Have I mentioned yet that I love you all? Well…the ones who review get most of my love, but there's enough for the losers that don't too…I suppose. Shout out to Britty Bee!—For her ideas and putting up with me. XD

Brittany

I walk with Mamá until we reach the lobby area outside the chapel…then I felt myself stop. Mrs. Fuentes looks back at me with a confused expression, but then understands.

"I…I don't think I can do this…" Sierra, my bridesmaid, best friend, and crisis monitor rushes to my side. This was by far the worst time to have a crisis. "Sierra, I can't…"

"Britt, listen to me…" I can't listen; my body is in full out panic mode. She is still talking when I interrupt her,

"What if I'm a horrible wife? What if I can't make him happy? What if he leaves me? What if he's not even in there now? What if…"

"Britt, shut up and listen to me!" I look at her and she smiles. "He's waiting for you…"

"How can you possibly know that?"

My dad is checking his watch off to the side of the room, standing next to Shelley, who smiles at me big and says, "Look!" She points to where Mrs. Fuentes is and my soon-to-be-mother-in-law smiles, nodding to a small peep-hole in the wall.

"What is that?" I ask, absently walking towards her and the wall.

"Ushers and people who are late for church use it so they don't walk in on prayers and readings…come look and see, but I can promise you, my son is no runner."

I swallow hard and lean down to peek through the wall. Sure enough, there he is, waiting, and looking as nervous as I felt. That makes me feel a bit better—at least I'm not alone in this, and after today…I'll never be alone again, because I'll have him…

A small sob escapes my lips and I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"Britt?" Sierra asks in a small voice. I close my eyes and lean my back against the wall that held the secret peep-hole.

"Let's do this."

Doug offers his arm to Sierra and she takes it, ready to walk down right behind my father and Shelley.

I nod to my father and the doors open for him to wheel Shelley out. After about thirty seconds, Doug and Sierra follow. Carlos and Luis attach themselves to Isa, and Carlos whispers something in her ear just as they walk out. It was my turn.

"Just…give me a second," I say to the men at the doors. They nod and close the doors.

I look in a nearby mirror and at my not-so-perfect reflection. Everyone would be able to tell that I'd been crying…but what bride doesn't cry on the best day of her life? I walk over and stand in front of the doors, taking a deep breath and composing myself.

I nod to the men again and simultaneously I hear the wedding march start. Perfect timing. The doors open and I step through the threshold into the aisle. Everyone turns to look at me, but all I can see is Alex.

Damn, he cleans up good. He looks sort of like a Latino James Bond…

I can't feel my feet as they move instinctively towards him—they know their way by now anyway. They'll always lead me to him…always.

The look on his face is priceless, I have to admit, and it makes me smile. It was a mixture of relief, awe, and overall…love. That is what keeps me going, that is why we're here today. It's not about anyone else; it's just about us today.

My arm weaves through his and he leads me up to the alter. Everything is happening so fast, I can only imagine how the rest of the day is going to go. I wouldn't mind if we could fast-forward until tonight…

I hand my bouquet to Shelley, who is excited to have two, and take Alex's hands. His warm hands give mine a small squeeze and I smile, looking up into those dark, mysterious eyes that I love. Alex doesn't take his eyes from mine once, and I can't bear to look away.

"Good afternoon, and welcome to the ceremony that will unite Alejandro Fuentes and Brittany Ellis in marriage. We gather here today to celebrate their union, and to honor their commitment to not just gazing at one another, but to looking outward together in the same direction. Today Alex and Brittany proclaim their love to the world, and we rejoice with and for them."

Alex gives me a small smile and I wish he hadn't because my gaze travels to his lips…lips I would very much so like to kiss right now. I will my gaze back to his eyes and see him smirk a little. He knows exactly what I'm thinking.

"In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously into the hands of the one we love, and in doing so, each of us receives the love and trust of the other as our most precious gift. But even as that gift is shared by two people who are in love, it also touches the friends and family members who in various ways support and contribute to the relationship. All of you are Alex and Brittany's community, and each of you has played some part in bringing them to this moment. This is why gathering as a community is such an important part of a wedding ceremony. Because Alex and Brittany are now taking a new form as a married couple, and in this form, they become part of their community in a new way…"

The pastor made a point to look around the chapel at the people gathered. "Alex and Brittany, we are all here to remember and rejoice with you and to recount with one another that it is love that guides us on our path, and to celebrate as you begin this journey together. It is in this spirit that you have come here to today to exchange these vows."

We wrote our own vows, we had agreed that normal vows just wouldn't cut it for us. I say mine first:

"Alex," I say, in a small voice, trying to find my voice through my nerves. "Before you I thought my life was perfect, but it wasn't because I wasn't happy. When I met you, to be honest, it didn't make me much happier." I pause and hear a few people laugh, including Alex. "But you changed me…you showed me how to be happy again…and you've given so much…"

Alex squeezes my hand again and I continue, looking deep into his eyes. "You were the one who showed me how to be happy, and for that I promise you a life of happiness, of love, of fun and of arguments." I smirk and he chuckles again.

"I promise to return the favor, to provide for you and love you until the day I die. I promise above all else to live in truth with you and to communicate fully and fearlessly. I give you my hand and my heart…and pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor as I join my life and soul to yours."

Alex smiles his you-can't-resist-me smile and runs his thumb over my engagement ring. He looks like he wants to reply to my vows, but he has his own to recite. His dark eyes smolder as he licks his lips and opens his mouth to speak.

I love cliffhangers, don't you? Oh, the joys of holding the pen…or in this case, a laptop. =) I'm shooting for 50 reviews on this story, can I do it? We'll have to wait and see. Well, I'll wait and see, and update, you guys do the rest! 3