A/N: I feel like I should warn you: I had so much fun writing this chapter. It's full of fluff and funny bickerings… but the sweetness of its contents might make you want to book an appointment with your dentist. Or your doctor, if you unfortunately suffer from diabetes. Hope you'll still like it, though.
P.S.: this is also the penultimate chapter. I will post an epilogue for this story in the next few days. As always, thank you for reading.
Rosewood, 3/23/2019
"You know, you look extremely calm for someone who's going to get married in… twenty minutes" Alison quipped as she checked the time on her silver wristwatch.
"You think so?" Spencer replied arching an eyebrow. "I guess you're right. I mean, I myself thought I'd been a nervous wreck by now. And yet I feel so at peace. Like everything is going exactly as it was supposed to go. Is that weird?"
"Nah" Melissa supplied. "It's just the implicit awareness you have knowing that you're one step away to spend the rest of your life with your fated person"
There was a gentleness in her tone that actually surprised Spencer – and the other bystanders in the room, too, for that matter. Nevertheless, the brunette was moved by her sister's words.
"God, Mel" she exhaled, "Are you trying to make me cry now?" she joked, but went to hug the other woman tightly.
"Thank you" she whispered in her ear. "I'm so happy you'll be with me out there"
"Of course" Melissa replied, and her eyes getting teary as well. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be, little sis"
Veronica and Peter Hastings walked in at that precise moment and the sight of their two daughters locked in a loving embrace warmed their heart in a way they weren't able to describe. They stood there, watching Spencer interact with Melissa and Alison and even Jason, and they felt so proud of each one of them.
Most certainly the Hastings-Dilaurentis were two of the most dysfunctional families one can meet, but here was the fact: they were a family. Finally.
Years of lies, secrets, fights and revenges eventually could be put aside. They all learned a lesson from their mistakes, the most important one was that it is possible, with time, to move past old grudges and start anew.
"Ahem" Peter cleared his throat, effectively interrupting the lovely moment. "I'm sorry to intrude like this, but I'm afraid it's time to go"
"Yeah, there's a certain someone with a little case of wedding jitters" Veronica informed, chuckling at the thought of her flustered soon-to-be daughter in law.
"Ugh" Alison gulped. "Poor Em… she has all my sympathy"
"She's not going to, like…" Spencer started, and the color slowly began to drain from her face.
"What, bailing out on you?" Melissa cut in. "As if" she snorted.
"Come on Spence, you don't want to make your girl wait today of all days" Jason prodded.
The brunette took a few deep breaths and nodded, before following her parents out of the barn and out on the courtyard, where the ceremony was going to unfold.
At first she thought it was a terrible idea to get married in the same exact place where, years ago, two corps and several murder weapons – or suspected such – had been buried. But then Hanna managed to convince her – whenever has she been able to deny the blonde anything? And she had to admit it, in a weird, total creepy way this choice fit them.
After all, many good things had also happened there, and perhaps it had finally come the time to redeem the place by making new, happy memories in there. Besides, Hanna insisted on having a small, private ceremony and the Hastings' backyard seemed to be the perfect solution.
"You look exceptionally beautiful, Spence" her father said as he offered his arm to his youngest.
"Thanks" she blushed and in a moment of sudden shyness averted her eyes.
They reached the patio outside and the brunette let go of him.
"Are you really sure you don't want me to walk you down the aisle?" he asked sheepishly.
"Yes. I'm sorry, dad" Spencer smiled apologetically.
"It's okay, I understand" he smiled back and patted her lightly on the shoulder. "I'm proud of you, champ"
And he really was. Although feeling more than a little disappointed, Peter knew why his daughter refused to be escorted to the altar. Hanna didn't have her father by her side and, even though the blonde reassured them several times that it wasn't a problem and that Spencer shouldn't worry about that, they all knew that deep down the young woman was hurting. Not that she would ever admit it to still care about that despicable man. So the brunette, refusing to make her feel uncomfortable or embarrassed, decided that they were going to walk down the aisle together.
It was not only a sweet gesture on the brunette's part; it was also a symbolic imagine of their relationship and their journey together that everyone couldn't help but appreciate.
Spencer stood there, watching as their guests settled down in their seats; a click sound made her head snap in the direction of the door. Her heart stopped when she fixed her gaze on a vision of pure beauty.
The blonde was positively glowing as slowly walked toward her in her Vera Wang's white gown. She had let her hair down, covered by a long veil, and with each step she took her curls bounced slightly. Spencer was completely mesmerized.
"You look positively gorgeous" Hanna commented with dreamy eyes.
"Holy…" the brunette was at a loss of words as her breath hitched. She let her eyes roam over her figure, and a faint blush soon spread on the blonde's cheeks.
