Celestia
Giving birth to Aurelia four months ago was one of the most painful things I have ever done and even though I've had almost no sleep whatsoever for the past one hundred and twenty days, for her, I'd do it all over again. She and Ramon made me complete. We loved watching her grow, and how she learned to sit up on her own, to move around more, to laugh. I rock her little body back and forth in my arms as I try to get her to fall asleep. She loved when I hummed Disney lullabies to her. I could see it in her bright smile.
"Here, I'll take her. You need some rest baby," says Ramon as he gently scoops Aurelia out of my arms.
"Thank you," I sigh. I rub at my temples and climb into bed, going under the covers. "I have never wanted to sleep this much ever." I smile before I yawn and curl deeper under the blanket.
Ramon chuckles. "Well I watched my mother go through this, I know it's hard. She didn't have my father to be there with her to take over when she needed so I'm helping in any way I can to make this easier for you."
"What on earth did I do to deserve you?" I smile.
"I could say the same for you my love," he smiles back as he gently puts a now sleeping Aurelia into her bassinet. He then gets under the covers beside me and pulls me close.
"Now that Aurelia's here, we can focus on making you my wife in the eyes of the law."
"Mm, right because without the law I already am."
"Correct," he states and kisses the crown of my head. "Now go to sleep, you know she'll probably wake up in a few hours."
I nod in agreement, letting my tired eyes close.
__________
"Thank you for finally letting me get some sleep, my little princess," I say beaming at Aurelia.
She coos and smiles as she reaches up to me. I sit down next to Ramon on the couch and stare at the laptop on his lap.
"Alright, I'm ready now," I say. "What do we have so far?"
"Well, I called the caterers and the florists, and ordered the invites," Ramon replies as he opens up my Pinterest board. "And don't worry, I got everything in the way the list was. Including the acrylic blush wedding invitations you wanted."
"Ah! Really? Where on earth did you find someone to make invitations like those?"
"I have my ways." he smiles. "Here let me show you the prototype."
"Ugh, they're perfect." I grin and then smile at Aurelia as she squeals and reaches for the screen. "Looks like she loves them too."
"Good, now I have the approval of both of my beautiful ladies. Speaking of beautiful, Lilly, Lucy, Rose, and Steph are coming over to take you dress shopping."
"Yeah, I heard. They texted me about an hour ago, I still haven't gotten ready." I laugh.
"Go get ready then, come to daddy Auri," says Ramon as he takes her from me and places her on his lap in front of the computer.
"I'll be quick," I say as I stand up and kiss the top of both their heads before I walk back into our room.
When I get back, Ramon and Aurelia were still on the couch but this time Ramon was on his back while Aurelia lay on his stomach. They were laughing as she aggressively patted her hands on his chest.
"You two seem to be having fun," I smile.
"Yeah, she's found that my chest and a drum make the same sound apparently."
I laugh and scoop her up from his stomach. She started to fuss.
"Oh, okay then," I say as I place her back. She giggles again and continues to pat her hands on Ramon. "Welp, since she wants to keep beating you like a drum, you'll have to change her. Don't forget okay Ramon?"
"I won't my queen, don't worry, go and have fun dress shopping, we'll be good here."
"Alright, but promise me you'll call me if you need me."
"I will, I will look you're already fussing. That's where she got her fussing from." he grins after getting up with Aurelia on his hip. "Tell mommy that we'll be fine cutie," he says turning to Aurelia. As if she knew what he meant she laughs and wraps her arms around him.
The doorbell rings just then and I give them both a look.
"Alright, I'm going," I say and kiss them both.
I open the front door and head out with the girls.
"Okay, we have to go shop for your bachelorette party first, then we can look around for wedding dresses and maybe even try on a few," says Lucy as we drive out of the driveway.
"What colors were you thinking C?"
"Well, I wanted to have multiple nights out with different colors."
"Ooh yes, definitely," says Stephanie.
"So, I was thinking the first night we wear gray and pink," I say.
"That's cute," replies Rose.
"Yeah, and the third day I know I want to wear the colors of the wedding so I would wear white and you all could wear the colors your bridesmaid's dresses will be. But I don't know about the second night so the colors can be up to you four." I smile.
"By the way, I talked with Ramon and I have a list of places that we can spend each night in. There's more than three so we have plenty to choose from," says Rose.
Stephanie takes the paper from Rose and her jaw opens at the words on the paper.
"Rome?! As in, Italy?! Like plane and tickets?"
