A/N: Here it is. The final chapter of the sequel. Thank you to all who have read and reviewed! Usually I try to respond, but with all that's happened in the past few months, it's been really hectic. So, without further ado, I present the last chapter of The Forgotten Language.
Also, I highly recommend listening to all the songs I have mentioned (to which I do not own)
Riley peeked through the stained glass windows that hung in the doors that were in the back of the church. More and more friends and family were filling the pews. She had heard many people, both brides and grooms, getting cold feet on their wedding day, but Riley felt none of that. All she felt was excitement, and she honestly wished that time would hurry up a bit! You've waited this long to marry him, you can wait another fifteen minutes, she heard a voice in the back of her mind say that sounded a lot like Maya.
"Get away from the door. You know what they say about the groom seeing the bride before the wedding!"
Speaking of Maya. "He's not by the altar yet," Riley replied as she turned to face her best friend. She was leaning up against a wall, trying not to wrinkle her flounced dress. "He's probably still back in the sacristy with Farkle. And when are you one to believe in superstition?" she asked as she crossed her arms.
Maya shook her head as she handed Riley back her bouquet. "I'm not, just trying to pry you away from that door."
Riley blushed slightly as she took back her flowers. She opened her mouth to respond, but the light bouncing off of something on Maya's left hand caught her attention. "Maya? What's that?"
Maya's brow furrowed. "What's what?"
Riley reached out and grabbed her best friend's wrist, and she gasped at what she saw. A huge diamond surrounded by a spray of smaller ones, all set in white gold. "Is this what I think it is?" she asked.
Maya simply nodded.
"When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Last night. He was standing outside my apartment when I got there. One thing led to another and he proposed," she blushed. "And I would have told you, but today is yours and Lucas' day. Originally, I didn't even want to wear the ring since I felt it might distract from why we're all here today, but Farkle insisted, so I've been trying to hide it the best I could. I wanted to tell you after the reception; however… you found out anyway. So there goes that idea."
Riley laughed. "Well, I'm happy for you two."
"Thanks, Riles. It means a lot. Now, enough of me. You ready for this?"
Riley nodded as she twirled in her chiffon gown, allowing the burst of Swarovski crystals at her waist to glitter in the incoming sunlight. "I feel like a princess!"
Maya laughed. "I'm sure if Lucas heard you say that, he'd argue that you are his queen," she teased.
Riley tucked a loose strand of hair back into her bum. "Probably, knowing him."
The two of them laughed as the church bells began to toll. With that, Cory walked over to them. "It's almost time. You ready?"
Both Riley and Maya looked at each other and smiled. "You got this," Maya whispered just before she went to take her place.
Riley nodded as she took ahold of her father's hand. "I'm ready."
OoOoO
The piano player and flutist began playing, filling the large church with a beautiful tune. Lucas' parents started the procession, followed by Mrs. Matthews and Shawn. Once they had reached their seats, Maya slowly started down. Once she was most of the way there, Farkle approached her, then turned to escort her the rest of the way down the aisle.
Just as the music began to shift to a more grand tone, Riley looked up at her father and saw tears brimming his eyes. "Dad, don't. You'll make me cry!"
Cory chuckled as he shook his head. "It's hard not to. I'm giving away my one and only daughter. How can I not?" he asked as the two of them began to make their way towards the altar.
Everyone stood and gazed at the father daughter pair, but Riley's eyes were on Lucas. His face brightened as they made eye contact. It was as if they were truly looking at each other for the first time.
Once they had reached the altar, Cory took Riley's hand and placed it into Lucas'. "Take care of her," he whispered.
Lucas smiled and nodded. "I will."
The young couple turned to the priest, Father Mike, as the music slowed to a stop.
"Dearly beloved, we come together today on this very joyful occasion to witness the exchange of vows, to witness the exchange of love between Riley and Lucas and to witness their entrance into a covenant relationship between one another.
"My dear friends, you have come together in this Church, so that the Lord may seal and strengthen your love. Now, in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions. Lucas and Riley, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?"
Both of them nodded. "Yes."
