„Hey Cath!" Steve yelled as he stood in front of the closed room door that led to his and Catherine's bed room.
"Don't come in! – It's bad luck!" Catherine shouted back at him, clearly stressed.
"We'll be right down, boss! Don't worry!" Kono stated matter-of-factly.
Steve kept standing in front of the door for a couple more minutes, smiling from ear to ear as he imagined what Catherine might look like in that dress.
He was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard a tiny voice call for him "Dada!" the little boy smiled as Steve made his way down the stairs.
"Hey buddy" he smiled as he picked him up and gave him a kiss on the cheek "Mommy's gonna be down here in a second. You ready to bring me and mommy the rings like we practiced?" Steve asked and the boy just giggled.
"God, I can't believe you're walking already, Landon." He stated to himself as he sat him down.
"Feeling old yet?" Danny chimed in from behind him, causing Steve to turn around.
"No one ever really tells you how much the time flies with these little ones, man. Makes you wanna have like ten more." Steve chuckled as both of them watched Landon take steps towards the lanai.
"Tell me about it" Danny chuckled "Once they turn one and start walking and talking, it's game over" he concluded as he gave Steve a pat on the back.
"You and Catherine talking about it? Having another one?" Danny asked as he made his way over to him.
"Nah, not really. This one was kinda a surprise" Steve chuckled as he pointed to Landon "we've never really talked about it since he was born, I guess. She's been so stressed about this wedding and Landon turning one and everything I uh, first things first I guess" he chuckled, trying to hide the fact that he had been thinking about approaching Catherine to talk about possibly having more kids.
"How you holding up, man?" Danny asked sincerely.
"Good I guess. I don't know what's taking her so long" he smiled, "but I'm good, ready to have her as my wife, that's for sure."
"Well, my friend, I gotta tell you it's uh, it's been a long time coming" Danny chuckled.
Just as Steve was about to answer they heard the bedroom door of the beach house open upstairs "Alright boys, we're ready!" Kono yelled and Steve and Danny made their way outside where all their friends and family were patiently waiting for Steve and Catherine to get married on their very own beach.
… … …
"Now let's hope this holds up" Kono whispered as she took one last look at the back of Catherine's dress that sure fit tighter now than it did when they bought it five months ago.
"I guess stress eating really is a thing" Catherine chuckled as she carefully made her way down the stairs.
"You have a one year old and planned this whole wedding by yourself, you have every right to be stress eating these days!" Kono tried to justify as she helped her friend to get down and in front of the white glass doors that lead to the backyard where everyone was sitting and facing towards the beach, where Steve was now standing.
Steve was wearing his dress whites and looked as handsome as ever. Sure time had left its marks on him but he was still looking just as hot as he did the very first time Catherine saw him in the dress whites. Something about him in that uniform always gave her butterflies. She always pictured him wearing them one day in the far future when they would get married – and that day was today.
"Oh my God, honey! You look so beautiful!" a voice said as she was pulled out of her little daydream about her soon to be husband.
"Thanks, dad" she smiled as she saw her Dad walk out of the kitchen, Landon on his arm and tears in his eyes.
"Oh my goodness, buddy! You look so cute!" she said towards her son, as she took him out of her Dad's arms and adjusted his little suit with a bow tie.
"Now remember what we talked about bud… you stay with grandma until we call you to bring mommy and daddy the box, okay?" she asked rather rhetorically as she knelt down in front of Landon, eyeing her mom to make sure everything was set.
"Don't worry about it Kitty Cat, we got it! Now you go marry that man! I haven't waited for this day for almost two decades for you to leave him waiting" Catherine's mom chuckled as she gave her a tight hug and took Landon's hand, motioning for the outside to wait for the ceremony to start.
Catherine inhaled deeply, and exhaled, locking eyes with her Dad.
"You ready, sunshine?" he asked as he held a hand out to her.
"I've been ready for a long time now, dad" she smiled genuinely, causing him to tear up a little.
"I know you have been, sweetie. And you know we love Steve like one of our own. But sometimes good things just take time, you know? And in law or not, you guys have always been made for each other" he chuckled "so there was no doubt in my mind that that boy over there got my, uh our, blessing from the very first start. You picked good"
"I know" she smiled with teary eyes "thank you".
A couple minutes later, the music started playing and the front doors opened for Catherine and her father to make their way down the aisle.
Steve locked eyes with her as soon as he heard the doors opening and in that moment in time, his heart skipped a beat. Steve could feel his stomach flipping and his heart racing, as his mouth gapped open and he had to remember to breath.
He had imagine Catherine in all kinds of dresses over the course of the past months and had imagined her walking down the aisle more than once but even in his wildest dreams, she never looked this beautiful.
To Steve, there had never been anyone more beautiful, or more perfect for him, than Catherine Rollins.
But seeing her in that dress, and the genuine smile on her face that grew wider and wider the closer she got, the realization of what was about to happen hit him full force.
She was going to be his wife.
Finally.
"Wow" he mouthed, unable to speak at the sheer sight of her.
"Steve" Catherine's dad spoke up as soon as they reached the end of the aisle, as he reached out a hand to him and gave it a firm shake, followed by a hug "welcome to the family, son. You treat her good." He commanded, leaving no room for an answer.
"I will, sir. Thank you for raising her to be exactly like she is. I could not be more in love with your daughter, sir. " Steve answered honestly. He didn't need to say this, but he wanted Catherine's dad to know that as long as he was breathing, Catherine would be taken care of.
"I don't doubt it, son" the Admiral answered as he gave Catherine a kiss on her cheek "I love you, sweetheart".
