Topic: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Jasmin Granger

Date: 2013-12-23 11:10 EST
Christmas Day

Maple Grove was stunning in the snow. From the exquisitely kept gardens to the wildernesses, brilliant white blanketed the estate from end to end, glittering in the reflection of Christmas lights hung from every house and manor scattered about the pristine landscape. From various houses came the sound of families playing in the snow, each of them oblivious to one small gathering taking place on a snow covered bridge over one of the Grove's many frozen streams.

Despite the cold, Dominic was grinning, hands stuffed deep into his pockets as he watched the two couples making their way over the snow toward him, his camera hanging around his neck, and a piece of very important paper tucked into his jeans. One phone call was all it had taken to get him out of the house, even on Christmas Day, more than happy to oblige a cousin and her fella in making this Christmas their most memorable.

Laughter reached him before any coherent words, urged on by the antics of Milo the puppy as he struggled through the snow drifts, eluding all attempts to grab him out of the deepest places. He was just having too much fun. Thus the bride, for all that she had apparently found a nice dress which was hidden underneath her familiar warm coat, was lunging after the tiny canine in stops and starts, hopelessly outmatched by a ten-week-old dog.

Lena was walking along behind, rolling her eyes at the playful antics of the pair in front, her own hands, like Dom's, stuffed securely into her pockets in an attempt to stave off the cold. "This is incredibly romantic and all," she was saying to Jack as they approached Dom on the little bridge, "but why outside" It's freezing brass monkeys out here!"

Tommy laughed and threw an arm around his fiancee, "Don't worry, Midge. When we get married, it'll be on a beach in the summer!" That meant waiting at least another six months, but as far as Tommy was concerned, marriage wouldn't really change anything between them, other than making their bond legal and official.

"Because we don't want anyone else to know about it!" Jack replied, lunging after the puppy, though Milo was having too much fun to let himself get caught.

"It's not like we don't have heaters or things," Lena was still grumbling, even as Tommy tugged her close. She chuckled, unable to stay grumpy even for a little while when everyone else was in such a wonderful mood.

Jaz gave up on trying to catch Milo as the dog jumped face first into a drift in front of Jack, straightening up to look over her shoulder at the other couple. "So you're good with keeping this quiet for a couple of weeks, right?"

"We're good if you're good," Tommy replied, chuckling a little at the dog's antics before looking back at the other couple curiously. "Why the big secret, anyway' It's not like anyone is gonna be against you two getting married."

Jack gave up on trying to catch the puppy with a heavy sigh. Fortunately, it wasn't too frigid out and they puppy was wearing a thick coat of fur, but he knew they were going to have to thaw him out at some point in the not too distant future. "Because Des and Piper and Beth and Jason are getting married next week, and we don't want to steal their thunder," he tried to explain, though it was unlikely either of the other engaged couples would care.

"I guess that makes sense," Lena shrugged musingly, her grin deepening as they came up to where Dom was waiting. "So Professor, you got roped into this too, huh?"

Dom chuckled, his breath ghosting into puffs in the freezing air as his cousins reached him. "Who else is going to be daft enough to come out here with all the paperwork on Christmas Day?" he pointed out, reaching over to ruffle Helena's hair before letting out a slightly startled grunt as the snow drift beside him erupted and Milo landed on his boot. "And who does this little scamp belong to?"

"He's ours," Jack confessed, at last catching the little ball of fluff and scooping him up in his arms to brush as much snow off him as possible.

"Their firstborn," Tommy chimed in with a teasing smirk, but Jack was so accustomed to Tommy's teasing that he mostly ignored it.

"Sorry to bother you, Dom," Jack told the older man, a little bashfully. Milo just greeted the man with a playful bark.

"It's no bother, Jack," the older man assured him, ruffling Milo's fur as the puppy barked at him. "I'm happy to do it. Jaz has been badgering me since she was five to be the minister at her wedding, anyway."

"Gods, Dom, did you have to share that?" Jasmin complained mildly, the flush on her cheeks hiding her blush as she leaned into Jack while Lena laughed at them.

"I'd totally forgotten that," the other woman declared through her chuckles. "All that's missing is the Old Man to give you away!"

Jaz rolled her eyes, snorting with laughter. "Not even I'm insane enough to ask Humph to come out into the snow on Christmas Day," she laughed. "Besides, he'll have his hands full with Emily by now."

"Good to know we've fulfilled that dream for you," Tommy remarked with that teasing, dimpled grin of his. "I hate to spoil the camaraderie, but can we get on with it' I'm freezing!" he complained, stomping his feet to keep the circulation going, though he was smiling good-naturedly.

Jack ruffled Milo's fur and handed him off to Lena to keep him safe and in one place while he and Jasmin shared their vows. He turned to Jasmin, as if to give her one last chance to back out before they went through with it. "You sure you're ready for this?" he asked, though as far as he was concerned, he was more than certain.

