We have a booking at the hotel restaurant for breakfast. I'll meet you there. I put my phone back on the bedside table, rubbing my eyes as I got up. I was still groggy, my head swimming as I went into the bathroom. We'd walked along the beach and talked for hours before returning to the hotel. I'd spent the night in our room, but we decided that it'd be easier if Parker stayed in Holden's.

After brushing my teeth and getting changed, I went downstairs to the ground floor, then past the lobby into the restaurant. I looked around at the different tables, trying to spot Parker. Through the glass door, a guy with blonde hair was waving at me. Holden was sitting at one of the outdoor tables, stretched out along the deck chair with one leg crossed over the other, looking out at the ocean. As I approached, he swung back around to face me, perching his sunglasses on his head.

"Morning," he said, grinning, picking at one of the croissants from the basket sitting in the middle of the table.

"Morning," I replied, pulling out a chair and sitting down across the table from him.

"I heard about what happened last night," he said with a smirk. "Or rather, what didn't happen. Imagine my surprise when I'm sound asleep and I hear Parker creeping back into the room at two in the morning."

"Right. Well, we decided to wait," I began to explain.

"Why am I even talking to you about this?" I asked, suddenly realising how ridiculous this was.

"Well, we did used to date you know," he said with a stupid laugh.

"Shut up," I said, flicking some breadcrumbs from the table at him.

"We had a good thing going," he said wistfully, laughing as he seemed to recollect memories.

"Yes. How could I ever forget being ditched at the masked ball or being blackmailed?"

"Hey! In my defence, you didn't seem to mind the extra time with Parker," he said, wiggling his eyebrows. "Seriously though, I wish you two could've dated without our fake dating in the beginning."

"I don't know...maybe if I hadn't met Parker that way, I wouldn't have gotten to know him like I did. I would've missed out on a great thing."

Parker knocked on the door of the room. "Thank God you're here!" Ashton exclaimed as he swung the door open.

"Just breathe," Parker laughed. "Are you ready?" He asked.

Ashton held both hands out in front of him, palms down. His hands were gently trembling. "I'm so nervous," he laughed, wiping his palms against his pyjama pants. "All my groomsmen are still sleeping. I don't think I managed to sleep a wink last night."

"We're all here for you guys today," Parker said, placing both hands on his brother's shoulders, facing him. "This is just the beginning of the rest of your lives. You both love each other and it's going to be great. There's no pressure. Hell, even if you messed up your vows it'd be fine."

"Thanks for being here," Ashton said, pulling him into a hug.

"Of course I'd be," Parker replied. "I'm so proud of you."

"How are you spitting out these lines like you're the older sibling?" He stepped back to look at his younger brother. "I was worried when I left, but you managed to turn out alright in that house. I'm glad you're happy. Especially seeing you have a special someone with you," he teased. Pink rushed to the tips of Parker's ears but he played it cool, keeping a poker face.

Even though the brothers hadn't been able to spend that much time together, time wasn't something that could break the bond. Even though Parker wasn't a groomsman, let alone the best man, he knew his role was much more meaningful than that.

"Well, I'm just glad to see you're happy now too," Parker smiled.

Ashton rocked back and forth on his heels, seemingly hesitant. "Do you know if mum and dad are coming today?"

"I'm sorry. I'm not sure," Parker replied quietly. He hadn't been back to the house since the day he left, and they hadn't contacted each other. He just hoped they took his threat seriously enough to come. Even without that, Ashton was their son, and it was only right they'd be at his wedding.

"Thanks anyway." Ashton's face lightened quickly. They were both well accustomed to their parents' ways. "I think I better wake the guys so we can get ready. Besides, I'm sure Daisy's waiting for you. I'll see you in a couple of hours if I don't pass out before then," he grinned.

"You're going to be a married man soon!" Parker exclaimed, slapping his brother on the back. "I seriously can't believe it," he laughed, shaking his head slowly. "Try to stay conscious and I'll see you then."

Once they finished breakfast, Parker, Holden and Daisy all returned to their rooms to get ready. As they crossed back through the lobby, Parker could see a black town car pull up through the valet. The bellboy started stacking the suitcases onto the trolley before wheeling them into the hotel.

Back in their room, Parker had changed into his navy suit with a white dress shirt inside. His navy patterned tie still sat across his shoulders undone. "I didn't think I'd ever see you not in black," Daisy grinned, leaning against the bathroom doorframe. She was in a pale-yellow chiffon halter neck dress that dropped mid-shin. She looked like a ray of sunshine. His ray of sunshine.

"You look amazing," he said. She blushed and quickly changed the topic.

"Seriously, how can you not know how to do your own tie?" She asked, taking hold of the two ends of the tie. Suddenly, he leaned down and kissed her. He pulled away with a grin on his face. "What was that?" She laughed. He did it again. "Hey!" And again.

"I love you," he grinned. "I really freakin' love you."

She rolled her eyes and laughed. "I love you too." Then she kissed him. "Now, let me finish tying your tie you loser."

Daisy and Parker headed down to the beach early where a section had been reserved for the wedding. A wooden podium stood a couple of metres from the water edge. Four wooden poles stood on the corners of the podium. White fabric was loosely draped between the poles, with flowers adorning them, forming almost a loose canopy. Behind the podium, they could see the waves coming up onto the sand and the glistening of the water.

To one side of the podium was a small orchestral arrangement. The musicians were dressed in black and white, behind their respective instruments. The huge black piano looked surprisingly like it belonged on the white sand.

