And the truth is
I'd be shameless
And I'd be grateful
For this one chance
For our first dance
And you are the one

Here we are. We waited a year and finally it was here, round two of saying, “I do” and yet, the nerves in the pit of my stomach were running on full throttle, probably in thanks to the growing list of things that had been going wrong. The cake was two tiers shorter than it was supposed to be, the florist was with traffic issues so we had to go with a back up florist, I had to deal with pregnancy accusations, oh yeah, and MY FREAKING EX SHOWED UP OUT OF NOWHERE.

But you know, other than that it was going swimmingly.

After my mom bandaged my hand and made sure I had something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue because of tradition and all that, she went ahead of us to let the processional begin. By the time I was escorted by my bridal party out of the B&B and down the beach, the rest of the guests and all the groomsmen were waiting patiently for me to arrive. Though it had only been a few minutes since my mom had gone ahead of us, it looked like everyone else had already taken their places except for us, quietly chatting amongst theirselves. But once I was in their eyesight, any bits of chatter seized, replaced instead with bright smiles and maybe even a few sniffles.

I smiled softly to myself as I waited patiently to get to my groom, having only been able to sneak quick peeks in his direction while my girls stepped in time down the aisle, bouquets of white roses in hand. My maid of honor, Madison, followed. Then, my little cousin Marie, who I picked to be my flower girl, happily threw petals on the sand as she walked behind my sister. The ring bearer, Jack’s five year old nephew named Tahj wasn’t having nearly as good of a time, grumpily stomping down the aisle with the rings miraculously secure enough in the center of the pillow despite Tahj’s best efforts to throw the rings on the sandy ground.

A soft chuckle echoed through the audience as Tahj finally made it up to the front of the aisle, where Alex graciously took over, bending down to the kid’s level and muttering a, “Thanks, bud!” before the child ran off to regroup with his own parents.

“You ready for this, sweetheart?” A warm, familiar male voice snuck up from behind me, startling me as I whipped my head around to see my father, never looking fancier in his rented tux and smiling proudly at me. Though he didn’t always accept the ups and downs of my relationship with Jack, especially after the accident, he always, in the end, supported me being with the weird skunk haired guitarist. There was never any ‘why are you with him?’ or ‘you will never be good enough for my daughter.’ He just accepted that Jack was it for me, and more importantly, accepted him into the family. I would always be grateful for that.

“Yeah.” I whispered softly, matching his wide grin with an elated one of my own. “I’m ready, Dad.”

Hooking my right arm with his left, it was our turn to walk down the aisle, stepping perfectly in sync with the acoustic guitar version of the wedding march. I could feel the crisp San Diego breeze flow through me, almost pushing me towards Jack as my loosely curled hair fought to stay in place. I made it to the front just as the short tune wrapped up, my dad kissing my cheek softly before joining my mom in the front row.

“Hi.” I whispered, smirking at Jack while he shamelessly gawked at me, grinning and laughing happily like the big goofball he was.

“I didn’t get a good look before but hot damn.” He shook his head while he took my hands into his, getting into place in front of Mark Hoppus, our officiant for the ceremony. “I am one lucky bastard.”

“That you are, my friend.” Mark chuckled, patting Jack’s shoulder a few times in friendly jest. Then, he glanced towards me and added, “And Chris, are you sure about this? Just say the word and I can call this whole thing off.”

I rolled my eyes, gripping Jack’s hands tighter in silent reassurance I wasn’t going anywhere while I told our friend and mentor, “Call me crazy, but I think I’m okay with this.”

“Crazy it is.” Mark shrugged, pulling out a stack of papers he’d prepared for the ceremony, the white edges blowing gently in the breeze. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of thick, black rimmed glasses and placed them on the bridge of his nose.

