I'm so sorry for yet another in a series of late updates. There are only a couple chapters left to this and I want to thank you all for putting up with me during my very unreliable updates. Hope you enjoy the chapter, from my calculations there are only about three left. Let me know what you think. At least I know how the rest of the chapters are going to go, so the updates shouldnt be so far between. Enjoy.
PS I do not own anything OTH
A few weeks later when Haley woke up the next morning she groaned as she stood up because of her overly stiff back. This baby was putting her through the wringer. And she still had 4 weeks to go until she gave birth. She wished she could stay in bed all day but knew that wasn't possible. It was Ryan and Kerri's big day. And of course Haley who was currently about the size of a house was the maid of honour.
"Why don't you come back to bed?" Nathan asked glancing at the clock on the bedside table seeing that it said 7:30.
"Cant. In a few hours I am the maid of honour in my best friends wedding. I need to get ready. Besides I look like a cow, its going to take forever." she said.
"You are gorgeous. It wont take forever." he assured herself while letting out a massive yawn.
"I cant believe my best friend is getting married today. I'm so excited and for the record I am anything but gorgeous." she said.
"No you my dear are so gorgeous. Look in the mirror and see what I see." he said getting out of the bed and walking her to the full length mirror.
"I don't see anything special." she muttered.
"I do. I see the woman that is carrying my baby. The woman that is going to give birth to my baby and give me everything I ever thought to ask for or didn't think to ask for." he told her kissing the side of her neck.
"I love you so much." she sighed leaning into his embrace.
"I know. Now go get ready. I know you wont be able to relax until you're ready for this wedding."he said.
"The oddest part is that its small and intimate. I don't know why but I thought that when and if Ry ever got married it would be lavish and crazy. This is so the opposite. The only people invited are my family some members of his family, her family and us. And a couple of friends. Its so small. I'm glad that's what Kerri wanted." she said.
"Why? You don't want anyone to see you looking like a whale? Your words not mine?" he asked.
"Exactly, and by the way I resent you for that comment." she said.
"Sure you do. You'll be all happy with me in a little while." he said knowingly. He had her mood swings down to a fine art, she'd be mad for a moment then back to being all happy the next. He really hated the angry part but liked the happy Haley part. The sex part had definitely taken a back seat lately, her massively pregnant belly was making ever position really uncomfortable and she absolutely no sex drive anyways. She was tired and that was fine. He wanted her to be comfortable for the last couple weeks of their pregnancy. She waddled into the bathroom and pulled on her empire waist bridesmaid dress. She had to admit that Kerri had an eye for fashion, the dress made her look more proportional when at the moment that was the last thing she was. Her belly still looked huge but she looked beautiful. She put on the bare minimum amount of make up on her face and curled her hair before walking back out to the bedroom where Nathan was fiddling with his suit.
"I cant believe you let Ryan talk me into being his best man." he muttered.
"He doesn't have many close friends, none that would be suitable as his best man. It's always been me and him against the world. And I cant be his best man." she said.
"Noted. I just feel like I don't know him well enough to do this for him." he said.
"You know him well. You're perfect for the job and at least you still get to spend the entire night with me." she said.
"Noted. I'll go get changed." he sighed and went into the bathroom. Haley's face broke into a extremely happy grin once she realized just what this day was. Her best friend was getting married and she was going to be a part of it. It was the second greatest day of her life following her wedding day. She heard a knock at the door and knew immediately it was Kerri. She was getting ready here and then driving over to the ceremony in the park with Haley.
"Come on in." she said ushering a very nervous bride into the house.
"Ryan isn't here is he? I want this to go right, if he sees me before the ceremony the marriage is doomed." she fretted.
"No Ryan isn't here. And Nathan is just getting ready to leave. He's going to help Ryan set up down at the park." she said.
"Good. Can you tell my scared to death, Hales?" she asked.
"Not at all." she tried to assure her friend.
"Thanks for lying Hales, but I know how I look. I'm so flustered." she said sinking onto the overstuffed couch.
"I'll fix you up okay. Just wait until Nathan is done in the bathroom and then we'll make you into the most beautiful bride on the planet." she assured her.
"I wont be as beautiful as you Hales. You were gorgeous." she said.
"Thanks. But I will make you to be just as beautiful as I was. Its a brides' prerogative to be the most beautiful woman on the planet on her wedding day. And its also her prerogative to make her husband oh so happy on the wedding night. Any hints on the honeymoon yet?" she asked.
"All he said is we're taking a month long trip after your baby is born. Ryan refuses to miss the blessed occasion." she said.
"God I love him. He's my best friend for a reason." Haley said. Nathan came out a few minutes later tying his tie.
"I better head out. Oh hey Kerri. You look nervous." he said trying to find a suitable word.
"Get out of here Nathan." Haley ordered seeing the almost smile on Kerri's face fade immediately.
"Sorry. I'll see you there." he said kissing Haley's cheek before leaving the house.
"Alright. Let's go make you beautiful." Haley said grabbing the dress bag and Kerri's hand to pull her into the bedroom.
"Where do you want me?" Kerri asked.
