I won't live without it, I won't let us go
Just look at what we got ourselves into
You make we wanna say I do

Well.

This was it.

We were actually doing this. We were getting married. Married. No more calling Jack my boyfriend or even my fiancee. From now on, he would be my husband and I would be his wife. It was so...official.

I stared at my reflection in the small dressing room in the back of the chapel we’d decided on, sighing over the unimpressive woman staring back at me. I’d done the best I could given our time limit, but to say I felt like a blushing bride at that moment would be a tremendous lie. I felt more like a girl getting ready for prom or maybe a New Years Eve party, not her wedding day.

I took a shaky breath, re-pinning my hair for the fifteenth time to readjust my curls so they fell more on my right shoulder. And when I put the last bobby pin in, I frowned as I noted my hair still framed my face awkwardly. There was also something off about my attempt at a more natural makeup. Instead of being fresh faced like I’d hoped, I looked like a boring, pale ghost. Maybe not Moaning Myrtle pale, but pretty damn close.

I silently grumbled to myself, focusing on one problem at a time...

As I was about to pull out my pins and redo my hair yet again, Cass tentatively cleared her throat, sharing a glance between the rest of the girls before saying, “Chris, you look really beautiful.”

I huffed, staring back at her through the shiny mirror to give her a silent ‘yeah, right’. “I look like a seventeen year old girl about to go to a school dance, but thanks for trying.”

I felt my stomach clench up in a nervous fit, wondering if Jack would mind doing the ceremony in the dark. At least that way he would be able to use his imagination instead of being forced to stare at my lackluster appearance.

Jo shook her head, letting out a low whistle as she eyed me up and down. “Your nerves are clouding your judgement, Lawson. You look hot as hell.”

I scrunched up my face, taking a second to let her words sink in. As I did, an unsure smile crept on my lips, her confident statement making more perplexed than anything. “Uh, thanks? I think...”

“Listen to Jo, sis.” Madison pressed, smiling at me widely as she walked up beside me, the two of us keeping our gaze on our reflections in the mirror. “The second you walk out there, Jack won’t be able to take his eyes off of you.”

I gulped, taking another tense breath as I tried to take a step back and reevaluate my appearance. I stared, really trying to take in every detail of my so-called wedding ready appearance. “...you really think so?” I whispered, that small smile I’d had a second before reappearing with a more genuine ease.

Maybe they were right. Maybe I was just being too harsh on myself. After all, this was supposed to be just for Jack and I, when it came down to it. That man had seen me gussied up and bare faced, at my best and way beyond my worst. Yet, here he was, waiting just on the other side of the chapel to take the plunge with me.

My sister, unsurprisingly, scoffed at my hesitance. “Duh. That man is crazy about you.” She smirked, adding, “I bet you could walk out there in sweatpants and your Batman t-shirt and he’d still find you sexy as ever.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle, the bubbling nerves slowly beginning to subside as my mind calmed. I mean, I was marrying Jack. There was nothing to be nervous about. He and I were it for each other. All we were doing now was making it official. “You’re right...” I let my teeth show in a blushing grin, all the insecurities I’d been obsessing over feeling so minute, so minuscule compared to the big picture I was about to face. “What am I even worrying about?” I rolled my eyes, laughing at myself for even getting worked up over something so stupid as my appearance. “I’m getting married!”

“Fuck yeah, you are!” Jo cheered, Cass and Lisa quickly following suite, clapping along like my own personal pep squad.

I took a breath, running a hand through my delicately curled hair. “Okay. Let’s do this--”

It was as I was about to open the dressing room door that Madison’s voice stopped me in my tracks. “Wait!”

I turned back towards her, eyebrows raised in slightly frustrated confusion. “What?”

