My heart was pounding through my chest. It wasn't nerves, no. It was pure excitement.
My hair was getting back to normal. It wasn't so much cancer hair, as it was like a cute pixie cut.
I looked down at the dress I had picked out. The day I had gotten it, I had wandered around the shop, not looking for anything in particular, and I found it. It was the last one in my size, and when I put it on, it was perfect.
I stood in front of the floor length mirror, and I couldn't help but smile. I had been waiting for this day for what felt like forever, and honestly I just couldn't wait any longer.
"Hey Charlie, you ready?" I heard from behind me.
I turned to face my brothers. Marcus, Shaun, Liam, Matthew, and Kaner were all staring at me with wide eyes.
"How do I look?" I asked, shyly.
"You look absolutely beautiful." Liam said, the only one able to find his voice.
"If you bastards make me cry." I threatened, trying my hardest to hold back my tears.
"Come here." Shaun, said holding out his arms, and I wrapped my arms around him.
Without the people in the room right this second, I couldn't have made it through any of the things I went through in the last year. They showed me completely unconditional love and I honestly could be more thankful for them.
I moved on to Marcus, who honestly look like he had aged too much in the past couple months, and it hurt me to see. All I could hope was that he learned to be happy, and not take everything as something he has to fix or solve. I squeezed him a little tighter, as if that was going to solve anything.
Liam was next. He had gotten so big. He was looking more like man every single day. I couldn't have been more proud of him.
Or Matthew. He was so smart, and caring. He had his first girlfriend. He had brought her, and I kind of really liked her.
"Are you ready kid?" Kaner said, throwing his arm around my shoulders.
"Might as well be." I laughed.
We all walked out to the hall and I stood off to the side of the doors. I heard the music playing, and I smiled.
The door opened, and the guys began to walk in as planned. I waited for the song to change, and stood alone.
"I miss you daddy." I said quietly to myself, and a tear began to fall.
I heard the song change, and I could have swore I felt a hand on my back, telling me to move. I smiled, and I knew he was there. My dad.
I took a deep breath and began to walk. And there he stood. I was used to seeing him in suits, but this was different. Special.
I didn't even notice that tears began cascading down my face, because it was finally happening.
It was quick how I wanted it to be. And I could take the smile off my face.
Mrs. Jonathan Toews.
Mrs. Charlie Toews.
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Toews.
They all sounded perfect.
There weren't too many people there, which was perfect. Obviously the whole team, and Jon's family. And Zach.
"Don't you dare try to seduce me Mrs. Toews. I'm against being the other man." Zach said hugging me.
"Shut up." I said rolling my eyes. "You look nice."
"Well it's not even day an old friends with benefits gets married, then invited you to the wedding. Seems like a 'go all out' kind of deal." He teased.
"So how are things with her." I said, wiggling my eyebrows at him.
"They're..getting there." He said, almost nervous.
"Should I have a talk with her?" I joked.
"Yeah. That'd go great." He rolled his eyes at me now.
"Well she will come around. And when it does I will happily hear an 'you were right Charlie! You're so smart and beautiful! Will you be my best man?!'" I said, smiling at him.
He was such an amazing friend. I was incredibly blessed to have not one, but two amazing brother-like bestfriends that would do anything for me.
"Over my dead body, but I will." he said, sighing. "You look beautiful, though, and I'm extremely happy for you."
Leaving Zach, I made my way over to the bar to grab a glass of my new favorite red wine.
"Red wine with a fancy white dress seems dangerous." Kaner said, snaking his arm around my waist, adn leaving a kiss on my temple.
"Especially for the worlds clumsiest person." I said, following him to the head table.
"Then you'll just have to save me from the yummy red wine." I laughed, and he took the glass from my hand.
"So how are you liking the house?" Kaner asked, pulling the chair out for me, and setting my wine down.
"I like it except for it's missing my best friend." I pouted.
"I live like 20 minutes away. And you set me up a room to stay whenever I want, and I will be staying there your whole honeymoon. You act like you'll never see me again." Kaner laughed.
"Just move in. We're both fine with it." I begged for the millionth time.
"You're going to be newlyweds. The last thing you need is me there all the time. But I will be there all the time, because I need my Charlie." He said, stealing a sip of my wine.
"Hey! That's mine!" I said playfully smaking him on the arm.
"Fine fine. I'm gonna go dance with Tazer's cousin. She's not bad looking, and your husband is giving me an evil look from stealing all your time." Kaner said, giving me back my wine, leaving a kiss on my forehead, and walking off.
I took a drink of my wine, as I watched my husband make his way over to me.
"Hello Mrs. Toews." He whispered into my ear.
"Hello husband. How are you?" He said, taking the seat next to me.
"I am wonderful. Having a good day. What about you?" He said, giving me his gorgeous smile.
I couldn't get enough of that smile.
"I am perfect. Did you know I have the hottest husband in the world?" I smirked at him.
"Well lucky you." He laughed. "Dance with me?"
A slower song had come on, and people had coupled up. Kaner with Jon's cousin, Zach with Kaner's sister, and Jon's parents.
Jon led me to the dance floor, and placed his hands at my hips. I laid my head against his chest, and he began to sway.
"Thank you." I said.
"For what?" Jon asked, moving swiftly.
"Everything. You've changed my life for the better despite everything, and I love you. I love you more than anything and I just want you to know that I appreciate everything." I looked up at him.
I took in everything about him. The couple scars he had on his face, his clean cut hair, and his beautiful brown eyes.
"You make me happy. And I want to make you happy. And I plan to every single day for the rest of our lives. I love you so much, my beautiful wife." He said, bringing his lips down to mine.
My heart fluttered and I smiled into his kiss.
Thinking back to a year ago I never thought any of this would have happened, but I didn't regret a thing. This is exactly where I was supposed to be. I looked around and saw all of the people I loved happy as ever, and I knew that I was the luckiest girl in the world. Ups and downs were all worth where I was at now, and anyone would be lucky to be blessed like I was.
I looked back up at my husband and smiled.
My life was perfect.
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I've been working on this chapter for a month. Ending this couldn't have been harder. You have no idea. I was okay with ending this because of closure and whatnot for the last year of my actual life. But finishing it was almost impossible.
When I started I had zero confidence in what I had written, but I had to put it out there and see what it could be. And it was amazing.
I am proud of everything I have written in this story and wish it could go on forever, but alas it cannot.
Thank you. Thank you for everything. The comments and votes always puts a smile on my face. I appreciate every single person who read this story.
I will still be writing my other story, but if you're not into that kind of thing, I get it.
Thanks again.
Jensen