Grant Jackson put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "You can barely see the scars." He assured. The man who was giving himself one final look over in the mirror was Rick Barnes. He fingered the light traces of the scars and nodded. "I doubt the camera will get them, probably won't really show up."

"I know. Nothin' can be done about it." Rick said adjusting the chocolate colored satin bow-tie around his neck.

"Relax." Grant told him.

"Jess won't even see them." Walter Riggs added as he offered Rick his cufflinks.

"Sure." Rick replied. He was nervous and it was obvious. He put the cufflinks on his sleeves.

"You get cold feet and both Lawrence women will never forgive you." Grant waggled his eyebrows.

Rick quirked his lopsided smile. "Don't I know it."

The three men shared a laugh. He still wished that the scars were gone. Alex had told him it would take a few more weeks before they were fully healed. Hopefully what Grant had said was right, that the camera wouldn't capture them too much.

Rick had had one heck of a time shaving for the past couple months. Now he was in a beautiful little church getting ready for his wedding in an office. They had brought in the mirror.

Rick was uncomfortable in his tuxedo just like always. He ran his fingers over the crisp black lapels. His jet black hair which he normally just combed until it was somewhat tamed was slicked back.

Grant was in a black suit with a brown vest. His hair was combed back. Walter was in a similar suit but he was seated in a wheelchair. His left leg was tapping against the foot rest. The cybernetic replacement of his right leg moved jerkily. He still didn't have full control over it yet.

Rick looked at his left hand. He knew that soon he would be wearing a ring on his finger.

A knock on the door made both men turn. "Come in." Rick called. He shifted his weight. His nervousness was obvious in his inability to stand still.

Alex walked in. She was wearing a tiffany blue dress with a brown ribbon around her waist and shoulder straps. She grinned at the men. "How are we doing?" She asked.

"He's nervous." Grant said.

"Don't worry." Alex looked him over. "You look rather dashing."

"Thanks."

"Now remember, smile and don't worry about your face. I doubt the camera will catch the scars." She hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her. She took a breath of him. "Is that Polo I smell on you?"

"Maybe." Rick replied sheepishly.

"Let me guess, Jess bought you it." Alex said. Rick nodded.

"She always did like expensive cologne. It actually works on you." Alex smiled. Rick chuckled.

"You better get out there. We're just about ready on our end." Alex said opening the door. "And no peaking." She warned.

Rick stepped out into the hall after giving Alex a minute to return to the ladies' room.

His two friends followed after him. He marched through the sanctuary taking deep breaths. "I'm as jittery as a June Bug." He whispered.

Grant nudged him with an elbow as the two broke apart and left him to continue on his own.

The pastor of the church stood at the altar in a grey suit. He held an old leather-bound volume in his hands. He smiled at Rick warmly. The detective didn't quite make the first step and caught himself from falling face forward onto the stage. Rick, his face a little pink, took his spot on the raised stage and swallowed. His heart pounding in his chest. He felt like he needed a drink.

He took a look around the building. The pews were a dark wood and along the aisle blue tulle and brown ribbon connected each row of pews in little swags. Brown and cream flowers sat in little baskets at each pew. The aisle was covered with a cream carpet leading all the way to the back of the sanctuary.

The open windows let in the warm August breeze and the summer sunshine.

In the first few rows were a select few people. Jessica's cousin Colton Reams. Sergeant Hanson and Deputy Michaels. Jessica's dear friends Myrte Sherman and Sarah Busch. Rick's Uncle Larry Sandusky and his son Gavin. That was it. The rest of their friends were going to be up front with them.

A door in the back of the church opened and Penny walked down the aisle in a brown satin dress with the bright tiffany blue tulle under the skirt and a ribbon around her waist. It had thick shoulder straps trimmed with blue. Her curled hair was pulled back in a tiffany blue headband.

Now the woman at the baby grand began to play the wedding march.

She carried a cream basket and walked towards the altar dropping brown and cream flower petals on the carpet. She stood on the women's side of the stage. Alex and Grant came down the aisle arms linked. They were smiling and broke off to take their places as Matron of Honor and Best Man.

Lindsey Williams and her boy friend came next. Lindsey had been Jessica's best friend since High School. The two were almost as close as the Lawrence sisters.

Walter Riggs and his girlfriend Melissa Granger were last. Melissa was pushing Walter's wheelchair down the aisle. She pushed him up the ramp behind Lindsey's boyfriend. They were the last of the wedding party.

The pounding in Rick's chest grew worse. He watched the open door and swallowed a surprised gasp.

