Wedding Bells On The Beach (Rafayel)

Today's the day. Our wedding, which I thought would be too far away for us to get to. While in my hotel suite, getting help to put on my wedding dress, and all the bridesmaids talking and giggling, all I could think about was the time after the ceremony. Rafayel wanted a special moment after words, making me want to get to it right away. I wasn't much for having a huge wedding, almost trying to beg Rafayel to keep it simple, but he somehow convinced me to have everyone we know come and join our event. All the talking and giggling from the girls helping me out was making my mind spin in hundreds of circles. 

"Oh, Melody, look at you!" Jenna was awed by my finished look. Gems in my hair, braided, my shoulders exposed with thin side sleeves, and the dress covered in light colored pink or white seashells on the wavy fabric. Just looking at myself in the mirror started making me feel even more uneasy. I was perfect, stunning even, but every noise was bothering me. All the girls squealed in excitement, making me flinch at the loud screeches and covering my ears. 

"Girls, girls! Please stop," I whined. Everyone quickly stopped and looked at me in confusion and worry. 

"Are you okay, Mel? Are you stressed from the wedding?" Olivia asked, using a piece of laminated paper to fan me softly. "Everything is perfect, you'll love-"

"No, I'm not stressed from the wedding, I just.." I took a deep breath and waved them off. "Can you guys just let me be alone for a moment?" Everyone turned to each other, even more confused, but nodded in agreement, and they all left. Once I knew the coast was clear, instantly, tears rolled down my face. The overwhelming feeling of everything happening so fast finally released out of my body, slowly allowing my shoulders to relax, and my chest wasn't so heavy anymore. 

It took me a couple of minutes for my mind to think straight. It was horrible, but I wanted to escape. The wedding and the feeling of being overwhelmed. I couldn't believe it's something that even crossed my mind, but once I snuck out of the hotel room and went to the lobby, the feeling of just walking away felt relieving. 

Outside, I noticed the beach area Rafayel picked out was all set up with an arch covered in white and blue flowers, the seats with covers, and seashells to line out the walkway. The beautiful sight of the sun setting behind the arch is almost set, allowing the perfect sight when the wedding was supposed to happen to have the last light of the day for our celebration to be all night. My chest started hurting, aching from the idea that I wanted to leave our beautiful day just because I was being overwhelmed by so much happening at once. I feel so selfish.. 

"Cutie?" I heard Rafayel's voice, instantly making me turn around to look at him in shock. His tux was purple, and his shirt was white. The same outfit I remember we went shopping for together, and both of us fell in love with it. Rafayel rushed over, noticing my puffy eyes and red nose, and was in pure panic just from the sight of it. "Is everything okay? Why are you crying?" 

"Oh, Raf.." I whined slightly, "I'm such a horrible person after even just thinking of leaving, I'm so sorry.." 

"Leaving? Do you not want to get married?" He assumed, his voice shaking like he was about to break down. 

"No! Of course I want to be married to you, that's not at all the reason why I wanted to leave, honey.." I quickly reassured him, placing my hands on his cutly puffed cheeks. "I want to be your wife more than anything in the world. It was just so many things happening at once, I couldn't even process this morning that it was our wedding day." 

Rafayel held my hands, rubbing his thumb on the back of my hands softly like he always did when I was panicking. "I'm sorry that you've been so cramped with everything." His voice was soft, sounded pitiful after I vented. "You know, you look so beautiful in your dress." Our eyes finally locked in on each other, admiring our souls the more we looked at each other. His perfect eyes were shining slightly from the sunsetting light, making me smile and blush softly at his gaze.  

"I love you, Melody," Rafayel kissed my forehead softly. "I just wanted our day would be perfect for everyone to enjoy. I guess I was too selfish and didn't think about how you'd enjoy it." 

"Don't blame yourself, Rafayel." I chuckled slightly. "As long as we get married, I don't care what the rest of it looks like." Rafayel's smile shivered, tears welling in his eyes, and he instantly hugged me as tight as he could. "Don't cry! I'll start crying again, too, if you do." 

