C. Brown - Compromising

“I promise to spend every day of the rest of our lives loving you, protecting you, sacrificing and compromising for you because your happiness is what truly matters. I’m so in love with you, and I love you more today that I did yesterday. Keep showing me the way, baby, and I promise you I’ll continue to grow to be the man you need me to be. I love you.”

Tears filled my eyes and streaked down my face, defying the order I’d had from Nat not to cry and destroy her hard work, but the passion in Alex’s voice, and the look in his eyes, had done me in.

We made it through the rest of the ceremony, eagerly awaiting the words that we had been waiting to hear for so long. “Alex, you may now kiss your bride.”

Alex wasted no time, taking me in his arms and kissing me like we were the only two people in the room. The chapel filled with cheers and whistles, Riley rooting Alex on. I held him tightly and kissed him as if it was the last kiss we’d ever have, living in the moment and grateful that this man, this man that I had gone through scandal, fights, break-ups, and makeups with, was now my husband.

We pulled away, and I wiped the lipstick from Alex’s mouth. He followed behind me, licking his lips in a way that gave me, and only me, the signal that he couldn’t wait for more.

“I now give you, Mr. and Mrs. Alejandro Cruz.”

The chapel erupted in applause. Alex took my hand and led me down the stairs, stopping at the empty seat next to his grandmother that held his mom’s picture. He kissed her face, then whispered, “I did it, Mama,” before leading me out of the chapel and into the brisk air where he held me tight and kissed me again with everything he had.

++++

The reception was held at a restaurant just outside the front gate of Camp Pendleton. Alex spared no expenses, making sure it was everything that I wanted it to be. Servers walked around holding trays of champagne and hor d’orvers, making sure guests were never empty handed. The room was decorated in Marine Corps, blood stripe red, and luxurious accents of gold. I hadn’t doubted for one second that everything would turn out exactly the way we had planned it. Alex was a tyrant with every single detail to be hashed out. We’d fought about it, but in the end it was okay because the smile on Alex’s face as we were introduced to our family was everything I’d hoped it would be and more.

Our first dance was to Amazed by Lonestar. Alex picked the song himself, leaving it a surprise for me since I’d told him I couldn’t possibly make a choice. From the opening piano key, I knew what it was, and my heart fluttered. As brash as Alex could be, his sensitive and romantic side was just as much a part of him, only I was normally the only person on the receiving end of it. We danced as one, kissing and laughing as Alex attempted to sing along. We were lost in one another, forgetting the rest of the world.

“You just made me the happiest man on earth today, Blondie. I don’t know what tops this.”

I took his hand and placed it on my belly. “How about the birth of this little one?”

A smile crept across Alex’s face. “That’s a whole new realm, baby. I can’t wait for it.”

Our dance ended, and Alex and I took our seats. The lights were dimmed as a spotlight shone down on a single chair placed in the middle of the room with a picture of Imelda. I held Alex’s hand tight, knowing that this would be a very emotional part of the day for him, and unsure just how he would handle it. A Song for Mama by Boys II Men came through the speakers, drawing cheers and appreciation from everyone in attendance.

The room sat quiet as the song played. Adriana held on to Guadalupe and cried as Alex tightened his grip on my hand, bringing it to his lips periodically and covering it in small kisses. His foot tapped to the beat, and at certain points throughout the song, he held his head upwards, eyes closed as he quietly spoke words that only he was able to hear. My heart shattered for him, but also for me. Imelda was very much a part of me, and seeing Alex hurt leveled out some of the joy and euphoria the day had brought.

When the song ended, there wasn’t a dry eye in the building. Alex held me, resting his face into my shoulder as he cried a few tears for his mom. I rubbed his head and allowed him to cry, wiping my own stray tears away as the room eased back into party mood. Imelda would always be remembered—we would make sure of that.

After making our way around the room and greeting all of our guests, which turned into mass introductions for me, Alex seductively removed my garter with his mouth, drawing cries from the crowd.

“That’s how you’ve got the bun in the oven now!”

“You have to wait to make another one!”

Laughter filled the room as I blushed from sheer embarrassment. Riley was the lucky man to catch the garter, sending Nat squealing with delight. He immediately threw it back to Alex, smiling and laughing before taking it back from him.

My bouquet was next.

Numerous, jubilant ladies stood, eager to get their hands on what they presumed would be the ticket to their own wedding. Nat placed herself upfront, pushing to keep her place. I turned and looked back, trying to find exactly where I wanted to toss it. On the count of three, I closed my eyes and tossed, unsure of where it was going. The room filled with screams, yells, and cheers. I turned around to find Adriana standing with the bouquet in her hands, smiling like she’d just hit the lottery. She ran over to a table where Jensen was seated, plopped down on his lap and kissed him as she triumphantly pumped the bouquet in the air.

Alex didn’t share her joy, but as the DJ started up the party music, I took his face in my hands and reminded him, “She’s grown, and this is our day. Let it go.”

Alex didn’t want Jensen in attendance, but this was another compromise on his part. I went to bat for Adriana because I knew how much it meant to her to have her boyfriend there with her, and honestly, Alex needed to work towards dealing with Jensen once again. It wasn’t going to happen overnight, I was well aware of that, but if the foundation for rebuilding their relationship could be set, I wanted it done. Jensen had hurt us both, but with so much hurt and anger surrounding us, I was all about healing and forgiving, especially for the sake of a happy home for our unborn child.

“They won’t get married. He won’t commit on that level. I know it.”

“I don’t care. I care about dancing with my sexy husband and losing myself in you.”