"Will you love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?"
"Yes."
Father Mike nodded. "Since it is your intent to enter into marriage, please join right hands and declare you consent before God and His church."
Lucas turned to Riley and gathered his thoughts. "Riley, since the first day I saw you, I knew that God had put you in my life for a reason. At the time, I didn't know what for, but I'm glad I do now. I take you, Riley to be my wife. I promise to be true to you, in both good and bad times, in sickness and in health. I shall love you and honor you for the rest of my life."
Riley smiled as tears brimmed her eyes. "Lucas, I wasn't sure what to make of you when we first met. But I was glad to call you a friend, and eventually more than that. No matter what, you were always there for me. I take you, Lucas to be my husband. I promise to be true to you, in good times and bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you for the rest of my life."
"You have declared your consent before the Church. What God has combined, men must not divide. And now for the rings," the priest finished as he turned to Farkle.
Farkle stepped up and handed the golden plate that held the rings to him. The priest took them in his hands, blessed them, and handed them to Riley and Lucas.
"With this ring," Lucas began as he slipped the gold band onto Riley's finger, "I thee wed." Once the ring was on her finger, he looked up at her and smiled.
Riley returned the smile as she placed her ring on his finger. "With this ring, I thee wed."
"By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
The two newlyweds looked into each other eyes. "Come here," Lucas whispered as the two leaned in for a brief kiss.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Father Mike began. "I'd like to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Friar!"
OoOoO
Applause echoed through the reception hall as Farkle and Maya were introduced. As the best man and the maid of honor made their way to the head table, Lucas looked down at Riley. His eyes were on her for a few moments before she turned up to meet his gaze. Riley smiled up at him. "You ready for this?" he asked her.
Before Riley could respond, the DJ's voice filled the hall. "If everyone could please rise… everybody stand. I would like to introduce to you for the first time in public, Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Friar!" With that, their intro music began to fill the room
Riley's smile grew as the applause grew louder. "More than anything."
Lucas returned the smile, and then the two of them entered the room, arm in arm. Once they had reached the head table, the sound of a wine glass ringing reached everybody's ears, which caused more of them to join in. Riley looked out of the corner of her eye and saw her father with a butter knife in hand, smiling away as he continued to tap the side of his glass gently. Originally, Riley didn't want to go along with that tradition, but Lucas thought it would be fun. So, like tradition foretold, the newlyweds leaned in for a kiss.
Cameras flashes filled the room as the intro music continued to play. Riley's face began to hurt after all the smiling, and she knew that there was more to come.
"Now, if the bride and groom could please make their way to the dance floor."
Riley set down her bouquet of flowers at her spot and took ahold of Lucas' hand and let her lead her out to the center of the hall. Once their feet were on the dance floor, the gentle notes of Josh Turner's song, Soulmate, began to fill the room as they swayed from side to side.
Soulmate/ Until the end of time/ You're my soulmate
I'll love you till I get to Heaven's gate/ And if I go first sweetheart
I'll wait/ 'Cause I know I'll never find another/ Soulmate
Lucas smiled as he looked into Riley's eyes. "You know, this song is right."
Riley chuckled as she returned the smile. "I would hope so, considering we made it this far," she half joked.
He brought her in closer, allowing her to rest her head on his chest. "I'd never let you go."
Your love/ There's no telling where I'd be/ Without your love
Stumbling in the dark/ would be pretty rough/ When I get down you're the one
That lifts me up/ I thank the Lord above/ For your love
More ringing of wine glasses filled the room, and the two of them kissed again. "Do you think we can stay in this moment forever?" Riley asked.
"I think we'd get dizzy if we did."
Both of them laughed.
In this day and time/ The right one is hard to find/ Girl that's why I'm holding on to you
Each and every night/ When we turn out the light/ There's no mistake what we have is true
Soulmate/ I hope that we grow old together/ Soulmate
In the good and bad/ Even through the heartache
We've got a special bond/ That'll never break
'Cause darling you and I are/ Soulmates
"But in a way… I think we will," Lucas explained. "Life is sort of a dance. Sometimes you lead, follow, or make things up as you go. Sometimes it'll be hard. But we'll always have each other."
