A/N - Hey everyone. This is a longer than usual chapter but I really wanted you all the experience the wedding in details and moments. Please let me know your thoughts afterwards. Enjoy.
The next morning when Olivia woke up, Fitz was sitting beside her, working on his laptop.
"What are you doing?"
"Do you know that there's a website that tells you what to expect with every week of pregnancy, it says you'll be having morning sickness soon and also I just learned that morning sickness doesn't necessarily happen in the morning."
She smiled and puckered her lips for a kiss, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips and then stomach.
"Morning and morning to you too my little princess," he said with a smile.
"It's going to be a boy, I can feel it."
"We'll see," he said as he kissed her again.
She stood up and stretched then headed to the bathroom to begin getting ready for her day. Fitz gave her a little time in the bathroom by herself because he read online that pregnant women needed privacy, he wasn't sure if it was true but he decided to abide it for a while then joined her shortly after so they could get ready together.
As the wedding inched closer, the days became more and more hectic and before she knew it, it was two days before her wedding and she was heading to her surprise bachelorette party that really wasn't a surprise because she knew it was happening for weeks before. As she walk down the hall to her apartment, she could hear music coming from the room, she knocked on the door and waited for them to let her in, she had given her only key to Abby for the purposes of the party. It was really the last time she was going to be at her apartment, she had agreed for her lease to be terminated in a few weeks because she would no longer be needing it, as it stood currently, the apartment was mostly empty except for a few articles of furniture. As she waited, the music cut off and door opened, inside the apartment was dark, she walked in then suddenly the lights turned on and everyone jumped out.
"Surprise!"
She wasn't surprised, the music was a dead giveaway but she was happy and excited and she didn't expect that many people to be there, many of her old girlfriends from New York were there.
"Wow, oh my god, I can't believe all of you guys are here."
Olivia looked around, she'd never seen that many penises in her life. Penis lollipops, hats, streamers, a penis cake.
Abby ran up to her and hugged her.
"Surprise bitch, do you like it?"
"I love it," she said with a smile.
Elliot and Kamaya and a few others walked over to her, Elliot handed her a glass of champagne.
"Oh, no thank you, I pregamed before I got here."
"Yeah but drink more, I'm tryna get you in the floor girl."
Elliot dropped to the floor and danced his way back up.
"I'll drink in a few just let me say hi to everyone."
Olivia made the rounds, greeting everyone and catching up, she filled her plate with snacks and ate as she walked and talked and laughed. About an hour after she arrived there was a knock on the door.
"Ooh, I wonder who that could be," Elliot said innocently.
He ran over to the door and opened it, two police officers walked in.
"Good evening sir, we're looking for a fugitive, can we take a look around," one man said.
"Oh yes you can," Elliot said as he licked his lips.
The two men entered and walked around, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"Has anyone seen Carolyn?"
Olivia smiled.
"Me," she said excitedly as she raised her hands.
Everyone laughed as the officers walked over to her. One man took her hands and walked her over to a chair that the other man placed in the center of the room. She took a seat and placed her food on the floor.
One of the strippers ripped his shirt open.
"Ahh," she screamed in delight, as he took her hand and ran it up his bare chest, "smooth dark chocolate, I like it," she said as she giggled.
Elliot walked up to the other stripper and dropped a napkin on the floor.
"Oops, can you get that for me?"
The man bent over and picked up the napkin as Elliot and everyone else watched his ass as he bent over.
After Olivia got her lap dance, Elliot's, Abby, Kamaya took turns getting theirs. They played games, danced, laughed; they tried to get her to drink but she managed to get out if every time.
...Meanwhile back at the white house, she arranged for a few of her male friends (Stephen, Huck and Harrison) along with Fitz's friends to surprise him with a makeshift bachelor party, there was no pomp and fuss, just bottles of scotch so they could drink and chat.
The next morning, as Olivia was knocked out on the couch on top of Abby, she heard her phone ringing incessantly. She ignored it the first few times but it wouldn't stop.
"Olivia please answer your phone," Kamaya said as she yawned and tried to go back to sleep.
She shrugged and grabbed it off the floor
"Hello?" She said groggily.
"Olivia where are you, I've been calling you all morning, we were suppose to meet at the hotel an hour ago."
