Thunder rumbled in the background, occasionally shaking fixtures in the house as the pitter patter of rain drummed lightly on the windows. Wood crackled and popped in the fireplace, casting a flickering glow across the walls. The sounds melded together in a beautiful melody, only topped off with the grunts and whistles of Sully snoring softly as he drifted further and further away, into a memory from not too many years prior...

New York: June 18, 1928

8:00 AM

Sully stared out of a large bay window from the living area of his home, streaks of water running down the glass. The sky was dark gray and rumbled angrily like God himself had forsaken the world (and especially this day) below. Voices behind Sullivan muttered quietly before one finally approached.

"I'm so sorry Sully. I know today is supposed to be you and Miss Messina's big day. I guess you can have the services moved inside? Or do you think Jacqueline would prefer to just move the date?"  An elderly woman stepped up beside Sully and placed her hand on the small of his back, getting his attention.

"Isn't it a beautiful day..." Sullivan said matter-of-factly to the newcomer, never turning to look at her once as she had spoken. He seemed mesmerized by the storm that had rolled in. The forecast stated rains and winds for the next three days, and to most people with an outside wedding planned that was terrible. Not for Sullivan though. He simply knew his Jacqueline was staring out into the same storm, excited about being able to dance with the gods of old as they blessed the two.

Confused by his statement the older woman looked up to the young man.

"Excuse me? Beautiful? This is a disaster! We can't have people out in this weather! Your clothes! The decorations! My plans! They will all be ruined!"

Sullivan finally looked to his right.

"Mrs. Waffrey, while I appreciate what you've done for us, today could not be any better! It's as if the gods themselves are celebrating the joining of our two lives."

The woman turned away from him, lips curling and brows furrowing. With a huff, she made her way back to the group of people behind Sullivan. It was going to be a long, wet morning for the staff...

10:30 AM

Everyone gathered together huddled under umbrellas and tarps, doing their best to stay dry. The park was a beautiful, wet masterpiece. The ground was soggy and the decorations drooped heavily as the trees swayed in their defiance of the encroaching winds. Sullivan stood straight and smiling as the rain soaked his outfit; his hair matted and hanging heavily like a wet dog. Next to him was his best man, Harvey Quinn; his apprentice and protege. Lastly, at the altar, there was a priest safely wrapped in a clear poncho to protect his regalia. Sullivan still had not seen Jacqueline yet today, as was per tradition, but he was anxiously awaiting her arrival.

And shortly thereafter, everyone's wish was granted. The awkwardly lovely Jacqueline Messina's limousine pulled up next to the curb (one of the five that Sullivan owned with the funeral home). The driver, cursing the rain as he stepped out, made his way to the back of the vehicle and opened the door.

Sullivan's mouth drooped open, as did Harvey's, and everyone else's that watched as Jacqueline stepped out into the rain. She was absolutely magnificent; lightly teased curls bounced around her neck, and a black, slender, form-fitting, mid-calf dress hugged tightly around her subtle curves.

The rain quickly took all the preparation from her hair and immediately started to run her makeup, but her smile was intoxicating to all who looked. Even those from the Messina side of the family who'd had her marry Bianchi. They could all see her happiness to marry Mr. Black, a man she'd actually fallen in love with. Common rabble from the states, not even a good alliance for the Messina's. The simple joy that even the Italians couldn't refuse for her.

She made her way up to the altar and stopped short, staring at the soaked Sully and Harvey with wide eyes. This was real, surreal even. Their day was finally happening. The priest spoke up, breaking the awkward silence that befell the group.

"Who here gives away this young woman to be with this man?"

To Jackie and Sully's surprise, the whole of the Messina clan that had come stood and yelled in accordance, "WE DO!" Following, they hooped and hollered as Italians do, leaving all others to laugh and smile. And there it was, the ice of the day was broken.

Jacqueline stepped up to stand next to Sullivan and the priest, nodding at Harvey for standing in with them as well. harvey returned the nod with a smile, but no smile matched Sully's wide grin. He gripped Jackie's hands tightly as they began the service, the preacher going through his sermon on marriage.

Jackie and Sully barely even heard anything as they stared into each other's eyes, up to the point that the priest asked about vows. An awkward silence again befell the group as Sully and Jackie never acknowledged anything.

A few moments passed before Harvey elbowed Sully to bring him back to reality which in turn shook Jacqueline as well. Both of them shook their heads and looked at the priest with an audible, "What?"

Everyone laughed and the priest simply repeated, "Your vows?"

Sully turned a bright red and chuckled, "Oh... That might help hmm?" He looked at Jackie as everyone else chuckled with them.

He reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and pulled out a piece of paper, smiling wide as he looked at Jackie.

"Jackie... From the first moment I met you, I felt as if I'd known you my whole life. As if we were meant to be together. From the -first- note you ever played on your violin at your late husbands funeral. I admit I felt a little bad we met on such circumstances, but learning of his failings of you, I knew it was simply the gods playing our fate out. We are meant to be together. Through thick and thin, sickness, health, and every other thing that may come our way. You are absolutely my partner in..." 

He paused and looked out to everyone there for a moment before turning back and continuing...

"My partner in crime."

Everyone laughed again.

"You are the music that soothes my soul, and you've entered into the very being of me and helped create the man standing before you. From my sciences to the music of life that surrounds both of us, you intoxicate every bit of who I am and I'll be yours until either of us dies, and beyond."

And she was crying... Sully looked up to see her makeup streaking her face and he reached over, wiping it all away.

The priest turned to her and she shook her head and chuckled. "Well, I was going to speak my vows to Sullivan in a language only he would understand, but due to the weather, I decided I would just tell him I love him... But I'm not bringing my violin out in this."

The two laughed and chuckled together. The priest shrugged and looked at them. "Well then, before we finish this, is there anyone here who believes these two should not be joined?"

One man stood up and drunkenly began to yell...

"YEAH! THAT LITTLE SLUT WAS MARRIED TO MY BROTHER! AND THEN SHE GETS WITH THIS DICK AT HIS FUNERAL! FUCK THEM BOTH THEY SHOULDN'T BE HA-"

The man turned to notice that every Messina gun was trained on him, and when he looked back at Sully and Jackie he saw three more guns aimed at him. Jackie with her small calibre pistol aimed, and her dress hiked up revealing the now empty garter holster, Sully with his Colt 1911, and the priest with a pistol as well.

Harvey looked at everyone and chuckled nervously. Why did he not have a gun? Why did the PRIEST even have a gun? What had Sully gotten in to!? Better yet, what did Sully get HIM in to!?

"Since there are no objections, then with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, Husband and Wife... You may kiss the bride!"

Sully and Jackie embraced and kissed as the rain continued to pour. The drunk was escorted out of the party by a group of Messina's and then the priest yelled.

"I GIVE YOU MR. AND MRS. SULLIVAN BLACK!"

Cheers and praise erupted as the two ran for the limousine that awaited them. Everyone waved them off and the driver slammed the door...

Lightning struck near the house as the door had shut in his dream and stirred Sully from his nap. He chuckled remembering the day and looked out the window with a smile.

"Hey Jackie! You remember our wedding day? It was like this!" he called out.

"Yeah!" Jackie yelled from the other room. "You remember the priest having a gun? HA! I'll never forget that..."

He chuckled... "Of course I remember! I couldn't forget that day if I tried! It was perfect!"

"Wasn't it though!?" She yelled back...