The Marriage Contract

Wedding Bells, part 1

I woke up early Saturday morning. Not on purpose. My mind kept turning over and over itself and it was safe to say, sleep just wasn't a factor. Sitting up, I glanced over at the clock. A bright red 5:16am flashed in my face and I groaned, falling back onto my pillows.

"I'm getting married, today," I whispered to myself aloud as I let the fact sink in. I was marrying a man that I barely knew; a man that I can't seem to decide if I like or not.

Laying there for a few more minutes and realizing that going back to sleep was never going to happen, I pushed the covers back and got out of bed. Walking out of my bedroom, I made my way into the kitchen, only to find Ryland standing beside the coffee maker. "Couldn't sleep either," he asked, handing me a cup of coffee.

I shook my head, "Not in the slightest," I said, taking a sip from my cup; we didn't talk much after that, just stayed in silence and drank our coffee.

As I finished up my coffee, I could hear my alarm going off in my bedroom. 6:00am. Just as it started, the front door opened and in marched Ryland's mom, Lanah, his sister, Roxy, my mom and Hayley, all with exited, devious looks on their face.

Before I could do much of anything, they headed straight for me, dragging me back into my bedroom. As they pulled me down the hall, I could hear Ryland's soft chuckle and I glared. "Don't worry. The boy's will be here for him, shortly," Roxy said to me and I smirked, letting them pull me the rest of the way into my bedroom.

"Alright. Put these on and we'll be heading out," Hayley said, handing me a pair of yoga pants and flip flops.

I looked at her confused, "Out? I thought we were getting ready here," I said.

Then, as if on cue, they all began to laugh. "And risk letting him see you? I don't think so," Roxy said, hooking her arm through mine. "Now, let's get out of here."

They proceeded to drag me out of the apartment and to the elevator. As per usual, I tensed up, but soon enough, the doors opened. As we walked towards the front doors, we passed a group of men, two of whom I recognized to be Ryan Steel, Ryland's dad, and Axel. They were clad in casual clothes and excited – or proud in the case of Ryan – smiles as they started piling into the elevator that we all had just come out of. Axel sent a smile my way and waved as he made his way inside and the doors closed.

Making our way out of the building, I was steered in the direction of my mom's Suburban. The moms climbed in the drivers and passengers side seats while Hayley and Roxy pushed me in the back seat, each of them sitting on either side of me. After a few minutes-drive, we pulled into the Steel Estate. My mom parked at the front of the house; the girls let me out of the backseat, leading me into the house.

As we walked in, I was overwhelmed by the number of people scampering around to this, that and the other. As we passed the kitchen, I could see women cooking and a large cake plate sitting in the middle of the counter. I strained my neck to try and see more inside to get a glimpse at what was, obviously, my wedding cake, when my mom stepped in front of me. "Ah, ah, ah," she said, shaking her head, "No peeking. We want you to get the full affect like everyone else." I rolled my eyes, but complied, letting Hayley and Roxy drag me up stairs after the moms went into the kitchen to help out.

After walking down a couple halls, we came to a set of double doors. Stepping in front of me, Roxy opened the doors and ushered me into the biggest bedroom that I had ever seen. It seemed like it could be a small apartment tacked onto the back of the second floor. Windows stretched along the majority of the back yard where I could see more people moving around like ants, placing flowers, lights and chairs. Before I could look too deeply, again, I was pulled away and ushered into the most terrifying bathroom I had ever seen.

The vanity stretched along the entire back wall of the huge bathroom, completely stocked with every beauty product ever known to man. There was a single chair set in front of the centermost mirror with a white robe that read "Bride" across the back. My eyes widened as I actually took in the amount and variety of the beauty supplies laid across the counter. Everything from Mac concealers', bronzers and blushes, to Nyx brushes and all four of the Urban Decay Naked pallets. Then, there were the hair brushes, bobby pins and hair pins, lipsticks all colors of the rainbow; hair sprays, hair ties and clips.

Glancing up in the mirror, I was greeted with three faces; two of whom showed unbridled excitement – Roxy and Hayley – and one – mine – with a look of horror. "What are you guys going to do to me?"

Roxy laughed at me as she placed a hand on my shoulder, "Nothing too drastic, dear, I promise. You are already absolutely beautiful. I'm not sure what my brother done to win you over," she said jokingly.

