~Jade's POV~
Tobias pulls away, and our friends and family do standing ovations. He takes my hand, and leads me down the aisle. Tori, Ben, Bell, Gen, and Will all throw white and red rose petals at me and Tobias as we went by each of their rows. And the whole way down the aisle, my attention mainly stayed glued onto Tobias. Just like this smile on my face, glued.
We make it down the aisle, and out of the ceremony hall, and into the recessional room. Which of course was decorated the same as the ceremony hall. White, with hints of red. Tobias spins me around once we get on the dance floor, and the musicians -who of which transitioned to the recessional room during the ceremony-, started back up. They play the sweetest, and softest tune, a tune perfect for a first dance.
He pulls me close with one hand on my waist, and takes the other, just as Miles did yesterday. I get my footing together, and place my other hand on his shoulder, and he swiftly starts us off just as everyone from the crowd and altar surrounds the dance floor. At first, I kept my head laying against his shoulder, until certain part of the song began. He pulls away, with one of my hands still in his, and spins me around. I laugh and spin all the way around, back into his arms.
He smiles down at me and pulls me even closer than before, so close I could rest my chin on his shoulder. I close my eyes for a bit as we sway, and when I open them again, I spot my mother and father clung to one another. Both with tears in their eyes. My bottom lip pokes out for a moment, before I smile at the both of them. They of course, smile back.
Tobias dips me just as the song ends, and everyone claps and cheers. He kisses my neck whilst lifting me from the dip. The musicians play another song, and I see the crowd pair up and join in on the dance floor. Tobias holds me close, and I watch over his shoulder. I see my mother and father, Miles and Grace, Liam and Lauren, along with Christina and Will.
All dancing, just as I pictured it. I smile to myself, and close my eyes, still swaying with Tobias. Just then, Tobias pulls away. I open my eyes to see my parents, "I hope you don't mind if we switch off." My father says to Tobias, and he smiles, "No, not at all." He tells him, taking my mother's hand, and kissing her knuckles and swiftly spinning her to the center of the dance floor. My father takes my hand, and pulls me close. I lay my head on his shoulder, and sink into the music, and not to mention, the moment.
"Y'know," My dad starts up, "It still feels like just yesterday I was dancing with you standing on my feet." He says with emotion coating his voice, and I lift my head from his shoulder with a pout on my face. "Awww daddy," I say, and I wipe away one of his tears. "You're still my little girl, you hear?" He asks, and we laugh a bit together. "Dad, I love what you see of me but, I'm not little anymore." I tell him, and he rolls his eyes a little, smiling of course. He eventually sighs, "Oh I know, I mean, look at you, beautiful, mature, and need I say, upcoming leader of a whole faction. You're growing up, I know." He says, tucking a loose curl behind my ear.
"But there's nothing you could say to get me to change my view of you. You're my only girl. The only daughter I'll ever have." He continues, and I smile wider. "You're getting all soft on me dad." And I make him laugh, "Okay okay, what I'm trying to say is that," he pauses, "I love you. And I always will." He finishes, kissing my forehead. He leaves me to go use the men's room, and I venture off to the refreshment table. The table right next to the cake table. I gasp at the five tier masterpiece as I grab a drink.
I sip my drink and walk around the round table, admiring the cake. "Do you like it?" I hear a familiar voice say from behind me, and I turn. It's Onika, Max's wife, "Like it? More like love it! It absolutely perfect Onika." I tell her, and we side hug as we admire her work. "There must be something me and Tobias can do to repay you for all of this." I say, and she shakes her head. "Nonsense dear, it was my pleasure. Repay me by enjoying your big day, speaking of which, where on earth is your groom?" She asks me, and look over to the dance floor to spot him still swaying and talking with my mother.
Onika looks over and sees as well, "Ahh, Tobias as always, being a gentlemen. And over the years of knowing him, I can definitely say, you've found yourself a good one hun." She says right before squeezing my hand, and walking away. I walk back over the refreshment table and refill my drink, and I feel someone walking up behind me. I turn, and I'm faced with Ben, and I smile instantly. "What's the bride doing over here all alone?" He asks, and I lift up my drink, "Just thirsty is all." I answer with, and he suddenly takes my drink and sets it down, right before taking my hand. He pulls me to the dance floor, and pulls me close.
And we sway along to the music, to and fro. Strange isn't it. I'm dancing at my wedding, with the guy I was apparently going to be with, if I hadn't met Tobias when I did. My childhood bestfriend. Benjamin Jeremy Blake.