Jasmin Granger

Date: 2013-12-23 11:13 EST
"I'm ready," she promised him, only vaguely aware that Milo was being manhandled inside Lena's coat to keep him warm for a little while. Her fingers curled into Jack's affectionately. "I hope you are, too."

Dom cleared his throat, waiting patiently for them both to be ready before he began, the ceremony in mind short and sweet.

"I'm ready," Jack reassured her with a warm smile, despite the cold, linking his fingers with hers. The cold didn't bother him, so long as she was there to warm his heart. A muffled bark was heard beneath Lena's jacket either in protest or anticipation to get the little ceremony underway.

"And since Milo is ready, too ..." Dom chuckled, squaring his shoulders as he drew together a few moments of calm sobriety for the sake of the occasion. "A wedding is such a wonderful occasion filled with hopes, dreams and excitement. We are here today to celebrate the love that Jack and Jasmin have for each other, and to recognize and witness their decision to journey forward in their lives as marriage partners."

He reached out, laying a hand on each of their shoulders, looking between them as he went on. "May your love create a safe haven for you both on the journey that lies ahead of you. Lead with your hearts and take the time to do the simple things that will nurture your love. Deeply listen to each other - to your dreams, and to your frustrations. Be helpmates. Be playful in finding new ways to give your love anew to each other every day. Let your love be an inspiration to others to reach for what is good within us all. May your love be so abundant that you have plenty to share with the rest of us as well. It is your love that has brought us together here today. May it grow deeper and sweeter with each passing year."

With a smile, he lowered his hands, turning his attention to Jack. "Do you, Jack, take Jasmin to be your partner for life" Do you promise to walk by her side forever, and to love, help, and encourage her in all she does" Do you promise to take time to talk with her, to listen to her, and to care for her" Will you share her laughter and her tears, as her partner, lover, and best friend" Do you take her as your lawfully wedded wife for now and forever more?"

Jack listened intently and soberly to Dom, taking it all in, hoping he could live up to the words and advice the older man was giving them both. He knew they hadn't been together very long and that most people might find their impromptu wedding impulsive and even foolish, but he knew what he felt in his heart and, despite his fears, had listened to what his heart was telling him. Jack turned to look at Jasmin as Dom asked for his pledge, blue eyes meeting hers, warm and serious. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze as he made a lifelong vow to fulfill all those promises with the simplicity of two simple words. "I do."

"And do you, Jasmin, take Jack to be your partner for life" Do you promise to walk by his side forever, and to love, help, and encourage him in all he does" Do you promise to take time to talk with him, to listen to him, and to care for him' Will you share his laughter and his tears, as his partner, lover and best friend" Do you take him as your lawfully wedded husband for now and forever more?"

Hazel eyes gleaming with loving hope for the future they had decided on only a couple of hours before, Jasmin squeezed Jack's hands, forgetting the cold, the snow, the idiot grins on the faces of their audience, forgetting everything but him. "I do."

Dom's smile flickered into a grin for a moment as he took their left hands, the rings they had already exchanged glittering on their fingers in the bright winter sunlight. "Your promise was given and sealed in the exchange of these rings, the symbol of your life together. May they remain, as token and pledge, a sign of your lasting love and devotion." Joining their hands together, Dominic murmured a blessing in a tongue no one recognized, something he had learned many years ago in the hope that he might one day have the chance to use it. Then he lifted his head and chuckled. "Jack and Jasmin, by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you married. Kiss, and let's go and warm up!"

Jack's eyes met Jasmin's as she matched his vow to uphold those same promises for as long as they both lived, heartfelt tears welling up in his eyes. His heart swelled with joy and love as Dom joined their hands together to bless the rings and pronounce them married at last. Jack smiled, enchanted by the romance of the moment, as he leaned close to kiss his new bride, his wife, his beloved. "I love you," he whispered for her ears alone. A honeymoon would come in time, sooner or later. They had the rest of their lives for that.

"Is that all there is to it?" Tommy asked, a look of astonished surprise on his face, cheeks flushed with cold.

"Love you back," Jasmin whispered in answer to her new husband, giggling softly as she stepped closer to kiss him once again, ignoring Tommy's astonished commentary as Dom chuckled over the heads of the newly weds.

"Well, I need a signature from all four of you, and I'll get this down to the Governor's Office tomorrow to make it all official," he told Lena's fiance. "But essentially, yes, that's all there is to it."

Lena, however, knew Tommy a little better, laughing as Milo licked her chin and barked. "Hold it right there, moonbeam," she informed Tommy. "We have a plan, we're sticking to it. Beach, new house, summer. I'm gonna be stubborn about it, too."

Tommy smirked at Lena's admonishment, reminding him that they had a plan. She knew him far too well for his own good, it seemed. "What' I wasn't gonna say anything," he said with a mock look of innocence.