My eyes widened a bit at the irony of her statement, "Neither am I," I said looking across the counter once more.

"Alright, ladies, we have work to do! Rory, you get out of those clothes and into this robe; Roxy, if you can handle her hair and nails, I can handle the makeup," Hayley said. Roxy nodded. Hayley smiled, then handed me the robe off of the back of the chair. "Chop, chop! We only have ten hours before you say 'I do'." I rolled my eyes at my best friend, but followed her directions.

Making my way back to where my best friend and my soon to be sister-in-law were waiting, patiently, on me. Sitting down in the chair, they immediately descended on me, Roxy pulling my hair out of the half-bun I had going on and Hayley began "moisturizing" my face. As they both began their work on me, I closed my eyes and began letting what was actually happening today sink in.

I was marrying him.

I was marry Ryland Steel. That fact was simple. What I couldn't process was how I was actually feeling about that fact. One part of me – a pretty decent sized part – was dreading it. I barely knew this guy. I have only known him for just about two weeks and I was expected to happily marry him. Another part of me was...I don't know what it was, almost excited, because, as much as I hate to admit it, I sort of liked the guy. When he opened up, he had a bright smile, and a good sense of humor, but when he shut down, he was almost unbearable.

Before I knew it, Roxy and Hayley were finished with my hair and makeup, and were both telling me that I needed to get up so that they could get me into my wedding dress. Standing up from surprisingly comfortable chair, the girls ushered me back into the main part of the bedroom. Walking over to the bed and sitting down, Hayley disappeared into the closet, coming back with a pink dress bag that housed my dress. Hanging it on the back of the door, she unzipped the bag, and I saw my dress for the first time since we bought it; all three of us sighed as we took in the beautiful garment, but for different reasons.

For them, they sighed taking in the pure beauty of the dress. I did as well, but I also sighed knowing the meaning behind that dress. I was all but signing my life away as I slipped into it. I was giving up my freedom for an entire year. I was wading into dangerous territory; what if I actually began to feel for this man? I cringed and shook those thoughts from my head. No. No Rory, you can't let yourself think like that. This is a business arrangement. Nothing more. Nothing less.

"Hello! Earth to Rory," Hayley said, waving her had back and forth in front of my face. I blinked a couple of times and then looked up at her in question. "We have been trying to get your attention for the past ten minutes."

"Oh, sorry," I said, halfheartedly.

"I know that you want to think about how you are about to become my sister in law," Roxy said, throwing her arm around my shoulder and hugging me into her side, "But we have got to get you down the aisle first," she said jokingly.

I chuckled lightly at her as I, almost reluctantly, stood up. "Alright, girls. Let's get this puppy on me." Roxy and Hayley smiled, pulling the dress out of the bag and began unbuttoning the back.

Finally, once Hayley was done with the ten-thousand buttons, Roxy grabbed a side and held it out for me, "Step on in, Miss," Hayley said and I rolled my eyes at my best friend and Maid of Honor.

Following her orders, I stepped inside the dress and pulled the sleeves up my arms. Roxy went to work buttoning up the back while Hayley stood in front of me, straightening out the skirt and making sure that the plunging neck line covered my chest just right. Once they were both finished, I sat back down on the bed and started pulling on the absolutely adorable white heels that Roxy had gotten me as a gift. Finished, I stood up. Just before I walked towards the mirror, my mother appeared in front of me. Tears welled up in her eyes as she handed me a small jewelry box.

"They were your great grandmothers," she said as I opened the box and looking inside at the absolutely beautiful blue earrings. "Your grandmother wore them in her wedding, me in mine and your fathers, and now you and Ryland," she said, a tear now freely slipping down her face.

I smiled at my mother and pulled her into a hug, "I love you, mom," I whispered.

"I love you, too, sweetheart," she said just as Roxy and Hayley slipped out, giving us some privacy. Pulling away from me, she looked into my eyes, "Rory, darling, I know that you cannot possibly understand your father's motives behind this. This must seem so drastic to you, but I assure you, it is only because he loves you," she said, pushing my now short hair behind my ear, putting the blue earrings on display. I nodded at her, but said nothing more. "Promise me this, love," she said again, as she back away, making her way towards the door. "Promise me that you will give him a chance."

She looked at me expectantly, until I sighed. I nodded once, "I will."

"Thank you, my girl," she said and left me alone in the room to stare at myself in the floor length mirror.

