Fighting For Life

by Kylie Alyssa Forte

  I looked from the boys to my girls, they all had the same dress as Bri had on. I couldn’t help but to smile at their green and gold corsages. He was so thoughtful.

  “Y’all look beautiful!” I said to my three bridesmaids. My sister, Bri, and Cece.

  “Not as pretty as you though,” my sister said softly and hugged me. “I can’t believe my baby bee is getting married today!” A few tears slid out of her eyes. “Sorry I’m being so emotional already, I’m blaming Adrian. He wouldn’t go to sleep last night. He’s starting his terrible twos a few months too early,” she said about their second child, a son named Adrian. Aiden just loved the name, by the way.

  “I love you, Kels. Thanks for being here,” I whispered to her while we hugged.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I love you too.”

  “You’re finally gonna be my sister!” Cece said excitedly.

  “I am!” I said with a huge smile and kissed her on the cheek.

  Abby came and looked up to me. “Like this?” she asked and threw a small handful of rose petals to the ground. They were supposed to be just blue, but I saw that there was some green and gold in there as well. I guess my fiancé really wanted his colors incorporated as well.

  “Just like that!” I confirmed with a kiss to her head. “And you just walk down the path with the pillow in your hand,” I said to Carter.

  “Then we go play?” he confirmed.

  “Only if you’re good,” Brandon said as a warning.

  “K Dad! Me be good!”

  “Kels, where is Adrian? I thought he was gonna walk down the aisle with Carter?” I asked my sister.

  “He was, but he won’t leave Aiden’s side, so Aiden said he can walk down the aisle with him,” Kelsey said with an eyeroll. “I’m beginning to think that I should have learned from you and Abby and not have named my kids after y’all . . .”

  “Oh, hush it! Carter isn’t named after either of us, and he adores Aiden too, so obviously it’s just the guy not the name!” I said with a smile.

  “I wanna go with Uncle A too!” Carter exclaimed.

  “Too late,” Briana confirmed. “You and Aub are gonna go together. You’ll see your uncle in a few.”

  Carter pouted for a second. “Maybe you can get Uncle A to play with you on the playground after pictures!” I said with a smile. His little face lit up.

  “Okay, get into formation. We’re starting!” Bri called to everyone and lined everyone up correctly.

  Suddenly, I was nervous as they began walking down the path.

  Holy shit, this was it. I was marrying Aiden in front of everyone we cared about. My anxiety began creeping in.

  “I’m so glad Aid found you, Aub. You make him so happy,” Dana said as she handed me a bouquet of blue, green, and white flowers. I guess Aiden had a hand in this as well. She grasped my hand to walk me down the aisle.

  “I’m so happy I found him. Y’all gave me a family and a home,” I said and hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Dana.”

  She wiped a few tears from her eyes and smiled. “Okay sweetheart, let’s go make you Mrs. Clark!” she said with a big smile and began walking with me down the aisle.

  I took the first step from around the building, my bare feet touched the soft grass as we walked. My anxiety disappeared as soon as Aiden came into my view. He was standing there behind the bench in the park that we first opened up to each other in, where we first decided to be friends at, and where we spent our first night with each other at. All of our friends stood on each side of him as I got closer and closer to him, to my future.

  He stood there in a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black slacks. His boutonnière had green and blue flowers on it and the same gold ribbon as the others. He looked so handsome and so happy.

  It was a small wedding. Only our close friends and family were there to witness us becoming man and wife. Only the people who really believed in us were there.

  We finally made it down the aisle, and Aiden’s eyes lit up. “You look absolutely gorgeous, love,” he whispered in my ear as I took my spot next to him.

  “You’re the most handsome man that I’ve ever seen,” I whispered back. “And nice call on the flowers instead of the suits. I would have killed you,” I stated loud enough for our wedding party to hear and chuckle at. He smiled cheekily and kissed my cheek.

  The minister began speaking and everyone kept quiet. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Aiden’s. The deep blue pulled me in and sucked me into his core, my beautiful future.