She pursed her lips, glancing down at her fiddling hands. “I just...” She slowly raised her hazel gaze to meet mine, and for once, instead of the calm and collected psychologist sister I’d been around since telling her about this whole plan, I was face to face with the emotionally driven sibling I grew up with. The corner of her eyes were bright and brimming with happy, unshed tears. “I just wanted to say that I’m...I’m so proud of you, little sis. I know you’ve had a rough year, and to go through with this, just for you and Jack, is probably the best thing you could’ve done. You two need this. To experience a moment of pure love for each other that no big fancy wedding that mom will probably make you have later could ever do.” She paused, the unshed tears becoming contagious as I could hear Cass quietly sniffling behind me. And to be honest, I was seconds away from shedding a tear or two myself. “I’m so happy that you asked me to be apart of this.”

I shook my head, unable to believe just how happy I was in that moment. I mean, getting married to the love of my life was enough to send my emotions in a tail spin. But add in Madison’s mini speech, telling me she was proud of me and all that was only making those happy tears even more stubborn. “I love you, Mad.”

She just shrugged, wagging her shoulders with a teasing smirk, “I know.”

We let a couple seconds of silence fly by us, only for a small knock on the door to cut through. Madison, being the closest to the door, answered with a silent, questioning look.

“Just checking up on the bride,” An elderly woman kindly smiled, peering over my sister to get a glimpse of me. “Are you almost ready, dear?”

I nodded, smoothing out my laced dress with slightly sweaty palms. “Yeah--yes, I’m ready.”

“We were just about to go, actually.” Madison added, stepping out from the door and into the hallway next to the kind employee at the chapel so I could take the lead.

The older woman nodded, her wrinkling features becoming even more pronounced as her lips stretched out into a tired grin. Given that it was nearly nine at night, I expected I was one of several brides that day alone, and it must’ve been tiring working at such a place all day, you know given the emotions of such an event and all. So I took her half-hearted smile with a grain of salt, instead stepping out into the hallway to join my sister, my friends only a step behind.

I followed the woman down the hall, passing a few other rooms before abruptly stopping in front of two large double doors. “Here we are. Now I’ll just peek in and let them know we can start the ceremony, alright?”

I nodded quickly, my heart pounding faster than ever as the countdown officially began. The elderly woman snuck her head through the double doors, giving the organ player a thumbs up. Then, the familiar march began and she opened the door.

I swallowed hard, feeling everyone’s eyes on me like fire. Tentatively, I took a step forward, gripping the complimentary bouquet the old woman gave me as I passed her with tight, tense fingers. My own eyes were transfixed on the surprisingly tall alter, the grandeur of the room only accentuated thanks the cathedral ceiling and stained glass windows, as if I stepped into the house of God just like that.

“I’m right behind you, sis...” Madison whispered, and I could feel her hand gently graze my shoulder blade.

I nodded, taking another step forward as my gaze moved from the vastness of the ceiling, which seemed to reach up to the heavens itself, down the seemingly endless aisle. My breath hitched as my eyes zeroed in on Jack, almost tripping over the flat red carpet as I did so.

He had switched out his normal skinny jeans and t-shirts for his best suit and tie. Granted, I’d seen him wear the dark blue ensemble a few days before, but seeing him now, standing next to the man who would be officiating our wedding, the rest of the guys by his side, well he was a sight to be seen. Handsome wouldn’t be the half of it. He was breathtaking, like an angel on earth, a fairy tale come true.

Like a daydream, my legs seemed to move on automatic, timing each step with the organ player as I kept my eyes transfixed on him, watching his expression carefully. He was smiling from ear to ear, looking to be as speechless over my appearance as I was his. I couldn’t help but grin back, knowing now that all the fretting I’d done back in the dressing room was for nothing.

The organ player finished the last few bars of the song, ending the final note just as I reached the alter, stepping up a slightly raised platform before turning to face Jack with giddy eyes. Once the rest of the girls were in their places behind me, I handed Madison the small bouquet before taking Jack’s hands, allowing the priest to begin.

