p style="text-align: center;" data-p-id="fa1ccc235d73cddb476ccf858bf0f747"em-/embr /emKat's POV /embr /em-/em/p
p data-p-id="d5f80f8686bde57c97f775018ae81c06"Shawn's happiness was always important to me. When he wasn't happy, nobody was happy. So when he was, I was overjoyed./p
p data-p-id="6f6549cfc4d6d315d9effe6470c487e6"His surgery for hid knee all went fine, and despite missing out on wrestling at Wrestlemania, he was in good spirits. Knowing I would be accompanying him to the ring for something other than an interview made me excited. Mostly because he was, but still. I loved the wrestling business./p
p data-p-id="689249c32c76b71aa0b4cba22ed56b13"Normally I was content to just hang around with Shawn and Paul until we needed to get ready, but I was starving. They, of course, weren't hungry, and neither did they feel like getting off their lazy asses./p
p data-p-id="461b81d54130ade3351a729f70786cb6"So I walked to catering by myself, hoping Mark would be around so I would have someone to talk to. I scanned the room as I got my food. I didn't see Mark, but I did see Steph. She was excitedly waving me over./p
p data-p-id="44902cd813d2ced3f12220b4b300d77d""You'll never guess," she said as I sat down across from her./p
p data-p-id="184826be0ea6837abb5851807f7a9e2b""What?"/p
p data-p-id="c414e055ae3edd28619168702f453ee6""Guess!" she insisted. The excitement on her face was contagious./p
p data-p-id="d11daa845b99e6b672a98ecd07696a11""You finally bought your own clothes instead of stealing mine?" I joked./p
p data-p-id="db3d462ba31e0a8108da7136cfe782b7"She gave me a look. "Ha, ha. I don't even do that. I haven't even done that since, like, sophomore year. It was your fault anyway, you said I could borrow them."/p
p data-p-id="ef608582ba21cf14b10f4db4aab951d3"I tried not to laugh as I pointed towards her shirt. "That's mine. I remember buying it."/p
p data-p-id="aa59b67e6b411d7bbd966d4e4205008a"Steph started to backtrack. "Okay, well your clothes are always cuter than mine. You have such a good sense of style!" She pouted. "This isn't what you were supposed to guess, anyway."/p
p data-p-id="3ed98c2c3316806309e95f6e57b1ec8b"I pretended to sigh. "Fine, Steph," I acted like a bored older sister. Really I was very interested in what she had to say. "What is it?"/p
p data-p-id="66c85412f2f3b47bdf71d8b9e825c122"Her smile returned. "Okay," she said, "I've picked out where you and Shawn can have your wedding."/p
p data-p-id="72505f9c31bbfa529f5c2a195e7cf668""Oh my gosh, Steph, we haven't even decided when it will be!"/p
p data-p-id="937786d9b6f40199af2d7dcbcf06a481""Shh, shh, I know," her smile didn't leave. "But wedding planning is really complicated and a lot of work. You have to start planning now."/p
p data-p-id="1a67fbc1278c7916b15a5a10f57d66d8"I rolled my eyes as I took another bite. "We don't want a real big wedding."/p
p data-p-id="be2ed939b49cb4447168aee4f0248b29"Steph's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding? You have to! You always wanted a princess wedding. You wanted to get married in a castle, and arrive in a horse and carriage."/p
p data-p-id="941910bc9007e4619df84fa5461b1033""Shh!" I exclaimed. "We were little girls then. Shawn doesn't like the whole big wedding scene. Besides, it's not really us. Can you really picture Shawn and I getting married in a castle?" I asked. I couldn't. The thought alone was actually funny to me. Imagining Shawn, the half rock-and-roll, half cowboy that he was, riding in a horse and carriage. It was too good of an image./p
p data-p-id="133774d18c0f1f8d3254cde4fa31b379""emYes/em!" Steph half-shouted. "You two are going to get married in castle, live happily ever after, and have two kids named Ashley and Aurora." I actually couldn't tell how much of that was teasing and how much she really wanted us to be happy./p
