Chapter 8: Till death do us part.

I don't own Rookie Blue.

AU, set after The Proposal. After Sam was shot, Andy stayed with Nick and now it is their wedding day.

Please read and review :)

On the evening of Christmas Day, it was time for Andy and Nick to say goodbye because Andy was staying at Tracey's; the next time they saw each other, it would be in a church, on their wedding day, which was now only a day away. By the time tomorrow, they would be married. Mr and Mrs. Collins. Despite her dad's objections, Andy wanted to take Nick's family name, because he was her family and she also knew how important it was to him, considering the death of his parents.

Tracey was very strict with them, when it was the evening, telling Nick that he needed to go home. It was his time to go so that he and Andy wouldn't break the tradition of seeing each other before the wedding. Andy and Nick were sitting together on the sofa in Tracey's house after playing another space-game with Leo and Andy asked Nick, "Are you nervous?"

Shaking his head and hugging her close to his chest, Nick replied, "No, I'm not. I've been looking forward to this day since we got engaged. What about you?"

Andy smiled and left her head on his chest because she felt so comfortable there as she replied, in a very gentle voice, "No, I'm not. Because this is the best decision I've ever made. You're the best decision I've ever made." She reached for her engagement ring and, with a smile, slipped it off her ring and handed it on Nick as she added, "Give it back to me after we're married."

"Yes, ma'am."

Andy moved her head so that she was looking into Nick's eyes and his love for her was so clear. "The next time I see you, I'll be walking down the isle."

Nick captured her lips with his own and they both closed their eyes as they savoured the moment; their last kiss before they were married. "See you tomorrow. I love you." He moved past Andy and stood up, ready to leave, until Andy sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

"I love you, too, Nick. So much!" Andy grinned and hugged him tight before the embrace ended, when he was at the door, she called and he paused, turning around. Flopping her head against the back of the sofa, Andy looked into his eyes and repeated, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Returning to the sofa, Nick kissed her again, then whispered back, looking into her eyes, "I'll see you tomorrow, Andy." There was a silence and they smiled and looked into each other's eyes; they were both ready to be married, they had both been ready since the evening they had proposed to each other and tomorrow, it would finally be happening. They would finally be husband and wife.

As soon as Nick had left her house, Tracey went into the living room, with a bottle of wine. "I know you didn't want a party, but we can drink this together, can't we?"

Laughing, Andy passed a glass to Tracey and nodded, "Of course we can." She rested her head back on the back of the sofa as she whispered, to herself than to Tracey, "I've never been this happy! What did I do to deserve him?"

Passing her glass back to her, Tracey sat down and asked, "So, how are you feeling? Are you nervous?"

Shaking her head, Andy replied, "No, I'm not. I'm so ready for this. For this step and I've been ready for a while now. And Nick's ready, too. I'm so glad you're my maid of honour. I need you by my side, Trace. What are you wearing tomorrow?"

As they were both drinking wine, Tracey described her dress to Andy, as well as the little suit Leo was wearing and she also detailed the dresses Gail and Chloe were wearing. Witfully, she remarked, "You're so lucky, Andy. You found a guy as honest, loyal and loving as Nick. The way he looks at you is amazing."

Andy laughed and replied, "He found me, I think. He fell in love with me and then waited for me. It's the best decision I've ever made. My mum gave him another interrogation last night, but he held his ground. He stays true to what he believes in! I always know what the man's thinking!" She paused, then asked carefully, "Are you bringing a date to the wedding?"

Tracey hesitated before she answered, fiddling with the wine glass. "I am, actually. He's a dad from Leo's school and he has a kid the same age as Leo. He's a widower and he's really nice. We both know what it's like to be single parents and to have lost the person we love. I'm glad you'll get to meet him. Have you met Nick's brother, yet?"

