JAY
"We're getting married tomorrow," I whisper into Erin's ear as we linger together in a corner, finally alone. Wedding festivities began today with the rehearsal dinner and the excitement in the air is contagious. But since the small army of people have descended on the house, I feel like I've barely gotten to see Erin. I just needed a minute with my girl.
"We are getting married tomorrow," She says again, a wide smile spreading across her cheeks. "I am so excited to marry you Jay Halstead,"
"Oh darling," I tell her, "The feeling if more than mutual,"
"Do we really have to spend the night apart?" She complains as she hangs off my shoulder.
"Sorry dear," I reply, pressing a kiss to her forehead, "My family is big on tradition,"
"The first female president is a Halstead," She points out, "How traditional can you be?"
"True," I respond with a smile. "And as much as I'd like to keep you all to myself tonight, they're all waiting for us out there."
"Ugh," She whines, leaning back into me as I chuckle.
"You're about to become a Halstead, you have got to get better at sucking it up and smiling, it's basically the only thing that we're good for."
"Oh shut up," She retorts, "You are damn lucky that I'm this good at it in the first place,"
ERIN
"Don't worry," Jay says as we head down the planked pathway to a raging bonfire, a plaid blanket wrapped around my shoulders, "Almost everyone else is gone, I think just my siblings and your girls are still down there, maybe Adam, Zoe, and Garrett are hanging around too."
"Oh good," I say with a sigh. I couldn't do anymore smile and wave today. We're going to have to do enough of that tomorrow. But it won't even bother me, cause Jay and I will be married.
"You're back!" Hailey shouts as she jumps up from her place on a Adirondack chair.
"Sorry," Jay announces to the small group, "We just needed a minute."
"I don't blame you," Natalie says with a laugh, "I remember the crazy,"
"But it was all worth it right?" Will asks, placing his hand over Natalie's barely there baby bump.
"Of course," She responds, gracing him with a soft kiss, glancing over to the spot in the sand where Owen is entertaining Abby's daughter Emerson.
"I swear if my marriage doesn't look like yours I'll be doing it wrong," Zoe comments with a laugh.
"Hey kids," Juliette announces as she wanders up the beach towards us, Jay's dad Patrick with his arm around her waist. "We're going to turn in but we just wanted to come over and say goodnight,"A chorus of goodnights returns her statement as my friends try not to stare up at her in bewilderment. They're basically me when I first met her but way, way worse. "Nat, Abby we can take the kids up and get them down if you want to stay out here for a little while longer,"
"Oh Julie it's alrigh-" Natalie starts.
"Oh don't be silly," She interrupts, "I love spending time with the grandkids, stay out here. Have a good time,"
"Oh well okay," Natalie replies with a smile, quickling calling Owen and Emerson over to their grandparents as Abby and Graham give a subtle nod.
"Goodnight dear," Juliette tells me sweetly as she gives me a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. It's not something my parents ever did and the whole President of the United States thing made it a little weird at first, but after a while, I just accepted and understood that by me marrying Jay, she was taking me in as one of her children. And that's been really nice.
"Night," I reply with a smile as she and Patrick each take a child's hand in theirs and lead them back up to the house.
"Well," I say as I take my place on a blanket, cuddled up close to my soon to be husband. "I just wanted to thank you all for coming out here to support on our wedding day, it means the whole world to us,"
"Oh stop it!" Anna shrieks from her spot in Kelly's arms. "Erin you're going to make me cry."
"Yeah I'll probably go first," I say with a laugh as my eyes wander around to all the wonderful people sitting before me, that mean the world to me. It's crazy, the girls I spent four wild years with are here, Hailey, Gabby, and Sylvie rapidly catching up on a beach blanket, openly welcoming Zoe into the crew as Anna lays her head down on Kelly's chest and Kim smiles from her new found spot on Adam's lap. They're here and they're intermixing perfectly with Jay's people. Abby and Graham look so happy, Will and Natalie to their left looking the exact same and Jay's best friend Garrett and little sister Nora sitting a little too close for Jay and Will's comfort. It's perfect.
ERIN
"It's been too long since we've done this," Kim comments as she cradles a cup of coffee in her hands, both her and Hailey pressed against me as we sit up in one of the many bedrooms of the Halstead compound. It's my wedding day. That's insane. I know we're about to rush into a day of absolute craziness, so I just wanted a minute, cuddled up with my girls watching the sun rise with cups of coffee in hand. And it was the best way to start this wonderful day.
"Kimmy," Hailey exclaims, her voice carrying over my tiny frame between them, "We all slept in the bed the entire time we were in Greece, that was last summer,"
"She is not wrong dear," I tell Kim with a laugh.
"You both know that was forever ago," She assures us. "We were college grads back then. And you know, Hailey and I are probably still in that phase, but Erin. Our girl is going to be a married lady. She's going to do married lady things and meet fancy people. Let's face it, you're a grown up,"
"Oh stop," I tell her with a light slap, "I think we all know how far away I am from being a grown up,"
"I feel like having Mrs. in front of your name constitutes adulthood," Hailey adds in.
