What happens in Vegans Definitely didn't stay there

Chapter 27 happlily ever after

Matt and Sylvie get their happily ever after.

Eighteen months later

Sylvie stood, looking at herself in the mirror. Her blonde hair was in an updo, small pieces down and curled to frame her face. She was in her wedding gown, the white dress making her look and feel like a Disney princess. The skirt was plain and flowing, but the bodice was lace covered, the lace creeping up and over her shoulders. Stella came beside her, making sure her veil was pinned perfectly in place. Her best friend had a smile on her face, matching Sylvie's own.

"You ready to be Mrs. Casey? We can totally run, I can get 61 here in like ten minutes." Sylvie burst out laughing, grinning at her best friend.

"I know I offered for you, but it's not needed. I can't wait to marry Matt. He's the man of my dreams, and I can't believe that I actually get to do this and it's not a dream." She took the bouquet Stella handed her, a mixture of blue violets and peonys. She knew Matt was at the end of the aisle waiting for her, and her nerves disappeared. They were meant to be.

Sylvie watched as Kelly and Stella walked up the aisle of the church together, followed by Herrmann and Emily. Once they were at the altar, Sylvie held onto her Dad's arm as the wedding march began. She had a grin on her face as she walked past her family, all chosen and all beloved anyway. It seemed to be nearly too quickly, but she arrived up beside Matt, squeezing her dad's hand as he let her go to stand in front of Orlovsky.

They'd agreed that a full Catholic Mass would be too much for Sylvie's very Methodist family, so the ceremony was shorter than normal. But nobody in the church could mistake the love in their vows as the two pledged their love, reading vows that they'd written for each other. The rings were swapped, and once they were pronounced man and wife Matt swept his new wife into a kiss, holding her close with matching grins on both their faces. They left the church together, their friends and family cheering for the happy couple.

In an unusual turn for a 51 wedding, the reception was in a hotel, rather than Molly's. Sylvie introduced her family to everyone from 51, who were all under strict instructions to not talk about any dangerous calls she'd been involved in. They'd been threatened with no more spare baked goods, so everyone immediately agreed. Instead everyone traded stories, while Monica Brett was complimented by multiple men for her baking skills, the pies sent back to Chicago still legendary around the 51 common room.

By the time the meal was finished and Kelly Severide stood up for his speech, everyone from 51 was wondering what ridiculous story he was going to pull out. Instead, he surprised them.

"I met Matt Casey when we were in the CFD Academy together. He was always the guy you wanted on your team, the guy who was always willing to do anything to get the job done. When he became a Lieutenant I realised just how impressive he is as a leader and as a person. But the one thing he always did was hide himself from people, and hide his emotions. He'd never open up, no matter how much people asked."

"Sylvie and I moved in together when we both needed a roommate, and she quickly became my best friend. No matter what happened for either of us, we knew the other had our back whether it was good or bad. There's a level of trust you get working in a firehouse, and a level of trust you get as roommates. Sylvie and I combined them, and she's probably the person who knows me best."

"But all good things become even better, and when the three of us moved in together I saw Matt become happier, start talking about things, and even letting us know when he needed help. If I'd been given free reign to create the perfect woman for him, she wouldn't have been as good for him as Sylvie is. They balance each other, and in our line of work that's the most important thing that you can do. So I'll ask you to raise your glass to Matt and Sylvie, two of the best people I have ever known."

The room filled with applause, and he handed the microphone over to his wife, who stood up with a mock glare to Kelly's face.

"As you can tell, my husband enjoys listening to me plan a speech and then taking most of it to use for himself. They say you should marry your best friend, and your spouse should be your other half. The Greeks said that the first humans were created with four arms, four legs, four eyes, two noses and two mouths. Zeus was so afraid of their power that he split them in half, forcing them to wander separately from each other, desperately finding their second half. All of those who know them know that Matt and Sylvie are each other's second half. They make each other better, they work well together, and we know that if they're involved in something it's going to be a worthwhile effort. I'm so proud and happy to see them find their happiness together."

They'd decided against a garter toss, but Sylvie threw her bouquet into the waiting crowd. When she turned to see who'd caught it, she was delighted to see Chloe holding it, Joe Cruz's face paling at the sight as his coworkers gave him pats on the shoulder, while the wives of the members of 51 who had taken Chloe under their wing smiled at her pleased expression.

Shortly before midnight she and Matt left the ballroom to go on their honeymoon, waving goodbye to their friends and family as they left. They got into her car, freshly valeted and with a shaving foam just married on the rear windscreen, driving away together for their week in Hawaii with well wishes ringing in their ears.