I wake up early the next morning, too excited for the day's coming events. Lindsey is still beside me, sleeping soundly. I trace little hearts over his chest, cuddling into him. He stirs and I kiss his chin.

He groans, turning over to face me. "What are you doing up so early?"

"Couldn't sleep anymore. Merry Christmas, Linds."

"Merry Christmas, baby." he says, kissing my lips softly. "And happy wedding day"

I can't stop myself from smiling. "Happy wedding day. Would you like some breakfast? I was thinking of ordering in."

"Sure. What are you in the mood for?"

"I'm not sure. I'm absolutely starving."

"Are you? Didn't I hear you get up for a snack and a glass of water?"

"Okay, you caught me." I say, putting my hands up in defense. "But I'm still hungry." He gives me a look and my expression in response makes him laugh. "What?"

"You've been really hungry lately, that's all."

"Maybe it's all the traveling and the lovemaking." I say and he nods.

"Could be" he says. "Why don't you go downstairs and call in our breakfast and I will get ready really fast."

"Alright. I love you."

"I love you too."

I hurry down the stairs and almost make it into the kitchen when I stop suddenly. There is a tree in the middle of the sitting room and there are presents underneath wrapped in silver and gold paper. I don't remember that being there the night before. In fact, I took this trip to be my Christmas present.

"Linds?" I call up the stairs, hearing soft footsteps. Tears fill my eyes as he comes into view.

"You saw it, didn't you?" he asks at the sight of me. I nod, and he wraps his arms around me. "I didn't want you to feel like Santa forgot you this year, angel. You went to bed early so that's when the delivery men came. I guess you were too tired earlier to notice. All of the presents I got for you, I had shipped here. And before you say anything, this isn't about me. I don't need gifts because I have the one thing I want in this world- you."

His words are too much and bury my face in his chest. "I love you so much, Lindsey."

"I love you too." My sobs grow louder and he chuckles a little, rubbing my back. "Hey, don't cry. I'm glad you're so happy but..."

"I'm sorry" I tell him, wiping my tears as I pull away.

"Don't be. Are you okay to call in our breakfast? The number is on the fridge."

"Yeah, I can do that. What would you like?"

"Anything, baby. Get whatever you want."

"Okay" I say, going into the kitchen. I compose myself to speak, ordering pretty much everything on the little menu provided. I'm totally famished and I know Lindsey must be hungry too. I hang up and find Lindsey by the tree. The lights are twinkling on the tree, the sun isn't quite visible through the thick drapes.

"While we wait, would you like to open something?" I nod and he invites me to sit beside him.

"Come here, baby. Open this one first." He hands me a small box and I hesitate in opening it. "Go ahead. It won't bite you." I bite my bottom lip, taking the ribbon off. I open the box and inside is a gorgeous gold and sapphire necklace.

"Oh, Linds!"

"Can I put it on you?" he asks and I nod. He takes it out of the box and drapes it carefully around my neck, fastening the clasp. "Now let me see" I turn so he can see it and he nods approvingly. "This is your something blue and it's gorgeous on you." he praises and then his eyes drift lower. "Um...what's all this up top? New bra?" He raises an eyebrow, giving me a mischievous grin and I shake my head. He shrugs.

"How about this one?" I ask, pointing to a silver package.

"Oooh, yeah. Open that one."

I give him a puzzled expression and he chuckles, handing me the box. I tear it open and when I see what's inside, I know why he acted like that. I retrieve two wisps of sheer fabric, baby blue. "Really?"

"Hey, its for our wedding night. A guy can dream! You don't have to wear them, but can you at least model them?"

"You're such a guy!" I say, tossing the lingerie at him.

"I can't help it, my fiancée is hot as hell" he says and I just laugh. "That's supposed to be your something new."

"Thank you."

"Now this one next." he says. The doorbell rings and I get up to answer it.

I pull my robe around myself, expecting breakfast but when I finally open the door, I see a familiar face. I start crying automatically, throwing my arms around the petrified looking man.

