Chapter 44

With This Ring

Everyone dressed in their Sunday best, meeting in front of the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle, Monday at high noon. Max and Kath Badger were there, along with their two boys. The matronly badger held a lovely bridal bouquet in the shape of a waterfall of flowers and roses for the bride, and corsages for the ladies. Max held a set of buttoner boxes for the males in the wedding party. The boys, for their parts, each held a festively wrapped box.

It was a perfect day for a wedding, the sun was out and there was just the hint of a light breeze off the Sound that kept things from getting too oppressively warm. Gwen and Kel pulled up in Kel's Honda Accord, each was wearing a lovely formal gown.

"Don't you two look lovely, my dears." Kath grinned approvingly at the girls.

"Oh, where's Rick? Wasn't he coming with you two?" Gwen shook her head, returning the badger's smile.

"No Ma'am, He's picking up the happy couple. Rick just loves any opportunity to play chauffeur with that Rolls of his."

"Isn't that sweet! Oh, here are your corsages, my dears." Kath handed each of them a flower set. "Thank you, Mrs. Badger," they each said in turn. Just then a 1945 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith pulled into the parking area in front of the courthouse. I stepped out dressed in my formal chauffeurs uniform, then came around opening the passengers' door. Mike stepped out in a smart looking tux. He, in turn, helped his lady love who was decked out in a lovely cream chiffon gown. She looked positively stunning! As I placed a "WEDDING PARTY" placard in the window, the happy couple made their way to the Badgers.

"Oh, my dear..."Mrs. Badger gushed. "Here--here is your bouquet. Every bride must_have a bouquet. Now Michael, here is your buttoner--Maxwell, give these two handsome furs their buttoner's, so we can proceed_properly." Max nodded and with a smile, handing a buttoner box to each. Looking around Kath asked. "Are we all here?" Her mother-henning everyone made me chuckle. "Wonderful! Now, here we go..." And she led everyone in.

I hung back with Max. "Does she _always_do this?" I whispered. Max just nodded.

"Trust me, she's in her element. I've learned to just step back and let her do her thing." he chuckled softly. Kath stopped in front of the clerk's desk, but there seemed to be no one about. So she rang the bell--repeatedly.

Ding -

Ding -

Ding

"Hello?"

Ding-

"Anyone here?"

Ding -

"Service."

Ding.

A matronly squirrel came round from the back, not looking amused at the badger's urgency. Once she took up her station behind her desk, she addressed the Badger.

"Yes, may I help you?" she asked, her voice pitched in governmental neutrality.

"What? Oh, yes. These two need a marriage license. Now, how long does it take, and who do we get it from?" The squirrel sighed, pulling the papers from the filing cabinet behind her and feeding the document into the typewriter. "Name of the happy couple?" she asked.

"Uh-" was all Mike was able to get out before Mrs. Badger took over.

"Michael Ferretti and Cassandra Bhunny." she said, spelling out the names.

"Can we move this along? They don't have all day, you know." The beleaguered Courthouse employee just rolled her eyes. After the information was entered, she looked up a list of available J-Ps.

"Judge Woodrow Beaver is available," the squirrel said. "Shall I buzz him?"

"Oh, yes. If you please." The badger smiled, examining the document she had just been handed. Turning, the squirrel punched his extension. "Uh yes. Judge Beaver? This is Maureen, and we have a wedding party...oh,_okay. _Wonderful, thank you, I'll send them _right_up."

"Judge Woodrow Beaver is available. Take the elevator up to the fourth floor; he's in 412. That would be to the left," she said, as she handed Kath a folder containing all the necessary paperwork. "Congratulations, you two!" she beamed at the happy couple. "Thank you!" they called over their shoulders as Kath whisked them to the bank of elevators along the far wall of the rotunda.

Judge Woodrow Beaver was a distinguished fur in his sixties. He'd been a sitting judge for over thirty years, and in that time had preformed his share of weddings--something he _always_enjoyed. He began glancing over his docket of cases for this week, but was interrupted when the doors of his courtroom burst open to reveal a matronly badger dragging a ferret and bunny down the center aisle--making a beeline for his bench.

"Yoo-Hoo your honor, it's time to get these two bound in the joys of matrimony!" she beamed. The judge looked over at the couple as Kath slapped the documents on his bench. Not long after, the rest of the wedding party filed in. Everything seemed in order when he spied a Post-It note on page two. It read:

"The badger's on a bender--Maurine."

Worst case of mother-henning he'd seen in years, he thought watching the badger femme direct everyone in his courtroom. It was definitely time to get this under control.

"Good afternoon. I'm Justice Beaver, and it looks like I have the distinct honor of joining you two in marriage, am I right? He smiled warmly at the happy couple that nodded, beaming.

"Yes your honor, and I Just want to say-" Katharine Badger put in.

=BAM=

The judge cut her off with a rap of his gavel.

"Madam, this is_MY_courtroom. Now then, I was speaking to the happy couple. If you would please take a seat, we can get this under way," he said to Mrs. Badger.

"But your honor, I just wanted to--"

=BAM=

"...and_you_are?" the judge peered down at her.

"Badger. Mrs. Katharine Badger your honor, but I just wanted--" He silenced her with an upraised finger after writing down her name.

"Now then, are _you_getting married today?" the judge asked.

