"Tasha, what's wrong?" asked Larry as he looked at Natasha as they finished eating dinner and she was clearing the dining table, he could sense that something was wrong, she had been way too quiet during dinner, and he knew her well enough to know that she had something on her mind.
"Dad, we need to talk" said Natasha.
"Alright Tasha, what is it?" asked Larry.
"Give me moment dad, let me finish doing this first, then we can talk, okay?" asked Natasha.
"Alright Tasha, whatever you say" said Larry as he nodded his head, he hoped that whatever it was that Natasha wanted to talk to him about was not that serious, but then again, this was his daughter that he was talking about, it was either she was in trouble, or something else.
"Thanks Dad" said Natasha as she smiled and she walked out of the dining room, she had to brace herself, she knew that her father wouldn't like what she had to tell him at all.
…
"Now Tasha, tell me what's wrong, you are worrying me" said Larry as he looked at Natasha as they both sat down in the living room.
"Dad, you know that I love you very, very, vey much" said Natasha as she started to talk.
"Did you get into trouble Tasha?" asked Larry in worry.
"No dad, no, I'm not in trouble… this time" said Natasha as Larry still looked confused and worried.
"Then what is it?" asked Larry.
"Dad, I know that I can't ask you to promise me that you won't be upset, but please try to understand my decision" said Natasha as she held her father's hand.
"Okay, what is it Tasha? You are scaring me" said Larry.
"Dad, I've been thinking about the future for the past few days, my future, and I realized that yes, you are right, I can't take care of you forever, I need to do my own things as well" said Natasha as Larry just looked at her as she spoke.
"I do want to get married, and have children someday, not now, but someday, and I want to work and earn a living" said Natasha as Larry nodded.
"Which is why Dad, I have decided that…" said Natasha as she took a deep breath, she couldn't believe that she was saying this right now, she was sure that her dad would freak once he heard what she was about to say.
"I'm going to marry Dom…" said Natasha as she braced herself for her father's reaction as to her surprise Larry said nothing at all as he sighed.
"*Sigh*, Why?" asked Larry as Natasha held on to his hand tightly.
"Well because it's for the best Dad, I mean… I don't see anything wrong with it… let's be honest dad, I'm not really someone high for romance, I would never actually date anyone, it just doesn't interest me, and besides, we've known Dom's family for a long time, we are even business partner's now, I don't see any better choice than this" said Natasha.
"Tasha, I know what you are trying to say, but have you thought this through? Marriage isn't a game, and besides, you are still very young, you can eventually later in life, think of all that" said Larry.
"Dad I know, and I have thought about it, and this is the best choice that I can make" said Natasha.
"Are you sure about this Tasha?" asked Larry.
"I am very sure Dad" said Natasha as she nodded her head.
"Do you love Dom?" asked Larry.
"Yes Dad I do" said Natasha as she replied and she nodded her head.
"Not that kind of love Tasha, I mean the other kind, the one that will able to sustain a marriage, the kind of love that two people feel for each other that would want them to make a commitment" Larry.
"Well Dad, yes I love Dom… not in that way, but I love him… and I…" said Natasha.
"Stop right there Tasha, because you certainly did not think this through, how can you marry a man that you don't even love? Just out of convenience" said Larry.
"Dad, I don't need this right now, I don't want to second guess myself, I know that I have made the best decision for myself" said Natasha.
"Weren't you the one who told me to start making my own choices, and I made my own choice, I am fine with it" said Natasha.
"Tell me the real reason you are going ahead with this Tasha, is someone pressuring you, what did Ernest say about this?" asked Larry as he sighed, he really hated the fact that he had told Natasha to start making her own decisions, it was like it had come back and blown up in his face.
It was not like he did not like Dom, far from it, he knew that he was a very good man, and he admired his strength and tenacity, he came from a good family, but the problem here was that both of them were getting married for the wrong reason entirely.
"No Dad, no one Is pressuring me" said Natasha.
"Then what does Dom think about this?" asked Larry.
"Well he always knew that Grandfather would choose a wife for him, and he's glad that it's me… but I know Dom, if I say no, then he will be fine with it" said Natasha.
"So you are doing this mostly because of Dom aren't you?" asked Larry.
"Well I want to help him out… besides Dad, I already told you that I made a decision, I know where you are going, I am not calling off the engagement" said Natasha as Larry sighed, she could be so stubborn when she wanted to be, something she got from her mother, and not him.
"I know you think that I am being stubborn right now, but didn't you say that you would support me in anything that I do?" asked Natasha as Larry sighed.
