~Three weeks later~
-October 22nd, Tuesday 12:03 p.m.-
~Tobias' POV~
I set my pen down on Lauren's kitchen table and irritably sigh as I run my hands through my hair. "All this fucking paperwork," I complain. Usually, I don't mind all this alpha leader paperwork, but boy has it become repetitive and tiring. In fact, I'm apart that small percentage of the world that actually enjoys paperwork. I pinch the bridge of my nose, knowing exactly what's bothering me.
I miss Natalie. It's like, I need her, in order to completely be myself. Lauren had even pointed that out a few days ago. I told her I could say the same for her with Liam. Because god almighty that woman is not herself without him.
She turns into this name calling-OCD-clean freak when he's not around. For example, last week, she called me a "fuck head" for leaving a singular dish in the sink. When lord knows she's way messier than me when Liam's around. I'll admit though, I've snapped on her as well. She moved some important files from off the kitchen table to do something and when I couldn't find them, I raised my voice at her to locate them.
Me and Lauren don't usually fight a lot but, these past few weeks together have really gave us new perspectives on each other. Just then, I break out of my thoughts at the sight of the pages in my notebook flipping by themselves. It flips all the way to the back of the book, to the last clean page. I smile wide when I watch my pen lift up off the table by itself. It's her. The ball of the pen touches the clean page, and she starts writing.
I lean forward and watch as my love's handwriting appears in my notebook.
"Wish I could help you with your work my love."
I read, and I smile at the words. "Forget helping me, I wish you could distract me from my work. I miss you." I say aloud, knowing all too well she could hear me. The pen starts writing again.
"I miss you more. My brother's are literally driving me crazy over here. But we can't give in now, only one more week left."
Is what she writes, and I sigh again. Yet another whole week without her. It's like I'm in jail and I'm crossing off days on my calendar. "I know, but I bet they're not driving you as crazy as Lauren's driving me. The woman is literally the devil herself without your brother. And also," I pause, "Don't remind me, I know I have to endure another full week without you." I add. And the pen starts up once more.
"That's only if Lauren and Liam can get through another week."
"Well, Let's hope they can't. Unless, you're thinking what I'm thinking."
"And what exactly would you be thinking mister?"
"Oh I don't know, maybe we can get the both of them to uh, accidentally run into each other? Maybe?"
"Are you suggesting we cheat Tobias?"
"Aren't we cheating already Natalie?"
She pauses from writing for a moment, "Touché... I'm listening." She eventually writes.
I laugh a bit at her quick change of mind, "I say we send both of them to each of us. I'll send Lauren to you, and you send Liam to me. And maybe, just maybe, they'll run into one another."
"Babe, that's brilliant. And I know exactly how we'll do it."
***
~Liam's POV~
"Oh Liam!" I hear my sister call me, and I suck my teeth. I stand up from laying on my bed, or, I should say, my sister's guest bed. I walk across the upstairs hall to her bedroom, "yes oh caring sister of mine?" I ask, stepping into her room. "Could you do me a favor and run this to Tobias?" She asks, holding up one of her maroon long sleeves. "I've been listening to him for the past few days and he's been really stressed and he's really missing me right now." She tells me, and I raise my eyebrows at my sister as I take the shirt.
"You've been listening to him? How don't I know you've been talking to him? Writing him messages while he talks to you? Y'know I've been suppressing lots of visions for the sake of fairness. Sneak messaging him wouldn't necessarily be fair since I haven't spoke to Lauren since the 1st of this month." I ask and tell her, and she shakes her head. "No I haven't written to him or nothing like that. And anyways, that wouldn't even count. Physical communication is different from written communication. You should know, since you exchanged letters with Lauren in the first week of our bet." She responds with, and I widen my eyes at her. "How'd you find out about that?" I ask, and IÂ facepalm realizing my own words. I really just snitched on myself. She laughs, "Exactly, and I found out through our brother. He read your mind genius." She says to me, and I twitch at the thought of our sibling snitching on me.
But I realize something, "But wait, you saying that physical communication is better than written, that means you did write to him! Both couples already lost then." I point out, and she shakes her head. "Neither of us have seen each other in person yet so, nobody has really lost yet. Why don't you go think about that on your walk to Lauren's, and don't worry she's not there." She suggests, pushing me out her bedroom door. She closes her door behind her, and I make my way down the stairs and out of my sister and brother-in-laws apartment. I choose the quickest route to me and my girlfriends apartment.
***
~Lauren's POV~
"Oh good, you're home. There's a favor I need you to do." Is the first thing I hear, as I walk into the door to my apartment. I roll my eyes, "Hi Lauren, hope breakfast was good. How are you? Oh I'm good, thanks for asking Tobias." I say to him, obviously being sarcastic. He sorta laugh-scoffs, "Okay yeah you're right, sorry. It's just, Liam was here not too long ago, he came to tell me Natalie's hasn't been sleeping due to the lack of me so, I was gonna have you run over something for her. And don't worry Liam went to the pit, he won't be there." I tell her, holding the same black long sleeve I let Natalie wear the night I saved her from being thrown off the edge of the chasm. I give it to Lauren, "I'll do it but I'm doing this as a solid, just know you owe me." I tell him, and he nods as I turn to leave once again. I choose the quickest route to my future sister and brother-in-laws apartment.
***
~Third Person~
Lauren and Liam both obliviously head towards each other, each with a long sleeve in hand. And with each given step, they get closer and closer to losing the bet until finally..
***
~Liam's POV~
"LIAM STOP!" I hear my own brother yell from behind me, and I stop in my tracks and turn around. My brother widens his eyes behind me, and keeps his palms faced at me. "Bro if you want to win the bet, whatever you do, don't turn around." He quickly tells me, and my heart starts pounding in my chest. "She's right behind me isn't she? And what do you mean don't turn around? I have to get Nat's long sleeve to Tobias." I tell him, and I hear the love of my life scoff behind me. "Those sons of bitches, they set us up!" She mutters, and I think long and hard about turning around to finally talk to my girlfriend after nearly a month.
Do I really want to win this bet? "Liam you can turn around, we already lost the moment we took the long sleeves from both Natalie and Tobias." She says, and I finally turn around. "Wait, what do you mean they set us up?" I ask, looking down at the black long sleeve in Lauren hands. "I mean, they tricked us. They knew we'd run into each other on the way. They made this happen." Lauren explains, and I'm distracted from her words. I admire her new little hairdo. God I missed her.
"But," I pause, "They spoke to each other in order to plan this." I mention, and my girlfriend questions whether or not it was face to face communication, or written communication. I tell her the truth, "Written unfortunately, he spoke while she wrote and listened." I say, and she smiles. "They lost first then," She says, but I shake my head. "If written communication counts then we actually lost first Lauren, we wrote letters remember? And Natalie found out through Miles." I remind, and she sucks her teeth. Lauren looks around me, "Wait," She says, "Speaking of Miles, where did he just go?" She asks, and I finally unblock all of the visions I've been suppressing for the past three weeks.
They all come rushing to me quickly, and I catch on to each and every one, searching for this very moment. Usually I'd be on my knee's crying with my eyes open, like the very first time when I got these abilities, but since then, I've thankfully gained more control and tolerance. I finally find it. "He's running to go tell Tobias, should we stop him, or just go to Natalie's? Since you already know that's the first place our alpha's gonna run to." I ask him, and she shakes her head with a smile as she steps closer to me. "Then want do you want to do?" I ask her, and all she does is pull me close by my collar, and wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me tight. I smile, and I hug her back just as tight.
***
~Tobias' POV~
I hear pounding coming from Lauren's apartment door, and I jump to my feet, and answer it. It was Miles, "Guess who just lost the bet?" Is the first thing that flies out of his mouth, and I smile so wide. I run back to where I was and grab my jacket, before rushing out the apartment past Miles. I run and I run fast. I finally get to see my wife after all these days and I'm not gonna wait any longer.
I run out the hallways, through the pit, and into the A apartment's corridor. I run all the way to the end of hallway, and stop in front of my door. I pull out my key and unlock the it. I step in, closing it behind me, "Natalie?" I call out, waiting her response. When I don't immediately hear her, I start looking for her.
In the kitchen, living room, and then upstairs. I climb them, skipping two steps at a time. I head straight for our bedroom, and open the closed door. I turn my head to the bed to see my fiancee passed out, sprawled across the silk sheet bed. I can't help but laugh as I walk up to the bed, but my attention is quickly torn away from her to the walls of our bedroom.
Each one ridden with paintings. Beautiful paintings. I walk up to the one that would of course be the first to catch my eye. Given it was a portrait of me, and not to mention, it was on this new wood easel near our wall windows. Her latest one.
It was half drawn, half painted, and it depicted me to the T from the shoulders up. My eyes, my nose, my lips; she even sought down to the smallest detail of me. For example, the small little freckle on my neck. And the shear splice in my eyebrow. I look back at my sleeping fiancée, stunned.
She painted. That was her coping mechanism for the absence of me. And boy oh boy, was she good at it. She stirs on our bed, grunting like a little puppy. I poke my lip out at her and walk back over to the bed.
I slip off my shoes and slip into our bed next to her, pulling her close to me by her waist, making her my little spoon again. She grumbles and grunts, sleepily scooting back into me, getting comfy. And it only takes her a second, she gasps and sits up, before turning around and tackling me into a hug. I laugh a little before hugging her back just as tight. She straddles my lap so she hug me even tighter, and be snuggled into my neck. And we hug each other for so long, I start to hear her snore again. I smile wide, and shut my eyes as well.
***
~Ten days later-
-October 31st, Thursday-
~Miles' POV~
I smile at the back of my sisters head, as she excitedly pulls me and our brother by the hand into the clothing store next the parlor in Dauntless. Well, I shouldn't really say store, given there's no currency here in Dauntless. People either pay in work, favors, or if your either Natalie or Tobias, you don't gotta do anything at all. Anyways though, she pulls us all the way to the back, to the formal wear. And you guessed it, we're here for suits for the wedding, and our sister insisted that she'd help dress us.
