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T he next months were filled with numerous meetings with Luna's newly hired wedding planner. Her wedding planner, Cynthia, was a real go-getter, and together, they were ensuring that Luna had the wedding of a lifetime. She was so excited to be planning her dream wedding. She had her flowers and colors picked out. Her colors for the wedding were purple and red, which she felt truly represented the passion and love she and Hunter had for each other. She would be carrying a bouquet of tiger lilies, as would her bridesmaids, Ella and Lisa.

Hunter had been home more since the hockey season was over. He was still training but not as hard. It had been nice to have him home more, and Luna appreciated the help around the house and with Adam since she had developed more into her pregnancy. Adam’s health had been stable; he was getting ready to start kindergarten. Hunter could not believe how big he was getting, and everyone was so happy to know he was in good spirits and health. Hunter and Luna finally broke the news to Adam that he was going to be a big brother, and to their surprise, he was elated at the news. He was excited to be a big brother, which made Hunter and Luna happy.

Luna's pregnancy had caused her to have morning sickness and to grow into a new size of pants. She was still getting used to how different her body looked. Hunter assured her that she was still beautiful, but she had her reservations. She knew it was normal to feel this way, as her body was changing dramatically in a short amount of time, after all. Between taking care of the house, getting Adam ready for school, planning a wedding, and being pregnant, she felt that she had a lot on her plate. Still, she felt as if everything in the world was right as it should be. She didn’t mind all of the responsibilities. In fact, she enjoyed taking care of the household, and she knew that Hunter appreciated it as well. She looked down at her phone and saw that Cynthia, the wedding planner, was calling her.

Luna: Hello.

Cynthia: Hey Luna, how are you?

Luna: Hey, Cynthia! I am doing well; I am just busy with all these wedding details. Are we still good to meet at Cipriani’s to try on wedding dresses today?

Cynthia: Of course! I’m actually really excited to see what dresses you’ve had in mind.

Luna: Well, I’ve narrowed it down to a few options. Noon works for you, right?

Cynthia: Absolutely. I’ll be there. Can’t wait!

Luna got off the phone with Cynthia and looked at the clock. It was already ten in the morning. She still had to call the caterer and ensure her mother and sister’s flights were scheduled. Luna sighed. She went and changed clothes. While she was getting dressed, Hunter walked in from his office.

“How is it going, honey?” he asked her. “Are you going dress shopping today?”

“I sure am,” she replied. “Did you want to come with me?”

Hunter shook his head. He told her that it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress before they were married. It was an American superstition. Luna laughed. She told Hunter that it was a silly superstition and that they had no reason to worry.

“I actually think it would be good if you came,” she said to him honestly. “Maybe they can ensure the measurements for your suit are still good. You have bulked up with more muscle lately.”

Luna looked at Hunter with fire in her eyes. He looked good—more muscular lately—and he laughed, enjoying her admiration. Finally, he agreed to go wedding dress shopping with her. The two continued getting ready while they waited for Ella to arrive to watch Adam. When there was a knock at the door, Luna rushed to let Ella into the apartment.

“My goodness, you’re getting so big!” Ella exclaimed, looking at Luna. “I guess you’ll pop soon!”

Luna glanced down at her stomach. Approaching her eighth month of pregnancy, she realized she had been so busy planning the wedding that she hadn’t noticed how quickly her pregnancy had flown by. She hadn’t fully grasped how close she was to going into labor.

Ella and Luna exchanged pleasantries, and when it was time to go, Adam ran to the front door and hugged Hunter and Luna goodbye.

“I am going to be a big brother soon!” Adam yelled with excitement as he pointed at her belly.

“Well, we still have some time,” she said to Adam.

They all said goodbye to one another. Luna and Hunter walked out of the apartment complex and into the car, waiting for them outside. When she got in the car, she saw an old newspaper from two days ago. She picked it up and read it.

The newspaper article covered Luna and Hunter’s engagement, a topic that still occasionally appeared in the press, especially after the team's latest victory. With an undefeated season under their belt, Hunter had become one of the most popular players among journalists, ensuring their relationship remained a topic of interest. Luna read the headline: “Nanny Engaged to Hot Hockey Player.” She remembered how such headlines used to upset her, making her feel sick with anxiety. But now, she found she didn't care. She had grown significantly, both as an individual and in her relationship with Hunter.

Surprisingly, the news of her pregnancy had yet to reach the tabloids. Luna wondered if the paparazzi simply hadn’t caught wind of it or if they had moved on to the latest hot topic. With a sigh, she tossed the newspaper aside. Hunter observed her, noting how calm she was. It made him happy to see that she was no longer letting the press get under her skin.

Luna saw Cynthia waiting for them on the sidewalk at Cipriani’s. She greeted them as they got out of the car. Hunter told the driver to pick them up in two hours. The driver nodded in agreement. The three of them entered the dress shop and looked at wedding dresses.

The seamstress explained to Luna that exact measurements could not be taken until after Luna had her baby. Today would just be about finding the right style of dress, and then Luna would return to the dress shop in a month or so. She did not worry. They had plenty of time. The wedding would not be until next summer.

Luna looked through the dresses and eventually found the most perfect lace, long-sleeved dress. It had a vintage feel to it, and it looked so elegant. Luna knew that the seamstress could not take her measurements that day, but she wanted to find out if there was a way she could still try the dress on. She asked an assistant in the store to find that dress style in her current size.

“Do you want to get a sense of what it will look like?” she asked Hunter with earnest.

Hunter nodded, excitement bubbling within him at the thought of seeing Luna in a wedding dress. He couldn't wait to marry her. The store assistant entered the dressing room with Luna to help her.

