Like A Virgin - Chapter 50 (Jayma Mays/Matthew Morrison)
Title: Like A Virgin
Author: emmaschuester
Pairing/Characters: Jayma Mays/Matthew Morrison
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Harmless fun, no offence intended. Pure work of fiction.
Spoilers: None.
Summary/Author's Notes: The end. :)
And so, he did. Dug out his running gear from his closet, tied his sneakers, sent a text to Rick (out for a run, will be home in an hour to get ready), took his iPod and home keys out of his backpack, and went for a run along the Hudson River Park, one of his favorite spots for this activity.
When he got back, he found Rick and Brian pacing the pavement in front of his apartment complex.
"Dude! You freaked us out!" Brian slapped his shoulder, not lightly.
"What?" He took his earbuds out. "And also, ouch. That hurt!"
"Have you had a chance to glance at the time, moron?"
He lifted his right wrist, but he wasn't wearing a watch. He lit up his iPod. 1:25pm. "Oh, fuck!" He practically threw himself inside the door and up to his place. "Ooooh, fuck, fuck, fuck."
"What the hell??"
"I completely lost track of time! I was just... running, and I... oh, crap. I ran almost two hours."
"Your dad's gonna be here in an hour, try and be ready to go, okay?"
"I will. I will." He closed the bathroom door behind him, but then opened it again a second later, his head popping out, a huge grin on his face. "Hey, I don't know if you noticed, but I'm marrying the love of my life today."
"Nope you're marrying her if you get the hell under that shower and get ready! Or you need me to wash your back? Gooooo!!"
He burst into laughter and closed the door behind him, re-emerging some forty minutes later, showered, shaved, and looking refreshed. He headed straight for his bedroom, where he had already laid out his suit in the morning, and proceeded to get dressed.
When he turned around, already wearing briefs, pants and socks, his white shirt still unbuttoned, and saw himself in the mirror, he had to stop for a second, to take a deep breath, and try and steady his trembling fingers as they unsuccessfully tried to loop the buttons in the right holes.
This is it, man. This is really it.
He smiled at himself in the mirror, finally winning his battle, and retrieved his tie and vest from his bed when he heard a knock on the door.
"Almost ready?" Rick's head was peeking in.
"Yeah, almost. Come on in."
"Man, you look like a penguin."
"You're aware we're wearing pretty much the same suit, right?"
"Oh, I know. Remind me to kick your ass for choosing a three-piece suit. It's still too hot."
He chuckled. "It's not too bad. You'll get used to it."
"And anyway, I look awesome. You look like a penguin."
"Jeez, thanks for the confidence."
They both stood in front of the mirror. Rick was his oldest friend, and knew him really well.
"This is it, man."
"Funny, I was just telling that myself."
"You talk to yourself too now? Poor Jayma."
"Oh, shut up."
They got back to the living room, where Matt's dad had just arrived. It felt weird to be all dressed up at two-thirty in the afternoon, and a strange feeling of grandness took over them, silencing their talks for a couple of minutes, until Tom scratched his throat, and the spell was broken. Matt was on autopilot, a new buzzing almost covering his friends' voices, like white noise that couldn't be turned down. He saw Rick check for the rings in the inner pocket of his jacket, and he stopped for a second to check his hair in the mirror. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed Brian roll his eyes, smirk and take his Lubriderm bottle with them. Before he knew it, he was in a car with his father, to the church where he'd get married in an hour and ten minutes. Possibly more, if Jayma were to be a little late.
The Riverside Church was even prettier than he remembered it, the trees around glowing in the mid-afternoon September sun. He was thankful for the lack of people or paparazzi gathered around, their planner had done an outstanding job and covering everything up. He got out of the car quickly, and headed for the back room. It was still early, and the church was empty, apart from the ushers, the priest and the musicians that were setting up in their spot.
He checked his phone, and wondered what Jayma was doing.
-----
Jayma's preparations had begun much earlier than Matt's. By eight in the morning she was already showered and ready for her day. She relished that little alone time, her very light breakfast -she was sure she couldn't stomach too much-, the time under the water, a little music playing in the background, a playlist he had made for her. She surveyed the New York roofs from her 40th floor window, Central Park right in front of her, the Upper West Side on her left, a church over there waiting for them... She smiled, and hugged her waist, the soft bathrobe brushing on her skin. Noticing the time, she headed to her bedroom, the beautiful custom Vera Wang dress hanging behind her door. Her fingertips ran on the silk cover, and she tried to process the fact that she was actually marrying Matthew today.
Before she could so much as elaborate the tight feeling in her chest, her room was invaded by hair and make-up artists, her personal stylist, her mom, her sister and Dianna. Here we go.
She was in a kind of trance as they fixed her red hair, that she had allowed to grow long for a few months, leaving most of her length on her shoulders, curled in tidy red ringlets, just a few locks gathered above her ears, some baby's breath blossoms finishing the simple, but stunning look.
Make-up took longer than expected, but in the end she looked almost as if she wasn't wearing any, except for some eye shadow and mascara. Her cheeks were red from excitement, her lips were accentuated just by a light lipstick. She looked natural, and fresh-faced, just the way Matt loved.
Four hours had passed, and she hadn't even realized it. She politely declined on lunch, her stomach doing back-flips by that moment, and spent her break in her bedroom, alone, going through old post-its and notes of his she always kept in her planner. She had all the ones he had written her on her birthday the year before, and so many more.
Slowly, she unzipped the bag protecting her gown, revealing her wedding dress. It was a simple, strapless ivory-white dress, with a sleek, classy, silky skirt that ran down her long legs, widening a little at the end, but without a real train. As she laid it down on her bed, her eyes followed the patterns the pearls and beads composed on the bodice.
She shrugged off her bathrobe, and washed her hands twice with soap. When she was sure they were dry and clean, she approached her bed, a reverent look in her eyes.
Her everyday underwear was discarded for the one chosen specifically for the occasion. Her heart beating out of her chest, she slipped the dress on and, unable to close the zipper on her own, she held it up for a few minutes with her hands, just staring at herself in the mirror, amazement and joy on her face.
When her sister knocked and entered, she just turned around, her eyes gleaming, and asked her to please zip her up.
At Emily's call the rest of her party rushed to her room. Appreciation was expressed, a few tears were shed, pictures were taken, and, after some resistance on Jayma's part, champagne was downed- just a small sip for her empty stomach.
It was 3.55pm, and a car was waiting for her, appropriately late to her own wedding.
As everyone filed out of the room, she grabbed Dianna's forearm. "I just need a minute."
Her friend smiled, squeezed her hand and left her alone.
She recollected her thoughts.
Something old: the diamond star-shaped earrings and necklace Matt had given her the year before.
Something new: her wedding dress.
Something borrowed: a white gold bracelet her mom had brought with her that morning, that Jayma's dad had given Anne when they had first started dating.
Something blue: a series of bows woven in the inside of her gown.
A white lacy garter around her right thigh.
A bouquet of white and lavender lilies in her hands.
She was ready.
-----
The white noise that had filled Matt's ears before had now moved to fill Jayma's, as she sat in the antique car with her dad. She kept counting up the street numbers, and when she realized they were approaching their destination, she took a few steadying breaths.
At the sound, her dad turned to face her, and took her hand. "Hey, Bug. Everything okay?"
"Yeah.” She gripped her dad's hand as the car pulled over. "Just... don't let me fall, okay?"
