"Through ups and downs, I finally have the one person who makes me whole," C.v.Z

A year and a half later.

"Are you ready, Chez?" I shook my head as I stared at myself through the wall mirror, fixing my tie for the umpteenth time. "My dad said he'll hunt you down if you get cold feet," Vivi chuckled as my maid of honor came to stand next to me, a faraway look in her eyes.

"Don't worry," I shook my head, knowing that this feeling was something utterly different than cold feet. "He doesn't have to worry." I cracked my neck, seeing a sexy beast in the mirror. This was it, the moment that I was giving up my name as Thorn wholeheartedly. "You remember when you told me that you didn't believe in love and I didn't know why then?" She leaned her head on my shoulder, smiling softly. "I know why now, but that doesn't change the fact that you're about to get married to someone you never thought you would."

That was impeccably true.

"It makes me happy to see you smiling. I already gave Joaquin the shovel talk ten times, so I'm sure," She looked up at me and it reminded me of four-year-old us. Such a long way to come, eh? "He knows how lucky he is."

But was he the lucky one? I tended to think that I was because he opened up so many doors for me, held my hand when I was afraid of taking the next step, even pushing me ahead because he knew I could do it. If it wasn't for him, I didn't think I'd be this renowned artist that I was. "Don't you start that sappy mess before we get out there," I heard a voice and I looked up to see Davina walking in, wearing a gold, pink and white dress, a white crown of flowers atop her black hair. "You look amazing," I had to give it to her, she knew how to make a crowd fall to their knees.

"I do, but you look damn gorgeous, Cheyenne," She sauntered over to me, tears in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around me. "My baby is getting married," She whispered to herself, a chuckle from Vivi and I filling the air. "I'm so proud," She pulled away, sniffling as she grabbed my hand. I couldn't tell if I was the bridezilla or if she was because, throughout this whole process, she went all out.

I thought Joaquin regretted his decision of letting us have full reign.

Still the ever-so diva she was. "Let's go. Someone's gotta walk you down the aisle," She smoothed down my white and gold suit, a black rose in the pocket as I beamed at her. I was starting to get jittery again as she led me out of the room, going to the doubles door of the spacious rotunda here in Palo Alto Hills. I always told myself that if I ever somehow got far enough to marriage, this would be the place.

And look at me, I did it.

"Are you ready?" I brought my attention back to my mother and the two men that were waiting to open the double doors for us motioned for us to ahead when they opened the door and I nodded, taking in deep breaths.

This was it.

There's a calm surrender to the rush of day. When the heat of a rolling wave can be turned away.

I was blown away as Davina linked our arms together once the door open. There were several paintings of Joaquin and I together along the wall with various selfies that we took just because. I stepped forward, seeing that fruit that was earned from our hard labor as the crowd stared at me, standing up. 

This was a surreal moment as we descended down the red carpet, yellow and gold ornaments hanging from the ceiling as the smell of roses permeated the air. It was decorated so beautifully and the music dipped as my eyes landed on the altar.

There stood Ambrose next to Adina's daughter, wearing a white and gold suit with his curls in a ponytail as he held a pillow of rings. I couldn't stop the tears from coming as I laid my eyes on Holly, who stood between Tara and Vivi on the altar. They looked so beautiful in their long gold gowns and I could not believe it was happening. Christine and Adina gave me a thumbs up as we continued walking down and if that wasn't enough to make me cry, the sight of Joaquin up there was.

An enchanted moment and it sees me through. It's enough for this restless warrior just to be with you.

God, I knew he was breathtaking all this time, but damn. I couldn't even focus on Pierre or Tomas standing behind him because every single pore of mine was captivated by him. He was the only one who could render me speechless because every single thing about him from his plain face, his boring eyes, his smoker's voice, all of those things were so beautiful to me.

Fuck you, Joaquin for making me feel this way.

Here I was, tearing up like a baby as we finally approached the altar. When I reached him, my mom carefully let me go and I couldn't fight the sob as he reached out for my hand, pulling me up to his level. He looked at me as if it was just me and suddenly, everyone else melted away in this moment.

