Who: Remy LeBeau and Candy Quackenbush LeBeau What: Getting married! When: 7/11 Where: Mostly a church in Terrebonne Parish, LA Rating: PG Status: Complete!
Remy had never seen the city of his birth from this angle before; Candy had flown them calmly and patiently from Vegas down to the outskirts of New Orleans, and he’d been fascinated by the journey. At first he’d been scared, but that had gone away. “Terrebonne can’t be too far away now!” he called to her over the noise of the whipping air.
She loved flying the glyph. She’d cast an invisibility spell over the glyph, as well as she and Remy, just to make sure they didn’t get shot down by the air force or something. “Really? Thank god, I need to pee,” she laughed.
“‘Bout 40 minutes outta the city by car,” Remy answered, “so ain’t sure by flight.” He grinned. “Just don’t pee in the glyph!”
“Probably about fifteen. I’ll be fine then.” She grinned, moving to kiss him. One of the best things about flying by glyph was that the craft worked with her mind; she didn’t have to physically drive, just think about where she wanted to go. “Still plenty of time for you to back out.”
“Hey, I made it through damn near end of the world with you, cherie; I ain’t gonna back out now!” Remy laughed, though he did go thoughtful for a minute. “Tell you the truth, kind of excited for you to see where ol’ Remy grew up.”
“It’s why I wanted to come here with you,” Candy beamed. She held his hand, threading their fingers together. She really did want to see where he’d grown up, yet she had no inclination to show him Minnesota. Her childhood wasn’t something she wanted to revisit. She did that every time she looked into a mirror and saw her scars.
“Where you gonna land?” They were getting close now, Remy realized; his heart was thudding as he began to recognize some of the landscape. “Coupla open fields, but les fermiers tend to watch those.”
“Wherever you think is best, really. Normally I just stick to rooftops, can just jump into alleys.” She grinned at him when she saw how happy he looked. “Aww, you’re making me nervous too.”
“Ain’t nothing to be nervous of, ‘less Sister Mary Christian is still there.” Remy laughed, starting to look for a good roof. “Maybe over thataway?” It looked like a shopping center of some kind.
Candy nodded, moving to land the glyph behind the strip mall, by a dumpster where she didn’t think anyone would notice them anyway. “Why, did you make her angry as a kid?”
“No more’n any other, but I think I gave her une crise cardiaque.” He mimed a heart attack, laughing. “She used to say it took her all she had just to watch me, never mind the other little ones.”
“I know how she feels,” Candy teased. She hopped out of the glyph once they landed, snapping her fingers to send the light scattering. Then she made them visible, chuckling when a cat jumped three feet and ran away.
Remy got out of the glyph, sticking his tongue out at Candy. “Hey, I stopped being such a hellraiser when I got to la grande ville.” He looked around. “Okay, I think I know where we headed now. Not too far from the church, actually.”
She threaded her fingers with his. “Well, lead on, hellion.”
He kissed her cheek as they walked. It wasn’t far, and he pointed out sights as they went along. “That’s the first bar I ever went into,” Remy told her, grinning. “Nem’mind I was sixteen.” Another building “used to be the bookseller’s; he used to have candy for the orphans til I got smart and lifted his stash.” Eventually, the church spire came into view up ahead.
“Did they actually serve you?” She giggled and wrapped both her arms around his waist, glad to just be close to him. His childhood sounded almost magical, and she couldn’t help but imagine him as a mischievous Oliver Twist.
“Nah, but he was gonna. Power went out on the whole damn block before he got to me.” Remy laughed.
As they talked they got closer to the church, and Candy couldn’t help but smile. “Remy? Thank you.” She almost felt like she wanted to thank him every day for just being himself.
“For what?” He looked down at her. He felt like he ought to be the one thanking her.
“Being you. Being here.” She chuckled. “Proposing. I never really thought I’d find someone, you know.” After the example her parents had set, she’d thought she was better off alone.
“I figured it was a crapshoot.” Remy shrugged. “Just ... I love you. And when you love somebody, you want them with you. I figured I got lucky with you.”
“We both got lucky, that’s what I want you to know. The luck isn’t one-sided, Cajun. Sometimes I think you forget how much of a catch you are.” Candy tiptoed up to stroke his cheek.
Dammit if Remy didn’t get a little choked up. “You take me for me,” he said, pulling her close. “Rare thing, that.” He cleared his throat even as he hugged her.
“Of course I do, you’re amazing.” She didn’t understand why anyone would want to change Remy; he was perfect for her as he was, and she wanted him to become only what he wanted to change to.
Thankfully, he was able to get his composure back as the church spire hove into view. “See, there we are. Convent’s just beyond there.”
