"Good night. I love you," Max kissed his fiancé before reaching for the car door to close it behind her following the rehearsal dinner for their wedding the next day.
Returning his kiss, Gabby smiled. "Thank you for agreeing to stay with your parents tonight. I know it's cliché, but I like the idea of not seeing each other until the wedding tomorrow."
"My parents tried doing the same thing before their wedding. That is until dad had to see mom and they figured out super-asymmetry on the mirror with her lipstick. It was kinda funny to watch him scribbling all over the mirror with lipstick."
"I know," Gabby chuckled in response. "He told me all about it and how Penny got mad at him for ruining lipstick, which was actually her's but your mom was borrowing for the day. You know what I remember most about when he told me that story?" Max shook his head. "He said that was the day all his dreams came true. He was marrying your mom, and he won a Nobel Prize because of it." Pulling on the car door to close it, Gabby continued, "I'd love to stand here, talking all night, but I should really go home and get some sleep."
Max leaned down to kiss Gabby again. "I can't wait for all my dreams to come true tomorrow afternoon."
"Me too. Goodnight, Max."
Returning to his parents' house, Max let himself in the front door and found his family watching a movie in the living room. "Max!" twelve-year-old Katie exclaimed seeing her brother standing in the doorway. "Dad wanted to watch Star Wars. We saved you a spot."
"Thanks," the man answered, taking in the scene before him. "I think I'm gonna head to bed early. Thanks, though, for saving me a spot. Good night, everyone. I'll see you in the morning."
Watching his brother disappear up the stairs, Leo turned to his parents, "Why doesn't Max want to watch Star Wars? I thought he likes it?"
"He does," Amy answered. "I think he's a little nervous about getting married tomorrow."
"Why's he nervous? Doesn't he love Gabby and that's why he asked her to get married?" Katie questioned, ignoring Sheldon's no talking during a movie rule.
Amy squeezed her daughter's shoulder, pulling her close. "He does, but getting married is a lot to process. I remember I was really nervous before dad and I got married. It's a big day for him and Gabby, I think everyone is a little nervous before their wedding day. The movie is almost over, why don't we finish the movie, then it's bedtime for you and Leo. Tomorrow is going to be a long day for all of us."
The movie ended and the youngest Cooper kids made their way to their bedrooms to get ready for bed, leaving Sheldon and Amy alone in the living room. "I'm going to check on Max. Can you check on Katie and Leo after locking up?" Amy asked her husband.
Starting to walk away, she was stopped by Sheldon grabbing her hand. He pulled her close and glanced at the stairs in the corner of the room to confirm they were alone. "I know it's been a crazy week with Max's wedding stuff and the kids going back to school, but I'd like to thank you."
"For what?" She pulled back a little to look him in the eye.
"For giving me the most amazing family ever. For putting up with me for all that time when I was scared of what was happening between us and with Max. For being patient with me. For loving me. I never thought I'd find anyone to spend my life with. When you walked into that coffee shop, I knew my life would never be the same. I am still overwhelmed by you, and I'm going to continue showing you how much I love you, every single day," Sheldon loosely repeated his wedding vows to his wife.
Amy stood on her tiptoes to kiss Sheldon's lips. "I love you, too. I should go check on Max before he falls asleep. I know he's still awake and I think he might want to talk. It's been a while since he and I have had a chat."
Knocking on her son's bedroom door, Amy opened the door slightly. Seeing the light was still on, she pushed it open further. "Hey, can I come in?" She asked, poking her head around the side of the door.
"Yeah," he replied, straightening the blankets on his bed for his mother to sit with him. "What's up?"
Amy sat next to Max at the head of the bed. "I just wanted to check in with you; see how you're feeling about tomorrow."
"Were you nervous before you married dad?"
"I don't think I've ever been more nervous about anything my entire life than I was in the days leading up to our wedding. But the minute I reached the end of that aisle and was standing with him, all of those nerves went away. The only people that mattered right then were me and him, and of course, you, standing next to him," Amy smiled, thinking back to her wedding day.
Max slouched down on the bed so he could rest his head against Amy's shoulder. Enjoying the quiet for several minutes, neither son nor mother said a word until Max broke the silence. "Mom? Do you remember what you'd tell me when I was really little? When I'd ask why I don't have a dad, but before I started asking if Sheldon was my dad?"
Turning to look at the top of her son's head, Amy shook her head, "You might not have a dad, but you'll always have everyone you'll ever need in your life?"
"Well, that, but you'd also say we're team momma and Max. We can do anything together," the man shared, listening to his mother's gasp at this memory.
"I barely remember that. I don't think I said that to you much once we started spending more time with Sheldon, and Penny, and everyone else. How do you remember that?"
"I don't know," Max shrugged his shoulders. "I'm glad it's no longer just team momma and Max. I'm glad we've got dad, and Katie, and Leo, plus everyone else."
Amy pulled Max into a hug, blinking back tears. "I'm glad it's no longer just team momma and Max, too. We've put together a pretty good team over the years, haven't we?"
"Yeah. I realized earlier that tonight is probably the last night I'll ever spend in this house. I'm gonna miss Leo asking to have a sleepover every weekend, and dad making pancakes on Saturday morning, and Katie playing her music too loudly while dad tells her to turn it down, but what I'm going to miss most is these talks with you. Do you have these kinds of talks with Katie and Leo?" Max asked, returning his mother's hug.
