A/N: Do you hear the wedding bells? Because if you do, then this is the right chapter for you. The show didn't give us the rehearsal dinner or the full wedding, so I fixed it. I didn't want it to be an absolutely perfect wedding, so I threw in a little challenge, but I promise you all that it is nothing serious.
So get your ballgowns and tuxedos ready because you're all invited to a wedding.
I thank blossom-of-snow from the bottom of my heart for making a valuable contribution to this chapter in particular and to the entire story in general. She's the best!
Sharon looked at Rainie flitting about the Amber House – the wedding rehearsal venue. Her daughter wore a shiny pearl-colored sequin dress that suited both a classy event and a wild party. It matched Rainie's beautiful copper pixie cut that she hadn't bothered to style.
Andy wrapped his arms around Sharon's waist from behind. "Hey, babe, how are you feeling?"
Sharon rubbed her unsettled stomach. For the last two days, she'd been vomiting and having stomach cramps. The pain and vomiting started while they were investigating the St. Joseph's Three case, so she did not have a chance to see a doctor.
"My stomach is still feeling weird," Sharon said.
Andy's hand came to rest over her stomach, above her hand. "Are you sure it's not just butterflies?"
"Don't get me wrong. I'm very excited to marry you, but I'm pretty sure this is not how butterflies feel."
Andy pressed a kiss to her temple and frowned. "You're running a fever."
"It's just a nasty stomach bug. Hopefully, it will pass before tomorrow."
"Can I get you some ginger ale or Coke?"
Sharon doubted that she could keep it down, but she knew Andy had been worried about her. To put his mind at rest, she forced a smile and said, "Yeah, a Coke, maybe."
Andy motioned towards a waiter that passed by and ordered a Coke for Sharon. "You've been staring at Rainie for a while now. Is she okay?" he asked.
"I was just thinking how beautiful she is," Sharon said.
"She's stunning, like her mom." Andy entwined his fingers with Sharon's over her belly.
Sharon grinned. "You do know that she and I share no genes, right?"
Andy pressed a soft kiss behind her ear. "She has more of you in her than she will ever have from her biological parents. And she is a Raydor, or O'Dwyer, or whatever you want to be called these days."
"She is definitely not a Raydor, and tomorrow, I won't be either," Sharon said.
"So, you've made a decision?"
Over the last couple of months, they'd discussed the idea of Sharon changing her last name. After so many years with Jack's last name, she didn't feel it was right to part with it professionally. But since her views about her independence had changed over the years, she wasn't sure that she wanted to take Andy's name either.
"I have," Sharon said.
"And?"
"Well, at work, I'm going to be Raydor. I've built myself professionally using that name, and if I change to Flynn, it might confuse everyone."
"And everywhere else?"
Sharon nearly winced at his hopeful tone of voice. "I hate to disappoint you, but I'm going to go by O'Dwyer. I've been attached to another man's name my entire adult life. I want my own name, for once."
Andy's shoulders slumped ever-so-slightly.
"You realize that O'Dwyer is technically your father's name, so you will be attached to another man's name for the rest of your life, right?"
"I'm reclaiming it, making it my own," Sharon said.
"Well, in that case, Ms. O'Dwyer, I think we should get a long sign for our front door." Andy teased.
"Hilarious." Sharon turned in Andy's arms and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, just in case the bug was contagious. "Dance with me?"
"Can your stomach handle it?" Andy asked.
The waiter brought Sharon her Coke before she could answer, and Andy watched her take a tentative sip.
Sharon closed her eyes as the sweet fizzy drink slid down her throat. Her stomach grumbled, and she began to feel nauseous again. Dancing was a bad idea, as was the Coke.
She covered her mouth and bolted toward the ladies' room. Moments later, she was on her knees in front of the toilet bowl, her empty stomach contracting painfully as she retched.
"Sharon?" She heard Patrice's voice behind her and felt the other woman's hand on her shoulder.
"It's nothing," Sharon replied a moment before she bent over the toilet bowl again. "It's just a stomach bug."
