CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

Astra felt giddy, free, and light. She was a bit nervous too, because what bride was not nervous on her wedding day? It did not matter that she had gotten married before and to the same man at that, it also did not matter that she had two children for the said man, she was entitled to pre-wedding jitters and she was having them.
Astra's first wedding was in Vegas, she was half drunk and so was Nicholas. They were drunk on both wine and love and they enjoyed each other. Astra could not remember the exact details of her first wedding since she was wasted and all, but it did not waste much time and she was done with it, she did not have enough time to be nervous or to back out of the wedding, that was it. Unlike this time that there was an entire plan, rehearsals, shopping, and too much money involved.
'Relax Astra, you are too tense. Nicholas loves you and wants to marry you, everything will be alright," Charise said to her as she held her hand. Astra sighed.
'I know that he loves me. You are right, I can't just help the nerves you see," Astra said. The make up artistes were putting the finishing touches on her face. She looked perfect.
'You look beautiful Astra. Simply stunning, Nicholas will be blown away," Charise said and Astra smiled. She could not help the blush that crept up her skin.
'Thank you," Astra said. She then felt an heaviness in her chest, she remembered Hailey.
'You will take care of Hailey for me. I have the milk and the bag is over there, she will wake up anytime soon and you know that she loves to cry, just give her some milk and change her," Astra explained. Her child was three months old already and Astra did not want to leave her for so long, Hailey naturally clung to her mother and there was the fact that Brianna's death was still haunting Astra, PTSD of sorts, she did not want to leave Hailey without any attention even for a minute.
'I will take care of her Astra. I will not let her out of my sight, your child will be fine. I promise," Charise said to her. She was soothing her.
'Oh aren't you a beautiful bride?" Her mother said as she stepped into the dressing room. She came along with Sarah, Stephanie and Yvonne. They were all her bridesmaids and Stephanie was her maid of honor. Astra was grateful for her friends that she had friends and family at this point.
'Thank you mother," Astra said, tears stained her eyes.
'Oh Astra, I want to get married again. This is all so beautiful," Sarah said. She was pregnant, her stomach was slightly bulging but not too prominent. Astra was happy for her and Jared. She was grateful that Jared was able to find love at the end. Jared reminded her that Ray was not her fault. She needed that reminder.
'After everything that you all went through, finally everything has fallen into place," Yvonne said. Astra felt emotional as she remembered the roller coaster ride that they had been through, it was really something else. Astra was happy that she was able to overcome at the end, the ride was not an easy one, not at all.
'I am so grateful for that," Astra said.
'Come on girl, don't cry and ruin your makeup, it's your wedding day," Stephanie said with a smile. Astra loved Steph's vibes. It always brought out the best in her.
'Of course it is," Astra said with a smile.
'Girls, girls. There is one very nervous groom waiting for his wife. I need to get her to him," her father said as he entered the room. Astra's heart began to beat faster. Nicholas was waiting for her on the aisle and she was going to get married.
Astra stood up from her chair and Stephanie rushed to her side to arrange her ball gown.
'Take care of my baby, Charise," Steph said to her sister as she passed her.
'You lot worry too much, both Isla and Hailey will be fine," Charise said to them as she shooed them away from the room.
'You look very beautiful Astra. I did not think that I would have the chance to walk you down the aisle," her father said and Astra sniffled. The fact that she got married in Vegas the first time changed a lot. Her father was not able to walk her down the aisle.
'Thank you father," Astra said.
'Shall we? Are you ready to do this?" Astra's father asked her. Astra was nervous but she wanted it, she wanted to get married to Nicholas.
'As ready as I will ever be," Astra said to her father.
'Let us do this," her father said with a chuckle as he put his hand through hers and they walked together. Astra smiled as she walked with her father into the church. Her bridesmaids followed her too. They both walked into the church and Astra recalled when Nicholas asked her to marry him. It was not the best proposal as she was tired and it felt like he just blurted it out, he was not even with his ring then. Astra loved him though, she loved him and she had been waiting for that proposal there was no way she could have said no.
Nicholas had taken her to dinner the next night, they left the children with then housekeeper since she was back from her vacation and they went out. It was simple and sweet. Nicholas had rented the entire restaurant and even though she knew that their engagement was the reason they went out, she was still surprised when she saw, 'Wil You Marry Me?" Shaped balloons on the walls of the restaurant. She had expected something like him dropping to his knees after the dinner, or taking his hands in hers. She did not expect to be asked before food was in her stomach. Astra stumbled on her words as Nicholas went on one knee.
