A modest gathering split across both sides of the reception hall, made almost entirely of Ashley’s immediate and extended family, with a meager smattering of close friends of the brides. Still, it was enough to set Maddie’s heart hammering in her chest as she stepped out in her flowing white wedding dress.

Maddie’s best friend before the swap, Brent, had her arm in his to escort her down the aisle. It was a dated tradition, but, well… Maddie had wanted it. It was a detail from numerous weddings she had seen growing up, and she wanted to get the full “bridal” experience.

She was already halfway down the aisle when she actually noticed her beautiful wife-to-be standing at the altar in her sharply tailored white tux, beaming at her.

Ashley couldn’t smile wider if she tried. Her face felt like it was about to split, as is. ‘She’s gorgeous,’ she thought as she watched Madison seemingly floating down the aisle, the skirts of her dress shifting and shimmering like sunlight across fresh snow. A small part of her was sad to not be wearing such a dress, but when they had gone for their individual fittings, this tux had simply spoken to her, and she needed it.

‘Oh my god, she looks incredible in that tux,’ Maddie thought as she was led to Ash’s side. ‘I never imagined I’d be the one in a dress in a moment like this… but I’m glad that I am.’ She smiled up at Ash as she took her hands.

The nondenominational government official who was officiating the ceremony spoke, reciting a few required lines before indicating that they should proceed with their vows.

Writing their own vows had been Maddie’s idea, and Ash had been on board immediately.

They’d flipped a coin to see who would go first, beforehand. Ash had won.

“Madison,” Ashley said, clearing her throat and speaking up. “We’ve been through so much together: the good times and the bad, most especially the strange times to which I am certain there will still be more ahead, and yet I find myself ready and willing to face what comes with you at my side, if you will have me at yours. I promise you all of my love and devotion from this day until our last day, or until you come to your senses and run off with that cute guy from the Christmas party.” She winked after the last line, and Maddie couldn’t help but to laugh through the tears that had been building through the previous parts. 

“Ashley,” Madison began, fighting back her tears. “I have loved you since the day we met. Through the darkness and the light that we have shared, down the long and winding road we have traveled, that love has faltered, changed, and come back stronger than ever before. I love you more than words can ever say, but I vow to spend the rest of my life trying to show you through actions.”

Ash beamed happily back at her.

The official cleared his throat and spoke a few more required lines, seeking approval from Maddie, then Ash, both who gave a firm ‘I do’ in response.

Their lips met before all assembled, and Maddie was very glad this wedding wasn’t happening in a church, because kisses like that certainly weren’t fit for “God’s House.”

==========

Maddie groaned as she lowered herself gently into her chair. Her everything hurt, and even sitting wasn’t a huge relief at the moment.

“Happy birthday, babe,” Ash said, smooching her as she placed a small cake on the table between them with twenty-six candles speared into it and set ablaze. 

Maddie smiled, “thank you, Ash.” She took a deep breath, then blew out the candles in one swift motion.

“What’d you wish for?” Ash asked teasingly.

“That Jade would hurry up already!” she laughed, a wide smile on her tired features.

“I have to agree, I think both of her moms are excited to meet her already!” Ash cooed, leaning in closer to her wife’s belly. 

They had agreed some months ago that Maddie would be the first to carry, since she wouldn’t need to take maternity leave like Ash would when it was her turn.

“Do you think she’ll be beautiful?” Maddie asked for the hundredth time.

“With a mommy like you, how could she not be?” Ash replied softly, kissing her baby bump, then moving up to kiss her properly.

Maddie let out a soft, warm ‘mmm,’ and beamed happily at her wife.

“Pregnant women really are radiant,” Ash smiled, holding Maddie close.

“Can’t wait for you to try this ‘radiance’ yourself, it’s great, especially when the baby elbow drops your bladder,” she giggled.

Ash grinned and placed a hand on Maddie’s baby belly. “I’ll just have to tell mine not to do such things. I can be very authoritative when I want to be.”

Maddie giggled harder. “Trust me, I know. How else do you think we got into this situation?”

The pair laughed and enjoyed each other's embrace, until finally it was time to break up the mushy love-fest and actually cut into the cake and the accompanying dinner.

==========

“Tell me the story again, mommy,” Jade said as she wriggled into bed for the night, her younger brother already nestled in his bed a few feet away. 

“Alright, alright,” Maddie laughed. “Once upon a time there was a selfish hero, who did not appreciate his hard working friend…”

=====

She quietly closed the door behind her as she slipped out of the kids’ room and back down the hall to the living room.

“Are they asleep?” Ash asked, swirling the wine in her glass.

“Yep, just finished telling them a bed-time story.”

Ash laughed, “Was it the hero one again? How many times does that make, now?”

“I know, I know, but it’s Jade’s favorite, and it always puts Andrew right out too.”

“Well, more mommy time for us then,” Ash said, giving Maddie a quick kiss.

“Sounds about right. I’ll get the snacks, you start the movie?”

“On it,” Ash said as she scooped up the remote to begin cueing things up. 

As the pair worked on their preparations for ‘Friday Night Mommy Time,’ a ping rang out from Maddie’s phone, and then after a second, Ash’s as well.

[Wishr: Satisfied with your wish? Rate this app now!]

They looked at each other and grinned.

“Satisfied? Definitely,” Maddie said.

“Definitely,” Ash agreed.

“Five stars?”

“Five stars.”

The pair broke into a fit of giggles, resuming their prep for their date night.

==========

Far away, a young woman sat with her feet kicked up on her desk, surrounded by whirring servers, the fading blue-white-pink of her computer’s LEDs casting a soft glow around the space. “Another satisfied customer,” she said. The notification screen for her app flashed a ‘New Request,’ and she couldn’t help but smile. She picked up her codex and turned her attention to the newest request that her sneaky little app had picked up. Her fingers quickly flipped through a few of the semi-translucent digital pages, then plucked one of the spellhacks from within, and released it into the world. 

“This is gonna be good,” she said to the small digital owl perched on her desk.

They hooted happily at her, their features taking on a traditional ^v^ as she reached out to ruffle their holographic feathers.

~The End~