Chapter 36: Chapter 36: (Epilogue) Finally Happy

I fixed Leo’s tie and ran my fingers through his hair. He was wearing a simple black-and-white suit that had his name engraved on the jacket pocket.

I looked him over one last time before turning my attention to his sister, Isabella. She was wearing a white dress that fluffed out at the bottom, making it look like a tutu.

She smiled as she realized I was looking at her and made grabby hands. I picked her up and started rocking her on my hip, making her make noises.

She was exactly like Giovanni, and she had his looks too. The only thing she took from me was my hair color and my smile.

I turned toward the mirror as I looked myself over. My hair had officially finished growing back, but I let it stay platinum gray.

I was wearing more makeup than I had ever worn in my life. My eye shadow was a dark blue to bring out my eyes and I was wearing cherry-red lipstick.

I had on mascara too, so all in all I was rocking a smokey/mysterious look.

I had a tiara on my head that was connected to my veil. My eyes went down to my all-white dress. The front part of the dress that hugged my breasts was cut into the shape of a heart.

The dress went down to the floor and the train was twenty feet long. It was the type of wedding dress that had a puffy bottom—kind of like a ball gown or Cinderella’s dress.

A knock on the door caught my attention and Bebe walked up to it before opening it to reveal Giovanni’s little sister, Gabriella. Bebe squealed happily before hugging her tightly.

Giovanni told me about how when Gabriella was born, she was almost kidnapped, so they decided to let her stay with close family friends instead of bringing her into the dangers of the family.

“We need the ring bearer and the flower girl,” she said as she and her mom pulled away from each other. She walked up to me and hugged me too before taking Isabella from my arms.

“Bye, Mom,” Leo said before kissing my cheek.

I smiled at him before kissing his cheek. Gabriella took his hand before leaving the room.

“Oh crap, I can’t do this,” I mumbled, pacing the room.

Bebe chuckled and walked up to me before gently putting her hands on my shoulders to get me to stop walking.

“Yes, you can,” she said reassuringly.

“B-but how do you know? My stomach—my stomach feels like it’s been overrun with butterflies, like if I cough five of them will fly out,” I said, taking deep breaths to try to slow my breathing.

“Because I was worse—I actually ran. I was halfway out of the state when I realized I loved him more than anything and I couldn’t live my life without him,” she said, giving me a soft smile.

I closed my eyes as I pictured Giovanni smiling beside me and took a deep breath.

There was a short knock on the door before Catalaya walked in. “Donna, there’s someone here to see you,” she said, bowing her head respectfully.

I nodded my head and gently kissed Bebe’s cheek before following her to the door.

I froze as I realized it was my parents. My mother slowly looked me up and down as tears filled her eyes.

“I’m going to make sure everything is ready,” Bebe said from behind me.

I nodded my head, and Catalaya bowed her head before following after Bebe.

“You look so beautiful,” my mother choked out as she fanned her eyes to keep her tears in.

“What are you guys doing here?” I asked softly.

“Can we talk?” my father asked nervously.

In my twenty-four years of living, I had ~never~ seen my father nervous for anything. I slowly nodded my head before stepping back and allowing them to come inside.

I walked them into the room I had been set up in and watched as they took a seat.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, looking between them.

“We—we want to apologize,” my father said cautiously.

“Apologize?” I repeated quietly.

My parents nodded, and my father looked at my mother.

“We’re so sorry that we were never there for you. The most we did was move you here, and even that wasn’t good enough—I mean, we left two days later when it was clear you needed us.

“We’re—I’m sorry that I tried to cut off Alex’s treatment and then bully you into being quiet,” my father said softly.

“I’m so sorry that I told Giovanni about Johnathan. That—it wasn’t my place. We’re so sorry we tried to get between you and Giovanni. We love you and your brother ~so~ much.

“For the past two years, we’d drive by your house trying to figure out a way to come inside and apologize for everything that we’d ever done to you.

