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Charlie and James By Ken Anderson

Chapter 17 - A Wedding To Remember

Here we are... The day we've been waiting for...

I take a deep breath to clear my head as I check the creases of my recently-purchased tuxedo one last time. Staring at my reflection in the full-size mirror, something still seems a little off. It could be something small, or it could be something huge, and even though it could possibly be nothing at all, I'm still going crazy trying to find it. I'm putting a surprising amount of effort into figuring out exactly what it is, but the harder I look, the more it seems to elude me...

After many minutes of fruitless searching, I just snatch up a bottle of water from a nearby table and pour some on my paw before using it to smooth down the fur on my head and neck. I really want this to go off without a hitch...

I want to do this right.

I'm about to fulfill the promise that I'd made to James, years ago. After all this time, I'm finally gonna get to stand at the altar and pledge my lifelong commitment to him. After all these years, I'll finally be able to give him the one thing that he truly deserves from me.

I'll finally be able to give him my heart...

There are so many emotions and feelings starting to flash through my mind right now; so many things that I wanna say and do when I get up there... I could try to explain it, but at the same time, I can't. Nothing that came out of my mouth could possibly be good enough. In my mind, there are no words which are powerful enough to describe the way I feel about him. There are even less words which can describe how nervous I am.

Some of the things I could say would make me seem passionate, even romantic, about the relationship that I have with my future mate. Some of them would make me sound obsessive, and even more would make me sound insane. Still, quite a few of them are best suited for private, whispered conversations, shielded from prying ears by the walls of our apartment and the locked door of our bedroom...

Yeah; even those thoughts are flying around in my head.

I gotta try to keep it all together; I gotta calm myself down... I need to breathe.

Inhale, Charlie... That's a good dog... Today's your special day. Don't worry about that pounding in your chest; that's perfectly normal. Just straighten out your collar and stop shaking so much... Wipe that frown off your face; this is your wedding, not your funeral! Good job... You just earned yourself a treat. Who's got a cigarette?

There's some guy standing in the corner sparking one up. Perfect. Now, go fetch.

"Charlie, you OK? Dude, you look like you've been off in space somewhere..."

The unexpected sound of Oz's voice causes me to flinch momentarily, but I manage to nod my head and give him a nervous smile as I stop walking and turn to face him. With my paws running over the thick fabric of the designer suit, I say, "Yeah, I know, right? It's all this wedding stuff. I feel like I'm going crazy..."

Oz nods his head. "You look pale, man, if that's even possible. It's like all the color's drained out of your face."

I give him a nod of agreement. "Yeah... Hey, you got a smoke?"

He nods and produces a pack from his breast pocket. I take a cigarette and allow him to light it for me as I try to calm myself down.

"It's just the nerves, kid!" Another voice chimes in from behind me. "Have a drink! You'll be fine!"

I turn around to scan the other side of the large white tent that I'm standing in, and see that the suggestion has come from Mr. Fender. The old weasel had pretty much cleaned out his bar to supply this wedding with his classiest booze. Maybe I should have a drink, now that I think about it...

The small crowd of people standing around me are quick to voice their agreement, calling out their encouragement as I begin the slow trek over to the makeshift bar at the far side of the tent. My palms are starting to sweat a little as I reach forward to take hold of the huge plastic tumbler full of of ice-cold vodka that Fender is holding out in my direction. I raise it to my lips to slug it down, and the liquor, though chilled, burns a fiery trail down the back of my throat as I close my eyes and attempt to drain the cup. I succeed, but not before I end up bent over at the knees, coughing and gasping for air like some sort of crazed drowning victim. I'm greeted with a earful of rowdy cheers as, one-by-one, the wedding guests come over to slap me on the back while making compliments about my drinking stamina. I've got nothing to say in return. I just nod my head and smile, before holding out my cup and telling Fender that I want him to 'keep em' coming.' It wouldn't be the first time I've needed gallons of raw alcohol to soothe the anxiety which currently pumps through my veins.

As I tap my claws noisily against the hard plastic of the portable picnic table which serves as the bar, I notice Frank stepping in through the front entrance, his arm wrapped snugly around the slender figure of his well-dressed wife. From our vantage point at the bar, Oz calls out to them, and they quickly march over to join us. For a few minutes, it feels good to have some company to keep me distracted. Even though my lingering, troubled thoughts have tuned out their quiet conversation, I still feel better knowing that they're standing close by.

That all ends the moment I hear the loud, high-pitched cursing coming from outside.

My ears perk up suddenly, and I lean over to tell Oz that I'm pretty sure I can hear Jake's voice. Something must be going wrong.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, the tent flap flies open, and a very pissed off coyote storms directly over to me. I quickly finish my cigarette and stomp it out underfoot as Jake walks up. The last thing I need is to have to split one with the kid in front of the entire wedding party.

"Dude!" He cries out, "This is the suit you wanted me to wear?!"

Behind me, I can hear Oz and Frank chortling as they watch me get barked at by an angry teenager. They probably think this is funny as hell. Oh well, at least they're having a good time... I could use something stronger than vodka right now. Unlike the rest of them, I actually have to stand here and take this.

"Yeah! What's wrong with it, man? You look great!"

