Olivia’s POV

"I’m not waiting until after the babies are born," I announced, sitting on my man’s couch, unconsciously rubbing my six-month belly. "We’re getting married before they arrive."

Maxwell looked up from his laptop, his expression torn between amusement and concern.

"Livy, you’re pregnant with twins. Are you sure you want to plan a wedding right now?"

"Twins with an ’s’," I corrected, grinning. "Two boys, babe. Two little Wellington boys who will not be born out of wedlock if I have anything to say about it."

The memory of finding out we were having twins still made me giddy.

We’d gone together for the anatomy scan, holding hands in the darkened ultrasound room, both of us nervous and excited to find out the sex of the child.

"There’s baby A," the technician had said, moving the wand across my belly. "Strong heartbeat. Good measurements."

"And there’s baby B," she’d continued, and Maxwell and I had looked at each other in shock.

"Baby B?" we’d said in unison.

"Twins," the technician confirmed with a smile. "Congratulations. You’re having two boys."

Maxwell had actually sat down heavily in the chair beside the exam table, looking like someone had knocked the wind out of him.

"Two?" he’d repeated. "Two boys?"

I’d started laughing, because of course this would happen to us. Of course we’d go from thinking we were having one child to discovering we were having twin boys. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The universe had a sense of humor.

The baby shower reveal had been even better. Mom and Maxwell’s mother - who’d hit it off surprisingly well - had planned this elaborate gender reveal with a giant box in the center of the venue.

When Maxwell and I had opened it together, two blue balloons had floated out, followed by a banner that read: "Double Trouble - It’s BOYS!"

The excitement and chaos that had followed was something I’d never forget. Maxwell had picked me up and spun me around despite my protests about being pregnant, and everyone had cheered and cried and celebrated.

And now, weeks later, I was determined to marry this man before our sons made their appearance.

"Fine," Maxwell said, closing his laptop and moving to sit beside me on the couch. "But on one condition."

"What’s that?"

"You let our mothers handle everything. No stress. You just show up, look beautiful - which you always do - and marry me."

I smiled, leaning into him. "Deal."

*******

And that’s exactly what happened.

My mother and Maxwell’s mother took over wedding planning with the enthusiasm of two generals commanding an army. Within four weeks, they’d orchestrated what could only be described as the wedding of the century.

The venue was a beautiful historic estate with gardens in full bloom. The weather was perfect - sunny but not too hot, with just enough breeze to make everything feel magical.

I stood in the bridal suite, looking at myself in the full-length mirror, and felt tears prick my eyes.

My dress was custom-made to accommodate my growing belly - empire waist in ivory silk that flowed beautifully over my bump, with delicate lace detailing on the bodice and cap sleeves. My hair was swept up in an elegant updo with small white flowers woven throughout.

I looked like a princess. A very pregnant princess, but a princess nonetheless.

"You look beautiful, honey," Mom said, appearing behind me in the mirror. She was already crying, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

"Mom, stop," I said, laughing even as my own eyes welled up. "You’re going to make me cry and ruin my makeup."

"I can’t help it," she sniffled. "My baby girl is finally getting married."

Kira appeared beside her, looking stunning in her champagne-colored bridesmaid dress.

"And to think," she said with a grin, "you spent one whole month fighting him at work. Now look at you - pregnant with his twins and about to become Mrs. Wellington."

"Life is funny like that," I agreed.

A soft meow drew our attention to the corner where Princess Mitchell - who I’d finally reunited with after months of separation - was being fitted with a small pillow tied around her collar.

The pillow held our wedding rings.

"Is she really going to walk down the aisle?" Mom asked skeptically.

"That’s the plan," I said, watching as Mitchell tried to bat at the pillow with her paw. "Maxwell insisted. Said she was part of our story."

"This is either going to be adorable or a complete disaster," Kira observed.

"I’m betting on both," I said.

********

The ceremony was held in the estate’s rose garden, with white chairs arranged in rows and an arch covered in flowers at the front.

I stood at the entrance with my father, watching the procession begin.

Kira walked down the aisle first, her smile radiant, her eyes briefly catching Kennedy’s in the crowd before she took her place at the front.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.

Princess Mitchell appeared at the start of the aisle, the pillow with the rings bouncing slightly on her collar.

She took two steps forward, then stopped to groom her paw.

The crowd chuckled.

"Come on, Mitchell," someone whispered.

She looked up, seemed to consider her options, then started walking again.

Three steps. Stop to sniff a flower someone had dropped.

More laughter.

"This is going to take forever," Dad murmured beside me, and I bit back a laugh.

But Mitchell eventually made it - at her own pace, with several stops to investigate interesting things along the way - to the front where Maxwell was waiting.

Maxwell knelt down and scratched behind her ears, and she purred loudly enough that the front rows could hear it.

Then the music changed, and it was time.

"Ready, sweetheart?" Dad asked, offering me his arm.

I looked down the aisle at Maxwell, who was standing there in his perfectly tailored tuxedo, his eyes already glistening with tears, his expression a mixture of awe and overwhelming love.

"So ready," I whispered.

We started walking, and I couldn’t take my eyes off Maxwell.

He watched me approach with such intensity, such devotion, that my own tears started falling despite my best efforts.

When we reached the front, Dad kissed my cheek and placed my hand in Maxwell’s.

"Take care of my daughter," Dad said quietly.

"With my life," Maxwell promised.

The ceremony was beautiful - traditional but personal, with readings from friends and a homily about love and second chances.

But it was the vows that really got everyone.

Maxwell went first, pulling out a folded piece of paper with shaking hands.

"Olivia," he began, his voice already thick with emotion. "I’ve loved you since I was twelve years old. I loved you when you saved me from bullies. I loved you when you forgot me. I loved you when you didn’t know who I was. I loved you when you hated me. And I’ll love you every day for the rest of our lives."

He paused, swallowing hard.

"You taught me what it means to be brave. To fight for what matters. To be vulnerable even when it’s terrifying. You’ve given me a family I never thought I’d have - not just our sons, but you. Just you. That’s the greatest gift of all."

Tears were streaming down his face now, and mine, and probably half the church’s.

"I promise to always be honest with you. To never play games or hide behind walls. To love you fiercely and openly and without reservation. To be the husband you deserve and the father our sons need. To choose you, every single day, for the rest of my life."

He folded the paper and looked at me, his eyes full of everything we’d been through and everything we’d become.

"I’m yours, Olivia. Completely. Forever."

I was openly sobbing now, and when it was my turn, I had to take several deep breaths before I could speak.

"Maxwell," I started, my voice shaking. "You’ve been the stranger who excited me, the boss who challenged me, the enemy who pushed me, and the love who completed me. You’re all of those things and more - you’re my best friend, my partner, my home."

I placed my hand over his heart.

"You’re not perfect. We’re not perfect. But we’re perfect for each other. And I promise to love every version of you - the controlled CEO, the vulnerable man who’s afraid to lose me, the devoted father already talking to his unborn sons, the partner who makes me laugh even when I’m trying to stay mad at you."

A laugh rippled through the crowd, and I smiled through my tears.

"I promise to choose you too. In every moment, in every challenge, in every joy. To build a life with you that’s honest and real and full of love. To be your wife, your partner, your forever."

I looked down at my belly, then back at him.

"We’re a family now. The four of us. And I can’t wait to see what our forever looks like."

By the time the officiant pronounced us husband and wife, there wasn’t a dry eye in the garden.

Maxwell kissed me like he’d been waiting his whole life for this moment - which, I suppose, he had - and the crowd erupted in applause.