Chapter 47: New Year
New Year's Eve
At the café
Bella's POV
I'm so ready for a new year, even if it means I have to spend the night working and watching over Ashley while I'm on stage.
This year has been such a test on patience that I've wanted to just run away. I never did because it wouldn't change anything, but now it's time to start a new.
A few days after Christmas, I got a call from my sister, Diana. I almost ignored it, but decided not to. I'm glad that I didn't, she called because she wanted to start over. It was a rough year for both of us and since we can't change our past. Since Will and Sophie are so big on family, I decided to give Diana a shot. New Year's is about new beginnings. Maybe I might get a better year this year.
I look at my phone and yell to the guys, "Our break time is over, let's practice some more."
At the McCartney's home
Lewis' POV
I was standing by the stairs with Catherine in my arms as I wait for Cleo to get ready for the party at the café. Since it isn't a bar, we can bring Catherine and not have to worry too much.
Two thousand and eleven has been full of surprises: some good, some bad, but hopefully twenty twelve will be all good.
"Come on, Cleo, at this rate we won't be there until next year," I yell up the stairs.
"I'm coming! You know it takes me a while because of my tail!"
"I'm sure you'll be the most beautiful girl at the party, now come on."
Cleo walks down the stairs in her new purple sundress her mother bought for her, and I was right: she looks beautiful.
"You look beautiful just like I thought."
"Thanks, sorry it took so long. Sometimes I forget and wash the make off my hands resulting in my tail."
You'd think the girls will have learned by now. "That reminds me," I say as we leave the house, "I've been meaning to ask you. Didn't you learn to control your transformation?"
"I did, but it takes so much concentration that when I get startled, I forget about it."
"Would you like to do it without thinking like when you use your power to deflect water?"
"I suppose, but years of running when it happens won't suddenly disappear."
"What if I make it my new year's resolution to continually test you until you do it without thinking."
Cleo looks at me strangely, like I've gone insane or something.
"Think about it: practice makes perfect."
She smiles and nods. "Okay, I guess with your help that I will be able to actually do it without thinking."
"Good, now let's hurry before the New Year begins without us."
At the café
Ten minute to midnight
Emma's POV
I'm sitting at the largest booth with my girls, sister and the rest of my friends. In ten minutes this year will be over. I can't believe all that has happened this year. I came back to the Gold Coast, found out I was pregnant, me and Ash went back and forth all year, I moved out, my secret was exposed, and had the girls. So many things happened both good and bad and as I look at my girls, I'm reminded of Ash. He couldn't be here tonight, but I'll see him soon. He's coming in on Wednesday to prepare before the wedding on Thursday.
Ash and I have been through a rough year, although I want to say that it is mostly his fault, but it isn't. I could've said no, but I didn't and I was willing to take care and love the girls without him. The last few weeks has made me miss him more than I thought I would.
I really thought that it would take me a lot longer to forgive him after he's left me multiple times this past year, but over the few weeks, I've been considering it. Maybe we should just start over, clean slate. I look at my twins again and smile.
What better time to start clean then in a completely new year. Just as I decide on starting a new with Ash, Bella comes off the stage with the cordless mic in her hand.
"Gather around everyone! It's almost midnight and it's time to count down into a New Year," Bella says.
The rest of us move together and grab a glass just as she begins.
"10…9…8"
The crowd starts to shout with her. "7…6…5…4…3…2…1"
"Happy New Year!"
Everyone's shouting, yelling, and kissing as 2012 begins.
My friends and I clink our glasses together in our own private celebration and all I can think as I smile at them is that I hope it's better than the last.
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
At Cleo's cottage
Rikki's POV
Last night we dubbed Cleo and Lewis' place as Cleo's cottage and kicked the guys out for the night. We did this because we decided that we would spend the night before our wedding sleeping apart. We thought it would make tonight more special. So, the girls and I stayed here and the boys went to my house with the kids.
The night went by fast, and now I find myself sitting in a chair as Bella does my hair.
