Author's Notes: It's here... IT'S HERE! The grand finale! And the last time it wasn't so grand since there was going to be a sequel, but now, it's over. I'm overjoyed and depressed at the same time! It's longer than most of the chapters, if not all. Enjoy! Remember to message me about the new story. I'll post something to decide, but you guys are the ones who decide! ~~Alex

Quote of the Day: "haha juliana can stick that in her juice box in suck it! Go Rachel, she's like the bomb! man haha i'm just happy the hoe is out of the way! they better get f-ing married and live happily ever after or i might kill someone! ugh! anyways! i love your story! 

keep on keeping on!" -cullenlovenfreak (Quizilla)

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I wanted to marry Adam at that moment. Hell, this was my day, and I was going to marry the man I loved.

Kia ran to her car to go bring my wedding dress. It was still at Adam's house. He hadn't let Juliana wear it, thank God.

I turned to look at Adam. "I'm so sorry I left... I feel like crap now." I looked down at my feet guiltily.

He shook his head and tilted my chin so I was facing him once again. My eyes met him and I could not believe that after all these years, his eyes still paralyzed me and his touch still provoked butterflies in my stomach. "Don't be sorry. I know why you left. I understand. If anyone should be apologizing, it's me. I was about to marry her on the same day we were going to get married."

I laughed softly. "I guess we're both to blame. Me for leaving, and you for accepting her."

He nodded. "All I know is that I want you as my wife. I want to marry you. Nothing would make me happier."

I smiled happily at him. "I think it's pretty obvious I want you to marry me. I just crashed your wedding, for Pete's sake!"

He laughed and held me tight. "I love you, Rachel. Always have and always will. I do think I always loved you, deep down inside. I was just too dense to realize it until I was sixteen. And too moronic to act on it until you did."

I grinned. "I wore the pants in our relationship!"

"Oh, is that so?" He chuckled. "Well how about I fix that problem for you?" he whispered huskily.

I laughed and wagged my finger at him. "Bad boy, Adam! WE'RE in a church!"

He shrugged. "So? After today, when you're my wife, it won't matter. We won't be doing anything wrong."

I smirked. "Then you can wait until then."

He pouted but it didn't affect me. I taught him that; I am the master!

Kia ran in, huffing and puffing with my dress in hand.

"I'm here, I'm here!" she shouted breathlessly. Sierra grabbed me by the hand to follow Kia.

We were about to enter a little room in the church where I could change, but I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around. It was Bridget.

"Hmm?" I asked.

Bridget sighed, and broke into tears. "I am so sorry! I'm such a bitch! I believed her because she'd been my sister, my role model for so many years! I'm so sorry! I can't believe how cruel I was with you!"

I brought her into a hug. "It's okay... I love you too much to hold a grudge! Now quit crying, silly! This is a happy day! I'm finally getting married! A few little bumps in the road, but it's all good!"

Bridget smiled and we entered the room. I was squeezed into the dress. I knew I should have passed on that last slice of pizza last night.

"Geez, girl, what have you been eating?" Sierra joked.

I frowned. "Hey, I was sad!"

She and Kia laughed.

"You're so lucky I always have my emergency makeup kit," Kia muttered as she applied mascara on my eyes.

I grinned. "Thank you, guys!"

When she finished, I looked in the mirror. Not to sound vain, but I looked awesome! Much better than I probably looked before.

"Ready?"

I nodded and grinned like a fool in love. "Ready, Freddie!"

When I saw that Tina and Walter were here, I squealed with joy. "I can't believe you guys are here!"

Tina smiled. "When we heard about everything, well, we didn't think you'd just stand by and watch. We knew you'd do something."

I grinned. "You guys know me!"

Walter outstretched his arm for me. I smiled and hugged him. I turned to face Tina. "Please tell me you didn't let him have any sugar."

"I promise!" Tina laughed.

"Can we go to Chuck. E. Cheese later?" Walter whispered. I laughed quietly. "We'll see."

We walked down the aisle with Sierra, Kia and Bridget in front. They'd attended Juliana's wedding to see if I stopped it, apparently. This was the happiest moment of my life.

When I got there, Adam and I just grinned at each other. It took all we had to get our hormones in control and stop ourselves from making out right there.

"My mommy and daddy are getting married!" Patrick shouted from besides Drew.

Everyone laughed at his cuteness.

I was lost in Adam's eyes once more.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church: which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace," the priest spoke.

Juliana just had to burst in, shouting foul insults at me. "Adam, you can't marry that whore!"

Kia turned to face the bewildered priest. "Can you excuse us one sec?"

She and Sierra marched over to Juliana, grabbed her by the hair, and literally kicked her out of the church. They calmly walked back and nodded at the priest to continue.

"Please continue, Father," Sierra told him.

He nodded slowly.

"Will thou have this woman, Rachel Anderson as thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?" he asked Adam.

Adam's eyes shone with happiness as he said, "I do." But that might have just been tears.

"Will thou have this man, Adam Hart, as thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will thou love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"

My eyes sparkled as well as I said, "I do."

It was time for the wedding vows a little after.

"I, Adam Hart, take you Rachel Anderson, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part." He slipped my ring onto my finger as I felt tears spilling from my eyelids.

I just wanted to grab him by the shirt and kiss him passionately right then. But we'd have our whole honeymoon for that...

"I, Rachel Anderson, take you Adam Hart, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part." I slid the ring on his finger and we looked up at each other and smiled.

"Let us all bow our hearts in prayer of dedication..."

