For Those You Love – REDUX
Chapter 5 - I Do

Because you have shared in our lives
and supported our love, we

Carley Evelyn Palmer
And
Lee Jackson Everett
-
request the pleasure of your company
at our marriage on
Saturday, the Seventh of June
1997
at Twelve in the afternoon

At the

Friendship Presbyterian Church, Athens
-
Reception to immediately follow

Plans were made, months passed, and before either of them were able to fathom, the day of Carley and Lee's bachelor parties was upon them, taking place the day before their impending nuptials. Of course, neither of them knew what had been planned for them, other than that Brad and Amanda had been in charge, fulfilling their roles of Maid of Honour and Best Man respectively.

However, the day was young, and they stood in Carley's kitchen nook, with glasses of soda in-hand, dressed to the nines and seemingly on cloud-nine. Lee had filled out in the months following their engagement, forming muscle and working out like Hell until he'd seen some sort of progress in the muscle department. He'd also grown a small beard, trimming it to a goatee, and had cut his hair down so it was short enough for him to be able to tame quickly on a morning.

Carley, however, had changed the most of the two of them. Not only had she cut her hair into a shoulder-length bob, as opposed to her previously long style which reached her shoulder blades, she had earned herself a position at WABE Atlanta as a coffee girl, acting as the middleman between the corporate bigwigs who ran the place, while getting hands-on experience on an almost daily basis.

She'd come to Lee's place immediately after her interview, throwing herself at him and all but screaming about her new position, wanting nothing more than to buzz to anyone who would listen how amazing the opportunity was, and how much she already loved the place. The force of the hug she'd buried him in had almost knocked him onto his back. So, after he gained his footing, and told her to slow down, she climbed off of him.

A cup of coffee later, they had settled down for the night, with a crappy movie as she buzzed to him.

Sure, the pay wasn't great; she was essentially an assistant, but it got them by quite nicely, that, along with Lee's salary managed to pay for the majority of their upcoming nuptials. That being said; they weren't going to have a huge ceremony by any means, it was going to be a small, country wedding, with a church-house ceremony, followed by a barbeque in a community centre. Their friends had provided the DJ and the live band, leaving only the finer details such as the dress, suits, and the cake to the happy couple and their families.

But for now, they were enjoying the last few minutes of being alone, before they split up for the night, to keep the tradition of not seeing each other the night before their wedding. They'd also abstained from the sexual part of their relationship for a month prior, wanting to make their wedding day that much more enjoyable for the both of them.

"So," Carley continued, gesturing to the side wildly and smiling. "We're all stuck in the broadcast room, and one of our 'anchors' turns around mid-broadcast – while we're still on air- and says to however many people were listening to us 'Carley: one of our assistants; isn't going to be here for the next two weeks, because she's getting married, so good luck to her and her fiancé, and we hope it all turns out amazing''. And - I swear to god - we must've had at least a hundred callers, texts, and emails wishing us luck!"

A laugh escaped Lee, as he rolled his eyes, the back of his legs leaning against the kitchen island lazily. "So what you're saying is that half of Georgia's gonna turn up at the church tomorrow?" He joked, smirking at her from over his coffee, taking a small sip. "Because if they do, there's no way in hell we're getting our deposit back."

The woman herself laughed at his comment, rolling her eyes teasingly, as she sipped at her own coffee. "Oh, please. Our moms only made enough for the people who are already coming. If any more turn up, we'll need to keep a defibrillator on call for them."

They both laughed then, and Lee's hand moved out, wrapping around her shoulders and pulling her to his chest, kissing her head lovingly and just holding her close. He found that he loved these moments, where they could just relax and keep each other company, not needing anything else, other than the two of them. The change in atmosphere had a soft sigh to come from the man, and he kissed her head again, before mumbling into her hair. "It's hard to think that this time tomorrow, you'll be halfway through becoming my wife…"

Though he couldn't see it, he could feel her lips pulling up into a grin at his words, her head still resting gently against his chest. "That I will be, Mr. Everett... And you'll be halfway through becoming my husband…" She raised her head, and looked into his eyes, smiling all the while, and raising her hands to his shoulders, after setting down her coffee on the island behind him. "It's not too late to back out, you know that? I mean, I think my parents'd be pissed, but it's still not too late."

Another, softer laugh came from Lee, and he tightened his hold on his fiancée only slightly, smiling down at her almost proudly. "Oh, please. Why would I do that? No chance in hell of me scoring anyone hotter than you. I think you're more likely to run off than I am. After all, being stuck with me for the rest of your life can't be too exciting, can it?"

