Third Watch: The next Generation

by dustytiger

all right the wedding, the epilogue, and lucky number thirteen all rolled into one fic, pls take time to review this one!

13. Epilogue

TITLE: Third Watch, the Next Generation; Epilouge
AUTHOR: trista groulx
DISCLAIMER: kim, jimmy, alex (taylor), faith, bosco, carlos, holly, doc, ty, sully, emily, kylie, joey, charlie and anyone else who pops up from the TV series are not mine, they belong to NBC, their creator, and the actors and actresses who portray them. the idea for third watch is so not mine, but anyone who i've created for this story are mine so ask if you want to use them.
RATING: PG-13 for language
SUMMARY: A thrid person POV of Alex and Tyrone's wedding
AUTHORS NOTES: all right, so this is the last part in this story, it's longer then the rest of them, and i've used soooo many characters here it's not even funny... there are only a few characters from the show who are not mentioned at some point, this has been my longest, words wise, completed fic to date, and i hope i did an okay job with it, pls tell me what you think i always like to hear! again just remember that the timeline is a little different from the orginal series but i still think it works... the candle thing (you'll see) is an idea from my aunt's wedding where her hubby did that for his brother (very touching moment) i hope you like the new characters, and who is what in the wedding party is explained somewhere in the middle so don't worry... hehe... anyway pls review this last part and thank you a thousand times to everyone who's actually read to this point... on with the fic enjoy!

xx denotes meanwhile

Alex, Emily, Cater, Kylie, Leena, Alex's best friend since she could remember, and Alisha, Tyrone's friend, who only somewhat knew Emily from the group sat at strip club, only half watching the men dancing around them.

Alex was wearing a plastic tiara with the word "bride written" on it. She didn't liked it, but Emily had insisted she put it on for a little, while, and wouldn't let her take it off. It had been an hour since the group, which had previously included the groom, Dylan, Joey and Charlie had split up to see the strippers of their choice for their bachelor and bachelorette party.

The evening had started out with dinner, then the large group went to a couple of bars. The four men were only a few blocks away, probably enjoying themselves much more watching naked ladies, then this group was having watching naked men.

"Explain to me again why it is that we wanted to go see strippers?" Alex asked.

"Cause the guys were doing it?" offered Emily.

"This is kind of lame."

"Once you've seen one you've seen 'em all," Carter laughed.

"How about we go over to my place, and just shoot the shit?" Emily offered.

"Sounds good to me," said Kylie.

"Yeah, me too," Carter agreed.

"I'll take a pass, I'm gonna go find Tyrone," Alisha explained.

Since she had grown up with Tyrone, and was one of his best friend, Charlie was also a good friend of hers. She thought it was too strange hanging out with your friend's big sister. She hardly even knew Alex, and would have more fun with the guys, then with a group of people she hardly knew.

"Yeah, I'll pass too, I need to get some sleep," Leena told her friend.

"Awww, Leena, can't you come for a little bit?" Alex asked.

Alex had not seen her old friend she had moved to New York, and she wanted her to stay to get to know her new friends.

"I'm sorry Alex, I'm just not up to it, I just wanna get back to the hotel and start sobering up," Leena apologized.

"Your loss," laughed Emily.

The real reason that Leena didn't want to go was she felt of left out in the group. At least when Alisha was there she wasn't the only one missing the jokes, and not understanding the stories they shared. Since the three of them worked at the same place, they would start on something to do with work, and it was over her head..

Leena was grateful, that Alex had asked her to be in the wedding party, but she hardly knew anyone but Alex, who was making time for everyone, not catching her up. She knew it was nothing against her, it was just Alex's personality, but she was tired of feeling like a spare wheel.

The group paid their bar tab. Alisha went toward the strip club her best friend would be found at, while the rest went to walk Leena to the hotel, so that she would not get lost, or hurt on the way. From there they would go to Emily's where Alex was going to be staying that night.

Alisha found the place, and went inside. She found them right away, sitting not far from the stage. Though they were in a bigger group then when they had left the restaurant. She went over and hugged her friend.

"Hey, I thought you said wedding party only, Junior," she joked, coming up behind her friend, and hugging him.

"We crashed the party for the bride!" one of the guys she didn't know said.

"These are Alex's firehouse cronies," laughed Tyrone. "What brings you by?"

"The ladies got bored and went over to Emily's and I thought I'd rather look at naked ladies with you the guys. So do the cronies have names?"

"Yeah, this is Dixon, next to him is Garry, and next to him is Paul. Pull up a chair if you can find one."

"You could always sit on my lap," Dixon offered.

"The only way you're getting someone to sit on your lap, is if you pay her," Alisha retorted.

"You haven't lost you touch," Charlie laughed, high-fiving his old friend.

"What about you?" she asked Joey.

Although Alisha didn't know the bride that well, she was more interested in getting to know her big brother. She had been flirting with him all night, and she thought he might be flirting back. She had nothing to lose in finding out if they both were looking for something.

"What about me what?" he asked.

"Would you let me sit on your lap?"

He smiled. "Sure."

She hadn't noticed before, but he had really sexy dimples when he smiled. Alisha made herself comfortable, and knew for sure that the attraction, did, in fact, run both ways. They watched the show in relative silence, Alisha and Joey would occasionally laugh at jokes no one else heard.

"I'm getting bored of this," Alisha commented. "Wanna go somewhere else, Joey?"

"Where do you have in mind?" he asked, smiling at her.

"My place would probably be good. I don't live too far away."

"Joey's gonna get some!" Dylan laughed.

"And you're not cause Alex is at Emily's tonight, and if she sees you sniffing around she'll kick your ass," Tyrone reminded his friend.

"See you tomorrow, boys," said Alisha.

She and Joey then left the strip club, to go over to Alisha's place. He was glad that his sister wasn't going to be at the apartment so he didn't have to make any excuse for getting home later then the rest of the guys.

x x

Meanwhile at Emily's the group there were winding down the night, sitting around the kitchen table, drinking water, and just gabbing about everything.

"So are you nervous yet?" Kylie asked.

"A little bit," Alex admitted. "Mostly it's because I'm envisioning myself falling flat on my face walking down the aisle."