"Yeah, it's going around." Patrice put her palm on Sharon's forehead. "It seems like you're a bit feverish." Patrice helped her get off the floor and led her to the sink. "Have you taken anything?"
"Some Pepto-Bismol, but I don't think it's working," Sharon said as she washed her hands.
When she lifted her eyes from the sink to the mirror, Sharon saw Patrice's wrinkled brow, as if she was trying to assess how bad Sharon's stomach bug was.
"I'll be fine," Sharon assured her.
"Just make sure to hydrate, so you can regain the electrolytes you lost. Gatorade is good for that, but water or coke are also fine," Patrice said.
Sharon returned to the dining room, thankful for the warm lighting after being accosted by the fluorescent lights in the bathroom. The food looked delicious, even though Sharon couldn't eat a single bite.
"Are you okay, babe?" Andy asked her when she folded into his embrace.
"Fine," Sharon said.
"Well, there's only one more hour before we finish here, but if you're not up to it, we can close the night early."
"This is not how I imagined our rehearsal dinner," Sharon whined.
"Me neither, but life happens," Andy said.
Two hours later, Sharon couldn't be happier to be home. Drained by both her excitement and her illness, she crawled right into bed. Andy slid between the sheets shortly thereafter and wrapped his arm around her, gently rubbing soothing circles on her stomach. Sharon closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.
When she woke up on the morning of her wedding day, she felt much better. Her stomachache was a mere fraction of the previous evening's pain, and her fever was gone. Andy slept by her side, his arm draped over her stomach. Sharon could only imagine how worried he had been. Because she hardly ever fell ill, Sharon didn't feel alarmed when she did. After all, she had raised two children who had been sick countless times. She didn't feel the need to get over-excited about a stomach bug. Plus, she thought that stressing over its inconvenient timing would just make it worse. Just in case, she intended to make sure she took enough Pepto-Bismol and Tylenol before she went down the aisle.
She woke Andy up by caressing his cheek with the back of her palm. She watched as his eyes fluttered open, and his brown met her green. "We're getting married today," she whispered.
Andy pressed a kiss to her lips before Sharon had the chance to warn him about the dangers of kissing a person with a stomach bug.
"I love you," she said and snuggled closer to him.
Still groggy from his sleep, Andy croaked. "I love you too, babe."
They dosed off again until their alarm rang, and Emily's muffled voice followed the knock on on their bedroom door.
"Mom, it's time for you lovebirds to get up and say goodbye for a few hours."
Sharon reluctantly pulled away from Andy, squeezing his hand before she padded to the bathroom to get ready for her day. Originally, Provenza had arranged for Andy to stay at his place, but seeing how bad Sharon felt during the rehearsal dinner, he decided to sleep at home. Sharon wished they didn't have to part for the day, but she took comfort in the fact that they would meet again in a few hours to be bonded for life.
On her way out the door, she and Andy parted at the door with a kiss, and her promise to let him know if she felt ill.
A few hours later, with her makeup and hair done, Sharon stared at her reflection in the mirror in the church's bridal prep room. Because Sharon's weight fluctuated over the recent month and a half, her dress had undergone alterations twice, but now it fit her perfectly. Patrice fixed the veil to Sharon's half updo using a comb and stepped back to let Sharon appreciate her looks.
Emily looked at her mother in awe. "Oh, Mom. You're beautiful."
Sharon turned to her daughter. In the purple cocktail dress, Emily's skin looked more vibrant than Sharon had seen it in years. For reasons Sharon did not understand, her daughter had a penchant for wearing mostly black. Now she rejoiced in her choice of color for her bridesmaids' dresses because all of her girls looked beautiful.
"Before we go out there, I just want to apologize for last night and tell you how much I love and appreciate each one of you," Sharon said. She felt terrible for not paying much attention to her bridesmaids during the rehearsal dinner, but they all knew that she was ill and that she was staying clear of most of the guests the previous evening.
As if on cue, she felt a dizzy spell washing over her. Her vision became clouded, and her breath hitched. Something was wrong, but before she could even try to express her discomfort, the world faded from her sight.
