"Nervous?" Provenza asked Andy as they stood together at the inn waiting for Sharon. They were in a little hallway off the main reception room where the ceremony and party would both take place.

"You gave the rings to the judge, right?" Andy asked.

"I think so," smirked Provenza.

"You think so?"

Provenza clapped Andy on his back. "Relax, Romeo. It's done."

"Is my tie on straight?" Andy pointed to his tux.

"That all depends on how many drinks I've had." Provenza waved a dismissive hand at Andy. "You're fine."

Samantha glided toward them looking very lovely and fresh in a chic aquamarine colored dress. She gave Andy a quick hug. "How are you doing?" she smiled.

"Doing great, Sam. This place looks amazing. Thank you so much….for planning everything."

"You're welcome. Are you kidding? I live for this stuff. Good thing you didn't drive to Las Vegas; I would have had to hunt you down and do unspeakable things to you both. Oh, here she is," exclaimed Sam, "and right on time. That's our Sharon."

Sharon was smiling radiantly the entire time that she walked toward Andy. She wore a classically tailored vintage-inspired cream colored suit. The jacket, with its many tiny buttons, was fitted and the flared skirt flattered her figure perfectly with its many pleats. She looked distinctly elegant and feminine. Her long hair flowed in graceful waves past her shoulders without any pins or clips; it was the way Andy liked her hair best. She carried a bouquet of sweetly scented white and yellow roses.

Andy leaned in to pull her toward him for a kiss as soon as she was in close enough proximity but he was interrupted by Provenza who did an impression of the matchmaker from The Quiet Man, complete with faux Irish accent.

"No patty fingers. That will have to wait until after the ceremony."

Sharon gave a woeful sigh and merely shook her head at Andy, rolling her eyes at Provenza.

"He's right. Behave, you two," whispered Samantha.

Andy mouthed one word to her. "Beautiful." Sharon smiled.

Sharon and Andy listened as Judge Walsh made a few opening comments, welcoming everyone. When he invited the bride and groom to step forward, that was their cue. When Sharon had been married the first time, it had been a big, lavish affair at a large Catholic church. In that time-honored tradition, her father had walked her down the aisle and the ceremony had proceeded with all the pomp and fanfare that one would expect when two wealthy families join. This time around, she and Andy, together, walked arm and arm up to the sparkling indoor fountain in the inn reception room until they stood in front of the judge to exchange their vows. Samantha and Provenza stood beside them as maid of honor and best man.

Judge Walsh began the ceremony. "Sharon Marie Raydor and Andrew Michael Flynn, today you celebrate one of life's greatest moments and give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, as you join together in the vows of marriage. Please come forward to profess your intentions."

The judge turned toward Andy. "Andy, do you take Sharon to be your wife?"

"I do."

"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others, and holding only unto her?"

"I do." Andy's voice was strained with emotion, laden with love.

The judge smiled, although neither the bride nor the groom noticed. They had eyes only for one another.

"Sharon, do you take Andy to be your husband?"

"I do," beamed Sharon. She was suffused with a glow of happiness that put the candles at the centerpieces of each table to shame.

"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others, and holding only unto him?"

Sharon blinked back tears. "I do."

Andy and Sharon leaned toward one another and would have kissed if the judge hadn't intervened. Their eyes were pressed to one another in such an intimate, sweet way and it seemed that their lips didn't know how to do anything else but simply follow suit."Not yet," the judge chuckled. A ripple of laughter floated among the guests.

"The wedding ring," continued Judge Walsh, "is a symbol of unity, a circle unbroken, without beginning or end. And today, Andy and Sharon give and receive these rings as demonstrations of their vows to make their life one, to work at all times to create a love that is whole and unbroken, and to love each other without end.

Andy, take this ring and place it on your bride's finger and state your pledge to her, repeating after me. This ring I give as a sign of our constant faith and abiding love." Andy repeated the words and slipped the platinum band onto Sharon's left hand.

"Sharon, take this ring and place it on your groom's finger and state your pledge to him, repeating after me. This ring I give as a sign of our constant faith and abiding love." Sharon placed the ring on Andy's finger, slowly and joyfully repeating the vow.

"Andy and Sharon, just as two very different threads woven in opposite directions can form a beautiful tapestry, so can your two lives merge together to form a very beautiful marriage. To make your marriage work will take love.

Love should be the core of your marriage. Love is the reason you are here. But it will also take trust – to know in your hearts that you want the best for each other. It will take dedication – to stay open to one another, to learn and grow together even when this is not always easy to do.

It will take faith, to be willing to go forward to tomorrow, never really knowing what tomorrow will bring. In addition, it will take commitment, to hold true to the journey, you both now pledge to share together.

Andy and Sharon, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in matrimony and have professed your love for one another by these vows, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife." He grinned. "Now, you may kiss the bride!"

Amidst a roomful of cheering and clapping, Andy and Sharon exchanged a heartfelt kiss. His arms circled her waist and hers slid up to link tenderly around his neck. The photographer snapped his camera; it would make a beautiful photo. Placing a hand against the small of Sharon's back, Andy escorted her to their table.

One of the first things Sharon did was hug her sister. "Thank you so much, Sam," she said sincerely. For all of this. I'm glad we didn't elope. I'm glad we could share this with you."

"Eloping is for the faint of heart," teased Samantha. "I knew you two were made of stronger stuff than that."

"Congratulations, Captain," smiled Provenza. He kissed Sharon's cheek.

"Thank you."

