Message of Obsession (Duff McKagan)

20: Smile, Princess

I looked myself over in the full-length mirror in my closet as I held the phone to my ear. Duff was still asleep, but here I was, trying to find a dress before we had to get to the Beverly Hills courthouse at 10.

And man, was I terrified.

Apparently, from what I had gathered, I also had to go to a jewelry store with him beforehand to get rings, and the thought of that expense was chewing a hole in my stomach more than the actual, y'know, getting married part.

Behind me, the sheets shifted. "What are you doing? It's... 7:30 in the morning?"

"You better get up. You wanted to get married." The line never picked up, so I quickly re-dialed my sister's number, grumbling.

He sprung out of bed, grinning. "Fuck." He kissed me swiftly as I leaned in the doorway before running into the bathroom, long limbs scrambling. I laughed as the line picked up.

"What do you want?"

"Hi, Jo. Wanna come to the Beverly Hills courthouse today?"

She was silent for a moment. I had obviously woken her up. "What?"

"We're going to the courthouse. I'm, uh, we're leaving for the jewelry store in a half hour." I cringed, waiting for her reaction.

"Hold on. You're getting married?"

"...Yeah?"

"I'll be there in an hour."

A breath caught in my throat. "You aren't going to... to protest? Yell? Really? I would have expected more out of you, Joanne."

"Well, Ivette, I knew this was coming. I knew it was a matter of time. Sure, it's a little fast."

"Thank you, Jo. Thank you for coming down."

"Relax. Now, let me go pick out a dress for my little sister's fuckin' wedding."

I dropped the phone on the receiver, returning to the room. I dove back into the closet, not seeing a single glance of white. "Baby, we might have to stop at a dress shop or-" I stopped mid-sentence, eyes falling on a dress towards the back of the rack. A white mini dress, floral patterns embroidered into the fabric subtly, a sweetheart neckline, and mesh straps. I tried to recall the last time I wore it, not coming up with anything. I took it out carefully, eyeing it up and down.

"Are you-" Duff poked his head in, my body throwing the dress behind me.

"Don't look! Let me surprise you."

"Oh, okay, alright, jeez..."

I scrambled around the closet, digging out a pair of combats and sliding them on carefully. As I straightened up and looked in the mirror, my throat threatened to close up with tears. I'm not crying on my damn wedding day. Those last two words spiraled around in my brain.

Carefully, I stepped out of the closet, closing it behind me. He stood with his back to me, fiddling with the buttons on his dress shirt. He was wearing it tucked into leather pants, as I wasn't shocked by, and his cowboy boots. He spun around cluelessly, eyes widening when they hit me.

 "Hi, Duff."

"Hi, Ivette. You look..."

"I know." I walked to him, helping him with the last button before kissing him. "Can we take a picture?"

"If you want to. I think that's a good idea." I reached for my camera that sat on the dresser, the roll of film from the tour still inside. We faced the vanity mirror, his hands on my hips. "Smile, princess."

***

I sat with my boot up on the dashboard as Duff drove near the courthouse, searching for parking. I scribbled a small notebook I found in my purse. "Whatcha doing?"

"Vows. Did you write any?"

He nodded, patting the same pocket that the two ring boxes sat in. I returned back to the notebook as he parked, opening the door for me. I waved, spotting the curly hair from across the parking lot. Slash spotted us, walking over to the car to greet Duff first, then pulling me in for a tight hug. "Thank you," I whispered, only receiving a nod in response.

As I turned around, a bright blue sedan roared into the parking lot, whipping into the parking space across from us. The driver stepped out, a long sundress flowing around her feet. Without a word, I darted to the car, tackling my sister in a tight hug. "Hi, baby!" She shouted, laughing and picking me up.

"Oh, thank you for coming, Jo."

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss this for the world. Get in that damn courthouse and get fucking married."

***

"Now, did you two prepare any vows?"

The justice looked at us as I put down the pen for the wedding license, a smile spreading across Duff's face. "Yeah, if that's alright."

"By all means, go ahead."

He cleared his throat first, gripping my ring box and sliding the gold band onto my hand, his fingers shaking slightly.

"So, Ivette, you've been my best friend for two years. Giving me advice, talks on the phone, coming to countless shows just to shit on how bad I played that night, you've always been there. You've always been watching, supporting, and holding me up when I get beat down. You kick ass, Iv, and I knew from day one I wanted someone like you by my side. Someone confident, someone unapologetic, someone who can handle me at my best and worst. Someone to love me. And I promise to do the same for you. I promise to protect you, even when you prove you don't need protecting. I promise to make you coffee in the morning. I promise to let you steal my jacket. I swear to be yours, as long as we both shall live."

I grinned, feeling my throat tighten. "Aw, you even ended them right."

"Oh, shut up. Your turn."

I drew a shaky breath, confidently sliding the ring onto his finger, letting my hand linger a little longer.

"Duff, my world, my everything, my dear. My pain in the ass. My favorite person. If 6-year-old me could see where I am right at this moment, I think she would be proud. She would be proud that I've found such a wonderful person to share life with. Someone who doesn't care how long we've been together or the challenges we're going to face, just someone who wants me for me. Someone who doesn't care what I've been through, but only cares about what we will go through together. We will go through life together confidently, proudly, fearlessly, passionately, carefully, and lovingly. We will make a home out of our life. We will make it work. And I will love you, cherish you, laugh both at and with you, tell you to turn the damn lights off when you leave the room, be at every gig, and be your biggest cheerleader. I swear that I'll be yours, as long as we both shall live."

"You copied me."