p data-p-id="c509dcba5dc59d518ac8f4161567e33d""Sounds like what you want between you and Paul," I replied./p
p data-p-id="aca6b335909d344bf955e9f7b2d6f380"She looked so betrayed, looking away and trying not to blush. She didn't blush as bad as I did, but I could always tell when she was embarassed. "I do not," she muttered./p
p data-p-id="45abaedd9e02841d1e0105cdee9ca11a"I grinned. "Yes you do!" Steph had a huge crush on Paul. I couldn't figure out why she kept denying it, when it was so obvious. Shawn and I talked about setting them up all the time./p
p data-p-id="648ece8581eaf91e362a9daff4c522b4""Shut up and eat your salad," she said. I couldn't help but giggle at her sudden change in mood./p
p data-p-id="70daba4e996f084a9cf3700b46a044e7"I did eat my salad, but I wasn't about to shut up. "If we were still in school, you'd probably have a notebook with 'Paul and Steph' doodled all over it," I teased. I mock gasped. "Steph and Paul. Staul!"/p
p data-p-id="8da5b5c47de4d7aa71a7b64b2304dcf1"She clamped her hands over her ears, trying to block me out. "Stop. Stop. Stop. You are the worst."/p
p data-p-id="89a1e9e0f93517a5df8c5fe5bdf9e259""Now do you get why I hate you teasing me about Shawn?" I asked./p
p data-p-id="4df7c1cdf0663a6852b434ca39135d40""You and Shawn are actually engaged! Paul and I... aren't," she said lowly, trying not to draw attention towards us. She didn't want anyone hearing about her little crush./p
p data-p-id="7820cd61f5233a34c527e27b20a54526"Not like she had anything to worry about. If anyone was going to tell Paul, it was going to be me or Shawn. I mean, come on. They were perfect for eachother!/p
p data-p-id="b0f67ba7e904b280a487c0602ede31da""Not emyet/em," I sing-songed. "And I'm not the worst. I am the best sister you have. I'm your favorite sister."/p
p data-p-id="6778ab09fdd347fd3d3b3843d1bd3b88"Steph rolled her eyes, stealing a tomato from my plate. "You're my only sister."/p
p data-p-id="76408fcf57b4b71a345600ee629fbce1""Fine. I'm your favorite sibling, though," I replied, grinning./p
p data-p-id="b1250d4071b6f130cbe2fc65ab1e2db3""Maybe," she commented, smiling back. "Shane is a pretty good brother."/p
p data-p-id="43c0314549bbc6155d67ddfca9f8595b""I am so better than Shane!" I acted shocked. "We are besties for the restie, Steph. We finish eachother's..."/p
p data-p-id="bd3cfe7b16d19e631fc9694f1a818008""Food," she answered. "Do you want the rest of that?"/p
p data-p-id="1b0aef89c85077355247def217ae632b"I chuckled and slid it over to her. "Take it," I told her. She was all too happy to do so. We had been swooping in on eachother's food since we were kids./p
p data-p-id="98b37d42f362914c9809d80dab4c3399"She started talking about my wedding again, to turn the topic away from herself. She got so embarassed when we were talking about Paul; it was cute. It reminded me of how I was before I met Shawn, when I was just crushing on him from afar./p
p data-p-id="20c3f1d57d0efc4aa87b8721371fe023""Oh my gosh, we have to start looking at dresses. I think you would look good in a mermaid dress," Steph chatted away./p
p data-p-id="206137509357ea5c8aec7c5eb5342bfd""I don't know, I kinda like the big poofy ones," I replied./p
p data-p-id="8eab6a4e7a28a01273488aa76213bd68""What do you need a big poofy dress for?" I looked up to see my father. He had crept up on us while we were locked in conversation about flowers (Roses were my favorite, Steph liked tulips)./p
p data-p-id="6c385795d81b6b711674e724b4be295e""Hey, Dad," I greeted as he pulled up a chair. It had been a while since I'd seen the three of us at one table./p
