"Dude, calm down, alright," Marks friend and Best Man, Jeff was standing next to him at the entrance to the church.
"You try calming down when it's your turn to get married," Mark said after shaking hands with some of Nicole's family and thanking them for coming as they walked in to the church.
"You keep on stuttering when you say hi to each guest." Jeff said with chuckle. "H-h-hi. Th-th-th-thank y-y-you for c-coming. Ha, ha!"
"Remind me why you're my Best Man," Mark rolled his eyes.
"Remember that time at Rick Smallstein's house?"
"Of course, you would bring that up."
"Hey you're the one who asked. Now lighten up. You're about to marry one of the most beautiful girls that I've ever seen."
Mark shook hands with an elderly couple from his side of the family. Jeff took their names down and scratched them off a list that he had. Another couple came up the steps and they repeated this. After about a half an hour and several couples and families later Jeff announced that was all. Mark breathed a sigh of relief and shook his friend's hand.
"I have to go use the restroom," he told him, and tuned down the hall.
Using the restroom was only an excuse to get away from prying eyes. He found the stairs that led to the higher level and quickly moved up them. He turned down the hall moving along pass the many rooms there. Just as he came up to the last one it opened and one of the bridesmaids came out. She was a dark haired girl, about twenty two years old and was dressed in the sky blue dresses that they all had.
"Mark!" The girl, Angie he believed, exclaimed, keeping her voice to a whisper. "What are you doing up here?! It's bad luck to see the bride. Go! Go!"
"I won't go in," Mark looked like a lost puppy. "I just wanted to talk to her."
"Angie? Is someone there?" He heard Nicole's voice.
"Don't come out!" She yelled. "It's your soon to be dead, soon to be husband! That is he's soon to be dead if he doesn't leave!"
"Ang, calm down," Nicole was close to the door. "Mark what are you doing up here?"
"I just wanted to talk. I've got shivers running up and down my spine. I just wanted to hear your voice."
There was a collective aw from behind the door. It cracked a little and a familiar hand slid through it. Mark walked past the scowling Angie and took Nicole's hand in his. All at once, Mark's jitters and shakes stopped. He took a deep breath before speaking again.
"I'm looking forward to the rest of my life," this brought more aws.
"Mark you're going to make me cry before the ceremony even starts," he heard her start to sob.
"No, don't mess up my makeup!" Someone inside cried. "Mark! Get out of here!"
"I guess that's that. I love you honey," he said giving her hand one last squeeze.
"I love you too. Now go!" She said pulling her hand away.
Angie, who had been forgotten until now, grabbed his arm a dragged him back down the hall. She bought him back down stairs and handed him off to Jeff yelling at him for not watching Mark. Then she stomped back up stairs to the bride's room. Mark shrugged an apology to Jeff before the later headed to the base of the stairs with the other grooms men to take their spots. The former turned and headed into the sanctuary.
"Mark!"
Mark wheeled when he heard his name called. He saw a tall old man, with a crew cut, stern eyes and that kind of face the only an ex-military officer would have. Nicole's dad was making a beeline for him.
"Mr. Himes," Mark shook his hand when he got close. "What do you need sir?"
"Nothing and I think we're on good enough terms that you can call me David now," David smiled and said back to him. "Just wanted to say that I don't think there's anybody else that I would rather marry my daughter."
"Thank you sir. I only hope to live up to your expectations."
"I don't expect anything except for you to make her happy."
They chatted for a few more seconds until the priest asked Mark and David to take their spots, which they did after shaking hands with one last time (It's nice to have a father in law that likes you). Mark took another deep breath as he stepped up next to the altar. He gave his mom, Janice, dad, Steve, and soon to be mother-in-law, Sheryl, all a nod. Both of the mothers were crying (Sheryl was a little more then his).
Music started to play and soon the first bridesmaid and groomsmen appeared. It was his little brunette sister Megan and friend Matt. Next two that came down were a red haired girl named Jennifer in tow with his friend Dan. Next it was Nicole's brother Shawn with Angie. The former gave him a high five as he passed. The latter gave him yet another scowl as soon as no one else could see. Then Jeff and Nicole's best friend and maid of honor, Linda, came down. Linda had curly, natural blonde hair with a nice, slender body. Jeff shook his hand, and Linda came up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
The music switched to 'Here Come's The Bride' and David sucked in his breath. He ran his hands over his tux trying to smooth out wrinkles that weren't even there. He felt Jeff's hand on his shoulder and let out the breath. He saw David appear at the left side of the door way and held out his hand to the right side.
Then the most beautiful women in the world to him stepped forward to take it. She had a young, perfect face. Her long dark hair fell to her mid back and was styled in a way that only a master hairdresser would know how to do. Her gown was the color of the purest white. It hugged her form and accentuated her body well, showing off all of her fine curves from the hips up. A single spaghetti strap was tied around her neck and held the dress up. She wore no veil, but did have a pearl tiara on, with matching earrings. She carried a bouquet of white, yellow, and red flowers.
Nicole smiled when she saw Mark staring at her, his mouth was slacked jawed. She never took her eyes off of him as she walked down towards him. She already looked like she was on the verge of crying.
Mark finally closed his mouth and smiled at her as she drew closer. Today she definitely looked like the dark haired goddess he always knew she was. They stopped at the altar and David gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek before handing her off to Mark, who in turn thanked him. As her father took his seat they looked each other in the eyes for a while and smiled.
"Today, you defiantly are the most beautiful woman in the world," Mark told her as they moved closer together and took each others hands.
"Mark...," Nicole said as a tear slid down her cheek. She quickly dabbed at it with a handkerchief she had. "See now I'm crying."
There was a collective aw from the crowd, right before Mark moved his head forward to give his bride a kiss. Their lips met and parted to let their tongues start to explore. It was only supposed to be a quick one, but it lasted so long the priest had to give a little cough to get them to stop.
"Sorry. I know it's a little early for that part," Mark said. He heard a couple chuckles from the crowd.
After everyone calmed down the priest went into his intro speech. He then went into a few passages from the bible. Mark and Nicole's vows came next. Then it was the exchange of the rings. Finally came the final part.
"Do you, Mark Hollest, take Nicole Himes to be your lawfully wedded wife? To hold and to cherish, through sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," he said looking into his loves eyes.
"Do you, Nicole Himes, take Mark Hollest to be your lawfully wedded husband? To hold and to cherish, through sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," she sobbed, starting to cry again.
"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, man and wife. 'Now' you may kiss the bride."
Mark leaned forward to do so but was stopped when he felt Nicole's finger on his lips. He gave her a confused look. She turned to the priest with a sarcastic smile on her face.
"We kinda did this part already, so we don't have to do it again right?"
Everyone started to laugh at this as she turned back to face him, smiling still. Laughs turned into cheers as Nicole finally did let him kiss her. She squealed when Mark grabbed her around the hips and lifted her off her feet. They broke the kiss as soon as Mark let her down, and then turned down the aisle and ran as rice was thrown onto them.
As soon as the couple got outside they found their limo waiting and hurried inside. They rolled down the windows as people poured out of the church and started to throw more rice at them. They waved at them as the driver drove the vehicle away toward the reception area. Nicole rolled the window back up as soon as they were away as Mark moved to grab the bottle of red wine he had stored in there. After a quick glass they set them aside and embraced each other in a kiss. Their hands traveled across each others bodies for a short time before Mark broke the kiss.
"One sec, don't go anywhere," he said moving to the window separator and rolling it down. "Excuse me, but how long till we reach the reception area?"
"Well," the driver said in an understanding tone. "Fifteen minuets for the short way or thirty minuets for the long way. Which one do you want?"
