Part 1

"Hurry up, babe. Come on. Speed it up or we're going to miss all the fun," the older ghost turned calling to her younger partner as they headed toward Fowler's Jewelry Store.

Teddi Lachlan and Kristen Graham were planning on meeting at the jewelers to pick out their rings for their ceremony next week. The two ghosts hurried through the morning air, tearing past wires and poles in their haste to get to the store at the same time as the expected couple. The old ghost did not want to miss one plan associated with the upcoming commitment. It had been years since she had gotten to participate in a ceremony and she was not going to miss her opportunity.

"My goodness, I don't understand what all the rush is about. Why in the world must we be there this time?" asked her young mate.

"Honey, it isn't that we need to be here but I want to be here when they make these final decisions to join their separate lives. Teddi and Kristen have made a special place in this old heart and I simply want to see the culmination of their love for one anther all the way to the end," the elderly spirit replied as she dodged around the light post.

Her younger partner as usual was not as lucky in avoiding the pole and ended up snagging her flowing gown on one of the foot pegs high upon the pole. Her dress tore and a shower of heavenly dust fell down upon the crowd below sprinkling them with a fine layer of brilliant glitter, adding brightness to the start of their ordinary day.

Both ghosts were excited to see what began as a bet would end in such a strong commitment. Their goal for Teddi and Kristen was to make sure that the ceremony occurred without a hitch. They had a lot of planning to do in order to have everything as heavenly as possible.

Teddi held the car door open as Kristen stepped out onto the sidewalk. Kristen drew in a shaky breath as she looked into the window of the jewelry store. There were many rings on display. It took her breath away to think that she would be making a choice for herself in just a few minutes. She turned and held out her hand; grasping Teddi's hand as together they entered the store.

The manager glanced up to see who was coming in to judge whether or not he should bother with this client or leave it to his helper. He stared at the women's joined hands and decided immediately that there was no way in hell he was going to assist this dyke couple. He motioned to the salesclerk and with a jerk of his head, indicated she was to assist this particular couple.

Leslie looked at the women moving closer and couldn't help but grin at the look of devotion on their faces as they slyly looked toward one another while walking up to the counter. She was anxious to help this couple as she could see the look of love that passed between them. Leslie hoped that someday, some man or woman would look at her with just an iota of the love passing between them.

Stepping around the counter, Leslie walked up to Teddi and Kristen saying, "May I help you."

"Uhhh…. Yes," mumbled Teddi in a slightly nervous voice. "I… no… we.. would like to look at wedding bands please."

"Good. We have many from which to choose. Do you have a particular style in mind?" Leslie asked as the couple stood in front of her.

"As a matter of fact, I do," Teddi took a deep breath. "I bought this ring in February and I believe that it may have matching bands. Would you check to see if they are available?" Teddi said as she reached out and lifted Kristen's hand so that Leslie could see the ring on her finger.

"Oh my, yes. That is one of our top line items. We have several bands sealed in the vault that I believe will be a perfect match." Leslie replied as she held Kristen's hand in her own while she looked over the ring. The manager caught the jest of the conversation and not wanting to loose a hefty commission, moved toward the group.

"Girls, good evening. Here why don't you let me take over? I know just what they want," he remarked as he brushed Leslie to the side.

Kristen had seen the expression on his face, the one of disgust shown by so many people when they see a same sex couple. She reached out and touched Leslie on the arm saying, "Thank you so much but this young lady is doing a very good job for us and we prefer that she continue."

The manager looked over at Leslie and grimaced. "Well, I know that I can tell you more about what you should buy," he stated as he puffed out his chest.

"I am sure you can. However, we really prefer to choose something both of us would like and not just what is best for us. I believe that this young woman will be able to meet our needs just fine. Thank you any way. Now, what were you saying?" Kristen turned back to the sales clerk effectively ending the conversation with the manager.

"Well done," whispered Teddi beneath her breath to Kristen as the sales clerk lead them to the furthest counter deep into the store.

"Please, be seated," the salesclerk indicated the plush stools that sat before the counter. "I will be right back with the rings." The salesclerk turned and walked into the backroom to the vault.

