AN: There are only two chapters left and I am so happy so many of you are enjoying the story. Writing this chapter had me living my best shipper life. I hope it makes you smile.
Chapter 5
It was almost time, the day before the day. It was officially the night before Lucy and Kate's wedding. While the couple wanted to spend the night before the wedding together, Ernie was having none of it. He had turned into quite the diva as the wedding drew near and was not enthused when the brides suggested staying together the night before the big day. After many talks about outdated rituals, traditions, and why none of it mattered, Lucy conceded that spending time with her parents and some of her friends the night before would not be the end of the world, much to Kate's chagrin. Even after Ernie reminded her that the dress rehearsal dinner would leave them plenty of time to fawn and gaze lovingly at one another, Kate was not happy with the arrangement. She sat at Jane's house with Kai, Maya, Zeinab, Carlos, and Dylan as she texted her fiancée. The dress rehearsal went smoothly and everyone was excited as more guests arrived on the islands. While Jane and Dylan helped Maya and Zeinab steam and hang their dresses in their garment bags, Kai and Kate were watching She's All That. Kai noticed that she was not focused on the movie and instead had her eyes trained on her phone.
"You're missing the best part and since we didn't get to watch all of it last time because you wanted only 80s rom coms for your last weekend as a free woman, you now owe me," he whispered and nudged her.
"You think every part is the best part," she mumbled as she read another text from Lucy. He rolled his eyes when she let out a giggle.
"You two are ridiculous. You just saw her. Oh and I will have you know every part of She's All That is the best part, which is why you should put down your phone and actually enjoy the movie with me."
"Listen, I love a rom com as much as the next person. You know this, but I just don't see the appeal. So, boy gets embarrassed by popular girl who was his ex-girlfriend, boy bets he can turn another girl into a popular girl so he can save face, boy molds girl into the vision he wants, and realizes behind the glasses she was beautiful all along? I'll pass. Besides, glasses are hot. Lucy loves me in glasses. Once, she put mine on and we…"
"Okay first off, gross. Second, it's a rom com, of course it has issues, but we love them anyways. So why don't you just…."
"Can't Hardly Wait is better," she added and he gasped dramatically.
"You're mean when you miss Lucy!"
"Sure am and that's why you're going to help me sneak out of here," she said before typing another quick text.
"I'm sorry, what?" he asked as she put her phone away and stood up.
"Don't worry. All you have to do is say I went to sleep and will see everyone in the morning. I'm just going to slip out for a bit and will be back before anyone even notices." He quickly shook his head as he followed her toward the front door.
"Why don't you ask Tennant, your best friend? You two are practically attached at the hip and would probably still be right now if not for her helping Maya and Zeinab. Plus, because of your love of watching films with me, of course."
"Because she will never admit it, but not even she wants to take on Ernie. The man has taken his wedding duties too far."
"Okay, but what am I supposed to say to Maya when you're gone? You know she's a walking lie detector test," he whispered.
"Nothing. She is distracted by Zeinab right now and focused on making sure her dress doesn't get wrinkled. Oh, and before you even ask, Jane is too busy being excited that Joe's flight finally landed to even notice. You don't even have to say anything. Just don't volunteer information, but, if they ask, say I'm already in bed. Simple as that. This is basic stuff, so suck it up, Holman," she whispered back as she quietly opened the front door. Kate shushed him before he could reply and giggled when he playfully glared at her. She crept out of the house and sighed in relief as she headed toward her car. She already missed her fiancée and couldn't wait to see her. Maya's voice pulled her out of her Lucy-filled daze.
"Sup, boss," said Maya as she leaned against the hood of Kate's car.
"Jesus, Maya, you scared the hell out of me! What are you doing out here?"
"Waiting on you to sneak out like a teenager."
"Well, I wouldn't have to sneak out if Ernie and the rest of you weren't acting like the earth will swallow us all whole tomorrow if I see the woman I love."
"To be clear, I don't adhere to Ernie's reasoning at all, but it's fun to watch you squirm about it. Ernie is just overcompensating for his need to people please. He has an almost unhealthy investment in your relationship with Lucy at this point and is living vicariously through you since he cannot sustain a relationship."