"Why's that?" asked Carter.

"Cause she says she can't walk in heels," Emily answered for her friend.

"I can't! I'm all wobbly and stuff," Alex explained.

"Then why'd you buy them?" Kylie asked.

"Emily bought them for me, and she wouldn't tell me where she got them so I couldn't exchange them."

"In my defense they look great with the dress," Emily told them.

"It's not that hard to walk in heels," Carter said. "Just go heel to toe, heel to toe, and you're good to go."

"Heel to toe? What the hell?" Alex asked, standing up and walking. "Wait that's not right. How the hell do you walk like that?"

"Honey, right now you can't even walk in a straight line, sit down."

Alex laughed. "I guess not huh?"

"Someone just failed the field sobriety test!" laughed Kylie.

"I think we all would," Cater reminded his half sister.

"So how have you never worn heels before?" Kylie asked.

"Never had the need to."

"Not even at prom?"

"I wore flats and a pant suit at prom."

"How the hell did you get away with that?" Emily asked.

"Easy, I just batted my eyes, and said 'Daddy, do I have to wear a dress? I wanna wear a suit.' And my daddy let me get whatever I wanted!"

"You were spoiled."

"No, I just had him wrapped around my little finger."

"Prom, now there's something I want to forget," laughed Carter.

"Why?" asked Emily.

"Let's see now, gay guy taking a girl who's looking to lose her virginity at the prom. Need I say more?"

Emily laughed. "I hardly even remember my prom date. Though I remember that Tyrone asked me to his senior prom."

"Really?" asked Alex, surprised.

"Yeah, it was a dare. That kid never said no to a dare. He was supposed to ask me on a date, so he did the guys one better and asked me to the prom. I can still remember the look on Charlie's face when he heard him ask!"

"So who did he end up taking?" asked Kylie.

"Alisha, actually."

"I thought they were just friends," Alex commented, trying not to sound annoyed.

"They are, he took her to prom because her date canceled on her at the last minute. I think he took someone who was more popular. Since Charlie had wanted to take Tyrone's date all along, and his date had gotten sick it was no problem to switch things up so Tyrone could take his best friend. Funny how things work out, Charlie ended up marrying his prom date."

"Fate works in strange ways," Carter laughed. "Who was your date for the prom, Alex?"

"If you ask my dad it was this lanky kid named, Jon. But I really went with one of my friend's older brothers. He was gonna be a rockstar and I smitten. I still don't know why he actually agreed to go with me, cause he was in college."

The rest of the group burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?" Alex asked.

"Like you don't know why he took you!" Emily told her friend.

"I really missed something."

"He went with you cause he thought you were hot."

"He could have had anyone he wanted."

"Have you never noticed that men fall at your feet?"

"They do not!"

"Bullshit! That first time you went to the bar with us, everyone but Carter was checking you out, girl," Kylie explained. "And I don't just mean in the group we were in."

"No they weren't!"

"How would you have seen them looking? You and Tyrone were tunnel visioned on each other!"

"I've never seen Tyrone fall so hard so fast before," Emily agreed.

She blushed. "Whatever."

xx

Tyrone, Dylan, and Charlie were at a coffee shop around the corner from Tyrone's apartment. They had lots of water, and coffee as they talked.

"You think Alex's father will be mad that I didn't bring his son home?" Tyrone laughed.

"I doubt it, since you know where he is," Dylan assured him.

"I wonder what Alex is up to right now."

"Enjoy your last night of freedom man!"

"Funny, Dylan. I can't believe that Emily's making her stay there tonight."

"It's bad luck," Charlie reminded him.

"Bad luck my butt! I bet the tradition of not seeing the bride on the wedding day was so that in an arranged marriage they couldn't see each other and run screaming the other way!"

"And the reason you're supposed to be in different beds is because your wedding night was supposed to the first time you had sex," Dylan added.

"You're just no fun!" Charlie whined.

"I think the only reason Emily offered up her apartment so readily was to keep me away," Dylan laughed.

"You're dating Aimee now, remember?" Tyrone reminded his friend.

"Emily and I just do stupid things when we're both drinking, and it's extra security. She knows that Alex would kick my ass if ended up there."

"Wait, wait, you and my sister are still screwing each other?" Charlie asked.
Dylan had gone and done it that time. He had forgotten that Charlie was Emily's brother. He couldn't really lie his way out of it.

"We haven't in a while, if that makes a difference," offered Dylan.

"Whatever I'm way too drunk and tired to fight you right now," Charlie said. "I'm gonna get a cab, and get some sleep."

"That's a good idea, we have a big day ahead of us. Especially you, Tyrone."

"If I get any sleep. Not only is Alex not gonna be there, I gave her father the bed."

Dylan shook his head. "It's amazing how whipped you are already."

"When you decide to settle down you might surprise yourself."

They all left the coffee shop, each going in different directions. Tyrone got home, and fell onto the couch. He fell asleep a lot quicker then he thought he would, but the alcohol my have had something to do with that. He was excited about the next day, he couldn't wait till Alex was legally his wife, no matter what his friends said.

xx

Across town everyone had left Emily's and the two women were ready for bed.

"Good night, Al," Emily said.

"Good night, Em," Alex replied. "Even though I'm not going to get a wink of sleep and I'll have giant bags under my eyes tomorrow."

"Whatever, you'll sleep just fine."

"In a single bed, alone? Maybe the alcohol will help."

"Good night Al!"

Alex went into the room. She cleared the bed of all Angela's stuffed toys. She was surprised to see the bear that she had given Angela when she was in the hospital was not there. She had hoped it might be, having her old comfort toy may have helped her sleep.

She was very nervous about the next day. She was happy to be getting married, but she didn't like the idea of being the centre of attention.

The alcohol had helped her to sleep a little bit, but she still spent a while staring up at the ceiling, thinking about Tyrone.

Alex, Emily, Carter, Joey, and Leena were in the brides room. Emily had just finished applying Alex's make up, it wasn't too much, but it was noticeable because Alex never wore any. Her hair was up in a braid, and she wasn't sure if she liked her hair up like that. Leena had offered to do Alex's hair, but Emily insisted that it was her job as the maid of honour.

