Keefe paced up and down under the trees in Havenfield, nervously rubbing the back of his neck and trying to focus on his breathing.
"You doing okay there, bro?" called an approaching young man, Linh on his arm.
"Yeah, Fitz. Just nervous. Hey, Linh."
"Hey, Keefe. Congratulations!" She let go of Fitz's arm, letting the men have some time to talk. "I'm going to grab some seats for us, ok?" She pecked Fitz's cheek and strolled off towards the chairs set up under the trees, a diamond glinting in the sun on her left hand.
Fitz watched her go with a smile, then turned back to Keefe. "You got this, dude. I'm so happy for both of you. You really were made for each other."
"Thanks. I'm not sure why I'm so nervous. I love her so much. I just think a part of me never really believed this day would come."
"Don't worry. It's going to be wonderful. She loves you so much, Keefe. It makes me so happy that I get to be with my best friends on the happiest day of your lives. Linh and my wedding day was just incredible. I'm sure yours will be equally amazing."
Keefe smiled, his anxiety abating a bit. "I'm thrilled for you two, bro. It's awesome that we're both getting married just a couple weeks apart."
"Yeah! Perfect timing. I'm so grateful for the blessings in our lives. I should go join my impatient wife," he laughed, "But don't worry! You've got this, Keefe. I never doubted you two once I saw you together. Just relax and enjoy this. It's just the beginning of so many happy days. Just wait and see." He grinned and gave his best friend a quick hug, then walked off.
Keefe watched Fitz stroll off and sit down next to Linh, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her towards him in her seat. They talked quietly together, the newlywed bliss still quite present after their honeymoon. He couldn't wait to have that with Sophie, to be one with her body and soul. It had been his dream since they were young.
Sophie nervously adjusted her dress, while Edaline put the finishing touches on her makeup and hair. She liked how she looked today, just wearing light makeup and a simple but beautiful gown. She thought Keefe would like it too. It was completely her style, and she felt beautiful. That made her happy, because she didn't like calling attention to herself, but she wanted Keefe to think she was beautiful. He said she was beautiful a lot, but it was important today.
Today! Their wedding day! She was thrilled. If you had told her 14-year-old self that she would be marrying Keefe and not Fitz, young Sophie would've been quite upset, but 22-year-old Sophie was absolutely thrilled and completely sure of her choice.
When she and Fitz broke up, Fitz was heartbroken for a time, but they became good friends again after a few months of distance. When he found out about her and Keefe, he was happy for them, which was a relief for them both. And then a year or so later he and Linh started dating, to nobody's surprise! She was so happy to have kept Fitz in her life, and Keefe was glad there wasn't a rift between himself and his best friend. That relationship was one of the many blessings Sophie was thankful for on this day.
The biggest blessing to be thankful for, though, was Keefe.
It was an effort to keep Keefe's jaw attached to his face as Sophie walked up the aisle towards him. She was absolutely radiant, her hair adorned with Panakes flowers and the simple white dress making her skin glow. In that moment, nothing mattered but the fact that this incredible young woman was going to be his wife.
As Sophie neared the altar on Grady's arm, the faces of family and friends peeking out at her, her maid of honor Amy beaming at her from the altar, she felt as if she was glowing from within with joy. Biana and Edaline had done a wonderful job decorating the altar and the arch of flowers above the altar. Not wanting to have a huge wedding party or super fancy wedding, she had asked them to make a simple but lovely wedding venue under the Panakes tree, and limited her bridesmaids to just Amy, asking the special women in her life to help out in other ways. It was exactly what she wanted, and in the middle of the beautiful display was the love of her life.
"I, Sophie Foster, take thee, Keefe Sencen…till death do us part." As she finished her vows, Sophie met Keefe's eyes, radiant with joy and blushing.
"I, Keefe Sencen, take thee, Sophie Foster…till death do us part." Keefe winked at his bride, smiling.
"I pronounce you elf and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Keefe's lips met Sophie's in a passionate, loving kiss, the first of many to come, and Sophie was home.
The reception was held under the trees of Havenfield with a wooden dance floor and little lanterns strung through the trees, tables spread with all of Edaline's most delicious baked goods. It passed in a blur of well-wishers and joy. Sophie and Keefe danced for hours, wrapped in each other's arms. Biana caught the bride's bouquet, much to the embarrassment of Tam, her boyfriend. Fitz and Linh tore up the dance floor in married bliss. All their friends were about them. The Neverseen were defeated. They were safe and happy. It was truly the happiest day of their lives.
Curled up next to each other, Sophie and Keefe quietly swung on a porch swing outside their new home, where they would stay alone for a few weeks during their honeymoon. Sophie's wedding dress spilled over the edge of the swing, and Keefe's tuxedo jacket was slung over the arm. Tired from the excitement of the day, they had collapsed onto the porch first thing upon getting home.
"I'm sure glad we got this lovely swing for our house," Sophie said, nestling her head onto Keefe's shoulder.
"It's quite comfortable, isn't it? Reminds me of another moment we had on another porch swing, years ago. Remember that?"
Sophie's eyes went wide with memories. "Oh gosh. I can't believe I forgot that!" She laughed. "Oh, poor Fitz. You and I were just always meant to be, weren't we?" she asked, chuckling.
"I mean, I think so." He winked at her, smirking. "I think tt all worked out well in the end, though."
"Mm…very well." Sophie yawned.
"Ready to go to bed?"
"Yeah. I'm sleepy."
"Alright then. I could use some sleep myself." Standing swiftly, Keefe scooped her into his arms.
Sophie yelped, laughing. "What are you doing?"
"Carrying the bride over the threshold, of course! Remember? It was in one of the human movies you showed me."
"Ohhh…Well, then, carry on." She winked to emphasize her pun, and he laughed and knocked her shoulder with his.
He carried her in his sturdy arms over the threshold, stepping into their beautifully decorated new home. A cake sat in the refrigerator, the same type as their wedding cake, courtesy of Edaline. The kitchen was stocked with food for their honeymoon, and everything was clean and new.
Keefe carried her into the spacious master bedroom, which had a big sliding glass door on one of the walls. The curtains by the door were partially open, revealing the moon shining on the calm sea. A beach led down from the door. They had loved this house instantly when trying to find their home, and that was one of the reasons.
He put Sophie down on their comfy bed, and took her hands into his, looking into her eyes with such luminous love and joy that she blushed.
"Sophie…."
"Yes, Keefe?"
"I love you, you know that?"
"Yes, Keefe. I love you too."
"Remember the night we first kissed?"
"Yes, of course. That was a wonderful night."
"This feels like the culmination of that night. All I wanted to hear then was what you just said: 'I love you'. And this will be the first time we'll share a bed, and the first time since then that we'll sleep in the same room, you know."
She blinked and looked around. "You're right. Well, I wouldn't have had it any other way. I wanted this to be special."
"It's not just special. It's perfect."
"And every night after this will be like another sleepover!"
He grinned and kissed her.
There was nothing more to say. She kissed him back, deepening it with passion and joy, leaning back onto their bed. Keefe pulled back for a minute and gazed at his wife.
"Sophie, this has been the best day of my life, and I cannot wait to spend the rest of it with you."
"I love you, Keefe."