we change the ending;

It was official, he really hated parties. His own wedding reception was no exception. Still, as he looked over at the woman sitting beside him, he had to admit there was one benefit to the whole deal. It wasn’t every day he was able to show off someone as beautiful as Olivia in her wedding dress off to a room full of people. Even if they did have to sit there at the table, soon to be dealing with people coming to congratulate them and take pictures, it seemed worth it in order to call her his wife. 

Reaching over, he placed his hand over hers and gave it a soft squeeze as he gave her an even softer smile. Nate leaned in, in part because there was noise surrounding them and in part because he wanted the exchange to be just for them. “Liv, you look beautiful. You’ve always looked beautiful but today…today you honestly look like a goddess, one who could put Aphrodite to shame.” @oliviarwhite​

It had been an absolutely insane 24 hours. Last few weeks, really. After stressing over every little thing, from the flowers to the food to the rearranged and then rearranged again seating arrangements, the actual wedding was over and the reception was in full swing. There were under 50 people there, which was almost unheard of for a modern royal wedding, but in the interest of keeping things small and doable, there’d been a hard mental limit for the girl (and her parents... mostly her parents).

Was it enough to make sure Nate was comfortable? Maybe not. She still remembered what had happened during the first ball they attended together. But hopefully it helped just a little bit to know that everyone in that room was actually a friend. No press allowed. Very few authorized plus ones.

Simply enjoying the fact that the stressful part was over, Liv was busy trying to ascertain if the guests were having a nice time when she felt a squeeze of her hand and immediately turned her attention to Nate. Her husband. Still crazy.

“You are one of the only people that can deliver that compliment and actually fully mean it,” she pointed out, returning his smile. “You look better, I promise. We did it.”

Ava was not typically someone who felt strong emotions, or at least let them affect her in ways that were obvious to an outsider observer. If there was one thing she knew she was good at, it was bottling up her emotions and letting them pour over until one day, she died. It was a talent she had been cultivating for years under the scrutiny of the Knights of the Round Table, who either wanted her to be her mother or her father.

But in this moment, staring at her friend of so many years straightening out the lines of her wedding dress before preparing to walk down the aisle towards her love, made Ava’s heart twist uncomfortably tight.

Cautiously, she took a few steps towards Olivia. Nothing felt right. There were no words. She had been there at the dress fittings of course but this moment was so much more than that. It was everything. For a moment, she feared what might come of a friendship she considered to be incredibly dear. The thought of losing Olivia to marriage was terrifying. But there was no denying how happy Nate made her. If anyone deserved that sort of love, that sort of goodness in their lives, it was Olivia without a doubt.

“You look…wonderful.” She swallowed hard and tried to calm her shaky hands. “Gods I think you might have broken me.” Ava sniffed and turned her gaze to the ceiling. 

@oliviarwhite​

It was weird to think that her wedding day had finally arrived.

Olivia had been more or less been taught to plan for it for her entire life thus far (though many things had changed over the years, including the groom), but between running back and forth between Auradon University and Charmington in order to prepare to keep things running in her portion of the kingdom and keeping up with her graduate work, it had almost felt like January 1st would never come. How she and Nate had managed to plan a wedding in the middle of all the craziness was truly unknown to her, and perhaps once they realized just how crazy things were going to be they should have rescheduled, but... standing there, smoothing out her dress and thinking over everything that had led up to that moment, suddenly none of that mattered.

She’d had a breakdown the previous day, but she was fine now. Calm, even, which was the last thing she’d expected to feel.

Turning to look over her bridal party one last time before they got things started, Liv was immediately taken aback by Ava’s unexpected words.

“You said you don’t own tear ducts,” she pointed out, taking a few steps towards the girl. “If you cry I’m going to cry and then I’m not going to stop.”

Ava: Consider me there. Is there anything you'd like me to bring to help the day go smoother? A bottle of tequila and some limes?

Ava: I'm kidding. I'll just bring tissues

LIV: A surprisingly tempting offer considering how I have no interest in drinking.

NATE: I know babe, I know.

NATE: it's been stressful, but it will be worth it cause we'll be together and we'll be married.

LIV: i rearranged the seating chart so hopefully all of our friends are able to be somewhat happy and carefree for one night.

Ava: I know I know. Propriety and what not. Contrary to popular belief I do know how to be a proper Princess.

Ava: It's hard to imagine this is happening at all but I suppose we'll just have to deal with it come what may

Ava: Speaking of more important things: when is your final dress fitting?? Did you want me to come?

LIV: And I fully believe that. Proper princess technique is instilled in us all from as early an age as our parents can make things stick.

LIV: I suppose so.

Ava: Above all I feel bad for everyone involved in such a messy situation. This isn't an ideal set up for anyone

Ava: Including us, but especially them. I know the pressure from his parents is immense but I feel like there are infinitely better ways to have handled this situation with Ela

Ava: alright alright, i understand your point. Sometimes I miss how we solved things in Camelot. If i can hit you harder I win.

LIV: no, it is not. i still can't believe this is happening.

LIV: there are. and eventually those ideas will come to him, i am sure. a little too late, but... what's done is done. his parents are thrilled, i'm sure.