As the ghosts looked at the activities taking place, they realized that Teddi and Kristen had it all under control. The old ghost turned to her partner and said, "Come babe. Let's go check out the mound where the ceremony is going to be held. I think I have some ideas that will make it even better." Turning slowly she reached out and drew her younger partner next to her side. Together they soared high up in the air, blending with the other cloud formations as they moved toward the park.


Part 2

"Teddi! Stand still for at least threes seconds," snapped Sam as she tried to finish tying the tie draped around Teddi's neck.

"I can't stand still. Damn, I am just too excited," Teddi remarked as she grinned at Sam.

"I know babe, but if you don't ease up, you'll never be ready on time. You don't want to leave Kristen standing all alone waiting on you, do you?" Sam said as she finished tying Teddi's tie. "There, all done. Now get your jacket."

Teddi walked over to the closet where she removed the matching black jacket that comprised her wardrobe for today. She was dressed in a body molding black pant outfit with a satin white formal shirt. Her tie was royal purple to match the outfit that Kristen had chosen to wear as they made their vows with one another.

Meanwhile, Kristen was slipping into the short royal purple cocktail dress with matching heels. Her brown hair hung down her back and shone like chocolate candy. Her violet eyes twinkled with excitement as she checked the mirror one last time. She leaned forward and applied a light coat of lipstick, making her lips look moist and shiny just waiting to be kissed. She turned back toward the other woman in the room and stared at her.

"I can't believe that you really wanted to help me," Kristen said to Grace as Grace combed her own red locks back into a slick French roll.

Grace's emerald green dress complimented her eyes and made them glow with even more vitality. She applied a deep red lipstick to her lips before replying, "Kristen, I know when we first met I acted like an ass. After getting to know you, I realize it was only jealousy that made me act that way. I'm so glad that I have gotten to know you and have become your friend as well as Teddi's. Thank you for allowing me to stand with you today. You both deserve as much happiness in the world as you can grab. Now, babe, are you ready to change your life forever?"

"Oh, God, yes," Kristen sighed as she moved toward the table to pick up the bouquet of purple orchids that Teddi had delivered to the house earlier today.

"Then let's go." Grace stated as she walked over to Kristen.

"Wait," Kristen stated as she reached out and lifted the garter off the table next to where the flowers had lain.

"I promised Teddi I would at least wear one traditional wedding piece. She wants to remove my garter and toss it to the crowd. She doesn't want to break the good luck we have been having. It has almost been as if our relationship has been blessed and helped from the very beginning." Kristen continued as she slipped the garter up her leg and settled it against her thigh.

High above the room, the two ghosts looked on and nudged each other as they heard Kristen's words. They smiled as they thought of all the schemes they had enacted to bring Teddi and Kristen to this event today.

"Yes, I believe I know what you mean," remarked Grace as she thought back over some of the events surrounding her encounters with Sam. She smiled softly as she remembered her last kiss with Sam on Saint Patrick's Day. It seemed through all the fighting and tears, their relationship was slowly shifting and it felt good. Grace thought to herself, "I just wish I knew where it was going."

Meanwhile as Sam was driving Teddi across town she asked, "Did you two finally settle on the actual ceremony?"

"We took your advice and surfed the net. We found the perfect answer to our needs at www.secularceremonies.com/SameSex.htm. Terri Mandell-Camfield offers a non-religious ceremony that is perfect for our joining. Her understanding of what we want to do and with her expect direction, we have been able to come up with the perfect ceremony to express our love for each other and our desire to spend our lives together. How can I ever thank you, dear sister, for telling me about this site?" Teddi said as she reached out and covered Sam's had that was resting on the gear shifter.

"Seeing you as happy as you are is all that I need, babe," replied Sam as she quickly glanced at the beaming Teddi. Sam was dressed in a matching black suit, making the two of them look almost like twins. If Sam's hair and been longer and she had been less muscular, it would be difficult to tell them apart.

