MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

The lights shifted again, softer now, casting a warm gold across the dance floor.

The music had picked up, something smoother, more playful. By then, the formality had eased out of everyone's shoulders. People were up. Moving.

Damon had barely made it back to his seat before he was tugged right back into the action.

Svetlana laughed as she turned to dance with her mother, Macey, who insisted she still had some rhythm left in her.

Damon, meanwhile, found himself face-to-face with Victor, who raised an eyebrow and held out a hand.

"You're not getting out of this," Victor said simply.

They danced, if only for a few steps, until Victor clapped him on the back and waved him off, joining Macey instead.

Ashley came next, cutting in on Damon mid-conversation. "I get one," she said, offering her hand.

He didn't argue.

They danced without saying much, just nods and the occasional smirk, but by the end of it, Ashley leaned in. "She's glowing, you know. You did good."

"Couldn't have done better," Damon said.

The music changed again, something with more of a beat, and Ash suddenly appeared behind Joey, shoving him toward the floor.

"You're dancing," Ash said flatly.

Joey looked back at her. "Why are you mad?"

"I'm not. I'm excited. Go."

Damon caught Ashley by the arm before she could escape. "He's not going alone."

They swapped partners again.

Aoife got a turn with Damon next. She didn't say anything for the first few seconds, just danced quietly, smiling.

"You clean up well," she finally said with her strong Irish lilt.

"You too," Damon said. "Thank you. For everything."

"Don't be daft," she said. "You've done more than anyone could've asked. And you made that girl the happiest I've ever seen her."

He smiled and squeezed her hand once.

People danced with ease now, no set order, no pressure. Just energy moving from table to floor and back again.

Children were spinning near the edge of the room. Older couples swayed offbeat but smiling. Friends clapped along to the rhythm.

Damon found his way back to Svetlana eventually, as if they were magnets just circling until they reconnected. She walked into his arms like she never left.

"I've danced with five people already," she said.

He shrugged. "None of them looked as good doing it."

They moved together again, slower now, more relaxed.

The party had truly begun.

People had started pairing off naturally. Some danced with partners, others with friends. Laughter mixed with the music, creating a rhythm of its own.

Damon and Svetlana stayed close near the center, their foreheads nearly touching.

His hands stayed low on her waist while hers slid up behind his neck.

They barely moved, just swayed together, their eyes locked more often than not.

Every now and then, one of them would lean in and whisper something quietly, sometimes playful, sometimes sincere.

"You look like you still can't believe it," Svetlana said softly.

"I really can't," Damon replied, his voice low. "I feel like if I blink, I'll wake up in my old apartment."

She smiled. "Then don't blink."

Just a few steps away, Ashley and Joey danced with noticeably less space between them than earlier.

Joey held her waist with both hands, guiding her in a slow spin, while Ashley laughed with her head tilted back.

It was easy to see, there was something there. They looked like they forgot the room was even full.

Damon noticed them out the corner of his eye and leaned slightly to whisper in Svetlana's ear. "How do you think it takes before he pulls out a ring?"

Svetlana glanced over, then smiled knowingly. "I give it months."

Damon chuckled, about to say something else, until he felt a tug at the hem of his suit jacket.

He looked down.

There she was.

Ava stood in her little dress, thumb half in her mouth, looking up at him with sleepy eyes. She pulled it out and lifted her arms.

"I want dance too," she mumbled.

Damon blinked, then smiled wide. "Yeah? With who?"

"With you… and mommy."

Svetlana turned at the sound and melted instantly. "Come here, sweet girl."

Damon crouched and scooped Ava up, adjusting her carefully so she sat between them.

Her arms went around both their necks. Her cheek rested on Damon's shoulder. Svetlana leaned in and kissed her lightly on the head.

The three of them swayed together, slow and gentle.

A few guests turned to watch, smiling quietly. Someone took a picture. No one interrupted.

Ava closed her eyes, not quite asleep, but clearly at peace. Her thumb found its way back to her mouth, and she stayed quiet.