Olivia looked at the time on her phone.
"Shit, I'm so sorry David, I overslept, I'll be there as soon as I can just- uh- just start without me."
"It's okay, take your time, I'll see what I can get done without you and then when you get here we'll finish everything else."
"Okay."
It was the day before the wedding, she had a wedding rehearsal in the evening but she also had a lot of last minute issues to deal with and decor of the venues to look over just to make sure it was exactly how she wanted it, because she knew it was going to be so crazy, she decided against having a rehearsal dinner, she wanted to save all the festivities for her actual wedding day.
"Abby, Kamaya, Elliot, get up, we're late!"
She stood up and stretched, she was so tired that her internal clock completely shut off as she slept, she was usually very good at waking up on time without an alarm and she wondered if it was her pregnancy that was the cause.
Abby popped her head up, "shit!"
They all jumped up and took turns showering and getting ready to go to the hotel where they be staying for the rest of the day and the morning of the wedding, they rented the penthouse and most of the top floor for the bridal party and everyone who would be helping with hair, makeup and styling and other members of David's team who were responsible for making sure the wedding went off without a hitch.
It took them just under two hours to ready themselves and travel to the hotel where they spent most of the day going over last minutes details. In the evening, they headed to the reception venue to make sure sure the decor was coming along exactly as planned and afterwards headed to the cathedral for wedding rehearsals. When Olivia walked into the church, Fitz was already at the altar, speaking with one of the planners. He had his back turned her, so she walked quickly down the aisle and stood behind him. She stuck him in the back with her finger.
"Oh shit," he said as she jumped up. When he turned around and realized it was her, he smiled and gave her a kiss on the lips.
"I hate that you won't let me call you?"
"It's tradition."
"No it's not, you're just doing it to drive me crazy."
"Is it working?"
"Yes!"
She chuckled.
"Good. Did you have fun at your 'bachelor party'?"
"I told you I didn't want one but I'm glad you did that anyways, it was fun. We drank and talked, that was pretty much it but it was good."
"Well, I got a dance from two strippers, so I think I win."
Fitz laughed and shook his head.
"I hope you enjoyed it because the only person that's gonna be giving you dances from now on is me."
"And I'm totally okay with that."
Soon after, they were joined by the wedding party and David and his team as they went through the rehearsal. It took them a couple of hours, to go the motions of the wedding. It was simple, Olivia didn't want everyone doing a long walk down the aisle, it would just be Sahara: the flower girl, Maxime: the ring bearer before she did her walk. Fitz, the bridesmaids and groomsmen would enter from the side entrance to the altar.
After the rehearsal, Fitz walked her back to her car to take her to the hotel. Abby and the rest of her friends were still in the church so they had a moment alone. As Fitz held the door open for her, she could tell that something was on his mind.
"Go ahead and ask me, you know you want to."
He smiled.
"Just want to make sure, you're okay, this is what you want?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Tomorrow I'm going to walk down the aisle, in the most beautiful dress you've ever seen, if you don't cry when you see me in it, I'm leaving you at the altar."
Fitz chuckled.
"We're gonna say our vows and we're gonna be husband and wife and then after all the pomp and fuss we're going to Isle Amabella and enjoy our honeymoon."
"By the way, I'm sorry it's only two days."
"It's okay, you're in the middle of a campaign, we've talked about this, I understand, we have only two days but it's gonna be great so don't complain, now kiss me and our baby goodbye so I can get back to the hotel and sleep, I'm exhausted."
Fitz chuckled.
"I love it when you say 'our baby'."
He stooped down and kissed her stomach and then stood and kissed her lips.
"I love you and I'll see you at the altar."
"I love you too."
Wedding day.
Olivia woke up early in the morning, she could barely sleep through the night just from sheer excitement.
She laid in bed for almost an hour before she got up and brushed her teeth and took her prenatal tablets. Around 8am, the hotel delivered a breakfast spread for everyone and set it up in the room, by that time everyone began waking up to start the day.
The wedding was at 2pm and the reception at 5pm, until then, she had a lot to get done.
By 9, David and his team arrived for breakfast. They all took a plate and grabbed food then sat on the patio of the hotel room to eat.
"Okay, so hair and makeup starts at 10:30, the manicurist is coming at 10:30 as well," David said as he ate.
