"What about the caterer?" Alex asked as she walked into the day spa with her mother, Serena, and Sam.
"Lex. Breathe," Serena put a hand on Alex's arm, "Relax. We've taken care of everything."
Alex nodded, "Okay… who's there?"
"Munch, Fin, Derrick, my mom, Nathan, and Taylor are already there. It'll be fine," Serena added.
Celine walked up to the counter, "We have a reservation for Cabot."
The young woman behind the counter smiled, "Yes ma'am." She got some robes from behind the desk and handed them to each woman. "And who's the bride?"
They all pointed to Alex who beamed.
The young woman smiled, "Congratulations. Now it you will all follow me…"
Alex closed her eyes as she sank into the mud bath. "Where's Elliot?"
"He's with Olivia," Sam added from the seat next to her
"Where's Olivia?"
"Downtown," Serena answered.
"And Casey?"
"She's with them," Serena sighed.
"Where-"
"Alex! Breathe."
Olivia closed her eyes as the masseuse worked on her back.
"This is great," Elliot said on the table next to her, "Do you do this all the time?"
"When Alex thinks I'm too stressed, she'll send me here," Olivia answered.
"Has she ever sent you to Marco uptown?" Casey asked, "He has magic hands."
"Yeah," Olivia smiled, "He's great."
"Wow you two are like lap dogs," Elliot chuckled.
"I don't mind," Casey answered.
Olivia smirked, "Nope."
"Well I never thought I'd say this but Liv… we need to get you dressed for your wedding."
"Are you nervous?" Sam asked Alex as they put the finishing touches on their hair and make up.
"No," Alex smiled at herself in the mirror, readjusting her veil, "I'm excited. I never thought this would happen."
"If it make you feel any better, I didn't either," Serena added.
Normally Alex would have at least rolled her eyes at Serena, but this was so far the best day of her life and nothing was going to ruin her mood.
Serena walked up behind Alex in her bridesmaid dress and smiled at Alex.
Alex looked at herself in the mirror again. She took a long deep breath.
"You okay Lex?" Serena asked.
Alex turned around smiling. "Of course."
Celine took a deep breath and looked her daughter up and down. Tears were in her eyes, but she was beaming, "You look beautiful."
"Thanks mom," Alex smiled.
There was a gentle knock on the door.
"C'min," Alex called.
The door swung open and Fin stepped in, dressed up in a suit with his hair slicked back in it's usual braid. She scanned the room and his eyes stopped on Alex. He let out a whistle.
Alex chuckled.
"I just came to see if you were ready?" Fin asked.
Alex nodded, "I'm definitely ready."
Fin smiled, "Congratulations."
"Thank you Fin," Alex beamed.
Fin stepped back out and closed the door behind him.
"We're going to go," Serena told Alex. She carefully hugged Alex and kissed her cheek, "I'm proud of you."
Alex smiled softly, "Thank you."
With one last wink, Serena and the other bride's maids left.
Alex turned to the only other person left in the room, her mother. Celine took her daughter's hands and looked her over again, "You're so beautiful."
"Thanks," Alex smiled back.
"Your father would have been so proud of you," Celine told Alex, "And he would have loved Olivia, just like I do and the rest of our family does. I'm glad you have each other."
Alex wrapped her arms around her mother, "Thank you mom. That means so much."
There was another knock on the door and Serena stuck her head in. "It's time."
Cragen stepped into Olivia's dressing room. She looked herself over one last time. The soft lilac of the dress went well with the lilacs and white roses in her hand. Usually Olivia thought the flowers the bride carried were kind of stupid, but she realized that if she wasn't carrying them, she would have no idea what to do with her hands while she was walking down the isle.
"You look great," Cragen smiled, like a proud father.
"Thanks you for doing this Don," Olivia told him, "It means a lot."
Cragen nodded and offered his arm, "Are you ready to take the longest walk of your life?"
Olivia laughed and took Cragen's arm, "You bet."
They had this all worked out at the rehearsal dinner the night before. Alex and Olivia were going to walk in through two different doors in the back of the church at the same time. They wouldn't be able to see each other because of the mass of people between them and at the front of the church, they'd meet at the justice of the peace.
After Celine was seated, Spencer and Paige scattered flowers everywhere, Blake and Logan each carried up a ring, and the bride's maids and best men were in place, Alex and Nathan were paused in front of the doors.
"You nervous?" Nathan asked.
Alex took her brother's arm, "I've never concentrated so hard on walking."
Nathan laughed, "It'll be worth it when she see her."
"You've seen her?" Alex looked up at her brother.
Nathan nodded, "She looked great."
Alex smiled to herself and nodded, "Okay…here goes."
Instead of opting for the traditional wedding march, Alex and Olivia picked out a piece of music that they had heard while searching for wedding songs. The second they heard it they both knew it was perfect. It was soft and elegant, nothing too fancy. It just seemed like a comfortable song.
The doors opened in front of Olivia and her breath caught in her throat. This was it. She was marrying Alex. And there was nothing else it in the world she'd rather be doing.
As she walked, Alex scanned the crowd, smiling. Serena was right. Every court in New York City must be empty. There were judges, DAs, defense attorneys, and all kinds of courtroom staffs. Then closer to the front were their families. Alex saw cousins she hadn't seen in years and some family friends.
Olivia glanced at the center isle and caught a glimpse of blonde hair. She knew that either her heart was beating a million miles an hour or it had completely stopped. It didn't actually matter because the only thing keeping her alive was that she knew that in a matter of minutes Alex would be hers forever and the whole world would know it.
Alex was a few steps away from the justice that was standing in the front of the church. She knew that as soon as she reached the justice, she would be able to see Olivia.
Olivia finally got to the front and turned to her right. There Alex was, standing by the justice her hair in soft curls falling around her shoulders. Alex's dress was a beautiful off white that seemed to bring out the blonde's eyes. Olivia was glad she was still hanging on to Cragen because her knees went weak.
When Alex saw Olivia her jaw nearly hit the floor. The lilac dress Olivia was wearing hugged her body in all the right places, but was still elegant. It took all Alex had not to walk over to Olivia and sweep her in the most breath taking kiss of their lives.
Olivia beamed when she took Alex's hands. She ran her thumb over Alex's knuckles and they shared a secret smile. Olivia mouthed I love you and Alex mouthed I love you too.
Alex wasn't really listening to the justice drone on. She knew was he was saying. She wrote it herself. She just kept her eyes locked with Olivia's. She loved Olivia's eyes. They were the first thing she saw then she woke up and the last thing she saw before falling asleep. They were sympathetic and strong when she needed it. They were small and vulnerable at times too. She loved everything about Olivia and knew that she would for the rest of her life.
Alex laughed at Olivia when she wanted to replace Speak now or forever hold your peace, with Speak now and I'll punch you. But she probably would have, had someone ruined the moment. She kept looking into Alex's blue eyes. Her chest swelled with pride. Alex wanted to be with her. Forever.
It didn't take long before they were slipping the simple platinum bands on each other's fingers. Then came the words, "You may now kiss the bride."
Olivia dropped Alex's hands and slid her hands to Alex's hips, pulling her in. Alex smiled and wrapped her arms around Olivia's shoulders and their lips met in a soft, sweet kiss they sent shivers down both their spines. It was sealed. Their love was proclaimed in front of hundreds of people and they wouldn't have had it any other way.
