Date Saturday, August 8th, 2268
Three years later.
Waking up in the middle of the night as I usually do thanks to my Monstrous Physique perk halving the amount of sleep my body requires, I sat up in my bed that was missing a certain someone, namely Alice. Thankfully, it was for a good reason and that reason is we have a very special event taking place today. One that I missed out on having the opportunity of experiencing in my previous life, getting married.
As thrilled as I am about it, I sure shit didn't think I was going to get married this early on in my second go at life. That said, it makes the most sense to do it now considering we'll be departing from the undercity and beginning our adventurous life in the wasteland in less than a week's time to ensure that I can take proper advantage of certain events that "should" be taking place out there. In addition to that, Alice and I rolled both our birthdays into this coming wedding of ours, since I made the date for our wedding the literal day after Alice's birthday all those years ago, so that was convenient.
The two of us were getting kind of sick of having two birthdays back to back every year after all... Hmm, maybe we should just combine ours going forward. It would've been one thing if there were a ton of different places to see and activities to do like there was in the old world. But the undercity only has so much to offer before you start repeating the same things you've done in former years.
Getting up from bed, I went inside the bathroom and began going through the motions whilst my mind was occupied with the big event that will be occurring later on today and things related to it.
It's really too bad neither of us will get the chance to experience a honeymoon, but that's alright. It's not like you can even have a halfway decent honeymoon in this day and age, with the world being a post-apocalyptic one. Nevertheless, I would've loved to have gone on a trip to the tropics, for instance to the Caribbean, but I guess that's just how it'll be... Actually not all hope is lost for our honeymoon, it'll just have to be delayed till I can take over a tropical island and rebuild the place with all the necessary amenities.
Now the question is, will I be able to get away with that without the Zetans throwing a fit and interfering... It doesn't have any military importance, so it should be fine. I'll probably get it off the ground once I take over Nevada. Honestly, I can't wait. I've been longing for a vacation for several years now. I obviously could've taken one already; I suppose. However, I just don't see the point of allocating the time for it if I wouldn't enjoy it, hence why I haven't.
Leaving the bathroom behind, I headed downstairs by utilizing my Ghost perk to phase right through the walls and got right back to the grind, continuing to raise my physical attributes. I kept at it for the next five hours when it came time to stop, so I completed the last bit of cardio I had left and hit the showers.
Cleaning myself off, I returned to my room and threw on a simple plain black t-shirt and a pair of red shorts that showed off a small portion of my extremely toned physique. From there, I left my room and proceeded down the hallway to the living room, where I found my parents, who had just woken up.
Going through the usual greetings, Dad asked. "Today's the day, you nervous, son?"
"Nope, not even the least bit."
"Mm, I guess you are a lot more prepared than I was back then, so that's probably why."
"I mean, I set the date for it several years ago and have been living with her by my side for most of my life, so I'm not really surprised I'm feeling the way I am."
"That does make sense now that you mention it."
The three of us made small talk going over what will be taking place later at the venue when mom asked. "So you got your wedding band for Alice on hand?"
"Yes, I have it right here." Making a small black box appear out of thin air from my item box.
"Good, make sure you don't lose it, sweety."
"I won't, mom."
Following that, my gramps barged in through the front door wearing his normal getup with a full suit in hand and plopped himself on a nearby couch. "How you holding up, kid?"
"Fine."
"Good, I knew you would be."
"Then why bother asking, old man?"
"Cus, that's what I'm supposed to do."
"And who are you calling old, brat? I'm now a young 30." Gramps commented jokingly, looking a hell of a lot younger thanks to him adding a hundred years of lifespan via his first mage realm breakthrough.
With gramps arriving, my stoic grandpa Henry arrived soon thereafter with my grandma Emelia in tow, who hugged my large frame in her arms as best she could when she made it past the entrance. Welcoming them in, they sat down right away with the rest of the family and joined in on the conversation that was being had just before their arrival. Doing that for sometime the women of the family whipped up a lightish breakfast since there was no point in preparing a large meal when there would be plenty to chow on soon enough.
Finishing that meal quickly, everyone went off to go get dressed for the occasion. And the moment we were all ready, my grandmother called for the limo to pick us up and take us to the venue since she was the main person who arranged the wedding for Alice and I.
Thank god for my grandma taking a good portion of the workload off us and getting the ball rolling a year ago. If not for her, this wedding of ours would've become something stressful instead of a joyous event one is meant to look forward to.
Several minutes later, our ride to the venue showed thus we loaded into the extended sci-fi limo and departed for the city center where the venue was. The moment we reached our destination, I stepped out first since I was the closest to the door and when I did; I took in the surrounding sights.
What appeared in my vision was an old church in the city center mainly constructed of the same gray granite that most of the city center's structures were composed of. Along with the impressive church that towered above its extensive garden and landscaping, there was an expansive arrangement of dining tables, seating, and many other such things in the open space of said garden.
