Thanks for the reviews everyone!
Chapter 2
"Morning Jake." Jack greeted kindly as the younger man walked into his kitchen.
"Good morning," Jake returned before taking seat on a stool at the island that was in the middle of the kitchen.
"Where's Greenlee?" Jack inquired while retrieving two mugs from the kitchen cupboard.
A small grin happened upon Jake's face, "Upstairs under a comforter with about three pillows clenched to her." Jake told him, the image still clear in his mind. "She's not exactly a morning person."
Jack placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of Jake, "Somehow that doesn't surprise me."
Jake nodded. "Yeah, I don't know how she's going to handle being woken up at 2am in the morning when the baby's born."
The grin on Jack's face grew wider. He sat down beside Jake and divulged himself into his own cup of coffee. "I'm sure she'll be a natural."
"There was never any doubt in my mind." Jake agreed. Soon adding, "I want to apologize again for last night. It must have been a shock--"
Jack quickly cut him off, "You don't have to keep apologizing, Jake. You don't regret marrying Greenlee do you?"
"Of course not," Jake responded automatically.
"Then there's nothing to apologize for. Last night, I got the most that a father could ever ask for, my daughter's happiness. I've never seen Greenlee with such a glow around her." Jack admitted. "Do you guys know if it's a boy or a girl?"
"No," Jake replied shaking his head.
"What are you hoping for?"
"I don't really have a preference. As long as the baby is healthy, I'm happy."
Jack was satisfied with that answer and for the next few minutes the conversation was at a lull. Greenlee entered the kitchen finding the two silent and drinking their warm coffee. She envied them for getting to consume caffeine. She strolled next to the island and sat down but not before giving both of them pecks on the cheek. "Good morning." She greeted to them cheerfully.
Jack rose at brow at the unusual tone. "Is someone particularly happy today?"
Greenlee looked at him confused. "No more than usual."
Jake skillfully slipped a look to Jack regarding the change, silently telling him that the positive attitude had come with the bright glow.
"Dad, do you have an herbal tea?" Greenlee asked regretfully while eyeing his mug.
"Luckily, Lily keeps some in the house." Jack told her.
Greenlee grinned sheepishly, "Do you mind?"
"Of course not," Jack said getting off of his stool. He put his mug in the sink and started to prepare her a cup of tea.
Greenlee turned to her new husband and planted a kiss on his soft lips. She drew back and smiled wholeheartedly, whispering. "I love that you're getting acquainted with your father in law."
"It's a vital part of marriage isn't it? Plus it kind of helps to know that I'm scoring brownie points with you." Jake remarked, his smile reaching his eyes.
Greenlee laughed lowly, "Most definitely. You will be rewarded later. So what were you two talking about?"
"You," Jake answered simply.
Jack returned with Greenlee's tea and carefully handed it over to her. "Can I get you anything else?"
"Thanks for the offer but Jake and I are heading over to his parents' house pretty soon." Greenlee explained while taking a sip of the sweet tea. "This is great."
"Before you know it all of PV will be finding out." Jake commented.
Greenlee shrugged. "It's fine with me. I don't want everyone remembering me as Greenlee Smythe Lavery anyways. It's about time I create a new stir in Pine Valley."
"You married Greenlee Smythe Lavery?" Ruth Martin wondered very aloud in her living room. The room was congested with the whole Martin clan (at least the ones that remained in Pine Valley): Ruth, Joe, Tad, Jeff, Jamie and a new Martin by the name of Josh Madden.
Greenlee looked at the occupants worriedly and Jake didn't miss the look. His tightened the arm he had wrapped around her waist. "I love her, mom." His voice was genuine and strong, Greenlee soon relaxed against his arm.
"What happened to Carolyn?" Tad asked from his position on the couch.
"I was never in love with Carolyn," Jake confessed to his family.
"Alright, but didn't you guys already give this a try?" Tad asked.
Jake had expected this question and ran the answer smoothly. "We were different people back then. We wanted different things and what we went through has shaped us. I belong with Greenlee."
Joe spoke up to his junior, "But you followed her requests and didn't invite any of us to your wedding. Jake, we expected more from you."
"Maybe too much," Jake contested.
Greenlee looked in between the two and felt the growing tension. She looked at the elder Martin. "I don't want to start a fight between you two, Mr. Martin. I want us all to start anew." She addressed everyone in her presence. "Jake doesn't know about this but I have an idea. I'm proposing that all of us have dinner together at the Valley Inn."
She smiled comfortably when she noticed that no one was giving her eye daggers or seemed repulsed by the idea. "My family will join. Everyone will get to know each other." She gazed at Ruth. "I promise that I'm not sabotaging your son, I love him very much. Trust me, I know that I'm not the daughter in law everyone hopes for but I'll do my best to try to get you all to accept me and prove that I'm worthy of Jake."
Ruth shook her head lightly, "There's nothing for you to prove, Greenlee. You just weren't what we expected. I apologize for my brash reaction."
Greenlee looked at her hopefully, "Does that mean you accept the invitation?"
Ruth smiled in return, "What time should we be there?"
"Seven," Greenlee stated. "But before we have dinner together you should know one more thing."
"What's that?" Ruth inquiered cursiously.
"You're about to become a grandmother again."
It wasn't two seconds before Greenlee was enveloped in Ruth Martin's arms.
"Are you sure we're not going to be kicked out?" Jake asked his wife as she slipped a dress over her head later that night.
"Yes, I made reservations. I believe I told you that twenty minutes ago." Greenlee replied. "Can you zip me up?"
Jake sprung up from the bed his was lying on. "Gladly."