"Okay, yeah, I remember, uhm...you have the images from my second fitting right, when we did the makeup and hair looks?"
"Yeah, we have them."
"Okay when you get the time can you give them to me, I want to add them to the album."
"Okay, no problem."
Olivia fed a strawberry to Sahara who was sitting in her lap and then gave Max a piece of smoked salmon from her plate, which he loved.
"I feel so sorry for brides that have to plan their weddings without all the help I got, it's so much work," she said with a sigh.
"Well, you're welcome, I'm just glad I got three days off from work for this," Abby said.
"Yeah, how did you get three days off, you too Elliot and Kamaya?"
"You're going to be the future first lady, which boss was going to tell me not to take the days off for the wedding."
"You're welcome, three whole days off thanks to me," Olivia quipped.
"Yeah but you're working us out for the three days so I might as had been at work," Elliot added.
Olivia laughed.
"Ungrateful!"
They sat laughing, talking about little things until it was around 10. Olivia went to shower first and washed her hair then put on her white silk robe with the word: 'bride' bedazzled at the back. She wore a white underwear and half bra and then pulled up the lace garter around her thigh, a gift from Elliot. Once she was dressed she went to the hair and makeup station that they had set up for her.
They had the picture of her hair and makeup look that they had tested out a few days earlier to see how it would look with the flashing of cameras and in video, it was mounted on the vanity to guide the makeup and hair team headed by Tucker and Carson.
She decided to get a manicure and pedicure first, in the an ivory colored nail polish (as they had decided days earlier) first because she didn't want to do her makeup too early and then have it get stale.
After her manicure and pedicure, she stood sat to give it some time to dry and then she had one of the assistants from David's team add light bronzer her skin. During that time, she tried to keep Sahara occupied because Nanny and mother were busy getting their makeup done for the wedding.
"Auntie Va look," Sahara said.
Olivia looked down and say Sahara putting a lipstick she'd grabbed from the makeup station on Max's teeth.
"No Sahara," she said as she laughed.
One of the assistants took the lipstick from Sahara and then continued bronzing Olivia.
Just around 11:30 am, it was Olivia's turn to get into the makeup chair. She sat down and waited as Tucker prepared her foundation to apply to her face.
"I hope you guys make sure you have enough time to get yourselves ready for the wedding."
"Yeah, of course, we should be done with you by 12:30 and then we can run back to our rooms and get ready."
"Which limo are you taking to the wedding?" she asked.
"I have to ask David, I can't remember or maybe I think he emailed it to me, I have to check," Tucker replied.
He began airbrushing the foundation onto her face as Carson applied product to her hair and straightened it.
When she heard Maxime barking, she looked over and saw one of the assistants trying to dress him in his little doggy tux.
"Aww Maxime, be a good boy for mommy," she called out.
He dropped his body to the ground and played dead, not wanting to get dressed. Olivia started laughing and rolled her eyes and left the assistant to struggle with her spoiled puppy.
After Tucker finished airbrushing the foundation, he applied her rosy eye makeup and blush to her cheeks and then soft pink glossy lipstick to her lips. She wanted her makeup very natural and pretty and she was happy with the result. Once Carson finished straightening her hair, he added the clips that were meant to hold hold her veil in place once they attached it.
By the time Olivia was done with her hair and makeup, Abby, Kamaya and Elliot were all dressed so was Sahara and Maxime. She went to a separate room where her dressed was stored, she was accompanied by fitters and a seamstress whose sole purpose was to help her to get into the dress, especially since she didn't want her makeup to ruin it.
She stepped up on the small block, they took the dress from the garment bag and opened it up in front of her and then they helped her to step into it and then zipped it up. They didn't attach the train, they decided they'd wait until they got to the cathedral because it was so heavy and delicate. The seamstress helped her to attach her veil to her smooth and silky pulled back hair that flowed down her back, they put on her diamond studs earrings. She decided to wear sandals to the cathedral and change to her heels in the limo.
When she was dressed, she walked back out to the living room of their penthouse suite where Abby, Kamaya and Elliot were waiting to see her final look.
"Okay, how do I look?" she asked as she walked out.
"Beautiful," Kamaya and Elliot said.
"Amazing," Abby said.
