The Balance in Love Ch. 06

Thanks so much for the patience everyone! My life is finally getting to a really good place and I'm finally feeling like it's okay to take some time for myself and write. I owe that to a great guy that I'm madly in love with and have been seeing for the last year and a half. He's my Shane. :)

I'll try not to let it go too long between updates.

~Ashira

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"You look beautiful Ayla," Abby said as she placed a veil over her sister's hair.

"Do you think Shane will like it?" Ayla asked.

"Girl, Shane's eyes are going to bug out of his head when he sees you in this! You may not make it to the honeymoon before he rips it off you!" Carly exclaimed.

"But do you like it?" Rachel asked her friend.

"I love it," Ayla answered with a small, nervous smile on her face.

"What's with that look?" Abby asked.

"The wedding is in two weeks and I'm just now trying on dresses," Ayla answered, trying not to let her anxiousness get to her.

"You've been busy, and you found the perfect dress, so stop worrying," Abby scolded her sister.

"And two weeks from yesterday, you are marrying your soul mate," Rachel chimed in. Ayla's smile widened and her anxiousness drifted away.

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"So what did you do today?" Shane asked while they were munching on popcorn as the credits rolled across the screen.

"I found my wedding dress and no, you can't see it," Ayla answered as she leaned further into Shane's embrace.

"Why not?" Shane wanted to know.

"It's bad luck," she murmured.

Shane grumbled and pouted a little before he said, "I can't wait to see it on you then take it off of you."

"Two more weeks." Ayla's voice was just slightly higher than a whisper and the excitement of it all made her voice shake.

"Two more weeks," Shane repeated with a grin.

"Where are we going for our honeymoon?" Ayla asked, for what had to have been the tenth time in the last week.

"I told you Aya, it's a surprise. You'll see when we get to the airport," Shane answered.

"But how will I know what type of clothes to pack?" Ayla wanted to know.

"Abby knows and she's going to have your bag packed for you," Shane promised. Ayla pouted a little but her pout quickly turned into a smile when Shane rubbed his hand across her leg. "You're going to love it," Shane added.

-2 weeks later-

"Abby, I broke a nail!" Ayla exclaimed, her eyes wide and her stomach knotted up nervously.

"Breathe Aya," Abby told her sister as she knelt down in front of Ayla, nail file in hand. "I'll fix your nail and then it'll be time for your massage so you'll be all relaxed for Shane." Ayla made a face. "Don't give me that look Aya, I know you're nervous. Let the massage help relax you then we'll get you in your gown and ready to walk down the aisle to your gorgeous soon to be husband," Abby soothed. Ayla took a deep breath and watched as her sister expertly fixed the broken finger nail and repolished it. "Ten minutes to massage!" Abby exclaimed, stood up and turned at the sound of the door opening. "Hey Dad, welcome to the circus," she greeted.

"You girls look lovely," Peter said with a smile. "Ayla, I can't believe you're getting married today," he added.

"Please don't cry daddy," Ayla murmured.

"I'll do my best to contain it. Your mother would be so proud of you both," Peter promised.

"Oh dad!" Ayla sniffled.

"Don't cry, you'll make your eyes puffy!" Abby exclaimed.

"I wish mom was here," Ayla whispered.

"She is. She's right here," Peter promised his daughter as he took her hand and held it to her heart. "Your mom will never leave you," he added and gave Ayla a big hug. "Now, you finish getting ready and I'll make sure your grandparents are settled," Peter said before he walked out of the bride's room.

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"Oh my God. I'm getting married. I can't believe that I'm getting married!" Shane paced up and down the groom's suite of the synagogue.

"Calm down dude," his best man Derek said with a laugh. "Have a drink," he added and handed Shane a shot glass filled with amber liquor.

"Thanks," Shane muttered and downed the shot.

"What has you all stressed? You're about to marry the girl you love and take her off on an awesome trip," Derek reminded Shane.

"I know that, and I'm ready to marry Ayla, it just all hit me at once. I don't know how to describe it. You'll know once it's your turn," Shane said and ran his hand through his hair.

"Just breathe," Derek suggested as he shrugged into the jacket of his tux and fidgeted with his tie.

-2 hours later-

"Are you ready? Because it isn't too late to stop this," Peter asked Ayla.

"I'm ready." Ayla's voice was a firm whisper that shook just slightly.

"You look beautiful, just like your mother when I met her under the Chuppah," Peter said softly as they walked towards the aisle. They stopped in front of the closed doors to the sanctuary and Peter looked at the attendant. "Lets go," he instructed. The doors were opened; Peter and Ayla began their descent down the aisle to where Shane stood, halfway between the door and the Beema. Ayla slowly walked in a circle around Shane the customary seven times and when she was finished, Shane and Ayla walked hand in hand to the Beema, faced the Rabbi, and with excited smiles, waited for him to begin the ceremony.

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"So where are we going?" Ayla asked sleepily as the limo sped down the freeway towards the airport.

"You'll see in an hour," Shane promised, kissed Ayla softly and brushed his thumb across her cheek. "I love you," he murmured.

Ayla smiled. "I love you too," she replied, her eyes held a happy and dreamy look and she snuggled against him.

Ayla gasped when she saw the flight information at the gate. "We're going to Jerusalem?!" Ayla gasped.

"Rome first, then Jerusalem. You said you wanted to go to the Holy Land so I figured out how to make it happen," Shane confirmed. He grinned when Ayla squealed and threw her arms around his neck.

"You are amazing! The best! You are absolutely the best!" she exclaimed.

"It's all for you baby, all for you," Shane murmured as he held her tight.