CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Outside, night had fallen. The twinkling of the stars in the sky, the flashing city lights beyond and the strings of lights scattered across the rooftop created a magical ambiance.
Nick was standing under the floral arch, impatiently waiting for Adalind to make her entrance. His best man Monroe was by his side, as well as Hank, who had agreed to officiate the wedding ceremony. On each side of the aisle were chairs for the few guests they had invited. They had chosen to keep the event mostly private, inviting only their closest friends and family, which, aside from the bridal party, notably included Wu, as well as Bud and his wife. Renard was also there, mainly because he was Diana's biological father. Despite being on better terms with his captain, Nick had hesitated at first. However, he didn't want to disappoint his little girl, so he had ultimately agreed to invite him.
"Are you ready to get things started?" Monroe asked Nick.
"Yeah, I've never been more ready in my life" Nick responded with a smile.
Monroe nodded and sat down on the chair behind him. He then grabbed the cello resting next to him and started to play.
At the sound of the melody, Trubel, who was standing close to the door leading up to the roof, took it as her cue to get the wedding processional started.
"Ok kids, let's get your mommy and daddy married!" she said. "Diana, I'll walk down the aisle first, then you can walk out with Kelly, ok?"
"Sounds great!" Diana replied with a huge smile on her face.
"Great, I'll see you by the arch."
Trubel made her way down the aisle, smiling at the guests as she passed by them. As she moved closer to the altar, she noticed Nick was smiling back at her. He had never looked happier, she realized, which made her happy too. When she reached his side, she affectionately touched his arm and then moved to his left.
"Ok Kelly, it's our turn!" Diana said as she held her little brother's hand. "Let's go see daddy!"
With the help of his big sister, Kelly slowly toddled down the aisle. At the sight of his children walking hand in hand towards him, an immense feeling of pride came over Nick. When they finally reached the arch, Nick bent down to hug them and gently kissed their forehead.
"Good luck daddy" Diana whispered.
"Thank you sweetie" Nick replied as he stroked her hair.
Trubel inched closer and took both Diana and Kelly by their hands so she could hold them by her side.
The door at the other end of the roof then opened as Rosalee came out, holding a bouquet of flowers with one hand and her massive belly with the other. Monroe looked up from his cello as he saw his beautiful wife walk down the aisle. He smiled at her, remembering their own wedding.
When Rosalee reached the altar and moved to the side, Nick's heart started beating a little faster. This was it, the moment he had been waiting for had come at last. As Monroe switched to a different melody, all the guests stood up and turned their attention to the other end of the roof. When the door finally opened, Nick watched Adalind step out. As soon as they saw each other, everyone else around them became a complete blur; they only had eyes for one another.
Adalind stood still for a moment, smiling at Nick. He looked so handsome in his charcoal grey suit, which made his gorgeous blue eyes stand out. He was smiling back at her, his love for her clearly reflected on his face. She slowly started to walk towards him.
Nick was unable to take his eyes off of her. Adalind was absolutely breathtaking in her lace sheath dress, adorned with delicate cap sleeves and a beaded belt. She looked like an ethereal goddess, exuding the purest beauty and grace. Every step she took, moving closer towards him, made his heart flutter. He calmly waited until she reached his side. As she joined him under the arch, he took her free hand in his and pulled her closer to him. They gazed at each other, still unaware of the others around them, until the music finally stopped.
Monroe put the cello aside and got up to take his place next to Nick. Rosalee took Adalind's bouquet from her and rejoined Trubel and the children. Nick then took Adalind's other hand and smiled at her. He instinctively bent down to kiss her, but Adalind leaned back slightly to prevent his lips from touching hers.
"What are you doing?" she whispered. "You're not supposed to kiss me until the end of the ceremony."
"Sorry" Nick replied. "You look so beautiful, I couldn't resist."
Despite them keeping a low tone of voice, everyone had heard their private exchange and had all started laughing. Nick and Adalind turned to face their guests, both of them smiling. Nick then turned around to look at Hank and nodded to let him know he could proceed with the ceremony.
