Drew chuckled at the text he had just received from Eliana. He knew she was out drinking with her best friend and that she probably wasn't sober at all which the text proved. He could imagine the anger in those beautiful, dark green eyes in that moment, and how she twisted her long, azure blue dyed hair around her fingers.

"I don't want a ring bear at our wedding."

He knew she hadn't caught her mistake. Her sister had been up her ass since they got engaged about how her two kids should be ring bearer and flower girl. After a lot of bitching and moaning, and their parents joining in as well, Eliana had caved in. Drew had his own opinions about this but he kept them to himself. However, in this moment with that little mistake in the text, he couldn't help but smile at the image of a bear carrying the rings to the altar. He decided to keep up with the spirit and texted back.

"Are you sure about that? Because knowing you, you'd totally do that if you could."

It didn't take long for an angry text to come back.

"Fuck you!"

He smirked. She was drunk. He knew it. There was no point in trying to solve this tonight. He would be home tomorrow morning, and then they could open that can of worms. Instead he sent her back one final text of the evening.

"I love you too. We'll talk about it tomorrow."

NEXT MORNING

Drew unlocked the door and walked into the house. He got out of his shoes and aimed directly for the washing room. He put his ring gear and clothes from the road in the washing machine, and then went to search for Eliana. He found her still sleeping in the bed. He sat down on the edge, leaned over her and kissed her softly.

"Drew?" She mumbled.
"Who else would wake you up by kissing you?" He chuckled.

He leaned back and watched her open her beautiful eyes. There was no anger there. He wasn't even sure how much she remembered from last night.

"Hangover?" He asked.
"Not really. I'm just tired," she answered. "Help me up, please."

He pulled her up to sit. She smiled at him and leaned in to peck his lips.

"I missed you," she said.
"I missed you too," he said. "Do you by any chance remember what you texted me last night?"

She furrowed her brows and then reached for her phone that was placed on his pillow. She found the text and started chuckling.

"Ring bear? Yeah, I'd totally do that if I could," she said.
"I brought you a present," he said. "I saw it in the hotel lobby when I was leaving, and it was just too perfect to pass on."

He handed her a small stuffed grizzly bear. She burst out laughing and hugged him.

"Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome," he said. "We should probably talk about it."
"I don't want a ring bearer or a flower girl. I don't want children at our wedding at all. I want a childfree wedding," she said.
"So do I," he said.
"My family is gonna give us hell if we do that," she said.

He took her hands and caressed them. He knew she was struggling. If it was up to him, they would have turned her sister down the moment she started talking about adding her children to a wedding that wasn't even hers.

"This is our wedding," he said. "What do you want?"
"I want you," she sighed. "All my life I've been pushed around by her. My parents always reminded me to be more like my sister. It's hard. I never learned to trust my own thoughts and feelings until way into adulthood, and I'm still struggling. Our wedding is proof of that."
"What do you want, Eliana?" He asked more firmly.

She looked at him and nodded. He was right. She had to put her foot down. It was about time.

"No fucking children!" She gritted her teeth.
"That's my lioness," he grinned. "Show those claws."
"She's probably gonna be so butt-hurt that she'll refuse to come to our wedding," she said.
"That's on her then. If she doesn't like the invitation, she can decline it," he said.
"My parents are gonna be pissed too," she said.
"Remind them they only get one chance of seeing you getting married. There won't be any do-over," he said.

TWO MONTHS LATER

Drew stood waiting by the altar. He looked around the church. No sign of Eliana's sister and her husband and children. It was all for the better. Her sister had gone crazy on social medias after learning they wouldn't let her children play a part in the wedding. She tried to turn their entire family against them and make them back out of the wedding. Luckily no one jumped on the crazy wagon.

Even their own parents decided to back down for the first time ever after hearing it was either that or not seeing their own daughter getting married. He knew her parents weren't all too happy with it but at least they were there to support the wedding. That was all that mattered.

Music started playing and the doors opened. Eliana seemed to light up the room from afar with her smile, eyes and azure blue hair that was pulled back from her face and hang down her back. She was wearing a flowy, knee-long, white dress with a black ribbon around her waist. His eyes dropped to her hand and he couldn't help but laugh. She wasn't carrying any flowers. She was carrying the stuffed grizzly bear he had bought her.

She made her way down to him and held up the bear. The wedding rings that were supposed to be in the pocket of his best man Sheamus was hanging in a black ribbon around the neck of the stuffed bear. She handed the bear to Sheamus who gave her and Drew a wink in return.

"I got my ring bear," she whispered.
"You sure did," he chuckled lowly. "I love you so much."