My Love

Ever since Emery first told me about you, I knew that you were someone worth knowing. The more she spoke about you, the more I realized that you were someone worth loving. By the time I spoke to you for the first time, despite my thundering heart, I knew that you are worth keeping for the rest of my life.

We've only been engaged for two minutes, that I know, but I couldn't stand thinking about anyone else thinking that they have a shot with you, so I took the executive decision to speed things up a little.

You don't have to go along with this, though it would suck to be left at the altar on Valentine's Day. By now, you've probably pieced together why your day played out the way that is has.

The ladies at the store helped you to pick out your wedding dress since the dresses they made you pick from were from the bridal collection. You chose your preferred cake from Lindsey and she's made the one you said you liked most from her portfolio.

Elise is not getting married. She's been married for a year now and was roped in to play the distressed bride. My mother arranged everything for our wedding based off of everything you chose while you were with her. You were helping her set up for our wedding.

Todd helped you to pick out the flowers to your liking, and I remembered to tell them to add the fairy lights. I know we only spoke briefly about your perfect wedding, and I can only hope that I have given it to you.

I really hope you decide to take this crazy leap with me. I love you, and I can't wait to see you. Everything out here looks perfect.

XTK

She stared at the note, trying to wrap her mind around what she was reading. She'd been oblivious to the master plan the entire day. She didn't even think something like this could be planned so ingeniously and yet her fiancé had pulled it off.

What she didn't know was how stressed out he'd been the whole day. He'd spent the day at the office with Emery, Everett, Kenny and Macy as they tried to pull everything together as quickly as they could.

It took a lot of money to make a lot of the things happen, but Xavier didn't care for costs and was rather convinced and confident in that he could do it. He put everything into it, but there was still that lingering fear in him that she would not agree.

He stood at the end of the altar with sweaty palms as he smiled at the arriving guests. When he spotted his sister, he knew that that only meant that his fiancée had arrived, and he didn't think he could panic any more than he was in that moment.

"Would you relax? She's going to walk down that aisle and you'll be blown away," Everett told him. As the Best Man, it was his duty to calm the groom down.

"What if I rushed her? What if she hates me for this plan and decides that I'm not worth it? Everett, what if she leaves me? I won't be able to take it," Xavier told him.

Everett pulled him by the arm and led them behind the makeshift altar where they were hidden by the bushes. "Do you want to call her?"

"I don't know. I mean, I want to be surprised, but then again, she may not even decide to walk down the aisle," Xavier pointed out.

Everett was blindsided by this indecisive side from his best friend as Xavier was always sure of everything he did. "You really love her. Like I knew you did, but I didn't know it was this deep."

"If she leaves me Rett, there's no coming back for me. I will be done. I will become a shell of a man with no reason left to live," Xavier expressed his truest feelings.

"Then answer me this- do you believe that she loves you the same way?" Everett asked him.

"It's hard to read her. I want to say yes, but sometimes I feel like she has this hesitation or doubts about us," Xavier confessed.

Everett was about to reply, but was interrupted by the familiar sound of 'Orchestral Suite No.3 in D Major'.

"This is..." Diamond trailed off, the note in her hands.

Kenny pointed to her earrings. "Something old courtesy of Dorothy."

He then pointed to the diamond bracelet on her wrist. "Something new courtesy of your future husband."

He pointed to her veil. "Something borrowed from Elise."

He pointed to her leg. "I believe your something blue is the garter on your thigh, also courtesy of my future brother in law."

"He's crazy," she whispered as a tear landed on the note.

"About you he is," he commented.

She turned to face him. "I thought this was a phase and that he'd realize down the line that I'm not worth the trouble."

"You're starting to remember," Kenny realized, to which she nodded.

"I was so sure that I could delude myself into thinking that this was all real, but this, this makes it real. Kenny, he doesn't know me. He doesn't know what I've been through," she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

He walked up to her to wipe the tear away as he smiled. "He actually does. I told him everything."

"What? And he still wants to marry me?" she whispered.

"Dee, you know I'm the most overprotective of you, so you know I would not give you away to anyone I didn't feel deserved you. That man loves you Dee. When you were shot, he took it the hardest, and that's compared to how I was feeling at the time. He would move heaven and earth for you. While I don't think it's a conversation you should have today, you should open up to him about your past, and learn more about his. Yes, it's probably something that should be done before the two of you commit to each other in this way, but the way I see it, you both have demons and skeletons you don't want to carry or deal with, and that's ok because your love is enough for you both. Give him a shot. Give your relationship a shot. Give yourself a shot. No one deserves it more."

