by Serena Light
"Me!" Aurora exclaimed instantly. "I'm the oldest,"
"Okay, here," She handed the note to the 10-year-old who instantly ran down the altar to give the groom the note.
"What does it say?" Irene tugged at Nicole's dress.
"It says 'I can't wait to marry you. Again',"
"Girls!" Angelica called from the corner, instantly the two running over to her as Aurora joined them, all of them picking up their flower baskets and stood before the bride's maids.
Inhaling deeply, Nicole heard the orchestra start to play followed by the scraping of chairs as everyone stood up. The three girls walking down the aisle and throwing red rose petals on the ground, followed by Serafina, Alexis, and then Angelica. Finally, as they began walking, as did Nicole and her father.
As they neared the bend, Nicole caught sight of Salvatore's best man, Stephen, and his groom's men: Arsenio and Marco, all three of them standing in two-piece navy blue suits and white button-ups with blush pinks tie and pink roses pinned to their lapels. And then she saw Salvatore, her breath catching in her throat.
He stood before the priest in a three-piece black pinstriped suit with a white button-up, his tie a silken white paisley tie with a matching pocket square and a white rose pinned to his lapel. His black hair gelled back with his beard trimmed and neatened – having decided to keep it in the end.
Nicole laughed when he placed a hand on his chest and braced his knees, seemingly trying to regain his composure since he was completely thrown off by her beauty.
They hadn't even gotten halfway across the altar when he got off the stage, the entire crowd hooting as he made his way to them. Taking her hand from Mr. Lombardi, he interlinked their arms together before leading her down the aisle and to the stage and before the priest who was chuckling at them.
"We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony," The priest began to speak once the crowd had settled down, both Salvatore and Nicole holding each other's hands before being allowed to say their wedding vows.
"Ma'am, if you will," The priest gestured to Nicole as she chuckled, squeezing Salvatore's hand in her own.
"Salvatore," She began with an exhale. "Three and a half years ago you captured my heart by being exactly who you are. The sweetest, most loving, compassionate, and strong person I have ever known."
"You have been my best friend through the good and the bad. You have been the reason that I smile and you have given me comfort beyond measure when I have cried. You have believed in me when no one else would, and you have shown me how to love with passion, purity, and unconditional acceptance. I'm not sure a lifetime is long enough to return all you have given me, but I promise the rest of my days I'll spend by your side."
"To laugh with you and cry with you, to believe in you and support you. In poverty, I promise to do everything to make our love rich, and in wealth to never let our love grow poor," She let out a shaky exhale, feeling the tears prickling her eyes as Salvatore hastily wiped the tear that had slipped down his cheek and chuckled at her. "Together, we are better than we could ever hope to be alone, and today I give you my love, my trust, and my fidelity forever. You will always be the best part of my day," Nicole smiled as he threw back his head to let out a breathless laugh, her bride's maids cheering behind her while the audience applauded.
"Mr. Regnante," The priest gestured to Salvatore, who grinned at Nicole and released her hands, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her flushed against him as she gasped in surprise, hoots echoing from the crowd as he chuckled.
"Nicole," He grinned down at her. "Since we have been together, you have made me feel more complete, more alive, and have shown me the true meaning of happiness which my parents live every day. And because of that, I am a better person with you by my side."
"That's why today, in front of you, our friends, and our family, I take you to be my partner. Again," He teased while pressing their forehead together and smiling at her. "Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not know yet,"
"Nicole, I promise to respect, you as an equal. And to recognize that your interests, desires, and needs are as important as my own. I promise to laugh with you when times are good and endure with you when they are bad. I can't wait to grow old together, getting to know the woman you will become and falling in love a little more every day.
"Today, I give you my hand, my heart, and my love without condition, completely and forever."
"The rings, please," The minister ushered Michele forward who held out the cushion with their polished rings, Nicole looking down at them before something caught her sight, causing her to look closer and gasped when she found engravings inside the band.
'I found you,' it read on both their wedding rings, a choked laugh escaping her as she covered her mouth before Salvatore picked up her ring, Nicole doing the same.
"If anyone has any objections to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace," The priest spoke, looking at the crowd seated before him.
"Boys," Salvatore spoke, as everyone looked around them when all the guards around the perimeter cocked their guns and held them at ready. "Does anyone have any objections?" The Mafia boss inquired innocently as an uproar of laughter erupted in the hall, everyone slowly settling down.
"At ease," He stated and his men settled back into their positions, Nicole chuckling and shaking her head.
Exchanging the rings, Salvatore, wrapped an arm around her waist before dipping her low as she squeaked in surprise, being silenced when he firmly kissed her, Nicole's hands moving up to cup his cheeks into her hand, hoots and wolf-whistled accompanying the clapping of the crowd.