Ryland's POV

I stared at myself in the mirror as I tugged at my tie for the hundredth time, attempting to straighten it, but only managing to tighten it around my neck. Grumbling to myself, I removed it completely and started over. Behind me, Axel grinned and laughed at me, shaking his head. "I swear to God, I have never had this much of an issue with a tie in my entire life," I complained to him as he pushed off of the wall and made his way over to stand beside me.

"Nerves, man. They always get the best of all of us," he said matter-of-factly.

I rolled my eyes at him, "I'm not nervous," I said, finally getting the tie in the place that I wanted it. I mean, why would I be? It's just a wedding. Granted it's my wedding, but it's not like it was real, anyway. The girl didn't even like me.

"Dude, yes you are," Axel said with a smirk. "Just take a good look at yourself. You are as white as a ghost."

Taking a look at myself in the mirror again, I realized that his observation was pretty accurate. My skin did look a significant amount paler than usual and my eyes sort of had this deer caught in headlights look. I sighed as I blinked and shook my head, attempting to clear all of the thoughts that were swimming around.

"Ryland, man, I know that this is scary for you considering...everything that she put you through," he said and I shot him a look.

"I don't want to talk about it. Today is not about Valerie. It's about me and Aurora," I snapped, not wanting to bring her into my train of thought.

Axel raised his hands in surrender, "I get it, I get it, I do. But that is exactly what I am saying. This isn't about her. This is the day that you put all of that s**t behind you and move forward. You are marrying easily one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen and any man with sense would jump at the chance to have her, and you, you luck bastard, somehow managed to convince her to put up with you enough to marry you. So don't take that for granted, because as soon as you do, I'm taking her." Axel nodded, folding his arms as he finished his speech.

I laughed at him and rolled my eyes, "Thanks, Ax. And you're right," I said to him. Well, right about everything but her actually wanting to marry me.

Just then, the door to the bedroom we were in opened and my father came into the room. He smiled slightly at me, then nodded back at the door, "Axel, would you mind giving me and Ryland a minute?" Axel nodded, then walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. I looked at my father expectantly, waiting for him to start what I knew was coming.

"Ryland, son, I just want to say that I know that neither you or Aurora can possibly understand why Everett and I have arranged this union, but I pray that one day you will. I love you dearly, son and I hope you know that," my father said, clapping his hand on my shoulder.

I smiled at my dad lightly and nodded once, "I love you too, dad."

Rory's POV

I stood at the edge of the stairs along with the rest of the wedding party, save Ryland who I assumed was already at the end of the isle and if not, would be there soon. My mother, Lanah and the caterers walked in and out of the back and side door, making finishing touches on things here and there. Hayley and Roxy were off talking to the groomsmen and I stood off to the side, surrounded by people, but feeling alone, thinking about what my mother had said hours before.

Give him a chance.

I was shaken out of my thoughts as my father made his way up to me, holding a bouquet of white calla lilies. Handing them to me, he shot me a sheepish smile and I couldn't help but to return it. He smiled full blown this time and brought me into a hug, "I know you don't understand, but I promise that it will end well," he said, pulling back from me.

"Alright, dad. I'm trusting you on this one. But I swear if I hate him, I'm killing you then him," I said, playfully.

"Wouldn't expect anything less from my girl," he said with a smile. "I love you, Se-bee."

I laughed at the old nick name smiled, "I love you too, dad."

Before I knew it, Hayley was rushing up to me and tugging on my dress for the last time, "Alright. You look beautiful. Now go out there and knock him dead," she said, putting her hands on my shoulders and looking into my eyes with a smile. I smiled back at her and nodded, then watched as she ran off to get in line behind the bridesmaids – seeing as she will go out just before me. I watched her as she hooked arms with Ryland's cousin, Axel, and smile up at him. I shook my head at her and stood there holding my bouquet.

Coming back to my side, my dad hook his arm with mine and looked down at me, "You look beautiful, baby girl."

"Thanks daddy," I said genuinely as we got in line just behind Hayley and Axel. Slowly, Jason Derulo's "Marry Me" started and the bridesmaids and grooms men began walking out.

Ryland's POV

After my dad left, Axel made his way back inside the bedroom and plopped down onto the bed with his hands folded behind his head. "Well, it looks like you have found your chill," he said, laughing at me.

I shrugged and smiled at him, "I guess so," I said chuckling a bit. "So, how's it feel not having a date," I asked him with a smirk.