He cleared his throat. “Welcome family, friends and loved ones. We are here on this gorgeous beach in San Diego on this...” His voice halted as another chill gust of wind blew past the wedding party, causing a few of the older ladies who’d chosen to wear a hat to grip onto them tightly. “...surprisingly blustery day, to celebrate the love of Jack and Christina. You all have come from all over the world, taken time out of your busy lives to make sure you were here to witness this, in my personal opinion, long overdue event.”

Mark paused as predicted laughter made a wave through our wedding attendees. Then, our officiant continued. “Jack and Christina deeply thank you from the bottom of their hearts for your presence here today. They thank you for your support in their decision to take this monumental step in their lives and are grateful that the people they hold most dear are here to share this moment with them.”

He took a beat again, this time turning his attention to Jack and I. “Marriage is the promise between two people to always love each other, no matter what hurdles life might throw your way. It’s a promise that you will work together as a team, as equal partners in life, in love, in every adventure you come across. You promise today to share your dreams, your home, your joys and your sorrows and to help each other through the tough times.” I nodded at this, glancing down at the sandy ground as I remembered all of those difficult hurdles Jack and I had to jump through to make it here, to this moment. If we could get through that shit, whatever fate had cooking up for us would be a breeze. “Today two souls become one, but I think everyone knows that both of these souls, as much as they get along, still find great value and solace with their band mates and friends. Remember, a happy marriage is a sane one, and your music will keep you both sane, trust me.” He began to turn to the next page when he added as an after thought, “Plus, if you’re ever pissed at each other you can just go to your band and write the best songs. Even better if it’s a hit--” He froze, presumably spotting his own wife Skye, who was also in attendance, frowning from afar. “--but you should absolutely never show it to your record label and let anyone else hear it. You know, just keep it on your computer and let it collect hypothetical dust for years...”

I raised my eyebrows, watching as Mark momentarily lost track of his thoughts completely. It wasn’t until I cleared my throat that he perked back up, glancing back down at his notes to continue, “Right! Sorry! Where was I? Two souls become one, keep friendships important, yada yada yada...here we go!” He smiled widely at us, wrapping up his speech with a dramatic flair only he could pull off. “You two will grow strong together, stronger than you could ever be apart. Your strength will grow from the trust you two have in each other, from the commitment you two are making here today, and ultimately the faith and love you have in your hearts.” He took a breath, stealing a glance between Jack and I. “With that...I think we will begin with the vows. Chris and Jack have prepared their own, so whenever you love birds are ready...”

He awkwardly took a step back closer to where Alex was on Jack’s side, keeping a close eye to what was going on in case he had to say anything ‘official’ as, you know, the officiant. I just chuckled and shook my head, keeping my grasp in Jack’s hands firm as we turned to face each other. After all these years, after everything, it was finally time.

“Jack,” I began forwardly, blocking out the rest of the wedding party as I imagined we were back in Vegas, in that tiny little chapel without a care in the world. “I’ve practiced what I was going to say a thousand times in my head, but the truth is, there aren’t enough words to describe just how much you mean to me. I could say you’re my love, my better half, the Aladdin to my Jasmine because if you really think about it, you really did show me the world.” As expected, a few of my friends and family members did laugh at this, but as quickly as it had erupted the laughter dimmed out and once again the spotlight was back on me. “I could say that but you’re more than my love. You’re even more than my savior, my hero. You’re...everything to me, Jack. Without you I simply wouldn’t be me.”

I might’ve heard a sob or two following this, but that might’ve been my imagination. Like I said, I was too busy pretending I wasn’t surrounded by two hundred of our closest family and friends on a beach in San Diego.

“Sally--” Jack began, scrunching up his nose as he realized calling me Sally in front of family might be a bit perplexing for them. “Shit, I mean, Christina.”

“Did he just say another woman’s name?” I could hear my grandma not-so-quietly whisper to my mom. “Who is this Sally? Is that his mistress?”