Although the dress was a bit tight, it fit her well. She gazed into the mirror, imagining how it would look once her body returned to normal after pregnancy.

Suddenly, there was a light knock on the door. “Are you going to show me?” Hunter called out. “I want to see how it looks.”

Luna opened the dressing room door and slowly stepped out, catching Hunter's gaze. He was in awe; she looked stunning. She twirled to admire herself in the mirror again. The dress was perfect.

“You are so beautiful,” Hunter said, his voice filled with admiration.

Luna turned toward him, but as she did, she felt something wet trickling down her leg. Looking down, she realized in horror that her water had just broken—right there in the wedding dress. Panic washed over her; she thought she had more time, but reality hit: she was about to go into labor. Hunter watched in shock as the situation unfolded before him.

“Oh, my goodness!” he said to her with excitement. “It is time! There is a to-go bag in the car. I will call the driver and have him pick us up here pronto. Are you excited?”

Luna sat down on the couch. Her contractions were starting to become fast and painful, and the closer she got to having the baby, the more scared she became. She was going to become a mother, and although she was excited, she was scared too. She went back into the dressing room and quickly changed into her regular clothes. Then, Hunter and Luna rushed outside and got into the car. Cynthia wished them good luck and told them that she would be in touch soon.

When they finally got to the hospital, Luna was rushed back into a room. Hunter held her hand every step of the way, but he could tell that she was nervous.

“You are going to do great, honey,” he reassured her. “You have nothing to worry about.”

Luna held on tightly to Hunter’s hand. She did not think that she could do this without his support. Time passed, and finally, late that night, Luna gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Luna could not believe how much she loved her already.

“She is beautiful,” Hunter said. “I can’t believe that we made her together.”

Luna and Hunter were in awe of their little girl. Within two days, Luna was discharged from the hospital and was able to go home. They both were excited to introduce their little girl, who they decided to name Lily, to Adam. Luna walked in with baby Lily in her arms.

“She is so beautiful,” Ella said to Hunter and Luna. “Congratulations, you two. Adam, come meet your baby sister.”

Adam walked over and stared at Lily. They knew that he was going to be an excellent big brother. When Lily was finally asleep, Luna thought it was best that she had a nap as well. Luna lay on the bed in the nursery as her baby slept. Hunter walked in and saw the two of them sleeping. They both looked so peaceful, and he did not want to disturb them. For a moment, he could not believe how lucky he was. He had another chance at a family. He was so incredibly thankful for that. Nothing was more important to him than family.

The months passed, and slowly but surely, Hunter and Luna adjusted to having a newborn around. Their lifestyles slightly changed, but they also had so much joy. Adam was still in good health, and he greatly enjoyed being a big brother.

One day, Luna looked at the calendar and realized that her and Hunter’s wedding was in three weeks. Everything was in order, thank goodness, and she had even been able to get her measurements for her wedding dress. She was starting to feel like herself again, and she felt as though she had her sexiness back. She felt good in her body, and she could not wait for Hunter to see her walk down the aisle.

A week before the wedding, Luna’s sister and mother landed in the city. She was happy to have her family in from Guatemala. They were all excited for the wedding. They knew how much work Luna had put into planning it, and it was said to be the wedding of the century. Plus, it would be nice to have her sister and mother help with the baby. Hunter had been training more as of late, and she was going to need all of the help she could get.

“Lily, that is such a beautiful name,” Lisa said to her sister. “Are you excited for the big day? In a way, it is kind of like you two are married already. This wedding will just be a celebration of that.”

Luna agreed with her sister, and when the time came a week later for their wedding, Luna was the most beautiful bride. She stood looking at herself in her wedding dress. She became startled when she noticed Hunter walk into the room.

“I thought that it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?” she teased her soon-to-be husband.

Hunter laughed.

“Oh, baby,” he started to say to her. “I think we both had all the bad luck we could have already.”

Hunter walked over to his soon-to-be wife. He took her hands as he looked deeply into her eyes. He could not believe how far they had come together. They had been through so much already, and with each other, they knew that everything was possible. Hunter leaned down and gently kissed Luna. She embraced him. All felt right in the world, and what made it all better was that her mother and sister were there as well to celebrate this special day.

“Are you ready for this?” Hunter asked Luna. “Are you ready to become husband and wife?”

“Let’s do this,” she said with love in her heart to Hunter. “I knew that you were the one for me the first night that we met.”

It was time for Luna and Hunter to become husband and wife. Luna had her mother walk her down the aisle. It was a special moment for all of them. When the time came, her mother happily gave her hand to Hunter. Adam was the cutest ring bearer that one had ever seen. The decorations for the wedding were lavish and beautiful. This was the wedding that Luna had always imagined. Hunter could not believe how beautiful she was as she walked down the aisle to meet him.

When they were finished exchanging their vowels, Hunter and Luna embraced each other. They kissed and were excited to expand their journey as husband and wife. The couple was officially married. Neither of them could believe their luck.

After exchanging vows, the real party began. They ate and danced with all of their friends and family. Luna looked around at everyone who attended their wedding.

She saw her mother holding her daughter, Lily. She saw Ella dancing with Adam and Lisa. She saw Frank with other members of the team, congratulating Hunter.

Everyone looked so happy for them. Luna’s heart was so full. She had always dreamed of having a family. She could not believe her luck. She went from living paycheck to paycheck as a nanny to marrying the love of her life. Hunter treated her so well, and she felt so fulfilled in life. She watched as Hunter walked over to her. He was all smiles.

“We did it!” he exclaimed. “We did it! We are officially married, my darling.”

Luna smiled at her husband.

“We did it,” she repeated to him. “We did it, my love. We are officially a family.”

THE END.