26 Part Twenty-Six

I was really nervous as I was walking down the stairs. I didn't know what was going on around me. I felt like I was having a panic attack.

For a moment I couldn't breathe and Anaisa saw that. So we stopped before walking towards the doors. "Okay Nikky. You have to take deep breaths. It's going to be alright. You are going to marry someone you love and you should happy for that". Hearing those words, I started to breathe again. I felt more confident now. I was going to marry the love of my life.

The music started to begin and I watched every body one by one walking down the aisle to the alter outside.

Then it was officially my turn. My mom came up to me and held out her arm. We both began to giggle as held her arm. When the music for Here Comes the Bride came on, I waited a few seconds then the double doors to the outdoors opened.

I slowly began to walk out the door with my mom. I lifted my head and saw Devon, who was slightly tearing up, in his nicely fitted black tuxedo. He had a big smile on his face and I couldn't help but smile back at him.

As I got to the alter, I gave my mom a hug and walked to Devon, who had his hand out for me. I held his hand and he escorted me to the front of the officiant with him. I then gave my bouquet to Anaisa and then faced Devon. Then the officiant started the ceremony.

"Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the joining of Devon Heart and Nikky Vell in holy matrimony. With love and commitment, they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife... Love should have no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if your love and needs must have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love and the compassion that love brings. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude and loving embrace; Then to sleep with a vision of the beloved in your heart and a song of love in your dreams... And now for the vows. I understand that the couple has done their own vows. Is that correct?" And we both nodded and then he said "the floor is yours". I decided to go first.

"Devon, You are my family, and I want to be there for you in all things, I am so excited to be your wife and share in every moment - not only the good times, but the learning experiences too. I vow to take from every moment the opportunity to love, to nurture, and to grow and to never forget how lucky I am to be your wife. I take you as my husband for now and forever more, without any reservation, I give myself freely and with conviction that we will live out our days in wedded bliss."

After I finished, I was practically on the burst of tears. Devon saw a tear going down my cheek and he reached out and wiped it away. Then it was his turn and he had already started to slightly tear up.

"Nikky, Because of you, I laugh, I smile, and I dare to dream more than I ever have. Thank you for the miracle of you. You are, and always will be, the love of my life, my soulmate, my person. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen you patient and frayed. I will strive to not take you for granted. You are my favorite person, and I choose you to be my partner in life."

"I see these vows not as promises but as privileges: I get to laugh with you, cry with you, care for you and share with you. I get to run with you ,walk with you, build with you and live with you.I choose you to be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, and trusting who you will become. I will respect and honor you always and in all ways. With you I pledge to repair one small piece of the world. Even though I am not a full on christian man, I still prayed to God everyday since the day we met that you would stay in my life as I grew up. Even if it was as best friends or as lovers, but I thank God today that he gave me both. I take you to be my spouse, to have and to hold, in tears and in laughter, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, in this world and the next."

That was so beautiful. Everybody was in aww. Then the officiant went and continued on wit the ceremony.

"And now the rings" he said. Devon turned Brendan and I turned to Isa and they handed us the rings. We turned to eachother and I took Devon's left hand. The officiant then said "Repeat after me.I, state your name, give you Devon Heart this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you." And I repeated after him and said "I,Nikky Vell, give you Devon Heart this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you" and I slid the ring on Devon's finger.

Then he turned to Devon and said "Repeat after me. I, State your name, give you Nikky Vell this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you." Then Devon repeated after him. "I,Devon Heart, give you Nikky Vell this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you". And he slid the ring on my finger.

The officiant then continued. "now, by the power vested in me, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

After he said that, Devon didn't hesitate and pulled me close and kissed me. I kissed back and everybody began to cheer. We are officially married. The music began to play and me and Devon seperated from our kiss. We both had the biggest smile.

He held my hand and as we were walking back down the aisle, people started throwing rice in the air. We both went upstairs and we started to get change into more comfortable clothes for the reception.