At that same moment, I felt a trembling in the hand that I held tightly in my own. I looked into Carson’s face and I saw his wonderful blue eyes gazing back at me. They were cloudy with pain, but the eyes that I so loved were alert and he smiled at me.

“My love,” I whispered, “welcome back.....I have a wonderful surprise for you.”

************

As I stood from my chair, I had completely forgotten that Madeline was still there beside me. Carson’s eyes shifted momentarily to her and then, with an expression of concern, sought out my eyes again.

“Shhhh,” I soothed, “let me get you some ice chips.” I heard the clicking of Madeline’s newly acquired shoes and turned my head to watch her leave, even as I held the cup to Carson’s lips. “Madeline,” I called to her, “what you told me....it’s safe with me.”

She stopped, turned her head slightly, never quite meeting my eyes. “Yes, Grace, I know. That’s one of the reasons I told you. Thank you.” And she left the room.

I felt my hand being tugged, and I turned my gaze back to my beloved’s face. His marvelous blue eyes were clearer now and still alert. Those eyes encouraged me to hope that all was going to be well with him.

“Where’s my surprise? You said you had a surprise for me.” He pulled my hand to his lips, and even as I watched, confusion clouded his face. “Wait, what happened? Where are we?” He noticed the Section medical gown and robe I wore and he glanced wildly around the room. “Grace!” he closed his eyes again and I knew he was remembering, “Oh God, Grace....where’s Rene? Is he all right? The truck....you looked terrified. Grace, please tell me he is okay! Michael will kill me if.....”

“Rene is just fine. You are the one who was hurt, but you’re going to be okay. You really messed up your left arm and leg, but we’ll take care of that. You’ll just set off security gates at every airport you go through now. The doctors had to do a lot of repair work with steel pins and rods, but everything is going to be just fine. In fact, things are going to be wonderful.” I took his hand in mine and pulled it toward me. He didn’t resist, but let me place it on my stomach. “Here is your surprise. The doctors bloodwork on me came back with a big surprise. How do you feel about an addition to our family?”

I watched as his eyebrows knitted together in puzzlement at my words. The puzzlement turned to confusion, which grew into a dawning comprehension as he stared first at my smile and then at his hand on my stomach. Then joy suffused his countenance and he broke into a broad grin.

“Really?? How, when, Grace! This is wonderful!” He winced as he pulled me down to him with his uninjured arm for a celebratory kiss. “God, why does being this happy have to hurt so much.” He drew in a hissed breath and hugged me tightly. “So, Grace, are Michael and Rene outside with a shotgun, waiting to force me to make an honest woman out of you?”

************

Rene sat with Nikita in Michael’s office. Michael had been called away for a briefing and most likely would be leaving on a mission within the hour.

Rene snuggled closer to Nikita and looked up at her with a question on his lips. “Nikita, do you think my Mom will love this new baby better than me?” Nikita hugged Rene and answered him as truthfully as she could.

“Rene, never doubt that Grace loves you. You are as much her son as if she had born you like she will give birth to this baby. A mother’s love is a constant, permanent thing.” She smiled wistfully, remembering how unloved she had felt as a child, and she was determined that Rene would feel as loved and cherished as was his due. “Sometimes it may seem like she loves the baby more, but she will love you just the same. The baby will take more of her time because it won’t be able to take care of itself like you are able to. Babies always require lots of love and care. You will have to help your Mom to take care of this little one even before it is born. Carson will take a long time to get back to his old self, so a lot of the responsibility of taking care of Grace and the baby will fall to you. Do you think you can handle that?” Nikita watched as Rene’s dark head bobbed up and down.

“Yeah, I can.....but Nikita, I don’t know anything about taking care of babies or Moms who are having babies! I mean, I’ll do my best but how do I learn all that stuff?” He said in a bewildered voice.

“You like to read, don’t you?” Rene nodded again. “Well, we’ll just have to find you the right books, and you can also talk to your Daddy. He was there when your mother was carrying you. I bet he can tell you all kinds of things.” She smiled down at Rene and hoped to be near when this father-son conversation took place.

“What kind of things can I tell Rene?” Both Rene and Nikita jumped at the sound of Michael’s voice intruding on their quiet little conversation. Rene jumped up an ran to his father, who was standing in the doorway.

“Nikita said you could tell me all about where babies come from and how to take care of Mom while she is carrying the new baby.” Michael pinned Nikita with his best stare and raised one finely arched eyebrow to question why she had told him all this. She only shrugged and smiled a brilliant smile back at him. He was momentarily lost in that smile, until Rene tugged on his sleeve to recover his father’s attention. “Well, Daddy, what was my Mother like when she was waiting for me to be born. How am I going to help Mom with this baby?” Rene stared at his father and wondered what that funny look on his face meant. “Daddy?” he asked again.

Michael smiled and simply said, “Come, Rene, I have a story to tell you.” He led Rene over to the bed that Operations had moved in for Rene and sat down next to Nikita. Both Rene and Nikita waited for Michael to begin the story.

“When your Mother was pregnant with you, I sometimes thought she hated me. But that was only because she was so uncomfortable most of the time. She had severe morning sickness and was sick to her stomach for the first few months after we found out about you.”

Rene listened with eyes wide open and suddenly very serious. “Daddy, did I make Mother sick? Did she not like having me?”

“No, no, Rene.” Michael reassured his son. “Morning sickness is something that effects almost all women who are pregnant. Their bodies are adjusting to the new life growing inside, and sometimes their bodies react making them feel sick. It soon passes. Your Mom will probably experience this....What, Nikita? Is there something you want to add?” Michael asked, rather annoyed at this interruption.

Nikita was sitting there, trying to stifle a laugh, trying to remain calm, but failing miserably on both counts. “Uh, sorry, Michael. It’s just that Grace is already experiencing morning sickness. This morning she got sick when Madeline was talking to her. Michael, have you happened to have noticed Madeline’s new shoes? It seems that Grace ruined her old shoes.” At this last statement, a laugh of pure, unadulterated glee burst from Nikita’s lips. Soon, Rene was giggling as well. Michael, ever the stoic, allowed only a small upturning of his the corners of his mouth, as he wished fervently that he could have seen the look on Madeline’s face.

************

“Carson, you don’t have to.....I don’t expect you to marry me. We are just fine as we are. You don’t have to make an ‘honest woman’ of me.” I stammered out the words, surprised by the implication of his comment. I still had a tight grip on his right hand and loosened my hold, thinking that I might be hurting him. I looked into his eyes and what I saw there made my knees weak. All the love he had for me was there for me to see. I also saw hurt there as well.

“You don’t want to marry me? Do you not want to marry a former Section killer? Is that it? Am I good enough for your bed, but not good enough to share the rest of your life with? Grace, I love you and I want to be with only you and our baby for the rest of my life. Don’t you want that too?”

“Of course, I want to be with you forever, but I am not asking for a commitment, just because I goofed up on my birth control. But.....” I stood there entranced by the look of love in his blue eyes. “But Carson, I am so much older than you. Are you sure?”

He gazed at me and then his head away from me. “Grace,” he whispered, and I leaned closer to hear what he was saying. He turned back to me and pierced my heart with his the expression in his eyes. “My mama always told me when I was growing up to seize life with both hands and hold on tight. If I could grab you with both of my hands, I would hold on to you and never let go, but since I seem to be a bit incapacitated right now, you just have to believe what I say. I don’t want to ever let go of you. I want to marry you and give our baby my name. Do you believe me when I say that?”

“Yes, Carson, I believe you,” I said, feeling the tears burning in my own eyes. I leaned over him and brushed my lips against his, reaching out my hand instinctively to run my fingers through his hair. My hand encountered a layer of fine stubble on his bald head, and I smiled at him. “Maybe by the time our wedding day arrives, you’ll have enough hair to comb.” I watched as he pulled his hand from mine and moved his uninjured arm upward, running his hand over his head.

“Grace, what happened.....why did they......” he stopped as his fingers traced the line of stitches from over his left ear toward the back of his head. “Wow, I bet that hurt like a son-of-a-bitch!” He grinned at me then and said softly. “I don’t want to wait another ten minutes to marry you. I want to you to be my wife now.”

“I am your wife in all the ways that count, Carson.” I said to him. “It’s only the legal part that can wait.” He started to shake his head, disagreeing with what I said, and gasped in pain.

“Ohhh, bad idea!” he hissed, through clenched teeth. “Grace, I don’t want to wait for the legal stuff. I want us married as soon as possible. I don’t want my child to have to explain why there was so much time difference between our date of marriage and his or her birthdate. If that sounds old-fashioned, then sue me. If I can’t marry you today, then I want it done tomorrow. Please say that you will marry me. Please, Grace.”

************* Madeline pressed a key on the keyboard in front of her, cutting off the audio/video transmission from Carson’s room. So they want to get married, do they, she thought. I wonder what Operations will think about that? She laughed to herself. He’ll think what I want him to think, of course.

She turned once more to her keyboard, profiling a very unusual mission for Section One. There wasn’t much time and she had a lot of work to do.

As Madeline settled down to work in her office, Michael sat in his office, shaking his head from side to side at two of the dearest people in his life. Nikita and Rene were still caught up in their shared mirth.

