TIMEWARP: The Happy Side of Crazy

[Rhys Rockwood]

15 July 2016
Four days. He was getting married in four days. Rhys could barely believe it even as he made the trip from Pilot Ridge down to the little beach in Massachusetts they'd more or less randomly selected for their wedding. He'd come down a few days early to make sure everything was in order for the event. The last thing needed was some terrible mishap, but so far everything was in order. The hotel was ready for the guests to arrive; the plans for the bonfire had gotten the needed documentation to make sure everything was legal. Now he just had to play the waiting game and let things happen.

18 July 2016
The guests started arriving the day before the ceremony, and Rhys made sure to see everyone who came by. Saying hello, making sure the rooms were as requested and at the discounted price the hotel had been kind enough to give the wedding guests. He was barely aware where the day was going. After being on the go all day, it was night before he knew it, and he collapsed into bed not from exhaustion but from a nice chemical aid to knock himself out to keep from getting overly anxious the night before.

19 July 2016
The day was finally here. After so much time spent waiting, it was here. Rhys woke up a little drowsy from the medicine he'd taken to help him sleep, but it wore off after a little while. He ate a little breakfast (barely more than a slice or two of toast) and started getting ready for chaos that was going to erupt later. The wedding wasn't terribly traditional; his parents wouldn't have approved if they'd known about it. Rhys hadn't made contact with them in nearly two years now, and he saw no point to randomly invite them to a wedding.

He got dressed in his...unconventional attire and headed down toward the beach. It was plenty warm, even in his khaki shorts and the short-sleeved white shirt he'd left unbuttoned. He ran a hand through his hair as he started onto the beach, feeling the sand shift under his Vibrams and into his close fitting shoes a little. The rows of chairs were in sight, and the bonfire pit they'd be using later wasn't far off. That pile of wood was going to be quite the blaze that night. A smile crossed his face when he thought about the coming reception.

A while later, he'd spent his time checking on a last few things and actively avoiding seeing Ella before he was supposed. It was his wedding too; he was allowed to be a little superstitious about things. People were starting to take their seats, and he made some little conversation with people, trying to keep himself relaxed. He could feel the hoops of gold in his pocket, and he toyed with them as he waited. Rhys had moved to stand with his back to the small crowd of friends and was talking quietly with the priest they'd found to do the ceremony.

The music started playing softly through the speakers scattered about the area they were using for the wedding, and Rhys felt his heart skip a beat. Ella would be up here with him in a matter of moments, and their lives would be twined together. He didn't even know how they had fallen into a relationship, let alone come to a point where they wanted to get married. After all the years he'd known Ella, it really just didn't make sense to him. He chuckled a little as he waited, smiling back at the priest.

"You're doing fine, son," the older man reassured him. Rhys took a long breath and let it out slowly. "Thanks. I appreciate that." He fought with himself to keep from turning around yet. "How does she look?" he finally asked the priest. The other man smiled and nodded a little. "No matter what I say, I'm sure the words won't do it justice in your mind. Decide for yourself how she looks." Rhys took another long breath and turned to look a little. He couldn't help the smile that crept on to his face when he saw her.

(Just so everyone knows, this isn't canon. Just some fun inspired by Jam. Enjoy!

Nu wishes me to say: This is in no way whatsoever canon. Please be advised, it will be very ridiculous from here on out and do not be fooled by the content. ^^)

[Ella Tate]

[OOC: Warning; Disgustingly saccharine sweet and happy body snatcher has invaded Ella. She will not be present. At all.]

The day was finally here. After five years of just flirting and their constantly blazing unresolved sexual tension between the two former colleagues, Rhys finally made an honest woman out of her when he asked her to marry him. And she actually said yes.

She made damn sure the wedding was anything but traditional though. And it started with not even inviting their parents. Sure, it was not the best decision Ella had made seeing that she still did love her mother, she just didn't want Faith there.

Moving on...

The catering was an all you can eat buffet, the location was at the beach and Ella was wearing a sundress with flats. It was simple and she actually enjoyed planning it. Best of all, Rhys was there all the while.

Chloe had been employed to be her one bridesmaid and really, it was all Ella needed. She was also so high up on cloud nine that she was completely unaware of Chloe's thoughts on the whole thing.

