Aurora walked hand in arm with her father, the weather was fairly gloomy with the sun glowing dimly from between the clouds. She was thankful that it wasn't going to rain today, or at least that was what the forecaster announced earlier this morning. The wedding was an open event, set up in one of the finest gardens she'd ever seen.

"I think it's going to rain," Natasha muttered from beside her, frowning at the darkening clouds.


Mason hissed, jabbing his arm into her side, "Don't jinx it."

Aurora smiled at their banter, shaking her head softly. After the entire rollercoaster, she signed off from the school to the dismay of the Chancellor. Louisa has gotten the role, thank goodness, and she was in the process of preparing for the main competition which was weeks away.

"Don't fret," Her father told them warmly as they settled on the last row of chairs, "It's not going to rain, my feet always tingles whenever it's about to and so far, I haven't felt anything."


They both gave his open mouthed looks and Aurora couldn't help but chuckle,

"He's saying the truth," She inputted, her eyes crinkling at their expression, "And his tingling feet is never wrong."


Aurora turned to face forward, a good amount of people had gathered but she liked that it wasn't a large reception. Sandy had told her that she wanted it to be a small gathering between family and friends, the girl got her wish.

Her roaming eyes found Ryan standing at the pulpit, just behind a fidgety Theo. He was at the middle of two other men and he looked fantastic in his suit with his hair styled and gelled back.

"Is that him?"

She nearly flinched when she felt warm breath fan the side of her neck, twisting to see her father also peering in the direction of where Ryan stood.

"He's a fine looking male," He commented, bobbing his head in approval.

Aurora blushed, shifting on her seat. Mason leaned closer too, whispering in a voice loud enough for the people at the front row to hear,

"Do you know if he has a younger brother? He's a damn hot snack."

The two older women in front whipped their heads backwards simultaneously, throwing them nasty looks of disapproval. Aurora smiled apologetically while Mason just arched a brow, silently daring them to say something.

Thankfully, the rest of the ceremony went smoothly without any hitches or comments from her entourage about her hot looking male. She was on the verge of regretting bringing them here in the first place. Soon, it was time for the reception and she took the opportunity to go congratulate the newly weds.

Sandy was grateful for the gifts they'd brought her, almost on the verge of tears when she produced two way tickets to France from their honeymoon. She had jumped on Aurora, stubbornly refusing to let go. Meanwhile, Theo was being all cool about it but she spotted the way his eyes had gone soft when he saw the enthusiasm on his wife's face.

Finally, it was time to formally introduce Ryan to her father and she suddenly felt all jittery.

"You look like you swallowed a fish," Ryan joked and she threw him a sharp glare causing him to chuckle, "Relax, we're going to be fine."

And so he held her hand as she directed him towards where her father stood, interacting with a few other men. When he spotted them approaching, he excused himself and sauntered towards them.

Aurora stopped abruptly when they were close enough, her fingers shaky. Ryan tightened his hold on her palm and her father's brow arched when he noticed the gesture,

"Good day, sir," He greeted respectfully with a slight tilt of the head.

Harry just watched him with that business man look that she rarely saw him put except on special occasions and she knew just exactly what he was doing.

Ryan must've noticed because he stood unwavering and she took the opportunity to act as an icebreaker,

"Uh-dad, this is Ryan Thorne and Ryan, this is my father. Harry Rochester," She smiled but none of them reciprocated the gesture, neither moving to shake hands.

Then her father nodded, a tiny movement that anyone would have missed if they weren't looking closely.

"A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, sir," Ryan jutted his arm first and her father accepted the handshake, "I've heard a lot about you from your daughter."

Aurora shot him an alarmed look and her father chuckled softly, releasing his grip on Ryan.

"All good things I hope?"

"Mostly."

Aurora threw him another look. What the hell was he doing? Wasn't he supposed to be making a good first impression?

She felt the intense urge to whack him over the head, quickly turning to her father to explain that he was joking but to her utmost surprise, Harry Rochester guffawed.

A loud echoing laughter that she hadn't heard in a long time. When he finished, his shoulders were still trembling and his emerald eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Come," He extended an arm towards Ryan, "Tell me all about it, I want to hear them."

She could only stare open-mouthed as her father steered Ryan away from her grasp. The devil himself looking over her shoulder to throw her a cheerful wink.

Aurora huffed, crossing her arms on her chest. She had no idea what just happened but she was glad that they were getting along, it meant a lot to her.

"I think your father liked his potential son-in-law," Natasha quipped, handing her a flute filled with champagne.

For a moment, her heart jumped expecting er mother to come out from the crowd and reprimand her for even considering to drink. But then she remembered that she was no longer under her clutches and she expelled a breath,

Aurora gingerly accepted the flute from her friend, taking a small sip, "I honestly didn't expect it to go this well, my father barely accommodates anyone."

"Maybe he's trying to change," Natasha shrugged, her eyes trained on the laughing men in the distance, "After all, he's the one that his daughter loves. He should be willing to compromise."

Aurora nearly choked on her drink, wiping her mouth with the back of her palm, "Excuse me? Did you just say love?"

Natasha threw her an amused look, "Oh, so you choose to accept the son-in-law part but not the part about being in love?"

She could only blink.

Her friend chuckled smugly, clinking their elbows together, "You're absolutely in love, my friend. Just look in the mirror, you'll see what I mean."

She watched as Natasha einkednd sashayed away, joining Mason in the crowd as they interacted with a group of people. Her eyes instinctively found Ryan's, surprised to see that he was already looking at her.

Her father was still talking, actively gesturing with his hand and she cocked a brow. She had never seen him so energetic about something before,

Then his lips pulled into a small smile and she felt her heart flutter in response, excited butterflies swirling in her belly. She grinned in return, allowing the ecstasy of that moment wrap around her like a fuzzy blanket.

Love, wasn't it?

She didn't need to look in the mirror to know what she felt for the man standing across her. Aurora felt it deep in her heart and if she were being honest, she didn't mind.

It was about time anyway.