She thought back on the memories that she'd regained, and all she could see, all she could feel was pain and hurt. Another tear escaped her eye as she thought about all the abuse she'd been through and how she never imagined that any man would love her.

That she was worthy of a happily ever after.

But then her thoughts travelled to Xavier. There was no pain or hurt as she thought about the love he'd shown her. He treats her as though she's everything to him, and given that she'd saved his life, she knew that she felt exactly the same about him without a doubt.

"I love him. I want him and no one else. I have to marry him now before he changes his mind," she giggled.

Kenny chuckled. "I doubt he's changing his mind. He's been stressed out the whole day about rushing you into this and the possibility that you would not agree to this. He's probably having a panic attack as we speak."

"We can't let that happen Ken. He has a reputation to uphold," she scolded.

"Well then me lady, let's get you to him before he loses his mind," he said, extending his arm to her to take.

She wiped away the fallen tear before taking his arm. They walked out together to find Emery and Gail waiting, and that's when it hit Diamond why they were in gold dresses. It was the colour scheme she'd chosen for her dream wedding when she spoke to Dorothy.

"Oh good! You're agreeing. I just saw Everett taking Xavier to the back of the makeshift altar because it looks like my brother is on the verge of a breakdown," Macy informed as she walked into the waiting room.

"Tell whoever is in charge of music to start the wedding procession now," Diamond instructed.

"Yes Mam!" Macy said before signalling to the DJ.

The man nodded and the song started playing. Xavier and Everett ran back out to the altar just as Gail started walking down from the other end, before Macy followed. Xavier's heart was beating faster than it had before.

"Relax Xavier. She's coming," Everett whispered to him.

He nodded as Emery started her walk down the aisle. She caught Everett's eyes and he sent her a wink which she blushed at. Xavier rolled his eyes, making a couple of the guests laugh since they could tell that he was just nervous about seeing the bride.

The song changed to Canon in D, and everyone stood up to face the end of the aisle. Diamond and Kenny hadn't appeared yet, and Xavier was so overly anxious that he was starting to forget how to breathe.

"Breathe son," Lyell shouted, making the guests and Xavier laugh as he breathed out.

Diamond had heard her soon to be grandfather in law and she giggled. "He's going to die if we don't move now."

"I'm so proud of you Dee. I just want you to know that before I hand you away," Kenny told her.

She reached over to kiss his cheek. "Thank you for everything Kenny. You are the best brother a girl could ever ask for."

He smiled before leading her to the end of the aisle. As soon as the lovers' eyes landed on each other, everyone else in the room faded from their vision, and they all knew it. They could see the rare purity of the love they were witnessing.

If Xavier thought he couldn't breathe before she came out, seeing her gave him a redefinition of the word breathless. She'd knocked the breath, as well as his senses out of him. He was utterly speechless, transfixed on her, on her immaculate magnificence.

She herself couldn't believe how handsome he could look. She'd seen his different looks from his picture collection, but she'd never seen him so handsome before. What struck her most though, was the sheer love in his eyes.

She could, and would never dispute that this man loved her.

"Take care of her Xavier. I will shoot you without so much as a blink if you don't, and this time I'll make sure she's not there to take any bullets for you," Kenny joked as he handed her over.

Xavier chuckled as he took her hand in his. "She'll no longer need to be my bulletproof vest because I don't intend on getting shot, especially for mistreating her. She's my everything."

Diamond blushed a beautiful shade of crimson as everyone sat down. They were all still in awe of her beauty and her overall look. She really looked like a fairy queen, and envy was present on some of the faces of the women present.

The priest cleared his throat before smiling at the happy couple before him. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to..."

Both Xavier and Diamond zoned out.

They were lost in each other's eyes, silently communicating everything they knew they wanted to say to each other without having to say the words out loud. They were lost to time, lost to each other, and everyone present felt honoured to witness the love.

"Uhm guys?" Everett interrupted their staring match.

"What?" they asked, while their guests were knowingly amused.

He chuckled. "It's time to say your vows."

