A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for the continued support on my little story :) Keep up the messages, and reviews, they keep me going! It has been a wild & crazy few months with a recovering husband, lots of exhaustion, and a broken laptop. Thank you for all the supportive messages during my little mental health hiatus... I appreciate you all so much! My husband is doing much better now, and even regained some feeling in his legs. The paralysis for his disease can last 3 years, so it is very encouraging that he has some feeling in his calves now. He actually stood up with a walker the other day, so we are doing lots of therapy in hopes of regaining function. I am going to try to be better with updates, it makes it much easier now that I have a new laptop... & now that I have caught up on some rest, I feel like a new woman!

Thanks again, you are all amazing! Now... back to the ooey gooey Manoso wedding :)

xoxo-Brit*

**All Characters are the property of Janet Evanovich, I make no profit, all mistakes are mine.**

Previously:

I took a deep breath, and watched Lester start down the aisle playing his guitar signaling my cue to take position at the end of the aisle, where I could finally see my Groom. He was perfect in a Gray suit with a tie to match the sash on my dress, and as our eyes met, it was just the two of us. No nerves, just excitement.

I smiled, and stood at the end of the isle to sing the first verse of my song. The shock on his face was absolutely priceless. By the time I started walking down the aisle at the beginning of the chorus, I could see the tears in his eyes, and used it to push through... I actually surprised Batman, and that look will be ingrained in my mind for the rest of my life. The definition of Perfect. Shock, Love, Devotion, Awe... absolutely no blank face, just slight silent tears running down his face reminiscent of last night when I gave him the news of being pregnant.

This man really, and truly loves me.

I made it completely down the aisle, and finished my song directly in front of him eyes completely locked on him, our hands entwined in each other lost in our love for each other. As I finished, he squeezed my hands, and gave me a soft smile, and softly said "Perfect Surprise, Babe. Perfect. You got me."

I just smiled, and turned to Tank, who got ordained just for this wedding. He smiled, misty eyed, cleared his throat, and started the service.

RPOV:

I have spent my entire day with an enormous smile on my face, and I'm pretty sure I am starting to freak people out. Lester is worried I am wasted, and Tank is scared I am going to pass out before the ceremony begins. I can't help but lose my composure, and laugh at them. Like I would get wasted on the day I finally marry my Babe... Nope. I am Stone Cold Sober, and plan to be that way the whole time.

I can't help but be a little on the goofy side after being so worried last night, and the opposite happening. My insecurities got the best of me, and I truly started doubting this perfect life that I have been living these months could really happen to me. I am terrified that I am going to wake up, and it all be some dream.

Finding out Stephanie is pregnant was probably the most surreal moment of my life. It was like I was prepared for the other shoe to drop, and my life somehow got even better. I'm not going to lie, and say I haven't thought about expanding our family, but always in the abstract sense. I knew that it was something we both wanted, but we hadn't really vocalized much about it, mostly due to the fact that we have been devoting our entire selves to Julie.

I feel like I missed out on so much with Julie, and I am thrilled to finally try to reconcile that. My only fear is that Julie will have some jealousy that this baby will have me from day 1, and I missed so much time with her. I plan to have a serious talk with her tonight along with Steph after the ceremony before the reception. We decided to tell Julie before we leave, and make sure she knows how much we adore, and love her.

Stephanie, and I have tried our best to make sure that we always include Julie's input, even in the wedding. This is not only a wedding between Stephanie, and I, it is the moment that we become a true family. When someone asks Julie about her parents, she can tell them that they are Carlos, and Stephanie Manoso, and they love her more than life. I want no doubt as to how much love we have for her... it is endless. As un-traditional as we always thought we would be, and as hard as we fought conformity, it is a little comical how truly traditionally traditional our lives are.

We have a beautiful, perfect sized home with a yard, in a sub-division, we cook as a family, and have one beautiful daughter, with another child on the way. We are going to be married as of tonight, and it feels like the perfect life for us. Will Stephanie be barefoot, and pregnant our whole marriage? NO. Will Stephanie probably work until the moment her water breaks? Most likely. Will we always have to be on the watch for possible threats from our "previous lives?" Yes.

We have our traditional home that has a security system that probably out-does the Pentagon. We carry trackers, and panic buttons, and we have put lots of people behind bars, but we try to live our life without letting those things hinder us like we used to. Now that I look back on it, neither one of our lives lent themselves to relationships, but it didn't mean it wasn't possible. The work, and compromises that we have put in have made the ride that much sweeter in the end.

