Arrival Overdue

Chapter 22 - Epilogue
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"You look great," Faith said to Jennifer as she stood in front of the mirror.

"I feel ridiculous. I've already done this part. I wanted something quiet. But, it's Maurice's first, so I wanted it to be special for him. You're sure it's not too over the top?" Jennifer said, nervously fidgeting with her veil.

"I'm positive. You look elegant and Bosco deserves this wedding. He's waited a long time and been through a lot of crap on the way to this. You're good for him. A stabilizing force that he's needed for a long time," Faith said to the woman that she'd become good friends with. Emily had even come up from the City with Bosco a few times on the weekends to babysit Jordan for them. She loved it, because she got to spend the weekend in a different place and got paid on top of it - which certainly helped her shopping excursions.

Bosco had been commuting between Albany and New York City. Some days, when he got out of work later due to an arrest, he would just stay at his apartment in the City. They kept it because they spent time between the two places. Jennifer loved her job at Albany Medical Center and Bosco loved his work with the NYPD. The commute for Bosco wasn't really bad because the times he was driving were not peak traffic times. He usually made pretty good time.

"Yeah, well he's been good for me too. I know it was rough on him with me always waffling because of my guilt feelings of abandoning my memories of Jeff, but he was patient and very supportive," Jennifer said, a smile suddenly coming to her face. "And Jordan just loves him to death," she chuckled.

"Well, kids like kids and isn't that what Bosco is after all - just another big kid?" Faith joked as the others came into the room with their bridesmaids dresses on. Jennifer's sister was the Maid of Honor and came over to the two women.

"Jen, you look beautiful," she told her sister. "But wait, isn't the white lab coat missing?" she teased.

"Very funny, you," Jennifer replied lightly punching her sister in the arm. "Have you seen Jordan lately?" she asked the others

"No. But, I'll go check on her," Faith said, looking out the window as she headed for the door. "Found her," she said and pointed. Jennifer came to the window and looked across the lawn. She stood and watched for a few minutes, a tear forming in her eye.

She watched as Bosco and Jordan walked across the yard to Jordan's favorite tree stump. The tree had come down during a storm and Jennifer hadn't gotten around to getting the stump removed. It turned into Jordan's favorite "thinking" spot and ended up staying.

Bosco and Jordan reached the stump and Jennifer was just about to yell out the window for her not to sit on it and get her dress dirty. Before she could, she watched as Bosco removed the jacket of this tux and laid it on the stump and picked Jordan up and placed her on top of it. Then, he squatted down next to her and they were talking while they looked around the yard.

There was a knock on the door and Faith went to answer it. She opened the door and saw Franklin and Kavanaugh standing outside in their tuxes looking very dapper. "Ty's looking for the Groom. Anyone seen him?" Kavanaugh asked as they caught sight of Jennifer.

Franklin let out a whistle. "Who knew that under those surgical scrubs...." he laughed, leaving the sentence there.

"Very funny. Good thing we got those gray tuxes. Too bad we didn't get the Trooper purple ties and cumberbunds to go with it. Then you'd feel like just another day at work," Jennifer teased back.

"Ouch," Faith said as Franklin displayed a hurt look. "He's out back with Jordan. You guys leaving for the church now?"

"Yeah. It's that time. You really do look great Jennifer," Kavanaugh said and Jennifer gave both of them a hug. "You guys have been great these past few years. I don't know how I would have made it without you," she said, referring to all their support after Jeff died. They'd always been friends as long as Jennifer had known Jeff, but they kept the friendship up even after.

"Thanks. So do you. Can you send Jordan in for me when you get Maurice?" she asked.

"Sure thing. See you in a bit," Kavanaugh said as the two men turned to go. There was just the slightest hint of a limp left from his leg injury. He'd been back on full duty for about six months. Faith had gone back to work about six weeks after her injury with no remaining sign except for the faint scar on her shoulder.

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"So, what're you thinkin' about?" Bosco asked Jordan after he had her settled on the tree stump. He'd found her sitting in the kitchen by herself staring out the window.

The little girl looked up at him. "Oh, I was just thinking about some different things."

"Want to talk about them? I got time. You know how long it takes your Mom to get ready to go out," he said jokingly.

"Just...," she paused. After a moment she continued. "Are you gonna die too?"

"What? No. I mean someday, but not until I'm very old and you can't stand to be around me anymore," he said. "What makes you ask that question?"

"Well, my Dad died when I was really young. I mean, I remember him, but not that well, you know?" Bosco nodded. "Well, I'm just worried that it's going to happen again. I remember Mom being real sad when it happened."

"Well, Jordan. Nothing is for certain, but we can't spend all our time wondering about stuff like that. All I can tell you is that I plan on being around for a really long time. I love you and your Mom very much and I want to be there for you - always. You can come and talk to be about anything, okay?" Bosco told her.

"Okay. You think Mom would mind if I called you Dad?" she asked, shocking Bosco a little.

"I don't know. Why don't you ask her? I know I don't mind a bit," he said, his heart full of happiness on this day. Ty and Sully came around the corner of the house to get Bosco to the church.

"Hey, Bos," Ty called. "Time to head over to the church. You got everything?"

"I think I should be asking you that question, don't you?" Bosco said, referring to the ring that Ty should have in his coat pocket.

"We're good to go," Ty said, tapping his coat pocket.

Bosco turned back to Jordan. "Okay?"

She nodded, "Okay, Dad." She leaned up to give him a kiss.

"Okay, Squirt. I'll see you at the church. You look beautiful," Bosco said, standing up. He helped Jordan off the tree stump and took his coat.

"You Mom wants you inside, Jordan," Ty told her and the little girl skipped toward the house.

"Dad, huh?" Sully said.

"Yeah. Can you believe it?" Bosco said with pride.

"Not two years ago," Sully said, shaking Bosco's hand. "Let's go get this party started, shall we?"

"Yes, let's," Ty added as the three men walked to the front of the house where the limo waited.
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It had been a beautiful ceremony. Faith cried and Bosco saw it and rolled his eyes at his partner. He looked over to see his mother sobbing in her seat. He looked around the church as they walked out after the wedding and thought how lucky he was to have found this woman and to have all these friends - both new and old.

Now they were at the reception and it was time for the Bride and Groom's first dance. Bosco went to the dance floor and watched his new wife come to join him. It was as if she was the only person in the room. They came together and began to sway to the music, whispering into each other's ear.

"You look beautiful," he told her.

"You look pretty great yourself. Who knew you cleaned up so nicely," she joked. He laughed and kissed her.

"So, I had a little talk with Jordan after you left for the church," she told him.

"Oh?" he said.

"I told her it was okay with me as long as it's okay with you," she said, referring to Jordan calling him Dad.

"It's great with me," he said happily. "Jen, you've made my life complete. This is everything I've been waiting for and more. I love you so much," he said.

"You let me feel alive again. Thank you for that. I love you so much and I can't wait to get started on our life together," she told him. They kissed again - a long, deep kiss - that drew comments from the crowd. They parted as the song ended.

"Oh, one more thing," she said and then leaned in to whisper in his ear.

He pulled away from her with a look of shock on his face. "Really?" he asked her.

She nodded. "Maybe this one will be a boy?"

"I love you so much," he said, pulling her close again as another song began to play and the rest of the wedding party joined them on the dance floor.
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The End.