Gen 2, Chapter 12 - The wedding

When you love someone you'd do anything for them

You'd die for them,

and even if you did die it wouldn't matter

because you have the honour to have them in your life.

And when you love someone,

all you want to do is hold them, and never let go.

You want their smile, their laugh around you all the time,

and even if they were not with you all the time

it wouldn't matter, because you'd always have them in your heart.

To love someone is to devote your life to them,

and make them feel special

because they deserve it and so much more.

And that's how you know if you love someone.

I loved him. I couldn't stop staring at that giant rock on my finger, not only because it was beautiful, but because it symbolised something so precious and amazing.

Wedding preparations were underway. The date was set for a year away - a beautiful Spring wedding. I was so excited, but there was this feeling niggling in the back of my brain. The feeling was worry, I suppose, that what happened to Marcus was going to happen to Seb. If it did I would be destroyed.

Seb knew my worries. I didn't even say anything to him, but he knows me so well.

"Gracie I know you're worried." Seb said to me.

"Me? Worried?!" I replied, trying to cover up my feelings.

"I know that you're worried that something bad is going to happen to me. You're worried that if you let me out of your sight I'll just disappear. You're worried that you will be hurt again. But Gracie," he was saying before taking my hand, "I'm not going anywhere. I will stay with you on the night before our wedding, just so you feel safe, and you know that I will be right beside you. Okay?"

That year flew by. The girls were growing so well. Florence started walking and talking at a very young age. Whenever she fell over she just got back up again, a beam on her face. Nothing could ever make her cry.

Seb had even started to try and potty train her - and it was going pretty well!

And Isabella? Quite the opposite. She was very reluctant to start walking and talking. It took a lot of cooing and encouragement to get her up and about. I think it was her favourite teddy bear Sweetie "talking to her" that finally got her to walk and talk. I'm very proud of her - she's like a little flower that needs nurturing, which is really quite sweet!

Cameron had been doing so well at school. He was a straight A student, with the exception of a few Bs here and there. Seb and I went to his parents evening once, and the teacher couldn't stop singing his praises. My heart swelled.

However there was one sticky moment with Cameron, but luckily I had been bracing myself for it.

"Mummy, why don't I look like Daddy or Flo or Issy?" Cameron stared up at me.

I took a deep breath. "Well, Daddy isn't your real daddy. Your real daddy died when I was pregnant with you." I paused. Cameron seemed to be taking it well. "But that doesn't mean that Daddy Seb isn't your Daddy, or that he loves you any less. It doesn't change anything, okay?"

He nodded. "Okay. I love you Mummy."

"I love you too baby."

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The night of the wedding had arrived. My stomach was rolling around, and the butterflies were out in full force. Although Seb was right next to me, I couldn't help something bad was going to happen, like a fire or an abuction or something.

Maybe that was my insecurities taking over, because I woke up on my wedding day, and Sebastian was there, sleeping peacefully, like the angel he was.

'It's gonna be okay' I smiled to myself.

Laura (my maid of honour) came around and we dressed Cameron (my page boy) and the girls (my other bridesmaids) before Laura dressed herself and helped me with my hair and dress.

I looked in the mirror and I was glowing. Wearing the dress of my dreams, the one I never got to wear the first time around. And in that split second I felt truly truly happy, like nothing could crash my world down.

Seb had already left with my parents and Cameron, so it was me, Laura and the girls, off to the church.

Standing outside the church, it was time for Laura to take Florence and Issy down the aisle.

"Good luck," she whispered to me with a hug, "you'll be fine."

Then they went through the doors, meaning it was my cue. I took the steps into the church, slowly to ensure I did not trip on my trail or do something clumsy like I always did.

I saw Seb; our eyes connected. He gasped a little, a small smile spreading across his gorgeous face. I kept walking until I reached the pulpit.

"You look stunning." he whispered to me.

"I know." I said, giggling.

We went through the usual - the speeches, hymns, etc., until it came to the vows.

"Do you, Sebastian Lewis, take Gracie Hope, to be your lawful wife? Do you promise to be true in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do." He said, slipping the ring onto my finger.

"Do you, Gracie Hope, take Sebastian Lewis, to be your lawful husband? Do you promise to be true in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do." I replied, placing the ring on his finger.

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

He wrapped me up in a long kiss, the first and most magical of our marriage.

Finally, I thought, I'm a married woman.

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The church featured in this chapter was made specially for me by Cabertha and can be downloaded here. I love how it's named Starling Church! :P