"Jesus, Stephanie! At least let me in before you throw my back out"

"I've missed you so much, Chris."

"I've missed you too. It's not like I'd miss my big sister's wedding!"

"I'm so happy you're here"

"What's all the commotion?" Lindsey asks from the other room. I hear his footsteps on the floor and he joins my brother and I in the foyer. "Hey, man!"

"Am I supposed to be the something old or the something borrowed?" Chris jokes.

"Oh, you're my borrowed!" Once again, I launch myself at him.

"What is she on?" Chris asks and Lindsey laughs.

"I don't know. I have absolutely nothing here. She's been like that the whole trip."

"Come join us in the sitting room! We're waiting on breakfast, and I ordered enough that it should feed all three of us."

"Good! The last thing I ate was a packet of airline peanuts so I'm dying for a good meal"

"I'm so happy you're here" I take my brother's hand and walk him to our tree.

---

When breakfast finally arrives, we devour it quickly. Nothing seems to last long with the boys around and if I'm honest, I eat more than my fair share of pastries, pancakes and eggs, washing the whole thing down with copious amounts of orange juice. I finish opening the most important presents and I promise to open the rest tonight when we come back to the house. Chris will be staying with my parents in Paris so we will be alone on our wedding night without the worry of disturbing him.

I run upstairs and get dressed, applying my wedding makeup on my own. I style my hair as usual but Lindsey says someone 'may or may not' be there to help me if I so choose. The only thing I'm hoping is that it isn't him. Margi is at our venue, waiting to help me get ready. The boys dress casually and we get in the car taking us to the castle.

My mother and father are all dressed up, my mother in red and my father in black. Our bandmates are looking fabulous as always and Lindsey's mother and brothers are also in red and black ensembles. Going into the main hall, there are huge amounts of poinsettias and white roses. It's absolutely beautiful and I'm left speechless. I'm led to my chamber to get ready, Margi standing proudly with my gown in the dress bag. I smile excitedly, unzipping it so I can have my first look.

"Oh you've outdone yourself!" I exclaim. "Thank you! Lindsey told me you took my last measurements and you designed something for me...I never imagined!"

"I can't wait to see it on you." I hugged her and hurried behind the curtain to put it on. I took my clothes off and carefully stepped into the gown, having fully unzipped it. I pulled it up, slipping my arms into the sheer lace sleeves. The beading is incredible. I hold the dress up, moving toward the mirror so she can zip and button it. "You look breathtaking." she says and I smile. The entire dress has lots of frilly layers of lace with a small train. It fits my body just right, and I feel so incredibly beautiful in it. All her clothes have that quality. The necklace Lindsey gave me is laying over the lace of my dress and I can't take my eyes off it. She places my headpiece with the attached veil and the tears consume me again.

"It's perfect" I say and she hugs me.

"Go get married, Stevie. Congratulations."

When Margi leaves to get her seat, my parents come to give me lots of wisdom and well wishes. My mother and father both hug and kiss me, allowing Lindsey's mother to come in.

"Hello, Stephanie" she says and I greet her with a hug and kiss on the cheek. "You look beautiful"

"Thank you, Mrs Buckingham."

"Call me Ruth...or mom." She nudges me a little and I smile. "You've always been family, Stevie and soon you will be officially part of the Buckingham family."

"Thank you. I'm so excited to be his wife"

"And he's very excited to be your husband. He loves you beyond words and I know you love him just as much."

"Exactly."

"I have your something old. It was something that I've been carrying around for a while now and since I never had a daughter, I thought it was only right to give it to you." Ruth takes a ring off her finger and places it on my right ring finger. "This was my engagement ring from Lindsey's father. We lived a beautiful life together until he unfortunately passed away. We didn't have much when we got married but we had each other. I want to give you this ring and I want you to remember that no matter what happens in life, you and my son will always have each other."

Her words touch me so much and I hug her. "Thank you. I know that Lindsey and I will be together forever. I feel it." I say, pulling apart a little.