As Sam pulled the car into the parking lot, she noted that Grace was standing next to Kristen's car. The plan was that she and Grace would stand with the couple as they said their pledges to one another. Sam looked over at Grace and drew in a deep breath.

"My God, she's stunning," Sam thought to herself. "I can't believe how beautiful she is." She stopped the car and simply sat and stared before opening her door.

Teddi glanced over at Sam wondering why she made no attempts to get out of the car. She noted that Sam was looking intently at something. Turning her head, Teddi looked around to see if she could see what Sam was staring at so devotedly. All she saw was Grace standing next to Kristen's car.

"So that's the way the wind blows," Teddi thought to herself. "Kristen's has been right." Reaching up she snapped her fingers getting Sam's attention.

"Sam to earth. Hey girl, you ready to get on with my life?" Teddi asked as she opened her door.

"Uhhh….yeah," replied Sam as she too, opened her door and got out of the car.

Part 3

Meanwhile near the top of the knoll where the ceremony was to be held, a small gathering of close friends mingled around talking excitedly about the upcoming event. Teddi and Kristen were well liked and everyone was excited to see that they were finally making a commitment to one anther that would last a lifetime. It was refreshing to see two people as much in love as Teddi and Kristen.

At the top of the knoll, two heavenly specters buzzed back and forth making sure that all the props were appropriately in place. The candelabras were tested earlier and guaranteed to light. Just in case, both ghosts were prepared to act as shields to keep the flames from going out during the ceremony.

The younger ghost had gone back to the shamrock field. With the help of two twenty dollar gold coins, she had convinced the leprechaun to shift his pot of gold. A brilliant rainbow now arched over the knoll where it would encircle Teddi and Kristen as they said their pledges to one another.

The area was ready. Teddi and Sam walked up first and took their places on the left side of the hill. They watched as first Grace walked forward looking stunning in her outfit. Once she was in place on the right, Kristen slowly began her walk to begin the rest of her life with Teddi.

As she walked toward Teddi, she thought of the love within her heart and how blessed she was to have found the treasure of her heart. She looked outward and saw her love and her closest friends standing beneath the rainbow and smiled as she confidently stepped closer ready to move on into the future.

Sam stepped back and lit the candles as Kristen began the final walk past the crowds as she moved to stand next to Teddi. The candles wavered in the slight breeze then suddenly stilled as though a shield had wrapped around them. Sam moved back to her position next to Teddi. She glanced one time over her shoulder at the candles and did a double take. She could have sworn she saw bodies hovering over the candles. Shaking her head slightly she glanced back again, not seeing anything this time. Turning back around, she watched as Teddi reached out her hand to help Kristen the last three feet of their single lives alone.

All four young women stood with smiles on their faces as the Officiate for the ceremony began. Teddi and Kristen turned facing each other with hands interlocked.

"Welcome to the celebration of this loving union between Teddi and Kristen. Today, in front of friends, Teddi and Kristen proclaim their love to the world, and we rejoice with and for them." the Officiate stated.

"Teddi and Kristen, in gathering here today you perform a remarkable act of love. This love can grow and mature and endure, but only if you both determine to make it so. A lasting and growing love is never automatic, nor guaranteed by any ceremony."

"Today before your friends and family, you pledge that your love for one another will never be overrun by the commonplace, blocked by the ordinary or compromised by difficulties in life."

"Hold strong in your heart the hope and confidence for what your future will yield. Have faith in your shared future, just as strongly as you believe in yourselves and in each other today. Only in this spirit can you create a partnership that will sustain all the days of your lives."

"Teddi and Kristen, we are here to rejoice with you and to recount with one another that it is love that guides us on our path, and to celebrate as you begin this journey together. It is in this spirit that you have come here to today to exchange these vows. "

Part 4

As the exchange of vows began, the rainbow deepened its hues as the leprechaun fed his pot 'o gold with the coins the younger ghost had given him. The ghosts themselves, standing behind the candles, glanced at one anther and smiled as they watched the golden halo of love rise around Teddi and Kristen as they began their vows.

