A/N: Can you feel it? Our little story is coming to an end soon...only two more chapters after this one. And I have to apologize to Mandi and all you other Mac/Stella shippers...Stella's birthday surprise (which was mentioned briefly a couple of sections ago) is going to remain a mystery because I just can't figure out how to work it in. But I promise I'll make it up to you!

She stood near the window of the nursery where she and the other girls were getting ready, left alone with her thoughts for a moment, a small smile on her lips. He slipped into the room almost silently, glancing around to see if anyone was there to throw him out as he made his way over to his bride.

"Hey babe," Danny whispered with a grin as he slid his arms around Maddie and nuzzled her neck.

Her smile grew at his touch, but she chastised him anyway. "Danny, what are you doing here? We're getting married in an hour and a half…you're not supposed to see me…"

He chuckled and turned her around, his hands sliding over the silky material of the slip she wore as he pulled her closer. "I'm not supposed to see you in your dress," he winked. "And that's hangin' up somewhere."

She wrapped an arm around his neck and laughed, running her free hand down his partially buttoned tuxedo shirt. "Minor detail," she smirked. "If any of the girls catch you in here, you're dead."

"Where are they, anyway?" he asked, trying to gauge how much time he had with her.

"Shayla and Stella are getting the flowers, Aiden ran back to her hotel room to get my veil, and my sister is making sure everything is ready at the altar."

"Good," he smiled. "Then I have just enough time to do this…" He leaned in and brushed his lips softly against hers.

"Hey! We had an agreement," she reminded him, grinning in spite of herself. "No more kisses until we're married…"

"I can't help it," he replied, leaning in for a second, deeper kiss. "This is the last time I'll get to kiss Maddie Parrish…" His mouth found hers again, and for a moment the bride and groom forgot about everything but the two of them.

When Danny finally pulled back, though, there was a different tone in his voice. "You know," he told her, "you don't have to change your name…"

She rolled her eyes at him with a grin. "We've had this discussion."

"I know, I just want to make sure. Because I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to be associated with my family…"

She reached up and touched his cheek tenderly, trying to find the words that would convince him of her decision. "I'm not associating myself with your family," she began. "I'm associating myself with you, which is something I'm proud to do. I'm excited to introduce myself as Maddie Messer and have people know you're my husband."

A pleased expression spread across his face as she spoke her new name. "And you're not worried 'bout the rest of the family?"

She shook her head. "Nope. You are separate from your family, and everyone whose opinion counts knows the difference."

His smile widened and he leaned in close again. "Then let me kiss Maddie Parrish one last time…"

She allowed him to kiss her for a moment, but then gently pushed him away. "Okay, but now you have to go," she insisted. "The girls will be back any minute now."

"Okay," he replied, defying her and planting yet another kiss on her lips. "I'm going."

He slipped quickly out of the room, checking the hallway to make sure he hadn't been caught, and nonchalantly made his way back to the main part of the little church.

"Danny?" a voice called, laden with a familiar accent.

He turned to find his younger brother grinning at him in surprise. "Louie? What are you doin' here?"

"You're gettin' married, remember?" Louie replied with smirk. "I'm here for the wedding. And I wanted to…"

Danny shook his head and held up a hand, cutting him off. "Look, whatever it is you want, whatever it is you need help with, it's gonna have to wait until later. I'm not gonna deal with you right now…"

Louie looked hurt for a moment, stung by his brother's words but knowing he deserved them. "I just wanted to say congratulations," he replied quietly, turning to walk away. "And that I hope you're happy together."

Danny frowned, grabbing Louie's shoulder before he could leave. "Hey…thanks man."

The two brothers embraced, forgetting, at least for the moment, the animosity that often sprung up between them.

"Means a lot to me that you're here," Danny continued as he pulled away.

Louie smiled. "Glad I finally got somethin' right."

"Okay, here we go," Liz Parrish called, taking on the role of traffic director in addition to being the maid of honor and sister of the bride. "The guests are all seated…time to send in the mothers."

Shayla giggled and glanced up at Danny. "So I'm your mother today?"

He laughed. "According to your Aunt Liz you are. Just don't ground me and send me to my room. I don't want to miss my own wedding."

She giggled again. "As long as you behave yourself…"

Mrs. Parrish smiled at that, looking up at Don as he offered her his arm. "She's a pretty good kid, isn't she?"

Don nodded. "And she has pretty good parents, too."

"That she does," the older woman agreed, beaming with pride.

"Shall we?"

Mrs. Parrish smiled again and took his arm. "We shall."

"Best part of being the best man," he whispered to her as they walked toward the front of the church. "I get to walk down the aisle with the beautiful mother of the bride."

They reached the front pew and she pulled Don down to her, grinning and planting a kiss on his cheek. "That's for making an old woman feel good," she told him.

He chuckled and blushed a bit, murmuring a "you're welcome" and hoping Aiden wasn't watching, getting the wrong idea.

Outside the big double doors, Danny offered his arm to Shayla for their trip to the front of the church. "Ready?"

"Yep," she smiled happily back. "Ready when you are."

She slid her arm through his and walked with him slowly down the aisle, smiling joyfully as they moved, thrilled to play such a big part of such a big day. He, too, couldn't seem to keep the proud grin from his face as he escorted his foster daughter to her seat.