I absolutely love my childhood bestfriend but, not like I love Tobias. I'm just so happy, and grateful, that he's here. And that my husband is the one that invited him, despite past confrontations. "I'm so glad you're here." I tell him, smiling up at him. He smiles down at me, "So am I. We have your husbands change of heart to thank for making my presence and this dance possible." He says, "I hate to admit it," I pause, "But you're not wrong." I respond.
"But honestly, I'm just glad you two can finally be in the same room together and not ensue into a death match." I add, making him laugh. "But if we're being honest," he glances off towards Gen, "I'm glad we can too." He tells me, and I smile. Just then, my brother Miles comes up beside us, with his eyes glued to Ben. See now, the whole situation between these two has yet to been solved. But I plan to try and change that today.
"Benjamin." My brother greets bitterly, "Miles." Ben mutually greets. "I'm gonna steal my sister now, and I usually would say if you don't mind but personally, I don't care if you mind." My brother sourly expresses, and he tries to take my hand. I grab his hand back but, when he tries to pull me away, I stand my ground and keep him planted. "I just have one question for the both of you." I say, and they both nod for me to go on. "Could you two ever be friends again, like we used to be before we left Amity? Can I just know who's willing and who's not willing to just try, one more time?" I ask, and they look one another in the eyes.
"You already know I am Nat, and you already know who isn't." Ben says, not breaking the eye contact with Miles. When he finally does, he kisses my cheek and squeezes my hand before walking away. "Bubbie, will you ever be able to forgive him?" I ask my older brother just as he pulls me close to dance. "I don't know, maybe, maybe not. He was literally my bestfriend, and he went behind my back. It hurts to just see him and her here." He tells me, and I see the hurt in his eyes. "Oh I'm so sorry Miles, Tobias wanted to surprise me." I explain, and he shakes his head, "I know, I gave myself a heads up when I read his mind yesterday." He says, tapping his temple.
Suddenly, I feel someone coming up close to the both of us on the dance floor. It was my other brother and Grace, dancing as well. "Spin switch me bro." Liam says, and next thing I know I'm being spun passed an also spinning Grace, ending up in my youngest brother's arms. And I looked to see Grace being caught by Miles. "Hi big sissy," My brother greets, pulling me close.
"Hi little bubbie." I respond, and he gives me this certain expression. The expression where I know he's had a vision of me. "You had a vision of me didn't you?" I ask him, and he nods. "And lemme guess you can't tell me anything about it, can you?" I also ask, and he nods once again. I suck my teeth, "Why do you always do this? Make me curious, for what?" I ask him, "Because it's fun, but honestly, half the time it's because it's something I could do to get the ball, aka my visions, rolling." He answers with, and I look away and huff.
He hooks my chin with his pointer finger and thumb, and makes me meet eyes again. Hazel on Hazel. "But there is one thing I can show you, rather than tell. Do you want to see it?" He asks, and I smile wide before nodding. "Alright here, rest your head on my shoulder while we dance, it's kind of a long one." He instructs and I do as I'm told. "Now," He pauses, "Close your eyes." He says, and the second I do, I'm put into a pitch blackness, but only for a moment.
~
"Tobias sweetheart, come down here!" I hear and see myself yell in this obvious vision of my brother's. I was in my beloved new apartment, downstairs. But I look at myself, like, really look at myself. And I quirk at how different I seemed. I looked vibrant, grown, and ... glowing?
I wonder why as I see someone walking down my spiral stairs, already knowing well that it was my husband. Or so I thought. A ... little boy comes running down the stairs, and tackles me into a big hug. A little boy no older than five, tops. Curly brown hair, button nose, and if I'm not mistaken, I think he has two differently colored eyes; like that one initiate, Andrew.
"Woah there junior, you gotta be gentle with mommy remember? She's still making your sister in here." Future me refers to herself, and I gasp, noticing my bump. "Or brother." I hear and see Tobias say, as he walks up to both me and our son. My love crouched down behind our son, and hugged him from behind, putting their cheeks together as he tickled him. My heart had already melted when I saw my son hug me so, at the moment, my heart lays bubbling in a puddle. I admire how much they look alike.
Future me then kneels down in front of both my son and husband, and Tobias extends his arm, and places his hand on my bump. While the other, remained wrapped lovingly around our son, "Mommy, daddy, can I hwave both?" Our son asks us, and future me asks him what he means. "I mwean like, can I hwave a brober and a swister?" He asks more clearly, and me and Tobias look at one another and smile. "Maybe honey, remember, it's not up to us. And we won't know how many are in here until either he or she or both, are ready to meet us." I remind him, and he makes this cute little 'ohh' face, just like Tobias. "When will they be weady Mommy?" He asks me, and I pinch his itty bitty little cheek, "soon, my love, very soon."
