The Big Day

The day had finally arrived. The day Stiles Stilinski had been waiting for since 3rd grade. He smiled as he thought of his bride. 5'3", long strawberry blonde locks, perfect green eyes. He couldn't wait to meet her at the altar. Just another hour until that one moment. That one perfect moment where the two would say "I do" and spend the rest of their lives together. He was smiling sweetly when the best man walked in.

"Dude. You're getting married today." Scott said with wide eyes.

"I know, man. Can you believe it? I had to stretch my 10 year plan into about 20 years but I got her. I can't believe it. I can't believe she chose me."

"Who else would she choose? There's no one better for her than you."

"I don't know, I just had so many doubts. I never thought we'd be here. I never thought she could love me. Until-"

"Until what?" Scott interrupted. He sat on the bed with a look of confusion on his face.

"Until she kissed me. I never told you about it but one day… when our parents went missing, we couldn't find you and I was freaking out, man. I was having a panic attack. I didn't know what to do… I don't think she really did either. At least I didn't think she did… until she kissed me. She grabbed my face and kissed me and it was like nothing else. I had never felt that way before. It was like time just stopped. Like… we were the only two people in the entire world… because in that moment, we were."

Scott sat speechless. This is the first time Stiles had ever mentioned this.

"Have you ever felt that again? I mean you were with Malia…"

"Yeah but Malia was different. It was nice and easy and good but it wasn't love. Not really. I tried to feel something strongly for her but I just couldn't. I knew she wasn't the one from the start but I didn't think anything would happen with Lydia. I was just trying to get over her. But I couldn't. Everything I ever do or say or feel, it all comes back to her. She is just the most amazing girl I could ever possibly know. She surprises me every single freaking day we're together. I can't imagine my life without her. I know I'm making the right decision today. I just can't wait to make it official.

Lydia was looking in the mirror. There she was, on the biggest day of her life, the best day of her life. She was less than one hour away from marrying the best man she'd ever known. Her maid of honor was helping her with her hair and makeup. Lydia couldn't stop staring at her engagement ring.

"It feels like he just asked me yesterday… I remember it so clearly."

"What are you talking about?" Kira asked.

"When he proposed. We were hanging out at his dad's house. We were just watching the Mets game when he just pulled out a ring and asked me to marry him. I didn't even have to think about it. I've known for a long time that I wanted him and only him."
"When did you figure that out?"

"When I kissed him for the first time. He was having a panic attack. I was so scared, I didn't know what to do. I went out on a limb thinking I could help him by kissing him."

"And you did help him."

"I think that kiss did more for me than it did for him. I'd kissed guys before. Jackson, Aiden, some others, but it never felt like that. Yes, I loved Jackson, but not the same way I love Stiles… When I kissed Stiles, it was like we were the only two people on earth. And it was like time just stopped. After that I knew I loved him. I knew I wanted him the way he'd wanted me. But I knew I didn't deserve him. I didn't think I deserved real love. I didn't think I was worthy of it. He changed that. He made me realize that I deserve an amazing guy who loves me for who I am and not just what I look like. And that's him. That's Stiles Stilinski. And I can't wait to say "I do", because I know that I will never regret it. Not for a single moment."

Kira was speechless. She knew that what she had with Scott would never compare to what Stiles and Lydia have. Their love is a once in a lifetime love. She also knew that there was only about 45 minutes until Lydia had to walk down the aisle.

"I'm done with your hair and makeup. You look so beautiful, Lydia. Let's get you in your dress."

Lydia put on her dress. And then her veil. Her dress was a strapless white ball gown picked out by her mother. And her veil was attached to a clip sinched in the back of her hair. Her long strawberry blonde hair was perfectly curled and shiny. She knew she looked beautiful. She also knew that Stiles would still say "I do" even if she walked down the aisle in a Mets jersey and sweatpants with her hair in a bun and no makeup on. Lydia then thought of her best friend, Allison. How she imagined so many times her being her maid of honor at her wedding. She wished Ally was here with her, but she knew she was in a better place. And she was happy that Kira was here. She was the closest friend she had after Allison passed and she felt lucky to have a friend who cared about her the way Kira did. She started to cry.

"It's a good thing my makeup is waterproof."

"Lydia, what's the matter?" Lydia looked at the small tattoo on her wrist. It was an arrow with a heart. Inside the heart was the letter "A".

"Nothing. I'm fine. I just imagined this day a little differently, but life is unpredictable. If you had told me ten years ago that I'd be marrying Stiles Stilinski, I would have driven you over to Eichen House." Kira knew she was upset about Allison. And she knew that nothing she could say to Lydia would make her feel better, or would make up for her absence. Kira hugged her and Lydia knew that Allison was looking down watching over all of them.

"We should probably make sure you have everything you need to walk down the aisle."

Stiles Stilinski waited at the altar for a few minutes. He was so nervous. The preacher told him to stop moving around so much, and that he had nothing to be nervous about. He told Stiles that he'd never seen two people so in love before. Stiles smiled. He at the guests. On the second row were Jackson, Melissa, Isaac, Liam, Mason, Braeden, Danny, Ethan, Cora, Peter, and Jordan. Malia wasn't invited. He noticed his favorite teacher, Bobby Finstock sitting on the back row, as if he didn't want to be there. It meant a lot to Stiles that he came. He looked at his groomsmen, Derek and Scott, who both smiled at him. He looked at Lydia's only bridesmaid, Kira. He knew Allison was missing, and that Lydia would be emotional about that later on and that this wedding wasn't quite perfect without Allison here. Then he looked at his shoes. He was making sure they were tied and then Scott nudged him gently. Stiles immediately straightened up and looked ahead. Coming down the aisle was his father, arm in arm with the beautiful bride. He had never seen her look so elegant. He had never seen her look so absolutely beautiful. A single tear ran down his face. He buried his face in his hands. She met him at the aisle.

"Hi…" She said. She was more nervous than she'd ever been.

"Hey there." He replied. He couldn't stop smiling at her. For a moment, it was like time stood still. The preacher had to cough just to shift their focus back.

"Sorry." Stiles said.

A while later it came time for their vows.

"The couple has decided to write their own vows. Mr. Stilinski will go first."

"Uhm, okay. Here we go. Lydia, you are so beautiful. I don't just mean your strawberry blonde hair or your stunning green eyes. I mean your heart. You have such a big heart and such an amazing mind, it blows me away. I am constantly surprised by you. You teach me things about life and math and science, and even about myself, every freaking day. Thank you so much for allowing me to fall in love with you… and for choosing me. Thank you for existing. Without you, I don't know where I'd be. Or who I'd be. I've been in love with you since I was 8 years old, and that's one thing that will never change. Life is unpredictable and funny but one thing I will always be sure of is that I love you. I love you, Lydia Martin. I'm so in love with you."

He saw tears streaming down her face. He wiped one away from her cheek as she started to cry even more. She then composed herself and looked at him.

"Stiles… thank you. Thank you so much for everything you've ever done for me. Thank you for making me laugh and smile and always being there for me and supporting me and making me feel loved and beautiful and important. Every day with you is brand new and you just are so smart and funny and wonderful and I can't picture my life without you in it. And I'm so sorry it took me so long to realize it. I'm sorry your ten year plan turned into fifteen."

Stiles smiled. He had no idea she knew about the plan. Scott must have told her. He looked at Scott, who just winked at him. Derek was trying to hold back laughter. He thought it was sweet.

Then came the rings. Then they said the words. They said the words they'd each been longing to hear for a long, long time. "I do".

And Stiles kissed her. He kissed her the way she'd kissed him that very first time back in high school; 7 years ago. And it was like the first time, all over again.