Our eyes lock, and everything else fades.The guests, the music, the setup.It's just her walking toward me, and me trying not to let my hands shake.
When she reaches me, I take her hands in mine.They're warm, steady.Grounding me.
"Hey," she whispers.
"Hey, yourself."
The officiant clears his throat, beginning the ceremony.I barely hear the words.Something about love and commitment and forever.All I can focus on is her.
The woman who changed everything.
"The couple has prepared their own vows," the officiant says."Hades?"
I clear my throat, squeezing her hands.No paper, no script.Just the truth.
"Evangeline, six months ago, I got a call that destroyed my world.I lost my sister, gained five kids, and had no idea how to handle any of it."I pause, making sure she hears every word."Then you showed up, and everything changed.You took my chaos and made it a family.You took my rage and turned it into purpose.You didn't just save those kids.You saved me."
Her eyes are already wet.
"I've done things I'm not proud of, been to places darker than most people can imagine.But with you?I want to be better.I want to deserve you and those kids and this life we're building."I brush my thumb across her knuckles."So I promise you this.I'll protect you.I'll love you.I'll be the man you deserve, every single day.And only death will take me from you."
Tears spill down her cheeks.I want to wipe them away, but the officiant is already gesturing to her.
"Evangeline?"
She takes a shaky breath, composing herself."I planned a whole speech.Wrote it down and practiced reading it.But standing here, looking at you, none of it seems right."
A laugh escapes me.
"So here's the truth.When Marcus and Calla died, I thought my life was over.I thought I'd spend the rest of my days just surviving, just getting through."She squeezes my hands tighter."But you showed me that surviving isn't living.That family isn't just blood.That love can grow from the darkest places if you're brave enough to let it.
"You made me brave, Hades.You took me at my worst and loved me anyway.You gave me a home, a family, a future I never thought I'd have."She's crying openly now, not bothering to hide it."So I promise you this.I'll stand beside you.I'll love you.I'll be your partner in everything, for as long as we both live."
She pauses, then adds with a small smile, "Then we'll live forever."
The words hit me square in the chest.My own eyes burn, but I refuse to cry in front of the entire club.
Barely refuse.
"The rings?"the officiant prompts.
Tempest hands me Evangeline's ring.It's a platinum, simple band with a single diamond.Not the biggest I could afford, but the one she chose.Perfect for her, perfect for us.
I slide it onto her finger, my hand steady now."With this ring, I thee wed."
Tempest passes Evangeline my ring, a matching platinum band.Her hands shake slightly as she slides it on.
"With this ring, I thee wed."
"By the power vested in me by the state of Massachusetts, I now pronounce you husband and wife."The officiant grins."You may kiss your bride."
I don't wait for him to finish.I pull Evangeline into my arms and kiss her like my life depends on it.She kisses back with equal intensity, hands fisting in my shirt.
The backyard erupts.Brothers whooping and hollering, kids cheering.Someone, probably Tempest, lets out a piercing whistle.
When we finally break apart, Evangeline's laughing and crying at the same time."We did it."
"We did it," I confirm.