"Not yet. I'm meeting him tomorrow. I know Nick's nervous about us meeting and I understand why. But what matters tomorrow is me and him." She paused, then saw a certain look in the eyes of her best friend and she was pretty sure that she knew what the cause was, but, despite herself, she inquired, "Trace, what is it?" She had another drink of wine as she waited for the question; she knew what her best friend was going to ask her, but there were none of these questions in her mind. The man she was meant to spend the rest of her life with was Nick Collins.

"Have you invited Sam to the wedding?"

"Yeah. I have. He and I are fine. We're friends, but it wouldn't be right, you know? We cleared the air before Nick and I got engaged." When her best friend just looked at her, Andy almost snapped, "What do you want me to say? Yeah, I loved him, but he broke my heart. He still loves me, but when I'm with Nick, it feels so right and we love each other so much. I see love, happiness and a future with him. Tomorrow is going to be the best day of our lives."

Tracey smiled and replied, "I know, Andy. Everyone can see it. You've invited Gail? She's Nick's ex."

Drinking some more of her glass of wine, Andy nodded. "Yeah, well she and Nick have been friends for years. And Gail doesn't have feelings for him anymore." She looked out at the snow that was falling, then murmured, "I hope there isn't too much snow tomorrow."

"If there is, it'll still be perfect." Tracey held up her glass, then said, "Here's to you and Nick and may you have a long and happy life together. Fancy a film now?"

Laughing, Andy nodded and she and Tracey choose Bridesmaids and, as they were sitting there, Andy thought about how, this time tomorrow, she and Nick would be married and she smiled, running her finger across where her wedding ring would be. Andy Collins. That had a good ring to it and she had never been happier. She was so glad that she had decided to have a relationship with Nick at the start and ignored her concerns and doubts, because they had gone and she had found the most wonderful man for her, her best friend, the man with whom she was going to spend the rest of her life. The bright decorations on the Christmas tree sparkled and it fitted together, because it was her favourite holiday and tomorrow, she was going to be married. As she had just told Tracey, it was the best decision of her life.

Meanwhile, Nick had returned home and put Andy's engagement ring in a safe place and was just about to go to bed, so excited about tomorrow, when he and Andy would finally be married, when there was a knock on the door and someone was calling his name. It was Chloe and she had Chris and Dove with her and they cheered as Nick opened the door, so he gave them a confused look.

Chloe almost threw herself into his arms as she told him, "We are taking you out for drinks! You're getting married tomorrow and you're my best friend, so we need to celebrate and I convinced these two to join us! Go and change into something else because we're all dressed up and you can't let us down! Go on, Collins!" Chris and Dove laughed, as did Nick and he just nodded, thinking it would be easier to just do as Chloe was telling him than fighting against it and she had good intentions. "We also have a surprise for you, too, but you'll have to wait till the Penny for that."

Pulling on a blue jumper and warm coat because it was freezing, Nick laughed and took the chance to ask the other men what was happening. They both laughed and Dove replied, "Chloe suddenly realised you hadn't done anything to celebrate the fact that you're getting married tomorrow. So, this is why we're here. Just humour her, please. It'll be a lot easier, Nick." Due to the differences in time when they had been an the academy and circumstances, Chris and Dove were far more Andy's friends than Nick, who had never had a chance to bond with the other two young men, but Chloe was doing her best to change that and knowing Chris and Dove better would make his life easier, because they worked together and they were friends of Andy's. The woman who, in less than 24 hours, would be his wife.

The Penny was surprisingly quiet for this time of night, but Nick hoped that meant that they would not spend too long there; he appreciated the gesture, but he wanted to go to bed, to be prepared for the best day ahead of him. As soon as he looked around, he saw two familiar faces: Two of his friends from the Army and he knew that they could only be there on Chloe's invitation, so he smiled at Chloe, who sat down with the other two police officers to order drinks, and greeted his old friends. He was so glad to see them and they were both happy to hear he was getting married and he told them all about Andy and they teased him about how mushy he was being. Despite Chris being quite hostile to Nick when he had first joined, Chris really made an effort with his Army buddies, as did Dove. Their celebrations were slightly interrupted when Sam and Oliver walked in and they came to join them and Oliver made a speech, in Andy and Nick's honour. Nick could see the look on Sam's face, but he was glad that the older man seemed to be in control of his feelings and he was quite happy for the older two men to join them and Oliver gave him the same speech he had given to Andy, about their understanding of each other and his Army friends told some funny stories about their time in Afghanistan.