"Hey now, Mr. Everett." Carley smiled softly, moving up onto her tiptoes, and pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, her fingertips playing with the hairs at the base of his neck. It was a small gesture, but it was something that felt normal to Lee. Whenever she tried to comfort him, she'd always make her way to the back of his neck, toying with the bristly hairs there, which were stiff with hair gel. "I don't want you starting our married life having doubts… I'm going to have to tell you to stop talking immediately, if you wish to start as we wish to go on. Ever heard the phrase 'Happy Wife, happy life'?"

Lee let out a small chuckle, and rolled his eyes, raising one hand into a surrender, with the other firmly on the small of her back. "Okay, okay, I'm gonna stay quiet. But just so you know; even when we're standing up at the altar, the only time it would be too late to back out would be after the 'I do's."

Carley's brow furrowed in pure emotion, but before she had time to even utter a word in response, the sound of the door opening rang through the apartment, accompanied by Amanda and Brad's voices. "Alright guys! Wherever you are, get your pants back on and get your jackets! It's time to say goodbye until tomorrow!"

The following morning dawned with the sound of the cockerel, the sun shining brightly through the windows onto the slumbering woman. Her hair was strewn around her head haphazardly, the brunette locks untamed and still a little matted from the foam party Amanda had taken her and the rest of her 'hens' to the previous night. Of course, in the process, Makeup had been smudged, and was now trailing down Carley's face, giving the impression that she'd been crying, when in fact it had been completely the opposite.

Amanda had given her one hell of a send-off; she definitely had to give her that. After they'd set off from Carley's apartment, they'd gone to a day spa, where most of both families' older female relatives met her. Of course, they all fawned over her, particularly her grandmother, who lived in Kentucky, and thus barely seen from one year to the next. So, when Carley entered wearing a white dressing gowns, as opposed to the other women's blue ones, the elder Palmer Matriarch had immediately burst into tears, before enveloping her in a tight, bone-crushing hug, which she sure as hell needed a massage to cure the effects of, her bones aching to the very core.

Of course, though, after a day of massages, saunas, and general relaxation, the younger women in the party separated from the elders, making their way to a local nightclub, where the remaining members of her bachelorette party would meet up with them, kicking the night off with drinks to celebrate, while Carley was dressed up by her friends in a veil and sash with the words 'Bride-To-Be' printed in bright pink lettering on it.

Having spent more time than initially planned at the bar, they'd stumbled drunkenly back to Carley's childhood home, with the bride-to-be taking her old bedroom, while Amanda would be bunking down in the guest room, in which she'd already dropped off her things the day before.

Somehow, in her drunken state, Carley had managed to change into her pyjamas, and get tucked into her bed by 2am. But that was arguable. Her pyjama pants were on backwards, and her shirt was inside-out, with the blankets pushed halfway off of her during the night, a slight dribble of drool making its way down to her pillow.

Whatever dreams she may have been having were interrupted, however, by the sound of Jennifer knocking gently on her daughter's bedroom door, slowly opening it and revealing a breakfast tray balancing carefully on her hand. "Sweetie?" She muttered softly as she entered, shutting the door with a small, almost inaudible click behind her. "Carley, honey, it's time to wake up…"

The 'inaudible' click of the door was anything but quiet to the woman in question, as she groaned slightly, her bleary eyes opened and she immediately flinched in the bright, morning sunlight. "Oh Jesus…" She grumbled, turning and stuffing her head under her pillow, trying her best to stop the early morning sun from burning her any more than it had. "I swear to god, I am never drinking again…"

"That's why you shouldn't drink so much." Jennifer smiled playfully as she moved over to the bed, setting the tray down as she looked across at her daughter. "Both of you girls are in a state this morning. Seems like both the Bride and Maid-Of-Honor enjoyed the party a little too much. You've both slept in past ten."

Her last words had just the effect she thought they would have, as Carley's eyes bolted open, and she immediately shot up out of bed, stumbling only slightly and gripping to the wall, to steady herself, with her hand over her chest, and her hair askew. "Oh my god, you let me sleep in?! Mom I have to get everything ready! I have to be at the church in two hours! I need to shower, put on my makeup, do my hair, get into my dress, get everyone's flowers in order, and get to the church! And I have to do all of that in less than two hours!"