She lets our hands go to shuffle through a few hanging, plastic covered suits. I admire this one suit that was beginning worn by a mannequin. It had a black, softly patterned tie, clean white button up and a really snazzy dark blue suit jacket along with the matching pants. I imagine my self in it, up next to the altar, watching my sister get married. Man, my little sister is getting married.
My blood, my rock, my ride or die little sister, is growing up faster than I can even imagine. Next thing I know, I'll have little nieces and nephews running around in the next few years. I glance off to the right at something shining in my peripherals, and I instantly double take. Oh my goodness, "Natalie." I call for her breathless, as I walk off into the women's section, towards this gem of a dress. "Yeah? Did you find a suit?" She asks, "No, I found something even better." I respond, and I look behind me to see her reaction of the dress I point towards.
Her jaw drops at the dress flowing effortlessly on the mannequin. She approaches it like it's royalty, and hesitates to touch it like it's a snarling dog. She walks around it, gazing at it: admiring even. "I think you helped her find her dress bro, which is convenient, given the wedding's tomorrow." Liam mentions to me, and I agree. We both expect a response from our sibling but, our sister just continues to drool over the dress.
It was like, she was stuck, in some sort of trance. "Nat, are you okay?" I ask her, and she nods while her eyes continued to be glued to the dress, and her mouth stayed open like a set bear trap. Just then, someone comes walking up from the entrance of the store, "Hey Miles, have you seen-" - "Yes! I'm back here, don't come back here!" My sister yells, and I've never seen Dauntless's alpha summit so fast to the beta's orders. "Why can't I?" He asks, obviously confused. "My dress is back here and you sir, are not allowed to see it until tomorrow." She answers, waving over the store keeper, getting her to take the dress down and put it in a special plastic cover.
That, unlike the other plastic covers, wasn't see through. And it also had a zipper. "I was just coming to tell you that Max's wife needs our help with finishing touches for the wedding hall later." He tells her from behind a huge pillar within the store. She comes from behind the pillar to hug him, with the hanger of the dress in hand. He hugs her back but, I see his hand go for the zipper on the plastic cover. Nat yanks it away, and looks Tobias up and down, wagging her finger in his face before heading back over to the men's section.
"Let's get back to finding suits for you two yeah?" She says to me and Liam, and Tobias stops her by pulling her back by her wrist. "My love, why don't you let me help my brother-in-laws while you go show your dress to Chris, Lauren, and your aunt?" - "But you don't know the color scheme for the groomsmen and bridesmaids. It needs to be," - "Either maroon ties and maroon dresses, or black ties and pink dresses." He finishes her sentence for her, and she is obviously taken by surprise by his accuracy. "You can trust me, my love. I know what you want." He tells her, before pecking her on the cheek and sending her on her way. Tobias then watches her leave, before coming over to both of us, "Let's find you two a suit then." He says, and both me and Liam look at one another and shake our heads.
"What?" He asks us, and we push him in front of us, "No, it's time to find you a suit, groom."
***
~Jade's POV~
"Okay, you better have brought all of us over here to see your dress because if not, I will be very upset." My aunt comments, flopping down onto my couch, along with Lauren and Christina. I roll my eyes and head into the kitchen, to retrieve my dress, to which I sat down on the Island before heading out to go get all three of them. "Of course I brought you guys over to see my dress, I literally just found it, and since I can't drag my mom over here to see just yet, I decided to drag all of you. Now wait here while I go put it on." I respond and run up my spiral stairs with my dress. I ran into my room, threw my hair into a bun, and stripped. I slip into the dress, using my ability to zip up the little back zipper that laid right above my rear, given the dress was open backed.
I straighten out the thin straps on the dress, and I run into me and Tobias' personal bathroom. A part of the apartment I kinda forgot to mention. It was unbelievably big, and lavish. The shower was pure clear glass and it stretched across one side of the room, with the addition of big ceiling shower heads. Off to the side laid a huge Jacuzzi-like bathtub that looked big enough for two.
And last but not least, the counter, the sink and the mirror. Oh the mirror is my favorite part. It was the size of the wall, and I absolutely love the way I look in it. And speaking of that, I gasp at my current reflection. Admiring the way the dress hugs my curves just right.
And the way the bathroom light made it sparkle the more I twist and turn in it. I look behind me. At the ridiculously long partially lace trail behind me, and smile. Exactly what I wanted. I exit my bathroom and head out my room, and down my spiral set of stairs.
I get down stairs to see Lauren, Chris, my brother's, and Tobias all having a conversation near the couch. I notice everyone's trying on their wedding attire. My brother's were wearing matching suits, blue with maroon ties.
While my girls were wearing the cutest maroon bridesmaid dresses. Different styles, same color.