“Mom didn’t, did she?” Rene was asking of Nikita, in awe of what she had just told him and his father. “Mom spewed on Madeline’s shoes? I can’t believe it. Mom never gets sick.” The very idea that his Mom would do something so...so awful all over Madeline’s shoes was just too funny for words, and so he laughed. “Did Madeline send Mom to the white room for that,” he asked, and was startled when his father suddenly snapped at him.

“What do you know about the white room?” He didn’t want Rene learning about any more of the dark side of Section than he already knew, especially if it concerned the white room.

Rene, lips trembling, said quietly, “Nothing, Daddy, I just heard some people in the hall saying that Madeline enjoyed throwing people into the white room and that they never wanted to be on Madeline’s bad side. So when Nikita told me about what Mom did to Madeline, I just thought that would probably be enough to get on Madeline’s bad side. Did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean to, Daddy. Really, I didn’t.” He was shocked by his father’s reaction and tears had started to form in the corners of his eyes, but they disappeared when he was engulfed in his father’s arms.

“Shhhh, I am sorry Rene. I didn’t mean to scare you. The white room is not a very nice place to be and I didn’t know you knew about it. I’m sorry I snapped at you. Forgive me?” Michael soothed Rene and changed the subject quickly, and was happy to see Rene nod his head. “Rene, Nikita, it’s lunch time. How about us going outside for lunch? How does that sound? I know a place where they serve the best hamburgers in town. Okay?”

Rene grinned, looking to Nikita for her agreement. “Okay, Daddy, but can we go see Mom and Carson first? I have to make sure they are all right.” He jumped down from the bed and took both Michael’s and Nikita’s hands in his, and started pulling them to the door of Michael’s office. “Come on, let’s go see Mom, and watch out for your shoes!!”

Still chuckling to himself, Rene walked happily down the hallway between his father and Nikita, swinging their hands in his own as he went. Michael opened the door to Carson’s room just in time for Rene to hear Grace say, “Yes, of course!” as she started weeping.

Rene dropped both Michael’s and Nikita’s hands as he charged into the room yelling, “Leave my Mom alone! Why are you making her cry?”

***********

Rene rushed up to me and threw his arms around me. I slowly sat down in the wheelchair. Carson released my hands, understanding that I needed to reassure Rene that I was all right. My son buried his head against my shoulder and hugged me even tighter. “Mom, are you okay? Why did Carson make you cry?”

I smiled at my son’s attempt at defending me. “Rene, I’m okay. Carson didn’t hurt me. He has made me so very happy. He has asked me to marry him. What do you think about that?” Rene’s head popped up, his green eyes wide in surprise.

“Oh! Well! Did you say yes?” he grinned and allowed his gaze to slide over to Carson, whose blue eyes were fixed on Rene, awaiting his verdict. Nikita took the opportunity to wrap her arms around me from behind. I watched with a certain amount of sadness as she glanced up at Michael as she told me how happy she was for me. I knew that she was thinking that this was something she would probably never experience with the man she loved. I felt terrible that these two precious friends of mine would only find snippets of love and fulfillment in their lives together, and it made me even more determined to make sure that mine and Carson’s home would be a haven for them whenever we could arrange it for them. And then I refocused on what was happening before me.

Carson grinned back at Rene. “Of course she said Yes. Who could deny this handsome face?” Carson grimaced in pain as Rene scrambled up on the bed to hug him and whisper in his ear.

“You better take care of her and my baby brother or sister, or you will have to deal with me.” Michael walked over to the bed and put his arm around Rene’s waist to lift him from the bed. He had noted the flash of pain on Carson’s face as Rene had delivered his message. I laughed at the tableaux before me. Michael stood there with Rene under one arm, his arms and legs dangling, while he congratulated Carson and me.

Michael took Carson’s right hand and gently shook it. “I’m very happy for you and Grace, and I know you will be very happy together.” Michael then bent and kissed me on the cheek. “So when is the happy day? When will you be released from Medical?”

“Tomorrow is the happy day and we aren’t waiting for me to get out of here. I want Grace to marry me as soon as possible. I don’t want to live a day more without her as my wife.” I put my hand out and took Carson’s hand in my own.

I caught his eye and said carefully, “Well, Carson, my love, there is just one little problem....”

“Yeah, I’ve got a problem.” Rene struggled to catch his father’s attention. “Uh, Daddy, could you put me down? Please?” Michael looked down at Rene and smiled.

“Oh, sorry Rene.” Michael carefully deposited Rene on the floor beside me. He stepped over to Nikita and slipped his hand into hers. Their eyes met and they smiled at each other and then turned their joint gaze on me and Carson. “Grace, what kind of problem?” Michael asked softly.

“Well,” I said, caressing the warm hand in mine. “Just where are we going to find someone to marry us here? Does Section have a resident chaplain? Carson isn’t going anywhere for a couple of weeks. Who can perform the ceremony in this place?”

“I think I can solve that little problem,” said a voice from the doorway. We all looked toward the speaker and as one, we all gasped.

*********** Operations stood their bestowing his malevolent grin on us. He advanced into the room and I noticed that his normally lifeless, icy blue eyes were twinkling. Was that amusement that I saw in those eyes? “Madeline told me what you were planning, Grace.” He said sadly. “I thought you two would at least have sought my blessing on your upcoming union. It would have been nice to have been consulted on this matter. Such things usually require my stamp of approval. Michael could have told you this. Couldn’t you, Michael. You sought my permission when you wanted to marry Simone, Rene’s other mother.” I watched as Michael tensed and also I seethed, knowing that this man delighted in tormenting Michael. Was he so jealous of Michael’s deep connection with Rene that he needed to twist the knife at every opportunity, I thought to myself? As he came closer, our close-knit group seemed to take a collective step back from him. Only Rene stood his ground.

“How did you know my Mom and Carson wanted to get married? My Mom just now said yes to Carson.” He took a step toward Operations, put his little fists on his hips and glared up at the older man. “Well? How?” he demanded. Michael walked up behind his son and gently placed both his hands on Rene’s shoulders.

“Rene, every inch of this place is covered with surveillance equipment. Madeline was most probably watching what was happening here when Carson asked your Mom to marry him, and then, she told Operations,” Michael explained.

“Well, that was pretty rude of Madeline!” Rene insisted, still glowering up at the man who held all of our lives in his hands.

“Rene!” I scolded. “That is the ways things work around here. It’s standard operating procedure for Section.”

“I’m sorry, Mom,” he apologized to me. “But that still doesn’t make it okay.” Rene once again pierced Operations with his flashing green eyes. “And I think you owe my Mom and Carson an apology of your own!”

We seemed to be witnessing a classic Mexican stand-off. I suddenly sat back in my wheelchair and smiled up at Carson as I once more caressed his hand. He tore his eyes away from the confrontation going on before our eyes and looked at me. “Watch this,” I whispered to him and as one, we swung our joint gaze to the small boy, arms akimbo staring up at the white-haired man.

Without warning, Operations leaned over and snatched a surprised Rene from his father’s grasp and swung him up into his arms. “You’re right, Rene. I do owe your Mom and Carson an apology.” He nodded to me and my betrothed, “Grace, Carson, I’m sorry if Section intruded on your private moment, but surveillance is routine in this place. You both know that.” He grinned up at Rene. “Did I do okay, Rene?”

“Yeah, for now, but just don’t let it happen again. All right?” He wriggled in Operations’ arms, signaling that he wanted down. Operations carefully set my son down on the floor. Rene immediately retreated to the protection of his father’s side, in the process taking hold of Michael’s hand as well as Nikita’s. From this safe haven, Rene queried Operations again. “What did you mean when you said that you could solve the problem of getting Grace and Carson married here in Section. Do you know someone here that can marry them?”

Out of the mouths of babes, I thought. What a treasure was my beautiful son, as beautiful and strong as his father. All of us waited patiently to hear Operations’ answer.

“Why, yes,” he said, “I do have someone in mind. And he is right here.” Operations gestured to the doorway behind him. We craned our necks to see who he was gesturing to and watched as Walter walked in the door.

“Ahhh, Gracie, Operations tells me that you and Carson need someone to perform a wedding ceremony. I can do that.” And he came forward to explain just how that was possible.

************

“Believe it or not, Gracie, I am an ordained minister. Almost thirty years ago now, when I got back from Vietnam, all I wanted to do was turn on, tune in, and drop out. And when I found the Rising Sun commune, that is just what I did.” Walter had come over to me and knelt in front of me to tell his story. Soon, everyone in the room had found a place to sit to listen to Walter. Rene leaned up against Michael, who sat on the floor next to Nikita, whose shoulder was in constant contact with Michael, irregardless of the presence of Operations who had settled onto a stool that he had moved in, so he could become a part of the group. And probably, I thought, Madeline is, no doubt, sitting in her office listening in as well. So be it, at least her shoes are safe this way. And then Walter continued with his tale....

“When I got back from Vietnam, I was just so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I had seen so much death, so much waste of human life. I just wanted some peace, somewhere to rest, somewhere that people didn’t know I was a vet. I had done what I thought was my duty to my country and I didn’t want to be jeered at, or spit upon. I drifted for awhile, trying to find some answers to my questions. And then I found the Rising Sun. They accepted me into their midst. They didn’t care where I had come from, or who I was. All that mattered was that I was one of them, just someone who wanted to work at being human. I found peace there. I found a family. Everyone had their place and they made a place for me among them. “ Walter’s voice had an oddly soothing effect on me, and I felt myself relaxing, the tension in my shoulders melting away, and I was glad that at this wondrous time of my life that I had my closest friends and family around me. Even if this was Section, I was at home because those I loved were here next to me. I felt my attention drifting. I was so very tired. Carson sensed that I was being lulled by Walter’s words, so he tenderly stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. I blinked and sat up a bit straighter and refocused my attention on Walter’s words.