Alex was now sitting perfectly still on the chair, and actually seemed whiter then when she had started without any make up.

"Breathe, Al," Emily told her friend.

"I can't breathe Em, I'm too nervous," Alex whined.

"All right everyone let's just do some breathing exercises with her," Carter instructed. "Take a deep breath, and now breathe out letting all the negative energy out. And take another-"

"Carter! You're not helping!" Alex snapped.

"Put the girl in fifty pounds of gear and ask her to run into a burning building and she's there. Put her in a white dress and ask her to marry the man she loves, and she wants to run away. Alex, I must say, you're quiet the conundrum," laughed Emily.

"Don't forget the veil. And the heels! I really am going to fall flat on my face in front of everyone."

"If you start falling Dad will catch you," Joey assured her.

"I can't do this! I changed my mind! I'll just live in sin the rest of my life!"

"You really need to calm down," Leena said, taking her friend's hand. "Maybe Carter's breathing thing could work."

"No!" Alex told him firmly.

"There's always aroma therapy," Carter offered.

"No weird stuff."

"How about something simple?"

"Or a shot of Demerol that'll mellow her out really quick," Emily quipped.

"Too bad you don't have your med bag, Em." Alex laughed. "What's your simple solution Carter?"

"Chamomile."

"What?"

"Chamomile tea, or any tea really, but chamomile is the best."

"I'll try it."

Carter left the room to go find the tea. He noticed when he left the room that Alex's father was talking to Tyrone. He thought nothing of it, and continued his search for some chamomile tea for his friend.

"Mr. Doherty, why didn't you tell me this before I bought Alex her ring?" Tyrone asked his soon to be father in law.

"Because my daughter has a way of getting information out of people, and I needed this to be a surprise for her."

"All right, all right, I'll make sure she gets it somehow."

"Thank you."

Jimmy walked away, and into the brides room. He had not seen Alex's dress before, and as soon as he saw it her realized it was almost the same as the one Kim had worn at their second wedding. It was a pure white dress, with spaghetti straps, and some embroidery on the bodice. The dress itself was bell shaped because of all the crinoline. The back was done up with a piece of ribbon.

When Kim had worn the dress the back was like that so that it would be more adjustable incase her stomach suddenly expanded between the fitting and the wedding day. Jimmy always knew that his daughter looked like his late wife, but seeing her in that dress he was still taken aback, and a little stunned by her appearance.

"You look so much like her," he commented, tearing up.

"Daddy don't cry, you're gonna make me cry," Alex whispered.

"Doesn't she look like her?" Jimmy asked his son.

"Yeah, almost identical," Joey admitted. "I've never really noticed it before, but today, Alex, wow. If there was a way to look through time it'd be almost like a mirror."

"I knew I shouldn't have gotten the seamstress to replicate her dress," Alex said.

"It was great way of honouring her," Jimmy assured her.

"I wish she was here right now."

"She is," said Carter, returning with the tea. He didn't miss a beat. "Her spirit is here, if you concentrate really hard I bet you'd be able to feel it." He handed her the tea. "Drink it, slowly."

She took a sip, and brunt her tongue. "I don't really have much of a choice in the matter do I?"

"Tea's brewed at a higher temperature so that the tea can steep properly, I thought you knew that."

She thought about what he had said about her mother being there in spirit. She wanted so much for that to be true. She let the tea cool a little while, and began to drink it again. It did help to calm her, a little but she was still very nervous about the whole thing.

"All right, I think it's about time we get you your last minute things," Emily told her, handing her a jewelry box. "This is your something borrowed, it's from my mother, she wore it when she got married to Bosco. She says it brought them good luck."

Alex opened the box, and inside was a necklace. It was on a chain that made it look invisible against the skin, and was simply three diamonds that sat right under her throat in a line underneath each other.

"This is so pretty, I'll have to thank your mother for this later."

"I told you I'd take care of everything."

"This is your something new," Leena said, handing her another jewelry box.

She opened it and inside there was a pair of crystal earrings. "These are so nice, and they're shinny!"

"I knew you'd say that as soon as you saw them."

"Thank you, you know me too well."

"Your something blue." Carter handed her another box. "Not my idea."

Inside the box was a blue garter belt. Alex laughed. "Thank you all the same, Carter."

"And now for your something old," Joey told her. "Close your eyes, and hold out your right hand."

She did as she was told. She held out her right hand, and he took it. He then put a bracelet on it. It was a very plain yellow gold bracelet.

"All right open your eyes," he instructed.

She looked down at her wrist. "This is pretty. I have a feeling there's a story behind it."

"Yeah, it's been in the Doherty family for four generations now. I know yellow gold is not your thing, but it's a family tradition. Mom wore this on her wedding day too."

"Both times," Jimmy added.

Alex smiled. "Thank you all so much. So I guess it's too late to elope?"

They all burst into laughter. No one was surprised she had said it. There was a knock at the door.

"Come in unless your name is Tyrone," Emily called.

Faith came in holding Angela's hand. "Someone wants to see her Mommy," she said.

Angela went over to Emily, and hugged her leg. "Too many people," Angela whispered.

"Since when were you so shy?"

Angela was wearing a little pink dress that looked more like a tutu then anything else. All of the girls in the wedding party were wearing matching two piece skirts and tops, both pieces, powder blue. The skirts were just very simple long skirts, with a little bit of a train at the back. The tops were halter tops, which tied at the back, and had similar embroidery as Alex's dress on the bodice. The same seamstress had made all the dresses.

Since both Alex and Tyrone had men and women in their half of the wedding party, to make it easier to distinguish the people with Tyrone had blue flowers, in either their breast pockets, or in their bouquets. While those with Alex had pink flowers, which Joey had complained about, but Carter didn't seem to have a problem with.

"Thank you so much for lending me the necklace, Faith," she said, giving her hug.

"You're very welcome. It looks beautiful on you. I'm hoping that Emily will wear it one day."

Alex laughed. "I'm sure she will one day."

"You all look amazing. I should go before Bosco gets himself into too much trouble."

