AN/

You guys are so sweet to me. Thank you for the reviews and love for not only this piece but excitement and support on the sequel and my work in general. I do not deserve it but will always be so appreciative of it all. It really makes my day/week when I see the nice reviews and helps me to write more. So enjoy this next chapter!

Also just wanna let you know that this story and the sequel don't have cliff hangers attached to them and you can read one without reading the other. That means the new story while existing in this universe could still make sense without reading this and vice versa. Also please not that these last few chapters are mainly just fluffy happy endings for our group until the next adventure in the sequel. Doesn't mean they aren't important or good tho!

The guests arrive in this chapter so maybe some of your favorites will be here!

-End of AN-

Things were getting put together well and quickly in the castle as the place bagan to look more like a wedding venue than a living room. Furniture moved and decorations placed up around to add a more airy vibe to the dark room.

This room had also been the home of their first wedding. It was mainly due to convenience the first time and it helped that another wedding had just been stopped at the same time. This time this was actually a real wedding just for them and it'd have people they cared for.

The guests had all arrived at the venue who hadn't been there before, including one super special guest that Julian was more than happy to spend time with; Avery. She being there was huge priority on Nik's list knowing how much Ava's daughter means to her. Despite the obstacles Carly and Sonny always put up he'd managed to have her here and happy as Julian entertained her with a silly story.

Julian came without a date but so did a few others. Hayden was one of them. While she wasn't sure she should come she still did. Her and Nikolas had agreed to start over and put all the water under the bridge, so she was here knowing a lot of her mutuals were too.

She'd had the pleasure of driving her nephew Cameron and his date Trina. Trina was only a teenager but she was still a friend of Ava's. Ava's friends were few and far between so she was still important enough. The bond they had was special, almost like an aunt and a niece. Bringing Cameron made sense as his parents and aunt were there and she just happened to have the biggest crush on him.

Nina had also come to the event, being someone who strangely fit into Ava's life. Things were still weird, they always would be. But she was happy Ava was happy, and that was enough for her despite finding herself alone both that evening and in life as Jax had dumped her and she didn't want to be with Valentin.

Nikolas had guests from his family that weren't busy with Ava there too. Spencer was there due to the castle being his residence since he came back to town. He was pretty neutral to the wedding, which Nik would take over hostile anyday. He also had his aunt Alexis there.

Julian looked at his watch and things were definitely getting towards the time for things to start. This was confirmed to him when he saw Lulu, Laura and Liz walk into the room from where they were with Ava showing to him that Ava was ready and therefore the wedding was ready to begin too.

Laura came over to Julian and Avery directly after entering the large room. "Hey Julian." She greeted him. "Hi, Avery."

"Hi." Avery greeted her, giving a small wave causing both adults to smile at how cute the young girl was.

"Did you need something?" Julian checked with Laura who looked like she'd come over for more than a hello.

"Yeah." Laura nodded. "I think you should go see Ava. She seems really happy but just a bit….overwhelmed?"

"Oh." Julian said understanding. "Can you stay with Avery?"

"Of course." Laura smiled, sitting next to the girl having more than enough practice with children. "I'll make sure she's all good, this will be a good head start on knowing each other as her step-grandmother."

"Thank you." Julian told her making his way to the door where he could make his way to Ava's room when Nik stopped him.

"Is everything okay?" Nikolas asked sensing something was up.

"Yeah." Julian said, not technically lying as he had no idea. "Just wanna see my sister before she gets married."

Nikolas said nothing and let him go, hoping that Julian was honest with him but knowing that if it benefitted Julian he'd have no issue lying. Maybe Nikolas was just a bit paranoid with all his attempts to get things right, but he'd let Julian handle whatever it was and hope for the best.

"Ava, can I come in?" Julian said through the door.

"Julian?" Ava asked, recognizing the voice. "Yeah, sure."

He entered the room to find his sister pacing in her dress and heels nervously. She looked beautiful, but she also looked nervous.

"Ava, you look amazing." Julian told her sincerely.

Ava looked over at him and smiled fondly. He was always so sweet to her; her big brother. She walked over to him and gave him a hug enjoying the familiarity of her brother, one of the few things she had left from even coming to Port Charles. A constant in her life even if he wasn't always constantly on good terms with her.

"What's going on?" Julian asked, wanting to help his sister. "Cold feet?"

"I don't know…" Ava said truthfully unsure how to explain how she felt. "I've just- It's gonna go wrong isn't it?"

"What? What makes you say that?"

"It always does." Ava sighed. "Everything always goes wrong with me and my relationships. Maybe it won't go wrong today but the future is so large and so unknown-"

"Ava, Ava, Ava, stop for a second." He stopped her ranting and got her attention. "It sounds like you're just looking for things to be worried about."

"It's a habit."

"It's a bad habit." Julian corrected. "I know you've been through a lot, but that doesn't mean it's inevitable. How many times have I heard you wishing for a fresh start? This is as close as you'll come to it so take it. Be happy. That's all I want for you."

"Does that mean you're okay with me marrying Nik?" She asked him.

"I'm here aren't I?" He responded, receiving a glare from her. "Okay, Okay, yes. I still see him as the guy who hurt you but I also see him as the guy who's done a lot of good for you too."

Ava smiled at this. She knew that he was right, but a part of her was always looking for a way to punish herself and keep herself from being happy. It was time to tell that part of her to screw off.

"Julian, you know how much you mean to me, right?" Ava asked looking up at him.

"Yeah, of course I do." He smiled down at her.

"Well there's nobody I'd want more than you to walk my down the aisle. So, what do you say Juls?"

"Ava," He lit up at the offer knowing how important it was. "I'd be honored to walk my baby sister down the aisle."

He pulled her into one more big hug once again making sure not to mess up her hair, makeup or dress. The heels she wore made her taller but still short.

"I love you, Sis."

"I love you too, Julian." She smiled, all her cautions thrown away.

"Now," Julian said standing back from the hug and offering out his arm. "I believe I have an aisle to walk you down."