Title: All That Is Left

Notes: This is just a short one, kind of a bridging chapter. More to come soon. Enjoy and thanks for all the reviews of the last chapter!

Chapter 7

"I think I've almost got it." Will claimed proudly as he adjusted his bow tie. "Just a little tug here and...shit!" He shook his head in dismay when the minor adjustment he was making resulted in a majorly crooked bow. With a frustrated sigh, he began his fourteenth attempt to properly arrange his bow tie.

"Will," said Helen as she came to the mirror to put the finishing touches on her make-up, "Just use the clip-on like you usually do."

"This is my only daughter's wedding day and I will not be seen in a clip-on tie. My baby deserves the best! Besides," he replied haughtily, "Frank Sinatra never used a clip-on, neither did Dean Martin."

"That might be true, but at this rate, you'll have it properly tied in time for Joan and Adam's first anniversary." Helen put her compact in her purse and slipped on her shoes. "As for what Dean Martin would do..."

"Ahhh!" cried Will angrily as the knot he was tying suddenly fell apart once again.

"I think you might be closer to Jerry Lewis." Helen patted him on the back.

"Where's the clip-on?" he asked in defeat.

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Adam stood on his father's porch, staring at his sculptures in the front yard. Although his eyes were tracing the lines of his many metal masterpieces, Adam's mind was firmly fixed on Jane. She was the most amazing and beautiful woman he had ever known. Since the moment he first saw her, Adam had been transfixed. And now, after all this time, they were finally getting married! Closing his eyes for a moment, Adam smiled and let the joy wash over him. Picturing Jane and their future together made him so happy that he could almost forget the fact that he could barely stop his hands from shaking. Nervous beyond belief, his stomach was balled into a tight knot and it felt as if his intestines were planning to make an escape through his mouth.

Mr. Rove came out the front door and looked at his son. He was so proud of his boy, of the man he'd become. His only regret was that his wife wasn't here to see Adam get married. Walking up behind him, Mr. Rove put his hand on Adam's shoulder.

"I remember the day I married your mother so clearly." He said, smiling wistfully. "I can recall everything I was feeling."

"I feel like I'm going to be sick." Adam said worriedly

"That sounds just about right." laughed his father.

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The old, yet immaculately maintained, Lincoln Town Car made it's way slowly down the street.

"Dad," said Grace impatiently, "We're going to be late! I could get out and walk faster then this...if I wasn't wearing these stupid heels."

In truth, Grace was of two minds about getting to the wedding. On the one hand, she wanted to see two of her best friends get married and be deliriously happy. On the other, Luke was going to be there and she wasn't exactly sure how she felt about having to see him. All she knew was that her stomach was doing some pretty serious gymnastics at the thought.

"A safe driver is a careful driver, Grace." her father admonished her.

"It's so nice that Adam and Joan are finally tying the knot." Rabbi Polonski turned hopeful eyes on his daughter, "Who knows? Maybe soon, you'll be..."

"Stop!" Grace told her father firmly, "Don't even think about finishing that sentence."

"I'm just saying Grace..."

"Listen up Rabbi," Grace said, pointing her finger at her father, "Mom won't be home until the end of the month." she warned him in a dangerous voice. "That means I'll have plenty of time to escape before anyone finds your body!"

Rabbi Polonski just sighed and concentrated on driving. His daughter had always been stubborn and rebellious and this subject was no exception. Still, he took comfort in the fact that she had also once told him that she would never have a Bat Mitzvah.

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Guests were already starting to arrive as Kevin and his wife Lily pulled their car into the church parking lot. The two sat in silence for a moment, watching as the people moved into the building.

"There's that Isaac guy I was telling you about." said Kevin, pointing to a hunched old man as he slowly made his way up the church steps. "He kept me in a corner for forty minutes last night, talking about his Irritable Bowel Syndrome."

"Well, we certainly won't be asking him to make the toast." Lily joked.

"I can't believe my little sister is getting married." said Kevin in a quiet voice. "It seems like only yesterday that..." he paused, taking Lily's hand in his own. "Oh well, worked for us didn't it?"

"That it did." she replied, squeezing her husband's hand. "Still, I wish they'd gone for an outdoor wedding like we did."

"What is it with you?" Kevin laughed. "You were a nun once, how can you not like churches?"

"Honestly?" said Lily, giving him a smile. "God makes me nervous when you get him indoors."

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"Inhale...exhale...inhale...exhale." The mantra kept repeating itself in Joan's head, reminding her to keep breathing. Usually she didn't have to concentrate so hard on her respiration, but today was no ordinary day.

Joan stood in her bedroom in her parents' house, staring at herself in the mirror. Her bridesmaids flitted nervously about around her, constantly adjusting both her gown and their own.

"This is it," Joan thought, gazing at the sight of herself in her wedding dress. "In a little less than an hour, I'm going to be Mrs. Rove." Just thinking it caused a warm feeling to spread through out her entire body. This had been a long time in coming and it hadn't always been assured. There had been rough patches between her and Adam, but they'd gotten over them and now, they'd be together forever.

For years, a certain deity had been telling Joan again and again about her free will and how the choices she made were her own. Smiling, Joan thought about Adam and the fact that this was one choice that she had no doubts about.

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Penny regarded herself in the mirror one last time. She definitely looked good. Dresses weren't her usual attire, but this one was particularly lovely. It highlighted all her best aspects without being showy. She only needed to add one more thing.

"I think we better call ahead to the church. " commented Luke as he pulled his suit jacket on.

"Why's that?"

"To have them clear a few pews to make room for that." he said, pointing at her hat.

"Shut up!" replied Penny, pulling the hat from its box and placing it lightly on her head. "One of the few reasons I agreed to come to this thing with you is because I knew I could wear a hat. I love that about weddings." Adjusting it slightly, Penny admired her hat. It certainly didn't have what you would call a small circumference, but it looked amazing and set off her face beautifully. Besides, she'd bought it at Harrod's on her last vacation and she needed to wear it as often as possible to justify the cost.

"I'll meet you downstairs." she told Luke coldly and walked out of the room.

"That hat's actually a good idea." Luke called after her. "If it rains, the whole congregation can take shelter under it." With a small chuckle, Luke turned back to the mirror to make sure his tie was straight.

In truth, the hat was fine. He thought Penny looked rather stunning in her ensemble and Luke figured that a certain bridesmaid didn't stand a chance of resisting her. He was only making jokes in a lame attempt to quell his own nervousness. Today, he was going to see Grace again and he wasn't sure exactly what he should do. Luke had spent a long night after his talk with Penny, thinking about the past, his feelings and the possibilities that lay before him. He wasn't sure how he felt, what he might do, or if he could ever forgive Grace enough to let her back into his life.

Sighing, Luke looked over at his bedside table and the small ring box that sat upon it. There was just so much history between him and Grace, perhaps too much to overcome. With a final tug on his tie, Luke walked towards the bedroom door. Just as he was about to leave though, he suddenly stopped and turned around. Moving over to the side of his bed, he opened the tiny box and pulled the two rings out. Placing them in his inside breast pocket, Luke once again turned and walked out of the room.

TBC

A/N: We'll get to the good stuff in the next chapter I promise. Just trying to iron out all the details. Also, Penny is coming across as just too wonderful, don't you think? Maybe I'll include a chapter about how she kills puppies or something.