"Are you SERIOUS?!" he yells, tugging at the fabric of the oversized, bleached-white tux. It took me a couple of days to try to find a rental in his size, and when I had finally managed to come across one that was close enough, bright white was the only color choice that had been made available. I honestly thought it would look good with the shade of his fur. Right now, though, I'm seriously beginning to regret my choice.

I try my best to maintain my composure as a short burst of laughter shoots up from my chest. He looks like the white ceramic on a cheap bathtub, if you filled it up with water every night and forgot to scrub off the ring in the morning. Wait... That didn't come out right.

Alright, you know what? It looks horrible, I'll admit it. I'm actually biting into my tongue to keep myself from laughing as I begin to see why he's so angry. The suit makes him look kind of like a giant, well-dressed joint with a mountain of ash at one end. The color clashes terribly with his gray and white-speckled fur. Come to think of it, when I'd gone back to see Michael about the suit, I may have been more than a little stoned...

"I look like the Pillsbury Dog-boy!" He exclaims, "The Michelin Mutt! I look like a toasted fuckin' marshmallow, man!"

That does it.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner.

The entire tent proceeds to erupt in drunken laughter, and even I find myself clutching my sides as short stabs of pain shoot through my abdomen with each joyful, spasmodic burst. God, this is just too much!

"It's not funny!" Jake continues. He reaches into a pocket and pulls out the wedding rings. "If you can't find me another suit to wear before this thing starts, I'm gonna trade these in for my next twenty bag!"

I can't speak, I'm laughing so hard. Jake seems frustrated, and his eyes narrow into tiny slits as he bears his teeth in a snarl.

"I'm serious! I swear to god, I'll grab a trash bag and start stuffing it full with all this shit! I will clean you out, man!" He waves his arm across the tent, noting the valuables with each flick of his wrist. It may seem like a joke to everyone else, but I can tell by the look in his eyes that he probably means it.

"Nah, you look fine!" I assure him. "The suit works perfectly! Oz, you wanna help me out over here?"

The otter almost spits up his beer as I nudge him in the side. He stifles his laughter and nods his head furiously. In between fits of giggling, he says, "Yeah, kid, you look real sharp!"

I feel a claw tapping my shoulder as Fender reaches over the table to hand me my refilled drink. I give him a nod of thanks as I take it from him and start chugging away with earnest. If I don't drink, I'm gonna laugh, and I really don't want to hurt Jake's feelings... Well, any more than I apparently already have.

Unfortunately, Jake's entire attitude seems to change immediately when his eyes come to rest upon the overflowing party cup in my paws, filled to the brim with expensive booze. "Well, if I gotta do this, I wanna get smashed!" he declares. "Gimme that cup!"

"No way!" I exclaim, holding the drink out of his reach as he lunges forward to snatch it from my hand. "You said you were gonna quit drinking!"

"Yeah, right! I'm pretty sure that was somewhere between, 'Sure, I'll do it,' and 'What the hell is this thing?!' Now hand it over!"

"I'm not getting you drunk, man, you're twelve years old! That suit looks fine! Seriously, let's all just calm down and-- HEY! Let go of my cup!"

"YOU let go! I look like a polar bear fucked a hyena and they had a SON!"

I really wish I had a camera to capture the crowd's reaction when Jake blurted that one out. I think there may have been twenty or so simultaneous sprays of beer and liquor as overwhelming bursts of laughter made them choke on their drinks. As I stood there, surrounded by friends and random wedding-crashers, playing tug-of-war over a cup of vodka with a twelve-year-old coyote, I suddenly got the feeling that everything was gonna turn out just fine. It just hit me, like a revelation or an epiphany.

At the very least, it would be an interesting day for all parties involved. At the worst, someone would probably keel over laughing and have to be rushed to the ER with a beer bottle gripped firmly in their hand...

Yeah... Today was gonna be a day to remember.

I actually wonder how James is doing right now...

---

"Damn it..."

For the past hour, I've been trying every trick I can think of to try to get my hands to stop shaking. I keep telling myself that if I'm patient, it'll go away, but the passing of time only seems to be making it worse. My counselor side, the part of me that people regularly pay by the hour to hear soothing words that will boost their confidence, is doing its best to try to reassure the rest of me that everything is going to be all right. My body, however, remains hopelessly unconvinced.

My forehead is dripping with sweat, and I have to use the handkerchief in my breast pocket to wipe it away every few seconds. My heart is pounding so hard that I can feel it in my throat, and my mind is scrambling madly to come to terms with the gravity of what Charlie and I are about to do.

I'm about to get married... To the only guy that I've ever really loved.

In twenty minutes, my life is gonna start moving down a completely different path from the one that I've been on; a path that not only belongs to me, but to Charlie as well. In twenty minutes, my life will no longer be my life; it'll be our life, and everything we do, every decision we make, we'll both be making together.

It's the moment that I've been patiently waiting for ever since Charlie proposed to me on that fateful night, so long ago.

I've wanted this. No; I've needed this. And now, after all this time, I've suddenly reached the point of no return. We've come to the last obstacle on the field; the last hurdle of the race. The shaky bridge that we both must cross, before our troubled worlds can finally be bound together as one...

I've found myself looking forward to this day for almost a month, and now that it's finally here I feel like I've completely lost my mind.

