From This Day Forward

[Katalina Harker]

A deep breath in, a long exhale out. Repeat. That was exactly what Katalina Vanderhol was having to remind herself to do as she sat in front of the mirror as her younger sister palmed the pieces of her chestnut colored hair, making it sit the way she wanted it to. "Serena, I'm not going for some glamorous look here. Just some simple curls will do for today," the twenty two year old told her sister with a crooked grin. Kat gently patted her sisters hand lightly, noting the sadness behind Serena's eyes. The young blonde was supposed to have been married already as well, but after Andy's death the year prior Harrison just disappeared. Serena didn't know where he was and hadn't heard word from him since he had left which was really a crying shame seeing as the very large baby bump protruding from her midsection was something that everyone felt Harrison might like to know about. "Any day now and little baby Schyler will be with us," Kat grinned as she ran her hand over her sisters belly before adding with a laugh, "Just make sure it's not today." The brunette giggled as her sister thumped her lightly in the ear before running her hands through her hair again. Looking in the mirror once more she saw her reflection and couldn't help, but beam brightly. In a little less than an hour I'm going to be Katalina Harker she thought to herself as she went back to reminding herself to take a deep breath in and a long exhale out.

Once her sister had finished with her hair, which she wore in loose curls and down, and her makeup, which was very light and natural, she was then helped into her dress by her mother, who couldn't seem to stop crying. "Mum, really? You've been in full on monster planning mode for the last year and now the water works come on? You're such a silly duck," Kat said laughing as she wrapped her mother in a tight embrace. She ran her hands down the front of her simple white dress once more before calling for her father. "Are you ready to give me away daddy," she asked as she toed up and kissed him on the cheek. Katalina knew with all her heart that she was ready to be given away. She'd waited for what seemed like forever to marry Chace Harker and today was the day that the couple would become husband and wife. That thought made her smile and all of her wedding jitters floated away. "Alright everyone. Let's have a wedding," she said in a sing song voice as her sister grabbed her own bouquet and got into position.

 

[Chace Harker]

"I look fine, Mum," Chace insisted, smiling at his mother as she attempted to adjust his tie. Maeva Harker would be a perfectionist until her dying day (which hopefully wasn't for a long time.) Sure, she might not want her baby boy to get married, but she would be damned if anything related to the wedding sported a stray thread or a spotted flower. The young wizard embraced his mother before stepping outside.

Chace inhaled sharply as he approached the archway. It was white with ribbons and flowers tied in. On either side of the aisle were four stone benches; those invited were so small a number that nothing more had to be conjured. Kat and Chace had decided that they wanted this to be a simple affair. Only their immediate families were in attendance. Chace beamed at Gavin, Fallon, Maeva, and his father, Damian. The youngest Harker was thrilled that they were here to support him on his special day.

Thrilled that he didn't have the jitters, Chace watched Kat's family members fill in the right side. Any moment now. The former snake nearly hissed in excitement as his lioness appeared with a bouquet snared in her paws.

 

[Katalina Harker]

Kat watched as her very pregnant sister waddled down the aisle ahead of her. The brunette looked up and saw the slightly pained look on her fathers face and she whispered, "It's okay daddy, I'm sure he'll come back for her and then they'll get married too." She gave his arm a gentle tug and beamed as he looked down at her and smiled softly. I'm finally getting married she thought as they began their way down the aisle as well. Kat looked at Chace and loved the fact that she saw not a hint of nervousness upon his face whatsoever. He looked more excited than she felt. The young brunette smiled at him and felt her heart melt. She truly loved this man with all her heart and had ever since she'd been fifteen years old.

When they finally reached the front her father released her hand into Chace's before returning to sit with her mother. Deep down Kat knew that her friends were going to be upset that they weren't invited, but today was all about the joining of two families and to be honest she didn't want any huge fuss over a wedding. All she wanted was to be married to the man she loved and that was indeed what she was about to do.

 

[Chace Harker]

Intertwining his fingers with Kat's as if he could lock them there forever, Chace stared back at his sweetheart. Call him cheesy, call him corny, but for all the kernels and cheddar, he was still afraid she might vanish. This was too good to be true, right? He could've been a statue forever. Come to think of it, he wouldn't mind being turned to stone, as long as he could look at his love forever. The sun kissed the back of his neck. It was time to speak. No matter how long he could hold his gaze, he had to act. Katalina Vanderhol would be his- should be his- for a lifetime.

The vow he'd crafted suddenly unraveled in his throat. Luckily, he didn't choke. A speech that his heart was writing slipped onto his lips. Chace's hands slipped around his fiancee's back and he pulled her body to his, kissing her with all he had. Both his in-laws and his family blurred into the background; his attention was on her and only her. The onlookers could read what the groom had to say through his arms as he held her close and his mouth as he whispered- although they couldn't hear it- "I love you, to the center of the Earth and back."