When I opened my eyes Chris was carrying me into the guestroom at Anita's. It was dark but my window was open so the moon was shining in. I could see the shadows of my furniture and the paintings on the wall. My sister had unique taste. She loved all art but these ones were big and vibrant with flashy colors.

I pulled on his arm when he tried walking away after setting me down on the bed. "Please stay with me."

He studied my consciousness before settling in beside me, tucking me into his chest. My eyes were so heavy but I wanted to be awake with him.

"I'm sorry about Blake." I felt guilty about it, like I should have protected Chris from him.

Chris' arm trailed circles along my spine. It was incredibly soothing. Minutes past by and a small part of me panicked. Was he angry?

His weirdly soft hands cupped my face lifting it up towards his. He stared long and hard at my bruised face. Maybe the makeup wore off.

"Are you okay?"

Worry? I didn't want him to always worry about me. "I'm fine." I really was. 

I climbed on top of him, pressing my lips to his neck.

"I'm more than fine when I'm with you."

I loved his throat. I loved his sprouting beard. I loved his musky scent. Oh gosh,  there were so many things about him that enticed me with desire, so many things I wanted to do to him.

"You've said those words before." He spoke solemnly which quickly sobered me up.

I didn't realize.

"You used to tell me everything I wanted to hear, that you loved me, I made you happy,  but in the end you still left me."

I was shaking with fear and anxiety. It was true. I used to manipulate him to get him to sleep with me. He wanted to wait, be respectful, and protect my virtue. I felt like such a different person now. I loved him so much. Everything I'd say now I meant whole heartedly.

I sat up, still on his lap and started to cry. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry."

He wrapped me in his arms and I couldn't breathe. How could I be so cruel?

"I'm afraid I'll wake up and you'll be gone. I can't go through that again." He spoke in my ear.

"I won't leave you. I won't. I love you. I'm sorry." I cried. I couldn't leave him.

He held me as I sobbed like a baby into his shirt. I realized I was drunk and very emotional.

"I wasn't in the right state of mind. I loved you but I didn't know how to appreciate you. Forgive me. Please."

"Shhhh," he kissed me. "I know. I know. I'm just scared."

He gradually laid us back down on the bed. I closed my eyes. "I'm scared too."

He kissed me and asked, "Why are you scared?"

"I don't feel like the same person. But being here in your arms, I feel so vulnerable. Like the first moments we really connected. You pushed me and I let you. I'm yours. You may not feel it yet but I am."

I couldn't imagine what it was like for him to be with me during that time. I played with his emotions so much and for what? I was trying to satisfy a superficial need when I really needed to address my inner demons.

"Do you remember that night we went out to celebrate your birthday?"

I tried to envision it in my head. I remember not wanting to do anything but he insisted he take me out to a fancy restaurant. I wore a blue cocktail dress and I could never forget what he looked like on that night. He had on a black suit, it fit tight around his muscles, and a shirt that match the green in his eyes.

I remember thinking how badly I wanted to take him home, to tie him up and have my way with him.

"I remember you taking me to dinner."

Chris seemed disappointed, like I gave him the wrong answer. Was I wrong?

"What?"

"Yes. You drank a lot that night." He refreshed my memory.

Was there more to the story? "Yes. You did too."

We were celebrating. Honestly the harder I thought about it the more difficult it became to remember anything past dinner.

"I'll admit I did have a bit much. We made plans that night. I can't believe you still don't remember."

The sadness in his eyes and voice nearly cut me to pieces. What did I do? "What happened?"

"I knew you were too intoxicated but I wasn't thinking clearly either that night."

The suspense was growing inside of me. What could we have possibly done?

I forced him to look into my eyes and focus. It seemed like his mind was wondering off into the past, contemplating if it were real or not.

"Chris, what did we do that night?"

He took a staggering breath before answering. "We got married."

What? No. That couldn't be true. How could I not remember something like that? But he wasn't laughing. It wasn't a joke.

He continued to explain. "We ran into some of my friends. One of which worked at city hall. You were so sweet and affection towards me."

His thumb gently brushed against my cheek. The fact that I was sweet and affection toward him during that time must have meant a lot to him.

"You were only sweet when you wanted something but I couldn't resist you. Somehow we convinced him to marry us. I woke up the next day thinking it was a dream. You never mentioned and I couldn't believe it was a reality."