I cringed. Just what I want my grandma to think about my husband. But just as I was about to break my tunnel vision and assure my grandmother that it was just a nickname, Jack stepped up and corrected the mistake himself. “Sorry! For anyone out of the loop, I like to call this beautiful woman by my side ‘Sally’ because of her tattoo. I know it kind of sounded like I said some other girl’s name but I promise I didn’t, grandma!” The latter half of the statement he obviously directed towards my elderly relative, who honestly didn’t look too impressed that this strange man marrying her granddaughter was calling her grandma.

Shrugging it off, Jack turned back to me with a devil-may-care smirk. “Christina, I never thought I would settle down. I thought I would be a bachelor forever, living without a care in the world, playing shows with my best friends and partying like there was no tomorrow. I was okay with that. But then, four years ago in that House of Blues just down the street, I met you and I just couldn’t get you out of my head. Then of course, you had to go stalker on my ass and follow me to Starbucks the next morning--”

I gasped, holding back a playful slap as I argued, “I’ve told you, I had no idea you’d be there--”

“Yeah, yeah...” Jack rolled his eyes, his smirk telling me that he knew this, but couldn’t resist playing around, just a bit. “Well all I knew is I fell for you hook, line and sinker. When I saw you again, I wasn’t going to waste another opportunity to keep you in my life. I knew you there was something special about you, but I never thought leaving you my number would lead to this moment.” He took a shallow breath then, glancing down at his feet for just a second before gathering the courage to continue, squeezing my hands tightly into his own. “I love you. I know I tell you this all the time, but I say it because it’s true and you should hear it as much as possible. You are it for me, babe. There is no other person on this whole planet I’d rather spend my days, my nights, my seconds with. You are the strongest person I know and I am so grateful and also a little confused that you want to spend the rest of your life with a bum like me. You’re an amazingly kind, compassionate and talented person who also happens to be a very sexy musician, which is obviously a plus for me in case Alex ever decides to leave the band.” With this he winked, making me finally break the laugh I’d been keeping in since he began his little speech. I had a feeling Jack was going to keep things light and not-so-serious, especially since he’d already gone the serious route the first time. “I promise I will always be your biggest fan, your best friend, and most importantly, your partner in crime.”

Mark quietly rejoined in front of us as it was clear Jack had wrapped up his side of the vows. Our older friend seemed to be all smiles as he prompted Alex to hand over the rings. Once he had the rings in hand, he asked me a long winded question that, thanks to the plethora of chick flicks I’d watched over the years, I knew the gist of. Did I take Jack to be my husband, for better for worse, till death do us part?

Hells yes.

I didn’t say that, of course. I just smiled and was about to say “I do,” when a loud, angry voice cut me off.

“NO!” I turned my head to see Derek had found his way back from wherever he’d run off to and as I expected was trying to ruin my wedding day. Again. “I OBJE--OBJEC’T!”

I frowned, narrowing my eyes towards his slightly wobbly frame. Goddammit, he was drunk, wasn’t he? That didn’t take too long.

Guess he found a few drinks as well while he’d disappeared to God-knows where.
“Dude, I wasn’t even going to give you that option.” Mark shot back without hesitation, looking almost more annoyed than I was.

Jack, meanwhile, turned towards Alex. The best man nodded, jumping forward from his side by Jack to look over towards someone in the crowd. Pointing towards Derek, he jabbed his thumb out and suddenly I saw Josh Dun and Andy Hurly rush up from their spots in the audience and approach the drunk, coaxing him to leave.

“No, wait--I hav’t stay!” He protested, resisting against the two stronger men’s grip. “She can’t marry him--”

“She can marry whoever she wants, man.” Andy told him as he began tugging him more firmly away from the beach and back towards the papparazi infested parking lot. “And it looks like it ain’t you.”

“She was supposed to wait for me!” He growled angrily, his voice echoing through the otherwise silent and shell shocked wedding party. “She couldn’t wait five fucking months before she moved on?!”

