She's a Little Bit Country, He's a Little Bit Rock N' Roll

This was the longest god damn day of my entire life. I barely got a wink of sleep last night and I am running off of energy drinks and espresso shots. There are only two more hours standing between me being able to marry the love of my life, and I cannot wait.

After multiple check-in calls from Pixie, they all found bridesmaid dresses and Ivy found her dream wedding dress, which is something I was nervous about. I knew everything was on such short notice, but I still wanted her to have the closest thing to a wedding of her dreams. It was important to me that she was happy with everything.

The guys and I took all of thirty minutes to run into a suit shop and walk out wedding ready. I don't wear suits often, but I have to admit that they become me.

The guys and I were already at the beach house putting up finishing touches for the reception party. I sent Jimmy and Johnny on a mission to find the perfect wedding arch to place on the sand where we would get married, and four hours later they came back with the most extravagant flower-covered thing they could find. I was actually pretty impressed. If Jimmy had more time, I wouldn't have put it past him to make one out of empty whiskey bottles.

The house was put together perfectly for everything. Looking around me I was slapped in the face by a dose of reality. This was really happening...I am getting married. After thirty long years, I finally found the right girl to spend the rest of my life with. She is my entire world, and nothing was going to take her away from me.

"Alright, that was the rest of the decorations Michelle picked up. Whatcha think?" Brian gestured around the room.

"Everything looks great, man. Thank you all for helping me pull this together so last minute, and thanks for supporting my impulse decisions." I chuckled heading towards the balcony with my final beer before I needed to get ready.

My phone began buzzing in my pocket and I pulled it out to see Ivy's face pop up on the screen, happily answering.

"Hello future Mrs. Sanders." I grinned.

"Hello Mr. Sanders, how is everything at the house?"

"Great. We just finished decorating. You're going to love it, the guys did a surprisingly great job other than the constant bickering between Jimmy and Johnny because certain colors were apparently clashing."

"Of course, no get together would be complete without Jimmy arguing with someone." I could hear the smile in her voice.

"One hour and counting. Are you ready?" I bit my lip.

"I've never been more ready. I can't wait to see you at the end of that aisle."

"I can't wait to see you walking towards me. You're going to look so perfect, baby."

"Waddle. You can't wait to see me waddle towards you." She laughed.

"Whatever you'd like to call it, I can't wait for it."

"We are heading that way soon. We should get there a few minutes before the ceremony starts. I'm sure you can find me easily. I'll be the one in white."

"I'm counting down the seconds. I'll meet you by the water, love." I smiled and placed my phone back into my pocket as Zacky walked out and sat next to me, watching the waves crash on nearby rock formations.

"You ready big guy?"

"Do you have any way of making the next fifty five minutes feel like ten seconds?" I chuckled.

"I left my time machine in my other pants, but I'll be sure to grab it next time you get married." He smirked taking a swig of his beer.

"There will never be a next time. This is it, man. This girl is about to become my entire life, my priority. I have to be her protector, her lover, her partner through everything. This is a huge step." I sighed.

"You're going to make a great husband, man. I'm going to have to take some notes from you soon." He grinned and reached into his pocket to pull out a ring almost as gorgeous as Ivy's.

"When were you going to tell me? I know that isn't new." I chuckled.

"Bought it around the same time you did. I'm just not as impulsive as you are, but it's getting to the point where I'm going to have to do this sooner rather than later. I am becoming impatient."

"Any ideas on when you wanna do it?"

"I have this cliche plan that if Pixie catches the bouquet tonight, then I will surprise her with it. If she misses then I'll come up with another plan, but knowing that girl, she'll throw some elbows to get to that thing." He smirked, admiring his girl in his thoughts.

"I can picture her rolling around on the floor fighting with Michelle now. Brian says she's on his ass about proposing." I laughed, trying to rid my head of the scene that displayed there.

"Come on man, it's almost time. We need to get ready." He grinned, rubbing the sides of my arms and nudging me inside.

I slid on the slick black suit with ease before adjusting my pale yellow tie, making sure that not a single hair on my head was out of place. I looked sharp, compared to my usual jeans and old ratty t-shirt attire. I walked into the living room and saw that the guys were ready in record time as well. All of them with matching suits, putting their own personal spins on them that matched their style.