Axel rolled his eyes at me and sat up on the bed, "Great. It was a huge relief to get rid of that leech. I swear she was dumber that a bag of rocks," he said, speaking of his most recent ex-girlfriend, Tammy.

I laughed at him again, but nodded. "So, you're not bored yet?"

"Nah. I'm enjoying flying solo...but that friend of Aurora's – Hayley I think is her name – is pretty hot. And I get to walk her down the aisle," he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes at him, but as I did, the bedroom door opened and my mother walked in, "Ryland, Axel, it's time boys. Axel, you go to the foyer and Ryland, son, you come with me," she said, ushering us out the door.

Axel and I parted ways, him heading towards the foyer and as my mother led me to the front door, and outside. We walked around the side of the house and into the backyard where both the ceremony and the reception would take place. Looking around, I had to say that it was beautiful. There was a white tent with tables and chairs underneath where the reception would take place, and just past that, the aisle went in between four trees with white Christmas lights wrapped around their trunks. Beside every other row of white chairs that were on either side of the aisle, was an arraignment of a small tree limb and white flowers with a matching ribbon wrapped around them. Our parents had really outdone themselves for a forced wedding.

My mother led me down the aisle to stand at the end just in front of the pastor, who smiled warmly at me, "Hello, Ryland."

I smiled back, "How are you, Pastor Edward?"

"I am well, son. I would imagine that you are, as well. I had the pleasure of meeting your wife to be just a few moments ago; she is quite beautiful, you are a lucky young man."

"Indeed, I am, sir," I said with another smile.

Slowly but surely, groups of people started making their way into the back yard and taking their seats. Most of them passed in a blur, some, I recognized from business deals, and of course family and friends that were invited by Aurora and I's mothers. I smiled and nodded at those who spoke to me, but other than that, I kept to myself, patiently waiting for four o'clock, when the wedding would officially start.

"Well, well, well. Never thought I would see the day. And so soon at that," a voice sneered from behind me.

My jaw immediately tensed, and I turned around, "Hello, Parker," I all but growled, glaring and the son of the VP of my father's company, "What do I owe the pleasure?"

"I am here for your wedding of course," he sneered, again. "I wanted to see the oh so lucky girl that is marrying you."

I narrowed my eyes at him and clenched my fists, "Listen Hansley, I would advise you to get away from me, my wedding and my fiancé before I make you," I ground out through my teeth.

An evil smile creed up across his face, throwing his hands up in surrender, "Relax, I'm here to celebrate your marriage," he said, "not to take your girl...again." He dropped his hands, placing them in his pockets and walked away. I glared after him, until my attention was pulled to the music as it started. The introduction to Jason Derulo's Marry Me started and the wedding party began walking out.

One after another, girls in soft teal dresses, escorted by men in light gray suits that matched mine walked out and down the aisle, parting just as they reached me. Finally, Hayley and Axel, as the Maid of Honor and Best Man, began their decent down the aisle and parted as they reached me. Slowly, Marry Me faded into the background and a new song started.

"...Wise men say,

only fools rush in.

But I can't help

Falling in love with you..."

Slowly, I glanced up and lost all train of thought. Aurora began walking down the aisle, holding a white bouquet of calla lilies and holding onto the arms of her father, who was dressing in a black suit, set to stand out from the rest as the father of the bride. She was easily the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen.

Aurora walked slowly down the aisle in the crème colored dress that she had picked out in the store, which looked even better on her than I remembered. Her hair was in soft waves that stopped just passed her ears. Her soft brown eyes were lined in her thick, natural eyelashes and her perfect lips were a deep blood red crimson.

As I looked at her, my eyes met hers and I was blown away. I couldn't make out exactly what she was thinking, but her eyes held something more – something different and definitely not – misery. She had an almost scared, but still excited look in her eyes, and as she looked back at me, she smiled. I couldn't help but to smile back at this beautiful woman that I was about to marry.

"Like a river flows

Surly to the sea

Darling so it goes,

Somethings are meant

to be..."

As she made her way towards me, I noticed how she walked. How she carried herself with such grace and simplicity that I could never place in anyone, not even my mother. I noticed how she had inherited her mother's brown eyes and her fathers' dark hair. I noticed how her eyes glinted as she looked at me, and then around the wedding. Our wedding.

