The next few months pass by in a blur, and Skylar and Anna fall into an unspoken rhythm with each other. They are busy planning the wedding, and working, and spending time with family and friends. They make several trips to Maine to finalize details with Janice and the wedding planner at French's Point.
Anna keeps her acting schedule light in the months leading up to the wedding. She is busy with dress fittings, phone calls, seating charts, and other wedding arrangements, and she wants to spend as much time with Skylar before the big day. The wedding is set for June with a honeymoon in Saint Lucia afterwards. Their hotel has private beach suites with their own private pools and beaches, and she books it under a false name to make sure nobody knows.
Since she's Christian and he's Jewish, they opt for a non-denominational ceremony where they'll write their own vows to each other. The venue has an officiant on site who will actually perform the ceremony. As the day nears, both Skylar and Anna are nervous with anticipation. The guest list has been finalized, and the invitations have gone out to their guests with specific instructions to keep all details of the wedding under wraps.
One night they are sitting together on the sofa watching television when Anna's cell phone rings. She looks at the identity of the caller before standing and walking into the kitchen to answer it. Skylar doesn't pay much attention to what she's saying, since he figures the caller is probably just her mother. When Anna returns almost twenty minutes later, her expression pale, he looks up expectantly at her. "What's the matter?" he asks.
"That was Edgar," she replies quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What?" he says in shock.
"He heard that we were getting married, and he wants to come to the wedding. He said something about needing to see me marry someone else so that he could know that it really happened. Something about closure," she trails off.
"Send him photos if he wants proof," Skylar interjects.
"He asked me if I still considered him a friend, and I said yes. I mean, we have been friends all along. I just haven't been talking to him," she says.
"I know. You guys were always tweeting stuff back and forth that I never understood. And I think it's cool that you were able to stay friends with him. But honestly, I don't want someone you've slept with to be at our wedding," he replies.
"You have no reason to be jealous of him," she states.
"Yes, I do. You guys connect on a different level. Your personalities, your humor, align in a way that I don't always understand. And believe me, I think he's a cool guy, but you were with him for four years, Anna," he counters. "Would you want Camp at our wedding?"
"God, no," she answers, "But Edgar isn't crazy. I think he just wants to be there to support me, to see me happy."
Skylar sighs heavily. "Look, I don't want to fight about this. I don't want him there. It's my opinion that our exes shouldn't be part of a day that is supposed to be only about us. But, if it will make you happier to have him there, then invite him." And with that, he stands and heads upstairs.
She waits a while, just sitting and staring at the television absently before she finally switches it off and follows him upstairs. He's already in bed, facing away from her side of the bed when she enters. She climbs in behind him.
"I want to do what makes us happy," she says in the darkness. "We've gone through so much already just to be together, and I don't care about what Edgar wants or needs. I only care about you." She runs her fingers through his hair, and he turns over to face her.
"Well that works out great, because I only care about you," he replies.
She wraps her arms around him, pressing her body into his. "I can't wait to marry you," she whispers into his skin as she snuggles closer.
In only a few weeks' time, they're boarding the plane to Maine for the long wedding weekend. Anna is set to stay at her parents' house while Skylar has a hotel suite booked near French's Point where they'll spend their wedding night together before heading on their honeymoon. Skylar's family and many of the other wedding guests will be staying in the same hotel as well. They are keeping up the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding, and sleep in separate places the night before. Anna will get ready at her childhood home, and Skylar will dress in the hotel.
The ceremony is in the afternoon and will be followed immediately by the reception. When Skylar arrives at French's Point, many of their guests are already there and waiting. The view is spectacular, and flowers line the aisle leading to the gazebo where the officiant stands waiting. Skylar goes to stand under the gazebo, his brothers by his side. The doors to the manor open as the music begins, and his sister Brielle begins the long walk to the gazebo. She's followed by a childhood friend of Anna's. The crowd stands as the music changes and Anna comes into view, her arm linked with her father's as she approaches Skylar.
He's never seen her look so beautiful. She absolutely takes his breath away, and their eyes remain fixed on each other until she's standing right in front of him. William Kendrick places her hand in Skylar's, and then takes his seat.
The officiant starts talking, saying words that they've selected for this very moment, but Anna isn't listening to a word he says. Her eyes are locked with Skylar's as she gazes at him, trying to memorize everything about the way that he looks right now. She gives his hands a squeeze, and he runs his thumbs along her knuckles in response.
"And now it is time for Skylar and Anna to proclaim their love for each other in vows that they have prepared for this special occasion," the officiant says before turning to Skylar.
"Anna," Skylar begins, his voice shaking slightly, "When I first met you I knew you were the most beautiful, talented, and remarkable woman I'd ever met in my life, a fact that still holds true to this day. You're so passionate, and humble, and kind. You make me laugh every single day with your quick wit and your ability to light up any room you enter. But none of these things are the reason I fell in love with you. We connect in a way I can't explain, and you fill in all the places in my heart and soul that I didn't know were empty before I met you. I love you with everything that I have, and everything that I am. And I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you make me."
Tears are welling in the corners of her eyes as she begins, "Skylar, all my life I have felt just a little different from everyone else, always just out of step from the rest of the crowd. It was why I went into acting, so I could express myself and not be judged for it. And then I met you, and you were so confident and comfortable in your own skin. I mean, not that I blame you, because with a voice and a face as handsome as that, who wouldn't be confident?" The guests laugh at this. "Being around you makes me better. I have never connected with anyone the way that I do with you, and this chemistry we have, this innate way that we are together, has been as natural to me as breathing. I can't imagine my life without you, and I don't want to. I love you more than I ever thought was possible and I can't wait to start the rest of our lives together as husband and wife."
