"It's simple, I want to dive deep inside of your universe, I want to understand the way your mind works, even if you were never sure in the first place. I want to make you laugh to the point where you'll never have trouble remembering the last time you did. I want to know what makes your heart beat out of your chest, and why you no longer enjoy sunsets the way you used to. I want to know what makes you tick, what makes you melt, what makes you stay. I can't imagine being a part of a world that doesn't align with yours.
- Connotativewords | jl | I want to learn you from the inside out.

**

Four Months Later

I fluff the white dress, smoothing my hands lightly down the shimmering material of the billowing skirt that is attached to the corset decorated with delicate rhinestones around the waist.

"You look beautiful, darling," I say, blinking away tears as Addy does a little twirl in front of the mirror in her wedding gown.

"You did this all for me." She gushes, pulling me into a hug. We have tried this dress on her a hundred times, making modifications and yet it was still overwhelming to look at right at this moment.

Montana yelps from next to us. "Watch the hair!" She chastises Addy lightly, puffing air out of her mouth. She had spent quite awhile pulling all of Addy's blonde layers of hair into a beautiful bridal updo that would put any other hair stylist to shame.

It was Addy's wedding day, and she was marrying the love of her life. Ashton, who decided that they had no reason to wait any longer, and after everything that has happened, he wanted to have his own family no matter how soon it might seem. So here we are.

Adelaide's dress took a month on the dot for me to design and make with the help of a few colleagues. The white material glints under the sunlight, the sheer embellished sleeves of the dress going just below her elbows and decorated with vines and flowers I stayed up all night stitching on. It was all worth it, seeing the smile on my best friends face.

"To have you two here getting me ready for the most important day of my life and not a bunch of obnoxious people, is the most precious moment of all this, really." Addy's eyes glint with tears as she pulls Montana and I close, we cuddle into her in our lace mint green bridesmaids dresses that were gifted to us by Elie Saab himself, etching this moment into our memories for the rest of our lives.

There is a clearing of a throat and we all turn our heads towards the doorway. "It's almost time my dear." The wedding planner smiles from the doorway, clutching a walkie-talkie in her hand. The planner seems to be in a hurry like always but seeing Addy in her dress melted anyone's heart.

"We will be right there." I quickly say and Montana rushes away to get our bouquets and the third bridesmaid who has disappeared somewhere. I quickly dig through my bag for the three things I have been saving till this moment.

I turn to Addy and she looks down at my palms curiously. "Something old and blue," I hand her a little blue butterfly clip of mine that she used to put in my hair when we were children. "Something new, something borrowed." I place the blue sapphire necklace I bought and a ring a lady at one of Addy's favourite old thrift stores gave me when I told her I was looking for something "borrowed."

"You took your maid of honour duties very seriously." Addy sniffles. "Of course." I hum, satisfied.

"It's time to go ladies." The planner appears again and Montana hands us the bouquets. We walk out of the room and into an elevator, holding the trail of Addy's dress up as we scurry along.

The lift opens into the lobby overlooking the massive gardens outside. Addy decided she wanted a summer themed wedding outdoors and now from here, I can see all the guests seated on the wooden white chairs on either side of the long aisle decorated with white petals. There is a cluster of people waiting by the doors. Everything has been planned immaculately and for once in two months, I feel a bit calm.

"You three are going behind, don't forget the rehearsal ladies." The planner, Elena, stresses and we fasten our pace to ease her pain. Addy's father steps up to her, "Absolutely stunning, my darling girl." He blinks away tears as he takes her arm in his and gives her a kiss on the forehead. There is going to be a lot of tears today.

I arrange Addy's trail and give her a once over and blow her a kiss for good luck before I get in position "Maid of honor in the middle please," the planner waves at me and I stop in the middle, right behind Addy, Montana on my right and Addy's sister on my left, her biological sister. She was a petite girl named Serena with the same blonde hair and blue eyes as Addy and she didn't talk much. It must be weird for her, suddenly having a sister she never knew about and an entire group of strangers to go along with it.

"Look at the boys," Montana whispers with a snicker and I squint my eyes at the sunlit dais, spotting four suit clad forms fidgeting. My heart leaps in my chest as the music starts to play and the doors open. Addy steps through carefully with her father, in sync with the music.

