[one more chapter to go after this! :D and as a disclaimer so that no one tries to sue me, I got most of the wedding vows from a wedding vow website. i don't remember what it was called though... yeah, i edited alot of it, but i'm not going to take credit for something i didn't write]
Michelle's p.o.v.
March 20th, 2010
I linked arms with my papa and felt my hands begin to shake. He smiled down at me in my dress and we began down the stairs to where everyone was waiting for me to walk down. The slight breeze blew my dress slightly around my ankles and I felt my stomach begin to do flips. There was no music, no sound, just the Lanai island waves and the gulls calling.
Everyone stood up and turned to face me as my father walked me down in-between the rows of seats filled with my family and my friends. But my eyes weren't anywhere else but on Kevin. He looked up and we locked eyes and I lost the feeling in my arms. My heart was so close to beating out of my chest and I couldn't help but to feel my eyes begin to water. Ugh, I'm going to ruin my makeup...
Before I knew it my father let go of me and I was standing across from Kevin and the preacher began to speak.
"We have come together today in the presence of God to witness the joining of Paul Kevin Jonas II and Michelle Estrella Romero in Holy Matrimony. This is a special time of celebration that Kevin and Michelle will long remember, and because of this, they are thankful you are here to share their joy. From the dawn of human history, it has been customary for the community to place its seal of approval upon the union of two persons in marriage. If these solemn vows that they are about to make are kept faithfully, God will bless their marriage," he spoke, glancing between the both of us. My mom had small tears dripping down her cheeks and my dad's eyes were red. I still haven't completely forgiven my mother, but today wasn't about anyone else. Today was about me and Kevin...
Carly stood by Isabella, a wide smile on her face as she bounced up and down. Isa was holding her hand and grinning at me, while Joe held onto Paul's hand. Paul held the pillow with both of our rings atop it and he had a look of anticipation on his face. He couldn't wait to give them to us, it was all he'd talk about.
"There is a skill to marriage, as there is to any activity people engage in. This art requires that we pay thoughtfulness to the little things as well as the big ones that are part of the closeness of matrimony. Develop the capacity to forgive and forget and heal quarrels as they happen," the preacher went on. Kevin's hands were tight against mine and I thought that if he smiled anymore, his face was going to break in half.
"Say, "I love you" and speak words of appreciation often. Do not come to take each other for granted, and demonstrate your gratitude in thoughtful ways. Never grow too old to hold hands. Do not expect perfection of each other, perfection is only for God. Make your search for the good and the beautiful a common search. A good marriage evolves when two separate souls face life's pleasures and sadness in harmony, not in unison. As Rainer Maria Rilke wrote in Letters to a Young Poet: ‘Once the realization is accepted that, even between the closest human beings, infinite distances continue to exist, a wonderful living side by side can grow up, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole against a wide sky!'" pastor Mark spoke. Then me and Kevin began our vows.
"Michelle Estrella Romero, will you have this man to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?" said pastor Mark. I nodded.
"I will," I stated. He smiled then turned to Kevin.
"Paul Kevin Jonas II, will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?" he said smoothly. Kevin nodded.
"I will," he said sweetly, his eyes sparkling.
"Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?" said the pastor as he turned to everyone else.
"We will," everyone responded, along with a "hell yeah!" from Isa. I everyone laughed and Joe let go of Paul's hand and let him walk over to us. He smiled and lifted the pillow up to us and we took them from him, both of us leaning down to kiss our son on the cheeks. Kevin took my hand shakily and slid the band onto my finger. Then I took his hand and slid it onto the finger that used to hold his purity ring, you could see the tan clearly.
"I give this ring in remembrance of this hour, a symbol of love that is beautiful, endless and complete." We said together, the ceremony coming to an end.