'I am happy that I am able to make you speechless. I love you Astra, marry me and be my family," Nicholas said. Astra felt tears rush down her eyes then. She felt so loved and that was why she was crying.
'Yes, I will. Thank you so much Nicholas," she said then. She did not know that she had taken time to answer. Later, Nicholas told her that she made him nervous when he was on his knees, that he felt like she could decide that she did not want to get married again and he could not force her. He told her to he was so relieved to hear her say yes.
Astra looked at Nicholas on the other end of the aisle. She knew that there were people all around her, her friends and her family, the people that loved her and cared for her, but she had eyes for only Nicholas. He was tapping his left leg on the ground, and so she knew that he was nervous. It made her feel better, she was not the only one. Astra moved to Nicholas and her heart seemed to seize as her father stopped in front of him and handed her to him.
Nicholas looked so emotional then, almost like when he first held her daughter. Astra looked to the crowd then and saw Charise carrying Hailey, and Charise's daughter holding Isla. Hailey was wide awake and staring at her parents.
'One would think Hailey was the one you were marrying," Nicholas joked and Astra laughed lightly. Astra was beautiful, mind-blowing, and she was going to be his wife. He had been nervous when he stood on the alter and was waiting for her. He could not explain the fear that he had, the fear that Astra would suddenly not be there. He loved her, he needed her so much. Nicholas was not sure he could function without her, at least not anymore. And when she finally arrived with her father, he was relieved, happy and glad. She looked like an angel and he was so lucky to have her as a wife.
'Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to observe the holy matrimony of Nicholas and Astra," the priest said. Nicholas was barely listening anymore, he just wanted to marry her and be done with it, he wanted her to have his name and to love him forever.
'Do you Astra take Nicholas Michealson to be your lawfully wedding husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" The priest asked Astra.
'I do," Astra said.
'Do you Nicholas Michealson, take Astra to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickess and in health, til death do you part?" The priest asked Nicholas. He looked straight into Astra's eyes and said. 'Yes, I do."
'Do you have a token to symbolize your love for each other?" The priest asked.
'Yes we do," both Nicholas and Astra replied and then Brian came out with his little suit holding the rings out. Nicholas took the rings from him and gave him the rings. He blessed them and gave them back to exchange. Nicholas smiled at his wife as he placed the ring on her finger. She smiled back at him as she placed his ring on his.
'By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," the priest said and claps of celebration rang loud in the crowd. Nicholas was not listening to any of it, he held Astra and looked straight into her eyes as he kissed her lips softly. Finally, she was his wife, there was really nothing that felt better.
For a while, Nicholas forgot that they were in public and continue to suck on her lips. Astra did not help matters as she responded very well to him. It took the priest clearing his throat to bring them apart.
The moved to the reception after the wedding. It was all very nice. Astra was able to drag her eyes away from Nicholas then and so how much of friends and family had attended the wedding, she saw some of her friends from college and even from when she worked with Trevor Abbey. Jared and Sarah were seated together with their son. She could see Stephanie with some hot guy. Astra truly wanted happiness for her friend. She hoped that Stephanie would find happiness at the end.
She saw her mother in-law with her son, Brian. She could see Charise and her husband with their two kids Hailey and Isla were still with her. Astra even spotted Thompson's baby mama and his daughter. She could see herself becoming friends with the woman, Nicholas had introduced them together.
'What are you looking at?" Nicholas asked her. They were both seated together and viewing the crowd.
'Oh, nothing really. I am just happy that we made it this far," Astra said.
'Well, I am thinking of when we will have the time to go for a honeymoon," Nicholas said to her and she chuckled.
'Hailey is just three months old, I cannot leave her for two weeks. We will figure something out," Astra said to Nicholas. They already had that conversation before then.
'We will have more kids by then," Nicholas grumbled and Astra shook her head.
'Says who?" Astra asked.
'We will see," Nicholas replied.
'Uhh, they are calling us for the first dance," Astra said and they both stood up and went to the dance floor.
'This is very lovely," Nicholas said as he put his hand around her waist and they moved to Ed Sheeran's Thinking out loud. Astra agreed, it was really lovely.