"I got you."
She entered the same side door Matt had used earlier, and got into a back room, where her bridesmaids were waiting, with her mom and Marissa Winokur, who was rehearsing with her son Zev for one last time, since he had been appointed as ring bearer.
She stood once more in front of the mirror, not really looking at herself, and then turned around with a smile. "Nice day to get married."
The tension was broken with a laughter, and her mom left them with a hug to her daughter; as she stepped out in the main chapel, she gave a nod to the string quartet that had been playing in an undertone during their wait for the bride.
Matt had been nervously shifting his weight from one foot to the other, exchanging a few words with his friends, nodding at known faces, but mostly just concentrating on his breathing. In. Out. In. Out. He'd been doing that for more than 32 years, how come it was so hard all of a sudden?
"Nervous?" His dad had walked up to him.
"Y...Yeah. Nervous. Excited. Happy. You know." He chuckled. "Mostly, nervous." He fiddled with the white lily on his jacket, worried it was going to be ruined by the time Jayma got there.
Tom smiled at his son, and got a fresh flower from one of the benches. "Allow me." He discarded the old flower, and placed the fresh one in its place. "It's gonna be okay. As soon as you see her."
He exhaled deeply. "I know. I'm okay." They shared a hug. "Thanks, dad."
After a moment of silence, the music changed, and the first, beautiful notes of Pachelbel's "Canon in D" started playing. The lounge door opened, at the very end of the aisle, and everyone got up and turned, to see Zev all dressed up in a mini-version of the same suit Matt and his best men were wearing. He was bringing the cushion with the rings with extreme care, a serious expression on his face as he realized everyone was looking at him, while Marissa guided him with a smile from the second row.
Matt's grin was huge at the sight of his little man tugging on his sleeve and delivering him the white pillow, before running bashfully back to his mom. He set the rings in front of them, and turned once more, just as Dianna was coming out of the door, looking great in her lavender dress, smiling to the few known faces she met in the aisle.
In what to him felt like a second, Emily had walked down the aisle too, and taken her place beside Dianna. The violins began to play more forcefully, and everyone turned around again, some craning their necks to get a better view, and suddenly, there she was.
Her dad on her right, white and lavender flowers in her hands, her white gown flowing easily down her body, her red hair framing her pale skin and huge eyes. She had never looked more beautiful. That was the moment. The one he'd never forget in his life. She was perfect.
She looked shyly around for a few steps, smiling at everyone and nobody in particular, but then she raised her gaze in front of her, and saw him, and from that moment there was nothing else in the world, the music had stopped, the people had disappeared, even her dad beside her was barely more than a shadow, as she walked towards him, her steps not tentative anymore, but straight and secure. His smile was so wide she was worried he'd dislocate his jaw, his mouth slightly agape, his eyes wet.
When, at the end of the aisle, her dad warmly shook hands with Matthew, and then gave him her hand, Matt forgot the right etiquette, and just sneaked his arms around her waist, hugging her tight and lifting her clear off the ground for a few seconds, his face nestled in her neck, her hands resting on the curls on the back of his head.
"You look stunning." His breath was warm on her skin, and she shivered.
When he finally let her down, and she caressed his cheek for a second, they realized the whole church had been clapping and cheering for the past minute, ever since he got a hold of her. She blushed deeply, another beautiful addition to her already beautiful self, and he had to fight hard with himself not to lean closer and kiss her.
The wedding itself was little more than a blur for the both of them, too excited and happy to feel more than the other's hand in their own.
They barely registered the minister talking about "second chances" and "true love conquers all", and wishing them a lifetime of happiness. He was glad the ceremony was being filmed or he wouldn't have a single memory left.
Before they knew it, it was time for the rings and vows. They had rehearsed the moment twice the previous day, but he didn't even remember if he was supposed to take her right or left hand.
His fingers trembled as he reached for her wedding ring, on the lacy pillow, a white gold band with small diamonds encased around the circumference, matching her engagement ring, that had been moved to her right hand for the day.
He followed the minister's words as he pronounced the standard vows, and then raised his right hand to her left, silently praying not to drop the ring and to stop trembling that hard. He stared in her eyes for a long moment, her smile so big it was likely hurting her cheeks.
Slowly, carefully, he slipped the ring on her bare left ring finger. "With this ring I thee wed." It was barely more than a stunned whisper, because he loved her, and she was becoming his wife, and he could hardly believe this was happening. He clasped her hand in his, and brought it to his lips for a brief moment.
She found it hard to pronounce the vows, tears and emotion interfering with her speech ability. When his white gold wedding band was safely on his left hand, a warm feeling spread through her body, and again, all they could do was fall in a tight embrace, eyes slipped shut, arms closing around each other, cheers erupting from the two rows where their Glee costars were seated and quickly spreading around, both bridesmaids and groomsmen unable to hide their wet eyes.
Matt's reluctance at expressing his feelings in front of everyone with his vows was in vain, their emotions more than obvious to everyone even without a single word.
A few more moments, and they were pronounced husband and wife. When he was granted permission to kiss the bride, he couldn't suppress a "...Finally!!" that made everyone laugh, as their lips met for the first time as a married couple. They turned around then, holding each other tight, as the minister introduced "Mrs and Mr Matthew Morrison" to the world for the first time, and faced the crowd of family and friends, everyone beaming and clapping, most dabbing at the tears spilling from their eyes.
They had to step in the back room to sign some documents, and then again in the chapel as their photographer suggested they take a couple of pics there. When they finally walked out to the back yard, their guests showered them with colored confetti, a couple of Matt's friends literally turning full bags upside down on his head, and he could feel a few slipping down in his underwear uncomfortably, but then Jayma turned to him, laughing, the sun shining off her hair, and he was so happy he felt dizzy, his hand tightly held in hers.
They spent more time between pictures and congratulations, people were literally flowing to them, until he was tackled by James, who first warmly shook his hand and then hugged him, Jayma's brother nodding in the background. Anne threw her arms around him, and mumbled a sweet "Welcome to the family." To his right, he saw his mom hug Jayma in the very same way.
Ten minutes or two hours were gone, they couldn't say, when their planner hinted they all move to the party venue, and they climbed in the back of the same limo that had brought Jayma to the church earlier.
Their driver didn't even need to be instructed as to the address, and they gladly fell in the spacious back seat, Matt's hands closing on his wife's waist as he brought her to sit on his lap.m
She twisted her body, grinned, and kissed him deeply, slowly, until he quite literally couldn't remember his own name anymore.
"Hi." Her smile was huge, her eyes wide and shining, and he stared at her for a long moment, his fingers running on her cheeks and jaw.o
"Hi, Mrs Morrison."
She laughed. "Oh my God. I'm gonna need to get used to that. Mrs Morrison was your dad's wife to me."
"Well, you're a way hotter, sexier, cuter version."
She hugged his shoulders, resting her face in his neck. "I'm so happy, Matty. My God, I'm just so happy."
Smiling, he stopped a tear from falling on her cheek with a finger. "Hey, hey. No crying now, or everyone will think I've already screwed up something." He pressed his lips lovingly to her forehead. "I'm happy too, sweetie... Well, mostly I'm kind of numb, you know? Like, I couldn't really listen to the minister. Are we sure I didn't marry Brian by accident?"
She burst into laughter, and shook her head forcefully, their noses touching. "Nope. You're all mine."
He grinned. "Oh. Cool."
