I turned my back on them both stunned. My mother was clearly furious at a son that just didn't get it. But I couldn't intervene because I was clueless too. He had been hiding all this time, waiting for the perfect moment to take Valentine down. Our grief didn't matter. His absence was looked at as nothing more than a flesh wound when it cut deep. More than that he had enlisted my daughter to keep his secret. Yet, the only thing I had ever wanted was for him to come back to us.

But even at this joyous moment, I couldn't fully enjoy it because I was just happy that Valentine had nothing to do with it.

"Lulu, help me out here." My brother begged as he turned to me. Feeling the brunt of our mother's ire.

I looked over my shoulder, caught off guard. "Oh, I don't know what to say."

"Tell Mom, that you get why I had to stay away?" he pleaded. "Tell me that you understand."

I shook my head. "We all need a little forgiveness, sometimes." I was already backing up towards the door. My skirt sliding across the floor.

My mother stepped around Nik with her lips pressed in a frown. "She's only saying that because she still wants to marry Valentine."

"I forbid it!"

We both looked at him incredulously. "What!"

I hiked up my dress and stormed back to him. My brow furrowed in anger as I waited for him to explain himself. All while my fiancee was sitting in the living room like a tv villain probably plotting to blow up the whole town just because his girl left him at the altar. In his defense, it was the second time that this had happened. GOD, he could be flying to Timbuktu right now with Charlotte on his back like a piece of luggage.

How angry was he?

How confused was I?

"You heard me. That man took everything from me and Spencer. You are forbidden to marry him." His tone was unflinching in his anger. "How much time has to pass for my baby sister to fall into bed."

"The same amount of time that she finds out that she shares a kid with that enemy of the state. And I was angry for you and for myself. It was like smog, polluting my lungs. Even my daughter could sense how I hated him. A man she thinks hangs the moon." I sighed, "and then one day. . ."

Nik turned to our mother in disbelief. The room was dark, but it couldn't mask our emotions that were in such turmoil that they were almost unrecognizable to even us.

"Don't look at me I'd like to know too."

"He just stopped being mean," I said, in frustration. "No, not really that. He's still mean." I looked away trying to gather the right words to explain Valentine and me. "It's like I've discovered all the answers to the Davinci code and now I don't hate him so much. In fact, I may love him. And he loves me and it feels so weird, and good, that I can't say no. So I'm getting married today."

My mother pursed her lips but didn't dissent.

Instead, I ran to the door. "I'm still getting married today."

"Lulu come back here!"

Except when I opened the door, Valentine was standing there. He didn't have to apologize or beg and plead. I flew into his arms with all the love of a rising wind. No one could tear me from this embrace again. He was my home. And nothing is better than home. The way his arms slowly encircled around me felt like every place in the world.

"Smurfette," he said, pulling away so that he could look at me. "I had nothing to do with this."

I shook my head. "I know. Will you still marry me?"

"Like hell, this man gets my house, my money, and my sister!" Nik exclaimed.

"He'll give you the mansion, and half the money back."

"Excuse me?" My brother inquired.

"No!" Valentine grumbled his glare of hatred, deep and all-encompassing. The feeling was mutual so it made me feel better.

I just rolled my eyes. "There's no way Rocco and I are moving into this mausoleum. So you and Charlotte are moving in with us. So Nik can have his house back?" I shrugged as if it was finalized and made my way back to the living room. There was still guests waiting and the matter of getting married.

"But your house is so pedestrian," Valentine whined as he followed behind me.

"If it kills you at least you will have died before me." Nikolaus snarked.

Valentine went in ahead to alert the guests that the wedding was back on.

I stopped in the foyer and turned to Nikolaus. "I'll work on him."

"That's the only reason that I'm allowing this to go forward because I know it will benefit me."

I held up my hand. "Let's be clear, here. You are not letting me do anything. But you're my brother. The odds are forever in your favor."

"I may also have a plan B in the works that will ensure that I always win, and Ava's going to help me get it."

I clapped my hands together and made an about-face. Not at all interested. "I'd love to hear your evil plan for world domination, but I still have to marry my King."

"Mom, I think I'm going to be sick," he groaned, bending over as if something was upsetting his stomach.

"Oh hush." My mother chided, pushing him into two empty seats in the back row of the wedding ceremony.

"Are you ready?" I mouthed to him. Catching Maxie and Peter out of the corner of my eyes as they returned to there seats. The children temporarily absent.

"I'm ready," he whispered.

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally."

Peter suddenly stood up and if one more person protested I might just scream. Maybe elopement was a better idea.

"Yes," I said, pleading with my eyes for him not to make a scene.

"Do you need someone to walk you down the aisle?"

My mouth dropped open in surprise. It was the last thing I expected. Everyone in this town hated Valentine. They weren't about to hand over his heart's desire. But it would be nice if one person could support my decision. I touched my cheek, realizing that I was crying.

"No fair, if anyone is walking her down the aisle than it's me," Maxie pouted, taking her place by my side.

I laughed and wiped at my tears.

"Sorry, I should have done it earlier," she whispered. "But will you let your bestie give you away?"

"Yes," I croaked, leaning down to kiss her on either side of her cheek.

