A/N: This is my spin-off of Their Little Family and I recommend reading it to know who the characters are and such but it's not needed since TLF is a drabble story and jumps all over the place.

Aiden is not included in this timeline and does not exist in this story. Also some events in seasons one through three have happened to Melinda and Jim, but after it changes to fit what Ghost Whisperer related storylines I wrote, but since this story is set around Melinda and Jim's daughter Katherine (Katie) that doesn't necessarily matter whole lot but I felt the need to disclose that.

Just for a reference, the character's ages at the beginning are:

Katie - 20

Ned - 25

Jim - 50

Delia - 49

Melinda - 46

Aaron - 16

Mackenzie - 11

Lana - 2

Anyways enjoy! xx Mariah

Katie was a nervous wreck. She was going to marry Ned Banks in less than an hour and she looked perfect.

The sweetheart cut wedding dress beautifully fit her figure. It was strapless and lace hung over the fabric, an old-timey thing she adored about it. Only Hannah had seen it until now because she'd wanted everyone to be surprised.

"Hannah, where is my mom?" Katie asked as she nervously fidgets in her seat. "You don't think Ned is going to leave me at the altar, right?"

"Your mom is talking to Ned as we speak. Just calm down." Hannah said, laughing, trying to reassure her friend the best she could. "Ned is in love with you and he isn't going anywhere. Just calm down and let me finish your hair."

"Fine," she sighed, biting her lip. "But what if he doesn't like my dress? He doesn't usually like lace…"

"Don't make me use your full name, Katie, because I will," Hannah said, tugging on her hair a little. "Stop worrying, alright. Ned loves you and he will love the dress because you love it, okay?"

"Yeah?" Her voice was full of worry, her shoulders tense. She sighed. "Well, I hope so."

"Look on the bright side of things," Hannah suggested, flattening her hands over her stomach. "At least you aren't nine months pregnant in this July heat."

"Yeah, I guess, but Delia is going to be my mother-in-law," she laughed as Hannah clipped her hair up into an updo slowly, pinning different flowers along the braid she'd just finished.

"You're marrying your mother's best friend's son, Katie," Hannah chuckled, rubbing her shoulders for good measure. "At least you're not gaining any new people that you haven't met."

"That is very true, but what are the cons?" She asked as Hannah pinned her veil into place and placed it over her face.

"Well, you'll have to deal with Delia bugging you about grandkids along with your own parents, but I think that's it." Hannah laughed and handed her a mirror. "There, all done. Now you can ramble about things that aren't going to happen and pace around again if you want."

"Thank you," she said and stood up, walking toward the mirror, quietly going over the last few details.

"I'll be right back," Hannah said, rubbing her swollen stomach. "I have to use the restroom."

"Hey," she said, turning to look at her as the door opened. "If you see my mom, send her in."

"For sure," Hannah smiled and slipped out of the room.

Her hands went to her wrist, tracing over the engagement on the bracelet. It was an old piece of jewelry. One that had been in her mother's family for a while. Since before her mother was even born.

Her great-grandfather had given it to her great-grandmother before he was shipped off to war. It was her something old. Her something new was a necklace Ned bought her for Valentine's day this year. Her something borrowed was her mom's veil that she wore the day she married her father and the pale polish on her fingernails was the final check on her list. Her something blue.

Everything was set and perfect.

The door opened, but she didn't turn to see who came in. "Hannah came to tell me that you're kind of having another mental breakdown," her mother, Melinda said chuckling as she walked into the room. "This is the third one today, sweetie…"

Her mother closed the door, which was the only thing between the inside of the church and her. She was just steps away from marrying Ned.

"I am not having another breakdown, mom. I'm just nervous." She whispered, running her hands over her dress. The soft material against her hand made her smile. She'd been waiting so long for this moment. "Do you think Ned will like my dress?"

"Oh honey, stop overthinking," Melinda said, walking up to her daughter and wrapping her arms around her from behind. "I love your dress and think you look stunning."