"Yeah. Cool."
Their ride felt way too short to them, and they quickly got out of the car and into the building where they'd be hosting the dinner party. Some passers-by noticed them, and a few even recognized them, but they were gone before anyone could do anything about it.
Their introduction to the reception as Mrs and Mr Morrison gained them yet more cheers and clapping from their guests, while the Catch Me If You Can band and singer, their presence a gift from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, played swing songs in the background.
They were forced to separate for a little while as they greeted guests and posed for pictures, a constant smile on their faces as they listened for the hundredth time to people telling them how beautiful and in love they looked.
-----
"...hmmmmm this is so good. Did you try the lobster yet?" She fed him with her fork, her gesture so wife-y he felt his chest swell.
"That's delicious." His arms closed around her bare shoulders and brought her closer. "Hey. Come here. "t
She grinned. "Are you trying to escape giving the speech by being extra cute?" She kissed his temple. "I'm not letting you off the hook, in case you're wondering."
He chuckled. "I wasn't even thinking about that! I look forward to my speech, for your information.".
"Okay, now I'm scared for real."
"...is it the champagne or have you always been a smartass and I just never realized it?"
"Always been. Sorry. Too late to take me back."
He kissed her deeply. "I would never."
Before the cake, they heard a clinking of glass, and saw Rick standing up in the table next to theirs. Matt smiled. He knew what was coming.
"Hello everyone! I'm sorry for interrupting your dinner. My name is Rick, and as you may have guessed earlier at the church, I'm one of Matt's groomsmen." There were a few cheers from the table where Matt's closest friends were seated, and Rick laughed and bowed.
"Thank you to my fans. I've just got a couple of things to say, so I promise I'll be brief. I've known Matt for... about twenty years. We've been friends since middle school, and let me tell you, he was an idiot." Everyone laughed. "And I'm not even joking!
"Between us, I've always been the responsible one, and Matt the dreamer, and, sometimes, the screw-up too.
“But since Jayma entered his life, there's been this other side of him... one I had seen just glimpses of in the past.
“I remember one day, this past January, while we were driving up to my place, in LA. It was a very late evening and we were both wiped from our days. At some point, a song started playing on the radio, and Matt turned to me and said, 'This is the song Jayma and I will dance to at our wedding.' I had no idea he was going to propose by then, and then he said something that struck me. He said, 'I'm gonna marry her someday. We belong. I just want to start my life with her.' And that's when I knew my buddy had made the right choice."
He turned to Matt and Jayma, both visibly touched by his words. "And now, if you'll allow, Jayma, Matt would love to dance with you for the first time as husband and wife. We both hope you'll enjoy the song."
Everyone stared as Matt, overcome by emotion, got up and took Jayma's hand, gently guiding her to the center of the dance floor, as a piano began to play, and someone nobody recognized got to the mike.
The very thought of you makes
My heart sing
Like an April breeze
On the wings of spring
And you appear in all your splendor
My one and only love
Guests gasped as they realized the voice that sounded like Sting's was in fact coming from Sting himself.
The shadows fall
And spread their mystic charms
In the hush of night
While you're in my arms
I feel your lips so warm and tender
My one and only love
Matt smiled, and gently laid his lips on Jayma's, while she blushed adorably.
The touch of your hand is like heaven
A heaven that I've never known
The blush on your cheek
Whenever I speak
Tells me that you are my own
You fill my eager heart with
Such desire
Every kiss you give
Sets my soul on fire
I give myself in sweet surrender
My one and only love
They swayed to the music, Matt quietly singing the lyrics in Jayma's ear, and at the end, when Sting wished them a lifetime of happiness and left the stage, they didn't leave, but still kept close, and danced two more songs, as many of their guests joined them on the floor.
As their magnificent wedding cake was cut and shared among the room, Dianna rose to her feet, blushing deeply. She was the last among groomsmen and bridesmaids to say a few words. Her Glee costars playfully cheered for her, and then the room went quiet.
“Good evening, everyone. I’m usually not great at speaking in public, so I hope you’ll all forgive me for not being quite as eloquent as the rest of the speeches you heard tonight.” She turned and smiled at her two friends. “Matt and Jayma are two extraordinary people. But I don’t have to tell you that myself: if you’re here tonight, you know it already. I feel so lucky to be working with them every day.
“Jayma and I have been best friends for more than two years by now, and I do believe I was the first one they told about their relationship. To this day, I’ve never seen anyone in my life as happy as they’ve been ever since they got together. Some people are just… meant to be, and their happiness is the kind that warms other people’s hearts, and gives them hope they’ll find what they have.
“So if I can make a wish for all of us here tonight, it’s for each one of us to find something as pure and sweet as Jay and Matt have in their life every day. And if I can make a wish for them, it’s to let their love grow along with them, and always remember how incredibly lucky they are.” She turned to her Glee costars, who all got up, and she smirked. “No singing, Matt, don’t worry. Just a toast from all of us, to the two of you. Cheers!”
The last speech of the night was delivered by the groom himself, keeping a promise to his brand-new wife. He waited until he figured champagne had rendered most of his audience quite inattentive to his words, and then got up, strangely nervous about speaking in public; as soon as he stood, the room fell silent.
"I guess I don't have to introduce myself." He chuckled. "I promised Jayma I'd say a few words, so here I am. But since we've had so many great speeches tonight, and I can't compete, I'm gonna be brief." He took his wife's hand in his. "I've been in love with Jayma for longer than I was allowed to. I didn't mean for it to happen, but I couldn't help it. She's the most generous, loving and caring person I've ever met." He smiled, mostly to himself. "She makes me a better person by just being with her." He smiled down at her. "And I love her more than words will ever express."
They vaguely heard cheers as he sat back down, and enveloped her in a long kiss. He mumbled a "Those were not my vows, in case you're wondering..." and dove back in, until a few catcalls from a couple of tables brought them back to reality.
-----
"Hmmmm... Matt..." His fingers were trying blindly to unzip her dress on her back, and she pulled back from their kiss. "There's a hook and a zipper there."
He had just moved his lips to the side of her jaw and neck, "Stupid hook..."
She giggled, and stilled his hands. "Hey. We're five minutes from our destination. We might try and wait 'til we get there, so you won't tear my wedding dress apart..."
He groaned and kept kissing her behind her ear, making her moan at a skillful touch of his tongue. "It's been too long..."
She gently climbed off his lap, keeping his hands in hers. "I promise I'll make it worth the wait."
The car left them at their honeymoon suite in a resort in the Hamptons a few minutes later. Matt jumped out of the vehicle, holding out his hand for her to step out in her gown and, before she could steady herself on the ground, he lifted her bridal-style, and crossed the door to their room that a bellboy was keeping open for them, as Jayma laughed wildly.
He kicked the door close with his heel, simultaneously attacking her neck with kisses, walking to their gigantic bed, dropping her in the middle and straddling her waist, careful not to kick the champagne bottle that had been placed, together with strawberries and chocolate, in a red basket by the pillows.
He kissed all along her neck and collarbone, tracing a line with his tongue, and her eyes rotated in the back of her head without her consent. She vaguely noticed the basket on her right, and even more vaguely remembered something about vows that needed to be told, but then he nibbled her pulse point in a way that made her gasp and all she could do was reach for his tie, and start undressing him.
-----
"Here. Have one more." He reached for another strawberry, dipped it in chocolate and slipped it in her mouth, her head nestled on his chest as they sat against the headboard, one of her hands tracing the edges of his abs.