Bring out the straightjacket. Load up the thorazine. James has gone bonkers and he needs to be sedated. Prepare the soft room. Page the orderlies. Tell the doctor that his patient has finally broken down...

"James? What's going on?"

All of a sudden, I'm snapped back to reality. It takes the worried tone in Cory's voice to pull me away from the dark asylum that's made up of the anxious thoughts which continue to scream endlessly through my head. I turn away from the mirror in front of me and raise my eyes to face him.

"I don't know man, I don't know! This is the one thing I've been holding onto since I left Harbor City almost five years ago... And now that it's finally happening, I feel like my head's about to explode! I'm sweating, my heart is racing, and my hands won't stop moving around! I'm seriously freaking out here, man! What if I forget my vows? What if Charlie decides to call the whole thing off?! What if--"

"Hey, hey, HEY! Calm down! You're gonna be fine!"

The familiar, scratchy sound of a high-pitched nasal voice makes my breath catch in my throat. A smile crosses my face and my eyes whirl around to scan the front of my tent as I try to locate its source. Max drops the heavy canvas flap which covers the entrance, and makes his way over to me as he steps inside.

"You made it!" I exclaim. When he gets close enough, I pull him into a tight hug.

"Hey, I was only your best friend for four whole years!" he retorts. "I wouldn't miss this disaster for anything!"

I give him a chuckle and release him from my embrace, shaking my head at his callousness. Same old Max. Some things never change. I'd gotten a call from him a couple of weeks ago, after I'd mailed out the wedding invitation to the recovery center in Sandstone. At first, I didn't believe he'd actually take the time to show up. The fox has proved me wrong, however, and he tells me that he'd hopped a red-eye flight to Harbor City last night, along with a few of our friends and former patients from the clinic. He tells me that Kevin, the tiger who'd once painted a mural of the four people who'd come to mean the most to me in my life, is in the other tent filling himself up with cheap beer and good vodka. My smile grows even wider.

After a while, I've come to see that you can easily tell who your real friends are by their willingness to see you through your worst days. The ones you should hang on to are the ones that you know will be there when you really need them. They'll give you a slap across the face when you're freaking out. They'll give you a kick in the ass when you're getting lazy. Or, as in the case of Max, they'll pop in to your tent on the day of your wedding, and offer you a fat joint to calm your nerves while making fun of you until you realize how big of a buzzkill your dumb ass has been.

"Here, take this," he says, holding out a cone-shaped joint that has magically appeared from one of his coat pockets.

I snatch it from him instantly, shoving it hungrily between my lips as he produces a lighter to get it started. Cory, standing idly by with his arms folded across his chest, nods his head in calm approval.

"I recommend that you suck down a good amount of that shit," Max instructs me. "And when this is all said and done, I want you to go out and have a great night, followed by some nasty, kinky, crazy, and possibly drunken sex with your new husband, before waking up in the morning and realizing that your life is now officially over. But until that time, I suggest that you calm your crazy ass down and get your head in the game. After all, it's your wedding day."

I almost choke on the fumes as an honest burst of laughter forces the smoke out through my nose. Sucking in air to cool the burning in my nostrils, I rear back my fist and give Max a hard punch to the shoulder.

"OW! What was that for? I was only trying to help!"

I shake my head and take another hit. "It's times like this that make me wonder just how you got your counseling license, fox-boy."

I hand the joint off to Cory, who snickers as he raises it to his lips.

"What license?!" Max retorts, throwing up his arms. "I never said I was an LCDC, man! I'm listed as a psychotherapist! You don't need a license for that; you could get the job if you walked in off the fuckin' street!"

The three of us share a collective laugh at Max's expense. He really hasn't changed. After less than five minutes with the two of them, I'm definitely feeling a little more confident. As I watch them chatter back and forth while passing the joint, I silently thank them both for being here to help me see this thing through.

"We've got less than fifteen minutes before the ceremony starts," Cory reminds me, looking up from the watch on his wrist. "I'm gonna head over to the other tent and see how Charlie's doing. You guys want a beer or something? Fender's set up over there, too."

"That'd be awesome," I tell him. Max also accepts his offer of free booze. He reaches out to retrieve the joint from Cory's paw as the cheetah quickly makes his way to the exit. "I'll be back in a sec," Cory promises. He lifts the tarp, and disappears out into the warm, summer day.

"So... Who's the best man?" Max asks me, once Cory's stepped out of earshot. I shrug my shoulders and shake my head.

"It's a non-traditional wedding," I inform him. "So there really isn't one. Jake, our ring-bearer, is in charge of the rings, and since neither Charlie or I have any family members attending, we've decided that any number of people could easily handle the duties of the best man. Now, if you're willing to hear me out, I've got a problem I need to solve. Cory designed the ceremony space with three aisles; two on either end, and one down the middle. Charlie and I are each gonna be led up the aisles on opposite sides, and when it's over we'll walk down the center aisle together. He's already picked Oz to lead him up to the altar. At first, I was thinking of asking Cory to do the same for me, but it turns out that he's actually gonna be the one to officiate the ceremony. That's one of the things that's really nagging at me right now; I don't know who to ask."