She left to go find her husband. It was only a matter of time before it all got under way. Bosco had been talking with Ty until Faith returned. Ty then entered the room where Tyrone and the rest of bridal party were.

"It's almost time, guys," Ty told the group.

"So this is it," Dylan told his friend.

"Yeah, today's the day," Tyrone said, smiling. "I can't wait!"

"You're not even a little nervous?" asked Charlie.

"No, what could possibly go wrong?"

"Your future wife going ass over tea kettle walking down the aisle in heels!" Kylie laughed.

"Why would you say that?" Tyrone asked.

"She was complaining about it all night last night. She's never worn heels before, but Emily convinced her they'd look nicer with her dress. My half brother probably walks better in heals then Alex does."

Tyrone couldn't help but laugh. He didn't want to see her fall on her face in front of almost everyone they knew, but it was a pretty funny image.

"Hey Charlie where's Luke?" Tyrone asked.

"Probably with my mother, why?"

"I need to ask him a favour. I'll be right back."

He left the room in search of the four year old. He found him playing with his brother, Aaron. They were playing catch with the ring pillow.

"Hey, Bud, I need to ask you to do something for me, kay?" he asked the child.

"Kay."

"After Alex gives me my ring I need you to drop the pillow and make it look like an accident for me. Can you do that?"

"Yeah, but why?"

"That's not Alex's real ring."

"Oh," he looked dejected.

"It's not because I don't think you're the best ring barer ever, all right? It's cause the ring that I need to give Alex has to be a surprise."

"All right."

"Don't forgot to make it look like it was a mistake all right?"

"Don't worry, I'm good at making things look like accidents uncle Tyrone."

"Good, now it's almost time to start, so ask your grandmother where your cousin is all right?"

"All right."

Tyrone went back to where he had gotten changed.

"All right, I gotta go, see you in a few."

Tyrone went to the font of the church. Everyone quieted and sat down upon seeing Tyrone standing with the pastor. The first two out were Angela and Luke, everyone oowed and awed at the two children. Angela had gotten over her shyness, and was almost sashaying down the aisle, her cousin hardly able to keep up. Especially since he was trying to keep the stride they had taught him the day before.

The best man, Dylan, and the maid of honour followed next. Dylan stood next to Tyrone, while Emily stood next to where Alex would be. Angela decided to stand in front of her. Next came the best woman, Kylie and the man of honour, Joey. Everyone was a little confused seeing Joey go to stand with Emily, and Kylie with Dylan. The groomsman, Charlie, and the brides maid, Leena came next, and took their places. Alisha his grooms woman, and Carter Alex's bride's man followed, taking their respective places.

The music changed, and everyone stood to look at Jimmy and Alex going down the aisle. Tyrone almost chocked up, upon seeing her. He had never seen her dressed up before, it was a little overwhelming.

He managed to compose himself upon realizing that Alex was not wearing heels after all. He had to stop himself from falling over laughing when he noticed that his soon to be wife was, in fact, not wearing any shoes.

She was actually quiet graceful, and when she got to the end, she kissed her father lightly on the cheek, and he took his seat. He thought she looked beautiful, but wasn't sure what he thought about he hair being braided. He didn't even like when she had it in a ponytail when she wasn't at work, and he thought she didn't either.

"Before we start the vows, the bride and groom would like to light a candle to represent the spirit of Mrs. Kimberly Doherty, mother of the bride."

Alex and Tyrone walked over to a small table not far from the alter. Together they picked up a barbeque lighter which had been decorated blue to match the colours of the wedding, and lit the large pink pillar candle together.

The entire time Alex was telling herself not to cry. She had promised herself she was not going to be one of those saps that cried through her own wedding. She looked at her father, who had shed some tears. She glanced at her brother, and he too had let a tear escape. She didn't know how, but she had managed to keep it all inside.

The pastor read a passage from the bible. "At this time I'm going to ask anyone who has any objections to this union to speak now or forever hold your peace." The church was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. "And who gives this woman away to be with this man?" he asked.

"My late wife and I," Jimmy said, his voice hardly wavering.

"And who gives this man away to be with this woman?" asked the pastor.

"My husband, and I," Tonia said, unsure of herself.

Tyrone couldn't help but cry a little bit. Alex had not told him that she was going to do that. She knew how close he was to his mother, and she thought it would be sweet. She also thought it was a good way to get him to cry. After he composed himself, Tyrone was happier about the ring switch, Alex would not know what hit her when she saw it, and they would be even. The ceremony continued as per usual. Alex had put Tyrone's ring on his finger.

"Ooops!" they heard little voice say, Luke began to cry. "I'm so sorry uncle Tyrone."

"It's okay, we'll find it," Tyrone assured him.

Tyrone got on his hand and knees, as did Luke to find the dropped ring. Alex, and all the guests looked on in horror.

"Found it!" Tyrone exclaimed.

"I'm so sorry," Luke repeated.

"It's okay, son, we found it," the pastor assured the child. "Now Tyrone, place the ring on Alexandra's finger, and say…"

Alex burst into tears, as Tyrone placed it on her finger. She realized as soon as he went to put it on her finger that it was he mother's wedding band. Tyrone had defiantly had the upper hand on making the other one cry.

"With this ring I thee wed," said Tyrone.

"Alexandra are you all right?" the pastor asked, concerned.

"This was my mother's ring," she squeaked, hardly able to say the words.

"Oh. Then with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride."

Tyrone leaned in and kissed Alex, who still had not completely composed herself from seeing the ring. In retaliation she bit his lip lightly, just enough to hurt.

"Ouch," he whispered.

"That's for making me wimp out," she whispered back.

They went into another room to sign the marriage license. They then left the church, holding hands. Everyone cheered, and threw bird seed, since Alex insisted that rice was bad for the birds. Even if it was New York City and the only birds around liked to eat garbage.

The rest of the guests went to the reception hall, while the wedding party went to a park to get pictures done.

At the reception everyone was walking around, and talking, before supper was served. Tyrone and Alex were trying to talk to as many people as they could, but it was hard.

"Remind me again why we didn't elope?" Alex asked.

"Cause we're stupid?" Tyrone offered.

"How do people have more then one wedding? God! I could only do this once."

