On the morning of his wedding day, Joe sat in the living room of Home Farm and looked at his parents' wedding album. He looked at his parents, happy, smiling, kissing, baby Joseph on his mother's lap, and wondered how it went so wrong that his mother ended up being killed by another man, and his father ended up killing himself over another woman.

"What are you looking at?" his best man asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Mum and Dad."

"Ah." Graham sat down in front of him. "Not having second thoughts, are you?"

"No. I am not making my father's mistakes," Joe said firmly, closing the wedding album with a snap.

"Good." Graham looked at his watch. "We should go soon..."

Joe stood up and brushed down his suit. He was wearing his father's old cufflinks. Rebecca had insisted on spending the night at Victoria's, believing it was bad luck for them to see each other on their wedding morning. Rachel had stayed over with her mother too.

"Maybe I should just call them, to make sure everything's alright."

"There's no need," Graham insisted. "Victoria will call if there's any problem."

"Yeah, I know." Joe checked his reflection in the mirror again.

"It's OK to have last-minute nerves." Graham was enjoying Joe's nervousness far too much, he thought.

"So, will you and Victoria be getting it on later?" Joe asked, straightening his tie. "It's a tradition, you know, best man and bridesmaid..."

"Perhaps you should have asked Noah, in that case."

"Noah's the ring bearer. I needed a best man old enough to drink... Not that you will," Joe added hastily.

"Maybe you should quit while you're ahead." Graham's lips quirked in amusement. "Save some of these charming comments for your bride."

"I still can't believe I'm getting married." Joe ran his hands through his hair one last time.

"Me neither. I can't think what she sees in you," said Graham, deadpan, as he moved in to fix Joe's tie.

...

Meanwhile, the bride was looking at herself in the mirror in Victoria's bedroom.

"How do I look?" she asked Victoria, who had just finished curling her hair.

"Beautiful," said Victoria honestly. Rebecca was wearing a long, lacy white dress while Victoria was dressed in a purple bridesmaid outfit. "How do you feel?"

"I wish Chrissie was here," said Rebecca, glancing at Rachel, who was lying peacefully in her basket, wearing a pink fluffy dress. "And Dad..."

"I know," Victoria soothed. "They'd be really proud... don't ruin your makeup!" she added hastily as Rebecca dabbed at her eyes. She had thrown herself into organising today as if it were her own wedding.

The doorbell rang. "That'll be Rob," said Victoria, leaving Rebecca in front of the mirror as she dashed downstairs. Rebecca continued to look anxiously at her reflection until Victoria returned with Robert and Seb, both in top hat and tails.

"Seb!" Rebecca swooped down on her son. "How's my handsome boy?"

"The car's ready," said Robert.

"I'll take Rachel out," said Victoria, picking the baby up.

"It's not too late to change your mind, you know," Robert said, only half-joking. Rebecca gave him a look.

"Let's go," she said, standing and hitching up her dress.

...

Joe and Graham arrived at St Mary's Church to find Harriet preparing for the service and the photographers getting set up. "Morning," Harriet called as they made their way to the altar. "Ready for the biggest day of your life?"

"Don't, I'm nervous enough." Joe wiped his brow.

"Alright?" Noah greeted them as he strolled down the aisle in his best Dingle suit.

"That depends, have you got the rings?" asked Joe.

"Thought that were Graham's job?" Noah frowned.

"Noah..."

"Your face." Noah produced the box of rings from his pocket. Joe checked that the rings were inside and breathed a sigh of relief.

By midday the church began to fill up. It seemed that most of the residents of the village had turned out to see the nuptials.

"I don't remember inviting half these people," Joe muttered to Graham.

"It's a house of God, anyone can walk in," Graham replied quietly.

"They're probably hoping I'll be stood up at the altar." Joe loosened his tie slightly.

"Will you relax?"

"The bride's outside," Harriet announced. Joe exchanged a relieved look with Graham. "Settle down, everyone."

The crowd went silent as Rebecca appeared in the doorway in her wedding gown. Harriet cued the music as the beautiful bride began her procession down the aisle.

Watching you stand alone

All of my doubt

Suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer

Some of the tension drained out of Joe as he watched Rebecca walk towards him, Robert at her side. Victoria and Seb followed behind with Rachel in Victoria's arms. On reaching the altar, Robert joined Aaron and Liv in the front row on the bride's side. Seb sat on his dad's lap while Victoria placed Rachel's basket next to them. At the altar, Joe and Rebecca smiled at each other, Robert still looking deeply sceptical about this union as Seb bounced on his knee.

