Sorry it's been so long since I've posted! This one is really long-I thought about making it two or even turning it into it's own story (which I still may do eventually), but I like it and it's totally different than anything else I've done or read so enjoy!

Second Chances

He couldn't believe he was going to a funeral. He hated funerals. But as Shawn walked in to the funeral home, he knew he couldn't be anywhere else.

"Daddy? Why are all these people here?" His daughter squeezed his hand tight and he squeezed it back, their secret language of "I love you's".

"To say goodbye, Baby." He looked at his sweet baby girl as she tried to understand what he meant. She was five now, and he couldn't believe how much she'd turned his life upside down over those five years. As much as it hurt, as much as it wasn't easy, he wouldn't have it any other way. And he had no idea what he would do without her.

"Can I go talk to that little girl? She looks sad." He nodded without looking at who his daughter pointed to.

Where was Rebecca? Juliet scanned the room full of sorrowful people in black for her baby and finally spotted her hugging another little girl. She was so strong, so amazing through all of this. Rebecca was the only reason she was hanging on, the only reason she'd held on the past five years. But who was that other girl? The line of mourners kept her from investigating further, but something seemed familiar. Rich brown hair with just the slightest wave. She was turning now, facing her and the little strangers eyes were—no—it couldn't be.

"Thank you." She said to the woman expressing her sympathies. "If you'll excuse me for a second, I have to check on my daughter." She didn't even wait for a reply, she just pushed toward the center of the room.

He hadn't seen Juliet in six years. When she went on vacation with Declan and came back engaged, he resigned from Psych, and married Abigail three months later. He hadn't been mad at Juliet, though looking back it may have appeared that way, he just couldn't be around her and know there was no future with her anymore. He hadn't seen or talked to Juliet in six years and now he was at her husband's funeral.

"This was a mistake." He mumbled. He needed to leave. He scanned the room for his little girl and gasped when he saw the golden plait of the girl she was hugging. As they separated and he saw her dazzling blue eyes, Shawn felt his heart drop out of his chest. That could only be Juliet's daughter.

It couldn't be. It couldn't actually be Shawn's daughter. Shawn, with a daughter. But those eyes, those eyes could only be from him. She had almost reached the girls now, it was a slow process pushing through the mourners. When she finally got close, she was so focused on the girls that she hadn't even noticed the man who was approaching on the other side.

"Jules." He said and her stomach filled with butterflies she'd thought were long dead.

"Shawn." It had been a long time since she'd said his name aloud, but the name felt good on her lips. She looked at him. He hadn't changed much physically, but there was something different about him. The laughter and joy with life had dimmed in his eyes.

"Daddy, this is Rebecca, her daddy just died but I said if we became friends she could borrow you sometimes. Is that okay?" Shawn's whole expression softened as he ran his hand down his daughter's hair. So it was true, Shawn was a dad.

"That's very sweet of you, Rachel, but I don't think Rebecca—"

"I don't want a daddy." Rebecca said and Juliet's heart dropped. "Daddies are mean."

No, she couldn't let their secret out. Not here. Not now. "Sweetie, you don't mean that." She knew it was a lie, her daughter did mean it and she couldn't blame her. Experience had taught her that was true. But no one knew Declan like they did. They didn't see how angry he got when he was drunk. They didn't know that when an investment fell through and he lost all the money, he'd filled the hole with whiskey. Everyone thought it was a tragic accident, but she knew the truth. She was just glad no one else was hurt by his drunk driving. "It's just the shock." She said to Shawn, but she couldn't look at him for she was sure he'd see through her lie.

Why wasn't she looking at him? What was she trying to hide? "I understand." He reached for her hand, barely hesitating as he got close, but she let him take it. "Jules, I'm…I'm so sorry about Declan." His hand had that familiar tingling sensation that he hadn't felt in years—that he'd only ever felt with her.

"Thanks." She looked at him and he realized her eyes were grayer, less bright than he had remembered them. He didn't know what to say. All he knew is that he wanted to take her in his arms and hold her. Instead, he let their hands break apart.

Fortunately, Rachel—ever sensitive to her surroundings—saved him from himself. "I like your braid Rebecca. It's really pretty." Her sweet little voice said.

