Chapter 0010

Scar's Childhood Home, November 15th 09:36

I SWEAR, I PROMISE, I DO

"To the end of the world it is..."

It was cold but not the biting kind. The kind that cooled the skin, allowing everyone who breathed the air to feel refreshed. It was the kind of cold that Scar needed. His anxiety, no matter how hard he'd been trying to conceal it, was catching up on him swiftly. Yes, his hands shook and yes, his heart pounded against his chest, much to his dismay, but that didn't stop him from feeling that unfamiliar feeling of pure excitement. His surroundings looked as if he were stuck in a dream that he'd had for months since he'd proposed to his woman.

Lace and silk lined the chairs that were placed in horizontal lines across the freshly cut field at the back of his childhood home. The trees, in which he used to climb with Gabriel as a boy, were lit with small fairy lights his mother had brought down from her Christmas collection. Flowers were blooming, despite the harsh climate. They made the pure white colours of the silk stand out, reminding Scar of what was to come.

He was marrying the love of his life, fuck. He thought.

He never thought he'd even think of those words! Yet, there he was, standing at the end of the small, hand-made aisle wearing a worried gaze. The guests had all taken their seats and were staring happily at the groom with stars in their eyes, well, all except Vice and Jax - who looked ready to kill one another. Scar had no time to think about them, though, his hands were too sweaty and his thoughts were too clouded. His best man, AJ, stood brightly next to him and spoke soft words, knowing that Scar needed support at such time.

"You're getting hitched, man! I can't believe it..." he spoke, dazed.

"If she doesn't come out in the next 10 minutes, I think I might pass out," Scar replied making his friend snigger quietly.

"Ah, the waiting is the best part, mate! All the nerves and second thoughts are more than exciting, don't you think?"

"No, no I don't, though, I keep forgetting you know what it's like to stand up here..." Scar uttered, remembering AJ's wedding like it was yesterday. It was a shame, what happened to Cammie. Scar wondered if AJ still thought about her.

"It'll be okay, Scar, honest! The second you see her, these feeling will go away."

Scar scanned the small event, his eyes landing on every guest. As he looked at Gabriel, his brother's eyes already locked onto his, he gave him a small smile in which Scar kindly reciprocated. Their relationship was slowly getting back on track after many years of loneliness, that, Scar was happy about. He hated being without Gabe and had wished for him to return back to him ever since they lost one another. Maybe, just maybe, his father had been looking down on them. He had always had the habit of helping people out without them knowing.

Smiling, Scar took a deep breath. This was it. His life was finally building itself back up again... and it was all because of her. The woman who now stood at the opposite end of the aisle, arm linked with an older looking man and a smile covering her entire face. Dear God, she's beautiful...

Her hair swayed slightly to the peaceful breeze that lingered in the air whilst her dress dragged slightly behind her small physique. But, despite all the efforts put into making his bride look like an angel, Scar presumed she'd look just as beautiful even if she were to be wearing a dirty piece of cloth. It was her smile, that contagious, bright and alarming smile that took his breath away every time. He would never get used to the feeling, he knew that. Lani bowed her head to all the guests as she walked. With her father by her side, she felt almost invincible.

As her eyes met Jax', tears began to formulate in her ducts. There, sat the man that had raised her for no price at all. He was a good man and no one could ever convince her to think differently. He'd been so accepting when Lani explained that she wanted her Dad to walk her down the aisle; I may have taught you how to ride a motorbike, Lani, but he'll always be your father and I would never want to take that place.

I love you, Lani mouthed to Jax making him nod subtly and smile at her. Suddenly, she felt breathless. Everything was going right, her heart finally felt whole again. Carefully, she placed her head onto Denzell's shoulder and closed her eyes, feeling the wind hit her face. She'd always wanted freedom but this... this felt better. Her father looked down at her peaceful figure with soft eyes, his little girl was getting married. As they reached the end of the make-shift aisle, Lani lifted her head and stared at Denzell with glossy eyes. This moment was something she'd dreamed about all her whole life - her father walking her down the aisle to her husband-to-be.

Lani wrapped her arms around his large frame as a single tear dripped from her eye, there wasn't a feeling on Earth that could compare to hugging her father, "I love you, Daddy..." she uttered into his ear before pressing a single kiss onto his cheek. He smoothed her hair and smiled softly at her in response, though she was grown and now a beautiful young woman, Denzell still saw the innocence in her eyes that she'd possessed when she was a little girl. The same sparkle of life that willed him to carry on, to protect her.

Lani's father looked at Scar, finally, before placing his daughter's hand in his, "Be careful with that, if it breaks, I'll break you," he finalized. Scar knew what he was talking about and instantly knew who the man was without any type of explanation. No, Lani hadn't done much talking about her father but Scar was smart enough to recognise him upon closer look. After all, the pair could pull off being twins!

"Yes, Sir," Scar replied, watching as Denzell nodded once and moved to take his seat among the other guests.