  “They have written their own vows, Aubry, you may begin now,” he said and gestured to me.

  I focused on nothing else but Aiden. “Aiden . . . my sweet, amazing Aiden. I had written stuff down, and I tried to remember it, but it was useless. I couldn’t remember, and it seemed too rehearsed, so I’m just gonna speak from my heart.

  “Aiden, I never thought that I was going to get married. Hell, I never even thought I was gonna make it past high school, yet here I am, surrounded by everyone that I love and becoming your wife.

  “You gave me a family that I so severely needed. You gave me a lifeline to cling on to. I’ve always been a fighter, but you taught me how to fight—figuratively and literally. How to fight for what I believe in, for others, and for myself . . .

  “I love you. You’re the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. You taught me how to love not only others but also myself. You pulled me out of the most difficult time in my life. You taught me that I am worth so much more than what I’ve been told, and I deserve a beautiful future. That’s you, Aiden. You’re my beautiful future.

  “So, I vow to never let you go. To love you with everything I have and to be everything that you need, no matter what. I vow to hold you through the hard times and to relish in the good times. I vow to love you forever because that is what I was made to do. I will never stop fighting for you, for me, for us, or for our lives. I love you forever,” I finished with a smile and stared at him, at my almost husband.

  “Aubry . . . my Aubry. You are the only girl that I see. You are the only person that understands me so completely that it freaks me out sometimes. You make my life so good and so amazing. I never thought I could feel this way about someone.

  “You showed me what it is to be tough and strong. You say that I taught you how to fight, but Aubry, it was you who taught me. You showed me that life can be so much more than what I thought. You showed me the true beauty in everything. You are the most beautiful thing in the world to me.

  “Aubry, I vow to love you through any obstacles that stand in our way. I vow to treat you with respect and dignity. I will always be patient with you, and I will always try to use kind words with you. I will always love your scars and show you how truly beautiful they are. I vow to love you with everything I have, even when you can’t love yourself. I will love and hold you through all of your nightmares, and rock you to sleep when you’re having troubles. I will love you forever, even after we’re long gone. You are my forever. You are my Cecelia,” he said and wiped a happy tear that came from my eye.

  We exchanged rings and then eagerly waited for the minister to announce us as husband and wife so that we could kiss.

  “Aiden, you may kiss your bride!” he finally said after a few more moments.

  Aiden and I wasted no time, and we kissed fiercely.

  I loved him so much. My love, my life, my future, my husband, my Aiden.

  Happy

  Aiden

  Everything in the world stopped when I saw him for the first time. He was so small and innocent. I felt like I had to protect him.

  His name was Brayden. As soon as we heard his name and heard his story, Aubry and I knew he was going to be the perfect fit. He was ours. Our little son, Brayden David Clark.

  Of course, Brandon was over the moon happy for it. He always did tell us that we had to name a kid after him because of all the stuff he did to get us together. I always laughed it off, but this had to be
fate. Brayden was our son, even if he wasn’t biologically from us.

  We had been trying for two years, but it never happened for us. The doctors decided that it certainly could have been because all of Aubry’s physical trauma when she was growing up. However, there was no definitive answer as to if that was truly why or not. As soon as Aubry came across Brayden through a social worker friend, though, we knew that it was because of him. He was meant to be with us. He was meant to be our kid—our amazing son.

  Aubry rushed through the door at five forty-five instead of her usual five-fifteen. I wouldn’t have even noticed, if it weren’t for the fact that we were all supposed to go to my mother’s house at five-thirty.

  “Well hey there, love . . .” I said long and drawn out while looking at her with my eyes narrowed.

  “What are you doing just standing there?! We’re already late! Where’s Bray? Please tell me you got him ready and weren’t just lollygagging around by the door waiting for me!” she said quickly as she rushed around the living room getting things together at a hundred miles per hour. She was very riled up, it was amusing.

  “My love, calm down. Of course, I got him ready. Where were you?” I asked as I slipped my shoes on.