"Well_no_your honor, I just--"

"Then please sit down so we can get on with the proceedings." Seeing she was about to protest, he added, "...unless_you wish me to find you in contempt of _court, Mrs. Badger..." Her jaw snapped shut and she took a seat.

Shaking his head with a smile, he once more addressed the happy couple.

"Now then, I assume _you two_wish to be married?" They nodded. "Very well, how do you wish to proceed?"

"Well, your honor, sir..." Mike started. "If I could stand here, and Cassy here could be walked down the aisle there. _Then_we could stand before you, and you can _marry_us--_if_that'd be okay? Your honor, sir." The judge looked over the wedding party and then nodded.

"That would be fine with me, after all, it is_your _ceremony. So, go_take your places and we can _begin." He beamed at Mike and Cassy--he really _did_like this particular _perk_of his job.

I took my place next to Mike while Max and Cassy stood near the door. Gwen and Kel preceded them down the aisle, while Bill, Ted and Mrs. Badger sat on the sidelines.

Max found it almost impossible to keep a smile off his muzzle as he walked Cassandra down the aisle. "Nervous, my dear?" he whispered.

"Nope, just really, really h_appy_." she whispered back, smiling radiantly at the sight of Mike awaiting her at the judge's bench. Max took his place next to Mike, as the girls flanked the bride.

"Well now. It is my distinct pleasure to join you two in the bonds of matrimony. as you start out on your journey together, remember always that your love for each other be strong, and your support for each other be unwavering.

"Marriage is a lifelong commitment. Are you _both_prepared to make such a commitment to each other?"

"Yes, sir." they replied in unison and the judge smiled.

"Do you, Cassandra Bhunny, take Michael Ferretti as your lawfully wedded husband?" Cassy nodded. "I _do,_sir." she beamed.

"And do you, Michael Ferretti, take Cassandra Bhunny as your lawfully wedded wife?" Mike's eyes widened. "Oh yes sir, yes I do, most happily."

"Do you have the rings?" the beaver asked with a radiant smile.

They exchanged rings. "Now then, when you slip the ring on your mate's finger, I want you to say, "W_ith this ring, I thee wed._" They dutifully repeated the vow.

"Well then, unless anyone_knows any reason these two should _not_be wed, let them speak_now, or forever hold their peace." The judge gave a sidelong glance over at Mrs. Badger, who shook her head no with gusto.

"Then, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, I now declare you_married_till _death_do you part! You may now kiss your _bride_sir!" Judge Beaver said, striking his gavel with a loud bang. "Court stands adjourned!" he chuckled, coming around the bench to congratulate the newlyweds. Mrs. Badger approached the elder judge.

"Oh, your honor. That was _so_beautiful...and _I'm_so sorry. I _did_get a bit carried away and all." She said apologetically.

"That's quite all right, Mrs. Badger. No harm done," he chuckled, shaking her paw as he met the other guests in his courtroom.

Kath tapped her boys to present their gifts. "Now then," she stood before the couple. "Here are a few things to start you two off on the road to happiness."

The first Box contained an envelope; in which was a Gift card from Bon-Macey's.

"For whatever you may need to set up your new place together."

The second Box contained two pair of sunglasses, an envelope, and a set of keys.

Cassy opened the envelope.

"Plane Tickets?" There was a bit of a pause. "To HAWAII!" Cassy squealed.

"Yes my dear, the keys are to our condo on Waikiki. You two deserve a two-week honeymoon vacation, so enjoy. Don't bother packing, everything you need will be delivered." Mrs. Badger turned to me.

"Rick, take them to the airport, their plane leaves in an hour." she declared.

"Oh-My-God,Really?" Cassy shrieked, hugging the Matronly Badger "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou" she poinged.

"But...I_thought_I was _working_tonight?" Mike asked, somewhat confused.

"Sorry Mike," Max shook his head. "You've got vacation time racked up. So you're off to Hawaii for two weeks."

"Uh...thanks boss, Mrs. Badger, it's great of you..." Poor Mike had that "pole-axed" look again.

"Well then, if we are going to get you folks to Sea-Tac on time, we'd better leave now." I said as we filed out of the courtroom.

As she watched me drive off with the happy couple, Gwen turned to the Badgers standing next to her. "That _really_was quite n_ice_of you Mrs. Badger."

"Please dear, call me Kath. And I'd have done the same for you and Rick if I'd known. You really _are_good for that boy, you know that Gwen." The matronly Badger said, her features softening.

"Thank you Kath, I _really_love him..." Gwen sighed, smiling softly.

"So My Dear," the Badger smiled sweetly, "When can we expect the pitter patter of little paws?" Gwen grinned back.

"Well...it_could_be in the Near future."

"Oh how wonderful!" Kath clapped her paws together. "I just knew_you were the motherhood type." Gwen nodded in agreement. "And remember my dear. If you need _anything, I'm just a phone call away" The badger beamed and Gwen could see the gleam of "Grandma" in her eyes. If her boys wouldn't cooperate, then she would just "adopt" some of her own...Gwen chuckled to herself.

"Come along boys, your father is here." Kath said as she descended the steps, her sons in tow.

"Wow, that was neat. Two weeks in _Hawaii."_Kel mused.

"Yeah," Gwen smiled. "Two weeks of sun, surf and sex. Wonder if Mike will end up in a wheelchair?" She said impishly as they made their way to the car.

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