Abby and Kamaya wore their silk gowns with with hair wrapped up with white flowers attached to their hair. Elliot who was apart of the bridal party and technically a bridesmaid wore a tux, he would be standing beside Abby and Kamaya at the altar.
"Thank you," Olivia said with a smile.
She walked over to the full mirror and looked over her appearance once more.
"I love this dress, so much." she turned around and looked at her butt and then laughed, 'um where's David?"
"He'll be back soon, he's getting dressed, so is Tucker and Carson and a few other people. David doesn't want you leaving the room because the media is crazy outside and the last thing you want is for them to get a picture of you before you get to the cathedral," Abby said.
"Yeah, he gave me the talk already."
"Are you nervous?" Kamaya asked.
"Uhm, no, I wouldn't say nervous, I'm excitedly, maybe I'll get nervous when I actually see him.'
They waited for a little while until everyone gathered in Olivia's suite and then they made their way down to the back entrance of the hotel. One of David's assistant's held her dress the entire way. They all helped her into the limo, of which there were three, Olivia and her bridal party, Sahara, David, Max and Sahara's nanny were all in one Limo, most of the staff including Tucker, Carson and the rest of David's team were in the others.
On the way to the cathedral, they fastened Olivia's train around her arms and they changed her shoes. Abby had all three white rose bouquets for the weddings and gave one to Olivia and the other to Kamaya. The cathedral wasn't very far away from the hotel and they arrived at 1:55pm and even from inside the limo, Olivia could hear the shutter of the cameras around her.
David was the first to exit the limo, he ran up the long white carpet that went up the steps of the cathedral and led straight to the altar. David ran in to make sure a few things were in order before he came back to the limo to have them exit.
He opened the door, "okay guys, just like rehearsals, Abby, Kamaya, Elliot, you guys are going down the side hall and when you get the music cue, you walk."
"Got it," Abby said.
"The groomsmen are all waiting on the other side of the altar," David said again, "I have the rings."
He attached the small box with Fitz and Olivia's rings around Max's collar.
Olivia had bought Fitz's ring a few months earlier from Cartier. It was a simple gold band like he'd told her he wanted but she added diamonds to the band just because she thought it needed bling.
"I'm going to take Max with me okay."
"Okay," Olivia replied.
David opened the door wider but it was still slightly blocked because of secret service. Abby was the first to step out. She walked up the steps as the cameras flashed and stopped in the lobby of the church, Kamaya followed then Elliot then Sahara with her basket of red rose petals accompanied by her nanny. Once they were all in the cathedral David returned to the limo, his assistants exited and then they helped her out of the car and fixed her dress. Once she was in view of the photographers they went crazy. The cameras flashed blindingly as she walked up the steps. The news crews were there as well, broadcasting live. Her dress trailed behind her as walked up the steps and made her way into the lobby.
Abby, Elliot and Kamaya had already left to the side entrance of the altar where they'd be walking in shortly.
It took them a while before David had everything in order and Olivia heard the music signaling the entrance of the bridesmaid and groomsmen begin to play. David stood with his earpiece in his ear waiting to for the signal to open the big double door into the sanctuary. Moments later he got it and his assistants open the door. He walked Max to the entrance and just like they'd been training him to do for the few weeks, he walked down the aisle with the rings attached to his collar and once he was close enough to Fitz he broke into a run and ran straight to his feet begging to be petted for his good work. The audience laughed as Fitz picked Max up and took the rings from his collar and handed them to Gerry who was right by his side. David then sent Sahara down the aisle, she walked and with her basket of flowers petals but instead of throwing them on the floor, she sprinkled them over her head. The crowd laughed as they watch Sahara dance her way down the aisle, showering herself with rose petals.
The orchestra began playing Debussy's: Claire De Lune which was Olivia's cue.
"Okay, Olivia your turn."
Her legs suddenly felt like Jello.
"Oh no, oh my god," Olivia was about to kneel on the ground but David held her.
"Deep breath sweetie, deep breath and then walk down that aisle and go marry your man."
She nodded and then took a deep breath.
"What if I trip?"
"You won't trip."
"Oka, you're just saying that to make me feel better, it's working say it again."
"You won't trip."
She smiled and took another deep breath and then she took a few steps around the corner and stopped when she reached the huge double door. She could see everything.