They say their "I do's" and slide the wedding bands onto their ring fingers. "I now present to you for the first time," the officiant says, "Mr. Skylar Astin Lipstein and Mrs. Anna Kendrick Lipstein!"
The crowd erupts into applause as Skylar presses his lips firmly to Anna's, kissing her for a long while as their guests cheer. He takes her hand and leads her back down the aisle in the direction of the manor. "I didn't know you had decided to use Lipstein," he says to her as their wedding guests file out of their seats behind them.
"It's your last name," she says simply, "And I figured that since neither of us uses it professionally, it could just be a nice, legal way of letting everyone know that I'm yours."
"You mean marrying me wasn't enough?" he jokes, but he's smiling. "Thank you, my gorgeous wife," he adds, kissing her again.
"You're looking incredible tonight too," she tells him, deepening the kiss.
Someone clears their throat, and she breaks the kiss. "Later," he whispers with promise into her ear and she suppresses a shiver. They begin greeting wedding guests as they enter the reception area and find their tables. He doesn't leave her side the entire evening as they make their way from table to table talking with guests, as they eat the delicious dinner that's served, or as they take to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife.
"I'm afraid if I let go of you, someone might try and steal you away," he tells her as they dance together.
She holds up her left hand, "I think you're stuck with me now," she replies, their rings sparkling in the dim lighting.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," he whispers, kissing her as they sway together to the music. His hand tangles in her soft curls as hers cups his jaw and they get momentarily lost in each other.
"Later," she whispers in his ear, breaking the kiss as Brielle and a bunch of her girlfriends pull her into the center of the dance floor for a fast-paced song. He watches her for a moment before turning to retrieve his drink. He feels a hand on his shoulder, and turns to find Ben standing there. His friend pulls him into a hug, clapping him affectionately on the back.
"Congratulations, man," Ben tells Skylar, "I'm really happy for you both."
"Thanks Ben," Skylar replies, "That means a lot to me."
"Look at her," Ben comments, sipping his drink as the pair of men gaze across the room at Anna. "She's radiant. You're the luckiest man on earth. I hope you know that."
"I do," Skylar replies wistfully, giving his friend's shoulder a squeeze.
"I still have no idea how you landed her," Skylar's brother Milan says, coming up from behind.
"Me neither," Skylar laughs, shaking his head in disbelief. And in that moment, it's as if Anna can sense his stare, because she finds him in the crowd and flashes him a brilliant smile.
Milan elbows him in the ribs, and Ben sighs audibly. "Sorry fellows, she's off the market permanently," Skylar grins at them, pointing at his wedding band.
Milan shoves him in the direction of his bride. "Go get her," he orders, and Skylar happily complies.
He cuts into the center of the pack of girls, wrapping his arms around her waist as he pulls her close.
"Miss me?" she teases him.
"Well, I tried to give you a little break from me, but I couldn't stay away," he teases back. "But seriously Anna, you take my breath away. I can't take my eyes off you."
She blushes a beautiful shade of pink and he picks her up off the floor, twirling her around before setting her down again. The night passes far too quickly, and before they know it, guests are beginning to leave and bid their farewells. Anna and Skylar graciously thank everyone for coming, until it's only their parents and siblings left. Their brothers hug them, all making inappropriate comments about "taking advantage of the honeymoon suite" they've booked. Brielle tells Anna she's so thrilled to finally have a sister. Their mothers hold back tears as they congratulate them. And their fathers look proudly upon them, giving them one-liner advice about the future. And finally, it's time for the newlyweds to make their way to the hotel suite they've reserved just for tonight.
The bedroom has been decorated by the hotel staff, and there are fragrant white rose petals strewn all over the place. The couple is exhausted as Anna happily kicks off her high heels and perches on the edge of the mattress. He loosens his tie and pulls his shoes off as well before moving to sit beside her. He reaches up to remove the pins holding her veil in place.
"Thank you for a perfect day," he says quietly.
"It really was perfect," she agrees, turning to face him. "I love you, Skylar."
"I love you too, Mrs. Lipstein," he smiles, brushing her hair from her shoulders as he removes her necklace and earrings while her hands unknot his tie and begin working on the buttons of his shirt. Their actions are slow and deliberate as they undress each other, her wedding gown pooling at her feet before she bends to pick it up and drape it carefully over a chair before turning around to face him. He's dressed only in a pair of black boxers and she's in her white lacy bra and panties as they take a step towards each other, closing the gap between them as he captures her lips with his in a searing kiss. He backs her up until her knees hit the bed, and then he scoops her up, placing her carefully on the mattress amidst the rose petals before climbing in next to her. He traces his fingers reverently down her body, whispering, "My bride, my wife," into her ear before kissing her with all the passion he has for her. Their remaining clothes are quickly shed.
"My love, my husband," she whispers back, and as they make love that night, they're both the happiest they've ever been in their lives.
And the best is yet to come.
A/N: I'm not much of a detail-oriented person, so I'll leave the specifics of the wedding up to your imagination. I couldn't even begin to describe what Anna might wear at her wedding, only that I know she'll be stunning. The venue is a real place if you want to look it up online, it's absolutely breathtaking. I hope I did the wedding justice. Let me know what you think!