"We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Joseph and Rebecca," said Harriet. "Before we go any further, I must ask anyone who knows of any reason why this marriage should not go ahead to speak now." Joe glanced nervously in the direction of the Dingles, who were sitting at the back of the church, but nobody said anything.

"And now I must ask if either of you know of any reason why you should not be joined in marriage." Joe and Rebecca shook their heads. "Then we'll begin." Joe squeezed Rebecca's hand.

"Joseph Mark Tate, will you take this woman to be your wife, will you love, honour, comfort and protect her and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her for as long as you both shall live?"

"I will." Joe's voice shook slightly, but his eyes were fixed earnestly on Rebecca's.

"Rebecca Ellen White, will you take this man to be your husband, will you love, honour, comfort and protect him and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him for as long as you both shall live?"

"I will." Rebecca looked adoringly at Joe.

"And will all those present do all in their power to uphold these persons in their union?"

"We will," chorused the congregation.

"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" asked Harriet.

"I do," said Robert.

"Joe, repeat after me," said Harriet.

"I, Joseph Mark Tate, take you, Rebecca Ellen White, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part," Joe repeated after Harriet.

Rebecca read from the card Harriet had handed her. "I, Rebecca Ellen White, take you, Joseph Mark Tate, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

"Who has the rings?"

"Me," said Noah. He retrieved the box from his pocket and handed the golden rings to Joe and Rebecca.

Joe slid one of the rings onto Rebecca's finger alongside her engagement ring and repeated Harriet's words:

"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and respect for you. With all that I am and all that I have I honour you."

Rebecca pushed the other ring onto Joe's finger. "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and respect for you. With all that I am and all that I have I honour you."

"Now that Joseph and Rebecca have made their solemn and binding vows to each other, in the presence of God, it gives me great pleasure to now pronounce you husband and wife." Harriet looked from Joe to Rebecca. "You may kiss the bride."

Joe pulled Rebecca into his arms for a long lingering kiss as the church erupted in applause.

...

Once the photographs had been taken outside the church, the crowd moved over to the Woolpack. Rebecca had persuaded Chas to let them hold the reception at her place of work and Joe had put his credit car behind the bar, "no expense spared". Marlon had laid on a buffet and there were bottles of champagne and orange juice on every table. Joe and Rebecca stood near the open doors with their wedding party to greet the guests as they arrived.

"Remember how we used to play bride and groom when we were kids?" Victoria asked Joe, while Rebecca was settling Seb and Rachel.

"Yeah. You were usually the groom."

"If you ever do anything to hurt her, you'll have me to deal with." Victoria was suddenly fierce.

"Of course I won't."

"Just saying."

"What are you two whispering about?" asked Rebecca.

"Joe being a beautiful bride," explained Victoria.

"Here come the exes," Joe murmured to Rebecca as Ross and Debbie approached.

"Thank you for coming." Rebecca hugged Debbie as Joe shook Ross's hand.

"Well, we are family." Debbie glanced at Joe. "Sort of."

"If you mess Rebecca around..." Ross began.

"I know, I know. Victoria's already threatened me."

Rebecca turned to hug Ross as Debbie moved in closer to Joe.

"I do appreciate you being here," said Joe. "All of you." The rest of the Dingles were making the most of the open bar. Joe lowered his voice. "I want you to know that whatever I said, I did care about you and the kids."

"You had a funny way of showing it."

"I spent most of my life consumed with bitterness over Dad. I couldn't let that go... but I'm not that man anymore."

"No, you're a dad. Kids change everything, don't they?"

Joe looked over at Sarah and Jack, who were sitting at a nearby table. "If you or Sarah or Jack ever need anything..."

"Yeah, I know where you are."

"Your attention please!" called Chas from behind the bar. "I'd like you all to raise a glass to the new Mr and Mrs Tate. To the bride and groom."

"The bride and groom!" called the villagers.

"They do seem happy," Robert observed as he watched Joe and Rebecca kiss.

"Does that mean you finally approve?" asked Aaron.

"Well, I suppose it's better than her marrying the bloke who shot me."

"It's a good job you're not making a speech."

"Right, folks," Joe announced. "The formalities are over. My wife and I are delighted that you're all here to celebrate with us. Let the party commence!"

...

A/N: Lyrics from 'A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri