Rosa's POV

4 years later...

My hands are sweating uncontrollably, so I try to dry them off on the silky fabric of my white dress. I take deep breaths to try to remain calm in the room full of frantic people.

"Find the flowers!" Cameron barks an order at someone.

Cameron has promised to make things perfect for me, and I believe that she will. I feel a twinge of guilt for the person she's throwing the orders at though, since I know that she can be overbearing at times.

Before I can even take another deep breath and sit down, Cameron comes running to me with the bright set of flowers.

It's an overwhelming variety of flowers all in my hands, complimenting the white fabric of my dress. The bouquet is complicated, just like me.

"We need to hurry, Rosa!" She yells at me.

She straightens out my dress in such a quick manner as if the world is about to end.

"Cameron, I don't know if I can do this," I tell her suddenly.

Marriage is a huge commitment. A very huge commitment. It's not something that you can change your mind about that easily. I'm sure about my love for Aurora, but is that enough?

  "Rosa, don't tell yourself that. You can do this."

I know that she's right, but somehow I still feel scared. It makes sense that I would leave these last minute doubts for today, because that's exactly something that I would do, but I know that I'm not going to turn into a runaway bride.

She hands me a shot of I-don't-know-what and I wrinkle my nose. After a moment of hesitation, I drink it all up. Anything that'll help me calm down a bit.

"What if I make a fool out of myself?" I ask her.

"You won't," someone says from behind me.

I turn around, and it's my dad. Otherwise known as the man who hasn't spoken a word to me in 4 years ever since he found out I was gay.

He's in a black tuxedo, and has a warm smile on his face. He's standing in a tough manner, with his head held up high in a display of strength.

I've only seen him in photos on Facebook for the past few years, and he seems more real now. The passing of 4 years have made their mark on him, with subtle wrinkles becoming more obvious and his familiar hazel eyes becoming more tired.

It's shocking to see him after all of this time. It's not a pleasant surprise or gift, that's what I'm sure of.

"What are you doing here?" I angrily ask him.

"Can we take a little walk?" My dad asks me.

It's strange to hear him speak clearly. His voice used to haunt me at night, but it was also the sound that kept me company when I was playing games as a child. Now, 4 years after he abandoned me, it feels sharp.

"Why?" I snap at him.

"I just want to talk to you," he responds.

"Just go talk to him," Cameron pipes in.

She knows how much that loss meant, and she always had the hope for me that he would eventually come around. I just wish that she wouldn't interfere in our relationship, especially on my wedding day.

So, I simply roll my eyes in response, but I decide to follow him out of the room.

I don't know why. Maybe it's the nice high of knowing that I'll be getting married, or maybe it's 18 year old me that's desperate for a second chance.

I let my eyes trail to all of the chandeliers that have light constellations that surge and twist on the marble floor. The venue is stunning, and sometimes I can't help but get caught up in one detail.

I see two women carrying crystal glasses with liquid that resemble gold, emeralds, and diamonds that head into Aurora's room.

Aurora must be nervous too.

My father and I walk down a long white corridor. I stop suddenly, turning to face him, because I can't bear to walk any longer. Partly because of the white heels I'm wearing, and mainly because he doesn't deserve to waste more of my time.

"So, what do you want?" I ask him.

"I want to apologize. You didn't deserve anything that I ever did to you for who you are. Although I don't completely agree with what you are—"

It's like a repetition of the person he was in the past, and the fear inside me continues to grow as I think about the fact that he might not have changed at all.

"What? I'm a human being that happens to be attracted to the same gender instead of the opposite gender," I snap at him.

I don't know if I have the time for this.

"I-I know that. I just wanted to say, your mother and Adrianna have talked some sense into me. I now realize how wrong my ways of treating you were. No person deserved what you went through with me, especially not my daughter," he says.

It's such a shame that it took him 4 years to realize that.

We transition into the main foyer of the building and I admire the flowers of every kind that dominate the foyer. No one is here, so the sweet sound of silence is still in the air around us.

"I'm extremely sorry for the way I treated you. I love you so much and I would love it if I could walk you down the isle."

All these years, I came to accept that he would never be okay with who I am. It was a given. It was unquestionable. Now that he's here in front of me, asking for my forgiveness and for this favor, I feel shocked.

I never expected that this would actually happen one day. Especially not on my wedding day.

I try my best to search his face for lies, but I find none. He's actually being honest.

His truthfulness is like a miracle, but doesn't everything come with a price? One thing I do know though, is that I don't want the trouble to continue. I don't want to keep acting as if my father is dead, rather than just admitting that he's just absent. I don't want keep this feud alive for forever.

I'm tired of it.

As I've grown up, I've realized that I don't need his acceptance. I never did.

Still, it feels like 18 year old me is bursting at the seams with joy at a sight like this. I don't need his acceptance, but I think a small part of me still wants it.

I find myself washed over with an urge to forgive him. Whether it's the right choice, I'm not sure, but it's the one I'll be making. I'm only doing this to provide peace with the person who I was in the past, and make temporary amends to the heartbreak I faced at his rejection.

I just want some peace right now. I think that's all I've ever wanted.

That's why I hesitantly tell him, "I forgive you."

He smiles, and embraces me into a hug. I wrinkle my nose a bit when I smell the cologne that he always wears, making me let out a small laugh. He's still the same man he was four years ago when he loved me without limits.