In this day and time/ The right one is hard to find/ Girl that's why I'm holding on to you
Each and every night/ When we turn out the light/ There's no mistake what we have is true
Soulmate/ Until the end of time/ You're my soulmate
'Cause darling you and I are/ Soulmates
Yeah, I know I'll never find another/ Soulmate
"That we will," Riley agreed.
As the final notes of the song began to slow to a halt, the reception hall erupted into applause as Cory made his way onto the dancefloor. Lucas placed Riley's hand into her father's and made his way off the dance floor. The father daughter pair danced to the song, My Little Girl, leaving not very many dry eyes in the house. Lucas and his mother danced to My Wish, continuing to make everyone teary eyed.
Once Lucas and his mother sat down, Maya stood up and took the mic from the DJ. "Hey all! For those of you who don't know me, I'm Maya Hart, one of Riley's best friends… more like a sister, actually. I've known her for as long as I remember, and from that moment on, she's been a huge influence in my life. Sometimes, I didn't think it was for the better, but she was always there for me. I was one for getting myself, and often times both of us, into trouble, and she would be the one to get us out. Riley is the kind of person that puts other people's needs before her own, no matter what the cost.
"When Lucas here came into her life nearly six years ago, I wasn't for it initially. I'm very protective of her, and would do anything for her. But when I saw the way they looked at each other, and found out about how he felt with her, I knew that he would do right by her.
"Lucas," she continued as she turned to face the groom, "you do realize that even though you two are married, that doesn't mean you've gotten rid of me," she teased, causing the entire room to laugh. "Riley, Lucas… I wish you both the best on the journey you're about to embark on. Cheers!" Maya concluded as she raised her glass to toast them.
As everyone mirrored Maya's action, she handed the microphone off to Farkle.
"Hello everyone. I'm Farkle Minkus. I've known Lucas ever since he moved here at the beginning of our senior year of high school, and I've known Riley for several years before that. They started out as good friends, and let their relationship evolve from that, which was great to watch. If anything, that's the way it should be," he commented as he took a quick side glance at Maya, and then continued. "When high school draws to a close, so do most 'relationships' that started out. But that wasn't the case with them. They were willing to work through the distance to see if their love was true. And it was. Well, obviously since they're both here today. Anyway, I wish you both the best in what's to come. It may be tough at times, but I know you can get through it together."
OoOoO
Maya wrapped her arms around Riley as the newlyweds stood by their car. "Have fun, Riles."
"I will. And don't forget, when we get back, we have a wedding to start to plan!"
Lucas raised an eyebrow as he opened the car door. "Wedding? What are you…" he trailed, then slowly saw the puzzle pieces fall into place. "So that's what you were talking about last night," he finished as he turned to Farkle.
He nodded. "Yep. I proposed to her last night."
"Congrats, buddy," Lucas said as he clapped a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "You won't regret it."
"I know I won't."
Maya shook her head. "Enough of that. You two better head on off to the airport if you don't wanna miss your flight."
The four friends finished their goodbyes and both Riley and Lucas climbed into the car. Just before Lucas shifted the car into gear, Riley placed her hand on his. He looked into her eyes and smiled.
"Ready, Mr. Friar?"
He leaned in and kissed her. "More than anything, Mrs. Friar."
A/N #2: Below are the links for the dresses for both of the girls! I really hope you enjoyed this fic. I can't believe it's over, honestly. If anyone wants more of this series, I'm open to one shot/ two shot suggestions. Just leave your idea in a review or PM me :) ~cowgirlangel95 out!
Riley's hair: beautylish dot com /t/yxgvgc/how-awesome-are-updos?show=last
Riley's dress: totallymodest dot com/ detail dot php ?ProdId=8634492&CatId=41650&resPos=20#subtitle
Maya's dress: totallymodest dot com/ detail dot php ?ProdId=4470300&CatId=43034&resPos=33#subtitle in Victorian Rose