"You think?" She asked, fidgeting with her veil.

"Of course. Why would I ever lie to you?" Melinda helped adjust anything she might need help with and set the veil over the top of her face. "And I'm so glad you asked to wear this."

She smiled, touching the fabric of the veil her mother had worn so long ago. When her mother married her father. "Me too," she smiled.

"Knock knock," her father Jim, said opening the door slightly. "I'm here to walk my daughter down the aisle."

"Come in, daddy," she said and he covered his eyes. "You can open your eyes because I need you to see my dress and tell me what you think"

"Alright," he laughed and then opened an eye. A relaxed look came across his face as he smiled at her and opened the other one. "You look perfect, baby girl."

"Thank you," she said, smiling and going to hug him. She was trying so hard not to tear up when she saw her father patting his eyes with his handkerchief. "Oh, dad. Don't get me started already. I'm totally going to be that person sobbing while giving their vows." She dabbed under her eyes, trying her best not to smear her makeup.

"Your mother didn't cry until after the ceremony so you might luck out," he said, his voice turning into a chuckle at the end as Melinda walked toward them.

"Hey! I was pretty proud of myself." Melinda laughed, stealing a kiss from her husband.

"I'm sorry to ruin your family moment and everything, but the walk down starts in five minutes," Hannah said, opening the door and peeking her head in.

"Alright, Hannah. Thank you," Melinda said as the young woman closed the door. "Are you ready?"

"Let's do this," she smiled, nodding at parents.

"I'll go find my seat then," Melinda smiled, kissing Katie's cheek and then kissing her husband on her way out. "See you both soon."

"Ready?" He asked and moved to grab her flowers.

"Yeah. I'm just a little nervous," she said and walked back to him.

"Don't be," he said, locking his arm in hers. "I felt the same with your mom because she's your mother and I was just some guy. This amazingly beautiful woman was going to marry me. I'm just some normal looking, suburb raised paramedic."

"Dad, you're more than just normal," she sighed and then watched as Lana started to walk down the aisle with her basket of flowers. "I fell in love with Ned because any man like my dad would be pretty damn amazing."

"Thank you, Katie." He said, watching as Mackenzie and Aaron were next, followed by Hannah with Ned's friend and colleague since grade school."We're next."

"All rise for the bride," The priest said and she squeezed his arm tighter.

"Hey, don't worry," he whispered and then kissed her forehead.

Then she saw him.

Ned.

She looked straight ahead at him and smiled, her once held in a breath, released. She couldn't believe she was finally here. She was finally going to marry the man she loved more than anything in the world.

There were no words that she could think of to describe the feeling she had as she walked down the aisle. The sun was setting beautifully behind the stained glass of her childhood church. The pews were lit by lanterns and candles, with all their loved ones and close friends amongst them.

Once she and her father made it to Ned, she looked to her dad and hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek as she did so.

"I love you, daddy," she whispered softly and then felt his kiss on her forehead.

"I love you too, Katiebug," he whispered and then she walked to Ned and he sat down next to her mother.

"Hey, you..." Ned said, cupping her cheek and smile. "You look beautiful."

"Hi," she replied and then gripped his hand tightly. His palms were sweaty and she watched as his cheeks flushed. She wasn't the only one that was nervous, and that helped, a little, and she squeezed his hand. "Thank you." She took a step toward him then, onto the altar.

Katie placed her hand in her father's open one, the contact as light as a feather. Jim remembered the days where her hand, so tiny and fragile, always grasped tightly onto his. She was always by his side. His little shadow.

But she wasn't so little anymore, and neither was her hand. Her hand was bigger, her fingers not so chubby, and a sparkling ring shone on her fourth finger.

Her voice caught his attention as she searched the crowd that watched them dance.

"Who are you looking for?" He asked.

"Professor Payne… have you seen him? He said he'd try and stop by the reception because he had a class during the ceremony."

"I saw him with your mom a bit ago, but I think he left."

"Without saying hello?" She seemed to be almost as let down as her mother would be, the father noticed and she bit her tongue.