p data-p-id="5cf4acb0253d025fa9e55dbbf0b8a0b6"I wasn't as mad at Dad anymore. After all, I had about a month or two of staring at the ceiling to mellow out./p
p data-p-id="ebb6a681ec2bd809208e9bf0f887a814"Steph said hello as well, and I tried to strike up conversation, but he was caught on what he had overheard./p
p data-p-id="c26716ace118539886effd4961d2204d"I was sure he had seen my ring, but I had not yet had the chance to break the news to him./p
p data-p-id="a7765a75a768a21d4962a20e36e65108""Um..." I didn't know where to start. I ended up just putting my hand out in his direction, showing off the beautiful ring. "I'm getting married."/p
p data-p-id="7c77ec22bc0b3163c3f883feeace735c"A whole roller-coaster of emotions showed on his face. One second I thought he might flip the table, the next I was afraid he might cry. The long silence was agony while I waited for him to react./p
p data-p-id="55a329bb7ca21a4e9cd70b4a8fc4e4ed"Steph gave me a look that was scared for me and tried to make an exit, but I wouldn't let her. I shot her a glare until she gave in to staying put. There was no way she was going to abandon me now./p
p data-p-id="4d5432a82da2be62cb0b53e5db268304"In the end, Dad just held his arms open. I hesitated for a moment, before realizing it really was an invitation for a hug. I gave him one./p
p data-p-id="ef1d868956ae9c8f7ca96ad0b5499f92"I felt like he was squeezing the life out of me. For a second I couldn't breathe./p
p data-p-id="23236577555cb5039e283215f8412bc6"Then I was the one about to cry when I heard him whisper, "I'm proud of you, Katherine."/p
p data-p-id="a0f40d25c847fbc4d1b4b711a9d20085"I knew he didn't just mean me being engaged. He was proud of how far I'd come, who I had become. And that was all I ever asked for./p
p data-p-id="8437b3b586bbcb6f88bf418bcd50251b"That was all I ever wanted./p
p data-p-id="d5f80f8686bde57c97f775018ae81c06"Shawn's happiness was always important to me. When he wasn't happy, nobody was happy. So when he was, I was overjoyed./p
p data-p-id="6f6549cfc4d6d315d9effe6470c487e6"His surgery for hid knee all went fine, and despite missing out on wrestling at Wrestlemania, he was in good spirits. Knowing I would be accompanying him to the ring for something other than an interview made me excited. Mostly because he was, but still. I loved the wrestling business./p
p data-p-id="689249c32c76b71aa0b4cba22ed56b13"Normally I was content to just hang around with Shawn and Paul until we needed to get ready, but I was starving. They, of course, weren't hungry, and neither did they feel like getting off their lazy asses./p
p data-p-id="461b81d54130ade3351a729f70786cb6"So I walked to catering by myself, hoping Mark would be around so I would have someone to talk to. I scanned the room as I got my food. I didn't see Mark, but I did see Steph. She was excitedly waving me over./p
p data-p-id="44902cd813d2ced3f12220b4b300d77d""You'll never guess," she said as I sat down across from her./p
p data-p-id="184826be0ea6837abb5851807f7a9e2b""What?"/p
p data-p-id="c414e055ae3edd28619168702f453ee6""Guess!" she insisted. The excitement on her face was contagious./p
p data-p-id="d11daa845b99e6b672a98ecd07696a11""You finally bought your own clothes instead of stealing mine?" I joked./p
p data-p-id="db3d462ba31e0a8108da7136cfe782b7"She gave me a look. "Ha, ha. I don't even do that. I haven't even done that since, like, sophomore year. It was your fault anyway, you said I could borrow them."/p
p data-p-id="ef608582ba21cf14b10f4db4aab951d3"I tried not to laugh as I pointed towards her shirt. "That's mine. I remember buying it."/p
