Dodger ran ahead while Chris and Denise strolled behind him, fingers interlaced, across the stone footpath on the pristine lawn where each blade of grass looked as though someone had personally trimmed it with a pair of scissors. The location checked all the boxes. It was romantic, it was simple yet somehow still extravagant, and it was capable of accommodating all their three hundred and fifty-six guests. It was no wonder the venue had been in such high demand, the wondrous thing was how Chris and Denise got the venue despite their wedding being planned in such short notice.

When Luca called the first time, it was already the 17th of August. She knew their chances to acquire such a popular venue were zero to none, so she'd anticipated the 'no' received. There were backup venues but the private property Chris and Denise were currently strolling, that was their first choice. They decided they couldn't give up on their preferred location without at least trying to get a 'yes', they arranged a meeting and drove down to Malibu to see if a negotiation could be had. They weren't planning on using Chris' name to get what they wanted, but they also weren't planning to complain if the owners became more accommodating after seeing who the groom was. Surprisingly, it wasn't the groom they needed to see but the bride instead.

Denise gasped when she saw her little savior, Jack, running around the front yard with his Captain America action figure in his hand. Suddenly, it all clicked. The boy's last name was D'aria, The D'aria Mansion was the wedding venue. Fate had once again done its magic. Denise turned to Chris and explained, "that's Jack. He's the one I helped at the airport, he's the reason I'm still alive." She also informed him that little Jack believed Captain America was real and that it would be best if he remained in character around the boy. Jack lost his mind when he saw Chris and Denise get out of their car, barreling towards them screaming with excitement.

"You brought Captain America!" He jumped up and down excitedly, drawing smiles from Chris and Denise with his cuteness. "I can't believe it! Can I hold your shield?" His eyes were so wide with eager Chris felt bad telling him he didn't have it with him. Thankfully Jack was understanding, he dropped it with a "can I hold it next time then?" It was a question Chris happily nodded to.

As it turned out Denise had chosen to help the right little boy, the world was a lot smaller than it seemed and the property was actually owned by his paternal grandparents. When George and Annie found out Denise was the Denise their daughter-in-law and grandson had raved about, they immediately offered to cater for their wedding. They didn't even ask for a date, they simply stated "whatever works for the two of you, works for us." It was an amazing offer, that they took up. But not without thanking them for Jack first. Denise felt slight guilty that they didn't know Jack helped her more than she did him. Chris explained to them that without their grandson, he wouldn't have had Denise, or a wedding, or a child of his own. Regardless the story didn't change their minds, it only strengthened their want to cater their wedding. "It was fate that we were brought together," Annie asserted. Whatever it was that did, Chris and Denise were incredibly grateful.

Chris could not stop admiring Denise while she admired the landscape. She giggled at Dodger, who was having as much fun sniffing the flowers as she was watching him do it. She was so preoccupied with the silly dog to notice the look Chris had on his face, only returning her attention to him when he kissed her cheek. She giggled because after being with him for two years and nine months, his beard still tickled her face.

"I can't believe we're getting married today."

"And becoming parents," she added, resting a hand on her stomach.

Their gazes met and their smiles widened as they thought about the life they were bringing into the world, and how it was going to change theirs. Marriage itself was already a bold step to take with a lot of changes to embrace, now they had parenthood to add to the mix. The puzzle of life was piecing itself together faster than they'd envisaged, Denise wasn't sure if she and Chris had really processed any of it yet.

First their wedding was pushed forward, the planning that should've taken nine months was squished into three. Then they'd found out she was pregnant while they were locked into planning mode, preventing them from preparing for their baby because they hadn't finished preparing for their wedding yet. In between all that bustling, Denise was mixed-up in the 'Delta 423' crash which- seemed insensitive to say as she survived it- but it really threw both of them off. It took them two, nearly three weeks for them to stop waking up in the middle of the night tense and worried that Denise wasn't home and safe beside Chris.