In spite of Nick's reservations, the evening was a very good one, but, before going home, he made his way to the graveyard, to see his parents. Catherine and Peter Collins. He knelt down next to their grave before he started to speak, "Hi, Mum and Dad. I'm getting married tomorrow, to Andy. You guys would love her, especially you, Mum. She's the most amazing person in the whole world and she makes me so happy." He wiped away his tears as he whispered, "I wish you two were here. I love you both, so much!" He kissed his hand, then laid the kiss on the grave, just above his parents' names, before he stood up and walked home.

The next morning, Leo woke Andy and Tracey at 6:30 and Andy was surprised how much she missed Nick's breakfasts. Sometimes, at home, just the smell of the omelette or scrambled eggs would wake her up and even thinking about it made her happy. As she was having breakfast, she could hardly believe that the day was finally here; the day when she and Nick were going to be married and now her levels of excitement were so high and she knew that her fiancée, her fiancée, soon-to-be her husband, was feeling the same way. There had been a heavy snow fall last night, but Andy didn't mind, because it would just make the day feel more magical.

She had a shower and washes and dried her hair in the spare room and was not surprised when Tracey walked into the room, with Chloe, Gail and Clare, all ready to help her into her dress, hair and make-up. Her wedding dress was very simple, with no vail or trail, but white, with the patters of flowers and stars in the fabric and Clare told her eldest daughter she had never seen a more perfect dress for her daughter. Chloe was telling the other women about last night, about how she, Chris and Dove had taken Nick out for drinks at The Penny and Andy was glad to hear that they had a good time.

First, it was her make-up. Tracey was the one who started this and she asked again, "You're still not nervous, Andy?"

Beaming with excitement, Andy shook her head. "No, I'm ready. I'm more ready for this than anything else in the world." She pulled Tracey into a hug, then focused on her make-up. She had always taken for granted that Tracey and Chloe would be there, even Gail, but having Clare there made this even more special. Now that her make-up was done, it was time for the dress and Andy smiled and almost jumped in excitement as her friends and mum helped her with it, without smudging her make-up.

It was on. It was official. Andy was wearing her wedding dress and she was about to go to the church to marry Nick. She looked in the mirror and she could see her friends wiping their tears away and, even she thought that she looked beautiful. Clare walked over to her and Andy was surprised to see that her mother had tears in her eyes as she whispered, "You look beautiful, Andrea! I'm so proud of you!"

Andy smiled and turned to face her mother as she whispered back, "I'm so glad you're here, Mum."

Chris and Dove were keeping an eye on the time for Nick, but he was already ready, dressed in his blue and white suit and totally shaved. He was so happy that this day he finally arrived; he had told Andy that he would wait, that she was worth the wait because she was amazing, and he had been right. She was everything he had imagined and more.

The other two young men were occupying themselves by talking about work when there was a knock on the door. Nick left the bedroom, wanting to see who it was, but, of all the people, he had not expected it to be Finn, his brother and Chris and Dove had no idea who he was. Nick forced a smile and Finn wheeled his chair over to him and said, "Nicky, I can't believe I'm really here either."

There was a dead silence, then Chris said, "Er…. We can go for a walk. Dove, do you think?" Dove agreed and they left the apartment, leaving the estranged brothers alone and Nick fixed his older brother with a look, wanting to know why he was there.

Finn chuckled before he said, "I've come to tell you I'm proud of you. You're a better man that me. You didn't let Mum and Dad's death destroy your whole life. I did and looks where it's got me. I haven't met Andy, but she must be a Hell of a woman to have won your heart." He paused, then added, "I'm proud of you, baby brother, and Mum and Dad would be, too. They're looking down on you today. I know it."

