The work sabbatical was precisely what I needed. As my family arrived and the last details of the wedding stacked up, I found my mind being pulled away, but this time it wasn't because of meeting prep and reporting deadlines. I had begun to write. Initially, it was more of a journal, but occasionally I would map out a character or story idea. It felt freeing to have an outlet, but I still hid it.

I would sneak away to Billy's closet and tuck myself beneath a rack of t-shirts with my laptop glowing on my lap. I would get lost for hours at a time. Typically, it was while the kids were at school and Billy was at the studio, but as the wedding day neared, Billy spent more time at home, and the family was around more often. Still, I would steal a few minutes to write a little, even if it was just five hundred words. No one had found my hiding space.

"Lil?" Billy called out from the bedroom. "Are you here?"

"Where do you think she went?" I heard Tim's voice ask.

"Not sure. Maybe she had to run out for something," Billy suggested.

"Like literally run? Because I parked behind her car," Tim noted.

I held my breath like I was a child playing hide and seek. It would be one thing if Billy found me. I expected he would eventually stumble across me and laugh at my silliness, but Timmy could not find me; I would never live it down.

"She must be downstairs or in the barn; we just missed her," Billy offered. "Go take a look; I'll be right down."

"Is that code for you need to take a shit?" Tim asked.

"Really, dude?" Billy groaned.

"I'll take that as a yes," Tim chuckled, before heading out of the room.

"Lil," I heard Billy's voice softer, but still at a good distance. "Lil, I know you're hiding in my closet," he noted.

"How?" I called out to him.

"Because nothing in my closet glows, and your laptop isn't on the desk," I explained.

I crawled out of my hiding space and composed myself before joining him in the bedroom.

"Everything okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, everything is great," I offered.

"But you are hiding because..."

"I wouldn't say hiding; I would say focusing," I noted

"And what are you focusing on?" Billy prodded.

"Remember when you suggested writing?" I tentatively offered.

Billy's eyes grew wide before a smile spread across his face. "Oh, okay. Great. No need to talk about it. I know that the creative process can make you do weird things," he added.

"Weird, like hiding in a closet?" I asked.

"I once wrote a complete song in a shower in Cincinnati. It had great acoustics." Billy shrugged.

I could see the relief flow from his body.

"Billy, did you think I had cold feet?" I asked with a giggle.

"No... maybe... yes," he sheepishly admitted.

"Billy Collins, I can't wait to marry you tomorrow. And I can't wait to spend every day with you for the rest of my life," I offered as I slid onto his lap.

"Noted," Billy added.

"Is that going to be your wedding vows? I say my vows, and you say noted," I teased.

"Would that fly? I mean, I could get into that," he chuckled back. 

The following day, I found myself cramped in a makeshift lobby at the back of the barn with only a sheet between Billy and me. Despite our protests, the family demanded that we not spend the night before our wedding together. I stayed at Mary's with my family, Tess, and Viv, while the boys stayed at the house. I'd never admit it to them, but even the single night apart made the anticipation of seeing Billy that much more significant.

"Ready?" Tim whispered.

"Ready," I agreed.

"Song selection one, the aisle song," he murmured as he hit a button on his phone, and Here Comes the Sun played. "How'd I do?"

"It's absolutely perfect," I smiled. "I love you, Timmy," I whispered as James and Viv ducked through the curtain to the aisle.

"She's going to cry," Jackson warned Timmy.

"I'm not going to cry," I weakly protested.

"I'm already crying," Tess said as she dabbed delicately at her eyes to avoid ruining her makeup. "I have like a dozen tissues hidden in my bouquet; I've got your back," she added before she slipped through the curtain.

"Look at me," Timmy gently spoke. He inspected my face and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. "Look up," I followed as he directed, feeling the tears pool at the edges of my eyes as he dabbed them dry. "Happy tears?"

"Very happy?" My voice cracked as I spoke. "What if I can't make it down the aisle?"

"You weigh like ten pounds; I'll carry you," Timmy smiled.

"Okay, I've got this." I sucked in a deep breath. "Wait," I called out.

Timmy stopped dead, and a hand shot to my waist to ensure I didn't wobble off my heels.

"I got you something," I added.

"Geez, Lil, you nearly gave me a heart attack," Tim clutched his chest like his heart had just started to painfully beat again.

I pulled a watch that I had wrapped around my bouquet and handed it to him.

"Aw, it's beautiful, Lil," Tim said as he looked over the face of the watch.

"Billy helped me pick it out. We had it engraved."

Tim flipped the watch over and read the inscription aloud. "World's Third Greatest Dad," he laughed. "Somehow, I don't think you needed to tell me that Billy helped," he added.

"Thank you, Timmy. I wouldn't be here without you, and I know I wouldn't be able to make it down that aisle without you," I stammered as tears pooled in my eyes again.