Jessica Lawrence stepped out of the office walked by her Uncle Matthew Lawrence. They made their way to the altar. Jessica's dress flowed around her. A short veil covered her face obscuring even Rick's view. The small tiara on her head glistened in the warm light. Her blond hair was piled on her head in curled ringlets and clipped back. It fell around her neck lightly in soft curls.

Rick's heart almost stopped. He had never thought he would end up in love with such a woman. To think he was a dead man years ago made him shudder involuntarily. Without Alex and Grant none of this would have been a part of his life.

Jessica was smiling, it was just about the only thing he could see through the veil. She was shaking slightly. Not from cold.

Her dress was breathtaking. It fit her frame perfectly and the asymmetrical waist just accentuated her hips. The lace around her neck reminded him of the Victorian wedding dresses he'd seen in a museum once.

Jessica walked slowly, the aisle seeming to go on forever. Rick was there with the preacher. He was in a stunning tux and looked just as nervous as she did. She could see a trace of the jagged scars that ran along his face. But compared to everything else they weren't hardly visible, she was just familiar with them.

Her Uncle's arm around hers was warm and he patted her hand as she tried to stop shuddering. "Calm down Jessie." He whispered.

"I'm trying." She replied quietly.

They came to the stage and Matthew released her. She clung to him briefly as Rick offered her his own hands.

She took them and stepped onto the raised platform with him. Rick gently pulled her veil up over her head. Her eyes locked onto his as he took her hands again. It seemed as though the preacher wasn't even speaking.

Rick was almost floored when he raised the veil. Jessica's face was flawless. Her eyelids were touched with brown and a hint of blue at the edges. Her lashes were long and dark. There was a hint of pink in her cheeks. Her glistening pink lips were pulled into a warm smile.

There was no way that this moment could be ruined. They vaguely heard the traditional marriage speech. Both knew their cues and answered the questions in turn. When it came to the rings Rick almost dropped the diamond topped gold band as he slipped it on Jess's finger. The wedding band added was a simple silver addition. Around the eighth of a carat diamond were two much smaller ones and silver inlay.

He caught the band in midair and Jess giggled. He managed to get it on her finger and quirked a relieved smile as she then did the same with the wide gold band fitted with a silver strip in the center.

The preacher nodded and continued. Finally came that moment immortalized in the media.

"Do you Richard Jonathan Barnes take Jessica Lesley Lawrence to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Rick winced at his full name slightly. He'd never been too fond of his full name and had always just gone by Rick. Jessica had giggled when they went to get the marriage license.

"I do." He answered clearly.

"Do you Jessica Lesley Lawrence take Richard Jonathan Barnes to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

She didn't hesitate. "I do."

"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife." The preacher replied. He didn't have to add 'kiss the bride'.

Jessica had pulled Rick closer and their lips met. It was a warm endearing kiss, nothing graphic or passionate. Friends clapped as they broke apart.

Rick and Jess's cheeks warmed a little.

The door opened and Rick snapped his head up. Everyone looked toward the man who strutted in. He wore a black pinstriped suit with a scarlet shirt. His black tie had a silver chain on it. His light brown hair with blond salon highlights was slicked back perfectly. He stalked into the room carrying several blue envelopes.

"Malcolm Bradley." Rick whispered it agitation. The man walked up the aisle as if it were the most natural thing.

"Greetings detective Barnes, this is for you." He handed him one of the envelopes. It was a subpoena. He handed the other two envelopes to Grant and Alex.

"What is this about?" She asked.

"You'll see." Malcolm replied coolly. He was obviously a lawyer. Alex opened hers and read the first few lines.

"Well, you'd have something here if you had done your research. I expect you and your clients will be there on Tuesday as well?" She sounded as confident as he had looked waltzing in.

"Certainly." Malcolm replied unfazed.

"Good, on Tuesday you'll find out your mistake." Alex replied smugly. Malcolm shook his head at her and turned for the door.

"See you on Tuesday." He called. The door shut behind him.

"Rick, you go ahead and enjoy the evening. This is foolish. Besides Jake will handle it." Alex took the subpoena from his hand.

"You sure?" He asked. She nodded in determination. Obviously she wasn't that worried about why they were being asked into court. Either it was a minor complaint or it was an invalidated cause. "Alright then."

Everyone threw rice at Rick and Jessica as they hurried to Rick's Mustang. Jessica didn't ask about Bradley or the subpoena. The two headed for the Grand Sierra Resort. Neither one wanted to leave town, but they did decide they'd spend the night at a hotel in town.

Penny was with Alex and Grant of course.