“Oh, you’ll lose yourself all right, but it’ll be with me deep inside of you. We’re going to christen that bed as Mrs. Cruz. You just wait.”

“I’m ready for it, The Great.”

“Be careful what you wish for, Blondie. I’m your husband now, and have to show no mercy.”

“Bring it.”

We danced and mingled as Alex took a few shots too many with his buddies, allowing his drunken alter ego to shine through. Riley did a great job of blocking him, effectively cutting him off and saving my wedding night.

Married sex, even pregnant with a protruding bump, was more exhilarating than I’d ever imagined it could be. It could have been the alcohol, or the pure excitement of who we were to each other, but Alex ravaged me, slowed it down and savored me, then sped up and destroyed me all over again. I loved every second of it, knowing that this was what I had to look forward to for the rest of my life.

I couldn’t find a better way to think about our future.

Five Years Later…

I stood manning the grill, the delicious aroma of carne and chicken filling the air as Adriana, Cassie, and Nat took care of the sides. Riley made sure to keep a fresh beer in my hand while I slaved away over the meat. Luckily, we weren’t dying of heat stroke from the blazing Twentynine Palms, desert sun. Instead, we were beachside in San Clemente and loving every minute of it.

“Hey… hey! Slow down. You’re going to get burned by the grill, boys.”

“Sorry, Nino,” Abel apologized, quickly grabbing the soccer ball and running back in the other direction.

“I’m sorry, too, Daddy.”

“It’s all right, AJ. Go on and play with your cousin.”

My little boy smiled at me, looking so much like Cassie that it made my heart skip a beat. Alejandro ‘Alex’ Junior, or AJ as we called him, was our first born—our born rebel since he was conceived through fraternizing and we often joked about it. He was fair skinned and had dirty blond hair, taking after Cassie much more so than he did me. Cassie joked that she was obviously stronger, so it only made sense that her genes had won out. He had my name and my eyes, and that deadly combination was all that really mattered.

Screams filled the air, making me hurriedly turn as I found AJ looking like the guilty party.

“Daddy, Antonio is eating sand! He’s eating sand, Daddy.”

My second born, two year old Antonio, had a mouth full of sand and AJ was forcefully trying to pry it out. Antonio cried, pointing his finger at AJ as he babbled out incoherent sentences. I laughed at the sight of it all. AJ was so much like me—a born leader, who didn’t back down from much of anything. I handed my beer to Riley, taking off in the direction of the boys.

Abel made his way over and convinced AJ to play soccer with him.

“Daddy, it hurt, Daddy.”

“I know, little dude.” I picked him up and carried him back over to where Riley stood waiting for me. “But you can’t eat sand. What have we told you about that?”

Antonio pouted his lips, then laid his head down on my shoulder. Cassie and Adriana came strolling out of the house, looking at me inquisitively.

“What happened?” Cassie asked, holding her arms out for Antonio. “His mouth is full of sand, Alex!”

“I’m well aware of that, babe. He was eating it, and AJ tried to get it out of his mouth. Calm down.”

She rubbed Antonio’s dirty blond hair. He had the same hair color as AJ, but his skin had more of a caramel tint to it, and he had Cassie’s green eyes.

“Here, let me take him. He looks tired.”

“He can walk, or Adriana can take him. You are not to carry him. You’re six months pregnant, Cassie.”

Adriana came and took Antonio, who immediately laid his head down on her shoulder. I took Cassie in my arms and held her around her waist, getting as close to her as I possibly could since her belly was more than showing.

“I don’t think you have ever been more beautiful than when you’re pregnant. I’m thinking I’m just going to have to keep you this way.” I slowly ran my tongue across her bottom lip, moving to a fulfilling kiss as she smacked my arm and squealed.

“I’m done, Mister. Three kids are plenty enough for me.”

“I don’t like the idea of an odd number of kids. We have to even it out. At least let me make one more?”

Cassie’s emerald eyes shimmered in the sun as she grinned mischievously at me. I wasn’t sure what the grin was for, or what was running through her head, but if she were even considering the idea it would make me the happiest man on earth.

“Ahem! You haven’t even gotten that one out, and you’re trying to make another?”

I looked up to find Dalton and Ben standing there with six packs in their hands.

“No, we are not. My husband is just a sex fiend, and he knows what becomes of all that,” Cassie answered, unraveling herself from my grasp and giving Dalton and Ben hugs. “There are coolers over there for the beer.”

I gave both guys a handshake, then led them in the direction of the coolers, tapping Cassie on her sweet ass as I passed by. When pregnant, her ass grew a bit, making it damn near irresistible to me.

Dalton, Ben, Riley and I chatted around the grill, shooting the shit about the Corps and how much we loved and hated it at the same time. Dalton was now stationed at Miramar, just down the road in San Diego, and Ben had moved out to be with him long ago. They still weren’t married, and I wondered why, asking every now and then but never getting a real answer. In my opinion, it had more to do with Dalton’s fear of commitment, but it really wasn’t my business, so I didn’t press the issue.

Riley was also at Miramar, but only had another three months in the Corps before he was out for good. He and Nat married two years ago, but still hadn’t procreated, and thank fucking God for that. She was still as crazy and spazzy as she ever was, and he was just too damn goofy to be anyone’s dad. They wanted kids, and often asked me and Cassie a shit ton of questions, but so far, no bun in her oven. Nat had made it kind of big down here, tatting up Marines and working all sorts of crazy ass hours. She wasn’t ready to give that up, or even shelve it for a while, and I respected the fact that she could be honest about it.