Johns POV

As I straighten my shirt and look in the mirror I am scared. I must admit that I didn't think I would be in this position again, nervous as a school boy and as impatient as that cat on a hot tin roof.

Sean and Julian are chasing around looking for sneakers and socks but I can't focus on them, thank goodness Paul and Rusty are sorting them out. She is above me on the second floor probably as calm as a cucumber, lazing on the bay seat that overlooks the ocean, serenity making her relaxed and ready for the events to come.

"Are you even ready, Lennon" Paul waves a hand in front of my face and it takes me four or five seconds to register his wild waving.

"I need a fag" I need to escape and that is my excuse but Paul is tapping his feet and looking at the clock. "Where's a smoke?"

"It's time Lennon. No time now, you've got to get yourself out to the pergola. You know for the wedding!" Paul starts to break into a sweat for my nervousness and I don't think I mind him doing the sweating, no one likes a sweaty groom do they.

We managed to get a hexagon pergola up and looking like it's been here years, the garden that surrounds it is established and looking like a jungle although its only two weeks old. Tropical flowers have been threaded up and over the whole thing but they don't distract from the glorious view of the ocean that will be the backdrop. I got out of wearing a suit it's a beachy type wedding so I get to be in sneakers and everyone is either in the same or bare feet, sand is everywhere so it makes perfect sense to embrace it.

As we all huddle under the pergola I can see heaps of friends that have come to see this monkey get strung up with a girl again, but this time it's third times a charm, I know it. Mad I am for this but crazy for her I am. This the closest I have been to being a groom at a normal actual wedding; Cyn and I hit the registry office, all over bloody Europe with Ono.

Sean has been sent to Cat as her ring bearer, Julian, Rusty and Paul a jostling around me chatting and smirking, I need a bloody smoke but Paul shakes his head in the negative.

Julian is off to the side now and its time, I keep shaking my hands and hopping from foot to foot, not able to keep still, my shirt collar is not bound with a tie or buttoned up but I need to stretch the fabric away to get some air.

"Nervous Johnny boy?!" Paul has my ear and I can only nod slightly, I'm not going to bother lying here when my nervousness is on display for all to see, Mimi smiles warmly at me, holding her grandniece and waves Faiths hand hello to me, I can't help but beam back at them.

I see a melee in the house people darting about, she hasn't run off has she? No there she is, Christ I would have looked a tosser if she had run off.

Still we wait, she is probably doing it on purpose, we had a conversation about exactly this a few nights ago as we finished planting the gardens, she had laughed thinking she would be the nervy one and me the cool laid back one. Then when she turned to laugh with me about it she saw the worry about the whole ceremony in my sweaty red hot face. Still, she gave me a kiss and hug then calling me a daff bugger, not bothered in the slightest by my wreak of a body reeking of sweat from shovelling bulk dirt out of holes big enough for an elephant to sleep in.

Paul is nudging me in the side. Hard "See her. There down the........, yep they're ready man, good luck old chap" One last nudge and he tops it off by one of his claps to my shoulder.

And then the doors to our new home open wide and the sunshine catches her face, lighting it up or using her as its power supply for the sun. She could light a city, I'm being sappy but I can't help it, it's my wedding day and I want it and her so bad.

Linda hovers to the side and throws Paul a big thumb up and kisses Cat on the cheek. Abe, the big bruiser, is at the bottom of the stairs, Cat has probably got him on orders standing there in case she trips as she did when we had a run through the day before.

Before I can think straight Julian has the wedding march playing on the hifi and sure enough Cat grimaces, cringing in the spotlight cast upon her. I know she would have preferred something less wedding-y but she was voted down by everyone so I think she has a plan to get them all back at the reception later. 

I can't help smiling and she takes a quick look at me then becoming shy. Yep Cat is being shy, her eyes cast down watching every step she makes intently as she get to the last row of chairs; Then, as if a higher power possesses her, she brings her head up, high and proud capturing my eyes with hers.

This. Is. It.

Her dress is white and sheer, whimsical like a summer breeze, the beach inspired garment is simple yet beautiful, elegant and casual all at the same time. Flowers held in her trembling hands, frangipanis I'm told- my eyes rolled when the girls started on about flowers and colours and the like- Oh, and lily's too. Her hair looks so different to anything she has done before today, braids are woven with more tiny flowers and she looks hippy chic and beach ready, a happy summery vision... She is beside me and we smile again if that is even possible, as I'm sure we have been smiling the entire time.

She catches my hand in hers and was it this tiny before? Fragile, delicate soft although I can feel a few little drummers callouses, they are part of her, as pretty as the rest. Does she realise that my life is in those hand's. I think she holds my heart and doesn't even know the power she has sometimes.

Concentrate, the celebrant is speaking and my mind is everywhere but here listening to the spiel like I should be, I am trying to remember what I am going to say, practicing it silently in my head. Still smiling and looking into Cats eyes though she seems to know I'm not 100 percent focused and tugs my hand a little. I cover up my silent mantra well... I think.

Paul prods me in the side and a few start laughing, Cat too, smirking wildly at my missed cue.

"John the celebrant is waiting... we're all waiting" Paul whispers right by my ear and I swat him away causing Linda to stifle a laugh.

"Ummm yeah ok, right, hiya" Shit I stuffed this already, Cat smiles kindly and squeezes my hand tightly." Catlyn I offer you my heart, I offer you my soul, I give you everything from me to you" A cackle of laughter goes through the guests. Me reciting a Beatley song title always gets a giggle "Always. Forever. Together"

Done short, sweet, ok.

A bead of sweat trickles from my brow, down the side of my cheek and Cat wipes it away.

"Hiya" She has a little go at my foul up and everyone laughs, I squeeze her hand. Bloody cheeky girl

"What he said!"

She steps back and she's done. What the hell!?!?!!!

Everyone is laughing hard  even Mimi, and that's one hard lady to crack. Even Paul is leaning, hunched over, cracking up.

Keeping a straight face she has everyone believing, even me, that, those few words were her entire speech. I must have a mortified look on my face as Paul had a quick side glance at me and he's off yet again laughing away.

Then suddenly she steps away from me and faces the guests, waiting for the laughter to die down a tad.

"Hiya again. I couldn't resist it..." She smiles as she pauses then turns sideways on to face me. Oh, there is more... "John you have given me so much, a family, love, music. I was a shell, pretty much empty, and you filled it, overflowing it with love and warmth, happiness, with you....thank-you for embracing my flaws, my passions, my loves and my mistakes. This isn't one though! This is good, right and I can't wait to spend my life with you. John, I won't let you down, but I may keep you guessing and therein lies the fun- always a new adventure to share.... Always. Together. Forever" 

Though you're not supposed to clap most did and I hugged even though the celebrant looked like she was annoyed and in an extreme hurry to finish the nuptials.

As the 'Do you John and Do you Catlyn' and the right answers are said back and forth, they ring so true in my ears. We are near the finish line of the first step but ready to start a new story in life together.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride!"

And I did.

Dipping Cat low and kissing her til she squirmed to come up for air, laughing at my over the top display.