- 9 6 -

- H E A T H E R - E L I A S -

"Careful!" I yell and swiftly turn away from the two servers carrying heaps of plates in their hands, scurrying off to the backyard all the while muttering apologies to me.

I hear a chuckle and turn my head to see Ivan sauntering up to me.

"Wouldn't it be a sight to see all the plates crashing down on you." He muses and I roll my eyes at his vivid imagination and cross my arms.

"What do you want, lap dog? Shouldn't you be with the groom?" I raise a brow and he stuffs his hands into his pockets.

"I'm ready, aren't I?" He asks and my eyes go over his crisp blue suit, white button down with the first two buttons open and the lone baby pink rose in his breast pocket.

"The groom, Ivan." I remind and he shrugs.

"He's ready to piss his pants." He stops right in front of me and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"That nervous?" I ask as I look up at him while his eyes look into mine curiously and he slowly hums.

"What about the blushing bride?" He asks and I point upstairs.

"Getting ready,"

"And you?"

"I'm ready, aren't I?" I mock and his eyes look me over, my matching blue satin dress, natural make up and the elegant low bun with pink flowers in it.

"Do you need help?" He asks but I shake my head, mentally ticking off everything that needed to be done for the reception.

"Everything's done and ready, all we need is the couple now." I tell him and he nods.

"You look beautiful, by the way." He says and clears his throat, making me smile.

"Aw, aren't you a cutie. You look pretty too." I coo at him and pull his cheek when he slaps my hand away with a grumble.

"Alright, alright." He mutters and rolls his eyes as he takes a step back.

"Where's your man?" He looks around.

"He'll meet us at the church, like the other guests." I remind him and he nods just as someone calls for me.

"And that is my cue to escort the blushing bride, and yours to get the groom." I say and he grins, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as we both make our way upstairs.

"Who knew he'd get married." Ivan mutters and I laugh softly with a nod.

"It is surprising, I thought he'd die alone." I say when a throat is cleared.

"Now that's not very nice of you." Anton narrows his eyes at the two of us from on top of the stairs and I grin, going up to him to hug him, nearly crashing down with him.

"Easy there, darling." He chuckles and pecks my head, hugging me back.

"He's not wrong, though." I say as we pull back and Anton shrugs.

"Proved you all wrong though, didn't I?" He says smugly and Ivan and I share a knowing look with a grin before the two men go downstairs and I make my way to the room where all the girls are.

"How are we doing, ladies?" I say as I enter the room and all eyes turn to me.

"Heather!" Lily envelops me in a hug and I smile as I hug her back, my eyes meeting Lilac's who smiles in greeting.

"I feel sick." Ana mutters, a hand on her little bump which isn't even visible because of how puffy her dress is and I move towards her, rubbing her back softly.

"Can I get you anything, medicine? Water? Did you eat?" I ask in concern when she chuckles and pats my arm.

"I ate, drank water and took my medicine, don't worry. I'm just really nervous. What if I lose interest halfway down the aisle?" She mumbles in horror and I purse my lips as a laugh nearly escapes me.

"New fear unlocked, ladies and gentleman." Jane speaks from a side as she applies nail colour onto her nails and I chuckle.

"I'm sure you won't lose interest and even if you did, I'm sorry to tell you this that Anton won't let you. He's clingy as fuck and will probably pitch a fit until you marry him." I say and she chuckles, shaking her head.

"Sounds just like him." She says and sighs heavily when I put a hand on her shoulder.

"For what it's worth Ana, Anton really does love you, and he'll never let you down. But even if he does, you have me to kill him." I wink at her and she laughs.

"Thanks, Thea, that means a lot. When do we leave?" She asks and I glance at my phone and smile.

"Right now."

"You're supposed to hold my arm, Thea." Ivan hisses and I glare at him.

"I'm not clutching on to you like a damsel in distress." I say and he huffs.