He proceed to do just so, intentionally letting his hand stray up her naked back before zipping the dress. Greenlee turned around in his arms and held out her own. "What do you think?"
The dress had two inch wide straps and hugged all of the right places. It was light blue and flowed out into an angelic skirt with a white ribbon tied at her waste. Her bright browns eyes shimmered under their bedroom light. "Gorgeous." Jake admired.
"Gorgeous." Jake complimented softly to Greenlee, who stood before him in white sundress while Jake wore black colored slacks and a white button down dress shirt. They were in their local courthouse with a Justice of the Peace and two witnesses. It was their wedding day and in their minds it couldn't be more perfect. Just minutes before Greenlee had lightly decorated the room with white tulips and an equal amount of orchids, insisting that her wedding had to have flowers.
"We're really doing this?" Greenlee asked. This was all a dream for her. She was afraid that she'd wake up and all of this would be gone. She'd be alone in a ratty motel without Jake in her life. Greenlee couldn't picture not having Jake in her life. He was her anchor, her support. He was also the love of her life. He was caring, kind, generous and not to mention handsome. He understood her faults and loved them all along with her. Jake wouldn't try and change her, but what he didn't know is that he had. She was a better person; she felt it in her heart. She was vulnerable yet strong, stubborn but she was willing to listen. They were all little things but they added up to be a lot.
"This is the happiest day of my life." Jake told her sincerely. It wasn't the first time that he had said that to a soon to be bride but it was real this time. He felt it within his whole being. Greenlee was his soulmate. He had found her in that donut shop for a reason, she was meant to save him and show him the world in a different way. Jake had always been infatuated with her even when she had chosen Leo over him so many years ago. Early on he had found her challenging, hard headed…a fighter. That's what had attracted him to her, he found her strength admirable. She also made him laugh more than anyone else in the world. There had been days when he was down but a few minutes with her did miracles. Greenlee was enchanting and an inspiration.
"Are you two ready?" interrupted the Justice of the Peace. He looked at them with expectant eyes.
Jake gazed down at Greenlee in question and she nodded mutely. He turned back to the JP, "We're ready."
"Your vows?" The JP prompted. The couple had decided to go against tradition and pick their own vows. Ones that were personal, real and meant the world to them.
Greenlee cleared her throat, emotions already running high. She stretched out her hand to Jake's and he accepted without hesitation. She smiled at him sweetly while the words flowed between them, "I used to be afraid of falling in love, of giving my heart away. How could I trust a man to love me, to give to me all that I wanted to give to him? Jake, when I met you, I realized how much we could share together. You have renewed my life: Today I join that life with yours." She stopped briefly to wipe new tears from her eyes, "I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, my tender care, through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise to be faithful to you. I promise to love you, to commit to you, and support you. I pledge to respect your unique talents and abilities, to lend you strength for all of your dreams. You have shown me what love feels like and for that I thank you. You are everything I need and at this moment I know all of my dreams have come true. I thank you for all of your love and constant friendship. From this day forward, you shall not walk alone. My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home. As I have given you my hand to hold, I give you my life to keep." Greenlee held a platinum band in her free hand and she gingerly slipped it onto his ring finger.
Jake brushed away some tears ran down her face, "From this day on, I choose you, my beloved Greenlee, to be my wife. To live with you and laugh with you; to stand by your side, and sleep in your arms; to be joy to your heart, and food for your soul; to bring out the best in you always, and, for you, to be the most that I can. I promise to laugh with you in good times, to struggle with you in bad; to solace you when you are downhearted; to wipe your tears with my hands; to comfort you with my body; to mirror you with my soul; to share with you all my riches and honors; to play with you as much as I can until we grow old; and, still loving each other sweetly and gladly. I offer you this ring as a sign of life, and myself as your husband."
The Justice of the Peace looked at the two, granting the union. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Jake lowered his head to hers and captured her lips once. He tasted her lips again, this time more thoroughly and passionately. Greenlee pulled away with a smile. "We're married. How great is this?"
"It's perfect, Mrs. Martin."
"Martin." Greenlee stated to the maître'd that guarded the dining room of the hotel when he requested to know her last name.
The head waiter looked at the listen in front of him, then at her strangely, "Table for eleven?"
Greenlee rolled her eyes slightly annoyed, "Yes." She pointed a finger to the crowd behind her. "Those ten people behind me are with me and we've been waiting for about a half an hour."
"I'm sorry ma'am. I'll find a table for you right away." The maître'd apologized while grabbing several menus from his podium. He led the group into the dining room and pointed them to a table that had recently been vacated. Jake and Greenlee's family headed over to the table while the couple stood still for a couple of moments. Knowing that the next two hours or so they wouldn't have much privacy.
Greenlee looked up at Jake, "Remind me not to leave a tip."
"Now that's not nice." He said with a wink.
Greenlee shrugged innocently. "Hormones?"
"Uh huh."
"Speaking of hormones, I really need to pee." Greenlee stated matter-of-factly. "Head over to the table and order me a sparkling cider. I'll be right back."
"Alright," Jack complied, placing a peck on her forehead. "Don't take too long."
"Do you miss me already?" Greenlee joked.
A pout marked Jake's face. "I'm dying."
He watched her run as fast as she could in her heels and condition to the hall. He headed over to the table amused.
Along the way, Greenlee bumping into a stranger but kept steady on her feet. Instinctively, her hand touched her slight bump and she backed away from the human brick wall. "Sorry," she murmured. She did so without looking up and when she did rise her head she gazed into blue eyes she hadn't expected to see again. "Ryan?"
A/N: The wedding vows do not belong to me. I got them from an online website. I also apologize for the reveal to Jake's family being so anticlimatic but the dinner will be much better.
