Her heart raced like crazy. She tapped her feet impatiently.

"Don't do that, Reine," Felicity warned, "You'll ruin the dress!"

"What if he's not there?" she asked, "What if he left me on the altar?"

"Geez, he won't." Felicity replied as she put on the tiara on Reine's head, fastening it to her long veil. "If there's anything, he'd be love-struck to see you in this dress."

"Everyone knows how much he loves you." Yuri assured her. "And you look amazing."

Allen and Gwen came into the room. The bump on Gwen's belly was slightly visible against her dark blue dress. Allen approached his sister-in-law and shook her hand alongside a word of congratulations, "He was upset that I get to see the bride before he does."

Gwen tried her best not to laugh. "You have to look at him. Really." She said.

"What's wrong?"

"You'll know later."

Felicity draped the veil over the tiara and it fell just nicely under Reine's chin. "And… done!"

The door was opened, and Jack stood in his black tuxedo. "Are you ready?"

Reine inhaled and stood, "Yes."

Gwen, Allen, Felicity and Yuri left the room and Reine took her father's arm. She'd never expected for this to come quickly.

As her father walked her down the aisle, Reine bowed her head slightly, trying her best to keep calm. She knew everyone was staring at her, and it made her feel even more nervous.

Her father stopped. She knew they reached the altar now.

"Before I let you go," her father said slowly, "Let me tell you one thing."

Reine raised her eyes, and met her father's blue eyes. "Being a parent is not easy," he said, "Most of all, you have to learn when to hold your kids, and when to let go. You'll know later—it's so hard, because you wish you can hold onto them forever just like the way you latched on me when you were a little girl."

"Dad…"

"Now, now, I know I have to let go."

Jack then stared at his soon-son-in-law and handed Reine over to his hand. "Now, it's your turn." He said sternly while looking at him. "Keep her safe. Make her happy."

Neil nodded.

"No more curfew for you, huh?"

Neil smiled slightly at the comment and Jack walked to the pew where Lyla, smiling proudly like she always did, sat.

Neil was wearing white tuxedo, and his hair was miraculously tamed today, which surprised Reine at first, although she thought it was adorable. On his breast pocket, besides the usual flower pinned on it, there was a silver medal alongside it. Similarly, Reine had pinned a gold medal on the sash of her dress.

Neil saw the gold medal on her waist, and it made him remember what happened ten years ago.

Jack was standing, waiting for him outside her room. He braced himself.

"So you came," he said.

"I do," Neil replied.

"What if I told you never to come back?"

"I will refuse."

"If I beat you up?"

"I will stand up again."

"Why are you so persistent?"

Neil gripped the medals in his hand; the gold one from Reine, and the silver one he had brought along, "Some fights aren't fought with my fist, and those are harder to win. I survived that kind of fight once, and I will survive this one, too."

That's when the door opened, and Reine emerged from her room, her steps still shaky. "I've got your back," she said hoarsely.

"You won't give up?" Jack asked.

Reine took his free hand and held it tightly. Neil held her hand back, "Not when she has my back."

Neil stared straight into Jack's eyes. Eventually, Jack crossed his arm and said, "Curfew on Saturday is 11 pm, Sunday to Monday is 7 pm. You better adhere to this."

Neil recalled each hardship he had to go through because of his hair.

Her bashful smile behind that white veil worth each one of it, and he would go through it all over again if she were on the finish line.

Rod's nudge on his arm snapped him back. "The vow! The vow!"

"I…" he trailed off, unable to take his eyes from the pink-haired young woman before him. She was stunning in that dress. He was speechless. "I forget what I'm supposed to say."

There was a silence before the bride began laughing. Reine tried to cover her laugh with her pink roses bouquet, but it failed. The people on the pews laughed as well, causing much discomfort to the already nervous Neil.

"But I won't forget that I love you!" he added spontaneously. "I will always do!"

Reine stopped laughing, her cheeks flushed red. She then smiled, "That's good enough for me," she said.

Neil smiled; she never changed. He then put the white gold ring to her finger. Reine took his hand as well as the ring that Rod had kept safe until the wedding, since he was the best man. "I promise I will trust you, and love each part of you, including how shy you can be. You know, I think your tamed hair today is kinda cute."

"S-shut up."

"See?" Reine grinned as she put the ring on his finger.

"With this, I hereby pronounce you man and wife," the presider announced. "You may kiss the bride."

Neil carefully flipped the veil over. Reine's heart raced again.

"Reine Forrester," he said.

She grinned, "Sounds nicer that I'd thought it would be."

Neil smiled and leaned in. She closed her eyes, and a moment later, she felt their lips touched each other.

Their vows were sealed.

And now, they've begun a new life. Together.

Their new beginning.

FIN