She took his hand, smiling and looking at the spire. “Are you religious now?” She didn’t think so, but she figured she’d ask.
“Un peu?” Remy held up his hand in the “tiny bit” gesture. “I think there’s a God, and I think the world ain’t just on its own, but beyond that, eh.” He didn’t know anything for sure and would have thought it presumptuous to say he did.
“I was raised secular,” Candy offered. She hoped his nuns wouldn’t judge her too hard for it. “Dad sure as hell wasn’t going to church, and Mom liked sleeping in on Sundays.” They just didn’t really consider anything beyond their own home. It was hard to think about cosmic questions when you were busy trying not to get beat.
“Ain’t my business.” Remy smiled, kissing her cheek. “If we have little ones, I want to take ‘em to church once or twice and let ‘em make up their own minds.” Other than that, whatever.
They went up to the church fence, and Remy opened the gate for her, walking through and directing her toward the back. “Figured we can see if les soeurs are in, then come back tomorrow for the ceremony?” Or the next day; whichever was okay with her. He just wanted to do it here.
“That’s what I figured. And what are you talking about with this if? I mean, I know you’re old, but I figured we would,” Candy teased. She kissed his knuckles and pulled her shirt up so she didn’t flash cleavage to nuns.
Remy mock gasped, holding a hand to his heart. “I’m wounded!”
He came in to the entryway of the convent, looking around. “Allo?” he called. “Is anyone in?”
A sweet dumpling of a nun came through the door, blinking. “Yes, hello? Is there somethin’ you were lookin’ for, my child?”
“Oui, ma soeur,” Remy said, inclining his head. “Name’s Remy LeBeau. Nuns in the orphanage over yonder raised me; I was lookin’ for Sister Mary Christian or Sister Bonaventure.”
“Well, Sister Bonaventure passed on last year,” the nun said, “but Sister Mary Christian is still here. I can get her, if you don’t mind waiting; she’s a bit older now, obviously.” She disappeared back up the stairs.
Candy’s eyes went sad at the idea of the Sister’s passing, but she squeezed Remy’s hand tightly. “I’m going to go buy a candle.” She wasn’t Catholic, but she wanted to light one for her mother. She hoped that she was safe.
“Course.” Remy nodded, pointing her toward the back church door.
When he turned back, Remy saw a stooped, elderly woman in a habit, white hairs peeking from under her veil. “Remy LeBeau? Is that you, boy? I never thought I’d see you hit this age, let alone find a lady who could handle you.”
He had to laugh, inclining his head. “Remy LeBeau, yes, ma’am. It’s a pleasure to see you again. I got someone I want you to meet, she just stepped into the church f’a second.”
Candy lit a candle for her brother, putting a dollar in the box before going out to meet Remy again. She smiled at the older woman, nodding her head before taking Remy’s hand. “Hello,” she said, feeling somewhat shy.
“Sister Mary Christian, this is Candy Quackenbush.” Remy gently pushed her forward. “Sister Mary Christian used to tell me I’d be the death of her. She wanted to meet you; I think she needs proof I found somebody who could handle me.”
That made Candy laugh. “He’s told me some stories about what he got up to as a little one, I’m surprised you didn’t have a nervous breakdown. Since he’s grown, he’s not as hard to handle, I think. I can punch him and nobody’ll yell at me.”
The old nun laughed. “That Remy was hard to handle, mostly because he didn’t have a mean bone in his body, and yet I remain convinced the Lord sent him to test me. I had to meet any lady friend of his.” She ruffled Remy’s hair. “Did he tell you about when he jumped off the church roof to see if he could catch a bird?”
“Little bit, oui.” Remy had the grace to blush.
Candy laughed. “You dork, you can’t catch a bird because you’re not a cat.” She swatted at him playfully, immediately feeling more at ease around the nun. “I wasn’t exactly the greatest kid ever, but I was more verbally sassy.” And it was more so she could get her father to hit her instead of her brothers, but she didn’t want to burden the sister or ruin the mood.
“I found that out after I landed!” Remy protested. “Sister Bonaventure, rest her, beat the snot outta me for scaring her.”
“As well she should; you could have been killed.” Sister Mary Christian said sternly. “Miss Candy, is he doing dangerous things like this as an adult? I certainly hope not.”
“He hasn’t done anything dangerous that wasn’t also necessary,” Candy smiled. “Fighting killer robots was dangerous, but needed. “I try to look after him. He knows he can’t get away with much with me.”
“I suppose that’s the best I can hope for.” Sister Mary Christian sighed, leaning on the nearby table. “What brings you back here, Remy? Just showing your lady friend where you grew up?”