Rick Payne had a knack for hurting his wife and eldest daughter. And he'd never liked it. Not when it was Melinda and especially not with Katie.

"I think he something important to do," he said, nodding to her mother. "Your mom would know."

"Right. The Jacob's son's spirit was pestering Lana again wasn't he?" She nodded, looking back at him. "Daddy, you have that look," her voice warned softly, her hand squeezing his arm. "You have the crying look."

He lifted his eyes to hers. The same warm color as her mother's, and so happy. There was no longer the dusty cloud over her head. And he was happy about that, too.

But his little girl wasn't his anymore. She was another man's, she was Ned's. She wouldn't need him anymore.

"Hey," he chuckled. "I haven't cried too much Katiebug."

"Yeah, okay, Waterworks." She laughed as he spun her to the music. "Mom didn't even cry as much as you did during the ceremony."

"I'm sorry if giving my little girl over to another man is hard for me," he said, only slightly playful. "You sure Ned treats you right? Those Banks' can be-"

"Hey! I'man Banks now, so watch what you say," she said, raising an eyebrow as she grinned. "Daddy, you know he treats me right. Do you really think you would've let me marry him if he didn't?"

"Hell no," he said quickly, the corners of his mouth lifting up. "I love you so much, sweetie. And…I just…I don't want you to forget that I'm always here for you. I can change the tires of your car… I can help fix your plumbing or help mow your lawn-"

"Daddy," she interrupted, shaking her head with a giggle. "I'm not going to forget about you just because I'm married. You're still the most important man in my life, and plus, Mom will probably need your help with the tires."

They both looked over at Melinda, who watched on with a smile, and they laughed together.

"You know how well she takes being helped out," he pointed out after they finished laughing.

The song that had been playing slowly died down, and he gripped his daughter's hand tighter. "I almost don't want to let go," he said, his eyes becoming blurry with tears, though he still smiled.

His daughter smiled at him with one that was like her mother's in every way. "It's okay," she said softly, leaning to press a kiss to his cheek. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to live just a few blocks away… I love you daddy."

"I love you too," he said as she wiped away his tears with a laugh.

The cameras flashed as he spun her again and hugged her as the song ended.

"C'mon, let's go get a drink." She sat, patting his arm.

Later on that night, many drinks and laughs later, Ned and Katie were in the back of a town car on their way home.

"You seem tired," he said, rubbing her back while pressing a kiss to his wife's forehead.

"More intoxicated than tired," she laughed and looked up at him with a smile. "Why?"

"I just wanted to ask," he whispered, leaning in to kiss her neck. "I had the best night. Did you?"

"It was a lot of fun," she smiled, giggling at the feeling of his lips on her neck. "We're home now."

"I know you're probably still pissed about the whole no honeymoon thing..." He said getting out of the car and helping her out. "But we have the whole weekend together and one day I'll make this up to you. I promise." He closed the door and the car drove away, the pair walked toward their house and Ned swung his wife up into his arms. "Okay?"

"Ned!" She giggled, smiling at him. "I'm not mad. You could never make me mad." She kissed his cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I understand that you are busy as hell at work. I would never want to screw that up for you." She explained and then ran her hand through his hair. "Plus a whole weekend with you is all I need after the past week of not seeing you like at all."

"I know," he sighed, walking up the sidewalk and porch. "This case is killing everyone at the station, believe me," he said, stopping at the front door and setting her down. "I just couldn't get the key." He quickly opened the door and pushed it open before picking her back up. "There, you ready?"

"Yes," she smiled. "Here's to us starting a new life together," she whispered, kissing him.

He walked across the threshold and kicking the door shut behind him.

Monday morning, Katie walked through her mother's storefront doors with three village java cups in hand and smile on her face. "Espresso for you," she said, handing a cup to Delia, who was dusting off a display. "Green tea for my mom and a cappuccino with soy milk for me."

"You're so sweet! We were just about to take a trip to Java," my mom said, taking her cup with a smile. "You saved us a trip."

