All disclaimers in previous chapters apply. The short version: I don't own them, never have, and sadly, never will.

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Rachel Scott blinked as the morning sunlight streamed through her windows. Sitting up slowly, she winced to herself. She definitely had a headache. Must have hit me harder than I thought. Grabbing her robe off the post of her bed, she walked into the kitchen, where her mother was sitting at the table drinking a mug of tea.

"Good morning, sweetheart," said Katherine Hillard Scott looking up at her daughter proudly and feeling at once a thrill of excitement and pride as well as a pang of sadness. If only Jase could be here, she mused silently. He'd be so proud of her, and he'd be so happy to know whom she's marrying. While Jason had been alive when Rachel and Jason Oliver had begun dating, he had died shortly before their engagement. Tears pricked Katherine's eyes at the memory of her husband. Before the sadness engulfed her though, she forced herself to remember the joyful event that would be taking place that afternoon. "Are you feeling better? Remember, when you get back from your honeymoon, the police are going to want to take a few more statements on the guy who tried to mug you last night."

"I know, and I'm fine except for a mild headache. Mom," said Rachel, a nervous smile crossing her face, "I'm getting MARRIED! I can't believe it! We've been planning, working, and dreaming about this wedding for nearly a year now, and it's finally here!" With a shiver of anticipation, Rachel grabbed a mug, poured herself hot water, dunked a teabag into it, and sat down opposite her mother.

"Oh, honey, you and your Jason will be so happy together," said Katherine, reaching out to smooth her daughter's sleep-mussed hair. Rachel was a bona fide blonde like Katherine, but her dark eyes could only have been attributed to her father. "I wish your father could walk you down the aisle in that lovely white gown, and see you exchange your vows. He loved you very much, darling."

Rachel sighed softly. Should I tell Mom about that strange…dream?…I had when I was out? Or would it just upset her? "I know Dad would approve," she said cautiously. "I can't help but feel that he's watching over us right now." He was watching over me last night. She did not share that thought out loud.

"I'm sure he is," said Katherine, a bittersweet smile crossing her face and memories flowing through her head. Aloud, after a quick glance at the clock, she gasped. "Hon, it's nine o'clock already and we're sitting here in our pajamas! We have to be at the hairdresser's in forty-five minutes, and we have to drop your gown and veil off at the church before so that you'll have those there for the photos!"

Both women got up from the table, and after dumping the mugs into the sink to be washed later, Rachel hurried for the shower, and Katherine proceeded to hurry around the house waking up her two sons who were home for their sister's wedding, then retreating to her own room to dress.

~*~

"Did you ever find out what happened to that girl you were raving about being mugged the other morning?" asked Tommy, tugging on his tuxedo jacket, making sure it was in place.

"Nope," replied Jason, knowing that if he told Tommy who he actually thought Rachel was, Tommy would probably think Jason was going a bit crazy. Who else, though, would have a mother named Katherine, a father named Jason who teaches Shotokan Karate, an 'Uncle' Thomas that is her father's best friend and not to mention, look like Katherine so much except for the eyes?

"Are you nervous?"

Jason adjusted his tie. I know you and Katherine will be happy together. The words Rachel had said echoed in his mind. Jason smiled silently at that, and then turned to Tommy. "Nah. I love Katherine with all my heart, and I know that this is the right decision."

Tommy reached out wordlessly and hugged his best friend. "Good." A mischievous smile played across his lips a moment later. "I'd hate to have to catch you if you fainted from nervousness," he teased.

Jason turned a good-natured grin on him. "Oh, shut up," he mock-growled.

"Jase! Jason!" an excited voice said from the doorway. Tommy and Jason turned to see Kimberly Oliver standing there in a light pink bridesmaid's dress. In an instant, she had crossed the room to where they were standing and embraced Jason tightly. "Congratulations, Jase. Kat's a wonderful woman, and I'm so happy for you two." When she had let him go, she stood back. "Don't you guys look handsome! What I actually came to tell you was that they're nearly ready to start, so you need to go up there."