  “We need to have a talk later, but right now, we’re late!” she said hurriedly with a serious look.

  What the hell? Talk about what?! The words, “we need to talk” were never good. Can you break up with someone you’re married to? I mean, yeah, you can divorce, but we were doing really good! We hardly ever even fought! I mean, we love each other!

  “Come on Bray, we’re going to Gramma Dana’s. Uncle Chris is going to be there, and he has been dying to meet you!” Aubry called to our four-year-old son.

  He had been with us for a little over three months, and it was going great. He was a bit timid and shy, but he was warming up. We both loved him so much, and I could tell he loved us too. He was just a little untrusting because of his horrible biological parents. They severely neglected him for the first three years of his life and were drug addicts. Aubry was so good with him too, it was amazing seeing her be a mom. She was an amazing mom.

  “B-But what if he doesn’t like me, Au—mommy?” Brayden asked after he came out of his room while putting his shoes on extremely slowly.

  “Oh, trust me, he’s gonna like you, he’d be insane not to! Besides, you’re going to loooove Uncle Chris! He’s so fun!” She paused and ruffled his dark hair. “Bray, you don’t have to call me mom if you don’t want to, it was just a suggestion. Aubry is totally fine if that’s what you’re more comfortable with,” she said calmly while helping him with his shoes. I could tell the words pained her a bit, though. We had been trying out the whole ‘mom and dad’ name thing as of late; it hadn’t really stuck yet.

  “No, imma call you mommy. That’s what you are now, right? My new mommy,” he said quietly.

  Aubry’s eyes met mine, and they filled with tears instantly, it was a very happy moment for her. Plus, she had been pretty emotional. She quickly reigned in her emotions and then grinned at our small son. She nodded and kissed his tan cheek. “Yes, I am your mommy. Your dad and I love you so much, Brayden!” she said and bear hugged him.

  I smiled at my small family. They were perfect. Life couldn’t get any better. My amazing Aubry and my little son, what a beautiful sight.

  “Okay, come on boys, Gramma’s time. We’re so late! She’s gonna be mad at us for holding dinner up!” Aubry said and gestured for Brayden to walk out of the door.

  “We seriously need to talk . . .” she whispered to me and followed our son to the car.

  Oh shit, what did I do?

  ***

  Aubry

  The look on his face after I told him that we needed to talk was the funniest thing ever. He was terrified, even after we got to his mom’s house, he kept asking what he did as he paced back and forth. It was adorable, he didn’t want to make me mad. What a smart man.

  I thought about torturing him some more because I thought that it was funny. However, truthfully, I was too excited to keep it in anymore. I was excited to see his reaction, he was going to be too excited as well.

  I looked around the room and saw Carter, Brayden, and Adrian playing with Brandon and Tom in the corner of the room. Bri was talking with her younger son, Corey while rubbing her big seven-month pregnant belly with a small smile. Cece was laughing at her nephew getting in trouble. Dana sat on the couch next to Aiden and Phil while Abby was in her lap. Even though my sister’s kids weren’t technically her actual grandkids, she always welcomed them in just like they were.

  Kelsey and Mark were talking to Chris by the armchair. They had moved to a city less than an hour away, so we got to see them often ever since the move. It made my heart happy to know that my sister was so close to me again. I was so happy that my family was so close.

  The whole immediate family was there, even Grandma and Grandpa Clark came down to see Chris while he was visiting. He made a special trip just to meet Brayden. They hit it off well over dinner. Chris was funny and Brayden is an excitable little kid. My excitable little kid. My son. My baby.

  “Hey, Dana, can I steal your son for a second?” I asked with a smirk directed at Aiden.

  He visibly gulped. He was so nervous.

  “Sure, honey,” Dana answered.

  “Could you keep an eye on Brayden for a few?” I asked Kelsey as Aiden came and stood next to me.

  “Absolutely,” she answered with a smile.

  I led Aiden to our old room. It looked so different. There were two sets of bunk beds in the room instead of the one bed that we used to share along with tons of toys. The room brought back so many pleasant memories I couldn’t help but smile at them.

