**One Year Later**

Today was the day. It was the day, Tim Speedle and Lauren Schneider would become one. Speed would be marrying the love of his life, his best friend, and his soul mate. Just a short year ago, he didn't think this day would ever come. Speed would often times replay the events of the shooting over and over again in his mind. He was thankful for every day of his life, and thankful he had gotten a second chance. Not many people got second chances.

Speed stood in front of the mirror, in a small room adjacent to the Chapel, where he would be standing fifteen minutes from now. His tie was giving him trouble. It didn't want to cooperate on the most important day of his life. "What the hell?" he mumbled to himself just as a knock on the door sounded. "Come in," Speed said as he tired tying his tie again.

"How's it going, son?" Richard Speedle asked his eldest son as he entered the room. "You just about ready?"

Speed sighed. "It would be great if I could put this damn tie on right." He yanked it from his neck and threw it on the floor in frustration.

Richard calmly walked over, and grabbed the black necktie from the floor. He dusted a few dust marks off of it before he began to tie it. "You know I was so nervous when I was getting ready to marry your mother. I couldn't seem to do anything right that day. Your Uncle Mario had to tie my tie, put on my cuff links, and believe it or not he almost had to shave for me." Speed laughed nervously not knowing what to say. "You know, Tim," he started as he finished tying the necktie, "I know things between us haven't been the best throughout the years." Richard paused and handed Speed his necktie. "Here put this on. It should be perfect now."

Speed took the tie and put it on. It was perfect. "Thanks," he said. "Dad, don't worry about it. It's fine."

Richard smiled. "Tim, I just want you to know that your mother and me are very proud of you. We've always been proud, but I just wish we could've told you earlier. You almost dying shouldn't have made us realize that."

"Dad, please it's okay, but thank you. The same goes for me. I could have made an effort too. Lauren tried to get to me do it, but I never did."

Richard smiled again and gave Speed a warm hug. "I love you, son. I love you very much," Richard said, his voice thick with emotion.

"I love you too dad," Speed said.

Richard pulled away and said softly, "You need help with anything else?" Speed shook his head no. "Okay, then I'm going to go find your mother. I have a hunch as to where she is." Speed laughed. "I'm going to go rescue that beautiful bride of yours before all hell breaks loose."

Just as Richard was about to exit the room, Speed said, "Hey dad."

"Yes."

"Tell Lauren I love her." Richard nodded, and went off to deliver the message.

The church was almost full of family and friends when Speed started making his way to the altar. The butterflies in his stomach kept growing and growing. He wondered if Lauren was getting the butterflies too; he wondered what she looked like; he couldn't wait to see her.

As Speed was about to walk down the aisle to his spot at the altar, he felt a tug on his suit jacket. He looked down to see Molly looking up at him with her sparkling green eyes. Speed knelt down to her level, and gave her a hug and a kiss. Molly pulled back and said, "You look handsome, Timmy."

He knelt down to her level and said, "Thank you. You look beautiful, like a princess." Molly's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink. "How does Lauren look?" He couldn't help but ask.

Molly's smile brightened up even more. "She's looks so pretty, Timmy. My sister's the most beautiful bride ever. She looks like a queen and you're her king."

"I can't wait to see her."

"I can't wait for you to see her too." Molly looked behind her and saw Jen, Mallory, Margaret, Horatio, Eric, and Harry walking in with Lauren behind them. "You need to go, Timmy. Lauren's coming." She quickly gave him a hug and a kiss, and ran off in the direction of her sister. Speed found it hard not to watch her leave. He forced himself to look straight ahead, and make his way up to the altar.

Standing up at the altar, Speed looked out into the seats. Everything looked normal until he spotted a man and a woman, who weren't supposed to be here. They weren't even supposed to be in the state of Florida. He quickly looked to his right in hopes to catch Melissa's attention, but that was no use. She was in a deep conversation with her mother and father. He looked back in the direction of the man and woman, but they were gone. He searched with his eyes around the entire chapel, but they were nowhere to be seen. Speed was about to grab their wedding planner, Christina, but the music started to play and Pastor Paul had arrived. 'Maybe I'm just seeing things. Lauren's biological parents can't be here. They're supposed to be in jail,' Speed said to himself, and put everything to the back of his mind. It was time to marry Lauren, the woman of his dreams.

Behind the church doors, Lauren stood at the end of her wedding precession. The butterflies in her stomach were beginning to surface.

Tom noticed and said, "You'll do fine sweetheart."

"I know. I think it's mostly excitement. I just want to be married to Tim and start a family," Lauren said with a huge grin on her pretty face.

"I know the feeling. I was like that with Melissa."

Lauren laughed. "She told me all about that just before you came in to get me."

Tom laughed. "I love you, Lauren. You know you and Molly are the best thing that's ever happened to Melissa and me."

"I love you too… dad." Tom's eyes went wide. Lauren had always called him by his first name. What changed her mind? "Is that okay that I call you and Melissa mom and dad now? No more first names. You are my parents and always will be. I don't know why it took me so long."

It took him a few moments to find his voice. "Yes, of course you can call us mom and dad." Tom wiped a tear that had fallen down his cheek. He gave her a quick hug, as it was almost time for her to walk down the aisle.