How To Love Again. (Sequel to 5YIN)

-twenty four-

  I stood directly in front of the mirror gazing at a reflection I couldn't believe was mine. I spun my ring around my finger nervously as my mother adjusted the veil on my head. 

"Can't believe this day is here." She put her head on my shoulder and wrapped her arms around my waist. 

"Me neither." Smiled. I wasn't nervous. Yet, my insides were churning uncontrollably. I knew that Harry was the person I wanted to spend my life with. It wasn't a question. It was just hard to believe this day was actually happening. Years ago, I wasn't sure if I'd ever be married. My heart had been shattered several times before things became okay. Before what we had was definite. Before all of the attention from the outside didn't matter. For the longest time this relationship was out of our hands. We were controlled by the people around us. And we never got to have a real relationship. And it hurt like hell, and I went through things a young girl should never experience. But the pain made it worth it. Because today, I was marrying my best friend.

I turned around to see Court in the doorway. 

"Ready?" I nodded and smiled and took my mother's hand. She lead me down the hall to the back of the church. I'd been in multiple weddings as a child. And I always sat in this church watching a gorgeous woman walk down the isle smiling, and looking flawless. Today it was me. The music started, and my dad took me by the arm. And we headed down the isle. Heads turned, and like the first day we met, the eye contact me and Harry made, made it feel as though there was nobody else here. I smiled as all four boys stood next to him. He couldn't pick one. And he was never one for tradition anyway. They all smiled at me. He didn't smile, and he didn't cry. He just looked more concentrated than ever.

I smiled as my dad handed me off to him. Harry nodded at him and took my hands. He was shaking. 

"We made it." He whispered and smiled a half smile that only I could see. I squeezed his hands. I looked to the back of the church and saw an middle aged man taking photos. Hopefully this wedding job wouldn't be painful for him like mine was. 

The priest said all of his words, and then waited for us to say ours. Harry went first.

"I've hurt a lot of people. But I think I've hurt you the most. And from those moments of seeing you cry, and watching you walk away, it made me realize that there really is only one person in the world for me. And it's you. I hate myself for doing such terrible things to you in the past. Alison, you are the kindest, most incredible human being I have ever met. And I will never be able to be the person you are. I can only try. But I promise you that I will always be here. For everything. It's you and me. As for the children we will have, I will love them with all my heart just as much as I've always loved you. I want to take care of you. I want to be your best friend. I want you to know that no matter what happens, no matter how hard it gets, no matter how defeated or hurt you feel, we'll figure it out. And we'll make it work. Just like we always have." I looked out at the crowd of people with tear filled eyes. I wiped my eyes gently. I wasn't the only one crying.

"My turn." I smiled and wiped my eyes again.

"I'm a challenging person. I always have been. And I always will be. But you're the one person that's put up with me. Even after our numerous fights, you've always come back. And you always found a way to make me not feel so awful. A lot people say soulmates don't exist. I disagree. As different as we are, I never imagined being with anyone other than you. It would feel wrong. I love you with all of my heart and I always will. Before I even knew you, I considered you the love of my life. As did all fourteen year old girls at the time." Everyone laughed. 

"But I had the priviledge of making my dreams reality. I'm now standing here about to marry the most incredible human being on the planet. And I wouldn't have it any other way. It's me and you. Forever." 

A few more words were said until the ones we all knew were finally spoken.

Harry wrapped his arms around me so incredibly tight as he pressed his lips to mine. I rested my hands on his shoulders before engulfing him into a hug.

We just smiled and he whispered to me. "It was all worth it." 

I grabbed his hand and pulled him down the isle. Everyone around us smiled, and cried and cheered. Hands pat Harry on the back as we hurried to the limo that would take us to the reception, At first, we thought about going straight to our honeymoon, but also realized that we only got one wedding. (in his case, two.) so we may as well get the whole experience. 

                                                                              +++

  We had gone a lot of places. And because of him I've gotten to see a lot of the world. We had no specific trip in mind. So we decided to see where we ended up. We rented a van with an open back, filled it with our things, and plenty of supplies that would prepare us for a road trip across the United States for the rest of the summer. And then we would decide where we wanted to go. 

I sat in the passenger seat. I looked at the man next to me with his elbow resting on the window with the wind blowing through his hair. I looked at the map in my hands.

"I don't think we're going the right way, Harry."

"Who cares? We'll be fine." 

The van we sat in had a seat to fit three across the front. I scooted over and leaned up against harry as we drove. This was the happiest I had ever been. 

All of the times we messed up, all of the times we lied, the times he yelled, the times I left, the times I cried, made this worth it. I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

I learned how to love again. Despite the people that said it would never work, they eventually realized that five years was nothing and we were meant to be together. 

A/N: Hello everyone! This is the LAST chapter of HTLA!!!! and it is the final story. I will not be writing a third one. But I WILL be wrting an epilogue. So there will be another "chapter" I guess but not really. I will have a sappy letter for you and I hope it doesn't annoy you. But it all needs to be said. After this ends, I probably will be writing another Harry story because I just can't help myself. I was working on another book called "First Breath" because it was inspired by somebody I knew, but then I decided, I did not want to think about that, or write about it. Soooooo that's that haha. I'll be in touch again soon! Love you all!

-Abby