I was with my friends at Rising Sun for almost four years. During that time, I spent a lot of my time with the spiritual leader of the commune. His name was Josiah and in the real world he had once been a high-powered attorney. At Rising Sun, he had used his knowledge to shape the community into a self-sufficient, thriving sanctuary for those of us who were world-weary and damaged. His leadership provided us with friendship, love, and a safe place to live. It was his idea to incorporate Rising Sun as a religious entity. Not only would that status help us financially, it would provide some protection from the government, who was just beginning to sniff around anything that seemed to have counterculture status. Josiah was almost eighty when I met him. After I had been his student for over a year, he asked me to become his assistant, to help him with the day-to-day tasks involved in keeping Rising Sun running smoothly. I accepted his suggestion and became, along with him, an ordained minister of the Rising Sun Church. I left the commune twenty-five years ago, right after he died, but the ordination was for life, so I still have the authority to preside at weddings. All these long years at Section hasn’t changed that, even if some of the things I have done in Section’s name hasn’t made me too proud of myself.” He fixed his questioning eyes on my face first, and then he glanced up at Carson. “Well, what do you two think? Would you want a tired old hippie like me to marry the two of you?”

My eyes sought Carson’s and we silently communicated our consent to each other. I turned back to Walter. “We wouldn’t allow anyone else to perform the ceremony, Walter, only you can do this for us.” I put my hand out and smoothed it over the bandana-clad head of the man that I thought once would be the one to love me. “You are the only one for us, Walter. Thank you!”

“Well, now that that is settled, Grace, you, Nikita and I have some work to do. Let’s get rid of these men and get to it!” commanded Madeline. How, I wondered had she managed to walk right up to us without our noticing?

“OH!” I said. “Yes, we do have a lot to do.” I rose from my chair and accepted embraces from Rene, Walter, Michael and even Operations as they all quietly left the room under the watchful eyes of Madeline. And even as she stood by, arms folded, impatiently tapping her barefoot against the floor, I took my time as I bent over Carson, kissing him breathless, and whispering what I was going to do to him when he had healed and I had him home in our bed.

“Is that a promise?” he whispered back.

“Absolutely, my love, absolutely,” I murmured quietly back. I kissed him one more time and told him I would see him tomorrow at whatever altar that Walter proposed. When he protested, I reminded him that it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride until the wedding ceremony began.

“Grace,” he grumbled, “Can’t you at least come back and tuck me in tonight?”

“All right, but only if you get some rest today. The last thing I want on my wedding night is an exhausted groom.” I rubbed the stubble on his head and kissed him one last time, and said “I’ll see you later. Sleep now, my love.” And as I backed away from his bed to sit again in the wheelchair that Nikita held for me, he closed his eyes, and I knew he was thinking of tomorrow, just as I was.

“Well, ladies! Let’s get this show on the road. Madeline, I heard that you have a huge wardrobe here in Section. Any wedding dresses that might fit me?” Nikita pushed my wheelchair from Carson’s room and I had to look back to make sure that Madeline was following us. “Uhhh, Madeline, I think my morning sickness is past for the day.” She padded along behind us, her barefeet making no sound at all.

************

“Wait!” I said, catching the wheels on my chair and causing Nikita to almost trip over me. I turned the chair and went back into Carson’s room. “Carson,” I called softly, “who do you want for your best man?”

“Ask Michael,” he said drowsily, raising his head from the pillow. “Ask Michael for me, please Grace....he’s the only one. And Grace,” he smiled at me sleepily. “Ask Rene to give the bride away. He’ll love that. It will make him feel so grown up. And it’s only fair. He did bring us together. He and Michael. Ask them....” And he closed his eyes, drifting off into a much needed sleep. Today had offered him too many exciting things and my poor, hurt love was exhausted. A good afternoon and evening sleep would make him feel so much better, and he would need all his strength for tomorrow’s events.

I glanced up at Nikita and said, “Well, that worked out just fine, because I plan on you being my maid of honor. You will won’t you? I can’t imagine anyone else standing up with me. Say yes?”

Her noisy agreement was followed by tears and hugs which Madeline watched with an exasperated and impatient expression on her face. “If we don’t get started soon, this wedding will be running very late. Can we go now?” Nikita and I laughed and hugged one more time and then attentively followed Madeline down the hall to her old office.

The three of us spent the next hour going through the extensive collection of clothing that was housed in Madeline’s old office. I sat on the lower level while Nikita and Madeline, on the upper level, ferreted out white dresses for my inspection. Nothing seemed right. They had started with some really beautiful long wedding dresses. I just could not imagine myself in those dresses. They were made for someone young, and, right now, I was feeling my age. I had only just started thinking about what the next few months held for me. More morning sickness, swollen ankles that I would soon not be able to see because I would be fat. No, I told myself, not fat, with child. Yes, that sounded much better. I would be with child. What a way to get a new wardrobe! I laughed to myself and looked up once again as Madeline pulled out a dress and displayed it for me. She saw the look on my face, sighed and put the dress back. Nikita had moved down to an area in the wardrobe racks where suits hung, arranged by gradations of color. I watched as she sifted through the garments, quickly pushing several aside until she stopped and looked longingly at one suit in particular.

“Did you find something, Nikita?” I called. She pulled out the suit on its hanger and walked close to the rail where she draped it over the edge.

“What do you think of this one, Grace? I like it and I think it’s your size.”

The suit was satin and cut very simply. No frou-frou frilliness, just elegant and completely unadorned. The jacket would fit snugly from shoulders to hips. The straight skirt was pegged and would also fit the curve from my hips down to my knees. With a plain lace camisole, it would be perfect. “Bring it closer. I think you have just found my wedding dress!” Madeline followed Nikita as she came down the stairs and brought the suit to me so I could get a closer look. It was even more beautiful than I had first thought. “Oh, it’s perfect, just perfect. Let me try it on.” In just a few seconds, Nikita had shown me a fitting room and stayed with me to help me dress. She had magically produced from a series of drawers under the stairs all the undergarments, including a lace camisole, that I would need to wear with the suit. Madeline had even found a pair of white satin pumps for me to wear.

Before she handed them to me, she asked quietly, “How do you feel, Grace. No nausea or anything?”

“I’m fine, Madeline. The shoes will be safe with me. In fact, I feel wonderful, even my pounding headache is gone. I think today and tomorrow are going to be the best days of my life. Now, how do I look?” I glanced up at Nikita and Madeline and saw satisfied smiles on their faces. “Then this is the one?” They both nodded in unison. Madeline walked over to another row of drawers and rummaged through them until she found what she wanted. What she produced was a dainty confection made of lace and crystal beads, which she carefully arranged in my hair, pulling it back over my left ear and securing it with the lace arrangement. She took me by the shoulders and turned me toward the mirror. Nikita came to my side and put her arm around me.

“Oh Grace, you make a beautiful bride.” She placed her cheek next to mine and I watched as tears gathering in her brilliant blue eyes. “I am so happy for you and Carson....I wish....” She closed her eyes, and achingly, I knew what she wished.

***********

Nikita’s touching gesture wishing me well on my upcoming marriage was almost my undoing. I felt tears spring to my eyes as I thought about what this might mean to her. She was wishing it was her and Michael exchanging vows tomorrow. I was torn, wanting this to be the happiest time of my life and feeling so sad that two of my very best friends might never have the same opportunity as I. I lifted my hand and touched Nikita’s cheek against mine. “Let me share the ceremony with you and Michael,” I whispered to her, trying to locate Madeline and finding her across the room, going through the drawers again, searching for the jewelry to complete my ensemble. “Even though it won’t be official, you and Michael can share the exchange of vows with us. Carson and I would love to have the two of you make a commitment along with us. Please, Nikita. No one but the four of us and maybe Walter would have to know. What do you think?”

Nikita turned her head to kiss me on the cheek. “Oh, Grace, if only we could.” She smiled conspiratorially, “You really want us to share?” I nodded and she bear hugged me and laughed softly, “Well, then, anything to make you happy. Now, if only Michael feels the same way.”

I returned her laugh and felt much, much better. “Now, Nikita,” I said so Madeline could hear me. Go find something for yourself. I want my maid of honor to be stunning tomorrow. Maybe something in pink, or blue to match your eyes. “ I made shooing motions with my hands, “Off with you, and don’t come back until you have something exquisite to show me!”

It didn’t take long before Nikita came running down the stairs with a wonderful light blue satin jacket, similar to mine, in one hand and a swingy, lightly beaded skirt of the same color. “Grace, look! What do you think? It’s beautiful, isn’t it!” Her youthful exuberance was infectious and I couldn’t help but love her.

“Try it on. I want to see that swingy skirt on you.” Madeline stood back, her head tilted to one side, taking it the scene before her.

“That’s going to look heavenly on you, Nikita,” she said. Nikita hurried into the dressing room and returned in a few minutes, in a swirl of blue. She twirled around and her hair lifted on the air stirred by her movement. She was a vision and I knew Michael would fall in love with her all over again.

“Oh, Nikita, it is just beautiful. You are beautiful.” And, I thought Michael will love it most of all. Another facet of his light, his beautiful Nikita.