  I closed the door gently as I looked at my husband. His deep blue eyes were swimming with confusion and fear. I almost laughed at his pain. I never understood why he got so scared when he pissed me off.

  “Whatever I did, I’m so sorry! I’ll make it up to you!” he said while looking at me pleadingly.

  “What do you think you did?” I asked messing with him a bit before I actually told him anything.

  “I honestly have no idea! I mean, I did eat the last piece of banana bread, but it was about to go bad! I’m sorry, I’ll get some more!” he said with wide eyes.

  I laughed at his guess and shook my Aiden. “No, that’s okay . . .” I took a breath and put a serious face on. “You asked me earlier where I was. I was at the doctor’s office.”

  “What? Why? Are you sick?” he asked and touched my forehead as if he was checking for a fever.

  “No. I . . . I . . . Aiden . . . I’m pregnant,” I said and stared into his eyes.

  His eyes widened immediately, and he gasped. “W-What how?” he looked at the ground and then back to me. “Y-You’re pregnant? Like really, actually pregnant?” he asked. His face was a bit pale, but he had a ghost of a smile on his lips.

  I nodded.

  “Oh my God, we’re going from no kids to two kids so quickly. I thought we’d wait at least a couple of years before we adopted another one. How far along are you? Do you know?” he asked quickly and began pacing around the room.

  “Fourteen weeks. I . . . I missed two periods and didn’t notice because we had just adopted Brayden, and I was so busy, then when I missed the third, I thought it was just stress because of our new situation and stuff. After a day or so, I realized that I hadn’t had one in months, so I took a test. When it came back positive, I made an appointment. Now here we are.” I took the sonogram picture out of my back pocket and gave it to Aiden. “There’s our little person,” I said and pointed at the picture that was our little baby.

  “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have liked to have been there with you.” he said and stared at the picture in his hands.

  “I know, but we had been trying for so long. I didn’t want to get your hopes up just to watch them fall. We just gave up on having kids biologically, but here it is our little one. I didn’
t want you to think that your dreams came true only for it to be a false alarm. I didn’t want you to think I was pregnant then have that be ripped away from you. You were so discouraged when the doctor told us. I didn’t want to see that hurt in your eyes again. I was just trying to protect you, baby. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry . . .” I explained, hoping that he wasn’t mad at me.

  I knew I shouldn’t have kept it from him, but I did, and I felt like shit. I should know better than to do that. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. My hormones have been a wreck which should have been a clue to me that I was pregnant. Obviously, I just ignored it.

  “Hey, hey love . . . I’m not mad. Maybe I’m a little disappointed, but I’m not mad. How could I be mad at you?! Aub! You’re pregnant! This is amazing news. Scary, but amazing! I couldn’t be any happier, love. We’re having a baby! We’re going from a two-person family to a four-person family in a matter of months. Is this how having twins feels?” he said, making me switch from tears to a lopsided grin really quick.

  “Aid, Bray is four, not a newborn like the little one will be. Besides, we still have almost six months before he or she comes. Do you think your family will be happy? Do you think Brayden will be excited to be a big brother? This is gonna be a lot of change for him in such a little amount of time. He went from being neglected and mistreated to having us as parents and being a big brother so quickly. Do you think he’ll adjust okay?” I asked, suddenly worried about my small son.

  “Aub, he’s gonna be fine. He’s with people who love him. He’ll be excited to have a little baby sister or brother. Do you want to tell them all now? They’re gonna be so excited! We’re having a baby after we just got our son! We’re so lucky! We’re going to have such an amazing and beautiful family! Aubry, I love you so much. Thank you for such an amazing life,” Aiden said to me while kissing over and over again.

  I smiled at my husband. He was so excited for our baby, so was I. I just hoped I could be a good mother to the both of them. It was going to be scary and uncharted for me. However, I knew I could do it as long as I had Aiden next to me. He was such a good father to Brayden, so I knew he would be equally great for our new addition.