HANNAH'S POV

"Jada you look beautiful." I gush as my best friend walks into the bedroom from the bathroom.

Her wedding dress has a one shoulder lace upper bodice with a tule ball gown skirt design that falls in waves around her. Meredith did her thing and made Jada's wedding dress dream came true.

"I feel like Tiana." Jada smiles twirling around.

Jada's dream was to wear a replica of Tiana's wedding gown from the princess and the frog but she added a modern twist to hers. She achieved her goal because looking at her only one word came to mind ... Royalty.

"You look like a princess. Doesn't your auntie look like a princess?" I praise asking baby Taylor who is busy blowing spit bubbles.

"More like a queen ready to take over the kingdom." Jada corrects

Taylor giggles and claps excitedly making grabby hands at Jada.

Jada picks her up and she's like a mini version of her in her dress except Taylor's pale skin and red hair betrays her.

"C'mere my beautiful flower girl." Jada coos gently.

Taylor looks adorable in a white ball gown with a pink bow at the back and one in her hair. She's our flower girl and I will be accompanying her down the aisle. We'll definitely have an epic entrance.

"Where's Renee?" Jada asks finding her absent from the room.

"Maid of honor duties. She went to make sure that the groom and his groomsmen are dressed and ready to go." I explain.

Jada nods and hugs Taylor closer."I can't believe I'm getting married Hannah." She sniffs kissing Taylor's head.

"Don't you dare cry. You are not walking down the aisle with red eyes." I scold her reaching for a packet of dry wipes just incase.

"Okay okay." Jada whispers fanning her face.

I take Taylor from her and put her in the make shift play pen we've made for her using too many pillows. After making sure she has her favorite toy in hand I walk back to Jada and take her hands in mine.

"Breath babe, you're gonna be fine. You and Tom have been engaged for a year and in love for four. He's the one." I encourage.

"I know he is." Jada affirms.

She manages not to cry which is good because we want the wedding photos to look perfect.

"I have your something blue." I declare recalling that particular detail hoping it can cheer her up.

I rush for my purse and retrieve the jewelry box stashed in there. I walk to Renee and hold it open for her.

"Those are gorgeous." She gushes looking at the diamond and sapphire drop earrings.

"They are from Darius. He was going to give them to you as your wedding gift but you can wear them as your something blue." I explain.

"Oh Darius." Renee sniffs and I realize that the water works are about to make another come back.

My gift did not have the reaction I expected. Darius was supposed to be Tom's best man and I was actually supposed to be Jada's maid of honour but after my brother died it just didn't feel right so Renee and Ben were more than happy to pick up the mantle.

"Jada ..."

"No tears, I know." She whispers blinking rapidly but this time it doesn't work.

A couple of tears manage to escape and I quickly dab then away with the wipes in my hand. Thank God for smudge free make up.

"Try them on." I encourage.

Jada nods and takes them from me. She walks to the vanity table in the bedroom and puts them on.

"Perfect, now you have your something blue and something old." I say.

Her something old is a big diamond and rhinestone forehead headpiece hair vine crystal crown that's holding her hair and veil back. It was a gift from her grandmother that she wore on her wedding day.

"My dress is my something new, I just need my something borrowed." Jada sighs.

"Renee is handling that." I reassure her.

"Okay but before she gets here, I want us to talk just the two of us ..." Jada requests.

"Sure, is everything okay?" I ask the serious look on her face scaring me a little bit.

"Yes and no."

"Jada you're my best friend, you know we don't have secrets. You can tell me anything." I reassure her.

"I know." She sighs making me even more worried.

"Then what is it?" I insist.

Jada takes my hands and guides me to the bed so we can both sit down. I'm really worried about what she wants to talk about so her next words worry me.

"I want to apologize." She expresses.

I give her a confused look wondering whether she is on something. "For what?"

Jada takes a deep breath and looks at me square in the eyes.

"Ever since Darius died I've been acting like more of an overbearing mother hen than your best friend." She explains.

"Jada ..." I whisper sadly when I start connecting the dots.

