Standard disclaimers applied.

Author's Note: Upon rereading this last little bit, I realized that I had not saved the chapter properly, so parts were missing. Instead of trying to recover what I had before, I set out to rewrite and add brand new scenes to lengthen it. Parts of the original epilogue has been moved and rearranged. For those, we have already read the first copy, please, I urge you guys to go back and reread Parts XVIII and XIX.

Part XIX: Epilogue - By Invitation

Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get,
it's what you're expected to give - which is everything.

-Anonymous

When Pratt went online to check his emails, he found that he had received some expected, yet surprising good news. Since the ER was unusually quiet - a fact that was silently acknowledged by all, he had no qualms of letting out an excited "Yeah!" It was an action that raised several eyebrows and turned quite a few heads. Jerry standing next to him, asked, "You alright, Pratt?"

"Yo man, life couldn't be never better," as he allowed room for the ward clerk to read the computer monitor.

You are cordially invited to the nuptials

of

Detective MAURICE LOUIS BOSCORELLI TO Sergeant FAITH ELIZABETH MITCHELL

and

Dr. JOHN TRUMAN CARTER III TO Dr. JING-MEI CHEN

Initially, when Bosco and Faith approached John and Deb about their wedding, there weren't any plans for the latter couple to renew their wedding vows. Their excuse was that they didn't want to impeach on their friend's important day. However, Bosco who lacked tactfulness, asked, "So, are you planning to renew them?"

Carter said, "Well, we talked about it, but we're not in a hurry."

"Why not? We don't need all this fuss with planning, booking reception halls, etc, six months down the road. One wedding is enough for me, thank you very much."

Three pairs of eyebrows raised at his rather vehement declaration. He only shrugged and said, "What? Faith, you're the only women I ever planning on marrying. I don't need another women in my life."

Ok, so being subtle wasn't his strong suit, but being spontaneously sweet certainly was.

Anyways, Faith did add her two cents by asking, "Why not?"

"It's your wedding - you and Bosco's. John and I are already married," Deb insisted.

"Who cares? It's not going to be incredibly fancy, just our friends."

"But-"

Stilling his wife's protest by taking her hand, Carter said, "Lets just do it, Deb. Besides, second wedding means a second honeymoon and it will be worth it."

It turned out that Dr. Carter still had enough charms to make his wife blush.

-o-o-

Like their first wedding, this occasion was an intimate affair - mostly friends and families were in attendance. Pratt, Weaver, Ray and Neela flew into New York to witness the event. Luka and Abby could not attend because of the twins but they did send their warmest regards and good wishes. Other congratulations were sent by proxy.

Deb had planned on renewing her vows in her Vera Wang wedding dress. However, she had gotten news that she was already two-months pregnant with hers and John's first baby. In the excitement of the past months, she had missed some of the signs, and apparently, so had John. So, even though the dress was simple in its elegance, it was corset style and therefore, it wasn't as comfortable around the waist.

She however, couldn't wait to tell him tonight, when they were on their second honeymoon. He had been tightlipped about his plans, but apparently, he had Pratt in on the secret. Deb had been unsuccessful in getting so much a clue. At the thought, there was a knock on the door. Pratt had seemingly materialized from her thoughts to the person in front of her.

"Pratt."

"Aw, you are a beautiful bride, Jing-Mei and you're absolutely glowing." Deb wondered briefly, if Pratt, had figured out her secret.

He seemed to go off on another tangent, when he produced a pocket from his pant pocket. "Here, it's from Carter. Goodness only knows why you two, have me playing the messenger."

"Well, he's got you on his big secret about the honeymoon. I will say it is only fair."

"Now. You know I am not the one to be spilling the beans before the whole world knows. Anyways, read the darn thing and lets get this show on the road."

For the second time, she wondered if Pratt had indeed figured out that she was pregnant. Reading the fine script of her husband, she debated whether to laugh or cry.

"I never thought that I will ever make it this far with the whole marriage and commitment thing. I think about all the things that have gone wrong, but are now made right. There are still parts in my life that are better left to rest in the past, but four years and counting, I am ever so thankful to have you in my life.

I love you, Deb and I will forever be yours even when you are only an aisle away, John."

-o-o-

For Bosco, his primary focus was on one woman only. He suppressed the urge to punch the busybodies who insisted that he was nervous, as he paced the small area where he was waiting with John Carter.

"How could you be so calm?" he finally asked.

"Practice. You have to be calm in stressful situations. When you are a doctor, you can't panic every time you have do a surgery or make life changing decisions on somebody's life. Besides, it helps when you know that you are already married."

"So, you were calm the first time around."

"Honestly, I don't remember much of it, but it goes a long way when the rest of the guests don't know they are attending a wedding."

"I should have convinced Faith to elope."

"I think there are some people who want to see you happily married."

