How did a girl like Alexa, who had spent her whole life telling herself speeches like this would always be reserved for other girls, for good little straight girls with traditional lives feel when she heard those words?  Like she’d trade the past 24 years just to have had this one moment and then as her tears threatened to fall she realised it was her turn to speak and her rehearsed speech seemed somehow inadequate and so Alexa did something she never did when she was in the spotlight she forgot what was in her head and spoke from her heart.

‘Before I met you Helena I’d taught myself to give up of my dreams and then you came into my life and you were that dream. For me Helena, what we have it goes beyond friendship, beyond lovers, because I look at you and I know with every piece of me that you’re the one, the one that makes me feel the sort of love, joy and passion most people spend their whole lives trying to find and I never plan on letting you go.’

There were tears all around the audience at Alexa’s heartfelt speech.  Peggy had to turn away and dab away a few of her own and Helena was choked.  She knew this wasn’t Alexa’s planned speech, she could hear it in her voice, see it in her eyes.  She took Alexa’s hands and pulled her close and kissed her, briefly, passionately, surprisingly for the ceremony was not yet complete.

The crowd whooped and the officiator cleared her throat.

‘Sorry,’ said Helena.  ‘I skipped ahead a little.’

And hearing her say that and the audience laugh made Alexa long to kiss her again but she held herself back, eager to complete the ceremony.  Later after the wedding bands were exchanged and they were officially pronounced they went to complete the formalities.

‘I can’t believe we’re married,’ said Helena as they got a moment alone to sign the official books.  ‘I have a wife, you Alexa Carrington are my wife.’

Alexa watched Helena sign, impossibly beautiful in her ivory gown and remembered how she’d never let herself dream a day like this could be possible. She remembered the days when she felt she’d die if she let herself even consider a dream like this at all and suddenly it didn’t matter so much the supposedly unconditional love she’d lost, such was the magnitude of that which she’d found.  Helena handed the pen to her and Alexa kissed her softly in reply.  Helena smiled at her shyly as Alice and Dana, their witnesses gushed at how sweet they were.

Alexa hesitated at the place to print her name and then she filled it in quickly.

‘Lex, you just wrote,’

‘I know what I wrote,’

‘You mean you decided to….?’ she asked happily.

‘I guess the mail is going to be a problem after all.’

Helena pulled her to her feet and kissed her passionately.  ‘I think I’ll deal with it,’ said Helena and grinned.

And as they left the signing area and joined the other to continue the celebration Alexa left the name of the family who were ashamed of her behind and took the one of the family proud to call her their own.