Three weeks had passed since Jessica had been kidnapped by James. The first week after the kidnapping had been worst. Jessica had had nightmares and cried through the nights. She dreamt that Sophia and Horatio were slipping off a cliff and James was about to push them, Jessica was running towards them, but never got to them in time before the fell and she saw them hit the rocks beneath. She always woke up crying and Horatio held her until she fell asleep again. Jessica was seeing a therapist and remarkably she was doing much better. Maybe it was because they day she had waited for had finally come.
Her wedding day.
Jessica and her bridesmaids Cal, Natalia and Alexx were in the nursery, getting ready for the ceremony. Horatio, Kyle, Frank and Henry were on the second floor in Kyle's room. The wedding ceremony and party were at Jessica and Horatio's beach house. Tomorrow they would take a flight to Greece for their two-week honeymoon. During that time, six and a half months old Sophia would be with her grandparents in Orlando. Jessica and Horatio had been worried about leaving her when she was that young, but everyone they knew who had been parents for many years assured them that it would be fine. Sophia would manage without them.
"I have never been this nervous before." Jessica chuckled.
The dress was on and in less than twenty minutes it was time for her father to walk with her down the aisle. In less than twenty minutes she would marry Horatio. The love of her life.
"I would be surprised if you weren't. You should have seen how nervous I was when I got married." Alexx smiled, "I bet Horatio is just as nervous as you are."
"The boys will have a hard time calming him down." Jessica agreed.
There was a knock on the door and Clark peeked inside. He got tears in his eyes as he saw his daughter in her dress. He had dreamt of this day and now it had finally come. Clark couldn't imagine giving his daughter away to a better man than Horatio Caine.
"How is the soon-to-be-Mrs. Caine?" Clark grinned and hugged Jessica.
"Nervous, but excited too."
"I just saw Horatio, he's pacing in the room and shaking. He's extremely nervous." Clark smiled.
"Aw, maybe I should talk to him?"
"Nonsense, he'll be fine." Clark smiled, "He's nervous about throwing up when you and he stands at the altar."
"What makes him think he would do that?" Calleigh asked.
"Frank told me that Horatio had watched too many video clips of grooms fainting or throwing up when they get married." Natalia said.
"Dad, go talk to him." Jessica smiled.
Clark nodded and gave his daughter one more hug before leaving to talk to Horatio. He smirked as he stood in the doorway to Kyle's room and Horatio was still pacing. Henry and Kyle grabbed his arms and pulled him down on the bed to sit down. Horatio stood up seconds later and looked at his tie in the mirror.
"Does it fit right?" He asked.
"Yes, for the fifth time dad, it's perfect!" Kyle chuckled.
Horatio nodded and took a deep breath.
"Only ten minutes left." Frank smirked and watched as Horatio went pale.
"Shit." He sighed.
"Boys, can I talk to my future son-in-law for a moment?" Clark asked.
The boys nodded and left Clark and Horatio alone. Clark walked up to Horatio and pulled him in for a hug. Horatio was surprised but hugged Clark back. They parted and Clark patted Horatio's shoulder.
"I am happy to witness this day." Clark grinned, "Don't worry, no one can be a better husband to my daughter than you. No one can be happier today than you and Jessica either."
"What if I screw up?" Horatio asked.
"What makes you think you will?"
"It's just a feeling I got."
"Well, I worried about that when I married Irene as well. But you just have to believe in yourself as my father-in-law told me." Clark smiled widely, "The love between you and Jessica is an inspiration for us all. You have nothing to worry about. You won't screw up."
Horatio nodded and smiled.
"I guess it's time for you to go down to the altar now." Clark said as he looked at his watch.
"Yes it is." Horatio smiled.
He and Clark exited the room and they went down to the first floor. Horatio and his best men walked past the room where the ladies were. Clark entered the room to walk with his daughter outside.
"Ready sweetheart?" Clark asked.
"Absolutely!" Jessica grinned.
Horatio took a deep breath as he saw Alexx, Natalia and Calleigh walk down the aisle. Jessica and Clark would soon walk out as well.
"Have you got the ring?" Horatio asked his son.
"I haven't let it out of my sight during the last two weeks." Kyle grinned, "Calm down dad, everything is going to be fine."
Horatio felt his heart skip a beat as he watched Jessica walk down the aisle. He had never seen a more beautiful woman before and he had never felt happier before. Clark gave Jessica away and Jessica stood in front of Horatio. They only had eyes for each other as their priest started talking.
