Chapter 19
The entire morning had felt slow for C.C. – slow and nerve wracking. The previous night hadn't been any better, for it had been the first night in a long while that she had spent completely alone. As was tradition, they had spent the night before the wedding apart, and Niles had stayed at the Sheffield's with Maxwell and his father, while Marie, Fran and Amelia had stayed in their home.
Both Marie and Fran had come over to help both C.C. and Amelia get ready, and that's exactly what they'd done. They'd woken them up at 6:00 a.m. sharp, with a wonderful breakfast in bed; Marie had prepared C.C.'s favourite pancakes with orange juice and French toast, and after both mother and daughter had practically wolfed down their meal, the preparations had started.
But now, after spending almost all of their morning getting ready, everyone was perfectly dressed and ready to go, and no one was more eager to go to the church than Amelia. The girl was practically bouncing off the walls; she just couldn't wait for her Mommy's wedding – this was her first wedding ever, hence the excitement.
But seeing as they'd still had some time until going to the church, they had made themselves fairly comfortable in the living room. They had to wait for Stewart and B.B. to come pick them up in the limo. Actually, two limos – one was to carry Fran, B.B., Marie and Amelia, while the other would take Stewart and C.C. to the church.
"Where is he, Mommy?" Amelia asked, fiddling with the end of her dress and glancing over at the window, almost as if hoping to see the two limousines parked before their house.
"He'll be 'ere any moment from now, chérie," Marie intervened, knowing that C.C. was probably too nervous to speak or reason with her overexcited (if slightly impatient) child. "Zhere must be some traffic, zhat's all."
C.C. gave Marie a thankful smile before reaching out for the remote and handing it to her daughter. Some TV would be a nice distraction, and it would keep the child from badgering them with questions.
"What do you say if we watch some TV while we wait for grandpa?"
"I'll bring the snacks!" Fran piped up, and dashed to the kitchen, not giving the other three people in the room time to complain – not that they would have complained anyway. Comfort eating was a pleasure C.C. had grown to adore ever since she'd been pregnant with Amelia.
Soon enough, the four women were comfortably settled on the sofa, shoes off and munching on delicious treats as they waited. Amelia was comfortably lying against her grandmother's side, and C.C. had her feet on the coffee table.
That's how Stewart and B.B. found them when they finally got to their daughter's mansion.
"Hey!" Stewart called out as they both entered the living room. "We noticed the door was unlocked-"
"Hardly safe for a New York street," B.B. piped up.
"Not now, B.B.; in fact, not even today," Stewart said this all with a smile on his face as he took in the sight of his daughter, who had stood to greet him. "C.C., you look marvellous! Simply stunning!"
He could hardly hug her for fear of messing up her hair or her makeup, but C.C. didn't mind that so much this time. She beamed back at her parents, too excited and nervous about the day to really care about her mother's comment (she had left the door unlocked so that they could come in, in case everyone was upstairs and couldn't come to the door).
B.B. waved a hand, shaking her head, "Do forgive me, I was simply worrying, and I slipped back into old bad habits! You look divine, my dear."
"Thank you, Daddy, Mother," she couldn't help but cast her eyes towards her own dress. She only hoped that Niles would like it, too.
"And Mia, darling, you look just as gorgeous as your mother!" B.B. beamed at her granddaughter as Stewart loudly greeted Fran and Marie. "Are you ready?"
"We just have to put shoes on, and then we'll all be ready," C.C. grabbed for her heels, which everyone had agreed to line up neatly by the wall so they were out of the way and unable to get scraped or damaged. She was feeling a little more apprehensive now, but she wanted to get there as soon as possible. "Come on, Mia! Do you need help getting your shoes on?"
"No, Mommy! Mémère is helping me already," Mia said as Marie patiently slipped the adorable burgundy court shoes on her feet. "Thank you, Mémère!"
"It was my pleasure, chérie!" Marie exclaimed as both grandmother and granddaughter rose to their feet. "But now, we 'ave to go! Zhe groom is waiting and we don't want to make 'im wait!"
"Yeah! Daddy needs to see you now, Mommy!" Mia said as she ran to her mother. She knew she was leaving a bit earlier than her mother would, so she gave her a strong hug and held her close. You look so pretty!"