“When you told us that Johnathan r-raped you, that was the last straw. We cut off all ties with his family and I—we know that it’s too little too late, but—”

I cut off my mother and shook my head before taking a deep breath as I tried my best to keep my tears in. Alex walked in the room and immediately came by my side.

He looked incredibly handsome. He had run his fingers through his hair in an attempt to give it a messy bedhead look and was wearing a black-and-white suit that sculpted his body perfectly.

“Are you okay? You aren’t planning on running, are you?” he teased, taking my face in his hands.

I giggled softly and gestured toward our parents. He froze as he looked at them, and I could see him becoming angry.

“They—they came to apologize,” I said, the words foreign on my tongue.

“Apologize?” Alex said, just as confused as I was.

The music started to play, and Alex looked at me, wide-eyed.

“That’s your cue,” my mom said, giving me a small smile. She and my father started to head for the door, and I cursed under my breath.

“Would you like to stay?” I asked, stopping them. I could see Alex looking at me like I was crazy from the corner of my eye, but he didn’t say anything.

“We’d love to,” my mother said, smiling brightly.

Alex kissed my cheek before walking out of the room with them following closely behind him. Bebe smiled proudly at me as she stepped into the room.

“Thank you,” I said, knowing she arranged for my parents to come.

Her smile grew, and she hugged me tightly.

Mr. Russo stepped into the room and looked between the two of us frantically. “They said you needed me,” he said, keeping his eyes on me.

“Will you do me the honor of walking me down the aisle?” I asked nervously.

His eyes widened as he stumbled backward as if I had just pushed him. His eyes filled with tears as he looked at Bebe as if to see if I was serious.

She nodded her head, and he looked back at me.

“I would be honored,” he said, smiling at me.

I walked up to him and hugged him before looping my arm through his.

Bebe kissed both of our cheeks before handing me my bouquet of red-and-white roses and leaving to go take her seat.

“Has the flower girl finished?” Mr. Russo asked, touching the Bluetooth in his ear.

“No, sir,” the voice on the other end responded.

He led me to the church doors as we waited for the cue so I could walk in.

“Ready, sir,” the voice on the Bluetooth said before the doors opened.

Everybody in the room immediately stood up, and I felt my blood run cold as I became nervous all over again.

The room was ~packed~, especially considering everybody had flown from Italy just to see this wedding.

Mr. Russo and I turned to face each other, and he flicked the veil over so it was covering my face.

“You can do this,” he whispered reassuringly.

I took a deep breath and nodded my head. He looped our arms together once again before we began slowly walking down the aisle.

It took everything in me to keep my jaw from dropping as I took in the decorations for the church. There was fake snow all over the church and crystal lights hanging from the ceilings.

Lit white trees were on either side of the aisle. The whole church had been given a winter wonderland theme.

My eyes found my parents, and they smiled proudly at me. My mother hugged my father as she tried to keep her sobs quiet.

I looked over at Bebe, who was also crying and holding Leo close to her and had Isabella on her lap.

Isabella started cooing and smiling as she saw me, and Gabriella took her from her mom as she started to gently rock her in her arms.

Leo blew me a kiss, and I smiled before blowing him one back. I turned my attention to the front.

My eyes immediately locked on Giovanni’s, and my breath hitched in my throat as I took him in. Unlike all the other men, he was wearing a dark blue suit.

The suit hugged his body perfectly, not leaving anything to the imagination, and brought out his beautiful icy blue eyes.

I watched as his eyes filled with tears, and Alex rested his hand on his shoulder before giving it a light squeeze.

I watched as tears started to run down his cheeks, and he chuckled at something Alex said before wiping them away.

We came to a stop at the front of the church, and Mr. Russo helped me up the step so I was standing directly in front of Giovanni.

“Hi,” Giovanni whispered, smiling.

“Hi,” I whispered, smiling back.

We turned our attention to the minister, and he smiled at both of us before turning his attention to the church.

“Please be seated,” he said, opening up his arms.

Everybody sat down, and he smiled.