"Thanks, my mommy did it for me. Sometimes it hurts because she pulls hard, but not today." The child was like a miniature of Juliet, and just like her mother, she captured his heart.

"Oh, my daddy doesn't know how to make braids." There it was, the melancholy tone that broke his heart from the one person who held it together.

"Did your mommy die too?"

Now it was his turn to drop his gaze, unable to face Juliet. He felt Rachel's hand sneak into his and was steeled by her love. She answered her newfound friend. "No, she left when I was a baby. I never knew her." He looked at his baby girl. She had his eyes, hair, and smile—but her nose and ears were her Abigail's, as was her deep desire to help people. But fortunately she lacked the fear and flightiness that plagued both her parents.

"Oh." Little Rebecca said as she reached for her mother's hand. "Well my mommy is really nice. I bet she would braid your hair."

"Really?" Rachel asked, eyes twinkling with excitement.

"Anytime." Juliet said before looking at him for approval. He nodded and squeezed Rachel's hand.

"Jules." He said, unsure of what to say next. "Um—if, if you ever need…I mean I know..." He hated being at a loss for words. Hated being unable to talk to her. Hated that it was awkward.

"We should catch up." She interrupted his ramble, seemingly without thinking. "Plus Rebecca could use a friend her age." She rushed the words, like she was trying to cover.

"Have you been to the McDonald's with the new PlayPlace?"

"No, but she's been begging. Monday at 5:30 okay? Sorry it's so early it's just—"

"Bedtime." It was his turn to interrupt now. "Sounds great. And Jules, again, I'm so sorry." She smiled a sad smile and from the corner of his eye he saw the little girls wave goodbye.

"Thanks Shawn. See you soon."

He had to force himself to turn away. To walk to his car and wait till Monday to speak to her again, knowing this was the second chance he never thought he'd get.

Six months later

"Mommy? Is my last name going to be Spencer now? Just like Rachel's?" Juliet finished tying the bright blue bow in her daughter's hair and straightened the green one at her waist.

"It doesn't have to change if you don't want it to. You and I can keep our last name." She and Shawn had talked about it before, but with as fast as everything was happening, she'd completely forgotten to talk to Rebecca.

"I want it to change. That way Jesse Sater won't sit between us in Kindergarten anymore." Juliet laughed. They'd probably have to talk about this more, but she was glad she seemed open to the idea of a name change. "Mommy?" Rebecca looked serious now and Juliet carefully crouched, being sure not to wrinkle her beautiful white gown, to look into her daughter's eyes. "Do you love Shawn?"

"Yes Baby. Very much." She was glad she opted for the waterproof makeup as she was already fighting back tears.

"And Rachel. Do you love her?"

"Yes Baby, but you'll always be my Sunshine." It was a pet name she'd had since she was born with a full head of golden hair.

"Good." Rebecca smiled, wiped a tear from her mother's eye and kissed her cheek. "I love them too." Then her face became inquisitive. "Do you think I can call Shawn 'Daddy' now?"

"If you'd like. I think he'd like that very much." She nodded, pensive. Just then the door opened and Madeline came in.

"Juliet. You look so beautiful." She gave her a kiss on the cheek as she stood up. "As do you Miss Rebecca." Rebecca beamed at the woman she was already calling 'Nanna'. "It's time. You ready Pumpkin?" Rebecca nodded eagerly and Juliet wiped another tear from her eye as she nodded.

As she stepped out into the surprisingly warm Vancouver sunshine—she and Shawn had decided there was no better place for their Second Chance Wedding—Juliet was immediately greeted by her newest love. Rachel had a green bow in her hair and a blue one around her waist that either her mother or Madeline must have tied because there was no way Shawn made a bow that pretty.

"Jules! Can I call you Mommy now? I talked to Rebecca and my daddy and they both said I could if you said it was okay." She was bouncing on her toes, much like Shawn when he was excited.

"Of course Sweetpea, you can call me Mommy." Both girls cheered and crashed into her for hugs. She held on tight, letting go of the pain in the past and embracing her future.