But my eyes lock onto my soon-to-be husband, and I see he has his suit on as well. I can't see him though, given he has his back to me. I soon start panicking, hoping no one would see me, so that Tobias doesn't follow someone's lead and looks behind him. Luckily though, I see my brother Liam throw his arm over my fiancée shoulder just as heads start turning my way. Chris and Lauren start freaking out, and my brother Miles smiles wide at me.
"Liam, get him out of here now! He can't see her in her dress yet! It's bad luck!" Chris tells, rising from her seat on the couch, shooing Tobias towards the door whilst blocking his view of me. "She's wearing it behind me isn't she?" He questions, and both Liam and Chris nod. He attempts to look at me, but I keep his head straight with my ability. "Don't even think about it Tobias, you can wait a day." I tell him, and I hear him suck his teeth and whine. "Okay okay fine, I'll close my eyes, just come here please." He says, and both Liam and Chris back off as I walk around, and in front of him. I look my man up and down, and I bite my lip.
I pull him closer to me by his suit jacket, and I button it together. I also straighten out his tie, "You look amazing my love." I tell him, kissing his cheek. He keeps his eyes closed, and yet, he manages to place his hands on my waist to pull me even closer. I hug him around his neck, and he hugs me right back. But I feel his hands innocently explore my back and waist.
He's trying to feel the dress, most likely picturing it in his head. "Thank you, and I don't even need to see you to know you look stunning." He eventually responds, pulling away. "Now gimme a kiss, I'm gonna go help my brother find a suit." He demands, and I smile before placing both my hands on his cheeks and giving him a big kiss. He kisses me back right before we pull away and I walk him out. I turn back to see my both brother's admiring me together, talking about me with smiles on their faces.
I smile back at them, and Miles comes over and places one hand on my back and takes the other, pulling me close, and he starts dancing with me. Just like we practiced during the few weeks of the bet. I asked him to teach me, since he took a dance elective during our school years back on Amity. He smiles down at me when he sees that I've finally perfected the steps.
He spins me around, and releases my hand, and I spin around twice before stopping right in front of my younger brother. And he swiftly takes Miles' place, making me laugh. Liam dips me, kissing my knuckles to finish it off. "You guys are gonna make me cry," Christina says sniffling, while Lauren was nearly balling already. I look to my brother's, who were tearing up as well.
My bottom lip pokes out, "Aww guys, don't cryyyy, at least not yet." I tell them, and I make them all laugh. And before I knew it, they all smothered me into a group hug.
***
~The Next Day~
-November 1st, Friday 10:37 a.m.-
~Jade's POV~
I wake up from the light beaming in through our bedroom windows and, not to mention, from the pounding migraine spreading throughout my brain. I wake up clinging naked to my man, and it's not long until I notice he's naked too. I slightly gasp, unable to remember last night as I taste and smell the alcohol on my breath. Did we ... ? No.
There's no way. And then I look up at him, dead asleep, just like the time we slept over at Lauren's and my brother's. I see the alcohol bottle lying on his bedside table, and I sit up a bit. I reach over him to grab the big bottle, only to find out there literally wasn't even a drop left. Not that I wanted more, I was just seeing the damage him and I did.
And speaking of him, he starts to stir and groan because of my actions. I straddle in front of his lap, because if I were to straddle him normally, I'd be giving him his honeymoon gift a tad early, if I haven't done so already. I lean down and kiss his neck, cheeks, lips. All of it. And to my surprise, something else's wakes up before him.
It rises and pushes against my bum. And then he wakes up just as I kiss his lips again, and he kisses me back, gliding his hands onto my waist as always. I trail back down to his neck, and he breathes mighty heavily. "Natalie," he groans, "You're making this very difficult." He tells me, and I quirk as I kept at it on his neck. "I'm making what very difficult?" I ask him, kissing at his jawline.
"Keeping my patience. Every time you kiss me, every time you sit on my lap, every time you whisper in my ear, every time you tell me how you feel, every time you tease me, every time you even so much as look at me a certain way, my ability to keep from taking you completely gets weaker and weaker." He tells me, and I laugh a bit. But I also realize something, his breathe doesn't smell like alcohol. "So wait, we didn't already um ...?" I ask him, gesturing down to how naked we both are. He shakes his head no, and I feel relief flood throughout my body, "You don't remember last night, do you Mrs. Alcoholic?" He asks me, and veers over at the bottle. "No I don't actually. Did I drink all of that?" I ask him, and he nods while laughing.
"And boy oh boy, can you hold your alcohol. You didn't even throw up once. And also, I absolutely love drunk you." He tells me, pecking my lips once more. "You're eyes get low and bloodshot, and you laugh a lot, and when you laugh your eyes scrunch closed so, all together, you're super cute when you're intoxicated." He says, pinching my cheek. I smile, "Stop ittt, but really though, are you sure we didn't do anything?" I ask one more time, and he tucks a curl behind my ear. "I made sure we didn't do anything my love. Well, anything we haven't already done. You were very persistent." He clears up, and I peck his lips once more before standing from our bed. "And trust me, if we did do anything, you wouldn't be able to do that." He points out, "Do what?" I ask him and he stands from the bed too, "Stand." He simply answers before stepping into our walk-in closet.