Jennifer chuckled, shaking her head and patting her daughter's shoulder sympathetically, making the woman's blonde hair fall out of its loose, messy bun. "Cool your jets, Bridezilla. I told you a little lie to get you out of bed. It's actually only nine. You have three hours to get all of that done." She soothed, chuckling at the expression of both hatred and admiration now coming from the bride-to-be. However, there was one thing that Carley had forgotten to mention on her list, which she immediately turned her back towards, gesturing to the tray laying on the bed. She pressed a gentle kiss to her daughter's head, before heading slowly back towards the door, adding just before she left:

"You can sort all of that stuff out—but after you've eaten. It's a big day, and there's no way in hell I'm letting my only child get married on an empty stomach."

Across town, barely two hours later, Lee walked out of the en suite bathroom in the guest room, which had been dubbed as 'wedding central' over the course of the morning, seeing as both Lee and Brad had set their suits within it, along with anything else they'd need to take with them, such as the rings and their speeches.

His hands fumbled with his tie, tucking it safely within his waistcoat as he emerged, whistling to himself, with a slight skip in his step. Anyone who didn't know him would think him mad for being so chipper about his upcoming nuptials. After all, most men would be running for the hills at the mere thought of getting married. But Lee wasn't. He was actively looking forward to the day that they'd planned. After all, it wasn't every day he would vow to spend the rest of his life with his best friend, right?

He made his way across to the chair, picking up his suit jacket, and slipping it over his shoulders, before turning to the mirror, in order to straighten the garment, and fully take in his appearance.

His hair had been cut the hour before he'd gotten dressed by his mother's friend, who would also be attending the ceremony and reception, and was now styled immaculately, with a little product in it to make It stand in the correct direction, and stay there for the entire day. His stubble had also been trimmed (by himself, not his mother's friend), and was no longer the mess it usually was; now being shaved to the minimum he could, without losing the slight goatee he'd grown.

His suit was a plain grey three-piece, with a lighter grey, tweed waistcoat, and a darker grey jacket and pants. His tie was black, and his shirt was white, contrasting the darker colours in the outfit. The last part of his suit, which he immediately picked up, and pinned to his lapel, was his boutonniere. Once it was suitably in place, he couldn't help the smile that formed.

'Well… here goes… This is my wedding day' he thought, a soft, nervous sigh leaving him. This was it; the end of his days as a single, unspoken-for man. But it was also the start of the life he had chosen, with Carley, as Husband and wife. The mere thought was terrifying, yet it was also the most amazing thing he'd ever felt.

A soft gasp sounded from behind him, and he spun, immediately locking gazes with his mother, who was standing in the doorway, looking to be on the brink of tears. She stepped forward, the sunlight revealing her to be dressed in a pale yellow skirt-suit, with a large hat perched atop her freshly permed hair. She stretched out a hand, and laid it gently against the material of her son's suit jacket, gulping down her emotions before speaking.

"You know…" She started, as she smoothed down the lapel of his jacket, and straightened his boutonniere, where it had been laid slightly askew, twisted so the back was facing outwards. "It seems like just yesterday I was helping you get dressed for the Easter service at church… Hard to think of you as anything but a ten year old boy, instead of the twenty-two year old man you've become…"

A sigh left her, and she took a deep breath, setting her hand flat against his chest yet again, as if trying to hold on to her son in any way she could, even if it was only for a moment longer, and looking up at him through teary, amber eyes. "I love you so much, Lee… I know your dad and I didn't tell you much when you were growing up… But we love you so much, and we are so proud of the life you've made for yourself… Even if it was just to prove a point to us that you weren't too far gone."

"We should have been there for you as a teenager. I know that… But just look at how far you've come… In less than two hours you're going to be a married man… And that was all down to you."

The whole time that Christine was speaking, Lee's own eyes had filled up with tears. Of course he knew that his parents loved him, but they'd never actually told him. The entirety of his teens had consisted of them telling him to 'clean up his act' and to do better in school, which he'd reminded them time and time again, was easier said than it was done. So to have his mother, standing before him, and telling him without any doubt that she did, in fact, love him? It was almost a dream come true for him.

"You… Thank you, mom… Really… Thank you…" He muttered softly, his hand moving up to set over hers as it rested on his jacket, giving it a small, supportive squeeze. "But you really don't give yourself enough credit…" He added, as he let go, and she dropped her hand down again, now reaching into her white handbag, to pull out a small packet of tissues.

