Can't Fall in Love Without You (Christian Yelich)

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Elizabeth frowned as they went over the wedding guest list again. There were 170 people on the list and she just... didn't want that. She wanted their closest friends and their families. That's it.

"Christian, babe," she said quietly, a 9-month-old Reilly on her lap.

"Yes, love?" Christian was smiling so much lately, so happy that their wedding was less than a week away. He was finally going to marry the love of his life, and all of his friends were going to be there to see it.

"Can we narrow the list down more? I know that these guys are your friends on the Marlins, but I really don't want that many people there," she said softly, putting stars next to the names she'd never even heard come out of Christian's mouth. Who the hell was Martá Callejo?

"Babe, they're my friends. I already cut it in half," he frowned, carefully flipping the quesadillas he was making for the kids. "What's wrong with a big wedding? Sloane and I had 400 at ours," foot, meet mouth, Christian.

"Well if that one was so damn perfect, I guess you don't need this one, then," Elizabeth snapped, shoving the wedding book off the table and storming into the bedroom. She knew she acted irrationally, and she didn't know why tears were falling down her cheeks. It was a simple observation. She knew Christian loved her more than anything else in the world. It was just extremely close to the wedding and she was stressed and the invitations were supposed to be mailed out last week, but they both got so busy.

She wasn't surprised when he laid a soothing hand on her back, but she was surprised when she forcefully ripped her shoulder away from him.

"Ellie, I am so sorry," he said softly. She could hear the pain and desperation in his voice.

"I don't care. 75 people was how many I wanted, and you somehow mustered up 95 more than that," she was angry, but she really wasn't.

"I can get it to 100," he said quietly. He just wanted his beautiful bride-to-be happy again, but there were too many close friends from the two teams he's been on and his time in the minors.

"Not 101. 100," she said quietly, the rush of anger gone. "And nobody you've fucked," she looked down. She didn't want that negativity. She didn't want to look at models, then down at her size 8 self and feel inadequate on her wedding day.

"Okay," he promised, reaching out for her hand again and visibly relaxing when she took his. "I don't like making you angry and I am so beyond sorry, Ellie. Please forgive me?" he leaned his forehead against hers, the remorse clear in his eyes.

"I forgive you. I love you," she smiled softly and kissed him gently. "Always and forever."

***

August 21st, 2022. It was nothing short of perfect. Clear blue skies, lower-70's temperature... nothing had gone wrong.

...yet.

And Elizabeth was nervous... something being this perfect wasn't normal. Those nerves were tangling in her stomach, and she couldn't shake them. They kept tangling until she had to run from her mom's arms, going to throw up in the en suite toilet.

"Oh, sweet Elizabeth," her mom said softly and held her hair back and rubbed her back. "What's got you so nervous, sweetheart? You aren't having second thoughts, are you?" Debbie asked her daughter after she had gotten up and brushed her teeth again.

"No, absolutely not. I've never been more sure of anything than I am about marrying Christian," she smiled brightly, face glowing as the sun shone through the lace of her dress. Christian gave her no budget, and normally she'd cringe at the idea of it. But she'd had her eye on the Pnina Tornai dress since before he even proposed.