ABOVE ANYTHING ELSE, walking into the backyard hooked on Trae's arm was a sensory overload that enveloped Lindy into a heart-pounding vacuum of emotions. It wasn't enough to rattle the rush of assurance that she had gained only seconds earlier, but it made her hyper-aware of just how fast her heart was thrumming in her chest.

The Seattle air was cold and crisp, refreshing as it washed over Lindy and chilled her body. There wasn't much fabric separating her from the weather, but it felt nice, like plunging into a cool pool of water after sitting exposed to the sun for hours.

She had anticipated her backyard being virtually unrecognizable after Shelli and Beth's alterations, but she was surprised to see that it still resembled her favorite part of home. The additions only enhanced the view — even the rows of chairs, which held the small gathering of guests, did not hinder Lindy's breathtaking love for the nature surrounding her.

Wildflowers were strung everywhere and the white aisle was also littered with the flowers that Frances had tossed on her way down. To the right was a modestly sized tent, erected with a dance floor (that Lindy did her best to overlook) underneath. Tea lights, not yet lit, took up every spot of empty space in the yard. Mount Rainer would surely glow brighter in the distance once the candles burned at nightfall.

Every face in the audience was turned to greet the bride, each wearing a smile, some eyes being dabbed at with tissues. Normally, Lindy would have appreciated the moment as a time to stop and examine who had actually turned up for the event. Perhaps she would be surprised, seeing thirty-two people joined together just for her wedding. But there was little to no time for Lindy to pay mind to her guests; only one person held her full attention, and she could tell that he was truly enjoying this based on the smile he wore on his beard-scruff ridden face.

So you didn't wear jeans, Lindy thought, feeling her mouth twist up in a smile that mirrored his. 

It was almost like he could read her mind, especially telling in the way that his lips morphed into a knowing smirk, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. When he wanted to be, he was as shocking as they came, always doing the unexpected. 

His usual jeans and raggedy flannel were long forgotten, at least momentarily, replaced by an outfit that Lindy quickly recognized. She blushed red to the roots of her hair, squeezing her bouquet tighter in her hands and wishing for that a mere second, she could have been truly invisible to appreciate what she saw then.

It was Kurt, but in the same exact suit that he had worn in Paris back in February. The same suit he had donned as his guitar had stopped working during Nirvana's show, evoking a tumultuous reaction out of him that carried over into the night, except in a more passionate direction. The same suit that Lindy had helped him remove piece by piece in their hotel bedroom, admiring just how heartbreakingly handsome he was with and without it.

His groomsmen, two of which whom had already worn the suits as well, stood proudly next to him. Krist was directly by Kurt, fulfilling the role of best man, with Dave filing in after and followed by Kurt's old friend from his teenaged years, Jesse Reed. Jesse had been phoned specifically for the occasion, as Kurt opted not to have his once good friend Dylan stand beside him for his wedding. The two had drifted apart once Kurt had quit drugs, but from the looks of it, Jesse was a perfectly capable groomsmen.

Lindy's bridesmaids remained in the corner of her eye, each of them beaming at her with enough energy to power the whole city of Seattle, but she could hardly imagine tearing her gaze away from Kurt's perfect face even if only for a fraction of a second. His blue eyes, clear enough to shine brilliantly even under the coverage of grey skies, pierced hers from the short distance away. His hands were behind his back, but she knew that he was wrenching them together nervously, begging for time to leap forward so that he could have her at his side.

Lindy felt the pinprick of hot tears in her eyes, a sharp difference in temperature compared to the cold around her. She blinked rapidly through her smile, only to feel the tears slip freely down her face. To cry out of happiness made her feel strangely human and whole, a confirmation that she had not merely dreamt the last seven years of her life. Kurt, her first love, would end up being her last. It was a wish that she had prayed for but had never expected to come easily.

And it hadn't been easy.

Together, they'd fought through hell to get where they stood now. As many times as they had come close to losing each other, Lindy felt pride knowing that she had never really given up. The world had silently urged her to let go of Kurt, to let go of what appeared to be a dying wish to keep his heart beating, but she had not done it. Lindy had held his hand through the storm, never letting go, not since Kurt had ever taken it in his own for the very time at the Raymond party in nineteen-eighty-seven. Spiritually, they had clung to one another ever since.

The gap between them was closing as Trae led Lindy farther down the aisle, his hand resting over hers as she continued to clutch him. Someone was playing guitar, and rather beautifully at that. The sound was feather light in the air, sweet and crooning with every pluck of a string.

He was so close now, close enough that Lindy could drink in the smallest of details about him. He was, of course, wearing his staple Tom Peterson watch around his wrist. His hair, which was usually matted to his head, had been combed and washed for event. She could even detect the slightest hint of a blemish on his face, probably caused from his nerves. It did nothing to deter how wonderful he truly looked.

There had been so many countless times, especially in Lindy's younger years, when she had questioned the face of the man that she would look into on her wedding day. No one had ever really come to mind — it had always been a faceless stranger, that is until Kurt had come into the picture. And ever since then, she had envisioned the perfect sight that was now within her reach.

