Disclaimer: Nor mine.

A/N: This is dedicated to Vulcan Rider, a woman who is an inspiration to me, who is ever strong and brave and taught me that rolling with the punches is the best thing you can do.

Shout out to Wraithdarte, another woman who is stronger than I have ever known.

Enjoy!

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Stephanie

I used to mock and ridicule it when I saw all those brides take a look at themselves in the mirror on their wedding day and start to cry.

They are so vain, I would giggle.

They're crying because they just realized they were screaming ugly, I would prophesize.

They're being overdramatic because that's what they saw happen in the latest Julia Roberts flick, I would snort derisively.

Today I realized that I could never have been further from the truth. Standing here, looking at myself in the full-length mirror, I felt tears fill my eyes, not for all the reasons I'd come up with over the years, but because I just realized I was moments away from promising the left of my life to the man I loved more than life itself. I was crying because I looked beautiful, and it wasn't because of the dress, it was because of the sheer joy that seemed to emanate from my eyes and spill out into a golden shroud that bathed me in iridescent light. I was crying because my life was about to change in this irrevocable, colossal way, and I never once thought that I would get to have all this, yet here I stood. About to marry the man of my dreams, and make him the man of my reality.

Carlos had everything ready, wanting to surprise me as soon as we got off the jet in Hawaii!

And surprise me he did.

I almost started crying all over again when, gathered at the airport, were all my Merry Men, my Mom, Dad, and Grandma, Val, Albert and the girls, and the girls from the bond's office. Carlos' family was there too, and Mary Lou was there with Lenny, who was in on the surprise with Carlos, leaving Mary Lou and I in the dark.

While Val gushed about being my matron of honor, I had to smile at the interaction I overheard between Les and Carlos.

Carlos had handed him my ring, smirking when Lester just looked at him in confusion.

"Come on, little brother," Carlos had grinned, his endearment touching my heart as much as Lester's. "You can't honestly think I would have chosen anyone else as my best man?"

Lester's responding grin had been so wide, I was sure his cheeks had to be sore. The clear admiration I saw in his eyes spoke volumes about a childhood relationship that I was looking forward to learning about. My heart skipped a beat when I realized that I would have the rest of my life to do just that. When Carlos' parents decided that time was of the essence, I barely had time to kiss him goodbye before we were whirled off in different directions.

Mom, Val, Mary Lou and Carlos' mom, who insisted I call her Maria, were whisked off to do our hair. When, about halfway through, I panicked about not having a dress, I was promptly consoled by an amused Maria, who asked me if I thought she would let Carlos plan all of this and forget the most vital part.

Pacified by Maria's reassurances, I allowed myself to be pampered, and four hours later, I was staring at the product of it.

And crying.

My wedding dress was pure white, with an empire bodice and a sweetheart neckline. The full skirt was made from sheer organza, with only a filmy layer of silk stopping it from being see-through. The bodice was filled with intricate swirls, dotted with pearls and silver faux diamantes. On my neck I wore the sapphire necklace my Mom wore to her wedding, as my something old, Maria had bought me a stunning hair clip as my something new, and I insisted on keeping Carlos' sapphire earrings on, which counted as my something blue.

I tried to stop the tears that were now blurring my vision to no avail. I felt like I had all this happiness inside me and this was the only way I could deal with it without spontaneously combusting. I chuckled thickly as I thought on the irony of the fact that my anniversary and my wedding was happening exactly one year since the time I was scoffing at brooding at the whole idea of weddings.

I thought back to Tiffany-Zilla's sham of a wedding and marveled at the polar opposites of our personalities. Her wedding had been lavish, thought-out and planned to the last miniscule detail, months in advance. Mine, I was having less than a day after being proposed to! I was willing to bet our house and Rangeman that I was the happier of the two of us.

The loud ringing of my cellphone jolted me from my crying jag. Trying to control my sniffling, I jabbed the button to answer it.

"Yo," I greeted thickly, my voice only wobbling in the slightest.

"Babe? What's wrong?" Carlos' concerned voice drifted into my ear, making me want to cry all over again, for whatever annoyingly emotional reason.

"I'm happy," I wailed, my tears starting anew.

"Then why are you crying?" Carlos sounded a little panicked, and I could hardly blame him. A slightly hysterical laugh bubbled in my throat.

"I don't know," I replied, half tearfully, half confused.

"I'm coming to you," he reported determinedly. I wanted to argue, but I really wanted him here…I had to try, in any case.

"You're not allowed to see me before the wedding," I protested half-heartedly.

"We'll make it work, Babe," he assured me before hanging up. Not three minutes later I heard a rap on my door.

"Babe?" he called through the door. "I'm not coming in; I thought we could just talk through the door."

"That'd work," I giggled slightly.

"Yeah," he answered dryly, "and my mom won't kick me out or twist my ear." I laughed loudly at the thought, and I realized that was his intention. "There's that laugh I love," he murmured, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

"I'm sorry for worrying you," I apologized, feeling silly now.

"Never apologize for calling me when you need me, Querida," he told me firmly. "Now, are you okay? Are you having second thoughts, Babe? I understand completely if you are. I sprung this on you without preparing you; if you aren't ready just yet I don't mind waiting. I won't get mad, I promise Babe. You know I'll always wait for you."

My heart melted at his little monologue. "Never ever, Carlos," I told him, not needing to even try to hold the utter conviction in my tone. "I love you and I can't wait to get married to you. I just didn't get a chance for this all to hit me, and once it did, when I saw myself in this dress, I couldn't handle not crying."

"I love you," he reminded me. "I can't wait to call you my wife," he added, voice bursting with pride and love and happiness.

"This is perfect, Carlos," I told him, almost tearing up again. "The only thing that would make it better would be if Julie were here."

"This is why I love you, Babe," he chuckled. "She's on her way here now. Her flight was delayed and she couldn't meet us at the airport."

"Yay!" I actually squealed. "Tell her…"

"Tell me what?" I heard a familiar female voice giggle and I clapped excitedly.

"Julie, get in here!" I got up and opened the door, being careful to hide behind it, lest Carlos catch a glimpse of me. "You're going to be my honorary Maid of Honor with my sister!" I giggled again when this time, she squealed.

"Yes! Oh, I was hoping to get something to do!" she told me, rushing into the room and closing the door. I took a second to admire how much she'd grown; she was going to be a stunner in a few years, and I made a mental note to warn Carlos about the boy problem.

"I love you, Daddy," she hollered through the door, "but go away! Me and Steph need to talk and get ready and you're hovering!" she accused slightly.

"Alright, alright." I chuckled; I could almost hear the eye-roll in that sentence. "I'm going. Never mind the fact that I'm your father or anything. I'm gone."

"Don't whine, Dad," Julie teased.

"It's unbecoming, Batman," I added mischievously.

He groaned dramatically. "Jesus, what have I gotten into…Santos! Let's hit the bar. I need a drink."

###

The ring sparkled on my left hand. I beamed at everyone as they wished us well, laughed as Lester gave his hilarious best man's toast and cried when my sister and Julie gave theirs. I felt like I was in this wonderful dream and I never wanted to wake up.

"Te amo, Babe," Carlos whispered in my ear. I turned and pulled him into a long, plundering kiss filled with luscious promises.

"Te amo, Carlos," I replied in a soft murmur.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Lester's voice boomed, calling everyone's attention. Over the speakers, "Babe" by Styx came through and I laughed at the choice. A spotlight fell on us and Carlos dropped to one knee, holding out his hand in silent offer.

And so, four simply uttered words changed my life forever.

"Mr. and Mrs. Manoso."

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