The wedding continued the way it was meant to be. Everything ran smooth.

For Damon and Svetlana, it all felt surreal. Like walking through a memory already. Everything had gone right.

From the ceremony to the speeches, to the food and the music. Even the weather had held up. It wasn't just a good wedding, it was a perfect one.

Some people kept dancing. Others had settled at their tables with drinks and dessert, catching up or simply watching the night unfold.

The soft flash of cameras started filling the room more frequently now.

It was time for the formal pictures.

The MC signaled for the bride and groom. A photographer called out gently over the music, "Damon, Svetlana, if we can get you two over here for just a bit."

They looked at each other and smiled. Damon gave Ava one more kiss on the cheek before passing her to Macey, who was already waiting.

He adjusted his suit as Svetlana smoothed the bottom of her dress, and together they walked toward the small photo setup near the floral arch and warm backdrop lighting.

First came the couple shots. Just the two of them, arms around each other, soft smiles, full smiles, then the classic kiss.

Then came the family photos.

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The last round of pictures faded into laughter and conversation.

Guests began to ease back into their seats or gather near the exits, the atmosphere still buzzing with warmth.

The night was winding down, but no one rushed to leave, it had been that kind of evening. The kind people wanted to linger in.

Soon enough, the mic was passed one last time. It was Damon who stepped up again, fixing his suit briefly and giving the room a long look before speaking.

He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.

"I know we've all had a long, beautiful night," he began, "so I'll keep this simple. Thank you. To everyone who came. Everyone who supported us. Everyone who helped make this the most perfect day of our lives."

He glanced over at Svetlana, who watched him from across the room, glowing in a way that only the people closest to her had ever seen.

"We'll remember this day forever. And you were all part of it. So from my wife and I... thank you. Truly."

A round of applause followed.

And with that, the wedding officially came to a close.

The couple stepped outside together, flanked by a few of their closest friends who lingered behind to help with farewells.

The cool air hit them gently, and for the first time all night, they found themselves alone in the quiet.

Damon chuckled as they walked toward the front. "I don't remember seeing a wedding end this smooth. We didn't even ride off in that ridiculous car with cans tied to the back and Just Married written in bad handwriting."

Svetlana laughed softly. "That's because we're not just anyone. We'll do it our way."

They rounded the corner, and stopped.

There it was.

Parked neatly in front of them, under the soft glow of streetlights and fairy lights strung above, was a sleek sports car. Bright, polished, and unmistakably expensive.

The words JUST MARRIED were written in bold letters across the back window, and a tasteful string of cans trailed from the rear bumper.

Svetlana blinked. Her mouth parted slightly. "No way."

Damon glanced at her, saw the way her eyes widened with interest, and smirked. "Careful. The car might take my wife before I even get her home."

She nudged him with her elbow. "You never told me we were leaving in a sports car."

"I didn't. That's the thing, I didn't plan this."

She walked slowly toward it, eyes tracing every curve, every gleaming surface. "Is this a—?"

"Yep."

"Is it real?"

"Looks like it."

He watched her circle it once, lightly dragging her fingertips along the side mirror.

Damon smiled to himself. It had been a long time since he saw her like that. Not the focused, elegant version the world often saw. But the girl who loved loud engines and clean designs. She'd mentioned it once or twice in the past, but they never followed up. Life kept them too busy.

"Well," she said, finally turning back to him, "if this is our ride... let's go before someone else claims it."

Damon opened the passenger door with a half-bow. "After you, Mrs. Cross."

She slipped in smoothly, grinning. "I could get used to this."

Damon walked around, opened the driver's side, and slid in beside her. He paused, resting his hands on the wheel. The night caught up to him then. Everything that had happened, the vows, the dancing, the family, the moment with Ava, all of it settled like a quiet weight on his chest.

"You good?" she asked, reading him like always.

"Yeah," he said. "I'm married. To you. I'm perfect."

Svetlana reached over and laced her fingers with his. "Then let's drive. Wherever we want."

The engine roared to life. The cans rattled against the pavement. And just like that, they pulled away into the night.