This just seemed a natural continuation to the saga of Karen and Frank. My other stories will continue, but this one is nibbling at the corners of my mind and demanding to be written. Pushy muse, not giving me ideas where I need them and demanding I do what it wants.

Going to the Chapel

Part One

"Ugh," Karen threw herself down on her chair and pushed her thumb into the waistband of her pants. "Why didn't I listen to Frank and elope as soon as he was released from the hospital."

"Because you wanted a wedding like every other woman wants," Russo piped in.

"Yeah, maybe a wedding, but not a circus," she grimaced as her stomach twisted into tighter knots. So far Karen had been spared morning sickness; she didn't need to start up chucking in front of the guys. Only Jim knew about her pregnancy and she wanted to keep it that way. But was it her imagination or were her pants already starting to feel tight?

"Karen, Christie doesn't have to get back to work for another week, why don't you drop by and ask her to help?" Jim turned towards his partner and smiled. "She needs something to occupy her time right now."

"What will my mother and Mrs. Daniels say when I don't listen to them?"

This time Marty had right answer. "You say this is my wedding and I am through trying to make too many people happy. The only people I have to worry about are me and Frank."

"Just watch out for all the knives that will be in your back." Jim said as he opened his computer. "Christie and I wanted a small wedding; we ended up with three bridesmaids and three groom's men, a flower girl, a ring bearer and a country club reception. Good thing her parents had the cash to foot the bill."

"If we had to depend on my parents we'd be holding the reception at Denny's." Karen shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "The Daniels said they would cover the costs, but I don't want to use anybody's money but mine."

"What about Frank's money?" Tom finally asked. "He's a lawyer; he has to have some cash."

"That's going into a down payment on an apartment. I am not living in his parent's basement." Karen jumped up and ran past the guys on the way to the ladies room.

Marty leaned towards Jim and whispered, "I think that wedding better happen soon. I haven't seen anyone act like that since my wife was pregnant with Julie."

"Christie, we're here," Jim said as he entered and went through the ritual of dropping his keys on the entryway table, hanging up his coat and taking Hank's harness off.

Christie came up and wrapped Karen in a tight hug. "Thank you for coming. I've been thinking about weddings ever since I got your call and I have some great ideas."

"As long as I don't look like a snow bank of legs," Karen laughed as she pulled back to take a good look at Christie. She still looked pale and drawn. Karen had visited twice since the Dunbars had lost their baby and felt like she was becoming one of Christie's good friends. Seeing the sadness in her eyes almost made Karen feel ashamed at being pregnant. Now Christie seemed to be putting all the hopes she had had for her own baby into Karen's; helping plan the wedding seemed as natural as asking any other friend.

"I have ideas, but first we'll eat and then we'll get down to the details."

"Will I be needed?" Jim asked as he headed to the kitchen and the beer waiting in the fridge.

"No," the women chorused.

"Fine, just what I wanted to hear." He smiled and then he tilted back the bottle.

"Frank," Eunice Daniels tapped on the door to her son's apartment. She liked having him here. He was her youngest, a surprise baby after a ten year gap. Brian Jr. and Clare were gone, one to California and the other to Toronto; but they were strong and healthy with families of their own. Frank needed to be looked after. Eunice knew when he was sick or tired or injured because she could check on him everyday. Now her baby wanted to get married… to a Puerto Rican homicide detective. Why was God punishing her with a daughter in law like that?

"Mom, what are you doing here?" Frank wheeled to the entryway that connected his apartment from the rest of the house. "I thought I locked that door."

"I was worried, so I used my key." She tried to look innocent, but failed miserably. "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Frank rolled his eyes as he rolled his chair back to allow his mother past him. She immediately went to the kitchen and filled the kettle.

"Make yourself at home, why don't you."

"I was hoping Karen was here. I have a tentative guest list to show her."

Frank held his hand out to his mother, silently asking for the list. When she pulled it out of her pocket Eunice knew Frank would never allow it to stay in tact.

"Mother, there must be over one hundred names here."

"One hundred and eight… couples," she smiled as the kettle started to whistle. "Do you want some tea too?"

"What I want is for you to understand that this is going to be a small wedding. We are having one hundred people or less in total. That means I get to invite fifty people or less."

Mrs. Daniels sat down and looked her son in the eye. "I think I should be talking about this to the bride. I have all sorts of ideas about the dresses and the flowers and if we want to have the wedding at your Uncle Greg's church we have to book a year in advance."

"Mother, the wedding will be no later than December 26th. It will be small and it will be in Canarsie where the Betancourts live. Father Greg has already said he'd marry us where ever we want. If I find out you have been bothering Karen with this shi….stuff I know one person who will not be invited to the wedding. Understand?"

Eunice Daniels closed her eyes and sniffed. "When did you become so cruel?"

"The day I figured out that even though you aren't on the stage, you can act like a martyr at the drop of a hat."

tbc