"Have I mentioned how amazing you look?"

She smiled at him. "I can't wait till I can get of this thing off."

"Me either," he admitted.

"Sweetie, where are your shoes?" asked on of Tyrone's aunts asked.

"I can't walk in them," Alex explained.

She laughed. "That's a good excuse."

"I thought so," said Tyrone, taking her hand.

"So Little Ty told me that you're a paramedic, and Big Ty told me that you were a firefighter, which one is it, dear?" his aunt asked.

"I'm both, actually."

"Both? How does that work?"

"I usually work two days on the squad, and three or four days as a medic."

"Oh. Why did you want to do both?"

"I always wanted to be a medic like my mom was. My dad was firefighter, so I was interested in that too. I found out that my mother had wanted to be a firefighter before she had kids. Everyone tells me I'm so much like her, so I decided to see if I could pass everything to become a firefighter too. I don't know how I passed everything, but I did. So I thought I'd try both."

She laughed. "That's brave of you. How do you have time for Little Ty?"

"We make time."

She smiled. "So what do you think about it?" she asked her nephew.

"I support her. She agreed to go back to just being a medic when we decide to have kids."

"That's a good idea. Now I should find my husband."

Tyrone's aunt went in another direction. Passing Jimmy, who was talking to Faith and Bosco.

"She looks so much like Kim," Faith commented.

"She acts like her too," Jimmy added.

"I've noticed that, too. Sometimes when I talk to her it's like I've gone back in time. I know that kids can take after their parents, but Alex could almost be her mother."

"I know, it scares me sometimes. Cause I remember how fearless Kim use to be. It terrifies me that that spirit is running into fires."

Faith laughed. "I wouldn't even want to think about it."

"I try to forget, but it's hard."

"There's one difference," Bosco added.

"What's that?" asked Jimmy.

"Kim knew that she was beautiful, and she used that to her advantage. She could get a man do just about anything and he wouldn't think about it till after. I don't see that in Alex."

Jimmy nodded. "You're right, and as her father I'm glad she doesn't. Kim got herself into trouble with that sometimes."

"A lot of people could class you under that category," Faith reminded him.

He laughed. "Bosco, here fell victim to the Zambrano charm once, if memory serves me right."

"Really?" asked Faith.

"Once, Doherty, and you interrupted before anything really happened," Bosco reminded him.

"This is a story I want to hear."

"If you'd have asked Kim she'd tell you they were just talking," Jimmy laughed.

"Then she had an interesting way of talking." Bosco laughed. "Not much to tell, really. We all went out one night, and I ended up with Kim, Jimmy, and Carlos. Carlos and Jimmy had to go to bathroom, so we stopped. Kim and I stayed in the car. We started talking about cars, one thing led to another and suddenly Kim was all over me."

Faith laughed. "Never pursued it?"

"And rekindle the Boscorelli Doherty feud? No way!"

"Baco!" Angela screamed, running toward him.

"Hey, Angie," said Bosco, picking her up.

"Where's Mommy?"

"I don't know, I guess she's busy with something. Is there a problem?"

"I gotta go to the bathroom."

"I can take you, sweetie," Faith offered.

Bosco let her down, and they went toward the bathroom, hand in hand.

"I never thought I'd see the day where you were playing grandpa," Jimmy laughed.

"Time changes things," Bosco told him.

"Don't I know it."

"Sorry to interrupt, but have either of you seen the best man?" Aimee, Dylan's date asked.

"Not for a while." Bosco replied.

"Me either," Jimmy told her.

She went on her way continuing to look for her date. She hardly knew anyone there, and she was really upset she couldn't find him. At least if he had decided to ignore her after they had eaten, she'd at least know the other people that she had been sitting with. She wasn't even sure why she had agreed to the wedding in the first place.

She saw Tyrone, the only other person she knew. She didn't really want to bother him, but she was getting sick of people looking at her like she was crazy.

"Have you seen Dylan?" she asked him.

"Not for a while, sorry, but I've been talking to a lot of people so we might just keep missing each other."

"I'll keep looking."

"Good luck!" Alex called. "I haven't seen Emily in a while, you don't think they're up to something do you?"

"I really hope not," Tyrone grumbled

Not a minute later Emily came, almost running toward Alex.

"Bathroom now!" she said.

Alex looked over at Tyrone, giving him a look that said, 'they did.' As Emily dragged her toward the bathroom.

"Will you relax for half a second?" Alex snapped.

The got into the bathroom. "I did something really stupid," Emily told her.

Alex sighed. "More like you did some one really stupid."

"Don't be like that."

"Like what? He brought at date, Em!"

"I know, but he told me he doesn't love her. He said he loves me."

"So that makes it okay?"

"It was an accident!"

"How is that an accident? Honestly, I don't know how it got there, it must have slipped inside. It doesn't work that way Emily!"

"I wasn't thinking!"

"At some point between kissing, getting naked, and finishing, a little voice inside your head had to have told you that it was wrong!"

"Alex, I need you listen to me!"

"Emily!" she yelled putting her hands on her friend's shoulders. "Today was the only day I hoped, even prayed, I would not have to deal with the drama that is you and Dylan! I don't need to hear the details, and right now I don't really want to!"

"Alex!" she protested. "I need advise."

"No! Emily, today was the one day that was supposed to be about me! I may not like to be the centre of attention, but I thought I could have it for one day. One day! But that's too much to ask from one of my best friends! You want my advice? Keep your damn legs closed! If you can't do that around Dylan get a fucking chastity belt!

Alex stormed out of the bathroom, wishing she a pair of boots to stomp around in. The door to one of the stalls opened. Emily looked behind her to see who it was, shocked to see her mother, and daughter standing there, going toward the sink.

"Mom," Emily whispered.

"Angela, when you've washed your hands, go find Bosco, please," Faith asked her granddaughter.

Angela did as she was told. Emily and Faith were the only ones in the bathroom.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Faith asked.

"Mom, I wasn't thinking. One thing lead to another, and-"

"God Emily, I thought I had raised you better then that!"

Emily was looking at the floor. "I don't know why I keep doing it."

"So this wasn't the first time?"

