He looked at her
The way she needed to be looked at
Like the whole world could crumble
And he wouldn't blink
- Atticus
"FIGHT ME."
My bridesmaids wince as I shout. Rowan stares at me, a giddy grin tattooed upon his face.
I shake my head, already feeling the wrinkles forming on my head.
"Mom, stop stressing out. It'll be okay." Raven tries to calm me down, but I'm literally on the verge of crying or smashing something up.
Preferably the latter...You know, to avoid smudging my makeup.
The twins laugh at me, and I question whether I was as annoying at 15. Braylynn Rae and Beau Alexander were born as partner in crimes and swore to one another that they'd remain that way until they both died.
Kenzie never failed to remind me that they were my children, as if I'd ever be able to forget.
Baby Ivy cried in Rowan's arms, he stuck his tongue out at her like a child and I almost throw up at how much he seemed to love her. Kace and Corban were so overprotective, it was almost intimidating. They still barely trusted Rowan with her.
But not as bad as Lana and Kane were. Their 6 year old daughter, Amethyst, was the most spoiled child I had ever encountered. She sat in her beautiful Flower-Girl dress, glaring at everyone in the room. Kane had insisted that she stayed away from her IPad for the day, and she wasn't taking too well to the news.
"I don't know if I want to do this." I huff, straightening out my ivory dress. Getting married was never something I thought I would do, but when Kenzie went down on one knee and asked me, I couldn't say no.
And I didn't want to either.
I love him with all my heart. But I'm scared of us falling apart. Even after being with him for 16 years.
"Of course you can. You'll be okay as soon as you see Dad." Raven brushes off my statement. My lips pull up at her words.
Dad.
Kenzie may not be her biological father, but he loved and cared for her just like he promised he would. Killian respected her choice to call them both her dads, not that Raven would have cared if he didn't.
She was more like me than any of us care to admit.
"Yeah, Mom. Just think, Dad will be even worse than you, and Uncle Reagan will have to put up with it." Beau adds on.
Braylynn cuts in, "And Kade and Keegan. They're gonna end up coming to the wedding bald from ripping their hair out."
The door slams open then, with both Bodhi and Reagan falling to the floor.
Wow.
Typical.
"What the fuck are you doing?" I snap, narrowing my eyes. "You're supposed to be with Kenzie!"
"We was, but then he was getting annoying and stressing out so we came here." Bodhi shrugs. "That and....Well I just wanted to check how you was. You know...since you were finding it difficult remembering what you wrote last night."
My eyes narrow at Bodhi further, clenching my fists. "I found remembering it fine, thank you very fucking much."
"The practise session said otherwise."
Rowan cocked a brow at Bodhi's reply, "Oh yeah? Who'd she practise with?"
I shake my head just as Reagan shouts, "Me!!!" He puffs his chest out proudly, and smirks at me.
I grit my teeth, clenching my fist. "Don't make me ruin my fucking dress by breaking your nose."
"Jesus, woman." Zach tuts, strolling into the room casually. "I guess some things never change."
" Do you not realise I'm supposed to be getting married?!" I shout at them, making them wince. "Leave me the fuck alone and go sort my Groom out! And Zach, for heck's sake, go put on your suit."
Zach huffed as he stormed out the room, before marching back in and grabbing Bodhi and Reagan by their ears.
Just before I start shouting again, Lana shoves a packet in my hand.
"Be quiet and quit complaining." She demands, sitting down next to her daughter. "It's not as bad as it seems."
"Lana, you broke Bodhi's nose for laughing during your wedding ceremony. You literally told the guy to stop with your vows so you could punch him." I deadpanned, "Kane couldn't stop laughing, he couldn't even speak."
"He shouldn't have fucking laughed!"
"Well-"
"I swear to God if I hear you complain once more time, I'm going to stab you both." Charlotte King mutters, crossing her arms against her chest. Lana narrows her eyes and I grab her arm in order to stop her from reacting.
"No fighting." I remind her, making sure she saw the seriousness in my eyes. "This is my fucking wedding day. If anyone's gonna be throwing fists, it's gonna be me."
"Shelleyyyyyyy."
I'm going to cut a hoe.
"Say that one more time, Reagan. I fucking dare you."
"It's time." He informs me, grinning.
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit.
All my Bridesmaids stand up and line up in the formation.
Raven, Bray and Ivy at the front. Then Lana, Charlotte and Amethyst.
Rowan takes my right arm, and Bodhi takes my left.
When deciding who I wanted to walk me down the aisle, I didn't even hesitate. I don't have a Dad, nor a Mom. And Alec wasn't here to take over.
So I chose my oldest brother and my only blood brother to do just that.
The song we had chosen begins to play softly, and the moment I hear the lyrics is the moment I begin to relax.
'Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful angel
Love your imperfections, every angle
Tomorrow comes and goes before you know
So I just had to let you know'
I spot Kenzie almost instantly, standing next to Keegan. The blond-haired boy sends me a dazzling grin, and then taps his older brothers shoulder.
The moment Kenzie's eyes meet mine, I feel 18 years old again. The warm brown meeting my own. The only difference is that now they look whole.
He's wearing a dress shirt without a tie, and a black blazer. It's smart, but casual. Just like we wanted everything to be.
Today wasn't about looking incredible and partying like there's no tomorrow.
It's about our love for one another, it's about promises and commitment and trust.
We reach the end of the aisle and Rowan hugs me quickly, planting a small kiss on my forehead.
Bodhi followed, whispering into my ear. "I'm so proud of you, Sis, and Alec would be too."
He takes me hands and guides me to Kenzie.
We stare at each other. Soft grins forming on our faces.