And then it was time.

Ella smoothed down the front of her strapless sundress and walked out to the reception. Rhys had gone through with his plans for dressing up casual as well and Ella smiled at that. They were definitely the least conventional pairing ever. How they even got together was a mystery. Go figure.

When Rhys turned and Ella saw the smile on his face, her heart thumped hard against her ribcage. Nobody had ever looked at her that way before.

She finally arrived in front of Rhys and her hand immediately searched for his. "I love you," she whispered, smiling uncharacteristically shyly up at her soon to be husband.

[Rhys Rockwood]

Rhys closed his hand around hers, smiling the entire time. It was only a little ridiculous how happy he felt. "I love you too," he replied quietly, gently squeezing her hand in his. His glance flickered out across the people they'd invited; part of him wasn't sure if he preferred it this way or if it would have been better to just go to a courthouse and get it settled. His eyes came back to Ella after a moment, and he was still beaming.

He took a deep breath and said, "Alright. Let's do this." Rhys squeezed her hand again, though this time was more for his own confidence than for her. A short look and a nod toward the priest later, the gentleman started to speak, addressing the gathered people. This was one of the few more traditional things about their wedding. The entire time, Rhys could feel his heart pounding in his chest, and he stayed focused on Ella.

There was no way he could have known this was how the combination of nerves and happiness was going to feel. There was no way he would have traded it for anything either. Soon, Rhys was asked to present the rings, and he pulled them from his pocket. He grinned as he slid the first ring over Ella's slender finger and lifted her hand to kiss it. The second was put into her hand so she could put it on his finger. Under a clear head, he would have thought the entire thing was silly, particularly in front of other people; at the moment, he was a little head over heels to notice.

[Ella Tate]

Her heart swelled at Rhys' words and she sighed happily, looking up at him with a ridiculously happy smile on her face. Had she known that eating out after a workout could lead to something as magical as this...

Though her eyes were only Rhys, she was happy to note that her powers picked up on all the people she had invited. By the feel of it, Jake had brought Dylan, John was with L.C. Milliner, Clarisse and Jackeroe had come together and Dr. Campbell had come with his husband. Flo and Mason should be coming any time soon, she was sure of it. Ella would totally kill Mason if he didn't show up anyway.

When it was time to slip on the rings, Ella's heart was thumping hard against her ribcage. She could hold back the tears no longer as Rhys took out the rings and proceeded to slip it on her finger. The kiss just took the cake and a tear rolled down her cheek. She did the same with his ring and waited until the minister announced that they were man and wife, the words she had been wanting to hear since Rhys asked her to marry him.

She didn't wait for him to move as she pulled him down by his shirt collar and crushed his lips against his, throwing her arms around his neck and tilting her head to deepen the kiss. And when they moved away, very hesitantly, from each other, Ella kept her arms around his neck and rested her forehead against his. "Hi husband." She whispered softly, knowing anyone who really knew her would probably be thoroughly surprised by her actions.

[Jackeroe Connick]

*--outfit

If Jackeroe had been anymore excited for the wedding he probably would have been exploding continuously. While he and Rhys had never quite known each other all that well, even though they worked together, he and Ella were close. She was like a sister to him, even though he had more than enough siblings to go around. Her getting married wasn’t a surprise to him- after all, she was so likable that it was a marvel she didn’t have her pick of men in Pilot Ridge. The announcement of her engagement surprised him, but he blamed that on all the attention he had put into his own wedding. He really had to start paying attention to other things besides Clarisse.

Speaking of his wife, she was sitting in the chair to his right. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, he never felt more at ease in his life. They had been together for a year already, but he still couldn’t believe his luck; she was the woman he dreamed about marrying when he was young, and then some. Their marriage had been a bit more traditional, of course; in a church, with a white dress and a black tuxedo affair, his family and her friends all around. If it was anything, it was elaborate- but that was how she wanted it, and he wasn’t going to deny her the wedding she was dreaming of.

In all honesty, though, he really did like Ella’s wedding. The location, the ceremony, the casual dress- it was nice to just relax and enjoy a wedding while listening to the ocean waves and the cries of seagulls make up the background music. It was a tearful affair- even he felt it, a little bit- but the emotional charge of the ceremony made the kiss at the end all the better. The crowd of people cheered loudly as the ceremony ended with the ‘kiss the bride’ command, and Jackeroe let out a whoop as the kiss deepened, his childish side coming out as he grinned.