************

I was exhausted from the afternoon’s activities, but the three of us girls had accomplished a lot. Nikita and I were outfitted for our wedding tomorrow and I had also picked out, with Madeline’s assistance, suits for Michael, Carson and even Rene. I didn’t even want to know why Section had child-sized clothes in their wardrobe collection. Better not to know the answer to that question.

When Nikita had left me after our adventurous afternoon, I asked her to send Michael to me. There were several things about which we needed to talk. “Just send him along, without Rene, after you two have a chat,” I told her quietly. Can you keep Rene occupied while we talk?”

“Of course, we’ll go see Birkoff. Rene loves those computers of Birkoff’s and he is also fond of Oreos. Don’t worry about him. I’ll bring him by your room later, after you and Michael have your discussion. And Grace,” she said lightly, “Thanks for your offer. It means the world to me that you want to include us in your special day, but I really do have to talk to Michael about it. He can tell you what we decide.” With that said, she glided out of my room.

Tired, I laid down on my bed and turned over on my side cradling my still flat abdomen with my hands. It was still so hard to believe that a new life was growing inside of me. This was a joy I never thought I would feel. My life, up until five years ago, had been a solitary one. Oh, there were boyfriends along the way, but never anyone that I considered close enough to have a child with. An unmarried friend of mine had the same feeling that I had, but she had done something about it. One day she had floated into my office at the library, looking supremely pleased with herself and calmly announced that she was pregnant. Astounded, because I didn’t know she was dating anyone, I had blurted out, “Who!” and she had laughed and told me that it was someone 6 feet tall, black hair, blue eyes and with an IQ of 160. Still not comprehending what she was saying, I asked if she was getting married. Traditionalist that I was so long ago, I was totally surprised when she burst out laughing and told me that she had been artificially inseminated with sperm from a sperm bank.

“Well, that doesn’t sound like very much fun,” I retorted. She had replied that no, it wasn’t any fun at all, but it had been effective and that her child would be born in the spring, and did I want the name of her doctor? I had briefly considered saying yes, but ultimately had decided against it. I just preferred the natural way and so, I had waited....and waited. I had never married. My relatives would pat my hand and shake their heads sadly, too particular, they would say. Your standards are just too high, they would say. They were all gone now. And the only family that I had now existed within these walls surrounding me and I wouldn’t trade them for anyone else I knew. I wondered briefly what my mother would think to see me now, 44 years old, pregnant, and getting married on the morrow to a man who had once been an assassin. I chuckled silently to myself as I felt myself drifting off and soon I was asleep.

I was roused from my nap by a soft kiss on my temple. I slowly opened my eyes to a pair of jade green ones gazing down into mine. “Michael,” I said, “if Carson weren’t the father of my baby, you would be in serious danger waking me up like this.” I glanced at his lips, which had the appearance of having just been kissed by someone wearing Nikita’s shade of lipstick and said, teasingly, “So, you’ve seen Nikita, I take it?”

The lips turned upward in a smile and then he spoke softly. “Yes, Grace, I could never hide anything from you.” He sat down in the chair beside my bed and took my hand. “How are you feeling? Well, I hope.”

“Michael, I am feeling better and better as each minute ticks away. Soon I’ll be Mrs. Carson and then I will feel complete, at last.” I sighed and smiled at him, “and how do you feel? Carson wants you to be his best man. You will do it, won’t you? Did Nikita tell you that she is my maid of honor?” The words tumbled out and I laughed and shut my mouth, waiting for his answer.

“I am fine, and yes, I will stand up with Carson...or, at least I will stand up next to him. He is marrying you from his bed in Medical, isn’t he. I heard the doctors tell him he was not to stand up. He argued, but they were adamant that he stay at still as possible. They don’t want him messing up their handiwork.”

“I don’t want him messing up their handiwork either. I want to be able to take my husband home with me next week. He will be bedridden for a few weeks, and I don’t want him to do anything to jeopardize his recovery. I don’t want my honeymoon delayed any more that it already has been.”

“Ahhh, Grace,” Michael said slowly, as he patted my mid-section. “I think you and Carson have already had your honeymoon, with a decidedly unexpected result.”

“True,” I agreed, “but if this is a honeymoon, I don’t want it to end. Now,” I pulled his hand up and gave it a quick kiss, “ what do you think of my shared vows idea? I know how you feel about Nikita. Is it a go?”

He smiled sadly, “Yes, I do love her, but I can’t give her much of anything of my love, not as Carson has given you by his gift of your child-yet-to-be. How can just my love be enough for her?”

“My God, Michael, for someone so smart, you can be agonizingly dumb sometimes. Don’t you understand that your love is all she cares about? Just knowing that you love her is enough in this crazy world we live in. I would love Carson just as much without this baby as with it. In the end, there is only the love you share between you. And she does love you, so much so that she glows with it. Haven’t you seen that? Haven’t you felt that?” I swore to myself, men could sometimes be so dense, and dashing hero that he was, Michael could sometimes be the most dense of all. “Michael, tomorrow, as Carson and I say our vows, just look into Nikita’s eyes and let your eyes tell her you love her. It’s just that easy!”

***********

The door to my room opened and Rene came running in. He stopped when he saw the serious looks on his father’s and my faces. “Is something wrong? Why do you two look that way?” He went to Michael and put his arms around him. “Daddy, you aren’t going away before the wedding, are you?” Rene’s somber expression made me want to hug him.

“Nothing is wrong, Rene. We were just talking about the wedding and things got a bit sad, but everything is okay now. We have everything straightened out now. Don’t we, Michael?” I sought Michael’s eyes and saw the happiness just beginning to appear in them.

“Yes, everything is a lot clearer now. Thank you, Grace.” He swung Rene up into his lap and groaned a bit. “Rene, you are growing up too fast. You are soon going to be too big for your aging father to lift.”

Rene giggled and said, “Yeah, but I’ll never be too big to do this and he wrapped his arms around Michael’s neck and held on tightly. “I’ll always love you, Daddy, no matter how big or how old I get.” I was so proud of my son and it goes without saying that Michael felt the same as I watched the tears well up in those wonderful green eyes of his. I blinked back my own tears and nodded to Michael.

“Rene, I have something very important to ask you.” He turned in Michael’s arms to peer at me. “This is something symbolic in the wedding and I need to know you will do it and understand what it means. Okay?” He nodded solemnly and I began to explain his part in the wedding ceremony. His eyes grew wide as he listened, and then he began to smile.

“I can do that, Mom. But you’ll still be my Mom, right. I won’t be giving you away forever, will I?” Michael lifted Rene into my arms and then I was the recipient of one of those marvelous Rene-style hugs.

“No, Rene, I’ll always be your Mom, forever and always, just like Michael will always be your Daddy. Nothing and no one will ever change that...ever.” My heart was fairly bursting with the love I felt for this wonderful child, I glanced up at Michael and saw the same expression on his face. I put my hand out and he took it and joined our son and me in an embrace.

I broke the embrace to wipe my eyes and to reluctantly send Michael and Rene away from me. “Tomorrow will be a long day and we all need some rest. Michael, will Rene be going home with you tonight? Is that okay with you?” I asked.

“Yes, he will be. We are having a little party to celebrate. Nikita may be coming with us for a sleepover. We haven’t had one of those in a long time, have we, Rene?” Rene shook his head and grinned.

“Those sleepovers are fun, but, you know, I always wake up in a different bed than the one I went to sleep in. Isn’t that weird?” He slitted his eyes and looked up at his father. “Do you know why that is, Daddy? Does it have anything to do with how much you love Nikita?” He laughed as Michael made a lunge at him and swung him over his shoulder. Rene dissolved in giggles and held on for dear life as Michael turned and brushed a goodnight kiss on my forehead.

“Grace, what have you been teaching this child?” he asked, trying to control Rene as he wiggled in Michael’s arms.

“Uhhh, Michael, I thought you were in charge of Fatherhood 101. That discussion is your territory, not mine.” I smiled smugly and told them that I had to go tuck in Carson and that they needed to be on their way and they would be sorry if they kept Nikita waiting any longer. I watched them as they headed out the door before I got up and started dressing in the comfortable sweats that had been left for me. “Hmmm, not very sexy for a goodnight kiss from Carson. Oh, well, he is already used to my brand of comfortable. He can deal with it.” I laughed to myself and started for Carson’s room.

I was unprepared for the noisy sounds and the sight of medical personnel running into his room. I rushed down the hall, calling his name, terrified that I might be losing him....

***********

One of the nurses grabbed me before I could enter the room, and held me back. I struggled with her, trying to pull my arm free. She told me I had to wait until the doctors were finished. “What happened?” I started yelling at her, too loudly I know, but I had to know what was happening to Carson. I had to be with him.

“I don’t know, I just came on duty. I just know that in your condition, you need to calm down. Getting upset is not a good thing right now. And you can’t go in there.”

“She’s right, you know,” A familiar voice said. “Grace, calm down. Sit down.” I felt the seat of a chair touch the back of my knees and gentle hands pushed on my shoulders. I sat. And looked up into Michael’s concerned face as I felt Rene slip into my arms and wrap his around me. Nikita took hold of my hands and caught my wild eyes with her own.

