Thank you for beta'ing, MsSchneeheide!

For the twenty-one-and-up only party, Blanca had a choice between her long black skirt red blouse combo and her knee-length dark green dress and she's picked the latter. She pairs it with a maroon peacoat, fashionable black scarf, and matching stockings and tall boots. She wears her hair down and curly and has eye makeup and dark red lipstick on.

Later at the bar, the women start chatting while guzzling down wine. Blanca doesn't really have any friends exactly her own age besides Debbie, but she's always been okay being one of the youngest out of her core girl group. Technically, though, she isn't the baby at this gathering-there's Shani, who's twenty-two. An hour goes by and the ladies are doing tequila and pumpkin pie shots and dancing like no one's watching. If they'd been practically drunk before, they're beyond that now. Blanca is almost wasted, cheering and taking pictures and videos of herself and her friends having fun and acting crazy. She doesn't care how they'll turn out tomorrow. She's just so excited to marry Diablo and hang out with her favorite women. They're pumping their fists in the air and grinding against each other while giggling. It's a dance club, so they don't look weird doing this. They're lucky that Nicky has ordered them taxis for when the night is over.

Time passes-Blanca isn't sure how much-but everyone is now tired of dancing. They're more relaxed, downing their whiskey sodas, beer, and margaritas, laughing way too loud and leaning, almost falling, into each other. Karla helps her sit down as her guests exchange mortifying stories. Then the time comes to discuss how they met their significant others. That part is always fun. The order goes from oldest to youngest.

Then, everyone takes a turn saying something random to make themselves crack up hysterically.

"Sometimes, older people wanna go back to being kids and younger children can't wait to grow up!"

"We're certainly acting like college students tonight, Blanca," Red points out with a chuckle. She tosses her keys to Gloria, who throws them back.

"Oh my god, holy shit! Look at that man, he reminds me of Leon," Aleida sluggishly gestures to a black guy who resembles her boyfriend.

"That homeboy?" Margarita asks, tilting her head toward where Aleida is pointing with her perfectly manicured red nail glistening under the bright blue light. "For real, for serious?"

"Hollaaaaa!" Gloria yells and then claps her hand over her mouth, giggling.

"Got lotsa bling, homie, don't he?" Adriana asks rhetorically. "Kinda like Weevil…I'm thinkin' about hitting him up for his number, by the way. I've probably always been just Diablo's hermanita to him, ¡pero no más!"

"A sister needs someone like that fine-ass fella over there," Joy murmurs. "Mad respect, yo!"

"Don't bother, he's a real rude dude with a bad attitude!" Karla mutters.

"How do you know?" Franny asks disappointedly.

"He commented that ladies shouldn't be getting so drunk!"

"Oh, well…there's other fish in the sea," Diane states.

"That's right, homegirl!" Theresa hollers and high-fives her.

The person they're talking about bolts up from his chair, so they get up and move around the table so they're hidden from view.

"We're all adults here, let's act like it!" Claudette reprimands them.

"Oh, shut up, abuela," Aleida quips and then everyone howls with laughter. "Catch you on the flip side, mama!"

Claudette just glares at her and shakes her head.

"I'm so glad we taught our men the Step Up lift for the wedding tomorrow!" Tiffany points out.

Lorna squeals. "Same here!"

There's affirmative chatter.

"Even Three-D, who's a thug, was happy to learn from Janae," Layla informs them.

"Ouija was gonna train this school board member Josh since she thought he was hot and teased him that he thinks he knows Italian…until she fell in love with RJ's younger friend Trance…Daya told Aleida, who informed me, that Ouija and Trance were making out," Margarita chimes in.

"Cool!" everyone says.

"So…lemme tell y'all about my man! Charles is from Jefferson, New York. He reads Bassmaster magazine…Eliqua Maxwell tried to bring in a vapor one time, but Charles told her to put it in her car since it's not allowed. He likes the song 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' and he feels bad Rosa would've died in prison had she not been sent to the hospital for the remainder of her sentence. Some idiot called him Steve Harvey…he's just told me so many stories," Diane says of her husband. The ladies listen in interest.

