Weeks went by without much excitement, at least when it came to work. Things managed to stay less than chaotic, much to Nico's relief. However, outside the office, chaotic didn't even begin to describe it. There was so much going on. First, she had Victory's wedding planning to help with, which was hectic as it is, even with the three of them all doing the work. Along with that, Kirby surprised Nico by finally deciding to move in with her, so whenever she wasn't at the office or helping with wedding plans, she was helping move boxes, getting Charles' unneeded furniture out while moving Kirby's stuff in. With the plans, moving, work in general, public events, and everything in between, Nico couldn't remember the last time her life had been this busy.
She was especially excited, though, since Kirby had finally given in and Victory's wedding was getting closer and closer. Nico could imagine Victory in her wedding dress, probably one she designed, waltzing down the aisle with her arm linked with her father's, her smile bright and excited as she got closer to Joe at the alter. She could also imagine what it would be like to walk down the aisle with her own arm linked to Kirby's, their paces in sync with the music as everyone watched them. She couldn't wait; she had almost forgotten how exciting weddings were. After all, the last time she attended one was her own, almost eighteen years before.
Before they knew it, the big day arrived. It was a gorgeous May morning. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky when the sun broke the horizon. Nico woke up with a warm feeling in her heart when she realized that today, she would see one of her best friends walk down the aisle and tie the knot with the man she loved. After months of planning everything, it would finally pay off, and she couldn't be more thrilled. Beside her, Kirby still slept soundly. She reached over and shook him awake, gently, of course.
"Kirby," she whispered. "Get up. Today's the wedding."
With a grumble, Kirby woke up, peeling his eyes open to see his excited girlfriend gazing right at him. He smiled and pulled her in for a morning kiss. "You look happy," he breathed.
"I am," Nico giggled with her girlish excitement. "Victory is going to look so beautiful."
"So are you," Kirby pointed out, pulling her into him again. "Well, you already are, but still." He captured her lips once again.
She smiled through the kiss, suddenly not wanting to get up. Come on, Nico, she thought. You'll see him later. She pulled away from him, a heavenly smile stretched across her face. "You're distracting me, you know that?"
"What can I say?" he shrugged. "I'm in love with a gorgeous woman." He then gave her a quick final kiss before letting her sit up. "A gorgeous woman who has a big day ahead of her, as a matter of fact."
"That's right," she nodded as she made herself get out of bed. "I gotta head out soon and help Victory. You gotta get ready, too, you know. You're also a part of the ceremony."
Kirby sat up and rubbed his tired eyes, watching as Nico made her way across the room, toward the closet. "But I don't have to be there as early as you do," he called after her.
Nico left the closet door cracked open so she could hear him. She smirked at his remark as she slipped into the snug-fitting dress and found the pair of shoes to go with it. "Yes, but I want you to take a few photos of Victory in her dress. It's part of her wedding album I'm putting together."
There came a silence from him, and it puzzled Nico. She turned around, and she jumped a little when she found him standing in the closet doorway, stunned silent. He marveled at how beautiful she looked in the dress, which was a deep grape color that fell to her knees and had an A-line scoop neck, a dress that Victory herself had designed. She saw the look on his face and gave him a playful. The fabric flowed around her as she moved. "What do you think?" she asked.
"Wow," was the only word he managed to get out at the moment. "You look amazing."
Nico blushed as she drew a pearl necklace from one of the drawers. "Can you help me put this on?" she asked as she turned her back and held up the necklace.
Kirby approached her and took the ends of the jewelry in both hands, fastening it carefully. Once he was done, he pressed a kiss to her shoulder. "You're so beautiful, Nico."
She blushed again, realizing that she had yet to put on her makeup and fix her hair. She gave him another kiss before going back into the bedroom, taking her seat at the vanity. Kirby stayed in the closet as he got changed into his tuxedo. When he came back, Nico was working tirelessly to apply her makeup. She noticed Kirby in the corner of her eye and glanced up, instantly smitten by how he looked so dressed up, even without his hair done yet. It took maybe fifteen for her to finish with both her makeup and hair before she got up and helped him tie his tie. Meanwhile, he managed to do his hair the way he wanted. They both finished at the same time. Nico moved her finger in a circle, and he turned around for her.
"You look good, hon," she said smugly. "Actually, amazing would be the better word."
"Thanks, babe," he grinned, stealing a kiss from her. "Now, you better go. Victory needs you."
"Yeah," Nico agreed. "But she needs you, too. Let's go."
Half an hour later, Nico was inside one of the church's massive bridal dressing rooms, helping with the final touches on Victory's dress. Wendy was there, too. Victory was beginning to get the pre-marital nerves that every bride gets, and if it weren't for Wendy and Nico, she probably would have been passed out on the floor. She tapped her foot impatiently.
"Can I see now?" she asked for about the third or fourth time.
"Almost," Nico shook her head as she adjusted part of the train. "Don't turn around yet."
With one last tug, Nico rose to her feet and gave Victory a small nod. With a nervous smile, the fashion designer turned to face the triple mirror, and in an instant, the smile widened to a massive grin. "Oh, my God," she gasped. "You guys, this looks amazing!"