"Let me finish." She pleads.

"Okay." I nod.

"I know it doesn't make up for it but I really am sorry. After Darius died you were broken, so broken I was afraid we were going to lose you too. Then we buried him and you shut down on all of us, cut down all communication for weeks. Then you re-emerged as if everything was fine and dandy and I felt like you were putting on a show. I've seen it on patients who've received a terminal diagnosis. They get depressed for a while, then they accept it and try to fake it but it only works for so long and they end up going back to the same depressed state they were in and some even commit suicide. You know what I'm talking about?" She asks.

"Yes I do." I nod.

I've seen it plenty of times in the emergency room.

"I was scared for so long that this was going to be you but lately I've been re-evaluating and letting myself see that that isn't the case. Yes your healing process is different but it's yours and I should have respected that. I just didn't want to lose my best friend so I held on tighter than I should have. I'm sorry. You are my best friend Hannah and I don't want to lose you." Jada cries.

Jada's words strike me to the core because for the first time she lets me see how scared she is. I had no idea she was feeling this way. Sure she was being more overprotective and overbearing than usual but I thought it was just the stress of the wedding not this.

"You were loving me the only way you knew how at the time. How can I hate you for that? You are never gonna lose me Jada. You, Tom, Renee, Ben and baby Taylor are all the family I have left, blood or not." I reassure her.

Jada smiles through her tears nodding at me.

"There's a new addition to the family. You're growing very fond of a young man named Diego and his big brother might just be the love of your life." Jada teases.

"I think he already is." I confess with a shy smile.

Jada gasps and slaps my arm in surprise.

"Hannah! When did this happen?" She demands.

"Slowly and gradually over the months we've been getting to know each other." I reply.

Falling in love with Santiago was the easiest thing I've ever done because I didn't realize that it was happening until I was already in deep. The man is in prison for crying out loud yet he managed to gift me the best birthday present ever, if that's not love then I don't know what is. The fact that I know he feels the same makes this so much better.

"Have you told him?" Jada asks.

"In not so many words. I'm waiting for him to be released." I answer.

Santiago knows how I feel about him and I know of his feelings towards me. Just because the words haven't been spoken out loud doesn't make our feelings any less real.

"I'm happy for you Hannah. Truly, you deserve to be happy." Jada encourages.

"I am happy." I choke out starting to cry as well.

Renee is gonna be so mad at us.

"So you forgive me?" Jada asks.

"Yes I do because big sisters are supposed to be overbearing and annoying and that's exactly who you are. My sister." I sniff.

"I love you Hannah."

"I love you too Jay."

I have no idea how Jada and I manage to hug over the puffs of her dress but we make it work. Now that we have made peace, I feel as if a burden I didn't know I was carrying has lifted me off my shoulders. We were having a wordless fight between us but now it's already out there and solved so we can both move on with our lives happy that there's no grudge between us. I love Jada, she's my best friend and I can't imagine my life without her so I feel relieved that we've been able to sit down and talk.

The bedroom door bursts open and Renee charges in forcing us to pull apart.

"It's show time people!" Renee yells her eyes zooming in on us.

She looks gorgeous in a ginger chiffon assymetrical floor length gown with a wrap around bodice.

"Tears? Why are there tears on both your faces?" She demands.

"We had a moment." I sniff.

Her face softens for a fleeting moment before the maid of honor mode she was on kicks in again.

"Clean yourselves up so we can get this show on the road and you married."She demands.

"Yes please." Jada smiles getting up.

"And now to complete your look. Here is your something borrowed. I wore it on my wedding day so did my mother, grandmother and so many generations of women before her. It's a family heirloom meaning Taylor will wear it on her wedding day." Renee says opening a jewelry box to reveal a diamond bracelet that matches Jada's accessories perfectly.

"My something borrowed. Are you sure?" Jada asks Renee.

"Yes I am, so let's get it on, fix your make up and get you to the altar." Renee replies.

"Sounds like a plan." Jada agrees holding her wrist out.