Cleo, Emma and Lizzie are getting ready across the room with quiet conversation as music plays softly.
"Are you nervous?" Cleo asks me as their conversation ends.
I pause before I answer. Am I nervous? I don't know. We already live together. We have twin and act like the family we are. Honestly, getting married really only makes it official and makes the people who already look down at me for getting pregnant so young, look a little less down. But we aren't doing this for them, we're doing it for us and I love Zane and our kid. So, no I don't think I have any reason to be nervous.
"No," I answer.
"Really?" Emma asks.
"Yes, why," I ask.
"Well, you and Zane haven't exactly had the easiest relationship," Emma answers.
I'm taken aback by her answer. It's true that though things have been rough before, things are easy now. Ever since I told him I was pregnant, thing have gotten way better. We don't seem to fight and he's been very caring and loving. Our relationship has seemed really easy in the past year.
"Maybe in the past, but not since I told him I was pregnant. Thing have gotten much better over the past year, and I have no real reason to be nervous to marry him," I say.
Emma smiles and says, "Okay, just checking."
I smile back and we all finish getting ready. As soon as we are done, my mom comes in to tell us that she is ready to drives us to the café.
"All ready?" she asks.
"Yes," we answer. Then we all get up and head for the van my mom'll be driving us in.
It didn't take long to reach the café, where we hurried inside so that Zane wouldn't see me in my dress.
The final preparations were finished and we even did some pictures jut me and the girls. Suddenly, as we were taking more pictures, separate pictures of me with each girl, the guys and my dad come into the café.
"Everyone's ready, are you?" my dad asks.
I look around to the other girls checking to see if they were ready. They are, so I nod and smile at my dad. My mom goes to start the music and we all line up. Emma and Ash, Bella and Will, Cleo and Lewis, Lizzie by herself since Nate is standing at the end of the aisle with Zane, then my father and I. The music starts and the wedding starts. The aisle was short, so in no time at all, my dad and I reach the doo way that leads to the aisle. This is it.
Zane's POV
I stand at the end of the aisle with Nate as my best man and wait for the ceremony to begin. As guys, we didn't take long to get ready, so I've had some time to wait.
We mindlessly chatter until Nate asks, "Are you ready for this?"
I glance at him and think about all those times before I knew the truth that I interacted with Rikki. At first, we hated each other probably because she thought I was just some rich snob that got everything. It didn't help the way I acted with Mirium and Nate, like I owned the world.
I remember when she was the only one who hadn't laughed at Lewis' movie, how she told me that believed the sharks were there. After I found out her secret, she explained that she was the one that scared them away, but she would've believed me anyway. We had our first moment that night. It was the first time that I saw a different part of Rikki, a part I liked.
Then we got stuck on that balcony and then really connected. She made me relax and overcome my fear. After I opened my eyes and I realized that I could and would survive because of her, I knew that I had to give her a chance. I had to look passed her tough exterior and get to know.
I'll never forget that day when we were stuck on the balcony. We learned how much we had in common and I fell in love with her. By the time the first drops fell and she rushed to be in the safe dry place, I knew I was a goner. I wouldn't admit it, but it was the best day of my life at the time.
Our first kiss was amazing and I wanted more. I even gave up my search for the creature that saved me just to be with her. In hindsight, I should have realized she knew more about it then she let on, but I didn't care. All I wanted was a chance to be with her. It was the first time I chose a girl over proving I am right.
When I found out she was a mermaid, I was excited and relieved, but also betrayed. I understood why she didn't tell me, but it still hurt. For months I thought I might have been insane, and she could've confirmed it for me.
It didn't matter, that was our first break up, but at least it was on peaceful terms. I thought it was for the best, and I was okay while I was gone, but the second I saw her again, I knew I wanted to try again.
After her accretion that we would never be together, I lost all hope until Nate forced her secret out and I proved to her that I could do it, that we could be a great couple again. Things were great from then on with the exception of the fight with her dad.