My jaw drops and I laugh-scoff, having a pleasant yet scary chill run down my spine. I follow him into the closet to grab some clothes, "So, on our honeymoon, instead of giving me something, you're gonna take away my ability to stand huh?" I ask him, and he chuckles a bit. "I'm gonna give and I'm gonna take my love, but I'll only take as much as you want me too. You do know it doesn't have to happen on our honeymoon, right? Like I've said before, I'll wait as long as you need." He reminds me after slipping on some basketball shorts. He lifts my chin with his pointer finger, and places his forehead onto mine. "But you just said I'm making it difficult for you to wait, I don't want you to become upset or bored with me just because I'm too scared." I confess, and he shakes his head with a disgusted look on his face.
"I'd never, not in a million years, become upset or bored with you just because we're not having sex. Sex is not a necessity for me, but you know what is?" He asks me, and I nod for him to go on, "Your attention, your love, and your time are necessities for me. And I know I say things as if I'm going to become upset or bored, but that's not it at all. I say those things because they're the truth. But that doesn't mean I'll put my myself in front of you, and how you feel. And I especially won't make you feel bad for not being ready." He says to me, and I smiled wider with every formed sentence. "So don't you ever think that of me again, alright? You know me to well to think that." He adds, and I nod. "I'm sorry my love, I promise I'll stop being so worried." I tell him, "Now," I start back up, "How bout we go get married?"
***
-12:24 p.m.-
~Tobias's POV~
I throw my white vest over my white button up dress shirt, and I button it all the way up as I look in the big mirror the grooms dressing room had. It was a room connected to the wedding hall, and of course, it was also connected to the groomsmen dressing room. And I know that since a familiar knock came from the other side door to my room. "Are you decent? I don't feel comfortable seeing my brother's bare ass on his wedding day." Alex says from the other side of the door, making me laugh. "Yes I'm decent, come in Alex." I tell him and he barges in, primed and pressed in his blue suit.
I made sure to have him matching with Miles and Liam, since they're all gonna be standing next to one another at the altar. And yes, I chose Alex to be my best man. And when I told Miles and Liam, they were actually expecting me to, given he's now proven to be my brother. "FYI, your brother-in-laws are right behind me. The youngins are struggling with their ties, and I think I just heard one call for their mum." He pokes fun at them. But I roll my eyes because, "Hey mom!" Is the next thing I yell.
Alex starts laughing and I flip him off just as my mother barges in through the main door of my room. "Yes Tobias?" She says, holding my little sisters hand. I smile when I see how beautiful my mother looked, but my bottom lip pokes out once I looked down at my sister. She runs over to me and hugs my legs in her cute little burgundy dress.
"Could you help me with my tie? I kinda forgot how you taught me." I ask of her, and Alex picks up Mellie and spins her around in the big room. My mother smiles, and comes over and takes my tie off the hook I hung it on. She lifts up my collar before anything, and drapes it around my neck, straightening it out as she went. "The rabbit hops over the log," She mutters to me, crossing one end of the tie over the front of the other, "the rabbit crawls under the log," She says, wrapping the one in front around the back of the other. "The rabbit runs around the log," She continues, and she smiles up at me as she wraps it around the front again.
"One more time, because he's trying to outsmart the Fox." I chime in with, slowing remembering every step. "And finally, the rabbit dives in through his hole, safe and sound." She finishes, pulling the ends through and pushing the well made tie knot up. "Safe and sound." I repeat, remembering the first day she taught me. I was about eight-nine, and it was right before my father turned into the devil he is today. He was actually my father back then, and I only bring him up now because well, he's the one who taught my mother the little rabbit trick.
They both taught me it that day. I guess you could say this is our way of mourning the loss of who of he used to be. "Thank you mother." I tell her, and I can already see her tears forming now. "Mom don't cry, at least not yet." I say, pulling her into a hug. She sniffles, "I'm sorry, it's just, I never thought I'd get to see my son marry." She tells me, and I pull away, wiping a fallen tear.
"Well, you're about to, and I honestly wouldn't want it any other way." I tell her, and she smiles up at me. "Mommy why are you crwying? Brober and Nat-Bat are getting mar-weed, you should be happy." I hear my little sister ask and say, making my mother laugh, "oh I am happy sweetheart. I'm crying because I'm really happy." She explains, taking Mel out of Alex's arms. Just then, Miles and Liam come in through the side door, just like Alex did. Suited up. I know I saw them in their suits last night but, the suits plus the gelled hair and the matching flower pins and accent pieces tied the groomsmen look all together. "Well you two clean up nice." I comment, and Liam pretends to dusts off his shoulder while Miles tightens his tie. I put on my suit jacket, and button it up.
"So do you." Liam tells me, coming over with his brother, patting my shoulder. "How you feeling?" Miles asks me as all three of us look at our reflections in the tri-fold-like mirror. I smile up at him through the mirror, "better than ever Miles, I'm about the happiest man on earth, and I haven't even married her yet." I tell him, and even though I don't look, I feel both brothers look at one another. "Happiest man on earth eh?" Liam questions, and I know exactly what both of them are thinking. "I know what you guys are doing, and let me just stop you right there," I pause, tucking my accent handkerchief in my suit jacket pocket.