"I wanted to stop over and say hello and I needed some caffeine. I thought you two might as well." She said, taking a sip as she hugged her mom. "It was really no problem, but I better get going," she glanced at her wrist, seeing it was almost nine. "I still have my last day of classes."

"You better get going then," my mom said, coming over to get a hug. "You know Professor Payne doesn't like when you're late."

She nodded and rolled her eyes. "I'll see you at lunch mom," she smiling, pressing a kiss on her cheek before heading toward the door.

"Yes, I have to come by Payne's office for something anyway." her mom said as she sorted through the papers in front of her. "Then you can tell me all about your weekend getaway with Ned."

Delia plugged her ears. "I'm not listening."

"Oh, Delia… I'm sorry." Katie giggled. "I wouldn't go as far as calling a getaway seeing that Hannah went into labor on Saturday, but yes I will tell you the details mom. I love you both," she said, walking toward the door and waving at the air. "See you later!"

"Oh my," Delia said, taking a drink of her coffee as Katie walked out and toward the university. "That girl has the biggest sex glow I have ever seen."

Melinda chuckled, shaking her head as she witnessed her friend realize what she'd said, considering who she was married to.

"I don't know if I'll ever get used to it," Delia chuckled. "But if my boy is happy and so is Katie, then that's all that matters."

Melinda nodded, rubbing her friend's back. "Believe me, even though I've always known Katie cared for Ned, I never thought they'd get married in the end." The bell above the door rung and she looked over as Jim walked in. "Hey, you!"

"Hi honey," he smiled. "Delia, do you mind if I swipe my wife from you momentarily from you?" Jim asked, walking toward them.

"Nope. Go right ahead," Delia said.

"Thanks," Jim said, smiling as he lead her out of the store.

"What's up?" Melinda asked, resting her hand in his as they walked.

"Nothing too bad. I just wanted to let you know that Aaron is home sick in case you go home and see him there. I told him to take his temp every hour and send me a picture. It's still at 101, but it hasn't risen." He explained as they sat down on a bench outside the store. He could already see the tension knotting between his wife's eyebrows. "He was throwing up when I went to wake him up. You were already half dressed and down the stairs, before I could tell you, so I waited until I had a break to come over."

"Oh, yeah, Delia called me and told me to get over here asap. Something about a big buyer for a trunk we were selling," she explained quickly. "He must be getting that bug that going around the schools or something. I'll go home and check up on him... which means I have to cancel with Katie and rearrange a few things. You dropped Lana off with my mom, right?"

"Yep. Beth said she'd drop her back off at 3:30 and pick up Kenz from school." He explained.

"Okay. That's gonna really help." She nodded, biting her lip." When do you get off?"

"I should get off at six, but that's if things slow down. I heard it's already been crazy and I don't start my rounds for another twenty minutes." He said, softly, wrapping his arm around her. "It's my night to make dinner so I'll probably do something easy on the stomach. You should invite Katie and Ned over to make up for your lunch date."

"That's a good idea." She said, smiling. "You're the best you know."

"I know," he laughed and then placed his hand on her leg and patted it softly.

He leaned back against the bench and took her hand in his. Her head rested on his shoulder and her other hand at her side as they sat. Silence fell between then, but it's comfortable. The sound of bird chirping mingled with the sound of cars passing by.

"Jim?" She said and he stared down at her.

His hand came up to her face, his thumb tracing her chin and the line of her jaw. "Yes?" He asked, looking down at her.

"I love you," she replied. Once the words are out, she smiled, feeling as if a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. Funny how the truth can do that to you. It felt so good she had to say it again. "I love you so damn much."

Jim's smile could have lit a hundred Christmas trees as his lips found hers. "I love you, too," he murmured against them. His hands were suddenly everywhere, in her hair, on her shoulders, running down her back. "God, I really don't want to go to work now."

"Go save lives." She sighed, patting her hands on his chest. "Even if I don't want you to go… we the rest of forever to spend together."