I felt so bad that she thought I would give up on her because she wasn't rich like I was as if that was what helps our relationship together. After that, things were near perfect until I screwed it up with Sophie. But I was sorry and we got back together after a while and had the twins.
Regardless of how we got here, I'm happy that for whatever reason, the twins happened and led to us getting married. Any other teenage male would have found a way to get out of responsibilities like children, but not me. I knew that the twins would hold us together. We'd always have to deal with each other, which meant that even if she stopped us dating, I'd have plenty of time to convince her that we were and are meant to be.
I smile as the guys except Nate rush to the café in preparation of the ceremony to start.
"Are you nervous?" Nate asks.
"Not even a little," I say just as Rikki's mom tells us to start the ceremony.
Facing the front, I see Emma and Ash walking my way and parting in front of me, Ash next to Nate and Emma leaving the spot open for Rikki when she would get to the end of the aisle. Before I knew it, I was standing with Emma, Bella, Cleo, and Lizzie across from me and Nate, Ash, Will and Lewis behind me.
The traditional wedding song for when the bride walks down the aisle starts playing and my eyes fall to Rikki and her father walk down the aisle. I feel like my heart stops for a second at how beautiful she looks and knowing in a short time, she'll be mine forever.
She reaches me in not time, and kisses her father on the cheek and he shakes my hand before going to sit down. I help her hands in my own and I stare into her eyes and I get lost in them. The officiator starts with his usual ceremony stuff, but I don't pay attention. All I care about is the part that will make us Husband and wife.
Finally, the time comes and we say I do before giving each other over rings and sealing it with a kiss.
At the reception
Cleo's POV
Rikki and Zane wait outside while their guests enter the café. Once everyone else is inside, Bella grabs the mic from the starts and says, "Let's welcome the brand new couple: Mr. and Mrs. Zane Bennett."
Everyone claps and cheers. We all smile until they sit at the head table and all the guests sit at their tables so that the dinners could begin. It was a nice simple meal since there were few guests invited, and it was the café.
It was nice that the ten of us got to sit together as the wedding party.
"Well, at least this wedding didn't get ruined by sprinklers," I say remembering what happened at Sam and my dad's first wedding.
The new Bennett's, Bell and Will all laughed, but the rest looked confused.
"The last time we has a wedding here, it was Sam and Don's," Zane says.
"And Kim, who didn't want it to happen, set off sprinklers," Rikki finishes.
"The wedding got moved to Mako and it was all fixed," I say.
"Well, cheers to not having to turn into a mermaid on my wedding day," Rikki says lifting a glass.
We all toast to that before continuing to talk about all sorts of things. It was a wonderful meal until it was time for the toasts. Since traditionally it's the maid of honor and best man, it's different for this wedding. Rikki wants me to make a toast because I'm the only one who's been around for their entire relationship. All the up and downs and everything.
Nate looks at me and I nod to him to go first, so that I will have the time to organize my thoughts and make this speech great.
"Attention everyone, it is time to toast the happy new couple. As the best man, I would make a toast to the couple but I am more than that. I've been Zane's best friend since we were children and now he has children and now he has children of his own. I always thought that Rikki and Zane were too hot headed to last as a relationship, but that changed when he came back from boarding school. I saw what he did when he covered for her and though I didn't know why, I knew that he could put aside his pride for her. He grew up for her. Congrats, To Rikki and Zane."
Everyone claps and cheers. Once it settles down it becomes my turn.
"Well, I may not be the maid of honor, but I have been here for everything Zane and Rikki have gone through. Nothing describes their relationship more than the moment that Zane came to Emma and me and gave up their secret relationship just to make sure she was okay. We knew that he loved her and wouldn't be giving up anytime soon. There's never been a better match, take care of her Zane, To Zane and Rikki!"
The cheers and claps fill the room.
A/N Thanks for reading, hope it was good. Hey guys, sorry it was a bit late, I'm starting to fall behind again, but promise to have a chapter up in November.