I watched nervously as he struggled against Andy and Josh’s grip, fighting to get back to where I was. I couldn’t understand why he was suddenly so desperate to get me back though. He had broken up with me, he was the one that left. Now that I’ve found happiness and he couldn’t have me...now he wanted me?

What the hell was his problem?

“Goddamn...” Andy struggled to keep his grip on Derek, the thinner man wiggling from his grasp like a worm as he attempted to do the same to Josh.

But Josh wasn’t having it.

Keeping his grip on the drunk I once considered my boyfriend, he used all his might to swing the taller man around so his back was once again towards us. Josh then leaned closer, maybe exchanging a word or two with the younger man. I don’t know what it was, but whatever he said seemed to calm him, for a second, that is. They were almost there, safely back to where paparazzi and extra security resided, when Derek predictably tried to break free again.

This time instead of a kind word, Derek was met with a more forceful tactic.

Josh’s fist.

That’s right: sweet, kind, otherwise wouldn’t-hurt-a-fly Josh Dun punched my ex square in the nose on my wedding day.

...what a sweet wedding gift.

I’d have to thank him for that later.

Thankfully, as soon as Josh got the security guard’s attention with the punch, Derek was finally escorted from the immediate vicinity and when he was, Josh gave back a thumbs up (with his non-bloodied hand) and that was good enough for us to get back to business. “And with that exciting inturruption....” Mark quickly reiterated the question I’d been so rudely cut off from replying to.

So, before anyone else could interrupt me, I said, “I do.” Jack happily placed my wedding ring onto my ring finger, perfectly matching my engagement ring.

Mark repeated the same basic question towards Jack, and he also echoed my statement. “I do.” I slipped his dark, more masculine ring onto his own ring finger, finally sitting where it belongs.

I felt a rush of relief then. No more crazy exes, no more hiding our super secret wedding and consequently hiding our marital status to everyone we cared about. Everyone was caught up with us. Now, it would be out for the world to see and we could finally shout it from the rooftops.

“Alrighty then.” Mark grinned, clasping his hands together, his notes long-forgotten as he wrapped up the ceremony. “Then by the power vested in me by the state of California I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He turned to Jack, who I had honestly never seen looking happier than he was at that moment. Then again, neither was I. “You may kiss the bride.”
I felt Jack’s lips on mine as a thunderous applause of cheers and other forms of elation erupted from our large gathering of friends and family on the beach.

“We did it.” He muttered as we pulled apart, grinning like the love-struck idiots we were.

“We did it.” I repeated, reaffirming my grasp on his hand as we turned to walk back down the aisle, and it was just as we made our ‘first’ steps as husband and wife, that’s when I felt a light droplet of rain hit my cheek. Then another on my shoulder. Than another. And another.

“Oh shit, it’s raining!” I heard Alex announce from behind me, and just like that, the chaos to get out of the elements began. After all, we weren’t exactly dressed for a rain storm.

“Okay, who didn’t check the weather?” Jo added, grumbling as the rain began to pick up, almost as if taunting us. She turned to my wedding planner, who was using her binder as an umbrella. “Isn’t that your job?”

Jack nudged me, letting go of my hand for a second so he could remove his tuxedo jacket and for what it’s worth, tried his best to shield me from the weather, that sweetheart. The problem was, because we were still on the beach, the winds were just strong enough that the water felt like it was going every which way, making it literally impossible to stay dry.

“It was supposed to be sunny all day! I checked this morning!” She retorted, looking to me as if expecting me to freak out at any moment.

But did I really care that I was currently being drenched in the most expensive dress in my life? Did I care that my makeup and hair was now ruined and I probably looked like the Joker?

No.

No, I did not.

Because the reality was, I accomplished what I wanted to: I married the man of my dreams, my best friend, my lover, my everything. Everything else--including the dress, the makeup, all the vain things like that--that was extra.

