Arranged Alliance

I Do.

Nicholas

I looked in the mirror, taking in my figure. Today is my marriage day. I wore a black tux like every groom wears at his wedding. Except that I wore a tie and another had a bow, they had red clothes in their chest pockets. I have a rose. My hair was smooth back but I made it messy by running my hand through it. I can't be elegant.

"You thought that your life was in hell but you know what," she said, sipping her coffee standing in the yard. "That was just a trailer." She casually said, coming closer, smirking, never leaving her face. I scoffed; a smirk dropped from her face. "The real hell will start when she comes," she hissed, then smiled at me.

"Mom? Nico?" A question in his voice, but he shrugged it. And I let go of it too. Her words ring in my ear. A month ago, what Elizabeth said. She couldn't come, she would never find me.

"Bro, it's your big life and you're crying here, come on. out we don't have time." Adrian burst out, scaring me.

"I am not crying." I gave him a finger. He clapped my back and smiled at me.

"So why are you standing in front of the mirror." He said, amusement in his voice, "girls do that." I was going to hit him but he already took some steps back. "Okay okay, I am sorry." He put his hand up in the air. I huffed and sat on the chair, trying to lose my tie, but Adrian grabbed my hand. "Dude, what happened?" He asked, his face was now concerned.

"Nothing," I looked away, putting my elbows on my knees and leaving them dangling, throwing my head between them. Adrian sat in front of me on another chair, dragging it to come close to me.

"What is it?" He asked. That's why people have only one best friend. I have a lot of friends but no one is like him. If anyone else were here I would say the same but with, the smile and he/she would drop it but he knows when I am pissed, angry, sad, happy, friendly etcetera and he, like a stubborn taurus, stood there and wouldn't leave me until I told him stopped so now I just stop pushing him away. Even at this moment, I act like that, so he can ask me.

"Elizabeth," I sighed.

"Aside from her," he said, still in an urgent tone, and dragging his chair closer to me. I chuckled a bit.

"There is no aside from her." I spoke. He blinked at me then leaned back on his chair, things up and down, removing sweating. He raised a brow at me to continue. "She said something about giving me a fistful of hell after I am married." I said, a bit hesitated at first, but then relaxed. He looked at me like I'd lost my mind or I was lost. I don't know if it's hard to know what he is thinking. Suddenly he started to laugh. Now I look at him like he's crazy and I did.

"That's why you are so pissed." He didn't ask, so I didn't answer. When he controls himself, he takes a deep breath, puts his hand on his chest and makes 'ho ho ho' noises. I put my index finger and thumb between my eyes. "Don't worry, Nico." He said, finally stopping his laugh. "What did you tell me about your wife-"

"My to-be-wife."

"She never let anything happen to her." He ignored me, "And by the way yo-"

"Bro, are you going to marry him?" Seth cut him off by opening the door and slamming those first words in my face. "If no than hurry up, Nora also had to come. I want to go home and dad keeps scolding me because of you." He said and slammed the door shut.

"Your family is a mess," Adrian commented. We were both standing.

"Like yours not." I said, pushing him and going to the aisle. I took a deep breath and thought this was the day, the very big day of my life. And the door opens -my breadth stopped- revealing the most beautiful woman I ever saw.

Nora Duke

I am sitting in the bride's waiting room in front of the mirror. Looking at myself, and trying to believe that it is me. She did everything that could shatter me into pieces and no one picked those shatters, ever, but I can't wait for this marriage. This marriage is the only way for me to get revenge and a peaceful, full life. This marriage is that important to me as a person breathing, his heart beating, his brain working. And I want the same and only this marriage can save me.

There was a click of a door and I got up from the chair. Turning around, I saw dad come in. He started to take steps towards me. "Hello sweetheart, you look so beautiful." Dad said, looking at me.

"Really, I do?" I said. I was not convinced. "But it is so weird." I spoke. He laughed.

"Yes, my princess. Just like your mother." he said, softly stepping towards me and cupping my face. "You are the exact copy of your beautiful mother." He said and, in his eyes, I could tell how much he loved my mother. My mother. "I am so sorry, princess." he said with a pause, his voice shaking as tears came to his eyes on edge.

"Don't" I sterned.

"I didn't have to slap you on that day in front of everyone." He said, taking my hands in his, " I am so sorry, I just overreacted and Sana pissed me off and-" He stopped and took a deep breath, "none of this had happened to you" He sighed "No one of it." He said playing with my fingers.

"Dad?" I spoke. "Dad? it's alright? I am fine." I called again. His eyes softened and he took me in his embrace and hugged me tightly. I also hugged him tightly, his chin on my head. His hand on my head, "I really love you; dad and I am going to miss you." I said, not wanting to pull away. Who knows when this moment will come again?

"I love you too, princess. I am also going to miss you, Nora." He said, kissing the top of my head and pulling away, "But I am glad you are coming from here." He looked at me and tugged me to the door, "Come on Nora, it's a happy day. Why are you crying?" He said, making me chuckle. Dad wipes my face and tugs my hand around his elbow. "Shall we?" I smiled and nodded.

We walked out of the bride's room. The door opened and he walked me to the aisle, there, right there, I saw him. He himself doesn't know what kind of hell he is pulling me out of. I took a step forward and he stretched his hand. My savior, my to-be-husband, the first man who talked to me, who I smiled towards and who I smiled at.

"Nicho-" I didn't let my father finish and grab his hand and drop my own father's hand. I don't want this to be any too late, it was enough for me. Nicholas was a little taken back but maintained his posture and started smiling. I smiled back at him. And he was again taken aback and this time he didn't try to hide it. Jerk.

The marriage officiant started speaking.

"Will you, Nora Duke, daughter of David Duke, accept Nicholas Bretons and James Bretons as your husbands?" He asked.

"I do" I said almost immediately. The marriage officiant gave me an odd look and I smiled at him softly. People always tell me that my smile always softens the other person's heart, so I made his heart soften as he smiled back. Nodding towards me and giving me a wink, he continued to Nicholas.

"Will you, Nicholas Bretons, son of James Bretons, accept Nora Duke, daughter of David Duke, as your wife?"

"I do" he said, breathing hard.

"Now you may slip rings on each other's fingers." He spoke.

A young man came beside Nicholas and handed him a beautiful ring. He got it. And beside me, my high school friend came who was really close to me and gave me his ring. I take it. We both slip rings into each other's hands.

"You may pronounce husband and wife; you may now kiss the bride," the marriage officiant said to Nicholas. I am happy, I am married. He pulled me out of that hell and pulled me into his embrace. Well, he really pulls me into his embrace. My hands were in his before and now his hands were on my waist and his lips on mine. I don't even know when he kissed me.

But because it was my first kiss and I was happy and it was my wedding and whose lips were on mine was my official husband, I bound my hand around his neck and tilted my head and kissed him hard as any bride had ever done to a groom. His hands were tight against my waist as my lips on his.