Max appears smitten, and even slightly shocked. "That guy?" he asks, jerking a thumb towards the door. "He's a minister?"

"He got ordained just last week," I tell him, taking the joint when he offers it to me. "We had to make a whole bunch of last-minute changes, and that was one of them. We couldn't find a judge or a priest who was willing to marry me and Charlie on such short notice, so he signed up for a course while the two of us rushed to get the marriage license."

I raise the joint to my lips and inhale deeply, holding my breath as I pass it back. Max gives me a solemn nod of understanding, and shrugs his shoulders as he finishes the roach.

"What about me?" he suggests. "I mean, I don't really know the whole procedure and whatnot, but I'd be honored to walk you up the aisle, myself."

I feel myself smiling widely as I reach out my hand and grab ahold of his paw. A sigh of relief passes my lips as I nod my head in reply.

"Alright..." I say. "You've got it. Just promise me you'll tone down on the crazy shit? It is my wedding, after all..."

Max scoffs loudly. He looks taken aback. "You think I would do that to you?! I may be an asshole, but I'm not that big of an asshole. So don't worry. I'll be good; I swear."

I give him a smile and nod my head, but inside, I'm silently praying that he keeps true to his word. If there's one thing I know about Max, it's that he's completely unpredictable.

Just then, the tent flap flies open. Max and I turn our heads to see Cory's muzzle protruding from the canvas. He appears shaken, as if he's just seen a ghost.

"You guys better get out here, we've got a little problem," he says, panting loudly as he tries to catch his breath.

My anxiety starts to kick in again. I find myself gripping harder on Max's paw.

"What is it now?"

"Jake's been pacing back and forth outside of the other tent," Cory tells me."Apparently he got ahold of some vodka, and now he's threatening to tear off his suit and set it on fire before the ceremony begins!"

I slap my palm agaist my forehead. "Oh God..."

"God?!" Cory exclaims, "I'm sorry, James, but God's not here right now! Satan wants to know if he can take a message! Can you guys please come out here and help me convince the kid not to go apeshit?!"

Max lets out an exasperated groan, and I let go of his hand as we march towards the door. I guess I'm gonna have to talk to Jake...

Just then, my legs freeze in place as my mind begins to form an idea.

"Max, how much weed did you bring with you?"

He pulls out a thick bag of lush green buds, and hands it over to me.

"Consider it a wedding gift," he says.

---

"Alright, Charlie, do you remember your vows?"

I can feel my hackles rising as a jolt of fear shoots through my spine. Suddenly, it feels as if I have ice running through my veins. I've been steadily regaining my confidence for the past half-hour, but somehow, Oz's question paralyzes me.

MY VOWS! THAT'S what I'd been looking for! Judging by the knowing smirk that forms on his muzzle, I'm pretty sure that Oz can see the look of pure panic that sweeps across my face as my eyes go wide and my mind goes blank. SHIT!

How much liquor have I had to drink?! How could I forget my vows?!

At that very moment, as if to tauntingly announce my impending doom, the large sets of speakers which have been strategically placed around the tents and the altar outside have begun to blare with the thunderous melody of the wedding march. I can feel my heart sink. The ceremony is about to begin; I've got less than two minutes! From my spot near the entrance of the eerily silent tent, I can hear the guests chattering softly outside as they make their way over to their chosen seats on either side of the center aisle. All around me, people are leaving the tent and wishing me luck, but with each word of hope and each slap on my back, I find myself getting closer and closer to having a nervous breakdown.

Oz lets out a quiet giggle as he watches me tremble. I see him shaking his head sadly as he slips a paw beneath the folds of his expensive tuxedo and digs around in one of his coat's many inner pockets. After a few seconds, he comes out with a small stack of numbered white index cards. A smile forms across his muzzle as he reaches over to hand them off to me. I'm feeling a bit confused as I stretch out my paw to retrieve them, but as my eyes start tracing over the neatly-printed words which are scrawled above each thin blue line, my jaw drops.

Oz gives me a warm smile as he gauges my reaction, and says, "I thought you might forget, so I took the liberty of copying them down."

I never thought I'd find myself saying this, but thank god for that crazy bastard. I quickly skim through the cards, trying my best to commit each sentence to memory as quickly as possible before moving on to the next. For such an important task, this turns out to be surprisingly easy. An astonished laugh exits my mouth as I silently admire my friend's painstaking attention to detail.

"Dude, you just totally saved my ass. I owe you on so many levels..."

"We'll talk favors later," he tells me, sliding back the sleeve on his coat to check the time on his watch. "We've got bigger things to worry about right now."

Suddenly, Zack's furry head pokes in from behind the canvas. The tiger gives us both a nod before motioning towards the crowd.

"Alright guys, it's starting. We've been over this plenty of times. Count to ten before you leave the tent to head up your aisle, and remember, Charlie, you and James are trying to reach the altar at the same time!"

Oz nods his head feverishly, and focuses his attention on his watch as I take a few more seconds to go over my vows. As if to signal our exit, the music reaches a crescendo at the count of 'ten.'

Oz nudges my shoulder impatiently, and I give him a nod before hurriedly stuffing the index cards into my back pocket. He locks his elbow underneath my own, and the two of us begin to go through the movements in the carefully planned way that we'd rehearsed over the past few days.