She saw Fitz, handsome and tall, in an exquisite tux waiting for her at the altar. The brown wooden benches in the sanctuary were replaced with hand crafted white wooden chair with white ribbons tied around the backs. It was almost like a flower show, white roses, green hydrangeas and other stem flowers filled the sanctuary. They hung from the ceiling, they lined the walls and their was a beautiful wall at the wall covered in white roses. The orchestra sat in their black suits with their gold instruments playing beautiful, velvety music to the right of the altar behind where Abby, Kamaya and Elliot stood. Even the smell inside the sanctuary was delectable, it smelled like fresh cut flowers.
She took a few steps forward and entered the sanctuary and everyone turned their head to see her at the exact same moment and then the audience stood. She looked up the aisle and looked at Fitz once more, this time he saw her too and his mouth fell open and the he smiled.
She was finally able to truly calm down and then she walked down the aisle slowly with her dress flowing behind her. Once she reached the steps, Fitz walked down and took her hands and kissed it
"You look beautiful," he said with a smile.
"Thank you."
He escorted her up the steps to their spot on the stage.
They had originally planned to record the ceremony for their own private use and keep the tape for themselves but after massive outpouring of complaints from the public and a petition with almost a million signatures demanding it be broadcast live they gave in so all the major cable new networks from across the country were there as well on the top deck of the sanctuary, recording from above.
Olivia and Fitz stood across from each other with the priest between them.
"Please be seated," the priest announced. He had a small hidden mic attached to his robe so everyone in the huge audience could hear.
"I welcome everyone here today, friends, family, colleagues, allies. We are congregate today to witness and celebrate the marriage of President Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III and Olivia Carolyn Pope. We are not here to mark the start of a relationship however, we are where to celebrate a bond that already exists."
The priest paused.
"Today, they will declare this bond formally, and publicly…" Olivia and Fitz couldn't take their eyes off each other as the priest spoke. Both their eyes were filled with water and emotion just in appreciation of everything that'd they'd been through together to make it to that point. It was almost as if they weren't standing in front of a 2,000 person crowd and millions of people watching all over the world. Olivia tried to zone back into what the priest was saying after realizing she hadn't been listening for quite some time, " two people who slipped briskly into an intimacy from which they never recovered. I have been the spiritual counsellor for President Grant for many years and his mother and father before than and his grandfather before that, when I asked him, tell me about her, tell me about the woman you're going to marry, he said: she is the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known and even that, is an understatement. That motivated me to want to meet Ms. Pope, I wanted to see them together, out of curiousity I must admit. After meeting them, I got the sense that they loved each other, not driven by necessity, by the "blaze of passion" often falsely ascribed to love. They loved each other because everything around them willed it, the trees and the clouds and the sky over their heads and the earth under their feet. Perhaps their surrounding world, took more delight in their love than they themselves did and that is the magic and the phenomenon of love."
The priest paused, it was time for the vows.
"Fitzgerald, do you take Olivia to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," Fitz said with a smile.
"Olivia, do you take Fitzgerald to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," Olivia said with a smile.
It was time to exchange rings, the priest opened his palm with both rings in his hand.
"Then it is time for you to exchange rings, these rings, are a tangible symbol of vows you just made to each other, wear them everyday with honor and pride, wear them as a reminder of the love you two hold for each other, wear them, as a reminder of this very moment, etched in history."
"President Grant," the priest said.
Fitz reach over and took Olivia's ring from the priest, "with this ring, I thee wed." he said as he placed the ring on Olivia's finger.
"Dr. Pope."
Olivia reached over and placed the ring on Fitz finger, "with this ring, I thee wed."
There was a small pulpit with their certificate of marriage and a pen.
"Olivia and Fitzgerald, will you please come forward and sign your names to the certificate of marriage? With this act, your marriage becomes legally binding in the eyes of the State."
The both stepped forward and sighed.
"By the power vested in me by the great State of California, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Fitz smiled mischievously and then wrapped his arm around her waist and picked her up. Olivia chuckled and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, soft and gingerly on the lips. The congregation stood and cheered.
"I love you," he whispered into her ear as he hugged her.
"I love you too," she whispered back.
"Family, friends, colleagues, I present to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Grant."