He tore his eyes from the couple, giving them a tiny iota of privacy (or, at least, one less pair of eyes staring at them) and looked to Clarisse. She looked gorgeous, as always. He couldn’t help but kiss her cheek as he squeeze her shoulder lightly. “Love you.” Weddings always brought out Jacky’s mushy side, but he couldn’t help it. So much emotion floating around made him feel like he had to add to it.

[[OOC: Yes, they are married. Because this is AU and it needs more giggles and mush. XD]]

[L.C. Milliner]

/--outfit

This wedding was a blessing in more ways than one for Lyra. For one, she was really happy for Ella, ecstatic in fact. The recruiter and John were close, so naturally she became friends with Ella as well- she was the person the younger woman called when she was frustrated or upset with John, for whatever reason. Talking to Ella always seemed like a breath of fresh air. Even Ella’s wedding was like a mini-vacation for her and John, in a way. True, it wasn’t an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii, but Lyra had never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

The best part about the wedding was that it fell on the third weekend of the month- her drill weekend. She put in an application to take leave and was granted it- but she’d have to go in next weekend to make up for it. She wasn’t going to dispute the issue, of course; she was glad she had been given leave in the first place. She joined the army to pay for college like a lot of people her age; she had put a lot of thought into it and finally decided to try it. She had her degree now, but she still stayed, despite John’s disapproval of it. He worried about the uprisings in Laos and the president’s speech a week before about providing aid if the call was made; everyone was worried about it and many people were resigning. But Lyra didn’t budge. She liked the structure of it, the organization. It reminded her of the carnival in a way, at least the good parts of it. She needed some stable structure in her life.

Not that John wasn’t structured. He was anything but unpredictable, as always. But that was the problem in a way: his predictable stubbornness directed toward anything she did that he disapproved of was exhausting. Before the wedding they had an argument about her choice of dress. Ella had approved of it, loved it even, but he disliked it. Likewise, she had hidden his ties, refusing to give them back for the wedding even if he didn’t feel heat like other people did. The walk to the beach had left her silent and frustrated. When the ceremony began she still was upset. Selfishly so, obviously, but she couldn’t shake it.

After a couple minutes into the speech, she had relaxed a bit. Her legs crossed at the ankle, her hands folded in her lap, and her eyebrows finally lifted out of the stern look she always seemed to have on her face. By the time the couple had slipped their rings onto each other’s fingers, her frustration with the man next to her was forgotten. One hand rested idly on her leg while she used the heel to wipe one of her eyes (Damn sand, getting into everything) and she smiled as the wedding finished and Ella kissed her husband. She didn’t clap or cheer like everyone else- merely smiled and sat back in her seat. She had been subconsciously leaning forward in rapt attention through the whole thing, and now that it was over she corrected herself.

Lyra was a sucker for weddings, after all.

[Mason McQueen]

Heaven knows Mason would not miss the Tate-Rockwood for the world. And that’s not just because he knows that a certain power suppressor would come in the night and kill him if he misses this one.

Having the wedding on the beach was a great idea, at least in the man’s eyes. Traditionalism aside, the nice mix of lax and romantic the location exudes fit the couple rather nicely. The whole resort setting almost meant that Mason wouldn’t be late, since they’re already there (even with Flo around to keep him on track with things, old habits just die hard).

Above all though, is that his brood just seemed to love the beach setting. (Yes, he and Flo has a brood now). From seventeen-year old Gwynnie, to three-year olds Matt and Josh, down to baby Sophia who’s still in Flo’s tummy, they were all excited once they heard that it’s going to be in a beach and not in a four-walled church. The twins just love the sand, that despite seemingly being exhausted by the trip and sleeping halfway through it, once they started unloading, the two just took off and headed straight for the shore. Thank goodness Gwynnie was there to help round them up.