"Of course it does," Wendy said. "You designed it."
"You look gorgeous, hon," Nico grinned. "Now, where's Kirby?"
Kirby heard his name from outside the dressing room and waltzed in, camera in his hands. "Right here," he announced. With that, Nico and Wendy ducked out of the way, allowing Kirby to do his thing. Victory did a numerous amount of poses, with Kirby getting shots of every angle. Wendy elbowed Nico, and they shared a proud nod.
Before long, Kirby finished up, but not before he sneaked a couple of photos of Nico as she laughed with her friends. Nico finally caught him and hid her face playfully. "Kirby!" she exclaimed.
Kirby shrugged and laughed. "What? I can't help it."
Nico rolled her eyes and gave him a teasing nudge. "Don't you have to meet up with Shane and Joe?"
"I already did," he stated. "Shane's with him now."
"Not anymore," Shane said as he poked his head in. "Excuse the interruption, ladies and gentleman, but we're starting in five minutes."
This sent the girls into a frenzy. Wendy helped Victory off the pedestal while Nico adjusted whatever needed to be adjusted. Shane led Kirby to the lobby, with the girls close behind them. Waiting for them there was the entire ensemble of bridesmaids and groomsmen, along with Victory's father at the very end waiting for his daughter. Nico took her place beside Kirby, just in front of where Shane stood with Wendy. Behind them, Maddie stood with a basket of petals in her hand, and then there was Taylor with the rings. At the end of the line, Mr. Ford was there, staring in amazement by his daughter's beauty in her dress. She gave him a sheepish grin, to which he nodded with encouragement. Nico gave Kirby an excited look, as well as Wendy, too. This was it, the moment of truth. The process began…
The music was joyful and melodic as they began waltzing down the aisle to the beat of it all. Nico's body was pumping with adrenaline, as she and Kirby got closer to the doors leading to the hall. She could already catch glimpses of some of the faces within the pews, which were all turned toward the doors. She could even see her father and brother, who she never expected to accept the invitations she sent. It made her proud to see them. Before long, it was their turn to walk, and with the greatest of ease, they kept a steady pace, making sure they stayed in sync with the music. She offered a smile toward her father, who nodded back with pride. George gave her a wink and a slight nod as well.
They parted ways upon reaching the altar, just in time for them to catch Wendy and Shane's last few steps of their walk. By then, Maddie had begun trailing flowers behind her, Taylor just ahead of her. Nico could see Victory and her father in the back, waiting for their cue. Finally, when Taylor took his place by the minister, and Maddie had finished decorating the floor with the roses and went to stand by the bridesmaids, the music changed, and that was when everyone stood up and looked toward the rear of the room.
Victory couldn't have looked any more beautiful as she strode down the aisle with her arm linked tightly with her father's. Nico and Wendy gave her the same excited look, while also looking over at Joe, who was completely stunned. He gawked at her in her ivory dress, the way the fabric glittered in the light. Her eyes never left his the entire time, and that was when Nico and Wendy shared a similar thought: It was all paying off.
When the music came to an end, just as Mr. Ford and Victory approached the altar, the minister looked upon them and asked, "Who gives this woman to be wed?"
With that, Mr. Ford smiled and replied, "I do." After one last hug from his daughter, Mr. Ford let go and took his seat by his wife, who sat in the front row.
"Dearly beloved," the minister continued. "We are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join Joe Bennett and Victory Ford in matrimony commended to be honorable among all; and therefore is not to be entered into lightly but reverently, passionately, lovingly and solemnly. Into this, these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
There was a silence, and the procession continued. Nico's smile never left her face as she watched everything unfold. Though she couldn't see her, she knew that Victory's grin was bigger than ever before. Joe's was the same way, and for the longest time, she thought he never smiled like that. She guessed that he did only when he was with Victory. It was a beautiful sight to see. She knew they would be happy together, even after all the drama they'd been through.
Before long, after the vows had been said and done, the minister motioned for Taylor to hold up the rings for them to grasp, Joe preparing his first. He held it up with a smile.
"I, Joe Bennett," he began. "Give you, Victory Ford, this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you." He then slid the ring easily onto her finger, and Victory had to keep herself from crying tears of joy. She then held her ring for him up.
"I, Victory Ford, give you, Joe Bennett, this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you." She placed the ring over his finger, and they clasped hands. Nico felt her heart lifting at the sight.
The minister smiled and nodded. "By the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
It didn't take long for Joe to lift the veil from Victory's face and kiss her passionately on the lips. The second they met, the room burst into applause, everyone cheering for the newlyweds. Nico and Wendy were especially thrilled that their planning had come to a wonderful ending. Everything turned out beautiful, from the decorations, to the dresses, to the music, and it made Nico burst with pride. She leaned into Wendy and whispered, "We did it." Wendy nodded excitedly, just as the couple started down the stairs, the recessional following suit. Wendy met up with Shane again, and Nico with Kirby, who instantly smiled to her.
"You did a good job, babe," he said.
"Thank you," she replied, as they made their way down the aisle once again, heading toward the same location where Nico and Wendy threw Victory's engagement party, only this time, they were going there for the reception.
