When Steve sucked in air, he also squinted against the afternoon sun that was illuminating Kayla before him like some kind of glowing angel. The dizziness didn’t become full blown vertigo, which allowed him to take in the scene even before his vision properly righted itself; somewhere in his hindbrain he ruminated on the uncharacteristically mild arrival and why that might be. In just moments he knew exactly where he was and couldn’t help but smile at the full-on barrage of beauty settled completely around him. The support and love of the guests, his beautiful bride before him, and the way he felt about himself at this very moment wrapped him in the same warmth right now as it had his first time around. Steve felt Marcus’s steadying hand on his shoulder as the end of the jump effect flew through him, but in this moment his attention was squarely on Kayla.
“There never was a more beautiful bride,” Shawn said. Then he took Steve’s hand and clasped it into Kayla’s and said, “take care of her, son.” Before the usual questions could overtake him, Kayla answered them with a squeeze and the unmistakable look in her eyes. He felt something in her touch that only the two of them would understand and could not be described. Something like relief. He let out a breath at the look on her face.
“You just got here, too” he barely whispered. Kayla nodded. Steve brought their clasped hands to his lips and kissed her ring finger. “What do we do?”
Kayla looked around and saw the love and adoration of every one of the people surrounding them. Then she looked back at Steve and smiled. “We get married,” she quietly replied out loud with a quiet shrug.
The collective gasp from their guests brought Steve and Kayla fully into the present they’d landed in.
“Well, cat’s outta the bag now, lass,” Shawn chuckled.
“You did it, Kay!” Kimberly said in her ear.
Most jumps were filled with stress in the first moments of their arrivals. This time it was different. Maybe it was because they knew exactly where they were and where, literally, everyone else was, too. Maybe it was because it was such a joyful moment they’d jumped to. Or maybe it was because there were no difficult, ethical questions about marrying each other or being with each other or even just experiencing new memories with each other when only one of them was present. The fact that they were both here at the very same time was a development they’d talk about later, but for right now, they didn’t feel the pressure of it all. There was no zero to 60. There was no running. There was no mystery. And so they did the only thing that really made sense. They got married.
They experienced the beautiful ceremony with a déjà vu that they felt on the physical level, but they let themselves enjoy it. Justin sang, and Steve watched his sister beam with love for him. Kimberly gazed at Shane with what seemed like a bond that could never be broken. And Kayla couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at the journey John had no idea he’d be experiencing. Steve and Kayla’s three collective parents looked so young. So happy. As Shawn and Caroline sat back down after giving Kayla away, Steve caught his mother’s eye. He felt a deep love and appreciation for her as her golden hair blew softly in the breeze.
“Repeat after me.”
“I do,” Steve fairly yelped. Everyone giggled, and Steve’s Merchant Marines captain who’d married them all those years ago shook his head with a knowing grin.
“Well, folks, another thing about Steve back when we served together. He never could follow directions.”
“Some things never change,” Marcus added. All hands on deck were now laughing, including Steve, himself.
“Sorry,” Steve chuckled, “I guess I just really wanna be Kayla’s husband.”
Still, Kayla mouthed. Steve gave her a wink.
“Ok, let’s try again,” the captain said, “now repeat after me. I, Steven …”
Steve and Kayla followed their prompts and said their I do’s. When it came time for their personal vows, Steve dropped his grin. Their first wedding here on this yacht was sacred to him, and he didn’t want to alter it by not saying his vows, that he happened to not remember word for word, exactly as he’d said them the first time. He turned toward the captain and said, “Gimme just a sec, here.” Then he leaned toward Kayla’s good ear. “I don’t remember the exact words, Sweetness,” he whispered.
“It doesn’t matter, she whispered back, “just say anything, it will be beautiful.”
“I want it to be the same, I don’t want this to change.” The crowd had begun murmuring, and the captain nudged Steve as he made a joke at his expense about always having to make this difficult.
Kayla palmed his soft, smooth face as her lips touched his ear. “It doesn’t matter. Today lives in me. It lives in us both.”