They didn't have a head table. Instead, Andy and Sharon shared a center table with Samantha, Provenza, Brenda, and Fritz. Brenda had been instrumental in helping Samantha plan, making countless phone calls and helping with many of the details. Rusty would sit at an adjacent table with Sharon's other children. After Provenza's toast, Sharon and Andy would make the rounds while hors d'oeuvres were served.

Provenza clanged a fork against a water glass to capture the attention of the seated guests.

"One of the biggest concerns that people have when the best man gives his speech is that he'll go on and on and on. And, let's face it; you don't want to hear me drone on endlessly. With that in mind, I decided that a reasonable time frame would be not to speak any longer than the groom is capable of keeping things going in the bedroom." Provenza grinned widely. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much."

He made a motion to sit back down in his chair. The gesture was followed by collective laughter and an exaggerated head and eye roll from Andy.

"All kidding aside, what Sharon and Andy have done today is a momentous and truly awe-inspiring thing. And after this beautiful day has moved sweetly into the next, that's when the suffering really begins. So make the most of today, you two. Know that you have my heartfelt congratulations and my deepest sympathy.."

Provenza picked up his glass and looked out at the guests. "If you could all raise your glasses." He turned back toward Andy and Sharon with a charming smile.

"May you be friends to each other as only lovers can; and may you love each other as only best friends can. A toast to the bride and groom!" Champagne glasses filled with champagne or sparkling cider were raised and clinked merrily as the toast was exchanged.

After the toast, Sharon and Andy walked around to talk with the guests. Sharon sought out Rusty first, wanting to make sure that he was having a good time. He was sitting next to Elle with a hand on her belly and a look of utter amazement on his face.

"Sharon – you've got to feel this," Rusty told her.

Elle smiled at her mother-in-law. "Go ahead." Elle took Sharon's hand and placed it where Rusty's had been.

"Oh, my goodness!" laughed Sharon. "A foot, I think."

Elle nodded. "Yup."

"How are you feeling, honey?" Sharon asked her solicitously.

"I feel great and the baby and I plan on getting some dancing in later." Elle mimed dancing. "I've stayed active throughout the pregnancy. I'll still be careful though, of course." She added the last part for her husband's benefit. Sharon wasn't surprised that Elle was so relaxed; it was typical of the kind of easy going, bubbly personality that she had.

When Sharon moved her hand away, Elle took Andy's hand and placed it on her stomach. It took a minute but the baby moved again and Andy's face lit up. Sharon leaned down and kissed Elle on the cheek. "Thank you for sharing this with us."

"Always," smiled Elle.

Sharon's daughter Kate introduced her mother to her date Paul Evans, a very down-to-earth electrical engineer with Robert Redford-like blue eyes. Kate seemed happy. Andy's son Joe and his wife Beth had also come. Sharon knew that it meant a lot to Andy as they had only rebuilt their relationship about a year ago after a rocky period. Andy's daughter Kara was there, too, with her husband and their two kids.

"Having fun?" Sharon asked Rusty as she put an arm around his shoulders.

"Yeah."

"Andy and I will be gone for two nights. Don't forget to set the alarm, okay?"

"Okay," agreed Rusty. He popped a flaky cheese puff pastry into his mouth. "These are so good, Sharon. You gotta try one."

Andy sauntered over. "These cheese puff things are great."

"Yes, Rusty was just saying that - "

Andy put one up to Sharon's lips. She opened her mouth and daintily bit it off the toothpick. Andy and Rusty watched her chew delicately.

"I'd pay to see her eat a hamburger," commented Rusty to Andy.

"I've seen it, kid. It's a tragedy. She cuts it with a knife and fork."

Rusty laughed and was joined shortly by Ryan and Elle.

"You're a little bit pristine, Mom," Ryan told his mother. "But we love you anyway."

"Thanks...I think," answered Sharon. She turned back to Rusty. "Don't hesitate to call me or Andy if you need anything while we're away."

Rusty rolled his eyes. "I'll be fine, Sharon. You guys just have fun."

Sharon watched as Andy took the toothpick from the hors' d'oeuvre that she had eaten and slipped it between his lips.

"I married a cowboy," she commented drily.

"Giddyup," Andy whispered flirtatiously in her ear as he ran a hand that no one else could see down the posterior side of her body. Her eyes flew to his for one fluttery second and Andy grinned at her. He had flustered her. She was just so damned cute when he unnerved her. Sometimes he just couldn't resist.

"I taped the address and phone number of the hotel to the fridge," Sharon told Rusty. "And you can always call Sam."

"Geez...Sharon...I'm not a kid. Stop worrying."

"Get used to it; that's what parents do," Andy said.

Rusty grumbled something under his breath. But the truth was he loved it, the way Sharon and Andy fussed over him sometimes. It was foreign, this persistent concern, this constant interest. They called him up frequently when he was away at school just to talk. Not just Sharon; Andy, too. They did it because they cared about him. Sharon had wanted to legally adopt him but Rusty had refused. At the time, he was still dealing with conflicted feelings about the impossible dream of his biological mother getting herself together and coming back for him. Looking back, he wished that he'd taken Sharon up on it. But even without her blood running through his veins or a piece of paper declaring it so - Sharon Raydor had been more of a mother to him in the past three years than his own had been in sixteen.

And Rusty loved her for it.

The afternoon quickly faded into evening and the party continued. Sam had made accommodations so that Sharon's entire squad could come, even as they changed shifts and some arrived later while some left early. After dessert, Samantha requested that all of the single folks gather together so that Sharon could toss her bouquet.

Julio caught the bouquet with one hand as the photographer captured the moment.