p data-p-id="aa59b67e6b411d7bbd966d4e4205008a"Steph started to backtrack. "Okay, well your clothes are always cuter than mine. You have such a good sense of style!" She pouted. "This isn't what you were supposed to guess, anyway."/p
p data-p-id="3ed98c2c3316806309e95f6e57b1ec8b"I pretended to sigh. "Fine, Steph," I acted like a bored older sister. Really I was very interested in what she had to say. "What is it?"/p
p data-p-id="66c85412f2f3b47bdf71d8b9e825c122"Her smile returned. "Okay," she said, "I've picked out where you and Shawn can have your wedding."/p
p data-p-id="72505f9c31bbfa529f5c2a195e7cf668""Oh my gosh, Steph, we haven't even decided when it will be!"/p
p data-p-id="937786d9b6f40199af2d7dcbcf06a481""Shh, shh, I know," her smile didn't leave. "But wedding planning is really complicated and a lot of work. You have to start planning now."/p
p data-p-id="1a67fbc1278c7916b15a5a10f57d66d8"I rolled my eyes as I took another bite. "We don't want a real big wedding."/p
p data-p-id="be2ed939b49cb4447168aee4f0248b29"Steph's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding? You have to! You always wanted a princess wedding. You wanted to get married in a castle, and arrive in a horse and carriage."/p
p data-p-id="941910bc9007e4619df84fa5461b1033""Shh!" I exclaimed. "We were little girls then. Shawn doesn't like the whole big wedding scene. Besides, it's not really us. Can you really picture Shawn and I getting married in a castle?" I asked. I couldn't. The thought alone was actually funny to me. Imagining Shawn, the half rock-and-roll, half cowboy that he was, riding in a horse and carriage. It was too good of an image./p
p data-p-id="133774d18c0f1f8d3254cde4fa31b379""emYes/em!" Steph half-shouted. "You two are going to get married in castle, live happily ever after, and have two kids named Ashley and Aurora." I actually couldn't tell how much of that was teasing and how much she really wanted us to be happy./p
p data-p-id="c509dcba5dc59d518ac8f4161567e33d""Sounds like what you want between you and Paul," I replied./p
p data-p-id="aca6b335909d344bf955e9f7b2d6f380"She looked so betrayed, looking away and trying not to blush. She didn't blush as bad as I did, but I could always tell when she was embarassed. "I do not," she muttered./p
p data-p-id="45abaedd9e02841d1e0105cdee9ca11a"I grinned. "Yes you do!" Steph had a huge crush on Paul. I couldn't figure out why she kept denying it, when it was so obvious. Shawn and I talked about setting them up all the time./p
p data-p-id="648ece8581eaf91e362a9daff4c522b4""Shut up and eat your salad," she said. I couldn't help but giggle at her sudden change in mood./p
p data-p-id="70daba4e996f084a9cf3700b46a044e7"I did eat my salad, but I wasn't about to shut up. "If we were still in school, you'd probably have a notebook with 'Paul and Steph' doodled all over it," I teased. I mock gasped. "Steph and Paul. Staul!"/p
p data-p-id="8da5b5c47de4d7aa71a7b64b2304dcf1"She clamped her hands over her ears, trying to block me out. "Stop. Stop. Stop. You are the worst."/p
p data-p-id="89a1e9e0f93517a5df8c5fe5bdf9e259""Now do you get why I hate you teasing me about Shawn?" I asked./p
p data-p-id="4df7c1cdf0663a6852b434ca39135d40""You and Shawn are actually engaged! Paul and I... aren't," she said lowly, trying not to draw attention towards us. She didn't want anyone hearing about her little crush./p
p data-p-id="7820cd61f5233a34c527e27b20a54526"Not like she had anything to worry about. If anyone was going to tell Paul, it was going to be me or Shawn. I mean, come on. They were perfect for eachother!/p
p data-p-id="b0f67ba7e904b280a487c0602ede31da""Not emyet/em," I sing-songed. "And I'm not the worst. I am the best sister you have. I'm your favorite sister."/p
