The music began to play and Shannon gave Rogue a smile.
"Ready?" she said.
Rogue took a deep breath.
"Yes," she said.
Shannon smiled and started walking down the aisle. Rogue and Gambit had decided to only have 1 attendant each: Shannon was Rogue's Maid of Honour, and Gambit had asked one of his friends to be his Best Man.
Rogue waited until Shannon was halfway down the aisle before stepping out onto the floor herself. The skirt of the gown was held up at the front, giving Rogue the ability to walk without the risk of stepping on her own gown. AT the back, however, it was so long it dragged on the ground. The top was corsett-like in appearence, and intricatley embroidered. Rogue decided to wear the elbow length white gloves after all, and everything was offset with red trim, including her bouquet of flowers - red roses.
"We are gathered here today," said Kurt.
**********
A couple of "I do's" some kissing, and lots of photos later, and the happy couple and their guest were gathered in the reception hall. In the end, Rogue and Gambit decided they would only invite people they actually wanted to attend, and no one they would only invite because they felt 'obligated' to do so. You would be amazed at how much this cut the guest list down by.
Julie sat at one end of the hall and noted that she and Bobby had been - no doubt deliberately - sat at opposite ends. She sighed. Julie had seriously considered not coming today. Aside from Bobby also being there, it stung somewhat to be at a wedding when the wounds from her own failed marriage were so recent. Then too, Kurt also conducted their wedding.
Man, this was depressing.
Meanwhile at the bridal table there was much joy and happiness. The entre was served and various guests would come up to the table to say hi and give their congratulations. Rogue and Gambit would kiss each other regularily throughout and would often smile and whisper 'I love you's to each other. How sweet.
The hired DJ played the set list and different ones would get up to do a little dance.
Gambit's boss Johnny was seated at one table with a number of Gambit's friends - mostly colleagues. At first glance one might have the idea that they were deliberately keeping the humans away from the mutants, but this would be a false assumption. What they were actually doing was keeping the unsavoury element away from being too close to people they might want to corrupt or otherwise pump for information. Seriously. The X-men and a criminal organisation both in the same place? It was only a sensible precaution.
Bobby
Bobby squeezed Gabriella's knee gently, before turning to Hank.
"So, twinkies tonight?" he asked.
Hank chuckled. "If you are up to it, of course."
Gabriella grinned, shaking her head. "One day, you're going to wake up and hate twinkies. Then where will you be?"
"In my cold, cold grave," Bobby replied seriously. "I could never hate twinkies."
Julie and Shannon
Julie went up to the bar and grabbed a drink. Free bar equals her friend. Bobby would have to be here with Gabriella, wouldn't he?
The entre was gradually eaten and the MC accounced the speeches. Shannon, nervously, went first:
"Hello," she said. "I am Shannon, and when I first arrived at Xavier's, Rogue was the first to greet me. She made me feel welcome in a place which would eventually end up my home. Rogue, I know that you and Gambit have been crazy about each other ever since you met, although you were always together through that time. You make a wonderful couple and I wish you the best in the years to come."
Bobby
Hank hid his grin at something that Bobby said, while Bobby was having a hard time not bursting out into laughter at an inappropriate moment, like he was prone to do.
"You're a bad friend," Gabriella whispered jokingly.
"Probably," was the reply.
Rogue and Gambit
Jubilee smirked at Bobby as the Best Man got up to make his speech.
Professor Xavier sipped his drink along with everyone else for the toast that the Best Man called for.
Rogue and Gambit held hands under the table until it was time for Gambit's speech - Rogue had declined to make one.
"Rogue," Gambit said. "Today you have made me the happiest man alive. I love you, and look forward to spending the rest of our lives together. You filled a hole in my life I didn't know was there, and you have put up with me even when I wasn't... at my best."
Rogue did her best not to snicker.
Bobby
Bobby grinned at Jubilee and winked slightly. He mouthed the words 'check your phone', where he had sent her a lame joke through sms.