When they arrived at the front row, he took her hand in his and squeezed it affectionately.

"Thanks, kiddo," he whispered. "I'm glad you're a part of this."

She smiled gently, taking her hand back and hugging him tightly instead. "Me too," she whispered back. When she released him she made him stand still for a moment while she quickly looked him over, straightening his bowtie and planting a kiss on his cheek. "Perfect," she smiled. "Now go get married."

He returned to the back of the church, where Don slapped him on the back. "Look at you, proud papa with his little girl."

"Yeah," was all Danny replied, drawing the word out with a grin.

"Okay, fellas, it's show time," the minister informed them as he joined the little group. "I need the groom and best man to come with me so the rest of the wedding party can get lined up and we can bring out the bride."

The two best friends grinned broadly at each other and dutifully followed the minister around to the side door, where they would enter first. Liz took charge of the rest of the group, making sure everyone was where they were supposed to be.

"Aiden, you and Dantrell are first," she began, handing off a bouquet of flowers to the bridesmaid and a matching boutonniere to the groomsman as they passed by her. "Stella, Sheldon, you guys are next…then me by myself because Don's up there with Danny already…" She stopped and looked around. "But where's the bride?"

"She's here," Mac called, walking beside Maddie down the hallway. "We had a little dress snafu to deal with."

Stella, helping Sheldon with his boutonniere, paused in her pinning and turned to look at Mac, suppressing a surprised laugh. "You helped Maddie fix her dress?"

His cheeks turned a slight shade of pink. "It was just a missed button. I took care of it."

Maddie laughed and patted Mac's shoulder. "He did a great job, too."

Liz fluttered over, pinning a boutonniere on Mac's lapel before fluffing out the train on Maddie's dress and arranging her bouquet of flowers. When she was satisfied, she gently, carefully, hugged her sister. "You ready?"

Maddie smoothed her simple white dress, adjusting one of the straps and grinning. "Let's do this."

A cheer went up from the wedding party and they heard the side door being pushed open as the minister led Danny and Don to the altar. Moving Maddie and Mac off to the side, the big main doors were opened and the music began.

Aiden took Dantrell's arm with a smile, trying not to laugh at the how-did-I-get-so-lucky look on the young man's face. So happy was she for her friends and so excited to be back in New York with Don for a little while, she didn't even mind when he accidentally brushed his hand over her backside as they parted at the altar.

Stella and Sheldon followed, sharing an amused glance when they saw the nervous expression Danny wore.

"You think he'll be okay?" Sheldon asked quietly.

Stella grinned. "Yeah. As soon as Maddie comes out he'll be fine I think."

He patted her hand as they separated at the end of the aisle. "I hope you're right."

Liz took her cue to begin, and as slowly as she could make herself, walked between the rows of people. She smiled at a few relatives and friends, noting with mixed emotions that her father had made the trip for the big day, then shifted her gaze to her soon-to-be brother-in-law, giving him a little encouraging nod as she took her place.

The big doors in the back had been closed behind Liz to allow Maddie and Mac to get into position without being seen, and when the music changed they were opened up again. The guests rose in unison in anticipation of the bride, and Danny swallowed hard, clasping his hands together to try and cease their shaking.

"Ready for this?" Don whispered. The groom nodded mutely, and Don chuckled. "Just wait 'til she gets up here."

At the back of the church, Mac leaned over and asked Maddie the same question. "Ready for this?"

She nodded, a little nervous herself. "As long as I don't trip and fall, I'm good."

Mac grinned. "Don't worry. I gotcha."

They made their way down the aisle with more grace than Maddie imagined she'd have, her uneasiness melting away somehow at the sight of Danny's own discomfort. He came down the altar steps and stood beside her before the minister began the ceremony.

"You look beautiful," he told her quietly.

She grinned. "You look pretty good yourself…I told you you looked hot in a tux."

"Who here gives this woman to be wedded to this man?" the minister asked.

Mac smiled proudly. "I do."

Maddie allowed him to fold her veil back and kiss her cheek before slipping her arms around him and hugging him tightly. "Thank you so much, Mac," she said softly, "for giving me away, for introducing me to Danny, for looking out for the both of us, for being such a good friend…for everything."

He smiled proudly, feeling as though he was holding a little sister. "It was all my pleasure," he answered back, wanting to say more but unable to find the words.

He cleared his throat roughly and offered his hand to Danny, who shook it and pulled him into a warm embrace.

"Congratulations, Danny," Mac chuckled. "It finally happened."

Danny smiled broadly, his anxiety bleeding away as he stood with his bride and closest friends. "Yeah. I finally fell in love."

They patted each other on the back and Mac cleared his throat one more time. "Just keep loving her," he told his protégé quietly.

Danny nodded solemnly. "I will," he promised.

Mac nodded gently, too, as he turned from the couple, taking a seat beside Maddie's mother in the front row with the rest of the family.

Danny took Maddie's hand in his, flashing a nervous but excited smile her way as he guided her up the altar steps.

"It's the end of the world as we know it…," she sang softly under her breath, winking at her groom.

He laughed as he recognized the REM song she had taken to singing when planning the wedding became particularly stressful. "…and I feel fine," he finished.

"Good," she grinned.

They stopped at the top of the altar and faced the minister.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Daniel and Madeline in holy matrimony…"