To prove I didn’t care, I shook my head towards Jack, silently declining his jacket and nodded towards the limo that was waiting for us not too far from where the paparazi were. Smiling towards the lingering people that hadn’t already b-lined it to the reception, I told them, “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. We’re celebrating, remember? Let’s just get over to the House of Blues before someone catches a cold, alright?”

Jack nodded, probably appreciating more than ever that I wasn’t a drama queen. He haphazardly shrugged back into his tuxedo jacket before grabbing my hand and leading me as quickly and safely as we could to the limo that we rented to take just the two of us to the venue. We figured that way, we wouldn’t have to worry about walking in heels (which I sucked at anyway) or any fans or paps catching us before we could get there.

Plus there was the whole alone time before getting back to the reception, too.

Jack must’ve been on the same wavelength, because no sooner did we make it inside the back of the limo and wave goodbye to our friends, Jack’s hands were on me. He barely waited until the door slammed shut, the horny devil.

I smirked to myself as I felt his body heat against mine, radiating through me. I could feel an electrifying tease of pleasure shoot straight to my most intimate area and I let out a soft, happy moan. “God, I missed you...”

“Mmmhm.” He hummed a similar sentiment, his face already buried deep in my cleavage, his hands massaging my covered breasts.

I laughed, knowing we didn’t have too long before the limo would stop and we’d have to get out and return to the festivities. “Babe, you really think we can do this in the two minutes it takes to get there?”

He paused his attack on my cleavage to glance up at me, his deep chocolate brown eyes almost black, “Sally, with how sexy you’re looking right now, do you really think I need more than two minutes?” He blindly took one of my hands and led them straight towards the growing bulge in the center of his pants. “I’m hard as hell for you, baby.”

My lust for him took over at this point, any sort of logic flying out the window as soon as I felt how bad he needed me. We knew we couldn’t strip out of our wet clothes completely, but if we just got out of the bare minimum, we could--

The limo halted to a stop, making Jack and I freeze mid kiss, his hands on the seam of my lingerie as he was just barely pulling them down. I glanced over Jack’s tangled mess of hair to find that we’d indeed made it to our destination, in under two minutes.

Dammit.

Jack slumped against me, taking a moment to steady his heartbeat and was probably trying his hardest to think of anything but me at the moment to calm down the erection currently pressed against my leg. “Fuck.” He groaned as he helped me back into an upright position, making sure I was at least somewhat presentable before I rejoined the bridesmaids to help me get out of my dress and into a much more comfortable, party friendly reception dress. “Why did we have to have the reception so close again?”

I laughed, focusing on his hair as I ran my fingers through it in attempts to make it look less tousled and more put together like it had been previously. “Because it’s where we first met.”

“I know, but...” he glanced down to his pants, frowning sadly. “Can’t we just loop around the block a few times?”

I shook my head. “Jack, come on. As much as I want to jump your bones, look at us, we’re soaked.” I gestured to our rain drenched clothing. “Plus as romantic as it sounds to let you fuck me in a limo, my back is already screaming no. So I’ll tell you what. Let’s get inside and change out of these clothes. Then we’ll say hi to everyone, thank them for coming, blah, blah, blah, let Alex give his best man speech, and then after that you and I can go sneak off to the dressing room and you can finally have your way with me, any way you’d like. Deal?”

He gulped, nodding. “Deal.”

Notes

I totally have the new ATL single stuck in my head.

THEY FINALLY DID IT! NO MORE HIDING. NO MORE WEDDING STRESS. The next chapter will go more into what happened during the reception and may have a smut scene. With how horny those two were acting at the end of this chapter (really, who could blame them) it will probably happen lol.

I'm so sorry for the long time in between the chapters, but I went on vacation for two weeks and now I'm taking a summer class in Anatomy that's sure to kick my butt. I really don't know what I was thinking with that, but if I die, you'll know why lol

Opening lyrics are from "The Truth is" by Go Radio.