Kruger paced...back and forth in his rooms despite the assurances that Gio and the boys offered him. Perhaps it was the way they laughed when they talked. Surely they could see how important this day was to him. He couldn't seem to get nearly enough moisture into his mouth either, swallow and drink as much as he wanted the reams of cotton still clung to his tongue. "Shai is probably a stone of confidence right now." He spoke to no one in particular, the air...himself as he did often when he was working.

A look out the window showed the snowy expanse of Belglade the new formed ruts of the priests carriage and where they had turned into the drive up to the house. He would be greeted first and foremost by the snow man that the children had built, it wore a large scarf and Kruger was assured that it was him. He took a deep breath to calm himself before turning back to Gio. "How much longer must we wait?"

Considering the announcement when Shai and Kruger had come home several days before, that there was a wedding to be had....swiftly, Rochelle was running around like a woman who had lost her mind. She was Italian, so it was the same difference. But she had come forward like a Commander and delegated decorating, food preparation, final touches on the dress Shai had made the moment she had been proposed to, like a pro and without missing the first beat. There was time for a nervous breakdown, tomorrow.

Upon the Priest' arrival, he was ushered upstairs to Shai, where he would speak to her in private and they would pray together, before he would leave her to finish preparing with her attendants and a rap met the room door where Kruger was. "A moment of time with you, Sir?" Father Simon was an elder of a man, rather short and near balded, but he had eyes the color of midnight blue and a laugh that could set the most humble to grinning. A goodly sort, some claimed he dabbled in the spirits of drink, but that was never factual, for the most part.

The smith looked to the men and gave a nod of dismissal. "Of course Father..." Kruger tried to find something to do with his hands. He tried the jacket pockets and that wasn't comfortable. He finally opted for holding the back of a chair. He smiled to the priest small at first then wider. "This is a day that I have waited long for...What do you need from me sir?" More swallowing that gave no satisfaction to him.

Bowing his head to the men as they left, the Priest smiled at Kruger and chuckled openly. "I need for you to take several deep breaths and if you are a drinking sort, share with me." Knowing the Blacksmith did not partake, it was for humor's value more so than anything. Not that he would have declined the offer, of course. "It is my practice to speak with the Bride and Groom before the ceremony to see if there is anything you would wish to speak of before and if you needed anything from me."

"Are you ready, Shai...?" Rochelle inquired from the suit door she was standing against. Rochelle was so very proud, not of only Shai but also of Kruger. Such a whirlwind the two were, from the very start of their relationship to this very moment. She couldn't help but weep and kept dabbing at her eyes with the linen kerchief.

"Mhm, oui....I think so Rochelle..." Taking one final look in the mirror, Shai turned and smiled. The Greek was nervous and for a split second, she wondered if Kruger was making a huge mistake in taking her on with a lifelong commitment. The two fit so very well together, as they had each been placed in this world for the other.

The moment lasting only briefly, a kiss was bestowed the cheeks of Virginia for all of her assistance and she stepped to Rochelle and gave a 3 point turn. "Am I well trapped within this dress?" A slight touch of humor to her tone, fingers smoothed at the light chiffon.

"You are a vision of beauty, Shai....absolutely beautiful...!" A breathy sigh, Rochelle leaned in and kissed her cheek gently. There was nothing the doting Italian would change or adjust as she had done for so many year's before. She was perfection incarnate.

A few moment's later, Rochelle and Virginia made their way downstairs, with the former giving Gio a nod to begin and left Shai at the bottom of the stairs.

Adjusting the bouquet of Sweet Pea and Anemone, the lavender's were a stark contrast to the white gown and punctuated it stunningly.

A deep breath taken, Shai stepped out onto the front porch amongst the gentle serenade of the violin's and dark eyes were a shimmer as they trained on Kruger.

He produced the little card and let his eyes fall to it for a moment. Father Simon was giving him the cues he needed, but that dry mouth had suddenly returned to him. He couldn't seem to get his voice much above an intimate whisper.

"I, Aristotle Kruger Allen," The voice cracked as he started his own name. There was a soft chuckle from those gathered. "take you, Shai Cadeau Vevea, as my wedded wife," He couldn't control his eyes anymore, they burned with salty saline. "and I promise you love, honor, and respect;" His cheeks were baptized by the first tears to fall at the words though he was still smiling lovingly at her. "to be faithful to you; and not to forsake you" He wanted to pull to him, to whisper these words as he had so many other things to her. To let her know exactly how much he felt them. "until death do us part." He took a shuddering breath then. "So help me God, one in the Holy Trinity, and all the saints."