"Hm. I don't know about aphrodisiac, but this sure tastes good." She kissed his nipple, leaving a faint mark of chocolate on his skin, and licking him consequently. "You taste even better though."
He chuckled and held her tighter to his chest. After a few silent moments, he reached for his suit jacket, peeking out from under the bed, and extracted something from an inner pocket. A white envelope.
"Do you know what this is?"
She stared for a few seconds, and, recollecting her thoughts, her eyes widened, and she just nodded, conscious of the solemn moment.
"I promised I'd read these to you, either during our wedding or right after... and now we're a lot after..." He winked. "So..."
She had knelt up beside him, and was now holding a hand on his chest, to stop him from talking. "Ladies first? Please?" He tilted his head at her, and she blushed. "I don't know if I'm gonna be able to speak after I hear what you have to say."
He nodded and sat up, the sheet covering his midsection, and she slipped back in her pink satin slip. "Feels wrong to be naked in such a moment," she winked, and he retrieved his boxers from a corner of the room, his ears turning red.
She sat back down, and took his hands.
"Matty," he looked at her, adoration in his eyes. "All my life, I thought I knew what love was. Then you came, and literally swept me off my feet." She smiled, tears streaming down her face. "I've never felt as loved, and safe, and happy as I've been since you've entered my life. The way you look out for me, and make me laugh, the way you just hold me for hours when I've had a bad day... You don't realize what it all means to me. And I never knew I was even capable of loving someone as much as I love you." She sobbed. "The idea of sharing my life with you, that's almost too good to be real..." She cried as he reached for her cheek. "I love you."
He kissed her deeply, winding his arms around her waist and twisting his fingers around her red curls, until they were both out of breath, and even then, he kept her close to him, swaying them gently back and forth, knelt on the mattress as they were, her hands anchored to his biceps.
After a little while, he heard her muffled "Your turn" against his arm, chuckled lightly, and pulled back a little, laying a kiss on her forehead.
He reached again for the white envelope and tore it open, pulling out a single sheet of paper, looked at it for a second, and then laid it aside.
"I don't need a script for once," he smiled and kissed her lips. "I love you." He chuckled. "Isn't that wonderful to say it out loud? I'm so in love with you that sometimes, when I know I'm about to see you, I feel almost dizzy with excitement. You're so beautiful, and smart, and funny, and kind, and so incredibly brave... And when you smile... oh, my baby." He cupped her cheek. "When you smile, it's like a switch has been turned on in the world. So if I can have one goal in my life, that's gonna be it. To make you smile, as much as humanly possible." He softly kissed her once more. "I love you, Jayma Morrison."
_______________________________________
Christmas 2015
“All the windows were dark, no one knew he was there…” His voice was clear and overdramatic, his glasses perched midway on the bridge of his nose.
“Then he slid down the chimney, a rather tight pitch… but if Santa could do it, then so could the Grinch!”
Right in front of him, a small red-head hid her face against her mom’s chest for a second, laughing, her tiny hands pressed up against her mouth.
“The he slithered and slunged with a smile most unpleasant…” He heard a muffled giggle, but kept on reading. “…around the whole room… and took every present.”
A loud gasp could be heard coming from Jayma’s lap, and he grinned for a second. Sitting on a red couch cushion, a seven-year-old Zev smlled indulgently at the younger kids’ reaction, feeling so grown up.
Matt kept reading Dr. Seuss’s story, as the little ones followed his every syllable with bated breath. Jayma looked out of their window. It was snowing again in Manhattan, and they had to be at the theater in two hours. She got up.
“Mommy, no, don’t go!!” The cry had come from a two-and-a-half years old version of herself. Curly red hair fastened by a green bow, perfect pale skin, huge hazel eyes that reminded Jayma so much of her husband she still felt her breath falter every time she stared at her daughter.
She smiled apologetically for the interruption. “I’m not leaving, Bug. But I remember someone asking for hot chocolate… or am I wrong?” She raised an eyebrow jokingly, and saw Thomas take his twin-sister’s hand.
“Hot chocolate, Ellie!” He turned to his mom, reddish blonde curls and a lopsided grin identical to his dad’s. “And some chocolate chips cookies too?”
She couldn’t help laughing. “Maybe. If someone can be quiet long enough for dad to finish reading the story…”
Her babies sat back down, gesturing at each other to shut up. She came back, a few minutes later, to savage yells and the sight of Matthew being attacked by his two kids and Marissa’s ones, while their friend snagged pictures, laughing. “Hey hey hey, now! Ouch!” He saw his wife approaching them. “Jayma! I’m being attacked!! Heeeeeelp!”
She burst into laughter, and disentangled Tommy from his dad. “What’s going on here? I can’t leave you three alone for a minute??”
“He was the Grinch, mommy! We had to take him down!!” Thomas was laughing excitedly from his mom’s hold, tangling his tiny fingers in the collarbone of her shirt.
Ellie had finally settled down in her dad’s lap, and had spotted their promised hot beverages. “Chocolate!!”
They all approached the table, as Matt hugged Jayma from behind. “Chocolate overload, now they’ll never settle for bed in time…
She grinned and leaned back on his chest. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. The snowball fight wore them out good.”
He checked his watch. “We have to be out of the door in an hour and thirty minutes.” He kissed her neck, her hair already styled up for the evening. “I love your hair like this. I’m so happy you’re growing it out.”
“I know you are.” She smiled. His favorite activity in their downtime, besides playing with their kids, was playing with her hair, running his fingers through her ringlets, as she let her body relax against his after a long day of shooting her tv series, when he was back from his theater rehearsals.
“Oh, my. Tommy!” Jayma freed herself from her husband’s arms at the sight of her son dipping his whole face in chocolate and leaning close to his sister to plant a kiss on her cheek, as she unsuccessfully tried to avoid him, giggling and holding her hands up to his cheeks.
Matt burst into laughter. “Worn out, hm?”
He quickly got a hold of his kids and dragged them upstairs to the bathtub, while Jayma opened the door to their nanny.
A good hour later, many cries and kisses and promises of a fun-filled morning to make up for the night away, they were finally getting in the car waiting for them.
“Nervous?” She entwined her fingers with his and studied his face. It was his big comeback on Broadway, after seven years away.
He exhaled deeply. “A little bit.” Careful not to wrinkle her dress, or mess her hair, he circled her shoulders with an arm, and laid a kiss on her temple. “I hate it when I really want to kiss you but I’d mess up your make up.”
She blushed -he loved to still be able to make her blush, after almost six years- and opened her pochette, extracting something. A lipstick. Giggling softly, she pulled him closer by the back of his head. They kissed deeply, hungrily, as the car sped through Manhattan, and when they parted, he leaned his forehead on hers.
“What was I nervous about, again?” He grinned widely, and she laughed. “I love you.”
“I love you too, rockstar.”
_______________________________________
Chapter 50! I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I loved writing this. I want to thank everyone who stopped even for just a second to write a line, you have no idea how much it means to me. :)
I know not many of you have a LJ account, so I made a twitter account, in case you want to comment or even just say hello.
To my friends who pushed me to keep on writing what was supposed to be a one-shot, and read and edited my chapters in advance, thank you so much. A big thank you to N, who read and edited this final chapter, with a lot of patience for my endless list of issues.
