance, and now I make that chance what was meant to be with these vows."

He fell silent as he placed the ring on her finger, then cleared his throat. "Daniella, I feel like I was always meant to be here. Since the day we met, I knew there was something my life lacked, something to make my days whole. I give this ring as a symbol of our union, a token to represent the unbreakable circle of marriage and family. Maybe I'm not who you thought you'd end up with, but I'll work hard and I'll make you happy. That's my oath."

Dani saw Rhys slip the ring on her finger through a veil of tears. She hadn't expected him to find a ring, even though she'd known how much it bothered him that he didn't have his mother's to give her. They were really doing this, really getting married.

She felt her breath catch in her throat and Dani stared up at Rhys, her expression somewhere between panic and giddiness. The young woman forced herself to take a deep breath and calm down. She could do this. She'd already moved in with him, she was pregnant with his children. This was just affirming what already existed.

The young woman slipped the ring she'd had made for Rhys off her little finger and looked up at her soon to be husband.

She smiled through her tears as she put the ring on his finger. "With this ring, I pledge my troth. Before Aphrodite, Athena, Hera, and all the Gods and this gathering, I, Daniella Kypros, take you, Rhys Harlan Gaither, to be the husband of my soul, my life-mate. Our lives became joined by chance, and now I make that chance what was meant to be with these vows."

"Rhys, I never imagined when I first met you that one day we'd be standing here. I thought you were interesting, and someone I wanted to get to know better." She took a shaky breath and continued. "Now I can't imagine life without you by my side. I know physical symbols are important, and that is why I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment to you. An independent Virgonese woman might not be who you thought you'd end up with, but I'll make you happy and I'll give you children," She took his hand and placed it on her stomach. "These and others."

Rhys' expression became determinedly stoic as he made a manful attempt not to cry. Despite the darkness of the past few years, he had found a light of his own, and that light had guided him to this spot. Such a simple thing to lead to something so wonderful. He looked down at the gold band where it glinted on his finger, brushed his thumb over Dani's knuckles where she still clasped his hand. Said a silent 'thanks' to whatever of the deities might be listening even as he mouthed 'I love you' to his bride.

Together, they were unbreakable.