CHAPTER 124

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

There was not a dry eye in the country club's chapel as Johnny and Carmen were declared married, a new chapter in their relationship officially beginning. A chapter of love. A chapter of harmony. A chapter that would last until the day they died.

Carmen was an absolute vision in white. Her dress, her makeup, her hair… all of it made her look like an angel, sent directly from heaven to grace the lives of the people around her, the people who loved her and were sitting in the chapel that day. Even Johnny had cleaned himself up for the occasion. He was right: even after a whole night of drinking with his friends and loved ones, he showed no signs of it as he stood in the chapel that day. At least, it was being disguised by the large smile that covered every inch of his face. This was by far and away the happiest day of his life. Daniel was right. It really was more than just a slip of paper. It was like the two sides of his life - the side with Robby and the side with Carmen, Miguel and their family - had finally united. Knowing that he'd be spending the rest of his life with the woman of his dreams was an unforgettable, indescribable feeling, one that he never wanted to end.

And the night hadn't ended. Not yet anyways. Because after the wedding ceremony, it was then time for something that Johnny had been thoroughly looking forward to since the day the cheque had arrived in the mail: it was time for the wedding reception. It was time to party! Johnny, Carmen and all of the guests made their way out of the chapel, and after the wedding photos, they made their way to the country club ballroom for the reception.

The fact that they were able to have the wedding at the Encino country club was an absolute blessing. Daniel and Amanda had pulled quite a few strings with the club manager to enable Johnny and Carmen to have their wedding there, an early wedding present the Larussos called it. Venues were the toughest part of the wedding planning process, as everywhere had been booked even upwards of a year in advance. The fact that they had managed to get such a beautiful venue in only 6 months' notice was incredible. And the venue surely did not disappoint. The chapel was breathtakingly gorgeous, situated on the edge of a hill, overlooking the horizon and the ocean below. Not to be outdone was the ballroom, an elegant, vast space, made for dancing, celebrating and having a great time, which was exactly what they were about to do.

Everyone danced. Everyone celebrated the couple. It was an absolute blast, a party on steroids as it were. However, around halfway through the night, it was time for something a little bit different. Something that happened at every wedding since the beginning of time: best man and maid of honor speeches. There were three people giving speeches that night, and all of them were incredibly nervous, despite the fact that they were in the presence of only loved ones. There was just something about public speaking, no matter how many times they had rehearsed their speeches before.

Carmen's mother Rosa - who happened to be Carmen's maid of honor - was the first to give her speech. It was extremely emotional, mostly spoken in Spanish but with a few hints of English to officially welcome Johnny to the family. The next person up was the first of Johnny's two best men: Miguel Diaz.

As Miguel stood up, the rest of the ballroom instantly went silent, looking at him expectantly. Miguel was confused. He was someone who had fought in front of crowds a hell of a lot bigger than this. He was someone who had fought to the death before. Why was he so nervous about a speech that he had practiced a million times?

"Uh… good evening everybody." Miguel began. "I hope you're all having a great evening. I know I definitely am. Seeing my mom marrying my sensei… wow. I never would have imagined this happening when I first found out about the two of you."

That was certainly true. Miguel's first discovery of the couple had been finding Johnny's headband on Carmen's nightstand, which had been used for God knows what the night before.

"I figured there wasn't much between you. I knew both of you well individually, and I honestly thought that the other person was the exact opposite to what you would've wanted in a partner." Miguel stated. "But I guess… that's what makes you so great together, right? It must be, because I've known you both for quite a long time and I can honestly say that I've never seen either of you a fraction as happy as you were when you got together."

Miguel then turned his attention to his mom.

"Mom… I really don't know what else I can say to you. It's been you, me and yaya, just the three of us, my entire life. I watched as you sacrificed so much for us, raise me while working as a single parent, and so you deserve every ounce of happiness, every single good thing that comes your way. I love you, mom."

He then turned to Johnny.