"Not really. I mean, I talk with them, but it's never quite like it is with you. You might be getting married and moving out, but you're always welcome here. You know what time breakfast is on Saturdays. You and Gabby can join us whenever you want. I'm sure Leo will ask at some point if he can sleep at your apartment. And I'm almost positive Katie will be playing her music louder than dad likes until she goes away to college."
Max shifted down on the bed, resting his head on the pillow. "Thanks, mom. I'm gonna try to get some sleep."
Standing from the bed, Amy kissed her son's forehead. "Good night. I love you."
"Gabby," Katie got her brother's fiancé's attention in the bridal suite not long before the wedding was to begin. "Are we going to be sisters after you marry Max?"
Finishing applying her lipstick, Gabby smiled at the preteen in the mirror. "Yeah, I guess. Why?"
"I've never had a sister before. I mean Halley is like a sister to me, but she's not really my sister. What's it like to have a sister?"
"It can be a lot of fun, but they can also be pretty annoying at times," Gabby grinned at her sister across the room.
Emma interjected, "Gabby can be annoying at times, too, but she is a pretty great big sister. You'll love being her little sister, I know I do. You and Gabby might be sisters-in-law once she marries Max, but you're getting me, too. I know we won't really be related, but we'll be family after today. It's gonna be up to us to be the crazy fun aunts when they have a baby."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Gabby cut her sister off. "Max and I have no plans for a baby anytime soon, but yes, you two can be the fun aunts when that day comes." Taking note of the time on her phone, Gabby put her makeup bag away. "I think it's time for me to get married."
Max's breath hitched as he watched Gabby walk towards him, escorted by her father. The officiant began the ceremony when she joined him at the end of the aisle. "Max and Gabby chose to write their own vows. They've asked to keep today short, so we're going to get right to it. Gabby, whenever you're ready."
"Max," she reached for his hands, "I never thought forgetting to register for classes for sophomore year would be the best thing to ever happen to me. Not many people wanted a chem lab for four hours on Friday afternoon, which is how I ended up in that class, it was the only one with seats still available. We were assigned as lab partners, and I am so glad that professor assigned partners the way he did because I got partnered with someone who quickly became my best friend. We've known each other for five years, Max, and I've loved every minute of that time. I can't wait for whatever the future brings, as long as I'm with my best friend. I love you, Max," she stated, slipping the ring onto his finger.
Smiling at the woman standing in front of him, Max touched the ring now on his finger before beginning to speak. "Gabby, you know I usually don't struggle with finding the right words to say. I wrote and memorized exactly what I wanted to say to you, here in front of our family and friends, but my mind is completely blank, except for one thing. The only thing I can think of right now is my dad's vows to my mom at their wedding. I'm hoping he won't mind if I borrow them. Gabby, even if I can't tell you how I feel at this moment, I will spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you. Thank you for agreeing to spend the rest of your life with me."
"Max and Gabby, do you agree to take each other as your lawfully wedded spouse?" The officiant questioned the couple.
"I do," each of them responded.
The officiant looked at both of them before continuing, "Then by the power vested in me, by the state of California, I pronounce you married. You may kiss."
"Dad, have you seen Leo? I can't find him," twelve-year-old Rory asked Leonard. "They're setting up the sundae bar and he, Michael, and I wanted to see who could eat more ice cream."
Leonard scanned the reception hall for his godson. "He's around here somewhere. Maybe he's in the bathroom?"
"Nope, I just came from the bathroom. Can you help me look? He wanted to make his sundae before they run out of mint chocolate chip."
"Sure," Leonard stood from the table. "You and Michael look in here, I'll check the lobby to see if he's out there." The father and son parted ways, looking for the fifth grader. Leonard exited the reception hall and quickly spotted the boy sitting on a bench near the lobby of the hotel. He crossed the lobby and sat next to him. "Hey, what ya doing out here? Rory and Michael are looking for you. The sundae bar is getting set up and I heard something about seeing who could eat the most ice cream."
Leo looked at his father's best friend and adjusted his glasses. "There are a lot of people in there. I wanted to get away from them for a little while. Mom told me it was okay to sit here if I wanted to be alone."
Nodding his head in agreement, "There are a lot of people in there, aren't there? I didn't know Max and Gabby knew that many people. Do you mind if I sit with you?"
"I guess," the boy shrugged his shoulders at the man.
The pair sat in silence for several minutes when Leonard saw his best friend approaching from across the lobby with a bowl in his hands. "Hello. Mom told me you were probably out here. Mint chocolate chip is proving to be a fairly popular flavor, so I brought you some before it runs out. Is everything okay, Leonard?"
"Yeah. Rory and Michael were looking for him. Something about an ice cream eating contest. I saw him sitting here and asked if I could join him for a few minutes."
Sheldon held out the dish of ice cream to his son, who gladly accepted it. "I'm gonna find Rory and Michael before I eat this. Bye."
Taking the seat his youngest child just vacated, Sheldon rested his elbows on his knees and placed his head in his hands. "Thanks for looking out for him. I knew today was going to be a lot for him to handle."
"It's a lot for all of us. I can't believe Max is married. Thank God Rory is only twelve; I hope to have a long time before he's looking to get married. You wanna get back in there or do you need a few minutes out here, too?" Leonard watched his former roommate slowly relax, settling onto the bench.
"A few minutes sounds great."
Max is all grown up & married, but don't worry, the story isn't over quite yet. There are 5 chapters left. I'm going back to work at the theater & we have rehearsals this week and next week, so I'm only going to be updating on Mondays & Fridays until the last chapter is posted, which should be on Feb 25th.