“Grace, let Michael see what he can find out,” she said as she slid her blue eyes to Michael. His hands left my shoulders and he strode purposely toward the door to Carson’s room. One of the med techs put a hand on his arm to hold him back, but he quickly darted a warning glance at the medtech who dropped the hold on Michael’s arm as if her fingers had been singed by the contact. Michael continued unrestrained into the room and I held onto Rene for dear life as he and Nikita tried to comfort me.

“Carson is okay, Mom, I just know it. He has to be.”

“Michael will find out what happened, Grace. Are you all right? Oh! That was a stupid question! Of course, you aren’t all right. Can I get you anything? Water?”

I shook my head and glanced over at her. “The only thing I want right now is for Michael to walk out of that room and tell me Carson is okay. That’s all I want.” As if he had heard my plea, Michael walked into the hall from Carson’s room. His face was blank as he made his way past the medtechs who had gathered in the hall. Many of them remembered Carson from his last stay in Medical and I guessed that they were there to find out his condition as well.

As soon as he had passed everyone in the hall, Michael’s face changed and I felt myself relax as I let out the breath I had been holding. He knelt in front of me and smiled. “He’s okay. The fool tried to get out of bed to try on his wedding clothes and lost his balance. He cracked the cast on his arm and bumped his head, but, Grace, he is okay. They are preparing him now to redo the cast. Do you want to see him for a few minutes first? He’s asking for you.” I nodded my head vigorously and Michael pulled me to my feet and led me down the hall. Several of the medtechs touched my arm and they all wished me and Carson well. I stepped through the door and was greeted by my wan and pale groom.

He attempted a grin, but it was instead a grimace of pain. I leaned over him and kissed him. Then, looking into his pain-filled eyes, I said very quietly. “If you try anything like that again before you heal, I will strangle you. I don’t care what condition you are in for our wedding, you just follow the doctor’s orders or you will answer to me.” I stopped and smiled into his blue eyes. “In fact, you answer to me now and I am telling you not to take any more chances with your health. I want you around for 3am feedings in a few months, so you had better take care of yourself or let others take care of you until I get you home. Understand?”

He closed his eyes, and said contritely, “Yes, Grace, I will follow orders. I was just feeling so much better. I thought it wouldn’t hurt,” he laughed, “but it did hurt, and it is still hurting. I’m sorry I scared you. But Grace, you have to do something for me....” I waited for him to continue, and was surprised by what he said next. “Grace, I heard you out in the hall. You were swearing like a sailor! I think you need to do some apologizing.” He grinned and watched the expression on my face.

“I did?” I was astounded, “I don’t remember what I said. I only wanted to get to you and they were holding me back, and you know what happens when I don’t get my way. Now cooperate with these nice doctors and I’ll see you before you go to sleep. We still have a wedding to go to. Do you still feel up to it?” He grinned as I realized what I had said.

“Grace, I will always be up for you and, yes, I will be ready to marry you tomorrow, no matter what the doctors say. But Grace, do I have to wear those clothes that Madeline sent?”

“No, my love, you can wear any thing you want, or nothing at all, as long as you marry me tomorrow. No more delays....” I gave him one more kiss and then they came to take him to redo his cast. My fingers left his as they lifted him onto a gurney and pushed him out the door. I followed along behind until I felt another hand pull me back, and into the safe harbor of his arms.

Michael murmured into my ear as he guided me down the hall. “Let’s get you back to your room. You need to rest. He’ll be okay, Grace, he has his orders and my team members always follow orders.”

************

Two lives, two hearts joined together in friendship united forever in love. It is with joy that we, Grace King and Alex Carson invite you to share in a celebration of love as we exchange marriage vows on Monday, the twenty-ninth of March, Nineteen hundred and ninety-nine at 8:00 in the evening in the Medical facility at Section One.

I awakened in the darkness of my room and switched on the light. I glared at the clock on the bedside table and saw that it was 6:00am. Fourteen hours until I would be joined forever, whatever might come, to my love, Carson....Alex. I had to remember to start calling him Alex, his real first name and not Carson. Carson was what Section called him, and I wanted to distance our new lives together from when they controlled him. Even though we still worked for Section, we had some degree of freedom and I wanted to maintain that, even if it was our illusion.

I sat up and stretched and immediately felt the now familiar churning in my stomach. I got up and hastened to the bathroom. Afterward, my stomach completely empty, I washed my face and brushed my teeth and proceeded to take a long, indulgent shower. I left the bathroom and found Nikita in my room, setting out a breakfast for the two of us.

“Good morning, Grace. Ready for the big day?” She came over and hugged me. “Are you not feeling well? You are very pale. Do you feel like eating? I have toast, jam, juice. Nothing really heavy. I thought you might want to eat light because of...well, because of the, ahh, morning sickness.”

I patted the arm she had placed around my shoulders, and told her that the breakfast that she had brought would be just right for my condition. “Thank you for being so thoughtful, Nikita. I don’t know what I would have done without you. And how are you feeling? This day will be special for you as well.”

Nikita sighed. “I don’t know how I feel, really. Elated, happy, a bit sad. Grace, I have known Michael for five years and in all that time, I have loved him, feared him, even hated him sometimes. He told me once that he lives his life split in two, and finally, finally I think I understand what he meant. For a long time, he only showed me the Section side of his life. He was training me and it was right that he should remain aloof from his material. Sometimes, I would catch him watching me with those changeable green eyes of his and I would just want to melt into him and become a part of him. But he wouldn’t let me. He would always do something to make me despise him, to drive me away.”

She moved over and sat down at the table where she had laid out our breakfast and rested her chin in her open hand and cast her gaze up at me. “Did Carson ever do that to you? Did he ever try and push you away?”

“No, Carson never had any reason to push me away.” I left the statement hanging in the air, and she immediately picked up on it.

“Meaning that Michael did have a reason for pushing me away?” Her head popped up and she sat up straight. “Spill, Grace, you have my attention.” She leaned forward, waiting for me to tell her what I knew.

“Never tell Michael I told you this...you already know some of it. Every minute of the five years you have been here, Michael has been protecting you. Not only on missions, but from a danger much closer. He has been protecting you from Operations. From the start, Operations didn’t like you, you lacked discipline, I think is the phrase he used. He told Michael that if you failed, he failed. Your performance affected Michael’s position here in Section. Fortunately, you have proved yourself over and over, and you have also had Madeline’s protection as well.”

Nikita snorted a laugh out. “Madeline! She has sent me on some of my toughest missions.”

“Listen to what I am telling you, Nikita!” I gave her a shake. “The only times that Madeline has failed you have been the times when her manipulations of Operations failed, like the Shays mission and when Jurgen was assigned to retrain you. If she protects you, then through you, she protects Michael. She cares for him, she always has. She knows that the two of you are the future of Section. So, sometimes, just cut her a bit of slack. She deserves it. You wouldn’t believe what she goes through to keep the two of you together. And lately, haven’t you noticed that Operations is becoming a little bit easier to live with? Madeline is slowly wearing him down. Her manipulations are starting to work. Why do you think Alex and I are being allowed to get married?” I nodded when her eyes questioned me. “Yes,” I said. “Madeline. And right now, she is probably having breakfast with Operations and working on him to allow Michael some downtime at the Center. She has already scheduled you to visit the Center for three weeks, hasn’t she? Well?”

Nikita was dumbfounded. She asked slowly, “Does she know about our part in your ceremony?”

“No, sweet one, she doesn’t. That is between you, me, Alex, and Michael. That is private among the four of us, although I think Walter suspects that something is going on. He wants his Sugar to be happy, too.”

“Oh, Grace, thank you for telling me this. Everything seems so much clearer now. I think Michael and I have loved each other since we met. We were just too stubborn to admit it. I was always too busy punishing him for his manipulations to see why he was trying to manipulate me. Now I know. I just hope Madeline is successful in getting Ops to give Michael some downtime.” She glanced down at the food on the table. “Now, eat up! We have things to do today!”

So we both settled down at the table and had a quiet little breakfast on this, the most important of days.

*************

Six hours and counting....I was a nervous wreck. I wanted to see Alex, but both Madeline and Nikita said it would be bad luck. Rene was with him now, and by all reports, my husband-to-be was in good spirits. The cast that they had put him in held his arm out at a right angle to his body, not leaving him much mobility. This was supposed to be the best thing for him, since his tumble the day before. The portents for an interesting wedding night seemed correct.

There was an seemingly endless stream of well wishers, and I thanked them all for their thoughtfulness as each seemed to have a gift to leave with me. And all the while that I was accepting their gifts, I was cradling my own best gift under my folded hands. I looked forward to the day when Alex and I would feel the first stirrings of the new life that we had created.

After lunch, Madeline had had all of the gifts moved to her old office where we had more room. This was just as well because this was where we would dress when the time came.

Walter dropped by for a few minutes and it was while we were chatting about when we first met that I put my hands to my head and groaned loudly. “Oh no, Walter!”

“Gracie, what is it? Are you getting sick? Madeline, please, a glass of water!” Madeline quickly brought a bottle of water from the small refrigerator in the corner. She took a few steps back and along with Walter waited for me to answer his question.

“No, I feel fine except for feeling like an idiot! Rings, Walter, I forgot about the wedding rings. I don’t have any. How can we get married without rings?” In all the excitement, I had forgotten to ask Michael or Nikita to pick out a set of wedding rings for us. “What am I going to do?”

Walter chuckled and embraced me. “Gracie, don’t worry. We’ll think of something.”