Renee slides the bracelets in and it fits like a glove, perfect.

We spend the next twenty minutes touching up our make up and making sure that Jada is perfect and ready. When it's show time, we leave Jada alone with her dad who's walking her down the aisle and make our way outside with baby Taylor. Tom's younger brother Jaylen is the other grooms man balancing us out.

Tom looks good in a black and white tux, black bowtie, dress shoes with Ben by his side towering over everyone in a black tux and white dress shirt. Jaylen is dressed the same as Tom.

Once the guests have all settled down and the band starts playing our difference entrance songs, the party really starts. I feel like Taylor steals the show as I push her down the aisle in a pram but that's until Jada makes her walk. I can see in Tom's eyes that he made the right choice and so did she. They are perfect for each other.

With Renee taking charge with the wedding planner, the wedding runs smoothly without a single hitch.

"Congratulations to Mr and Dr. Devoe." I say to our newly weds as we prepare to dance our way into the reception.

"Still debating whether to change my last name or not but thank you." Jada replies with a beaming smile.

"What's wrong with my last name?" Tom challenges.

"Nothing." Jada replies a little too unconvincingly.

I let them be and move away from them to find something to do. Nothing sucks like being single at a wedding. Well I'm not single but my man isn't here. I shake off those negative thoughts before they take root and decide to enjoy the rest of the ceremony.

Later after things have cooled down and we've cut the cake and eaten I decide to take a break. I take baby Taylor with me to enjoy a cool breeze under a willow tree. Our tranquil moment is interrupted by my phone ringing. It's a call from FCI. I pick up immediately excited to hear Santiago's voice after so long.

"Mami."

Did it just get hot in here or is it just me?

"Cesar."

"Hi beautiful, how's the wedding? I hear music in the background. I hope I didn't interrupt anything." He asks.

"No you didn't, Taylor and I are taking a break. The wedding is going great, everyone is having a good time." I reply.

"Better than the bachelorette party." Santiago teases making me groan.

"Oh God, I knew I would regret that. I was kind of hoping I dreamt that whole letter." I cry out lying back on the shawl I've spread out.

"No you didn't, I believe you owe me a lap dance.". Santiago chuckles.

"I can't believe I wrote that to you." I mumble covering my eyes with the back of my hand.

By the time I'd realized what I'd written to Santiago the next morning, the mailbox was already emptied out.

"It's my favorite one yet." He replies.

"Well you won't be getting anymore drunk letters from me." I declare.

"Too bad I was looking forward to more confessions like how hot you think I am." Santiago eggs on.

"Oh God, please stop." I beg.

"Okay, sorry I'm done." He promises.

"Thank you."

The both of us go silent for a while as we listen to each other breath. It's not uncomfortable silence but it's painful.

"I wish you were here." I confess."I would have liked to slow dance with you and sneak off later to make out on a bale of hay." I suggest with a laugh.

"Sounds like my kind of wedding but I wouldn't want you to ruin your dress with hay." Santiago replies.

"It's gorgeous but it would be worth it." I reply.

"Describe it to me." Santiago requests.

"My dress?"

"Yes."

"Really... "

"Yes. Please humor me." He insists.

I look down at myself to look at my dress even though I already know what I look like.

"It's gold in color with an off shoulder neck design and a mermaid tail with a thigh high slit." I ramble out.

"Thigh high slit you say? How high?" Santiago teases his voice getting lower.

My thighs clench automatically in response to his sexy voice.

"High enough that if I sit wrong I'll flash old Mr. Connor my goodies and give him a heart attack." I reply.

"You better sit well then." He demands.

"I am." I rasp.

I cross my legs but this only causes my dress to expose more skin but I'm not worried since there's nobody but Taylor around who's half asleep next to me.

"I wouldn't want anyone seeing what's for my eyes and mine alone." Santiago growls.

"Yes sir." I choke out.

Santiago goes silent on me again and all I can hear is his heavy breathing followed by an animalistic growl that has me creaming my panties.

"Argh! By God I miss you." He declares.

