"What do you think about this one here?" I cringed as Sinclair's mother held a long hot pink bridesmaid's dress with a big white bow on the front. Seeing my reaction, she laughed and hung it back on the rack. "I'm just teasing, dear." Over the last few weeks, Nevaeh and I were so close. We spent so much more time together, and I felt like she was finally starting to like me. Of course, we had our disagreeing times, but everyone did. I searched through the racks looking for the perfect dress, but I couldn't make up my mind. This wedding planning took so much out of me that I wasn't used to it. Noticing I was stressing out, Sinclair's mom rubbed my back before helping me look. "Relax, you have me remember." I smiled at her and then nodded before taking a deep breath. We started looking again, and after a few minutes, she held up a long red wine dress. "What do you think?" I looked over, and my eyes lit up, "Are you sure I have to wear white?"
She giggled and then gently laid the dress over her arm. "Now, don't you worry about getting everyone fitted. I have already scheduled an appointment for everyone. All you need to worry about is picking out that amazing dress." I smiled at her widely. She didn't realize how much stress she was taking off my shoulders. After we gave the dress to the tailor, he smiled and nodded. "Perfect, ladies, I can have these ready as soon as I get the sizes for everyone." We nodded and thanked him before walking out of the dress shop. I took a deep breath and sighed in relief, "Do you know if Sinclair has been to the tailor with the guys?" "Hehe, knowing him, he keeps putting it off." "Just remind him to go tomorrow, and if I have to, I'll drag them all there myself." I laughed as she put her arm around me, and we walked to the car. We drove back home, and once we arrived, we went to the kitchen, "Shall we start on lunch?" "Sounds fantastic!"
As Neveah started to pull out some things for lunch, I walked out back; seeing Sinclair and the guys outside playing basketball, I started smiling. "Foul!! Nope, give me that!" "Oh, hell no! That was clean!" I giggled, "You boys have nothing better to do?" "No, ma'am." I smiled when Sinclair came over and kissed me deeply while grabbing my butt. "Mmmm, I've missed you, baby girl." I bit my lip while looking into his eyes, "Speaking of babies, where are Elijah and Elena?" "Uhhh, sleeping in the living room…." "Alone…" He smiled nervously and scratched the back of his head. "I thought they'd be okay; I promise I didn't put them on the couch this time." I smiled softly and then kissed his forehead. "It's okay, babe." He kissed me again and then slapped my butt. His mother walked out and cleared her throat. "Manners Sinclair.." Sinclair quickly pulled away and kissed his mother's cheek. "I'm sorry, mother." He smiled nervously once more, then ran over to the guys.
"Octavia.." I nodded at her as we returned inside. I walked to the living room, and I smiled as the twins were asleep in their bassinets. I kissed them both before I went to the kitchen and started to prepare lunch. After an hour, the guys came inside, laughing and talking loudly. "Hey! No! The babies are sleeping, and I swear if you guys wake them up, the crying is not the only thing you'll have to deal with." "You heard the lady, now get upstairs and clean up for lunch." "Yes, ma'am" They all hurried up the stairs, and I smiled at Nevaeh as we set the table. Later that night, Sinclair and I sat in bed feeding Eli and Elena. "Seems like you and Mother are getting along fine." "Yeah, we are. It's nice to know that she is starting to like me for me." Sinclair smiled at me then he started to burp Elena. "And how's the wedding planning?" "Great, thanks for asking. Everything is going just perfectly! Oh, you and the guys must get fitted for your tuxes."
"About that… I have so many already. Why go and spend money, o-" I glared at him, "Uh yeah, how does 1:30 sound?" I smiled. "Sounds perfect." I kissed him before burping Eli and then walking into their room. I changed his diaper before laying him in his crib, and Sinclair did the same with Elena before turning off the light. We went back to our room and showered before climbing into bed. "Goodnight, honey." "Goodnight, Sinclair." I smiled and climbed into bed next to him. Laying my head on his chest, I slowly drifted to sleep. Months later, the wedding planning was coming together. Everyone was fitted for their dress, decorations were picked, and the venue was booked. The only thing that was left was picking out the bride's dress. Meredith, Nevaeh, and I spent hours every day looking through catalogs. "What about this one?" "Um, it looks more like a cotton ball." We laughed, "Octavia, it has been almost six months." "I know, I know. I'm sorry, I'm so picky."
