Here is the Careese wedding coming a lot later than I planned. Parts of this were written back in 2014, but I needed to fill in the story and up until this weekend I was drawing a blank. So I hope you like it. I had a lot of fun creating. Lots of fluff. I mean LOTS of it so be warned. J

"What. Are. You. Doing?"

Words she never thought she would utter on her wedding day. For that matter she never thought she would have another wedding day. But here she was, having finally reached the day of her second and- if she had anything to say about it- last wedding. She had promised John three weeks. Three weeks of planning, plotting, searching, and headaches just to pull off a simple, but organized wedding. If it hadn't been for Finch and her mother, Joss would have lost her mind. When John challenged her to pull this off in three weeks, she didn't know she was going to have to fight him along the way. Of course the past few weeks of stress wasn't all John's fault.

The ultimate perpetrator had been her own flesh and blood. Her son Taylor. The moment the date was set Taylor distracted John, teaching him how to be the "perfect" groom. Which meant being late to every appointment, missing out when Joss wanted her groom's opinion on matters concerning the wedding, and three weeks of the men in her life having future stepfather and stepson bonding time. It had been one headache after another. And if it weren't for Taylor being so happy and John being so absolutely clueless she would have been tempted to call the whole thing off. But Finch and her mother kept her on track while John went AWOL with her son.

But today…today was pushing it.

Fifteen minutes prior

Joss felt flawless. Today she was simply Jocelyn. All feminine everything elegant and soft. With a part to the side a few curls hung beside her ears while the rest of her was pulled into a lose bun at the nape of her neck. Ditching the hoop earrings she went for long diamonds that dropped and dangled like two miniature chandeliers swinging from her earlobes. She picked up her pearl white heels admiring their grace. She was going to slay in them. She eyed her dress through the mirror, which was hanging on the back of the closed door. She was delaying putting it on, covered for the time being in a silk white robe. Joss sighed running a hand down the material as the door opened.

Her mother, with a bright smile entered stepping behind her. She looked at her through the mirror placing her hands on her arms. "Baby, you look beautiful."

"Thanks Mama." Joss reached up to cover one of her aged hands.

"I'm so happy for you." Joss watched as her mother turned giving her a once over lovingly. She patted the back of her hair, even though Joss knew not a strand was out of place. But Joss didn't resist the touch. "I didn't think this day would come for you."

"You tryna say somethin' Mom?"

"Girl you know that's not what I meant."

Joss chuckled. "Yes Mama I know."

"I was talking about your first marriage. You and Paul had the perfect wedding. You both had a good head on your shoulders. Right values. I thought it was going to last. When it didn't you took it hard. Harder than you would ever admit. You closed yourself off."

"I had a baby to raise." Joss defended.

"I know that Jocelyn. I was there with you. But when you closed yourself off it wasn't just because of Taylor. What happened with Paul really wounded you. You were my wounded baby. And you did what you've always done since you were two years old. You got up, brushed yourself off, and pressed on. There's nothing wrong with that, but you kept up a wall around your heart. I knew you avoided love because you were afraid the past would repeat itself. And you would end up alone again."

If it had been anyone else Joss would have stared them down until they cowered and doubted their words. But it was her mother talking. The woman who still could read her like a book. And she was right and had Joss cowering. "I'll admit the man you finally did bring home to me was not what I expected. He's so serious, mysterious-"

"He's white." Joss threw in.

Her mother bit her lip fighting a laugh. "Yes that too. But after I saw how he looked at you, I thanked God you turned down and let every other man that came before him go. I don't know of anyone else besides you, who has so much heart or is so selfless. And he makes you happy." Her mom's lashes lowered a tear leaking out of the corner of her eye. "You deserve this. I know he'll take care of you. He loves you and Taylor. I know you know that, but he really does. You're doing the right thing. This one is going to last. Till death. You know?"

Joss nodded trying to keep the tears at bay. She fanned her face, "Mama you're not supposed to make me cry. The wedding hasn't even started yet."

"Okay. I'm done." Turning Joss gave her a hug. "I love you baby."

"I love you too Mama."

"You better get ready. Only forty minutes left."

They pulled away and Joss went to her vanity. She paused when her phone rang. John's number flashed across the screen bringing a smile to her face. "Hey John. What's up? You couldn't wait another forty minutes?"

"Do you love me?"

The smile faltered. This wasn't a sweet romantic, I-need-reassurance 'do you love me?' question. This was an I-need-you-to-remember-you-love-me-no-matter-what-even-though-I'm-doing-something-that-you're-going-to-want-to-kill-me-for-on-our-wedding-day.

Joss made herself sit down. "John. What. Are. You. Doing?"

"You didn't answer me."

"John." She warned not in the mood for their banter.

"I had a little emergency on my way to the wedding."

"Look if Taylor got you to do one more crazy thing-"

"No this time it's not Taylor."

"Then…John are you working?!" She glanced over her shoulder suddenly remembering her mom was still in the room.

"I tried to avoid it. I really did. We won't be late. The wedding will start on time."

"What do you mean 'we'?"

"I could use your help."

Her eyes closed. "You can't be serious."

"We need to make a bust and are needing all hands on deck."

Joss counted down in her head, her foot shaking. "Have Finch text me the location, I will be on my way. Oh and John if you get in a fight do not get hit in the face. I repeat not one bruise, not one gash. I will not have our wedding pictures ruined. If you get hit you'll be sleeping alone tonight."

"I understand completely. I love you."

"Oh shut up." Joss disconnected, standing. She had to slip into something. Her mother watched her as she crossed the room rushing towards the bathroom. "I still love him. He's crazy, but I still love him." She mumbled.

"Jocelyn what-"

"Do you love your future son-in-law?"

"Yes."

"Then I suggest you pray for him."

Panic flashed in her eyes. "Is somebody trying to kill him again?"

"Not right now. But I might."