And in case you're already starting to miss these characters... well, it might not be the last we hear of them. I've realized I can't really just quit them. ;)
Author: emmaschuester
Pairing/Characters: Jayma Mays/Matthew Morrison
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Harmless fun, no offence intended. Pure work of fiction.
Spoilers: None.
Summary/Author's Notes: The end. :)
And so, he did. Dug out his running gear from his closet, tied his sneakers, sent a text to Rick (out for a run, will be home in an hour to get ready), took his iPod and home keys out of his backpack, and went for a run along the Hudson River Park, one of his favorite spots for this activity.
When he got back, he found Rick and Brian pacing the pavement in front of his apartment complex.
"Dude! You freaked us out!" Brian slapped his shoulder, not lightly.
"What?" He took his earbuds out. "And also, ouch. That hurt!"
"Have you had a chance to glance at the time, moron?"
He lifted his right wrist, but he wasn't wearing a watch. He lit up his iPod. 1:25pm. "Oh, fuck!" He practically threw himself inside the door and up to his place. "Ooooh, fuck, fuck, fuck."
"What the hell??"
"I completely lost track of time! I was just... running, and I... oh, crap. I ran almost two hours."
"Your dad's gonna be here in an hour, try and be ready to go, okay?"
"I will. I will." He closed the bathroom door behind him, but then opened it again a second later, his head popping out, a huge grin on his face. "Hey, I don't know if you noticed, but I'm marrying the love of my life today."
"Nope you're marrying her if you get the hell under that shower and get ready! Or you need me to wash your back? Gooooo!!"
He burst into laughter and closed the door behind him, re-emerging some forty minutes later, showered, shaved, and looking refreshed. He headed straight for his bedroom, where he had already laid out his suit in the morning, and proceeded to get dressed.
When he turned around, already wearing briefs, pants and socks, his white shirt still unbuttoned, and saw himself in the mirror, he had to stop for a second, to take a deep breath, and try and steady his trembling fingers as they unsuccessfully tried to loop the buttons in the right holes.
This is it, man. This is really it.
He smiled at himself in the mirror, finally winning his battle, and retrieved his tie and vest from his bed when he heard a knock on the door.
"Almost ready?" Rick's head was peeking in.
"Yeah, almost. Come on in."
"Man, you look like a penguin."
"You're aware we're wearing pretty much the same suit, right?"
"Oh, I know. Remind me to kick your ass for choosing a three-piece suit. It's still too hot."
He chuckled. "It's not too bad. You'll get used to it."
"And anyway, I look awesome. You look like a penguin."
"Jeez, thanks for the confidence."
They both stood in front of the mirror. Rick was his oldest friend, and knew him really well.
"This is it, man."
"Funny, I was just telling that myself."
"You talk to yourself too now? Poor Jayma."
"Oh, shut up."
They got back to the living room, where Matt's dad had just arrived. It felt weird to be all dressed up at two-thirty in the afternoon, and a strange feeling of grandness took over them, silencing their talks for a couple of minutes, until Tom scratched his throat, and the spell was broken. Matt was on autopilot, a new buzzing almost covering his friends' voices, like white noise that couldn't be turned down. He saw Rick check for the rings in the inner pocket of his jacket, and he stopped for a second to check his hair in the mirror. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed Brian roll his eyes, smirk and take his Lubriderm bottle with them. Before he knew it, he was in a car with his father, to the church where he'd get married in an hour and ten minutes. Possibly more, if Jayma were to be a little late.
The Riverside Church was even prettier than he remembered it, the trees around glowing in the mid-afternoon September sun. He was thankful for the lack of people or paparazzi gathered around, their planner had done an outstanding job and covering everything up. He got out of the car quickly, and headed for the back room. It was still early, and the church was empty, apart from the ushers, the priest and the musicians that were setting up in their spot.
He checked his phone, and wondered what Jayma was doing.
-----
Jayma's preparations had begun much earlier than Matt's. By eight in the morning she was already showered and ready for her day. She relished that little alone time, her very light breakfast -she was sure she couldn't stomach too much-, the time under the water, a little music playing in the background, a playlist he had made for her. She surveyed the New York roofs from her 40th floor window, Central Park right in front of her, the Upper West Side on her left, a church over there waiting for them... She smiled, and hugged her waist, the soft bathrobe brushing on her skin. Noticing the time, she headed to her bedroom, the beautiful custom Vera Wang dress hanging behind her door. Her fingertips ran on the silk cover, and she tried to process the fact that she was actually marrying Matthew today.
Before she could so much as elaborate the tight feeling in her chest, her room was invaded by hair and make-up artists, her personal stylist, her mom, her sister and Dianna. Here we go.
She was in a kind of trance as they fixed her red hair, that she had allowed to grow long for a few months, leaving most of her length on her shoulders, curled in tidy red ringlets, just a few locks gathered above her ears, some baby's breath blossoms finishing the simple, but stunning look.
Make-up took longer than expected, but in the end she looked almost as if she wasn't wearing any, except for some eye shadow and mascara. Her cheeks were red from excitement, her lips were accentuated just by a light lipstick. She looked natural, and fresh-faced, just the way Matt loved.
Four hours had passed, and she hadn't even realized it. She politely declined on lunch, her stomach doing back-flips by that moment, and spent her break in her bedroom, alone, going through old post-its and notes of his she always kept in her planner. She had all the ones he had written her on her birthday the year before, and so many more.
Slowly, she unzipped the bag protecting her gown, revealing her wedding dress. It was a simple, strapless ivory-white dress, with a sleek, classy, silky skirt that ran down her long legs, widening a little at the end, but without a real train. As she laid it down on her bed, her eyes followed the patterns the pearls and beads composed on the bodice.
She shrugged off her bathrobe, and washed her hands twice with soap. When she was sure they were dry and clean, she approached her bed, a reverent look in her eyes.
Her everyday underwear was discarded for the one chosen specifically for the occasion. Her heart beating out of her chest, she slipped the dress on and, unable to close the zipper on her own, she held it up for a few minutes with her hands, just staring at herself in the mirror, amazement and joy on her face.
When her sister knocked and entered, she just turned around, her eyes gleaming, and asked her to please zip her up.
At Emily's call the rest of her party rushed to her room. Appreciation was expressed, a few tears were shed, pictures were taken, and, after some resistance on Jayma's part, champagne was downed- just a small sip for her empty stomach.
It was 3.55pm, and a car was waiting for her, appropriately late to her own wedding.
As everyone filed out of the room, she grabbed Dianna's forearm. "I just need a minute."
Her friend smiled, squeezed her hand and left her alone.
She recollected her thoughts.
Something old: the diamond star-shaped earrings and necklace Matt had given her the year before.
Something new: her wedding dress.
Something borrowed: a white gold bracelet her mom had brought with her that morning, that Jayma's dad had given Anne when they had first started dating.
Something blue: a series of bows woven in the inside of her gown.
A white lacy garter around her right thigh.
A bouquet of white and lavender lilies in her hands.
She was ready.
-----
The white noise that had filled Matt's ears before had now moved to fill Jayma's, as she sat in the antique car with her dad. She kept counting up the street numbers, and when she realized they were approaching their destination, she took a few steadying breaths.
At the sound, her dad turned to face her, and took her hand. "Hey, Bug. Everything okay?"
"Yeah.” She gripped her dad's hand as the car pulled over. "Just... don't let me fall, okay?"
"I got you."
