The wedding service began. Dearly beloved, we are gathered in the sight of...

The church organ struck up a traditional bridal march. When Max saw Fran his heart sank even lower. How much more of this could he take? Her gown of softly flowing pure white silk whispering on the silky aisle as she went by. Val walked behind her in a rich cream color dress. Val spotted Mr. Sheffield immediately, standing in a pew next to the aisle. He's not going to rein this wedding. I wont let him. She gave him a cold stare. Max swallowed. Max's mind: Oh no Val's upset with me. Will she try to stop me from stopping this wedding?

No. I wont let her get in the way of something I have to do. Nothing is going to stop me from doing this. I must stop this wedding. It will probably be the last thing I do.

Max looked around at the crowd. Why are there so many people here? I guess she wanted everyone she knew to be here except me? I can't be the one to make a scene in front of all these people can I? I have too. I have to do this for her. I have to do this for my kids. She doesn't love this guy. She deservers better, much better. Can I give her that? I don't know that I can. I must try I can't let her get away not without a fight. And not like this. He spotted CC coming out of a pew; she could hardly stand on her own. He turned his head so CC couldn't see him. He taught she was too drunk to even notice him anyway. As she passed by him their hands brushed. Max held his breath. He knew for sure this time he was going to be dead. CC, don't do this me, don't turn me in. She wouldn't would she?

I bet that it will cross her mind. CC was the one that was most likely to stop me. It has happened many of times she sabotaging Fran and me. He stood there a little longer, listening to the words, silently repeating them. Pretending to himself that, this was his wedding-day. And that he was marrying Fran. He shook his head. Na, that will never happen. Their union blessed by family and all. Then the words he was waited for came...

When the priest said "if any one thinks these two shouldn't be together..."

"Ms. Fine!..." Everyone in the building turns their attention towards the back of the building where Max was screaming. "You can't..." CC, after hearing Max's voice, ran down the aisle in front of him spilling a whole bottle of wine as she went.

"I...I...can't...can't...let...him...do...this...he's...not...going to...rein...my...wedding...day." She stuttered on the way to the stage. Max ran after her and slipped. He slid on the silk. Whhhhhhh... "CC." He yelled. He ended up right in front of the stage. Fran's mouth dropped open. "Mr. Sheffield. What are you doing here?" she comes off the stage and helps him to his feet.

"What does it look like? I'm trying to help stop a wedding."

"Oy."

"Ms. Fine I can't let you do this." He breathed slowly to regulate his breathing. "I can't let you make the biggest mistake of your life. I mean...I'm..."

"I can't either Fran. We love you. We need you." Maggie yelled out.

"Maggie." Both of them said at the same time. She ran up to Fran and wrapped her arms around her tightly. Tears begin to fall from Fran's eyes. Fran blinked and pushed Maggie away. Fran's head was spinning she had to get out of there.

"I can't..." she ran towards the back of the stage. Val was right behind her. She turned to face them.

"Look what you guys did!" Both Max and Maggie both shrugged back.

"I thought we did the right thing..." Max started but Val didn't want to hear what he had to say. She needed to check on her friend.

"We did dad, we did." Maggie called. Max sighed. Did I do the right thing? What if it wasn't? Danny started to running from the stage after Fran and Val.

"No you don't." Max yelled. He held up his hand to stop him.

"Who care's what you think. Now get out of my way!"

"We aren't finished yet." Max knew that something might start between them. He swallowed, Am I ready for anything that this guy has to say to me? Danny stepped closer to him. "Is that a treat?"

"What if it is?" Was that a mistake? Am I going to come to regret later?

"I don't take to treats." Danny pushed Max back which started a pushing fight between them. Tempers went flying. Danny's mind: I've had enough of this guy. He has ruined enough of my wedding. I have to say, get rid of him. Ummm. Danny pushed Max to the edge of the stage and over. Max fell back and slammed into some of the benches. Danny went towards the other side of the stage.

"I'm going to go get Fran so we can leave, maybe to elope. How's that?" Maggie watching him wasn't going to let him get away. She stuck out her foot just as he came passed her.

"I don't think so." He tripped on his own feet and fell down the three stairs that lead away from the stage.

"You little brat." Danny was able to get up and stand. He goes back onto the stage to get Maggie. I have to get these brats before they get to Fran. "If I get my hands on you."

"Nobody calls my sister a brat except me." Brighton charges him. Not really making any difference though.

"Says who? You? Ha ha. Take your best shot." And with that Niles hit Danny in the face. Blood dripped down from his nose. "Nobody tells my family," my family, I like the sound of that. "What to do." Pain shot through Niles' hand so he shook it. Oh, the pain I know I broke some fingers but it was worth it. Nobody is going to threaten 'my family'.