Before the actual ceremony, he promptly approached Rhys and congratulated him (while Matt was on his shoulder and Josh was clutched near his hips). He had been overjoyed when he first heard of the engagement (he found himself shouting “Finally!”, mostly because Ella’s been ranting about waiting for so long already) and is truly happy for the two once the wedding plans were finalized. After helping Rhys loosen up with some playful teasing and encouragement, he promptly went back to his seat and told his boys to behave, at least for an hour or so. Which isn’t really hard now, since they’ve already had their chance to play in the sand yesterday and didn’t have to struggle with stuffy dress shirts.

As odd as it might sound, Mason felt very much like a father giving his daughter away for marriage when he saw Ella walk down the aisle. It was truly something. He did not tear up during the vows and such, but he was truly touched, sneaking through Josh’s back and holding Flo’s hand tightly through it. Nothing could top his and Flo’s wedding in his eyes, but this’ll come a close second.

[Florence Bryant]

Florence loved weddings. She'd been invited to Mason's own to his first wife, but this was far better, with her husband sat beside her as Ella - a fellow recruiter - said her vows and stared into Rhys' eyes. She put a hand to her chest and then wiped away a tear as the ceremony drew to it's climax, and leant back in her chair to rub at her belly. Little Sophia was giving her own applause in the form of a few little kicks, and the woman pressed Mason's hand to her belly, letting him feel the kicks.

She loved the setting - Gwynie was perfectly behaved as were the twins, and the soft floaty dress that she'd picked was perfect. Perfect in the sense it was right for the beach, and perfect that it gave the painfully large bump in her abdomen enough space to feel comfortable. Ella looked beautiful, utterly radiant with her hair done and the happiness in her face. Flo hoped Gwynie would find someone that could make her feel like that when she was old enough.

Mason had been a pillar of support through the pregnancy, especially after she had some complications early on with bleeding. He'd been far stronger than she could have ever imagined, and this comfortable happy ending just added to her motherly glow. "They look so happy." She whispered to her husband, nudging his cheek with her nose and then looking behind her at the boys.

"Josh, don't pick your nose, love." She added quietly, tapping the boy on the knee before looking back at the happy couple. God she loved weddings.

[Clarisse Prideaux]

Clarisse had always been an old soul, as if from a time when vintage was new wave and the traditional way was the only way. She’d hated dragging the free-spirited Jackeroe through a church-y wedding, but he’d been totally on board, like the amazing husband he was. Though even with Champagne tastes, Clarisse was exceedingly fond of the Rockwood wedding. It was clear and fresh, laid back and intimate, just like the couple themselves. It’s only downfall was the sand. Clarisse had been forced to wear sandals to the wedding (Sandals to a wedding! How crude!), and leave her beloved pumps behind. Oh well, sacrifices must be made for friends’ happiness. She wasn’t about to deny an invite to the beach just because she couldn’t wear her heels like she would have liked.

She grew misty-eyed in the ceremony as her two friends finally tied the knot, joining in the raucous applause for the kiss. Laying her head against her husband’s shoulder she sighed. It wasn’t the dream that her wedding had been, but it was certainly a lovely picture. When he kissed her cheek, she chuckled and returned the peck to the side of his neck. “I love you too, Jacky.” She murmured, reaching out to take his hand and squeezing it lightly.

Besides, it was good to see friends from school outside of Hammel's grounds.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

There was nothing quite like a Hammel wedding. Sean had been attending them for twenty-five years as a staff member, and there had been the scattered others, friends from his time as a student who tied the knot. Even though the telepath didn’t believe in weddings as such, certainly not the religious symbolism, he believed in marriage for anyone who wanted it.

For his own personal preference, he’d rather the clerk’s office.

Of course, some might think that was because he was the mayor’s husband. Instead it was due to his atheism. There were so many aspects of religious weddings with which he disagreed, which was why his first engagement had fallen through the way it had. His second had gone far better. Feeling the ring with his thumb, he smiled at the memory. No, the clerk’s office had been fine.

On the subject of the mayor, Sean had come stag because the governor was in town and Josh was stuck in meetings for at least three days; leaving for another state simply hadn’t been an option. But he sent his regards; rather, Sean set his regards because Josh was Josh’s thoughts were elsewhere and he didn’t know either Rhys or Ella very well; still, he knew the other man would have been happy to be here, Hammel wedding or not, because he was so extroverted and loved a good party.