"Maya," groaned Kate as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"What? You said I couldn't analyze our friends to their faces anymore. You never said I couldn't tell you about it."
"Well, as fun as this psych 101 crash course has been, I need to see my fiancée."
"Jane isn't going to be happy. She told Ernie she would keep you here."
"Jane will be fine. I'm sure Joe is on his way over anyways. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a date. Oh and uh…don't tell anyone, okay?"
"I don't know why you even said that like it is a possibility. I'm telling Zeinab and Dylan as soon as they are done packing up her dress. She looks absolutely gorgeous in it, by the way. You obviously told Kai, so I'm totally going to talk about it with him. He will feel too guilty to lie about it and will tell Jane as well, so the only person in the house who will not know is Carlos and that's because he's a lightweight and is already asleep." Kate blankly stared at her for a moment before shaking her head.
"These conversations we have…always a pleasure, gotta go." Maya giggled as Kate playfully nudged her out of the way and got into her car.
"I hope Lucy is better at sneaking out than you are or Ernie is going to throw a fit that will rival a toddler during their oral fixation phase," called Maya. Kate started up the car and drove away. Maya shook her head in amusement, knowing Kate had a one-track mind at the moment.
Dylan playfully rolled her eyes as she walked into the kitchen of the Tennant House where Jane was now pouring two glasses of wine. Dylan saw Kate's car driving away and knew exactly where she was headed.
"And she's gone," announced Dylan as Jane smiled smugly.
"I guess that means you owe me twenty bucks."
"You know, she used to be such a rule follower before she met all of you. I guess moving here really is the best thing that ever happened to her for even more reasons than I thought." Jane slid a glass of wine over to her on the counter.
"Then, cheers to Kate breaking some rules and us making sure she still gets down the aisle tomorrow."
"I'll cheers to that," agreed Dylan as they clinked glasses.
"I'm glad you're here. She really wanted to make sure you and Jake felt welcomed. Our group can be a bit intimidating at first, but it's nice to meet some of Kate's family from the mainland."
"Well, there are a lot of you, but you're all very welcoming. I will admit when I found out just how close you two were, that she found herself another best friend, I was a bit jealous. The two of us have always been close, but I could never really connect with her over work and that's such a big part of her life. You can. When she moved back, I was disappointed, but knew it was good for her. Now that I've met you, I totally get it and I'm glad she has you."
"I think we both know Kate has plenty of room in her life for more than one best friend," said Jane.
"It can definitely be a full-time job with her," teased Dylan. Jane giggled and gave her a wink.
"I've noticed," she teased back.
Kate beamed with happiness when she parked in the familiar parking lot beside Lucy's car. They agreed to meet at the park down the block from their house where they went for walks together and Lucy was already waiting for her, leaning against her car with her hands in her pockets and a smug smile.
"How did you get here so fast and evade Ernie?"
"Jesse helped. He's a good partner in crime," assured Lucy.
"Kai isn't, but I'm pretty sure he was more upset that I didn't finish the movie with him," said Kate as she walked over to her. Lucy grinned from ear to ear when Kate wrapped her in her arms and gazed adoringly at her.
"Hi," said Kate.
"Hi." Their lips met in a tender kiss that both became lost in as they finally were alone together. Lucy sighed contently as Kate peppered kisses on her neck.
"You're really good at that," whispered Lucy as her head lolled back and she gave her more access to her neck.
"I already missed you," whispered Kate.
"I missed you too. I feel like I haven't seen you at all."
"Well, with all the guests coming in town and making sure our parents have everything they need and checking last-minute details and arrangements, even when we've been together we haven't been alone in over a week."
"That's unacceptable," said Lucy.
"I agree, but soon we will be on our honeymoon, all alone, just you and me."
"Promise?" asked Lucy with a teasing smile.
"I do," said Kate with a wink.
"Smooth, Whistler."
"Whistler, huh, you haven't called me that in a while."
"Well, tomorrow we will be Lucy and Kate Tara-Whistler, so I'm going to miss calling you just Whistler."
"I think we both know you'll always call me Whistler when you're really mad…or really horny," teased Kate. Lucy nodded with a giggle and pulled her toward her car.