p data-p-id="6778ab09fdd347fd3d3b3843d1bd3b88"Steph rolled her eyes, stealing a tomato from my plate. "You're my only sister."/p
p data-p-id="76408fcf57b4b71a345600ee629fbce1""Fine. I'm your favorite sibling, though," I replied, grinning./p
p data-p-id="b1250d4071b6f130cbe2fc65ab1e2db3""Maybe," she commented, smiling back. "Shane is a pretty good brother."/p
p data-p-id="43c0314549bbc6155d67ddfca9f8595b""I am so better than Shane!" I acted shocked. "We are besties for the restie, Steph. We finish eachother's..."/p
p data-p-id="bd3cfe7b16d19e631fc9694f1a818008""Food," she answered. "Do you want the rest of that?"/p
p data-p-id="1b0aef89c85077355247def217ae632b"I chuckled and slid it over to her. "Take it," I told her. She was all too happy to do so. We had been swooping in on eachother's food since we were kids./p
p data-p-id="98b37d42f362914c9809d80dab4c3399"She started talking about my wedding again, to turn the topic away from herself. She got so embarassed when we were talking about Paul; it was cute. It reminded me of how I was before I met Shawn, when I was just crushing on him from afar./p
p data-p-id="20c3f1d57d0efc4aa87b8721371fe023""Oh my gosh, we have to start looking at dresses. I think you would look good in a mermaid dress," Steph chatted away./p
p data-p-id="206137509357ea5c8aec7c5eb5342bfd""I don't know, I kinda like the big poofy ones," I replied./p
p data-p-id="8eab6a4e7a28a01273488aa76213bd68""What do you need a big poofy dress for?" I looked up to see my father. He had crept up on us while we were locked in conversation about flowers (Roses were my favorite, Steph liked tulips)./p
p data-p-id="6c385795d81b6b711674e724b4be295e""Hey, Dad," I greeted as he pulled up a chair. It had been a while since I'd seen the three of us at one table./p
p data-p-id="5cf4acb0253d025fa9e55dbbf0b8a0b6"I wasn't as mad at Dad anymore. After all, I had about a month or two of staring at the ceiling to mellow out./p
p data-p-id="ebb6a681ec2bd809208e9bf0f887a814"Steph said hello as well, and I tried to strike up conversation, but he was caught on what he had overheard./p
p data-p-id="c26716ace118539886effd4961d2204d"I was sure he had seen my ring, but I had not yet had the chance to break the news to him./p
p data-p-id="a7765a75a768a21d4962a20e36e65108""Um..." I didn't know where to start. I ended up just putting my hand out in his direction, showing off the beautiful ring. "I'm getting married."/p
p data-p-id="7c77ec22bc0b3163c3f883feeace735c"A whole roller-coaster of emotions showed on his face. One second I thought he might flip the table, the next I was afraid he might cry. The long silence was agony while I waited for him to react./p
p data-p-id="55a329bb7ca21a4e9cd70b4a8fc4e4ed"Steph gave me a look that was scared for me and tried to make an exit, but I wouldn't let her. I shot her a glare until she gave in to staying put. There was no way she was going to abandon me now./p
p data-p-id="4d5432a82da2be62cb0b53e5db268304"In the end, Dad just held his arms open. I hesitated for a moment, before realizing it really was an invitation for a hug. I gave him one./p
p data-p-id="ef1d868956ae9c8f7ca96ad0b5499f92"I felt like he was squeezing the life out of me. For a second I couldn't breathe./p
p data-p-id="23236577555cb5039e283215f8412bc6"Then I was the one about to cry when I heard him whisper, "I'm proud of you, Katherine."/p
p data-p-id="a0f40d25c847fbc4d1b4b711a9d20085"I knew he didn't just mean me being engaged. He was proud of how far I'd come, who I had become. And that was all I ever asked for./p
p data-p-id="8437b3b586bbcb6f88bf418bcd50251b"That was all I ever wanted./p