A/N: Let's see, cheliosfan!

Glad you like it, Spring83. :)

36.

As it wasn't difficult to guess, Carla wasn't enthusiastic about Jack's suggestion…

"We speak, of course, about next year's Christmas." she said. "Perfect! There will be enough time for preparations. We'll throw a wedding for Susan, which my daughter deserved and which she will remember for a very long time!" she said decidedly, what the said daughter shyly commented:

"Umm… Mom, Jack meant this Christmas." she mumbled and instinctively caught her fiancé's hand, when her mother exclaimed:

"What?!"

"Mom! You'll wake Andy!" hissed the girl, when her son stirred in his father's arms. The only thing they needed now was for him to start crying again.

Mrs. Thomas, as red as a tomato, found enough composure to lower her voice.

"Susan… Tell me, that I misunderstood you." she muttered. "Tell me that you don't plan to get married in a few weeks. It's a ridiculous idea! We won't have anything done! Where is the dress, the party, date to reserve the church? Where is the time to invite guests?! The family will be offended if they don't get invitations in the right time!" she spoke. "The cake, music, bridesmaid's dresses, tuxedoes… At least half a year is needed for all of that!" she continued to insist, until Sue lost her patience and quietly, although firmly, remarked:

"Only if you plan your wedding, Mom, because I prefer a small, quiet ceremony amongst the closest family. You, Jack's parents, our siblings and witnesses with company. Nobody besides that." she stated.

"You can't be serious, Susan!" said Carla indignantly.

"I speak very serious, Mom. Secondly, I would rather you called me Sue." she spoke.

"I didn't give you a name during your Christening for you to shorten it in such a plebeian way, Susan." responded Mrs. Thomas.

"I didn't think you were a snob, Mom." Sue bravely faced her. "There is nothing plebeian in this form and you know it very well. It's what most of the people call me and I am very fine with that."

"I also prefer to call her Sue." interrupted Jack. "It's a cute, soft name and really matches my future wife. It mirrors her wonderful personality." he added, squeezing the hand of his beloved woman, who blushed sweetly at the compliment, as she usually did when someone told her something nice.

"Susie is right, My Dear." spoke Peter. "Respect her wishes and I don't speak only about the name." he continued. "If they want to marry quickly, it's their choice. It's also their decision, when it comes to the size of the ceremony, because it's their day, not yours, mine or guests', half of which they would probably not even know, considering the fact that you planned a medium size coronation!" he stated with a hint of humour in his voice, trying to prevent the anger to come out. "Remember our wedding, Carla?" he asked gently. "It was our day, yours and mine. Everything happened according to our wishes, well, mainly yours!" he giggled mischievously. "The point is that our parents didn't interfere. They only helped. It's what we should do as well, My Dear. Whether you want it or not, Sue and Jack will get married this Christmas. Do you really want to miss it?" he asked at the end.

For the next time that day, Carla Thomas felt defeated. She really wanted to organise a wonderful ceremony for her daughter, but it seemed that their imaginations about Sue's wedding day were very different. Whether it was her only daughter's opinion or Jack Hudson's influence, she wasn't able to guess. Obviously, those two has already decided, judging by their determined facial expressions and if Carla really didn't want to get excluded of it, she needed to give up the big plans and agree for this too little, in her opinion, wedding amongst the family.

"What do you see it like, then…" she sighed and suffered listening, what the young couple had to say.

Not a whole month later Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Hudson, as well as brothers and sisters of the couple, were watching the two of them get married with tears in their eyes.

For a quickly organised ceremony, everything was beautiful. By some miracle, Sue and Jack managed to rent a small chapel, where a young, although eloquent pastor agreed to marry them.

Jack presented himself perfectly in Armani's tuxedo, but there was no doubt that it was Sue, who was the star of the evening. She was radiant in a simple, elegant, ecru-coloured wedding dress. Hudson apparently insisted for her to wear white, but she was adamant when it came to this. The convincing, that in his eyes she was as clear as the white dress, that she was still untouched in his eyes didn't do anything to change her mind.

"I'm a mom, Jack. You're not going to change it. It's not like I regret having Andrew, but I didn't sign up for that and there's nothing I can do about it. Don't insist, then, please." she said sadly, but firmly and when he was looking at her like, he wasn't able to say no.

In the end, her decision brought benefits. Without a veil, just a small tiara and this stylish dress, which Lucy - her bridesmaid, found for funny amount of money, Sue looked like a princess from a fairytale.

