The tang of sea salt filled my nose as I took a deep breath in through my nose. The airy tent helped clear out the acrid smell of hairspray that had permeated the place all morning. Like me, my mother had straight hair that refused to hold a curl without using up half a can of the stuff and Sif had the same issue. Between them they were a walking fire hazard and I prayed they wouldn't get too close to the tiki torches at the reception.

I refocused my attention to the mirror as I slipped my diamond studs into my ears. The final piece of my wedding ensemble. I paused a moment, a smile breaking out across my face at the sight.

The last time I'd worn a formal gown, I'd felt like a stranger was in the mirror. Now? I felt like myself, just dressed up. The gleam of beading at the belt combined with my earrings gave me just the right amount of sparkle and the white fabric was light-weight and draped elegantly around my body allowing me both a flattering shape and the freedom to move.

"You look beautiful." My smile flickered as I heard my mom's voice. I took a steadying breath before facing her.

"Thanks Mom."

Like me, she was already dressed and looked nice in her garnet-colored dress which looked like it belonged to a fifties housewife. I smiled at her but inwardly I wished Sif or Freya were here with us.  I wasn't sure how long we'd survive a one-on-one conversation. They hadn't been going well for us lately after I returned home with the news I was going to be married in a week.

"What's that?" I asked, noticing the small white bag in her arms.

"Something for you," she replied, coming closer and handing over the bag . I tugged at the drawstrings and saw a tiny white box inside. Curious, I pulled it free and removed the top. Nestled in a bed of tissue paper was a bundle of  white netting and a delicate hair comb.

"You don't have to wear it," she began quietly, "but that's my veil. Your Grandma Hamda made it for me as a gift."

My fingers curled involuntarily around the box. "I didn't know that."

Mom was quiet a moment as her feet shuffled against the white sand. "I know wasn't initially supportive of all this and I won't pretend I still don't have concerns."

"Mom," I interrupted, "please, I don't want to do this today."  Her accusations of my being foolish and my retort about not bothering to come still hurt. I wasn't proud of my slamming the door on my way out either and I didn't want to think about any of it. Not today.

"I'm not. Suzume," she sighed again and brushed my face. "I love you and I want you to be happy. And I hope you and Thor can be as happy as I was with your father." Her eyes filled with tears and she smiled at me. "He would be so proud of you today."

Now it was my turn to cry. "I miss him," I said, my voice thick and Mom nodded as she tugged the box from my hands before hugging me.

"I know." She held me a moment more before letting go. "But try to smile okay? He'd want you to be happy." She squeezed my hand a moment and sighed. "I'll see you out there alright?"

She made to walk away and my heart constricted as I looked at the little white box. "Wait."

She turned and I held up the box lamely. "I don't know how to put it on. Can you help me?"

The smile on her face was worth the awkwardness I felt working it's way through me. "Of course. Sit down."

Mom went to work quickly, her delicate hands making quick work of pining the vintage veil into place and in time at all, I was finally ready and we walked out of the tent together. Already, I could see the tiny cluster of chairs where our guests were seated and waiting for the ceremony to begin.

"See you soon!" Mom said, real warmth in her voice as she handed me my bouquet. A simple cluster of lilies and some greenery from the palace gardens courtesy of my soon-to-be in-laws.

I nodded, my heart beating a tad faster in my chest as I waited for my cue and when the soft guitar started it's low strum I walked across the beach. The sand was soft and warm against my bare feet and when I turned I saw ten sets of eyes turn towards me. They were a mix of the people dearest to us, our parents and my uncle as well as Matthew and Daniel. Elise and Melinda where in attendance as well and waved at me as I walked by. Hemidal's silver eyes flashed while Amanda hurried in front of me, snapping a photo; the first wedding she'd ever booked as a professional photographer.

I didn't think my heart could have felt more full being surrounded by the people who were so dear to us but when I saw Thor I realized how foolish that thought was. He stood under the driftwood arbor, his eyes the same shade of blue as the water beside us. His crisp white shirt fluttered in the salty breeze and like me, he was barefoot and his smile nearly sent me sprinting down the aisle towards him.  

The aisle seemed endless but finally, I reached him and handed off my flowers off to Sif; the Best Woman who's smile was only rivaled by Thor's. Or perhaps mine, I couldn't see for sure but my cheeks definitely hurt. Hi, he mouthed, his warm hands wrapping around mine as Foreseti asked the guests to sit.

"Family, friends," the red-head greeted. "We're gathered here today to bear witness to the union of Thor and Suzume in marriage. If anyone has any objections, please make them known now." There was a slight pause before he continued but I saw real tension in Thor's face during the ten second blip.

"Take each other's hands," he instructed though Thor and I had beat him to that already.  "Thor, do you take this woman to be your wife? Do you swear to love, honor and cherish her in good times and in bad for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," he promised, tears brimming in his eyes.

Foreseti repeated his questionnaire again, switching words where needed and looking expectantly at me. "I do," I promised as well, meaning the two simple words with everything I was. We exchanged rings then and Foreseti declared us husband and wife. Sif let out an exclamatory whoop as we kissed, earning a laughter from our little audience as the camera clicked away, capturing the first moment of the rest of our lives.

***

The crackle of fire mixed with the rush of the ocean as night fell across Ran Cove. The guests mingled around the makeshift dance floor as Thor pulled me out into the middle for our first dance.

"So," I whispered as the music started and he began twirling me about in a waltz. "Enjoying your wedding?"

"Best one I've ever been to," he replied with a grin as we swayed. "Now we just have to survive our second one."

I laughed. That was a pretty good way to describe the royal wedding we had to endure later. This one though, that was just for us. Of course, we'd pitched it to his parents as 'honoring the traditions of Midgard' so not to offend anyone and the challenge had been taken up with enthusiasm.

"We still haven't gotten through this one," I pointed out. "I could still burn down the tent by mistake."

He laughed, no doubt recalling the catastrophe my magic had caused with the palace curtains. "We'll throw it into the ocean if we have to, no big." He smiled down at me, his hands firm on my waist. "You look so beautiful."

"Not so bad yourself," I replied as the song began to wind down.

"It's a great way to start forever," Thor said and I nodded.

"Hard to ask for more," I agreed as the full emotions of the day fell on me again. Here I was, dancing in the arms of the man I loved, the people most important to us surrounding or watching from some other world we couldn't reach. Not perfect, but what was? We were happy and that was more than most people got in a lifetime. Our struggles weren't gone and some were just beginning but I knew we would be okay. Whatever came next, joy or hardship or both, we'd face it together and that enough.

"I love you," I whispered as the song came to an end and he leaned down, whispering it back to me while I stood on my toes to meet his kiss. I heard the slight applause from our loved ones as we touched but they were background noise as joy filled my heart. We'd had out first kiss here as two strangers who weren't sure what they were looking for and now, a first kiss again, this time as husband and wife.

A new start to a life I couldn't wait to live. Laughing, I grabbed his hand and pulled my husband back towards our little party, eager to get started on our forever.

*************************

Write on! :)