"Speaking of that, Whistler, why don't we finish this conversation in the back seat," suggested Lucy as she opened one of the doors to her car. She laughed when Kate hurried inside and pulled her on top of her, knowing they were in for some much needed alone time.
By the time the two managed to say their goodbyes with promises to see each other down the aisle, it was the wee hours of the morning and the sun was rising. Lucy teased Kate about having to sneak back into Tennant's house and gave her one last kiss before leaving. Kate took her time heading back. Streaks of sunlight, pink, orange, and purple splashed across the sky as it turned blue and the sun began to rise. As she cruised back to the Tennant House with her windows down and sweet scent of the ocean breeze washing over her, she took a moment to bask in the serenity of knowing that later that day, she would be marrying the love of her life. They had been through so much and there were times when she didn't know if they would find their way back to each other, but a part of her always knew Lucy was the one for her. How could she not be after all they had been through? They met by chance in a bar, not knowing that soon their paths and lives would collide in ways neither could imagine. They went through the turmoil and uncertainty of hooking up when more than casual feelings and emotions were involved. When Kate first left for New York City, she tried to tell herself that she could move on from everything they had together. But, the moment she saw her again, she knew deep down she would never be able to move on from Lucy Tara and she would never want to. So, after all the turmoil, angst, and reconciliation, once they were back together, Kate knew she wanted it that way forever. Now, as the sun peeked over the horizon on the morning of her wedding day, she couldn't wait to start forever with the amazing woman of her dreams. She parked in the driveway and did her best not to feel like a teenager sneaking back into her parents' house. She had managed to do it successfully a couple of times as a teen, but the nerves and anxiety of being caught never really made it worth it. Her night with Lucy was totally worth it though as she crept back into her best friend's house, took off her shoes, and headed for the stairs.
"Long night?" called a voice from the kitchen. Kate hung her head in defeat and walked into the kitchen to see Joe scrambling eggs.
"Yes, but totally worth it. Where's Jane?"
"Taking a shower. I'm on breakfast duty and supposed to tease you about staying out all night," he informed.
"Who told?"
"You know I would never give up an informant like that." Kate arched an eyebrow at him.
"I know Jane told you, but who told her?" He tried to hide his smile.
"You really should've just finished the movie with him."
"I knew it! I knew it was Kai."
"I agree with him. Can't Hardly Wait isn't as good as She's All That," he informed.
"I wouldn't know. Never seen all of it."
"Try to get at least a couple of hours of sleep. We'll save you some breakfast. You have a big day ahead of you."
"Will do," said Kate with a wink and bright smile as she jogged upstairs. It was officially her wedding day and she couldn't wait to see Lucy.
The ranch the couple chose for their wedding venue was about an hour north and had a beautiful botanical garden that both fell in love with the moment they saw it. Lucy made it clear early on that a beach wedding was not something she ever envisioned for herself and Kate got to work searching for a venue that didn't focus specifically on a beach wedding, which was a bit of a challenge on an island. When Lucy saw the beautiful ranch grounds with its gardens, small pond, and expanses of land, her eyes lit up and the smile that she wore let Kate know it was their wedding venue. After many conversations with their parents not being enthused at all with the negotiations on who would pay for the wedding, the venue was settled, along with most of the wedding arrangements. Kate and Lucy were concerned after the first obstacle that their parents would not get along, especially their mothers. The Whistlers felt like the Taras were trying to throw their weight around by insisting on paying for everything and the Taras were annoyed that anyone would question why they would want to pay for the best of everything on their daughter's special day. However, once everyone was in town and at the venue, everything began to fall into place. Kate smiled down at her phone as she read the text message she received from Lucy. They were in different houses on the estate, something Ernie assured them needed to be done so they did not try to catch glimpses of each other before the wedding, and Kate was sitting patiently while the hair and makeup artist put on the finishing touches. She beamed with happiness as she read over the message Lucy sent her. The two promised not to send each other pictures since they wanted to keep their wedding day looks a surprise until they saw each other at the altar, but it didn't stop them from texting as much as possible.