"I can't help it, I just love you so much!" He loudly expressed, kissing all over my face, making me giggle. "You know what- Pastor Fred!" Rafayel called out. A man in a black suit walked over in just a very little time and looked confused at the sight of just us being under the arch. 

"Did I miss out on the wedding?" Pastor Fred questioned, almost looking like a lost puppy. 

"No, in fact, we want you to marry us right now. Without the guests watching." Rafayel held my hand softly, smiling ear to ear. 

"Alright then," Pastor Fred nodded slightly, preparing himself to start the private wedding just for us to enjoy. He opened his book and cleared his throat. "Rafayel Lee and Melody McCarthy, you two gather here today to enjoy each other's company, hold each other's hands, and be officially married to call each other husband and wife." 

Tears started to well up in my eyes, listening to Pastor Fred continue his speech, and Rafayel being right in front of me with a smile plastered on his face as he stared at me as well. 

"You both had your ups and your downs, the love and the frustration, and the constant heartbreak as you both wished to have someone so dear be finally yours. And here they are in front of you, at least being yours forever." Pastor Fred paused to close his book and idled with his hands in front of him. "Did you wish to say your vows? Or did you wanna wait until the guests were here?" 

"Here is perfect," I answered. Rafayel took out a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolding it, and cleared his throat softly to get rid of his nervous bubble in his throat. 

"Melody," Rafayel started. "I waited 800 years to find you again. 800 years that I mourned and begged for you to come back to me, to be my woman, be my life. Morely be my wife. You're the most beautiful, most stunning woman I have ever met. And with these words, I promise to love, to cherish, and to admire you every minute of every day. Just like the same promise I made when we first met 800 years ago, and I'll never stop, even if we die." Tears rolled down my cheeks. Rafayel's words moved me so much, my chest aching from the amount of love I felt from his vows. He folded the paper back up, took the ring from his pocket, and held my hand softly as he slid the ring on my finger. "This ring isn't just something for everyone to know you're taken, but a jewel for both of us to remember that our love was pure, treasured, and always thought about." Rafayel softly kissed my hand, using his thumb to rub the kiss more into my skin as if it were a stamp that would never leave. 

"Oh, Rafayel.. My vows suck compared to yours," I whined, wiping my eyes so the tears would stop flowing. Rafayel and Pastor Fred started to chuckle from my little joke, but little did they know I wasn't. "I don't want to ruin yours with mine, but the best thing to really say is, I love you so much, Rafayel. And I always will, forever." I pulled out the ring from my bra, thanking myself for not giving it to Piper earlier, as I should have, and held Rafayel's hand as I slid the ring onto his finger. Lifting my head, Rafayel and I looked at each other. I felt his joy through his gaze, just looking at me like I was the only person on Earth. His hands rested on my waist, pulling me close to him, with my hands resting on his chest as we awaited the words from Pastor Fred. 

"In the power vested in me, and from the state of Linkon, I pronounce Rafayel Lee and Melody McCarthy as husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Pastor Fred bowed his head, instantly rushing away from our moment, allowing our kiss to be long and satisfying. As our kiss came to a close, a loud squeal scared both of us like a jumpscared cat. 

"That was so beautiful!!!" My bridesmaids were screeching in sync to express their excitement. 

"I'm so glad the photographer caught that beautiful kiss with the sunset behind you!" Olivia expressed as she rushed over with the photographer in her arm to show Rafayel and me the beautiful picture she was talking about. As we looked, she wasn't wrong at all. The early sunset was setting right in between the arch, the light shining through every opening Rafayel and I kept open while we kissed to seal our love. I turned to Rafayel, his gaze already on me, and we both smiled in satisfaction. 

"Was our wedding just how you wanted?" Rafayel asked, whispering in my ear. I placed my hand on his cheek, staring at him with the knowledge of finally making him mine forever. 

"It was perfect."