Hank hit Bobby's shoulder lightly. "Stop causing trouble."
"Me? Never!"
Rogue and Gambit
Jubliee fished her phone out of her pocket and checked her messages. She tried very, very hard to stifle her giggles when she read Bobby's message.
Thus the speeches ended and dinner was brought out. Rogue kissed Gambit.
"That was very sweet," she said.
"I meant every word," Gambit replied seriously.
"I know. Mocking me at our wedding wouldn't really be a good way to start things off."
Gambit chuckled.
Bobby
Bobby decided that he was going to take the opportunity to drink as much as he could, considering that Hank had bravely volunteered to drive himself and Gabriella back to Bobby's new place with Lennon.
"Free bar!" he called, getting out of his seat.
Gabriella shook her head slightly, but looked up at him. "Champagne me."
"Will do. And then I'll get you a glass too. HA! Comic gold."
Julie
Julie was at the bar getting her... hmm.. how many glasses was it now? She'd lost count.
"T'ank yooo," she said to the barman, who was wondering if he should stop serving her alcohol.
Bobby
"Champagne and a vodka and oj thanks," Bobby said to the barman.
He turned to see Julie.
"Hey little J."
Julie and Rogue
Julie blinked.
"Heeeeeeyyyy..." she said.
Rogue looked up at the bar at that moment to see Julie and Bobby both standing there. May this not end in tears.
Bobby
"Ok bud, I think you need to sit down," Bobby said, signalling to the barman. "Could I get a large glass of water for her?"
He helped Julie onto a stool.
"I want you to drink this," he told her, sliding the water over to her. "All up. Can you do that for me?"
Julie
Julie pushed the water away with not nearly as much force as she would have liked.
"G'way," she said. "Don' wanna do anyfing fo' yoooo."
She lifted her index finger in the air as if about to make a point, which she promptly forgot and frowned in confusion.
Bobby
Bobby paused, trying to think of his next move.
"Ok," he said carefully. "What if... drinking the water will hurt me?"
Julie
Julie's frowned deepened.
"Why woul' I wan' to hur' yoooo?" she asked.
Bobby
"Coz... I want to drink it. And... if you do, I will not be able to."
Bobby was starting to wish he'd just not spoken to her at all.
Julie
Julie blinked, trying to comprehend this.
"Okay," she said finally, and took the glass of water.
Bobby
Bobby stood awkwardly for a moment, then lifted the drinks he'd ordered.
"Um, I should get back, my dinner is waiting. Yours will be too. Um... ok."
He left, wondering if there was more he should've said.
Julie and Rogue
Julie looked after him. Leaving her. Again.
Rogue continued to watch Julie for a time. She was still worried, but relieved that there hadn't been a major blowout scene or something.
Bobby
Bobby sat back down in his seat, and rested his head on Hank's shoulder.
"You ok?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah, that was just... messy," Bobby replied, shrugging slightly. "And awkward."
Hank patted his friends knee gently. "In time."
"I know. Anyway. Food!"
Rogue and Gambit
After dinner, Rogue and Gambit got up to cut the cake. Those who wanted to take photos of the cake before it was sliced up were invited to do so.
The cake was chocolate, with red icing roses on it. Red seemed to be the primary theme - Gambit worse red and black, there were red napkins, table cloths and all other manner of red things.
The waitors then took the cake to slice up into pieces for everyone and Rogue and Gambit took that moment to do the birdal waltz. Which was more of a tango, actually.
Bobby
Bobby stood and held his hand out to Gabriella once they were invited up to dance.
"You know you want to," he joked.
"Watch your public humiliation with that thing you call dancing? Bring it on!"
Rogue, Gambit and Shannon
Rogue rested her head on Gambit's shoulder once the music slowed to a more sedate pace.
"That was fun," she said.
Gambit responded by kissing her cheek.
"Shannon?" asked Forge. "Would you like to dance?"
Shannon looked up in suprise.
"Yes," she replied, and allowed him to lead her out onto the floor.