Emma sat on her bed and looked at her armoire of dresses trying to decide which to wear. There was a soft knock on the door.

"Who is it?" asked Emma, pulling on her robe.

"Colleen I was hoping you'd help me get ready. This dress just isn't fitting right."

Emma opened the door and gasped at the sight of Colleen in what appeared to be a pink cotton sack.

"Who made this?"

"Kirsten picked it out in Denver when she was tending to her Aunt."

"I know traditionally the bridesmaids aren't supposed to outshine the bride, but I think this is taking that a little too far."

Emma laughed. "Come on, let's see what we can do."

The two walked down stairs laughing as Colleen almost tripped on the hem of the dress.

"All right, so a pair of high heeled boots," said Emma reaching for a pair of white boots with a good heel on them from Loren's stock. "Then how about," she searched her ribbons and found a wide light pink ribbon that matched Colleen's dress. Quickly she tied it around Colleen's waist doing the bow in the back. "I hope she didn't pay much for this," said Emma, fussing with the neckline. She quickly stitched a bit of extra lace she had left over around the edge creating some symmetry. "All right, that's better." She spun Colleen around to face the mirror.

"Oh, thank you," said Colleen, wrapping her arms around Emma. "At least I won't trip over it anymore." They both laughed. "Now we need to get you ready."

"Colleen I don't think I'll be going."

"Emma if you don't go you'll never have closure."

Emma sighed. "I don't have anything appropriate to wear."

Colleen took her hand and ran with her up the stairs back into Emma's bedroom. "What about this?" she asked, pulling out a beautiful rose colored dress adorned with bits of lace. "Its perfect. You'll be stunning."

"What are you playing at Colleen Cooper?" asked Emma changing into the dress.

Colleen smiled. "You should feel gorgeous today, it'll make you feel better. I promise."

Emma sighed pulling on the dress and sitting down so Colleen could do her hair. The two laughed as they recanted stories about the previous town weddings.

Dr. Mike knocked on Loren's store door. "Colleen? Emma? Loren?"

"Come in, Dr. Mike," said Loren, straightening his tie. "They're upstairs."

Michaela smiled. "Thank you," she climbed the first step and paused. "How's she doing Loren?"

Loren sighed. "That's the first time I've heard her laugh since Kirsten came back."

Michaela sighed. "The past couple weeks I saw Mathew change and I thought," she took a deep breath "I truly thought that he had changed his mind."

Loren sighed. "A man can change his mind but that doesn't mean he's going to go back on a promise."

"Even for love?"

Loren shrugged walking back towards the shelves to dust. Michaela climbed the stairs and knocked lightly on the door that once had been Dorothy's.

"Emma, its Dr. Mike."

"Ma!" exclaimed Colleen opening the door laughing.

"Well, you look a sight better," said Dr. Mike, kissing Colleen's forehead. "You look beautiful."

"And Emma?" asked Colleen, standing back to reveal Emma in a exquisite Parisian dress. The pink cotton like silk was tight in the bodice with puffed sleeves cuffed at the elbow with lace dangling down to her wrists. Emma picked up her shawl and draped it over her shoulders.

"Do I look all right, Dr. Mike?"

"Oh Emma, you look beautiful. I'm so proud of you. I know this has been trying for you and I underestimated you Emma." Emma looked at Dr. Mike confused. "The way you've shown Kirsten so much kindness when you've been in so much pain. I don't even know if I could have done that." Michaela sighed. "What I'm trying to say, although not too eloquently, is that you've become part of our family, maybe not the way you had originally planned, but we've all grown to love you and you'll always have a place with us."

Colleen put around Emma and squeezed her. "You're like the big sister I've always wanted, you know that."

Emma laughed. "And you're the little sister I always wanted as well. I never thought that I would find a family that would love me, but you've given me that and I think I'm the better for it." She felt tears in her eyes and Michaela held her tightly.

"We do love you," she said, stroking Emma's cheek.

Colleen smiled, hugging Emma as well, wishing things had been different and knowing those wishes wouldn't change a thing. "I have to go see how Kirsten's doing, but I'll see you at the wedding."