"It's how it's done, woman!" He throws his hands up in exasperation and Zarina and Zephyr chuckle from behind us.

We're currently standing in a line, all the bridesmaids and groomsmen, waiting for the church doors to open to make our entry.

"Roman will kill you." I say and he smirks.

"I look forward to it." He says and I shake my head as he snatches my arm and loops it through his just as the heavy and large doors open.

I'm met with the breath-taking view of the altar at the end of the aisle, the flowers decorated everywhere and people sitting in the seats.

Both Ivan and I start to slowly make our way towards the forward as the music rings in my ears and I dig my nails into his arm with a fake smile plastered on my face.

"Stop that." He hisses quietly and I do an evil chuckle in my head but then nearly cry when he deliberately steps on my foot.

"Asshole."

"Language, devushka, we're in church." (Young lady) He says lowly and I grumble, stepping on his foot just to get even when he pinches me and I huff in pain.

"I'm going to kill you—"

"Dearly beloved, we have gathered—" The priest starts as soon as we reach the altar and both mine and Ivan's eyes widen in horror as we look at each other.

I hear whispers in the church and my eyes meet Roman's in the second row, wide and surprised as they look at me.

"— join this man and this woman in holy matrimony." The priest finishes and looks at us.

"What the fuck is happening?" Ivan says and the priest glares at him.

"Excuse me, young man, this the church, you cannot just—" He is cut off by an angry voice.

"Why the fuck is he marrying my woman?" Roman stands up and we all look at him.

"You young men need to control your—"

"I'm not marrying this thing!" Ivan sputters and I step back, offended, with a hand on my heart and a dramatic gasp.

"You were fine with marrying me a few months ago, asshole!" I say and the priest puts a hand on his heart.

"Oh my heart—" He says dramatically and Alex pulls Ivan back the collar.

"Get the fuck back and you—" He points to Roman, "Sit the fuck down."

Alex then looks towards the priest.

"These are not the bride and groom, you old fuck, she's not even wearing a bridal dress!"

"Times and fashion have changed, how was I to know who the bride is? They wear dresses in every colour nowadays!" The priest says in exasperation and I facepalm internally.

"What the fuck is going on?" Anton marches in furiously, all dressed to the nines in a three piece back suit and a baby blue flower in his breast pocket as he walks up to the altar.

"You lot need to wash your mouths with soap and you—" He points to Ivan and Alex and then Roman, "Need an exorcism."

He narrows his eyes and I hold in my laugh as Anton speaks to the priest in a low voice whose eyes widen and he nods hastily.

"Of course, Mr. Elias, my apologies." He pushes his glasses up his nose as we all take our places, but not before Anton throws us all a glare and I smile sheepishly at him before moving to my place.

Just then, little Anya walks in, dressed up in an adorable blue puffy dress with a tiara on her head as she throws rose petals on the aisle, skipping to Nikolai afterwards and everybody stands up when the bride stands at the doors with my father beside her.

The sight brings tears to my eyes and I remember Ana telling me how her father was never in the picture and she'd rather forget him because he was a monster.

As for her mother, she died during childbirth, so I was happy she looked up to our dad as her father figure.

I hear Anton suck in a sharp breath and smile at him warmly before my eyes connect with Roman's green ones and my breath is knocked out of my lungs the longer we keep eye contact.

I don't realise when Ana comes to stand at the altar, or when they say their I do's, because all I see is my Roman mouthing the words 'I love you' to me and I smile, wiping a stray tear as I mouth them back to him.

A handful of cheers makes me look at the newly wedded couple holding hands as Anton pecks her forehead and I realise I missed nearly the whole thing.

"Come along now." Ivan holds his arm out to me and I begrudgingly take it and glare at hm.

"Can you believe it, us getting married?" He mutters and I laugh at what happened just moments ago and shake my head.

"Such an absurd idea. I wonder who'd kill who first." I say and he throws me a grin.

