Ten Ways To Say I Love You

Present Tense

She looked like she had fallen right from heaven.

She truly looked like she was an angel. The white dress fit her perfectly, fanning out exactly perfectly. It looked like the dress was made for her, and only her.

I couldn't contain my tears of joy as she walked towards me, down the aisle, with her father leading her. My eyes were only on her.

She smiled shyly at me. After all this time, we were finally going to get married. Finally, we could officially be husband and wife. We could be each other's forever.

I couldn't imagine being with anyone else for as long as I lived.

Her father led her right to me, and she passed her bouquet off to her maid of honor before kissing her father on the cheek, and taking my hands.

"Ladies, and gentlemen, today, we are here to celebrate the union of two young people in love." The priest said, beginning the ceremony.

"Do you, Annabeth Chase, take this man, Percy Jackson, to be your lawfully wedded husband, for as long as you both shall live, in sickness and health, in poor and rich, will you comfort him, and honor him, to love and cherish?"

"I do." she said, her eyes shining at me.

"And do you, Percy Jackson, take this woman, Annabeth Chase, to be your lawfully wedded wife, for as long as you both shall live, in sickness and health, in poor and rich, will you comfort her, and honor her, to love and cherish?"

"I do." I said, smiling at her.

The priest steps back, and says, "The bride and groom will now say their vows. Ms. Chase, you may go first." He nods at her.

"Percy, when I first met you, you annoyed me to no end. I didn't see how we could ever be friends, let alone fall in love with each other. But since I met you, and became friends with you, you opened up my eyes. I have learned so much from knowing and loving you, and I don't want to spend another day of my life without you beside me, and I would be honored if you would spend the rest of your time with me. My heart is yours, my Seaweed Brain. It always will be, and I'm so glad to have gotten the chance to love you. I love you. Present tense."

She took her hand from mine to wipe away the tears streaming from her eyes. Behind me, I could hear sniffling, from surely my mother.

"Mr. Jackson, it's your turn." The priest said.

"Annabeth, I can't believe someone like you would ever want to be with someone like me. You perfect, in everything you do, in anything you try. I remember when I met you, and the truth is, I think I fell for you the first time I saw you. I just didn't know it yet. Although it took me sometime to realize my feelings, I'm so happy I did. I want you by my side, leading me, working with me, being partners in everything we do. I'm having hard time believe it's you standing right in front of me, about to marry me, but I'm the happiest man alive. You own my heart, Wise Girl. I'll never love another as long as I live. I love you. Present tense."

"May we have the rings please?" The priest asks. The rings are brought forth, twin gold bands atop a cushion."

"Bye the power invested in me, I wed thee Percy and Annabeth Jackson."

I slip the ring on Annabeth's finger, and she does the same for me.

She squeezes my hand and looks up at me, finally believing when the twin gold bands we wear touch.

"You may now kiss the bride." He says to me.

I gently take her face in my hands and lean in. Just before our lips are about to touch, everything changes.