"Captain Nuñez!" Francisco greeted with a huge celebratory grin, as Gabe entered the Grand council room to meet with him and Luisa, Elena's Grandparents.

"Oh Francisco! No need to be so formal! He's family now!" Luisa exclaimed as she bear hugged her Granddaughter's fiancé. Gabe was a bit taken back by their enthusiasm. Elena had said they were thrilled by the news of the wedding but Gabe hadn't expected it to be so over the top.

"Uh... You wanted to see me?" Gabe asked, trying to catch his breath from the overwhelming squeeze he had just received.

"Yes" Luisa replied sweetly, calming herself a bit. "Did you have a ring for Elena? I assume she didn't give you one? Or did she?" Luisa asked scrunching up her face in an odd way.

"No" Gabe laughed "She didn't. And um.. I was thinking about getting her one I guess. I wasn't sure. We're not waiting long to get married so Elena said she didn't need anything."

"Of course she does!" Luisa said "And I have the perfect one... If you don't mind my offer that is..."

"Of course not! Any help would be great" Gabe told her.

"Good" Luisa told him, a satisfactory smile spreading across her face. She walked over to the Grand counsel table and picked up a tiny box and then handed it over to Gabe to open. He did.

"Whoa!" Gabe gasped as he stared at the most beautiful red gem set in a golden, diamond infused band. The gem was large but not too overwhelming. It still held an air of delicacy. It was simply stunning, most definitely fit for a queen.

"It was Elena's mother's ring" Luisa explained, sentiment welling up inside of her. "It would really mean a lot to Elena to have it as an engagement ring."

"And you're trusting me with is?" Gabe asked.

"Of course!" Francisco replied. "Why wouldn't we?"

"I dunno!" Gabe shrugged, shaking his head and still staring at the ring in disbelief. "I guess I had always just thought that you all would rather see Elena with someone.. I don't know... More her equal? I guess? With a prince or someone like that? Not the son of a baker"

Luisa laughed at Gabe's words. "That's so silly Mijo!" She told him and then took one of his hands in hers "You are her equal. It doesn't matter if you're royal or come from some distinguished family. You and Elena are all that matters. And when I see the two of you together, I know that there is no one else better suited for her. We love you for the fact that you are the one to look out for her well being when she's too busy looking out for everyone else."

Gabe chuckled at that last statement and smiled as he began to reminisce. "That's actually kind of funny... It reminds me of something she said to me on the day I met her. I wanted her to get to somewhere safe and told her that it was my job to protect her. She got angry with me and told me it was her job to protect everyone! And she's never stopped telling me how much she doesn't need my protection"

"And she doesn't!" Luisa agreed

"I know" Gabe said with another laugh.

"but that's the beauty of your relationship." Luisa continued, very matter of fact. "She's never pushed you away. She just doesn't need you to fight her battles for her or to hold her back or to step in front of her. She's more than capable of taking care of herself". Gabe nodded in agreement, smiling at the thought of Elena's strength and perseverance. "But! Just because she doesn't need you doesn't mean she doesn't appreciate how much you care and want to keep her safe, it doesn't mean she doesn't want you standing by her side when facing a challenge, it doesn't mean she doesn't want you there to catch her if she falls... just as long as you help her back up again and push her forward. Just like you've always done. You support her. As she has always supported you, your goals and your work. The two of you don't need each other at all. But marriage isn't about needing each other, it's about love... and love is a feeling. Love is the most special of all connections. Love is the desire to be with another person for no reason other than the joy that they bring you. Love doesn't care about crowns, titles, where you were born, who your parents are or whether or not you make a good partnership on paper. Love is what lifts you up and lights you up. It's there when you're angry with one another, it's there when you're apart, it's there through bad times and it shines through the good times. Love isn't something that should be because you think you need it or it seems to make sense. Love just is. And you and Elena... Anybody that spends even a moment of their time around you two can see just how true and honest your love for each other is. You've loved each other through so many hard times and I believe you will continue to support each other through anything this life hands either one of you. You two are of one mind, one heart, one soul. You are and always will be equals in my eyes."

Gabe wanted to say so much to Luisa for her beautiful encouragement of his marriage to Elena but "Thank you" was all that came out. The sincerity in his voice was more than enough for Luisa though. She wrapped her arms around him again and embraced the man who loved her granddaughter.

"Heyyyyy cousin!" Elena sang in an overly upbeat voice, letting Esteban know that she was about to ask a favor from him.

"Yes Elena? What can I do for you?" Esteban asked, sounding bothered and rolling his eyes. It was too early for her perkiness and all he wanted to do was relax in the library and read his morning news paper.

"So I know you haven't been all that enthusiastic about wedding planning buuuut... I do need to ask something of you" Elena said, clasping her hands in a pleading manner and grinning with wide-eyed innocence.

Esteban sighed and put down his paper. Despite his need to be left to himself, he couldn't help but be humored by Elena, though he would never visibly show it. Deep down, he loved her zest for life and was often quite envious of her ability to avoid falling into despair after the sort of life that she had lived. He had never been so lucky, although these days, life was good and he was mostly at peace with the wrong doing of his past. His family, and especially Elena, knew everything and loved him enough to forgive him. He was more than willing to agree to whatever it was that Elena would ask. Of course, he would put on his usual act of discontentment. So he simply raised his brow at Elena as he urged her to ask away.

"Gabe and I really want to include all the people that mean the most to us in the ceremony. Mateo is going to be Gabe's best man and Isa and Naomi are both going to stand by me as my maid of honor. Abuelo and Abuela have agreed to do a unity ceremony along with Gabe's parents showing the joining together of our families and sooo... that leaves you!" Elena explained.

"annnnd?" Esteban asked, feigning irritation but eager to know what Elena was getting at.

Elena paused and lovingly looked at her cousin for a moment, gathering up all the sentiment she could find within her. She needed Esteban to know just how much what she was asking meant to her. "I want you to give me away... to walk me down the aisle"

Esteban's jaw nearly dropped to the floor from being utterly surprised. All signs of irritation faded and a smile spread across his face. Elena had truly touched his heart with her offer.

"Yes Elena... I would be honored" Esteban genuinely replied.

"Really?!" Elena asked enthusiastically, and frankly a little shocked that it had been that easy.

"Of course!" Esteban told her. "Why would I ever say no? You know I've always been fond of Captain Nunez. He's a good man, he's proved himself to be worthy of his military titles and more importantly... he makes you happy does he not?" Elena nodded that he did. "Good then. I have no objections to any of this"

Elena threw her arms around Esteban and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you Esteban!" She cried. "You are by far my favorite cousin!"

"Elena, I'm your only cousin!" Esteban reminded her.

"This is true!" Elena replied in Esteban's usual way and the pair shared a youthful laugh together.