“Oh, Walter, I am such a wreck. I can’t believe I forgot something so basic to a wedding.” I looked into a pair of faded blue eyes and saw Walter hesitate for a few seconds before he put his finger inside the collar of his T-shirt. He tugged on a chain and his fingers slipped around something shiny. Walter dipped his head as if to hide his eyes from me. “Gracie, if you want you and Carson can borrow these until you two can go and pick out some rings of your own. He quickly glanced up at me and I saw huge tears in his eyes. “These were mine and Belinda’s wedding rings. She left hers on her pillow with a note for me when she left on that last mission. She only got to wear them for a few hours before she left. It would make me very happy if you would use them in your wedding.” I leaned over and touched my forehead to his, old friends sharing a memory. I knew how much he had loved his wife, and I was overwhelmed by the generosity of his gesture.

“Walter, Alex and I would be very proud to affirm our love with these rings. I know how special they are to you. Thank you so much.” I pulled that gentle old soul to my heart and held him while his tears wet my shoulder, and my own soaked into his shirt.

************

Rene came exploding into Madeline’s old office. He was a bundle of energy and he was expending that energy by his hyperactivity. I laughed to myself, and sat back, remembering the first time I saw Rene. I had thought at the same thing at the time they came through the doors of my library so many years ago. I remember thinking that they had exploded through the doors. The three of them, Simone, Rene, and Michael had been laughing then. Rene laughing in delight at a new experience, coming to story hour at the library. Simone and Michael, laughing at their son’s exuberance. Such a happy time for them, and so much had happened in the intervening years.

But today, Rene and Michael were happy, for Alex and I as well as for Michael and Nikita. Today there would be pledges of commitment for all of us. In less than two hours, our lives would be joined forever. Mine and Alex’s in a legal and spiritual union and Michael and Nikita in a union of heart and spirit.

I was beginning to get nervous. I wanted everything to be just right and Madeline had assured me that everything would be. And who was going to say no to Madeline? She even had Operations under her thumb. She told me that he had orders not to approve any missions for Michael and Nikita until after the ceremony. Further, he was to immediately give Michael three weeks of downtime, because I couldn’t run the Center, take care of Alex and Rene and myself. He had acquiesced on every point. So, when I was allowed to take my new husband home in 10 days, everything would be ready for us at the Center, courtesy of Michael, Nikita and Rene. Smiling, I wondered just how many sleepovers the three of them could stand.

Rene had settled down enough to tell me all about the sleepover the previous night. “And you know, Mom, it happened again. I remember being with Daddy and Nikita when I went to sleep on the bed in his loft. But when I woke up this morning, I was on the couch. Daddy was still asleep in the bed, and Nikita was gone. Daddy said when I woke him up that she had come here to have breakfast with you.” I nodded in agreement and he went on to tell me just how Michael looked when Rene had awakened him. “Yeah, Mom, I watched him awhile before I got hungry and woke him up. He smiled in his sleep and called out for Nikita. I think he and Nikita like to be alone together like you and Carson.” Rene looked down at his hands and then back up at me. “Mom, my Daddy loves Nikita a lot, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, Rene, he does. Why do you ask?” He came over to me and put his arms around me. “Operations won’t ever let them be married like you and Carson, will he? It’s all part of what Daddy told me, isn’t it? That he will always have to work for Section. They won’t ever let him go will they? He won’t ever be a family with me and Nikita, will he?” He held on to me tightly and I could hear him sniffing, trying desperately not to cry for his father, and failing miserably.

“Rene, I don’t know the answers to your questions...I just don’t know.” My son and I spent the last remaining hour together, before he would lead me down to Alex’s room and give me away. In that last hour, we shared stories of our life together, happy ones, sad ones, and we shared many tears, some for ourselves, but most of them for Michael. He was so sorrowful for his father, so I told him a little secret. I told him about Alex and I sharing our wedding with Michael and Nikita and then, Rene’s tears were happy ones.

************

Nikita and I were dressed and ready. Rene was resplendent in his tuxedo. All was in readiness, when Madeline came flying into her old office in a rage.

“I swear, I am going to kill that man!!” The three of us shrank back from her fury.

“Uhhh, Madeline, who are you going to kill and why?” asked a frightened Rene. Trust my son to be the brave one.

“Operations, that’s who!” she snapped and then, immediately apologized to Rene when she saw him step protectively back into my arms. “I’m sorry, Rene. I thought I had everything under control. I miscalculated. I just didn’t have all the bases covered.”

“What’s wrong, Madeline? What has Operations done?” I asked. Whatever it was had to be big for her to be so incensed. I felt the dread creeping into my bones. “Madeline, what has he done?” I watched her face and I knew. “Michael. He sent Michael out on a mission, didn’t he?” That bastard, I thought when she met my eyes and nodded.

“Yes, he was supposed to have been back an hour ago....in plenty of time for the wedding, Operations said. But he isn’t back yet and Birkoff tells me that it might be another hour before he and his team return. Oh, I could just kill him!” she said again. “Oh, Grace, I’m sorry. I thought I had a lock on everything. What do you want to do. Do you want to go on with the ceremony or do you want to wait for Michael?’’

I glanced over to where Nikita and Rene were standing, hand in hand, tears threatening in their eyes. I turned back to Madeline. “We wait. I need to go and talk to Alex.”

“No, Grace!” The three of them, Madeline, Nikita and Rene all said at one time. “You can’t. It’s back luck!” Madeline stepped forward.

“It’s my mess. Let me go explain things to him.” She took my hand. “It will be all right, Grace. This time I promise.” I nodded my consent and she left the room.

I sat down and immediately I was surrounded by Nikita and Rene. Nikita was trying her best not to cry, “Grace, you didn’t have to delay the wedding, not for me and Michael. I’m so sorry.”

“I delayed it because I want ALL of my family there to witness the only marriage I am ever going to have. And yes, I want Michael there for you too, Nikita. I don’t mind waiting, really I don’t.”

A slight movement from Rene caught my attention. He pulled on his jacket, smoothing it down in a gesture so like his father that I smiled. “I will be right back,” he said.

“Where are you going, Rene?” I asked recognizing the beginnings of what I called Rene Rage. Sometimes he just got himself so worked up over something that he held his temper until he could hold it no longer, and then it would erupt into Rene Rage.

“Excuse me Mom and Nikita,” he said formally, “but I have to talk to someone right now.” And he left the room, striding forth to do battle with the orneriest old dragon of them all....Operations.

************

Rene returned a few minutes later, red-faced, but much calmer, his Rene Rage spent. “I feel much better.” he said and Nikita and I grinned at each other. Oh, I thought, to have a tape of that encounter, the young apprentice dragon eviscerating the old dragon, because I had no doubt that is what had happened. I knew my son well. I don’t think Operations will ever be the same. A smile lifted my lips.

“Nikita!” A disembodied voice said.

“Yes, Birkoff?” Nikita answered. “What is it?”

“Michael just arrived in van access. He is on his way. Get his clothes ready.”

“Thanks, Birkoff. You are coming to the wedding, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Wouldn’t miss it, babe. I’ll be there in five, as soon as Simon gets here.”

Nikita quickly went to the bathroom at the back of the room and started the shower. She then hurriedly plucked Michael’s tux from the clothes rack and took it into the bathroom. Everything was in readiness when Michael came bursting through the doors, shedding his shirt as he rushed in. He stopped briefly to kiss me on the cheek and to tousle Rene’s hair. “Sorry I’m late. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.” And he proceeded to shed his clothing while he headed for the shower Nikita had readied for him. She glanced back at us as she followed Michael into the bathroom. Smiling, she said, “I’ll just help him get dressed,” and she closed the door.

Rene grinned up at me. “See, I told you, just like you and Carson. She can’t keep her hands off of him!”

“Rene!!” I said, "watch your mouth, young man!” But I laughed with my son. The wedding was back on schedule.

************

Twenty minutes later, Michael left the room on his way to stand at Alex’s side. Madeline was back, adjusting the lacy confection in my hair and generally fussing around, making sure my day continued without a hitch. “Grace, you are radiant. You are positively glowing. You and your maid of honor make quite a pair. Now, where’s Rene.” She glanced around the room and found him combing his hair in front of a mirror. “Rene, no time for that. You look just fine. Come on! We have a wedding to go to!”

We stepped out of her old office and started down the hallway. Madeline sending Nikita ahead of us, and placing my arm around Rene’s. “Perfect! Now go.” She stood back and watched as we followed Nikita down the hallway. Ahead of us, I noticed Nikita hesitate as she turned a corner. She turned and looked back at us, beaming us a brilliant smile as she continued around the corner.

When we got to the hallway where we turned down toward Alex’s room, I saw why Nikita had hesitated. The entire hallway floor was covered with rose petals. I gasped and I teared up. Rene looked up at me and said slowly, “Aww, Mom. Don’t start crying yet.” He pulled on my arm and we continued down the hallway, walking on the petals as we went. Near the entrance to Alex’s room, I noticed two female operatives standing side by side. They were smiling at us and trying to hide baskets of rose petals behind them. I recognized them as operatives who were new to Michael’s team. I suddenly remembered their names, and I paused to thank them both. “This was so thoughtful of you two. Andie, Cyn, thank you so much for thinking of this wonderful touch. I appreciate it so very much.

“Oh, think nothing of it. We were glad to do it for you and Carson. Uhh, don’t you have to be somewhere else right now?” Cyn asked.