They both smiled at each other and then stood up. "Well, we decided to come together and pick one for you. Maybe it was a mistake, but we think you'd like this one dress we picked." "You guys.." "Don't say anything yet." I smiled softly as Meredith walked off, and Nevaeh came over, covering my eyes. "Are you ready?" "Yes! Just show me!" They laughed, and Nevaeh slowly moved her hands from my eyes. I looked up at the dress seeing, a long white lace mermaid dress with a long train. "Oh my gosh…." "Don't just sit there. Go try it on!" I laughed as I jumped up and grabbed the dress. Walking to the bathroom, I took a deep breath the changed. After a few minutes, I walked out and looked at them both. For a minute, they just stood there looking at me until I couldn't take the silence. "Well, say something! How do I look?" They both smiled widely, "Like a queen." I smiled as Nevaeh grabbed my hand and pulled me to the mirror.
I looked at myself up and down in amazement, "Wow…" "Hmph looks like we have great taste." They high-fived, and I smiled at how the dress hugged my body. The beautiful details were nothing less than perfect. I slowly turned around to look at the open back and long train. "This dress is so perfect, oh I couldn't have chosen better myself!" I hugged them tightly, and suddenly we heard a car door close. "Oh god, that's Sinclair! Get to the bathroom!" I hurried to the bathroom and closed the door as Sinclair walked in. "Hello, you two lovely ladies. How are you two?" "Wonderful, thanks for asking!" "Where is my wonderful wife?" "She's changing. We finally found the dress; now you go upstairs and quit being nosey." I pressed my ear against the door, and after I heard Sinclair walk upstairs, I quickly changed and ran my dress out to Meredith. She put it back on the cover and then gave it to Nevaeh. "I'll keep this safe and sound." I smiled at them both excitedly. I was nothing more than ready to walk down this aisle.
Two months later, I was sitting in the back room of the ballroom venue, getting my make up professionally done. "Are you excited?" "Very!" I smiled as I heard all the bridesmaids rushing around and getting ready. After my makeup was done, I got up and dressed. Looking in the mirror, I smiled widely. "You look like a million bucks." I smiled at Nevaeh through the mirror, "Okay, bridesmaids follow me, please. Once we get to the corridor, please line up with your groomsman." Everyone left the room, and I took a deep breath as I slowly paced the floor. Meredith walked in, and she smiled as she grabbed my hands. "There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of." I smiled and nodded at her as we heard the music start to play. I knew that right about this time, Sinclair was walking in with his mother, followed by the groomsmen and bridesmaids.
I stood on the small stage nervously and wiped my hands repeatedly due to the amount of sweat. "You good, Sin?" I turned and nodded at my brother as he smiled at me. I looked at everyone walking in and waited anxiously to see my beautiful wife. So much emotion was running through me as I watched the doors close, and after a minute, everyone stood. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply before lifting my head to the door.
I walked down the corridor with James, and I smiled as we stopped at the closed doors. "Take a deep breath. I'll be right here the whole time." I nodded at him as soft music started to play. The doors slowly opened, and I looked at everyone smiling at me. I smiled softly as I walked down the aisle with James holding my arm tightly.
I looked up at Octavia as the doors opened; seeing her in her dress made me so emotional as I started crying. I turned away and wiped my tears, then looked back at her and my father, smiling. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and just minutes away, she'd be my wife.
I walked down the aisle, and all I could think about was, 'Don't trip. Don't trip.' As I looked over at Sinclair smiling, all my worries went away. I kept my eyes locked on him. When I made my way to the stage, James passed my hand to Sinclair. He helped me up the stairs as we looked into each other's eyes. This was the start of true happiness. "Friends, we have joined here today to share with Octavia and Sinclair an important moment in their lives. During their time together, they have seen their love and understanding of each other grow and blossom, and now they have decided to live out the rest of their lives as one. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together - let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
A large smile spread across my face as we kept our eyes locked. "Octavia, please repeat after me. "I, Octavia, take you, Sinclair, to be my husband, my partner in life, and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, heart, and love from this day forward for as long as we shall live." I repeated after him as Sinclair rubbed my hand. "Now you, Sinclair." "I, Sinclair, take you, Octavia, to be my wife, my partner in life, and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, heart, and love from this day forward for as long as we shall live."
I smiled widely as he repeated after him, and I wanted to pull him close and kiss him. "May we have the rings, please?" Sinclair's best friend stepped up and handed us both the rings. "Repeat after me. I, Sinclair, give you, Octavia, this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you." Sinclair repeated after him then I did the same. "By the power vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Sinclair pulled me close and kissed me like it was the last time we'd ever kiss again. Everyone cheered as Sinclair and I pulled away, smiling widely. "I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Russell." We kissed again and then walked down the aisle together happily. Nothing could take this feeling away from me. I was now Mrs. Octavia Russell.