'My family' that is what they have become to me. Even Fran, she was part of that family and she had the right to know it. I have to protect my only family.

"You bastard," Danny put his hand up to his nose blood dripped though his fingers. "You broke my nose old man."

"So." Niles pushed him again. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Nii...llleeesss." Max called from the floor. "Is that you? Hel..."

"Yes, sir." Niles steps to the edge of the stage. He looks down and sees Max lying on the ground. Danny grabs Niles by the back of the shirt.

"We ain't done old man." Niles turns around.

"You SOB look what you did to him!" Niles hits Danny in the face again.

"Break it up, break it up." Yelled some officers that came up to them. They broke up the fight. "Let's go. Let's go. This way you two."

Maggie and Brighton went to see their dad. They helped him up to his feet. Val came up to them. She looked around.

"What happened to Danny?"

"He..." Max started. He blinked trying to focus. "Hey where did he go?"

"He was escorted out by the cops along with Niles..." Brighton responded. Then Max realized what Brighton had said. Max's mind: Why would Niles be escorted out by the cops? What did he do? Did he get into a fight? Oh what have I done? I have made things worse then I could have imagined.

Val comes back on stage and the gets the crowd to be quite.

"Well, Fran wanted to let everyone know that the wedding's off." People begin to leave the building. She walked closer to Max. "Go see her." She whispered. "She would like that." she smiled. "In the backroom. Down the hall on the left." Brighton and Maggie raced down the hall. Max was strolling not in too much of a hurry. Max's mind: What do I say to her? Did I just ruin her entire life? Was any of this right to do? I mean I do love her. I can't believe I just said that. Even though it was to myself. What am I thinking? Am I really in love again? Could it be? Is that even possible? He sighed. I guess it could happen. I don't know. I do miss her when she's gone. Have I really got that attached to her like my kids have? The house it's just not the same without her there. Nothing is. Is it time? Is it time for me to make a move? Am I willing to put it all on the line again? If I don't I may lose her forever. He swallowed. Let's just see if she wants anything to do with me now.

Back room: Brighton, Gracie and Maggie where waiting on their father just outside the door. Brighton was motioning to him to hurry up.

"You first dad." Brighton pushes him slightly in the door. He took a deep breath to calm himself. I can do this. I can do this. Fran was sitting at a table crying. Anything but that, I can't stand it when she cries. He sighs. He knows he has to say something to her. And what makes it worse is that his kids are counting on him too.

"Uhh...Ms. Fine...I..."

"What dad is trying to say is..." Gracie started. All of them ran up to Fran at once and hugged her. "We don't want you to marry Danny. We want you...to stay with us."

Fran sniffed. "I thought you guys hated me." She looked at all of the kids.

"No, no we couldn't hate you." Brighton smiled. "We love you." He looked over

at his dad. "Even dad."

"You're the best thing that has happened to us." Maggie responded. All of them smiled at Fran.

"Ahh...you kids are great." She sniffed. They hugged her again.

"We learned from the best." Brighton gave his dad two thumbs up. Fran turned her chair towards the door where she looked at Mr. Sheffield. "And you?" He stood there smiling.

"Ummm...What?" he shrugged. "What did I do?"

"Dad!" The three kids all shouted. He didn't know what he was feeling, so many emotions running though him.

"Well," he hesitated for a second. "Even me, I couldn't..." he breathed in deep as to get courage. "Live without you." A tear slid down his cheek. In his mind he wanted to say that he loved her but he couldn't do it. This was the biggest scare he got. He realized that he almost lost her and lost her for good this time. He didn't think his heart could take it.

"Really?" she smiled. He smiled back. Fran's mind: This is the only time, that I

will be in a wedding dress next to Max in a tux. I have to get a picture and quick while he's vulnerable. She gets up and grabs him by the arm. He places his arms around her waist to give her a hug. She faces the kids. "Gracie, get the camera." Gracie races to the table and picks up the camera.

"Say I do." The kids said in unison. Fran kissed Max on the lips just as the flash of the camera goes off. "Ms. Fine!" Fran takes off running with Mr. Sheffield right behind her. All of the kids smile.

"Everything is back to normal." Brighton calls. All of them slap hands.

The Sheffield's house:

Fran and Max are sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. The Wedding was all over the paper.

"How could they do this to me?" Max threw the paper down on the table.

"I don't think it's that bad." The picture of them kissing each other made the front page. Both looked up as Niles enter though the backdoor with taped up fingers. "And this is all the thanks I get." He holds up his fingers.

The end