A/n This is the sequel to Footsteps in the Dark and the second part in my trilogy of fics! I would suggest reading Footsteps in the Dark first just so you understand what is going on! Thanks for reading - Enjoy!
Trials of the Heart
Chapter 1: Fairytale Disaster
Ruth didn't think she had ever been so nervous in her life not even when she had sat the most important exams in her life a couple of months ago. The exams that had allowed her to continue with her medical studies in the hospital she loved so deeply and gain the position of Specialty Registrar training in, to her surprise as well as many other members of the department, emergency medicine. She took a deep breath as she felt her hair being gently tucked into place and the small simply tiara being slipped onto her head by the hairdresser Leila had recommended.
"Wow you look like a princess!" River grinned bouncing up to Ruth and wrapping her little arms around her neck.
"Thanks River." Ruth smiled.
"You do." Ellie agreed coming over and placing a hand on River's shoulder.
Ruth turned to face her soon to be sister-in-laws. They were a pair and a half.
River with her enchanting blue eyes and beautiful long deep brown hair which had been curled expertly by the hair dresser and partially scraped back framing the eight year olds face perfectly. She was wearing the pale lilac bridesmaid dress that Ruth had paid for to be fitted, she looked like a little princess in her own right.
Ellie was stood wearing a similar dress, cut perfectly. Her dark curls had been tamed and were currently looking shiner and more perfect that Ruth had ever seen. Her dark brown eyes displayed nothing but love and respect for he soon to be sister-in-law. Ruth exchanged a reassuring glance with her. She was so incredibly proud of Ellie, she had all but beaten her own demons and was wearing short sleeves for the first time in a very long time her old scars easily visible. Ruth had reassured her that she would never want the teen to be anything but herself.
"I guess its time." Ruth said nervously as Ellie offered her a hand and helped her up.
"Things could not be more perfect." Ellie smiled
"Never say that! That is exactly when the trouble starts!" a familiar voice said from the door. Ruth looked up to see Nick Jordan stood there, His hands were visibly trembling and he was leaning on the wall for support but he was there.
"Nick!" Ruth beamed pleased to see her former mentor, boss and friend.
"I heard you might need someone to give you away…" He stumbled, Unknown to her Jay had secretly planned for Nick to appear at the house and offer to give her away weeks ago. He knew what it would mean to her. "I wondered if.."
"Yes." Ruth smiled wrapping her arms around him in a way that six months a go she would have never done. "I would love that."
"Well it's the only chance I may get." He sighed "And its about time my favourite student had her happy ending."
"Thank you…" Ruth started tears building in her eyes
"No Thank you Ruth." He nodded offering her his arm which she accepted "Now choke back those tears! We've got a wedding to get to and you better not be late! I wouldn't like to ruin your reputation!" he joked
Ruth smiled slightly and blinked back the tears that had been forming in her eyes.
Nick led them slowly out of the house. Ruth immediately turned red as she spotted the vehicle waiting outside, Jay had obviously booked this without her knowing. There were two beautiful dapple grey horse's hitched up to a carriage which looked like something out of a fairytale. River immediately scuttled up to the first one to stroke its nose, the driver passed her a polo from his inside pocket and let her feed the horse as Ellie told her to get in the carriage. Nick opened the door and let them slip inside in before he climbed in a car behind.
They were off. The gentle sound of the horse's hooves clattering against the road surface was the only sound that could be heard to begin with before River began to chat away excitedly, she was always the perfect ice breaker and could start a conversation about absolutely nothing. Today she was describing the wedding dress she was going to have for her own wedding. Ruth smiled slightly bemused at the idea of the eight year old having already starting to think about what she'd want for her wedding and shook her head as she described the pink crystal tiara she had invented. Ruth hadn't the heard to tell her unless she was marrying a billionaire that sort of tiara would probably remain a dream.
As River chatted away pretty much holding a conversation with her self, Ruth couldn't help but reflect on how her relationship with Jay had developed. She tried to pin point the exact moment where hatred had turned into love but she wasn't really able to. The two things were too similar, She loved to hate him and hated to love him. But what she did know was that she would not be the same person she was currently without his influence, She smiled contentedly, that was most definitely a good thing.
Who knew where she would be without her prince charming? She smiled slightly holding back a laugh, if only Jay knew she thought of him as her prince charming he would never take those retched pants off.
As they arrived Nick offered Ruth a shaking hand and helped her down from the carriage.
Ruth was proud of the older mans determination but was quite irritated by his persistent nature. When he left the department just after Ruth completed her exams and became a speciality registrar a couple of months ago he had announced to everyone the reason, the brain tumour. Ruth had been shocked he had kept working with such a serious illness and even more shocked to discover he was not going to have any treatment for it, he had given her lecture on a particularly bad day a few months ago about not giving up on herself yet he had given up on himself. It was a little ironic.
She knew time was running short for her mentor, he was already living on borrowed time. Zoe looked more stressed every day at work and the visible signs of shaking and just general weakness and then the memory loss and the stammer he had developed showed that he was deteriorating. He was fighting himself and loosing, it was sad to see but she admired his resounding courage.
Nicks condition made her all that more aware of exactly how much Jay meant to her and how much she wanted to let him know she loved him with all her heart. Today was all about doing just that.
She slipped her arm in Nicks and they headed to the door of the church, River and Ellie following behind.
"Just a second!" Ellie said as the reached the steps. She hurried over and brushed a stray hair from Ruth's face. "Perfect. Go get him!" she smiled
Ruth grinned nervously as River did a little 'I'm excited' dance.
Ellie pulled the door open and waved Ruth and Nick through.
He was stood at the alter, his nervous but happy expression was apparent even from the opposite end of the church. He looked visibly relieved as she entered like he had half expected her to have made a run for it.
As she walked up the isle she looked at the faces of the people in the small crowd, most of the guests were members of the emergency department and their partners. One big family. Jay's Nan, Leila, Toby, Ben, Maggie and Abs were also present as well as a couple of distant relatives of Jay's. Ruth's family were not present. She was more than happy about this arrangement though and it didn't hurt them not being there in the slightest.
As Ruth approached the alter she spotted Charlie stood next to Jay, he was a perfect choice for best man in Ruth's eyes, she smiled slightly.
She had never been happier.
She reached the alter and Nick kissed her on the cheek before Zoe escorted the frail man to his seat. River and Ellie took their positions just behind Ruth and she turned to Jay.
'You look beautiful' he mouthed winking at her
'Love you' she mouthed taking his out stretched hand.
As their hands connected he squeezed her fingers gently in the reassuring way that only he did.
The priest stepped up smiling and started welcoming everyone
"Welcome everyone! Today we are here to…" He began
"Nan!" Leila's voice suddenly interrupted his sentence as she screamed. Ruth's eyes flicked from her husband-to-be who looked so handsome to his eldest sister who was desperately trying to support his Nan who appeared to have collapsed from her chair onto the floor.
Pure happiness turned to Sheer panic in three seconds flat.