Montana reaches between us and lightly squeezes my hand, letting go quickly. We walk across the grass to the aisle behind Addy, occasionally looking down to check that her trail is perfect. Everyone's families flew in about two days ago and I spot my parents and brother sat in the second row as we walk closer and I smile widely at them. Troye is in the front row with his boyfriend, both of them in suits and holding hands, winking at us. It was a beautiful day to be happy, to be alive, to smile.

I take in the dais in front of me, Ashton stands just below the step, his eyes and mouth wide. His face changes from shocked to happy to ecstatic when Addy comes to a stop in front of him.

Behind him towards the side stands Luke, Michael, and Calum. The best men in identical suits. Luke adjusts his bow-tie and grins at me, biting down on his new lip ring.

I lightly shake my head at him and hide my amusement by pursing my lips and look away from his face before I trip on Addy's veil in my heels in front of everyone and take her down with me. We get in position as a flustered Ashton wipes at his eyes.

The music flows to a stop and I take Addy's bouquet from her, the couple facing the minister as he steps up to the dais as well.

"Dear Friends and Family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Adelaide Marie Thornson and Ashton Fletcher Irwin. In the year that they have been together, their love—"

My eyes drift towards Luke to see that he's already looking at me, a bright dimpled smile on his face. "You look beautiful." He mouths and I raise an eyebrow at him, looking around to see if anyone is watching us but everyone's eyes are on the couple.

"Thank you." I mouth back and Calum whispers something in Luke's ear with a silent chuckle. It took us a good two hours today to get out of bed, the reminder sends a wave of red through my cheeks and I blink my eyes, focusing on the Minister's words again.

"—now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be a shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be a companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years, may happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth."

"Adelaide and Ashton, today you choose each other, before anyone else, for all the tomorrow's that follow, you will choose each other over and over again." My eyes pull away again from the side of my best friends face and back to Luke. "I love you." He mouths again, understanding the look in my eyes—that the minister's words spoke volumes to the both of us even if we weren't the ones getting married today.

"Do you Ashton, choose Adelaide, to be your wedded wife and partner in life, to support and respect her in her successes and as well her failures, to care for her in sickness and in health, to nurture her, and to grow with her throughout the seasons of your life together?"

"I love you too." I mouth to Luke at the same time that Ashton says loudly and excitedly, "I do."

The minister turns to Addy. "Do you Adelaide, choose Ashton to be your wedded husband and partner in life, to support and respect him in his successes and as well his failures, to care for him in sickness and in health, to nurture him, and to grow with him throughout the seasons of your life together?"

"I do." Addy nods her head and Troye whoops from the front row, making everyone laugh.

"You may say your vows."

During the rehearsals, Addy decided that she would go first. She sniffles a little now, turning to Ashton. "My love, you have given me so much in the little time we have known each other, so much of yourself, the love I have for you is eternal, there is no doubt of that. The only way I can put it into words is this way, I vow to protect your positivity and happiness, it's a rare kind that is purely yours, it's unfaltering no matter how cruel life is and I will help you protect it for as long as I can. I'll never forget the look on your face when I told you I didn't believe in soul mates, you proved me wrong. I vow to play the instruments in our two person band because no matter how much you refuse it, you can so sing!" Ashton bursts out with laughter and so does everyone else. "—I will love you with all I have, all I am, for as long as I am here. I promise I will never leave your side for as long as we live." She finishes.

"Damn, she's a keeper," Michael says from the side, another wave of laughter taking over.

Ashton wipes at his eyes with the back of his palm and clears his throat when the minister turns to him. "Addy, I promise to encourage your compassion because that is what makes you unique and wonderful. I promise to nurture your dreams because through them your soul shines. I promise to buy taller shoes so that you can wear all the heels you want." Addy leans back with laughter, cupping her mouth. "—I promise you perfect love, and perfect trust, from this life to whatever is next."

There is a steady stream of tears down everyone's faces, including mine. I wipe at my face and Montana leans into me, sobbing. Luke's nose is red and his eyes shine with tears too, happy tears.

