ISAAC'S POV

I sat in one of the front pews of the church wearing my dressy blues with my ceremonial sword next to me. I had to buy the sword online and have it delivered since I left mine in the States. Kim was standing in between my parted kegs getting an ear scratch. He was enjoying it and it was helping me calm down. I was getting married in less than an hour and I was anxious.

I definitely wanted to do this but there was still a part of me that was scared about my life changing completely. From henceforth I had to start thinking about my life as two instead of one. Later on if Marini agreed then our family would grow bigger. I knew I wanted all that, I'd never been sure about anything in my life but I was scared of failing my family. What if I was a terrible husband or a bad father to our future kids?

I recalled the talk my dad and I had had the previous day and it helped me calm down a little . Marini's drunken words drifted into my mind making me smile to myself. She wanted to marry me and if the woman who was averse to marriage could admit that then I could do this. I needed to be the stronger one for the both of us.

"What happened to the pacing thing you used to do whenever you got nervous?"Jeremy asked sitting next to me.

"Marini adopted it and a pacing couple is bound to crash so I quit."I admitted trying to make a joke.

"Funny but seriously bro are you ready for this?"He asked.

"Definitely it's just nerves but I'd be worried if I didn't have those."

"Good because the guests are starting to arrive so we need to get out of here and give the church time to fill."He informed me.

"Okay."

I got up picked up my sword and sheathed it before following Jeremy outside using the side door with Kim trailing behind us. Jeremy took me on a simple walk of the extensive church grounds trying to help me calm down. We talked about different things and soon we were joined by my dad, Gilead and Jeremy's brothers and dad. The camera man found us and took advantage of the beautiful church scenery to take as many photos as possible.

"Okay enough of that, Jane just informed me that they've left the house so we need to get ready."Gilead announced and we nodded.

"Are you guys doing the personal vows thing?" Christian asked and I shook my head.

"Nope, Marini and I decided to go traditional."

"Still good."He nodded.

We met with the Reverend and went over a few last minute details to make sure that everything was going to go according. Soon enough I found myself standing outside the church door ready to walk down the aisle. Marini had just arrived with her side of the party. I couldn't see her but I could see the car she had arrived in. I knew she couldn't see me but I hoped she was as ready to get married as I was. With that in thought I waited for the song to start before I started my walk with Kim by my side. We had to get special permission for Kim to be in the church but he was a calm dog and good with people so they allowed us. People took pictures and I made sure to smile the whole time because I was genuinely happy.

With the cameras ahead of me I almost marched down the aisle but I held myself back because there was no rush. Marini was late but we had accounted for that so we were right on schedule. When I got to the altar I took my side and stood alert gazing down the aisle. Next on the aisle were Jeremy's parents then my dad and Clara. The groomsmen led the ladies down the aisle with Lulu stealing the show by confidently walking solo and strutting like she was on a runway. Gilead and his family followed which meant that Marini was next. Gilead took his place next to me and Jane stood on the other side where Marini would stand.

When the bridal chorus started everyone stood up and we all faced the door. I was literally holding my breath the whole time but when I saw Marini emerge from the doors all breath left my body.

I had been right when I said earlier that Marini would look like a floating angel in her gown. She looked perfect and the dress was definitely suited for a queen like her. Her veil was obstructing her face but I could still tell that it was her.

I couldn't help but smile the whole time as she walked towards me with slow but sure steps.

My eyes fell to the bouquet in her hands and I immediately recognized the blue cloth used to hold the flowers together. It was my grandmother's favorite headscarf. I remember Marini saying that she wanted lilies but she changed them to blue roses, my grandmother's favorite color. She knew how sad I was that my grandma didn't get to see me get married and she had gone to that extent to make sure that a part of her was with me.

I felt myself tear up but I held it in refusing to be one of those groom's who cried in their weddings. There was no harm in crying but that was just not me. Jeremy handed me a handkerchief and after dabbing my eyes I took and deep breath and sobered up.

Marini got to the bottom of the stairs and she was now within touching distance. I had to resist the urge to grab her in my arms, rip her veil off and kiss her but I held myself back. The crown on her head made her look even more like the queen that she was.