She entered the same side door Matt had used earlier, and got into a back room, where her bridesmaids were waiting, with her mom and Marissa Winokur, who was rehearsing with her son Zev for one last time, since he had been appointed as ring bearer.
She stood once more in front of the mirror, not really looking at herself, and then turned around with a smile. "Nice day to get married."
The tension was broken with a laughter, and her mom left them with a hug to her daughter; as she stepped out in the main chapel, she gave a nod to the string quartet that had been playing in an undertone during their wait for the bride.
Matt had been nervously shifting his weight from one foot to the other, exchanging a few words with his friends, nodding at known faces, but mostly just concentrating on his breathing. In. Out. In. Out. He'd been doing that for more than 32 years, how come it was so hard all of a sudden?
"Nervous?" His dad had walked up to him.
"Y...Yeah. Nervous. Excited. Happy. You know." He chuckled. "Mostly, nervous." He fiddled with the white lily on his jacket, worried it was going to be ruined by the time Jayma got there.
Tom smiled at his son, and got a fresh flower from one of the benches. "Allow me." He discarded the old flower, and placed the fresh one in its place. "It's gonna be okay. As soon as you see her."
He exhaled deeply. "I know. I'm okay." They shared a hug. "Thanks, dad."
After a moment of silence, the music changed, and the first, beautiful notes of Pachelbel's "Canon in D" started playing. The lounge door opened, at the very end of the aisle, and everyone got up and turned, to see Zev all dressed up in a mini-version of the same suit Matt and his best men were wearing. He was bringing the cushion with the rings with extreme care, a serious expression on his face as he realized everyone was looking at him, while Marissa guided him with a smile from the second row.
Matt's grin was huge at the sight of his little man tugging on his sleeve and delivering him the white pillow, before running bashfully back to his mom. He set the rings in front of them, and turned once more, just as Dianna was coming out of the door, looking great in her lavender dress, smiling to the few known faces she met in the aisle.
In what to him felt like a second, Emily had walked down the aisle too, and taken her place beside Dianna. The violins began to play more forcefully, and everyone turned around again, some craning their necks to get a better view, and suddenly, there she was.
Her dad on her right, white and lavender flowers in her hands, her white gown flowing easily down her body, her red hair framing her pale skin and huge eyes. She had never looked more beautiful. That was the moment. The one he'd never forget in his life. She was perfect.
She looked shyly around for a few steps, smiling at everyone and nobody in particular, but then she raised her gaze in front of her, and saw him, and from that moment there was nothing else in the world, the music had stopped, the people had disappeared, even her dad beside her was barely more than a shadow, as she walked towards him, her steps not tentative anymore, but straight and secure. His smile was so wide she was worried he'd dislocate his jaw, his mouth slightly agape, his eyes wet.
When, at the end of the aisle, her dad warmly shook hands with Matthew, and then gave him her hand, Matt forgot the right etiquette, and just sneaked his arms around her waist, hugging her tight and lifting her clear off the ground for a few seconds, his face nestled in her neck, her hands resting on the curls on the back of his head.
"You look stunning." His breath was warm on her skin, and she shivered.
When he finally let her down, and she caressed his cheek for a second, they realized the whole church had been clapping and cheering for the past minute, ever since he got a hold of her. She blushed deeply, another beautiful addition to her already beautiful self, and he had to fight hard with himself not to lean closer and kiss her.
The wedding itself was little more than a blur for the both of them, too excited and happy to feel more than the other's hand in their own.
They barely registered the minister talking about "second chances" and "true love conquers all", and wishing them a lifetime of happiness. He was glad the ceremony was being filmed or he wouldn't have a single memory left.
Before they knew it, it was time for the rings and vows. They had rehearsed the moment twice the previous day, but he didn't even remember if he was supposed to take her right or left hand.
His fingers trembled as he reached for her wedding ring, on the lacy pillow, a white gold band with small diamonds encased around the circumference, matching her engagement ring, that had been moved to her right hand for the day.
He followed the minister's words as he pronounced the standard vows, and then raised his right hand to her left, silently praying not to drop the ring and to stop trembling that hard. He stared in her eyes for a long moment, her smile so big it was likely hurting her cheeks.
Slowly, carefully, he slipped the ring on her bare left ring finger. "With this ring I thee wed." It was barely more than a stunned whisper, because he loved her, and she was becoming his wife, and he could hardly believe this was happening. He clasped her hand in his, and brought it to his lips for a brief moment.
She found it hard to pronounce the vows, tears and emotion interfering with her speech ability. When his white gold wedding band was safely on his left hand, a warm feeling spread through her body, and again, all they could do was fall in a tight embrace, eyes slipped shut, arms closing around each other, cheers erupting from the two rows where their Glee costars were seated and quickly spreading around, both bridesmaids and groomsmen unable to hide their wet eyes.
Matt's reluctance at expressing his feelings in front of everyone with his vows was in vain, their emotions more than obvious to everyone even without a single word.
A few more moments, and they were pronounced husband and wife. When he was granted permission to kiss the bride, he couldn't suppress a "...Finally!!" that made everyone laugh, as their lips met for the first time as a married couple. They turned around then, holding each other tight, as the minister introduced "Mrs and Mr Matthew Morrison" to the world for the first time, and faced the crowd of family and friends, everyone beaming and clapping, most dabbing at the tears spilling from their eyes.
They had to step in the back room to sign some documents, and then again in the chapel as their photographer suggested they take a couple of pics there. When they finally walked out to the back yard, their guests showered them with colored confetti, a couple of Matt's friends literally turning full bags upside down on his head, and he could feel a few slipping down in his underwear uncomfortably, but then Jayma turned to him, laughing, the sun shining off her hair, and he was so happy he felt dizzy, his hand tightly held in hers.
They spent more time between pictures and congratulations, people were literally flowing to them, until he was tackled by James, who first warmly shook his hand and then hugged him, Jayma's brother nodding in the background. Anne threw her arms around him, and mumbled a sweet "Welcome to the family." To his right, he saw his mom hug Jayma in the very same way.
Ten minutes or two hours were gone, they couldn't say, when their planner hinted they all move to the party venue, and they climbed in the back of the same limo that had brought Jayma to the church earlier.
Their driver didn't even need to be instructed as to the address, and they gladly fell in the spacious back seat, Matt's hands closing on his wife's waist as he brought her to sit on his lap.m
She twisted her body, grinned, and kissed him deeply, slowly, until he quite literally couldn't remember his own name anymore.
"Hi." Her smile was huge, her eyes wide and shining, and he stared at her for a long moment, his fingers running on her cheeks and jaw.o
"Hi, Mrs Morrison."
She laughed. "Oh my God. I'm gonna need to get used to that. Mrs Morrison was your dad's wife to me."
"Well, you're a way hotter, sexier, cuter version."
She hugged his shoulders, resting her face in his neck. "I'm so happy, Matty. My God, I'm just so happy."
Smiling, he stopped a tear from falling on her cheek with a finger. "Hey, hey. No crying now, or everyone will think I've already screwed up something." He pressed his lips lovingly to her forehead. "I'm happy too, sweetie... Well, mostly I'm kind of numb, you know? Like, I couldn't really listen to the minister. Are we sure I didn't marry Brian by accident?"
She burst into laughter, and shook her head forcefully, their noses touching. "Nope. You're all mine."
He grinned. "Oh. Cool."
"Yeah. Cool."
