Every Step of the Way

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

They only hesitated for a moment before Cassandra flung herself at Varian, kissing him.

The entire room burst into applause.

Never in a million years would either of them have guessed that this is where they would be in this moment- at a wedding of their very own.

They had come a long way from when they first met- an awkward teen and a rough-around-the-edges young woman- and from where they were only a year ago- their friends' wedding, awkwardly navigating their feelings, trying to mentally and physically prepare themselves for a baby.

Speaking of... Cass turned her head to view her daughter, safely nestled in Rapunzel's arms in the front row.

She sighed in relief and smiled before turning back to her- husband. How crazy was it that, with just a few exchanged words and a kiss, she and Varian were officially married.

"C'mon, Cass," he whispered, smiling as he tucked her hair behind her ear, "she's okay. No harm's going to come to Trystan."

She nodded. She had to believe him.

He cared for Trystan, too, so very much- especially for a little girl his [now] wife had because of someone else. If he said she was safe, she was more than likely safe, probably safer than safe.

Cass had to let go of her fears. How could she do anything if she was too busy worrying about her daughter? And how would her daughter grow up and learn lessons if she was being constantly sheltered and coddled by her parents?

The answers were simple: there was no possible way.

Besides, Cass was already being a little bit overprotective- she had decided against a honeymoon for the sake of her daughter.

She smiled to herself, imagining what her father would say if he could be there to see how she was around her daughter.

Varian, Rapunzel, and Eugene all teased Cass about how she treated Trystan, and she could only imagine that her father, who had known her for most of her life, would say something even crazier than "Cassandra, I think you're going soft."

Apparently, it was weird that Cass was "going soft."

Apparently, it was normal that a guy like Varian acted the way he did around their daughter, but not a person like Cassandra.

Varian drew her in for another kiss, and she gave in.

This was her happily-ever-after.

~-~

{I apologize for the... abrupt ending. Kind of went unexplained. But... more later, I promise, in the sequel "One Step at a Time." Again, thank you SO MUCH for sticking with me and this story through thick and thin... I can't wait to see what you guys think of the next book!}