Chapter 2

"You got David's 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible out of storage?" Zoë questioned as she looked up at Joe and he nodded.

"Is this for real?" Zoë questioned and Joe nodded as Zoë covered her mouth and looked back to the car as it elegantly drove closer.

"Please don't cry." Kaitlin begged as she stepped forwards and placed her hand on Zoë's lower back as she too looked to the car. 'It is a pretty car.' Kaitlin thought to herself as she watched the red paint shine brightly. Zoë shook her head as she raised both hands to her mouth and blinked rapidly while floods of memories returned to her.

"It's too late, I'm already crying." Zoë chuckled as the car pulled up in front of her and she tried to wipe her tears without smudging her make-up. There was silence between the group for a few moments while they all took in the beauty of the classic car. Alexx knew it meant something to Zoë for it to have that sort of reaction on her, but couldn't even begin to wonder what it meant to her or why. "Was this both of you?" She asked both Joe and Kaitlin as she turned to them and they nodded with gentle, contented smiles. "Oh my gosh, you're both unbelievable. I love you both so much. Thank you." She said as she hugged Joe and then hugged Kaitlin tightly before she looked back to the car.

"Can… can I touch it?" Zoë asked as she looked over to Joe who smiled sweetly.

"Of course, you will be riding in it in a few minutes." Joe smiled at her and watched the wide grin appear on her face as she stepped off the pavement and onto the road to reach out to the car. She exhaled as she placed her hand down on the bonnet of the car. She pressed her lips together as a tear rolled from her cheek and fell to the metal. She quickly swiped the tear from the paint work and looked back to Joe, Kaitlin and Alexx. They admired her tender touch, it was obviously an important car.

"Only one other person can travel with you unfortunately though." Joe said softly as he tilted his head at her.

"Don't make me choose, please." She said as she turned to look at all 3 of them, needing them to choose between themselves.

"How about Alexx and I go in the black car and you and Joe in the Cadillac? Alexx and I have to go in first anyway." Kaitlin said softly with a gentle smile. Zoë nodded as she stepped forwards, back onto the pavement.

"Sounds like a good idea, thank you both, you've made this day so special already!" Zoë said as tears continued to flow. She opened her arms as Kaitlin approached her to hug her.

"You're more than welcome, it was the least we could do. You deserve to have the best, babe." Kaitlin grinned and then kissed her cheek and wiped her tears when she stepped back from Zoë. "I told you you'd set me off!" Kaitlin said softly as tears began to fall from her eyes and Zoë giggled with a small smile as she watched the tears create tracks down Kaitlin's cheeks. They both wiped each other's tears and then gave each other another tight hug.

"I'll see you both there." Zoë said as she pulled from the hug with Kaitlin to hug Alexx before giving her cheek a light kiss.

"See you there baby." Alexx smiled and Zoë smiled back and wiped the last tear. She turned to Joe who helped her into the car and then hopped in after her. They pulled off after Alexx and Kaitlin got into the car behind.

"You fixed it up and everything?" Zoë questioned Joe and he nodded as she ran her hand up and down the side of the car repeatedly as she looked around at the cream coloured leather seats.

"I've been doing it for the past few months. You told me to look after it until you could get it down to Miami when you left." He said softly as he admired her tender touch as she caressed the car like it was a baby. He could see just how much emotion and memories the car had brought back for her.

"You're amazing, thank you so much." She said so happy as she beamed at him. He nodded with a smile as he relaxed back. "What have you done to it?" Zoë questioned curiously.

"I just had a few parts replaced, and it worked again." He said softly and Zoë nodded.

"I love this car so much." She said softly and Joe nodded, he could hear the joy in her voice as he looked at her with a brilliant smile. 'I don't think I've ever seen her this happy, she's only going to get a lot happier once she's walking down that aisle. That's all Horatio's doing, he's made her the happiest woman on this planet.' He thought to himself as he watched her tender fingers glide over the leather.

"I know." He smiled. She looked round to him with a wonderful smile and then took hold of his hand.

"You and Kaitlin are the best friends anyone could ever want." She smiled and he then gave her a quick kiss on the forehead after he'd pulled her closer. "You deserve it, darling. You deserve every ounce of happiness you can get and it's clear that Horatio is that giver of happiness." He smiled warmly as he studied her natural-look make-up that still miraculously hadn't run and she began to cry again as she smiled at him. "What is it with you and crying these days, anyone would have thought you'd gone soft." He smiled as he put his arm around her and felt a lump in his throat because she was crying.