Kruger felt the emotions deep in him stirred, the entirety of his face seemed beyond his ability to control this day. He mouthed the words to her that he felt deep within him. "Je t'aime." He heard nothing from any around, even the children it seemed had stopped to witness the act of their vows. His leaking wheat hued eyes were on her face and no force could make him look away from her.

When Kruger began to speak, tears began to fall across those gathered. They had watched the two all of these months, being tested and time again, sometimes in the most harsh of ways. Never once did they falter, never once did they abandon one another and never once was their commitment and love for one another questioned. It was a glorious day, in every way possible.

Reaching with a clearly shaking hand, Shai's thumb tenderly brushed at the spot beneath his eye that was holding a plump tear and was openly crying herself. They had held each other for a lifetime, while destiny decided when to meld them as one.

When it came time for her to speak, Shai swallowed several times and reached again, this time her palms came to his cheeks and her flooding gaze delved to his own. "I, Shai Cadeau Vevea, take you, Aristotle Kruger Allen, as my wedded husband..." Her chest was so tight she was finding it hard to breathe. "I promise to love you, honor and respect you; to be faithful to you, to not forsake you..." A sob quietly came free. "Until death do us part. So help me God, one in the Holy Trinity, and all the saints."
When their vows were complete, Father Simon took both rings and began the blessing. He then asked God for his blessing. Three times, the rings were entwined and passed over Kruger and Shai. Every head was bowed as the Priest spoke quietly and meaningful. The weaving motion between them both, representing their lives being entwined into one. All in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

In Greek tradition, the rings were placed on the right hand of Kruger and Shai, another series of blessings, before the rings were then removed and switched to his and her left hand. Taking their hands then into his own, Father Simon placed a kiss to the joining and bowed his head in final prayer.

"Gracious God, richly bless Shai and Kruger, in the promises that they have made to each other. Grant that the courtesies, the thoughtfulness, and the self giving which already have laid the foundation for their love, build the home which is raised on it. May they be loyal and engaging companions to each other,. and may they be loving and wise parents. And in this world where there is much disillusion and disappointment...where love brings delight and also wounding in the fragility of our ways...make them a visible symbol of the love that does not wane when the evening comes but is fresh with each new day. And as you bless this special couple this day, bless each union represented here. Forgive us where we have not been good news and glad days for each other. Perfect our imperfect love with the joy that comes from above, and may we grow ourselves and grow in affirmation of the other. May the Lord bless you and take care of you: May the Lord be kind and gracious to you: May the Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. Amen."

Kruger's face took on that look of intense pleasure. He looked down on Shai with a n expression that held every ounce of love and devotion he could manage. When it was her time to speak his heart filled with her words and her looks on him. He listened and his hands went to hers when she let out that sob.

He could get lost in moments spent with Shai, and often had. Publicly or private mattered little to him, so long as she was with him there was always the risk that their passion for one another would become evident. It was there in his expression for all to see now, though it may make others uncomfortable to see the majority of those gathered had seen it often. He was lost in her eyes even now as the rings were blessed and given over to rite. He was startled slightly as Father Simon took their hands and kissed them.

There was power within the benediction. Kruger could feel that surely in the way it affected him. There was a peace that fell down upon him then. On his finger the new band would take getting used to in a way that had never been between the bride and groom who seemed to mesh immediately when the met. There was a hush over the gathering of people as the words rang forth from the lips of Father Simon. His words seemed to have an effect on all who were married. Rochelle was seen in the front briefly and Kruger gave her a small smile.

The priest finally turned back to the two before him and announced in words that seemed to echo across the gardens and well beyond to the tree line beyond the house. That could have been an illusion that his ears alone heard but it didn't change the meaning of the words or the deep satisfaction that Kruger felt at them. "I now pronounce you man and wife! To those in attendance I introduce to you Mr. Aristotle Kruger Allen and Mrs. Shai Cadeau Allen. What god has joined let no one put asunder." He smiled to the couple and said more quietly. "You may kiss the bride."

Kruger didn't need to be told twice to kiss Shai. He pulled her in for a deep kiss that he had been wanting from the moment that she had stepped from the house and onto the dais. "I love you Mrs. Allen..." His words were soft meant for her alone.