Author's Note:

Okay, everyone! The wedding is in this chapter! Hope you like it!

Chapter 7: I Never Planned on You

Though it felt like a very long time, November fourth, the day of the rehearsal dinner, arrived. Davey, Crutchie, and Les spent the afternoon helping Jack get ready, and Davey even let Jack borrow a nice pair of pants to wear along with Jack's new navy jacket. Crutchie, who was already dressed and ready himself, was fetching Jack's shoes. Les handed Jack a comb. Then the young boy ran to get ready.

Jack stood in front of a little mirror, shifting in his clothes uncomfortably. He pulled at his shirt collar, which felt as if it was shrinking by the second.

"Jack, don't pull on that. You'll stretch it out." Davey said, re-adjusting the collar.

Jack sighed. "Fine. I's just- a little nervous, is all." Jack admitted.

Crutchie re-entered the room with the shoes just then. "You's gonna be fine, Jack!" he encouraged.

"Yeah, Jack. You have nothing to be nervous about. You're real brave. I'm sure you'll do great." Davey added to his friend.

Jack slipped into his polished shoes. "Thanks, fellas."

"Anytime." said Crutchie.

Davey nodded. "Seize the day, remember?"

Jack smiled.

Then Mrs. Jacobs called, "Time to go, boys!"

They all began to bustle out of the apartment. At the last second, Davey grabbed the comb, just to be safe.

Katherine smiled as her older sisters Constance, Lucille, and Edith helped her fix her hair and tie a pink sash onto her dress. Katherine would have to wait until tomorrow to wear her real wedding dress, so, for now, she was a wearing a simple pink one (which Medda had her helped pick out). Constance pinned up one of her sister's curls with a Bobby pin, then declared, "All done!"

"Thank you, guys," Katherine beamed as Edith handed her a makeshift bouquet. Edith squeezed her little sister.

"You're welcome, Kathy." Lucille smiled.

"You're very welcome. We love you." Constance kissed her sister's cheek and smiled too.

"Um, guys? Do you- do you think I'm ready? To get married, I mean." Katherine asked suddenly, biting her lip.

"Of course you're ready! You are always excited for new opportunities and adventures, aren't you?" said Lucille. "I mean, you're brave enough to be the first one of us to marry! Even though you'll always be our baby sister!"

Katherine laughed. "I guess..."

"And, if you feel that Jack is the man you love, more than anyone, and he loves and cares for you, then, I think that you should marry him." Constance encouraged her little sister.

"I do love him... And, he loves me too... A lot."

"Then there you go."

"Oh, you're going to be great, Kathy!" Edith exclaimed excitedly.

Suddenly, Kate, the girls' mother popped in. "It's time."

"All right... Let's go!" Katherine cheered. She glanced back at her sisters and mouthed, "Thank you!", before sprinting outside.

The rehearsal went by smoothly. Everyone walked down the aisle, the minister practiced the ceremony, Katherine and Jack repeated after him, practiced their vows, and then they all ate a nice meal together; and, frankly, it was the nicest meal that Jack and all his friends had ever had before! After the pleasant evening had ended, everyone left, but before doing so they expressed their happiness for Katherine and Jack, who were both pretty nervous- and excited.

That night, in the Jacobs' apartment, Jack lie awake, anxious thoughts chasing each other around in his head. What if I's slip up tomorrow? What if I's do something completely stupid? What if Katherine doesn't really want to marry me? What if-

"Jack!" a voice whispered suddenly.

"Who said that?" Jack glanced over at Crutchie, then up at Davey and Les; but they were all still asleep.

"Jack!" the voice said again. Oh. It was coming from behind him. He hastily spun around.

"You couldn't sleep either, huh?" Jack smiled.

"No." Katherine seated herself on the window ledge. "It's kind of dangerous to run through the streets of New York alone this late at night, but, I made it!"

"Katherine... I-I's really need to talk to you."

"Okay." Katherine nodded, assuming she knew what he wanted to talk about. "Here, come outside." she whispered.

Jack slipped out the window, then closed it behind him; he didn't want anyone else to hear the things he was about to say. He took a deep breath, then began.