"Yep, we're going all out for this." Rose grins.
"Don't tell me Ramon's planning on paying for all this?"
"Yep," she replies smiling even wider.
"I specifically told him not to take a part in any of this cause I knew he'd most likely be flying us all over Europe or something," I say shaking my head. "Now there he goes, spending his money."
"Well, he's spending the money that he's well-earned on the love of his life and her friends."
I smile and slightly chuckle. "He does like spending an unnecessarily large amount on me just to make me happy."
"Exactly!" she laughs.
________
It took us a few hours before we could find the perfect dresses for our three nights out bachelorette party. For the first day, we decided that we were going out to eat, lavishly, of course, thanks to Rose and Ramon. In La Pergola in Rome, Italy. I'll be wearing a dusty pink dress that reached the floor with long and loose off-the-shoulder sleeves, with a neckline that reminded me of Aurora's dress from Sleeping Beauty. The girls are wearing dresses in pebble gray in all types of styles. On the second night, we were going to a dance club in Papaya, Novalja, Croatia. Since it was on a beach we wore beach-like outfits. I wore a bright yellow two-piece bathing suit with a matching coverup with the words Bride-to-be on the back while the girls wore cerulean blue bathing suits with the words Bridesmaids on their coverups besides Lucy since she was my maid of honor. On our third night, I got myself a white suit dress with a row of four buttons to close it up. It had a one-shoulder neckline and the elasticity of it clung to my body in a flattering way. The girls wore similar suit dresses but they were in the colors burgundy, navy blue, and dark green. We were going out to lunch on the top of Point A restaurant in Athens, Greece which has such a beautiful view of the Acropolis Museum, and then a photoshoot after shopping.
"Oh my God, look, Celestia, you should totally try that dress on!" says Lucy as she points to a bridal dress on display.
"You think so? I do love the lace," I reply as I look at the dress.
"Let's go inside and try it on! You might find something else you like," says Stephanie as she and Lilly take my arm and usher me inside the store.
"Hi ladies! Welcome! May I help you with anything today?"
"She's looking for a wedding dress," Rose replies to the lady.
"But I'm not sure what I'm looking for yet," I say.
"Well that's totally fine, I can send you to a dressing room with a dress in each type of bottom, and then we can see which you prefer and we can go from there to narrow it down. Does that sound okay?"
"Actually, yeah that does. Thank you," I smile.
"Alright great, follow me this way, and to the rest of you ladies, feel free to grab some champagne and sit on those couches over there in front of that mirror.
"Don't mind if I do," grins Rose and the rest of them follow suit.
The lady takes me back to the dressing rooms the size of the ones celebrities might have and she hands me a robe.
"Change into this, and in the meantime, I'll be back with a few dresses for you."
"Thank you,"
"Of course," she smiles and leaves, closing the door behind her.
She brings back five dresses, each very different. She helps me put on the ballgown one first and then brings me back to the front where the girls were.
"Omg!" says Lucy, practically screaming.
I smile as I get on top of the platform and turn to face them.
"What do y'all think?"
"Love the top of the dress, but the bottom doesn't really seem you,"
"I see that too, it gives too much of a princess-like dress to me. You have to look regal. This is your big day."
I turn to look at myself in the large mirror.
"Yeah, I see it. There's too much organza fabric."
"Okay, let's try a different one shall we?" says the lady beside me.
"Alright,"
__________
By the time we head home, I must've tried on at least twenty-seven dresses. But at least now I knew what type of dress I was looking for. But I was stuck between a slim-fitting dress, one that flared out, or a cathedral A-Line dress.
"Well, why can't you have both?" asks Ramon.
"Both? I mean I can have one to walk down the aisle and one for the reception like my mother did. But I still don't know which to choose for which."
"Since the cathedral on is bigger why don't you do that one for the aisle and the slimmer one for the reception."
"I might switch them." I grin. "Why am I even telling you this. You aren't supposed to know anything about my dress until the day of."
"Alright, alright, I won't ask any more questions," he chuckles.
"Mmhm, by the way, have you figured out what you're doing for your bachelor party yet?"
"Yeah, James, Ethan, Luke, and I are going skydiving in Rome and then have a couple of drinks in a bar later that night."
"Skydiving sounds super fun, so you'll be in the same place we'll be in."
"Yep, not too far," he smiles.
"I guess I'll just look up if I wanna find you,"
"Yep, I'll send you my love and kisses from the sky,"
"Okay, I'll be waiting," I say as I bury myself at his side.