"Sensei… I'm really honored that you asked me to be one of your best men today. It's a real honor and privilege that I get to be involved in today, as it's the beginning of the colossal thank you that I owe you for everything you've done for me. When I was at my lowest, when I thought that my life was over, you were there for me. You didn't have to be. You had no obligation to help your neighbor. And yet time and time again, you were there for me in a way that nobody else was able to be. You taught me strength, taught me confidence, taught me how to be a man. I don't know where I'd be, or who I'd be if it wasn't for you. You showed me what it means to chase a dream, no matter how many times life knocks you down. I never would've handled not getting into college so well if it wasn't for seeing the way you managed to do what you love without following a traditional path. You're a role model. You might officially be a step-dad to me as of today, but in my eyes, you've been fulfilling that role long before any certificate could possibly say so. I love you, sensei. To Carmen Diaz and Johnny Lawrence."

Tumultuous applause greeted Miguel as he raised a glass and then sat down at the end of his toast. It was a beautiful speech, one deeply personal. The boy was able to use his close connections with both Johnny and Carmen to create a speech that resonated with not only them, but everyone else in the room.

However, it was time for the next person to give their speech. Robby stood up, the hand holding his glass trembling ever so slightly as he began to speak.

"Hey everybody." Robby started. "Um… I'm Robby. I'm Johnny's son, the other best man."

Everyone watched intently as Robby took a deep breath and continued to speak.

"Like Miguel said at the beginning of his speech, it was a real honor to be asked to do this. But… if I'm being honest, it was also a bit of a shock." Robby admitted. "When I think of a best man, I think of someone with a long relationship with the groom. I think about someone able to tell anecdotes and stories of their time knowing the groom. I don't have any of that."

That much was true. While Miguel was able to talk about everything that Johnny had done for him over the years, Robby didn't exactly have the same luxury.

"I'm sure a lot of people in this room know that things between my dad and I have never been easy. Most of the people in this room have known my father longer than I have. Hell, even my girlfriend knew him before I did. I wish I had stories from the past that I could bring up, but I can't, because they just don't exist."

The slightly more solemn beginning to Robby's speech caused a flash of guilt to run through Johnny. He intently listened to Robby speak, expressing emotion just like Miguel had, but illustrating an entirely different part of Johnny's life. A chapter that he'd rather forget but knew that he couldn't.

"But…" Robby continued. "There is a point to saying all of this. There is a lesson that, even during the lowest moments we've had, you've shown me first-hand. And that's that life might suck sometimes. Not everything is destined to go the way you planned, the way you want it. You might screw up. Make mistakes. Lose. But it's not about how you fall. It's about how you pick yourself up again."

That was indeed something that Johnny exemplified. Something that he not only taught, but was a living, breathing example of.

"I've taken losses. Failed at things. And after a while, it became pretty hard to keep going. I remember vividly a couple of months ago, saying these exact words to you: 'I'm so tired of working my ass off every day, only to fall short and lose every single time. What's the point anymore?' You told me to just keep working. That my luck would turn around eventually. And to be honest, initially I didn't believe you. But standing here, watching you get married, watching you being an amazing father to Laura, with your two sons as best men… I believe you now. Watching the way you've picked yourselves up after making so many mistakes, taking so many losses… you're a real inspiration, dad. Even the way your and my relationship has evolved: the way that you're able to not let whatever might've happened in the past affect how things go in the present… it's something I've definitely learned a hell of a lot from."

Robby then turned his attention to Carmen.

"Mrs. Diaz… I know this seems to be a common theme during these speeches, but all I can say to you is thank you." Robby told her. "My whole childhood and most of my life, I never really knew the meaning of the word family. I never really understood the point of it. I was able to raise myself just fine, so why care about being part of a family? But then in the past year, with the way you opened your home to me, the way you've accepted me into your family despite everything that happened between me and your son… you were so kind. So caring. So loving. You made me realize just how incredible being part of a family is. You showed me what it's like to have somewhere to call home, what it's like to have people there in your corner no matter what. It's something I never got to feel before until I became a member of your family, and it's something that I might never have felt in my life if you hadn't been so incredibly kind to take me in. I wish you the very best with my dad. To Carmen Diaz and Johnny Lawrence."