"It is an absurd idea." He says and his grin slowly fades into a small yet warm smile as he looks up at me, my own smile becoming softer.

"Preposterous." I mumble and look away with a grin as I squeeze his arm once.

"Ridiculous." He mumbles back and we make our way to the cars to go back home where the reception will be when I'm intercepted by Roman.

"Angel." He takes my hand and twirls me, making me laugh as I crash into his chest.

Standing on my tip toes, I join my lips with his and his hands wrap around my waist to pull me closer as he tilts his head and kisses me back.

"Were you getting married to that Russian bastard?" He asks with a raised brow when I grin sheepishly.

"The priest misunderstood, don't worry Rome, I'll only ever want to marry you." I say and he smirks, pecking my lips a few times.

"Damn right." He mutters and I grin slyly.

"Unless you die, obviously, I'll have to consider someone else then." I say with a straight face when his own falls and he narrows his eyes at me in a glare.

"Say that again, angel, I dare you." He challenges and I smile sweetly before kissing his cheek.

"I'm joking, baby girl, relax." I run my hands down his shoulders and he scowls.

"I'm not a baby girl." He snaps and I laugh as I take his hand and we both walk to his car.

"'Course you are, cupcake." I tease and he slaps my ass, making me gasp and stop in my tracks.

"You were saying, baby girl?" He nips at my lip playfully and I smack his arm as I walk towards his car and sit down, closing the door in his face.

He gets into the driver's seat and starts, throwing me a smug grin.

"Why the long face?" He asks and I glower at him.

"Don't smack my ass in public, you're lucky my brothers weren't around." I say and he scoffs.

"Like they can lay a hand on me." He says smugly and I sigh, knowing he's right as his hand comes to rest on my thigh, our fingers intertwining.

"I love you." He says sweetly and I smile discreetly, looking out the window.

"Love me?" He asks in an adorable voice and I roll my eyes, biting the inside of my cheek to stop my smile as I turn to look at him.

"I love you a little bit." I sass and he chuckles, gripping tightly onto my hand as we make our way to the reception as I turn the air conditioner up because of the heat outside.

"This is all so lovely, Heather." Ana hugs me and I beam as I look around and nod.

"Can't believe it all came together so well." I say and she chuckles.

"Well I do believe it, and I always did, you have a knack for organising things like this and interior design, don't you?" She asks and I shrug.

"It's what I studied, but my real passion is—"

"Dancing?" She smiles knowingly and I nod, taking a sip of my drink as I remember mom and Ana squeezes my hand.

"She'd be proud of you." She says quietly and I nod with a grateful smile just as Anton walks up to us.

"May I have your first dance, Mrs. Elias?" He asks with a smug grin and Ana giggles as I push her forward.

"You may, Mr. Elias." She responds and they both smile like the lovesick idiots they are as they dance to the song and everyone looks at them with warm smiles while I gag.

"They look so beautiful together." Jane sniffles from beside me and I chuckle as I wrap and arm around her and she puts her head on my shoulder.

"Aren't we lucky bitches?" She sniffles and I follow her gaze to Enzo who winks at her and my eyes drift to Roman who watches me with a soft look in his eyes.

"We sure are." I say as Roman starts to walk towards me and Jane straightens up.

"You're going to get fucked tonight." She whispers and I snort, covering my mouth with my palm as she winks at me and saunters away to Enzo just as Roman reaches me.

"Dance with me?" He asks and I nod, putting my drink away.

"I'd love to." I say and he takes my hand, leading me to the dance floor where Ana and Anton look at me and smile which I return before facing Roman, I wrap my arms around his neck while his go around my waist.

"You look beautiful tonight. You always do, my angel." He puts his forehead against mine and I sigh happily.

"You look amazing too." I say and he grins before looking around us.

"You think anyone will notice if we went missing?" He asks and I raise a sceptical brow.

"Yes." I say and his face falls.

