September 28 Ceremony: Courtyard of The Louvre Reception: The Louvre Everyone is invited
All friends and family are welcome to join Neal Caffrey and Lissa Dragomir. The ceremony takes places in the courtyard of The Louvre mid-afternoon. The couple exchanges vows and rings. Peter Burke is the Best Man while Neal Burke also serves as groomsman. Rose Belikova is Matron of Honor, and Jill Dragomir is also a bridesmaid. The ceremony is simple and classic, and the reception is moved inside into one of the large halls. Food, drinks, and a live band appear, playing a mixture of Big Band themed songs as well as a selection of modern ballads.
SEPTEMBER 28
NEAL CAFFREY + LISSA DRAGOMIR
SMUSHY | IN PROGRESS
This was a day that he never thought would come. Neal Caffrey was getting married. Not only here in Atlantis but at all. The life that Neal led didn’t lend towards marriage and settling down. He’d thought about it, but the time, place, and circumstance had never been right. Until now. Now, Neal was marrying a woman that he knew for a fact was far too good for him, and he was still woke up surprised every day that she’d agreed to spend her life with him.
In the wake of the battle with so many injuries and deaths, he’d considered postponing the wedding until a later date, but after talking it over with one another and others, they eventually decided to move forward. The war was finally over, and this wasn’t a day that COS would take away from them. Though many were still hurt or grieving, this was a brand new world for all of them and that started with a new day.
To say that he’d been nervous would have been a gross understatement. Neal stood next to Peter in front of dozens of friends with his hands clasped together in order to keep them from shaking. The scene couldn’t have been more perfect. On the grounds of The Louvre, the setting was so beautiful. Then, as soon as he saw her for the first time, Neal’s heart practically leapt out of his chest. Lissa was always beautiful, but there were absolutely no words to describe how she looked to him while walking down the aisle. He knew there had to have been the most ridiculous of smiles plastered on his face that only grew with each step she took towards him.
The ceremony went off without a hitch, though Neal would probably have to be reminded how a lot of it went after it was all said and done. Except for the vows. His were said by heart, from his heart, and through each promise, he vowed to love and care for Lissa and to stay by her side for every day of his life. Her vows relayed the same sentiments but in her words that he knew he’d never forget. As the ceremony was ending, and Neal kissed his new wife, he knew that he’d never been happier throughout his entire life. No successful job, score, or heist had ever given him the thrill or the highest of highs that marrying the love of his life did.
As they turned to face their friends and family now as man and wife, Neal smiled brightly and gave Lissa’s hand in his a firm squeeze before the two walked back down the aisle together. Once they were alone and before anyone else came out to greet them, Neal pulled Lissa close and whispered, “I love you,” against her lips and kissed her. Their brand new world was just beginning.
Married. Lissa still couldn’t believe it. There were moments when they were saying their vows that she completely forgot that there was anyone else in the room. She was wrapped up in the moment, in his words, in his smile, in the way his eyes lit up when something in her vows teased him, just a little bit. She’d made a mention to love him no matter what Disney cartoon character Atlantis decided they should be next, even if it meant never eating lobster again.
It almost felt like a dream as they moved through all of their loved ones to get a few pictures and to the reception. Lissa’s wedding dress transfigured, thanks to amazing witches, from the more flowing gown to something a little more manageable on a dance floor.
Their first dance came and went with elegance and she heard a few ooos and aaas from the crowd. Neal’s dancing skills never did disappoint. The rest of the evening was spent celebrating. It was good to see some smiling faces, there were some sad smiles and Lissa knew the grieving would take as much time as it took.
She found herself in her husbands' arms again after a spin on the dance floor with Peter Burke.
“Husband,” she whispered with a small laugh, looking up she shrugged lightly. “Getting used to the word.”
"Weird, huh?" Neal grinned. Their relationship and lives together weren't weird, but the fact that this day had finally come. Not only that, but it was still wild to think that after all he'd lived through, the ups and the downs, that he was now dancing with his new wife and couldn't imagine a happier moment.
He was glad that they didn't wait or postpone the day. It was still hard knowing that not everyone they wanted to be here, was actually here, but Elizabeth had been right. They had a future here, and dancing here with Lissa, his wife, he was never more sure of that than right now in this moment.
"Sometimes I still can't believe this is real," he said and subconsciously tightened his arm around her waist a bit. "You, me, us. That I'm officially the luckiest guy in Atlantis."
Neal smirked and before she could answer, he spun her out in a brief twirl then pulled her close to him again. It wasn't just in Atlantis, he was by far the luckiest guy in every world across the multiverse.
She’d just about said something when he spun her out, she laughed as she did, she didn’t even notice the photographer taking pictures of them. They were both lucky, and Lissa was surprised that they got to this day, especially with how the rest of the month had gone and given how Atlantis was in general.
“I suppose we should spend some time thanking everyone for coming,” she whispered as she spun back into Neal and held him close as they swayed to the music. Lissa really did want to thank everyone and spend time with all of those that were there but she was looking forward to some time with just her husband.