“Actually, ma soeur, I was hopin’ maybe the pere here could do us a favor.” Remy knew he looked like a little boy, shuffling his feet and looking down. “See, Miss Candy here said she’d make an honest man outta me.”
The nun looked at Candy, eyebrows shooting up. “Really? You agreed to marry him?” She couldn’t help but laugh. “You must be a courageous girl!”
Candy showed the nun the simple engagement ring he gave her. “Oh, I am. But I figure if we’re married, I can keep a closer eye on him. I love him, the idea of anything harming him is just ... too much to bear.” She chuckled. “I didn’t have the best childhood, but I know what love and loyalty are. He’s capable of both in abundance.”
“That speaks well of you, my girl.” The nun chuckled. “I can certainly speak to Father Gregory. He’d love to marry you, I’m sure; he might even remember Remy here. Will you let me speak with him for a minute and then we’ll see?”
“Course.” Remy inclined his head and let her leave before turning to Candy with a sheepish smile. “Ain’t she something?”
Candy smiled and nodded. “She reminds me of Grandmamie.” She and her Grandpappy had managed to form all of Candy’s good childhood memories between the two of them. Wrapping her arms around Remy, she burrowed close. “Someday, if we have little ones, can we bring them here to be christened?”
“Depends where we live.” Remy kissed her gently. “Would you take tiny babies in a glyph?”
“Sure, it’s way safer than a car,” she retorted.
“But it’d be a long trip with a little one on your lap.” Remy retorted right back.
“Why do you think I’d bring you? Are your arms broken in this scenario?” She smiled at him. Banter was her favorite part of their relationship.
Remy stuck his tongue out at her just as the nun returned. She made a face, and Remy blushed. “Some things never change,” she said, wagging a finger at him, but the smile soon broke through. “Father Gregory said his afternoon is completely free tomorrow. If you arrive at noon, we can hold the little ceremony then. Does that work?”
Candy just returned fire, sticking out her tongue as well. Grinning at the nun, she nodded and smiled to herself. “That sounds perfect. It’s a good thing I brought my dress, huh, Remy.”
“Let’s not be crass, Miss Candy.” The nun raised an eyebrow at her, but as Remy was about to stammer an apology, she smiled serenely. “I’m delighted that you’ve chosen to get married here, you know. We remembered you fondly - even if you did make my faith stronger through fire!”
Blushing, Candy ducked her head. “Sorry Sister Mary Christian.” She bit her lower lip, and then ended up giggling at the sister’s description. “He kind of does the same thing with reinforcing my sobriety.” He drove her to want to drink sometimes, but she never did because he was so supportive.
“That wouldn’t shock me at all.” Remy blushed when the nun spoke that frankly. “But yes. Come back tomorrow, and we’ll get you two hitched off.”
“Oui, ma soeur.” Remy smiled, feeling relief. “Thank you.”
Candy shook the sister’s hand before hugging her gently. “Thank you. For raising him right and helping us with this.” She was practically beaming.
“Oh, it’s the least we could do.” Sister Mary Christian smiled at her. “Remy was a test, but he was also a joy. A bright little boy who’s clearly turned into a bright young man.” Remy blushed again - he hadn’t done it like this in a while. “We’ll be seeing you tomorrow then, children.”
Grinning, Candy reached up to pinch Remy’s cheek playfully. Soon they were on their way outside, and she couldn’t help but twin their fingers together.
Remy repeated the scene the next day. He was wearing a tuxedo, and Candy had a dress bag, and they were walking to his childhood church to get married. “‘Fraid you gonna have to do makeup yourself, cherie,” he said, smiling at her. “Not thinking the nuns able to help you.”
“Oh, it’s fine, I barely wear any anyway.” She’d just pin her hair up. Really, she was kind of minimal in her makeup anyway. But she did like looking at him in that tux.
“It’s kinda nice to be the high maintenance one for once.” Remy teased. He held the door for her as they went inside.
They were met by a tall, heavy man in a cassock who spoke first to Remy. “Remy LeBeau? Sister Mary Christian told me about you and your bride. It’s a pleasure.” He shook Candy’s hand after Remy’s. “I’m Father Gregory. She said you’d like to be married? She was going to stand as your witness.”
“Yessir. Thank you.” Remy smiled. “Think Candy needs a little time to change an’ all that.”
Candy smiled and held up the dress bag. “Just give me fifteen, and I’ll be ready.” She honestly didn’t take much past that.
“I think we can do that.” The priest smiled at her. “Why don’t you come with me, Mr. LeBeau?”
Remy did so, and after some talking, he was standing at the altar, waiting for his bride to appear. He’d thought he’d have been scared, but oddly enough, he wasn’t.