"Yeah, right." Lena grinned, leaning up to kiss her own fiance to keep him quiet while the newlyweds were coming back down to earth. In her arms, Milo scrabbled closer to lick at Tommy's neck, barking happily now he was warm and dry and apparently close to being released into the snow once again.

Tommy laughed at the kiss he was getting from Milo, assuming they were going to be doggy-sitting again, so the newlyweds could have an uninterrupted wedding night to themselves.

Meanwhile, Jack was looking dreamy-eyed at Jasmin, hardly believing they had actually done it. "Are we really married?" he asked, disbelievingly.

Jasmin Granger

Date: 2013-12-23 11:16 EST
In Jack's arms, Jasmin grinned, nose to nose with her husband as the snow began to fall once again. "We really are," she murmured lovingly. "So am I Mrs. Smith, or are you Mr. Granger?"

"Good question," Jack replied with a thoughtful frown. "Smith isn't my real name," he told her, and he wasn't overly fond or attached to either the surname he'd acquired at birth or the one he'd picked up later. "Do you think your uncle would be opposed to having another Granger in the family?"

Tommy smirked behind them as he overheard Jack. He would have teased him and asked why Jack didn't want Jasmin to take his real name, but both their names were so horrible, he didn't want the tables turned on him when the time came to choose for himself. He was perfectly happy with King and saw no reason to change it.

"I don't think he'd mind," Jaz assured Jack softly. "And I would honored if you would take my name, baby, if you want it." Her cold fingers stroked against his cheek lovingly, just waiting on his reply.

"And if the decision takes too long, some things are going to freeze so hard, you might never be able to have children," Lena pointed out with a grin, losing her grip on Milo finally as the puppy sprang free and launched himself into the snow all over again. "Oh ....come back here, little terror!"

The puppy, thinking this was some kind of wonderful game, only barked back at Lena, very little of him showing above the snow but his nose and a little wagging tail. "Can we decide over hot cocoa and cookies?" Tommy interjected. "It's freezing out here!" said the surfer as he hurried after Lena and Milo, obviously more accustomed to warmer climes.

"I'd be honored to take your name, Jasmin, if you want me to have it," Jack replied, ignoring the other two, who still had to sign the papers, but seemed determined to do so in a warmer environment.

"Then welcome to the family, Jack Granger," Jasmin grinned, finally roused out of her adoring gaze up at her husband by Dom's laugh. Lena and Milo had gone *ss over teakettle into a snow-packed bush, both woman and puppy flailing about to try and extricate themselves before they got buried. Sliding her hand into Jack's tenderly, Jaz grinned. "C'mon, Mr. Granger. Let's go and celebrate Christmas."

Jack echoed Dom's laughter as Tommy joined the fray, trying his best to shovel Lena and Milo out of the snowbank without joining them. He turned back to Jasmin with a smile as warm and happy as a sunny summer's day. "And our wedding day, Mrs. Granger," he added, liking the sound of that, even if it wasn't his own last name.

"And breakfast," Dom added, falling with with them as they headed toward the disaster zone that was Tommy, Lena, and the overexcited puppy. "Hey, Lena ....how do you feel about waffles for breakfast?"

Coming up with a splutter, the youngest Granger there blew her snowy hair out of her eyes and grinned. "Only if you're gonna make the syrup," she countered, letting Tommy pull her up by one hand. The other hand was firmly attached to Milo, who was going to come out of the bush whether he wanted to or not.

Jaz beamed in suddenly delight. "Spiced honey?" she asked hopefully, glancing back at Dom.

The oldest Granger sighed, laughing, and nodded. "Fine," he conceded in mock resignation. "If you and your husband mull the cider."

Jack looked a little clueless and confused at the banter between the Grangers. He knew nothing about how to make syrup or mull cider, but it seemed he was about to find out.

Tommy brushed the snow off his fiancee before doing the same to the puppy, laughing at the way they both looked. "We better get you two inside before you turn into snowmen," he told them.

Jack's mouth gaped open a moment as he realized something. "We haven't even had breakfast yet!" He laughed, realizing that was why he felt so hungry all of a sudden.

Laughing, Lena deposited Milo into Jasmin's arms, shaking the snow out of her hair. "C'mon, Willow Manor's closest," she told everyone. "And warmest - we had the fire going all night!" Admittedly, Asha probably wasn't going to be too impressed to see Milo for a second day running, but what the hell, she could cope. She was a cat!

Jack was practically beaming from ear to ear, his face flushed with cold and excitement as he tramped after the small group, hand in hand with his new bride, swinging their clasped hands between them. With all the excitement, he'd almost forgotten it was Christmas and that he had another present to open back at Ivy Lodge, but like everything else, it could wait until later. He had just been given the best Christmas present he could have ever wished for.

((Nothing like a good bit of romance at Christmas, is there" Unexpected or not, this was a lot of fun - many thanks to Jack's player!))