I covered my mouth with my hand in shock. What? My heart was pounding so fast. Could it be? Why couldn't I remember? I hated myself for being so intoxicated I couldn't remember marrying Chris, Chris freakin Compton.

The story wasn't finished.

"You broke up with me a month later and I found out marriage certificate when I packed my things to leave."

"Oh God. I'm sorry." I was such a bitch. How could I be so cruel? "Why didn't you say anything sooner?"

"That paper wouldn't have made you mine. It wouldn't have made you happy. I honestly didn't know how to tell you."

This whole time we were married. Oh God. What in the hell? I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. I did. I laughed because it was actually the best news.

"We're married?" I mumbled.

Chris nodded. He kept the secret for so long.

"I wasn't sure we'd ever be together again. And I knew I couldn't wait any longer for you. I thought you hated me. Eventually I knew I'd have to show up with divorce papers or something. I just hated thinking about it. That's why I never said anything."

Oh the twist plot thickens. I didn't even see this one coming. I pressed my lips to his with eager adrenaline. I never wanted him more. He was mine. I was his.

"I love you husband." I could drown happily in those words.

He chuckled. "My beautiful, stubborn wife." Chris had tears running down his face and my heart broke. "I've never loved someone so much."

I believed him.

I started taking off my clothes. We were both crying now. It was a relief. It was a beautiful sensation of unmasked desire. We were married and I was going to show my husband just how much I missed him, how much I loved him, and how much I needed him.

"I'm never letting you go."

The morning sun woke me up but I didn't mind when I realized Chris was asleep beside me. Last night was amazing. It was literally the best night of my life. I was married to Chris Compton.

It felt like a dream.

My face was hurting from smiling so damn much. Chris was my husband. What?

He turned over in his sleep taking most of the covers with him. He was still naked. His massive biceps taking up half the bed.

I took the opportunity to sneak away and use the bathroom. I was afraid to look in the mirror so I went straight for the shower. I felt like I smelt like alcohol. I brushed my teeth and scraped my tongue clean. My bruises looked worse but that was because they were fresh. I got my concealer and did the best I could.

My room was thankfully mess free. I didn't get to check last night, not that I was even thinking about it.

Chris was still tucked under my white comforter. I sat next to him and hugged my knees to my chest.

This whole time we were married. It was kind of crazy. We found our way back to each other and that was all that mattered.

His emerald eyes finally opened and I suddenly felt anxious. I've watched him sleep before back in my apartment. I wouldn't allow myself to stare too long because doing so made me fantasize. Those fantasies never felt obtainable which made me sad and angry.

"I had a nice dream." His lips looked soft and pink.

"What was it about?"

He gently took my hand and kissed my knuckles then lingered towards my wrist. "We were a bit older. You had a baby on your hip who looked just like you. There was a little boy with this thick curly hair jumping on my leg." He laughed and my heart turned into puddy. "He was calling me daddy."

Deep down I always wanted a family.

"How many kids are we going to have?" Chris pulled me towards him but flipped me around so that he could spoon me from behind.

I closed my eyes as he breathed in my hair. I placed my hand over his, the one he had around my waist. This was real.

"I want 3, a boy and 2 girls."

"Sounds reasonable." He kissed my neck. "Maybe we'll be lucky and you'll have twins."

I laughed. I actually wouldn't mind twins. "Do they run in your family?"

"My grandmother was a twin."

I didn't know that.

"Move in with me."

I had to admit the idea of living with him was the most appealing idea. I obviously had no objections.

The sooner I moved back, the sooner we'd be together starting our new lives. I technically had one more month on my release anyway.

Anita volunteered to go back with me. It felt like it was all happening fast but I didn't mind. Chris wanted to come help but work had him tied down. I assured him I didn't have that much to pack. My apartment wasn't fully furnished and I could find places to donate anything I couldn't bring with me.

It was a nice sister bonding trip for us. The whole time I wanted to tell her about me being married already but Chris and I decided to tell our family together. It was a complicated story and we still didn't quite have the right words.

It took us 3 days to get back. The moment we did I was thrown into a white, form fitting gown. The material was gorgeous and the halter beaded neckline brought a simple elegance to my hourglass silhouette. It was my mother's birthday and she wanted everyone to dress up for pictures.

It was a bit over the top but I had no choice apparently. My sisters had coordinated dresses without telling me. Although Anita and Valerie both wore practical colored dresses.