Tommy clapped Jason on the back. "Don't keep the lady waiting."

"Advice to live by," chuckled Jason. Following Kim, he went up the stairs and into the sanctuary of the church. Standing in front of the altar, he tried not to fidget.

The music started. First down the aisle walked Tommy and Kim, best man and bridesmaid respectively. Jason stared at the back of the church where now, in the doorway, stood the bride. As the wedding march began, she came forward slowly on her father's arm. Jason could hardly move as all of a sudden, everything in the church seemed to disappear except for the lovely woman. Katherine's flowing train stretched out behind her, her face veiled. As she and her father came to the altar, her father reached over, gently lifted his daughter's veil, and kissed Katherine on the cheek. Lowering the veil, he put her hand in Jason's and the ceremony began.

Jason swallowed hard, trying to rid himself of the lump in his throat as the minister turned to him and asked him for his vow. "I, Jason Lee Scott" he began, pausing for just an instant. "Take thee, Katherine Rachel Hillard, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward…" Katherine's face was radiant as he continued: "For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness…" As looked into the blue eyes sparkling with tears of joy, he continued. "And in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance of matrimony, I give thee my promise."

Katherine repeated her vow, love shining in her eyes. Out among the assembled friends and family, there was barely a dry eye in the house as the couple exchanged rings, and then, at last, as Jason lifted the veil. Leaning in, he kissed his beautiful new wife.

~*~

Rachel Scott, soon to become Rachel Oliver adjusted her veil at the back of the church. Her mother stood beside her. "Ready, sweetheart?" Katherine inquired.

Rachel nodded. "Mom," she said suddenly, not sure what impetus was moving her to say so, "Dad loved you so much. He…he said so."

Katherine turned an absolutely ghostly white. "Y…your father?" She swayed slightly, and Rachel put an arm around her mother's waist to steady Katherine.

"In the alley," whispered Rachel "I had this strange dream that he was there, but he was very young, and…" she stopped for an instant. Katherine weakly nodded Rachel to go on. "He took care of me, called the police, and we talked. He was set to marry you in a day or two, and…"

Katherine smiled, despite the well of sadness that she felt at thinking of Jason. She missed him deeply. Her prayers and thoughts as they had prepared for Rachel's wedding were often on him. I wished, she thought, a chill tickling her spine, that I could just feel his love one more time.

"He told me," continued Rachel, "that you were the most kind and loving woman, and you could see the love shining in his eyes as he talked about you." A tear trickled down her cheek. "I wished, all through my engagement, that I could just see Dad one more time. I didn't care how, I didn't care why."

Katherine looked at her daughter. "I think your wishes came true," she said shakily. "As did my wish. Right now, with what you said. I have no doubt that the dream or whatever it was, was your chance to see him one last time before you start your new life." Mother and daughter embraced hard, and as they let each other go, the first strains of the wedding march sounded. Carefully taking her daughter on her arm, Katherine began to walk with Rachel down the aisle toward the altar and the waiting groom.

~*~

Gently stroking Katherine's silky blonde hair, Jason looked down at his new wife tenderly. Katherine's head was resting against his bare chest, and her arms slipped around his neck and shoulder. "Jase," she said finally, "this is wonderful."

"It's only going to get better, Kitten. Especially when there are some little ones running around the house" Jason said, adjusting so that he could see Katherine's face.

Katherine grinned teasingly at her husband. "I can just see you with a couple of babies on your arms, the fearless former Ranger changing diapers…"

Jason laughed. "We'll have to name one of them Thomas and one of them William…" he said, sneaking a glance at Katherine.

"Hey! Don't you want any girls?"

"Well, of course," said Jason. "Any name suggestions?"

"Ah, I never thought you'd ask. I'd love to name a girl after my grandmother. What do you think of 'Rachel'?"

Comments always welcome…