Emma nodded. Michaela helped Emma pick up the room. "Is Loren taking you?"

"Yes."

"Well, I should check on Kirsten."

"I should probably go and make sure her dress doesn't need any altering."

"Emma," Dr. Mike rested her hand on Emma's arm "go play with your girls in the meadow. You've gone above and beyond, no one expects anything more."

Emma nodded. "Sully has the girls doesn't he?"

"Yea, they're playing with wolf in the meadow last time I looked."

"All right. I'll go see how Sully's surviving." They walked down together. "Loren, I'm going over the meadow-."

"I'll meet you there in an hour. Store's too busy," said Loren talking to another customer.

Michaela shrugged. "At least business is doing well."

Emma nodded. "He's so busy, but he seems to enjoy it."

"Loren likes making money."

Emma laughed. "Don't we all."

They walked arms linked together towards the clinic where Kirsten was getting ready.

"I'll see you in an hour," said Dr. Mike, walking inside.

Emma hurried over to the meadow. Brian and Sully were playing with Katie and Cassidy. Wolf was chasing them about barking happily.

"Emma, you look beautiful," said Brian.

"Thanks Brian. You look very handsome yourself. Is Cass, behaving?"

"Yea, she's not too bad-," said Brian as Cassidy and Katie tackled him to the ground.

"Mathew took Lily for a walk. He headed out behind the church."

Emma sighed. "Guess I should go check on them."

Sully nodded.

Emma walked towards the back of the church listening to the wind whip against the clapboards of the sturdy building. She saw Mathew standing by the school on top of the hill. She trudged over to him and watched him cradle Lily in his arms. The thick white blanket wrapped around her securely.

"Hey," she whispered.

"Hey," his voice was as unsteady as the breaking of the wind. "I wasn't sure if you'd come."

"Well, I wasn't too sure either but Dr. Mike and Colleen talked me into it." She pulled the blanket higher up around Lily. "Are you nervous?"

He nodded. "Yea. I keep changing my mind."

"You're doing the right thing Mathew. You've got the girl who'll get you back on your plan."

"I'm not so sure I want that plan anymore," he said, scrunching his hat.

Emma took a deep breath letting the wind tussle her curls in the breeze. "Plans are good. Plans keep things simple."

"Plans change," said Mathew, holding Emma's hand. "I want you."

She shook her head. "You want your own children and I can't give you that." She studied his face and held his gaze as he shook his head in denial. "I'm not going to stay at home and have dinner ready for you every night while I'm chasing about a bunch of our kids. Firstly, because I can't have children and secondly because I have my own business. I love you," she felt the tears burning her lids as she rested her eyes shut for a moment "but we're best as friends."

He should his head adamantly. "I know you're wrong."

"That girl needs you more than I do Mathew. She can give you more and she loves you more." Emma turned facing away from the wind. "I'm not good like her. Just don't change anything." She hurried away lifting her skirts as she ran.

Mathew looked down at Lily as she slept comfortably in his arms. "You'd be mine," he said, kissing Lily's head. Her eyes fluttered open and she cooed gently. "But your Ma's so stubborn, she won't let that happen." He sighed. "Perhaps she's right, I'm going to hurt Kirsten so much."

"Mathew," called Sully. Mathew walked over, rubbing Lily's back gently. "Time to go in. Dr. Mike says Colleen and Kirsten are on their way over." They walked in together and Sully touched Mathew's arm. "Last chance."

Mathew sighed watching as the doors opened and Colleen and Kirsten walked in. Colleen was talking softly to Kirsten. The guests grew quiet and all admired the bride.

"I'll take her," said Brian.

Mathew kissed the top of Lily's head. "I love you," he whispered, handing her over to Brian. Brian looked for Emma and couldn't find her.

"Brian," said Michaela, taking Lily from him.

Cassidy was sitting next to Katie and they were playing with their dolls.

Mathew looked at Kirsten and smiled. "You look beautiful," he said.

"You look handsome."

"Shall we begin?" said the Reverend, starting the service.