Their ride felt way too short to them, and they quickly got out of the car and into the building where they'd be hosting the dinner party. Some passers-by noticed them, and a few even recognized them, but they were gone before anyone could do anything about it.
Their introduction to the reception as Mrs and Mr Morrison gained them yet more cheers and clapping from their guests, while the Catch Me If You Can band and singer, their presence a gift from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, played swing songs in the background.
They were forced to separate for a little while as they greeted guests and posed for pictures, a constant smile on their faces as they listened for the hundredth time to people telling them how beautiful and in love they looked.
-----
"...hmmmmm this is so good. Did you try the lobster yet?" She fed him with her fork, her gesture so wife-y he felt his chest swell.
"That's delicious." His arms closed around her bare shoulders and brought her closer. "Hey. Come here. "t
She grinned. "Are you trying to escape giving the speech by being extra cute?" She kissed his temple. "I'm not letting you off the hook, in case you're wondering."
He chuckled. "I wasn't even thinking about that! I look forward to my speech, for your information.".
"Okay, now I'm scared for real."
"...is it the champagne or have you always been a smartass and I just never realized it?"
"Always been. Sorry. Too late to take me back."
He kissed her deeply. "I would never."
Before the cake, they heard a clinking of glass, and saw Rick standing up in the table next to theirs. Matt smiled. He knew what was coming.
"Hello everyone! I'm sorry for interrupting your dinner. My name is Rick, and as you may have guessed earlier at the church, I'm one of Matt's groomsmen." There were a few cheers from the table where Matt's closest friends were seated, and Rick laughed and bowed.
"Thank you to my fans. I've just got a couple of things to say, so I promise I'll be brief. I've known Matt for... about twenty years. We've been friends since middle school, and let me tell you, he was an idiot." Everyone laughed. "And I'm not even joking!
"Between us, I've always been the responsible one, and Matt the dreamer, and, sometimes, the screw-up too.
“But since Jayma entered his life, there's been this other side of him... one I had seen just glimpses of in the past.
“I remember one day, this past January, while we were driving up to my place, in LA. It was a very late evening and we were both wiped from our days. At some point, a song started playing on the radio, and Matt turned to me and said, 'This is the song Jayma and I will dance to at our wedding.' I had no idea he was going to propose by then, and then he said something that struck me. He said, 'I'm gonna marry her someday. We belong. I just want to start my life with her.' And that's when I knew my buddy had made the right choice."
He turned to Matt and Jayma, both visibly touched by his words. "And now, if you'll allow, Jayma, Matt would love to dance with you for the first time as husband and wife. We both hope you'll enjoy the song."
Everyone stared as Matt, overcome by emotion, got up and took Jayma's hand, gently guiding her to the center of the dance floor, as a piano began to play, and someone nobody recognized got to the mike.
The very thought of you makes
My heart sing
Like an April breeze
On the wings of spring
And you appear in all your splendor
My one and only love
Guests gasped as they realized the voice that sounded like Sting's was in fact coming from Sting himself.
The shadows fall
And spread their mystic charms
In the hush of night
While you're in my arms
I feel your lips so warm and tender
My one and only love
Matt smiled, and gently laid his lips on Jayma's, while she blushed adorably.
The touch of your hand is like heaven
A heaven that I've never known
The blush on your cheek
Whenever I speak
Tells me that you are my own
You fill my eager heart with
Such desire
Every kiss you give
Sets my soul on fire
I give myself in sweet surrender
My one and only love
They swayed to the music, Matt quietly singing the lyrics in Jayma's ear, and at the end, when Sting wished them a lifetime of happiness and left the stage, they didn't leave, but still kept close, and danced two more songs, as many of their guests joined them on the floor.
As their magnificent wedding cake was cut and shared among the room, Dianna rose to her feet, blushing deeply. She was the last among groomsmen and bridesmaids to say a few words. Her Glee costars playfully cheered for her, and then the room went quiet.
“Good evening, everyone. I’m usually not great at speaking in public, so I hope you’ll all forgive me for not being quite as eloquent as the rest of the speeches you heard tonight.” She turned and smiled at her two friends. “Matt and Jayma are two extraordinary people. But I don’t have to tell you that myself: if you’re here tonight, you know it already. I feel so lucky to be working with them every day.
“Jayma and I have been best friends for more than two years by now, and I do believe I was the first one they told about their relationship. To this day, I’ve never seen anyone in my life as happy as they’ve been ever since they got together. Some people are just… meant to be, and their happiness is the kind that warms other people’s hearts, and gives them hope they’ll find what they have.
“So if I can make a wish for all of us here tonight, it’s for each one of us to find something as pure and sweet as Jay and Matt have in their life every day. And if I can make a wish for them, it’s to let their love grow along with them, and always remember how incredibly lucky they are.” She turned to her Glee costars, who all got up, and she smirked. “No singing, Matt, don’t worry. Just a toast from all of us, to the two of you. Cheers!”
The last speech of the night was delivered by the groom himself, keeping a promise to his brand-new wife. He waited until he figured champagne had rendered most of his audience quite inattentive to his words, and then got up, strangely nervous about speaking in public; as soon as he stood, the room fell silent.
"I guess I don't have to introduce myself." He chuckled. "I promised Jayma I'd say a few words, so here I am. But since we've had so many great speeches tonight, and I can't compete, I'm gonna be brief." He took his wife's hand in his. "I've been in love with Jayma for longer than I was allowed to. I didn't mean for it to happen, but I couldn't help it. She's the most generous, loving and caring person I've ever met." He smiled, mostly to himself. "She makes me a better person by just being with her." He smiled down at her. "And I love her more than words will ever express."
They vaguely heard cheers as he sat back down, and enveloped her in a long kiss. He mumbled a "Those were not my vows, in case you're wondering..." and dove back in, until a few catcalls from a couple of tables brought them back to reality.
-----
"Hmmmm... Matt..." His fingers were trying blindly to unzip her dress on her back, and she pulled back from their kiss. "There's a hook and a zipper there."
He had just moved his lips to the side of her jaw and neck, "Stupid hook..."
She giggled, and stilled his hands. "Hey. We're five minutes from our destination. We might try and wait 'til we get there, so you won't tear my wedding dress apart..."
He groaned and kept kissing her behind her ear, making her moan at a skillful touch of his tongue. "It's been too long..."
She gently climbed off his lap, keeping his hands in hers. "I promise I'll make it worth the wait."
The car left them at their honeymoon suite in a resort in the Hamptons a few minutes later. Matt jumped out of the vehicle, holding out his hand for her to step out in her gown and, before she could steady herself on the ground, he lifted her bridal-style, and crossed the door to their room that a bellboy was keeping open for them, as Jayma laughed wildly.
He kicked the door close with his heel, simultaneously attacking her neck with kisses, walking to their gigantic bed, dropping her in the middle and straddling her waist, careful not to kick the champagne bottle that had been placed, together with strawberries and chocolate, in a red basket by the pillows.
He kissed all along her neck and collarbone, tracing a line with his tongue, and her eyes rotated in the back of her head without her consent. She vaguely noticed the basket on her right, and even more vaguely remembered something about vows that needed to be told, but then he nibbled her pulse point in a way that made her gasp and all she could do was reach for his tie, and start undressing him.
-----
"Here. Have one more." He reached for another strawberry, dipped it in chocolate and slipped it in her mouth, her head nestled on his chest as they sat against the headboard, one of her hands tracing the edges of his abs.