Scar smiled, finally, whilst he started upon his future wife. There wasn't a human that Scar could compare her to, she was his human... his Kahlani. He helped her briefly walk the rest of the way so that she could stand before him, not once letting his smile drop. Collecting her other hand with his own, Scar looked her dead in the eyes and almost got lost in the torrential storm that brewed in them. Lighting, thunder, deadly waves that crashed onto the shore - he saw it all in her. They were the eyes that he would forever enjoy looking into.

"We are joined here today to witness Mr Christian O'Connor and Miss Kahlani Pierce join in holy matrimony. If you could all take your seats..." the town's priest called out.

"In life, this is one of it's greatest moments. We must celebrate such love and cherish the words that will unite Mr O'Connor and Miss Pierce. Marriage is a promise. A shared trust with another that each person will love and honour the other until death does do you part. This ceremony will not create a bond that was not already there, it will live as a symbol that two people are promised to one another, never to be broken or torn apart. It will live as a symbol of hope, love and trust in your years to come in which you will grow together, creating new memories and new promises. A symbol that you will together grow stronger as individuals, ready to face the world hand in hand. No matter what challenges you both shall face, this bond will allow you to face them together. With this promise, you stand before one another as one.

"The bride and groom will now say their vows; Mr O'Connor, please repeat after me. I, Christian O'Connor, take you, Kahlani Pierce, to be my wife..."

"I, Christian O'Connor, take you, Kahlani Pierce, to be my wife..." Scar, spoke, his eyes never leaving hers.

"To have and to hold, from this day forward..."

"To have and to hold, from this day forward..."

"For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer..."

"For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer..."

"In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish..."

"In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish..."

"Till death us do part, according to God's holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow."

"Till death us do part, according to God's holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow." Scar finished with a deep breath before slipping a single gold band onto Lani's left hand. It fit perfectly on her petite finger. He smiled brightly at her as he watched a tear fall down her face. Scar laughed silently, moving his hand to cup her face and swipe the tear from her soft skin.

"Now, Mrs Pierce, if you will, please repeat after me. I, Kahlani Pierce, take you, Christian O'Connor, to be my husband..."

"I, Kahlani Pierce, take you, Christian O'Connor, to be my husband..."

"To have and to hold, from this day forward..."

"To have and to hold, from this day forward..."

"For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer..."

"For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer..."

"In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish..."

"In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish..."

"Till death us do part, according to God's holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow."

"Till death us do part, according to God's holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow." Lani laughed joyfully as she placed the matching golden band onto Scar's larger finger. It sparkled under the soft sunlight that blessed the ceremony that early morning. The bride couldn't contain her happiness as she unwillingly let more tears of pure joy fall from her eyes. This all felt like a dream, one she never wanted to wake from.

"Christian O'Connor, do you take Kahlani Pierce to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"Fuck, I do...!"

"Kahlani Pierce, do you take Christian O'Connor to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"Yes, of course, I do!"

"And now, with the power vested in me by the hands of our Lord, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride!"

Without a second thought, Lani beamed and jumped into the arms of her husband. Their lips connected perfectly as the sound of cheers disappeared from around the joint figures. This was the rest of their lives, each other. Scar couldn't believe his luck. He felt like he'd just won at life. With his beautiful wife in his arms, he felt he could take on any task, any war, any threat... all because he had her.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, for the first time, I present to you, Mr and Mrs O'Connor!"

Jax and Denzell scowled slightly as they watched their daughter kiss the older man. It was a reaction that they don't think they'd ever grow out of, "You know, King... I never thanked you, for taking care of her, making her into the strong woman she is today," Denzell spoke softly as he side-eyed Jaxon, still clapping at the newlyweds.

"Honestly, I never thought I'd hear that come out of your mouth, Pierce. Too much pride, I'd say!"

"Mhm, you're right, so don't make me say it again, yeah?"

Jax laughed as Lani's father smirked. There was still bad blood between them, there always would be. After all, it's not every father's dream to give his child away to a complete stranger with the intent to keep her safe. Denzell could have never concluded that Lani would've taken such a liking to Jaxon but she had and it would take a long time for Denzell to get used to the idea of Lani having a real and step-father. But, he would keep the peace, for now, because he knew how much it made his daughter happy to see her two dads getting along.

Lani beamed as she walked back down the aisle with her husband by the side of her. They were family now and that was a perfect thought. With their hands enclosed around each other, Lani felt safe, loved. She felt at peace as she felt the gold of her wedding ring rub against her loves hand.

Scar walked beside Lani, leading her toward his bike, much to her confusion, "So, where do you wanna go this time?" Scar spoke, humour laced in his voice as he remembered the first time he'd said those words to her. She watched as he swung his leg over the bike he cherished so much before he smiled cooly and grabbed his wife's waist, swinging her over his lap. Her laughs echoed around the small lot in which he grew up from a boy. They drowned out the sounds of the guests chatting and chuckling among one another and merged nicely with the sound of Scar's bike humming angrily. Smirking, Lani caught on quickly, she could remember the exact moment rather vividly.

"How about we drive 'till we reach the end of the world?" she said as she met his eyes. Scar kissed her cheek as he revved his engine once again.

"To the end of the world it is..." he said as the growing family of O'Connor's rode off toward the sun into the horizon.

~~END~~