"Do you Mathew Cooper take Kirsten VanLeuwn to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Mathew looked at the door expecting Emma to walk in, but after what felt like minutes the door stayed tightly shut.

"Mathew?"

He shook his head. "I do."

"Well, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!"

Mathew bent down and kissed Kirsten gently, pulling away.

The recessional music began and the couple quickly exited the church heading towards Grace's as people through rice at them. He saw Emma amongst the well wishers. Mathew watched her throw a fistful of a rice and greet them warmly.

"Congratulations," she said, kissing Kirsten's cheek. "You look beautiful."

He watched her talk with Colleen and Dr. Mike, but when they reached Grace's she disappeared. He was quickly swept up in the festivities and Kirsten made him make well good use of the dance floor.

Loren sighed noticing Emma's absence. He folded his napkin and excused himself walking towards the store. He opened the door and saw her sewing steadily in her chair. Nothing was expressed on her face besides fierce determination and pain as she stabbed the dress with the needle and hit her finger on the other end, but she kept sewing. Closing the door, he stood watching her until she looked up. He admired her strength but like everything else in life there was a time and a place for strength as well as indulgence.

"Come here," he said, taking Emma into her arms and holding her as she wept into his chest. He stroked her hair and whispered soothingly to her. "No one can be strong all the time. That was a great thing you did, my sweet girl." He held her in his arms until the sky grew dark and thick with the chill of the night, but the music from the wedding still danced in the air.

"It sounds like the party's winding down. Why don't we go on over and get one dance in?"

She wiped her eyes. "I must look horrible."

"You look beautiful and I know you love to dance."

Emma sighed. "All right just one dance." Loren wrapped his arm around her giving her a gentle squeeze as they walked over. They stepped back into the party without much notice. A soft waltz was playing and Loren adeptly guided her about the floor until the music faded and the Reverend's voice could be heard.

"Now it is time to send our lovely couple off with the last activity of the night the bouquet and garter throwing. So single gentlemen please gather round."

The men rushed over as Mathew threw the garter. Mathew smiled as Henry caught it and raised it in the air.

"Now ladies," said the Reverend.

All the girls flocked towards Kirsten and Loren pushed Emma into the mix. Kirsten threw the bouquet hard and Emma walked right into. Emma groaned holding it up. Kirsten hugged her and laughed.

"See you are next."

Emma forced herself to smile as they waved goodbye to Mathew and Kirsten who were headed to Denver for a couple nights.

"Its tradition," she heard a voice say. "She turned around and saw Henry holding out his hand. "May I have this last dance?"

Emma smiled. "Yes."

She was happy that the song was a reel and laughed as Henry twirled her about and told her funny stories from his medical school years.

Mathew looked back at the scene and felt his heart turn as he saw Emma laughing and dancing with Henry. Kirsten's voice forced him to turn back around.

As the dance ended the guests began to vacate, but Henry walked Emma towards the bridge, continuing the conversation.

Emma sighed leaning against the railing.

"I haven't seen you in weeks. Have you been hiding from me?"

"No I just couldn't think of a unsuspicious ailment to come down with," she teased.

"You don't have to be sick to come see me, but a headache would work."

Emma laughed. "And why haven't you come seen me. You could have used a new vest for the wedding."

"What you don't like this one? This happens to be my favorite?" he said, looking down at the cranberry brocade vest.

"Its fine if you want to look like your grandfather," she said, running away.

He chased after her and grabbed her around the waist stopping her.

She laughed as he spun her around. "Come on we'd better get back. I've pawned Lily off on Colleen for long enough."

He held out his arm for her and she took it laughing. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing you're just so formal most of the time. Before was the first time I saw you act-," she paused, searching for the word.

"Capricious."

"I was gong to say juvenile but that works too," she teased.

"Ahh," he said, staring out at the town.

"Becky's very lucky to have you," said Emma when they reached Grace's. "At least I get you as friend. Thank you for the dance." She walked over to Colleen who was helping clean up.

A/N That's all for now. I hope you enjoyed them. I know its not much but now the story is going to go somewhere. And there'll be more Sully and Dr. Mike in the next few chapters as well. Please review and thanks for reading.