Aᴛ Lᴀsᴛ (5)

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Today was the day. In a few hours, Liz and Conrad would be married. Liz could wholeheartedly admit that she was nervous. Not because she didn't want to marry Conrad, that was far from the truth, but because she knew her life was changing.

She'd dreamt about being married for a long time and for a while, she didn't think Conrad would ever be an option. But now she was getting married in the place that always brought her peace and to the love of her life.

The house had been chaotic since she'd first woken up. A good chaotic, but chaotic nonetheless. And in a way, listening to it calmed her.

Her eyes flutter open as River pulls away. She sets the brush down, "Okay, how's that?"

Liz looks in her vanity mirror and smiles, "It's perfect."

"Yeah? Are you sure?"

"Yes." Liz chuckles

River nods with a smile as she picks up the lip liner, "Are you nervous?"

"Yeah."

"Why? You have nothing to worry about." River says lining her top lip

"I just want today to be perfect, you know?" She says as River lines her bottom lip

"It will be." River says setting the lip liner down and picking up lipstick, "Trust me, there's not a thing that's happening today that hasn't been approved by me. It'll be perfect."

She applies the lipstick as someone knocks on the door, "Come in."

Laurel steps in with a bright smile on her face, "Hi. Oh, you look beautiful."

"Thank you." Liz smiles as River takes a step back

"You look perfect." River says clapping

Liz giggles as Laurel stands beside her, "I have something for you."

Liz looks down at the envelope in Laurel's hand. She furrows her brows, "What's that?"

"It's from Susannah."

"Susannah?" Liz repeats

Laurel nods as Liz takes it from her. She stares down at her name written in cursive. Laurel places her hand on her shoulder, "I'll let you read it."

Laurel begins to make her way to the door and River smiles to Liz, "I'll be back in a few, okay?"

"Okay." Liz nods before the two leave and shut the door behind them. The room is quiet aside from the hum of the fan in the corner. She turns the envelope over in her hands before gently prying it open. She pulls the paper out and sets the envelope on her vanity.

She opens it and lets out a small sigh.

Dear Elizabeth,

My beautiful girl is finally getting married. You would not believe how unbelievably happy I am for you. I'm so glad you found someone so worthy of the love and compassion I've seen you give others each and every day.

You are one of the most beautiful people I've met, inside and out. You are the daughter I never had and I want to thank you for so much being that for me. I'm so blessed to have seen that beautiful smile on your face time and time again and I hope that it's all he sees each and every day.

I've seen you in love once and it is something that I will forever treasure. I wish nothing, but the absolute best for you because you deserve nothing less. You've made me so incredibly proud, Lizzie.

I love you so much,

Susannah

Liz sniffled as she stared down at the paper in her hands. Her vision incredibly blurry as she attempted to pat her tears away. She hears a knock and sniffles, "Come in."

River enters the room slowly as Liz turns to her, "You okay?"

"Yeah." Liz sighs as she blinks more tears away, "We might have to redo some of this."

River smiles, "Of course. Don't even worry about it."

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Conrad was beyond nervous. His palms were sweaty, his heart hammered against his ribs, and as he looked out at everyone in their seats, his mind raced. He glanced over at River who nods with a bright smile. He nods back to her before looking back out at the aisle again.

A few seconds later, Maeve begins to make her way down the aisle with Laurel trailing behind her. A soft chuckle leaves his lips as she tossed the flowers beside her. Laurel coached her softly as they got closer. Maeve looks up and her face lights up, "Daddy!"

Chuckles flow throughout the crowd as he smiles wide. He gives her a small wave and blows her a kiss before Laurel picks her up and walks over to her seat.

Everyone then stands. Conrad straightens up and lets out a deep exhale. His face softens tremendously as Liz comes into view with her arm hooked around Dakota's.

His mouth goes dry and his eyes never leave her as she slowly makes her way down the aisle. She looked gorgeous. He hadn't noticed it yet, but he was crying. Hot tears cascaded down his cheeks uncontrollably.

Before he knew it, Liz stood before him with a sympathetic smile. She reaches up and wipes his cheek, "Don't cry. You're gonna make me cry."

He chuckles and wipes his face, "You look so beautiful."

