Leo was lying in his hospital bed feeling slightly drowsy when he heard someone clear their throat. He looked up and saw Harry standing there with a grin on his face
"Falling asleep in the middle of the day? Now that is a sign of old age"
Leo rolled his eyes "It's the medication"
"Of course" Harry nodded sincerely "You just keep telling yourself that" He sat down on a stool beside Leo's bed and passed him a sheet of paper "This is from Erin" he said
Leo took the paper and stared intently at it. It was another of Erin's drawings with a small sketch of Teresa and Cassie on it that she'd copied from the photo he had in his house. He swallowed a lump of emotion in his throat and turned to Harry who smiled
"She didn't want you to get lonely" he informed the older man who sighed gently
"I don't know what I'd do without her"
"She's probably asking the same question. But don't worry; Nikki's districted her well enough. Did you know Erin was a talented seamstress in a past life?"
Leo chuckled "That girl never fails to amaze me" and Harry smiled pleased to see Leo in better spirits
Both men looked up as Doctor Winters walked into the cubicle "Just doing my rounds" he said walking over to the bed
"I'd better be off" Harry said "Someone's got to be at the lab to keep an eye on the place"
Leo nodded his thanks and Harry left. Doctor Winters looked down at the piece of paper on Leo's bed
"Who's the talented artist then?" he asked
Leo picked up the paper "That would be Erin" he said proudly
"She's got real talent" he said studying the picture "Not many people can draw like this" Leo made a noise of agreement "Anyway, your latest test results have come back clear so all we have to do now is wean you off the IV medication and we can send you home"
"How soon?" Leo asked sounding hopeful
"As soon as tomorrow afternoon" he said and Leo smiled broadly "I thought that might cheer you up. We'll have you back on your feet in no time"
"Thank you" Leo said feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Nikki said as Erin took Nikki's measurements for her dress
"Yes" Erin sighed loudly as she made a note down on a piece of paper "And don't worry I wont tell anyone your size"
Nikki shook her head "Do you think you'll have the time to make it?, the wedding is only a few weeks away after all"
Erin nodded as she moved the tape measure again "I said I'd get it done and I will"
"Well that's the dress off my list since you've got that covered; the flowers were ordered this morning"
"Roses" Erin said and Nikki nodded "For love"
"And Harry said he's looking into a venue…" Nikki went along ticking off all the things she had or hadn't done yet "Ah!" she said suddenly "There's one thing we've overlooked"
"What's that?" Erin said looking up at Nikki for her position on the floor
"Bridesmaids" Nikki smiled "What do you think?"
"What do I think about what?" Erin mumbled
"About being my bridesmaid?"
Erin's jaw dropped in shock "You want me to be your bridesmaid?" Nikki nodded "But don't you want someone you know better?"
Nikki shook her head "If there's one person I want with me up the aisle, apart from Harry of course, then it's you"
"Really?"
"Yes, so what do you say?"
"Okay…" Erin said breaking into a smile which Nikki reflected perfectly
"Of course we'll need to design you a dress" Nikki said picking up a spare piece of paper and scribbling on it "What do you think of that?"
"It's good" Erin said glancing down at the sketch
"It's not as good as your drawing skills but I can imagine you in that dress. I had one a bit like it when I was about your age and I think it will look perfect on you"
"Well you know more about it than I do" Erin said taking down another measurement and making a small calculation
Nikki glanced at the calendar on the wall "It's the thirteenth of December, my wedding day is in exactly a month"
Erin smiled at Nikki's enthusiasm "Done" she said standing up
"Thank you Erin" Nikki said "I got the material from the shop today" she said passing Erin a small carrier bag of material
The young girl peeked inside and saw the white fabric piled inside "It's going to look perfect on you"
"Does Leo even have a sewing machine?" Nikki said suddenly
Erin shook his head "No, but I saw one in a second hand shop for a reasonable price and I think I have just about enough money. I'd like to get backing into sewing again, it's been so long since I've done it…" she said stroking the fabric wistfully "…Such a long time"
"I bet you missed it"
Erin nodded "More than I thought I did…" she shook her head to get rid of the memory she was travelling to "Anyway are you going to have a veil with your dress?"
"I'm not sure" Nikki said pondered the thought carefully "I think so…"
"Consider it done"
"Oh Erin, I couldn't ask you to do that on top of everything else"
"Yes you can" Erin smiled "You've done enough for me already, you Leo and Harry. It's time I started giving something back to you all" she smiled to herself as she continued to make a couple more calculations to tweak Nikki's dress to make it perfect.