Hey Stephen / Larys Strong (3)

21. Happily Ever After

"Hey stephen I have something really important to ask you." Larys remarked sitting beside him on the couch.

"Yeah dad?"

Every time Stephen called him dad he had to remember to restart his heart and his brain. He cleared his throat, taking a deep breath.

"Stephen I love you and your mother so much." Larys declared.

"We love you too." Stephen agreed.

" I know you're the man this house so it's really important to me that you tell me the truth even if the answer is no."

"Okay," he agreed hesitantly.

" I would love your blessing to marry your mother."

" why on earth would I say no? You are already family. You're already my dad. I want you to marry her. I love you."

"Oh i love you too buddy." Larys hugged him feeling more relief than he had, and that single moment, then possibly his whole existence.

Willa cried silent tears from the door, but of course larys heard.

"Willa," he moved to her using the wall for support as he left his cane by the bed.

"I'm here. I love you. I am sorry if I overstepped but I love you and I wanna be with you. I love this family. I will stay with you. There's nothing you can ever do to lose my love. I will protect you until you die, and after your death I will still protect you. The both of you. I am stronger than depression and I am braver than loneliness and nothing will ever exhaust me. Willa-"

"Ask me."

"Will you marry me?"

"A million times yes."

💍

"Vivi doesnt like her dress for tomorrow." Luke decided.

"What makes you say that?"

"We had a talk and its not sparkly enough for her liking."

"Oh you two talked..." Tully agreed kissing him.

"She wants to match you."  Vivi giggled from the ground playing beside Arthur. "What are you wearing? I can help you put it on, take it out and- you know make sure-" Tully silenced him with a kiss.

"Take this one off first." Tully suggested. He unlaced her dress and she let it fall to her feet before moving to the wardrobe. She turned around keenly aware of lukes eyes all over her. "This one Vivi?" Tully questioned holding up a red dress. "Or this one?" a blue dress. Vivi reached out touching the red dress smiling back at Tully. "Red it is. Lets make sure it fits." Tully mused moving to luke. He tossed it aside however pulling her into his arms.

"It fits, its time for bed." Luke corrected his hands wandering her frame.

"I havent worn that one since before Arthur was born, I'm not the same shape I used to be." Tully whispered.

"I like you just the way you are, I like your changes, your curves," he assured running his hands over her. "I like everything about you tully."

"Then lets put the kids to bed so we can get to bed before the big day tomorrow."

"Larys... what are doing?" Tully questioned moving to fix his tie. "Stop fussing with your hair you look so handsome." He let out a shaky breath. "Larys come on don't worry about a thing. Mallory arranged everything so you know it's going to be perfect."

"I know. I know im just..." larys fiddled with his cane.

"Don't be nervous. You are the best man in the world larys. Now come on we have a wedding to get to."

"What if-"

"Larys, she is already yours. This is just formality." Tully reminded him.

"Already mine."

"Lets get you married." Tully suggested.

"Hey Stephen, would you walk me down the aisle?" Willa questioned. Stephens smile grew as she fixed his bow tie.

"I would be honored mama." Stephen agreed.

Tully bounced little Arthur in her arms as larys shifted from foot to foot waiting for willa to arrive. He gripped his cane glancing down the aisle.

"Hes so nervous its adorable." Mallory remarked. "Hes in love- criston take the baby im not made of muscles." She instructed holding merlin out.

"Oh here she comes." Luke hushed mallory

"Did he just hush me?" Mallory demanded. "Did he just-"

"Mallory." Tully begged. "Oh look at stephen he looks so handsome walking his mama down the aisle.

"Larys." Stephen said shaking his hand before passing off his mothers arm. "Take care of my. Mama."

"I will." Larys agreed.

"Who comes before the old gods tonight?"

"Larys Of house Strong and Willa of house Swann."

"Who claims this woman?"

"Larys of house Strong."

"Who gives her?"

"Stephen Swann," he answered. "Thats my mum."

"Wonderful." The septon agreed. Willa smiled back at stephen as she held Larys hands. "Lady willa swann, Will you take this man?"

Willa didnt hesitate.

"I take this man."

"And do you lord larys Strong take this woman?"

"I take this woman." Larys agreed.

"I believe you two both had vows prepared..."

"And I'd choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you." Willa declared giving larys hands a squeeze.

"I believe there are some things in life you can't deny or rationalize, and love is one of them." Larys remarked. ""I see you everywhere, in the stars, in the river; to me you're everything that exists; the reality of everything. In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine."

Tully cheered out as Larys and Willa were declared husband and wife. It was the happily ever after Larys deserved.