"Thank you." She smiles taking his hands in hers

The officiant smiles at the both of them before looking down in his book, "Welcome family and friends. We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the marriage of Elizabeth and Conrad. This is not the beginning of a new relationship, but an acknowledgment of the next chapter in their lives together. Today, they will affirm this bond formally and publicly. Elizabeth and Conrad will mark their transition as a couple not only by celebrating the love between themselves, but by also celebrating the love between all of us- including their loved ones. Without that love, today would be far less joyous."

He glances over at Liz, "Do you Elizabeth take Conrad to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better and for worse, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?"

Liz stares up at Conrad, "I do."

He smiles as the officiant continues, "Do you Conrad take Elizabeth to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better and for worse, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." He nods

"You may now exchange vows." He says looking over at Conrad

Conrad rubs Liz's knuckles, "Liz, I've known you my entire life and I've always known that I loved you. You have changed my life in ways that I hadn't known were possible. I will always be grateful that you've never given up on me and have shown me that I was worth your love. I can't imagine what my life would be like without you. I will forever cherish you and devote all of my time to making sure you know how much I love and appreciate you."

"Oh my god. Wow." Liz chuckles through tears. Everyone chuckles around them as Conrad squeezes her hands. She looks up at him, "Conrad, I love you so much. You've made me happier than I could've ever dreamed of and I can never tell you just how much I appreciate you. You've been there for me through some of my toughest times and I am forever grateful. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me and I will love you forever. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

The two look over to the officiant and he nods, "A ring is an unbroken circle, with ends that have been joined together, and it represents your union. It is a symbol of infinity, and of your infinite love. When you look at these rings on your hands, be reminded of this moment, your commitment, and the love you now feel for each other."

The two take the others' rings and he continues, "Conrad, as you place the ring on Elizabeth's finger, repeat after me: Elizabeth, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love with the pledge: to love you today, tomorrow, always, and forever."

"Elizabeth, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love with the pledge: to love you today, tomorrow, always, and forever." He says as he slides the ring onto Liz's finger. She looked down at her hand with unshed tears. Her heart squeezed as she watched Susannah's ring glisten in the sunlight.

"And now... Elizabeth, as you place the ring on Conrad's finger, repeat after me: Conrad, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love with the pledge: to love you today, tomorrow, always, and forever."

"Conrad, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love with the pledge: to love you today, tomorrow, always, and forever." She says as she slides the ring onto his finger

"Before these witnesses, you have pledged to be joined in marriage. You have now sealed this pledge with your wedding rings. By the power vested in me by the great State of Massachusetts, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Conrad immediately pulls Liz in and kisses her. Her hands cup his face as everyone cheers for them. They pull away for a second with bright smiles before he pulls her in again.

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The wedding reception followed soon after. Toasts and speeches were given recounting embarrassing, but thoughtful moments from their childhood. It was long after the first dance and the cake cutting that Liz and Conrad found themselves standing at the dock.

The reception was still alive and well with laughter and dancing going on behind them. Conrad held Liz's hand as the two stared out at the water. The two had been on cloud nine and had no intention of getting off.

"You look beautiful." He mutters

Liz looks over at him and smiles, "You've said that at least ten times today."

"Because it's true." He says, "You always look beautiful."

Liz turns and wraps her arms around his neck. He subconsciously wraps his around her waist and pulls her closer, "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me." He says

Liz's eyes flicker down to his lips before leaning in. Conrad responds with a soft kiss that only lasts a second before he kisses her again and again. Liz giggles softly and a kiss lands on her teeth making her laugh harder. Conrad smiles uncontrollably listening to her.

Her laughter dies down with a soft sigh. She looks up at him as they sway together, "I love you."

"I love you." He says, "So much."

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ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡᴀɴɴᴀ sᴀʏ ɪᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ's ᴀʟʟ ғᴏʀ ʟɪᴢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏɴʀᴀᴅ! ɢᴏᴅ, ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ɪᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ. ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴜʏs sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ғᴏʀ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ'ᴠᴇ sʜᴏᴡɴ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ. ɪᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴs sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴜʏs ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴀs ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴀs ɪ ᴅᴏ. ɪ ᴀᴍ ғᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ ɢʀᴀᴛᴇғᴜʟ ғᴏʀ ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡɪʟʟ ɪɴ ғᴀᴄᴛ ʙᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴛʜᴇɴ, ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴜʏs sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ <3

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