My day has truly dragged on, and for the first time in my life, I am getting impatient. Whose idea was an evening wedding, anyways? I'm ready to get the show on the road, and marry my love.

Early in the day, I heard that the ginger-ale I brought in was being put to good use, and Stephanie has been sipping it all day. I can't help but feel horrible that she is sick, and wish I could make it better. Our honeymoon will be nothing but relaxation, and I will make sure she is well taken care of, and comfortable at all times.

Val has been a serious asset to our company. She has softened the front of the building up, and is amazing on the phone with our customers. A lot of times, the guys would scare people away. I am thrilled that Steph, and Val have started up a real relationship, because they are both amazing women, I guess we can all say a "thank you" prayer to God for putting Frank Plum in their lives. God only knows what would have happened without Frank, or Edna. Helen would have them alcoholics married to rich, abusive crazy people with 50 kids by now. Both those girls deserve the chance to fly. I'm just sorry that it has taken so long for them to get the chance.

I have no real opinion on the Valerie/Albert saga. I feel for the kids, and I hate that there has been so much drama. I think Albert fell in love with the Susie Homemaker Valerie that needed him emotionally, and physically at all times, and he is having a hard time reconciling the fact that Valerie wants to spread her wings, and be herself without bounds for once. It probably doesn't help that her salary triples his, her insurance is amazing, and she is the bread-winner of the house now. It has caused a sudden shift in the dynamics of the house, and I'm not sure it can be fixed. Whatever the case may be, we will support Valerie in every aspect of her life. The unwavering support she has shown, especially when I was deployed, and Steph was thrust into parenthood alone is worth doing anything to help her.

I am brought out of my musings by Tank letting me know that it is time to get this show on the road. FINALLY! The moment that I have been waiting on for as long as I can remember.

Standing at the end of the aisle, I can actually hear my heartbeat through my ears... I have truthfully never been this anxious about anything in my life, but not in the sense that I have doubts, it is this anticipation that is bringing me to my knees.

I see my baby girl coming down the aisle towards me with a huge grin on her face, and wouldn't stop the matching grin on my face if I could. I am torn between pride, and heartbreak. I want time to slow down, and speed up at the same time. I don't want her to grow up, but I am excited for our future as a family. I want to relish this moment for my entire life. I never thought that I would see my beautiful first born walking towards me with such love, and pure happiness on her face. Stephanie is my angel for bringing us all together.

Julie stands beside me, and squeezes my hand before turning her attention to the front. Instead of seeing my Babe like I expected, I see Lester... with a guitar?! My confusion continues when I hear absolute silence, and then my cousin (who has a shit-eating grin on his face) starts in my direction while starting to play the beginning of a song that I have never heard before. He is walking slow... too slow, and with a wink, continues playing, but veers off to the side of the main area, taking his place behind a microphone beside a beautiful piano that I just notice is occupied by Val, and they continue playing together.

I turn my head back to the main aisle, and literally feel like all the air has been zapped from my body. My beautiful Babe is absolutely glowing in her gorgeous dress, and veil with her eyes piercing through my soul. While I am absolutely stunned at her beauty, the next thing she does absolutely gobsmacks me, and I feel tears welling up in my eyes. Her mouth opens, and the most angelic sound resonates through our backyard. I would have never imagined in my wildest dreams that A) My Babe could get a surprise over on me, and B) That she is a professional worthy singer. How did I not know this?

I stand there in absolute awe listening to every word that my Babe is singing directly to me. The whole world ceases to exist around us, and I soak in the moment, letting the tears fall from my face unchecked. It doesn't get better than this moment, and this song is absolute perfection...just like she is.

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.

One step closer

-At that point, she starts walking slowly toward me, confidently singing every word to me. I am mesmerized.

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this

One step closer

-Finally in front of me, I grab her hands, and stare in her eyes showing all the love I have for this amazing woman as she sings the rest of the song while standing holding my hands.

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Knowing I am openly crying in front of God, and everybody should probably make me feel a little bit uncomfortable, but I wouldn't take back this moment- these emotions for anything. For once in my life, I'm not ashamed to show that I am a mere mortal man. I have the loves of my life, and I'm getting to live a life that I never dreamed possible just months ago.