"No, but we haven't done anything since Angela go sick."

"That justifies it?"

"No, Mom, I'm sorry. I just want him to love me." She began to cry.

"That's not love, Emily." She hugged her daughter. "Don't fall into that trap you're better than that."

"I know, and I'm sorry. He just says things, and I want to believe him."

"I might forgive you, but there is someone out there that you're going to have to do an awful lot for to make it up to her."

Emily nodded. "I know."

In the reception area, Alex had found Kylie, the exact person she was looking for. She pulled her to a quieter corner, as far away from everyone as she could.

"When you see Emily's mother leave the bathroom, I need you to talk to her before I kill her," Alex told her friend.

"What did she do now?" Kylie asked,

"Think who, and you'll get your answer."

"Oh Alex! You so don't need that drama today. I'll go knock some sense into her."

When Kylie left, Tyrone came over. He wrapped his arms around her. She burrowed her face into his chest, and began to cry. He wanted to run his hands through her hair, because that always seemed to calm her. He wasn't able to comfort her the way he liked because of her hair being braided. He kissed the top of her head, instead.

"It's going to be all right," he assured her.

"How?" she asked.

"I wish I knew."

Joey and Jimmy had noticed that Alex was crying, and went over to see what the problem was.

"Alex, what's wrong?" Joey asked his sister.

"Everything!" she sobbed. "I want Mom!"

It had been a long time since they had seen her that upset. Jimmy felt helpless, and wanted to cry himself. He hated that he couldn't be everything his daughter needed all the time. They helped her outside, so that everyone would stop watching, and when she calmed down they could talk.

Tyrone felt helpless, as they swept her outside. He knew that it wouldn't be good for him to go outside too. He wanted to be there for her, but figured her family was probably who she really needed. His parents came over to him.
"What's wrong with Alex?" asked Tonia.

"She misses her mother,' Tyrone told her, wanting as few people as possible to know what had happened with Emily and Dylan.

"Poor thing, it must be so hard not to have her mother on her wedding day."

Meanwhile outside, Alex had pretty much stopped crying. Her make up was running down her face. She only had one Kleenex which was balled in her hand, and soggy.

"All right, Sweetie, I wish I could get you your mother to talk to, but I can't," Jimmy said. "So what can I do?"

She looked at up him. "I don't know."

"How about you want to tell me what's wrong? It can't possibly everything."

She sniffled. "I can't walk in my shoes! I look too much like Mommy today and it's upsetting you. Then Emily!" she screamed, with a mix of anger and frustration. "And then I go and make a scene! And now I've ruined my makeup and I don't know how to fix it!" she began crying again. "I'm supposed to be happy, today, and I can't be completely happy cause she's not here to celebrate with us!"

Jimmy kissed his daughter on the forehead. "I know it's not fair that you don't have your mother with you today. It's all right to be mad, Sweetie, everyone will understand."

"It's going to be all right," Joey told her, hugging her. "We've made it through just fine till now, right? If anyone says you were being childish, tell 'em it's your day and you'll cry all you want. If they don't like it then send 'em to your big brother, and they won't bother you again."

She couldn't help but laugh. "Thank you Joey."

"When you're ready we'll go back in with you."

"There's one little problem with that," Jimmy cautioned.

"I'm all poofy!" Alex exclaimed.

"Poofy?" Joey asked.

She shrugged. "I heard it on a movie. I guess I need someone to fix my face."

Jimmy shook his head. "You grew up around too many men."

It was when she came out with things like that that he realized just how much she had really needed a woman around when she was growing up. She had lots of guys looking out for her, but there were some things that only a woman could help with. Leena came outside, to check on her friend. She had a box of baby wiped in her hand, a comb. She went over and gave her friend a big hug. Alex smiled, glad to see her oldest friend.

"All right, how about we fix you up?" she asked.

"Leena to the rescue, again," Alex laughed.

Jimmy and Joey decided that it was safe to go back inside.

"Are you all right?" Leena asked her.

"I'm fine, just another of my I miss my Mommy moments."

"You haven't had one in a while."

"I know, it's just with everything. Then Emily."

"What did she do?"

"Her ex."

Leena shook her head. "Then I don't feel so bad that I didn't ask before I swiped her baby wipes."

"What do you need them for?"

"To clean your face, they're really good for removing make up. Close your eyes, and I'll get everything off for you."

"Have I ever mentioned I love you?"

Leena laughed. "Stay still a minute." She carefully removed all the makeup from her face, with a couple of baby wipes. "Now what wee you saying?"

"I just want you to know that I love you, you're my best friend. I know that you've felt a little out of place since you've been here, but you are my best friend. I should have come to see you more often, and I'm sorry."

"It's all right, really."

"From now on I'm gonna make time to visit you more often."

"I'd like that. Emily didn't use any hairspray one you while I wasn't looking did she?"

"I don't remember her using any."

"Good, I'll take it down then. It'll be wavy cause of the braid, but at least it'll be down. I know how you like people to play with your hair when you're stressing."

Alex smiled. "Thank you, I'm so glad you know so well."

Leena carefully unbraided Alex's hair. Then she brushed it very carefully. Knowing her friend was the biggest baby in the world when you were fixing her hair. She always played with her hair, or got her boyfriend to run his hands through it when she was nervous, but whenever anyone tried to style it she'd start whining.

"I honestly don't know how you let Emily talk you into some of the things she did. You've never even tried to wear anything with a heel before. And you should have told her why you like your hair down," Leena told her.

"It's sometimes easier not to fight with her."

"So are you ready to go join your hot hubby?"

Alex smiled. "I think so. Thank you Leena." She gave her a big hug.

"Anytime."

The two women re-entered the building, and found Tyrone. He smiled at his wife, then kissed her lightly.

"Are you all right now?" he asked.

"Yeah," she assured him.

"I like your hair like that. And no make up?"

"Leena thought it would look better this way."

"She was right." He ran his hands through her hair. "Much better this way."

She smiled at him. "I'm sorry, about earlier."

"You were upset, it's all right. I just hope that I can help you somehow the next time."

"I'd like that." She kissed him. "There are just some days, and times where I just get in my head that I need my mother, and can't do anything about it."

