Victorian Snapshots
Title: Victorian Snapshots
Genre: Family/Romance
Pairing: Helen/John
Rating: G
Summary: Some interlocking snapshots of how life could have looked for Helen and John if Jack the Ripper never happened.
Helen felt like she was looking at the world through the veil of a dream. Certainly there was a veil but it was no dream. It was the white lace of her wedding veil. This day she would wed John Druitt. She felt as though her whole life had been leading up to this point. Perhaps it was a bit silly and childish but it was her wedding day. She should be allowed to feel a little silly.
She barely noted as the carriage traveled over the cobbles. Her father helped her out and led her to their room off the main part of the church. The sound of her bridesmaids chattering away was as dim and distant as the sounds from outside the building. The music began playing and her father touched her arm. “Time to be wed, Elly,” he said softly.
Helen turned to him with a smile. “I’m ready,” she told him.
Gregory took her arm as Wagner’s bridal march began playing to lead her to the doors. The ushers opened them both and father and daughter entered as the guests stood. Helen’s eyes swept the room. She noticed several people on both sides crying. Her bridesmaids and maid of honor stood to the left of the minister. On the left were Nikola, Nigel and one of John’s brothers standing as groomsmen. James stood next to John as best man. Helen’s gaze turned to her soon to be husband. He was dressed in a frock coat with a light waistcoat, dark tie, gray striped cashmere trousers, patent-leather button boots and pale tan kid gloves. A white tie held his hair at the nape of his neck and a black top hat sat on his head. He somehow managed to look even more handsome than the last time she saw him. Perhaps it was because they’d been separated since sundown two days ago.
Helen’s eyes caught John’s and her world narrowed to just the two of them. She forgot that there was a church full of people watching them. Without her father’s hand on her arm, she might have broken off and ran right to John’s arms. The look in his eyes told her that he felt the same.
After an agonizingly long trek, they made it to the altar. The priest asked something and her father answered. She turned to hand off her bouquet and gloves to the maid of honor. Then John reached out to take her hands in his own. The warm touch grounded her as the ceremony began.
If she was asked to remember more than the brightness in John’s eyes or the way his smile made her felt, she wasn’t sure she could. She tried very hard to pay attention to the ceremony but somehow it just seemed less important. When John turned to James for the rings Helen snapped herself back to reality. Most couples didn’t have a double ring ceremony but John told her he wanted to show the world how devoted he was to her. Helen couldn’t very well say no to such a request.
She smiled as John slid the band on her finger. It was a snake with ruby eyes. Helen had no idea where he had gotten the money for such a ring but it gave her a warm feeling to know he did. She listened as he recited his vows and tried not to fidget. Quite frankly, it all seemed rather redundant to Helen. John had already given her his promise to make her happy for all eternity. And being John he would do everything in his power to keep his vow. But it was still nice to hear him pledge himself to her.
She leaned around John to take the other ring from James. Her hands were shaking so much she actually dropped the ring. Everyone smiled and simply said that now the bad spirits were shaken out. John’s warm look as she put the ring on his finger made Helen’s heart flutter. “Repeat after me,” the priest intoned. “I, Helen Magnus, take thee, John Druitt, to be my wedded husband.”
“I, Helen Magnus, take thee, John Druitt to be my wedded husband,” she repeated faithfully.
“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge myself to you.”
Helen took a deep breath. “To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge myself to you.” She was surprised she could repeat it with such a steady voice.
“Then by the power vested in me by God and the great British Empire, I now pronounce you man and wife.” He looked to John. “You may kiss your bride.”
John raised her veil allowing Helen to see the world clearly. But the only thing she saw was John. He leaned down to give her a brief chaste kiss. As he pulled away her eyes caught the glint in his that promised more later. He took her hand and led her out to cheers from their friends and family.
The carriage that was waiting for them was hitched to four white horses. John called the address of their reception to the driver as he settled in next to her. Helen held up her left hand to watch the sunlight sparkle off the gold metal and jewels. “Married,” she breathed. She turned to John with a wide smile. He gave her a nervous one of his own.
“Regrets?” he asked. It was the same question he’d asked her when they’d first gone to bed together.
“How could I?” she laughed. “I’ve every thing I’ve ever wanted right at this moment.”
John kissed her hand. “As do I, my love,” he agreed.
“I have something to tell you,” she whispered. John moved in close to hear her secret. “Father developed this new test,” she explained, “And I took it yesterday to be sure.” She leaned in so she could whisper straight in his ear. “I’m already carrying our child, John.”
John pulled away with a shocked look on his face. For a moment Helen worried about his reaction. Then he took her mouth in a deep, loving kiss. “Helen Magnus, you are the most wonderful woman in this world,” he declared.
“Its Helen Druitt now,” she reminded him
“Helen Druitt,” he agreed, savoring the words. Helen’s name now joined with his, as their lives were now joined. As their bodies had been joined to create the child she was carrying. Not only was he a husband, he was now a father as well. His heart swelled so large it almost hurt.
Helen curled up next to John with a contended smile. “Promise me we’ll be happy, John,” she sighed.
