Ava - Six Months Later

I'm standing in a beautiful large suite with a terrace on which sit two white iron chairs and a round table. The view is across olive groves and lavender-dusted hillsides to the majestic mountains where last night I watched the most spectacular sunset as I gazed over the scenic Sierra Morena. I sat here serenely by myself thinking this is the best decision I have ever made. My insides are all a flutter with butterflies, my heart feels like it will explode with happiness and I have had a perma-smile for the last few months.

Life couldn't have been more beautiful nor moved as quickly as it has. In just these few months I have moved lock, stock and barrel to live with Sebastian in his ranch just outside of Santa Fe. Nestled in a wondrous spot just outside of the town where he was born. It is a sprawling plot of land where horses can roam freely. We have goats, sheep and a couple of cows. Bella loves tending to them and recently Sebastian bought her geese and ducks that love to bathe in the lake on the land. To say it is a piece of heaven it not a lie. I couldn't ever have imagined how serene life could be not until he took us there.

His little girl is amazing, we hit it off from the start. Her first words were, "so you will be my new mama, correct?" Her smile is infectious and I loved her from the first moment I set eyes on her. We are joined at the hip, our favorite thing to do is watch movies together and eat popcorn. I like mine butter and salt and she loves toffee popcorn. We ride together in the morning before she has school, sometimes Sebastian will join us if he doesn't have to be in his office early. And I love that he has adjusted his schedule to leave later three times a week. He keeps the weekends entirely for us. We travel to different villages and towns, we fly with Bella to cities and enjoy being tourists in his country. Life is magical and I know without a doubt that I am the luckiest woman alive.

There isn't a day that goes by that Sebastian doesn't tell me I rock his world and to see him with his daughter brings tears of joy to my eyes. He truly is the best dad in the world. His tattoos that I find ultra sexy, Bella finds fascinating. Although he has told her that she isn't allowed to have them when she is older. He is fiercely protective over her and I can already imagine the palpitations he will suffer when she hits her teens and wants to start dating. That makes me smile as I sip on my morning coffee. It is just nine a.m and in one hour I will be walking towards my husband to be.

Sebastian has hired out the luxury villa, Finca Del Rey an exclusive villa with its own tennis courts, stables and even its own air field. It hosts up to eighty people which is sufficient for our wedding since we only wanted to invite our absolute closest family members and friends. Zoe is my maid of honor and she looks so beautiful in her peach off the shoulder, straight cut bridesmaid dress. Nate is with her and guess what? They are next. How about that, the girl who fancied our small town doctor is getting hitched herself. She will be marrying in three months' time in March to be a Spring bride. Here in December as it is now, it is heavenly. We have the cooler mornings but in the day a gorgeous warm twenty-one degrees. I always wanted to be a December bride and today I finally am.

My dress, let's talk about that because even I cannot believe it. The original was designed by none other than Helen Rose of MGM for Grace Kelly and I fell in love with it as a child having watched all her movies and being mildly obsessed with the later Princess. It is the most magical creation of lace, it was a masterpiece with a bodice and under bodice and skirt support with two petticoats. It is the dress of all dresses. Today I take myself away from the view and stand in front of the full length mirror and just stare. Sebastian paid for one of the best designers in Spain to recreate the dress for me, right down to the veil and a lace and pearl encrusted prayer book for me to carry down the aisle.

I hear a gentle knock on the door and hope it isn't my husband to be. We swore we wouldn't spend the night before our vows together, nor would we see each other for a full twenty-four hours before. It has been hard because I've been with him for every night practically in the last six months. There were only a few occasions when were were apart, one was when he went to Japan which he cut down to just five days because Bella was arriving to be with us and a few other trips he has had to make.

"Who is it?" I ask.

"Me, Zoe. Can I come in?"

"Of course you can, you're my maid of honor." The door opens and as she walks in I gasp, she takes my breath away. Her blonde hair has been colored to a gorgeous russet color and Zoe looks stunning. The contrast with her peach dress brings out the warm tones in her skin.

"Nervous?" She asks. I shake my head.

"How can I be nervous when I am marrying the man of my dreams?" She comes towards me and hugs me to her.

"I can't believe it babe. You're all grown up and getting married. You have a stepdaughter and I'm off getting married in a few months. We've become women, no more boozy nights or drunken club nights, me picking up another guy. We've come a long way, Ava baby." I have to fight not to cry because it's true. Everything she says is true.

"It feels like life has just begun for us, Zoe." She nods.

"Are you ready?"