"Shut up you." She grinned as she swatted his knee playfully as she tried to compose herself. Joe remained silent for the rest of the journey as did Zoë. She was becoming more excitable and nervous as each second passed. She managed to compose herself without disturbing her make-up. They arrived at the church and Kaitlin helped get Zoë out with the help of Joe. Alexx and Kaitlin quickly walked in and the guests rose as the organ began to sound. Zoë and Joe stood behind the church doors and Joe could see Zoë becoming exceptionally nervous. Her heart began to flutter when she heard the loud, deep sounding organ beginning to play and she knew it was real, she knew it was really happening. 'I'm about to marry Horatio, I love my life, I love him. He is my life.' She thought to herself as she took hold of the bouquet of white and lilac flowers with both of her shaky hands.

"Oh gosh Joe, I'm so nervous, so excited and so happy at the same time." She said as she looked at him.

"You're going to be fine." He smiled and then linked arms with her. She looked back to the car and tears began to fall again as she looked back to the large doors in front of her.

"I can't believe you, I really can't." She said softly as the two stewards opened the church doors. She let go of the bouquet with her left arm and wrapped it around Joe's tighter as she held the bouquet tightly in her right hand. A brilliant grin formed across her face after she pulled the veil down over her face and then began to walk with him down the aisle. She watched Horatio turn as he stood with Eric at the alter and saw the wide smile appear across his face. 'She's so beautiful and she's going to be my wife. Wow, just look at her.' Horatio thought to himself as he continued to fiddle with his sunglasses as he completely turned and tried to tone down the grin that was taking over. 'This is by far one of the best days of my life.' He thought to himself as he took Zoë in by the gallon, he could feel his heart jumping in his chest and felt a sense of joy and pure happiness that he never wanted to let go of. He watched her dress flow down to the floor after hugging her torso and hips. 'The only thing I'd change would be to have that veil back to show her beauty off more.' Horatio thought as he put his sunglasses away as she got closer with Joe. Joe gave him a wink and a nod as they approached and he in return nodded at him with the bright smile he couldn't rid from his face. Once Joe had helped her up the steps she gave him a kiss on the cheek and he returned it. She turned to Horatio and then bit her lip as she took his hand as everyone sat. He gently pulled her closer and then saw the tears in her eyes and the few tears that had rolled down her cheeks. She saw his immediate concern building and so gave his hand a quick squeeze.

"Don't worry, they're happy tears." She whispered as she smiled at him. He gave her a nod and a smile. The ceremony began and neither of them could stop themselves from smiling. She looked to Eric who stood just behind Horatio and gave him a brilliant smile and he returned it, he was just as happy as everyone else. She looked back to Horatio as the priest spoke and bit her lip as she observed her husband-to-be. 'He's got the cutest nose ever, well… he's the handsomest guy ever! He's going to be mine in a few minutes, he's absolutely perfect, I didn't think people like him existed.' She thought to herself and she continued to gaze at him. They repeated their vowels and the priest began to speak again. She swallowed and then lowered her eyebrows as she placed her free hand over her stomach. She looked down and pressed her lips together as she exhaled.

She looked back up at Horatio when she felt him place his hand on her lower back. "What's wrong?" Horatio mouthed to her silently and she took a deep breath and shook her head and then gave him a forced smile as she took hold of his hand with her hand that she'd placed over her stomach. He could see that it was a fake smile that she was giving him and could see the unease and pained look in her eyes. 'What's wrong? Is she in pain?' Horatio questioned himself in his head. She let go of his hand again and placed it over her stomach and Horatio stepped closer while he wrapped his arm around her lower waist to keep everything cool with the guests behind them.

"What's wrong beautiful? Are you in pain?" He questioned and she shook her head as she looked back up at him with a mild frown.

"I've got a bad feeling, Horatio." She whispered as she looked up at him. He nodded and then began to glance around, hoping that it was just nerves getting to her rather than something bad actually happening, but he knew that she was usually spot on with her gut instincts. 'I hope that she's just getting her wires crossed and that it is just nerves and excitement.' Horatio thought to himself while Eric also glanced around when he saw Horatio looking around. Eric had picked up on something being wrong.