"Yes, we do," he said as he stood up, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet. "I love you, you know."

"I know. I love you, too," she said, smiling.

He smiled softly against her lips as he kissed her one last time and then walked away.

After her mom canceled lunch, Katie found a way to make other plans. She'd met Ned at their house and she made food, and they had eaten first, but after Katie licked her lips at him one too many times. He'd pounced.

It had become the couple's mission to have sex in every room of their new house over the weekend. Friday night had extended from their bedroom to their master bathroom and the kitchen.

Today had included the dining room and living room.

"I'm glad you suggested this," Ned sighed, leaning in to press a kiss to her neck as she laid back on the couch. "It was just what I needed to relax after the day I've had." Ned rolled onto his side and reached for his pants, not even taking a second to lay back. "I just really need this case to be done and over with. Everyone is on my ass to close this vandalism case."

"Well, have you looked at it from a different angle?" She said, sitting up and placing her head on his shoulder.

"What do you mean?" He asked, putting his feet in his boxers and pants.

"I mean, look at it from the vandal's point of view. What occupation are the victims?" She asked, kissing his shoulder.

"Three of them are teachers, one is a bus driver and another is the vice principal." He explained. "Why?"

"So what does that mean?" She pushed on him, hoping he'd have the right pieces to put the puzzle together in his head.

"I should at their class lists and match it to the bus lists and find the connection. You're an absolute genius!" He said, jumping up from the floor and pulling up his pants. He grabbed his belt next and wrapped his around his waist. He went to grab his work shirt next, but she handed it to him inside. "I have to go do that, so I'll see you at your mom's for dinner, right?."

"I have been told that I'm a genius on several occasions," she mocked him, standing up as she grabbed her clothes up from the floor. "Go close your case."

"You're such a smart ass. I love it." He said, pulling on his shirt and buttoning it with alacrity. "I could kiss you right now."

"Well you definitely should because I would very much enjoy it," she replied snarkily as she pulled her dress on and let it fall down over her. SHe fixed her hair and walked toward her husband. "I should get going… I have some last minute stuff to do before the semester ends for Professor Payne."

"Have a good day," he chuckled softly, rubbing her back as he leaned down with his lips aimed for hers but she turned his head at the last second as her phone rings. She reached toward the table and answered it, promptly pushing Ned away from her neck where he had been kissing passionately a moment earlier. "Hello?"

"I presume you're with Ned, so put some clothes on and come over, " her mother's voice came through the phone. "I need you to help me with something. I called Rick. Don't worry. It's urgent."

"I was already planning it on it once I finished up with my work, but alright," she replied, walking toward Ned.

"Well, I need you here in like fifteen minutes." Her mother replied. "Warning, Aaron's got a bug so stay away from his room. But I don't think it's an actual bug."

"Okay. I'm getting dressed right now," she said, pulling on her bra. "Thanks for the heads up. See you in a bit." She tucked her phone in her bra and then quickly threw her hair up in a bun.

"Headed to your moms?" Ned asked as he holstered his weapon and pinned his badge on his belt.

"Yeah," she said pulling on her jacket quickly. "She needs me to help her with something. Probably something ghost related, I'm sure."

"You're so beautiful, it's crazy," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and smiling at her.

"Thank you," she said, settling back into his arms. "Now go close your case because I'd like for you to be at my parents by supper time at least."

"I'll try my hardest," he said, kissing her before walking toward the door. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she said walking with him toward the entryway, but grabbed her keys and pulled on her heels before walking out the front door with him.

Later on that night, Katie leaned back against her parent's porch swing and glanced at her watch. "It's almost seven o'clock. Where is he?" She sighed, closing her eyes to try and trying to relax.

It was only a few minutes until she heard a car pull up and smiled.

"I hear someone is in need of her husband," Ned said, shutting the door of his car and jogging toward her.

She opened her eyes and stood up. "Did you close the case?" She asked, walking toward him.

