Final stretch my friends. Welcome to another installment of Wedding bells. I'm going to keep this intro card as short as possible, so we can get right into the chapter.
Enjoy!
October 27th had crept up on Austin and Ally, just as the pair had begun to relax, they had the rehearsal dinner to attend to.
'' I'm pretty excited for this'' Austin said, as he and Ally drove to their destination.
'' The dinner or our wedding?'' Aly asked from the passenger seat.
'' Both. I get food and to marry the love of my life in less than 24 hours.''
'' Yeah, it'll be weird to say the least.''
'' How come?''
'' Think about it, we've spent the last 25 years of our lives as Ally Dawson and Austin Moon, tomorrow morning we're now Austin and Ally Moon. Your name doesn't change but mine does. Kind of weird to be honest'' Ally explained.
'' No-one's demanding that you change your last name Ally. You could easily just keep yours or hyphenate.''
'' True, true. Although, I am quite excited about going to a restaurant that my dad paid for. Considering that even today he steals toilet paper from the mall bathrooms.''
'' Yeah, he is pretty cheap. I still remember that rip to the Keys a few months ago. He definitely stole the shower gel after that night.''
'' You saw him?''
'' I heard him! How didn't you?''
'' After that hotel we stayed it in northern Somalia, I can sleep through a category 5 hurricane'' Ally shrugged.
'' Well, get ready for a category 5 love-hurricane because here we are'' Austin announced, as he parked outside of the restaurant.
Despite his normal nature, Lester's duties of being put in charge of the rehearsal dinner's venue seemed to have gone quite well. Although he was a rather frugal man, he agreed that he was going to splurge slightly for Ally's sake. In fact, he had booked the party room at Fire & Ice. The premier bistro in all of Miami Beach. The restaurant itself was almost purely black, the only exceptions being the extraordinarily accurate depictions of fire and ice, that encircled the restaurant.
The room itself had multiple tables inside of it, some housing extended family members, single friends, wedding party members, immediate family members and of course the happy couple themselves. Every person there had had some kind of impact on the pair's lives, from Lester owning Sonic Boom, the very place where the two had met, to Miss Suzie, who had inspired Ally's music career. The attendants also frequently mingled with other people in the area, leaving their tables for conversation.
'' There he is my soon-to-be son-in-law'' Penny cooed, embracing Austin in a hug.
'' And there's our soon-to-be daughter-in-law'' Mike smiled, as he and Mimi embraced Ally in a hug as well.
'' Hey, everyone, welcome'' Lester smiled, greeting his daughter and her fiancé.
'' Oh…hello Lester'' Penny glared.
'' Oh look, it's the woman who took everything I love'' Lester quipped.
'' Dad! I'm right here!''
'' Oh right, almost everything I love'' Lester corrected.
Eager to escape an impending war between the two exes, both Austin and Ally left to see other members of the wedding party, more specifically their two best friends. One of which was currently crying.
'' Aww, he's getting married tomorrow'' Dez said, his eyes red from all the crying.
'' You do know its usually the parents who tear up at these occasions right?'' Trish asked.
'' Still, it seems like yesterday that I caused a gigantic dent in their front gate'' Dez cooed.
'' That was yesterday, you still owe us for it too'' Ally responded, dryly.
'' Ally, are you ready for tomorrow?'' Trish asked, hugging her best friend.
'' I guess so, I mean, I am a little nervous though.''
'' Understandable. I know when my parents were both freaked out when they got married'' Dez nodded.
'' Why?'' Austin asked.
'' Oh, because my mom was living in constant fear that one of my dad's inventions would cause their house to blow up while they were getting married.''
'' Did it? I'm morbidly curious'' Ally breathed.
'' Oh no, their house didn't blow up. Although the power surge from the homemade electrical grid my dad made, did cause a 3-week long blackout.''
'' Well thankfully Austin doesn't invent things.''
'' And Ally doesn't understand how tools work, so that's a double win'' Austin added, earning a punch from his fiancée.
'' In fact, I actually have a bone to pick with you'' Dez said, pointing at Austin and Ally.
'' Oh yeah, what'd we do?'' Austin breathed.
'' Well, you see…ever since you popped the question, its pretty much 90% of anything Carrie talks about. I'll have to do something about it soon.''
'' So do it. Carrie loves you, you love her, simple math'' Austin shrugged.
'' No baby, not simple math. In fact, not even math. But I agree, go buy a ring and propose'' Ally added.
'' Ooh. Yeah, I can't do that'' Dez said.
'' Why not?'' Trish asked.
'' Because…see for yourself'' Dez dug in his pocket and produced a small velvet box.
Ally covered her mouth to conceal her scream of joy.
'' Before you take your hands away, listen. I'm going to propose, just not now, the next 24 hours are for you guys, not me. But the second that wedding's over, its on.''
'' Well congrats in advance man. Who knows, your future kids might become geniuses'' Austin shrugged.
'' Moving on, you excited for tomorrow?'' Dez asked his friends.
'' Hell yeah, marrying the woman of my dreams'' Austin smiled, holding Ally's hand, '' and its not getting televised so no chance of reporters.''
'' Also, with Ronnie and Jimmy there, there's a chance a feud might break out over who gets to sign the two of us again'' Ally giggled.
'' Oh right, you guys are signed to your own label, how'd they take it when you quit?''
'' Well, Ronnie cried, he said that losing Ally meant more than losing a cool 14 million in sales, and Jimmy just shrugged.''
'' You're forgetting the 26 emails he sent you, begging you to come back to Starr Records'' Ally added.
'' Anyway, back to the wedding, you never told us who your ring bearer and flower girl are'' Trish said.
'' The flower girl is my little cousin Julie, she's such a sweetie. I hope if I ever have a daughter, she's half as nice as she is'' Ally cooed.
'' Also, the ring bearer is my little cousin Freddie. That guy's so nice. Sure he's six, but he's just the kindest kid I've ever met. Almost makes me miss school.''
'' I'm sorry, have we met?'' Ally joked.
'' Yeah, we have, I think I'm supposed to be marrying you tomorrow morning'' Austin played along.
'' Well, listen you two. We have a surprise for you. Lester let us in on something you might be interested in'' Dez pointed to a large stage near the room's back, complete with mics, speakers and water bottles to keep throats moist.
'' You thinking what I'm thinking?'' Austin smiled.
'' Three kings?'' Ally winked.
'' Absolutely.''
The pair took to the stage, Austin speaking into his mic first. '' Hey everyone, thank you so much for coming to our rehearsal dinner tonight, it really means a lot to both of us that you could be here. Also thanks to Lester for not renting out a gas station this time'' Austin laughed.
'' Hey! Who doesn't want to have a rehearsal dinner at a SHELL?!'' Lester shouted.
'' Now do you see why I divorced him?'' Penny muttered to Mimi, causing the woman to laugh.
'' Well, tonight we've got three of our favorite songs that we've memorized, we call them the Three kings. Hope you like them'' Ally smiled, as she pulled out her phone, subsequently playing the instrumental to the first song she and Austin sang together.
Yeah. Whoa. I'm walking on a thin line, and my hands are tied. Got no where to hide. I'm standing at a crossroads, don't know where to go. Feeling so exposed'' Austin pointed his mic at Ally, who happily took over.
Yeah I'm caught in between, where I'm going and where I've been. But I know, there's no turning back,yeah!''
The couple then began to warble together. ''It's like I'm balanced on the edge. It's like I'm hanging by a thread. But I'm still gonna push ahead, so I tell myself, yeah, I tell myself. Don't look down, down, down, down. Don't look down, down, down, down. Don't look down, down, down, down. Don't look down, down, down, down!''
Austin took over. ''I'm holding on by my fingertips, never lose my grip.I can handle this. I'm so strong I'm unbreakable. You can push and pull, you can't make me fall!''
Ally brought her mic closer. ''So I'm caught in between, where I'm going and where I've been. But I know, I'm not turning back. Yeah, it's like I'm balanced on the edge,
It's like I'm hanging by a thread. But I'm still gonna push ahead. So I tell myself,
yeah, I tell myself…Don't look down, down, down, down. Don't look down, down, down, down. Don't look down, down, down, down, don't look down, down, down, down!''
'' It'd be so easy, just to run. It'd be so easy to just give up.''
''But I'm not that girl who go turn my back. There's no turning back, no turning back. It's like I'm balanced on the edge.''
''It's like I'm hanging by a thread'' Austin smiled.
But I'm still gonna push ahead. So I tell myself, yeah I tell myself…don't look down, down, down, down. (Down), don't look down, down, down, down, don't look down, down, down, down. (Don't look down, don't look down), Don't look down, down, down, down!''
The crowd burst into applause.
Ally drank for a second before speaking into her mic. '' Whoa, I swear that one kills me every-time. Although I will say this, it was the first time I conquered my stage fright, and I couldn't have done it without this man right her'' Ally said, pecking Austin on the lips.
'' I know I can go to you for anything, which is why this next song, sums up my feelings for Ally perfectly'' Austin took Ally's phone and switched instrumentals, before Ally began singing.
'' When you're on your own, drowning alone, and you need a rope that can pull you in…someone will throw it'' Ally smiled as Austin took over.
''And when you're afraid, that you're gonna break, and you need a way to feel strong again. Someone will know it.''
The pair began to sing together. ''And even when it hurts the most, try to have a little hope,that someone's gonna be there when you don't..when you don't. If you wanna cry, I'll be your shoulder, if you wanna laugh, I'll be your smile. If you wanna fly, I will be your sky, anything you need that's what I'll be, you can come to me.''