"I've been ready for months" I say. Zoe kisses me on my right cheek and laces her arm through mine to take me to where my father is waiting to lead me out to the impressive gardens and down to the bottom where our guests will be seated outside, on each side of the aisle that has been created for me. Bella will be waiting with my father to hold Zoe's hand then to scatter the peach rose petals on the ground as I follow behind with dad. My mother, no doubt will be crying at the front. I cannot wait for Sebastian to see me in this creation, a dream he has made possible for me ever since I was a little girl, dreaming of having my very own Grace Kelly wedding dress.

I see him looking at me. He is the most handsome man alive, it's ridiculous. The butterflies in my stomach are going nuts as I take in his navy suit, the peach lapel rose and his alluring tiger eyes. Mi carina he mouths. I am so in love with him. As I stand next to him, he leans towards me, "you my darling American Girl are the most beautiful woman in the world." He knows he has to wait to kiss me but my lips are already dying to feel his on mine. Our service begins and I listen to the vows from Sebastian.

He starts with an Einstein quote, it makes me smile. He knows how much I have respect for that man.

"When you trip over love, it is easy to get up. But when you fall in love, it is impossible to stand again."

"Ava my darling, mi carina

I didn't fall in love with you, I walked into love with you with my eyes wide open

Choosing to take every step along the way, I do believe in fate and in destiny, but I also believe we are only fated to do the things that we'd choose to do anyway. And I'd choose you in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality. I'd find you and I'd choose you."

I hold back my tears at his words, it never ceases to hit me that the grumpy conceited man I first met, is actually the most beautiful man the world has ever seen. I say my vows and we are pronounced man and wife. Sebastian lifts me veil, our lips finally meet. Bella claps and giggles and our guests sigh.

"Today, tomorrow and for always." We say together.

Arabella squeals with delight. Honestly, this girl is a dream. She has taken to calling me mama and I couldn't be prouder to be her stepmother. My parents adore her too, and they are absolutely loving being called abuela and abuelo. The Spanish for grandma and grandpa. It's like a dream come true.

My first book has been published and it has been met with so much success that I can't believe it. The reviews have been astounding and of course, Sebastian has a copy in his office. He's also taken to having some pictures blown up onto canvas and has them dotted around the ranch.

When I think back to the hardship we have been through to get to this happy ever after, it seems so surreal. First me running out on him because he kissed Mirabella. What a drama queen I was behaving like a child and not stopping to listen to him. Then Mark sending me obscure and threatening messages, the bodyguards and having to move out to Spain within a few days of receiving them.

It has been nothing short of a whirlwind. They say love is worth waiting for and it is true. My parents are over the moon with my life, it's everything a parent wants for their child. To be with the man who adores her, who spoils her and can take care of her and provide her with the safety and security she needs. When my folks come to visit, mom and I go shopping and do the typical tourist sight-seeing. I could never get bored of that. Often, if Arabella isn't in school we take her with us. Oh my word, how my mother dotes on her. It's beautiful and it fills my heart so much, it feels as if it is going to burst.

My father and Sebastian get on so well, honestly though I couldn't imagine Sebastian not getting on with anyone. He is a true gentleman, well of course if you don't include the bedroom. In there, well let's just say he is wild and abandoned.

As I look into his eyes after he has lifted my veil and kissed me, I can see tears of joy in his eyes, deep love and utter contentment. My emotions mirror his. You meet that one person only once in a lifetime and I know with all my heart that he is standing right in front of me now.

He hooks his arm so I can place my arm under and rest my hand on his forearm. The music starts up as he walks me back down the aisle. People cheer on either side of us as we walk towards the large terrace where we will have our reception and cutting of the cake. The sky is brilliant blue as it is so often here in Spain, no clouds show themselves in the sky, birds are chirping and I feel as if I am living a fairytale. I suppose really that I am.

Sebastian lowers his head and whispers into my ear, it tickles. "Tonight mi carina I am going to make a baby with you." I intake quickly. Just the thought of being with him tonight makes me tingle inside and the thought of us starting a family is pure icing on the cake. We want at least two children and for Arabella to have siblings. She cannot wait to have a baby brother or sister.

I look up at him adoringly and stop to kiss him, mindful I do not trip over my dress. Zoe is behind me with Nate as she holds my veil. They look beautiful together.

"You'll be next, Zoe." I tell her. She laughs. Nate coughs. Of course they will be. That is a whole lover story all on its own.

Love is magical, it sweeps you away in an instant, it can hit you like a bolt out of the sky and when it does, grab it. Don't let it fly by like I almost did. This is the most magical day of my life and I know with Sebastian by my side, I will always be loved and cherished.

We kiss again and everyone around us applauds.

"Together mi carina forever and for always."

"Forever and always, Sebastian."

I am home, here with him by my side and his daughter. Life doesn't get much better than this.

The End