The orchestra began playing again as everyone greeted them as a new couple. They made the rounds, greeting everyone. The Queen of England that sat front row was the first guest to greet them, she gave Olivia a kiss on the cheek and congratulated them and then they made their way down the row. They were stuck in the sanctuary for more than an hour talking and laughing until David took them out to the cherry blossom garden for pictures. The bridal party and Fitz's groomsmen which consisted of Gerry and two other long time childhood friends of his that Olivia had met on several occasions.
"Okay everyone, these pictures need to look fit for the cover of vogue," David said.
Fitz walked Olivia over to the spot that David had been directing them to go to.
"First of all, this dress, is...sorcery. It's unreal, you look unreal. You're just so beautiful."
"Thank you, husband," she said with a smile, "Tom Ford really did his thing, that Tux is amazing, have you seen your ass?"
"No but I'll take you word for it."
"Okay, I need portraits of the husband and wife."
Fitz and Olivia stood together in the sea of green grass and pink cherry blossoms trees as their personal wedding photographers took pictures of them. Fitz had his arm around her as she stood facing him with her hand against his chest. He couldn't stop kissing her, it was intrinsic.
After a while, they were joined by the wedding party and they all took pictures together. After an hour, they left the cathedral and headed back to the hotel just for a little while before they headed to the reception.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Mr. and Mrs. Grant," Cyrus said into the mic.
Olivia and Fitz walked into the room to a round of applause.
It was just as she'd imagined it, she looked up at the clear glass ceiling and saw the evening sky. White and green floral arrangements on every table with dainty white chairs and marigold satin ribbons tied around them. Most if not all of the guest who were invited to the reception had arrived and were sitting around their round tables. Just like the cathedral, flowers hung from the ceiling, like vines hung from trees in a jungle. Firefly lights were draped around the flowers making the room feel light and natural. Olivia and Fitz walked to the wedding party's table at the front of the room on a platform, they climbed the five steps and took their seats in the center of the table. She looked to the side where their huge five tiered, wedding cake with pink, red, yellow, orange, purple flower decor sat on full display, it was gorgeous and the pastry bar beside it had all manner of of cupcakes, chocolates and other candies and pastries for everyone to try.
The orchestra and band played together with the music that played through the speakers.
They ate first, after their three course meal, the music became livelier and Fitz stood up and asked Olivia to dance.
"Can I take my wife for a dance?" he asked.
"Absolutely."
He took her hand and walked her down the steps to the open ballroom space to dance. He lifted her in the air and spun her around before he pulled her close to his chest and held her as they moved slowly to the beat.
'While I'm far away from you my baby
I know it's hard for you my baby
Because it's hard for me my baby
And the darkest hour is just before dawn
Each night before you go to bed my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
And tell all the stars above
This is dedicated to the one I love."
As Olivia and Fitz were dancing to the slow tempoed song more people joined them on the dance floor. He held her so tight that no one dared to break them up or ask to dance with either of them, they just danced, completely consumed by each other and oblivious to what was going on around them.
After a while, David stood on stage and dinged his glass signalling it was time to cut the cake. Olivia and Fitz walked over to the cake table, at David's instruction they took the knife and after the entire room counted down they cut their cut to another round of applause. Fitz took a small fork at the table and dug it into the portion they had cut and then fed the piece to Olivia. He use the fork and tease her, moving it side to side as she followed.
"Come on greedy, I know you want cake, give my daughter some cake," he said so only she could hear as he gave her the cake.
"Nom, nom, nom," he teased as she laughed with her mouth filled with cake.
She took the fork and as fed him cake as well.
After the cake cutting they went back to their seats for toasts. The waiters walked around with champagne, filling everyone's glass and apple cider from those who didn't want or couldn't drink champagne, Olivia included. Once everyone had a filled glass the raised it in the air to Olivia and Fitz and then applauded.
Once they calmed down, Abby stood up and David handed her the mic.
"I have some remarks I prepared, but I kind of remember it all so…" she placed the notes down, "I've known Olivia for a really long time, about 10 years and I can honestly say that you're my sister. I don't think I count on my actual family as much as I count on you, when I didn't have a place to stay, you took me in, you put me through college and med school, you supported me all the way, financially, emotionally, educationally, I'm serious, she had to tutor me at one time."