"To tell the truth, Kath, I'm- I'm really scared- for- t-tomorrow. And, well, I- I was wonderin'... Do you- actually want to marry me?" A glossy tear slipped down Jack's cheek.

Katherine's eyes were huge. "Oh, Jack! Of course I want to marry you! Why wouldn't I!"

"Well, for one thing, your fatha hates me." Jack half-smiled.

"Jack. He doesn't hate you. And you shouldn't let him bring you down. It doesn't matter if we come from different rungs on the social ladder. You're all that matters. You're smart and charming and sweet- and I don't know why my father doesn't see it. But that doesn't matter to me. And I don't want you to feel pressure to make him like you, Jack, I don't. Because he's just stubborn- you know, stuck in his ways." Katherine grasped Jack's hands in hers. "And I'll admit, I'm scared for the wedding too. But, Jack, I'm not as scared when I'm with you. And- and of course I want to marry the sweet, charismatic, thoughtful man who showed up at my door one day, when I never even saw him coming. I love you, Jack." At this point, tears were silently sliding down her cheeks. Katherine threw herself into Jack's arms. "I love you." she said again.

"I love you too." Jack hugged her tightly. "And thanks for all you's said. Once again, you're right. I don't need to gain your father's 'pproval. You're what matters." he said, quoting Katherine.

Katherine smiled up at Jack for a minute, then kissed him. She sighed. "It's getting late. I guess I should go." she blew Jack a kiss, then descended down the metal stairs and began to hurry away.

But, not surprisingly, she felt a hand grab hers a second later. "Can I come?"

Katherine's eyes snapped open. Today. November fifth. The wedding was today! She quickly glanced up at the clock hanging on her wall- 8 AM. Normally, she'd have woken up much earlier. But by the time she said goodbye to Jack, it must have been 3 AM. Well, no time to waste!

She leapt out of her bed, quickly ate breakfast, then brushed her teeth. A while later, Katherine knocked on her sisters' doors; it was time to get ready.

Meanwhile, Jack, though he'd fallen asleep late, had been awake since 6 AM. He and Crutchie had practically been waiting for the others to wake up so that they could start getting ready.

At last, they heard a sort of grumble. Davey slowly sat up. He glanced over at his friends. "Hey, Jack. Hey, Crutchie. What time is it?"

"It's time to start getting ready!"

Finally, around noontime, the wedding party arrived at the church. It was beautifully decorated with roses and silky banners and ribbons. The floors had been neatly polished, as well as the colorful stained-glass windows. The guests had already arrived, filling up all of the church pews.

Jack took his place onstage with the minister, Crutchie, Davey, Les, Race, and Katherine's brother Ralph. Then Jack straightened the bowtie on his tuxedo. Yeah, tuxedoes were a new level of fancy. Jack took a deep breath as the organ began to play. Two by two, the bridesmaids and groomsmen strolled down the aisle, interlocking arms. Next came the flower girls, who were Jack's friends from the nearby children's home. They gracefully sprinkled white and pink rose petals onto the floor. Then came the ringbearer, who happened to be Katherine's cousin. He carried a blue velvety pillow with two golden rings on it up to the stage.

Jack had been kind of staring off into space... Up until this moment. When he saw Katherine standing there at the end of the aisle, he almost lost it. His eyes brimmed with tears as she walked down the aisle on her father's arm. She looked so beautiful in her lacey white gown, and with her hair neatly done up in a braid-bun. She had a veil that trailed onto the floor, and she held a bouquet of various colored roses.

After what seemed like a long time, Joe and Katherine reached the end of the aisle. He kissed his daughter on the cheek, then let her go. Jack actually felt kind of sorry for Pulitzer when he saw what looked like sadness on his face. But Jack had no time to dwell on that; the minster was beginning the ceremony.

"I love you." Jack mouthed.

"I love you too." Katherine mouthed back, smiling.

Several minutes after he had begun, the minister said, "Now, the vows."

Jack knew that he couldn't have written out his vows; it would've been too hard for him. So he had just memorized them. He inhaled, then said, "Katherine Plumber- Pulitzer- I love you so much. You're the greatest person I's ever met. You changed my life in a incredible way, even if it was unexpected. And I'm so happy whenever I's with you. You're an amazingly talented, smart, beautiful, caring woman, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you." he smiled and took Katherine's hand.