Despite being stag, he wasn’t alone. And while it was true that his “plus one” was reading a book instead of paying attention, she’d had the good sense to follow his advice and hide it in the wedding program. He was proud of her for not getting distracted and asking when they could go swimming; there would be time for that later.

When the ceremony ended, the telepath stood up and applauded with the other guests. His daughter glanced up from her book questioningly, and he confirmed, Yes, the ceremony part is over. We’ll be eating soon.

[Rhys Rockwood]

Rhys just smiled back at her when she put her forehead to his. "Hi wife," he replied. He had of course seen the faces of his coworkers in the seating before things had started, but at the moment, Rhys had forgotten they were sitting there, forgotten the priest was standing near them, forgotten they were standing on a beach away from Pilot Ridge. Every other detail about the moment was forgotten except for wonderful woman to whom he had just tied the rest of his life.

And he couldn't be happier.

A moment later, Rhys shook the effect off though he was still smiling. "I believe we have a party to throw, a bonfire to light together, and a large amount of alcohol that needs to have a vanishing act performed on it," he said quietly to Ella. The area around the bonfire was stocked with food and a few stashed speakers for some music. The plan for a long relaxed party was in place, and Rhys was ready to enjoy it with friends and his new family.

Taking Ella's hand, Rhys made his way down the aisle with her and headed for the bonfire. They had a big blaze to ignite together. As they approached the pile of wood, he pulled a match from his pocket it and struck it to light the one torch standing in the ground nearby. He pulled it up out of the ground and held it between himself and Ella. "Well, take hold. Let's get this thing burning!" he said excitedly. What a big dork.

[Ella Tate]

Ella sighed happily when Rhys responded in kind to her calling him husband as one hand snaked down to grab at his hand, holding it tightly before turning around to the clapping coming from the guests. She couldn't believe the turnout as she waved at Mason who was holding on to a very pregnant Flo, and Jackeroe with his own wife, Clarisse [they made such an odd couple but hell, they were perfect for each other] and even Sean turned up with his daughter, sans a husband though. Ella was sure she could excuse the very busy mayor's absence.

She spotted L.C. and pointed Rhys to the younger woman with a laugh. "I wonder what John's thinking right now." Ella giggled as she walked over to the bonfire with Rhys. Ella loved fire, despite her experiences with pyrokinetics and when the torch started to blaze, she gleefully placed her hand on the butt of the torch, happy when Rhys' hand covered hers. They lowered the torch together and watched as the pile of wood started to burn nicely.

Leaning against Rhys, she breathed his scent in and sighed. "I couldn't possibly love you more than I do right now, Rhys." She whispered softly before looking up and pulled his face down by his neck and pressed their lips together.

After releasing her husband, Ella kicked off her shoes and joined her friends, her hand still grasping Rhys'. "You guys! Thank you so much for coming!" She gushed as she managed to hug everyone present. "L.C. You look stunning." Ella giggled and looked over to John. "Doesn't she, John? She looks beautiful doesn't she?" She teased him gently.

She turned to Flo and beamed. "How's the little girl inside?" The younger woman asked, rubbing Flo's arm gently. "Where are my boys? Joshie? Mattie!"

"Clarisse, you look positively stunning! Thank you so much for coming. Jacko..can you believe we're both actually married now?" She squealed and pulled her 'fake brother' in for a hug.

Everything felt just so perfect to her at that instant.

[John Thornton]

She could have worn a dress. That was what bothered him, really. She was always in her uniform so often that he never got to see her in a dress, and even at a wedding she wouldn't wear a dress.

And she had taken his ties. All of his ties. Why had she done that? Still, he'd ignored her as expertly as she had ignored him when it came to wardrobe choices and donned full length pants and a long sleeved shirt, and had even wanted to bring a jacket but Lyra had threatened to rip those all apart so he had given up, with only a "it's not like I feel heat," murmur.

But it was impossible to stay angry at someone you loved during a wedding, and as the ceremony came to a close he rested his hand over hers, where it lay on his knee. He missed her when she was away, and she was away so often fighting things. Perhaps a few people were looking at the older man with the much younger partner but bollocks to the lot of them.