And can you feel the love tonight? It is where we are. It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer that we've got this far.

The officiant dressed in a black and white tuxedo, stood under the arch facing us, a soft smile on his face. "First, I'd like to begin by welcoming everyone and thanking each and every one of you for being here on this happiest of days. We are gathered together here today in the face of this company to join together this man and this man in holy matrimony, " The officiant stated before continuing. "And what I wish for them on their wedding day is that their life together as a team is one of complete contentment; full of those moments that they wish would never end, and that they continue to make one another smile and laugh as they make each of us do," Joaquin and I stared at each other, unable to remove our eyes.

This was really happening.

"If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace." I kept the glare that was threatening to shoot out at the crowd if someone so dared to ruin what Joaquin and I worked hard for. "Very well. Before this moment, you have been many things to one another—co-worker, friend, fiancé," He softly smiled and I took a moment to reflect as I realized that he was all of those things.

"But now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this—is my husband; this—is my husband," The officiant turned to me to begin the first vow while handing me the gold and yellow diamond-studded ring that would complete the set on Joaquin's finger.

My hands were shaking, I was so nervous. Here I was, 26 years old and getting married. Who would have thought?

I took a deep breath, smiling up at Joaquin, who gave me so much to remember. "Till this day, I still can't get that punch stain out of my Armani shirt that you ruined when we first met. Before, I used to look at it like I was a rich boy from Palo Alto and you were just some poor boy from San Fransico, but somewhere along the way, I stopped looking at you that way," I could feel my voice cracking as I breathed out.  

"You became my pillar of strength, the person that I could always count on, the person who has seen me at my worst. There is no way that this isn't meant to be because you stayed even after I showed you how broken I was," I bit my lip, recalling the past and how I wouldn't have gotten that far if it wasn't for him. "You have such a beautiful soul and I was able to grow because of you into a better person. You taught me all kinds of things and because of that, I see the world for what it is and I can smile without a care in the world." For emphasis, I brightly smiled so hard, my cheeks started hurting.

"I'm gay for you man, like more than necessary," Joaquin couldn't stifle his chuckle as he shook his head, knowing that he was too. "But I wouldn't have it any other way, poor boy," I winked at him, bringing back memories of how that became our term of endearment. 

"So I'm here to say I do," I lifted up his hand, sliding the ring on so that it could connect with the engagement ring, solidifying this moment in time. "I'll gladly make you strawberry shortcake for the rest of our lives if it means that you'll always look at me the way you do." I finished and Joaquin had his mouth dropped open, tear after tear just rolling down and I reached up to wipe them.

"And you," The man turned to Joaquin, handing him a ring. "God, Cheyenne, you really know how to catch me off guard," He shook his head, such a starry look in his eyes that I couldn't pinpoint. He began, his sexy voice washing over my ears and my mind like the sweetest chocolate.

"When people ask me how I fell in love, I'ma say I purposely spilled juice on a rich boy, even though I didn't. It was such a defining moment because it wasn't for that, you'd never be in my life," I chuckled, shaking my head as a tear cascaded down my cheek. "I don't know how, but you became important to me as time went on. You became someone I needed and while that scared me, it gave me so much life to know that I wasn't alone," He caressed my hand, trying to pour all of his emotions into his touch.

"Even though I didn't like the way you used to think, I realized that I misjudged you because like the rest of us, you had your own burdens. I think," He pondered for a bit, blushing. "I was always in love with you, but the moment that solidified it for me was when you adopted Holly and when I saw her for the first time," I was borderline trembling as the audience cooed. 

"I don't know when, but I just woke up one day and suddenly, you were my everything. It has to be you for me. I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else that doesn't get excited about buying state of the art paint. I'll definitely let you spoil me if you keep giving me that stupid smile of yours. So," He took my hand gently, sliding the silver and gold diamond ring on my ring finger. "Cheyenne Thorn, I promise to love you and to stay by your side until the end of time." By now, I was full-on bawling. I nodded vehemently, unable to stop my lips from quivering.

