Chapter 6: The Wedding of Their Dreams

It was October 12th and no one could have asked for better weather. Ruthie was sleeping upstairs in her old room at her parent's house. She was banned from the garage apartment earlier this week by Nick. He said he wanted it to be a surprise when they got back for their wedding night. The two of them were holding off on the honeymoon and just going out to dinner for every meal for a week or having Annie deliver some food. Ruthie had felt that she couldn't take time off from a new job and Nick had stood behind her decision. Annie walked in to the room with a tray holding French toast and juice for the bride to be.

"Good morning Ruthie! Wake up. It's the big day." Ruthie woke up with a start. Annie was lucky that she hadn't placed the tray down on the bed right when she had woken up her sleeping daughter. "While you eat, I'm going to help Mary get the kids all dressed up and over to the church. Some of the parishioners have offered to watch them all until we get there. Charlie is with the boys at Nick's parent's house two blocks down getting ready to be the ring bearer. Savannah is over with Lucy finishing up her bath. She can't wait to be the flower girl."

Ruthie sat back down on the bed and began to nibble at her breakfast. She was so nervous and excited that she didn't know how much she could eat. Annie left her alone and Ruthie knew to savor this time with her thoughts. In no time every female in the Camden household would be up here trying to get her ready for the big day. She finished up what she could of her breakfast and then went into the bathroom to take a shower before she had her hair done.

Annie, Sarah, Mary, Lucy, and Sandy all went upstairs while Ruthie was in the shower and started laying everything down. Annie and Sandy were in charge of Ruthie's hair. Sarah was in charge of doing Ruthie's nails, and Mary and Lucy took the job they had taken so long ago. They were going to do Ruthie's makeup for her. They were after all the ones who taught Ruthie how to apply the makeup in the first place. When Ruthie walked out of the shower with her bathrobe on, she just sighed. She knew that she wasn't even going to be able to lift a finger for the next week. That shower had been the last moment of her freedom.

Meanwhile, Nick was at his parent's house they had just bought. It was a seasonal home for the New Hampshire natives. Nick couldn't understand why they didn't just get a condo like they had when they had a seasonal house in Florida. They claimed they wanted to be closer to their son and new daughter-in-law. The house wasn't very furnished yet. There were just some essential things. Even the couches hadn't arrived yet from the old condo on the east coast. Nick knew though that interior decorators had been hired to change up the house soon. He just didn't know when. For now, he guessed, he thought it was nice. He just had too much else on his mind. In just a few hours, Nick would be married to the girl of his dreams and also be married to a huge family that he loved so much. He thought back to a month and a half before when Ruthie had called him one evening. He had been watching some bad television special and thinking about Ruthie. Ruthie had called saying that Brett had been sick and she needed his help. Hadn't his heart risen out of his chest? He loved Brett and all of his nieces and nephews even if they were only through marriage.

Simon saw Nick standing in the hallway of the house lost in thought. He figured he had better talk to his soon to be brother in law before the wedding. He was very close to his little sister and wanted to let Nick know that he was to treat Ruthie with the respect she deserved at all times.

"Hey Nick, big day isn't it. Are you nervous?" Nick only nodded. "I just want to let you know that you are a very lucky man. Not just any boy could take my sister's heart like you have. You must be someone very special. You had better take good care of my baby Ruthie. We go way back ya know and I don't want to see her hurt."

"I love Ruthie with all of my heart and soul. I could never imagine of hurting her and I know that I am very lucky to have found your sister; and your family. I care for each and every one of you." Nick was very close to tears as he revealed his true feelings towards the Camden family.

Simon was about to respond when Matt saved him. "It's time to go to the church Nick. It is time for you to get married to my baby sister." All three men walked in silence towards the car that was to take them to the church. After that day, Nick would no longer be a single man.

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The church was packed to the brim with friends and family of the bride and groom. Ruthie's family alone filled up almost one fourth of the church. She couldn't leave anyone out. All of the nieces and nephews had to come. Lucy and Eric were both running the wedding service together. This was going to be one of Lucy's first weddings. Simon was giving Ruthie away. Matt had been a little upset about this fact at first. Sarah had reminded him though how close Simon and Ruthie had always been. It was the right thing.

All of Ruthie's siblings and their spouses were part of the wedding party. Nick also had his best friend from childhood as his best man. Ruthie had asked Sarah to be her matron of honor. It had been a hard decision for her, but she knew that Lucy would have been the one truly hurt if she hadn't been marrying them. The bridal party was wearing a deep purple dress that was sensible for all of the women involved. The bouquet had purple and cream colored carnations. They were gorgeous. The men of course wore black suits.

Ruthie stood at the back of the church clutching Simon's hand for dear life. She had never felt more nervous than she did at that moment knowing that Nick and her family were waiting for her on the other side of the door. Simon gave Ruthie's hand a reassuring squeeze. "It's going to be fine Ruth. I know it is. You just need to breathe deeply. This is your day." The music could be heard coming from the organ and the bridal party started their procession with Savannah. "Are you ready to become Mrs. Nicholas Conner?"

Ruthie nodded her head and the two of them started the slow walk down the isle to where Eric and Lucy stood with Nick. When Nick saw Ruthie walking down the aisle, he almost broke down in tears. He couldn't believe how beautiful his soon to be wife was. She looked so fragile and pure. All too soon she was standing face to face with him.

For the first time, Eric felt that he could give one of his daughters away. He was going to let Lucy start the ceremony. "Who gives this woman to this man?"

Eric and Annie shared a moment to look at one another before responding in unison, "We do." Simon took his spot with the other men and the ceremony began. It was absolutely beautiful. Not a dry eye in the house. Everyone who knew Ruthie had watched her grow up with the church. They could remember all of the silly questions she used to ask and even when she stuck the mint up her nose during her father's sermon and they had to bring her to the hospital to have it removed. Now she was getting married and starting a family of her very own.

When Eric announced the marriage of the new couple, Nick swooped down on Ruthie with so much passion. He was so happy that they were finally married. He had been so afraid that she was going to say no during the wedding and claim she had a secret lover or something. He seemed to watch too much television. It was perfect. Now it was off to the

Camden's back yard for the wonderful wedding reception.

A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update my story. I have been so busy with the holiday season. I am not a huge fan of the chapter, but know that the story will get better. I need some ideas. Please R&R.