“We’re all here today to celebrate the relationship of Luna and Giovanni and to be witnesses and supporters of the commitment they share with one another.

“Together we’re a group of the most important people in their lives, and they’ve brought us here to publicly recognize that we’ve all played some special part in the love they share today.

“Luna and Giovanni wanted me to thank you all for being here and to recognize how important each and every one of you is to their relationship.

“They would also like to recognize all of those who couldn’t make it here today as they are certainly missed but not forgotten on this day of celebration.

“Especially Oreo, their dog,” he said, making the room burst into laughter.

“Speaking of important people, there were none more important in influencing the lives of Luna and Giovanni than their parents.

“With that being said, who gives Luna away in marriage to this man?” he asked, looking around the room.

I looked at Giovanni wide-eyed since he wasn’t supposed to say that, and I was silently freaking out.

“We do,” my dad and Mr. Russo said at the same time.

Giovanni winked at me, letting me know he planned that, and I relaxed a little.

Mr. Russo let go of my arm before kissing my cheek and giving my hand to Giovanni. I turned and handed Bebe my flowers before taking both of Giovanni’s hands in my own.

“Marriage gives permanence and structure to a couple’s love.

“It’s a way to tell one another that no matter how much you snore or how much you spend while out at the shopping mall, we’re still in this together.

“It’s more permanent than the weird but adorable nose twitch thing Giovanni sometimes does in his sleep and has more staying power than Luna’s unwavering love for Lux, her car.

“Marriage is telling the person you love that you’re not going anywhere, and that’s a powerful commitment for two people to make to one another.

“A good marriage must be built on the foundation of this commitment. In marriage, the ‘little’ things are the big things.

“It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say ‘I love you’ at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is standing together and facing the world.

“It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

“It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is not only marrying the right partner—it is being the right partner.

“The road that has brought Luna and Giovanni here today hasn’t been easy. It’s been filled with challenges that they weren’t necessarily prepared for.

“But together they’ve taken each one on and have used those experiences to strengthen, not weaken, their love,” he said.

Giovanni and I smiled at each other, knowing just how true that was.

The minister opened the Bible and turned it to the right page.

“In the Bible, first Corinthians chapter thirteen, verses two through thirteen, tells us . . .

“‘If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

“‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

“‘And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love,’” he said before gently closing the book.

“And now for the vows,” he said, gesturing toward me.

“When I met you, I thought you didn’t know how to take a joke. I mean, I was pulling out all the stops and you didn’t even crack a smile,” I started, making him chuckle.

“And then later on, you became my ~best friend~—next to Alex and Alessandro, of course,” I said, smiling at his best men, earning winks in response.

“I was broken and trying to hide it from the world, but you refused to let me. You did everything you could to make it so I had no choice but to open up to you and tell you everything.

“I fell in love with you way before I even knew I could love again. You paid for my brother’s payment when he was in a coma without so much as a second thought.

“Without telling me in any way to get recognition and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that.

“All I can do is hope that my love is enough.

“I could stand up here and tell you all the things I love about you, but by the time I finish our guests will be tired of me and we’ll have a riot on our hands,” I joked, making the room laugh.

“I believe in you and I always will without a doubt. When you need me, I will be there. As I’m saying these vows, I’m not just agreeing to be your wife, but also your queen, your Donna.

“Always and forever,~ Icy~,” I said, wiping the tears off my cheeks.

I watched as tears began running down his cheeks. I had just accepted him—all of him—and I knew that meant the world to him.

“~Merda~, how do I top that?” he joked as I wiped the tears off my cheeks.

I laughed along with the rest of the room as I took his hands in mine again.

“Ever since I met you, I knew I wouldn’t be happy unless I was without you despite my best attempts to deny the thought.

“I love you so much I didn’t even know it was possible for me to be this happy. Thank you for giving me my two beautiful children.

“I promise to do the things that you don’t want to do—like kill the spiders in the basement or unclog the tub when we both know that that’s your hair stuck in it.”