“Oh yes, thanks again.” And Rene led me into Alex’s room. There were flowers everywhere. And in the middle of this Section garden was my love, my Alex. Flanking him, at his bedside was Michael on one side and Nikita on the other. Walter stood at the end of the bed, waiting expectantly. My eyes were on Alex and I drank in the sight of him. It had been almost 24 hours since I had last seen him, so I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I knew there were other people in the room. Birkoff, Madeline, even a very contrite-looking Operations and I know Michael’s team was there as well. I knew them by their damp hair, a legacy of rapidly taken showers, like the one Michael had taken a few minutes ago.

Then, Walter cleared his throat and the ceremony began...

************

I looked at Alex and saw the same huge smile on his face that I knew was also on my face. He reached out his hand and took mine. We turned our eyes to Walter, who began to speak, “True matrimony is the holiest of all earthly relationships. It should be entered into reverently, thoughtfully, and with full understanding of its sacred nature. The life that each of you experience now, individually, will hereafter be inseparably united. I trust that you both understand this?” Alex and I looked deeply into each others eyes, and together we raised our eyes to Walter and nodded.

“Alex and Grace, it is this day you make a giant step of courage, of commitment, to communicate your love, to understand and grow. When a commitment this strong is made by two people, the force of that commitment, of that love, of that courage, reaches out and touches all of us around you, so that our lives are changed and we share a part of your love. Like a stone dropped in a still pond, the ripples of the love from this celebration extends and changes the world we live in. Now two of your closest friends wish to say a few words,” Walter said as he lifted his hand and gestured to Michael, who turned to Alex and I as he began to speak.

“I should like at this time, to try to speak of some of the things which many of us wish for the both of you. We wish for you a home, not a place of stone and wood, but an island of peace, a place from which you will receive strength and support that stays and carries with you throughout your daily lives. We hope that your home encompasses the beauty of nature, that has within it the elements of simplicity, beauty, silence, and color, in concordance with your dreams and aspirations. We wish for you a home of books, poetry and music, a home with all the things which represent the highest of both men and women. And we wish for you a warm, loving place where your children can grow up in happiness.” Michael smiled at us and Rene gently pulled his arm from mine and walked around the end of the bed to stand by his father, looking up at him and then over to Nikita, whose eyes were already glistening with unshed tears. Rene seemed to be communicating with the two of them as they both looked into each other’s eyes and smiled.

Then, it was Nikita’s turn to speak. “In our long history we have never discovered a better way of life than sharing it together in love in a lasting and responsible way. This arrangement seems to meet our deepest human needs for love and companionship, for someone with whom we can share in an intimate and trusting way all the hopes and joy and dreams of life. But real love, Alex and Grace, is something beyond the warmth and glow, the excitement and romance of being deeply in love. It is caring as much about the welfare and happiness of your marriage partner as about your own. Real love is not total absorption into each other, it is looking outward in the same direction together. Love makes burdens lighter because you divide them. It makes joys more intense because you share them. It makes you stronger, so you can be involved with life in ways you dare not risk alone, and now, you will never be alone, because you will always have each other.” Her tears flowed now and Michael pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her, his fingers briefly caressing hers. She smiled a thank you and we all tore our eyes away from them and refocused our attention on Walter.

“Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the Art of Marriage: The little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding room for the things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.” Walter paused.

“Grace,” Alex said into the silence in the room, “ you are the right partner for me. Who else would put up with this?” He gestured at himself and I bent over him and kissed him. A ripple of quiet laughter moved through the room and Walter cleared his throat again.

“Alex, will thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; forsaking all others keep thee only unto her so long as you both shall live?”******

“Always, yes, I will!” Alex grinned and pulled my hand to his mouth for a resounding kiss. “I DO.”

“Grace, will thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will thou love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; forsaking all others keep thee only unto him so long as you both shall live?”

“Yes,” I said, “I DO.” Alex, ever the irreverent one, intoned quietly, “Well, she had better. I can’t seem to take care of myself.” Another ripple of laughter. Alex seemed determined to keep the mood light, and I loved him for it. I turned my head slightly and caught movement on Nikita’s lips. She had pierced Michael’s heart with her soundless “I do too.”

“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” Walter voice cut through the gentle moment, and Rene, standing by his father, jumped and stepped behind Michael as if shielding himself from Walter’s inquiring stare.

“Uhh, I do,” he said shyly, and then grinned broadly, “My brother or sister yet-to-be and I do!” The ripple of laughter was gone. This elicited a full-out laugh from everyone in the room. Rene ducked his head, and cut his eyes up towards his father and laughed along with everyone else.

Walter’s weathered face was split by a wonderful grin as he glanced from me to Alex and then from Michael to Nikita. He knows, I thought, either that or he wishes what I am wishing right now. Then he did something that I did not expect. He asked the wedding party to join hands. Michael lifted Rene up to sit on the side of Alex’s bed and so he held on very gently to the fingers that peaked out of the cast on Alex’s arm. After we had all linked hands, Alex, me, Nikita, Walter, Michael, and Rene, and formed a tight little circle around Alex’s bed, Walter continued with the ceremony, turning his head from side to side watching those gathered in the room to observe our joining. The wily old fox, I thought, by having us join hands and form a circle, Walter had, in effect, closed ranks. Our backs were to most of the people in the room and this enabled us to see the faces of everyone in the circle, but it also shielded our faces from most of the observers. He was giving us all a few moments of privacy in a place where that was usually impossible. It would also allow Michael and Nikita to share our vows unseen by everyone else.

Walter spoke quietly. “Grace and Carson, er...Alex now wish to repeat their vows one to the other.

Alex took a tighter hold on my hand and began speaking, “Grace, with all my heart I take you to be my wife. I will love you through the good and the bad, through the joy and the sorrow. I will try to be understanding, and to trust in you completely. I will make you a part of me and in turn, become a part of you. Together we will face all of life's experiences and share one another’s dreams and goals. We will be equal partners in an open, honest relationship throughout the years.” He lifted my hand again and sealed his vow with a kiss, and then it was my turn. I felt Nikita squeeze my hand and I knew she was concentrating on Michael. They locked gazes with each other and as I repeated the vow that Alex had just made to me, and I knew that they were repeating silent vows to one another.

“Alex, with all my heart I take you to be my husband. I will love you through the good and the bad, through the joy and the sorrow. I will try to be understanding, and to trust in you completely. I will make you a part of me and in turn, become a part of you. Together we will face all of life's experiences and share one another’s dreams and goals. We will be equal partners in an open, honest relationship throughout the years.” I felt tears running down my cheeks, and Nikita slipped Michael’s handkerchief into my hand. Alex murmured softly to me, “Grace, it’s almost over. You’re almost mine.”

“I’ve always been yours, stupid!” and I landed a quick kiss on his lips.

Walter cleared his throat, and drew our attention back to him. “Who has the rings?” Both Nikita and Michael handed Walter the rings that he so cherished and had so lovingly loaned to us. He took them with trembling hands and with a husky voice spoke about the symbolism of the rings, the unending circle of life and love. He kissed the rings and handed one of the them to Alex, asking him to repeat his words.

“Grace, I give you this ring in token and pledge as a symbol of all that we share with my constant faith and abiding love.” He awkwardly slid the ring on my finger with his right hand. The ring, fortunately, was a bit too large, so it went on easily. Then, Walter handed the other ring to me and asked me to repeat after him.

“Alex, I give you this ring in token and pledge as a symbol of all that we share with my constant faith and abiding love.” I tried to put the ring on Alex’s left ring finger but his hand was swollen and the ring stopped stubbornly at his second knuckle. It would go no further. Walter took the opportunity to cover this little glitch by asking everyone to bow their heads for a prayer. I glanced over at Operations and the man had actually bowed his head and was waiting for Walter to continue. He suddenly looked up and caught me staring at him and totally surprised me by smiling at me. I think he might have even been happy for me. But then, Alex tugged on my hand and I returned my full focus back to him.

Walter bowed his head and softly spoke the words of the prayer. “Our Father, we come today asking Your blessing upon these two lives and this home being established. You made us so that we are incomplete without the other so that we yearn for someone we can love and whose love we can receive. Grant them patience, gentleness, and understanding. We ask for health, long life, for the fulfillment of every good dream. May their love continue through life and finally blend into the life eternal. Amen.”

“Now that you have joined yourselves in matrimony, may you strive always to meet this commitment with the same spirit you now exhibit. We all bear witness to this ceremony you have just performed and you may now call yourselves by those old and respected names, husband and wife. May God bless this union. You may kiss the bride.” To everyone’s delight, Walter wiped his brow with his hand and uttered a loud “Finally!”

Alex and I didn’t hear him. I barely felt the floor beneath my feet, as I was enveloped by Alex’s free arm and drawn down to the first soul-searing kiss of our marriage. It continued until Rene said, “Mom, if you two keep that up, Alex is gonna need oxygen!” Always the comedian, my son.