~
I open my eyes, still clung to and swaying with my brother. I pull away from his shoulder, and look him in the eyes. "Just a little something, consider it my wedding gift." He tells me, wiping an apparent tear that formed and fell from my eye. "Thank you bubbie, so much." I tell him, giving him a big tight hug around the neck. "Like literally, I love you so much for that." I tell him in his ear, "Show Tobias that when you get the chance, he'll love to see it." I add, and he pulls away. "Will do sis, but I think we all have a dinner to eat first."
~After Dinner~
I see everyone surrounding the wedding cake, including my husband. Liam escorts me over, and I bite my lip in anticipation. "I've brought the bride, now, I'm pretty sure you two know what to do." Liam announces, looking to me and Tobias. Tobias nods and sets down his champagne glass, takes my hand, and pulls me into a hug from behind. A sweet, snuggly, tight hug.
Just like the one he gave our future son, in the vision. I kiss his cheek, right before Onika hands me a big knife. I take it, and look behind my shoulder at my love, and he places his hand over mine with the knife. "Hold that pose, I want pictures!" My aunt says, holding her camera. Tobias places his other hand on my waist, and we both smile, cheek to cheek.
My aunt takes the picture, and Tobias kisses my cheek right back. We settle the knife at the base tier of the cake, and we cut not once, but twice, to make an even slice. He slides the knife under the slice, and I hold it with a single finger on top so it wouldn't fall as we placed it on the plate beside the cake. He picks up the plate, along with a fork, and picks up a little piece of cake from our slice. He looks to me, and I open my mouth, and he feeds me the first bite.
And of course, I pick up a fork, and feed him the second. Our friends and family whistle and cheer, just as someone decided to plop icing all onto my nose. I gasp with a forming smile and look over to my laughing husband, who of which had icing on his fingers. I snuck some icing as he was laughing, and gave him a taste of his own medicine. He finally opens his eyes with a gasp as well, and he tries to lick the some the fell near his mouth, making me laugh.
I use my clean hand to pull him to me by his tie, and kiss him, messy faces and all. We pull away, but I keep his tie in hand, "I love you." I tell him, and he smiles wide. "I love you more." He responds, as always. He grabs me a napkin to clean up, and then one for himself. I clean up my face while trying to not mess up my makeup as best as possible.
Tobias takes his champagne glass and taps a fork against it to get everyone's attention, and both me and him thank every single person for coming. Lauren lifts her glass, "To Natalie and Tobias, a couple that we all know, admire, and love with all our hearts. May you always have walls for the wind, a roof for the rain, tea by the fire, laughter to cheer you up, and everything that your heart desires." She toasts, melting a few hearts, "And may you get so many wedding gifts, that you don't realize none are from me." Alex chimes in with, lifting his glass, getting a laugh out of everyone. Max clears his throat, "To the groom: Early in your marriage you will find it difficult to get the last word in any discussion. With time, though, you will learn how to always get the last two words in every discussion â just make sure the words are 'Yes dear'." He toasts, earning laughs from all the gentlemen in the room, and snickers from the ladies. "I second that toast." My father says, "May your love be like misty rain, gentle coming in but flooding the river. Let's also drink to love, which is nothingâunless it's divided by two." Will throws his toast in, making both me and Tobias laugh and smile. "Here's to the bride â may she share everything with her husband...and that includes the housework!" My mother-in-law says raising her glass as well, inevitably making me giggle, "You know it." I respond throughout the 'ooo's' and 'ahh's', and Tobias rolls his eyes.
"I second that toast." My mother says, looking my father up and down. I admire my mother's pettiness. "Natalie, for as long as I have known you, -which would basically be my whole life-, you have always been someone who has been able to find the joy in everything. I am so glad that you can share this ability to see the joy in everything with Tobias. May your life together be joyous and full of love." Miles toasts from beside me, and I move to give him a hug. "May the two of you be poor in misfortune and rich in blessings. Here is to a wonderful wedding day and an even more marvelous marriage." Liam toasts, "I have one final piece of advice for you two lovebirds though: Never stop loving, never stop living, and definitely never stop laughing, even when the jokes are lame." He adds, and everyone lifts their glasses, before taking a drink. After the toasts, everyone proceeds to the dance floor for one last thing.