An offensive white light assaulted her eyes as soon as she opened them. She saw a shadow above her, a figure whose features she could barely make. She was lying on the floor with a cushion under her head. Her hands and feet felt limp, and her stomach gurgled unpleasantly.
"Don't try to get up, Sharon. You fainted," Patrice said.
Exhausted, Sharon had no intention or motivation to try to get up.
"Sharon, I have my emergency kit here with me. I'm going to check your blood sugar and blood pressure, and if they're okay, we'll see if you can get up. But in the meantime, please stay down," Patrice said.
The prick in her finger surprised Sharon, and though she flinched at the sudden pain, she let Patrice take care of her. She trusted the former nurse, not only because of her profession but also because she saw how well the woman had taken care of Provenza.
"Your blood sugar is high and your blood pressure is low," Patrice concluded. "Have you eaten or drank anything since last night?"
"No," Sharon admitted.
"How bad is your stomach feeling right now?"
"Not so bad," Sharon said.
"It's hard to diagnose based on these symptoms alone, but I think you're dehydrated."
Sharon pulled herself up from the floor, against Patrice's earlier instruction. "Okay, I should probably drink some water, right?"
Patrice nodded as she uncapped a bottle of water that Andrea handed her. She brought it to Sharon's mouth. "Take a slow sip."
Sharon did as she was told, feeling chills going down her spine as the cold water touched her tongue.
"Rainie, Emily, why don't you go and inform Andy and Father Stan that we will have a slight delay? Tell them it's a little wardrobe malfunction," Patrice said.
"Is delaying the ceremony really necessary?" Sharon asked.
"If you weren't a bride, I'd tell you to go to the ER so you can get some fluids intravenously. But since we want you to be able to make it down the aisle, I will do whatever I can to get enough fluids into you in here, and that means that we need to delay the ceremony, for at least half an hour."
"Hey, Sharon, what's going on in there?" They heard Andy's voice coming from behind the door.
"Babe, everything is fine, we just need a little time in here, to fix… a little problem." Sharon was surprised at how much energy it took her to speak.
"Are you sure everything is okay?" Andy insisted.
Sharon closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath. "Yes, it's all fine."
They heard his steps as he walked away from the door, and Patrice took an electrolyte beverage from the emergency kit and handed it to Sharon. Andrea covered Sharon with her dark coat, to prevent the drink from staining her dress. Sharon took a sip of Patrice's appalling electrolyte drink. Disgusting as it was, it did make Sharon feel better, and she managed to empty the bottle within ten minutes without throwing up.
"You've got another one of these?" she asked, feeling like she was slowly regaining her strength.
Patrice handed her another bottle.
Sharon brought the bottle to her lips, heeding Patrice's warning to drink slowly.
Forty minutes and two bottles of water later, Patrice let Sharon get up and continue the day as planned. Now that everything seemed okay, Sharon threw another glanced in the mirror, centered the veil on her head, and turned to her bridesmaids.
"I know you're all worried, but I'm fine now. After the ceremony, I'll see how I feel and decide if I can continue to the reception or go to the hospital to receive further treatment." Sharon thanked her daughters and her two friends for their help during the small crisis. She appreciated the fact that none of them panicked in this situation and that each of them took the initiative in helping make sure that she can make it to the other end of the aisle.
As she prodded her bridesmaids out of the room, her heart overflowed with relief and joy that everything worked out. She heard the voice of the young vocalist that Father Stan recruited singing "Can't Help Falling in Love" as the porter pushed the church door open and her bridesmaids walked down the aisle. A moment before the end of the song, Sharon stepped out to the hall that led to the church entrance to meet Ricky, who was giving her away. Her son's eyes raked over her worriedly, indicating that he was aware of how she spent the previous night. Thank God he didn't know what just happened in the prep room.
"I'm fine," she mouthed and offered him a reassuring smile.
At the first notes of "Ave Maria," two porters pushed both doors open to reveal Sharon. From the doorway, her eyes locked with Andy's, and her lips curved upwards. She took a swift cleansing breath as everyone at the church stood up and turned to look at her.
