River Flows In You

Okay this one is not the usual story... haha you'll see... Enjoy :D

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He sat back and watched as her mother fluffed the white lace that surrounded her head, just one more time.

“Are you completely ready now, Princess?” He smiled as she slowly turned to look at him, the few pieces of wavy, golden blond hair, that had escaped from the entrapment of bobby pins and torture, lay softly around her face, beneath the lace, extenuating the green in her eyes and the red in her cheeks and lips.

“I think so, Daddy,” She whispered, as her mum wiped a tear from her eyes.

“Okay...” Her mum's voice broke as she smoothed the lace that she just fluffed, just one more time. “Brooke, here's Nana's handkerchief, something old.” She sniffled this time, lying the small piece of white satin and lace in her daughter's, her only child, hand.

“And, mum and I got you these earrings.” He murmured handing his Princess a blue velvet box.

“Daddy, sapphires? I love them!” She cried, hugging him gently as not to smudge her make up.

“New and blue.” Her mum smiled softly, holding up one last box. “Now, baby, I want this back, but it fits in well with the borrowed part of today.” She opened the box gently to see a beautiful diamond tennis bracelet.

“Oh, Mum, it's gorgeous! Thank you.” She gushed as she quickly put in the earrings and her mum fastened the bracelet around her wrist.

“Brooke,” A new face peeked in the door. “We're ready for you.” She nodded as all of her friends waved from behind her. She laughed and shooed them away as she turned to pick up her bouquet.

“See you in a few, Mum.” She kissed her mum's cheek and wiped a tear from her mum's cheek, her mum sighed and quietly left, trying desperately to keep her tears at bay. As the woman and all of her friends left he turned her gently to face him.

“Ok, are you truly ready, Princess?” He asked her, his own green eyes full of pride, and a touch of sadness. “You don't have to, if you're not ready.”

“Daddy,” She sighed, her smile growing. “Take me to Max. I'm ready, I want to marry him. I want to be Brooke Talbot.” She stood up on her tip toes and kissed his weathered cheek. “Besides you love Max.”

“Yah, but I'm scared of loosing you, Princess...”

“Not loosing me, Daddy, gaining Max.” She smiled as he took her arm in his and lead him into the hall.

They stood together in front of the large oak doors as the girls, her bridesmaids, walked down the hall before her. He squeezed her hand gently, causing her to glance up at him and smile. She took a deep breath as the large oak doors opened in front of them.

Beautiful, light and airy, piano music filled the church as they took their first steps down the aisle. Her dad spent most of the time looking down at his daughter, but Brooke? Her eyes were glued on Max as they stopped mere feet from him. The priest smiled down at the couple who didn't have any want with anyone else right now. The world was theirs and theirs alone.
“Who gives this bride to be wed?” His voice caused the couple's gaze to separate momentarily as she looked expectantly at her dad.

“Her mother and I,” he croaked before kissing her cheek gently and pulling Max in for a hug. “Be good to her, Max.” He whispered before letting the boy go. Placing Brooke's hand in his, he turned slightly and sat next to his own wife, wrapping an arm around her shoulder to consul her as she cried happy tears silently. Max and Brooke took three steps to find themselves in front of the priest, who nodded and Brooke handed her bouquet off to Emily, her maid of honour before turning back to face Max.

“Love is a miraculous thing, and we're joined here together today to witness a pledge of that love between Maxime and Brooke. Love is something not to be taken too lightly. It's a power that gets you through the bad, and helps you enjoy the good. Love is the entity you wait home for every night. Cheer loudly for when they do well at something. And it forgives after you've messed up.” The congregation laughed softly as Max blushed, causing Brooke's hand to raise from his up to his red cheek. “Today it is Maxime, and Brooke who take the next step in their relationship, and believe me it's been a rocky flight here. But it's that Love, that binding power that kept them together, that will keep them together even longer. The couple has been ambitious and wrote their own vows.” The priest announced motioning to Max to start.

“Brooke, I have finally discovered the meaning of real love. For as long as I live I will love, respect and honour you. I will be committed to self-growth and to the growth of our relationship. I promise to be honest and to communicate my needs and feelings, just as I promise to listen to your. I will be faithful to you in mind, body and spirit. I will be your friend and life partner no matter what life brings us. Today I pledge my commitment to you.” He smiled and took his own free hand to wipe the single tear to escape onto her cheek. The congregation sighed in awe as the priest motioned Brooke to proceed. She cleared her throat and unfolded a small piece of paper she was holding.

“Max, I love you. You're my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle.” She pausing her voice catching with emotion. “I promise to love you in good time and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give you today, and all the days of our life.”

“The rings please.” Emily and Marc, the best man, stepped forward and handed the rings to the appropriate people. “Max, take Brooke's left hand,” he grinned stupidly and grabbed her right hand. Brooke laughed, and switched hands for him, causing the congregation to laugh with them. “And repeat after me. Brooke, with free and-”

“Brooke, with free and-” Max gazed into her eyes holding the ring over her left ring finger.

“Unconstrained soul, I give you all I am and all I am to become. Take this ring, and with it my promise of faith, patience, and love, for the rest of my life.” Max repeated the rest of the vow before sliding the ring on her finger. He then turned to Brooke. “Brooke, take Max's left hand and repeat after me. Max, with free and unconstrained soul,” Brooke took Max's left hand and held his ring over his ring finger.

“Max, with free and unconstrained soul,”

“I give you all I am and all I am to become. Take this ring, and with it my promise of faith, patience, and love, for the rest of my life.” She repeated after him before sliding the ring onto his finger, fighting with it slightly over his knuckle. “By the power vested in me by God and the State of Pennsylvania I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.” The crowd cheered and jeered as Max wiggled his eyebrows at Brooke before dipping her gently and pulling her into a passionate kiss. The cheering turned to laughter as she squealed at being dipped to low and he slowly pulled her up right. She sighed loudly and accepted her bouquet back from Emily before facing the crowd. “It is my pleasure to introduce to you for the first time, Mr and Mrs Maxime Talbot.” The crowd cheered wildly as the couple walked slowly down the aisle, getting about halfway before looking at each other, grinning wildly and running the rest of the way out of the church.

Once in the lobby, Max pinned Brooke against a wall, kissing her neck and jaw.

“We did it, Max,” She sighed, pushing him gently away from her. “We're married.”

“Yup,” he grinned kissing her lightly, first on the nose and then the mouth. “We officially got our happily ever after.”