Forever Chicago

*Jon’s POV*

One day… one day before my wedding, one day before I get to call Arianna mine forever, one day before we can start our lives together. She was spending the day with Abby, Sharpie’s wife Abby, Krista, Brit, Alex, and Elina. They were having a spa day and then she was going to be spending time with the Bruins and all the girls while us guys played video games and celebrated my last time being single… not that I minded my relationship status changing.

“Johnny! You ready to go?” Seabs yelled from downstairs. “Yeah, one sec.” I said grabbing my wallet and leaving our room, knowing next time we were here, we’d be married. I was gonna stay at Sharpie’s tonight with Shawsy and go to the gardens for 3 in the afternoon tomorrow for the ceremony.

*Arianna’s POV*

“Arianna, let’s go!” Brit yelled from the kitchen as I stepped out of the hotel bathroom. The girls and I were spending my last day as a single girl going to the spa and then to hang out with my other boys- the Bruins. “Coming, coming!” I said as I shoved my phone in my pocket and we left. “Geez Ar we don’t need to hear what you say to Jon in the bedroom.” Abby joked as we headed into the elevator. “Ha, very funny.” I rolled my eyes as everyone laughed.

About 4 hours later, around 7 PM, we got out of the spa and headed over to the bar where we were meeting the guys. A few hours later, after a lot of drinks and a lot of laughs, we all decided to walk around the park outside and chill out. We were a loud group, considering we were a little buzzed and acting like teenagers. It was around 10 PM and not many people were in the park so it was easy to get around and have fun. I noticed a bunch of the guys and the rest of the girls were playing tag and Marchy was tackling Abby to the ground and tickling her, but I was across the pond with Adam, enjoying the stars.

“Come on, I want to take you somewhere.” He said grabbing my hand and running with me. We stopped a few minutes later as we caught our breath, but when I turned around it was taken away again. We were standing on the balcony that overlooked the city and no one else was there. “Adam, this is beautiful.” I said looking over the edge. “You like it?” He said coming up behind me and holding onto my hips. “I love it. I’ve always wanted to come up here, but never had the chance.” I said still in awe of the sight before me. Chicago was always beautiful at night, but from this view it was breathtaking.

We stood there for a couple of minutes before I turned around and looked at him. He started to lean in for a kiss but I turned my head so he got my cheek. “Adam…” I said sighing. “You’re not making this easy.” I said pleading with him. “And you think this is easy for me?” He asked pleading with me. “Adam I know it’s not easy for you, it’s not easy for me either, but we can’t keep doing this. I’m getting married tomorrow morning.” I said looking up at him sadly. He didn’t say anything, just grabbed my face and kissed me. It was a kiss filled with desperation and love and I couldn’t help but kiss back, it was so familiar and I missed doing this with him so much. He pulled away a minute later, leaving me out of breath. “Now tell me, tell me you don’t feel it. Tell me there is nothing between us.” He said seriously. “Adam…” I started as the tears began to fall like a river. “Adam do you think this is easy for me? Do you think it’s easy for me to just forget everything we had and pretend everything we went through means nothing and forget that I love you because I’m marrying someone else tomorrow? Do you think it was easy for me to pick him over you? You know I’m always going to love you, but I can’t do this. I’m not screwing up my relationship. I love Jon!” I cried as I fell to my knees.

“Adam, leave her alone.” Just like always, Bergy came to my rescue. I heard Adam sigh and then storm off and the tears started to come faster and harder. Bergy came over and wrapped his arms around me and let me cry. “He always does this to me! Bergy I can’t take this. I can’t take hurting him, but I want him to understand that tomorrow afternoon I’m getting married to the love of my life and he can’t change that.” “I know sweetie. I know. He’ll understand, I promise.” He soothed and rubbed my back. After that he drove me back to the hotel where everyone else had already gone. When Bergy and I got to my room I headed back for the elevator and he knew… I was staying with Tyler tonight.

I woke up the next morning with Tyler’s arms around me, feeling safe and secure. It was about 11 AM so I needed to start getting ready. “Ty, wake up.” I whispered as I shook him. He groaned and then opened his eyes. “Morning.” He said as he smiled at me. “Morning sleepy head. We need to get up because my wedding is in 4 hours and I need to get ready, and so do all of you.” I said pulling the covers off of me and heading towards the door. I kissed him on the cheek goodbye and headed down to find the girls. They were at breakfast with the rest of the team and the only people missing were Bergy and Adam… I didn’t want to think about it so I ate and then we headed over to the hotel across from the gardens so I could get ready.

-3 PM-

“Oh god I’m nervous.” I said as my dad grabbed my hand. The bridesmaids and groomsmen had walked down the aisle as had the flower girls and ring bearer, and now it was my turn. “Don’t worry sweetie. You love him right?” My dad asked patting my hand. “So, so much daddy.” I said thinking of Jon waiting at the other end of the aisle. “Then don’t worry. Just focus on what’s ahead.” And with that the doors opened and I looked up to see all eyes on me, but the only ones I could focus on were the big brown ones at the other end of the aisle. He smiled at me and I smiled back and we never broke eye contact the whole way down the aisle.