"Cool!" everyone replies.

"So, we've already toasted Blanca a dozen times," Nicky points out. "I'd also like to announce something else awesome…I'm one and a half years sober! It's nice not to feel like shit and barf all the time."

"She doesn't even have weed brownies with Michelle, Alex, and I, I'm so proud of her," Shani chimes in, kissing Nicky's cheek, bringing a warm smile to the blonde's face.

"It's true!" Red holds up a glass of her almost-finished vodka soda. "To Nicky, for her accomplishments."

"Whoohoo!" Alex clinks her bottle of beer with Red's drink and then the rest of them follow with their own alcoholic beverages or waters.

"Seriously, I think congratulations are in order!" Michelle grins.

"I always knew you could do it, my girl," Red continues.

"I did, too! Also, for the thirteenth time, ¡felicidades a Blanca!" Karla yells over the loud music and they toast the bride-to-be again.

The next morning, Karla, Gloria, and Maritza pamper Blanca. After doing her makeup, they help her into her long white wedding gown.

It features delicate lace cap sleeves, a plunging V with a peekaboo sweetheart neckline. The body is adorned with lace and beads, and lace appliques grace the full skirt. When she gazes at her reflection in the mirror, she smiles. She never thought she'd get this far, yet here she is, marrying the love of her life and experiencing such a strong sense of happiness and relief.

She feels so pretty and just like a princess, and it's not like she wasn't complete with the girls as her family, she's just overwhelmed with joy that she's safe and her husband-to-be is someone who truly treats her and her girls well. Her mother would've loved this moment; that's what her abuela was blubbering about earlier. She brushes at the delicate lace at her waist and can't wait to see Diablo's reaction to her appearance.

"Oh my darling, you are a beauty queen!" her best friend gushes and fluffs out her midnight curls. They hug each other tightly. "¡Solo sé que tu mamá está viendo todo esto desde el cielo y es muy feliz por ti!"

I just know your mom is watching all of this from Heaven and is very happy for you!

"¡Gracias, Karla!"

"Your bracelet is old. Your dress is new. Your necklace is borrowed, and your nail polish is blue," Gloria notices.

"¡Gracias por prestarme tu collar, Glo!" She swipes on eyeliner and coats her lips with red, yet again, even if everything has already been applied.

for letting me borrow your necklace

"Anytime, chica!"

"Wow, Mami, you look real elegant and you're glowing!" Maritza compliments her.

"Yaaay, Mami pretty!" Raiza chimes in.

"Thank you, mis niñas," Blanca murmurs and squeezes her daughters close.

"Ay, your royal highness, it's time for you to go first since Blanca picked you-"

Theresa swats her shoulder. "¡Deja de tener celos, Aleida, que no hay tiempo para dramas!"

Stop being jealous, Aleida, there's no time for drama!

"At least we're in the wedding party," Margarita adds.

Aleida waves dismissively. "Good point, sé que han sido mejores amigas desde la secundaria."

I know you've been best friends since middle school.

Karla, being Blanca's maid of honor and carrying a bouquet of black and purple flowers, glides down the aisle first, and then Maritza, Flaca, Gloria, Aleida, Margarita and Theresa follow her, holding the same thing. Raiza scatters red rose petals all around the path as she strolls after the women. They're dressed in dark purple and black. Ramón is the best man and the other groomsmen are Fahri, Leon, RJ, and Yuri. The couples link arms as they walk gracefully. Raiza skips back to the audience and sits next to Flaca, who's holding baby Juliana.

Blanca's cousin Antoni takes her to meet Diablo. She makes her way down the aisle while smiling and Diablo appears to be just as excited. Her abuela Graciela is crying tears of joy and everyone in the room is staring at her with admiration.

"Oh, mi nieta is getting married...she looks so much like her mother in that dress…"

Antoni joins Graciela, Lorena, and his parents in the front row; they're next to Diablo's mom, sister, and son.