"My Tasha, you are not thinking about the long term effect of this decision of yours, what will happen in the future? A marriage cannot survive without love" said Larry.
"Dad, we will be fine, Dom and I love each other on a platonic level, we respect each other" said Natasha as Larry sighed.
"You are not going to change your mind about this are you?" asked Larry as Natasha shook her head, he could see the stubbornness in her eyes.
"Dad, just say something, please say something, that you support me, that you understand me" said Natasha as Larry sighed.
"I don't support you, neither do I understand you, I still think that this is a bad idea, but you are an adult, you are free to do whatever you want to do, and even though I don't like it, I will support you, just know where I stand in this Tasha, I don't want to see you get hurt" said Larry.
"Thank you Dad, I won't get hurt, not at all" said Natasha as she smiled and Larry sighed helplessly.
"Thank you dad, I love you" said Natasha as she smiled and Larry just looked at her as he really hoped that she would be alright with this step that she was taking.
...
"Well congratulations man, this calls for celebration" said Charlie as he smiled.
"Celebration for what?" asked Dom.
"Well you are getting married aren't you?" asked Charlie.
"Well yes" said Dom as he shook his head, he had expected a more defensive reaction from Michael, Charlie and Nine when he broke the news to them, but to his surprise, there was nothing of that sort at all.
"Funny to think that very soon you will be a married man, this does call for celebration, Charlie get some wine" said Michael as he looked at Charlie and Charlie smiled as Nine nodded.
"Okay wait a minute, come back here Charlie" said Dom as Charlie sat back down.
"You guys aren't upset? You don't see anything wrong with this whole engagement to Natasha thing?" asked Dom.
"No" replied Nine.
"Not at all" replied Michael.
"Why should we be upset?" asked Charlie.
"I mean for one, Natasha Is like a little sister to all of us, you really aren't going to defend her, or say something against this engagement thing?" asked Dom.
"Well no, you and Natasha are good together" said Charlie.
"We are?" asked Dom as he looked at Nine and Nine nodded his head.
"Dom you can't be serious, don't tell me that you have never noticed it?" asked Michael as Dom looked at him.
"Noticed what?" asked Dom in confusion.
"You and Natasha work very well together, you flow well, she's nice and sweet, and she also has he temperament to listen to you, and when you both disagree, you always find a common ground, it's like you two were made for each other, don't tell me that you have never seen it?" asked Charlie.
"Well no, I do agree that we work well together, but I never thought of it like that" said Dom.
"She is good for you, she knows how to control you without you even knowing, she's the only one who can change your mind about something, knowing how stubborn you are" said Nine.
"Wow Nine, ouch, you were waiting to use that one" said Dom as he sighed.
"You and Natasha are perfect for each other" said Michael.
"Wait, but we don't even love each other like that, I know that love is an essential part of marriage, I never considered it before, but now that Natasha is part of this whole thing, I don't want her to get hurt, she deserves better" said Dom.
"Aww, what a man, thinking about what's best for his future wife" said Charlie.
"I'm serious Charlie, we are talking about Natasha here, the last thing I would want to do to her is hurt her, she deserves a man that truly loves her, I don't" said Dom as he was starting to think that maybe he should call of this whole thing and let Ernest choose someone else.
"Well you forget one thing Dom, love can grow, and also, you two are perfect for each other, stop overthinking it, what will happen, will happen" said Charlie as Dom ignored him and he looked at Michael.
"Well Dom, did Natasha say that she didn't want this?" asked Michael.
"No, she did say that she thought it would be awkward though, but she agrees that this Is merely out of convenience and nothing else" said Dom.
"if she didn't show any displeasure or discomfort with this, then it means that she is fine with it, she accepts it, and she knows what you both are getting yourselves into" said Michael as Dom knew that he was right about that.
"On second thought, if you both aren't comfortable with this, it's better to call the whole thing off" said Nine.
"No, I'm comfortable with anything, it's Natasha I'm worried about" said Dom.
"Oh you all think too much, like I said, what will happen will happen, Dom you know Natasha better than anyone else, and she knows you well, you both have love for each other, and respect as well, with all that, you will be fine" said Charlie.
"Are you sure about that?" asked Dom.
"Absolutely" said Charlie as he nodded his head.
"Oh I need to get aunt to start planning the wedding, I've been waiting to have an excuse to wear my shiny, yellow suit" said Charlie as he laughed and Michael, Dom and Nine groaned.
"There is no way that you are wearing that suit to my wedding" said Dom as he laughed.
