~ Do You Feel What I Feel? ~ Part 4 ~

A fan fic written by DebC, Emi-Chan, Whlwtcher, Kacey, and Ash

This part is written by Kacey.



Disclaimer: The characters in this fic are not ours. That's why it's called fan fiction.



The dance was coming to an end. Declan knew it was time. He glanced nervously

at Peggy with a goofy grin. Peggy looked up at him and smiled broadly in reply,

her eyes shinning. Declan gulped and grinned with even more nerves.

"It's time," Peggy prompted sensing his unease.

"Yes," he replied marveling over the way she'd spoken his thoughts, in a way,

"it is."

Peggy smiled reassuringly and nodded.

Declan walked through the crowd to where he was supposed to make the speech. He

reached his hand into his pocket to retrieve the folded piece of paper he's

scribbled his notes on. He unfolded the paper and glanced at his dot points.

Then he changed his mind, Rudy had told him to speak from the heart and he'd do

that best facing his feelings without worrying about a plan, but he was still

nervous. What if she doesn't understand? What if...?

Everyone was still distracted by the happy couple and the chatter among the

guests. He cleared his throat awkwardly then remembered the trick with the

glass. He picked up a glass and a spoon and, hoping he wouldn't break it,

tapped it to get their attention.

"Hey,.. umm, Hello," he began, blushing slightly as the room turned their

attention to him. "I'm Declan Dunn, and Rudy's asked me to make a shot speech

on his behalf." He glanced at Rudy and Helen who stood smiling in attention,

arm in arm. "I've known Rudy for a long time, he was my mentor, and he's one of

my best friends." He paused. "As most of you know Rudy's a remarkable man, and

so is Helen," then he realized what he was saying, "Uh I mean she's a

remarkable woman." He smiled slightly as someone laughed. "Another thing that's

really remarkable is how these two got together, how their love lasted for so

many years, and how after years of being apart they found each other." He

paused, he noticed the newly weds exchange a kiss. "Now that's some

coincidence." He smiled at Peggy and then glanced at Rudy who was grinning

intently.

"I don't know if you believe in destiny, but I do. There have been times when

I've questioned that faith but when I look at the people in my life," and he

hesitated slightly before saying, "like Rudy and Helen, I can see that some

things are just meant to be." Then he looked straight at Peggy and caught her

gaze, he could see her picking up on his serious expression. "Some people don't

believe in destiny, but I think we all believe in love." He smiled. Declan

paused.

This time he felt like he was taking the final leap of faith. If he went on

she'd know exactly what he meant. How he felt. And she had to know. "And I hope

that if fate does exist, it will bless me with as much joy and happiness as it

has Rudy and Helen." He swallowed as if to try to control his emotions. Her

face said it all. She knew exactly what he meant. When she finally smiled at

him he knew that she approved. His heart leapt. He'd forgotten the speech, the

rest of the room, all he saw was her expression. Her warmth, her acceptance. He

had to test that, he had to ask. "Peggy.." he began suddenly, speaking only to

her. Suddenly Peggy looked panicked, and Declan felt his world come crashing

down around him, he looked heartbroken, not even thinking to conceal his

emotions.

Declan didn't see it but Rudy was worried, he'd been watching the exchanged

between the couple and now he was worried that Declan was stuffing it up, but

he didn't interrupt because he still trusted Declan, Peggy, and fate, to sort

things out.

Slowly Declan recovered his sense of understanding, of where he was, of what he

was doing, and of the people listening to him. Had he really said her name?

Declan stumbled and tried to recover as he glanced at the awaiting crowd before

glancing back to Peggy, "I'd like you to make a toast to Rudy and Helen." He

grabbed for the nearest wine glance, knocked it over on the table, then

snatched it up quickly but not before the crowd had noticed. Declan blushed

despite himself, flashing that goofy grin.

Peggy was startled but relieved. She forced a smile. "To the happy couple," she

declared holding up her glass.

Declan smiled and nodded. "To the happy couple," he repeated along with the

coursing crowd. Having finished his speech he started to slip away from the

center of attention, leaving Rudy to take his spot.

"First of all I'd like to thank Declan for his kind words, he meant every word

and if anyone here is remarkable, aside from my lovely wife of course, it's

Declan. I'd also like to thank him for bringing Helen back into my life." Rudy

smiled at Helen.

Declan was weaving his way through the crowd to get to Peggy, but Peggy had

disappeared. Why? Declan asked himself. He was starting to panic when he

noticed her standing at the back of the crowd. She was pacing thoughtfully.

"Peggy," Declan began, he reached out to her placing his hand on her arm.

"Declan," Peggy replied stopping and meeting his concerned gaze.

"About what I said..."



. and the plot thickens .