I walked down the aisle, my steps slow and careful, the soft fabric of my dress brushing against my legs with every movement. When I glanced to the side, my breath caught for a moment.
Adrian sat there, dark hair neatly styled, dressed in black. When his eyes met mine, he smiled—soft, genuine—and for a second it felt like no time had passed at all.
His gaze lingered on my dress, the white fabric carefully tailored to fit me perfectly, and I could see the quiet pride and warmth shining in his eyes.
Beside him sat a massive woman, broad shoulders and solid muscle, the kind of presence that could intimidate a room without a word. Yet the way Adrian leaned slightly toward her, relaxed and content, told me everything I needed to know. He was happy. That was all that mattered.
I turned my attention forward again.
Bella and Elara stood waiting for me, rising to their feet in unison. They both wore tuxedos, perfectly fitted to their bodies, sharp lines hugging their curves just right.
Bella's posture was confident, almost protective, while Elara stood tall and steady, her expression calm but emotional, eyes locked on mine.
Seeing them there—strong, beautiful, and unmistakably mine—made my chest tighten as I continued forward, heart pounding with every step.
As soon as I stood in front of them, my composure cracked. Tears welled up and slipped free before I could stop them. Bella and Elara smiled softly, the kind of smiles meant only for me, looking at me like I was the only man left in the world.
I glanced toward the small group watching us. Adrian sat quietly beside his wife, both of them attentive and warm, and Liz—Liz was already crying. Full-on sobbing.
"That's my daughter!" she yelled through tears, completely unapologetic and dramatic as ever.
We all laughed, the tension easing just a little, the moment becoming lighter and more real. The officiant cleared her throat and began to speak, but Elara cut in before she could get very far.
"Can we just skip to the part that matters?" she said, dead serious.
I laughed, wiping at my eyes. Somewhere in the distance a bird cried out, and for a split second my attention drifted—just long enough to spot the gray horse standing far off near the edge of the land. Goldship. I smiled to myself before focusing again.
The officiant nodded, amused.
"Very well. Noah, do you take these two women to protect you, love you, and stand with you through hardship and joy?"
I nodded immediately, my chest tight, voice thick.
"Of course I do."
She turned to Bella and Elara.
"Elara and Bella, do you take Noah to love, cherish, and walk beside through life?"
They nodded together without hesitation.
"Every fucking day of the week," Bella said.
"I'd rather die than not marry Noah," Elara added.
We all chuckled again, emotion buzzing through the air.
"Then," the officiant said, smiling, "I now pronounce you husband and wives. You may kiss the groom."
Elara stepped forward first, her hands warm and steady as she pulled me into a deep, lingering kiss that seemed to stretch time itself. When we finally parted, I was breathless, heart racing.
Before I could even process it, Bella leaned in and kissed me too—just as full of love, just as certain.
Standing there between them, surrounded by quiet land and the people who mattered most, I knew it without a doubt:
I was the luckiest man on earth.
-
I lay back on the couch beside Adrian, my head feeling a little floaty from the two tequila shots I probably shouldn't have taken.
Bella and Elara were tucked in to the side of me, clear-headed and sober since, well... pregnant and responsible and all that. I, on the other hand, was definitely feeling it.
"So," I said, turning my head toward Adrian, my words a little slower than usual, "where did you go... all those years ago?"
He looked at me with a small, calm smile. Vivian sat close to him, her fingers gently rubbing his thigh, grounding him. After a second, he spoke.
"My father was gang raped," he said plainly. No hesitation, no drama. "We moved out of the city that same day. Didn't want any chance of more trouble." He shrugged slightly. "He's fine now, don't worry."
The casual way he said it made my chest tighten. Still, it explained a lot.
"I see..." I muttered. "So where do you live now?" I hiccupped right after, which earned me a quiet snort from Bella.
"About thirty minutes from here," Adrian replied. "Small town called Penn. I run a little pizza place—Adrian's."
I blinked at him, my brain clicking into place.
"No shit? We've been ordering from there ever since we moved here."
He laughed softly. "Yeah. Guess the world's smaller than it feels."
I nodded, then looked at him again. "And your dad? How's he really doing?"
Adrian nodded once before answering. "He's retired. Lives by the sea now, just enjoying life." A faint smile tugged at his lips. "I call him every week. Just to make sure he's still alive."
I smiled at that and leaned back into the couch cushions, the room warm and familiar like always.
I watched Liz wobble past, mumbling to herself as she tried—and failed—to make it up the stairs. About halfway up, she gave up entirely and just slumped down, using the step like a pillow. We all burst out laughing.
"Poor thing," I said, shaking my head. "Bella's definitely gonna have to rescue her later."
Bella snorted. "Yeah... once she's done sleeping off whatever planet she's on."
I turned back to Adrian, the room still buzzing with that quiet, end-of-the-day warmth. "So," I asked, more gently now, "you planning on any kids?"
He nodded after a moment. "Possibly," he said. Just one word, but it carried a lot with it. Vivian squeezed his thigh again, and the look they shared said more than anything else could.
I leaned back and let my gaze drift to the massive windows. Outside, the sun was sinking low, bleeding orange and gold into the hills. The barn caught the light just right, the pool shimmered softly, and everything felt still—like the world had decided to pause for us.
For once, nothing felt rushed. Nothing felt wrong.
Life is... perfect.