I count our steps as we slowly exit the tent, moving gracefully to the timing of the music as we walk towards the aisle on the left side of the seating area. Looking across the sea of smiling faces resting comfortably in their padded chairs, their eyes studying my every move, I spy James as he exits his tent. His arm is threaded through that of a nervous-looking red fox. I haven't met the guy before; he must be one of the friends that James has invited from out-of-state. My soon-to-be mate flashes a loving smile as our eyes meet, and I feel my heart beginning to swell with pride as I return his affectionate gaze. My tail starts to wag vigorously, and I try my best to keep in step. To distance myself from the emotions that are welling up inside of me, I turn my head to take in the decorations and the scenery as we make our approach.

Most couples prefer a 'white wedding.' But James and I aren't 'most couples.'

I had been right to allow Cory to plan our wedding and design the ceremony. As my eyes sweep over the multicolored arrays of poppies, lillies, and roses, before coming to rest on the white and black rose petals which are strewn about the aisle, the mix of colors and the sweet scent of the flowers brings a smile to my face. Cory wasn't kidding when he'd said that he would plan us the perfect wedding; the resourceful cheetah has managed to come through for us in spades.

The ceremony is being held at a location which faces out over the Harbor City Bay. A large, peaceful outcropping at the top of a steep, imposing hill, the place we have chosen has always been referred to by the locals as Sunset Point. It's one of the most awe-inspiring and romantic views in the city, and it lies within a stone's throw of the vast suburban maze near the end of the city limits.

Ending on a cliff which stretches out over the rolling blue waters of the bay, this place is as close as one possibly can get to the physical embodiment of tranquility and love. The more I look at it, the more I'm beginning to agree that Cory has chosen the perfect location for James and I to have our wedding.

As the sun begins to settle on the horizon, casting its warm orange glow over the rippling surface of the water below, my smile grows wider as a spectacular natural phenomenon, unique to this particular location at the edge of the city, begins to occur. Cory hasn't just chosen this place for it's stunning natural beauty. No; he's chosen it for a very specific event, one which can only be witnessed for five short minutes near the end of each chaotic and widely unpredictable day. He's timed our approaches to the altar to coincide, down to the second, with the current changes which are begining to draw gasps and hushed whispers from the people in the crowd.

Cameras are appearing out of nowhere. Eyes are going wide and fingers are pointing, directing all attention to the altar.

The second that James and I have released the arms of our chosen escorts, before stepping slowly forward to meet each other in front of the altar, it all comes to a head in one perfect, photogenic moment.

As I reach out my paw to take James' soft hand in my own, the two of us simultaneously turn our heads out towards the water to watch the scene unfold. Sunset Point has rightfully earned its name.

As if on cue, the sky is no longer covered with the familiar orange haze that we all know from the setting sun. No; at that moment, the light began to change. In what feels like a heartbeat, the entire area becomes completely blanketed with the breathtaking hues of deep purple and bright pink, which radiate from the sun and the clouds like a kind of cosmic blessing that seemed to approve of our coming union. It was as if God himself had sent forth a message of love and hope; an unseen presence in the infinity of the universe which had, at that very moment, chosen to reveal itself just long enough to witness the vows which would bind us together for life. The waters of the bay seemed to glow even more brightly as they added the final touches to the effect, each calm wave shimmering like a slow sea of so many priceless diamonds as they rippled and broke quietly against the rocky surface below.

It all looks amazing, and that's the understatement of the year...

Cory, who'd been waiting patiently for us both behind a small wooden podium positioned carefully at the edge of the cliff, gives the two of us his brightest smile as he opens a small book and begins to read aloud.

"Before we begin the official ceremony," he starts, "I'd like you to take hold of each others' hands..."

James and I obey, stretching our free hands forward and interlocking our fingers. We both turn to watch Cory as he continues.

"Take a close look at the hands that you hold... These are the hands of your best friend; young, strong, and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever..."

James turns his head towards me, and I can't help smiling as our eyes meet. I can feel my tail wagging impatiently behind me.

"These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together, you build your future.These are the hands that will passionately love and cherish you throughout the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will, countless times, wipe the tears from your eyes; your tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, and hold your family together as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it most, and lastly, these are that hands that, even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours; still giving you that same, unspoken tenderness with just a touch. These are the hands of your mate."

I catch James smiling as Cory begins to read the scripture. Though neither of us are particularly religious, he reads from the Christian bible. I find myself tuning out his voice until it's nothing but a quiet murmur in the background. My attention is focused solely on my mate. James looks so happy, standing across from me. Something inside makes me feel like I've finally earned that smile. I've finally earned that look of perfect serenity.

Even after all our time together, and even though we've both come to terms with our differences, until that second, I'd always felt as if he deserved way better than anything I could possibly give him. But I now know that he doesn't feel that way. He wouldn't want me to be having those thoughts. I now know that no matter how much trouble I may end up causing for both of us, he'll always be there to catch me and keep me from falling. As I trace the corners of his lips with my eyes, I now know that he'll follow me into hell if that's where we have to go.

I know this because I can see it in his eyes, and when he tightens his grip around my paws, those lingering, troubled thoughts are instantly cast aside. Who cares? We were meant for each other... And after today, nobody can ever tell us otherwise...