They looked at each other before smiling. "I love you."

"That's it?" Macy asked since the couple didn't look like they were going to say anything else.

"It's all that needs to be said in this very moment," Diamond expressed what she was confident her soon to be husband was thinking. He only confirmed it by nodding.

"After all that planning, you're just going to give us one line? The same line from both ends?" Emery asked disbelievingly.

"Hey Ree and Mace?" Diamond called.

"Yeah?" they replied.

"Shut up and let me marry the love of my life," she told them. The guests laughed while the two women blushed.

"Sorry," they mumbled.

"Well then, I guess we can carry on. May we have the rings," the priest requested.

The rings were brought forward, and the couple was happy to see their one of a kind rings again as the priest turned to Xavier. "Do you, Xavier Thorne Kingston, take Diamond Lisa Carmichael, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, through sickness and in health, for better or for worse, till death do you apart?"

"I do," Xavier replied, sliding the ring onto her finger.

The priest turned to her. "And do you, Diamond Lisa Carmichael, take Xavier Thorne Kingston, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, through sickness and in health, for better or for worse, till death do you apart?"

"I do," she said with a huge smile as she slid the ring onto his finger.

"By the power vested in me by the state of Chicago, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the priest announced.

Xavier had been waiting to kiss her for the longest time, and as soon as he did, she realized that she'd been eager to kiss him too. It was their first kiss since the shooting. Once again lost to the world, they embraced each other, both apprehensively waiting to leave and start their new life together.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you Mr and Mrs Kingston," the priest announced once more.

The guests all cheered as the happy couple walked down the aisle. Rose petals were flying in the air as everyone got into the celebratory mood. The couple headed to the waiting area where they shared another kiss.

"I can't believe you're finally mine," Xavier commented, breathless from their kiss.

"I can't believe you're crazy enough to want me to be yours," she replied.

"I'll always want you Mrs Kingston, now and forever," he said before kissing her again.

"Alright you two, cut it out. There's only so much a brother can take seeing," Kenny said, breaking them apart.

The couple laughed as Xavier held her close to him. "What now?"

"Well, you still have to take your wedding pictures, and then you can join everyone else at your reception. I know you're eager to leave for your honeymoon," Emery teased.

"No denial from my end," Xavier said, making his wife blush while their friends and family laughed.

Emery led the way to where they'd be taking their photographs, while Kenny, Everett, Gail and Macy handled everything else pertaining to the reception. The couple was entranced with each other, which made the job easy for their photographer.

"Where are we going for our honeymoon?" Diamond asked Xavier.

"Tahiti," he informed.

She beamed. "You remembered."

"I remember everything Emery's ever told me about you love. It's how I fell for you to begin with, so it's important," he said, smiling down at her.

"I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I promise to spend my life showing you how grateful I am to you for choosing me," she told him.

"And I promise to spend the rest of my life showing you how grateful I am to you for teaching me how to love again, and for accepting to love me," he replied.

"You have one up on me," she joked.

"Give me kids and we'll call it even," he said with a wink, making her laugh.

Emery couldn't hear their conversation from where she was standing, but she could see the love radiating from them. When her best friend laughed, she couldn't remember a time in the short while she's known her, where she looked so undeniably happy.

"When are we going to talk about our pasts?" Diamond asked.

He frowned. "Do you remember?"

She nodded. "I was afraid to tell you because I wasn't sure about how I would start explaining everything to you, but Kenny told me that he already told you."

"It wasn't easy to hear, but I still want to hear it from you. I don't want us to burden our honeymoon, but I also feel like maybe talking while we're away might be best. I don't know," he responded.

She leaned in and kissed him. "We'll just go with the flow."

"I like the sound of that Mrs Kingston," he said sexily.

She leaned in to whisper into his ear. "And I love the sound of that Mr Kingston."

Their chemistry was one that the photographer himself hadn't seen in a while. It's very easy for a couple to look like they're in love, but there is a certain and rare chemistry found only with couples like Xavier and Diamond, and having been doing this job as long as he had, the photographer understood that much.

They finished up with their photographs and Emery let them have some time to themselves before she led them to their reception. They were introduced and everyone cheered when they walked in. Diamond realized then that everyone she considered special to her was there. She figured that everyone else there was either Xavier's family or friend.

