All My Broken Pieces (FindingLight #2)

Epilogue 1

Arriana

I swallow the lump in my throat, unexpectedly nervous.

Fallon peeks up at me, tucking her hair behind her ear. “You alright, my love?” Her forehead creases as she studies my expression closely.

I force a smile on my face, willing the nerves to settle down. There’s no need to be worried, she loves me and I love her. What more is there?

Relaxing at the thought, I lift my drink to my lips, sipping on the water. The cool liquid further helping to settle some of the chaos buzzing inside of me. “Just a lot on my mind.” I finally answer her, my eyes darting to her phone and away again.

Fallon narrows her eyes at me, clearly not accepting my answer but not pushing me on it. With a shrug of her shoulders, she plucks up one of her empanadas, bringing the puff pastry to her lips and taking a small bite.

I watch her closely, my gaze shifting to her phone once more.

“Okay, what?” She demands, waving the pastry in the air. “Obviously something is up because you keep looking at my phone. So just tell me what it is.”

I sigh heavily, frustrated that this isn’t going to plan. It’s been months in the making, and a rather difficult ordeal to make a reality, and somehow I’ve managed to fuck it all up in a matter of moments.

“Have you checked your Insta yet today?” I ask lamely, kicking myself for being so obvious, but what else can I do? She wasn’t checking on her own and I’ll be damned if I miss the moment she does.

Fallon’s brow furrows, confusion clouding her expression. “Not where I thought you were going to go. But, no? Should I have?”

I shrug in response, sipping at my water once more.

Sighing heavily, she snatches up her phone, opening the app as she takes another bite of her empanada. I watch her closely as she reads the screen, her eyes widening. She shifts her gaze to mine and back to the phone quickly, eyes scanning the words I know she’s reading. The words I put there.

“How?” She breathes, setting down the uneaten portion of her dessert as she leans forward, clutching the small device in both hands.

Reaching into my pocket, I push to my feet, coming to kneel beside her on one knee. Fallon slowly turns to me, setting her phone down, her hand shakes as she covers her mouth. I smile up at her, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“I told you once that the next wedding we would be at would be ours. You might not have understood me at the time, but that didn’t make my promise any less true.” Fallon sniffles, a tear slipping down her cheek. Lifting my hand, I gently swipe it away, lingering my touch before moving to open the ring box in my hand. “ Cada día me enamoro más de ti. ” I whisper, closing my eyes and reciting the words I know she read on the screen. The ones I had managed to get her favorite author to post and tag her for me. “ Tu me completas, mi vida. Cada momento que he pasado contigo es un sue?o. Quiero pasar el resto de la eternidad contigo. ?Qué dices, cari?o? ?Serás mi para siempre? ” I hold my breath as I wait for her response, the seconds ticking by an eternity.

When I’m not sure if I can handle another moment, Fallon nods her head wildly, tears spilling down her cheeks. “ ?Sí! Yes!” She leaps up from her seat, launching herself into my arms.

I laugh, clinging to her, a feeling I haven’t known settling deep in my core.

She said yes. She knows me, she knows everything , and she still said yes. She still wants me. Despite all my dark and twisted parts, she still chose me.

I slip the ring on her finger and crush my lips to hers, funneling all of my love into the connection.

How did I get so goddamn lucky?

Fallon

I’m on cloud nine.

I can’t stop staring at the new ring on my left hand as I cling to Arriana on our walk back to our villa. The diamonds shine beautifully in the setting sun. Lining a beautiful rose-gold band, the different sized stones are offset to form a breathtaking collage of imperfect perfection.

Twisting my hand to watch the last of the sun’s rays bounce off the diamonds, I allow myself to fully embrace this moment, one I didn’t think I would ever have.

Since our relocation, I had given up the idea of marriage being in the cards for us, it’s not like we can go back to the States and have a big ordeal. And that was okay with me, as long as I had her, it was enough.

But somehow Arriana made it happen, just like all my other hopes and dreams, this woman continues to amaze me with the love and care she pours into my life.

“ Te amo, mi amor. ” I murmur, resting my head on her arm.

Arriana presses her lips to my head. “ Te amo, mi vida. ”

We walk up the pathway to our home, and I find I can’t wait to snuggle up with her. With my fiancée .

Arriana opens the door, ushering me inside. “I have one more surprise for you.” She whispers, extracting herself from my hold.

I look at her quizzically before shifting my gaze to the room, more tears filling my eyes as they land on the guests awaiting us. “Ava?” She smiles at me, leaping to her feet and sprinting across the room.

“Congratulations, Fallon.” She whispers, wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace.

After the initial shock wears off, I return her hug, crying softly at how perfect this night has been. We pull apart and I can’t help but show her what Arriana did. “Look, I mean, I don’t even know how she convinced her to do this. Like it’s completely unheard of, but somehow…” I glance up at my other half, the love bursting within me almost too much to bear.

“Yes! Show me. Like yesterday.” Ava demands, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

I chuckle, pulling up my app once more and finding the post that Arriana had somehow roped my favorite author into posting.

The photo is a simple graphic with the words Tu me completas, mi vida written across in a cursive font. Below the graphic, the caption reads:

This post is a little unconventional for me, but when I was approached with the story behind this request, I couldn’t say no. So, Fallon, without further adieu, Arriana has something to ask you.

“Cada día me enamoro más de tí. Tu me completas, mi vida. Cada momento que he pasado contigo es un sue?o. Quiero pasar el resto de la eternidad contigo. ?Qué dices, cari?o? ?Serás mi para siempre?”