"Jane is right. You really are glowing right now," said Kate's mother, Nora. Kate grinned from ear to ear when she saw the way her mother was smiling adoringly at her. Nora placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head and gave her a hug.
"You look absolutely gorgeous."
"Thanks, mom." The hair and makeup artist gathered their things and left to give them some privacy. Nora glanced down at the phone in her daughter's hand.
"What are you listening to?" Kate blushed as she remembered the music echoing from the device.
"Oh, um, Lucy keeps sending me songs. She says they remind her of me."
"You two are so adorable. I remember when you told me about her. You were trying to downplay how much she meant to you, but I could tell by the way you talked about her. When I finally got to meet her, I knew she was it for you just by the way you looked at her. Lucy has always hung the moon for you."
"She was really nervous to meet you that night for dinner. She was so worried you wouldn't like her."
"Really?"
"Yes and it made us both really happy how well you and dad got along with her."
"She's a wonderful woman and I'm so happy for both of you. You deserve nothing but the best today. Oh, before I forget, I have something for you," said Nora. Kate watched her curiously as her mother walked back over to the door and gently grabbed the bouquet of flowers resting on the table. The moment Kate saw what was fastened to the white ribbon of the bouquet, tears filled her eyes. She recognized it immediately.
"Mom…"
"I know you miss your brother as much as I do today. Your father and I always teased that you two were so attached at the hip that Noah would be the one to walk you down the aisle someday. Now, you have a part of him with you." Kate's fingertips grazed over the dog tag fastened to the bouquet and took in a deep breath to regain composure.
"He loved his dog tags. I remember when he first got them. He said I was the first person he wanted to see them."
"I have no doubt he would be so proud of the woman you've become."
"Thank you, mom."
"I love you very much, Katie," said Nora as she pulled her in for a hug. Kate willed the tears not to fall and fanned her eyes.
"I finally got my makeup done and I'm already about to ruin it."
"Mine too," agreed Nora. They both giggled as her mother used a handkerchief to dab at her daughter's eyes. A knock on the door made them look up to see Jane poking her head into the room.
"Almost time," informed Jane. Kate hugged her mother again before Nora left the room to go get ready for the ceremony. Jane smiled sympathetically at Kate as she entered and glanced down at the beautiful bouquet.
"You okay?" asked Jane.
"Yeah, just a bit overwhelmed with emotions all of a sudden. I think a part of me wasn't sure we would get this far without getting called away on a case or something else happening. Especially after what happened with Wally, I was pretty sure the day wouldn't go well and now we're here and it's going well and my mother brought this wonderful addition to my bouquet and I wish Noah was here and…it's just a lot."
"Well, you are entitled to feel a lot on your wedding day, Kate. That's kind of the point," teased Jane.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Is Lucy ready? Is she okay? Is everything okay? No calls? No cases?"
"Everything has been handled. We are all officially off the clock and I made sure there are plenty of people on assignment and on-call to make sure it stays that way. And yes, Lucy is more than ready, and she looks beautiful, just like you."
"Thank you. You know I'm really glad you agreed to be my maid of honor. While Lucy was freaking out about who would be her best man, Ernie or Jesse, I always knew who I wanted by my side. That was probably the easiest part of all the planning. From the beginning, I knew you were someone I wanted to have my back, so of course I would want that on my wedding day."
"I still remember the first time you marched into the bullpen."
"You mean when you thought I was a mean girl?" Jane giggled at the teasing smile Kate wore.
"No, that was Jesse. I thought you were driven and fierce and very guarded, but I never had a doubt you were someone I wanted on my side too. It took us a minute, but we got there."
"All those life-threatening situations tend to bond people."
"Yeah, but we've always had plenty of those. I'd like to think we recognized something in one another, something strong, but also vulnerable. You're my best friend, Kate, and I am very honored to be your maid of honor."
"Damn it, you're going to make me cry." Jane laughed as Kate fanned herself.
"That's probably our cue to get you down the aisle then, Whistler soon to be Tara-Whistler."
"I think you're right," agreed Kate with a nod.
"You ready?" Jane held her bouquet out to her and Kate took in a deep breath.
"Ready."