"Hm. I don't know about aphrodisiac, but this sure tastes good." She kissed his nipple, leaving a faint mark of chocolate on his skin, and licking him consequently. "You taste even better though."
He chuckled and held her tighter to his chest. After a few silent moments, he reached for his suit jacket, peeking out from under the bed, and extracted something from an inner pocket. A white envelope.
"Do you know what this is?"
She stared for a few seconds, and, recollecting her thoughts, her eyes widened, and she just nodded, conscious of the solemn moment.
"I promised I'd read these to you, either during our wedding or right after... and now we're a lot after..." He winked. "So..."
She had knelt up beside him, and was now holding a hand on his chest, to stop him from talking. "Ladies first? Please?" He tilted his head at her, and she blushed. "I don't know if I'm gonna be able to speak after I hear what you have to say."
He nodded and sat up, the sheet covering his midsection, and she slipped back in her pink satin slip. "Feels wrong to be naked in such a moment," she winked, and he retrieved his boxers from a corner of the room, his ears turning red.
She sat back down, and took his hands.
"Matty," he looked at her, adoration in his eyes. "All my life, I thought I knew what love was. Then you came, and literally swept me off my feet." She smiled, tears streaming down her face. "I've never felt as loved, and safe, and happy as I've been since you've entered my life. The way you look out for me, and make me laugh, the way you just hold me for hours when I've had a bad day... You don't realize what it all means to me. And I never knew I was even capable of loving someone as much as I love you." She sobbed. "The idea of sharing my life with you, that's almost too good to be real..." She cried as he reached for her cheek. "I love you."
He kissed her deeply, winding his arms around her waist and twisting his fingers around her red curls, until they were both out of breath, and even then, he kept her close to him, swaying them gently back and forth, knelt on the mattress as they were, her hands anchored to his biceps.
After a little while, he heard her muffled "Your turn" against his arm, chuckled lightly, and pulled back a little, laying a kiss on her forehead.
He reached again for the white envelope and tore it open, pulling out a single sheet of paper, looked at it for a second, and then laid it aside.
"I don't need a script for once," he smiled and kissed her lips. "I love you." He chuckled. "Isn't that wonderful to say it out loud? I'm so in love with you that sometimes, when I know I'm about to see you, I feel almost dizzy with excitement. You're so beautiful, and smart, and funny, and kind, and so incredibly brave... And when you smile... oh, my baby." He cupped her cheek. "When you smile, it's like a switch has been turned on in the world. So if I can have one goal in my life, that's gonna be it. To make you smile, as much as humanly possible." He softly kissed her once more. "I love you, Jayma Morrison."
_______________________________________
Christmas 2015
“All the windows were dark, no one knew he was there…” His voice was clear and overdramatic, his glasses perched midway on the bridge of his nose.
“Then he slid down the chimney, a rather tight pitch… but if Santa could do it, then so could the Grinch!”
Right in front of him, a small red-head hid her face against her mom’s chest for a second, laughing, her tiny hands pressed up against her mouth.
“The he slithered and slunged with a smile most unpleasant…” He heard a muffled giggle, but kept on reading. “…around the whole room… and took every present.”
A loud gasp could be heard coming from Jayma’s lap, and he grinned for a second. Sitting on a red couch cushion, a seven-year-old Zev smlled indulgently at the younger kids’ reaction, feeling so grown up.
Matt kept reading Dr. Seuss’s story, as the little ones followed his every syllable with bated breath. Jayma looked out of their window. It was snowing again in Manhattan, and they had to be at the theater in two hours. She got up.
“Mommy, no, don’t go!!” The cry had come from a two-and-a-half years old version of herself. Curly red hair fastened by a green bow, perfect pale skin, huge hazel eyes that reminded Jayma so much of her husband she still felt her breath falter every time she stared at her daughter.
She smiled apologetically for the interruption. “I’m not leaving, Bug. But I remember someone asking for hot chocolate… or am I wrong?” She raised an eyebrow jokingly, and saw Thomas take his twin-sister’s hand.
“Hot chocolate, Ellie!” He turned to his mom, reddish blonde curls and a lopsided grin identical to his dad’s. “And some chocolate chips cookies too?”
She couldn’t help laughing. “Maybe. If someone can be quiet long enough for dad to finish reading the story…”
Her babies sat back down, gesturing at each other to shut up. She came back, a few minutes later, to savage yells and the sight of Matthew being attacked by his two kids and Marissa’s ones, while their friend snagged pictures, laughing. “Hey hey hey, now! Ouch!” He saw his wife approaching them. “Jayma! I’m being attacked!! Heeeeeelp!”
She burst into laughter, and disentangled Tommy from his dad. “What’s going on here? I can’t leave you three alone for a minute??”
“He was the Grinch, mommy! We had to take him down!!” Thomas was laughing excitedly from his mom’s hold, tangling his tiny fingers in the collarbone of her shirt.
Ellie had finally settled down in her dad’s lap, and had spotted their promised hot beverages. “Chocolate!!”
They all approached the table, as Matt hugged Jayma from behind. “Chocolate overload, now they’ll never settle for bed in time…
She grinned and leaned back on his chest. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. The snowball fight wore them out good.”
He checked his watch. “We have to be out of the door in an hour and thirty minutes.” He kissed her neck, her hair already styled up for the evening. “I love your hair like this. I’m so happy you’re growing it out.”
“I know you are.” She smiled. His favorite activity in their downtime, besides playing with their kids, was playing with her hair, running his fingers through her ringlets, as she let her body relax against his after a long day of shooting her tv series, when he was back from his theater rehearsals.
“Oh, my. Tommy!” Jayma freed herself from her husband’s arms at the sight of her son dipping his whole face in chocolate and leaning close to his sister to plant a kiss on her cheek, as she unsuccessfully tried to avoid him, giggling and holding her hands up to his cheeks.
Matt burst into laughter. “Worn out, hm?”
He quickly got a hold of his kids and dragged them upstairs to the bathtub, while Jayma opened the door to their nanny.
A good hour later, many cries and kisses and promises of a fun-filled morning to make up for the night away, they were finally getting in the car waiting for them.
“Nervous?” She entwined her fingers with his and studied his face. It was his big comeback on Broadway, after seven years away.
He exhaled deeply. “A little bit.” Careful not to wrinkle her dress, or mess her hair, he circled her shoulders with an arm, and laid a kiss on her temple. “I hate it when I really want to kiss you but I’d mess up your make up.”
She blushed -he loved to still be able to make her blush, after almost six years- and opened her pochette, extracting something. A lipstick. Giggling softly, she pulled him closer by the back of his head. They kissed deeply, hungrily, as the car sped through Manhattan, and when they parted, he leaned his forehead on hers.
“What was I nervous about, again?” He grinned widely, and she laughed. “I love you.”
“I love you too, rockstar.”
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Chapter 50! I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I loved writing this. I want to thank everyone who stopped even for just a second to write a line, you have no idea how much it means to me. :)
I know not many of you have a LJ account, so I made a twitter account, in case you want to comment or even just say hello.
To my friends who pushed me to keep on writing what was supposed to be a one-shot, and read and edited my chapters in advance, thank you so much. A big thank you to N, who read and edited this final chapter, with a lot of patience for my endless list of issues.
And in case you're already starting to miss these characters... well, it might not be the last we hear of them. I've realized I can't really just quit them. ;)