I woke up the next morning to the annoying buzz of my alarm clock. I pounded on the top of it:
"Shut up!" I then grabbed my throbbing head as the bedroom door opened. Kara walked in:
"How are you feeling?" I groaned:
"Like I just got run over by a truck." She laughed:
"I don't feel too hot either. Get up and get showered. I'll go get something to cure your hangover." I reluctantly crawled out of my bed and stumbled into the shower. Half an hour later I came out feeling surprisingly refreshed. I ran down the stairs and saw Kara and Matt sitting in the kitchen. Kara stood up and handed me a cup of coffee:
"Drink this. You'll feel ten times better." I made a face:
"No way. I hate that shit." She put the cup to my lips:
"Drink it. I don't think Nick would appreciate it if you passed out at the alter."
"I'm not going to pass out. In case you forgot, the wedding's not until 6:30." She smiled:
"I know. And we've got lots to do. The girls will all be here in an hour." Matt looked up from the paper:
"So you ready? Finally tying the knot with Nicky-boy?" I sighed, dreamily:
"Never been more ready for anything in my life."
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
BJ, Leslie, and Angel walked into Nick's room and saw that he was still sleeping. They tiptoed over to his bed and then jumped on top of him:
"IT'S TIME TO GET UP!!" Nick bolted straight up:
"What the fuck? What time is it?" BJ laughed:
"Eleven o'clock. Now get your ass up. The guys are going to be here to pick you up in an hour." Nick fell out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom while the girls went back downstairs to where their parents and my parents were with the baby. Fifteen minutes later, Nick came bounding downstairs, showered and dressed. He went over and kissed his son's forehead:
"Hey there, little man!" Everyone smiled as they watched Nick make goofy faces at his son.
"So, Nicky-boy, you ready to get hitched?" Angel asked. Nick grinned from ear to ear:
"Never been more ready in my life."
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
I stood in front of the mirror and looked myself over, making sure everything was perfectly in place. I looked at my reflection and saw that my dad had walked up behind me. He put his hands on my shoulders:
"Are you ready?" I nodded. He had tears in his eyes:
"I'm so proud of you, Kate. You've really grown up. You've done a great job with Aaron so far and you and Nick make wonderful parents." I hugged him:
"Thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me to hear you say that." He smiled:
"I'm just telling the truth. I know I haven't always been 100% supportive of the decisions you've made but I am totally behind you on this. Nick's a great guy. But, if he ever hurts you again, you better come straight to me." I laughed:
"I will, Daddy. But I know that he won't." He held his arm out to me and I linked it:
"Shall we go?" I nodded:
"Let's do it!" The two of us walked out to where all of the bridesmaids were gathered. The wedding was being held at sunset at an overlook to the beach. Just like Nick and I always wanted. I heard the small orchestra start with Pachelbel's Canon in D and each of the couples made their way up the aisle, separating when they reached the alter. Kara handed me my bouquet and then she made her way up. Finally, it was my turn. My dad and I began to slowly walk up the aisle. I looked up and saw Brian grinning at me. I smiled at him and the turned my attention to Nick. We locked eyes as I made my way closer to him. Finally I reached him. My father kissed my cheek and then passed me over to Nick. He leaned in close and whispered:
"I'm going to remember this moment for the rest of my life." My eyes welled up with tears and I smiled at him, before looking to the minister. He started the ceremony as my mind wandered through every memory of our relationship. Good and bad. I couldn't believe we finally made it. I thought back to Brian's wedding and how I had imagined that I was marrying Nick, when suddenly the situation was upon me:
"Nickolas and Katelin have a few words to say to each other," the priest explained. "Nickolas, you may begin." Nick took a deep breath and then grabbed my hands and looked me in the eye:
"I had this all planned out in my head for so long and now that I have to do it, I can't remember a word I have to say. I'll never forget when I saw you standing in my hotel room in Italy that day over four years ago. I had been having a bad week. I missed home. I missed my family and I missed you. And then, all of the sudden, you were there. Just to make me feel a little better. You're blue eyes sparkling and a huge smile on your face. My day changed so much in that moment. In fact, my whole world changed. Kate, you and I have been through so much together. Good times. Bad times. You've been by my side through everything, it seems. Through the death of my brother. Through my drinking. God knows, it hasn't been easy. You've given me the gift of love. The gift of happiness. And most importantly, you've given me the single greatest gift of my life. Aaron is the best thing, along with you, that has ever happened to me. I don't know what I would do without either one of you. You've made this day the happiest day of my life and I love you." I couldn't stop the tears of happiness from flowing down my cheeks. I took a minute to compose myself and then began to speak:
"Wow. Okay, I don't know how well I can follow that but I'll try. We didn't meet under the best circumstances. I think everyone here knows that. But if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. If Ashley and Brooke hadn't kidnapped me and taken me to that concert at Penn State three and half years ago, we wouldn't be here today. And for that, I am forever grateful. I could never imagine my life without you, Nick. You have been everything to me. Even though we've had our rough spots, we've always managed to get back on track and now, look where we are. You think that I've given you the greatest gift but without you and Aaron, I don't know what my life would be like. You've always been there for me. Ever since I met you five years ago. You were, for lack of a better phrase, my knight in shining armor. An angel and I love you." I felt him squeeze my hands as tears sparkled in his eyes. We turned back to the priest, who continued with the ceremony.
"May I have the rings please?" Brian handed them to him and he placed one in Nick's hand and one in mine. Nick went first:
"I, Nickolas Gene, take thee, Katelin Marie, to be my lawful wedded wife. To love and to cherish. In sickness and in health. I thee wed." He slid the ring onto my finger and then it was my turn:
"I, Katelin Marie, take thee, Nickolas Gene, to be my lawful wedded husband. To love and to cherish. In sickness and in health. I thee wed." I gently slid the ring on his finger and squeezed his hand lightly.
"By the power vested in me by the State of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. Carter?" Nick looked up at him and the priest smiled:
"You may kiss your bride." Nick grinned and then leaned towards me:
"I love you." He pressed his lips to mine as the crowd erupted in applause. We pulled apart and I gazed into his baby blues:
"I love you more."