New family, New Love

Chapter Twenty-Nine | the Final/wedding

** Two weeks later**

*Ellis' POV*

It's been two weeks since Nick proposed. And two weeks since Keith died. It's been exciting but hard. Keith and I always agreed that we'd be each other's best man at our weddings. And now that my wedding day is here, he's not here. There was a lump in my throat and I've tried my best now to cry, but I eventually started crying anyway. Happy tears because I'll be married in a few minutes. But also said because my best friend isn't here. Any who we've managed to find a nice lake, with a short but wide boat ramp. Rochelle and Ellie would be my best women, meanwhile Coach and Henry would be Nick's best men. We planned the wedding the way we wanted. Our vows were written by us, my mom would marry us the way she wanted to.

Nick was at another apartment across the hall getting ready, even in our situation we're taking this tradition thing seriously. "Not to see each other until I walk down the isle" tradition thing. I'm at our current apartment getting ready.

"Honey, it's time." Rochelle said as she peeked her head in the door. She's like a big sister to me, the big sister I never had. I wiped the tears away and nodded. "Okay, I'm ready." I said, I got up and walked out. We walked to the lake and I saw him standing there. He shaved the little beard he was growing, and he was dressed in a really nice suit. My mom was standing in the middle of where Nick and I would stand. She's marrying us together. She's been a big help and support too.

Rochelle and Ellie took their spots and I walked down the boat ramp. Nick's eyes were filled with tears but he was smiling. I smiled as well. I then stood in front of Nick and took his hands. My mom began talking. Of course she wasn't going by the normal way to do it, she was choosing her own way.

"We've come a long way in this sort of world. We've lost people and we've felt so many emotions along the way. But we're a family now and I know we all wouldn't have it any other way. Ellis and Nick met at the beginning of this. They've been by each other's side through it all. And that's love. Staying together through the good and bad. They're both really lucky to be together today. To spend the rest of their lives as husbands. As lovers. I know they both love each other, the way they look at each other, was the same way Ellis' dad and I used to look at each other. That's love. You guys are going to be married after today. I'm so happy for you both. I do hope you take care of each other. This'll be a healthy and happy marriage as long as you work for it. I don't want you guys just giving up on it anytime. So today, we're standing here to witness the love of these two wonderful and strong people. Ellis and Nick." She said. "Now it's time for your vows." She added.

Nick went first.

"Ellis. When I first met you, I thought you would just be someone I survived with and then whenever we got to a safer place or when this would be over I didn't think you'd ever be in my life again. But I was wrong. You are going to be the one I spend the rest of my life with. And I couldn't be any happier. You were so caring and helpful, I was super stressed about raising and protecting my daughter. But you proved to me that I don't have to worry about her when she's with you. Because you protect her and care for her in a way her mother never did. We are lucky to have you in our lives babe. I cannot imagine living my life without you in it anymore. I want to be your husband until we grow old, I want to be 80 years old, holding you and tell you we've made it. I want you for the rest of my life babe. Because I love you. And I can't wait to finally be able to say that I'm married to an amazing handsome man. I love you." He said, my eyes filled with tears and I smiled. He smiled too. "Now your Vows Ellis." My mom said.

"Nick. First meeting you, I could easily tell you were stressed. And I seen the fear in Ellie's eyes. My great mother here always taught me to be kind to everyone, because you never know what they're going through. So I wanted to help you. But the first time I saw you, I felt a little flutter in my stomach. My heart began racing and I assumed it was just the fear and all the running I did. But I realized that I liked you. More then a friend or more then anything. I was pretty much in love with you." We all chuckled. I continued on. "I never knew I'd find someone that loved me in every way possible like you. You make me happy, you show me how much you care and how you are in love with me and it makes me so happy to know that the man I love, feels the same way. Maybe even 10x more harder. I realized, that it's not just because there's not many other people left. But you are the love of my life. And I know that now. Because I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else. You and Ellie mean the world to me. You've both are what gave me hope in this time. I feel so lucky to have you guys in my life, and now for the rest of my life. I feel even luckier. I love you Nicholas."

Well, now that they've said their vows, without further a do, do you Ellis, take Nick to be your husband?" I nodded with a smile. "Yes of course." "And do you Nick, take Ellis to be your husband?" He smiled and said "Yes I do."

"Well I now pronounce you, Husband and Husband. You may kiss." My mom said. I kissed Nick passionately, tears streaming down my cheeks, he kissed back with just as much passion, he was crying too. We were crying happy tears of course. We then hugged after we pulled away from each other and everyone cheered.

We went back home and we decided to have a family night, Ellie took some board games and card games from our old house. So we done that for the rest of the evening.

"Seeing you guys as a family is so cute. It makes me wish I could have that. But unfortunately I can't have kids of my own and that's caused a lot of problems for past relationships. The last guy I dated was going to propose to me when I broke the news. He then said he wanted a family of his own one day and I wasn't the person for him. So he left. But you guys are lucky. Ellie was like the daughter I never had. I'm happy for you two though." Rochelle said. Nick and I looked at each other and smiled. Rochelle and Henry have been really close lately. He even began calling her mom. I figured maybe Rochelle would want to raise him as her own. Of course we will still be there but she can raise him, and love him like she never got to.

Rochelle went to the bathroom and I talked to Nick, and he agrees. Rochelle should have her wish come true. She wants a child, but can't have one of her own. And Henry would love her, and we both knew that she'd love him just as much.

She came back and we decided it was time to tell her that she could be Henry's mom. "Hey hun. We have something to ask you." I said. She looked at us curiously. "Do you want to be Henry's mom?" We both asked. She was confused at first but then realized what we were asking. "What? Are you serious?!" She said. We nodded and smiled. "He calls you mom already and you deserve to be happy. If having a child to raise and life makes you happy then yeah, you can be his mom. I know he'll love you." Nick explained. I nodded and tears filled her eyes. She picked up Henry and sat him on her lap. He looked up at her and put his hands on her cheeks. "Momma" he said, she gasped and tears streamed down her cheeks, she smiled and kissed his forehead before hugging him.

"Oh my gosh you guys, thank you! I promise, Henry will be safe and loved with me." She told us. We all laughed and smiled and had a good night. I looked around and I smiled. This is my family. This is my life. I have an amazing husband, my mom was there to witness our wedding, I have two great friends and now a daughter, it's shocking how just a few months ago I met these four people on a rooftop of a burning hotel, and now these people are my world. But I couldn't be any happier.

.THE END.

A/N:guyssssss it's finished!! After a long long time of writing this, it's finally finished. I've had a hard time updating as much as I wanted. But I'm glad that I got it done. I do wish I could stretch the story out more for a few more chapters. But I couldn't do it. So I decided to finish this book at 29 chapters. It was a great story to work on. I give full credits to the original author that wrote their version of this story. I loved writing this. And I cannot wait for the next project to write!! Maybe I can even try come up with a second book to this one? Where Ellie is an older teen? Let me know if you'd like a second story to this one!! :) thank you for reading!!