C.C. tried very hard not to cry – tears of happiness of course. She was sensitive enough as she was, and her daughter's sweet words were pulling at her heart. "So do you, Mia," C.C. gave her girl a kiss on the top of her head and ushered her back to Marie. "Now go, sweetie! You are the flower girl and you have to be at the church before I get there!"
"Okay!" Mia laughed and skipped back to Marie, who grasped at her hand. "See you soon, Mommy!"
Moments later, the mansion was empty except for her and her father. Stewart hadn't said much since he'd arrived, but now that they were alone he didn't hesitate to wrap his child in a tight hug.
"Are you ready?" he asked, holding her close. "Because I'm not."
C.C. knew he said it in jest, but at the same time she was his baby girl, in a sense, and she knew well just how hard letting go of one's little girl could be.
God... she was probably going to be just as emotional on Amelia's wedding day as her father was being right then.
"It's kind of been a long time coming, Daddy," she joked in return, hoping to hold off her own tears.
"I know," he hugged her a little tighter, making sure he didn't mess up what had taken a long time to get in place. He knew his daughter would want to look pristine when she arrived at the church.
He was sure he could bet his house and all the worldly possessions inside that Niles wouldn't see anything less than divine beauty when his little girl went to the altar, but it was up to what C.C. saw.
"But still," he continued, pulling away a little to look at her again. "I don't think a parent can ever truly be ready for the day their child gets married. I can be as ecstatic as any other father, and I am because you and Niles are clearly supposed to be together. But I can also be as sad as any other father, because time has gone by. You will always be my little girl, but you're grown up as well, and it's really starting to hit me."
"It's only starting to hit you now?" C.C. choked out, barely able to keep the tears back by this stage.
"Of course, I haven't seen you as that little six year-old whose only desire was a pony for some time," Stewart clarified with a laugh. "Even though you have a daughter and a spectacular career, there is nothing quite like this. It really hits you, just how far life has taken us all. I'm sure you and Niles will be the same with Amelia, one day."
C.C. couldn't help but shed a few extra tears as that thought crept into her already sensitive mind. She couldn't quite explain why, but the idea of Mia's wedding and Niles giving her away made her awfully emotional. She had been slightly more sensitive as of late, if she was being honest… she was probably going to get her period soon.
But still, even if it made her emotional, C.C. was looking forward to the day when she'd get to see her beautiful daughter marching down the aisle, her arm enlaced with Niles' as he walked her to the man of her life.
Probably the fact that Niles would someday do that was what was making her emotional in the first place – he had come into her little family, in a way, as a stranger, and now he was a vital part of it. Not only he was about to become her husband, but he was also Amelia's father. Both in paper and in his heart.
She didn't know what she'd done to deserve him, but she knew damn well just how lucky she was to have such a wonderful man by her side.
But Stewart had a bit of a point, too – the idea of giving Mia away, of letting her finally chase her dreams and begin her own life, was a bit overwhelming. She would always be her baby girl, but time was passing by, and Mia was growing, and there was nothing she could do to stop time from passing by.
Nevertheless she was grateful – grateful because Mia was growing into a beautiful, responsible and kind individual, and much of this was thanks to Niles.
"You're right," she let out a breath. "You're thinking very far into the future, but you're right."
"And you are trying not to think about how close it will actually seem when it gets here," Stewart joked. "Believe me, I used to do the same thing. But if you're anything like me in any other regard, then you'll be just as happy as I am today. You make me very proud, C.C.."
C.C. could feel a warmth rising in her cheeks, and she lowered her eyes to the floor.
"Thanks, Daddy," she said. "That really means a lot to me. I'm...really glad that we're all able to be together today, as a family."
"So am I, Kitten," Stewart rubbed her arm, and patted her back as though starting to direct her towards the door. "Speaking of which, we should start making tracks. We can't exactly spend the day as a family if they're all waiting for us somewhere else. And, even more importantly, you have a groom waiting for you among them."
He was right, and C.C.'s heart felt like it could explode with the excitement. Niles would no doubt already be there, ready and waiting.
Ready and waiting for them to start their lives together, as husband and wife.
They'd both been waiting for this, clearly for a lot longer than either of them had actually realised.
Maybe they had been meant to be since the very first moment they'd seen each other – granted, in the beginning it had been hate at first sight, there was no doubt about that! They had truly and really detested each other, but as the years had gone past and they'd grown older, the things that had one been annoying became endearing; they'd learnt how to deal with each other, and somehow that hate turned into an odd and very complicated friendship.