"Take my hand

Take my whole life too

For I can't help

Falling in love with you..."

Finally, as the music faded out, she reached me. I held out my hand and her father placed her hand into mine. "Who gives this woman away," Pastor Edward asked, smiling at us.

"I do," Everett said, strongly, but with tears brimming. He kissed her cheek, and as he walked away, whispered "I love you, Se-Bee."

She smiled at her father, then the priest and then up at me. I smiled back at her softly and took both of her hands, after handing off her bouquet to Hayley. "Are you ready," she whispered as she stared up at me.

I chuckled lightly and looked down at her, "More than you know," I whispered back, enjoying her almost shocked look on her face.

"We are gathered here today, to witness the union of Mr. Ryland Steel and Miss Aurora Burke, in holy matrimony," Pastor Edward started, looking around at the crowd. "The couple has decided that they will not be having the traditional wedding vows, thus follows," he said and both of us glanced back at our mothers. While my mother looked a little confused, but excited, while Aurora's mother looked smug. We looked back at each other and then Pastor Edwards continued, "Ryland, we will begin with you. Repeat after me: I choose you, Aurora Burke, to be no other than yourself..." As he began, I recognized it, and by the look on her face, she did as well. The I Choose You vows. I smiled to myself, realizing, I didn't need him to recite it to me.

"I choose you, Aurora Burke, to be no other than yourself," I said, but cut him off before he could begin telling me what to say, "Loving what I know of you, and trusting who you will become. I will respect and honor you always and in all ways. With you, I pledge to repair one small piece of the world. I take you to be my spouse. To have and to hold, in tears and in laughter and in sickness, and in health. To love and to cherish from this day forward, in this world and the next."

Pastor Edward smiled at me and motioned for me to put the ring on her finger. I turned to Axel and he handed me the ring. I turned back to Aurora and slipped the ring onto her finger. She smiled at me, and then Pastor Edward looked to her, "Miss Aurora..."

She smiled at him, then at me, for the fourth time today. "I choose you, Ryland Steel, to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, and trusting who you will become. I will respect and honor you always and all ways. With you, I pledge to repair one small piece of the world. I take you to be my spouse. To have and to hold, in tears and in laughter and in sickness, and in health. To love and to cherish from this day forward, in this world and the next," she recited to me, her soft smile still in place. She reached behind her and grabbed the ring from Hayley and, gently, slipped it onto my finger.

As her small delicate fingers glided over my skin, it sent a small shiver up my arm, which didn't slip past her notice. She glanced up at me and a small smiled graced her lips again. I smiled back at her, then the both of us turned our attention back to Pastor Edward.

"Now, Ryland Steel, do you take Aurora Burke to be your lawfully, wedded wife? To have and to hold for all of your days?"

I looked down at her and smiled, "I do."

"Aurora Burke, do you take Ryland Steel to be your lawfully, wedded husband? To have and to hold for all of your days?"

She looked up at me, and for the first time today, I saw the nerves swimming behind her eyes. She was quiet for a minute before she nodded slightly, then smiled softly, "I do."

Edward smiled down at the both of us, then closed his bible and looked at all the guests, "And now, by the power vested in me by the God and the state of New York, I now pronounce you Man and Wife. You may now kiss the bride."

I looked down at her and silently asked her permission. She looked back up at me and sent me a small smile, silently saying okay. I smiled back at her, and slowly leaned down and placed my lips softly on hers. And for the first time in a long time, I felt something. For whatever it was, it was like a fire was lit under my ass, and I knew that I think I actually wanted this girl.

Placing my hands on either side of her face, I pulled her closer to me and kissed her a bit harder. She paused for a second, before kissing me back. As we did, the crowd cheered loud, and we pulled back from each other. She had a bit of a wild, shocked look in her eyes, but our attention was pulled away from each other as Edward began talking again.

"And now, for the first time, I give to you Mr. and Mrs. Ryland and Aurora Steel!" All of the guests cheered again as Aurora hooked her arm into the one that I offered her, and we made our way back down the aisle as the guests blew bubbles at us.

When we got out of sight, we turned to look at each other, but before either of us could say a word, Hayley came running around the side of the house and hooked her arm with Aurora's, "Congratulations you guys! You are beautiful, now Rory, come on we have to get you in your other dress," Hayley said and began pulling her away. Aurora looked back at me and I sent her a small wave as she was pulled into the house.