"Ella, congratulations," he said with sincerity to the new bride, and shook hands with the groom, and while he was not smiling (perish the thought, his face might crack), he did look relatively happy. "Though the location is a bit," he glanced around and the corner of his mouth pulled down, "well, sandy.."

Then Ella made a remark about Lyra's outfit and he pursed his lips and frowned darkly. "Lyra always looks beautiful," he said shortly, deliberately not looking at his partner because he just knew she'd be loving this. "I just had hoped for a dress."

She could have worn a dress, really.

[L.C. Milliner]

Once they had stood up and meandered off to converse with the rest of the guests, Lyra took hold of John’s hand, interlocking her fingers with his as they made their way through the crowd to where Ella was standing. L.C. loved her outfit, of course- it was so sunny, just like her. She smiled at Rhys and nodded, but then when she turned back to Ella she gave her a hug, a clear indication of how close they were- Lyra never hugged anyone aside from John. “Thanks Ella, but you look better, as always.” she said, smiling as she stood back beside her... well, whatever they were.

Nudging John with her hip, she shot him a ‘not now’ look at turned back to Ella. “Can you imagine me in a dress? No, don’t even answer that.” She joked, sighing before turning away as the rest of the guests flooded to greet Ella and her new husband. She didn’t want to hover over her, after all. Taking a few steps back, she finally let John’s hand go and stood away from the throng of people, watching the crowd from afar like she usually did. Despite being young and sociable, she didn’t really like conversing with people she didn’t know.

After a moment of taking in the big picture, Lyra looked over the ocean and admired it for a moment. It was a lovely shade of blue, and she almost couldn’t tell where the water ended and the sky began. She smiled at the picturesque landscape before turning again, scanning the crowd. She found Sean and waved, noting that, even though his daughter was present, his partner was not. She didn’t find it strange, considering Josh was mayor of Pilot Ridge now, but it was a little depressing to see her old mentor going stag to a wedding. She’d have small talk with him later.

Fidgeting with her dog tags, she waited until everyone dispersed before heading to the snack table, grabbing herself a bottle of beer. She placed her thumb under the cap and expertly pressed up, a tiny sliver of a spike driving itself in under the metal and popping the top off. She caught the top and placed it in the trash can before taking a sip of her newly opened drink. She wasn’t going to cling to John’s side all night- if he didn’t like her outfit, he didn’t have to see her in it.

Yes, she’s being incredibly selfish, let’s move along now.

[Mason McQueen]

And so the boys got through the wedding without a hitch. They were Mason’s real worry anyway. Gwynie was young, yes, but it’s not like she’d whine every so often due to boredom. Despite three years of raising the two rowdy boys, he still hasn’t mastered the ‘(stern) Daddy look’, so instead he had to look devastated and sad if ever he wants his two little men to behave. Half the time it works, half the time he has to get Flo and Gwynie’s help. Lucky him the odds favored him this time.

“They are,” whispered Mason to Flo, sneaking in a kiss while instinctively holding Matt’s hand away from his mouth. He also jokingly told Gwynie that he’ll make sure her wedding will be just as wonderful, or even more, than Ella and Rhys. She had to wait for twenty to thirty more years though. He may not be her biological father, but he’s her dad now. Hooray protective daddy instincts.

No rest for the weary seems to be Mason’s theme at the wedding. The moment people started standing up and walking towards the reception, the twins jumped from their seat and eagerly took off to the beach. “Cwabs! I taw cwabs! And watew! Let’s swiiim!” the two boys shouted, sending the man in a quick dash to corral his kids in. And people ask how he keeps himself fit.

“Mommy says no swimming until you eat your food,” he said, trying to act sound stern as he walked towards Flo and Ella. “Go say hi to Auntie Ella and Uncle Rhys first. Go.” The twins dashed off, happily running across the reception area and tackling each of Ella’s legs.

He was on his way back to Flo and the twins after grabbing a drink when he bumped into Jackeroe, almost spilling his martini in the process. “Oops. Sorry man,” he grinned, patting the man on his back, “Clarisse looks exceptionally glowing tonight. Does that mean there’ll be a little Jacky running around anytime soon?” If there wasn’t any connection there, Mason doesn’t really care; he was never known for being witty before, he’s definitely not witty now.