Complicated in the sense that, after hate had been taken out of the equation, the sexual tension that had always been there (but that had been hidden beneath a layer of hate) had surfaced, for better or for worse. Feelings had come a long while later, but their pride and their stubbornness had been two untameable obstacles that had kept them apart during C.C.'s years as a producer. Her breakdown had been the straw that had broken the camel's back, and it had meant goodbye for a few (anguishing) years.
They'd needed the time – they'd needed to change and revaluate their priorities, and although it had been a long and complicated ride, they wouldn't have it any other way. They were in love, and they could finally show it to each other; their stupid and stubborn pride would deter them from experiencing their love. Not anymore.
So, she confidently took her father's hand and gripped it tight. It was time to go.
It was time to become Mrs Brightmore.
"Ready to go?"
"As I'll ever be," C.C. replied confidently.
That was Stewart's cue to begin escorting C.C. to the awaiting limousine, which, once the bride and her father were settled, quickly sped off towards St Patrick's Cathedral. As the car neared the church, C.C. spotted the imposing doors in the distance, closed and waiting for her arrival.
It almost felt like a dream...
But it was real, and the magnitude of the event hit C.C. full force when she suddenly found herself standing before the doors, still on her father's arms. She barely remembered getting out of the limo or even the small walk from the car to the church – now, as the bridal march was played, she could only hear her galloping heart.
"Remember," Stewart whispered. "Keep your head held high. This is your day."
She looked up at him and smiled, just in time for the doors to open.
Needless to say, Niles couldn't take his eyes of his gorgeous – no, scratch that! Of his magnanimous bride. He couldn't imagine a more magnificent sight – his heart had gathered pace as Amelia had made her way down the aisle, looking absolutely wonderful in her bridesmaid's dress, but now that he was actually seeing his bride, it was beating at a speed so fast he wasn't entirely sure he could actually feel it.
It was just like the first time she'd told him she loved him – this feeling, only it was magnified. Because they had come further than he had once imagined they ever would, because she had allowed him to be the father of her child, because they were here today to announce to the world that they wanted to be together forever.
They were going to be together forever. They were going to have their family, and they were going to be happy.
They already were all those things, in truth, but this was just confirming to all that it wasn't going away.
And as C.C. made her way down the aisle towards him, her own beaming smile matched his. She took her place by his side, with Stewart next to her, and the priest stepped forward in order to begin the ceremony as the congregation took their seats.
They barely noticed anything that went on during the first part of the wedding mass – except, maybe, their daughter's actions. She was sat in between her two sets of grandparents, who were all, by this stage, completely overwhelmed. So was Amelia, for that matter, and C.C. couldn't help the smile on her features when she spotted the little velvet box she was holding – inside that box, C.C. knew, were their wedding bands.
They had chosen a beautiful red gold set from Tiffany & Co. and had gotten then engraved a few weeks ago.
C.C. couldn't wait to have it on her finger...
But even if they had registered a few things going on around them, they still were too caught up in each other to really pay attention to anything apart from their own little world. Of course that they responded to the priest, sang the different hymns and recited the different prayers when they had to, but in their minds only the other existed.
After what felt like an eternity, the priest indicated them to stand – the time for the blessing and posterior marriage rite had come. Their witnesses – Maxwell and Fran – gave a step forward and positioned behind the soon-to-be Mr and Mrs Brightmore.
"Dearly beloved," the priest began. "You have come together into the house of the Church so that in the presence of the Church's minister and the community your intention to enter into Marriage may be strengthened by the Lord with a sacred seal. And so, in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions."
The couple nodded, and the priest proceeded.
"Chastity-Claire and Niles Andrew, have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?"
"We have," the couple responded in unison.
"Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honour each other for as long as you both shall live?" the priest asked.
"We are."
"Are you prepared to accept more children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and His Church?"
The couple smiled tenderly. Yes, they already had a daughter who was the light of their lives, and in many ways responsible for them getting together, but if everything went according to plan, they'd soon give little Mia a sibling to complete their already perfect family.
"We are."
"Since it is your intention to enter the covenant of Holy Matrimony, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church."
Niles and the C.C. joined their right hands, which were trembling. It was good to know the feeling of exhilaration was shared.
"I, Niles Andrew, take you, Chastity-Claire, to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honour you all the days of my life."