"God," Lee smirked, a small, soft chuckle escaping him as she dapped at her eyes, trying to not smudge the small amount of makeup she was wearing. "You're gonna have to get some more of those, if you keep this up… Ain't even the emotional part yet and you're crying."

A small swat of the hand followed his words, landing on his bicep. And, before she could retort, Brad's voice sounded from down the stairs, making both of them take a short, sharp breath of pure nerves and excitement.

"Mom! Lee! Get your asses down here! The car's ready!"

"Ladies, Gentlemen, and everyone in-between," Amanda smiled entering the living room ahead of Carley, her pale green, V-neck dress shining in the morning sunlight that was streaming through the window as she addressed the gathered family before her. Among the mix was Carley's grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and bridesmaids; most of them relatives the bride hadn't seen in months, but they were family; so thus were immediately involved in the wedding day from the outset. "For the last time, let me introduce Miss Carley Evelyn Palmer!"

The woman in question moved into the room now, almost gliding through the doorway and into the living room. A hush descended across what had previously been a room filled with excited chatter and jokes, as they took in Carley's appearance.

Angelic was the only word to describe her, standing in the doorway with the sunlight streaming in behind her, casting what could only be described as an aura around her entire being. Her hair had been pulled curled only slightly, after being combed through to make it as pristine as possible, with the shoulder-length locks being pinned back on one side by a large, white rose.

Her dress was a stark white (Which Amanda had laughed about to no end, due to the traditional meaning of the colour), and was a soft, floaty material. The skirt of her dress reached down to her knees, and was finished by another flower on her left side, similar to the one pinned into her hair, although it was a little smaller, while the top half of the garment crossed two pieces of fabric to form almost a tight 'toga' effect, with the two pieces of material forming the cups. Her shoes were a pair of only slightly heeled, white Mary-Janes, with closed toes and a thin strap.

Jennifer was the first to speak, as she stood, approaching her daughter with tears in her eyes, before reaching out and cupping the other woman's cheek, wiping gently beneath Carley's eyes to get rid of the makeup residue that had settled.

"Honey… Oh, sweetie…" She managed to choke, before immediately enveloping in a hug, tears now tracking down her own cheeks. Jennifer's palm ran over Carley's back as they hugged, and the younger woman almost melted into her mother's warm, comforting embrace. It seemed to be over before it started, however, as Jennifer moved to hold her daughter at arm's length, looking her over yet again, to completely take her in. "Carley you are so, so beautiful… It's hard to believe it's my little girl standing there…"

By now, Amanda was ushering out the rest of Carley's family, with them muttering soft wishes of good luck as they passed her, grins on each and every one of their faces. Eventually, it was just David, Jennifer, and Carley left in the room, comfortable silence surrounding them.

David eventually gulped, moving forward and setting his hands on his daughter's shoulders, before reaching up with one palm and cupping her cheek, wiping away a tear that had escaped in the emotion of the moment between the two women. When he spoke, it was with tears of his own threatening to fall, and an expression of absolute pride written clearly on his face. "Baby girl, you look amazing, honey… You really do…"

Carley's hand rose, to set over her father's larger, rougher one, her thumb tracing the back of his hand gently. "Thank you… Thank you guys so much… For everything…" She managed to choke, her emerald eyes rising to lock with theirs individually. Then, almost without warning, she enveloped her parents in a tight, almost desperate hug, her hands clasping in their suit jackets.

A soft cough alerted them to Amanda's presence once again, as she stood in the doorway, twiddling her own bunch of flowers in her hands nervously. "Guys… It's time…"

Friendship Presbyterian Church in Athens was a tiny church; barely big enough to sit forty people, even if they were squeezed in tightly and pretty much sat on each other's knees in the white, wooden pews that lined the majority of the church house, leaving only a little room for the aisle down the centre. At the front stood a magnificent cross; probably the most glamorous piece within the entire place, overseeing the guests that were now milling around, chattering in their seats excitedly.

At the front of all of them sat Lee, who was nervously fidgeting in his seat, and being softly reassured by Brad the entire time. The Everett clan had arrived not even ten minutes earlier, and surprisingly they weren't the first people there. They'd entered the church house to find almost the entirety of their wedding party congregated inside, having chosen their seats and taken their order of Service pamphlet.

"You know," Brad's voice sounded quietly beside Lee, taking the groom's attention once again off of the fact that Carley would be arriving at any moment. Brad had been chosen as Lee's Best Man at exactly the same time as Amanda had been chosen; so thus "It's not too late to back out, bud… Just say the word and we can high-tail it outta here."