"Michelle just texted me. The girls are outside and the officiant is here. It's time for me to head out so I can walk Ivy down to you." Jimmy grinned pulling me into a congratulatory hug. We all took a shot of whiskey for luck before he disappeared, my breath becoming hitched in my throat with nerves.

"This is it, Matt. You get to see your girl after a long day spent apart." Zacky grinned straightening my tie. We all headed out to the back door of the house that met directly with the beach, walking down to meet the officiant at the arch placed perfectly against a backdrop of the most beautiful California sunset I had ever seen.

I took a deep breath before music filled the sea air, waiting to see my beautiful bride appear. It was a song that Ivy showed me after we first met. The lyrics drifted along perfectly as Pixie started off the walk as the maid of honor.

Nothing's gonna hurt you baby
As long as you're with me you'll be just fine
Nothing's gonna hurt you baby
Nothing's gonna take you from my side

Michelle followed Pixie, followed by Val, and before I knew it I was ready to see my girl. As soon as she appeared, linked to Jimmy's arm, I couldn't fight back the tears that quickly flooded my eye sight. She looked absolutely beautiful. Her white dress glided delicately against the sand and her face had a glow I had never seen before. She took my breath away and radiated beauty throughout the world. Jimmy looked like a proud father himself. Brian grabbed the back of my shoulders and shook me a bit, happiness radiating from all of us.

As they arrived in front of us, the officiant began the ceremony.

"Do you give permisson for this woman to marry this man?" He asked Jimmy.

"I most certainly do." He smiled and kissed Ivy softly on the cheek before sending her my way. I placed her hands in mine and stared into her eyes. She had tears forming already. My face hurt from the size of my smile, and I could feel it through my eyes.

"We gather here today to marry this man, and this woman in holy matrimony." The officiant smiled.

I mouthed a quick 'I love you' to her and she responded the same.

"Repeat after me, I, Matthew Charles Sanders, take you, Ivy James Scott, to be my lawfully wedded wife, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward."

I, Matthew Charles Sanders, take you, Ivy James Scott, to be my lawfully wedded wife, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward.

"In the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow."

In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow.

"I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.

I smiled as I finished repeating my vows and slipped her wedding ring onto her finger. After Ivy repeated everything once more in her honor and gave me the ring that Jimmy picked out for me when he found out we got engaged, it was time for our last vow, which we said in unison.

Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you, For where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the world do with me and more if anything but death parts you from me.

Nothing but gigantic smiles were plastered on everyone's faces. I think I even heard the guys sniffle a few times. Jimmy was definitely crying, as he always tends to do at weddings. He's a big softie.

"Do you Matthew Charles Sanders take Ivy James Scott to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do." I grinned.

"And do you Ivy James Scott take Matthew Charles Sanders to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do." She sniffled, tears managing to escape every now and then.

"By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Everyone smiled as I took Ivy into my arms and kissed her passionately. I was married...I actually fucking did it. This was by far the happiest day of my life. I'm never going to look back. I love Ivy James Sanders with all of my heart, and I will shout it from every mountain tip to let her and the rest of the world know just how much.

I grabbed her and dipped her passionately, the kiss feeling like years went by.

"Let's fucking party!" Jimmy laughed maniacally, everyone following his path back to the house.

I heard Jimmy start to sing a song by the bar while he poured himself a drink.

I ain't got shit to do in the morning' fuck the surgeon general's warning, let's get fucked up, give me cup I'll drink till I throw up, let's get fucked up, alcohol, my only friend!

We laughed as he started to down the shots he poured.

"Jimmy you poured five shots, I thought they were for all of us?" Brian chuckled.

"Those were definitely not for you, this is my usual warm up, pour your own shit." He laughed.

"Are you going to have a celebratory drink?" Ivy smiled.

"Nope, not at all." I smirked.

"What? Why? Not even a shot?" She frowned.

"No, because I've decided to stop drinking. For good. I had my last alcohol indulgence before the ceremony. I am also quitting smoking. I promised myself to be the best husband and father and I am sticking to it. It's not good for the twins or you to be around. Plus since you are pregnant, I'm not going to drink knowing that you can't, that's just rude." I chuckled and placed a soft kiss on top of her head. A huge smile grew upon her face as I leaned down to kiss her lips.

"Honeymoon isn't happenin yet, unless you want it to. Zacky's uncle has a hi-def camera in the closet, let's do this!" Jimmy laughed sitting across from us with a large tray full of pre-poured shots for himself.

