Moms In Leather Aprons

The After Party

The ambience was amazing. One of ThornHill's preserved barns was decorated according to the ceremony before. The walls inside the barn had been restored and replaced from the old dark wood to new white one. It was lit with long fairy lights, hung from one end of the barn to the other. Two big round tables were placed on the far corner of the place, covered with a champagne coloured fabric. In the middle of each table was the same bouquet of flowers that were on the Park. Plates surrounded the shape of the tables, along with similar chair from the even before. On the oposite side, yet close by, was a big retangular table, where three chefs were standing behind long trays of food, covered with silver lids. Next to the table were four employees to serve food, gather dirty plates and serve drinks, that were distributed by a small bar counter on the other end of the bar, close to what we could suppose was going to be the future dance floor for the night. A huge sound system was close to the bar, for now whispering soft jazz background music.

The outside of this place was also decorated, pink and red balloons, that read ''just married''  were tied to vases, there was a petal path that lead people from the parking lot to the barn. And of course we cannot forget the gift table.

Back inside, the tables had name plates, deciding everyone's places. Gladly, the parents were separated from the youngsters. So on the brides table, where their seats were clarified with two chairs with ''Bride'' on the back, were also sitting Veronica, Kevin and Josie on Cheryl's side, and SweetPea, Fangs and Jughead on Toni's side, and finally Archie was basically dividing the two groups though everyone could talk to each other since the table was round. On the ''adults'' table, Hiram was next to Hermione who was next to Alice Cooper (pherhaps not the best idea), Polly with the twins, along with Nana Rose, Attorney Mccoy, Pops and Principal Weatherbee and lastly FP and HogEye.

When everyone finally arrived they all sat on the assign seats and ordered which menu they wanted, since there was a vegan and a meat-eaters one. The hors d'ouvres were mostly vegan so Cheryl could eat them without having to ask what was in them, even she did help plan this its not like she would remember everything:  Rousset popato croquettes with roasted tomato salad and cheater vegan cheese, Sweet potato bruschetta and cauliflower buffalo bites. Gladly they were so well made that everyone enjoyed. 

For the vegan main dish there was Moroccan Tofu with Lemon-Olive sauce over spaghetti, sided with curried carrots with pistachio. Toni made the ''effort'' - it wasn't really an effort everything was delicious and she was used to eating vegan for Cheryl - to eat the vegan dish but she still stole some of SweetPea's meat dish: a beautifully cooked steak, the burn of the grills still visable, along with baked potatoes, brocoli and tomatoes. The juices from the meat were flowing on the plate as you cut it down, making everyone's mouth water, rosemary roasted carrots with creamy thyme and rosemary sauce as the side dish. Everyone was treated to a glass of water and another one with some portuguese red wine from the Douro river's farms, this went perfectly with the dishes that were being digested. 

People laughed and ate the delicious foods, but when dessert arrived thats when people's minds were blown. A two stored red velvet cake entered the barn, toped by two sugar made dolls of Toni and Cheryl. The dirty plates from the main course were replaced by smaller clean ones. The wine was replaced by champagne. Cheryl and Toni were about to get up but Veronica stopped them, getting up herself and soflty hitting her fork into the glass of champagne, catching everyone's attention.

''Toin, Cheryl, I feel like it is time that the maid of honor and best man make their speechs.'' Veronica started, making the now wives look at each other in confusion but agreeing anyways. This wasn't really in the plans. Veronica continued.

'' Cheryl I have seen you grow so much throughout the years. You emerged from the cold waters from Sweetwater River and the flames of Thornhill to find a family that cares for you and loves you. I am thankful for all the moments we spent together, during cheerleading to clothes making. You are and have always been so much more than a façade and hopefully I get to call you my best friends until the after life. To Toni, thank you for being there for Cheryl and putting up with her crazy crap. I know love when I see it and you too are in love. I hope the best for the two of you.'' Veronica finished her speech and Cheryl hugged her tightly, Toni doing the same quick after. The Lodge sat back down and SweetPea got up.

''You too Pea?'' Toni raised her eyebrows mockingly. 

''Shut it okay! This is hard enough already.'' Sweets' hands were sweating from all the people staring at him, but thankfully his girlfriend was there to give her fierce supportive look and make everything better.

''So gays- I mean guys.'' SweetPea started but quickly stopped, blushing a colour darker than Cheryl's dress. Fangs laughed loudly and handed Pea the notes he had dropped on the floor. Starting over with a deep breath:

''Tiny, we have been best friends ever since FP bought you almost dead to the Wyrm. We lived together for so long that I never believed that anyone than me or Fangs would be worth living with you. And yet here we are, on your wedding. Ready to leave the nest. A Serpent never stands alone. And for that, we, your family, will protect the both of you.'' He was about to continue but when he looked down and Fangs was wiping a tear away, his own eyes started to fill up and explode with tears and quite sobs. Veronica got up and conforted him, Kevin doing the same for Fangs. Toni hugged both of them tightly laughing and found herself crying too. FP ran from his table and hugged the group, tears also falling down his face. Everyone including Cheryl were staring in awe at them. So much for a biker gang. The redhead asked the photographer to snap as many photos as he could of the sight, so that this moment would never be forgotten.

After the cake was eaten and a toast was made, Josie went to the sound system and put music on. The guests got up and the tables were cleaned up and stored back into a dark corner, space was made for dancing and jumping through the rest of the evening. At night, Pop's treated everyone with burgers and milkshakes that he got back from his shop. 

It was midnight. Some guests had left, Nana Rose was put to bed with the twins at Thistlehouse. The guests with the most energy and touched by alcohol were still dancing happily. Betty and Jughead caught everyone's attention, claiming they had something to show them and that they should head outside. The breeze of the night was comforting from the warm ambient inside the barn. All the couples cuddled into each other as high fireworks were shot into the night sky. They weren't coloured, but the various shapes that they made were mesmerizing. Cheryl's head rested on Toni's. They were holding hands, Toni fidgeting with Cheryl's ring.

''So this is the last step. Next up is our honeymoon.'' Toni said, looking up at Cheryl, whose skin was shining upon the explosions of lights.

''I can't wait, Toni Blossom-Topaz.'' Cheryl stared into the smaller girl's eyes. 

''Me neither, Cheryl Bombshell Blossom-Topaz.'' Toni replied.

They gaze into each other's eyes before cheering a tender kiss under the moonlight, once the fireworks were done. 

A chapter of their lives was completed. They now were legally sharing lives, names. This had been the perfect day. Pherhaps some would find it weird that only Nana Rose was a blood-related family member attending to the wedding, but these people had proven to be more of a family than any of Toni's or Cheryl's real one had. The Serpents and their friends were their real family, and they couldn't ask for better.

''If only you were to watch, JJ. I am finally happy.'' Cheryl said looking at the sky. He would be proud.