Bad Timing - Jiara (JJ Maybank & Kiara Carrera)

Chapter 14

"I expect you to love me and deal with my stubbornness." 

Okay, I can do that. Easy. Kiara thinks to herself. JJ nods, giving her permission to state her expectations. 

"I expect you to respect my feelings, my body, and my values, as I will respect yours." 

That's easy, already doing that, JJ thinks to himself, gulping as he continues.

"I expect you to realize that raising our children and running a home is a team effort, and every team member has their own unique job to do."

Ouff. Big one...Done. There's a beat of silence before Kiara smiles, blinking tears away.

"I swear I'll raise our kids so well that you'll thank your lucky stars for picking me to be their father," JJ wipes his own tears, as he shakes his head. For a fun ceremony, this was turning...depressing. 

"Not really an expectation, J." JohnB's corrects, his voice echoes between JJ and Kiara. The small audience giggles, and if JJ or Kiara focused intensively, they could count the laughter and identity which is whom. Small guest list. Minimal food. The beach (even though it was effing December). The holiday spirit. Pope and Sarah as the best man and best woman to Kie and JJ respectively. 

JJ mumbles a low 'yeah, I'll shut up now'. But Kiara's face holds something intense, something only visible to JJ who can't pry his eyes away. Let's just say JJ figured Kiara didn't want to stick to the vows they wrote previously. At the moment, it felt too objective. Vows are promises made from the heart, not from the mind after spending hours perfecting them. Vows are meant to be raw and sudden and spontaneous. 

"There will be a time when one of us will no longer be alive, and I've learned that life is too crazy to assume that you'll be the first to go. I could drop dead right now. I mean, have you seen how you look, that alone could give me a heart attack this instant," JJ grins as laughter ensues again. "But, ah..we've both learned to live together in a way that even if one of us is gone, we will survive. Maintaining our individuality was the hardest challenge we have had to face because you're a part of me, your soul is mine and mine is yours, and my guess: if we can survive that, then I'm sure we can do anything." 

Kiara wraps her arms around JJ's neck. "I believe in you, and I believe in us. I believe your love for me is so strong that it can survive anything."

"Damn it, you guys!" JohnB curses under his breath. JJ and Kiara break their embrace to face JB who was shedding tears. "You promised to stick to the speech! I can't cry, I mean, I've wedded plenty of other couples before. I should be used to this, remember?" 

The giggles of the people surrounding Kiara and JJ felt so comfortable for both of them. To be alone after your partner dies is one thing, but to know for sure that you're going to be alone with people who will also be alone makes it a bit comforting. JJ won't be on his own.

Kiara puts her hand on JohnB's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. He's forcing himself not to cry as JJ forces himself not to burst out laughing in his efforts. After a hug from Kiara, JohnB pulls himself together. 

"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife," he declares, and before he could even finish, both Kiara and JJ close their eyes, ready to lean in and feel a kiss, however, it doesn't come. 

John B tsks, pulling JJ back by his hair. "Did I say you could kiss her?" He scolds with a sharp tone. Then, signals for Sarah and Pope to pull out the compartment that had the rings. Kiara's hands were slightly shaking. It was a nerve-racking day. The water hitting their feet was freezing. It was the middle of December, for fucks sake. JJ steadies her hand, sliding a shiny golden ring down her fourth finger. Then she does the same. Their hands are still intertwined when John B jokes, "You may now kiss the bride, Little Bro."