She dabbed at my tears with the sleeve of her dress. "Do you know how long we spent on this makeup?"

"No." And I didn't care. This day was finally turning out better than I expected. We both deserved this moment.

"Maestro, play the music," Maxie yelled, pushing me back into the foyer and closing the door.

"Everyone's already seen me, Maxie." Unsure, how I felt about the theatrics. She never did anything halfway though. Its what I loved about her."

"Not in this light."

"What light is that?" I asked, puzzled as she handed me back my bouquet.

"Fully committed and in love with Valentine."

I stared straight ahead as the doors were swung open once more by Valentine and Nikolaus of all people. Although, Nik looked a little grim in comparison to a smiling Peter.

Maxie offered me her elbow. "Lulu, maybe you don't know what this means, but you came back. Valentine isn't the only one that got the picture. This is the real deal."

I laced my hand through her elbow and walked down the aisle to the wedding march. To a Valentine, that was actually getting teared up. I don't think I've ever seen him cry. It was like staring into an Eclipse. I'd never see it again, but there's no way I could forget how beautiful it was. Not a crease out of place on his tux. He was more beautiful to me than the Sun.

"Who gives Lulu Spencer to Valentine Cassadine?"

"I do. Maxie Jones, but I need to say something first."

Valentine rolled his eyes, but I nodded my support.

"I'm not going to stand here and tell you not to hurt her because I know you will. But as I stand next to Lulu, I realize that she's a Phoenix made of steel. You'll never deserve her, but she deserves you. As long as you put that light in her heart that was dimmed by so much pain. I'll be your champion because I love her. And I love the smile that you give her."

My eyes stung from unshed tears. It was all I could do, but to reach over and hold her hand. I squeezed it so hard it felt like it might melt together. But I knew the ceremony had to go on. So I let go. Before turning back to Valentine who was nothing but a blurry blob. Who knew I'd be a teary mess during this thing?

"Repeat after me," the pastor began, again.

"Excuse me, but no. I think there has to be a slight change in the ceremony. I want to say my own vows after all."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Valentine, I didn't prepare anything." A bit of fear set in as I developed stage fright.

"It's okay. You don't have to say anything. I just want you to listen."

I turned to the guests who seemed to be enjoying the show either way.

"You came back. I pushed you too far with Charlotte and you tightened your grip. I tested you sometimes with Nina and you never flinched. You got mad, sometimes sad, but you always came back. And it took me longer than a fool should admit, to realize that you were the single most important person in my life outside of my daughter." He took my ring hand. "So if you will agree to be my wife. I promise that I will build you a life worth coming back too. I promise that our life together will be filled with exceptional joy. And Maxies right, it wont be perfect. But just like you have always come back to me. I'll weather any storm to come back to you. Even hurricane Nikolaus."

This elicited a laugh from everyone in the crowd except Nikolaus, who threw back his head in disgust.

"Will you accept this ring and make our family whole?"

Peter produced the ring pillow and Valentine pulled the delicate jewel from its navy blue ribbon confinement. It was a classic solitaire, but it was big enough to cut stone. The diamond itself in a heart shape.

"I do."

I grabbed the ring that I had picked out from Maxie, handing over my bouquet. It seemed like a fair swap.

"Would you like to repeat-"

I interrupted the pastor before he could even finish the sentence.

"You were not what I expected. I didn't dream of you. But you've become the sweetest part of my life, every day. You brighten my mornings. My lunches are filled with laughter and by dinner, if you're not beside me I can't sleep. I enjoy your talks with my son. And I know that you learn from him as much as he learns from you. But not one person stops to think about what you give me. You have never made me any overblown promises and you don't have to start now. Every day, with you, has been one of amazement as you open your heart to me. Truth: I love you as you are now, with all your glorious imperfections.

"Would you accept this ring? And promise only, to love me as much as I love you?"

"I do."

"We do too." The kids giggled from the doorway as they ran back into the room dressed in their pajamas.

I picked up Charlotte and Valentine picked up Rocco."

"With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Cassadine and family," the pastor said, ruffling the top of Rocco's head, who was staring intently.

Only five seconds later, the kids were off digging into the wedding cake that had been rolled in by the servants. Easily distracted from the chaos that would break out soon after. Before being whisked back to there beds by Maxie and Peter. While Nikolaus stood up and declared that Valentine should be arrested for his attempted murder and the attempted murder of Ava. Who he had apparently pushed down a flight of stairs, just before our reconciliation. Everyone was yelling and arguing and I couldn't find any place in it all except to sit on the sidelines and let them have at each other. I mean who wouldn't push Ava. And I'd make a bad-ass prison wife.

For only a second, while Jordon was reading Valentine his rights, our eyes connected.

"Truth: I still love you."

"Truth," I repeated. "I love you too."

I couldn't fix what had transpired between Valentine and Nikolaus. If I could I'd turn back the hands of time and change everything. But that wasn't one of the powers God gave me. But I could be there for the man I love. And unlike my ex, I know Valentine would want me by his side every step of the way. I wouldn't hinder Nikolaus' case. But I'd never deny Valentine a thing.

It's the fine line that I will have to walk during this stickily beautiful mess.

Nikolaus groaned as I followed behind Valentine. "Mom, do something about her."