"Dear friends and family, we are gathered here tonight to witness the union of Nick and Adalind. It is my utmost honor to have the privilege to officiate their wedding ceremony. As you are all aware, Nick and Adalind have fought through countless battles to get to this day. The devotion they have for one another and the unbreakable bond they share is truly unique and remarkable. It is clear to anyone around them that these two are the pure representation of true love. I can still remember the day these two met. It was obvious from the very first moment that Nick felt a connection to Adalind. It was like everything else around him had ceased to exist except for her. We all know it took a few years for them to finally find their way to each other, but of this I am absolutely sure: Nick and Adalind were destined to be together."
All of the guests smiled, as though they were all in agreement with what Hank had just said.
"I will now let the two of them exchange the vows that they have prepared for one another" Hank said as he took a step back.
Nick took a deep breath, looked at Adalind and began to speak.
"Adalind, there aren't enough words to describe just how much you mean to me. But if I had to choose just one, it would undoubtedly be 'everything'. I can't possibly imagine what my life would be like had I not met you. I have become who I am today because of who you are; I am a caring and devoted father because you are the mother of my children. I am a faithful and committed lover because you are my soulmate."
Adalind's eyes sparkled as they started to fill with tears; but the smile on her lips let Nick know they were most definitely tears of happiness. He gently squeezed her hands and smiled at her before he continued.
"Our journey hasn't been the easiest, but I wouldn't change a single thing because you and our children gave my existence its entire meaning. Adalind, you are my life; your breath feeds oxygen into my lungs, your heart pumps blood into my veins. You are my beginning and my end, and everything else in between. I love you today, tomorrow and forever."
Nick momentarily let go of Adalind's left hand to wipe away the tears that had rolled down her beautiful face. He gently caressed her cheek as he did so. He then took her hand in his again as she cleared her throat to speak.
"Nick, falling in love with you was as natural as taking a breath. I truly believe that all the decisions I've made in my life have led me to you. Every single choice, the good and the bad ones, including all the mistakes and regrets from my past, they were all worth it because if I had done even just one thing differently, I might never have met you. You taught me the true meaning of love, you showed me that there is always a glimmer of hope, even when you are surrounded by nothing but darkness."
Adalind's voice started to shake from the emotion, so she took a deep breath before she was able to continue.
"You are my rock, my source of strength. I wake up every morning feeling so grateful to have found my other half, my missing piece. Your hand fits so perfectly around mine, like our fingers were made to be intertwined. You catch me when I am about to fall, you make me smile when I have no reason to. You complete me in every single way, you are my one and only. I love you today, tomorrow and always."
Adalind's vows had brought tears to Nick's eyes, but a smile to his lips. Hank stepped forward to join them.
"Nick and Adalind will now exchange rings. May these rings, which have no beginning and no end, forever remind them of their infinite commitment to one another. These rings contain in their precious metal something far more priceless: hope and a promise for the future. But most of all, they are a symbol of their eternal love."
Nick reluctantly let go of Adalind's hand as Monroe moved closer to hand him a delicate band adorned with sparkly little diamonds. He then turned back to face the love of his life, took her left hand and looked deeply into her bright blue eyes.
"I, Nicholas Burkhardt, take you Adalind Schade to be my wife. I promise to cherish and protect you for as long as I shall live. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst. As I am giving you my heart to be your shelter, I am also giving you my arms to be your home. With this ring, I promise to be with you for all eternity, til death do us part."
Nick carefully slid the wedding ring on Adalind's finger, silently mouthing the words 'I love you' as he did so. Adalind smiled at him and squeezed his hands. She then turned around as Rosalee gave her Nick's wedding band. She moved her attention back to Nick and began to speak.
"I, Adalind Schade, take you Nicholas Burkhardt to be my husband, my best friend and my one true love. I promise to stay true to you and to forever remain by your side, through good times and bad. As I am giving you my hand to hold, I am also giving you my life to keep. With this ring, I promise to love you with all of my heart and soul, til death do us part."
She slid the ring on Nick's finger and looked up at him, tears of joy rolling down her cheeks.
"By the power vested in me by the State of Oregon, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Nick, I know you've been impatiently waiting for this moment; you may now kiss your bride."
All the guests burst into laughter and started clapping as Nick took Adalind in his arms and kissed her, forgetting everyone else around them. Adalind was finally his wife and he was her husband; their hearts were now forever united, a bond that nothing and no one could ever break.