"It's all right, how about we just try and enjoy the rest of our day?"

She smiled. "I'd like that."

Carter and his date, Dale came over to talk to them.

"Are you all right, Alex?" he asked.

"I'll be better when people stop asking me that," she laughed.

"So no more chamomile?"

She laughed. "That's all right. So you must be Dale, I've heard so much about you, I'm glad you could make it." She said, shaking his hand.

Dale smiled. "So Carter talks about me a lot?"

"Only when he's with the girls."

"So you're the infamous firelady."

"That would be me!" Alex smiled.

"Who else in the wedding party actually brought dates?" Tyrone asked, curious.

"I think only, me, Charlie, and Dylan," Carter replied.

"That table is going to look a little sparse," said Alex.

"Well at least I'll know a few more people," Dale laughed.

"Good point," Tyrone agreed.

"Congratulations, by the way," Dale said. "The ceremony was beautiful, it was very touching how you incorporated your mother. I'm actually going to call my mother tomorrow, because of it."

Alex smiled. "I'm happy you decided to do that."

"Looks like the staff is getting ready to serve supper," Carter said, he kissed Dale on the cheek. "I'll see you later."

The other three went to the head table, and took their seats. Soon everyone followed suit, and supper started being served. The seating arrangements had everyone sitting eight to a table, and the only table missing a significant amount of people was the one that was for the dates of the bridal party. Sure enough only Charlie's wife, Aimee, and Dale were at that table.

After everyone had eaten, it was time to for Dylan to make his toast to them. Alex was worried about what he might, despite all his assurances that he'd be good. There was still some tension between them because of their early encounters. He stood up, and all eyes were on him.

"So when I was told I had to make a toast because I was the best man, I thought, what am I going to say? I tease the groom mercilessly about the danger of marriage, and I'm pretty sure the bride wants to kill me in my sleep." Everyone laughed.
"Then I thought about it, I only tease my partner, cause he's got something I might want. A great girl that puts up with his baloney, but also lets him out to play with the boys. What more could a guy ask for? Sure, Alex and me got off on the wrong foot, but what do you expect when she meets a guy that posses every trait she hates in a man, who also stupidly got her boyfriend shot? Alex and I really met after I botched something at work, by not thinking before I acted, and my partner got shot.. That could have cost Tyrone his life, but it didn't because one medic put all her personal feelings aside. Alex just did her job, and fixed him up just like anyone else she's ever worked on. If that's not love, I don't know what is." He glanced over at his friends, who were smiling. "I don't know what to say about Tyrone really, he's my partner, and he's one of my best friends. He's a great person, who treats Alex the way you should always treat the person you love. That really is something I should learn from him one of these days." Everyone laughed again. "So I wish them the best of luck, although I know they don't really need it cause they've already proven just how far they'll go for each other. Here's to the bride and groom!"

Everyone held up their glasses, then had a drink. Emily stood up.

"I'd like to make a toast, as well," she said. "Someone told me today, that it would take a lot to get Alex to forgive me for something I did today. Trust me, you don't want the details." Everyone laughed, nervously. "But I do want to say I'm sorry, to Alex, I shouldn't have come to you with my problems today. Alex is really good at fixing problems, she fixes them every day weather we're working or not. She really should have gotten a break today. She is one of the kindest people I know, and sometimes being so kind only gets you grief, and rarely a thank you. So today, I want to say thank you to my best friend for everything, and thank you for all the times you have stopped my world from falling apart. I really don't deserve a friend like you." Emily smiled at her friend, glad to see Alex smiling back at her. "I guess I should say a few nice things about Tyrone, but he's one of my little brother's best friend, and all I can think of are things that little boys do to gross out little girls growing up. I've known Tyrone since he was only a few hours old, so I have a lot of stories he'd shoot me for telling." Everyone laughed.. "I know that he's grown up now, and has stopped playing pranks, but some of those pranks are pretty hard to forget. Tyrone, just treat her right and there won't be a problem. Here's to Alex and Tyrone, who I'm sure will have many happy years together."

Everyone again, raised their glasses, and sipped their wine. When Emily sat down, Alex hugged her friend.

"So we're good?" asked Emily.

"Yeah, for now," Alex replied.

At his table, Jimmy was seated with Tyrone, Tonia, Faith, Bosco, Carlos, Holly, and Sully. They had been getting caught up since they sat down to eat.

"She is so much like her mother," Tyrone commented.

"Everyone's been telling me that," Jimmy laughed.

"She is, the first time I saw her I thought I had gone back in time," Sully laughed.

"If one of us old timers got clocked on the head hard enough, we'd swear it was Ty and Kim up there," laughed Carlos.

"Only I never dated Kim," Ty reminded them.

"True enough," said Carlos. "But you dated Alex's namesake."

"Really?" asked Tonia. "Who was Alex named after?"

"Her name was Alex Taylor, she was a paramedic turned firefighter," Jimmy started. "To look at her you'd never think she could handle the job, but she could, and she did her job very well."

"Even if she was stubborn as all hell," added Carlos.

Jimmy laughed.

"It was that stubborn streak that caused her demise," Ty remembered, sadly.

"She was defiantly one of a kind, and such a good friend to Kim when I was anything but. I thought it was going to kill her when she lost Alex too," Jimmy explained.

"So why'd you stop seeing her?" Tonia asked her husband.

"I wasn't ready to introduce her to my mother when I got hurt. She never gave me the time of day again," Ty explained.

"How did she die?" Holly asked.

"She was sitting on the hood of a car, no one thought there was anything explosive in the front of it. There was an elderly couple in another car, and she was comforting them until the firefighters got to them, when the car blew up. She didn't stand a chance," Carlos replied. "We never got along, but after I found out she stayed with those people after she was asked repeatedly, to move. After hearing that I really respected her."

"There's a story I haven't thought of in a long while," said Sully.

"Yeah," Jimmy agreed.

"Funny how fate worked out so much better for this Tyrone and Alex," Holly commented, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah," said Jimmy, he needed to change the subject. "Faith, what did your daughter do, exactly? Alex never told me."

