Work Before Play

To Love and Honor

Mark POV

The music in the church suddenly changed. That tune, it was the one for the bride!

I straightened my posture as the grand doors opened. My heart stopped momentarily. She was breathtaking. The dress looked as if it was made for her and her alone.

She looks happy but her eyes seemed nervous. She had to be, because Thomas arm was linked to hers but his other was stroking hers reassuringly.

I flashed my biggest and cheesiest smile at her when her green eyes caught mine. I could see her laugh and Thomas trying hard to hold back his laughter as well.

I walked down the small steps to fetch my beautiful bride from my brother.

"Thomas." I nodded to him.

"Mark." He smiled back and giving Lydia's hand to me. Thomas walked to stand next to Wade and Bob.

"Lydia, I have no words. No words can explain your beauty today." I fumbled trying to compliment her but coming up short.

"Oh Mark," she rolled her eyes at me, "Don't do it." She warned.

"What?" I asked perplexed.

"Kiss me. Not yet. I know that look, you want to kiss me." She smirked.

"Oh, I want to do so much more than kiss you right now." My voice lowered to a gruff whisper. I swear I saw her shiver at that, she wanted me too.

"Mark! We are in a church!" She shit back at me.

"C'mon. Let's go get married." I began to walk her up the steps to the minister.

"We are gathered here today...." I stopped paying attention to the minister and took in all of Lydia's beauty.

Her red hair curled and pinned in unique ways. Her eyes were all sparkly and shaded from some sort of makeup.
Her dress was a glittering whit—

I felt a hard nudge to my side. "Oumph."

The church erupted in small laughs and snickers.

"Mark repeat after the minister!" Lydia whispered harshly at me.

I followed the minister's direction, confessing to Lydia my life, my heart, and my soul. Bearing through all that the world throws at us, I will stay faithful, forgiving, loyal, and loving to her. To serve her and honor her as my other half and my equal.

Then, it was Lydia's turn.

Lydia began and had to stop. I saw small tears in her eyes. She and I knew we never thought we would get this far. Coming from her being a housekeeper, to end up being husband and wife. Maybe even parents in the not too far off future.

I stroked a stray tear from Lydia's face as she began her confession and proclamation again.

"Do you, Mark Edward Fischbach, take Lydia Caroline Greenbriar to be your lawfully wed wife?"

"I do." I replied.

"And do you Lydia, take Mark to be your lawfully wed husband?"

"I do!" I could hear the smile in her voice as she spoke with such glee.

"Then you may now kiss the bride."

I lifted her veil out of the way to see how truly radiant my bride was. Lydia was stunning. My hand crept to her waist while the other cupped the back of her neck as I pulled her closer to me.

The moment our lips touched, it was the same spark flying connection I felt when I first kissed her on the counter top after I had thrown her into the pool.

The same loving connection I felt when she told me that she loved me, that she broke down her walls she built to hide her feelings from the world.

The love I felt for Lydia was almost gut wrenching as I thought back to when I found her slumped by her car, so badly beaten up, I don't know whatever I would do without her.

This kiss seals my future. My life with the woman that taught me to be mature but find time to stay a kid.

My ray of sunshine.

My rock that brings me to reality.

My Stiff.

~The End~