"Do you, James, take Charles to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Cory's soft voice snaps me back to reality. He must have finished reading from the bible. James' smile seems to grow even brighter as he gives a slight nod of his head.

"I do."

Cory turns to face me. "And do you, Charles, take James to be your lawfully wedded mate?"

A soft chuckle parts my lips as I smile.

"I do."

"Very well," Cory continues. "Do you have the rings?"

James and I both turn our heads to face the center aisle. On cue, Jake steps out from behind the crowd and begins to walk slowly up the aisle at a steady, practiced pace. I can hear whispers and quiet murmurs coming form the crowd as he steps past each row of seats with his arms raised to chest height, a white, silk-covered pillow nestled gently in both of his open paws. At the center of the small square of elegant fabric, the bright platinum wedding bands seem to shine magically as they reflect the calm glow of the setting sun. The young coyote has a peaceful smile drawn across his muzzle as he comes to a stop before reaching the altar and extends the pillow towards me.

I silently wonder what James had said to him when they spoke before the proceedings began. He almost looks happy. I return his smile as I reach out to pluck the smaller ring from the pillow.

Staring into James' eyes, I cradle his left hand gently in my paw, and carefully slide the ring past the knuckle on his third finger. Once it rests snugly in its appropriate place, I clear my throat as I raise my voice to speak.

"James... My James... You have no idea how much you mean to me; how strongly I feel about you. A long time ago, I made you a promise, that one day, we would be together forever, and nobody could ever tear us apart. Today, I finally get to see that promise fulfilled. I love you more than you will ever know. I treasure you. You are the light that shines brightly at the end of the long, dark tunnel of my life. You are the passion that courses through my body with each steady beat of my heart... Before I met you, I had nothing, and when you left me, I died inside... But now, seeing you here on our wedding day, I finally feel alive again. Looking into your eyes, I can finally see that ray of hope. With this ring, I make a new promise. I promise to love you no matter what comes our way. I'll stand by your side until the stars fall from the sky, and even then, we'll still be together. I promise to be a faithful husband; a loyal mate. My eyes will never wander, and my thoughts will never drift away from you. I promise to hold you close during the best of times, and even closer during the worst. When you laugh, we'll both laugh, and when you cry, we'll cry together... I once promised myself to you for the rest of our lives, and with this ring, I keep that promise. For as long as we live, we'll always be together, and until the day we die, I'll never let you go... You are my first, my last, and my only one, and after you, there will be none. I love you."

I can see his eyes beginning to well up with tears as his lips start to tremble. James tries his best to smile, but I can tell that he's on the verge of crying. I tighten my grip on his hand, and give him a look of reassurance. I want him to know that whatever happens, I'm here for him...

He takes a deep breath to calm his nerves as he reaches towards the pillow to retrieve the second ring. When he draws back his hand, I catch a glimpse of Jake's face. The kid looks genuinely moved. Out of the corner of my eye, I note the wet trails from the tears which have rolled down his cheeks. James takes the time to smile at him before turning back to face me. Jake gives a solemn nod, and sniffles loudly before straightening his posture.

I stare into my mate's eyes as he takes ahold of my left paw, and slips the ring over my third finger. It takes some work to get it over the fur on my hand, but he manages to get it settled in place. I hear a deep sigh pushing past his lips as he brings up his eyes to meet mine.

"Charlie..." he begins, "There's so much I want to say to you, but no matter how hard I try, I know it'll never be enough. You've been my rock; my shelter from the pouring rain; my dearest companion and my closest friend... Before you found me, I was broken. I was drowning in an ocean of my own destruction; slipping beneath the waves of my own private hell. and when I met you, the first thing you did was pull me to the surface. You showed me that I never had to be scared; that I didn't have to face the world alone. With your gentle touch, you mended my broken heart, and with your soft voice, you took away my pain... For many years, you've been my loving mate, and for many more, you'll be my husband... With this ring, I make a promise of my own. I promise to love you and to cherish you for the rest of my life. I promise to support you through the hardest times, and to be with you through all of the joy. No matter how much happiness or sorrow our life together might bring, I'll always be there to take your hand, so we can share it all together. I promise to be a kind and loving mate. I'll never know another touch like I know yours, and I'll never know another voice that can lift up my heart. With this ring, I'll be your mate for life, and not a day will pass between us when I won't give you my undying love... I love you, Charlie."

The crowd seems to swoon as we conclude our vows. Even old Mr. Fender is wiping away his tears. Oz, Zack, and the members of my old band are all standing to one side, smiling. Jake is trying his best not to break down and cry, and James' friends are all shaking as they try to keep their composure. We all turn our heads to look up at Cory, and I smile as I watch the cheetah dry his eyes on a small, red handkerchief. James reaches out to pat him on the arm, and he gives us a quick nod before clearing his throat and standing up straight.

"By the power vested in me, by the County of Seabrook and the courts of Harbor City, I now pronounce you lawfully wedded mates. You may kiss the groom."