Well, almost everyone. I see Eric near the refreshment table, and once I see that my husband is occupied, I immediately head over. "Hey Eric," I greet and he turns to me with an instant smile. "Hey Natalie, I was actually going to come talk to you." He tells me, meeting me halfway, "oh yeah? What about?" I ask, and he runs a hand through his blonde hair. "Yeah what about?" I hear someone come up from behind me say.
My husband, and for once, both of their smiles stayed on their faces as they made eye contact with one another. Probable fake smiles but, it's progress. "Oh I was just going to congratulate her on her big day before I decided to head out is all, but now, I can say congrats to the both of you. And despite the past, I can now say, I'm truly happy for you guys." He tells us, "Thank you so much Eric, but how come you're leaving so soon?" I ask him, and he smiles wide, "oh no reason, just that I have a beautiful date nearly waiting for me. Hope you don't mind me leaving early." - "Oh no, of course not, you go get her tiger!" I tell him, giving him a hug, and he hugs me back. I walk him out, demanding details on how it went when I see him again. Once Eric was gone I walk back over to my husband.
My obviously very withdrawn husband. "Alright, spit it out, you hate that he was here don't you?" I ask him, and he just stares into my eyes. "You bet I do." He answers under his breath, and I sigh as a frown forms onto my face. Over the last month I've been trying to get Tobias to see that Eric is changing. Or at least get him to see he is capable of change.
But given their past, I don't think I'll ever get him to see. "But, I'll admit one thing," he starts back up, "He's changing," I stand corrected, "and he's changing because of you. This Eric I'm seeing now is starting to remind me of how he used to be. When we were friends." He tells me, and I smile, hope flooding my heart. "And although I don't mind him near you, nor don't I mind playing it cool with him for your sake," he pauses, "I don't think I could ever, truly, be friends with him again. Especially after all he's done." He confesses, and that frown finds its way back. But I understand. There's resentment behind all this.
Eric is the man that bossed him around for years. Eric is the man that Elaina cheated on him with. Eric is the man that tried to force me and Tobias apart. There are many reasons as to why my love could never really be friends with Eric again, and I understand. So I tell him just that.
***
"You know what time it is ladies!" I yell holding my bouquet up. All the females in the room nearly shriek, and they instantly push all the men off the dance floor, and behind me. With the exception of Alex, since he had Melody on his shoulders. Tobias tried to protest but, I stopped him. I also see Tori, Lauren, my aunt, Christina, Grace, Gen, and Akala.
I try to wave my mother along with Onika over to join, and they both tap their left ring finger, both of which laid rings. "Party poopers! What about you Evelyn?" I asked her from nearly across the room, she shakes her head with a smile, "Thank you, but I'm good off that hun." She says, joining all the men behind me to watch. I turn around to face the men, and I hold the bouquet in front of me with two hands. "On three, ready?" I ask looking behind me, and they all nod. I face the men again, "One . . . Two . . . Three!" I yell but, I don't throw the bouquet.
I turn around with it, and walk towards the crowd of females. And I lay my eyes on Christina, and pull her out the crowd, placing the bouquet in her hands. She looks at me confused, until I turned her around to face Will. Who of which stayed hidden behind the crowd of ladies. He whispers sweet-nothings into her ear, just before dropping down on one knee, and pulling out a ring.
Christina stood shocked with a hand over her mouth, "Christina, before I met you, I knew nothing about love. In fact, I treated love like a astronomically difficult scientific equation, clueless on how to figure it out. But you've made me realize love isn't about numbers and graphs and such. It's about one connection, between two people. A connection much like the one witnessed here today." He says, and he looks over to me and Tobias. He hugs me from behind as we smile at the both of them. "And I feel like we have that connection so, unscientifically speaking," He pauses, "will you do me the honor, of becoming my wife?" He proposes, and my heart melts in my chest. Chris smiles as she wipes a few tears from her face, "Of course I'll be your wife you nerd." She answers, and the audience bursts out into cheers, including me and Tobias.
***
"Goodnight! I love you guys." I yell to my brother's after hugging our parents and friends goodbye. Me and Tobias then head home, to our apartment. And apparently Tobias noticed that I was holding my dress, to keep from dragging because, next thing I knew I was getting picked up. And yes, bridal style. "Woah, well thank you husband." I tell him, wrapping an arm around his neck.
"You're welcome wife." He responds, kissing my neck. "I can't believe I get to call you that now." I say, and he smiles as we turn down the A corridor. "You better believe it. You're officially all mine." He says, and I smile. "Natalie Jade Eaton. No turning back." He says, and I shake my head. "Trust me, I don't want to turn back." I tell him, just as we get to our door. He opens it, and carries me through.