Now, it is our wedding day.

I’m surrounded by plenty of examples, and many of them have been together for close to two years at this point, and they’re all incredibly happy, and their relationships are flled with loyalty and love.

The Moore homestead is seeing another marriage today, not too long after my brother’s. My parents were absolutely thrilled, and I’m already getting my ear talked off about grandchildren.

Lavender recently announced her pregnancy with her and Hawk’s child. I thought that maybe it would spare me such speculation, but moms are going to do mom things sometimes.

She’s going to have to wait. I’m going to get my veterinary license and set up my practice. Evergreen Valley needs me. Family is important, but I’m young. I got time.

Tristian, of course, is behind me all the way. He’s got his own stuff to figure out, but he does tell me he looks forward to being a father someday soon.

The setup of my marriage ceremony isn’t too terribly different from Hawk’s. Lots of people gathered to celebrate our love and devotion for one another.

Savannah and Hunter sit together, Savannah carrying a newborn daughter of their own, their second, their first son sitting next to them quietly. The new daughter’s name is Robin, something that stirred another stupid yet wonderful debate between Tristian and I. They’ve been growing a custom-furniture business out of Hunter’s crafts, and it's been doing very well. Good old-fashioned hardwood that’ll last a hundred years seems awfully rare in today’s society.

Char and Bear’s journey into parenthood isn’t as far along. Char’s only just starting to show. They’ve taken a special interest in Tristian and I, helping him on his journey in setting down roots and easing me into being a good wife. They even got me to do sewing with her and Savvy on weekends.

Fox and Tabitha have been thriving in their own ways. The two of them don’t work together in a business sense, but it inspires me that, although they both have separate jobs and dreams, at the end of the day they both return home to one another, and support one another. It shows me it can work, and inspires me despite Tristian’s and my different goals in life.

Fox has also been Tristian’s lifeline when it came to the mob and if they care about him. He got the approval to spill the beans on his old boss, and he did so: for murder and a bunch of other crimes they pinned on him, the boss will be going away for a very long time, and if he ever gets out alive, he’d be setting the world record for the oldest prisoner ever released.

Hawk and Lavender have been taking charge doing the grunt work of getting the wedding going. Hawk and I still playfully call each other names, but we’re coming to terms with the fact we’re both adults now. We can’t stupidly bicker with one another as much anymore. We got jobs, hopes, dreams, and worst of all, responsibilities.

There’s a few people on Tristian’s side of the aisle. I guess he had some friends from his old life who weren’t as toxic and were worthy of inviting.

I’m nervously waiting in the wings for the organ music to start to play. Everything should go fine. This will be the happiest day of my life, and I believe that.

I have that fantastic-looking wedding cake to look forward to. It’s from Hannah’s Sweet Stop, and the aforementioned Hannah is tending to it, putting on some last-minute touches. She looks as nervous as me, but it strikes me as odd. I’ve seen her at these kinds of events before, and she’s as calm and collected as they come. I wonder what’s nagging at her so badly?

Finally, the organ music starts to play. It’s quite the relief, all the waiting around being so exhausting as I waited for what was to come next.

I grab my flowers, take a deep breath, and begin to head down the aisle. All eyes are on me, because I’m not nervous enough as is.

There was a rehearsal for this. And in that rehearsal I tried to step gracefully down the aisle, a very feminine and elegant way of walking, that is completely unlike my usual hustle and bustle.

I had hoped to capture that essence now. I’m trying, yes, but I have no idea if I’m succeeding.

I reach the altar, and the local pastor smiles my way.

My groom is waiting for me. Tristian cleans up really well when he wants to, but I’ll be honest and prefer him rough, like he usually is. There will be plenty of time for that handsome man, though, so I’ll enjoy seemingly innocent Tristian while I can.

The look in his eyes as he sees me is adorable, and I pray I’ll be able to look back at this moment for the rest of my days.

Our minister went through the usual words about the meaning of marriage. About how it meant being fully dedicated to one another, no matter what may come.

It’s all a formality. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t know what it all meant, if we weren’t willing to stand with one another against armies if we had to.

Reuben shuffles up to me when he’s called, the ring being kept in a box around his collar. I thought it would be cute, and seeing it happen, I’m absolutely right. Tristian takes the wedding band off him and presents it to me.

I adore him, yearn for him, and I love him. And he feels the exact same about me. This is our way of announcing it to the whole world, and celebrating it. We say the words. The ring is put on my finger. Husband and wife, the start of our happily ever after.

We embrace in front of everyone, our lips meeting, and we keep it rated G. There are children watching us, after all.

The cheers are loud. They are as happy for us as we are for ourselves.

The night erupts into dancing, food, music, and chatter. It turns into less of an event about us, and more about pure joy for the whole town. And I’m just fine with that.

Eventually, we leave our own wedding in cheers, and start to head to Smithport.