*Jon’s POV*

I looked to see that all the bridesmaids and groomsmen were all out and the flower girls and ring bearer were waiting just like we were. I put my head down, feeling nervous, but in a good way. All of a sudden I heard everyone stand up and the music started. I looked up to see my gorgeous fiancée in the most amazing wedding dress and I couldn’t help but stare. I couldn’t believe I had gotten to be with a girl this amazing and now I was going to marry her.

*Arianna’s POV*

Once up there, I finally took the time to look at everyone there, and my eye caught at one person… Adam. He was looking back at me and smiling. I looked next to him to see Bergy who gave me a nod and I gave him an appreciative smile… he made Adam understand. I thought. Before I knew it, it was time for the vows and Jon and I had written our own.

*Jon’s POV*

It was time to say the vows we had written and I had been memorizing mine all day, but as I started to say it, I decided to wing it because saying something I’d practiced for weeks just wasn’t gonna do it. “Arianna, two and a half years ago, I was living in an apartment with Patrick, partying and having a good time, and just being a 28 year old guy who was living his dream. I had been able to get any girl I wanted because of who I was and because of what my career was, but then you walked into my life and it all changed. You didn’t fall all over me and you were a challenge, and anyone who knows me knows I love a challenge. I accepted the challenge you presented- win your heart and I’d like to think, since we’re here today, that I succeeded in doing so. The last two and a half years haven’t been easy by any means and I know that our marriage is going to be full of fights and crying and stress, but I know we can get through it just like we have all this time and there is no one else I want to come home to after losing a game and there’s no one I want to celebrate with more after winning a game. There’s no other girl I want to bring home to Winnipeg with me during the off season and there’s no other girl I want to be the mother of our children and there’s no other girl I want to spend the rest of my career and life with. I promise to always trust you and love you, to comfort you and to take care of you, I promise to fulfill your needs and keep you happy to the best of my ability, and lastly, I promise to cherish you and never let you go, because you’re it… you’re the one for me.” We had never broken eye contact the whole time and a silence had filled the room and no one said a word.

“Ms. Bouchard, your vows.”

*Arianna’s POV*

I had been thinking about this the past couple of weeks and to be honest I hadn’t prepared anything… here goes nothing I thought. “Jon, ever since I met you that day in the hallway I knew it was meant to be. Originally, Abby and I had planned on going to Chicago to find some hockey players, because, well, let’s face it- we’re both obsessed with the sport and its employees. But, when we moved in next door to you and Patrick I knew it was for a reason. You and I have been through it all just about and one day I’m gonna tell our kids that when you love someone as much as I love you, you take the good with the bad and move on from it, you don’t give up. It’s gonna hurt, but it’s gonna hurt because it matters and because it’s worth fighting for. In my mind, you and I are worth fighting for and I’ll fight for as long as it takes, as long as I have you by my side, fighting with me. Since the beginning of our relationship, we’ve constantly been tested by each other and other people and I think we’ve passed. I love you and can’t imagine my life with anyone else. I promise to always trust you and cherish you and never take you for granted. I promise to stay by your side until my last breath and I promise to comfort you when you need it and be there no matter what, I promise to make this the best life for us because we only live it once, and I promise to love you forever because, in the words of Hannah Montana, thought the chances to meet somebody like you were a million to one, you’re one in a million Jon… you’re my one out of a million.” And we never broke eye contact.

“Good. Jonathan Bryan Toews, do you take Arianna Michelle Bouchard to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, for better for worse, for rich or for poor, through sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?” The Justice of the Peace asked as Jon took the ring and prepared to put it on my finger.

“I do.” He said smiling at me as he pushed the ring to meet my engagement ring.

“And do you Arianna Michelle Bouchard take Jonathan Bryan Toews to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, for better or worse, for rich or for poor, through sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?” The Justice of the Peace asked me the same thing he had asked Jon as I prepared to slide the ring on his finger.

I looked up at him and smiled as he anticipated hearing those two words I knew he’d wanted to hear for the past year.

“I do.” And I slipped the ring on his finger.

“If anyone has any reason as to why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.” As the Justice of the Peace said this I looked straight at Adam pleading for him not to say anything. He looked sad, but then he smiled at me and I knew everything was fine.
“Alright, well, by the power vested in my by the state of Illinois, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride.” The Justice of the Peace said smiling at the two of us. Jon lifted up my veil as fast as he could and kissed me like it was the only way for all of this to be real.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Toews.”

After the ceremony had ended, we headed to the reception and it was a blast. I had changed out of my wedding dress and had instead gone for something that was easier to move around in and we danced the night away. At the end of the reception, after most of the people had left, I pulled Adam to the side.

“Adam, I’m really glad you came.” I said hugging him tightly. “Me too.” He responded before letting go of me. “But, what made you come? Especially after last night… I thought you’d never want to see me again.” I said looking down at the ground. “Well I was pissed, not gonna lie and I wanted you to choose me, but a little birdy made me see things differently. He made me see that you and I were amazing together and no one can take that away from us, but if we were meant to be together, it would have happened by now and you would have chosen me. He made me see that Jon just gives you feelings I can’t and never could… I know why you chose him and although I’m always going to wish it was me, I’m happy for you and I’m always here for you.” I had tears in my eyes as he said this and all I could do was hug him again. “God I love you so much.” I said as I let go of him. “I love you too hun. Now go on your honeymoon.”

Notes