"I will get Natasha to change your mind" said Charlie as he smiled and Dom laughed as he shook his head.
…
"I'm marrying Dom" said Natasha as she moved her phone from her ear as she knew what would happen next.
"WHAT??!" came Lia's shocked voice as she literally screamed while she was in a library, she quickly got all her stuff as she walked out of the library quickly as everyone looked at her.
"Are you crazy Natasha???" asked Lia as she walked outside.
"No, I'm not, I am fine, and I am serious as well" said Natasha as she put her phone back to her ear.
"But where did this come from?" asked Lia.
"Well Grandfather first suggested it, and I thought about it, and well it's for the best" said Natasha.
"Natasha are you crazy right now? You can't marry DOM, YOU CAN'T MARRY HIM, ARE YOU SERIOUS, WE ARE NOT PLAYING A GAME OVER HERE, LITERAL MARRIAGE IS INVOLVED" said Lia as she raised her voice hoping that Natasha would hear her better and change her mind, she was so glad that she was the only one outside right now.
"Well Dom and I spoke and we agreed already to marry, I only decided to tell you" said Natasha as she smiled.
"Oh and I tested your code, it was good, it has a few bugs though, I need to exit twice before it actually closes" said Natasha.
"Don't speak about the code Natasha, forget about that stupid code, you are literally ruining your life right now, you don't love Dom, and he doesn't love you, cancel the wedding, the engagement, the everything" said Lia.
"No, no, and no, I've already made up my mind Lia" said Natasha.
"Oh I hate that you are so stubborn, it's clear that you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today, what does Uncle Larry think about this?" asked Lia.
"Well we didn't like it" said Natasha.
"As he should" said Lia.
"But he decided to support me anyway" said Natasha.
"You are insane Natasha, you can't marry a man that you don't even love, and he doesn't love you as well, you know what, it's clear that you have already made up your mind, I am going to talk to Dom, this shall not stand, not at all" said Lia as she ended the call in anger.
"What in the world is this insane idea, of all the things" said Lia as she ranted to herself.
"She'll calm down soon" said Natasha to herself as she laughed and her phone rang as she declined the call, Pete was calling her, and she really was not in the mood for another chewing out from someone who did not agree with her decision.
…
"Hello" said Dom as he picked up his call.
"Dom, DOM, DOM DOMINIC, DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD WITH THIS INSANITY AND MARRY Natasha!!" came Lia's voice as she shouted and Dom moved his phone from his ear.
"Lia relax, and yes, we are getting married" said Dom as Lia sighed in frustration.
"But this is horrible, she does not love you, and you don't love her, you deserve a woman that loves you" said Lia as Dom was looking through some files on his desk.
"Love is out of the equation Lia, it's just what's best" said Dom.
"But… But, this is unfair Dom, think logically, you and Natasha aren't good for each other, not at all, how can you marry someone whose like a sister to you?" asked Lia.
"I can, because like you said, she is like my sister, and I love her, I won't want to hurt her, and we know each other well" said Dom.
"Dom please, I beg you, don't get married to Natasha, not her, please, don't get married at all, you are only 25" said Lia.
"You know how Grandfather is" said Dom.
"Look Lia, I'm actually at work right now, I will talk to you later" said Dom as he ended their call.
"But… But…" said Lia as she did not know what to say as she sighed in frustration and she dialed another number as her call was picked.
"Nine, Nine, I feel horrible, Dom and Natasha are getting married" said Lia as she started to cry and Nine sighed as he had expected this reaction.
"There, there Lia, calm down, you know that Dom has no choice" said Nine as he tried to calm Lia down.
"No, I know that he doesn't, but what does it have to be her? Why? It's so unfair" said Lia as she cried.
"They shouldn't go on with this" said Lia as she cried.
"Lia are you reacting like this because you actually care about Dom and Natasha making a mistake, or because of something else?" asked Nine.
"Just shut up Nine and tell me that everything is going to be okay, I don't want this to happen" said Lia as she cried.
"If you speak to me that way, it's clear that you want to be alone" said Nine.
"No Nine, please don't go, I'm sorry, I just don't want this to happen" said Lia as she cried and Nine sighed.
"Lia, don't be like this, we have to be happy for them" said Nine as Lia just cried.
"I need a hug right now, I wish you were here" said Lia as she cried.
"I wished that I was there with you as well" said Nine as he smiled sadly and Lia cried even more.
"Let it all out Lia, it will be fine" said Nine as Lia cried her eyes out.