Her Runaway Prince

The priest motioned for them take their seats.

“Petro Mikael Johansen and Amanda Douglas, today you are surrounded by your friends and family, all of whom have gathered here to witness your marriage and to share in the joy of this special occasion. Today, as you join yourselves in marriage, there is a vast and unknown future stretching out before you. The possibilities and potentials of your married life are great; and now falls upon your shoulders the task of choosing your values and making real your dreams. Through your commitment to each other, may you grow and nurture a love that makes both of you better people, a love that continues to give you great joy, and also a passion for living that provides you with energy and patience to face the responsibilities of life,” the priest spoke out loudly.

“I am to understand that you wrote your own vows?” the priest asked.

“Yes we did,” they answered in unison.

“Very well. Petro, you may go first.”

Petro let out a dry cough, trying to clear his throat. He pulled out the folded piece of paper from the inside pocket of his suit. With trembling hands he unfolded it and began to read.

“Amanda, when I first met you, I was beyond lost. I had no idea who I was. I had no idea what I wanted from life. I had no idea where my future was headed. Everything was so unclear and confusing. Yet when I first saw your smile, it was so genuine and real. You had no idea who I was. You had no idea of my status or my wealth. You just saw me as a person, and you deemed me good enough to become close with you. It was on that day that I immediately fell in love with all of you. The soft snores in the morning, the constant getting lost in your own fantasies. The way you like to hum when you cook yet sing when you fry. I couldn’t stop myself from falling for you, and I am so thankful I didn’t. You are the greatest thing to ever happen to me and I will forever be grateful for all that you have given me. So today, in front of all these people and in the eyes of the Almighty God, I solemnly vow to love you eternally. To be your rock and protect you from the storms that may come. To be yours, forever. To be your lover, your partner, your best friend, until death do us part,” he finished.

The entire chapel was silent aside from the few that were softly sobbing at Petro’s touching words.

“Thank you, Petro. Amanda, you may now say your vows.”

“Well, I didn’t really prepare anything that well thought of. In fact, I didn’t really prepare anything at all. So, I’ll just speak from my heart. Petro, the day you stumbled into my BednBreakfast, all cold and lost and confused, I somehow instinctively knew that my life was about to change forever. And that you were the catalyst for that change. You taught me so many new things. You taught me to accept all my little quirks. You taught me to never fight against what my heart wants. You taught me to never hold myself back. You taught me to love again. And it is for this reason that I solemnly vow to be by your side for all eternity. To love and to hold you. In sickness, in health. For richer or for poorer. I will always be in your corner and by your side, ready to face the world with you. I love you, Petro Johansen, and I always will,” she tearfully said.

“Thank you Amanda. Now—” Before the priest could finish, Petro had moved forward towards Amanda. He wrapped his arm around her waist, dipped her down and passionately kissed her.

“Mr. Johansen, if you please. I haven’t said to kiss the bride yet,” the priest told Petro.

“Oh, yes, I know. Sorry father, but gotta get a practice run in, right?” he smirked, but the priest was not assumed.

“Now, as I was saying. Please bring the rings forward,” the priest requested.

Down the aisle came little Alexi. She was hopping and absolutely radiating with glee. Petro winked at her and pulled out the chocolate bar, shaking it at her as encouragement. Quickly she started running down faster. Petro gave her the chocolate bar in exchange for the rings.

Petro took Amanda’s hand in his and gently slid the ring down her finger. It was a perfect fit. Amanda followed suit, except she had to work a little bit to get the ring down his finger.

“Petro, do you take Amanda to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”

“I do,” Peter replied with a gigantic smile .

“Amanda, do you take Petro to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”

“I do,” she tearfully answered.

“Very well. Then, by the power vested in me by the Almighty God, I hereby make you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

Petro didn’t have to be asked twice. He grabbed Amanda and pulled her tightly against him. His lips met hers with a fiery passion as they kissed for the first time as man and wife.

“Isn’t that what I just did, hmmm?” Amanda giggled and lifted his head up to kiss him.

Petro kissed her softly and then just stared at her.

“What? Is there something on my face, huh?” she asked jokingly.

“No, I’m just thinking about how much I love you,” he told her softly.

“And I love you even more, Petro. From now until forever.” She smiled up at him.

In that moment, both felt so content. Both felt so happy. For once in their lives, everything was perfect. Everything had fallen into place. The future was now a destination they were eager to get to, because it was now a future they would share together. Mr. Petro Mikael Johansen and Mrs. Amanda Douglas-Johansen. The world finally laid bare in front of them, and their path was their own to choose.

The end.