"One thing..." Tim pulled me in for a tight hug; he let his forehead rest on mine as he pulled away. "Sisters," he smiled.

"Sisters," I agreed as a small laugh crossed my lips.

As Tim pulled the curtain aside, I focused on not tripping in my heels. Tim's hands steadied me until we were safely past the fabric. I looked up to see the faces of my family staring at me with tears in their eyes. The attention on me sent a surge of panic through me.

"You're okay," Timmy reminded me as I dug my fingers into his arm.

And then I saw him. He was there, just ten yards away. The moment my eyes met his, my feet floated to him. There was no one else in the world; it was just Billy. It was always just Billy. The separation was too much. As I was drawn to him, he was equally drawn to me. He met Timmy and me at least a yard into the aisle.

"Hi," I whispered up to him as I grasped his arm.

"Hey, beautiful," he breathed into my ear.

"Hi," I said again, pulling a smile to his face.

"Lead the way, heartbreaker," he whispered down to me.

I walked the rest of the way between Billy and Timmy.

"Brandon?" I was confused as I stood before him.

"It's amazing what you can do on the internet these days," Billy noted.

"Lily," Timmy pulled my attention to him. "I love you. I always have, I always will. It was an honor to walk these last few steps with you."

"I'm crying," I announced to some chuckles from around the barn.

"Look up," Tim directed as he dabbed my eyes one last time and then handed the handkerchief to Billy. "Take good care of my girl," Tim nodded to Billy.

"Yes, sir," Billy nodded.

"Welcome," Brandon commanded the attention of the room as I clung to Billy's arm. We're here today to unite William Anthony Collins and Lily Rose Turncott in marriage. The couple has written their own vows. Lily..."

I took a deep breath and looked up into Billy's saucer hazel eyes.

"I love you," I breathed out.

Billy smiled and kissed my forehead. "I love you too."

I took another breath and began. "Billy, you always believed in us. You always knew we'd end up here, even when we were apart. Even when miles and years separated us, you were always with me. You were always cheering for us wherever we were. You knew that every step we took brought us closer to each other. I'm so honored and grateful for your faith, your kindness, and your love. Wherever you are, is my home, and I know we'll never be lost as long as we have each other."

"Wow, good luck topping that, man," Brandon added as the room let out a few chuckles.

"Tears," I murmured.

"Oh, I got this." Billy pulled the handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed the tears from my eyes. He tucked it back in his pocket and set his gaze on me. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," I whispered back.

"I always felt lost. I started to play music and then writing music to try to figure out the world around me. But still, nothing made sense to me, not until one night when I looked out over a crowd and saw this woman that refused to look back at me. I had to chase you outside the venue to get you to lay eyes on me, and the moment you did, everything made sense. You're the only thing that has ever made complete sense to me. I'll be your home if you'll be my smile." He cupped the side of my face and dropped his face lower to mine. "Deal?"

"Deal," I agreed as our lips met.

"Woah, woah, woah; I'm supposed to say 'you may now kiss the bride.'" Brandon scolded next to us, but we didn't part. "Oh fine, you may now kiss the bride."

Billy's arm looped around me and tightly pulled me to his body.

"What do I do?" Brandon awkwardly asked.

"Don't make me get the hose," Tim threatened, causing us to pull away from each other.

Billy's forehead stayed on mine.

"Yeah, so rings," Brandon called.

"That's me!" Jackson popped out of the moment to pull the rings from his pocket. "Here, Dad," Jackson handed the rings to Billy.

"With these rings, you marry. You join in heart and soul until death do you part," Brandon's voice felt quiet, but the words were strong.

I lifted my hand as Billy slid the simple ring on my hand. He then gave me the second ring and held his hand out to me as I slid the ring on him. As if we were reading each other's minds, we both held out our hands to see the bands while our foreheads again leaned on each other.

"I do," Billy whispered into my ear.

"I do," I whispered back.

"By the power vested in me by the state of Minnesota, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Now, you may kiss the bride."

Billy's smile tipped up to his dimples. "My wife," he murmured.

"My husband," I murmured back before our lips met, and the barn erupted in cheers.

"I am beyond proud to announce for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Billy Collins," Brandon announced as Timmy tapped his phone and Up Above My Head filled the barn.

Billy lifted our clasped hands in the air. "Ready to make an exit?" He asked.

"I'm nearly certain I am going to trip," I joked.

"No worries." In a swift movement, Billy had me up in his arms, causing me to burst into laughter. I waved at the gathering over Billy's shoulder as we exited the barn.

"Where are we going?" I asked as he crossed to the house.

"We can't make a grand re-entrance if we don't leave," he teased.

"I love you, Billy Collins," I announced as he set me down just inside the house.

"I love you, Lily Collins," He beamed down at me.