"I, Chastity-Claire," C.C. began, her eyes welled up with tears. "Take you, Niles Andrew, to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honour you all the days of my life."
The bishop smiled at the couple and said, "May the Lord in his kindness strengthen the consent you have declared before the Church and graciously bring to fulfilment his blessings within you. What God has joined, let no one put asunder."
Immediately afterwards, a beaming Amelia came forward with their rings. Her eyes shone as she handed over the rings, which were gently placed before the couple, and the priest made the sign of the cross over them.
"May the Lord bless these rings, which you will give to each other as a sign of your love and fidelity."
Niles, his hands not really letting up in their shaking because of the adrenaline, lifted the ring that was to sit on C.C.'s finger. He took her hand in one of his own, steadied his breathing, and began the next part.
"Chastity-Claire, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I thee worship, and all my worldly goods on thee I do bestow."
He might not really have had much in the way of worldly goods, but she had given him things far more important than that – love, a home, a family...and he would return all of that with everything he had, inside himself and out, for as long as he lived, and even beyond that.
The ring he slipped onto her finger was a perfect symbol of the love he would feel for her forever, the never-ending circlet representing their eternity.
And then it was time for C.C. to do the same, though she was more than on the brink of tears as she took his hand and got the ring ready to slip onto his finger.
"Niles Andrew, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I thee worship, and all my worldly goods on thee I do bestow."
She had plenty by way of worldly goods, she knew that, but none of it could compare to what Niles gave her. He completed her family in the most wonderful of ways, and her life would be so much emptier for not having him in it. He was the father of her child, and would hopefully be the father of more one of these days, and made the house they shared into one complete home...
He was home, she realised, as she slid the ring into place at the point where his finger met his knuckle, and she stroked his hand, beaming, as she finished.
The priest lay his own hand over their joined ones, to say his final part.
"What God brings together, may no man put asunder. By the exchanging of vows and by the giving and receiving of rings, these two people have declared their love for one another, and may now be pronounced husband and wife together. You may kiss your bride."
Niles didn't need to be told twice. Using their joined hands, he pulled C.C. a little closer towards him, and their lips met in a soft, romantic kiss.
They didn't hear the loud applause from the congregation; not even a single pair of hands. They were still caught up in each other, and in the fact that they could now celebrate that they were married.
At long last, they were husband and wife.
Soon enough they felt a small being wrapping her two little arms around them. Niles pulled away for a moment and quickly hoisted Amelia up in his arms, and the little family held each other close. They had come such a long way to get to this point... they deserved their moment of triumph.
"I love you," Niles whispered to C.C. and he gave her yet another kiss in the lips. C.C. quickly reciprocated and Amelia giggled.
For her it was still amusing to see her parents showing their love to each other.
The Brightmore family then turned to the congregation and began making their way up the aisle, towards the awaiting limo outside. Their loved ones were outside, too, and rice was thrown at them to celebrate their nuptials.
They were beginning a new adventure – one that would take them to uncharted land; land that they were more than eager to explore together, as the family they always knew they were.
Once the limo was moving and on its way to their wedding party at the Waldorf-Astoria – B.B. wouldn't settle for anything less and she had taken care of planning it – Amelia clambered to her father's lap and she hugged him. She then leaned forward and hugged her mother.
"I love you Mommy and Daddy. And I am glad you chose us, Daddy."
Niles felt himself tearing up as his gaze travelled between his wife (his wife!) and their daughter, and he brought one arm around C.C.'s shoulders to pull her in for a hug, and using the other to bring Amelia to them both.
"I'm glad you both chose me, Little One," he hugged his family tightly, feeling almost completely overwhelmed with love and gratitude. He kissed C.C. on the cheek and Amelia's hair, and just held them, completely at peace. "And I love you both so much..."
"We both love you too," C.C. said, returning his kiss on her cheek with one of her own. "And we wouldn't trade you for anyone."
And he was so very thankful for that. From first thinking that C.C. had fallen in love with someone else and had a child, to thinking that maybe Amelia would prefer her birth father to him, he had been fearful that something would come from nowhere and take his family from him.
And he was so very grateful that he had been wrong. Nothing was taking this away from him. This was their life now, together forever. And they were about to go celebrate it. The Waldorf-Astoria was almost in sight, and with his family in his arms, he knew he'd enter the hotel as the proudest and happiest man who ever lived.