No matter how many times Steve had done this or would do this again, he was a sensitive man, and those simple, whispered words were enough to make him tear up. He stepped back and nodded at the woman who was already his wife several times over with a smile that warmed everyone’s heart.
“Kayla. I’ve stood here so many times before today. I’ve married you … in my heart … maybe even since it began beating. You say I deserve you, but part of me will never be completely sure. Because I’d never be the man I am if it wasn’t for you. You’re my courage.” He signed that word so defining of their relationship as he said it. “You’re my strength. No one has ever seen into my heart like you do. I believe in me because you believe in me. There are days when I just don’t have the strength – until you find it. I’ve made vows to you that are sacred, Sweetness. I’ll never forget them. I don’t have much. But what I have is yours. I’m yours. I love you, Sweetness.
Everyone was affected watching this display of devotion, especially Jack hiding in the back. But even after all these years and several weddings, Steve and Kayla were tunnel visioned right now on only each other.
“When I was a little girl, I dreamed of you on this day surrounded by everyone I loved most. But I never dreamed that my life would be this … beautiful. This fulfilled. I never dreamed that a man to brave and strong and true could give me everything I ever dreamed of like you have. I never dreamed that I could share my soul so completely that that man would be able to hear me without words. Across years. Through the impossible. And I never dreamed that in my very darkest hour … in my coldest silence … that I could look for you, and you would always be there. I’m yours forever. I love you.”
These vows were different versions of the ones they’d already recited here before. They were different than their wedding two years from now. And they were different from the one they had in 1987. But they were no less meaningful. And Steve realized that Kayla was right. Nothing would be able to change this original moment all these years ago.
“Steve and Kayla have given themselves to each other with the pledging of their vows, the exchanging of their rings, and the joining of their hands. I, therefore, promise that they are man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
The short hours between their arrivals and the reception’s nightfall went by in a haze. Through the dancing, toasting, tossing of matrimonial symbols – the threat of impending departure was never far from their minds. Nevertheless, they allowed themselves some enjoyment. Kayla was especially grateful that she could hear, but a couple of glasses of wine later, reality kind of hit her like a ton of bricks. Don’t get comfortable. This is not your time.
As if Steve could hear her thoughts, he appeared beside her. “It’s gondola time, Sweetness.” Moments later, they were swept away as family and friends shouted their well-wishes to the newlyweds. They settled in as the gondolier rowed them up-river and gazed at each other in silence. Finally, Steve leaned in and kissed her sweetly. “You’re my Sweetness,” he said.
“So this isn’t old for you yet?”
Steve shook his head. “Not marrying you, no. The jumping, though …”
“It really doesn’t take anything away from our real first wedding. It only makes it sweeter, I think.”
“Yes, it does,” Steve said. But his smile was sad, actually. Kayla knitted her brow in mild concern. In response Steve turned her to lean against him. He stroked his thumb over her hand as he held it.
“That was the last time,” he said softly.
“The last time?”
“We’ll get married. I think – I think it’s the last time that we’ll get married.” Kayla didn’t have to ask him what he meant; she knew what he meant, because she could feel it.
“I think I feel it, too. Like there’s some kind of … something … we’re not going to jump to this time again. I can’t describe it, but it feels different. Maybe it’s Rolf doing something.”
“Or maybe it’s us doing something. Maybe it’s us deciding.” They were silent for a moment, then Kayla let out a little chuckle.
“What?” Steve asked.
“Our first wedding is also our last wedding. I think it’s very fitting.”
Steve turned his wife’s chin back toward him with his fingers and dropped a kiss onto her plump lips. He parted them gently with his tongue and felt his soul tingle with a love so strong it took his breath away.
Back at the loft Steve gently unzipped Kayla’s beautiful wedding dress just has he had before and laid it out gently on the bed. If they stayed on this timeline’s schedule, they’d have no time for anything but changing into travelling clothes and heading for the airport. And it didn’t take them long to decide that that’s exactly what they were going to do. They were not, however, taking another trip to the Orient. They were still going to board that plane, but the flight plan was about to be altered. Because this time they were going to Copenhagen.