"Oh my God," Denise gasped, lifting the hem of her dress to reveal her heels. "I still haven't thanked you for these." She said and Chris smiled. "I'm surprised my mom let you get me shoes as a wedding gift. She is so superstitious about these things, she practically bit my head off when I wanted to get you shoes for Christmas."

"Trust me, she was very vocal about what it meant if I got you shoes. Very," he emphasized and she laughed, "vocal. 'Chris, it is bad luck. You can't get her shoes because it means she'll walk away from you.'" He mimicked Tina in a high pitched voice, making Denise laugh even harder. "It took quite a while for me to convince her that no superstition was going to tear you away from me."

"Well I love that you got me shoes, and I completely agree. What kind of idiot does she take me for? Like I'd walk away from you." She quipped and he snickered, kissing her hair. "Thank you for the heels, they are truly amazing." She released her dress and kissed his cheek, drawing a smile from him in response. "I would say this was your best surprise, but we both know everything you've done for me is too amazing to even compare. But this- it was a really good one."

"It was a pretty good one," he nodded.

"I'm curious, Chris. Is this what you do with all your spare time?" She playfully bit. "Think of ways to sweep me off my feet, and win at being my better half, and make me fall in-love with you all over again?" He laughed when she poked his side.

"Not all my spare time," he winked and she giggled. "Sometimes I go for runs with Dodger, other times I nap, or watch football, or read a book." She rolled her eyes, involuntarily smiling. "I'll also admit to watching my beautiful fiancée as she goes through life completing mundane tasks that oddly don't look as mundane when she's doing them."

"You are such a dork," she laughed, playfully shoving him.

"Yet somehow, somewhere-" He looped an arm around her waist and pulled her into him. "I got the most amazing girl to fall in-love with me." She felt her eyes well at his sentence and her arms wrapped around his neck. "How did I get so lucky?" He whispered, resting his forehead against hers.

"I ask myself that every day."

They shared a tender kiss under the big oak tree behind the reception hall, one that had been beautifully decorated. With garlands of champagne roses, white and turquoise lace paper lanterns, and dripping fairy lights that would turn on later in the night. In contribution to the subtle hints of Disney that Chris and Denise wanted on their wedding day, there were even Mickey and Minnie head shaped floral pomanders dangling from the branches too.

"Our wedding is going to be perfect," Chris affirmed.

As though Ed had heard what Chris had just said, he appeared playing a slower, more acoustic version of his 'Perfect'. Dodger barked, diverting Chris and Denise's attention towards Ed. They released a breathless chuckle filled with glee when they saw Ed walking towards them. Their photographer remained out of sight as Sebastian had advised, but he was taking some wonderfully candid shots of the bride and groom as well as their handsome dog.

"Did you plan this?" Chris and Denise simultaneously asked then laughed when they realized neither did. "Well," Chris took a step back from Denise, who knew exactly what his actions were leading up to. "Since Ed Sheeran's already here..." He bowed, one arm behind his back and the other outstretched, patiently waiting for her hand. "Can I have my final dance as your fiancé before I have my first dance with you as your husband?"

"Absolutely," she placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her back into his arms.

"I found a love for me

Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead

Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet

Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me"

"This is a moment we're going to remember for the rest of our lives, isn't it?"

"Every moment with you is," Chris smiled. "It has all been seared into my mind, nothing has been or will be forgotten." He promised her and her eyes welled with tears. "I can still remember what you were wearing the first time I saw you, the way you smiled when that little boy compared his glasses with yours, and the way you pouted when that security dog got pulled away from the conversation you were having with him."

"Do you remember the way I snapped at you?" She giggled.

"Why that was the moment I knew you were the one, darling."