"You… Y-You're stunning" she finally whispered. "Breathtakingly so"
"Thank you" Hanna beamed.
"Ahem, so yeah…" Spencer offered her hand to her, "Are you ready?"
"It feels like I've been ready my whole life" Hanna smiled softly, gripping the offered hand an intertwining their fingers together.
It wasn't much of an exaggeration: truth to be told, the blonde wanted to elope the moment Spencer proposed to her; she claimed to feel already married to the brunette and she didn't see why they had to wait to make things official. Eventually they reached some sort of compromise when the younger Hastings insisted that the blonde should have had the wedding of her dreams.
Spencer's thoughtfulness was something that still amazed Hanna and never failed to make her melt.
They walked together down the white carpet until they reached the outside altar, where their bridesmaids were already standing in their respective sides – Alison and Melissa for Spencer, Emily and Mona for Hanna.
Golden, electric tinsels that they had previously set up through the branches of the trees all around lit up their path.
"Ladies…" Aria gave them a thousand megawatt smile as they stopped in front of her.
At first she didn't take it too well when Spencer asked her to officiate the ceremony. Of course she was incredibly honored, but it was such a huge task and she didn't feel like she was the right person for the job. But of course the brunette succeeded to talk her into it, as it was always the case with her almost-lawyer friend. Apparently, even Aria Montgomery wasn't immune to the brunette's charm.
Spencer was grinning like a Cheshire cat, still enjoying profusely her victory. Then her smirk morphed into a grateful smile and she nodded her head, signaling that they were ready to start.
"Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, we are gathered here this fine evening to celebrate the union of these two incredible women. My best friends. I can't begin to describe how great of a honor is for me to be here, today, standing in front of you. I've known them for practically my whole existence"
She took a deep breath as her eyes already started to get misty.
"Those precious memories I have of all of us as kids and, then, as we were growing up will accompany me for the rest of my life. At the time I didn't realize the depth of the love that run between our dear friends, and maybe neither did they. But let me tell you this: if there was something that we all noticed from the start, was their innate connection. A bond that has only strengthened over the years. I believe it is that something we all refer to when we talk about soulmates"
Aria took another pause to let her words sink in.
"Sometimes we abuse of this term until it becomes a bit of a cliché, whilst other times we never truly take into account its true meaning. In this case, I can't think to a more appropriate words to describe what Spencer and Hanna are to each other. Now, I could go on and on about this and lose myself in an endless rent; I could try to narrate the Myth of Aristophanes and-"
"Oh,I know that one!" Hanna suddenly spoke up, cutting Aria off. "I think Spence once told me something 'bout this" she excitedly said, completely unaware of the dozens of stares she was receiving.
"Is in that book written by… what was his name again? Ah, Pluto!" she snapped her fingers and grinned like she had just won a round of Trivial Pursuit against her brainiac lover.
"It's Plato" Spencer automatically corrected her.
"Uh?" the blonde turned to look at her a little dumbfounded, tilting her head to one side.
"The philosopher. His name is Plato" her almost wife supplied. "Pluto is a planet. Or Mickey Mouse's dog, if you prefer"
"Oh" Hanna blushed in embarrassment. "Yeah, I totally knew that" she muttered.
Alison and Emily exchanged amused glances while Melissa unabashedly snickered. Mona just shook her head and facepalmed. A sentiment also shared by Ashley Marin.
Someone in the crowd chuckled goodheartedly, while Aria and most of the people there stared at them totally baffled.
"Ahem" the short brunette cleared her throat, and immediately all the attention was on her again.
"Sorry" was their response, as they hung their head like two scolded children.
She was about to start again when the blonde cut her off, feeling the need to make another random observation.
"Why on Earth does a mouse possesses a dog?"
"I don't know. Move on" Spencer hurriedly replied.
She squirmed as she watched Aria's eyebrow slightly twitch, a clear sign that her friend was beginning to lose her patience.
"But it doesn't make any sense!"
"Hanna, move on" Spencer shushed her.
"Excuse me, did you just shush me?!" Hanna asked incredulously.
"You guys" Aria interjected before the two could start an argument; "Maybe you forget, so let me remind you: we're trying to celebrate a wedding here. Your wedding, to be exact" she snapped. "Shall we continue?"
"Oh" Hanna exclaimed. "Of course! Go on. You're doing great, by the way" she added, right when her friend was about to open her mouth.
Aria glared at her in exasperation then waited a moment and, when she was sure they were done interrupting her, she resumed her speech.
"As I was saying, these two knuckleheads here belong together. Didn't they make it perfectly clear just a minute ago?" she gestured at them with a look of total affection this time.