"I'm in love with your guys sister, she is my very heart and soul. There are absolutely no second thoughts on my end, and both of you should damn well know that. I wanna be apart of this family, I wanna be her husband. So stop cold feet fishing." I tell them, and they both start laughing a bit as I turn my back to the mirror and face them. "We're just messing with ya man, we know." Liam says, tossing his defined curls to the side with a jerk of his head. I notice they both tapped their temples though, referring to their abilities of course. "Wait, I'm just realizing something Tobias." Alex starts up, standing from sitting on this tiny couch. "And what would that be?" I ask him, pinning my red rose to the long collar on my suit jacket.
"We never threw a bachelors party for you my man, this is your last day as an un-married man." He mentions, and I look at him before giving him a shrug. I love that my guys wanted to throw a party in my honor but, minus the fact of being surrounded by them; A party surrounded by booze and half naked ladies is what I missed out on, and honestly, I couldn't care less. I lastly spritz some cologne on my neck, "Love the thought but, I pause, "I didn't need one." Is what I say.
***
~Jade's POV~
I slip into my dress with the help of my mother and aunt, and my mother kindly zips up the small back zipper for me. I straighten the thin straps on my dress, and I turn around for her to see. She steps back and places her hands over her heart as she gazes at me, "Oh my," she mutters, while my aunt fixes the train behind me. "What do you think mom? Is it too much?" I ask her, and she shakes her head with a smile plastered on her face. "Not at all my dear, it's merely perfect. It snugs your figure in all the right places, and not to mention, it's white." She tells me, walking over to smooth my dress down at my waist.
Just then, a knock is heard from my bridal dressing room. "Who is it?" I question, "It's Christina and Lauren." I hear Lauren from the other side, and tell them to come on in. "There's our beautiful bride, oh my goodness look at you." Chris greets me with a hug and so does Lauren, and I see that both my girls are ready and dressed for today. Especially my maid of honor, Lauren. She took out her dreads and purple strands and curled her hair for today.
But don't get me wrong, Christina ever fails to knock me straight off my feet. She straightened her kinky curls, making her hair frame her face. "You both look amazing," I tell them, but I notice something, something missing, "Where's Grace?" I ask. And yes, I asked Grace to be a bridesmaid last minute, just so Miles has someone to walk up to the altar with. "Don't worry, she's nearly done getting ready." Lauren answers, "Just as you should be, here, I brought the heels as promised." She adds, handing me her sparkly white two strapped heels.
I thank her, and sit to put them on. After I do, my mother and aunt start my hair, while Chris and Lauren work their magic on my face once again. My mother and aunt did a simple loose updo, leaving some of my curls out here and there. While my girls on the other hand, did a dark and glamorous eye-look with a deep red lip. I stand as all of them dash on their finishing touches before finally, my mother pulls out my ridiculously long veil.
It's long because it's supposed to match the length of the dress. I watch my mother think for a moment, veil in hand, "I think I should let your father do the honors." She says, and she heads out the bridal dressing room to call for my dad. He comes running, even though I know he has a splint on underneath his pant leg still. She hands him the veil, and he takes it just as he lays his eyes on me. He clasps a hand over his mouth, and steps into the room.
I smile and giggle at my father's reaction, "My little girl," He mutters, tucking a curl behind my ear. He then drapes the veil behind me, and slides into my hair just right. He kisses my forehead, and lifts the white lacy-see through material over and in front of me, surrounding me even. He takes my hands, and kisses my knuckles, "I'm gonna go see if my son-in-law is all set and ready to go, I'll be right back darling." He tells me, obviously holding back his emotions, and I nod. My father takes his leave, and he leaves just in time to hold the door open for Grace.
She thanks him and comes to me, "My god, he's gonna faint at the altar." Is the first thing she says when she lays eyes on me, making me laugh. We hug, "Thank you, and double thank you for agreeing to be my third bridesmaid for today." I tell her, "Nonsense, I'm honored to be a bridesmaid. Not to mention, Miles is very happy I am also." She says, and she looks down at my hands. "Where's your bouquet? Don't tell me you forgot about the bouquet?" She questions, and I gasp, realizing that's exactly what I forgot. But right before I was about to freak out, "Don't you fret, this must be what I'm really here for." She tells me, and immediately starts growing plants right before my very eyes. Initially, she needed my dirt in order to grow that one flower but now, she's obviously adapted to her ability.
She grows a variety of white flowers, and wraps twine tightly around the stems of the flowers, creating a beautiful bouquet that matched my dress perfectly. She hands it to me, and I thank her. Suddenly, a very familiar knock is heard from my bridal dressing room door. "Who is it?" I ask for the second time, "It's Tobias." I hear his voice say from the other side. "Don't you come in here young man, it's bad luck to see her in her dress before the ceremony." My mother says, and Tobias says he won't.