Ricky offered her his arm, and she looked up at her tall, handsome son— the boy who wouldn't take a pacifier, clung to her leg on his first day at school, geeked over science fiction books with enthusiasm, taught himself to code at fourteen, and led the Mathletics team to a win every year of high school. That boy with the wicked sense of humor and the mischievous glint in his eyes had grown into a beautiful young man who would give her away to the man that she loved. And she was proud of him, not only because he was her baby, but because despite wishing she'd never divorced his father, he understood how important this moment was for her, and he wanted to be a part of it.
As she laced her arm through his, Ricky gave her hand a small squeeze. She lowered her gaze, let out a small breath that she didn't know she was holding and then nodded at him. He smiled at her and returned the nod.
Red rose petals dotted the aisle, but Sharon noticed it only briefly before she refocused her gaze on Andy. At the other end of the aisle, her devilishly handsome fiancé smiled from ear-to-ear, and his eyes sparkled with excitement. The butterflies began to frantically flutter in Sharon's stomach as she took the first step down the aisle.
"How are you feeling?" Ricky whispered when they were about halfway to the altar.
"Elated," Sharon replied as she kept going forward, towards the man she loved whose eyes were so warm that they made her insides melt. "I'm just so happy to have this day. I'm so happy." She felt tears rising in her eyes.
"I'm happy for you."
As they reached the altar, Ricky held one of her hands to help her climb the stairs to the altar, to Andy. Ricky took his place near Andy's groomsmen while Sharon turned towards her bridesmaids and handed Patrice her bouquet. Both Emily and Rainie, her tough girls, had tears in their eyes.
With one of Sharon's hands in Andy's, they turned toward Father Stan and then each other. Sharon instinctively reached out to take Andy's other hand and gave his hands a little squeeze of reassurance. A wide smile illuminated his face, causing the butterflies in Sharon's stomach go wild. She bit her bottom lip, barely able to contain her joy.
Sharon listened attentively to Father Stan as he conducted Mass, and after he was finished, Father Stan placed his hand over Sharon and Andy's joined hands and blessed them.
"Do you, Sharon Elizabeth O'Dwyer take Andrew Jonathan Flynn as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, until death do you part?"
"I do," Sharon said, her voice thick with emotion.
"Do you, Andrew Jonathan Flynn take Sharon Elizabeth O'Dwyer as your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, until death do you part?"
"I do," Andy smiled as he spoke, and his eyes shone with unshed tears. "Forever." His lips formed the word, but his voice was inaudible.
Provenza handed Sharon's ring to Father Stan, who blessed it and gave it to Andy.
"I take this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," Sharon said as Andy slid the ring down her finger.
Patrice handed Andy's ring to Father Stan, and Andy repeated the same words as Sharon gave him his ring.
"You may kiss the bride," Father Stan said.
Sharon smiled as she and Andy pulled close and pressed their lips together in a chaste kiss, while the guests cheered for them. She could not wipe the smile off even after they parted.
Sharon and Andy's fingers laced together as a few pre-selected guests helped Father Stan prepare for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, which was followed with a blessing to the new couple and the Holy Communion. Mindful of her still-present stomach bug, Sharon took the bread and a tentative sip of the grape juice – a substitute for wine which Father Stan arranged in advance in order to help Andy maintain his sobriety. Father Stan blessed the newlyweds and the guests before Sharon and Andy lead the procession out of the church to the sound of their wedding singer's version of Elton John's "Are You Ready for Love?"
After a brief photo session in front of the church, Patrice approached Sharon with a bottle of water. "How are you feeling?"
Sharon uncapped the bottle and brought it to her mouth for a sip. "Much better now. I think I can handle the reception."
"Are you sure?" Patrice asked.
"Absolutely. I promise to seek treatment if I begin feeling bad again," Sharon said.
The reception was held at the Amethyst Hall, a beautifully decorated wedding hall that captured Sharon and Andy's hearts from the moment they first stepped in it. From the ceiling above the dance floor hung white and purple flowers, and the tables were decorated with matching flower garlands with hanging candle-terrariums that gave the hall a rustic atmosphere. After their nearly four hundred guests all sat, the newlyweds went to the hall to greet their guests. It was a chance for Sharon to talk to Andy's family. Nicole and Jared, Andy's children, hugged her warmly and complimented her dress, the ceremony, and the venue.