Ally took over. ''You struggle inside, losing your mind, fighting and trying to be yourself, then somebody lets you. Out in the cold, but no where to go, feeling like no one could understand. Then somebody gets you.''
''So take a breath and let it go, and try to have a little hope. 'Cause someone's gonna be there when you don't, when you don't. If you wanna cry, I'll be your shoulder, if you wanna laugh, I'll be your smile. If you wanna fly, I will be your sky, anything you need, that's what I'll can come to me'' the duet briefly ended as Ally took over.
''Like a chain that never breaks, like a truth that never bends, like a glue that takes a broken heart and puts it back again. It's the feeling that you get, it's the moment that you know, that no matter what the future holds. You'll never be alone, if you wanna cry, I'll be your shoulder, if you wanna laugh, I'll be your smile. If you wanna fly, I will be your sky, anything you need, that's what I'll be.''
Austin interjected for the final portion of the duet. '' If you wanna climb, I'll be your ladder, if you wanna run, I'll be your road, if you want a friend, doesn't matter when, anything you need, that's what I'll be. You can come to me, you can come to me
Yeah.''
Again, the crowd applauded, this time because Austin had pulled ally into an easily reciprocated chaste kiss.
'' Ok, so our final song is usually called Two in a million, but since we planned on singing that tomorrow morning, we substituted for the second best one we wrote together'' Ally held Austin's hand.
'' And, because he originally sang this to me, I'm going to let my handsome hubby-to-be take this one.''
Austin beamed as he began to sing., not taking his eyes off Ally for a second.
'' Last summer we met. We started as friends, I can't tell you how it all happened. Then autumn it came, we were never the same. Those nights, everything felt like magic, and I wonder if you miss me, too. If you don't is one thing that I wish you knew.
I think about you every morning when I open my eyes, I think about you every evening when I turn out the lights. I think about you every moment, every day of my life.
You're on my mind all the time, it's true.I think about you, you you, you you,
I think about you, you you, you you. Would you know what to say
If I saw you today? Would you let it all crumble to pieces? 'Cause I know that I should, forget you if I could. I can't yet for so many reasons. I think about you every morning when I open my eyes, I think about you every evening when I turn out the lights, I think about you every moment, every day of my life. You're on my mind all the time, it's true,I think about you, you you, you you. I think about you, you you, you you.
How long 'til I stop pretending. What we have is never ending
Oh, oh, oh, if all we are is just a moment, don't forget me 'cause I won't and…
I can't help myself. I think about you, ooh, ooh, I think about you, ooh. I think about you every morning when I open my eyes, I think about you every evening when I turn out the lights. I think about you every moment, every day of my life, you're on my mind all the time, it's true. I think about you, you, you, you, you. I think about you, you, you, you, you.''
Once more, the crowd burst into applause, none louder than Dez, who had begun to tear up again.
Getting off of the stage, the pair were greeted by an endless wave of hugs.
-x-
'' So, are you ready for this?'' Austin breathed, he and Ally finally having gotten a moment to breathe, outside in the restaurant parking lot.
'' A night apart from you? I guess so, it'll be hard but I have your shirts and also, I have my babysitter'' Ally shrugged.
'' I still can't believe that Trish invited herself over, that's so like her.''
'' Hey, she wanted to see our new house, also, she says she likes the ice from our fridge better.''
'' Weird. I still can't believe you're banishing me'' Austin laughed.
'' Hey, its bad luck to see me before the wedding. And besides, you're off to Dez and Carrie's for the night, you're hardly going to a gulag.''
'' A what now?''
'' A system of labor camps from the former Soviet Union. Look, point is, even though we're going to be apart for tonight, we'll still see each other tomorrow morning'' Ally answered.
'' Yeah, I still can't believe its happening'' Austin smiled, pulling Ally in for a small make-out session.
'' Ahem! Rabbits!'' came a familiar voice.
The pair broke apart, turning their heads to Trish, her hands on her hips. Dez was next to her, a goofy grin on his face.
'' What? I love my fiancée?'' Austin shrugged.
'' Well, you can love her in the morning, also, please save something for the honeymoon'' Trish shook her head.
'' Come on Trish, let them be in love. Besides, I have to give him away tomorrow'' Dez play cried.
'' Dez, you aren't giving me away'' Austin breathed.
'' Fine. Ally'' Dez looked at the brunette. '' We've been friends for a long time, right?''
'' Right?'' Ally squinted, not sure what to make of what he had just said.
'' Well, as much as I love you, if you ever hurt Austin, I will hunt you for sport.''
'' Ok…'' Ally said, taken back.
'' Also, Austin'' Trish turned her attention to her friend. '' If you ever hurt Ally, I'll get Jace to defibrillate you in your sleep.''
Austin and Ally looked at each other, they're friends were weird.
And that's that everyone. Two more chapters to go. Until next time guys, stay, safe, stay awesome and happy holidays!