"We are gathered here on this beautiful afternoon to share with Jessica and Horatio as they exchange vows of their everlasting love" Father Julian started.
Jessica and Horatio tried to listen to what he was saying and continued looking in to each other's eyes all the time. When it was time for the vows; Jessica was first.
"Jessica?" Father Julian asked and gently touched Jessica's shoulder.
"Hmm?" Jessica asked, "Oh, right. Sorry."
The guests chuckled as Jessica blushed. She had completely forgot about paying attention to Father Julian.
"I, Jessica, take you Horatio, to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you, I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully, through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. What may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep." Jessica smiled and put the ring on Horatio's finger.
Father Julian nodded for Horatio and Horatio took the ring from Kyle.
"I, Horatio, take you Jessica, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you, I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully, through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. What may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep." Horatio grinned and slipped the ring on to Jessica's finger.
"I know pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Father Julian smiled.
Horatio pulled Jessica in to his arms and kissed her deeply. Their guests applauded and Kyle patted his father on the back. As Jessica and Horatio walked down the aisle, Walter and Ryan pulled Kyle apart.
"I heard you're giving a toast." Walter smirked.
"Yeah, it's a short but funny little toast." Kyle grinned, "Calleigh also got a funny toast going."
"We're looking forward to it already." Ryan grinned.
Kyle's chance to toast for the bride and groom came at the dinner. In the middle of the dinner, which was on the back porch, Kyle stood up. He was the first one to hold his toast and then Calleigh would do it later.
"Ladies and gentlemen. It takes a strong and intelligent man to realize his dreams and achieve his goals in life and love. A man that is not afraid to live life to its fullest and embrace what is truly important. But enough about me... "Kyle smirked and everybody laughed, "I'm here to talk about Horatio and Jessica. Two people who have come together today to form a union that will surely last forever." Kyle raised his glass and faced Jessica, "Jessica... you look absolutely beautiful. Horatio is lucky to have found such a wonderful woman to share his life with. Horatio is my father and best friend and I'm honored that he chose me to be his best man on this most important day in your lives. I wish you both peace and happiness in your new life together and may God bless your union."
With that said, Kyle sat down and everybody applauded. Horatio and Jessica hugged him and Kyle smiled. Eric was the one with the video camera and of course he had got it all on tape. He also had Horatio on tape before the wedding, when he was pacing like a nervous chicken in Kyle's room. Once Horatio saw the video his face would become as red as his hair, if not more red than his hair.
After the dinner it was time for the bride and the groom to share a dance. They danced to Frank Sinatra's song L.O.V.E.
"Are you holding your toast after the dance?" Eric asked Calleigh.
"Yep." Calleigh smirked.
Sophia was of course a part of the whole wedding party. Irene and Kyle were taking care of her while Jessica and Horatio had their dance. During the middle of the dance, Sophia got tired and yawned. Kyle decided to put her in her crib in the nursery. Since everyone celebrated on the back porch, Sophia would be able to get some peace and quiet. Kyle also had a baby monitor with him so he knew when Sophia woke up.
When the dance was over, it was time for some dessert and it was during this that Calleigh stood up to hold her toast.
"Someone once said that in order to make a marriage work, there should be space in your togetherness. To be honest, I hope there is a lot of space in your togetherness because I don't want to miss out my weekly manicure appointment with Jessica." Calleigh smiled and the guests laughed, "Seriously though, in times when you are together in the same room or across town or even the world, remember the love that you feel today and I know you will always be happy in your togetherness. To Jessica and Horatio!"
Calleigh also received hugs from Horatio and Jessica for her toast. The party then continued until almost midnight, when only the bride and groom, Kyle, Henry, Frank, Irene and Clark were left. All of them, including Sophia, were spending the night at Frank's place. Frank had room for everyone and the reason Sophia wouldn't be home was so that the newlyweds could have some alone time. Jessica and Horatio would stop by before their flight the next morning to say goodbye.
After everyone had said goodbye and left, Jessica jumped up in Horatio's arms and kissed him deeply.
"We have the whole house to ourselves Mr. Caine." Jessica grinned.
"I think we can start having fun in the living room then Mrs. Caine." Horatio grinned and kissed Jessica as he carried her towards the living room.
Please review!
AN: I didn't write the toasts given by Kyle and Calleigh myself. I had to use the internet, because I am so bad at writing toasts, lol. I also looked up the vow on the net.