Like Karla and Ramón's ceremony had been, Blanca and Diablo's is outside, too. It's the second Saturday of October, but thankfully, it's a beautiful sunny day, comfortable weather, and in the low seventies-perfect for a wedding. The backyard is decorated lavishly with multicolored balloons and ribbons with flowers tied around them, stretched between trees. A single, solid white fabric garland is draped over a tree branch on either end, bowed in the center a bit and with the ends draping to the ground, creating a white frame for the area. The cloth is twisted with pink and white flowers on a green vine, adding a dash of color to the green, foresty background, like an arch for the couple to stand under as they get married. The long aisle is white. Pendant floral hangings and wooden white angular folding chairs are set up on the lawn for every guest who is attending.

The world falls away, drained of all color but him, standing in the sunlight. He beams broadly and gazes over at her in a warm way that makes her melt inside. Her hulk of a man is so handsome in his tux and his hair slicked back into a ponytail. He's shaven this morning, too.

Diablo swallows. Hard. "Ay dios mío, for the love of Satan, you're an angel. I'm marrying…that gown…" He blinks and lifts Blanca's veil ever so slowly. "Never has a wedding dress looked so ethereal…I know I don't like Dios, but I'd follow you to Heaven, since I know you'll make it there, baby."

"Oh, I don't think so. I'd sit by your side in Hell." Blanca smiles as they take one another's hands, interlinking their fingers, and kiss each other's knuckles. "Gracias, well, you look guapo in that suit, mi amor."

"Gracias, mi hermosa paloma."

"I love you in anything," she says with a flirtatious tone in her voice.

Diablo winks at her suggestively. "Yo también te amo en cualquier cosa."

I love you in anything, too.

Sister Jane, their officiant, clears her throat. "Are you lovebirds ready to begin?"

"Sí, lo siento," the pair responds in unison. They'd opted not to get a priest to do it.

"Before you ask, I give myself to Diablo with no one's blessing except my own, but I know everyone is more than pleased with him for me!"

Blanca and Diablo's immediate family members have all learned some English and probably prepared what they were going to say, since the newlyweds have printed out their written vows translated to Spanish.

The sister nods approvingly. "Now, the couple has made a choice to recite their own vows. Dario, you may begin."

"Blanca," he starts. "The night we met was one I'll never forget. I know that rhymes, but I'm a singer, what can I say?"

She laughs, and so do the others.

His gentle eyes sink deep into her own and he strokes her cheek softly with his thumb. She puts her hand over his and beams as she swoons. "So, when our cars collided back in high school, I never expected such an amazing girl to come out of the wreckage. Bonita y inteligente. When you walked into my hospital room, I thought, wow…where did she come from? Thank Satan she's alive, you know? I didn't think you'd actually check up on me, but you did. Entonces me enamoré de ti bastante rápido. We were fascinated with each other. As our friendship grew, my crush on you got stronger. It's only fate that you would show up sixteen years later and we'd become a couple. Mi amor, it's your sparkling eyes, your cute smile, your sweet giggle, your inner beauty and strength, your determination, your gentle corazón, the devotion you have for your daughters and my son, the fact that you're a wonderful mami to our niños and abuela to Juliana, all of these things is why I'm enamorado de ti. I enjoy dancing with you, hanging out on our fire escape in the warmer weather, cold beers in our hands, snuggling you in my arms, being there for you in your darkest moments, celebrating with you when you're happy, and I adore your girls as if they were my own…they are, in my heart and soul. I'm their stepdad…I've felt like that since you all became comfortable with me being around constantly. I'm so blessed that Laronne and I are part of your family. I enjoy our life together, no matter where we are or what we're doing, when I'm with you, I'm right at home. I solemnly swear to love and cherish you eternally, every chance I get, I'll prove it," he tells her sincerely. "I love you so much!"

then, I fell in love with you pretty quickly.