Hudson's heart skipped a beat, when he saw her in the chapel's door, with her arm linked with her father's, as beautiful as nothing he has ever seen in his life. She walked with a swan's grace. No! She swam towards him, and her soft, gold hair waved on her shoulders in gently waves.

"Breathe, Sparky!" whispered his Best Man, Bobby Manning, amused by his friend's reaction. "In and out. That's it. You're doing good, Mate!" he winked playfully. „By the way, you got a beautiful sheila, Jack. Treat her well, because I treat her like a sister, who I've never had. Break her heart and I'll break your bones!" he added.

"Find your place in the queue, Crash. Her father and brothers told me they'll do the same, when we were in Ohio. Not to mention my dad." he spoke quietly. "Besides, I love her, Bobby. I'd never intentionally hurt her, because Sue is a part of me."

"Are you aware that it's the first time you've said that out loud?" giggled the detective and Sparky realised that his best friend was right. What was more, he understood that the only person, who certainly should hear, or rather see those words, didn't have the opportunity. Was Jack subconsciously afraid of her reaction, rejection of his feelings, that he didn't confess his love earlier? Perhaps, but the milk was spilled and he needed to fix it. He hoped that the vow, which he prepared for her, will show the depth of the feelings, which he had, that his eyes and hands will say more than words. So he put all his heart in saying and signing his vow.

He shocked her. It was obvious. The moment his hands showed the first signed of the vow, which he was also speaking, Sue was speechless and happy tears came to her eyes. Even in her wildest dreams she didn't expect her fiancé to want to learn her first language, or that he would so quickly manage to learn those wonderful words, which he now signed to her with such focus and determination.

And his look? What a huge fondness, warmth or even love, was in this chocolate depth…

"…Today, I give you my heart and soul, Sue, and I promise on everything what is dear to me, that I'll never leave you. So help me God."

Hope filled the blonde's soul. If she read his signals correctly, her marriage might not be just a relationship of two lonely people, who desperately wanted to have a family, their own family. If Jack really married her out of love, and not only for her child and out of loneliness, then his and her feeling, plus friendship, which connected them, were a solid foundation of marriage, which would not only be lasting, but first of all happy. She only needed to overcome her fears and give herself to him that night, the way a wife should give herself to her husband. She prayed for fear, which she worked on with psychologist's help, didn't return again. She wanted to be Jack's wife in every meaning of this word. Not only that, she wanted it for herself, too.

When it was her turn, to make a vow, she didn't hesitate. She was looking him straight in the eyes, saying:

"… From this day until the end of the world I want to be your wife, partner, lover, mother of your children. I want to and will last at your side forever, in every situation, I will support you, love you and respect you. Today, in the eyes of God and our family, I promise to always be faithful, devoted wife to you, that no secret will break us apart, that everything I have, I am, I give to you along with my heart. I'm yours, Jack. For as long as you will want me." she whispered, fighting her emotions.

"Forever, Sue." he said in response, taking her hands in his and placing a gentle kiss on them.

In that moment their heart were beating in the same rhythm, as well as their souls.

From the rest of the ceremony they remember, how handsomely dressed Andy gave his father a ring, which the pastor blessed so Sparky could place it on her wife's finger. He looked so charming, then, that the gathered guests were sighing with appreciation. These three were meant for each other. Even Carla needed to admit that, when she was looking at them.

And o course, first kiss as a married couple. It shouldn't be omitted, especially that it had so much emotion inside. For the couple put all their love in it, and it was visible.

The small wedding reception took place in Hudson's apartment, as it was spacious and could easily accommodate the family members and witnesses. And although it wasn't the gala from Mrs. Thomas' dreams, the food was delicious, the best champagne was flowing and the wedding cake disappeared in a relatively short time.

Around nine o'clock the young married couple said goodbye to their son and guests, and made their way to the Omni Shoreham hotel, where Sparky booked a room for their wedding night. When he called them, he didn't really plan anything. He didn't intend to break the promise, which he made earlier, and do something, what Sue wasn't ready for, what she didn't want. It was mainly for the sake of appearance for the family. Now, however, when the limousine was taking them to the place, the situation has changed. His wife was sitting snuggled to him, kissing him shyly, but without the earlier hesitation. When he warned her, what an effect she had on him, she blushed, but didn't stop and soon his body started to burn.

"God! I hope I won't screw this up!" he thought. He made a promise in his soul, that if anything happens, he will show her that the physical love can bring not only pain, but also pleasure and happiness. This night was to be for her, for Sue, for his wife…

TBC