The crowd laughed.
"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for you, in Ethiopia, those guys were going to kill me but you begged for my life when I was too busy crying and feeling sorry for myself to do so. You helped me escape when you knew you couldn't and that makes you my hero. You're the most selfless, most brilliant, loyal, loving, beautiful inside and out person and I know and I'm so honored to be your maid of honor and I'm even more honor to be your friend and someday when you have a baby, I'm honored to be the godmother, I called it, so no one else can try to be the godmother, I'm looking at you Kamaya."
Olivia laughed and stood up and gave Abby a tight hug.
"I love you Abbs."
"I love you too Liv."
Abby held the mic at her mouth, "by the way Mr. President, you're great too, I really like you too."
The crowd laughed, so did Fitz.
Gerry stood up and David took the mic from Abby and handed it to Gerry.
"Dad, Liv, I wanted to congratulate you both. Dad you're pretty much the best father that anyone could possibly ask for and Olivia you're the best step-mom anyone could ask for so I'm happy that I have you both."
Gerry walked around his father and gave Olivia a hug and then Fitz and then took his seat.
Elliot stood up after being handed the mic.
"Congratulations to you both, make lots of babies and I wish you a long and happy marriage."
A few other people to turns standing to give their toast and then Olivia to the mic and stood so she could address the audience.
"My turn," she said into the mic as she turn to Fitz. "on behalf of myself and my husband, I want to thank you all for coming. It's a great feeling, being around family and friends, to feel love and friendship, and an even greater feeling to be here with the man I love. Before I met Fitz, I was in the winter of my life, it seemed like travelling to new places, meeting new people were my only summer and in that way it was almost as if I was on endless world tour and the memories of these foreign people and places were the only thing that sustained and distracted me from my harsh and cold winter. My mother always told me I had a chameleon soul, no fixed point, just an inner indecisiveness and wide and wavering as the ocean. I dreamt of being a nomad, never wanting to settle or be still, never wanting to truly be known or understood, mostly because I never thought I'd ever meet someone who could, and then of course, I met Fitz and then I saw those dreams dashed and divided like a million stars in the night sky and a new dream emerged, one with you by my side, old and gray. I wanted to settle with you, I wanted to be still with you, I wanted you to know every part of me and understand it, and you did, better than I imagined anyone could."
Olivia paused.
"You are a truly magnificent man, charismatic, electric, magnetic, you walk into a room and everyone feels your presence, everyone turns their head and I think that, with everything life has to offer a man as magnificent as yourself, I'm glad you've decided to spend it with me. I love you."
Olivia caressed his cheek and kissed him.
"I love you too," Fitz said, he eyes filled with love and emotion.
Olivia heard sniffling and turned around to see Elliot bawling his eyes out.
"I'm sorry that was just so beautiful," he said as he blew his nose.
Olivia laughed and hugged Elliot, "I'll give a great speech at your wedding too."
"I'll only get married if you let me wear your dress."
Everyone laughed and the mood moved from somber to light.
Olivia handed the mic to Fitz and he stood.
"First of all, I just need to say that was such a beautiful speech and I don't think I'll forget a word of it for as long as I live and also, I'll be launching a full investigation into who wrote that speech Olivia becuase I don't think it was you and I think it's unfair that I have to follow that."
Olivia held her stomach as she belly laughed loudly, so did most of the audience.
"I kid, I kid, but uhm… it's a remarkable thing to meet someone who accepts you for who you are, who loves you without expectations or conditions, someone who makes you feel as though your flaws are no flaws at all, to love and be loved, is to feel the sun from both sides and with you Livie, I feel the sun from both sides, I'm basking in an everlasting summer with no winter on the horizon. I love you and I promise to cherish you forever."
Olivia stood up and kissed him as the audience applauded.
"I love you."
David took the mic and then music began playing again. They went back to the floor to dance. Followed by Gerry and Kenna, Abby and Stephen and a few other couples.
After a while, there were fireworks that they could see through the glass ceiling and everyone cheered. It was truly a magical night.
After the fireworks, it was time for Fitz and Olivia to embark on their honeymoon. They said goodbye, waved to the crowd of gathered guest and then they left the venue and headed on a long journey to Isle Amabella.
A/N- I'll be ending this story soon, just a heads up.