"Those among of you who know me will be aware that I think of myself as a hopeless romantic. I've always had a soft spot for this kind of things: forbidden lovers, overwhelming passions, whirlwind romances… Don't take me wrong, I just like to enjoy the reading of a good novel. Literature is full of such things. Who of us has never dreamed of living the kind of love that poets use to write about?"
It was a rhetorical question, of course; still, everyone nodded their head in consent.
"Well, I've lost count of how many books, sonnets, poems I've read that revolved around the concept of love, in all its forms: pure, fiery, earnest, consuming. But also tender, sweet, gentle. And yet, to this day do you guys know what is my favorite story of all times? Yours" Aria indicated the two brides.
"Every fairytale has a hidden message, a moral. Historically, its function is to teach us important lessons through metaphors and symbolisms. Just like love, they speak their own language. But every fairytale is also an adventure that captures the reader's attention and carries him into a world of magic.
That is what you did: you two showed me all the nuances of love; you taught me that if the feelings are true, they really never die. You made me believe in that kind of love that never fades, that is not meant to end: it may travel far away, but it always comes back. And most of all, you proved me the existence of magic in this world. It's all right there, shining in your eyes. That is why Spence, Han, you're the heroines of my favorite fairytale"
A stunned silence felled upon all of them, until the sound of several people sniffling broke the atmosphere.
Somewhere in the middle of Aria's speech, Hanna had found Spencer's hand again and had clasped it so tightly, the brunette marveled at the fact that she didn't broke any bone.
"Hanna, Spencer" Aria addressed them after a short moment of meditation. "You want to pronounce your vows?"
"Yeah, right. After that speech of yours I'm gonna make a fool of myself" Hanna half-joked, half-stated.
"Don't worry babe, you already did" Spencer smirked.
"Why, thank you Spencer! Really feelin' the love there" the blonde huffed.
"Well, it's true" the taller woman shrugged.
"Do you want to divorce before we even get to exchange the rings?"
"You wouldn't…" the brunette narrowed her eyes.
"Try me"
"GUYS!" Aria yelled, then sobered a little when the audience bursts out laughing. "The vows"
"Right…" Spencer nodded. "You go first" she turned to look at the blonde, who threw an icy glare her way.
"You know, what Aria said is true. Ever since the day I met you, my life has been that fairytale I always dreamed of when I was a kid. You're so many things to me, Spence: you're my beautiful princess charming, my savior, my best friend, my lover. My soulmate. Every day I wake up and thank whatever deity may or may not exists that you're still by my side. And I know nothing is ever going to change that. It may still feel a dream to me from time to time, but my love for you always keep me grounded. It is real. And endless. Eternal. I promise you'll always have in me what you'll need: a loyal friend, a faithful partner, a caring lover. And I promise to always cherish and respect you. And I was kidding earlier, I could never divorce you" Hanna beamed and with shaky hands put the ring on Spencer's finger.
"It's always been you, Spence. And I'm never, ever, letting you go. It's too late for you to backing out now" she smirked.
"That's good, 'cause I'm not going anywhere" Spencer chuckled fondly.
"Hanna" she then began to recite her vows; "Life has been both a bitch and a generous friend to me. I experienced lots of things: loneliness, pain, addiction; but also happiness, elation, fulfillment. You've been by my side for the most part, and even though we were not always at our best, there's never been a day I didn't feel loved and cared for. I owe you everything. They say when we found our other half, we are lost in an amazement of love, friendship and intimacy. It's exactly what happened to us: you're my better half, and you make me feel whole. You complete me and amaze me and I can't imagine my life without you in it. I promise I will always care for you, protect you and love you until my last breath and even after that. Because I'm sure that neither dead can do us part" Spencer squeezed Hanna's hand and put the ring on her finger.
"It is my honor and utmost joy that I pronounce you officially wife and wife. You may kiss, now" Aria sniffled, no longer able to contain the emotion.
That's all they had to hear: Hanna jumped on Spencer and kissed her deeply, eliciting cheers and also a few catcalls from their guests. They ignored them.
They pulled apart only when oxygen became a necessity, though still locked in a tight embrace. Their foreheads pressed together, their smiles matching.
"We fit perfectly together" the blonde looked up at her wife with a total enamored expression.
"We really do" Spencer pressed a soft kiss on her temple.
"I love you. With all my heart" Hanna sighed happily as she nuzzled her face in the crook of the taller woman's neck. A flat hand came to rest just above Spencer's heart.
"I love you, too, Mrs. Marin-Hastings" the brunette whispered in her hair. "You're my once upon a time"
"And you are my happily aver after".