I release James' hands and slide a claw under his chin. Our bodies draw closer as I raise his lips to meet mine. I can feel his arms wrapping around my waist and my shoulder, his fingers tickling the fur on the back of my neck as he pulls me into the long, passionate kiss. The crowd erupts in cheers. I can hear their screaming laughter and their joyous howling; their paws clapping loudly together as they rise from their seats. Even Jake is clapping, the silk pillow tucked snugly under one arm as he joins the chorus of cheers and shouts.

When we finally break apart, I offer James my arm, and he grasps it with both hands as I slowly turn to lead us down the center aisle. As we march through the crowd, smiling endlessly as they proceed to shower us with fistfuls of rice and paper confetti, I lean over to kiss my new mate softly on the cheek as a new song begins to play over the speakers.

_ Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road._ _ Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go._ _ So make the best of this test, and don't ask why._ _ It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time!_

_ It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right._ _ I hope you had the time of your life..._

_ So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind,_ _ Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time,_ _ Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial!_ _ For what it's worth it was worth all the while!_

James rests his head on my shoulder as we clear the rows of seats and start making our way towards the larger tent. The crowd starts to follow us as we lead the way. Fender, along with the red fox who'd led James up the aisle, skips ahead of us to hold open the flaps as we approach. Once we've made it inside, the old weasel jogs over to the makeshift bar and begins to mix up a couple of strong drinks.

_ It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right._ _ I hope you had the time of your life._

After Fender hands over the cocktails, James wraps his drinking arm through my own, and we knock the glasses together before simultaneously raising them to our lips.

_ It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right._ _ I hope you had the time of your life..._

---

A couple of hours have passed since the ceremony. The party is in full swing.

As I knock back my fourth or fifth shot of vodka, I look around the tent to see what everyone else is up to. My head is swimming with good booze and the general euphoria which seems to be sweeping the room, but I manage to stay on my feet. After some searching, I spot Max in one corner of the tent, sharing a joint with Kevin and a few others from the Recovery Center as they fill in some of my friends on the major events which transpired after I left Harbor City. Charlie's hanging out with Jason and Henry near the entrance, chain-smoking cigarettes as they discuss music or whatever it is they're going on about. I can hardly hear them over all the commotion. Cory's busy chatting up Benny near the buffet, as the large bison works tirelessly to refill the empty plates which line up in front of him with copious amounts of delicious food. For a moment, I start to wonder where the hell he gets all the meat from...

I take a look down at my shiny new wedding ring, and a drunken smile crosses my face as I remember Charlie's vows. I'll never have another day like this in my life. Everything couldn't have gone more perfectly. Several random people come up to congratulate me as they make their way over to the bar, and I return their warm greetings and handshakes as they lean over the table to order their drinks. Fender shouts over the crowd to offer me a refill, and I stumble over to the table and hand him my cup. My eyes scan the tent for someone to talk to, and I'm so distracted by my search that I almost jump out of my skin when I feel a paw tapping against my shoulder. Whirling around, I come face-to-face with Oz.

"Hey, man, Frank wants to see you outside," he tells me. "He said he's got something you asked for? He wouldn't give me any details..."

I bring up a hand to slap myself on the forehead. Of course! How could I have forgotten? I'd been so stressed with the wedding preparations that it must've completely slipped my mind!

"Dude, your timing couldn't have been better," I say. "Can you do me a favor, and go find Jake? Tell him I wanna see him outside. Tell him it's important."

Oz nods his head, and takes off to look for the kid. I quickly drain my cup and drop it into a nearby trash bin, before making my way over to where Charlie's standing. He stops talking when he sees me, and a cool smile spreads across his muzzle as I take ahold of his paw.

"You guys mind if I borrow him for a minute?" I ask. Jason and Henry both shake their heads, and tell me that I'm more than entitled to some private time with my mate. After thanking them both, I lead Charlie towards the entrance, and hold open the flap as we step out into the warm, moonlit night.

"So, what's going on?" he questions me. I tell him to be patient; that everything will start to make sense soon enough. After scanning the empty rows of seats in front of the altar, I spot Frank standing near the edge of the cliff. My grip on Charlie's paw tightens as I pull him towards the tall, lanky otter, who gives us a smile as we approach.

"Hey, guys!" he exclaims, stretching out his hand. "Congratulations! To be honest, I never thought I'd get to see the day."

I shake my head, and shake his hand. Charlie does the same.

"It's been a long time coming, hasn't it?" I say. "I remember the day I slapped a flier on the windshield of your patrol car."

Frank bursts out in howling laughter, shaking his head as he starts to dig around under the folds of his tuxedo. After a moment, he pulls out a manila envelope, which he holds out for me.

"Yeah, those were good times..." he begins. "Now, just so you know, I had to go through a ton of red tape to get these for you. It took days of digging around and hours spent on the phone before I could even get near this thing. I know how much it means to you, though, so I put in the work, and I finally managed to get it done. I'm no lawyer, and you'll probably have to work with one to get it all made official, but it shouldn't be too hard to get everything straightened out now that I've set the ball rolling. I just gotta ask, though... Are you sure this is what you want? I mean, I've heard rumors, you know?"

I smile and nod my head as I reach out to retrieve the envelope. Tugging it open, I remove the small stack of papers contained within. Charlie peers over my shoulder to read the fine print, and I watch his eyes grow wide as he realizes what I'm holding.

"Yeah..." I tell Frank. "It is. But I'm not doing this for myself..."

