One Year Later

Graceona

I looked at the woman in the long white dress as a long white veil covered her face. That woman staring back at me was me. Though the wedding guest waited outside in the massive yard of the estate that Leonard and I share with Riley, my heart fluttered in excitement. I have had many missions before. I tackled them, feeling less nervous than standing here at this moment.

My heart was racing in my breast, I had never been so nervous. This wedding dress seemed to weigh a ton and heated with a furnace. My door came open as I heard a cheerful voice belonging to Charmaine. "Grace, what's going on? Everyone is waiting for you."

I looked at the girl four years my junior staring at me, her dress low cut, with long mesh sleeves, and pair nude stilettos that matched her dress. I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I'm just feeling nervous, Charmaine."

The girl put a dainty hand to her chin. Her full, pouty lips would put to shame any model with little to no effort. "I know how you feel. I got the same way on my wedding day. It's a good nervous, it's only natural. You're going to be a great wife, Gracie. This is probably the easiest thing you have done in your life."

I looked at her as she lifted the veil. "Girl, I worked hard on your makeup, try not to ruin it." She laughed. "You really are nervous. I don't think I have seen you sweat, not even when we were dealing with Jarrod." She got her handkerchief, wiping my forehead.

I sighed. "I don't think I can do this."

She looked at me. "Are you Graceona, considering chickening out at an event? Wow, alert the press." She smiled as I smiled as well. 'Don't think of this as a wedding, if it helps try to think of a time you were comfortable, or do what I did when I was getting married, picture everybody in their underwear, I had to hold in my laughter the entire time. But it got me through."

I laughed. "You didn't."

"From the time I stepped out of my bedroom, everyone was wearing underwear in my mind."

I laughed. "I'm not doing that, that's weird and gross." I sighed. "Let's do this."

She looked at me. "You got this, Gracie." She smiled as the two of us walked from the room. The chime of 'Here comes the Bride." Poured through the halls and hovered through the rooms, thanks to the loudspeakers just outside of the room. Upon arriving at the backyard, the green grass covered with the wedding, Leonard stood underneath the arch. The look on his face showed that he, too, was as nervous as I was. His black and white tuxedo covered his muscular body, his short blond hair slicked back. He turned to face us as his face lit up, a smile covered his lips. The guests turned around as I made my way down the aisle, gently feeling Charmaine let my arm loose, returning to the other bride maids that stood behind my position of the large wooden altar that was adorned in satin silk drapes and white roses. I got to Leonard, stopping in front of him. He looked at me.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man, and this woman in front of the eyes of God, we are here to witness two people become united, to become one soul in the eyes of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I looked at the minister, the same man that preached burial to this family ten years prior, now bringing unity. I smiled. "Leonard Shepherd, by the power invested in me, do you take Graceona to be your lawful wedded wife? In sickness and in health, do you promise to love and honor her as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." Leonard looked at the minister, then he focused on me once more.

"And Graceona, do you take Leonard, as your lawful wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish, through richer and for poorer until death do you part?"

"I do." I smiled, looking at Leonard.

"If there is anyone here who is against this, speak now or forever hold your peace." The crowd was silent. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Leonard gently lifted my veil, placing it on my head. "You look beautiful." He whispered loud enough for me to hear.

"Thank you," I whispered back as he leaned and we kissed. The applause of the crowd didn't phase us. Once the kiss broke, I opened my eyes, looking at Leonard, who had a smile on his face.

I stroked his hair with a smile.

Several moments had passed as we danced. The slow song A thousand years played, as Leonard and I danced, in one another embrace. Leonard chuckled. "Of course Charmaine would pick this song to play, a song from a vampire movie."

I looked at him. "It seems fitting. I'm not a vampire, but I could picture us being together for 1,000 years." He smiled. "All five of us."

"I love my brother and Charmaine, but I wouldn't want to live with them twenty-four seven."

I laughed. "I mean our family, you, me, Riley, Kourtney, and Kyra."

He looked at me. "You're pregnant?"

"Twins, they get that from you, I suppose."

"I thought you didn't want children? You seem happy about this."

"I changed my mind when I met Riley, raising a child and watching Aria. I was feeling left out. Aren't you happy with the news?"

I looked at him. "Yes, I was always hoping you would change your mind. But I didn't want to force you into something you didn't want to do."

I smiled, kissing his lips, getting lost in the music. The voices of the guests became buzzing in the background. My mind focused on Leonard and the future we were given. Nothing else mattered to me at this moment. I vowed I would protect my newly formed family, and love them, all of them, with everything in me. Leonard and the children brought light into my world, and I was going to give them what they deserved from me and that was to give them all of me.

TO BE CONTINUED