Ian's POV
"How was dress shopping?" I asked her as she arrived home, looking bright-eyed and mended. She had been stressed about finding her dress or about her mother somehow ruining the experience, but thanks to Red, I think everything went well.
"It was great, but I need to talk to you." It was then that I saw the slight worry in her eyes, the dim expression, and the worry in her voice.
"What is it, Mi Luz? What's wrong?" I took her hand, guiding her to the couch and sitting her close to me.
"Do you still want kids?" She got straight to the point, as she always does. It was one of the many things I loved about her. She never beat around the bush, she just said or asked what she needed to, no matter what.
"Of course I do, but I know you may not want to anymore. I have always wanted to be a dad, but you matter more to me than anything, Mi Amor. So, if you feel that you don't want to do this again, can we discuss other ways? Do you still want to be a mother?" I asked her, my heart thrumming in my throat.
I was scared she would say she no longer wanted kids at all, but I knew deep down that wasn't the case. Hailey loves kids and absolutely adores them. This question, however, still nags at me. Not being a dad would kill me, but perhaps I would be fine with just Hailey. Maybe this was a dream I could let go of.
"Yes, of course I do." She nodded her head, looking at her hands as she spoke. Relief swept over me as my shoulders fell back down. She still wants kids.
"Tell me what you want to do, Hailey, and I'll do it."
"I know you will." Her big brown eyes poured into mine, a sweet, adoring admiration in them. "I want to have your kids, Ian. I want to have so many of your kids to build a big family with you. It's just that I am so scared." Her eyes glistened, turning pink with the tears she was fighting hard to hold back.
"It's okay, Mi Luz. There is no rush, no hurry. We don't have to have kids right now. We can wait until you are ready. Until you feel you could handle it again."
"But what if it happens again?"
"Then I will be by your side to help. I will always be by your side, Mi Luz. You can always count on me," I assured her, never breaking eye contact with her. I wanted her to be sure of my words and to see and hear their sincerity. She nodded her head, falling into me and letting me hold her for a while.
"We're going to be great parents," she said, sniffling away her tears.
"We're going to be great parents."
"One day, Mi Luz. Just one day away until you are my wife." I grinned at her from ear to ear, feeling such deep excitement all the way down to my bones.
"One day," she repeated, beaming at me from the doorway. "Go have fun. The girls and I will be doing the same." She pushed me further out into the hall.
"Geez, I can feel the love." I laughed as I kissed her forehead.
"I'm serious. Go have fun."
"Aren't you going to tell me not to be wild or have too much fun?" I arched a brow at her, teasing her for not being concerned about my bachelor party.
"Not at all. I know you, Ian Daniels. That's not something I need to worry about." She winked at me before she closed the door.
"Don't have too much fun, Hailey Medina, soon to be Hailey Daniels. I know you, too!" I yelled out, my grin only widening.
Lucas had a whole night planned for us, while Red had one planned for Hailey. Neither of us were allowed to know what it was, keeping them both a hidden surprise. I was heading out to meet Lucas at his house with an overnight bag and my pressed suit for tomorrow.
She'll be my wife in less than 24 hours.
In no time at all, I made it to Lucas, seeing him waiting for me outside already. He kissed Red tenderly before he stepped away from her, heading right for my car. He hopped into the passenger seat, tossing his things into the back seat.
"Um, hi?" I greeted him, wondering what he was up to.
We had gotten close over the months- really close, actually. He was now the closest friend I had, which is what prompted me to ask him to be my best man. The only person I had to ask to be a groomsman was Marco, who agreed happily. I needed to be even with Hailey so I had to have help finding the other four guys. Red quickly filled that in for me. She forced Leo, Davis, Carter, and some guy named Jared to be my groomsmen. Jared was apparently Davis' daughter's boyfriend. It was slightly embarrassing, but the guys quickly set that aside for me, making themselves so comfortable with me that they felt more like brothers now.
"Follow the GPS, Ian. No questions." Lucas gave me a wicked grin as Siri began to navigate us.
"What if I ask something, anyway?"
"You just did. No questions, Golden Boy."
For whatever reason, Lucas felt the need to nickname everybody he knew. I was Golden Boy, Davis was Viking Man, Carter was Mr. Clean, and Jared had become Boy Wonder. I kept silent, allowing him to have his way as I headed toward the harbor. When we arrived, I saw all the other guys there, including Marco.