"Welcome to our crazy Italian family," Andy's sister said.
Sharon giggled at the description and hugged her new sister-in-law. "Becoming a part of your family is truly a pleasure. And if I'm not mistaken, you're part Irish anyway."
"Well, yeah." Lisa smirked. "But don't tell Andy that. He identifies as an authentic Sicilian."
Sharon laughed. Despite living across the continent, Lisa knew her brother too well.
"Here are two of my favorite ladies," Andy wrapped one of his arms around Sharon's waist and embraced Lisa with the other.
"Congratulations, Andy." Lisa kissed her brother's cheek. "You look perfect – both of you."
Sharon blushed at the compliment, while Andy returned it.
Their conversation was cut short when the MC invited Sharon and Andy for their first dance. The opening notes of their wedding song were heard as Sharon walked hand in hand towards the center of the dance floor. They wrapped their arms around each other and began swaying from side to side.
Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic 'till I'm gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
After the song ended, the MC put some upbeat music, and guests joined them on the dance floor. Even Patrice was able to drag Provenza, muttering "I don't dance" under his breath, to join the fun. Despite his reluctance, Sharon thought he looked quite satisfied to share a dance with his wife.
"Hey, babe," Sharon said to Andy softly when she noticed most of their guests were engrossed in dancing.
Andy hummed in response.
"Do you think we could get away for about ten minutes?" Without waiting for an answer, Sharon took Andy's hand and led him off the dance floor and towards the exit from the hall. The gardens outside the wedding hall seemed pretty empty, but Sharon still guided Andy towards a more secluded gazebo towards the back of the garden.
"Are you feeling okay?" Concern creased Andy's forehead.
"Never better," Sharon replied. "I just needed a few minutes alone with my husband so I can do this." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her. Her lips captured his in a fiery kiss, which Andy gladly deepened. Their tongues danced seductively until oxygen became scarce, and they pulled apart for air.
Andy's mouth left Sharon's and began descending her neck, sucking at her pulse point before Sharon pulled away ever-so-slightly so she could reclaim his lips. "Damn, you're so hot," she murmured into their kiss.
Andy responded by resting both of his palms on Sharon's butt and giving it a small squeeze.
"Uh, Mom?" Rainie's voice came from behind them.
They froze, their lips still attached, but unmoving.
Sharon closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Andy's for a moment, trying to regulate her erratic breath. Andy's hands were still on her butt, and she wasn't even a bit embarrassed that they've been caught fooling around like horny teenagers.
"I was worried when the two of you left the party and didn't return. I guess I should have known –" Rainie mumbled. "I think I'll go back to the party. Bye now."
If Sharon didn't know it wasn't humanly possible, she'd think Rainie teleported herself from there. She took a small step away from Andy and could see the amusement in his eyes.
"I was almost sure she was going to ask us to put our hands where she can see them," he joked.
"Oh, she saw where your hands were," Sharon teased him.
"You think?"
"It was hard to miss."
"Well, you didn't seem to mind." Andy offered her his boyish grin, the one that always turned her on.
"Oh, I definitely didn't mind."
They exchanged a soft kiss before they walked hand in hand back to the hall. Everyone was still dancing, so Sharon and Andy returned to the dance floor for a slow dance. They exchanged a soft kiss when the wedding photographer came close to them and captured the moment.
A few hours later, in their hotel suite, as they laid naked and sated in their bed after lengthy and passionate lovemaking, Sharon felt truly whole. She hadn't been abstinent before the wedding, but consummating their marriage made their union feel even more real. She turned her head towards Andy, who was on the verge of dosing off. He was everything she wanted and more: a loving, kind, intelligent and funny man who respected and cared for her. This moment felt so surreal that she was afraid it could all disappear if she blinked.
"What is it?" Andy murmured, half asleep.
"I love you."
-TBC-