FØRTI. third person point of view

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."

Mignon McLaughlin

"What do you mean my dad's here?" Aria questioned Chris. She bit down on her bottom lip nervously, pacing around the hotel room. She knew Chris wasn't allowed to see her in her dress cause it's bad luck and all, but she needed him now. Chris sighed, his back against the hall wall, "I don't know, babe. He just— I was saying hi to my Mom and I saw him. I don't know how he even found out where it was or when it was but he's here." Chris explained.

Aria grabbed a chair, placing it against the wall. She sat down in the chair, her and Chris practically back to back and they sat with their backs against the same wall. Noora gathered the girls, "Come, we'll head to the boys' hotel room and let them talk." The girls nodded in agreement, all following Noora out. Aria insisted they stay, that they didn't need to go but Noora assured her everything would be okay before they left.

"I'm sorry, babe. This isn't how this was supposed to turn out. I wanted this to be perfect." Chris spoke softly. Aria laughed softly, "Don't be sorry. There's nothing to be sorry for. This day is still going to be perfect. No matter what happens, I'm going to marry you today." Aria returned. A small smile grew on Chris' lips. He closed his eyes to imagine the girl with him, looking beautiful, as always.

Chris sighed a little as he opened his eyes, how could he miss her so much when she was on the other side of the wall? Chris spoke, "Listen, I'll handle this. I'm not going to let this small problem ruin your day!" He spoke in a loud and assuring voice.

"Our day." Aria corrected him with a laugh. Chris laughed along with her. Aria shook her head, "You don't have to handle this on your own. He's my Dad." She told the boy. But, Chris wanted to handle it for her. She shouldn't have to deal with this right now. Or ever.

"I've got it, Aria. You trust me, don't you?" The boy questioned. Aria chuckled at his question, of course she trusted him. She sighed in a sarcastic manner, laughing to herself a little, "I trust you more than I trust myself sometimes." She admitted.

"I love you." Chris gushed, his cheek against the wall as he swooned. A blush grew on Aria's face, I think I fall in love with him over and over every day, she reminisced. "I love you too." Aria spoke in a soft whisper.

Chris stood up, dusting himself off. Chris sighed once more, tapping on the wall to get Aria's attention, "Don't worry, Alright. I'll see you soon!" Chris quickly ran off back to his hotel room where everyone else was.

As he ran into the room, the group looked to him. Each wondering what would happen next.

"Okay, guys, here's the plan."

—

"This is supposed to be my day to kick back. Drink! Have some good cake! I feel like James Bond instead. But not like in a cool way. More like, exhausted from work." Chris(tina) explained, looking over at the girls. They all chuckled a little, walking towards the area where the wedding would commence, where everyone gathered while waiting.

Noora took a deep breathe, "There he is." She told the girls. They all stopped, seeing Aria's dad. Vilde looked over and Noora, "You ready?"

Noora looked to Vilde, nodding a little, "I am if you guys are." She chuckled, looking at the girls. Eva nodded a little, linking her arm with Noora's. Sana chuckled, "I'm always ready." She joked. They all continued to walk once more. They soon reached Aria's father, who looked at the girls in a confused manner.

"Hi, sir!" Eva sweetly greeted the man. He smiled softly, "Can I help you girls?" He asked, trying to be polite but ultimately confused as to why these five girls had randomly approached him.

Sana stepped forward, "Are you Vittorio Abbascia?" She asked, a brow raised. The man slowly nodded, "Yeah, that's me." He spoke with a reluctant chuckle, quite frightened by the girls. I mean, who wouldn't? Sure, they were sweet but they could be intimidating. I mean, five girls walking up and interrogating you. That's petrifying.

"The father of the bride, yes?" Vilde questioned, a soft smile on her face that one could either adore or be frightened of. The man slowly nodded, "Yes, why?"

Noora inhaled a little, the girls going off the plan to just give him the room number and leave. Why did they have to make this some dramatic scene? Although, Noora would admit it was kinda funny. Noora shook her head, "Aria would like to see you." She informed Vittorio.

"Is there a problem?" He asked, looking at all the girls, who stood there with their arms folded across their chests, staring him down. Chris bit down on her bottom lip, "Not particularly..." she trailed off.

Vittorio nervously laughed, "Well, what does that me-" he began to ask, being cut off by Noora who held out her hand, in her fingers was a small piece of paper. Noora smiled, "This is her room. You should really go speak to her before the wedding." She suggested.

"Okay, well thank you?" He thanked the girls, nodding a little. The girls turned around, beginning to walk away. Chris reluctantly spun back around, waving, "Enjoy your stay!" She spoke sweetly with a bright and wide smile.

She turned back to the group, catching up to them. Noora looked over at Chris, "Enjoy your stay?" She questioned Chris, raising a brow. The other girls let out laughs, Eva being the only one to try to stifle her laughter before letting out a loud chuckle.

Chris groaned a little, rubbing her temple. She didn't know why she said it! It kinda just slipped! She was nervous! This was a crazy plan! She shrugged a little, "I didn't mean to!"

—

"Aria.... Aria, are you here?" Vittorio asked, knocking on the open hotel room door before walking in. This was seeming more and more like a horror movie by the minute. Aria walked out from behind a wall, smiling softly. She sighed a little, "Hi."

Vittorio teared up a little, "You look... beautiful." He spoke softly. Aria stepped closer towards the man, she smiled a little wider, "Thank you." She laughed softly.

"Look, I- uhm- I know I didn't invite you here. And at first, I was shocked you showed up. But, I— I'm glad you're here actually." Aria confessed, she searched Vittorio's eyes for some sort of response. She only now realized she had never really spoken to him before. She was only truly meeting him now.

Vittorio nodded along, "You know, uhm— I was invited by your fiancé." He informed the girl. Aria was taken aback, her jaw dropping a little. Chris had invited him? Why would he do that? Aria wasn't mad or upset, just surprised. He really did know her.

"He— uhm— said that you might regret not having me here. He said there might be a slight possibility you'd be upset, but, I guess now this just proves how much he loves you." He joked with the girl. Vittorio smiled softly, "I know your Mother and I shouldn't have given you up. I know that now. No matter what excuse I came up with in the past, it'll never justify what we did. But, I'm glad I'm here now. I mean, look at you. You are so beautiful and so smart and kind. And you've done so much good on your own. Your Mother would've loved you." He spoke sweetly, a tear streaming down his face.

Aria laughed a little, wiping under her eyes before she could cry and ruin her makeup. Vittorio smiled, grabbing her hand in his, "I know I haven't been there for you these past years, but I hope that I can be here for you in the future."

"I'd like that." Aria agreed. Vittorio enveloped his daughter in a hug, the two of them standing there for a moment as they finally connected. You know when you build up something in your head and you don't think it'll be as you imagined it. Well, it wasn't at first. But now, it was better than Aria could've hoped. She never really thought she'd have family. Until she met Chris. But now, she got to meet her real father. Could life get better?

"Now, are you all set to get married?" Vittorio asked, pulling away from the hug and smiling at the girl. Aria laughed, wiping under her eyes again. She took a deep breathe, nodding a little.

"I've been ready for a long time now."

PART TWO
OF A THREE
PART SERIES.