Faith shook her head. "She just slept with someone she shouldn't have, and then asked Alex to pick up the pieces."

Bosco suddenly clued in. "She's not?" Faith simply nodded. "I'm gonna kick his ass!"

"Some things never change," laughed Jimmy.

"Let them deal with it themselves," Faith told her husband.

"Sometimes they don't work out to be as bad as you think might," said Jimmy.

"What makes you say that?"

"Look at Kim and me, it took me a while, but I finally got everything sorted out. It doesn't usually work out so well, but at least you have one positive scenario."

"That actually made me feel better, thank you Jimmy."

Faith knew that something really had changed in him, since he had left New York. The Jimmy she knew would never have gone to a wedding without a date. It had taken him eight years, but he finally became the person Kim had needed. Then in a cruel twist of fate she was taken away from him only twelve years later.

"So what's the story with you and your late wife?" asked Tonia.

"How long do you have to hear that soap opera?" Sully asked, everyone laughed.

"I'll just give you the Cole's notes version," Jimmy assured her. "Kim and I originally got married when she was pregnant with Joey. Neither of us were really ready for marriage, and it really wasn't really a happy fire marriage. I cheated on her, she found out, and we got a divorce. For a few years, I just played the part of a playboy. And I actually got re-married, but I cheated on my second wife too, and got another divorce. Continued down the same path until I got custody of Joey. She tried to hurt herself after her best friend died, and I thought Joey would be better with me. After Alex Taylor and our lieutenant died, I was worried that she might hurt herself again. We had both gotten promotions and were dealing with the aftermath of the deaths, and started supporting each other. We took things slowly, and one thing lead to another with Kim and me and we got together again, I asked her to marry me again. When I got promoted to a rescue postion in Brooklyn, and she told me she had changed her mind When Kim found out Alex was coming, she quit being a paramedic, and joined me. A few years later we moved to Boston, and that's our story."

"That's quiet the story," said Tonia.

"How did you meet Ty?"

She smiled, remembering it. "I was at Hagerdey's one night, when a very loud bunch of people came in, Ty was one of them. I knew right away I need to talk to him. I finally got my chance when he seemed to have distanced himself from the group. He told me he was there with a bunch of people from work, winding down. We talked for a while and I gave him my number. We started dating after that, and this is where we ended up."

Jimmy smiled, then looked at his daughter, who was laughing with her friends. He was happy to see her so happy.

"It's over," Alex said, when they were finally settled on the plane, on their way to their honeymoon destination.

"It wasn't all bad was it?" asked Tyrone.

"I got to legally marry you, but I could have done that if we had eloped."

He laughed. "How did your parents do this twice?"

"My dad did it three times, actually."

He laughed. "This is just a one time deal."

"Yeah," she agreed.

"So the thing with your mom, does that happen often?"

"Only sometimes, when it's something really big in my life, and then I get stressed out. I just turn into a twelve year old again, asking for my mother to make it better."

Her head was on his shoulder, and he ran his hands through her hair. She closed her eyes, and seemed to relax a lot.

"That helps," she admitted. "When I was little, and I was sick, or upset, she'd run her hands through my hair. Now it just calms me down, cause I associate it with her, and there's nothing negative attached to it, it's just comforting."

He smiled at her. "I'm glad I can help. I just wish I could make that pain go away."

"You really do help, and that's all anyone can do. There are just some days, and some things that will always upset me because she's not here anymore."

"So do you think it'll be hard when we have kids?"

She looked at him sadly. "Yeah, I know it will be. That's why I'm not sure I want any."

He nodded. "I know that. I really am fine with whatever you chose, you know that right?"

"I know that, thank you."

"It's your choice, it's your body, and your emotions. I'd never hurt you just so that I could get what I want."

She half smiled at him. "You're everything my mother always told me to look for in a guy. I just wish I could introduce you to her, and show her that I learned for her mistakes, and did it right the first time." A few tears fell down her cheeks. "That's why the whole thing with Emily hit me so hard today. I mean most days, I can put my mother's situation out of mind when I'm dealing with her and Dylan. But today, with everything around that reminded me of her, I just couldn't do it. And I thought, god, Emily just run away, and find someone better, you don't deserve that! No one deserves that kind of pain."

"You're right."

"But if my mom hadn't have gone back, all those times. Had she just listened to reason, and everyone who had wanted to take her away from him, I wouldn't be here today."

"As Carter would say, that's how fate worked for her. But that's not say that Emily and Dylan have the same path to face."

"The other thing is that everyone tells me I'm so much like her, not just looks wise, but the way I act, too. So what if I screw up like she did?"

"From what I understand, it was your father who did the screwing up, and your mother who loved him, through out it all. That's defiantly a trait you possess, but not one I'd ever want to put to the test."

She smiled. "You're too good to me."

He smiled back at her. "I'm just right, Alex. I love you."

"I love you, too, Tyrone." She looked at her left hand. "How long did you know you were giving me this ring for?"

"Your father told me today. I had to run around and get Luke to pretend to drop the other one, so that you wouldn't clue in."

"That kid was way too good at faking being upset about what he had done."

He laughed. "I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought that."

"I can't wait to get out of this damn dress."

"I can't wait to get you out of it."

She smiled at him, then he leaned down and kissed her. When Alex had gone to New York the last thing on her mind was love, but she was glad she had found it. She had also learned what she had always wanted, who her mother had been before she was a mother, and who her namesake had been. She finally felt free to live her own life, not in the shadow of her mother, but because of her. She had learned so much about her, and was glad that she was so much like her. Her similarities to her mother was her power, not her hindrance as she had once thought when she left Boston. A new chapter in her life was starting, and she was very much looking forward to living it with her husband by her side.

The End

end notes: so that's it folks, almost seems like a "and the lived happily ever after moment" doesn't it? anyway i hope you liked this part, and this series, thank you to everyone who has had kind words to say about what i tried here, it was hard to get everything right, but i think i did some justice... my fave line in this series has to be the "you can put the girl in 50 lbs of gear..." again thank you to everyone for reading this, feel free to check out my other works, if you want to post this elsewhere pls tell me where it's going... hugz and kissez all! -trista aka dustytiger