Why was I wearing white? My favorite color was black.

"It was the only color they had in that dress. We figured you'd look great in it regardless." Valerie was curling and pinning my hair up.

It was our first night back and all I wanted to do was see Chris. But I explained the situation and we decided to meet up after.

"We've been planning mom's birthday for months now. You weren't here to pick it out so you can't complain." My big sister knew how to shut me up.

I mean, she was right.

Anita was glowing in her maroon dress. It was mermaid style and so it extenuated her baby bump a little. Valerie also wore a similar color but the design was different.

I felt low key too over dressed but I wasn't going to say it. Tonight was my mother's night.

We were apparently gathering at a private venue I never heard of before. It was further out in the country, surrounded by trees and farmland.

'I miss you.' I texted Chris in the car as my attention wandered off the road. I wasn't driving anyway.

'I love you. I can't wait to see you.' He responded.

I wondered if my family would notice if I left a little early.

We drove up to an old but beautiful plantation mansion. It had the wrap around porch, dark shudders, and weeping willowin the front yard.

I was enchanted by the beauty of it all. It was dark now but I saw glimmering lights hanging on the trees towards the back.

We walked up the stairs and suddenly I had a lump in my throat. Why was I nervous? Mom and dad came outside and greeted us were warm hugs. The way she was squeezing and sniffling made my stomach turn. Maybe she was too overjoyed I was officially moving back.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too." Her crying was just about to make me cry.

"There's someone here for you." Dad spoke as mom and I pulled apart.

I glanced in the direction dad was looking at and found Chris now standing at the entrance. He was in a black suit, smiling at me like the biggest heartthrob.

Did they invite him too? Why didn't he tell me?

He walked towards me and I was washed with an overwhelming sense of excitement.

"You look beautiful." Chris' eyes roamed over my body and then he kissed me. His kiss stopped the world for me. "Tonight we're not just celebrating your mom's birthday. I've invited all of our close friends and family. Marry me."

He planned this. "You planned this?"

Chris nodded and I had to look at my parents for further explanation. "He told us everything and he wanted to make this special for you. We all pitched in to make this happen. We love you baby."

Was this real?

"Marry me." He spoke again. "Tonight. Right now."

I nodded and jumped in his arms. He was unbelievable. He really pulled it off.

"I'll meet you at the alter." He whispered and pulled away. 

My sisters rushed over to me to touch up my makeup and hair. My mom left with Chris towards the back of the mansion where I assumed our guests were waiting.

Inside the breathtaking home Valerie handed me a bouquet. They were a mix of deep red and white roses. I heard music playing and my nerves got the best of me. Why was I nervous?

I was marrying Chris in front of everyone I cared about. I should be proud of it. I was. I was also so excited. This was what I wanted.

My sisters walked out into the courtyard where I saw a large seating area facing a flower archway. I took my father's arm and closed my eyes for a moment. I was ready.

We walked out and slowed our pace to the music. My attention went towards the attention to detail. Lights were hung above us like a twinkling tent. Rose petals covered every inch of the aisle leading towards the alter.

I saw all my friends watching me in awe. Demi, Jamie, Dania, every important person in my life was here to watch me marry the love of my life.

When my eyes finally landed on Chris again I nearly broke down. He was everything I ever wanted.

I thought back to how this all started, when we were both in Sarah and Michael's wedding. Who could have imagined it would lead us here?

My father gave me away and I was now standing in front of Chris. I had never felt more loved or cherished.

I didn't have any vows prepared but Chris knew that.

"I just want you to know you will always have a place in my heart. You will always be in my thoughts. And you will always be in my prayers. Sharing my life with you is an honor. Not everyone finds their soulmate but I have. And it's you. I love you Laura and nothing in this world will change that."

Nothing in this would could change that. I felt the exact same.

"I choose to give you my whole heart with abiding courage and faith." He ended.

It was a leap of faith... trusting someone.

"You are the light I never saw coming. I vow to listen and learn from you. I vow to laugh and cry with you. I vow to put all my effort into strengthening our marriage. I vow to never leave you." My voice cracked. "I love you Chris Compton and that will never change."

We repeated after the minister and a few seconds later he pronounced us husband and wife.

I heard an uproar of applauses and whistling but it was all muted once my husband embraced me.
This was it.

Mr. and Mrs. Compton.

____________________

Thoughts???