Summary:

A decade of waiting, a lifetime of new beginnings. Together with their respective families, Bruno and Gabriela prepare themselves for the future that is to be.

-o-o-

Written in Gabriela's and Bruno's POV.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Are you ready?" Lucía asks me as she finishes pinning the mantilla into my hair. I stare at myself in the mirror. I'm a little bit older, but wiser. A whole lot more made-up, but still the same. It's my wedding day. My heart is beating so fast that I almost didn't hear a word she said.

"Oh, boy, she's in la-la-land," Pepa teases. I whip my head to pout at her and she laughs. "Welcome back to earth, sis."

"Nervous?" Julieta murmurs as she hands me an arepa. "Here, eat this. Trust me, you'll feel better when you have a bit of food in you. The ceremony can run long, and as much as I love my brother, he'll panic if you faint!"

"Hey, hey, you three, calm down." Mirabel laughs. "You're crowding Tía Gabriela."

"Ay, but we are her godmothers, Mira." Pepa protests. "We're looking out for her…"

"I know, Tía Pepa," Mirabel rolls her eyes good-naturedly. "But I'm the wedding coordinator here, and she's expected at the church…now."

I take a quick bite of food and comfort immediately washes over me. "She's right." I exhale slowly in between chews. "You guys don't have to worry. Everything is going to be fine. It'll be perfect. Thank you for arranging this, even if it was done in a very short time. I'm ready to marry the love of my life…after I finish this arepa."

Mirabel has an amused smile on her lips while she brushes off the crumbs on my skirt. "I still can't believe you made this dress, Tía. It's beautiful. I wish I could sew something like this"

"Thanks, Mirabel. I can teach you next time if you want. I'm just surprised this still fits, even ten years later."

At that, her voice drops to a whisper. "I'm sorry you and Tío had to wait this long before you'll get your happily ever after."

"Hey, Hey…" I squeeze the young girl's hands in mine. "Mirabel. You don't have to apologize. No time was wasted. We may have our own things to sort out still and it took long, yes, but your Tío and I are getting married at the right time…because you made it right. For that, I'm grateful. I was right about you from the very beginning. You have a gift. You're the one who changed the family for the better."

She beams at me before her gaze turns into one of horror when we hear thunder. "Oh, Pepa!" Lucía and Julieta groan in unison as Pepa begins to drizzle, bawling her eyes out. "You'll get Gabriela wet!"

"Good thing I came prepared…" Mirabel quickly opens an umbrella and shields me from the rain just as we hear knocking at the door. "Okay, we're all good now! Is that you, Señor Álvarez?"

"Yes. Can I come in?" Papá's voice answers from the other side. "We're running a little late."

"She's all ready, just watch yourself, señor. Tía Pepa's a little emotional right now." Mirabel giggles and Casita swings the door open. He walks in and the tears start forming in his eyes when it hits him.

My heart flutters like a thousand butterflies.

"Ay, Elitta…" He chokes. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks, Papá. You look dapper yourself."

"Of course, I'd want to look my best for my daughter's wedding…even if I still haven't forgiven your novio completely. But I can't complain…he brought you home." He sniffles. It takes him a while before he can find the right words. "I wish your Mamá I wish your Mamá is here to see you. She would have loved it."

"I'm sure she's here, watching us all," I murmur. "She always is."

"That's true. And she will cry. She had always thought highly of Bruno, and I can see why. He's brave where it matters despite it all. With family."

"I know. Don't worry, he'll have forever to make it up to everyone, especially me." I tease and place my hand on my father's waiting arm. He whimpers, making me fan myself to force my emotions back. Julieta would kill me if messed up my makeup. "Hey, no tears! No tears! I need you to walk me down the aisle, and if you're a blubbering mess, I would be too."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"You're a little bit antsy," Julián whispers. We're all at the church, waiting for my bride to arrive. I fidget while we watch my sobrinos and sobrinas running about, preparing the flowers, the music, helping the guests…

"What if I mess this up?" I answer back, the panic evident in my voice. "What if it doesn't go exactly as planned?"

"Hey, hermano, you'll do fine. Just breathe." Félix urges me. "Deep breath in, deep breath out."

"What if I suddenly get a vision in the middle of the ceremony…?"

I yelp when Agustín grips my shoulders. "You're not getting cold feet now, are you?"

"What? No!" I squeak. "I can't wait to marry Gabriela. It's…it's why we arranged this wedding in less than a week!"

"No small feat…" He nods. The three of them raise an eyebrow and quickly turn me around. Félix discreetly hands me a flask. I stare at them incredulously. "We're in a church." I deadpan. "I can't be drinking here…"

"Just a sip to calm you down," Julián nudges me. "We'll cover you."

"I don't know if you three are good influences or not."

"We're your godfathers, and we're telling you now. This will help."

I groan. "Fine." I unscrew the cap and take a quick shot. I wince at the burn. "What's in here?"

"Aguardiente. What else?" Félix shrugs as he takes the flask off my hands and pockets it just as Dolores walks over. She raises an eyebrow and leers at her Papá but says nothing about the forbidden shot of liquid courage. "Get Tío Bruno ready." She sternly says. "They're here."

We immediately straighten up. "You can do this, Bruno." Agustín encourages me just as the music begins to play. "The future awaits, doesn't it?"

A hush falls over the pews as the door slowly opens. The slight buzz kicks in and my palms sweat. This is it.

And then time stops.

I feel a blush creep up my cheeks and an indescribable feeling overtakes me.Gabriela floats down the aisle, an angel…no…a goddess, in white. Our eyes are locked with each other, watching, anticipating. She kisses her father on the cheek when they reach the end, and he hands her over to me.

Everything around us blurs. All I can see is her. I barely miss the knowing look Señor Mauriciogives me. It's not malicious, and I understand it as a warning. But he doesn't need to worry, because there is no way in heaven or hell would I let her go again. I would spend all of my life making it up to her, to earn my due.

I love her with every fiber of my being.

Padre Flores begins his sermon, but I'm not listening at this point. With our hands entwined I close my eyes, and sure enough, I get a vision. When I open my eyes again, I see Gabriela with her lips slowly curling up into a smile.

She's seen it too.

Our future couldn't get here fast enough.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Glossary of terms (in order of appearance in-text):
Aguardiente - a generic term for alcoholic beverages that contain 29% to 60% alcohol by volume. In Colombia, aguardiente is an anise-flavored liquor derived from sugarcane.
Padre - Father