"That's what I'm saying," Kim exclaims, reaching over me to give Hailey a highly energetic high five as we hear a knock at the door.
"Whomst is that?" Kim asks as I roll my eyes and slip out of the bed.
"That's Claire, she works for the wedding planner and she's in charge of making sure we stay on schedule today,"
"It's 7:30!" Hailey shrieks before I open the door.
"Like I said," I tell her with a smirk, pulling open to reveal the perfectly put together Claire waiting for me. "Hi Claire, you need us somewhere?"
"Hair and makeup just got here, they're starting to set up over in the East Wing and the caterer has breakfast set up," She relies to us. "Zoe and Abby are already over there and Abby and Natalie are dealing with the kids,"
"Oh there's food," Kim asks, her interest peaking.
"Yep," Claire assures her with wide eyes.
"I'm in," She squats, jumping out of bed in her booty shorts and tank.
"Oh one more thing," Claire interrupts, pulling three pale pink silk robes from a tote bag on her shoulder. "There is going to be Secret Service all over the place today, so the President thought you'd appreciate these,"
"The President thought we'd appreciate these?" Hailey questions as we slip them on, still not wrapping her head around the whole thing. I giggle and ignore her, excited to get moving with the day.
"Thank you Claire," I tell her. "We will be right over,"
"Alright," She replies, slipping out the door.
"Seriously!" Hailey exclaims once we're alone again. "I'm wearing a silk robe with my monogram on it! Because the President thought I'd appreciate it!"
ERIN
"Honey you look gorgeous," Hank tells me as he steps into the bridal suite for the first time.
"Dad c'mon I'm not even dressed yet," I tell him with an eye roll as I leave my spot in a makeup chair to come meet him, dressed sharply in a grey suit.
"Still look beautiful," He tells me with a smile. "Your mom dreamed about this day,"
"I know," I reply, trying to force a smile as I keep myself from crying.
"C'mon," He says, taking ahold of my hand. "Let's step outside for a second,"
"Okay," I say, signally to the agents who've been watching the room. "What's up Dad?"
"It's nothing," He says as he pulls a small black box from his jacket pocket, "When I married Camille almost twenty years ago, I bought her a necklace to wear on our wedding day. She didn't wear it much, said it was too precious for the harsh world." He chronicles with a solemn chuckle. "But before she died, she told me that she knew that this was the boy that you were going to marry and she wanted you to have it, to wear on your wedding day."
"Dad you're going to make me cry," I sniffle, wiping away the first few tears.
"I'm sorry Erin," He tells me, looking like he's holding back tears himself. "I just really wanted you to have this," I nod as he opens the box to reveal a delicate little gold necklace, a small diamond hanging at the bottom. It reminds me of her, so much.
"Thank you," I say, choking on my words as I throw my arms around him. "For everything Dad,"
"Don't thank me," He replies, giving me a light kiss on the forehead. "Just go get married,"
JAY
"Alright let's get one with mom," The photographer Jake asks as the groomsmen and I pose for photos on the banks of Lake Geneva, my parents and Owen joining us.
"You too old to take photos with Mommy?" My mom jokes as she walks over to me, wrapping her arms around me as we smile for the photographer.
"Never," I tell her as Jake snaps away, the rest of my groomsmen entrenched in conversation as my dad chases Owen around.
"Have I told you how proud I am of you lately?" She asks as the flashes continue. "You've grown up James Oliver, you became a man and as your mom, nothing has made me happier than seeing you so happy with Erin,"
"Well I got lucky with her,'
"And don't you ever forget it,"
ERIN
"You ready?" Kim asks me as the twelve bridesmaids and groomsmen and I linger in the sunroom of the main house, my dad at my side and Owen and Emerson giggling in front of us.
"More than I've ever been," I tell her as I get a glimpse of the man I love standing at the end of the aisle, looking as handsome as he ever has just waiting for me to arrive.
"It's time." Kate, our wedding planner, tells all of us as the chords of Can't Help Falling in Love With You fill the banks of Lake Geneva.
"Pretty Auntie," Emerson tells me as I bend down to her height, her little chubby fingers exploring the petals of the pink peonies in my bouquet.
"Thanks Emmy," I tell her, giving her a quick kiss on the head as she wraps her little arms around my legs, her best attempt at a hug. My heart melts.
"My brother is a lucky man," Will tells me, turning around my his spot, almost last in the procession as Jay's best man.
"You look beautiful," Kim tells me as my little brother and Nora walk out the french doors.
"Thank you Kim," I say to her with a smile. "I love you,"
"I love you too," She replies, a wide smile gracing her cheeks before she turns around and begins that graceful walk to the altar. The altar where I get to marry the man that I love.
"Hey kid," Hank says as Emerson begins skipping behind her uncle, her cousin not far behind. "You're going to do great things,"
"Thanks Dad," I reply, my fingers flying to Camille's pendant, wanting to keep her close to my heart forever.
"But first," He responds with a smile. "Let's get you married,"
We are reaching the end of our time in the Firefly universe, probably only four or five chapters left. I've loved writing this story and I hope it's brought all of you at least some joy. Thanks for reading, I adore you all.
xoxo,
Addie