I step forward with Ashton's ring and Luke steps forward with Addy's. I place the ring in her palm with a smile. "This ring is a token of my love. I marry you with this ring, with all that I have and all that I am." Ashton murmurs and slides the beautiful silver ring on top of her engagement ring.

"I give you this ring as a visible and constant symbol of my promise to be with you, for as long as I live." Addy slides the ring into Ashton's finger.

There is an inaudible intake of breath from everyone as the minister closes his book. "And now, by the power vested in me by the State of New York, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." Two ropes are pulled at the sides and flower petals fall from the sky as the crowd breaks into cheers and Addy pulls Ashton to her hurriedly, pressing their lips together and making everyone laugh with joy at the beauty of their happiness.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, Mr and Mrs Irwin!"

My hands go up above my head as I whoop with joy, both my bouquet and Addy's in each hand.

I hand the bouquet back to her with a kiss on her cheek and wipe under her eye quickly. "Congrats baby girl." She hugs me tight and let's go, walking down the aisle, arm in arm with Ashton as family and friends throw flower petals at them. Unexplainable joy thrumming in the air.

---

"May I have this dance?" Luke kisses my cheek from behind, his arms snaking around my waist. The reception was in full swing but had started dying down a little as it passed midnight.

I take the last swig of my third glass of champagne. "You may," I say and he takes my hand, leading me to the middle of the waltzing crowd.

I wrap my arms around Luke's shoulders and he presses his palms to the small of my back, moving me closer. "Today was a success." He kisses me on the forehead.

"It was." I sigh with content, looking into his calm blue eyes. "Do you see what you created? It's stunning. I knew you could do it." He nods his head towards Addy and her beautiful dress. I had spent nights complaining about how I was going to fail my best-friend but Luke had encouraged me to keep going.

"You told me I could do it." I give him a soft kiss. "You can do anything." He murmurs into my lips.

"This morning was great too." He adds, pulling away with a smirk as I groan.

"You loved it." He eggs me on until my face turns red. Luke kisses the top of my nose and I bury my face in his shoulder.

"Our wedding is going to be lovely too." He whispers in my ear, my breath hitching in my throat. I can't say I haven't thought about it, that I haven't imagined every single detail right down to the table decorations while he sleeps soundly next to me some nights but I didn't think he thought about it too. "Yeah." I agree and he kisses me again.

The music stops after a few minutes and Montana speaks into the microphone, a little tipsy herself. "The bride and groom are about to take off on their sexy adventures if you lonely people want to catch a glimpse, make your way outside. Thank you." She giggles.

The crowd makes their way out and Luke and I go to say our goodbyes to Ashton and Addy, hugging them and wishing them a wild time on their honeymoon. "Call us as soon as you get there safely." I hear Luke tell Ashton.

"Everything is ready for you." I remind Addy, having packed her bags myself with lingerie and swimsuits she had no idea about yet. She thanks me and we all walk to the waiting car outside. Everyone gathers around the steps as Addy throws her bouquet over her head and one of her cousins end up catching it.

Addy and Ashton get into the car that has been graffitied mercilessly on by Michael and a couple of other guys during the reception. The windows say "Just Married!" and there are streamers and a piñata and several other things hanging from the back, including a blown-up condom, a Michael Clifford classic.

"We love you! Thank you for everything!" Ashton yells and speeds away as everyone cheers and waves.

"Let's get out of here too." Luke nudges my arm when their car is gone. We say our goodbyes to everyone and I promise my parents to come see them at their hotel tomorrow before they leave for London again.

I throw my shoes in the back, relieved to take them off. I sit in the passenger seat massaging my blistered foot as Luke dumps his suit coat in the back and gets in the driver's seat, his tie long gone and his shirt untucked from his pants with the first few buttons undone.

We sit in silence for a few seconds, staring at each other. "I have something to show you." He rubs the back of his neck. I have come to notice that this is a nervous habit of his.

"As long as it doesn't involve me putting on those damn heels again." I huff and he pulls out of the parking lot with a laugh.