"I love you too, dad" she smiled as she gave him a hug before facing Steve.
"Hey" she whispered nervously as she took Steve's hands in hers.
"Holy shit, Cath" was all he could choke out before the pastor gave him a scolding look.
"sorry" he mouthed towards the pastor with a smile before facing Catherine again.
"Wow. You, uh, you look freaking amazing, Cath"
"You don't look too bad yourself, Sailor" she winked.
"I love you" he whispered, squeezing her hand a little tighter before the pastor started the ceremony.
"Good evening everyone!
From this beautiful place these two get to call home, we take ourselves out of the usual routines of daily living to witness a unique moment in the lives of Catherine and Steven.
Today they join their lives in the union of marriage.
To all their guests, they are happy to share this moment with you. They have known most of you for many years. You watched them grow up, you went to the Navy with them, or you worked with them. Because you are the ones who have supported them and known them so well, it is only fitting that you are the ones to share this once-in-a-lifetime moment with them."
The officiant started and the following minutes and words passed them by, until the most important part of the ceremony started:
"We come now to the words Catherine and Steve want to hear the most today…the words that take them across the threshold from being engaged to being married.
A marriage, as most of us understand it, is a voluntary and full commitment. It is made in the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others, and it is entered into with the desire and hope that it will last for life.
Before you declare your vows to one another, I need you to confirm that it is indeed your intention to be married today.
Steve, do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to Catherine in marriage? If so, answer "I do."
"I do" he smiled from ear to ear, looking directly in to her eyes.
Catherine, do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to Steve inmarriage? If so, answer "I do."
"I definitely do" she said with determination as he squeezed his hands in hers.
"Having heard that it is your intention to be married to each other, I now ask you to declare your marriage vows." He smiled at them as he gave Catherine a nod to start.
"Steve, I have loved you for as long as I have known you. From our very first meeting, I knew that as long as I had you in my corner, my life would be full of adventure" she chuckled "in my entire life, I have never been happier than I have been these past two years, ever since we met on that plane that changed our lives forever. As we continue to grow in our lives together, I promise to give you all of my words when needed, and to share in the silence when they are not. To pick you up if you are down, to love you unconditionally, to care for you and our family for as long as we live. I promise to adventure with you always, to say I love you before falling asleep each night, to be the best mom I can be as we grow a family together, and to always know in the deepest part of my soul, that when challenges arise… we will always find our way back to one another."
She smiled with tears in her eyes, unable to say anything more without the ugly cry, indicating that it was Steve's turn.
"Catherine Rollins" he smiled "Of all the people you've met on your journey and of all the places you've been, somehow and some way, you ended up here—with me. It is the most powerful and humbling fact that I can accept.
I used to think that we met by chance but now I know without a doubt that the universe put you in front of me because we were meant to spend our lives together.
You have filled my life with joy and have given me a sense of peace that I have never known.
You are my best friend, my biggest supporter, and the best mom to our baby boy.
Although today marks the start to the rest of our lives, I know it will not be enough time with you.
I will not take our time together for granted. And because words cannot do it, I promise to show you, for the rest of my life, how much I love you.
I promise to encourage you to follow your dreams.
I promise to make you laugh when you are taking yourself too seriously.
I promise to hold your hand through the good times and through the bad times.
I promise to be loyal and faithful and to put you before all else.
I promise to never stop waking you up at the crack of dawn to ask you if you wanna go on a swim with me. Although, I know you wish I would.
And I promise that when we are old and gray, we will look back on our lives together and we have no more regrets.
...From this day forward, you will never walk alone."
With both of them smiling from ear to ear, and lots of people sniffing all around them, the pastor continued to what they had been waiting on for what felt like an eternity:
"Bride and Groom, Steve, Catherine, you have expressed your love to one another through the commitment and promises you have just made. It is with these in mind that I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Steven, you may now kiss your bride"
And with that, he did not need to be told twice.
Steve closed the gap between them as he stepped forward and placed his hands on either side of her waist before he lowered his head towards hers and gave her a passionate kiss with all their friends and family cheering in the background.
When Steve tried to pull back slightly, Catherine placed her hand around his neck and pulled him in for another kiss.
"Alright, alright" Danny yelled from the place next to Steve "you have the rest of your lives to do that!" he chuckled.
"I love you" she whispered as she let go of his neck, taking his hand in hers and walking back down the aisle.
"I love you to, Mrs. McGarrett" he beamed.
… … …
After everyone had made their way over to them and congratulated them, lots of hugs, smiles and tears were shared, it was finally time for the toasts of the maid of honor and best man, in order to get this party and the celebrations of the rest of their lives started.
Steve couldn't wait for the first dance with Catherine but decided to wait on the speeches first before he would embarrass himself dancing.
He made his way over to where Catherine was playing with Landon and the kid hysterically laughing at the faces his mom was making in a wedding dress.
"Hey you!" she said in excitement.
"Hey" he smiled brightly "you really do look so beautiful today, Catherine" he said softly, never losing eye contact with her.
"Thank you, Sailor" she smiled.
"Ready for the speeches so we can get our dance on?" he laughed, clearly struggling with the fact that he would have to dance in front of a hundred people.
"The question is… are you?" she laughed as he handed her a glass of champagne, as Danny was clinging his fork against his own glass.
"I'm good" she smiled, waving his gesture off.
"What do you mean, you're good?" he laughed "Cath, it's our wedding day, this bottle was hella expensive and it's already paid for" he chuckled, handing the glass to her once more.
"I'm pregnant" she answered.
The End.