"I miss you too, you have no idea. When's your parole hearing?" I ask hoping to steer the conversation away from the direction it was headed.

Taylor is here and she doesn't need to know what I'd be doing to Santiago if he was here right now.

"On Monday."

"This Monday?"

"Yes." He affirms.

"You get a good lawyer?" I question.

"He better be considering how expensive he is." Santiago scoffs.

"Is he positive you'll get paroled?" I inquire.. I need a guarantee that I'll be seeing my man soon.

"Yes because it was my first offence so I don't have a prior criminal record." He answers.

"Then you should trust him." I encourage.

"I am mami, he's my ticket to you I can't wait to see you." Santiago confesses.

"Me either." I reply.

"I hate to go but you have a wedding to go back to and dinner just got served here." Santiago says.

"That's okay. I need to go put Taylor to sleep anyway. Best of luck on Monday." I reply.

"Thank you. Take care of yourself mami. If all goes well, I'll be seeing you soon." Santiago expresses.

"I can't wait."

We hang up at the same time and this time I toss my phone away a little frustrated because time is moving slower than I'd like it to. I want Santiago out already so we can spend real time together and act upon all these feelings between us.

Once I've calmed down enough, I pick Taylor up and take her back to her mom so she can put her to bed. I don't want to risk putting her down in the wrong place and causing Renee to panic. It's happened before and a panicked Renee is not a pretty sight.

After getting something to drink, I find myself on the dance floor enjoying the very expensive band hired by the bride and groom. I see Diego and Sofia dancing together and she seems to be struggling to keep up with him so I decide to rescue her.

"Hi guys, Sofia may I steal your boyfriend for a dance?" I request.

"Yes please." She replies looking relieved.

She steps away and Diego and I fall into step. He's a surprisingly good dancer and almost as tall as his big brother so it's not awkward dancing with him.

"So... What do you think? Did we pull this off or what?" I ask Diego initiating conversation.

He looks lost in thought and not the good kind.

"It's a beautiful wedding. I especially love the buffet." He replies.

Jada and Tom went all out for their wedding considering it has a limited guest list allowing them to splurge a bit.

"I agree." I nod.

After that we go back to awkward silence until Diego speaks up.

"Hannah ... "

"Yes Diego." I urge him on.

He looks like he has a question or something to get off his chest.

"Can I ask you for a favor? You can totally say no if I'm overstepping." He starts.

The kid has no idea how much he means to me already. There's very little he can ask of me that'll lead me to say no.

"Okay, ask away."

Diego looks nervous but an encouraging smile from me is all he needs to get him talking.

"I was wondering if maybe you'd be willing to accompany me to Brown when I'm reporting. I'm okay doing it alone, I'd just like it better if I had some company. I thought that since you came to my graduation, we can go to Rhode Island together as well. I can even pay for your plane ticket, I've saved up more than enough from my summer job." The kid rambles on.

"Diego no... " I chuckle.

"You're right I'm sorry, forget I asked. I didn't mean to brother you." He blushes looking embarrassed.

"Diego stop, you're not bothering me and I meant, there's no way I'm letting you pay for my ticket." I assure him.

His eyes light up as he looks up to meet my gaze.

"Does this mean we'll go?" He confirms.

"Yes of course, I'd love to go with you. I can take a few days off work and we can go a couple of days early. Book into a hotel and see the sites so you know where you're settling into." I reply.

I know it kills Santiago that he can't be here for his baby brother like Darius was for me so if I can pay that forward through Diego then it's an honor for me. I also earn major girlfriend and future sister-in-law points.

"That would be great." Diego grins.

"Then it's settled, I'll be accompanying you to Brown."

"Thank you Hannah."

"You're welcome kiddo, anytime." I assure him because I mean it.

"I am so glad you and my brother found each other." Diego expresses.

"He found me and I'm the lucky one because now I get to have an amazing human being like you in my life. Your brother is alright too I guess." I tease.

Diego laughs making me chuckle. We keep on dancing together till Jada's grandmother steals him away forcing me to find a new partner.