Lucy was not one to be anxious. She thrived in high pressure situations and loved the rush of adrenaline she felt in those moments, but this was different. This reminded her of the first time she walked up to Kate's front door for their first, official date, or the first time she realized they were making love and not just hooking up, or when they decided to talk about their future together back when Kate was still technically assigned in New York. This moment was all those moments rolled up into one. As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, dressed in her tailor-made suit with hair and makeup finally finished, another wave of emotions washed over her. She was about to marry Kate. There were times in their relationship when it didn't seem likely, especially at the beginning when neither was looking for something serious and things ended with Kate catching a flight out of Hawai'i for what felt like for good, but they made it to their wedding day.
"Wow, you look absolutely stunning," said her father as he entered the room and she blushed. It wasn't often her father complimented her, especially when it came to her attire. When Lucy first came out, her father was less concerned about her sexuality and more worried about her appearance and the way she carried herself. The Tara name was of the utmost importance to him and he expected his daughters to be seen as the prototypical princesses.
"You really think so?" she asked as she stood up to face him. He looked her over in her suit and she smiled when he dusted off the lapel of her jacket.
"Yes, I do. Lucy, I know we don't always see eye to eye on how you live your life, but I see the way you look at Kate and how she looks at you. I know she makes you happy and while I still am not enthused with your career choice or the way you voluntarily put yourself in danger…"
"Dad," she warned.
"…I'm happy you found someone that makes you happy. Now, this is the part where you straighten my tie and tell me how handsome I look. Couldn't bring down your aesthetic when I walked you down the aisle," he said. She playfully rolled her eyes and straightened his tie.
"You look quite handsome, old man."
"Who you calling old?"
"Well you certainly aren't getting any younger." He chuckled.
"What am I going to do with you?" Suddenly, they heard a knock on the door and she beamed with happiness when Jesse walked in.
"Wow, Luce, you look perfect. Whistler isn't going to know what hit her," said Jesse.
"Thanks, is she ready? Everything good?" asked Lucy. Ernie suddenly hustled into the room looking down at his watch.
"Yep and everything is ready. It's time," informed Ernie. Lucy beamed with happiness when her mother walked in and gasped with a delighted smile.
"Mom, you look amazing," said Lucy. Lillian scoffed and kissed her daughter's cheeks.
"Nowhere near as breathtaking as you, my dear. You look beautiful, just like I knew you would. Are you ready?" asked Lillian. Her father smiled proudly at her as Lucy gave a nod and took in a deep breath.
"Definitely," she said.
"Good, then we should all get into our positions. Your brothers and sister are already lined up and ready to go," said Lillian. Adam glanced over at Jesse and Ernie.
"Before we do though, we want one last moment with the bride alone," he said. Jesse rolled his eyes when he saw Ernie glance down at his watch. Before he could protest, Jesse grabbed him by the shoulders and steered him out of the room. Lucy frowned in confusion when her father handed her a key.
"What is this?" she questioned.
"A key to a chalet we arranged for the two of you in Zermatt. I know the resort there would offer you the finer things, but you deserve the finest of course," informed Adam. Lillian spoke up before Lucy could interject.
"Now before you get all upset or tell us you have it covered, this has everything you like, including exquisite views and it is only a few minutes from your favorite ski resort. You can take Tara One and show your new wife how to travel in style," added her mother. Lucy wanted to protest. Her first instinct was to lash out at them for trying to flaunt their wealth, but instead, she graciously accepted the keys and placed them on the dresser.
"Thank you. We'd be happy no matter where we were, but I'm sure the chalet will be beautiful. Now, can we please go? I'm sure my girl is nervous enough and Ernie is probably checking his watch for the millionth time. Time to go become Lucy Tara-Whistler," she announced. Her father cleared his throat and Lillian gave him a look, but he spoke up anyways.
"About that, are you sure the hyphenated name is necessary? Has she even considered becoming…"
"Nope, not doing this. Time to get married and quite frankly, you're lucky I kept Tara. Let's go," said Lucy as she headed for the door.
"Lucky?" questioned her father, but her mother pulled him out of the room before that conversation could derail things. Lucy shook her head at her father and took in a deep breath. The moment wasn't about him or the Tara name. It was about her and the woman she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. That's all that mattered.