“We are here to witness and celebrate the marriage of Jack and Christina. This ceremony is a public affirmation of that sacred bond that is love. It is our hope here at The Little Chapel that your commitment tonight is the beginning of a long and joyous life together...” The priest continued on for a bit, his opening remarks fading into the background as I continued to sneak glances towards Jack. I felt like I was separated from my body, no longer in control as the officiate went on about general statements of love and how marriage strengthens the bond between two people and things like that. I, admit, I was only half listening, getting lost in Jack’s transfixing eyes.

“I love you,” Jack mouthed, winking as the priest continued, getting closer and closer to the part we actually cared about.

“Love you too.” I mouthed back, giving his hands an encouraging squeeze before my ears refocused on the opening statements once more.

“This marriage represents the beginning of a new life for the two of you, together. It will take hard work and dedication, but with a strong foundation, a lasting marriage is sure to follow. And today, today is the first step towards that.” The man smiled widely at us, gesturing between the two of us as he continued, “Now, Jack, Christina...are you ready for your vows?”

We both nodded.

“Alright, Jack. Repeat after me; I, Jack, take you Christina, to be my lawful wedded wife--”

“I, Jack, take you Christina, to be my lawful wedded wife...”

“I promise to be with you, in sickness and in health,”

“I promise to be with you, in sickness and in health,”

“In joy and sorrow,”

“In joy and sorrow,”

“The good and bad.”

“The good and bad.”

“I promise to love you with all my heart, encourage you dreams, laugh with you and cry with you and cherish you as long as we both shall live.”

“I promise to love you with all my heart, encourage you dreams, laugh with you and cry with you and cherish you as long as we both shall live.”

The older man then turned to me, and asked me to repeat the same thing. Once I did, he turned back to Jack and asked, “Now Jack...”He paused for a second, gesturing towards Alex, who jumped up slightly before grabbing a couple rings out from his pocket. He quickly handed the rings to Jack. “...if you’d like to say a few words to Christina as you exchange the rings...” The officiate smiled softly, taking the tiniest step back as Jack nodded, handing his ring to me while he kept mine pinched between his thumb and middle finger. I noticed his hand was trembling slightly, trying hard to keep steady as it hovered just in front of my ring finger.

“Sally, we both know this was all super spur of the moment, so I didn’t exactly have time to come up with a super romantic speech...” He began, his normally carefree voice subsiding into a nervous rush of words. “But dammit, if I’m not gonna try.”

I smiled softly, silently egging him on.

“When I was in high school and this whole band thing started, I got my heart broken. She messed with my mind and completely stomped on my heart. She destroyed me, and she honestly made me think that love just wasn’t in the cards for me. So I distanced myself, choosing girls who didn’t give a damn about me and I didn’t give a damn about them. I thought I was okay with that...then I met you.” He paused, glancing down at his shoes for a beat before he continued, “You changed my life, Sally. The second we met at that meet and greet, I knew you were something special. You weren’t like other girls. Maybe it was the fact that you proudly sported a Sally tattoo from my favorite movie, or maybe it was the fact that you were the only girl in the whole world born in the nineties who’d never seen Home Alone, but I knew there was something special about you that I couldn’t let pass me by.”

I sucked in a breath, feeling those previously unshed tears begin to tinkle down despite knowing most of this already. It was just so romantic, hearing Jack retell the beginning of our love story like that. “I still can’t stand that movie.” I joked under my breath.

“You’re damn lucky I love you.” Jack easily cracked back, adding a wink before continuing his beautiful vows. “God, do I love you. You’re like the Beauty to my Beast, the Jasmine to my Aladdin, the Nala to my Simba--”

Alex, always watching out for his friend, gently cleared his throat, kicking Jack lightly with his foot.

“Point is, I love you like a helluva lot, Sally. We’re in this for the long run. We’ve had our share of ups and downs, and even when we were at our worst, I always knew you were it for me. We’re already family and I’m so glad you decided to go along with this crazy ass plan with me because I really don’t think I could wait a second longer to call you my wife and make this whole thing official.”