And for all of us who don’t speak the beautiful Spanish language, I’ve been provided the translation *winking emoji*

“I fall more in love with you every day. You complete me, my life. Every moment I’ve gotten to spend with you is a dream. I want to spend the rest of eternity with you. What do you say, baby? Will you be my forever?”

So, Fallon, what do you say? I, for one, am dying to know. And am beyond honored to be a part of your beautiful love story.

Keep reading, keep writing, keep spreading love.

And make sure I get an invite to the wedding *wedding bell emoji*

“Oh. My. God. Did that actually happen?” Ava gasps, slapping her hands over her mouth.

“Right??” I cry, bouncing on the balls of my feet, the giddy excitement needing an outlet.

“So, you’re totally inviting her to the wedding right?” She demands, gesturing to my phone.

I shrug, chewing on my lip, “I mean, that doesn’t feel like a smart choice given, you know, everything .” Ava nods her understanding. It’s one thing to hide behind the anonymity of the screen, but with how high profile the whole thing would be if she did attend, there’s no way it would be safe. It’s a fun dream, though.

I peek over at Arriana as she chats with Killian, the same excitement on her face as I can feel bubbling up inside of me. No matter how this plays out, she asked and I said yes. I don’t need a big affair, I don’t need anything more than her. I don’t think I ever did.

Arriana

Standing on the beach beside Killian, I anxiously wait. It might not be the perfect wedding, but it’s ours, and that makes it perfect in my book.

Ava comes to stand on the other side of her husband, a giant grin on her face. Andrew on my other side. Hudson and Cooper join them soon after on respective sides.

I gulp, watching the makeshift walkway. A glimpse of white fabric comes into view and my heart stops.

Fallon peeks up at me sheepishly as she walks down the “aisle”, her long train dragging in the sand behind her. The satin dress clings to her body, showing off every delicious curve. A long slit runs up her right thigh, stopping just shy of her hip. An equally long line runs down her breasts, the neckline plunging to her navel. She has adorned jewelry to match the elegance of the dress, the gems sparkling in the bright sunlight.

Swallowing hard, I try to keep my emotions at bay as I watch her slowly make her way toward me. She comes to a stop, handing her bouquet to Ava before turning to face me once more. “You are stunningly beautiful.” I whisper reverently.

A blush forms on her cheeks as she dips her head. “You look incredible too.” She whispers, her eyes glistening as she peeks up at me.

Unable to resist, I tug her into my arms, pressing my lips to hers. Fallon melts against me, digging her fingers into my back, fisting the fabric of my suit.

Killian clears his throat, reminding me of what we’re supposed to be doing. “Right, sorry, old man.” I chuckle, reluctantly pulling away from my baby. “Do your thing.”

He rolls his eyes, but can’t hide the happiness in his expression as he looks between us. “When Arriana asked me to officiate this wedding, my first instinct was to enthusiastically decline, but I was otherwise persuaded.” He looks at Ava, one of his rare smiles transforming his hard features. “All jokes aside, I can honestly say that I can’t think of a couple better suited for one another.”

I beam at Fallon, finding her smiling back at me, a look of joyful contentment adding to the beauty of her features.

“You two have vows you’ve written?” We both nod, moving to grasp each other's hands.

“Fallon.” I start, needing to get the words out first. “I didn’t think love was in the cards for me. I couldn’t imagine a life where someone would want me, would see all my broken bits and claim them as their own. But that’s what you’ve done, baby.”

I take a deep breath before continuing, my voice cracking as the emotions well up. “I call you mi vida . And it’s because that’s what you are. I merely existed in this world all the years before I met you. You brought me to life. And I will spend eternity loving you for it. Eres mi para siempre, mi vida. ”

A quiet hush follows my words, the only sound the crash of the waves against the shoreline and quiet sniffles from my beautiful bride.

“Your turn, baby.” I whisper, earning a soft chuckle from her and our guests.

Sticking out her tongue, Fallon wipes under her eyes before fanning her face. “Just give me, like, one moment.” She laughs breathlessly, her voice hoarse with emotion.

“You have all the time in the world.” I murmur, stroking her cheek with my thumb. “ No voy a ninguna parte. ”

Another hiccupped breath sounds at my words as she fights against her waterworks. After several moments, Fallon composes herself enough to take my hands once more.

Peering into my eyes, hers soften as she recites her vows. “My love. Mi amor . You gave me a romance I never thought I’d have. I’d call it a fairytale, but I’m not sure that does it justice.” Taking a deep breath, she pushes past her emotions, her voice wobbling as she does. “I didn’t think I was loveable. I thought I was broken, that I was destined for a miserable existence of never being accepted for who I am. But you proved me wrong in the best way possible. You helped me to fall in love with myself as I fell hopelessly in love with you.” Her voice breaks and she raises her fingers to cover her lips as she blinks back her tears.

“I love you more than words can convey, and I hate that both of our languages fail me in that, because I want, no, I need you to know that I will spend every day for the rest of time loving you as fiercely as you have loved me.” Swallowing, she squeezes my hands as she repeats, “ Eres mi para siempre, mi amor. ”

A quiet hush falls over us as our words hang in the air. I feel a tear slip down my cheek, and as Fallon reaches up to brush it away, I don’t fight against the emotions, letting more slip free as I peer into her eyes.

Killian clears his throat again, his own voice full of barely concealed emotion as he says, “I pronounce you wife and wife, you may kiss the bride.”

I immediately yank Fallon against me, crushing my lips to hers once more, my heart so full of love I’m afraid it might burst. “ Te amo. ” I whisper against her lips.

She grins, wrapping her arms around my neck as she whispers back, “ Te amo. ”