FØRTIEN. third person point of view

"The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they're right if you love to be with them all the time."

Julia Child

     "I think I'm going to cry." Eva informed Noora, Noora turned to Eva chuckling a little and shaking her head. The actual ceremony hadn't even started yet. They all waited at the altar for Aria to come walking, then it'd really begin and everyone would have a reason to cry. Noora hated crying in public, but she knew it was inevitable. Vilde had already cried a few times today, it was quite endearing how happy she was for Aria. Chris tried to lighten the mood and make it a fun event, which it would be, but she knew she'd shed a few tears, she loved the pair and was so happy for them. Sana never really showed emotions like this so publically, she preferred to keep her feelings hidden, so everyone was quite surprised as they saw her wipe her tears away.

It couldn't have been a more beautiful occasion. It was wonderful outside. Things worked out alright. And hell, it was Chris and Aria. No two people deserved to be together more than them. Nobody was more in love. Feelings fade, but they'd always work at it. Aria knew Chris was the one. Just as Chris knew he wanted to change to be someone amazing for Aria. Although everyone was emotional, nobody was truly surprised by the engagement. How could they be? It was Chris and Aria. They were meant to be together. They'd always work it out. The end of their story would always be marriage. But now, what? What would come next? Neither Aria nor Chris really knew, but they couldn't wait to spend their lives together.

Everyone turned their heads to the walkway as the wedding march played. The room was completely silent, other than the sound of music. Everyone had anticipated this moment, from family to friends, everyone was ready for this moment. It was perfect. Aria slowly walked towards Chris, her arm locked with Vittorio's. Chris' eyes began to water, his heart pounding. She's never looked so beautiful. He didn't think it was possible for him to fall anymore in love with her. He fell in love with her more and more every day, but, seeing her now, it was like everything flooded through his mind. Almost every memory of them. And he couldn't help but smile at the thought of her.

Aria reached Chris, quickly hugging Vittorio and standing before Chris. Chris smiled at Aria and she giggled lightly as he moved her veil out of her face. He then grabbed her hands in his, chuckling a little. "You look beautiful, I think you stopped my heart." Chris teased Aria, knowing what her exact response would be. "You're such a cliche." Aria mocked him in a hushed tone so only the two of them could hear. It only mattered that he heard it. Right now he was all that mattered. He was all that ever mattered.

The ceremony began and then it was time for the vows. Chris went first, only cause he insisted. He had worked for so long on his vows. He couldn't hold it in any longer. He always told Aria everything. He felt horrible not telling her his vows, even though he knew they couldn't until the wedding. Chris took a deep breathe as he unfolded the piece of paper William handed him. Chris' hands shook as he held the paper, he sighed a little. Aria brought her hand to his, grabbing his hand in hers as she shot him a sweet smile. She nodded a little, encouraging him to continue. At that moment, any fear Chris had flooded away. She was the only person in the room in his mind. It was just the two of them, talking like they always did. And it was always so easy.

"I've never really been someone's number one priority. I've ever had someone who loved me more than they loved themselves. Hell, I've never felt that way about someone either." Chris began, his eyes watering as he spoke. He took a deep breath, trying to still his shaky voice. Chris bit down on his bottom lip, "And you gave me that, Aria. You're everything to me. You made me a better person. Cause let's face it before you I was such a douche. And now I'm up here. Getting married. I would've never thought and nobody else could've ever imagined that this day would come. Not because I never wanted to settle down, but because I never believed in soulmates or any of that shit. I mean, before you, I didn't even think about falling in love as a possibility. It always just off the table for me." Chris confessed.

At this point, Aria had tears streaming down her face. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to stop herself from crying. She knew if she cried, so would Chris and she hated seeing him cry even if he was happy. And her tears weren't sad tears, they came from pure bliss and happiness. Chris took a deep breathe, wiping his eyes quickly as he continued, "But you, Aria, you are my soulmate. You mean the world to me. And I feel like I need you and care about you more than anything else in this world. I will do my best to protect you from everything horrible this world has to offer because you deserve the best. I promise, I will do anything and everything just to make you happy. I love you more than anyone has ever loved anybody else. Because you are my soulmate, you're all I want and need, whether you like that or not. You're stuck with me. I'm sorry." Chris joked a little, invoking a laugh from Aria as she sniffled a little, wiping away her tears.

Aria sobbed softly, taking a deep breath as she turned to grab her vows from Noora. Aria turned back to Chris, taking a few more deep breathes to try and calm herself. She wanted to get through these vows, she needed Chris to know what she wrote. Aria chuckled softly, looking down at the paper in her hands. She looked back at Chris, smiling at him.

"Chris, you don't understand how long it took me to write this. Every time I worked up the courage to start, I could never find the right words. I didn't know what to say to you that hasn't already been said. I didn't know what stories to tell, without releasing the whole story of us. Because that's our story. It's ours and nobody else's. And I'm sorry everyone, but that's just how I think it should be." Aria joked, looking out to the crowd of family and friends, everyone laughed softly. Aria turned to Chris, smiling. She sighed, once again preparing herself to speak.

"For the longest time, I thought I'd never be happy. That I'd never have a family. I thought to myself, I guess that's just how it is. I didn't know who I was or what I wanted or needed. I was just getting by. When I met you, we were two totally different people than we are now. You were some boy at school who I heard girls in the halls gawk over. And I, hell, I didn't even know who I was. Back then, I never thought I would be as happy as I am with you." Aria choked on her tears. Chris brought his hand up to the girl's face, wiping her tears away. She placed her hand on his, removing it from her cheek and intertwining their fingers.

Aria chuckled, shaking her head at Chris. "You are my family. You are everything. It's always been you. You've given me so much. And I will never stop trying to make you as happy as you've made me." She finished, sighing with relief as she finally ended her monologue. The pair stared at one another, admiring the other. Their eyes both red and puffy. Their hearts pounding in their chests. I love you, they mouthed to one another, giggling a little.

The ceremony commenced. Everyone's cheeks stained with tears. The girl's sobbed softly to one another, their arms wrapped around one another as they watched Aria and Chris. They all gushed. The rest of the audience exclaiming "awe's" every so often. Eskild, of course, louder than the others and more eccentric. But, what would any event be without Eskild? Right? It really was the perfect day.

"You may now kiss the bride."

PART THREE
THE END OF
A THREE PA-
RT SERIES