"I did. Thanks to your wonderful advice." He said, walking up a step and meeting her there with a kiss. "For you." He placed a daisy in her hand. "I know it's not a fabulous bouquet or anything but I couldn't find anything that you'd like besides this which I saw by the gazebo in the square."

"I love it," she said, smiling. "Come sit."

They walked over hand in hand to sit on the porch swing, a place of meaning to them. The place where he asked her to be his wife.

Her head rested on his shoulder and her hand on his chest.

"Closing this case showed me something," he sighed, his arm wrapping around her.

"What?" She asked, looking up at her husband.

"Grandview's a lot darker than we ever thought," he murmured into her hair as he pressed a kiss to her head.

"Well, I think we already knew that. I mean the tunnels alone are something for the record books," she explained.

"Yeah, but this vandalism case was a whole lot bigger than the department ever thought," he explained. "We thought that it was some kid because of the connection you helped me find, but it was, in fact, the father of the kid because the kid was being abused by all of the vandal victims."

"Abused, how?" She asked.

"Sexually. There are a whole sling of boys coming forward now that we have the vandal victims in custody for questioning." He sighed. "It's awful."

"Well, shouldn't you be down at the station then?" She asked, looking up at him.

"No... the case is being transferred to the FBI." He sighed. "Which means they'll take all of the credit."

"I'm sorry," she whispered softly against his cheek as she kissed him there. "That sucks."

"Don't be. I'm still credited with closing the case here at least." He shrugged. "Harry says I might even get promoted to sergeant which would be something, but that's if he does it before he retires at the end of this year."

"That's amazing! We have to go tell my folks." She said excitedly.

"Not yet. I don't want to say anything until it's official," he replied, shaking his head.

"Alright," she sighed. "But can we still celebrate for you closing that case tonight because I'm so proud of you."

"Of course, we can." He smiled, turning to kiss her forehead.

Silence fell between them, but it's comfortable. The sound of crickets chirping mingles with the sound of her mom's music coming through one of the open windows. Through the white lace curtains, they could see Katie's mother kneading the dough, and her father standing beside her talking in hushed tones.

Her mother giggled and swatted at him with her rolling pin. They watched as her father snatched the rolling pin from her mother and pulled her into his arms as Billy Joel sang Just the Way You Are.

Her dad may have been a nerd back in the day, but the man sure could dance. He twirled her mother around the kitchen happily.

"Your parents are awesome," he smiled as he spoke, tuning back and sighing. "I wish my parents had been more like them."

"Your parents didn't act like that?" She asked. "Not even every once and awhile?" The idea was shocking for her. She'd never experienced anything different.

He shrugged. "I was two or three when my dad passed and then my mom met Tim when I was like five, I think? From what I've been told my dad was always working and my mom was always yelling." He explained, sighing. "They'd fight, then they'd make up, and then eventually they'd fight some more. They loved each other, but you wouldn't have known it by the way they treated each other. I remember the yelling, but everything else is a fuzz. I was just too little to remember I guess. But my mom was a wreck when he died for the longest time. I remember that."

She held him, rubbing his side and looking up at him. "I'm sorry you lost your dad, Ned. I don't know how I could've ever grown up the way I did with my dad."

"Yeah, it's just something I've been dealing with my whole life, you know?" He sighed. "And I used to watch sitcoms and see those happy couples with their perfect kids and wish my family could be like that. I know all the girls want a love like Romeo and Juliet, but me... I always wanted a love like Homer and Marge Simpson."

She laughed and pushed him, causing the swing to sway wildly. "Homer and Marge? Seriously?" She shook her head. "Why not a love like Elena and Stefan from The Vampire Diaries or Haley and Nathan from One Tree Hill?"

He laughed, smiling at her. "Oh definitely, but those couples have such long and sad stories."

"Sometimes that just makes them all the more beautiful," she explained . "They're not perfect, but they love each other undeniably until the end through everything."