"To the boat, boys!" Lucas shouted, running down the pier to a large yacht. Billionaires.
The night was fun- drinking, daring, talking, and joking. It was exactly what I liked and wanted. A band of guys to hang with and spend quality time with. As the night came to a close, I couldn't help but feel like the happiest man alive. My heart was bursting with love and absolute bliss. I'll see you tomorrow, Hailey.
**Song Suggestion: The Book Of Love by Peter Gabriel**
Oh, God, I'm going to hurl. My heart was racing, and I was sweating so profusely that I wondered if I had sprung some kind of leak. My suit suddenly felt too tight, causing me to pull at the collar of my shirt as if it were trying to choke me. I felt ready to hyperventilate until she came around the corner. That dress.
Hailey looked absolutely stunning, with her dress fitting her better than I could have imagined. She looked like a work of art herself as she made her way slowly towards me. Everything else faded away, leaving only her and me. My eyes instantly watered when she looked at me and smiled that radiant smile of hers. She's my everything. I wanted her to hurry and get to me already. I had to hold myself back from running to her and meeting her in the middle of the aisle.
I couldn't peel my eyes away from my beautiful bride, not even when Mr. Medina told me to take care of her. She was my sole focus, now, tomorrow, and forever. When her hands held mine, standing in front of me, I thought I would burst like a firework with pure love. The feeling was indescribable, bringing me to silent tears. They slowly made their way down my cheeks, mirroring Hailey's as she lightly giggled at us.
"We're a mess," she whispered to me before our priest began.
Before I knew it, we were saying our vows to one another, starting with Hailey.
"Ian, when I first met you, I couldn't stand your rigid and oddly shy demeanor. But I was so wrong about you. I may not have known it, but my heart knew you were the missing piece I had been searching for. You came into my life like a gentle melody, slowly erasing the fears that had held me back from falling in love. Your patience and understanding showed me that love is not something to be feared, but something to embrace with open arms. Your love has transformed my world, filling it with joy, laughter, and an abundance of love that I never thought possible. In the face of our molar pregnancy, you stood by my side, holding my hand through the darkest of times. You helped heal me, not only physically, but emotionally as well. Ian, you are my rock, and my greatest source of inspiration. I thank God everyday for you. With you, I have found a love that is pure, genuine, and everlasting. I promise to cherish and nurture our love, to support you in all your dreams, and to be your biggest fan in every endeavor. And don't worry, I'll still push you out of your bubble as often as I can." She winked playfully at me, keeping to her character despite the deep emotions we were feeling right now.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled out my vows from my pocket. No way was I memorizing all this.
"When we first crossed paths, your assertiveness and bubbly nature were like a whirlwind that I couldn't quite comprehend. I was drawn to you, yet I couldn't understand how someone so different from me could captivate my heart. Little did I know that it was precisely those qualities that would make me fall head over heels in love with you." She let out a small laugh, knowing exactly how she was.
"You, Mi Luz, are my guiding light. In the darkest moments of my life, when I was lost in the depths of my depression, you appeared like a beacon of hope. You saved me from myself, bringing warmth, laughter, and light back into my world. With you by my side, I found happiness, comfort, and a love that knows no bounds. As I stand here before you, I make a promise. I promise to be your constant companion, your unwavering support, and your partner in all things. Together, we will dance through life, embracing every beat and rhythm that comes our way. We will listen to your favorite tunes, creating a soundtrack that will forever be etched in our hearts. You, Hailey, are my true happiness." I choked, almost unable to finish. I had to take a deep breath before I could continue.
"Your infectious laughter, your bright smile, and your unwavering love have filled the void in my soul. I promise to cherish you, to protect you, and to love you fiercely with every fiber of my being. I promise to be the rock you can lean on, the shoulder you can cry on, and the hand you can hold through every twist and turn of our crazy lives. Hailey, you are my everything. Today, I give you my heart, my soul, and my unwavering devotion. Let us dance through life, hand in hand, forever and always."
We were both smiling so wide that our tears couldn't help but slide down our cheeks. This moment was everything and more. And as we sealed our promises with our rings and a passionate kiss, I knew that I would live happily ever after with Mi Luz.