"Before you take your seats let us all pray."He requested and we all bowed our heads for prayer.

After we prayed I was back to ogling my beautiful bride. I knew Reverend Mark was talking but I was too enthralled by my queen to hear anything but a few words like give and married. I heard Lulu and Amani yell and I understood what he had asked. They couldn't give their sister away so her dad's brother had to.

"Stand down girls."Reverend Mark instructed and they frowned and he asked the question again.

"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"

"I do."Her uncle, Immanuel I think said and got up walking towards me.

I took the steps down towards Marini and the uncle took our hands and joined them together and started professing blessings upon our lives. My hands felt cool against Marini's warm and soft ones and I welcomed the feeling.

After he was done I helped Marini up the steps and made sure she was okay before letting her go and taking my stance. Jane helped Marini with the train of her dress and we stood facing each other. I was still nervous but the joy I felt within outweighed it.

"Isaac unveil the bride to confirm that she is truly who you want to marry?" Reverend Mark requested and I chuckled softly at the request.

Of course I knew it was her, I could pick her out from a crowd of women wearing sacks and covered in coal. Deciding to just humor them I carefully lifted the veil and it went over her face. My fingers caressed her soft cheeks and I had to once again resist the urge to cup her face and kiss her. My hands dropped to my side and I took a step back to properly admire her. Her make up was perfectly blended in with her skin and it didn't look overdone. Her lips were painted a matte brown that made them look plump and oh so kissable. It was getting harder and harder to resist the urge to kiss her. I knew I was smiling like someone who had won and lottery and marrying Marini was definitely better than winning the lottery.

She winked at me with a smile on her face and I winked back giving her a smirk.

Jane fixed her veil so that it wasn't covering her crown.

"Is it her?" Reverend Mark asked.

"Yes it is."I confirmed.

"Okay Good now we can proceed."He stated smiling as he started the official ceremony.

"Dearly beloved, family and friends, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony and for that reason alone we must seek the Lords guidance."He said and two chairs were brought up for us and we sat down as he began the short sermon he had prepared for the day.

My eyes were on Marini the whole time and hers on mine. I don't think we heard much of the sermon too busy lost each other.

"Well if they won't stop staring at each other we might as well get this over and done with and get them out of their misery."Reverend Mark joked making us laugh as he asked us to stand.

He turned to me," Isaac Johnson Mutua, do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

Looking at my gorgeous bride without a hint of doubt in my voice I replied in a clear voice.

"I do."

He then turned to Marini,"Marini Mwendwa Kiarie, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

She smiled at me before replying.

"I do."

The Reverend then continued addressing me"Repeat after me."

"I, Isaac Johnson Mutua, take you Marini Mwendwa Kiarie , to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

I repeated everything word for word before it was Marini's turn.

"I, Marini Mwendwa Kiarie , take you Isaac Johnson Mutua, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

"The rings please."He requested and we all turned to Jeremy who was in charge of the rings.

He did the classic where is the ring joke as he patted all his pockets in search before he looked up as if remembering something. He could be so dramatic sometimes but that's why everyone liked him and at least he made the guests laugh. He put his thumb and forefinger in his mouth blowing a whistle and Kim who had been walking around the getting pets from they guests came rushing to the front.

Of course he thought I was the one who called him so he jumped straight at me. The whole church laughed and cooed at the sight. Before he could start licking me he was pulled off by Jeremy which I greatly appreciated because I didn't want Marini kissing me with dog spit all over me. Kim had a bowtie on his neck which Jeremy removed revealing the two rings tied to it. Marini and I looked at each other in surprise since none of us expected that. It was a sweet but still very stupid gesture.

I glared at him wondering how he could be so crazy. What if Kim had lost the rings? Jeremy just shrugged ignoring me and handed the rings to the Reverend.

Kim did a few spins before settling himself by Marini's feet who looked at him fondly. She handed her bouquet to Jane before turning to me.

"That's new." Reverend Mark commented and the guests laughed again.

"But let's continue."He proposed.

He prayed for the rings before handing me Marini's and asked me to place the ring on her finger and repeat after him.

"I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love."I vowed and lifted her hand to my lips kissing the back.