He gives me a nod, and waves a paw through the air. "Say no more. Consider that my wedding gift. Now, if you guys will excuse me, I've gotta go find my wife."

The otter turns and starts marching back towards the tent. Charlie still stands frozen behind me as he continues to read the document. I turn my head around to face him.

"I'm sorry, Charlie. I know I should've told you about it before the wedding, but I just got caught up in the moment. I really wish I'd told you sooner, believe me. I just completely forgot... So... what do you think?"

He shakes his head to clear away his shock, and shrugs his shoulders. I can see his smile returning, though, as he starts searching his pocket for another cigarette.

"It needs two signatures, baby," I remind him. "If you don't think you can handle it, just say 'no.' I'll tear it up now, and we'll never have to talk about it again."

Charlie gives me a soft chuckle, and shakes his head. He sticks the loose cigarette between his teeth, and I feel his thick arms wrapping around my body as he pulls me into his chest and nuzzles his cheek against mine.

"You know I could never say 'no' to you," he says. "And besides, why would I? If you really think we can do this, then we'll both sign the forms. I trust you, and if you honestly think that this is the best way to go, I'm behind you a hundred percent. To tell the truth, I'm actually wishing I'd thought of it myself!"

I breathe a deep sigh of relief, and allow myself to cozy up to my mate. He lets out a soft growl of lust as he hugs me even closer. I can't stop the playful laugh that escapes my lips. It's a little early for those kind of ideas, but I wouldn't tell Charlie that... He'd never get over it.

"So what's the big surprise?"

The arrival of the familiar, high-pitched voice suddenly cuts our intimacy short. Charlie releases his embrace and clears his throat as Jake approaches us down the center aisle.

"Oz said you guys were looking for me? Is it about that bag of weed you promised me if I saw it through? 'Cause I could definitely use it..."

Charlie shoots me a surprised glance, and I shake my head. I'd had no choice in the matter; it was either that or let Jake go crazy and find someone else to present the rings. I'd made a split-second decision, so sue me...

"Actually..." I begin, "I think you'll find this a little better than a bag of weed."

I hand over the document. Jake snatches it from my hands, and his eyes narrow into slits as he pores over the words. Charlie takes my hand, and we share a smile as we wait for Jake's reaction. As he reaches the bottom of the first sheet of paper, his ears perk up and his jaw drops. His eyes go as wide as silver dollars as he slowly looks up from the paper and stares at us.

"You guys are gonna adopt me?!" he exclaims.

Charlie and I share a quiet laugh, and I nod my head. "That's totally up to you," I tell him. "We won't do it if you don't want us to."

Jake scoffs, and slaps the papers against his free paw.

"Are you kidding me?! That'd be AWESOME! You guys are like, the best friends I ever had!"

The small coyote runs up to me, and throws his arms around my waist in a tight hug. I shake my head, smiling as I reach down to scratch the fur behind his ears. The kid's tail starts wagging excitedly as I do so.

"You know we're gonna need a lock for the liquor cabinet, right?" Charlie whispers. I give him a forced chuckle, and shake my head.

"That's not gonna stop him. We're gonna need a safe."

My mate nods his head in agreement.

"You're right. And we'll probably need a safe to keep our safe in. I'll ask around and see if we can find one at a good price..."

I feel Charlie's arms encircling my body once more. My lips crack a smile as he rests his chin on my shoulder. My eyes turn to face the sky.

So blue; the sky... So bright with stars. Behind us, I can hear the sounds of laughter and drunken revelry as the party continues. Looking down, I see that Jake is still holding the document in his paws. He appears to be reading it over.

As I stand amongst the empty chairs, wrapped in the comforting arms of my mate and breathing in the salty breeze that blows in from the bay, I find myself feeling strangely at ease. Oddly at peace. All around me, the city moves on; the engines of the cars rumble noisily along the freeway nearby; the endless passenger liners and jets continue to circle overhead. And in the center of it all, I stand frozen; a statue, oblivious to time. If this is how things are going to be from now on, I'd like to make this night last as long as possible. I want to remember this feeling of serenity...

Something tells me that this is simply the beginning of a new chapter in a story that never ends. Something tells me that the worst is far from over, and the best is yet to come...

I look down at the wedding band wrapped snugly around my ring finger, and then at Charlie and Jake. I have a feeling that no matter what happens now, it's all gonna work out in the end.

Everything comes full circle. I honestly can't wait...

...And if things get too crazy?

Well...

There's a pill for that.

---

Lyrics to Good Riddance/Time of your Life are copyright 1997 by Green Day. All rights reserved.

"Blessing of the Hands" is a contemporary wedding reading by an unknown author.

Well, that was the big wedding! I hope you guys weren't disappointed; I really had to put some work into this one. I'd really appreciate any comments or reviews; I'd like to know how I did! I tried my best to pull out all the stops on this chapter, and I wanna know if you all enjoyed it! I may end up taking a break from my writing for a week or so, just to get my head straight for the next chapter, but there's definitely more to come!

Just a side note - this chapter was written on my crappy old laptop, so if you find any spelling errors, please don't hesitate to send me a PM and point them out

I'm looking forward to hearing what you all have to say.

--Ken.