As Lindy and Trae came to the end of the aisle, Lindy's attention was abruptly stolen by the sound of a low whine, a baby's quiet gurgle coming from her right. She paused, stopping in her tracks to detect the source of the noise while already knowing who and where it came from.

In the first row of chairs sat Wendy O'Connor, cradling Charlie in her arms and carefully adjusting the shroud of blankets that he was wrapped in. Despite how snugly he was hidden away from the cold, Lindy could still see his face, as lovely and innocent as ever.

It was Kurt's face, only younger and infant-like, foretelling Charlie's ultimate fate of being Kurt's miniature. Most simply, Charlie was another steadfast, more physical reminder of Kurt and Lindy's tenacious love. Seeing him brought another fresh welling of tears to Lindy's eyes.

She stepped away from the aisle, taking Trae by surprise as her arm slipped out from his. Everyone seemed to watch as Lindy floated over to where Wendy sat, clutching her bouquet in one hand at her side. With a smile that trembled from utter joy, Lindy leaned forward and kissed her son's head, smoothing her thumb across his velvety pink cheek. Maybe it hadn't been just Lindy who had saved Kurt. She had her son to thank for that, too.

She looked down when someone bumped into her leg -- it was Frances, having stepped out of line with Lindy's bridesmaids to see just exactly what was going on between her little brother and her 'Dee. She looked up at Lindy with her with her perfectly round eyes, smiling a tiny smile. Lindy couldn't help but to bend down and place a soft kiss on her forehead as well, more than grateful that it was not only a son, but a daughter that she had to look out for now. She was glad that Frances approved of her. She wouldn't have been able to feel secure as Kurt's partner for the rest of their lives without knowing that Frances was happy about it.

Lindy felt a light graze upon her arm, causing her to spin around. Although she had been expecting it, she still inhaled a swift breath of air when she came face to face with Kurt. He was still smiling, his closed lips never faltering from their upturned state.

"I thought you were walking out on me for a second," he murmured in a low voice.

"Never," Lindy whispered back, grinning as Trae grabbed her hand and deftly placed it into Kurt's open palm. She kissed her brother's cheek, swallowing hard so as not to cry as he entrusted her well-being for the remainder of her life to Kurt. For twenty-five years, Trae had looked out for his sister with all the strength that he could muster while only being two years older. But now, he placed his faith in Kurt to look after her.

"Love you, Trae," Lindy said softly into her brother's ear, touching the side of his face as he pulled back. His eyes were glossy, yet he smiled, never more pleased than he was then to see his little sister finally happy.

"Love you more, Linds."

At Kurt's previous request, Trae joined the lineup of groomsmen and left Lindy and Kurt standing hand in hand. Lindy linked her fingers through Kurt's, shivering lightly when he raised her knuckles to his mouth to kiss them.

"Guess that's my cue," Krist said from underneath his breath beside Kurt, re-arranging his open suit jacket and stepping between the two of them with authority. Lindy bit the inside of her lip to keep from laughing, remembering that it was Krist who was to be ordaining them. He'd gotten his certificate in preparation for the wedding.

Krist cleared his throat loudly, earning an eye roll from Shelli who sighed as Krist shuffled his feet and grabbed the attention of the guests. Lindy ducked her head and laughed, amused as Kurt shook his head and did the same.

"I guess I should preface this by announcing that this is my first time ever officiating a wedding," Krist said, amplifying his voice and clapping his hands together. There were a few chuckles from the audience, and Lindy nearly burst into laughter when she saw Dave mouth 'follow the script' in Krist's direction.

How perfectly imperfect it all was. Her little backyard wedding, thrown together by the only true family that she had ever known.

Krist did indeed follow through with his script, speaking with ease and looking back and forth between Lindy and Kurt with an obviously great amount of love for them both. Lindy had a hard time returning his affectionate glances when she had Kurt so close to her. He was all she wanted to look at and when he began to cry, sniffling and lowering his head as his tears came fast, she wanted nothing more than to kiss him in her arms.

Together they cried as Krist called for them to recite their vows and exchange rings. Lindy had thought that repeating someone else's words back into Kurt's face might have made her laugh like a kid, but there was a weighted meaning behind each promise she made. She'd pledged her love to him so many times before, but this pledge was sacred. It had finality to it that made her cry with relief. She'd never live her life without him again.

"Now, by the power vested in me by the state of Washington, I am more than happy to finally declare you two crazy kids as husband and wife. Kurt, I suggest you kiss her now before she changes her mind," Krist grinned, staring at his best friend and inclining his head suggestively.

There was no hesitation; they were clearly on the same wavelength, ready to feel each other's kiss as they leaned in eagerly. Kurt's hands, ever so calloused from guitar playing, found themselves against Lindy's neck. She brushed her own hand against his face, feeling the tickle of his blonde hair against her fingertips. The audience must have exploded into applause, or at least that's what it sounded like.

Lindy wouldn't have really known the particular time in which the applause began and ended -- all she really managed to comprehend in that span of time was that the taste of Kurt was on her lips, she was warm against him even in the cold, and she was finally Lindy Cobain.