There was a photobooth on the other side of the podium with the amazing view as the backdrop. White chairs were assembled in rows, leaving space in the middle for the aisle. At the end of each row was a bouquet of white and light pink flowers strapped to the end chair. A clear rubber mat extended the length of the aisle, covered by what looked like a cream coloured tarp of some sort, undoubtedly for the bride to walk on in her heels. At the start of the aisle was a small table with a basket of glass bubble blowers, each with a small piece of string tied around the bottle neck and a wooden tag saying "Ashton & Nicole" on the front and "thank you for coming to our special day" on the back.

A wooden sign stood a couple of metres before the aisle and chairs with the words "Ashton & Nicole's Wedding" etched onto it in calligraphy print.

"Wow," Daisy said, her eyes wide as she took in the view around her. "It's so simple, but it's beautiful," she gasped. Some of the other guests had started to arrive, all appropriately wearing flat shoes, or none at all, in stark contrast to their formal outfits. "Do you know how many people are coming?"

"I think Ashton said thirty people?"

"Aw that's nice. It'll be a super intimate ceremony," she beamed.

They sat down on two chairs in the second row. Daisy flattened the bottom of her dress and tucked the stray fabric underneath her legs as she sat down. They were still talking when Daisy looked over his shoulder, the shock flashing across her eyes. He turned. His parents were walking out from the hotel, towards the ceremony.

The relief that flooded his veins was a testament to how firmly he'd believed they might actually not come. His parents maintained tight lipped smiles as the settled into the seats beside him. "I'm glad you decided to come," Parker said.

Next to him, Daisy was obviously uncomfortable, considering how she wouldn't stop fidgeting and did practically anything to avoid eye contact with his parents. He held her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She looked up at him and smiled.

Soon, the officiant made his way onto the podium, with the groomsmen in a line behind him. Ashton stood at the bottom of podium, at the end of the aisle with both hands clasped in front of him. He was taking deep breaths in and out as he rocked

All the anxiety seemed to disappear from his face as Canon in D began playing. Everyone stood up as Nicole began walking down the aisle. Ashton couldn't take his eyes off her, even as he began to wipe away at the tears in his eyes.

Her wedding dress was a simple white v-neck gown with spaghetti straps and a train that trailed behind her. Her blonde hair was put up into a bun. Even though her face was obscured by the veil, there was no missing the huge grin across her face as she walked towards Ashton with her father holding her hand.

Daisy was on the edge of her seat, grinning from ear to ear, staring wide eyed, gushing as she reached the podium. The music softened down and introductions began. Several guests recalled stories of how the two lovebirds had met. Then it was Ashton and Nicole's turn to share these memories. They had the guests in a mixture of tears and laughter.

As Ashton slipped the ring onto her finger, Nicole could no longer hold back the tears. Her maid of honour quickly rushed up with a tissue to pat their tears from my cheeks. The two said their "I Do"s.

"You may now kiss the bride," the officiant announced with a broad grin. The crowd cheered loudly as Ashton and Nicole leaned forward and kissed each other. Keeping a hand on the small of her back, he dipped her and kissed her again, earning even louder cheers from the guests, just like a scene straight from a movie.

The two held hands, their grins never leaving their faces as they walked back down the aisle. Ashton turned to look at Parker with a grin. They both nodded in acknowledgement, sharing the knowledge that Ashton had made it. After defying everything he'd grown up knowing, he was truly happy.

The guests got up, the applause drowning out the crashing of the waves in the ocean. As the guests went to take photos, Holden finally appeared. "You didn't save me a seat!" He exclaimed. "I was stuck at the back."

"I told you to come earlier!" Daisy retorted.

"We're not dating anymore, you can't just abuse me like this," he said with a pout. They decided to go grab some bubble wands while Parker waited by the sign.

Parker turned when Ashton tapped him on the shoulder. "Congratulations guys!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms around the bridge and groom.

"Thank you! My heart's still racing," Nicole said, looking over at Ashton. "I'm so glad you could make it," she gushed. "It means a lot to the both of us that you're here."

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," Parker replied.

"I'm so sorry but my parents are freaking out that I still haven't said hi to my aunt and uncle yet so I'll be right back," Nicole said, excusing herself.

"You did good," Parker laughed, looking at the way his brother gazed, watching his wife walk towards her parents.

"I did, didn't I?" He grinned proudly. "I'm impressed. I'm surprised you managed to get them to come to the wedding," Ashton said, looking over his shoulder at where his parents were lingering.

"I'm sure this is the first time they've ever lost a fight," Parker laughed.

"It's a good thing. I'm glad they're here. Who knows, we might be on our way to fixing things."

"You asked me when I left if it was going to be worth it..." Ashton began. He looked over at his wife who was busy wiping away tears as she laughed with and hugged her parents. "It was."

Over at the table at the end of the aisle, Daisy had grabbed one of the bubble blowers and she and Holden were obviously competing for who could blow the biggest bubble. She held the bubble wand, keeping her lips pursed as the bubble continued to expand, until it suddenly popped. She jerked her head backwards and wiped the bubble remnants off her face, with a huge grin.

Parker found himself smiling.

"I know that look," Ashton smiled, tipping his head in Daisy's direction.

Parker definitely couldn't even deny it anymore.

Parker Lennox was undeniable and irrevocably in love with Daisy Sorenson.

--

this is a reupload!! so sorry guys not sure what happened

I AM SO SORRY FOR MISSING THE UPDATE DEADLINES ! ! !

this chapter was so tough writing because I couldn't pick a central plot point, and also because it is nearing the end of the story. i super struggled but did really want to update since it's been ages since i last updated (so i apologise for the lacklustre chapter!!) Once i have a chance to edit, i'll be adding in their actual vows and making it a bit more ~* magical *~ hopefully

ALSO, thoughts on the the lil collage??

wishing u all the love,

daria xoxo