"'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love

Not knowing what it was

I will not give you up this time

But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own

And in your eyes you're holding mine"

"When I wrote my series, that chapter where they're dancing in their backyard..." Denise struggled not to cry with Chris' intent and loving gaze on her. "I truly didn't believe I would ever find that strong a love with someone, let alone the man I wrote about." She admitted and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Sweetheart," he brushed it away with his thumb. "I would've hunted you down if I didn't run into you first. You were something special, I knew that after reading the first chapter. And I tried to find you, y'know- I tried, but I failed," he admitted, sighing. "But then I found out who the pretty girl at JFK was and the elaborate search I had planned to find you became redundant." Hearing him recount all that had led up to where they were now made her smile. "I called you refreshing when I first met you and I meant it. You were a breath of fresh air," he asserted.

"Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song

When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath

But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight"

"And you still are," he continued. "For so many years, I felt like I was threading water. And after my relationship with Jenny ended, I thought I'd drowned because she felt like my last chance at love. I tried to convince myself there was someone out there for me, but like you- I didn't think I would ever find that someone. Then-" He huffed his relief, smiling. "I met you and it felt like..." He trailed off, attempting to find the perfection description. "Like I'd been resurrected. You've been telling me since we met that I saved you, but darling, you saved me. You glued the pieces of my heart back together and reignited the fire within my soul. You saved my life, Denise."

"Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know

She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home

I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets

To carry love, to carry children of our own"

"And now, you're bringing a new one forth; a child that I plan to love as much as I love you." His promise widened her smile as she inched herself closer to him. Her head rested against as he whispered, "thank you for giving me everything I've ever wanted, all that matters in life," his minty breath hot against her cheek. "Come January, I hope that you'll receive everything you've ever wanted too. The dream job, the great reputation, and an Oscar to showcase just how much talent you possess."

"I've already got all that matters in life." She closed her eyes and breathed him in as they gently swayed to the music. "The day you told me you were in-love with me...I got everything I wanted." She told him and he felt his heart smile. "The job, the reputation, the Oscar- they stopped being priorities a long time ago. You, and Dodger, and our baby- the three of you, our family- that is all that matters to me now."

"We are still kids, but we're so in love

Fighting against all odds

I know we'll be alright this time"

"I won't fight you on that," Chris smiled at Denise then looked down at Dodger. "And Dodger won't either. Will you, bud?" He asked and Dodger barked his response. His tail wagged excitedly when Denise looked over and smiled at his furry face. She had no problem admitting she was as grateful for Dodger as she was for her soon-to-be husband. "Yeah," Chris chuckled, "you're a good boy."

"Darling, just hold my hand

Be my girl, I'll be your man

I see my future in your eyes

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song

When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful

I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song"

Chris held Denise close, letting his eyelids fall like her. With a smile and a satisfied sigh, he pressed his cheek against hers. The overwhelming feeling of being in-love washed over them. They were both lucky, it was a simple fact. In a world where chaos ensued and darkness roamed; where many relationships lasted a few months and divorces were growing increasingly common- it was incredibly hard to find a love as strong as theirs.

A love like theirs was called fictitious by many, and those who pursued it were labeled as hopeless romantics. Denise was hopeless. Her expectations had been set high and she'd often write thinking what she wrote about was unachievable. And it was, many a time it was, but never once was it unachievable with Chris. Chris fought to let the relationship prevail, he actually made an effort to make things as perfect as humanly possible. Even when he felt like he couldn't live up to her expectations, he tried profusely. And that was why their relationship worked, that was why she called him the man of her dreams; he made an effort to be the best he could be for her, and she, for him.

"I have faith in what I see

Now I know I have met an angel in person

And she looks perfect, I don't deserve this

You look perfect tonight."

"I love you," she whispered, "Chris Evans."

"I love you too," he whispered, "Denise Hogan. Well," he chuckled as he drew back to meet her gaze, "Evans. I should really address you by the name you're about to take, shouldn't I?" He teased and she grinned. She made no attempt to hide her joy and excitement, because why would she? She was marrying the love of her life. "We're going to make a fantastic team. As husband and wife, as parents, and as co-workers one day."

"To quote myself, and Ed Sheeran, 'I don't deserve this.'"

"Me neither," he smiled and pressed his lips against hers.