"Trust me I won't, your husbands right behind me, holding me back by my suit jacket ma'am." He says, making me, my mom, and everyone else in the room laugh. "I was just wondering if I could uh," he cracks open the door and slips his hand through, "talk to my wife." He says, and gestures for me to come to the door with the hand he snuck in. Everyone else in the room sneaks out back through the groomsmen dressing room side door, to give me and Tobias privacy. I entwine my hand with his while the door stayed as a divider between us, and just as I expected, his hand was sweaty. He's nervous.
"Are you nervous my love?" I ask him, placing my forehead against the door once I look through it to see he's doing the same. "I'm marrying the women of my dreams in front all our friends and family. Of course I'm nervous. Are you?" He answers and asks, and it is in that moment, it hits me. I'm getting married. To Tobias Eaton. By the end of today, my name will legally be changed to Natalie Jade Eaton. "I'm more than nervous, Tobias. What if I trip while walking down the aisle, or if I stutter while saying my vows?" I answer his question with a question, and he squeezes my hand.
He chuckles a little, "Don't worry my love, when you walk out there, I want you to focus on your dad. He'll catch you if you fall. And when you get up on the altar, focus on me. Just focus on me and you'll do fine." He reassures me, and I squeeze his hand back. "Thank you, Tobias, for coming to talk to me." I tell him, and I watch him smile through the door. "You ready Mrs. Eaton?" He asks me. "I am, Mr. Eaton, are you?" I ask in return. "As ready as I'll ever be."
***
~Tobias' POV~
I escort my mother to the main entrance of the wedding hall, and proceed to walk her down the aisle and to the very front row. She kisses my cheek, and sits down. I walk up onto the altar, and take my rightful place before scanning the semi-large crowd as soft music begin to play. I see familiar faces. I see Tori, and she gives me a thumbs up; I smile at her.
The officiant, -AKA the priest-, follows behind me and takes his place in between where me and Natalie will be standing. I see Max sitting lovingly with the creator of this beautiful white wedding, and speaking of which, I take a moment to admire. Big white sashes of white material were hung from the ceiling of the large room, weaving perfectly around the wedding halls dangling diamond chandelier. The aisle long carpet was a deep red, along with the church bench side pieces, that of which held beautiful white roses. And speaking of roses, the snow white arched alter had deep red ones weaved throughout it.
I also see Max's kids, along with Ben and Bellamy. I invited him and his brother as a surprise for Natalie. But I said he could only attend, if he informed and brought Genevieve from Amity. And there she was, sat in the middle of Ben and Bell. Oddly enough though, my eyes land on someone I didn't invite.
Eric. He sits fully suited, picking at his cuticles. Over the time of the bet, Eric and Natalie became close, closer then I'd appreciate but, I know where her hearts at. It's with me, even though his is with her. And I also know where her minds at with him.
She refuses to let him continue killing himself, and that includes slowly as well. She stopped him from drinking, and the man has been sober for about a month now. And I'd know, because I make her talk to me about him. Just then my attention is pulled from him as Miles and Grace meet just outside the wide doors of the wedding hall, and lock arms before walking down the aisle. I smile as they come up onto the altar, and take their rightful places.
Then comes Lauren and Liam, smiling at one another as they made their way down the aisle. Liam kisses Lauren on the cheek, and they both take their places as well. The music gets a tad bit louder, and out comes my brother with Christina on his arm. My eyes impulsively glance over to Will as Alex makes her laugh, and he of which surprisingly watched the two go down the aisle with a smile on his face. The two take their places at the altar, making it to where the only person missing, was my wife.
The lights dim a bit, and the musicians start playing the traditional wedding tune loud and proud, the tune that the bride walks down the aisle to. Everybody in the benches stand, turning their heads to the double wedding hall doors and quiet down, just as my little sister comes into view. Our flower girl. She holds a basket in one hand, and reaches into it to sprinkle white rose petals onto the carpet of the long aisle. And just before she made it all the way down, my father-in-law come into view at the wedding hall main doors.
He turns his head, and offers his arm to Natalie, and I finally get to lay my eyes on her as she comes into sight. My heart drops as I take in this very moment. The way her dress flowed as she walked, the way her hair bounced with each step, the way her eyes glistened through her veil. She looked absolutely stunning. Words couldn't even attempt to explain how amazing I think she looks, nor how amazing I think she is.
Eventually, my emotions got the best of me. I further marinate in the fact I'm about spend the rest of my life with the one woman who once prayed for me. Prayed for me to be hers, and hers only. Her and her father make it near the altar, and he kisses her knuckles before handing her off to me. She takes my offered hand, helping her up the step, and she squeezes the life out of it. She finally meets my gaze, and her expression softens once she notices the tears in my eyes.