Of course, the groom-to-be simply smiled and shook his head, reaching over to clap his younger brother on the shoulder reassuringly. Brad's aversion to the wedding was all for show; as evidenced by how much he'd thrown himself into his duties as Best Man. He'd also been insistent upon the two of them wearing differing outfits; with Lee's suit consisting of a full three-piece, whereas Brad's was just the pants and waistcoat with a shirt and bowtie.

Before the eldest Everett brother could respond, the preacher entered, wearing a black suit and dog-collar, making his way to the front of the church, and nodding to the two men, in a silent; unspoken signal that the bridal party had arrived.

A deep breath left Lee, as he stood, and made his way to the front of the church, readying himself for what was to come, with his brother beaming by his side, and his parents sitting in the pews behind.

This was it.

The noise of feet moving on wood floors seemed to never end, and before any of them knew, the opening notes of 'Suddenly' by Angry Anderson rang softly, causing a hush to go through the church.

At the entrance to the church house, Carley took a deep breath, and smiled at Amanda as she turned, to make her way down the aisle, before turning to her father. To say David's expression was one of pride was an understatement. Never had she seen her father so emotional, nor so close to tears.

"You sure you're ready, honey…?" He muttered to her, taking her smaller hand in his, and giving it a small, supportive squeeze. The eyes she'd inherited from him softened, and she smiled happily, a short nod being her answer. David cupped her cheek, before moving his hand back down, and crooking his right elbow, for her to link with her left. It was just as the chorus dropped in the music that the two entered.

A gasp seemed to travel through the entire church-house yet again. And Lee turned, his breath hitching at the sight of his fiancée standing at the other end of the aisle. Tears filled his eyes, and he seemed to take a small, barely noticeable step backwards, his jaw hanging open lightly.

She looked like an angel. That was the only way he could describe it. Carley seemed to be glowing, with the light streaming in behind her, and forming what could only be described as an aura, which seemed to almost surround her. Lee felt as if everyone else in the room melted away as she began walking towards him, her arm firmly around her father's, and a smile plastered across her face as her eyes remained locked onto her Fiancé.

"Here we go… Start of married life… Give it thirty minutes and I'll be a married woman…" She thought to herself, as her heart began to speed up tenfold, and her hand was taken by Lee at the front of the church. She was shaking by this point, but out of pure excitement rather than fear. And, as soon as she looked into the eyes of her fiancé, all nerves she had seemed to dissipate, leaving only the beating of her heart, and the voice of the preacher.

"… Let's do this…"

True to their word, less than an hour later the pair were grinning as they emerged from the church house, arm-in-arm, with confetti flying everywhere, and after a few quick photographs, they were on their way to the community centre, which they'd spent the entirety of the day two days prior decorating.

They stood in the foyer, as they waited for the announcer to speak, hand-in-hand with grins firmly on their faces. Carley smiled, her hand moving up to cup his cheek, and rub gently at the slight stubble on his jawline, earning a soft scratchy noise. "You realize… We walk in there, and it's official…?" She muttered to him, as his larger hand clasped over hers, pressing a gentle, loving kiss to the inside of her wrist.

"Too damn right it is… Finally…" He muttered into her skin, leaning down to press his forehead to hers, his eyes closing for only a moment, before opening to stare into hers. "Carley Evelyn Everett-Palmer... Y'know it's got a little bit of a ring to it…" He teased lowly.

"We'll just stick with Carley Everett. Don't want to have to go to the ER with a sprained wrist every time I sign something…" She laughed back, leaning up to press a quick kiss to her new husband's lips.

They barely had time to relish in the feeling of the kiss when the Brad's voice was heard above the hubbub within the room. "Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my absolute honour and privilege to introduce to you, for the very first time, Mr and Mrs Everett! If you'd like to gather around the dance-floor, our Bride and Groom are going to take their first dance!"

That was their cue to burst through the door, grinning madly as confetti flew around them on their path to from the doorway to the dance floor, eventually ending with the two of them meeting in the centre, wrapping their arms around each other, and just holding each other, the music they'd chosen beginning to drift softly around them.

The song itself was a slow country ballad, having been chosen one night while planning the wedding. They'd been sitting on Carley's sofa with the radio playing in the background, when they'd finally gotten to deciding the playlist for the reception. Of course, the other music had been easy; a few slower country songs, and a few faster country songs (in keeping with their rustic, simple theme) with pop and rock between to keep things interesting. But, of course, that left them the task of finding a song for their first dance to keep with the feel of the venue and reception.