As she finishes the song, I can't help but give a genuine smile, and say to my almost-wife,

"Perfect Surprise, Babe. Perfect. You got me."

SPOV:

As much as I truly try to keep my focus on listening to Tank preside over our nuptials, I am really, and truly distracted by the gorgeous man holding on to my hands like they are his lifeline. Good God, how did I get so lucky?

I see a look of amusement pass through Carlos' face, clearly his ESP is in full-force today, he knows I am having focus problems, and wonder of all wonders, I actually hear Tank mention that we wrote our own vows. Get it together, Steph... don't mess these up!

I give Carlos a huge smile, and he started off with his vows. We both decided to speak from the heart, so I knew by the end, we would both be a hot,steaming,emotional mess... in the best possible way.

"I Carlos take you Stephanie, my Babe, my Wonder Woman to be my lawfully wedded wife. A few months ago, I thought this would only be a dream that I would only get to see in an abstract way, but somehow when I got home from my last mission, I didn't realize that my dreams were well on their way to being a reality. The moment that I found you in your apartment at RangeMan, and heard the beautiful voice of our daughter say "Mama", my heart that I didn't even knew existed started beating again. Our life together is what dreams are made of. I promise to love, honor, and protect you, and our family until my last breath. I will respect, and love you, and most of all, we will fly together as a family. Te Amo, Babe."

My heart had doubled in speed, and tripled in size by the time he was finished with his vows. How does this man exist in real life?

I took a deep breath to compose myself, as he wiped away the tears that wouldn't stop falling.

"I Stephanie take you Carlos, my love, my Batman to be my lawfully wedded husband. The moment you came home from your last mission, you made my dreams come true. I never knew what I was missing, and I am truly grateful to find it in you, and our daughter. The love I have for you is so intense that it is frightening. I live, and breathe for you, and Julie. You are the sweetest, most supportive, and loving man that God ever created. You pick me up when I am down, support me when I don't realize I even need it, and continue loving me even when I am difficult. You are my dream come true, my entire Universe, and I can't wait to start this chapter of our lives. Te Amo, Carlos."

I smile at Carlos, and reach over to wipe the tears from his face at the same time that he does the same to me. Pregnancy hormones are no joke, I feel like I have cried for 3 straight hours, and can't keep it together. Geez.

The rest of the ceremony is a blur, the highlight being Julie joining us at the makeshift altar where as a family, the three of us with three different colors of sand- Black for Carlos, Blue for myself, and white for Julie, make a beautiful jar of interwoven colors representing the new journey we start as a family today.

The wedding is soon over, and finally we are announced as husband, and wife, Tank announcing Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Manoso, letting us seal the deal with a sweet, passionate kiss that is only broken by cat-calls from the crowd of friends, and family.

As cocktail hour is winding down, I am having a hard time not drawing attention to myself not drinking. Carlos has forgone alcohol to attempt to make it look like we are both abstaining for the sake of a sober union, but I am paranoid that people will catch on. We have taken an obscene amount of pictures, and my face is actually aching.

Carlos, and I make our way inside with Julie so that we can have a few moments of privacy before the reception, and subsequent honeymoon to discuss the baby news so that she feels like she is in the loop. I can't help but feel more than a little nervous for her reaction. As we are settling down to have "the talk", Val busts in, knowing what is coming to remind me to turn the microphone off. God bless that woman!

The talk goes much better than I imagined, proving Julie has the maturity of someone twice her age. My poor girl has been through so much, and is still the most vibrant, well-natured child I have ever seen. She shows a small flicker of insecurity that we will now have a biological child together, and she will be an "outsider", but we squelch that immediately. She seems completely reassured when we stress to her there is no way that our love for any other child could ever exceed our love for her. She was the catalyst that brought us together as a family, and will always be our special first born. Nothing will ever change the special bond we have as a family.

Julie seemed genuinely excited for a sibling once her fears were soothed, and gave us both hugs so hard that I lost air for a few minutes. Definitely a Manoso. We headed out to the reception hand in hand as a family to a standing ovation from our loved ones. Perfection doesn't even begin to cover this moment.

A/N2: Next up we have our reception, and some honeymoon time for the new Mr. & Mrs. Manoso :) Hopefully the next chapter will be up in the next week.

xoxo-Brit*