He's finally realized that everyone deserves to be accepted, which is one of the most wonderful changes to witness in him. It's a change that I've been hoping would happen for forever. I hope it lasts.

Our father-daughter relationship will never be the same. I don't expect it to ever be the same. Four years of silence have done too much damage, but we can slowly try to heal. I don't even know if that makes sense to myself, but I'm not concerned with that in this immediate moment.

Especially since I'm going to get married!

"Rosa, it's show time!" Cameron yells as she rushes to where I'm standing.

She runs towards us and yanks me away, leaving my happy father standing alone.

Aurora's POV

"I'm sorry your father couldn't be here for this," my mom apologizes.

"He made his choice. It isn't your fault, mom. This was years ago and I'm over that."

It hurt at first when my father left us, but I've gotten over it. 17 year old me was desperate for his approval, but that was honestly stupid. I think that it's better that he didn't stick around.

I can't imagine having someone with such negativity being part of my family. I spent so much time crying about what happened and wishing for him to come back, but I finally moved on. The fact that he made the choice to leave shows that he was never worth my attention anyway. Now that plenty of years have passed, it feels like distant memory.

She shrugs, and Lewis comes over to our side.

"Oh, Aurora you're all grown up now," Lewis tells me.

I laugh as I hug my stepdad.

He had replaced my biological father as my new and improved father figure when he married my mom.

They met at the grocery store when they accidentally bumped into each other and sent all of their items flying everywhere. They got into a verbal fight in the middle of the place, but after a lengthy time at the police's office, they made amends and even exchanged numbers. It's crazy to me that it all began in a small shop with no hints about a future love.

He's been part of my family for 2 years now, but they've somehow meant more than the 17 years that I had with my biological father. Lewis is funny and kind, and most importantly of all, he doesn't mind that I'm gay. He's proud of it even, as he's even admitted to me in the past about his suspicious regarding his own sexuality.

In fact, we went to a pride parade together last year.

Me, as a lesbian, and him, as a proud pansexual man. He's like a father to me and we're best friends. I'm thankful for his existence, since he's managed to fill the empty space in my family life. It's special for my mom too, since she finally made peace with the disappearance of my biological father and what that meant for her.

I won't ever focus on my biological father again.

He stole so much time and happiness from me, but not anymore. I've moved past it. I've made my own life for myself. I've never needed him here.

My own version of family is far more important that a man who couldn't love his own daughter.

I decide to stop thinking about it, and I simply give my mom another huge hug. This is the last time we'll see each other before I'm walking down the aisle and become a married woman.

"It's time!" Tony yells at me.

Tony has also become important to me.

We met in high school, and he was one of the few people that talked to me. We've managed to stay friends, even long after high school ended. We've remained close and I can't think of anyone else, other than him, to help me out on this eventful day.

I feel incredibly nervous as Tony yanks me away. He places my stepdad and I in front of the doors that are supposed to open in a short second. My stepdad takes my hand, and gives me a comforting smile.

"You ready?"

I gently nod my head.

We open the doors and we walk in.

The faces of several family members and friends greet me as the wedding music starts playing. The guests are seated in oak chairs with white cloths covering them and a blue ribbon wrapped around the backs of them.

The path is almost completely covered in blue petals, which I find a bit annoying but can't deny the beauty of it.

We're outside and the clear blue sky is above us. I smile as I turn my head around to find the face of my mother. She provides me with another comforting smile, and I turn back around.

I nearly stumble when I see Rosa. She's gliding over the identical path of petals that I'm walking on. She has a beautiful smile on her face, and I notice my hands are shaking.

Her dark brown hair is in a tight braided bun, secured with a flower clip. Her cheeks are painted with a light pink colored blush and a smile creeps onto her face when she sees me. Her dad has her hand and seems to have a proud look on his face.

I feel a mixture emotions at that sight, both of surprise and anger. If he's here though, it means that Rosa allowed it, and I want her to be happy. If having her dad back in her life is what she wants, then I'll support her. I'll have to ask her what exactly happened though, and how he ended up here.

Her beautiful hazel eyes sparkle as we get closer to the priest in front of us. My step dad and I reach the man the same time that Rosa and her father get there.

Lewis squeezes my hand and then hands me off to Rosa as Rosa's dad hands her off to me.

"We are gather here today to..." The man says.

I don't hear the rest though as I'm too busy fidgeting with my hands and staring at Rosa.

She's beautiful.

"The brides may kiss now," the priest instructs.

I happily comply as I bring my lips to hers and then we kiss. Her lips taste like her favorite strawberry lipgloss and I smile.

She's adorable.

It's magical, the way her lips connect with mine. I feel content as her breath comes and goes the time as mine does.

Rosa and I part away. We rest our foreheads together. United, together, at last.

We wrap our arms around each other and we face the crowd. We are married, there's an unbreakable bond between us and it's one that no one can break.

I smile as the crowd starts clapping. I rest my head on Rosa's shoulder as I look at her. She looks back at me with her gorgeous hazel eyes.

A new life awaits us. A new beginning with Rosa. I can't wait for what life decides to throw at us. As long as I have Rosa by my side, I can do anything.

United.

Together.

At last.

The End

A/N: Feel free to read my other stories! Answer To My Life, Afternoon Run, Summer Fling, and Christmas Carols!