“I promise to never keep score when we’re playing board games—even when I’m clearly winning. I promise not to eat your coffee ice cream unless you offer some to me first.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you—you make me a better man, a better dad, and a better Don. I promise to never stop loving you.

“I promise to wake up every day for the rest of our lives telling you how much I love and appreciate you. I promise to wake up every day looking at you how I’m looking at you now.

“Always and forever, ~feisty~,” he said, smiling at me.

My breath hitched in my throat, and I pressed my lips together as I tried to hold in my sobs.

“The rings, please,” the minister said, smiling.

Leo walked up to us, keeping his eyes on the pillow as he tried to make sure they weren’t going to fall. He stopped in front of us, and we both picked up the rings.

I smiled at Leo, and he smiled back before going back to his seat.

“Luna and Giovanni will now exchange rings to symbolize their commitment.

“Rings are derived from humble beginnings of imperfect metal to create something striking where there was once nothing at all.

“It is customarily worn on the ring finger as it is the only finger with a vein running directly to the heart.

“The wearing of the rings is a visible, outward sign that they have committed themselves to one another,” he said, looking around the room before looking back at us.

“Giovanni, please take Luna’s hand and repeat these words,” he said, looking at Giovanni.

“I give you this ring as a symbol of our love,” he started.

“I give you this ring as a symbol of our love,” Giovanni repeated.

“For today and tomorrow, and for all the days to come.”

“For today and tomorrow, and for all the days to come.”

“Wear it as a sign of what we have promised on this day.”

“Wear it as a sign of what we have promised on this day.”

“And know that my love is present.”

“And know that my love is present.”

“Even when I am not.”

“Even when I am not,” Giovanni finished before sliding the ring on my finger.

“Luna, please take Giovanni’s hand,” he said, turning his attention to me.

I did as I was asked and repeated after him before sliding the ring on Giovanni’s finger.

“Luna and Giovanni, you have professed your love by exchanging your vows. You have symbolized your commitment by exchanging rings.

“And you have expressed the end of your individual lives. With all of this, there is just one more question I need each of you to answer and then we’re off to the reception to celebrate.

“Luna, do you take Giovanni to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage?

“Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?” he asked, smiling at me.

I turned to look at Giovanni and took a deep breath. “I do,” I said, smiling.

“Giovanni, do you take Luna to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage?

“Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?” he asked, looking at Giovanni.

“I do,” he said, smiling at me.

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Giovanni, you may kiss your bride,” he said, smiling.

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Giovanni said, making the room laugh. He lifted the veil from my face before kissing me passionately.

“It’s my great honor and privilege to be the first to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Russo!” the minister said as we pulled away from each other.

The room broke into cheers and we smiled at our guests. We turned back to the front and the minister handed us a glass vase.

We both took a side before dropping it and letting it shatter before we kissed again.

We broke apart as we heard gunshots on the other side of the door and I looked over at Bebe.

She nodded her head before taking Leo and Isabella out of the room with Gabriella and Mr. Russo close behind them.

The guards escorted the “innocent” guest out through a side door.

I ripped the skirt part of my dress off, revealing shorts underneath, and rested my hands on Giovanni’s hip before kissing him deeply.

I grabbed one of his guns from his waistband before turning my attention to the doors. I could see him smirking at me as I cocked the gun, waiting for somebody to come through the door.

The doors burst open and a group of maybe thirty men walked inside, letting their eyes rest on me and Giovanni.

“You killed—”

“YOU CRASHED MY WEDDING!” I screamed, cutting him off. Before he could say anything else, I had already squeezed the trigger on the gun.

I watched as the bullet hit him directly between his eyes and he fell on his knees before collapsing to the ground completely.

Giovanni kissed my lips one last time before we split up as we fired shots. The room was silent, and I looked around, making sure we got everybody.

I smiled as my eyes met Giovanni’s and we slowly walked up to each other. We met in the middle of the room, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he pulled me into him.

“I am unconditionally and irrevocably in love with you, Mr. Mafia.”

^The End^