"My God, Rochelle Quinn, you look absolutely beautiful." He whispers, the words like sparkles on his lips.
"Welcome, friends and family of the bride and groom, and thank you for joining us on this important day. Today we have gathered to witness and bless the joining of marriage between Rochelle Quinn and Kenzie Jensen."
The Priests words send butterflies into my stomach.
This is really happening.
Who would've thought that I'd end up here.
I tuned out the rest of the Priests words, focusing only on the man before me. The father of my two beautiful twins, the step father of my eldest daughter, my sole support when Alec passed away, the man who had encouraged me to conquer my demons despite battling those of his own.
I love him so fucking much.
I was so shattered, and vulnerable, and bitter when I met him. So irreparably broken that I never believed I could be fixed. And despite not realising it at first, so was he.
We mended each other.
And now we were together, and making a vow to love each other forever.
The Priest's voice interrupted my mental conversation, his words instantly hitting me on a deeper level. "You promised each other forever, and evermore. You promised to love and support each other. To always save each other the last dance. This is your time to do your vows."
My eyes scan around the room, meeting that of each of my family members. Braylynn and Beau attempt to wipe their tears subtly, as their older sister stares up at me with pride. Killian sits next to our daughter, joined by his wife Octavia.
Then the rows go from Ivi, to Sky, to Kace and Kane. With one chair, right next to Bodhi and Lana, being left empty.
For Alec.
I wish he was here with me.
"So, Kenzie Jensen, I believe you wish to read your own vows."
" Yeah." He clears his throat, holding my hands tighter. I meet his soft, brown eyes with a small smile on my face. He makes me so happy, warmth fills my entire body.
"I made you a promise, when we were just children ourselves. I promised to stay with you, to be your best friend and more, to never leave you. And I swear those all over again and more. You came into my life unexpectedly, like a hurricane. I was intrigued by you instantly, and the more we spoke the more I wanted to know everything about you. I can't ever imagine a day where I won't love you. You gifted me with 3 beautiful children and a family fit for a king. You've fought for me and fought with me, for that I will love and cherish you forever and evermore." A tear slides down his cheek silently as he speaks, and my entire body begs to comfort him.
"So do you, Kenzie Jensen, take Rochelle Quinn as your wife?"
" I do."
The Priest gestured to me, knowing full well that, like Kenzie, I wished to do my own vows.
"I used to live by these values that my family had. Confidence is Power. Family over all. Pressure creates diamonds. Blood will have blood. I was callous, reckless and relentless. I gave everyone hell, because I'd been there and back. I lived with the devil for such a long time that I forgot what pure goodness was. Until I met you. You reminded me how innocent the world could be, and how fucked up some people in this world are. You reminded me how important it is to speak up, and talk about your own issues in order to help others. If you would've told me that I'd be married with 3 kids at the age of 35 when I was a teenager, I would've been laughing at the fact I wasn't dead. You've loved our kids, you've loved me more than anyone ever has. And for that, I will be eternally thankful to you. I accept you as my husband and my best friend, Kenzie Jensen, I do."
This time it was me crying. The gentle tears decorating my face like diamonds, reminding me just how far we had come.
"Can I have the rings?"
Beau carried Ivan's and Jesse's adopted sons, Cole and Arrow, to the alter. They hand us the ring and Kenzie ruffles their hair in affection.
We exchange the rings and at that moment, I realise why rings are used.
Rings have no end. They're eternal, like my love and promise to Kenz.
They represented us, as husband and wife.
"I now proudly pronounce you as husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Kenzie's hand carcasses my cheek, and I can't help but think about how delicate and affectionate he is with me, even after all this time. Our lips meet, and I kissed him with passion and care consuming my entire soul.
"Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Kenzie Jensen."
Mrs Rochelle Jensen.
I like the sound of that.
---------
Just like our wedding, our first dance was truly magical.
The gentle harmonies of The Neighbourhood's Single echo throughout the room, and my heart swoons as Kenzie's still hesitant hands wrap around my waist. Butterflies flutter uncontrollably in my stomach, and it suddenly reminds me of just how far we have come.
"You make me so fucking happy." My voice comes out as a whisper, and my eyes water as I stare into his.
"Everything's going to change, Rae, and for all the right reasons." He brushes my hair out of my face, cradling my cheek in his palm while the other stayed on my waist. "Remember you taking me to that house when we were kids? The group home? Where that fucking bastard used to lock you outside in the freezing cold? And whip your back bloody? I'm going to buy that fucking house, and I'm going to pay for it to be made even bigger. We're gonna help the kids just like you. All the abused kids, all the kids who feel like they don't belong, I'm gonna change that. We're gonna change that."
I don't think that we should be around each other
When you're in the room, you get my eyes
You open your mouth, I'm hypnotized
"I'm so lucky to have you as my best friend and my husband." I chuckle as I stay the last word. I gesture to the tears running down my face, probably smudging my makeup."Fucking hell, look at me. You made me go soft, Kenzie Jensen, and now I bet I look like a weirdo."
Can you let your baby be my girl?
Can you let your baby be my girl?
Can you let your baby be mine?
"Don't be silly, you look absolutely stunning." He kisses my forehead, and I melt into his embrace. "I love you, Rochelle Jensen. Thank you for marrying me. Thank you for saving me your last dance."
"There's no one else." I murmur, scanning my eyes across his face. A slight scar remains above his brow, from where his father's ring had caught his face all those years ago. Most of them had faded away, both physical and mental. Kenzie's father ceased to be mentioned, despite us both being reminded of his sins every single day, just as I am with Bulldog's. It didn't matter anymore. We have our kids; Raven, Braylynn and Beau. We have our brothers and sisters, our family. And most of all, we have each other.
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