Note: And now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the long await...CHAPTER 25! I am so sorry it's been so long but I had a huge amount of writer's block. I'm not super happy with it but it is something. I can't promise super frequent updates but I will finish this story. So please enjoy and review! Thanks for all your patience!

A while later Jess was standing in front of the mirror in his room, fiddling with a tie. He tried to tighten it only to fail miserably before the door opened behind him and Leslie walked in.

"Hi." she said shyly.

"You look beautiful." he said. She smiled and twirled around, her blue sundress swirling out around her. She'd even put on some blue beaded flats.

"You think so?" she asked, fiddling with a strand of hair which she'd curled.

He nodded and held out his arm, as the two descended down the stairs. Jess silently thanked God everyone had stayed in their rooms when he'd shouted to his mom they were going out for a bit and she'd just grunted in response.

"Well I think you look very handsome." she said giggling and hooking her arm through his.

They walked down the stairs and then out to Jess's truck, getting in and taking off.

"Do you know the way?" Leslie asked.

"I think so. I've only been there once for a field trip in fourth grade." he said, frowning and concentrating, trying to recall.

"I tried to look up directions but my laptop wouldn't work." Leslie explained.

Jess's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Dad doesn't want to pay for Internet."

"Oh." Leslie mumbled, embarrassed.

"Leslie I swear, when we get our own place I'll find some way to make us money. We'll have Internet, and cable that doesn't falter, it'll be great." Jess said, a determined look on his face that she couldn't help but smile at.

"I don't need that stuff Jess...remember I grew up without a TV. The only reason I had a computer was because I was locked up in my room all day. And I liked to write on it, lots of stories and stuff." she said.

"I think I can start selling my paintings." he said suddenly.

"Huh?" she asked.

"My paintings...I can sell them for money. No one's gonna hire a guy without a college education." he said.

"Jess stop worrying about money for two seconds and live in the moment!" Leslie begged, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.

"Ok, ok you're right." he said, smiling slightly.

"Of course I am." she joked, leaning back and staring out the window.

He glanced over at her and rolled his eyes jokingly before halting to a stop.

"There it is!" he exclaimed, turning into the parking lot.

He hopped out of the car and then opened the door for Leslie, grabbing her hand as they made their way to the front and sat down on a bench.

"Are you sure you told her what time to be here?" he asked, scanning the empty parking lot.

"Positive! Both of them!" Leslie replied, her eye's roaming around.

They went back and fourth like this for about five minutes until a red truck pulled up and slowed to a stop. Out stepped a pretty, pale woman with black hair and piercing eyes followed by a tall, thick red headed girl.

"Oh my god!" the older one exclaimed, running over and attacking Leslie in a hug. The other shortly followed.

"You didn't believe me on the phone?" Leslie laughed hugging them back.

"Hey Ms. Edmunds. Hi Janice." Jess greeted both of them.

They both greeted him and then the four started into the tall building.

"Thank you so much for doing this for us." Leslie said as they approached the room they needed to go to.

"Of course!" Ms. Edmunds exclaimed.

"How can I help you?" the woman at the desk asked.

"We'd like to get married." Jess said.

"Can I see some ID?" she asked. Both showed their ID's and she handed them the license and certificate to fill out.

"Witnesses?" she asked Ms. Edmunds and Janice who both nodded.

"Have a seat over there, I'll go get the judge." she said, getting up and leaving.

They took a seat on two small benches and Leslie and Jess filled out all the necessary papers, everyone signing in the proper places, finishing up right as the judge came in.

They approached him and walked to the center of the room.

He took their papers and smiled, reading over them and then handing them to the lady at the desk.

"Do you Jess Aarons take Leslie Burke to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"

Jess took Leslie's hands in his and smiled at her.

"I do."

"And do you Leslie Burke take Jess Aarons to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." she said, smiling and squeezing his hands.

"Then by the power vested in me by the state of Virginia I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jess, you may kiss your bride." he said, smiling at the young couple.

Jess quickly pulled Leslie into him and kissed her softly, conscious of the other people in the room. When they pulled apart both were grinning ear to ear.

"We're married." he whispered. Her smile grew even wider and she nodded.

"Jess, I know we said we'd get rings later but I found this in my lockbox. I totally forgot I had it." sliding a plain solid gold wedding band onto his ring finger.

"What?" Jess asked, looking down at it.

"It was my grandpa's. I was really close to him, so when he passed away I got his ring." she said. He looked at her, both teary eyed.

"I love you Mrs. Aarons." he said, hoarsley.

"I love you too." She choked out, flinging her arms around his neck.

After a moment they pulled back, remembering everyone else.

"Thank you so much you guys." Leslie said, hugging Janice and Ms. Edmunds tightly.

Jess hugged them both awkwardly before they all said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

"I can't believe we actually did that." he marveled as they pulled out of the parking lot in his truck.

"I know!" Leslie exclaimed excitedly.

"Where to now?" Jess asked.

"We deserve a little honeymoon. What's the nicest place in town?" she asked.

He laughed. "Leslie seriously?"

"Fine...nicest place near here..." she said frowning.

"You're forgetting one thing. We have no money."

She blushed and reached into the little beaded bag she'd brought pulling out at least three hundred dollars in cash.

"Holy shit! Leslie where did you get that?" he asked, his eyes growing wide.

"I told you! I have some money. I can help us get our own place!" she exclaimed. He bit his lip...naturally Jess wanted to be the one to provide for Leslie. But desperate times did call for desperate situations.

"H-how much more?" he asked. She shrugged.

"I don't know an exact number...but I know it's a good chunk. Come on Jess, please!" she exclaimed. He sighed and looked at her pleading face.

"Ok...but once I find a job..." he started but she'd already stopped paying attention.

"Now where are we going for our honeymoon?" she asked, grinning.

He chuckled.

"Leslie, don't you think we should be saving money? Not spending it whenever we can?" he asked. She frowned.

"Well how are we supposed to properly celebrate our marriage with your family in the house?" she asked, in a serious tone that made him smile.

"Uh...I don't know." he said laughing.

"I think there's a fancy inn...you know up by that one lake. You wanna go?" She asked, hopefully. He looked over at her, saw her hands in a begging position, and looked back at the road.

"I don't know Les..." he said. She smiled to herself and faced front.

"Great. Turn left at the next intersection."