A/N: Without further adieu..The Wedding. Happy New Year one and all! xox- G

Chapter Forty-three

"You look so much better." She said with a sob.

"I'm fine. Sweetie. You need to stop crying." Alison said as she smoothed a loose strand of Abby's hair back behind her ear.

Abby looked up and blinked furiously. "You're one to talk. You cry every other minute."

Handing her a tissue Alison agreed. "You're right. I shouldn't - but you're ruining your makeup."

"I just can't believe it. I tried to make peace with this a long, long time ago." Panic filled her voice. "Ali, I'm just so afraid it isn't real. Like I'll wake up tomorrow and find out it's all been a dream." She dabbed at her eyes, ever thankful for waterproof mascara.

"Shh. Abby - it's real." Alison pulled her close for a hug. "Cam's here. He's here to stay and you're getting married."

"But what if -" Abby began to protest as she pulled away.

"But what if nothing." Alison replied. "Don't do this. I know - I 'm a bit of a hypocrite, but don't. Don't focus on what's scaring you Abby. Not today. Think about how wonderful it's going to be. Think about the unbelievable second chance you guys are getting. Don't let your fear take away one single moment of your happiness. It's too precious."

"Besides." She said with a smile. "If you don't go through with this while wearing my dress - I never forgive you."

"You're a very wise woman, Alison Kovich." Abby said with a smile, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

Alison wiped a stray tear off her sister's cheek. "I'm not so wise; I've just had my fair share of frightening moments."

"Not much anymore." Abby said with a sniffle.

"No." Alison agreed, grinning as she rubbed her stomach gently. "Not much anymore."

"So." She said as she picked up her bouquet. "Are you ready?"

"Oh yeah." Abby said with a sigh. "I'm ready."

************

"I can't believe this is the gym. Where did you put all the stuff that was in here?" Cam said as he looked around.

There was white tulle and twinkling white lights strung everywhere. The ceiling was hung with dark blue fabric and little lights that shone like stars. There were a few tables, draped in the same dark blue and what seemed like thousands of candles. As Cam looked up he was reminded again of the color of Abby's eyes. He began to fidget, his heart pounding. He couldn't wait to see her.

"I have no idea." Rafe shrugged. "I just know Lucy promised she'd get it all back to normal by tomorrow afternoon. I'm sure they'll be a jump in memberships for the New Year." He finished and then - he sneezed.

"She gave you her cold, huh?" Cam said with a smirk, thankful to have something to joke about so he didn't become a complete nervous wreck.

"No." Rafe denied it, even though he'd felt crummy all day. He sneezed again. "I don't get sick."

"Uh huh." Cam laughed. "Sure you don't."

It was about 11:30. Everyone was settling into their seats. Soft music filled the air and in a few moments, Alison walked carefully down the stairs, pulling the hem of her dark blue gown off the ground to keep from tripping. Rafe was waiting at the bottom to take her hand and walk with her to the makeshift altar. Cam's sister followed right behind. Alison gave Cam a huge smile as she stood across from him.

And then came Abby. As she stood at the end of the aisle it was hard not to notice that the sequins on her gown matched the stars in her eyes. She could barely see anything but Cam's smiling face at the end of the aisle. It's all she wanted to see anyway. She took Cam's father's arm and walked slowly toward him. As they paused at the end of the aisle, his father gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. "I hope my son knows how lucky he is." He whispered. "Don't worry." Abby whispered back with a smile. "I'll make sure I remind him."

Handing her bouquet to Alison, she turned toward Cameron and placed both her hands in his, sighing as she looked up at him.

She was so beautiful - he was speechless. He just stared at her, mesmerized. After his words of greeting, the minister had to ask Cameron three times to start. He acted like he couldn't hear him.

Abby started to laugh. "Cam - sweetie?" She nudged him.

He finally found his voice. "Yeah?" He said, still gazing at her.

"We're getting married here." She said, softly.

"Yeah." Cam replied - still out of it.

She inched closer and whispered. "That means we have to exchange vows. You go first."

He shook his head to clear it and took a deep breath. "Right. Yeah. I knew that. OK."

Abby couldn't help giggling. He was a wreck. Seeing him like that made her suddenly, unbelievably calm.

"OK." Cam said again. "Here we go."

She rolled her eyes at him and whispered, "Honey, just start."

He held her hands tighter and stared into her eyes. "I remember when I met you. You were like six years old and I was nine. You followed me around wherever I went and I tried - really hard to lose you. I think I might have hidden a time or two." Abby laughed again as he continued. "Of course, I think we were playing hide and seek at the time - but the point is - you always, always found me." He ran a hand down her cheek. "No matter how far away I went."

The real meaning of his words were not lost on Abby, or Alison either, who dug into her bouquet to grab the tissues she'd hidden there.

"Abigail Kathryn McBride, you are the most amazing person I have ever known and my dad doesn't have to worry and you don't need to remind me. I know for sure how lucky I am. So, today, I promise you that I will stop stealing your English muffins in the morning and to keep track of my keys." His voice got low and serious as he finished. "Abby. I promise to love you more tomorrow than I do today and then a little bit more than that every single day for the rest of my life."

Some of the most unconventional vows in the history of the world, but to Abby they were perfect. Overcome by the love she felt for him, suddenly she was the one who couldn't speak.

"Now you go." Cam prompted as he looked down at her and smiled.

"I know. Give me a minute." She said, turning to Alison who was ready to hand her a tissue. She dabbed at her eyes and then grabbed his hands again. She took a deep breath and began.

"Cameron. I can't remember a moment that I didn't love you. From the time I was a little girl you were always there to look out for me. I remember one time in particular, I think I was about fifteen. Someone was taunting me and I was crying and you stormed in and told everyone who listen that they just didn't get how special I was. You held onto my hand the whole time you were talking and even though I heard every word I still didn't get it. I couldn't comprehend that it was actually me you were talking about."

Tears streamed down her face, and as she spoke she was taken back to that moment. She felt her hand in his and squeezed it. She laughed as she continued. "I'll never forget it. That was the day you told me you loved me too, although I think you said something like "Of course I love you - what am I an idiot?"

At that, everyone laughed, especially Cam's brothers who also called out and answered "Yes." to her question.

She looked up at him and smiled, her voice filled with love. "Cameron Donovan. I love you. I have always loved you and I'll love you every second I am lucky enough to have you here with me. I'll love you still after we both leave this place -" As she finished, her voice was becoming more and more stern "- which better be at exactly the same moment - I'm warning you. Don't you dare leave me here alone."

Cameron took her face in his hands and ran his thumbs over her cheeks, "Geez. Abby - can't you stop yelling at me even during our wedding?"

"Yes." She said with a sigh. "I can. Just kiss me already."

To keep her from yelling, and because it was what he'd wanted to do since she first laid eyes on her today, he did what she asked.

Everyone in the room had no idea what to do. The minister had clearly lost all control of the ceremony. As Cam pulled away he turned to get her ring from his brother. "Don't ever take this off." He warned her as he slipped it on her finger.

Abby turned to a stunned Alison as she held out his ring. "You either." She smiled at him as she gave him his.

"Can I kiss you again now?" He asked, though it was pointless - since he was already doing so.

"Yeah." She whispered, against his lips. "You can."

As they stood there together, wrapped up in their own little world, the clock struck midnight.

Soon, everyone around them was kissing someone too.