To Have and To Hold: A Bryce Hall Fanfiction •completed•

Part 30

"Wow," he said softly. "You look great."
The words brought me back to the first day we spent together. He had uttered them in the same way.
"You're not too bad yourself, stud," I replied, giggling.
Vinny was rapidly snapping pictures from all angles.
"You really outdid yourself this time," Bryce said to me. "I don't want anyone else to see you."
For some reason, this was funny to me. "Afraid I'll leave you? Not a chance, you're stuck with me now, Mr. Hall."
Vinny interrupted. "Nessa told me that I had fifteen minutes, and she's being kind of scary right now, so we should probably get you back, Kate."
"I'll see you at the altar, Miss Williams," Bruce whispered to me.
Wordlessly, I winked and turned to leave with Vinny.

When we got back to the suite, Nessa was admiring everyone proudly. "Oh, hey, Vinny. We're all ready in here if you wanted to take some pictures now?"
Vinny nodded and started arranging us.
Nessa and Dixie stood on either side of me, holding my hands in theirs. The mere act of them being there for me calmed my nerves substantially.

"I have to post this one!" I exclaimed, looking through the photos.
"That's like your third post today," Dixie laughed.
"Oh, well," I replied, pulling out my phone. "How long until go time?"
"Fifteen minutes so you better make your post quick," Nessa said, looking at the clock.

I quickly posted, looking at Nessa. "Five minutes," she said, looking at me. Let's go get everyone lined up."
As the girl paired up with their boyfriends, Nessa stood in front of me. "I talked to Josh. He and Bryce are headed in with John right now. Everything is going according to plan. There's nothing to worry about."
Dixie and Noah stepped out of line and brought Didi and JJ back to us. We had practiced countless times, and the two little ones were pros.

Amy, Jaden's mom, peeked her head out the doorway. "It's go time," she whispered, smiling at all of us.
I breathed in slowly, nervous, but more excited than anything. Nessa turned to squeeze my shoulder. "It's gonna be great. Don't you worry."
As I watched my friends disappear from the lineup in front of me, it was suddenly my turn. I could hear the bridal march playing, and I walked slowly through the doors. The look on Bryce's face was enough for me. All of my worries disappeared. It no longer mattered that my family wasn't there. I didn't worry about the countless eyes on me. All that mattered was him.

John began the ceremony with a story about the first time he had met the two of us as a couple. Everyone laughed as he detailed some silly fight we had over tying shoelaces. "When I saw the way they laughed with each other, I couldn't help but secretly hope that one day, we'd all be exactly where we are right now: watching these two profess their love for one another. The happy couple has prepared their vows. Bryce, go ahead, son," John said, gesturing to Bryce.

Bryce nodded and pulled a paper from his suit jacket. He cleared his throat before reading. "Kate Marie, I can already declare that this is the best day of my life. It seems crazy and rushed, but the first day that I met you, I fell in love. I don't know if it was the fact that you could shotgun faster than anyone I had ever met," he began, eliciting a laugh from everyone.
"I don't know if it was the smile on your face as you greeted us. All I know is that in that moment, I pictured my future with you. I pictured every fight, every moment that tried our relationship and caused us to grow stronger. I pictured the birth of our niece and nephew, and the first time they would call us Auntie Kate and Uncle Bryce. I pictured children of our own, the waiting, the hoping, the joy as they take their first steps and say their first word. Every choice I've ever made in this life has led me to you," he paused, wiping a tear from his eyes.
"No matter where we go in this life, there's no one else in this world that I would rather share it with. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I will never ever let you go."

"Kate, go ahead, honey," John said softly.
"I don't know how I'm supposed to follow that without crying, but I'll do my best," I joked.
"Bryce Michael Hall. It's a name that I've uttered in love and in anger, in joy and in sadness. Today, I say it in realization. I've watched you grow as a person since before we even met. The man that I see before me is a man of integrity. You own up to your choices, and you never back down from what you see as right. Your kind heart is hidden by a tough guy demeanor, and I am so lucky and grateful to have been given the privilege to see what lies beneath."
I took a deep breath before starting again. "These past two years have been a trying time for us, not only separately, but also together. Relationships are hard enough as they are, but throwing in family, friends, the media, past relationships, and other bumps in the road is even harder. I will never have a greater pleasure than navigating through life's challenges with you, Bryce. You're my party animal," I murmured, pausing as tears welled in my eyes.
"I cannot wait until the day that we look back on the challenges we've faced together and laugh at the things we thought would be so important. I can't wait to hear a little voice call you 'dada' or watch as our grandchildren wrap you around their little fingers. You are the best thing to ever happen to me, and I love you even more for it."