NATE: No I'm for sure feeling the stress of...everything really.

NATE: ...you're still wanting to do it right? getting married?

LIV: i do.

LIV: i just wish i hadn't been bouncing around so much between kingdoms while we've been planning. it definitely didn't make it less stressful.

TRISS: I guess they were willing to deal with it if they were getting what they want. For people who were allowed their "true" love. They are very persistent about robbing their son of one. But I dont regret agreeing to do this. If it will help Mitch in the end.

TRISS: Sounds like a good plan Ela said they have been camped out side her apartment. Mother hired a private security firm to be at my building. I think it's a bit excessive but she wouldn't budge on the idea.

OLIVIA: I thought that my breaking our arrangement would give him that chance. And if not, at least more time. I can't believe that they kept to their deadline.

OLIVIA: But what about you?

NATE: I am, yeah.

LIV: thank gods.

NATE: eight days.

LIV: i know that we're supposed to be incredibly eager and excited and while i am... it also feels like these 8 days will be the longest days of my life. are you feeling that too, or?

Ava: I try my best to avoid the rumor mill. It's complicated and it makes me want whiskey. As does the reason behind people doing anything. Especially Mitch. I have no idea what the hell is going on in his or Triss' head and I'm not sure I want to know right now.

Ava: I'll use this as a reminder for any AU freshman who wonder what it's like to have your life together as an adult.

Ava: I offered to light something on fire so it would be a distraction and Mitch could get the hell out of dodge but he told me know so I'm fresh out of helpful ideas.

LIV: The journalist in me has varying opinions about it, but besides running the paper, the journalist in me had temporarily been squashed, so. I actually do know what was going on in their heads. Very well.

LIV: That no one ever has their life together? Good call.

TRISS: Honestly it was a little more rushed then intended. But... Mitch's parents are a little unrelenting. He had til the beginning of the year so... here we are.

TRISS: I for one completely promise to be on my best behavior. I need to have a sit down with Ela. So I'll make sure to do that before the wedding. Hopefully get some common ground between us.

OLIVIA: Yeah, I know. I just thought... given the family's aversion to scandal, they'd have given him a little more time. I mean, they shouldn't be forcing it on him at all. We'd given several reasons why... I figured one of them might've stuck. Very, very deep down to unearth itself at the right time.

TRISS: I imagine you've already hear everything about the solstice ball.

TRISS: I just wanna make sure you're not upset.

TRISS: Also if it would make thing easier for the wedding. I can step out of your wedding party. I dont want to cause any more tension.

OLIVIA: Indeed I have.

OLIVIA: It’s... a little weird and the timing is not ideal, I’ll be honest.

Ava: if the fact that all the text messages I'm getting from Ela are in the strange undecipherable drunk language she uses, I'm afraid that's a negative on the possibility of a miscommunication.

Ava: Would you really be that surprised if they were? For a group of people that all got their happily ever afters our parents certainly enough trying to force narratives onto their children.

Ava: Front page is just collateral damage I'm sure. Or maybe they want everyone to know their son is engaged. I honestly have no idea what the hell is going through anyone's mind right now.

Ava: And this is why I exist behind a bullet proof wall of emotionless sarcasm.

LIV: Well this is... not good.

LIV: Yes. It's just so... unfair. I didn't think that me breaking the arrangement would result in this.

LIV: This is insane. You would think that they'd want to stay OUT of the papers, not be the front page news for something that is not exactly going to make the family look great. This is all very sudden. The rumor mill is going to be swirling and the rumor mill is VERY mean.

Mitch: I'm not surprised. Everyone's heard and everyone has an opinion.

Mitch: I was joking, Liv. I can't fucking leave. Imagine what headline I'd wake up to tomorrow if I split from the ball announcing my engagement.

Mitch: Besides the ball is probably ending soon. Half these royals are old ass geezers who need to be in bed by 9 after having one glass of wine.

Mitch: If you're up for it, maybe you could come over once this whole thing is over.

Liv: The press has already asked me for mine.

Liv: Didn't know that part. My sources have only provided me with so much info on the night. But I think you could still do it... it's not the most headline-worthy moment of the night.

Liv: Then you will stick it out. But only until the oldest of geezers (who is hopefully the first one to head out) leaves.

Mitch: you don't happen to be in Auradon City right now do you?

Mitch: I'm about to ditch my own fucking ball. Or have a breakdown. Honestly not too sure which one is gonna come first.

Liv: I am...

Liv: I may or may not have heard about what I assume is driving you towards a breakdown.

Ava: oh no no. They were here as an official couple, at least as far as I can tell. It would make sense as to why Ela is in absolutely downward spiral.

Ava: Not to be dramatic but yes, it is absolutely a disaster tonight. Probably not the worst royal party in the history of the world since no one is deceased yet, but it certainly isn't something I want to be seeing with my own two eyes.

Ava: Any chance this has anything to do with Mitch's required engagement?

Ava: don't worry, I'll make sure the wedding party behaves itself.

LIV: What?? There has to have been a miscommunication somewhere.

LIV: Give it time, I guess. The night is apparently still young.

LIV: His parents cannot possibly still be enforcing that. Especially if it's going to make their family ripe for front page headlines in all of the gossip magazines.