Generation 2, Chapter 21

  Author's note:  I was listening to some music while I was thinking about this chapter and the over all theme for these two couples and this song seemed to sum up how they each feel about the other. 
For Better or Worse



They decided on a double wedding to share expenses and it just felt right as they shared everything else. As the wedding day approached Robert tried to console Patricia over the fact her mother had refused to let her father and brother come to the wedding. It had always been her dream to have her dad walk her down the aisle. Thanks to her mother her dream was shattered. She excepted Roberts idea of having William walk both her and Evelyn down the aisle together. It wasn't the same but she knew that William loved her like a daughter and was only too glad to fill this role for her. In the back of her mind she kept hoping her mother would relent or her father would stand up to her and come anyway.

While the girls dressed Robert and Shon joked around with the groomsmen. They had asked Casey and Gene to be their best men. Casey was doing well in school and still content to play the field. Gene had been clean and sober for the past six months after his enforced rehab he had taken his sobriety seriously. He was on target to graduate from high school in the spring despite the delays and set backs, he was finally able to see a future he never thought existed.

Robert secretly thought there was girl somewhere in the background as he watched Gene check his phone and smile. "So who is she?" he asked after the 3rd or 4th time of watching Gene check his phone.

Gene looked up and smiled "just a friend."

"She must be pretty special to have you checking your phone so often," Robert teased.

Shrugging Gene admitted "She's the best. She's concerned I might fall off the wagon. So she's sending me messages of encouragement to keep me on the straight and narrow."

"Gene I'm sorry ... I didn't think."

"It's ok bro, you had a lot of things on your mind other than your alcoholic brother. I have to learn to enjoy things sober." Gene smiled then froze as he looked into the crowd and saw their mother. "Just make sure she stays away from me and I should be just fine."

"We'll do the best we can. Actually that's Beverly's department. Looks like she's doing a pretty good job since she hasn't bothered anyone."

"I can't believe you invited her," Gene complained.

"It's not like I had a choice. What was I supposed to do? Tell her she couldn't come because she's a piss poor mother."

"That'd be a start."

"No thanks. I already have an angry soon to be mother-in-law I don't need our mother throwing a hissy fit on my wedding day."

"Ok, ok," Gene said throwing his hands up "you win. You better hope your mother-in-law doesn't show up uninvited and has a bonding session with mother dearest over their mutual dislike of you."

"That's so not funny," Robert said taking a swing at him.

Their attention was drawn to Shon when he said "What's he doing here?" Robert followed his glare across the room to an older man with dark, gray streaked hair. The man turned around and looked in their direction, his startling blue eyes clinched it in Robert's mind. "Is that who I think it is?"

Not taking his eyes away from the man Shon nodded and through clenched teeth said "Yes".

Robert leaned over and whispered to Gene "Go get Dad. Tell him we have trouble."

Nodding Gene went in search of their Dad. He knew Robert sent him away to remove him from a potentially stressful situation that could trigger his drinking. Shrugging it off he also knew he was doing his part to help.

The older man made his way over to them, stopping a few feet away, glaring at Shon before saying "It's been a while."

"Not long enough," Shon stated as his hands clinched into fists.

"I tried contacting you when I first got out," he said looking around him. "Not the way I imagined finding out my son was getting married."

"You weren't invited."

Smiling feintly "You haven't changed. You're still the same little shit I remember."

William came rushing up to the boys "what's going on here?" he asked sensing Shon was struggling to remain calm.

"I see you still can't fight your own battles. Is that why your marrying an alien, too afraid to say no? You worthless, weak, no good piece of shit, you never were worth much and your even more worthless now. You need a good beating to knock some sense into you. What are you thinking boy, marrying that thing?"

Shon stared helplessly into the face of the monster who tormented him from the day he was born and filled his dreams with nightmares. The person he hated most and who could have him shaking in fear in seconds. He balled his hands into fists as his heart hammered in his chest. Tears stung the back of his eyes but he willed them away, refusing to give his father the satisfaction. "She's not a thing. She's the woman I love and the woman I'm going to marry."

"Love? You love that ... that creature," he said astounded. "I should have killed you when you were born before you had the chance to disgrace me like this."

Shon stepped back as his father spat in his face.   Robert grabbed the man and pulled him away "It's time you left."

"Not until I've had my say," he yelled and turned his attention to  William. "You should have drowned your green rats the day they were born."

Two men in uniform came up to them "Is everything alright here?"

Shon shook his head "this man is making threats about the bride and her family."

"This man as you say is your father boy," he sneered "Take heed if you go through with this marriage you'll regret it. I'll make sure of that."

The officers arrested him while he protested that he had the right to his opinion. Shon watched them leave, shaking as he wondered if his fathers threats were real or not. He wished the earth would just open up and swallow his father whole and he'd be gone forever.

"Son are you alright?" William asked for the third time.

"Uh yeah, I guess," Shon said bringing his thoughts back from his father. He tried to smile but it came off forced and weak. Robert threw an arm across his shoulder. "Looks like we both need eyes on the back of our heads."

"Don't you know it," Shon agreed.

"Well boys are you ready to get married," looking at each other they both answered "yes" at the same time.

"Then you better take your places, it's about to start," William smiled at them giving them the encouragement they both needed to pull themselves together. He just hoped the threats were empty and both young men had many years of happiness ahead of them.

As they stood waiting for their brides to join them they were distracted from their thoughts by a loud commotion from the direction the girls would be coming. All heads turned as their apprehensions rose.

Everyone took a collective sigh of relief when William emerged with Evelyn on his arm, both smiling. Robert started to walk towards them concerned as to why Patricia wasn't with them. William seeing him, waved him back, smiling he cleared his throat to project his voice so that everyone could hear. "Everything's alright and proceeding as planned." He motioned for the music to begin again as he walked Evelyn down the aisle to join Shon.

After a moment the the music stopped as Patricia came out with her father and brother on either side of her. All three were beaming with happiness as the music started. Patricia's eyes never left Robert's as she walked down the aisle. Her father kissed her on the cheek before sitting down beside his son.

Roberts voice quivered with emotion as he said his vows. 

"I Robert Matthew Bennett believe in you, in the person you will become and the couple we will be together.  With all my heart, I take you as my wife, Patricia Fern Bradford.  I promise to be faithful, supportive and to make our family my priority.  I will be yours in plenty and in loss, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph.  I will dream with you, celebrate with you and walk beside you through whatever life may bring.  You are my love, my life today and always."

 Evelyn turned to Shon, with tears in her eyes as she said her vows.

"On this day, I Evelyn Rebecca Bennett give you, Shon Robert Olivia my heart.  My promise that I will walk with you, hand in hand wherever our journey leads us.  Living, learning, loving together, forever."