"Why? What did you have in mind?" I ask when he shrugs.

"I wanted to fuck you." He says casually and my eyes widen as I hush him.

"Quiet, Roman! My god, you really do need to wash you mouth and get an exorcism." I say and he rolls his eyes before squeezing my ass, making me gasp.

"I saw that you sneaky little bitch!" Alex shouts at Roman from across the dancefloor and I muffle my laugh into Roman's chest who grins smugly.

"You were meant to, stronzo." Roman tells him and Alex huffs before glaring at the two of us and I chuckle.

"When is it our turn?" Roman asks after a while and I frown.

"For what?"

"Getting married." He says and I smile softly, smoothing out his blazer as the song comes to an end.

"Aren't you eager." I tease and he grunts.

"Eager to make you my wife." He speaks lowly and I blush, tucking my face in his chest as his arm goes around me while he chuckles deeply.

"I'm still 19." I whisper up to him when he grins down at me.

"Not after three days, you won't be." He reminds me of my upcoming birthday and I smile as a more upbeat song comes on.

"Come on, dance with me." I pull his hand but he doesn't move an inch and I pout.

"Please, Rome!" I pout and show him my best puppy eyes and he scowls after a few moments.

"These damned eyes fucked me over." He grabs my chin and lowers his lips onto mine as I hold onto his hand cupping my face, the other on his chest as our lips move against one another.

He parts my lips with his tongue and tastes every part of me as a small moan escapes my mouth and his other hand tightens around my waist as he ravages me.

"Get a room, you two!" Zephyr shouts from somewhere and I laugh as I pull away and Roman glares at a grinning Zephyr before I pull him along with me.

"Dance with me, Roman!" I say and he sighs heavily, shaking his head as I hold his hands and sway, forcing him to move along with me.

Taking me by surprise, he twirls me and I laugh, squealing when he picks me up and spins me in the air before lowering me and I loop my arms around his neck.

"Two months," I say breathlessly, a big smile on my face, "Till fall."

"And then we get married?" He asks in an adorable voice and I nod, kissing his jaw.

"And then we get married." I affirm and he smiles, dancing with me without me having to force him and my chest swells with love for his man every time our eyes meet and our lips join together.

Not long after the cake is cut and I obviously eat Roman's share as well as mine, champagne bottles are popped and we bust out our moves on the dancefloor.

When the reception comes to an end, it's time to toss the bouquet, all the single ladies crowd behind the bride as she swings to toss it.

"Thea, get over here!" Ana shouts for me but I shake my head and show her the diamond on my finger.

"I'm already engaged!" I laugh, stumbling a bit because of all the drinks I had.

Jane and Zarina pull me along anyway and when the bouquet is tossed, I'm too drunk to even try to catch it which is why it smacks me straight in the face and I fall back on my ass.

"Ouch." I mutter, rubbing my face as two strong arms lift me up bridal style and I take a hold of the flowers with one hand and wrap the other arm around Roman's neck as I squeal.

"Yay! We're getting married, bitches!" I exclaim and everyone erupts into laughter as I lean my head onto Roman's shoulder and smile up at him.

"Damn right we are." He mutters and hold me in his arms as Ana and Anton wave us goodbye before heading off to their car to get to the airport for their honeymoon.

"Don't get double pregnant!" I shout drunkenly and Ana laughs as she turns to wave at me, her free hand secured in Anton's.

"And you don't get pregnant either!" She yells back and I laugh heartily as they get inside the car and drive off.

"Can we go home now? My feet are hurting." I whine and Roman's smiles down at me and begins to lead me back to my house when I start wiggling around in his arms.

"Not my house, your house! Our future house!" I clarify and he smirks, not even taking a second to turn right back around and strap me in into his car before we leave.

"Love you, Romy." I mutter as I take his hand in mine and curl up on the seat when I feel his lips press on my hand gently.

"Love you more, angel."