"O God, our heavenly Father, Thou alone art the Source and Author of life. Thou art the Protector and Guide on life's pathway. Thou alone art the Builder and Maker of homes. Now grant, we pray Thee, the blessings of Thy promises, and the aid of Thy Holy Spirit to these dear ones, enabling them to honor Thee, and to be ever true to the pledges made to each other. May Thy grace in abundant measure be theirs, helping them to walk in Thy truth, to abide in Thy fellowship, and to live in perfect peace and love with each other until their earthly life shall end in Thy glorious presence. This we ask in the blessed name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." We prayed.

"And now, may the Lord bless thee and keep thee. May the Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee, May the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace. Amen," said the priest.

Adam and I kneeled and grinned at each other.

"May you always share with each other the gifts of love - be one in heart and in mind - may you always create a home together that puts in your hearts - love - generosity and kindness. In as much as Adam and Rachel have consented together in marriage before this company of friends and family and have pledged their faith - and declared their unity by giving and receiving a ring - are now joined. You have pronounced yourselves husband and wife but remember to always be each other's best friend. What - therefore - God has joined together - let no man put asunder. And so, by the power vested in me by the State of Illinois and Almighty God, I now pronounce you man and wife - and may your days be good and long upon the earth. You may now kiss the bride."

He didn't have to tell us twice. Heck, he didn't have to tell us once. We were at it the minute he pronounced us man and wife. Applause sounded everywhere and all the guests stood up, clapping with tears in their eyes.

Meanwhile Adam and I were busy making out.

No one was going to get us apart, basically until we came up for air.

Eventually we did. The look Adam gave me shouted one word: love.

He took my hand and we walked outside.

"It's time to throw the bouquet," Bridget whispered. I grinned. This ought to be good.

I turned around, closed my eyes, and threw it over my shoulders.

When I turned back around, I saw that Kia had caught it. Adam nudged Drew, and Drew took Kia by the arm and kissed her passionately. I guess he thought that was the moment to come out with the question. I could tell he had been freaking out about it, and was happy to have the perfect time to say it. He even had the ring with him. Adam grinned happily, knowing what was coming. Drew got down on one knee in front of Kia and reached into his tux pocket. He pulled out a little blue box. Kia's eyes widened.

"Is that...?" she squeaked.

Drew grinned and nodded. He opened the little box, revealing a beautiful ring with a gorgeous white diamond on top. "Kia, I love you with all of my heart since the day I met you. I officially met you the second day of your freshman year. I probably wouldn't be with you if it weren't for Adam and Rachel. I'm so glad for them. Ever since that day, August 13, six years ago, I've loved you and I've known that you're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. Will you marry me?"

Kia jumped up and down happily. "Of course I want to marry you, Drew!"

He slid the ring on her finger and she pulled him up and kissed him passionately.

I whooped and cheered, and soon everyone joined in. I hugged Kia and congratulated her when she and Drew quit making out. I'm surprised they stopped. They never stop.

The party afterwards was amazing. We dance and boogied 'til we dropped.

Halfway through, Juliana showed up.

I confronted her. "What are you doing here?"

"You won."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I lost?" she was confused.

"No, I mean why did you do this? All of this?"

"You want to know why? You really want to know why?" she asked with a cold smile.

I nodded.

"Because... because... because you stole my cookie in the first grade!"

I gasped. "What?"

"You don't remember? You stole it, and you rubbed it in my face!"

"...Lizzie?"

She nodded. "The one and only."

I couldn't help it. The irony of it all; I burst out laughing. It was sort of psychotic laughter, though. 

"You're saying that everything bad that ever happened to me, besides puberty, was of your doing, and because I stole your cookie when I was five?!"

This chick was seriously psychotic.

"Yeah, it was me all along. I killed your father. I made you and Adam believe the other was dead," said Juliana. Wow, she must have been a pleasant twelve year-old. "Ricky was merely a pawn in this game. But I have to admit, he was of much use. All I had to do was create an obsession with you. It was technically me who killed your mom. It was me who stole Bridget from you. It was me who stole Patrick. It was me all along. Don't you get it? You can't beat me. You can't! YOU CAN'T!"

"All because of a fucking cookie?!"

"It was a special cookie, the last of my mom's special cookies!" she rebutted.

"So? This is ridiculous!"

"NO, IT'S NOT!" she screamed. "IT WAS MINE AND YOU STOLE IT, RACHEL! YOU STOLE IT! YOU STOLE IT! YOU STOLE IT! YOU STOLE IT! YOU STOLE IT!"

"I called the Looney house..." Sierra whispered. "They're coming for her."

I merely nodded.

Sure enough, not a moment too soon, I heard an ambulance outside. Three men in white straightjackets came. They took Juliana by the arms.

"No, no, I'm not crazy! I'm not! I'M NOT! I'M NOT!" she shouted.

I winced. She really was crazy.

They took her away, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I turned to see how Adam had reacted. He just stared at the retreating figures with wide eyes.

"Well, that was awkward."

I opened my mouth to speak but said nothing. "I just can't believe all of this occurred because of... a cookie."

I finally managed to choke that out.

He shook his head. "Let's not dwell on the past. The important thing is, she's gone, and we're here, happy, married!"

I grinned. "You're right. There's nothing I can do. Besides, that chick is going to spend the rest of her life locked up in there."

He nodded and pulled me close. He softly kissed me and I once again melted in his arms. I forgot about everything. I finally got my happily ever after. Finally.

Although love is like heaven, it can hurt like hell. But finally all the hurt was gone, and all I was left with was love. True love.

"Let's get out of here and begin our honeymoon early..." Adam muttered against my lips.

Patrick was in care of Sierra at the moment, of course, and she would be in charge of him throughout our honeymoon.

I nodded breathlessly. Because we all know what that means. Oh, yeah.

And we all lived happily ever after...

The End!

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