"Sit at the vanity. I'll do your hair and makeup quickly." she said. Kerri obeyed and sat down while Haley started brushing, combing, curling and clipping. When she was finished Kerri's hair was fastened in an elegant updo.
"Wow, where did you learn to do that?" she asked.
"My other best friend Brooke Davis Baker." she said.
"Oh, well she's really talented." Kerri said.
"She's good at absolutely everything. Now makeup." Haley said grabbing the makeup case. She started working on her face and put the bare minimum amount of makeup on her face.
"See you look beautiful. Just try not to cry or we'll have a mess." Haley instructed.
"Do I go up my dress on now?" she asked.
"Yeah." Haley said standing up and smoothing her dress down her legs. Kerri disappeared into the bathroom and came out a few minutes later with a floor length spaghetti strapped white dress. It was very simple and very pretty.
"Can you do it up for me." she said turning around. Haley waddled over and zipped up the zipper for her before putting her veil on her head for her.
"Are you ready?" Haley asked slipping her feet into her low black heels.
"I guess so." Kerri said.
"Okay. Let's go." Haley said walking to the front door and opening it up signalling Kerri to walk through first. There was now a limo parked outside with a man waiting at the door to let them in.
"This was a good idea." Kerri said of the limo.
"I know." Haley said running a hand over her belly.
"Do you think she'll show?" Ryan demanded as they set out a few chairs on the grass in the park.
"She'll show." he said for the fifteenth time in 20 minutes. "Was I this bad when I was marrying Hales?" he asked.
"Yeah. You were so nervous, and I remember laughing at you. Now I'm eating my words because this waiting it horrible. Why do people have weddings anyways? It would be better to just elope, then there is no terrifying waiting." he fretted.
"People have weddings to they can tell the people they love how much they love them in front of everyone else they care about." he explained.
"But its so pointless. All this internal turmoil I'm in right now. It's pointless." he whined.
"No its not. Just wait until she walks down the aisle. You'll change your mind." he said surely.
"You sound sure of yourself." Ryan said staring at Nathan.
"I am. Because I felt the sames things your feeling now when I married Hales. When I seen her, and knew that she was there. Whoever invented the wedding ceremony was the smartest person on the planet." he said.
"Okay. I feel a little better now." he admitted.
"Good. Now help me with these chairs." he instructed.
"Why do I have to help. I'm the groom." he demanded.
"Because you were the smart one who decided not to hire someone to help set up." Nathan said.
"Right." Ryan said as he helped Nathan with the chairs.
When it was time for the ceremony and Ryan saw the limo pull up he went to his spot at the alter and took a deep breath. The nerves were back in full force and Ryan had no idea how to quiet them. The pastor stood beside him and Kerri's mom sat in the front door with a few other important guests. The music started and Haley began her march up the aisle. Once Haley was in place the wedding march began and everyone stood up. Ryan's breath caught when he caught the first glimpse of his soon to be wife. Nathan patted his shoulder as he knew exactly what was going through his head at the moment. Kerri's father placed her hand in Ryan's and kissed her cheek before going to join her mother. The ceremony was short and sweet and when the pastor told him to kiss his bride he practically launched himself at her kissing her passionately. Nathan took Haley's hand and led her back up the aisle as Ryan and Kerri followed them.
"This was great. You were right." Ryan enthused to Nathan as Kerri was talking happily with Haley. When the reception started a little while later the couple danced their first dance as man and wife to "Heaven" by Bryan Adams. After the customary first dance dinner was served and everyone broke off into their own conversations. The party began moments later and everyone was dancing.
"May I have this dance Mrs Scott?" Ryan asked his best friend.
"Why of course Mr Matheson." she said taking his hand.
"Thanks for all your help today and the past few weeks. Kerri looks beautiful, you did an amazing job with her." he said.
"Its not a problem. I was just so happy that you wanted me involved in this." she said smiling up at her best friend.
"Come on. If there was a way you could have been my best man instead of Nathan you would have. You were her maid of honour and my honorary best man." he said.
"Did you just call me a man, Ryan Matheson." she demanded with a mock glare on her face.
"Sort of. I take that back." he laughed.
"Good. I love you buddy." she said hugging him.
"I love you too. You know what?" he asked excitedly.
"What?" she asked.
"Now we can do all those double couply things. We can go on couples trips, and double dates. It'll be awesome." he said.
"We could." she said.
"And you can always have your family babysit your spawn it would be perfect." he said.
"True, although I don't think I like that you're referring to my child as spawn." she said.
"That's okay. But the song is over and I want to dance with my beautiful wife." he said walking away. Haley followed him but got intercepted by Nathan.
"Dance with me." he said. She smiled and let him lead her back onto the floor.
"Can I have this dance Mrs Matheson?" Ryan asked holding out his hand.
"Why of course Mr Matheson." she said placing her hand in his. The two couples swayed to the music of classic love songs for much of the evening. Haley and Nathan knowing that this could be their last night of normalcy before the baby comes and Ryan and Kerri knowing that there is someone there for them for the rest of their lives and knowing they'd never be alone again.