"I know you will…I love you too, Diablo," she breathes out, promising herself not to choke on her words. His speech was so beautiful and filled with such genuine emotion, she's not sure if hers will match up, but she'll certainly try. She's always been better at showing how much she loves and appreciates him and his company. "My hero. I've been in a fairytale since we started going out…except that it's extremely real. Even when we were just amigos, I felt it through my whole body. I still do, of course. Muchas gracias…for everything you said…all that you've done for me and mis hijas. I could never forget you either. When I was younger, I wanted to…date you…because you're the perfect man…I think I was feeling something more than friendship around my quinces…I missed you there, so much…I wanted to dance with you…leave my…my ex. Before he…you would've been my…" She sniffles and glances down at her glistening white heels, thinking of so many years she lost with him, but then meets his gaze again. He smiles at her encouragingly while squeezing her hands and she composes herself, feeling instantly comforted. "My high school sweetheart…but better late than never. I was overwhelmed with gratitude that you walked back into my world sixteen years after I left New York. I didn't know if we'd ever meet again…or if you'd ever look at me like you used to…but my dreams of us being together came true. I also never thought we'd get married…but this relationship is true and honest…and healthy. I used to think I was nothing, but you always assure me I'm everything to you, so I trust you on that. You inspire me to be my best self instead of crumbling into metaphorical dust. You helped me rise from the ashes. Just looking at you gives me confidence. It's like you have a special, magical talent for patience and respecting women. You treat Maritza, Raiza, and I with a tremendous amount of love and care, like I'm your queen and they're our princesses. You gave the girls plenty of time to get to know you, and it probably also helped that I always told them good things about you. You're handsome, you're kind, you never raise your voice at me or the girls, and you are the best, most fantastic man a woman could ever ask or hope for. How you make your son feel loved really gave me a clue on how well you'd do with my daughters. We make each other laugh and you're someone that I'm comfortable joking around with. You completely melted the ice around my delicate heart. You hold me…whenever I want or need you to and you let me sob in your arms. You help me through panic attacks as I'm screaming and crying, you wipe away my tears, and you're my pillar of strength to lean on. You saw me at my worst, stains in old clothes, battered and bruised, homeless…and you didn't leave me or my daughters. You provided a home for us, and I cannot be more grateful. When I'm with you, I'm always beaming, swooning, flushing, blissed-out…because I desire you every second of every day. You're my knight in shining armor, blessed me with your existence, how could I not? You're my rey, and I'm your reina. You're cheesy, but I love it. You bite your lip in that sexy manner and it makes me go wild. When you kiss me, it's like…heaven. You make me feel amazing. I promise that my love for you will never fade, even in the afterlife and beyond." She's just as sincere with him.

"Blanca Flores...do you take this man, Dario Zuniga, to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"

Blanca swallows her budding tears of happiness and her cheeks practically hurt from grinning so much. "Oh, sí, I do!"

"And do you, Dario Zuniga, take this woman, Blanca Flores, to be your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

Diablo nods, sure of himself. "Hell yes, I do!" He looks just as jovial.

"With the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga! You may now kiss the bride."

When the two start making out passionately, everyone bursts into cheers. They run down the aisle, hand in hand, as rice gets thrown at them.

It's then time for the speeches at the reception. Graciela goes first.

"Blanca, honey," she begins, "I love you, estoy tan feliz de que hayas encontrado a tu caballero de brillante armadura, and Diablo, muchas gracias for bringing our amorcita back to life."

I'm so happy that you found your knight in shining armor.

"You have brought the light back into her eyes," Antoni adds.

"Les deseo a ambos lo mejor. Blanca, elegiste a un buen hombre," Roberto chimes in.

I wish you both the best. Blanca, you picked a good man.

Mirna goes up last. "Blanca, now that we're both married, we'll have to exchange funny stories about our husbands doing something stupid, or romantic stories about our esposos...well, like taking us out to dinner and stuff."

Diablo holds Blanca's hands in both of his and she smiles tearfully at him. She looks back at her immediate family. "Gracias, abuela y tios…I love you too."

