NaNoWriMo Story Snippets

38. Excerpt from "(Finally) Married" one-shot

Author's note: I needed a break from KINSHIP OF RINGS, so I started a one-shot request about Becky and Seth's wedding. Obviously, everything I write is fictional. The only bit I know about the wedding is what Seth said on Broken Skull Sessions, so everything else is made up. Subject to editing, etc.

What a view... for the rest of my life. It wasn't the first time the thought had crossed his mind. He guessed Hawaii just had that affect on him now. They weren't in the same hotel, and since Becky hadn't changed her hair back to her trademark fiery orange yet, she didn't catch the sun in the same way, but the sight of her on the balcony, gazing out at the sea, still made his breath catch.

He walked up behind her quietly, both so he could surprise her and because Roux was still sleeping. Seth certainly hadn't thought they would have a baby before they were wed, but life had changed so much in the past year: deaths in their families, friends passing away, the pandemic. If nothing else, all the hardships and heartache made him resolved to appreciate every moment, every good thing that came his way. "Hey," he murmured, kissing her shoulder. "Wanna get married?"

Becky chuckled, leaning back against him when he wrapped his arms around her. "Isn't that why we're here? Unless we're trying to get Roux to all fifty states before her first birthday."

"Just wait until we're back on the road," Seth replied, resting his chin on her head. "She'll rack up the miles in no time." Out of habit, he glanced back into their suite to make sure Roux was okay. She was almost seven months old, and they were still learning how to be parents every single day. It made him have a whole new respect for his mother, who had been a single parent for so many years.

"Let's get a bus first and do some test runs. She may hate it." Becky peered around his arm to look at Roux. "Would have been cool if she were a bit older and could have been a flower girl or something," she said softly. "But this is good. At least she seems to like it here."

"Like is a bit of an understatement." They had spent yesterday afternoon at the beach and Roux would keep kicking her legs fiercely until someone took her to the shoreline and let her feet dangle in the water. "She might want to stay."

Laughing, Becky turned around in his arms, hugging him tightly. "Don't think we brought enough sunscreen for that. Plus it would be even further for my family to come visit...." She took a deep breath and pressed her forehead to his chest. Being able to finally travel to their favourite state was a blessing and they were both grateful to have a small number of family and friends join them for the ceremony, but nothing could make up for the fact that her father couldn't be there. "But the weather and the scenery would probably convince them."

"He's happy for you, Becks. He's so proud of you." Seth kissed the top of her head and they stayed like that, quiet and curled around each other, until Roux started to babble. "See? He woke up his favourite girl so she wouldn't miss anything."

"Yeah." As she stepped back, Becky wiped at her eyes. "Well, he'll probably appreciate the short ceremony. Don't know if everyone else will, but it'll give them extra time to enjoy the island." She followed Seth back into the suite, smiling as he lifted Roux from her travel cradle. "Good morning! Are you ready to have a party?"