She was smiling so hard that her cheeks hurt. But now it was her turn. Katherine was pretty sure she knew why Jack hadn't written his vows on paper, and she wanted to cry. But she knew that now wasn't the time or place for that issue. Katherine grabbed her vows from her dress pocket and read:

"Jack Kelly, you snuck up on me. I wasn't prepared for it. But I'm so glad you did. The best things in life are often unexpected. And you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Jack. You mean the world to me- no pun intended. I would do anything for you, and I love you so much. I mean, who wouldn't fall for someone so charming and smart and sweet? I believe in you, Jack, and I thank God that I found you." Katherine beamed through teary eyes and returned her vows to her pocket.

Jack and Katherine were both crying as they slipped each other's rings on and the minister declared, "And now, you may kiss the bride!"

Jack slowly took a step closer to Katherine. This was it. After this kiss, they'd be married. Their lives would change completely. Jack wanted it to be perfect. He didn't want to mess anything up. Jack stared into Katherine's beautiful, sparkling eyes. She looked so sweet, smiling at him like that. And-

"Oh, what the heck!" Katherine threw her arms around Jack's neck and just kissed him. It surprised him so much that he stumbled and would have fallen over if it weren't for Katherine's strong arms around his neck. Jack gained control of his balance, then wrapped his arms around Katherine.

The crowd clapped (or whooped, in the Newsies' case) very enthusiastically for the couple as they pulled apart, then ran down the aisle together, hands clasped tightly. Even Mr. Pulitzer clapped, although he was a little shocked at Katherine's kissing Jack like that.

The couple hopped into a carriage, which was taking them to the Pulitzer's house for the reception. As they rolled along, Katherine smiled and said, "Jackie, your vows were so sweet."

"So was yours." he smiled back. Then, laughing, he asked, "Also, what was up with that kiss?"

Everyone had an amazing time at the reception. They all enjoyed a delicious meal of steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans (which, actually, beat the rehearsal dinner as the best meal all the Newsies had ever eaten). After the entire party had eaten, it was time for the bride-groom dance.

"Let's hope I get this right." Jack mumbled as he placed his hands on Katherine's waist.

"Oh, you'll do fine, Jack. Here, follow my lead." Katherine smiled. She began to guide him into a one-two-three pattern as they spun around. The music began to play, which also happened to be Jack and Katherine's favorite song- "Something to Believe In". Their song.

Pretty soon, Jack got the hang of it. He and Katherine spun and twirled and swayed to the song. And then- Jack realized that he didn't even care if his dancing looked good. All he cared about was Katherine, how beautiful she looked, the way she stared into his eyes. He smiled, and he felt himself let go. Let go of his worries, problems, and burdens. As the song ended, Jack twirled Katherine, then dipped her. Then he pulled her up into a kiss. She smiled, wrapping her arms around Jack. It was an incredible moment.

And they didn't even mind that Joe was staring at them.

After Jack and Katherine broke away from each other, it was Joe's turn to dance with Katherine. Jack moved off of the dance floor. And, surprisingly, he found himself smiling as he watched his wife dance with her father. Mr. Pulitzer actually looked kind of happy, dancing with Katherine.

And, well, Jack thought, maybe Joe isn't such a bad guy after all.

After a long, fun time of dancing, laughing, and talking, it was time for cake- which, of course, was chocolate. Katherine and Jack took hold of a silver cake cutter and sliced their first piece together. They each grabbed a portion of the cake and fed it to the other.

"Mmmmm!" Jack and Katherine mumbled at the same time, their eyes wide. The cake was just as delicious as it had been the day they had first tried it together.

Jack and Katherine carried their cake over to their own personal table. They had such a great time talking and laughing and leaning close to each other that they forgot about their cake; but they did make sure to save the top layer for their one-year anniversary.

At last, the reception came to an end. Jack and Katherine hugged all of their friends and family before hopping into a carriage. They were going to spend a week in Brooklyn for their honeymoon.

Katherine leaned on Jack's shoulder as they rolled on toward Brooklyn. "I love you so much, Jack."

"I love you too, Katherine."

So that's Jack and Katherine's wedding! I hope you liked it!