"Kevin and Michelle, you have now affirmed before your families and friends your love and your caring for each other. You have come from different backgrounds. You have walked different paths. You are different individuals. Your love has transcended these differences. In the years before you, may the richness of the traditions that have nurtured you enhance and brighten your lives as you help to create and shape the future. May the challenges of your life together be met with courage and optimism. May you learn from your failures and grow in your achievements. May life bless you with children, friends, and family in a wide network of mutual support and enjoyment. May you face pain, toil, and trouble with a stout but light heart. May you share with others the radiance of your seasons of joy and pleasure. May you always remember that laughter is the medicine of God," Then pastor Mark took our right hands and joined them together.
"Now that Michelle and Kevin have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder. Amen. Mr. Jonas, you may kiss your bride," he announced. Kevin then took my face in his hands and he softly took my lips in his.
"Forever Mrs. Jonas,"
♥♥♥♥♥
My Papa and I finished dancing and then Nick took the stage and sat down at the piano. He tapped on the mic twice and called everyone's attention.
"I believe it's time for the first dance, so if we could have a Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Jonas come to the dance floor please," he announced. Kevin took my hand and we went to the center of the room and everyone cleared out from the dance floor. "This is a very special song that I wrote with a very, very close and special friend of mine, so I'm going to ask her to join me up here. Isabella, would you please?" he said, looking over the crowd.
I saw Isa come through the crowd, her face with a slightly red tinge. I smiled at her and she looked down at me and grinned a ‘I had no idea he was going to do this, I may shoot him,' grin. I laughed and Nick handed her a mic and Kevin took my hands. Then, Isa began to sing...
"Oh Lord, what do I do to deserve you? Heaven knows, I'm not like you, I'm not perfect. When he sees, will he leave? Or will he stay anyway, anyway... " she sang sweetly. I had forgotten what a wonderful voice that Isa had. It's been so long since she last sung for anyone... I looked into Kevin's eyes and he smiled down at me. I really couldn't speak to be honest. This was a moment that needed to be without words.
"Oh Lord, what can do to deserve her? Heaven knows, Lord knows I'm only human can this be, someone truly for me? Or is it a cruel fantasy?" sang Nick, his voice in perfect compliment with Isa. " Nothing has ever felt, like this. Nothing has ever meant the whoooole world to me. Nothing has ever been this good, nothing has ever been this right. Nothing so sweet, In my life..." they sang together so beautifully. For a moment I looked away from Kevin to see how my sister was doing, and I was surprised to see how happy she looked.
"I know, you treasure me," Isa sang, smirking at Nick. "And I, I know, that I'm the only man you see," he countered with a smirk of his own. They sang together going back and forth playfully. I could see that they were no longer concerned with everyone else and they were only looking at each other. Kevin seemed to notice it too.
"Is it just me, or are they more into each other than the song?" He whispered. I chuckled and looked up at him.
"No, it's not just you. She told me she has feelings for him... I'm worried about her Kevin, she hasn't been herself lately. She's distant, she's... she's going back there. Apparently a lot happened between when she got here and the twins birthday. She's not okay Kevin..." I whispered, looking back over to my baby sister.
With Nick, she was herself. She was the Isabella that always hid in the closet, the Isabella that only came out when she was alone. I've never seen her eyes that bright before, I've never seen her belt out a song that way. She needs him, he's like her medicine...
Soon the song was over and the both of them just looked the other in the eyes and everyone began to applaud. They came back to reality and bowed and left the stage, the DJ taking over. I watched them walk off of the stage with their fingers linked as they whispered in each other's ears. Then people gathered on the dance floor and I started to walk toward them.
But then Selena walked up to them and Nick quickly let go of Isa's hand, making sure Isa was far away from him. Selena congratulated them and I could hear her compliment Isa's voice. But suddenly, Nick held pulled Selena close and laid a hasty kiss on her lips, as if he was trying to justify something. Then I instantly saw Isa break as her eyes changed from crystal clear blue to a dark navy. She quietly excused herself, first walking slowly past the people, her pace speeding up and then... she ran.
Oh no...