"Jimmy shut the fuck up!" I chuckled throwing a small pillow at him.

Brian, Zacky and Johnny walked up to Jimmy.

"Get up off your drunk ass, it's time for a toast." Johnny smiled handing him a shot.

"A toast to our brother and new sister of the Avenged family. We love you guys to death and we are more than happy for you two." Brian smiled.

"Yeah, we never thought Shadows would get married at this point since he was becoming an old man, but we're glad he found someone." Johnny laughed.

"And always remember Ivy, if he tries to be all dominant, remember that you have him eating out of the palm of your hand and he will listen to whatever you say." Zacky grinned.

I rolled my eyes at Zacky as they clinked their shot glasses together and downed the warm liquid.

"Awe thank you so much guys. You all have no clue how much you mean to me. I've married into the greatest family of all time, and don't worry, I'll keep Mattie here in line." She winked.

"Okay, so let me get this straight, Matt isn't drinking? At all? Damn! Do you know how much alcohol that's gonna save us? This godzilla fucker hogs all the stash! He is so damn big it takes him five bottles to get buzzed alone." Brian laughed pouring himself a mixed drink of some sort.

Zacky walked over to a large stereo system and started to play "Dear God."

"I believe it's traditional for the bride and groom to have their first dance at their reception." Zacky smiled gesturing for us to get up.

I helped Ivy up and led her to the middle of the large living room floor, where we pushed all of the furniture away to make room for a makeshift dance floor. I wrapped my arms around her and the twins tightly as we began to sway with the music, a deep sigh releasing from her chest.

"What's wrong, baby?"

"Nothing. For the first time in my life, absolutely nothing is wrong. My life is absolutely perfect. I have my amazing husband in my arms, and two beautiful boys growing stronger and stronger in my tummy with each new day. Soon I am going to have a completely perfect family. Everything is absolutely...right." She smiled.

*******

The night had fallen slowly into a calm setting, following a frenzy of our drunk friends having an amazing time. I kept score on who had what to drink. Jimmy downed exactly nine shots, and four random mixed drinks, and was currently passed out on the floor next to the bar. Johnny had eight shots, trying to keep up with Jimmy, but passed out quickly after his last shot on the kitchen table. Zacky and Pixie were somewhere in the house, more than likely having sex.

During the bouquet toss, things panned out exactly how Zacky and I imagined. We watched Pixie and Michelle fight over that tiny bundle of flowers for almost fifteen minutes before Pixie was deemed victorious. Zacky kept his plan and ended up proposing to her, and she had the most shocked expression I have ever seen. Of course, she said yes, and I think she quickly got over that initial shock.

Then, there was Brian. Oh, our sweet, sweet Brian. He was the very first one to pass out after only seven shots. After Michelle talked his ear off with complaints after losing the bouquet war, he was downing liquor with no wait time in-between.

"I guess the party is over then." Ivy chuckled, picking up stray beer bottles and tossing them in an empty garbage bag.

"Maybe for them, not for us. It's honeymoon time." I smirked, wrapping my arms around her and kissing her forehead.

"You planned a honeymoon?" She raised her eyebrow.

"What kind of wedding is it if there isn't a honeymoon to follow?"

"You're amazing...where are we going?"

"It's a surprise. We better hurry, though. We have a flight to catch." I grinned.

I loosened my tie to take off, leaving me in my slacks and my white button up with the sleeves rolled up and the top buttons undone. I couldn't help but notice Ivy staring as we headed towards the car.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing, just my perfect husband that I am going to spend the rest of my life with." She sighed dreamily.

After getting our luggage that I packed for us into the back seat, I headed towards the airport. We were going to be spending a week in Australia. When we first met she mentioned that she has always wanted to go and listed things she wanted to see, so naturally we are going to do all of them.

She held my hand and looked ahead, the wind providing the only sound as we rolled the windows down. Our silence was comfortable, and her skin was so soft and warm.

"Hey Ives...thank you for saying yes." I grinned looking over at her. She looked so...peaceful. A smile crept slowly against her lips. "Thank you for aski--MATT LOOK OUT!"

All I could see were bright lights before everything faded out into darkness.
‹ Chapter 28

Notes

WHAT. Another update? What is this magic. Quite a lengthy one as well, considering there was a lot to fit. There's just one more chapter left until the sequel begins! Questions? Comments? You know where to stick 'em!

xxoo,
Leagh