Who: Serena and Nate, mentions of a bunch of people, open to everyone in the prison. What: Nate & Serena's wedding and reception <3 When: Today Where: The Prison
The day had finally come. Serena was flushing furiously in the small room where she was getting ready with the help of Blair, Penny, Caroline, Elena, Liz and Julia. She didn't care that it wasn't official officially and she didn't care that she couldn't have the beautiful New York wedding she had always dreamed about if she and Nate were ever to get married. This day was going to be perfect and she was feeling a little more confident especially after Penny brought her a glass of wine.
The girls all left to take their place and Serena was alone for the first time all day. She took a deep breath and looked in the mirror. Her hair and makeup were flawless and she was so happy about the dress that Caroline and Elena had to take her all the way to Seattle to get. Just because Vera Wang was probably a zombie now didn't mean that Serena couldn't wear one of her designs. It wasn't made just for her but it felt like it was. Finally, Isabel popped her head in and said it was time.
She wished her dad could be there but she was only sad about that for a moment. She had spent most of her life without William van der Woodsen and didn't mourn his loss as hard as she missed Lily and Eric in that moment. Her mother and brother were far from perfect but they were her family and she felt the void in her life that they used to fill every day. They were her family. Now Nate would be her family. The two of them were mythic, Blair had once said. You don't mess with something like that.
The music started and Serena's eyes were smiling as she walked down to the alley towards the front of the well decorated rec room. Everyone, all of her nearest and dearest were smiling at her and she was smiling everywhere, even on the inside. Her eyes bounced around the room to the front where her bridal party- Blair, Penny, Julia, Caroline, Elena and Liz stood in the dresses she had picked for them. On Nate's side, Chuck and Scott looked handsome in their tuxedos. Because his side was so much smaller, she had tacked Allison on. Lucky they had an extra dress for her. It wasn't fair that Nate's friends were girls. Damon was standing in the middle of the action, smiling- not smirking- but actually smiling at her. And then there was Nate, looking even more devastatingly handsome than usual in his tuxedo and the way he was looking at her. She took a mental snapshot, wanting to capture this moment for eternity.
Serena and Nate had hoped that Faith would be able to perform the ceremony since she was the captain of the ship but she had no problem with Damon. He was her closest friend besides Blair. He was speaking all of the words that Serena had written for him but she wasn't listening, she was just smiling brightly at her husband to be. The two of them had known each other forever. It seemed like this was something in the works ever since they were small children. Even if he had gravitated to Blair first. But not even the force that was Blair Waldorf could keep Serena and Nate apart.
"The bride and groom have elected to say their own vows," Damon finally said.
Nate went first. "Serena... even with things as hopeless as they seem sometimes, I just have to look at you to remember that there will always be hope. You give me that and while you may not know how much it means, it means more than you will ever know. We've been on a long crazy ride and it seems that the universe has bigger plans for us. I couldn't imagine discovering that plan with anyone else but you. I will always be there for you no matter what life throws at us, nothing could ever change that. I have always, and will always, love you."
She felt elated as he slipped the ring onto her finger. It was beautiful just like the other one he had given her. Now it was her turn and she had been practicing all night.
"Nate, I feel like I've known you forever. I know things haven't always been perfect. There have been bumps along the road, mistakes made, choices that forced us apart. But I truly believe that it was fate that brought you all the way across the country and back to me. Nothing, not even an apocalypse can keep the two of us apart. I can't promise there won't be more bumps on the road but I promise to always come back to you. I promise to always come looking for you and I promise to love you forever." With that she slid the ring onto Nate's finger forcing herself not to cry so she wouldn't smear her makeup.
"With the power vested in me from nobody I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," Damon said. And Nate did just that.
With their hands linked together they walked back down the aisle as everyone stood and clapped.
"If everybody could just head to the cafeteria for the reception that would be great!" she heard Caroline directing people in the background.
For the moment she had Nate to herself, she threw her arms around him impulsively and hugged him tightly. "I can't believe we're married." It was all so surreal. They had survived an apocalypse and they were getting married. Serena knew that some people thought it was silly to go on with tradition in a time like this but Serena disagreed. They were still human, they had to carry on and this was how they carried on.
When they finally got themselves together, fixed hair and makeup, they walked to the cafeteria where the entire bridal party was announced and then Nate and Serena. Where they danced to their first song.