"You're a very sneaky man Mr Kingston," she commented as they sat down.

"Some might say I'm romantic," he cleverly played back.

"Mhmm," she said before they laughed.

Everyone who was in the loop understood why Diamond's side of the wedding was so small, while everyone else was curious. Xavier had invited a handful of the media he trusted to cover the wedding because he wanted to put an end to all the rumours.

"I saw some journalists. Are we going to be interviewed?" Diamond asked him. Everyone was being served dinner.

He shook his head. "I just wanted them here to cover the wedding. Anything else they want to know, they'll have to get another time."

"People are going to question everything about me Xavier. How are we going to handle that? I don't want to embarrass you," she said vulnerably.

He leaned in and kissed her softly. "You could never embarrass me. We're going to handle everything in a way that makes you feel comfortable. I'm not going anywhere Diamond, and you need to believe that. If you don't, I'll just have to love you even more, until you eventually believe it."

She had tears in her eyes as she cupped his cheek. "You are everything to me."

"Ditto my love, ditto," he replied before kissing her again.

Kenny stood up and gently tapped his glass with a teaspoon. "It would seem the happy couple is enjoying torturing me with their PDA."

People laughed, including the happy couple, before he continued. "I met Diamond five years ago, and I very quickly adopted her. I met Xavier almost two months ago and I adopted him too, or at least I was adopted into his family. I care greatly about the both of them, and I wouldn't match them with anyone else. They are perfect for each other, and everyone can see it. I only wish them both the best in their marriage. Dee, Xav, you both know how much you mean to me. I'll always be here for you, but I'd like to request that you take care of each other. You've taken the biggest step in your relationship, and only good things can come from this point onwards. To Mr and Mrs Kingston."

Everyone raised their glasses and toasted before Everett stood up to give his speech. "To those who don't know, I'm the best friend that Xavier denied for years, but I wouldn't let him push me away. We are all aware of his previous relationship since he wasn't afforded any privacy or respect from that relationship really, and we all know that it changed him. I remember him telling me about the woman he'd never met, but who had him smiling in a way I'd never seen before. I remember telling him that there was something there that I hadn't seen from him before, and standing here now, looking at him with his beautiful wife, I can only smile. I smile simply because I know that she will never take him to the dark place he was in before she came into his life. Diamond not only brought him back to life, but she brought us the best version of him, and so, on behalf of everyone who was worried about him, I would like to personally thank you Diamond. Through you, I saw my best friend cry and have a panic attack for the first time. These are only good things because they reminded me that he's human, something a lot of us tend to forget where he's concerned. Anyway, to the happy couple."

Once again people raised their glasses while Diamond shot Everett a smile. She wasn't aware of the things he'd mentioned. Xavier shot his best friend a nod, thanking him in his own way. He knew that Everett cared, and he couldn't ask for a better friend.

Macy stood up to give her speech. "I think it's safe to say that the only person who is in competition with me right now in terms of happiness for the both of you is Emery. Mom's more of an emotional mess, and granddad is as proud as they come. Xav, you know I love you more than anyone in the world. I've wanted you to find happiness for the longest time, and I believed you would, even when you didn't believe it yourself. There were points in time when we were so sure that you'd end up marrying your company, so trust me when I say we are overjoyed to see you like this. Diamond, thank you for bringing my brother back and for saving his life. I don't think we ever thanked you for that, so I'll do the honours. Welcome to the family and I wish you both all the best in the world. Just by the way, I can't wait to be an aunt. Just throwing that out there."

Everyone laughed and raised their glasses when she finished her toast. Xavier and Diamond weren't sure about who else would be saying a speech, but they were sure that Dorothy, Lyell and Emery would definitely be saying speeches.

As expected, Lyell stood up to give his speech. "It gives me great pride to stand here before all of you on a special day like this. Twenty six years ago, my daughter came home heartbroken. She was sixteen and she'd just found out that she was pregnant and that the father of her child wanted nothing to do with her or the baby. My wife and I disagreed greatly on how to handle this situation, and as a result, we got divorced. From that day onwards, it was Dorothy, Xavier and I, until I was blessed with my second grandchild. Everyone knows that Macy is the spirited one of us all, so it warms my heart to see my grandson so happy after everything he's endured. Diamond, in the short while that I've gotten to know you, I'm glad to say that you are perfect for my grandson. We trust you with him more than we've trusted anyone else. Macy shone a light on a very important matter; we didn't thank you for saving his life, in more ways than one. However, I feel as though nothing we do or say could ever truly come close to showing you just how grateful we are, so I'm putting my faith in my words, hoping that you believe me when we say that you are valued and loved in our family. You are now one of us, and I couldn't be more grateful to have earned a daughter in you."