John kissed her hair. “For all eternity,” he vowed.
Genre: Family/Romance
Pairing: Helen/John
Rating: G
Summary: Some interlocking snapshots of how life could have looked for Helen and John if Jack the Ripper never happened.
Helen felt like she was looking at the world through the veil of a dream. Certainly there was a veil but it was no dream. It was the white lace of her wedding veil. This day she would wed John Druitt. She felt as though her whole life had been leading up to this point. Perhaps it was a bit silly and childish but it was her wedding day. She should be allowed to feel a little silly.
She barely noted as the carriage traveled over the cobbles. Her father helped her out and led her to their room off the main part of the church. The sound of her bridesmaids chattering away was as dim and distant as the sounds from outside the building. The music began playing and her father touched her arm. “Time to be wed, Elly,” he said softly.
Helen turned to him with a smile. “I’m ready,” she told him.
Gregory took her arm as Wagner’s bridal march began playing to lead her to the doors. The ushers opened them both and father and daughter entered as the guests stood. Helen’s eyes swept the room. She noticed several people on both sides crying. Her bridesmaids and maid of honor stood to the left of the minister. On the left were Nikola, Nigel and one of John’s brothers standing as groomsmen. James stood next to John as best man. Helen’s gaze turned to her soon to be husband. He was dressed in a frock coat with a light waistcoat, dark tie, gray striped cashmere trousers, patent-leather button boots and pale tan kid gloves. A white tie held his hair at the nape of his neck and a black top hat sat on his head. He somehow managed to look even more handsome than the last time she saw him. Perhaps it was because they’d been separated since sundown two days ago.
Helen’s eyes caught John’s and her world narrowed to just the two of them. She forgot that there was a church full of people watching them. Without her father’s hand on her arm, she might have broken off and ran right to John’s arms. The look in his eyes told her that he felt the same.
After an agonizingly long trek, they made it to the altar. The priest asked something and her father answered. She turned to hand off her bouquet and gloves to the maid of honor. Then John reached out to take her hands in his own. The warm touch grounded her as the ceremony began.
If she was asked to remember more than the brightness in John’s eyes or the way his smile made her felt, she wasn’t sure she could. She tried very hard to pay attention to the ceremony but somehow it just seemed less important. When John turned to James for the rings Helen snapped herself back to reality. Most couples didn’t have a double ring ceremony but John told her he wanted to show the world how devoted he was to her. Helen couldn’t very well say no to such a request.
She smiled as John slid the band on her finger. It was a snake with ruby eyes. Helen had no idea where he had gotten the money for such a ring but it gave her a warm feeling to know he did. She listened as he recited his vows and tried not to fidget. Quite frankly, it all seemed rather redundant to Helen. John had already given her his promise to make her happy for all eternity. And being John he would do everything in his power to keep his vow. But it was still nice to hear him pledge himself to her.
She leaned around John to take the other ring from James. Her hands were shaking so much she actually dropped the ring. Everyone smiled and simply said that now the bad spirits were shaken out. John’s warm look as she put the ring on his finger made Helen’s heart flutter. “Repeat after me,” the priest intoned. “I, Helen Magnus, take thee, John Druitt, to be my wedded husband.”
“I, Helen Magnus, take thee, John Druitt to be my wedded husband,” she repeated faithfully.
“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge myself to you.”
Helen took a deep breath. “To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge myself to you.” She was surprised she could repeat it with such a steady voice.
“Then by the power vested in me by God and the great British Empire, I now pronounce you man and wife.” He looked to John. “You may kiss your bride.”
John raised her veil allowing Helen to see the world clearly. But the only thing she saw was John. He leaned down to give her a brief chaste kiss. As he pulled away her eyes caught the glint in his that promised more later. He took her hand and led her out to cheers from their friends and family.
The carriage that was waiting for them was hitched to four white horses. John called the address of their reception to the driver as he settled in next to her. Helen held up her left hand to watch the sunlight sparkle off the gold metal and jewels. “Married,” she breathed. She turned to John with a wide smile. He gave her a nervous one of his own.
“Regrets?” he asked. It was the same question he’d asked her when they’d first gone to bed together.
“How could I?” she laughed. “I’ve every thing I’ve ever wanted right at this moment.”
John kissed her hand. “As do I, my love,” he agreed.
“I have something to tell you,” she whispered. John moved in close to hear her secret. “Father developed this new test,” she explained, “And I took it yesterday to be sure.” She leaned in so she could whisper straight in his ear. “I’m already carrying our child, John.”
John pulled away with a shocked look on his face. For a moment Helen worried about his reaction. Then he took her mouth in a deep, loving kiss. “Helen Magnus, you are the most wonderful woman in this world,” he declared.
“Its Helen Druitt now,” she reminded him
“Helen Druitt,” he agreed, savoring the words. Helen’s name now joined with his, as their lives were now joined. As their bodies had been joined to create the child she was carrying. Not only was he a husband, he was now a father as well. His heart swelled so large it almost hurt.
Helen curled up next to John with a contended smile. “Promise me we’ll be happy, John,” she sighed.
John kissed her hair. “For all eternity,” he vowed.