"I know you will be together for many years and will be so very happy together. Welcome to the family, Stephanie."

"Thank you."

"Everyone is waiting for you, are you ready?"

"Yes, just let me fix my make up then I will be right down." She nods and leaves the room. I'm standing at my mirror when there is another knock on my door and I glance at it. "Come in" The door opens a crack and I hear a strange sound. "Come in, please!"

"Steph" I hear in a whisper. "Steph!"

"Lindsey?" I move away from the table and go to the door. "What are you doing here? You aren't supposed to see me until the ceremony."

"I just wanted to say I love you and that I'm excited to finally be marrying you."

"I love you too. I feel the same way."

"From what I can see, you look incredible. I wish I could kiss you." he says and I giggle.

"Thank you, and soon, when we say I do."

"Not much longer. I'll see you out there." he tells me. He blows me a kiss through the crack in the door and turns to leave.

"See you, Linds."

-----

It's finally time and my father meets me before we get to the grand hall. He looks down at me proudly and I'm already crying again. We walk down the aisle to a soft familiar song played by a trio of harpists, but at a much slower tempo. I would recognize the song he'd written for me anywhere- Stephanie. He looks so handsome in his black suit, white shirt and red pocket square. His hair is tame, his eyes are wild, looking deep into my soul and breaking me down to my elements in the most incredible way. He knows me, the real me, before anyone had heard me sing on a big stage, before a single song was released.

"You're gorgeous" he whispers.

"Thank you."

We listen to the vows, repeating them word for word, and rings are exchanged waiting until they allow us to finally be united as husband and wife. I look out, seeing just how many people had showed up and I'm shocked. So many friends, so many happy faces. I look back at Lindsey and he mouths 'It's time'. I smile even though tears are streaming down my face.

"I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

Lindsey smoothes the back of my hands with his thumbs and we both lean forward. Suddenly he pulls me into him and dips me a little as he kisses me passionately. The room erupts and I blush as he pulls me to stand upright again. I can feel the heat rising from both of our bodies. He has ignited a fire in both of us and the look in his eyes tells me he wants to skip any reception he has planned.

We step down from our spots and as we walk down the aisle we are hugged more times than we can count. He kisses me again once we are back in the chamber area and nuzzles his nose into my neck. "I brought the dress and heels you packed. We should change for the small reception, then we can go back to the house together....alone"

"Mmm...I'd like that" I say, kissing him again.

"We have a little time. Let me in your room."

I think a moment, biting my lip. "Okay, but please me careful with my dress."

"I promise. We should save it. It's beautiful and it fits you...so well" he says, scanning my body with his eyes.

"Thank you for noticing." I give him a wink. "Help me undo the buttons on the back of my neck?" He touches them delicately, unbuttoning them. He then unzips my dress unprompted and I let it drop to the floor. I step out, hang it back up and he wraps his arms around my waist.

"How good does my wife look?" He kisses my cheek, then my neck, knowing it drives me crazy.

"Not now..." I say softly, a moan escaping my lips.

"Come on, baby." he begs.

"You're a bad influence."

"If anyone is a bad influence it's you. You're making me want to do such sinful things to you."

"Tonight. Right now, lets go back to our family and friends."

"Alright" he says, pouting like a child. "But only because I get to show off my beautiful new wife" He kisses me, letting me dress and rearrange my hair after taking off my head piece. He watched intently, almost studying me.

"Shouldn't you be changing too?"

"I'd rather be with you." Once I'm dressed, I turn to him and he immediately praises me. "God, look at you! Your husband is such a lucky guy to have a girl like you"

"Yeah? Well so is his wife. You're so handsome I can hardly stand it!" He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles, all the while looking deep into my eyes.

"Today is the first day of the rest of our lives"

"I'm more than ready for it."

"Merry Christmas, Mrs Buckingham."

"Merry Christmas, Mr Buckingham." I reply before going to join our guests at the reception.

A/N: sorry for such a long one. I hope this is still enjoyable. Thank you all for reading, voting and commenting. It means a lot to me.