Then, after what seemed to be a never-ending stream of songs that either didn't fit, or didn't work for them as a couple, the soft notes began playing from the radio in the background, grabbing both of their attentions instantly.

"Our love is unconditional; we knew it from the start.
I see it in your eyes; you can feel it from my heart.
From here on after let's stay the way we are right now,
And share all the love and laughter that a lifetime will allow."

That night had been a catalyst for their wedding plans, causing a chain reaction in productivity for the pair. Brad and Amanda had been beside themselves when they'd found out, having been itching to finish up their portions of the event and fit them in.

Initially, they'd intended to do the whole 'surprise choreographed first dance' bit, like they'd seen videos of on those MTV wedding shows. But as soon as they'd heard the lyrics and rhythm of the song they'd come to know as 'their song', that idea had gone directly out of the window.

And, as Lee rocked Carley in his arms, they both thanked the lord above and all that was holy that they had. Neither of them would have traded that moment for any cheesy, over-done dance routine, despite Brad and Amanda's protests.

"I cross my heart and promise to
Give all I've got to give to make all your dreams come true.
In all the world you'll never find a love as true as mine."

Carley's grin seemed to be permanently plastered onto her face as she was held in her husband's arms. Jesus—her husband. She'd never thought she'd be able to say that in a million years; let alone while still in college.

But then again, she'd never in a million years expected to love someone as much as she loved her boyfriend—no—her husband. God, how many times would she have to correct herself before it finally set in that she was married? She was no longer Miss Carley Palmer. No, she was Mrs Carley Everett now.

And her smile seemed to only widen at that realization.

"Someone's gone all smiley…" Lee noted to her playfully, snapping her from her thoughts quietly as he lowered his voice so only she could hear him, his mouth only inches from her ear by then. "What's up with you, huh? Spill your beans, Miss Palmer."

Carley's hand gently squeezed his shoulders as they swayed, unable to help the (embarrassingly girly) giggle that escaped her. "Hey, it's Mrs. Everett now." She corrected, pinching the shoulder-pads of his suit jacket again, almost as if she were trying to make sure everything was actually happening, and wasn't just an amazing dream. A soft smile formed then, and she leaned in, pressing a quick peck to Lee's lips.

"I just… I love you so much, Lee. I can't believe this is actually happening…"

"You will always be the miracle, That makes my life complete
And as long as there's a breath in me, I'll make yours just as sweet
As we look into the future, it's as far as we can see,
So let's make each tomorrow be the best that it can be.

In response, Lee smiled back at her, and returned the gentle peck on the lips with one of his own. His dark eyes holding warmth within them that hadn't been there before; contentment that only came with pure, unadulterated happiness. Anyone who was present could clearly see the complete adoration the man held for his wife; Hell, anyone with eyes would be able to see it.

"I love you too, Carley…" He mumbled back at her, resting his forehead against hers with his brown eyes closing. It was as if they weren't surrounded by their friends, family, and colleagues; like they were the only two people in the world that mattered.

Slowly, the couple both leaned in during the last notes of the song, their lips meeting in a chaste, tender, yet loving kiss. Their bubble of completely isolated bliss was broken, and the applause that had broken out among their friends and relatives slowly faded through it. They could, also, faintly hear the DJ letting people know that the dance floor was open for anyone, but neither cared.

They didn't care for the rest of the day, either; even when they were inevitably pulled apart by their friends and families. Not one moment passed where their eyes weren't watching the other, the smallest of smiles tugging at their lips when they were caught by the people around them. And, even as their taxi cab pulled out of the gravel driveway in the parking lot, both Lee and Carley only had eyes for each other, even while they were wrapped around each other, with their lips locked and their arms clutching tightly to one another.

This was it. This moment, right here, was the start of the rest of their lives. Long gone were the days of reckless partying, random sex, and drinking until four in the morning in hopes to get a hook-up. Neither Carley, nor Lee, could wait for it. Sure, it was the end of an era; but it was also the start of something new and exciting… and they were doing it together. They knew that, whatever the future may hold, they'd face it as a team—the way they always had, and always would.

A/N - WELL... it's certainly been a while, huh?

SO much has gone down as of late, and I was so close to finishing this chapter... but it's here now, and im friggin' proud of it, to be honest. Expect a slightly more regular upload schedule from here on out!

until next time, guys,

Amy :)