Two weeks had passed. Chris had finally recovered fully from her bullet wound to leave the hospital. Taker too had recovered from the stab wound he had received from Macmahon. Finally the day had come, Taker and Chris would finally be wed. She had not been home but a day. So much was going on around her. The room where two sacrifices would have taken place, now would be a place of sacred matrimony. Chris looked in her wardrobe and found a white satin and velvet dress. That would be her wedding gown. Her mother and aunt walked into her bedroom to help her get ready. "I'm so glad you're ok honey. And I'm glad you're going to share your life with a man who loves you so much." Her mother said through proud tears.
"And I love him as much as he does me mama. We'll take good care of each other." Chris said as she took out the dress she had decided to wear. Chris went behind a changing screen and then minutes later emerged in the dress. "You look beautiful baby doll. You're all grown up now."
"I'll always be your little girl mama, always." Chris said hugging her mom. "Your father's here to give you a way. I didn't think he would make it, but he did."
"I think it's time...are you ready?" Her aunt asked. "Ready as I will ever be." Chris answered. Her mother put the veil upon her daughter's head. It was time for the ceromony to begin. Chris and her mother and aunt walked into the hall where the procession would begin. Chris peaked in the room and saw the man who within moments would become her husband. She thought he looked handsome before...he was three times as dashing now. He stood in tight black pants, a long leather tunic, and for the first time in months, he had the beard trimmed back drastically. He looked absolutely gorgeous. Kane, of course was the best man. Being Taker's brother, he was the logical choice. Paul stood long side his son, while Midian, The Brood, and the Acolytes all stood in the background. Chris' father stood waiting for his daughter. She appeared as the ceromony began. D-X, since they had played a part in Chris' survival and rescue, were invited as guests at the wedding. Hunter, Chyna, X-Pac, and Billy and Road Dog all were in attendence. Chris took her father's arm, while her mother and aunt walked behind her. She smiled under her veil as she walked toward her husband to be.
The guests stood in honor of the bride as she walked down the isle. Taker stood perfectly still, not letting on that he was as nervous as Chris was. Finally, after what seemed to be the longest walk of her life, she and her father stopped before the priest. "Who gives this woman away?"
"I do." Chris' father responded. "Then we may now commence with the ceromony." The preist raised his arms and began an opening prayer that seemed to take forever. "Marriage, is the most sacred of all unions. It is the union of man and woman. A union founded in love, and built around the foundation of trust, honor, respect, and faith....."
Taker snuck a glance at Chris huffing a tired sigh...this man could go on til The Reckoning, he thought. After about 30 minutes, at long last it was time for the couple to exchange vows. "Chris, for the longest time, I thought there was no hope for me. I was convinced my soul and my heart were too dark to know love, feel love, give love. But from the first moment you came to me, and accepted me for all that I am, I realized, that even I could love as other people do. You have looked upon me for all my strengths, and weaknessess. Through the good that I did, and the bad, you accepted me. You didn't judge me as others did. Everyone else in the world called me a monster. You called me your beloved. And when you came to stay with me, when you risked your life because you loved me that much. No one else in this world has done that for me. I thought love and hope had died. You proved me wrong. You gave me hope again. You saved me from my own darkness. I almost let it overtake me forever. You pulled me back. Showed me that there are things and people in this world worth saving. I will always be greatful to you for that, always."
"Taker, ever since the first time I saw you, my life has never been the same. You brought out in me a strength I thought I never had. You helped me through the storm of my despair. I thought there was no reason to go on living. I thought that I would never really know what happiness is. Before I met you, death was something that caused me unimaginalble pain. I didn't think that greif was something I could ever recover from. Then you came into my life, and you gave me strength, you gave me courage. You brought them out of me. You helped me face things that I had feared for all my life. You gave me courage to face loss, to understand it, and that life goes on. You chased away the nightmares, you gave me a light in the darkness. For a long time, I thought I'd be alone. I didn't think anyone would want me or love me outside my family. You gave me that love. You brought out what I knew was inside all along...but was afraid to express. Yes, I do love you. I am now and will always be someone who will love you for all that you are."
Having finished the vows, they turned to the priest once more. "Do you take this woman to be your wife, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for rich or for poor, as long as you both shall...*ahem* exist?"
"I do." Taker answered.
"Chris, do you take this man to be your husband in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for rich or for poor, for long as you live?"
"I do." Chris replied. "The rings please. Now, place the ring upon her right hand, and repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed,"
"With this ring, I thee wed."
"To have and to hold, to love, honor and cherish all of my days."
"To have and to hold, to love, honor and cherish all of my days."
"Chris, take the ring, place it upon his right hand and repeat after me, with this ring, I thee wed,"
"With this ring, I thee wed."
"To love, honor, and cherish all of my days."
"To love, honor and cherish all of my days."
"If there be any reason why this man and this woman should not be joined in holy matrimony, let him speak now, or forever hold his peace. Then if no man have any objection, then, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Seeing as Chris was much smaller than he was, Taker had to get down on one knee so she could reach his face. He lifted her veil, and they shared in their first kiss as husanband and wife. A loud cheer came from the guest. The newlyweds walked down the isle arm in arm, as the guest cheered them on. Then of course, came the throwing of the bouquet and the garter. Chris went first. The woman who caught the bouquet, Chyna. Then, Taker shut his eyes, and tossed the garter, and who happended to have caught it, Kane. Then the couple fed each other from the huge wedding cake.
That day the family hugged each other, welcoming their new son-in-law to the fold, and wishing well their daughter to be happy with her new husband. Tears of joy were shed and laughter filled the mansion's dining hall. Then, it came time for all the guests to leave. Chris hugged her mother, father, younger sister and aunt and cousin and said goodbye to them. "God bless you honey. Be happy."
"I will mama. Big guy here will take good care of me." Chris said looking up at her husband. "Well, you see that he does. This is our oldest, our first born. She's precious to us." Her father said. "I know. I'll do all I can to take care of her." Taker replied. One by one, the guests left their gifts and said their well wishes and goodbyes. Soon, it was evening. Time for the other members of the mansion to retire, and time for the newlyweds to be alone. They embraced each other as they went into their bedroom. "You're shaking Chris."
"Well, I am a bit nervous." Chris said blushing. "Don't be. The shyness will fade quickly enough." Her husband replied. The young wife looked up at her dashing husband. They held each other as the night passed on.
Late in the night, the two fell asleep. Chris lay snuggled against her husband's massive frame. Her body shivering from the cold night wind that blew through the room. The blankets were the only thing covering her unclothed body. Taker woke up for a moment and looked down at this young woman who not long ago had come into his life, now she was his dark lady, and he her dark lord. He leaned over her and gently kissed her cheek. "Sleep now my love. You will be safe with me, always." He whispered as he laid back down. "I love you."
The two lay asleep, content, tired, and warm in the love that they knew now they would share for all time, the Dark lord and his bride. At last, two lonely souls would never be lonely again.
*The End*