She immediately takes her hand out of mine to wipe a tear that fell, while she holds her bouquet in the other. "Don't cry." She mouths, just as Dauntless' priest clears his throat. "Too late." I mouth back, right before he begins. "Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends," He pauses, "We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the joining of this very factions Alpha and Beta leaders, Natalie Harris and Tobias Eaton." He says aloud, " Today, as they join in marriage, they also create a new bond and new sense of family - one that will undoubtedly include all who are present here today." The priest continues, gesturing to the groomsmen and bridesmaids, along with the crowd. "True marriage is more than simply joining two persons together through the bonds of matrimony. It is also the union of two hearts and the blending of two families. It lives on the love you give each other and never grows old, but also thrives on the joy of each new day. Marriage is, and should be, an expression of love. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to also share those moments of quiet and peace, when the day is done." He pauses, "May you always need one another; not to fill an emptiness, but to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another; not out of lack, but to feel the warmth of their touch. May you embrace one another; not to encircle, but to give comfort. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces. May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love, and always find love, in the pursuit of loving one another." Dauntless' priest says, and he looks to either of us.
"No other human ties are more tender, and no other vows more important, than those you are about to take. Both of you come to this day with the deep realization that the contract of marriage is sacred and binding, as are all of its obligations and responsibilities. You will leave here embracing one of the greatest human bonds that life has to offer. May your shared life be adorned with the blossoms of love, and your days together be many and rewarding. And so, without further ado, you both may say your vows." He tells us, and I take one of his hands, and he smiles at me squeezing it. I nod for her to go first, and she takes a deep breath, "When I hold your face in my hands or lean into your shoulder to feel you hold me, or when you kiss me unexpectedly and tell me that you love me, I get this feeling. This pleasant twist within, butterfly's, if you will. Every, single, time. You are my heart, my home, my joy, my every waking moment, my dream of happiness. I love you with a love that cannot be expressed in words - only in kisses, glances, and in the years of our lives. I will love you today, tomorrow and until we die. If there is life after that, I can promise I'll love you there too. I know I'm not perfect, but I love that you treat me like I am. I promise to be a light to guide you, a fire to warm you, and an embrace to hold you. I promise to wake you in the mornings and to help you rest at night. I promise to try my best to make everything easier. I promise not just to make you happy, but I also vow to delight in your happiness. Not just to meet our needs as a family, but to do so with the joy of understanding that even the most tedious parts of life aren't a burden, but a joy, as long as I spend my life with you. "I do" really means, "I will". I will dedicate myself to you. I will take your hand in a spirit of adventure. I will respect your decisions even when I might not agree with them. I will stand by you. I will love you and love growing old with you. You are my forever, my best friend, my dream come true, my shoulder to lean on, my husband. You are my everything. And you always will be." She says to me without hesitation nor a single stutter, and I clench my jaw to hold back from basically bursting into tears. I sniffle and wipe the forming tears with my fingers, and squeeze her hand, "Without you I am nothing - with you I am more than myself. And even though you over heard me say that last night, I'm gonna say it again. Because its the truth. I am the luckiest man alive - you are the bravest, most hilarious, most spectacular woman any man could ask for - and I did ask - and you thankfully said yes. And I asked you to be my wife because, well, in you I see everything I want to be. I love you not only for what you are, but for what you now make me - the best possible man I can be. Without you I am in darkness and with you I see only light. You are my true love. I will celebrate your triumphs, and love you all the more for your failures. I never would have imagined that out of all the people in this world, I would find someone as special as you. Take my hand. I promise to hold on tight. I promise to squeeze softly. And I promise to never let go." I pause, kissing her knuckles, "I promise to listen to your advice, even if I don't always take it. I promise to never keep score, even if I'm winning." I say getting a few laughs from beside us, and in the crowd. But more importantly, I get a laugh out of her. "You are the woman with whom I choose to spend the rest of my life. Every hour of every day, I pledge to be living for you and for the family we'll build together. When I'm with you everything else is moved into the background. You flood my senses. You are my life, my greatest gift, and after today, my loving wife. I vow to be everything you need, and lastly, I vow to love you forever, and a day." I tell her, looking straight into her hazel eyes, and I watch as a tear falls from one of them. I get the urge to wipe it away but, I fight it given her veil hasn't been lifted.
"And now, for the exchanging of the rings," The officiant says, and it's then Bellamy stands from being seated in the crowd and brings over a pillow with two rings on top. Natalie gasps once she sees him, and she immediately looks to me in surprise, I smile at her as I take her ring. "I give you this ring, a symbol of my love, as I give to you, all that I am, and accept from you, all that you are." I say, and I slide her diamond ring back onto her petite ring finger just as she picks up my ring. "I will forever wear this ring as a sign of my commitment and the desire of my heart, as I hope you'll do the same." She says to me, and I let her slide my wedding band back onto my ring finger. "And now, by the power vested in me and the City of Chicago, I hereby pronounce you both husband and wife." He pauses, looking over to me.
"You may kiss your bride." He finally adds, and I look over to Natalie, and pull her close. I take her veil, and lift it from over her face and throw it behind her. She sniffles, and smiles up at me. I wipe her falling tear, and her eyes flicker between my eyes and my lips, just like the first time I kissed her. And without any hesitation, I place my lips onto hers, and our friends and family burst into cheers and whistles.