"Okay girls," Her mother said. "Time to get ready!" They ran off together, hand in hand. "Juliet, I've never been so happy for you because I've never seen you so happy. I know the past few years have been difficult, but I also know the next many will be wonderful."

"Thanks Mom. I love you." She hugged her mom before she started for her seat and Juliet smiled as she heard the music start. Lloyd walked up to her and kissed her head while Frank took her hand and kissed it. They had both been so supportive through everything, she couldn't imagine choosing just one to walk her down the aisle. This was the best day of her life, the day all her dreams were finally coming true.

"Do I look okay? Is my tie straight?" Shawn had been asking Gus the same questions for hours now, he'd never been so nervous.

"Shawn, you look great. Just calm down and enjoy this." Gus had been surprisingly calm throughout the day. He'd even managed to see people crying without bursting into tears himself. He'd gotten ordained online the day Shawn proposed to Juliet and he couldn't imagine it any other way. It was a small wedding, both families, Chief Vick and family and even Lassie with his wife and son. But it was perfect. He didn't care who was there aside from three people.

The music had started and the first two of those people stepped forward, giggling as they spread flower pedals across the aisle. Rachel had never looked happier than she was right now, sharing a basket of flower petals with her new sister. When Abigail left, she had still been in a bassinette and he had no idea how he was going to survive, but somehow she kept him going and now she was an amazing little girl. And Rebecca, her mother's child through and through—when Rachel was born, he'd been amazed at how she changed his capacity to love, but she was his, all his. Yet he loved Rebecca with a fierceness he'd never imagined, she may not have been his genetically, but she was in every way that counted and he would move Heaven and Earth to keep either of his girls safe.

He smiled at the most beautiful five-year-olds in the world and caught a glimpse of his parents. Even his dad had a tear in his eye, one that hadn't been there at his first wedding. His old man shot him a nod and a wink as the music changed and the guests rose and turned.

And in that moment, his heart stopped.

She was the most beautiful person he'd ever seen. Beautiful couldn't even describe her, she had ascended past beauty. The dress, her hair, her incredible smile shattered his expectation of their big day. And her eyes. Her eyes were more blue and dazzling than he'd ever seen, than he knew eyes could get, and they were locked on him.

He was finally marrying Juliet.

Suddenly nothing else mattered. There was no pain, no regret, because every moment good or bad had led to this, right now. And this was perfection. He barely even noticed Rachel come to his side and slip her hand in his, he was so captivated by Juliet. Her walk down the aisle seemed agonizingly long, but when she made it to the end, and he took her hand into his, he knew he couldn't be happier.

Gus started speaking but Juliet barely heard him. She was finally marrying Shawn. As she looked into his eyes, she was astounded at how green they were, how full of life. She'd had many happy days in her life, but as she handed Rebecca the bouquet, winked at Rachel, and looked at Shawn she knew this was the best day of her life. It was time for vows, she had Shawn had decided to write their own and he had insisted on going first.

"Jules—Juliet. I had vows written before, but suddenly they don't capture what I want to say, so stay with me and I'll try to make this coherent.
I've wanted this day for ten years. Really, since the first day I met you I knew you were the one I wanted to marry—which was new for me because I wasn't big on commitment. But if you had asked me ten years ago how I pictured this day, it would have been a very different picture than today.
This is a 'Second Chance Wedding' because we both have pasts, but what I realized right now is that those pasts are exactly what brought us here. It's not about mistakes or choices we could have made in a moment, it's about this moment right here where my daughter and your daughter—our daughters—are flower girls and our family and friends are here. All of that, our pasts, our choices, they are what make today—the day I get to marry the love of my life—so amazing.
So with that, I promise to love you. In good times and bad, even when you drive me crazy, even when you think you hate me, even on the worst of days—I will love you. But not only you, I'll love your daughter. For the past she represents and the promise of the future. I love you both, the whole package. You two are the best thing to even happen to the Spencers. The present is a gift the past gives us, and you, Juliet, are my greatest gift."

She was vaguely aware there were tears streaming down her face, but she didn't care. She had never known she could love someone so much, never have imagined someone loving her so fully…and she was so glad she picked waterproof make-up.