Diamond's tears were freely flowing down her face as she failed to keep up with wiping them away. While everyone toasted, Xavier gave her a handkerchief, before proceeding to kiss the side of her head, bringing her into his side.

Dorothy stood up, smiling as the tears glimmered in her eyes. "I don't want to be the sappy mother who rambles, so I'm going to restrain myself. Xavier, you know just how much you mean to me, and I promised that I would never again let you get taken by someone who didn't love you as much as I do. As I stand here, looking at your beautiful wife, I can only thank God because I am confident in that I have finally done right by you. She loves you, and I never want you to doubt that. Diamond, the same goes for you. He loves you, so don't ever doubt that. We all see what the two of you share, and it's a rare kind of love. Cherish it, and cherish each other. I love you both."

Diamond was touched by the woman's words, but she couldn't help but shoot her husband a questioning look. She was even more curious about his past, and just by looking at her, he knew. He sighed before he kissed her, silently promising to tell her everything.

"I love you Xavier," she told him loud enough to only be heard by him. She could see the vulnerability, the fear in his eyes.

Something had scarred him, and he was terrified to lose her.

She didn't care that they were in a room filled with their loved ones as she grabbed his face to kiss him again, this time pouring everything she felt for him into the kiss. She could feel wetness between them, and it broke her heart.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said breathlessly, wiping away his tears.

"Promise?" he whispered.

She pecked his lips. "I promise."

Once more, their guests were amazed by the connection they were witnessing. Granted a whole lot of them didn't even know the story of how the two of them came to be, it was still a beautiful thing to bear witness to.

"Why are you guys making a girl cry like this? You have no idea how happy it makes me to know that I brought you together. Yes, I'm taking full credit for this. I've often been told that I talk a lot, and while other times it may have come across as a bad thing, I couldn't be happier about having talked your ears off about each other. You both mean the world to me, and to know that you fell in love with each other based off of what I think of you both, only serves to give me hope that this was meant to be. Yours is a love story for the books, and I know that it's only just beginning. I love you guys and I wish you nothing but love, happiness and lots of kids. To the Fate of Destiny," Emery said as she gave the final toast.

After the final toast, music was put on as the guests got back to mingling once more. Emery received a text message and headed outside to fetch the person who had texted her. From the way Xavier stilled at seeing the uninvited guest, Diamond knew who he was.

"Remember what I told you at the hospital," she told her husband.

"I don't know if I can," he admitted.

She cupped his cheek, smiling. "Do it for me."

He sighed as Emery and the guest arrived. "Fine."

"Hey guys! So Trey here has got something to say to you," Emery told them before nudging him.

He cleared his throat. "Right! Look Xav, I'm sorry for being an asshole and for screwing up so many times. I'm also sorry about what that snake did. I'm sorry for crashing your wedding right now, and I'm just sorry."

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "What did you do and how much do you need to get out of it?"

Diamond smacked his arm before turning to Treyvon. "I'm Diamond."

"Treyvon, though I'm sure you already knew that," Treyvon introduced with a warm smile.

"Thank you for being brave enough to come, even with the tension between you two. I'd love to enjoy my wedding, but I also want to help you. Do you think you can wait until we come back from our honeymoon before you hash things out?" Diamond asked him.

"What she said," Xavier added.

Treyvon nodded, beaming. "I'd like that."

"Great! You can just mingle with everyone else then," Diamond told him.

"Thank you. This means a lot," Treyvon said before he and Emery walked away.

"See? That wasn't so bad," Diamond said to her husband.

He scoffed. "Until I know what he wants, I don't trust him."

She didn't say anything to that, simply because she could see the familiar stubbornness. She was exactly the same once she'd made up her mind about something. Instead, she settled for kissing his palm.

"What was that for?" he asked, smiling.

She shrugged. "I just love you, like a lot."

"I love you in-depthly too Mrs Kingston," he teased before stopping her comeback with a passionate kiss.