The celebrant trailed off as I focussed solely on Danielle, her big brown eyes glossing with emotion, her pastel pink lips trembling as she clamped them shut. Memories of all the things the two of us had been through together started flicking across the forefront of my mind like a movie reel. Her kindness and ability to so easily distract me when my father passed away, to learning how to ride a bike together, to climbing trees, eating food we'd pinched from our cupboards, and holding each other as we shivered through a life-changing storm. But through each of those flickering memories, one kept reappearing, one that involved a Cheezel and a lifetime of promises.
"Elliot and Danielle, before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, your family and friends, I must remind you of the solemn and binding relationship you are about to enter. Marriage, in accordance with the law in Australia is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others-"
"Which is a crock of shit," Danielle added angrily.
Some of our guests gasped, unsure of what she was referring to, so she quickly explained herself.
"It should be the union of a 'person and person' to the exclusion of all others. Love isn't gender specific, and neither should be marriage."
I smiled as our family and guests applauded her statement.
Danielle, too, smiled and gripped my hands tighter. "But let's continue."
The celebrant nodded, a pleasant glint in her eye. "Yes, let's. Please face each other and hold hands."
We did what she said, excited smiles on our faces, until Chris started cursing under his breath at Pugly.
"What … are … you do- Pugly, stop it. You're tying my legs together."
Chris huffed and gave up, allowing Pugly to wrap him like a present.
"Right, again, let's continue. Elliot Parker, do you take Danielle Cunningham to be your lawfully wedded wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and respect her? Do you promise to share all that life has to offer; your hopes and dreams, achievements and disappointments from this day forward?"
I squeezed her hands in mine. "I do."
"And do you, Danielle Cunningham, take Elliot Parker to be your lawfully wedded husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and respect him? Do you promise to share all that life has to offer; your hopes and dreams, achievements and disappointments from this day forward?"
She squeezed my hands, too. "I do."
"Both Elliot and Danielle have chosen their own vows today. Elliot, would you like to go first?"
I nodded and cleared my throat. "I first fell in love with you, Danielle, when I was eight years old. You were kind and caring and had the cutest button nose, apple cheeks, and dark brown, chocolate curls for hair. The second time I fell in love with you was when you ate my Cheezel ring and said you'd marry me. The third time was in a butterfly house. The fourth, on a Merry-Go-Round. The fifth, when you ate my Cheezel ring again. The sixth … now."
Tears streamed down her face, so I caught some with my thumb and wiped them away.
"And I will continue to fall in love with you, because that is something that will never stop. I was put on this earth to love you."
"Wow," she said with a laugh. "That's a tough act to follow."
A low hum of amusement sounded and blew with the breeze.
"But I'll try." She took in a deep breath and blew it out. "Lots, you once told me you wanted to be my firsts. And you were. My first best friend, my first true love, my first kiss, and my first broken heart. But from this day forward, you'll also be my lasts. My last best friend, my last true love, my last kiss, and my one and only heart. You're my firsts, lasts, and everything in between. You're my complete circle … my Cheezel."
I sobbed like a near happily married baby, and I didn't care. I was her Cheezel and she was mine.
"Now, who here has the rings?" Sarah announced, looking at me.
I glanced at Laura who was once again displaying that I-know-something-you-don't-know smile, except now it also said, and-you're-about-to-find-out.
Furrowing my brow, I mouthed, "rings" to her.
She shrugged and gestured toward Danielle.
Danielle clapped, excitedly. "Puglyette, I mean, Juliette has the rings."
Puglyette? Juliette? What the fuck?
Hearing the coos of our guests, I looked up to see a pug puppy being walked down the aisle by my brother-in-law. She was wearing a pink dress with two wedding rings attached to her little bow.