Grandma sure went all out with the after party. It should be quite the fun time once we get through the main event.
Impressed with the arrangements my grandma Emelia prepared, I waited for my family to empty out of the vehicle before we entered through the grand dark wood doors of the church. Upon passing through the doors, the place opened up inside and what came into view was an old styled church with a dark crimson rug running down the center of the church with dark stained wood pews on either side of it. At the very end, there was an elevated area decorated for the occasion and an organ even further back.
More than content with everything I had seen, we went into the side room prepared for us and started working on the last of the preparations while the people hired for the wedding busily ran around taking care of their various miscellaneous assigned tasks. Time quickly passed on from then and before I knew it, the place filled up and I found myself standing on the altar surrounded by my family, friends, and those invited to attend mainly people of importance that resided in the undercity.
The seconds ticked by as we collectively waited for Alice to show and after waiting patiently for a bit, the large dark wood doors of the entrance had begun to open slowly. Mere moments later, she came in through the large dark wood double doors with her father escorting her down the two century old dark red carpet.
Directing all my attention to my soon to be wife, I watched her slowly make her way to the altar, looking absolutely stunning in her pure white wedding dress. As she closed in on the altar, I could see her becoming increasingly emotional and her eyes beginning to glisten whilst she looked the happiest I think I've ever seen her to date. Despite her emotional state, she stayed strong and kept it together, stepping onto the altar.
When she did, her father said while passing his dear daughter to me. "I'm passing her to you, young man. Keep her safe and make her happy."
"I will." I replied seriously, taking her hands into my own.
With the handoff completed, Alice's father took his leave, leaving us standing there looking into each other, eyes filled with emotion and love for the person standing in front of us. Continuing to look deeply into each other's eyes lovingly, the priest began officiating the wedding ceremony. This went on for a number of minutes and finally the time to recite our vows came.
"I, Dom, vow to protect you, Alice, from all dangers, even at the cost of my own life, if it would ensure your safety and shower you with my love every day for the rest of my life. Regardless of what difficulties the world decides to throw our way. Thus, I shall stand strong in the face of all adversity to ensure that we will always remain together till the time both of our lifespans extinguish." I vowed to the gorgeous women who stood opposite of me.
"I, Alice, vow to support you, Dom, in all endeavors, and love you always for as long as we both shall live. For better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, I will always remain by your side no matter how tough life may get. Henceforth, you will be my one and only from today and till the end of time."
Our vows said Big Tom, who I had selected as my best man and the first friend I made since coming to this world, came forward and delivered the wedding band I had him hold on to as was customary. Taking the wedding band into my hand, I brought it to Alice's left hand and slid it into place together with the ring she decided to take as her engagement ring, the one I made with my own two hands for her 11th birthday. It wasn't really a surprise she made that ring her engagement ring, seeing how she's a sentimental woman.
As Alice's eyes were on the brink of tearing up again, her sister Bella came over with my wedding band and handed it to Alice. The instant she got ahold of it, she took my left hand into her own and slid the silver-colored wedding band onto my ring finger with a couple of tears getting ready to run down her face.
The priest, seeing us wearing our rings, moved onto the next part and began. "Do you, Dom Mason Woods, take Alice Lawrence Steele as your wife?"
"I do."
"Do you, Alice Lawrence Steele, take Dom Mason Woods as your husband?"
"I do."
Hearing her response, the priest turned to me and told me. "Then you may kiss the bride, young man."
Getting the go ahead, I grabbed Alice's waist with both of hands and brought her closer before I leaned down although not as much as compared years ago because she had grown to a surprising height of six feet and connected lips with her as cheers erupted in the background. As we held the kiss, Alice raised her arms, connected them behind my neck, and rested them there, causing the two of us to deepen our kiss further and me to instinctively use my Pleasure perk, enhancing the experience for both of us.
Alice was starting to heat up, so I ended the kiss there and pulled away, not wanting things to devolve into something that shouldn't be shown to others. As soon as I pulled away, Alice gazed at me hungrily with desire, making it readily apparent that she wanted to continue. But seeing as this wasn't the right moment, I leaned down and whispered in her ear. "What's the rush, babe? We'll have plenty of time to get up to all sorts of antics tonight."
"Ohh, then I'll make sure to keep you to those words of yours." She whispered back seductively.
"Just try to keep up with me when the time comes because I'm going to rock your world."
"I look forward to it."
That playful bit over with, we left the altar hand in hand and headed out to the prepared after party section and sat down at the center table meant for us and our close relatives and shared a fantastic meal that no expense was spared for. Following that amazing feast, the music began playing courtesy of the band we brought in. So with the music picking up, I took my newlywed wife's hand and brought her to the dance floor that was setup and put on a spectacular show for all those here.
…
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