---

Luke's Point of View

We drive down to Manhattan, up a couple of streets and come to a stop in front of a large iron gate a couple of feet away. "What's this?" Sierra asks while I take out a remote from the little cabin in front of her legs and the gate opens with a slight shake. I ease the car in through the gates and watch as Sierra's eyes widen, the driveway is flanked on either side with perfectly mowed grass and leads up to an enormous house with glass panels for walls all around. I know she will love it.

I park and get out of the car. Sierra hops out too and adjusts her dress, pushing her hair back from her neck. The moonlight casts shadows on her face and she shivers a little when her bare feet hit the cold brick of the ground.

"Come on." I take her hand. "Whose house is this? I should get my shoes." She whispers with worry but I shake my head with amusement. The entire place is quiet except for the very distant sound of the city. It reminded me of her secret place when I was first here.

The grand foyer of the house itself had made my breath hitch in my throat and now, so does Sierra's.

I reach for the set of keys in my pocket and unlock the door as Sierra gapes at the large wooden door that is about a foot taller than us. The glass of the walls reflects us back, the inside not visible to anyone looking from the outside unless the lights are on. I can see Sierra searching for words in her head as we step in. The black hardwood floors will be one of her favourite things about this place and wait till she sees the backyard with the infinity pool.

It's dark so I flip a switch and all the lights in the grand foyer turn on, Sierra blinks at the sudden brightness, her hands on her hips. Her eyes go up to the large chandelier above us and then the two large spiral staircases that lead to two different sections of the house.

"Wow." She finally says with amazement, taking in all the details of the house. This house was her dream, I know it.

"Come on," I smile and take her hand, pulling her behind me. "This is one of the living rooms." I motion at one area and then the kitchen.

"Luke..." She starts but I bring my finger to her lips. "Not yet." More than any of this, there was one room, in particular, I was most excited to show her.

I press the up button to the elevator and the doors open immediately. "What on earth..." Sierra mumbles and I can't help but laugh, the sound resonating through the empty house.

"I need you to close your eyes." I murmur softly, kissing her on the cheek.

"Oh no." She whines a little.

"Oh yes." I poke out my tongue at her playfully and I turn her around, placing my hands over her eyes to make sure they are closed.

We walk out of the elevator and onto the second floor. "Keep your eyes closed." My excitement buzzes in the air and Sierra bites her lip with anticipation, her eyes shut tightly.

This was the only floor in the house I had bothered to fill with things. I clap my hands to turn on the lights hanging down from the high ceiling. "Open," I tell her and there is a sharp intake of breath. "No way." She gasps.

Sierra stands in the middle of the vast room for a second in shock then walks up to the large white tables in the middle of the room with every single kind of machinery or gadget a designer could possibly need. I had one of those rack things put up too, taking up an entire wall with every kind of fabric in every colour she could ever need. All the rolls of fabric she currently owned cluttered the corners of her living room back in her apartment and caused a mess I knew she didn't like at all.

Brand new dressmaking dummies or whatever they were called, line against one corner of the room. "This—what—" Sierra looks back at me, her hand over her heart, overwhelmed. The entire second floor of the house, I had decided would take up her studio, giving her a killer view of the city since the house was raised up on a mountain.

"This is a designers dream." I flourish my arms around the room. "—and it's yours."

"You're joking, right?" She looks around, unable to believe her eyes.

"This floor is yours, all yours and this house, it's ours. I wanted to put in furniture but then it wouldn't be the way you like it." I take her hands and pull her into my chest, cupping her face. "It's for you and you can decorate it however you like,"

"—say something baby." I chuckle and she shakes her head. "I can't believe this, this isn't real. I swear it's all that champagne I had." She chortles, the words coming out as a squeal.

"This is our house. I bought it for us." I confirm and her eyes fill with tears. "This is too much—" She starts and I want to tell her we have a lifetime to argue over how much it cost, but instead I cover her lips with mine.

She moans, pulling me into her. "You're unbelievable. I would have never let you—"

"We have a home now, you and me," I say simply.

"I love you, so much," Sierra says, my entire world smiling up at me as she connects our lips again.

A/N:

Did ya see that coming? Epilogue is next fam and I'm so emotional.

If you lovelies have any questions for me, any at all, leave them here and I will answer them after the epilogue.

All the love x
Rythma