*********** Rene’s little comment and the applause of those gathered in the room finally broke through the cloud on which we were floating. Suddenly, I was pulled from Alex’s one-armed grasp and I found myself being hugged by half of Section. even Operations ventured through the crowd to put his arm around me and wish me well. “Grace, I just wanted you to know how happy I am for you and Carson.” This is just a small token of my esteem. I am very pleased with the way you and Carson have been running the Center.” Michael and Nikita waited until Operations had walked away before they came to me. “What did he give you, Grace?” Nikita was all nervous energy. She was having a great deal of trouble keeping her hands off of Michael. She was constantly touching him, brushing nonexistent lent off his suit. And Michael, well, Michael was in total control. His face was blank and unreadable, but after Nikita managed to glide her fingers down his neck as she straightened his collar, his reserve cracked a little. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply as if trying to memorize her touch. And I also sensed a very slight tremble run across his face. Ah, Michael, I thought, you’d better get her home before you explode.

“Grace! What’s in the envelope?! Open it!” Nikita was like a child, the suspense driving her hyper. Rene had quietly walked up and now stood at his father’s elbow.

“Yeah, Mom, what is it?”

“Let’s see, shall we?” I told him, as I ripped open the envelope and unfolded the document inside. “Oh! Michael, is this what I think it is? Tell me, please!” He took the paper from me and read over it. First, a look of concern as he lifted his eyes to mine, and then finally, a smile touched his lips.

“Yes, Grace, it’s an official letter from Operations setting Alex free of Section. It looks as though he is now all yours, no strings attached. He, like you, is now a civilian employee of Section One.” He handed the paper back to me as I stood before him, dumbfounded.

“Really?” I watched as Michael nodded and clasped my hand with both of his own.

“Really, Grace.” He smiled again, a bit wistfully and I could see in his eyes and Nikita’s eyes, genuine happiness for us. But at the same time I could see a look of sad regret that they would probably never receive a piece of paper like this one.

“Daddy, if Operations can free Carson, why can’t he free you and Nikita?” Rene asked, tears forming in his eyes. He tried to control his emotions, but my son was having a hard time of it. I knew that he was happy for Alex and me, but I also knew that his heart must be breaking as he asked that question.

Michael knelt beside him and embraced Rene. “My wonderful son, we have talked about this before and you know why. Nikita and I are still useful to Section and as long as we are, they will never let us go. I know this is hard for you to understand and accept, but you must. This is how we must live our lives. It is not what I want, but it is all we have.” Michael glanced up at me. “Grace, why don’t you go and share the good news with your new husband. I will stay with Rene. We have a lot to talk about.” My heart was breaking for them. I sank to my knees beside them and with most of Section watching, we had a few minutes of peace, just the three of us. Nikita looked on but did not join us. There were too many eyes.

Reluctantly, I stood and ruffled both Rene’s and Michael’s hair before going to Alex. “Michael,” I turned back to them. “Come say good-bye before the three of you head out for the Center.” They planned to leave tonight to oversee the management of the Center. Or, at least, that was the scenario that Madeline had set for them. Three weeks of down time for Nikita’s ankle to heal and for Michael to be with his son. Sometimes, just sometimes, I was tempted to like that woman.

************

I gradually became aware of the crowd of well-wishers in Alex’s room dwindling in number. It had been a momentous afternoon and early evening for the two of us and I could see the fatigue in my new husband’s eyes. After all, it had only been two days since he had turned to me in the split-second before that truck had hit us to tell me that he loved me. I remember thinking, he thinks we are going to die. But we didn’t, instead of our family losing a life, we had gained one. Alex’s precious gift was all the wedding gift I could ever want.

My eyes finally found a pair of chocolately brown ones across the room. Madeline was the reason that people were leaving. I could see her moving from one group to another, speaking in a low voice. People listened to her and started moving out of Alex’s room. She smiled slightly when she noticed my eyes following her. One thing that I had discerned about Madeline was that she was very economical in her actions. She never did anything to excess. Every move she made meant something or had some specific action in mind. As I continued to watch her moving around the room, I thought, she knows we are tired and she is making sure we have some time to ourselves to rest and be together tonight.

Soon we were alone in the room except for Madeline and Operations. They both came over to say goodnight. I made a point of thanking Operations for the letter freeing Alex from his operative status with Section One.

“You are very welcome, Grace, but please understand that no one is ever totally free of Section. The both of you are still obligated to Section. I hope that you will continue to do an excellent job out at the Center. Our operatives depend on the rehabilitation that you provide. You and Alex are literally life-savers for Section One.”

What an interesting compliment, I thought as I squeezed Alex’s hand. I could sense that he was about to make a retort to Operations’ comment on our obligation, and I felt that tonight was not the night to raise Operations’ ire. I think he truly felt that he had done something extraordinary in granting Alex’s freedom, even if it was exchanging one captivity for another form. At least, the threat of cancellation was now a memory. We were civilian employees and as such had much more freedom in our private life than Michael, Nikita or the other operatives of Section One would ever have.

Alex and I also thanked our wedding coordinator, Madeline, for her efforts on our part. “It was the least I could do, Grace. Over the last few years, I have come to look upon you as a friend, and I can’t say that about very many people. You are about the only one who will stand up to me and I have always found that refreshing, and I thank you for it.” She hugged me and smiled at Alex and I. “Now, don’t the two of you have a wedding night to tackle?” She put her hand on Operations’ arm and steered him toward the door. “Good evening,” she called over her shoulder.

Alex and I glanced at one another and we both grinned. “Did I hear her correctly?” he asked. I was just about to answer him when I heard a screech and the sound of a body hitting the floor hard. I hurried to the door to find Madeline sprawled on her derriere amid all of those still fragrant rose petals. Operations stood over her with his hand over his mouth, attempting and utterly failing at keeping a laugh from erupting from his mouth.

A furious Madeline was sitting there in the middle of the hall as the young female operative I knew as Andie was bent over trying to help Madeline to her feet. “And just whose brilliant idea was this to scatter rose petals all over the hall?” Madeline roared. Andie stepped back quickly as if expecting a cuff on the ear from the very agitated Madeline.

“Uhhh, actually, YOU DID, Madeline,” Andie offered quietly, as she backed away from the two Section leaders. Operations finally could hold it in no longer and the laughter burst from his lips. Madeline swung her furious eyes from Andie and pierced the icy blue eyes of Operations with her own liquid and angry brown ones. “Madeline, are you, er, is your, ahem, all right? You sat down so ...ungracefully.” He caught me watching and continued to laugh.

“I don’t remember asking for your opinion, Paul!!” Madeline blurted out, her characteristic cool totally lost. With Andie’s assistance, she regained her footing and marched off, carefully trying to keep from slipping again in the sea of rose petals.

I walked over to Operations and gave him some advice. “Unless you want half of Section canceled in the next few minutes, I suggest you get yourself under control and go smooth those ruffled feathers. And, Paul,” I said, “you might suggest she see a doctor. That was a hard fall. More than her pride might have been injured.” His laughter had fallen to a wide grin and he nodded in agreement.

“I’ll take care of her. It’s just...I’ve never seen her lose it before.” He laughed again and whispered to me conspiratorially, carefully not speaking loud enough for Andie or anyone else to hear, “almost makes you think she is human, doesn’t it?” That said, Operations went striding down the hall, only to slip and almost crash to the floor himself. I didn’t laugh, but I looked at Andie and saw her cover her mouth with both hands.

“I think you need to get someone up here to clean these rose petals out of the hall. They were wonderful as I walked on them to meet Alex, but I think they have outlived their usefulness.” I winked at Andie, and said, “besides, I don’t think I could handle those two at the Center.” We laughed together and she hurried away, murmuring something about hoping that she didn’t get the blame for this too.

Soon, Alex and I were laughing about the fiasco out in the hall. Alone, at last, we set about getting to know about each other again, now that we were husband and wife. Our explorations were interrupted by Rene, Michael and Nikita, coming to tell us goodbye. They were leaving for the Center.

I sat down in the chair by Alex’s bed, so I could be on eye level with my son. “Rene, you be a good boy and remember that sometimes, your Daddy and Nikita will need to be alone together, just like me and Alex. And also, you will not always be invited to their sleepovers.”

“I know, Mom, Daddy explained already. Sam and I can keep ourselves busy. We will all be okay. When will you and Alex be back home?” he asked.

“We should be home in about ten days. The doctors want to be sure that Alex is healing well before they release him. We’ll see you soon.” Rene gave me a big hug and whispered in my ear.

“You and Alex have a nice honeymoon sleepover tonight.” I tickled his tummy and he wiggled and giggled out of my grasp.

“Impudent boy!” I laughed and kissed him.

“Mom!” he stretched the word into at least three syllables, but returned my kiss. “See you soon!”

Hugs and kisses went all around as part of my family sailed out the door on their way to a few weeks of well-deserved happiness. “Michael, Nikita, don’t let him have his way all the time,” I called out to them. They answered with waves and smiles at they followed Rene. As for me, I turned to the newest member of my family and we lay quietly for a few minutes, cradling between us our most precious wedding gift, our child-yet-to-be.

“I want a girl,” I said, “Alexandria Michelle!”

“Nope, a boy,” Alex said, “Michael Grayson!”

We continued this loving banter for a few more minutes, before I locked the door and turned out the lights. You know, it’s rather awkward trying to complete a wedding night went the groom is all trussed up in casts and traction bars. But after a little while of warm caresses and even warmer kisses, we managed. We managed just fine.

The End

*****Note: I take absolutely no credit for the wedding vows and prayers used in this story. I found two wonderful sites in which you might be interested. They are do-it-yourself wedding websites and you can find wonderful vows listed there. The addys are below: http://www.dfwx.com/home.html http://www.javafund.com/kvows.html

Send suggestions and comments to Jaron, click HERE!!