Adieu

Chapter 22

Josephine smiled as William slipped her wedding ring onto her finger. It was finally happening to her, after all these years of dreaming, she was finally getting married.

"Please repeat after me, and remember your talking to him," he began as he faced her, handing her the second ring.

"I, Josephine Love Evette."

"I, Josephine Love Evette," she repeated, melting into the depths of her loves chocolate eyes.

"Take you, William Hope Smyth."

"Take you, William Hope Smyth." When did this happen? This... Getting older. It seemed just yesterday that she was learning English, and now her she stood in the dress of her dreams, getting married of all things.

"To be my lawfully wedded husband," he read.

"To be my lawfully wedded husband," she promised, accenting every word.

"To have and to hold from this day forward."

"To have and to hold from this day forward," she agreed.

"For better or for worse, For richer or for poorer,In sickness or in health, To love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness," he finished, closing the book and looking at the pair of them.

Josephine put a hand to her mouth briefly to stop the sobs. "For better, for worse, for richer,for poorer. In sickness or in health. To love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness," she vowed in a tear-filled voice.

"Please place the ring on his ring finger."

She nodded as she obeyed, taking note of the way his eyes didn't leave hers as she did so.

"Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband, and wife. You may now kiss your bride," he announced, tapping each of them with the great book as he did so.

"I love you Josephine," William said sincerely, before closing the half step of space between them and bringing his lips to her own.

"Ladies and Gentleman, before the newlyweds can have their first dance, I must make my speech," Destiny announced at the microphone, tapping her spoon against her champagne glass.

The reception was being held in The Jules Verne, a particularly pricey arrangement, but perfectly worth it. Light green and baby blue streamers surrounded the walls and crisp white table cloths, while deep purple balloons filled the air. It was truly beautiful, the ideal reception location.

"Will," she said simply, her eyes chocolate eyes locking with his own.

"Yes ?" He replied.

"I am, so proud of you my brother. And I'm sure that dad would be too," she began. "This time last year I was wondering to myself 'my god, will he ever find someone to make him happy?' But then we came here, and Jose came along. From the moment you first saw her I could see the love embedded into your eyes, something I hadn't seen before. I want you to know that even if I do purposely annoy you, and nag you-"

"And take away my wife's cell phone," he reminded her, causing the crowd to guffaw.

She chuckled right along with them. "And take away your wife's cell phone, which by the way, is really quite neat. I might keep it for a bit," she joked, before going back to her speech. "In all seriousness William, remember always that I do love you, and I always will," she finished with a gentle smile.

"Thank you, that's very sweet of you Dezi, I'll be sure to remember that next time you get on my nerves," he chuckled, nodding at her.

She grinned. "Jose?"

Josephine- who had changed into halter style, silver dress, that was tighter on her curves and then flowed out away from her body until if fell just over her ankles- smiled gently at her tone. "Yes Destiny?"

"It's been what? A Month and a half since I met you?" She asked.

Jose nodded. "Give or take."

Destiny shook her head slowly. "It feels like I've known you longer than Willy," she admitted. "You are truly, the sister I never had, and I couldn't tell you how much fun I have when we're together if my life depended on it. You're beautiful, I love you as well, and remember that I'm always there for you," she finished with a smile. "To Will and Josephine Smyth!" She chanted raising her glass into the air.

"To Will and Josephine Smyth," the rest of the room repeated.

Josephine rose her own glass in the hand that wasn't wrapped in Will's. "To us," she murmured to her new husband.

He grinned. "To us," he agreed, tapping his glass with hers and taking a long sip.