"Okay, it's the best friend's turn!" Karla announces, making Blanca giggle."Diablo, I know that you taught the woman I think of as my little sister, how to smile again and I am forever grateful for that. Without you, she wouldn't be the happy girl she used to be, and is today. Although she still gets nightmares, you are right by her side. She is lucky to have a good man like yourself, and you are blessed to have her heart. I know that you spoil her just like Ramón spoils me. I can't wait for another niece or nephew, so get going on that," Karla says. That makes the couple laugh. "Like Mirna said, now that we both have a husband, we can share stories."

"Thanks, girl, you're the coolest!"

"So are you. Hey, Diablo, I've known this girl for years, okay? You guys totally deserve each other. I can tell that you're exactly right for her. If I'm wrong, I'll kill you. Got it?"

Diablo nods and gives her a thumbs up. Blanca rolls her eyes and giggles. "Shut up, K!"

"Lo se. Maritza, here's the microphone for you!"

Maritza skips up to the podium and grabs the microphone from Karla. "Mami, I was like thirteen when I noticed you were in pain. I didn't understand the reason why until then, and I cried so hard. You're the coolest mom that ever lived. It hurt me to see you so broken. Diablo gave you wings so you could fly, and he made you happy again. That's why he's gonna be the best dad on the planet. So, Diablo, really, welcome to the family. Mami, congratulations!"

"Thank you, baby!" Blanca shouts and Diablo claps for his stepdaughter.

"Hey, Tío Ramón, Tía Adriana, ¿no quereis decir nada?" Maritza asks.

don't you want to say anything?

"Oh, yeah!" Ramón and Adriana stand up and join her. "Diablo," he starts. "We both have a girl who are best friends with each other, like hermanas. Sisters scheme, and we have to watch out for them. We also gotta stand by our ladies and let them shine…and give them children and treat them like queens. We have to make their parents-whether they're in heaven or not-proud, and worship the ground their daughters walk on. It will be so much fun to be your spiritual brother-in-law. I'm sure you also appreciate Karla as your sister-in-law, just like I enjoy having Blanca as my sister-in-law. You both have an excellent life together."

Gloria stands next to him while holding little Raiza, who waves at Blanca and Diablo. "Sweetie, do you have anything to say? She's six, by the way."

"Awww," the crowd murmurs and smiles.

"Mami's bonita! Yay, Papi, for making her felíz!" Raiza claps her small hands and pats Gloria's cheek. "Love you!"

"I love you too, sweetheart!" Blanca says back.

"Yo también te quiero, squirt!" Diablo puts in.

"I'm real happy that y'all finally tied the knot!" Laronne chimes in. "Congratulations!"

"¡Gracias!" Blanca and Diablo say in unison.

"I'm spoiling your children when we get back, do you hear me, Ramón and Karla?" Diablo asks with a grin.

Karla chuckles. "You fit in well with us."

Adriana points at both Blanca and Diablo with a giddy smile. "¡Los quiero mucho, ustedes dos! Hermano, I know you'll treat your wife right. Blanca, you're so lucky to have him. I only wish I could find the same love that you did." She gives a suggestive wink and waves dazedly at Weevil, who returns the gesture with a peace sign. It's clear that they've been flirting during this whole wedding.

"Oh, and one more thing...if you're both working at the same school, no funny business in the supply closets!" Diablo's best friend says into the microphone.

Blanca buries her face into Diablo's chest in humiliation. Diablo gasps. "We wouldn't dare!"

"Oh, no," Blanca mumbles.

"Weevil, seriously?" Adriana asks and bops the back of his head. "Dude!" she cries.

"Sorry, I've had too much to drink."

"Well, guys, he's right," Adriana laughs as she links arms with him and they move to hold hands. "I think we're done here..."

"One more thing!" Flaca announces excitedly. "Congratulations, Blanciablo!"

"¡Gracias!" they both exclaim at the same time.

Everyone hoots and hollers.

Thank you for reading and reviewing, MsSchneeheide and Juliette45!