Straightening, he grabbed her before draping her over his shoulder and throwing up an arm in triumph as he walked down the altar with Nicole over his shoulder, one hand keeping the tiara and veil in place while the other kept her balanced, laughing at her husband.
The reception passed in a blur of hugs, and dances and kisses, the speeches of Serafina and Stephen having everyone tear up and laughing while Salvatore and Nicole never strayed far from each other.
Soon, she got changed into a sleeveless royal blue V-neck slim fit dress with matching shoes and pearl jewelry, bidding everyone a farewell before they got in the car. Throughout the five hour flight, neither one of them could keep their hands off each other. Nicole in his lap and combing her fingers through his hair as she kissed him desperately, while Salvatore's hands wandered over her dress and caressed her thigh, pushing it up, but both of them settling back and looking presentable every time they heard the air hostess behind the curtain.
The two had decided to go to Santorini, Greece for their honeymoon, neither one of them being able to wait for the car to arrive at their hotel. Having their bags taken up, Salvatore got them checked in before the manager began to lead them up to their suite, the Mafia Boss, giving him a cordial smile before closing the door in his face and locking it.
"Come here," He groaned, grabbing hold of Nicole and pulled her onto the rose petal covered the bed, peppering her with kisses as he worked on removing her dress while she kicked off her shoes and began to unbutton his shirt, nearly ripping it open in her haste to feel his skin against hers. "What the fuck got in your mind to say you wanted us to be separated for the one month before the wedding?" He groaned into her neck when she unbuckled his belt and slipped her hand inside.
"I read it creates a stronger bond between the couple when they've been away from each other for a while," She moaned into his mouth before moving back when he pulled the dress over her head.
"Never again," He grunted before situating her on the center of the bed, attacking her neck and chest with kisses as she gasped and arched into him.
"Never again," She agreed before rolling them over to be on top of him.
Nicole awoke with a sudden jolt next morning and sat up in bed, momentarily confused as to why she woke up and looked around at the scattered clothes and littered rose petals; looking to her side, she found Sa
lvatore sleeping soundly on his stomach, his gaze turned towards her.
With an uneasy feeling, she got out of the bed, picking up the robe on the couch and pulled it around herself, tying the front over her stomach before a sudden feeling hit her. Clamping a hand over her mouth, she waited for nausea to pass, but then it hit harder. Nicole stumbled around the room, bumping into things and sending them clattering as she ran into the washroom, emptying the contents of last night's lavish meals into the basin.
"Nicole," Salvatore's voice called out to her in concern as she retched and heaved. Her husband walking into the washroom and gathering all her hair behind her as he rubbed her back. "It's okay," He soothed as the acrid taste infiltrated her mouth, tears stinging her eyes.
Once they both were sure she was alright, Salvatore helped her stand up as she splashed water on her face and washed her mouth.
"Do you want me to call a doctor?" He asked her as she brushed her teeth to get rid of the pungent taste before shaking her head at his suggestion. "Alright, let me call mom then, ask her what medicine you should take," Looking at her in confusion when she shook her head once more.
"Then what, Nicole?" Salvatore asked her with arms crossed over his bare chest as she looked up at his reflection, the water glistening against her skin. "Don't say its food poisoning because I ate whatever you did, too and I'm fine,"
"It's not food poisoning," She shook her head, looking down at the edge of the porcelain sink.
"Then what?"
A shaky breath escaped Nicole as she wiped at her cheek, trying to get the tears to go away and sniffled.
"Nicole," Her husband pulled her towards him, cupping her face into his hands. "Please tell me what's wrong,"
"It's not what's wrong," She shook her head. "It's what's right,"
"What?"
"I'm pregnant," Nicole laughed, covering her mouth with her hands as Salvatore looked at her in bewilderment. "We're pregnant,"
"In one night-?" He began to question in confusion, not understanding how.
"-No!" She laughed, tears streaming down her cheek as she laughed. "No, I'm a month pregnant,"
"A month?!" Salvatore stumbled back and clutched at his hair in shock. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
"I am!"
"A month ago! Why didn't you tell me a month ago?" He laughed at her antics and cupped her face into his hands. "You're pregnant and I'm hearing this a month after you find out! Who did you tell?"
"No one!" She laughed at his hysteria. "You're the first to know. This is my wedding gift to you,"
"God!" He gasped, picking her up off the floor and hugging her tight, Nicole returning the hug and sniffling into his shoulder, feeling emotional all over again. "You're pregnant," He spoke in disbelief.
"We're pregnant,"
T H E E N D