Without hiding his surprise and joy and tears, Nick walked over to his brother and, for the first time in years, they hugged, and they felt closer than they had ever since their parents' death.

Oliver was making his way to the church when he saw Sam walking in the opposite direction, so he called to him, "Brother, where are you going? You not going to the wedding? You've been invited!"

With his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket, Sam shook his head. "Nah. I'm not going. I can't. I can't watch her marry him. I still love her, Oliver. I always will!"

Sighing, Oliver thought about their conversation when Sam had found out that Nick was going to propose to Andy, months ago, and he remembered his reaction. Sam had gone running to Andy, telling her how much he loved her and Andy hadn't responded the way he had wanted her to. "Sammy, I know you love her. But McNally made her choice and whether you go or not, she and Collins are going to be married. Husband and wife. There's no getting away from the fact, brother. So, don't you want to go with me- just to show there're no hard feelings?"

Sam didn't. He wanted to avoid seeing McNally and Collins together, because, every time he saw them, his heart was broken and it reminded him of the worst mistake of his entire life and he wished, more than anything, that he could take it back. He and McNally had had an extremely passionate love, but she had forgotten about that. She loved Collins and they were happy together, but, as far as Sam could see, it wasn't passionate. However, Oliver was right: He had lost and he needed to accept that. He needed to accept that Andy loved Nick more than she had loved him and he needed to accept that, so he agreed to go with Oliver, even though he knew that it was going to break his heart.

Andy's friends hugged her, then left to go to the church and she and her mum were now waiting for her dad. After what seemed like a lifetime of waiting, Tommy turned up and he and Clare briefly smiled at each other, before she left for the car, leaving Andy alone with her dad. Andy was surprised to see that there were tears in her dad's eyes, but they were tears of happiness and she knew it; she and her dad were close and they always had been. He affectionately touched her cheek and said, "First time I met Nick, I knew he was a good guy. He's the right guy for you and I know you guys love each other. So, let's go." He kissed her forehead and Andy hugged him.

It was Boxing Day, so the church, inside and out, was full of Christmas decorations, but Nick wasn't looking at any of that, because he was focused on the front-door, waiting for Andy and Tommy to walk through. Most of the guests were Andy's, but there was Finn, Wendy and a couple of friends from the Army. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Swarek and Shaw sneak in through the side-door. He just wanted to see Andy, hold her hands, take their vows and be married for the rest of their lives.

Andy and her dad arrived outside the church and Andy took hold of her dad's arm and walked into the church. The first person she saw was Nick and wanted to run down the isle and he knew that, too, because he started to laugh, but she remained steady and walked down the isle with her dad, but it felt like the longest isle in the world, because she wanted to be standing next to Nick and to be his wife. They reached Nick and Tommy kissed her, then passed her hand to Nick and he squeezed her hand, then the two of them looked into each other's eyes and smiled, before facing the minister.

As directed by the minister, Andy and Nick turned to face each other, holding hands and, even though there were other people there, they felt as if they were the only two people in the world because their love had led them here and they wanted nothing more to be together for the rest of their lives. Andy already had some tears of happiness in her eyes, so Nick reached out to wipe it away and she smiled at him, her eyes full of so much love. It was her turn to say her vows first, so she just looked into Nick's eyes, squeezed his hands and took in a deep breath. This was the moment they were becoming husband and wife, one of the best moments of their lives.

"I, Andrea Grace McNally, take you, Nicolas Michael Collins, to my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, to love, to cherish, till death do us part." Every word from her mouth was the truth and she had never been happier.

"I, Nicolas Michael Collins, take you, Andrea Grace McNally, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, to love, to cherish, till death do us part."

Tracey passed Andy's Nick's wedding ring and Finn passed Andy's to Nick and the couple looked at each other and smiled before they exchanged rings and they were officially husband and wife. Andy wrapped her arms around Nick's neck, he wrapped his around her waist and lifted her into his arms. "I love you." They both whispered at the same time, then, after resting their heads together, shared their first kiss as husband and wife.