Bosco had to concede to this point. Nobody ever thought that he was going to settle down - always late for roll call, trash-talking at the perps, getting on the nerves of everybody within a three block radius. He was known for his promiscuous flings, but the only person who stuck by him despite all this, was his best friend and partner. She made him want to be a better person and Bosco was determined not to be the shadow of his father. He took a quick glance over at his mother. Rose Boscorelli was to be the proudest of mothers to see her oldest son slipped the ring into the hand of the future Mrs. Maurice Boscorelli.

-o-o-

For Faith, her second wedding had surpassed her first with Fred. She had been really young back then. There wasn't enough money for a honeymoon, before the two moved in together and Faith found herself pregnant. They lived on Fred's part-time checks and his alcohol abuse before she was pregnant again with Charlie and then joining the Academy.

This time, things were different. Not only what she older with two grown children, she was going to marry somebody with whom she had already shared plenty of tears, heartaches and laughter. Yet like any bride, she had gotten something new, something old, something borrowed and something blue.

The new was her wedding dress. It wasn't a traditional style, without its usual veil and train. Instead, it was a Versace classic, empire waist, thick shoulder straps and v-necked. What stood out was the intricate beading that went into the material, which shimmered like brilliant solitaires.

The old was from Emily. She had put together a collage, filled with old photographs of Faith and Bosco at various stages of their lives. She and Charlie was there to see her getting married to someone that they affectionately called "Uncle Bosco." The relationship was going to be awkward at first, but Bosco had always love the kids. He wasn't giving them any pressure, but he only wanted a chance to care for them, as much as he loved their mother.

The borrowed was a gift from the Carters - the use of their private plane. "Just give it back to us after your honeymoon," they had joked at seeing their bewildered expressions. Neither Bosco and Faith had any idea that Carter was "well-off."

The blue came from Jing-Mei herself. This was given in privacy because the scandalous nature of the gift. "I'm sure Bosco would like it."

Faith briefly wondered briefly at the woman's sanity. "Jing-Mei! I don't even want to know how you figure out my size."

"Your daughter, Emily is much smarter than you give her credit for."

"What? Emily? Jing-Mei! You're going to corrupt my daughter!"

"See Faith, not nearly enough credit."

Despite any protest or shuddering images that Faith could conjure in her mind, she ultimately decided that it was a thoughtful act on their part. Bosco's expression had been worth it. Faith felt like she was Aphrodite herself, rather than a once-divorced mother who had already given birth twice.

-o-o-

So, what else needed to be said? To be sure, even the most compatible of couples such as Mr and Mrs. Maurice Boscorelli, as well as Mr. and Mrs. John Truman Carter III, had their shares of ups and downs throughout the years. Their friendship only blossomed over the years of their acquaintance. They had taught each other the valuable lesson that each individual enters into a commitment with their flaws and imperfections. Human natures do not simply change over night without adaptions and compromises. And in the end, hearts will only grow fonder by these experiences.

The End

AUTHOR'S NOTE

For me, this story has been a personal favourite, because I have finally accomplished the goal of writing a genuine ER and Third Watch crossover, coupled with a well-developed Jinter and BoscoFaith romance.

However, I could not have done this without the continual support of the readers and reviewers. I hoped that this story has at least touched some of your hearts. Still, a special thank you goes to AshCarroll and CarbyLivesOn - you guys were my motivation for the last three months.

It started out as an one-shot before spinning to a full length 18-chapter story. The title itself is significant, as a single piece of letter was what became a major catalyst to the subsequent events. Of course, the idea of a correspondence plays a major role to the story because every time a letter / email / some form of communique is mentioned, it signals a change.

I) the initial unaddressed letter from Carter to Abby that Jing-Mei found

II) Jing-Mei gave Pratt a letter, addressed to John which she wrote about her leaving Chicago

III) Jing-Mei received confirmation and accepted her new position in NYC via email

IV) Faith came home to an empty apartment only to find a note from Fred about the divorce, taking the kids

V) the series of emails exchanged between John and Deb was the major transition point in their relationship

VI) the epilogue begins with an email wedding invitation

VII) the final letter that Carter gave Jing-Mei before their second wedding - some of the wording is meant to correspond to the one in the prologue

Besides the physical manifestation of a correspondence, the literal meaning of 'To correspond' where it is defined as 'to agree with something.' serves as major theme. I think Luka said it best in Part XII, "We just have to figure out the priorities. It comes to choosing between the work where you have thousands of lives hanging on the balance or the one person with whom you are in love with. I found that it helps to have somebody who understand your needs and wants, but you yourself know that we can't have our mind set on changing and fixing everything. It's all about compromise."

John and Deb have to find out what being married means to them, as Bosco and Faith have to realize what it takes to be partners both of on and off the job.

Anyways, as I wrap this up, I want to give another thank you. I am writing various vignettes which spinoff from my Reela fic "In this Life," in addition, I am giving Jane Austen a try by writing my first modern JA rendition. Check them out as I roll out with new chapters. Much love.