Teddi looking deep into Kristen's eyes began:

"I, Teddi, take you, Kristen, to be my partner for life.
I promise above all else to live in truth with you and to communicate fully and fearlessly.
I give you my hand and my heart as a sanctuary of warmth and peace
I pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor, as I join my life to yours."

Kristen slightly squeezed Teddi's fingers as she began her own vows:

"I, Kristen, take you, Teddi, to be my partner for life.
I promise above all else to live in truth with you and to communicate fully and fearlessly.
I give you my hand and my heart as a sanctuary of warmth and peace
I pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor, as I join my life to yours."

Sam and Grace both stepped forward to stand beside Teddi and Kristen. They each held one of the rings to be exchanged in the ceremony. Sam looked across into Grace's eyes and saw something she couldn't quite place but vowed to herself to ask later what she was thinking during the ceremony. Sam turned her attention back to the Officiate.

The Officiate reached out and lifted the ring from Sam's hand.

"Wedding rings are made precious by our wearing of them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight.

The Officiate continued, "Teddi, take Kristen's ring and put it on her finger, and repeat after me:"

Teddi stared deep into Kristen's tearful eyes as she said:

"Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is limitless. Just as it is made of indestructible substance, my commitment to you will never fail. With this ring, I take you, Kristen, to be my best friend, lover, and partner for life."

With trembling fingers, Kristen reached out and took Teddi's ring within her own hand, and she began,

"Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is limitless. Just as it is made of indestructible substance, my commitment to you will never fail. With this ring, I take you, Teddi, to be my best friend, lover, and partner for life."

The Officiate stepped behind the couple, and stood next to Sam and Grace. Beaming with pride, she made the following declaration:

"Teddi and Kristen, Your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you is the sun and below you the earth. Like the sun your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow. As you have consented in this ceremony in the presences of friends and family to be partners for life, I now pronounce you partners and bound together body and soul. You may kiss your partner.

Teddi reached out with trembling hands and drew Kristen's face closer. She never moved her eyes from Kristen's eyes as their lips touched. With open mouths, they shared the first of many kisses as a couple while their guests looked on. Teddi deepened her kiss as she felt the love flow between them. In seconds, it was over as they drew apart and looked out at their friends and family.

Sam stepped forward and said, "May I be the first to present Teddi Graham Lachlan and Kristen Graham Lachlan, partners for life."

Their friends clapped as they began to surge toward the couple. Sam stepped back and felt a slight tug on her sleeve. Turning, she looked over at Grace. Her eyebrow lifted as she waited for Grace to talk.

"Teddi Graham! My God, you called her a cookie. How is she ever going to live that one down," Grace laughed aloud as Sam smiled with joy.

"I know, and don't think that I'm going to let her forget that," Sam replied as she pulled Grace closer clasping her arm with her own. Their fingers interlocked as they drifted forward to mingle with the crowd.

"Well babe, it looks like our work is nearly done with Teddi and Kristen," the older ghost said with a happy sigh.

"Yes darling, it does. Thank you for finally convincing me that they needed us in their lives. We have come to the end of the journey and need only watch from a distance," the younger ghost remarked wistfully. "I'll miss them, you know,"

"Have heart, baby. We still have the tempestuous duo of Sam and Grace to bring together. Sometimes, I wonder if that couple was meant to be. What a challenge. I haven't felt this much energy since Helen of Troy," the older ghost replied.

"How could I forget? I am already stock piling fireworks for the Fourth of July. I sometimes wonder if we are going to need them, the way sparks fly between Sam and Grace," her young partner replied.

"Yes, I know what you mean. Today a truce, tomorrow a war. Oh well, how about you and I go to the bell tower and ring this day throughout the town?" the old spirit asked as she once again reached out and drew her partner close.

Together, they rose slowly into the air, looking down at the small crowd still celebrating with joy Teddi and Kristen's future together. In the distance they could see the end of the rainbow as the leprechaun slowly rolled it up, placing it back into his pot as the sun began to set on the scene below.

"Today has been a good day and tomorrow will even be better," the young ghost remarked as the two floated quietly off into the ever increasing darkness.
 

The End