"Well, Marge accepts Homer's faults, and even though he has a lot of them, you just know he's crazy about Marge. They don't do too bad, you know." He explained, laughing and nudging her as he did. "Nice home, three kids, loads of fun. That's what I want."

"You want to be a fat, drunk, obnoxious and marry a toothpick with blue hair?" She asked with a smirk. "What about romance and adventure?"

He stood up and shook his head at her. "Maybe we can leave off the beer belly, though I think you'd look incredible with blue hair," he said softly. "And we can always have romance and adventure."

"You think of me as your Marge?" She asked, leaning into the swing and crossing her legs.

"Of course," he said as he leaned against the porch rail, running a hand through his hair.

She stood, facing him. She grabbed his hands and pulled him towards her. Ned pulled her to him first, putting one arm around her waist and taking her hand in his.

"What are you doing?" She chuckled.

"Apparently it's a night for dancing," he said, swaying with her to the music. "Besides, you should've known those vows we said we're going to mean forever to me... it's something very important and I'm not going anywhere."

"So you're saying I'm stuck with you?" She asked.

"That's exactly what I'm saying," he replied. "You alright with that?"

"Well that's just great," she said, smiling up at him.

A lump rose up in her throat, hard and fast, and emotion washed over her as Ned waltz's with her across the porch. Billy Joel crooned and over his shoulder through the window, she could still see her parents still locked together, her mom resting her head on her dad's chest. She smiled and did the same with Ned, listening to his heartbeat.

As she looked up at Ned and her eyes locked with his, she finally understood why those scenes on tv shows and movies were slow and sweet as any couple was alone together like this. It was such an intimate thing to be alone with someone you loved.

It's because real love wasn't that first punch in the gut when you think you just have to have somebody. It was companionship and laughter. It was bringing someone chicken soup when they were sick and comforting them when they were hurt. It was whipped cream fights and singing to the radio. It was holding hands and dancing under the stars.

It had been in front of her all this time and she hadn't even seen it. Maybe, because she'd made it complicated, when at the end of the day it was all so simple. She gripped his shoulders and stared up at him, seeing him as she never had before. Her chest swelled with pride at the thought that he was truly and completely hers forever.

"Ned," she whispered.

He stared down at her, pausing mid-dance. His hand came up to her face, his thumb tracing her chin and the line of her jaw with the sweetest smiled on his face "Yeah, Katie?" He asked.

"I love you," she said softly.

"I love you too, babe," he replied. "And you know, we don't have to be Homer and Marge if don't want. I guess we can be Elena and Stefan, but without all the vampires and dying and dating his brother, okay?"

"Okay," she laughed and squeezed his hand. "I won't date your imaginary hot, older vampire brother."

"Good, because I don't know if my ego could handle that." He leaned down and kissed her, soft and slow. He tasted like November, like hot chocolate on stormy evenings and crisp autumn air.

"We should go help out with dinner. I don't think those two are getting anywhere any time soon if we don't intervene," she giggled like a schoolgirl as their lips parted.

She loved the way his lips felt against hers. She just did.

"That's a good idea," he laughed and pulled her toward the front door. "I'll keep Mackenzie occupied."

"You do that," she said as they walked inside and shrugged off their jackets.

Ned's lips alight on her cheek like a dew freckled petal caught in a breeze, so soft and with the smallest hint of coolness. They went their separate ways.

"Can we start cooking now because I'm starving," she smiled as her parents looked over at their eldest and smiled brightly.

"Of course. You can make the salad and I'll get started with pasta as your dad checks on the steaks outside," her mother said, patting her father's chest. "Will Ned be joining us?"

"He's upstairs with Kenz. How's Aaron feeling by the way?" She asked.

"A lot better. His fever broke two hours ago," her mother explained as her dad pressed a kiss to both her forehead and then Katie's on his way toward the sliding door in the dining room.

"That's great!" She said, grabbing the lettuce on the counter and unraveling the plastic around it as she cleaned it off with water in the kitchen sink.

Overall, it was going to be a peaceful night. The next day, however, that was a whole different story to tell.