Here's To Us *Damned Coda* Matt Murdock*

7) Stand by you, stand by me

Vera wasn't quite ready to see Marky standing in her wedding dress in front of the mirror. Her friend was freaking beautiful and Vera came to conclusion Tomáš was one lucky bastard. Vera also had no idea who prepared the chairs in the chateau garden and the wedding arch, but whoever they were, they did a very good job. The arch was richly decorated with white roses weaved through the construction, yet not over-embellished. White and light green-blue tulle was hanging between the chairs alongside the aisle; at its beginning, there was a basket with rose petals prepared for Marky's niece Klárka, who would walk ahead of the bride, throwing them and creating a path for her.

Goddammit. The ceremony hadn't even started and Vera was already being sentimental.

The soon to be newly-weds lucked out with the weather too. It was a beautiful Indian summer, a light warm breeze, sunrays still providing a little heat. The ceremony started at eleven, and by some miracle actually on time. Vera was now prepared for the sight of her friend and her niece in cute dresses, petals tossing and even the soft violin music that played when Marky walked down the aisle. What she hadn't imagined before was the wide smile of the groom when seeing his wife-to-be; his face was priceless. The officiant had a rather boring cliché speech, but no one seemed to mind, some people cried.

For some reason which Vera didn't understand herself, she got through the ceremony without crying. She smiled like an idiot, cheered with the others when the notary pronounced Marky and Tomáš a married couple after them exchanging the rings, but no tears; maybe she had run out of them.

Matt was politely quiet next to Vera, even though he probably didn't understand a word. Their hands were clasped together, only separating when they needed to clap. Both Vera and Matt congratulated the happy couple, helping to create a wedding exit, an aisle of people blowing bubbles.

Matt didn't ask Vera for description of things most of the time, but there was a moment when he couldn't keep his mouth shut.

"Okay, I get most of the things that happened, but what is that?" he asked, confused, probably unable not to only perceive the object properly, but also not

understanding its meaning. Vera didn't blame him.

"Well. It's an alternative to carrying the bride over the doorstep. Yes, it's a rope with several child toys tied to it. I think it should symbolize that now that they are a married couple, they are allowed to cross the line and have kids. I'm actually not sure about this one," Vera explained hesitantly, Matt's 'huh' being the only answer she got.

Vera narrated what happened during the ceremony in retrospect, trying not to leave out any detail. She also started describing the little things Matt's senses couldn't pick up from the moment on – the decorations, the frosting on the cake, crazy creations on women's heads, jewellery, anything Matt wanted to know.

Vera was partly proud and partly horrified she hadn't cried; but of course, she broke during the first dance of Marky and Tomáš as a married couple. Neither of them was a particularly good dancer, so they were only swaying to the rhythm, but Vera fucking saw their expressions and screw everything and everyone, this was love.

So yep, she was crying. She had been doing just fine during the ceremony, but this? With that song? No way she could have won. Matt had his arm around her waist, his lips in her hair. She knew he was laughing at her. Mentally.

"Shut up."

Matt cracked – she could feel his chest vibrating inconspicuously at her accusation. "I didn't say a word."

"It's the song," she defended her uncontrollable emotions.

Matt's voice was low and soft in her ear when he spoke up again. "Vera, you're emotional, I know that for a fact for a long time. That's not something you need to be ashamed of. The song is beautiful. Translate?"