Her hair was easy enough just to pin up, and she just put on a little blush, eyeliner, and mascara. Remy liked her best when she didn’t wear any makeup for some weird reason. Soon enough she told one of the nuns she was ready to walk down the aisle.
Eventually, they poised her at the end of the aisle and someone played the wedding march. She walked slowly, hoping Remy liked her dress. She’d bought it from an antiques store after he’d proposed.
This was basically what Remy had been dreaming of. He didn’t need much, but he did need her. And the rings were in his pocket to help make her his.
She looked gorgeous and he knew he was smiling like a moron. Eventually she was by his side, and he took her hand, squeezing it lightly before turning his attention to the priest. He could hear Sister Mary Christian sniffling, standing behind him.
Candy took his hand and knelt down on the stool that had been placed for that purpose, her mismatched eyes looking up at the priest. She too was grinning like an idiot, but she had tears in her eyes as well. It was humbling knowing that this woman was letting her take care of her son. Because emotionally, that’s what Remy was to the nun, and Candy was aware of it. Her scars were barely visible beneath the lace of the dress, but even if they had been, Candy felt beautiful.
Remy would have agreed. He knelt and listened to the priest, feeling the Catholicism of his childhood come flowing back. He still wasn’t a fan of the church, and yet when rituals like this happened, he’d never entirely leave.
He swore to love and honor Candy, and she swore the same. The priest couldn’t help but smile even as he tried to be solemn. “I won’t waste your time by asking either of you to obey.”
“I promise to love, honor, obey, aid, abet, and bail you out of things for the rest of my days,” Candy improved. She grinned up at the priest, hoping she hadn’t made too big a faux pas, but still. They’d met Remy, right?
He heard Sister Mary Christian snort while trying not to giggle. It would be fine. “I can agree to that,” Remy said gravely, grinning. “The Lord lets us confess our sins!”
“Indeed!” The priest said, smiling. He directed Remy to take Candy’s ring out of his pocket, and put it on her hand.
Candy did the same with Remy’s ring, ignoring the slight tremble in her fingers. She’d lived through Requiax in her dreams, but this was scarier. This was forever. Yet the tremor wasn’t from fear, it was just adrenaline.
The priest read a verse, but Remy realized, after a minute, that it wasn’t from the Bible. Rather, it was Shakespeare:
“Let still the woman take An elder than herself; so wears she to him So sways she level in her husband’s heart; For, lad, however we do praise ourselves, Our fancies are more giddy and unfirm, More longing, wavering, sooner lost and worn Than women’s are.”
He smiled. “Remy, you remember how steadfast and faithful a woman’s love is. And Candy, let your love be as steadfast as you both need.” The priest took their hands and joined them together. “I now pronounce you man and wife. Kiss your bride, Remy.”
The priest had made Candy burst into happy tears. She smiled when Remy lifted her veil, and tiptoed up to cup his cheeks and kiss him first. So he’d always know that she’d rise to every occasion to help him.
Remy kissed his wife with tears in his own eyes, relieved that it had gone well, that they were really married. The priest and nun both applauded, which made him smile against Candy’s lips. “Now what you wanna do, girl?” he murmured, grinning.
“Get out of these heels,” she teased right back. Kissing him again, she made sure to keep it chaste, if only for the benefit of the clergy. Once she’d stopped kissing, she moved to hug the priest and nun in turn, thanking them for making her day perfect.
Remy shook the priest’s hand, but Sister Mary Christian refused to be brushed off. She hugged him tight, drawing the sign of the cross on his forehead. “Even if you don’t go to church, you two go with God. You hear?”
“Oui, ma soeur.” Remy was still a little choked up, but he was smiling. “Absolument.” He couldn’t help but tease Candy gently. “She wants to bring our little ones here for christening, if we have any.”
Her head shook hard. “Not if, Sister, but when.” She bit her lower lip, grinning brightly. “Probably not for a few years, but eventually.”
“Well, you make sure it’s before I kick off!” The nun laughed. “I’m getting old, young lady.”
Remy blushed again. “I remind her if I have to, Sister Mary Christian.” But he didn’t like to think of a world without her in it.
“Good.” Father Gregory shooed them. “Now go, you two. Be merry. Weddings are celebrated by more than just churchly rituals.”
“Foot rubs are also required,” Candy joked. She squeezed Remy’s hand, looking forward to the remainder of the afternoon and evening.
“Yes, ma’am!” Remy bowed, and laughing, scooped up his wife as he walked her out of the church. “Thank you!”
“Thank you.” Sister Mary Christian replied, smiling. “It was good to see you, boy. You make her happy.”