Objection | SVU

Chapter 16

It was finally time.

I watched as the pairs of bridesmaids and groomsmen processed up the aisle in the Grand Ballroom of Gotham Hall. I turned to my right and smiled, looking up at my brother. "I love you, Jay." He said, using the nickname that he and my father used to call me. I smiled and replied, "I love you too, Nate. I just wish that mom and dad were here to see this day." Before we processed through the doors, Nate poked where my heart was and said, "They are, Jess. They're right there." I smiled widely at Nathan, and he took my arm in his as we processed down the aisle.

My eyes were glued on Rafael. I could swear that I saw tears in his eyes, and I was about to start crying. I looked around and saw all of the people who meant something to me, and I felt so full and whole. I smiled widely as Nate walked me closer to Rafael, and I was right- I saw tears in his eyes. As we got to the front of the ballroom, Nathan stopped and took his hands in mine. He embraced me tightly, hugging me to him like he was never going to let me go. I whispered in his ear, "I love you, Nathan." He replied in a weak, emotional voice, "I love you too, Jessica."

As Nathan handed me off to Rafael, the tears began to fall from my eyes. I smiled as Rafael took my hand and helped me up onto the podium. He smiled and whispered, "Hey, you didn't fall." I smiled as I sniffled, and I felt a hand on my back. I glanced over to see Benson, my maid of honor, at my side, and I smiled again. I was so thankful for the amazing people that I had by my side.

Our wedding officiant began, "Love is a miraculous gift, and a wedding is a celebration of that magic; that is why we are here today. We are gathered together to be overjoyed for, and with, Jessica and Rafael, who are so wonderfully suited to one another that it is a pure delight for the rest of us to see how happy two people can be. They are the example of the love that in its light-heartedness dissolves the notion of love as hard work. They are the promise of possibility, the expectation of joyful surprise. We are here to celebrate, witness, honor, dance, laugh, sing, eat, and be glad because these two have found their beshert.

Divine light that illuminated our hearts and gives life to each cell of our being, we give thanks for the love that has gathered us together in this place, and especially for the beautiful, heartwarming love that Jessica and Rafael have chosen this day to consecrate in marriage. For all the beauty that you have bestowed upon them we give great thanks, for their open hearts and loving spirits, for their wisdom in choosing to love, for their willingness to walk on the path of true love, with all its joys and burdens and lessons. Bless them now with your joyful abundant radiance, so that the words they say, the feelings that beautifully transform them in these moments, and the dreams that they dare to dream can be lived out in their marriage."

The wedding officiant introduced Fin, who was doing the first wedding reading for us. He said, "'I no longer believed in the idea of soul mates, or love at first sight. But I was beginning to believe that a very few times in your life, if you were lucky, you might meet someone who was exactly right for you. Not because he was perfect, or because you were, but because your combined flaws were arranged in a way that allowed two separate beings to hinge together.' A quote from Blue Eyed Devil, by Lisa Kleypas."

Next up was one of Rafael's fellow ADAs, Danielle DiCarlo, who was also one of my bridesmaids. She was doing the second wedding reading. She read, "'People are like cities: We all have alleys and gardens and secret rooftops and places where daisies sprout between the sidewalk cracks, but most of the time all we let each other see is is a postcard glimpse of a skyline or a polished square. Love lets you find those hidden places in another person, even the ones they didn't know were there, even the ones they wouldn't have thought to call beautiful themselves.' A quote from Wild Awake, by Hilary T. Smith."

The last reading would be done by Olivia. She walked up to the podium and began her reading. "'I fell in love with him. But I don't just stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other. I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me.' A quote from Allegiant, by Veronica Roth."

As we moved on to exchange our vows, I made the mistake of looking at Rafael. His eyes were brimming with tears, and I couldn't help but let some tears of my own escape. The wedding officiant instructed us to give our vows, and Rafael went first.

"You have taught me that two people joined together with respect, trust, and open communication can be far stronger and happier than each could ever be alone. You are the strength I didn't know I needed, and the joy that I didn't know I lacked. Today, I choose to spend the rest of my life with you. I promise to love you for who you are, and for who you are yet to become. I promise to be patient, and to remember that all things between us are rooted in love. I promise to nurture your dreams and to help you reach them. I promise to share my whole heart with you, and to remember to show you how deeply I care for you, no matter the challenges that may come our way. I promise to love you loyally and fiercely—as long as I shall live."

At this point, I was crying. I knew that Rafael was going to say something that would make me cry like a baby at some point through our wedding day, and I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. The officiant told me to give my vow, and I emotionally spoke to Rafael.

"Today, surrounded by people who love us, I choose you, Rafael, to be my partner. I am proud to be your wife and to join my life with yours. I vow to support you, push you, inspire you, and above all love you, for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, as long as we both shall live."

As Rafael's loving eyes looked deeply into mine, I knew that I had made the best decision of my life.

The officiant had us put on each other's wedding bands, and I couldn't help but smile as he went through his speech and finally asked, "Jessica Noelle Mitchell, do you take this man, Rafael Eduardo Barba, to be your lawfully wedded husband?" I smiled and held back tears as I choked, "I do." The officiant turned to Rafael and asked, "And do you, Rafael Eduardo Barba, take this woman, Jessica Noelle Mitchell, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Rafael looked me straight in the eyes and said, "I do." The officiant smiled widely and said, "Now, by the power vested in me by the State of New York, I pronounce you husband and wife." He paused as Rafael and I looked at each other lovingly and eagerly, and the officiant said, "You may now kiss the bride."

Rafael gently placed his hands on my cheeks and pulled me in for a soft, loving, passionate kiss. It was perfect, and I felt like I was in a fairytale. We separated, and Rafael went in one more time for another kiss, this time playfully dipping me as we kissed. As we separated, we held hands as we turned and saw everyone on their feet, clapping and cheering. The wedding officiant said, "It is my pleasure to introduce to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Rafael Barba!" Rafael held my hand in his as we walked back down the aisle, and I couldn't help but smile.

This was the best day of my life.

[A/N: Sorry, this took longer than expected! Sorry if it's short... The next few weeks I'm gonna be loopy. See y'all tomorrow!]