Kate felt herself getting nervous all over again as she peeked out the window at the guests. She was floored by how picturesque the view of the ranch and garden were with the trees and mountains in the backdrop. Twinkling white lights glowed throughout the garden and streaming lights flowed around the perimeter. An array of flora, fauna, and Hawaiian Ferns adorned the area that was decorated in white silk with rows of chairs facing a wooden alter lined with red tulips. The sun was setting in the background, giving the region a golden glow. It was a mix of island charm and elegance. The rows of chairs were full of guests chatting as they waited for the ceremony to begin and Kate took in a shaky breath. She was surprised when her father wrapped a comforting arm around her.
"Take a deep breath and relax, Katie. This is your day. Everyone is here to see you because they love and support you and Lucy. You have nothing to be nervous about," he assured. She took in a deep breath to calm her nerves and nodded in agreement.
"You're right. I'm about to marry the love of my life. Life is pretty good right now." He offered his arm to her and she linked arms with him as he led her toward the room where Jane, Maya, Zeinab, Carlos, and Dylan were waiting for her.
"Wow boss, you clean up nice," said Carlos. Zeinab and Maya nodded with beaming smiles.
"Gold star," said Maya.
"You look beautiful," said Zeinab.
"Lucy is a lucky woman," added Dylan as Kate walked over to them.
"Thank you. Is everyone ready?" The sound of music playing in the distance answered for them.
"Sounds like Lucy is up," said Jane.
"There better be plenty of videos and photographs of Julie. I'm bummed I don't get to see her walk down the aisle as the flower girl. I know she's excited about it," said Kate.
"Oh trust me, there will be plenty of videos and pictures. Julie would have it no other way. She already put Alex in charge of it," assured Jane.
"Then I guess everything has been taken care of. I can't wait to see Lucy," said Kate. Maya winked at her.
"She cleans up nice too," she assured. The wedding planner poked their head in and gave a nod.
"Ready when you are," they said. Kate glanced up at her father and he gave her an encouraging smile. She rubbed the dog tags fastened to her bouquet for comfort and gave a nod.
"I'm ready," she informed. Everyone took their positions and got in line to walk down the aisle. The wait seemed to take forever as one by one, each pair made their way down the aisle and out of sight. Kate was hidden behind the final door leading to the garden and still hadn't seen Lucy. A part of her wanted to peek and she felt her father shake with mirth.
"You'll see her in a minute," he assured. She blushed.
"How did you…"
"Maya is right. You are a vault about a lot of things, but when it comes to Lucy, it's written all over your face. You are deeply in love with her."
"I guess I should probably marry her then, huh?"
"It would be pretty awkward if the answer was no, wouldn't it?" he teased back and chuckled when she playfully nudged him.
Lucy was relieved when she made it down the aisle to wait on her bride and was glad she requested to be the first to walk down. She was barely keeping it together as it was and couldn't imagine if she had to wait any longer. She sighed in relief when she stood in front of Ernie at the altar. Having him officiate wasn't only the resolution she needed for her choice between him and Jesse as her best man, but also seemed like the perfect choice for their wedding. Ernie had been there from the beginning, cheering them on and hoping they would see they were destined to be together. He was honored and got quite teary-eyed when they asked him to officiate the wedding.
Lucy's father kissed her cheek before taking his seat. She stuffed her hands into her pockets to stop herself from fidgeting and glanced over at Ernie and Jesse. They both gave her winks and she took in a deep breath as the music changed. All of the guests looked back toward the other end of the aisle as they waited for Kate. Lucy's heart was racing and body was buzzing with anticipation. The moment she'd been waiting for was there. When she saw Kate, all her nerves and anxiety melted away.
Kate's gown was made with intricate lace and designed to flow over every curve of her body. Her blonde tresses flowed in waves and she wore a breathtaking smile when she saw Lucy. Jesse had to nudge Lucy to remind her to breathe as her eyes locked with her beautiful bride. She let out a shaky breath and couldn't help but to smile as Kate grinned from ear to ear. They couldn't take their eyes off of each other and everything else faded away as they took in their first sights of one another. As soon as Kate reached her, Lucy tenderly kissed her. Their guests giggled and Lucy smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it. You look amazing," whispered Lucy. Kate cupped her cheek as tears filled her eyes.
