Chapter 7
Heather woke up around 5:30 that morning and immediately ran to the bathroom to throw up. When she was finished, she brushed her teeth and threw on a pair of Brian's track pants and a big shirt. She walked out of the bathroom and was startled to see Brian up and walking around.
"How long have you been up?" she asked Brian.
"About an hour. Are you ok?" he asked, very concerned.
"Yeah! I'm fine, just the normal morning sickness, that's all." She replied.
"OK."
"So, are you nervous about today?" she asked him, sitting down on the bed. He walked over and took the seat next to her, holding her hand.
"I could never be nervous. I have been waiting for this day for the past year," Brian whispered.
"Me too," Heather whispered back before she felt Brian's warm lips on her own. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he gently laid them back on their temporary bed make of sleeping bags. Heather felt Brian's tongue slide gently into her mouth, causing her to moan into his lips. They laid there, their bodies entertwined as one, while their tongues danced with one another, exploring the countors of each others mouth. How much she loved being in Brian's arms.
"Mmmmm..." she moaned as Brian planted soft kisses upon her neck. He stopped abruptly and looked into her eyes. He kissed her one last kiss before getting off of her. He slowly lifted her shirt up, just above her stomach. He rested his hands on her baby; their baby. She propped herself up on her elbows and watched him gently rub the baby. Heather sighed to herself as Brian laid his head on her abdomen.
"Brian, we have to get going soon," Heather whispered, breaking the silence.
"We have to be at the church at 9. We have plenty of time to sleep," Brian said, and they quickly drifted off with Brian's head on the baby.
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They woke up again at the sound of a knock on their door around 7:30.
"Heather, you ready?" Monica called from outside her door.
"Yeah, be right there!" she called. She stretched and felt Brian stir around her.
"See you at the church," Brian replied, giving her one last warm kiss.
"I love you," Heather said. She took one last long look at him. This would be the last time they would see one another before they devoted their lives to love.
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Heather walked nervously back and forth in her changing room at the church. Monica was getting dizzy just by watching her friend pace the room.
"What if he says no? What if he chickens out?" Heather asked frantically. Her hands were slightly shaking she was so nervous.
"Woah, Heather. Calm down. You love him, right?" Monica asked.
"Of course!" exclaimed Heather.
"Does he love you?"
"I hope," Heather replied sadly.
"What do you mean, you hope so??" Monica asked incredously.
"Look! I mean, I've completely changed his life over the past year! And now, I am having his baby and I feel like I've ruined his life!" Heather cried.
"Heather, don't cry. You will smudge your make up!" Monica advised, wrapping a comforting arm around her friends shoulders.
"I don't know why I feel this way, Mon. Maybe it's a hormonal imbalance. I am pregnant, you know!" Heather still cried. "Why am I doing this to him?" She said.
"Heather, you both love each other so much. There is no way that Brian would get cold feet. He's too much in love with you to hurt you," Monica concluded.
"You sure?" Heather asked with a sniffle.
"I'm positive," Monica assured her.
"Thanks, Mon."
"No problem! Now look what you did!" Monica said.
"What?"
"Your make up. We'll have to do it all over now. Stay here, I have some make up remover in my car."
On her way there, she saw the back of the blonde's head. Laughing to herself, she placed two hands over the blonde's eyes.
"Guess who?" she asked.
"Umm...Mandy?" Nick asked, joking.
"What?!? I thought you were over her!" Monica screeched. He took her hands off his eyes and turned around so he could face her.
"I was kidding!" he said and kissed her forehead. Monica blew a sigh of relief.
"Hey, you look beautiful," Nick whispered, remarking at Monica's baby blue dress.
"Not too bad yourself, blondie."
"Isn't it bad luck for us to see each other before the wedding?" Nick asked.
"Nick, you did not just ask that," Monica said.
"What??" Nick asked, obviously confused.
"That goes for the bride and the groom, sweetie. Don't think to much today, ok?" Monica asked jokingly.
"Anyway," Nick said, changing the subject, "why are you out here?"
"I have to go get something from my car. What about you?" Monica asked.
"I had to get out of there," he said, pointing towards the men's changing room.
"Why?" Monica laughed.
"Well, let's see. AJ can't get his tie on straight, Howie can't get his hair the way he wants it, Kevin's pants are too small, and me, I'm just perfect," Nick said, smiling that devil smile he has.