Marini repeated the same thing after she was given my ring she slid it into my hand.

The reverend asked us to join hands as he declared, "By virtue of the authority vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife."

He then turned to me and said the magic words I had been waiting to here since I unveiled Marini.

"You may kiss the bride."

I took a step closer to her basically gluing our bodies together. One hand on her waist pulling her to me and the other one cupping her face I angled her face perfectly and I dropped my eyes from hers to her lips. I leaned in and joined our lips together in the first kiss ever as husband and wife. The whole church cheered and I distinctly had a pop before Marini and I were covered in confetti. I didn't stop kissing her though and when her hands slid around my neck pulling her closer I knew I was finally home.

"Okay kids save it for the honeymoon."Reverend Mark cleared his voice.

I kissed her for a few more seconds before pulling away. Her lips were a little swollen and I winked at her before finally pulling her hand clasped in mine. Jane handed her back her bouquet.

The Reverend led us to a table where we then signed out marriage certificate together with Gilead, Jane and the Reverend himself. It was now official, Marini and I were legally married in the eyes of God and the republic of Kenya in front of our friends and family.

I lifted our joined hands in the air like I had won a prize and everyone clapped and cheered some more. We made our way outside the church being showered with rice and flower petals. When we got outside the church we took a few pictures with friends and family. We were headed to the next venue where we'd have the wedding photoshoot before heading for the reception.

After we were done being paraded in front of different family members to take pictures with them I took Marini's hand and led her to our car. I opened the backdoor for her and helped her with her dress before going on the other side. We had been exchanging wanton looks ever since we laid eyes on each other and now I had her to myself to do as I pleased.

Before I could even buckle myself up I felt Marini snake her hands around my neck and pull me towards her. She smashed her lips against mine in an urgency I'd never felt with Marini before. I wasn't complaining, quite the opposite actually. I welcomed the assault and kissed her back with the same fervour or more if that was even possible.

My hand were on her waist clinging to her and the other on her neck trying to bring our faces as closer as possible. She smelled like roses and tasted like peppermint, a heady combination. I resisted the urge to pull her into my lap and tear the dress off her doing things to her that I'd only ever dreamt about. She wouldn't like me destroying her dress and I didn't want our first time to be in a car.

When we both pulled apart we were both breathing heavy with our foreheads pressed against each other.

"Looking forward to the honeymoon are we?"I teased and she laughed slapping my hand leaning away from me before she quickly conjured a straight face.

"Of course I am."She replied winking at me and it was now time for me to be embarrassed.

Marini had never flirted back before and now that she had I had to admit I liked this side of her.

"How does it feel like to be Mrs. Mutua?" I asked her trying to lighten up the situation.

"Who said I'm changing my name?"She questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"You aren't?"

"I am but I'm also keeping my father's name, I'll always be a Kiarie and I never want that to stop. It's the one connection I have with my dad and I don't want to loose it." She confessed and I held her hand in mine.

"How can I argue with that? Your parents would be proud of what you've accomplished and its sad they couldn't be here to see you today because you my dear wife look breathtaking. I literally can't stop starting at you. You look beautiful."I confessed my eyes on her.

"You look dashing too. I wish I knew you looked that good in your uniform. I'd have asked you to wear it for me much sooner."She smirked licking her lips and I pulled her back to a kiss unable to hold back.

This kiss was much shorter but it was just as hot as the previous.

"You just wait until I can get you out of that dress. The things I'll do to you and that delectable body will make even the angels blush."I whispered in a husky voice and I had her physically shudder.

I had never been so brazen with my words before but she was my wife now and she had accept all sides of me, even the uncouth ones.

"Well okay then, let's get this party on the road, we have promises to keep."She replied fast with a turned on look in her eyes.

She rapped on the window and Josiah opened the door and got into the driver's seat. He said his congratulations with a smile on his face and we thanked him before he drove off to the next venue. Marini cuddled to my side and I was happy to hold her in my arms. My wife. My life. My queen.

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JUST MARRIED.

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I love you all and be blessed.

Merry Christmas my little elves and I pray that Santa delivered your presents this year. Even if he didn't, be happy because you're alive and healthy.