"You look so beautiful, Luce. I'm so lucky to have you," she whispered back as she looked Lucy over in her three-piece suit. Kate knew when Lucy told her she wanted to wear a suit, it was going to be hard to keep her hands off of her, but as she stared at her in her tailored suit and vest with no tie and just enough of the buttons undone, she was in awe of her bride. She reached up to play with a curl of Lucy's hair and Lucy wiped a stray tear from Kate's cheek. Kate laced their fingers together as they faced Ernie.
"Please be seated and thank you all for coming. We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Lucy Grace Tara and Kate Elizabeth Whistler. I have been lucky to know Lucy and Kate since the beginning and have watched them grow together as individuals and a couple. I've never seen two people gravitate toward one another in the way they always have and it's inspiring to see their love. They remind me and all of us that love is always worth it. You can always find your way back to the person you are meant for in this life. I am honored to know them, to be considered part of their family, and to see the way they love each other. Kate and Lucy wrote their own vows to share with one another. Kate," he encouraged. Lucy smiled adoringly at her bride and gave Kate's hand a comforting squeeze, sensing her nervousness.
"Lucy, I've rehearsed these vows in my head for months. They were the easiest and yet the hardest words I've ever written because they're about you and you're the best thing that has ever happened to me. I never expected you, Luce. Saying that you were a surprise is an understatement. There aren't enough words to explain how important you are to me, but Lucy, you are the most beautiful, and without a doubt amazing, woman I have ever met. Since the first day I saw you, I couldn't help but to be in awe of you. From the beginning, all you've ever asked of me is to be myself and that was hard at first because I wasn't really sure who that was for a while. All I knew was it was someone who wanted to make their way back to you, to the person who has always made me feel like I can do anything. I promise to spend the rest of my life making you happy because every day I come home to you is the happiest day of my life. I love you, Lucy," she said as she wiped a tear from Lucy's cheek.
"I love you too," whispered Lucy. Ernie smiled at them.
"You two are so cute. Lucy, you're up," he cued. Lucy cleared her throat.
"Kate, I knew the moment I saw you. I know that sounds cheesy and unrealistic, but I did and at first it scared me. I knew the moment I saw you that you would be special to me. I didn't go into that bar looking for forever, but I found it. I didn't know how and I spent a lot of time trying to ignore it, but I knew that you and I belonged together. And yes, it took time and there were times when I was afraid that it couldn't work. Sometimes it scared me how much I love you. I never thought I could love someone as much as I love you, Kate. You are everything I have ever wanted and yet so many things I didn't even know I needed. I'm so happy I get to spend the rest of my life with you because wherever you are will always be home. I love you." Kate kissed her hand and they both giggled as they wiped tears from each other's cheeks.
"Do we have the rings?" asked Ernie. Jane and Jesse smiled as they handed the rings to Kate and Lucy.
"Do you, Kate Elizabeth Whistler, take Lucy Grace Tara as your lawfully wedded wife?" Kate slipped the ring on Lucy's finger and gazed adoringly into her eyes.
"I do," she said with a smile.
"Do you, Lucy Grace Tara, take Kate Elizabeth Whistler as your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," she said as she slipped the ring on Kate's finger.
"Kate and Lucy, you have shared with us your words of love, your vows and promises to one another, and have exchanged the rings that bind you to one another forever. It is my honor and great pleasure to now pronounce you wife and wife. You may now kiss your bride." Everyone cheered and applauded as Lucy pulled Kate into her arms for a tender kiss. They leaned their foreheads against one another and beamed with happiness as they finally were able to embrace again. They turned to face their guests and couldn't stop smiling as they walked down the aisle together. It felt like it took forever to get to that point, but Kate and Lucy were finally married and couldn't have been happier.
AN: Y'all I was cheesing while writing that entire chapter. I wanted to give you fluff and Kacy goodness after all that drama I put you through so I hope you enjoyed. The final chapter is up next.