I wanted to kiss his face off right there, but somehow managed the strength to hold myself back. Then, once I realized he was done (mostly thanks to the fact that he’d finally slipped the ring on my finger) I felt my eyes widen, a rush of brief fear tearing through me as any sort of words I’d prepared suddenly left my brain.

Because, really, how was I supposed to top that?

I sniffed, trying to come up with the right words to properly express just how much I cared for the man currently standing in front of me, but nothing was good enough. “Wow...” I laughed, his wedding ring feeling like molten lava in the palm of my hand. “And you say you aren’t good with words.” I joked.

“I even surprised myself.” Jack smirked nervously, his thumb tracing the recently added ring to my finger.

“Well...where do I even begin?” I bit my lip in thought, trying to speak from the heart as effortlessly as Jack had managed. “...when I first met you, I was far from the confident woman you see now.” I began with a knowingly ironic, shaky laugh. “I was a mess, honestly. I was stuck in a job I hated, with no plans for how to escape. Then you came along and enchanted me with your silly jokes and devilishly good looks. You’re my savior, Jack, in so many ways. First you saved me from a dull life, then you literally saved my life, not once, but twice. I’ve fallen in dark places, so dark that I thought I’d never climb out of it.” I gulped, glancing down at the ring in my palm, knowing all the things that simple piece of metal represented. “You saved me. You stayed by my side through all that shit we went through and I just know that if we can get through that and stand here as happy as we are, then we can get through anything. I love you, Jack. I’ll always love you. So, here I am now, promising to stay by your side forever, no matter what.” I carefully lifted the silver ring and slowly slipped it on his finger, the emotions I’d been previously holding back flying back tenfold as our vows came to a close.

The officiate grinned widely, “Well then by the authority vested in me by the state of Nevada in the glorious city of Las Vegas, it is my honor to now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!” He shut his notes, opening his arms dramatically as he waited for Jack and I seal this with a kiss.

Jack and I didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed my face, cupping my cheeks gently as we both leaned in for the most important kiss of our lives. Our lips met in a firm, meaningful dance. I smiled into the kiss, that spark I always felt more present than ever as our friends broke out into loud cheers.

“WOO!!!” I could hear Alex yell out over the sporadic clapping. “Go Jack and Chris!”

Jack and I parted, the two of us smiling widely as I buried my head briefly into his shoulder in hopes of hiding my blush, to no avail. I eventually straightened up, grabbing Jack’s hand with a firm grip before stepping down from the alter, our friends still cheering us on from behind.

“Have fun, you two!” Rian called out knowingly. “We’ll see you after the honeymoon...”

“Well, not too much fun. Don’t wanna get our girl pregnant again, do we?” Jo added with a smirk. I rolled my eyes while Jack playfully flipped my bandmate off. She just kept on smirking, adding with a chuckle, “Love ya too, Jack.”

“I’ll call you guys, okay?” I told my friends, letting Jack slowly lead me down the aisle, out of the chapel and back to the hotel. I could just tell from the way Jack kept stealing glances that as far as he was concerned, our honeymoon started the second our ceremony was over, and our friends were subsequently on their own for the rest of the weekend. “Enjoy the rest of your trip!”

“I’m sure we’ll find something to do.” Alex chuckled, waving us off as Jack quickened his pace down the aisle. “Now go, you crazy kids.”

I waved back, smiling widely as Jack opened the door out into the cool desert night, taking our first steps out into the world as husband and wife. The beginning of our forever.

And you know what?

It felt pretty damn great.

Notes

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!! IT FINALLY HAPPENED!!!!

God, I can't believe it. After three years of writing this, they've finally tied the knot! And to think, I have to write their wedding a second time lol. Though I think that one will be interesting it's own right. Now, onto the honeymoon ;)

Opening lyrics are from "I Do" by Colbie Callait. Enjoy!!!