Two months later, when Victoria steps into the bar, she's met with the trills of an overwrought wedding march. Matt has a very large family, even though none of them are related by blood, and it seems as though they’ve all arrived for this special day.
Most of them are members of the Horsemen. A few are simply long-time friends. They stand up when Victoria steps inside wearing her pale green dress and dark green heels. The way they look at her makes her heart flutter, like she's some sort of prize or like she's something worth protecting.
Meg walks down the makeshift aisle in front of her wearing a gown of the palest blue. She tosses handfuls of rose petals onto the floor, smiling like this is her wedding day. Meg finishes her walk and takes her place by the chaplain.
There are no parents here, no photographers, just a bunch of bikers and bar patrons. One of the cruder members of the Horsemen pinches Victoria's rear when she walks past him. “You be good to that boy, you hear me? He deserves a nice, wet girl tonight. Best be ready to open those legs up good and wide for him, Princess.”
Victoria blushes, hard. Even though she's pregnant, they've agreed to have one last tryst. The lewd comments have been coming all night, though this is the first time anyone has said them to her directly.
It's not something meant to be mean or spiteful. That's just how the bikers are. It's how they say good luck and best of wishes.
Matt had been right; they're good people, but they aren't anything like what she's used to.
Speaking of Matt, he's standing up at the front of the bar next to the chaplain. Mano is standing at his side. They've both pulled out ill-fitting suits for the occasion.
In no time at all, she finds herself at the altar. In a low drone, the clergyman begins his part. “Do you, Matt, take this woman…”
The rest of his words fade out into a buzz. Victoria can’t stop herself from staring at Matt, who’s leaned forward slightly, hardly able to wait to avow that, yes, he will take her.
His vows are short and sweet and everyone claps.
Meg wrote Victoria's vows. The young princess and soon-to-be mother stumbles over the words, promising to love and obey him. They make her skin crawl in all the best ways; they make her shudder with anticipation.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” says the clergyman, taking a single step backwards. “You may now kiss the bride.”
And Matt is upon her then, resting one hand on the small of Victoria's back and curling the other around her shoulders. His lips are firm, and the kiss is demanding, nothing like the sweet nothings they’ve shared in the past. This one is meant to be a promise.
# # #
The wedding party only cements Victoria's love for everyone in the Horsemen. Oh, there's no end to the crude comments.
“Look at those breasts. Hardly worth the time he spent on her.”
“She’s a princess, isn’t she? I hear they’re supposed to be good bed partners. Real open, if you know what I mean. Real eager, too. My cousin had one of them once. Oh boy, let me tell you. Said he slipped right in without any slick at all.”
“A pretty face like that, you can’t tell me she isn't going to drop Matt when something better comes along.”
“Can’t believe he’s waited this long for it. Old Matt's really going soft. Why, I remember going out to the pub with him not that long ago and hearing all about how he ravished this pretty little thing from upstate.”
On and on they go, but it's not the only thing. All of those comments are made in jest, and there are plenty of kind ones mixed in. They call Victoria pretty and lovely and the best catch around. Mano personally makes a toast to their marriage, wishing them many long years together.
Victoria feels like she's on top of the world. And when the first dance comes on, it makes her heart flutter.
She takes Matt by the hand and leads him into the main section of the bar. For the first time in her life, she dances without restriction. For the first time in her life, she feels completely loved.