God, I was such a bitch.

He held my hand, probably to stop it from trembling but it was no use because he was shaking too. The officiant grinned at us, unable to contain his glee as he furthered on. "By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may now kiss your groom." It was done, it was complete. I finally had the life that I craved for the last few years of my life. No Sterling, no fear. Just pure happiness.

I smirked as I wasted no time, pulling him by his tie so that I could land on those luscious lips of his, cheers, hoots, and claps surrounding the air around us. The intensity of the kiss was everything it should've been. It was beautiful, satisfying as I gripped his shoulders, relishing in the claps of the audience. He decided to deepen the kiss and at that moment, my heart skipped a beat.

"I now present to you Mr. and Mr. Joaquin Adrian van Zante."

Amidst the loud claps and cheers, I pulled away from Joaquin, staring at him with all the love that I hoped he could see. "We've come a long way, huh?" I smirked and he nodded, clutching me to him tightly. "Those are my daddies!" I heard Ambrose screech, knowing that he grew up just a little bit.

Some things never change.

His hand trailed down to intertwine with me as we began our descent from the altar. I squeezed his hand tightly, garnering a squeeze back as we waved to the many people who came to watch our union. Adrian and Esme van Zante, who long apologized and sought forgiveness from Joaquin, becoming pivotal figures in our children's lives. To Davina Thorn in the front row snapping pictures and promising to spoil all of us, she was still the thorn in my side. She was still a shitty person (not really), but the best-redeemed mother one could have. To Stefan Alderidge next to her, who I still couldn't stand, but he was decent enough to have a two-minute conversation with. To Phillippe and Cordelia Baudelaire, the other parents that devoted so much time and help to me, I thanked them for being such a moving part of my life.

To Christine Thorn, a person who had jumped through many hoops to finally regain my trust. She was becoming someone who I could rely on and it was becoming evident that I stopped seeing Sterling in her. To Pierre Russetto, the best damn chauffeur-turned CEO, he was just a mere annoying flea, but as time went on and I got to know him, he became someone I confided in. He was still the biggest baby though. To Tara Ackerman, who protected me from one of my vicious nightmares, who showed me that status didn't define friendship, who still fretted over me when I didn't drink my nightly tea like I was supposed to. She was something indeed. 

To Holly and Ambrose van Zante, who defined the word 'family' for me, who came crashing into my life, embedding such an impact. There was no way those losers were going to leave me now because they taught me what it meant to be a parent. To Vivienne Baudelaire, the woman I could call my sister with ease. Twenty-two years later and she was still standing next to me with that idiot fiance of hers, cheering me on, encouraging me day by day. She was probably the only one who I would let come on my weekend trips to Italy because she understood that Armani was the best.

Finally, to my new husband, who gave me the reason to believe in the future. Even to this day, I was still falling in love with him. It was funny how a singular moment in time defined our fate for us and I guessed I had Vivi to thank for that.

"I love you, Joaquin." I wasn't sure if he heard it or not, but I was sure he did because he blushed a bit, rubbing the back of his neck. Some things never changed, like his sheepish behavior when he was caught off guard and I had to admit, it rubbed off on me. Every time I thought of him, my heart always started racing and I was sure I would feel this way forever.

Among the many screeches of happiness and the parade of petals in the air as I waved to everyone in the room, Tomas was the first to let loose, throwing an arm around his best friend's shoulders as we descended the altar.

"I told you that you were gonna find your second chance, Quino! Man, I should've made a bet!" Tomas screeched while fixing his tie, seeing Joaquin's eyes land on me, the crinkles by his eyes deepening. "Is that so, T?" He stared at me for a bit, pondering something and I went to speak, but he got there first. "Hmm, I don't know why," Joaquin grunted, leaning forward with a small smile on his face as he pinched my cheek, enticing a glare from me.

"But I'm madly in love with this rich bastard."

-

The end.