"Yeah..." Monica said and kissed him. "What about Brian?" Monica questioned.
"Oh, he's a nervous wreck! No one wants to bother him, so when I left he was in the corner praying that everything would go alright."
"He's nervous? Heather is nervous, too."
"Yeah, I told him that there was nothing to worry about, but he's still thinking the worst," Nick said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Yeah, I know. Nick, I would love to stay here and chat, but we have a wedding in fifteen minutes," Monica said. She gave her boyfriend one last kiss before heading towards her car.
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Brian stood at the altar and nervously fixed his bow tie on his double-breasted tux. He was so nervous that his knees were shaking. He glanced around the church and admired the color of the Florida sun that shown through the stained glass, casting a yellow glow on the whole scene. At the front of the church stood a pedestal full of white and red roses; a mixture of the favorites. Monica walked down the aisle, along with the other bridesmaids: Tiffani, Heather's old college roommate, and Trisha, Heather's brother's girlfriend. They all looked beautiful, but in Nick's case, Monica topping them all. She wore her shoulder length brown hair in a pile of curls at the top of her head, with two tendrils outlining her oval-shaped face. Nick smiled to her as he stood next to Brian, watching her every move until she stood opposite of them. She winked in return for his smile.
Next came Shannon, Brian's cousin of five years, sprinkling tiny rose petals on the pathway. Her cheeks were flushed a rosy red as she smiled at the audience that was watching her. She smiled at Brian and he gave her a thumbs up sign, causing the girl to smile even more.
Just then the music from the organ filled the room of the eager church. All of the guests stood and Brian crossed his fingers behind his back. He took a breath and was taken aback by the beauty of his future wife. Trying to hold back pure happiness, he watched her. Heather's brown hair, which cascaded an inch past her shoulders was left down, slightly curled at the edges. Her blue eyes sparkled like crystal through the joy she was feeling all over. She smiled when she got closer and closer to her fiance, feeling all of her doubts slip away.
"I love you Daddy," she whispered as her Dad let go of her hand. He smiled and nodded at Brian, happy that Brian was the man that would be taking his daughter's hand in marriage. Heather felt butterflies in her stomach as Brian took her hand. Brian turned and faced her, taking her other hand and clasping it in his own.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the matrimony of Brian Thomas Littrell and Heather Michelle Mason," the priest began. "These young people have decided in their hearts to spend the rest of their lives together."
As the priest gave his speech, Brian closed his eyes, as if he was absorbing it all in. Heather sighed and squeezed Brian's hand. He smiled and opened his eyes.
'Hi,' Brian mouthed to her.
'Hi.'
'Do you know I love you?' he asked. Heather nodded and smiled.
"Does anyone here know what love means?" the priest droned on.
Brian rolled his eyes and turned to face Heather. He stuck out his tongue and crossed his eyes. Heather bit her lip to keep from laughing. A few minutes later, things got serious.
"Do you, Brian Thomas Littrell, promise to love, honor and cherish Heather Michelle Mason, through sickness and in health, till death do you part, for as long as you both shall live?" asked the priest.
"I do," he said, and smiled with those words flowing out into the room.
"Do you, Heather Michelle Mason, promise to love, honor, and cherish Brian Thomas Littrell, through sickness and in health, till death do you part, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do,' she said proudly. Brian smiled with a glint of tears in his eyes.
"May I have the rings please?" asked the priest.
Nick cleared his throat and nudged his brother Aaron. Even though Aaron was too old to be the ring bearer, Brian insisted he had to be. Aaron handed the ring to the priest.
"Now, repeat after me." He said to Brian. "With this ring...."
"With this ring...."
"I thee wed," the priest finished.
"I thee wed," Brian said and slid the ring onto Heather's finger.
"Heather, repeat after me. With this ring."
"With this ring."
"I thee wed."
"I thee wed," she finished, and the ring shown brightly on Brian's finger.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, is there anyone in this room that does not wish for these two people to be wed in Holy Matrimony? Speak now or forever hold your peace."
"A..A...Choo!" Nick sneezed. Everyone turned to stare at him. "Go on, continue," he said.
Brian shook his head and laughed slightly. Silence.
"Very well then. By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the priest spoke with a smile. Brian smiled to his new wife. He cupped her chin in his hands and brought her to him, sharing their first kiss of their married life.
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