Archive of Our Own

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*12 hours earlier*

*RING RING*

You groaned.

It was too early for anyone to be calling you.

"Hello?"

"Good morning sleepy head. Why doesn't it surprise me that you haven't woken up yet." A mellow voice said.

You smiled.

"Rafa why doesn't it surprise me that you are already up?"

He chuckled, "Bonita shouldn't you be getting ready for the event that you've been literally non-stop talking about for months?"

You hummed pretending to think about what he could be referring to.

"And that would be what again?"

You heard a fake annoyed huff on the other side of the phone.

"Y/N...."

"I just can't place what you're talking about," you said continuing your charade as you got up from the warmth and coziness of your bed.

Another annoying huff was heard before he chuckled again.

"You're going to be the death of me you know."

You smiled as you went downstairs and saw a familiar shadow at the door's window.

You giggled as you opened the door.

"I know I am."

Rafael smiled as he hung up and gave you a hug.

"You're getting married today bonita," he said after your embrace.

You beamed, "I know! It's crazy really."

"To think that only yesterday you learned which train to get on to go home and now you're all grown up getting married," he said with a smirk as you invited him in. You noticed he had a bag in his hand.

You stuck your tongue at him before taking the bag that smelled wonderful.

"To be fair there are a lot of trains. And don't you know it's rude to bully the bride on her wedding day?"

Rafael pretended to look apologetic. "So sorry bonita."

You laughed. "I'll forgive you this time because you brought pancakes."

He rolled his eyes as he stole a pancake from your plate.

"Hey, those are mine!" You whined.

"Well, actually they are my property because I paid for them. I never verbally consented for you to take them from me so, in essence, you stole from me. Gosh Y/N and you call yourself a lawyer?"

You hit his arm and he rubbed it pretending it had hurt.

"Shut up guapo."

He laughed.

"Has your man called yet?" He asked.

"Yeah he called like four times last night and I told him I was tired and he wasn't allowed to talk to me until we are at the alter."

"That annoying huh?" He said playfully.

"Rafa stop." You said half-joking.

He loved making these sorts of mean comments about your fiance, Aaron. It annoyed you sometimes but you knew Rafa well enough to know he didn't mean it.

You were both quiet as you ate the world's greatest pancakes.

You glanced at Rafael who was intensely focused on the floury treat in front of him.

You had known him ever since you were little. Your parents never had much money and struggled to meet ends need. They worked hard but it was never enough. They were kicked out of their apartments and moved to a different part of the city.

And there you met Rafa.

He was older than you by five years but he loved playing with you. He made sure no one bullied you and made sure you never got hurt. As you grew that friendship grew and the both of you were closer than two peas in a pod. You did everything together. Even got into trouble together.

He was so interested in law. He spoke so passionately about fair justice for everyone it inspired you to follow in his footsteps to also become a lawyer. He was accepted into Harvard while you were accepted into NYU. That didn't stop him from visiting every weekend. When he graduated you were there to congratulate him and that's when you met Aaron.

He was in Rafael's graduating class. He had run into you on accident and wasted no time in flirting with you. Rafael was annoyed at first but accepted the fact that you both liked each other. And so you dated Aaron until the day you graduated he had popped the question. You couldn't have been happier. You knew Aaron and you were just meant to be. He loved the same things as you were passionate about change in the justice system, and loved you with every being of his heart. And you loved him.

"You're actually going to marry him," he spoke ripping you from your thoughts.

He seemed...upset?

"Of course I am Rafa. I love him."

"Oh," he said as he looked down all of a sudden very interested in his fork.

You frowned.

Why was he upset?

"Everything okay?" You asked concerned.

He briefly looked up. "Yeah, everything is good bonita. You should go get ready you have a big day ahead of you."

"Okay. But you'll come back to pick me up?" You asked unsurely. It was weird that he was acting like this.

He stood up and went to press a kiss yo your forehead lingering just a bit too long.

He smiled softly at you, "I'll always be there for you bonita," he whispered in your ear before leaving.

That was weird.

He's just being an emotional butt.

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Your bridesmaids arrived shortly after Rafael left and it took you forever to get ready. Mostly because your friends were getting emotional. You were worried you wouldn't be ready in time but your girls were quick and efficient.

"Girl you look so pretty. It should be a crime to look that good at a wedding." Your friend Maeve gushed as you admired yourself in the mirror. Your dress was a soft white hugging the top half of your body before flowing into a long train at the bottom. You loved it. Attached to the train you noticed there was a note pinned. You smiled as your friends unhooked it and read it.

"To the woman who quite literally owns my soul since the day we met. I can't wait to call you my wife."

There was a collective wave of awes as they finished touching up the last touches before admiring their work

"Aaron is so lucky!" Amanda gushed.

"That he is," a soft voice said from the door.

"How did you even get in?" Amanda asked incredulously.

"I have a spare," Rafael said matter of factly.

Your friends all rolled their eyes as they went to gather their things to head to the ceremony leaving you and Rafael alone.

"You look preciosia today bontia," he said so softly you almost thought it was white noise.

You smiled looking at the mirror as you spun around to face him.

"You looking extra guapo today as well!" You said as you fixed his tie. When you finished you looked up and were met with sad eyes.

"Rafa why are you upset?" You asked frowning.

"I'm not bonita. I'm just very happy for you."

Liar.

You knew him well to know it was something else. Before you could press forward your friends came back.

"Alright, who's ready to get married?!" Maeve asked excitedly.

"Let's go then," Rafael said.

As you drove to the pretty field where your ceremony would be you wondered what was wrong with your best friend.

Was he really happy for you?

Was he afraid you wouldn't be able to hang out anymore?

Was he worried about Aaron not making you happy?

He had always been protective of you and was probably just worried about random little things. Rafael Barba was difficult when it came to emotion but luckily you knew he trusted you and would tell you when he was ready.

The door opened as the sway of cool air greeted you.

"Your man awaits," Rafael said as he helped you out and offered an arm to walk you to your dad who would be walking you down the aisle.

Your parents greeted you as they admired your dress. They snapped a couple of pictures before you heard music being plated signaling that it would soon be time for you to walk and marry the love of your life.

"Hey bonita," a voice whispered beside you.

You looked at Rafael confused. Your father was supposed to be beside you to walk you down.

He noticed the confusion on your face.

"Your dad thought that I should walk you down since 'we have a special bond,'" he air quoted.

You laughed gently. "One last adventure then?"

He grinned. "You know it bonita."

And finally, your entrance song played signaling Rafaelto offer his arm.

You felt light-headed as you stepped into the aisle and everyone stood.

You saw Aaron turn around and he was immediately in tears.

You kept walking as Aaron never broke eye contact with you with the most adorable smile you had ever seen.

You felt like a feather as you walked and felt yourself sway too much to one side.

Rafael brought you back as he steadied you and gave you a reassuring squeeze.

As you arrived at the front of the aisle Aaron gazed up at you so adoringly.

Rafael was hesitant to pass you for a moment but you turned and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"It's okay guapo. I'll be okay."

And he let you go.

"Take care of her Aaron," he said before going to his seat.

Aaron however was fixated on you.

"You look so beautiful today sweetheart," he said breathlessly.

And you were fixated on him.

"You look handsome yourself darling."

He squeezed your hand before the minister began.

As your heart swelled with joy you didn't notice someone else's breaking.

Not until that heart gave one final cry to be heard.

Bonita: Pretty girl

Preciosa: Precious/Beautiful