"Shawn. There have been two times in my life where I felt utterly alone and completely terrified and in both of those moments, you rescued me. The first time you saved me from myself, from self-doubt and insecurity as I found myself in a new city without any clue what I was doing. You were a friend, a confidant, a partner. And then life happened and choices were made that put me in a darker place—a widow with a child and a painful history. But you found me and showed me that it was okay to live, to laugh, to be me. And this time, you didn't just save me, you saved my daughter—the most important piece of my life. You taught her what love can look like, what it means to be a family.
And so today I promise to be just that, a family. I promise to love you with my whole heart, to love your daughter as my own, and to take two pasts and make a future. I've always loved you, Shawn, and I promise to never stop."

He was smiling at her, that tender yet irresistible smile and she felt whole for the first time. She looked at Gus, who wiped a tear from his eye and smiled at both of them—she had been amazed he'd kept it together this far. Then he said something that surprised her. "Now, as this is not just the joining of two people, but two families, Rachel and Rebecca would like to say something."

She looked first at Rachel, who smiled sheepishly, then turned to see Rebecca mimicking the expression. She watched as they came together and took back the bouquet from her daughter while Rachel pulled a sheet from the basket of flowers. She felt Shawn pull her close, as surprised as she was by their daughter's decision to speak, and they looked at their amazing little girls.

"Thanks Uncle Gus!" They said in unison, then they turned to face the small crowd.

Rachel spoke first, she tended to be the leader/instigator. "Hi everybody. Rebecca and I just wanted to say something before our Daddy and Mommy are married." Then little Rachel walked up and took her free hand. "Jules—Mommy. I love you. And not just because you braid my hair and play with me and let me call you 'mommy' now, but cause you make-ded my Daddy really happy.
Sometimes when we'd play, his eyes would look really bright and he'd laugh real hard and I just was glad he was happy cause I think when my old mommy left it was hard and I'm not always good. But now his eyes are happy always and he laughs way more and I'm not even jealous cause I know he loves you different then me.
I'm glad you're my mommy now cause you're nice and funny and you make yummy food. Plus you're a good mommy to Rebecca and now we get to be sisters and share you.
I also am glad that Rebecca's my sister cause now we don't have to ask to have sleepovers and we can be best friends for always and I promise to share my toys and not get mad when you or Daddy pay attention to her." She nodded and smiled then handed Rebecca the sheet. Juliet looked at Shawn, amazed to see a tear running down his cheek, which she kissed as she squeezed his hand and Rachel's.

"Shawn—I mean, Daddy." Rebecca said and just hearing her call him 'Daddy' made her heart soar—it was a sound she'd always wanted to hear her child say to Shawn. "I love you too, for lots of the reasons Rachel loves Mommy, but I got some different ones too.
I knew my old daddy, and even when he wasn't always nice or happy I loved him. But I love you more. My mommy has cried a lot, she tries not to let me see but I know. But since you, she's been crying cause she's happy instead of sad or scared and that makes me happy. You're a really great daddy cause you play princess and monsters and teatime and you make me feel special and loved and you make Mommy feel that way too.
I told you when I met you I didn't want a daddy, but you showed me that daddies are good and I just wanted to say thanks and that I love you. Oh, and I promise to be nice and share with Rachel even if sometimes I don't want to cause she's a really great sister."

Juliet wiped a tear from her eye as she watched her baby girl hug her new daddy and her new sister. Then she felt Rachel pull on her bouquet and give her the wedding band to put on Shawn's finger. She did as Gus directed, then let Shawn slide the beautiful diamond ring on her finger.

"You may now kiss the bride." His best friend said with a smile and Shawn crashed into Juliet's lips. He felt his whole body fill with joy and happiness at the significance of the moment. After a moment, they broke apart and he looked down to see his little girls with their hands over their eyes. He smiled and picked up Rebecca, the newest love in his heart but by no means the smallest, watched as Jules picked up his—their—sweet Rachel, and held his perfect family close as he kissed his wife again, whole at last.

So? Did you like? Should I put this on the back-burner as a new story (fill in the six months and maybe some future shots too). Review and let me know!

Also, can anyone tell me what "That was an abs" means? Cause I have no clue-review or PM please!