Notes: I still own nothing of Once and Again. Anyway, if ya get confused on the timeline of this...the first part is 2 and a half years after the 'non wedding' weekend. After that, it's clearer. I hope yall don't get lost reading this! I was in a rambling mood when I wrote most of it so, well, yall will have to bear with me! I know, I'm rambling now...I guess it's cause I almost don't want to say goodbye to this one. But I am, and it's over. Thank yall for reading this and sticking with it through my various blocks and all. Boy will I miss this story. This is part one of a two part epilogue.

Most importantly, thank you for reading...and I hope you enjoy.

Grace and Eli walked inside the house that beautiful day and found themselves on the path to their own happily ever after they always wanted. He left a few days later but made certain he was never gone long just as he promised her. She went back to school and ended up teaching. She was inspired by August Dimitri and once the bug bit her she never really got over it. Eli and his band finished their album and it sold fairly well. He wasn't a huge star but fame was not what he wanted anymore. They still played gigs occasionally, but that was their last album. Each member of the band found his own little niche in the music business and could not be happier. Grace's grandmother passed away a year and a half later and after a year without her, Grace still misses her dearly. She was coherent enough at some points to know and understand the depth of the love Grace and Eli shared and her heart soared knowing Grace had found such a beautiful love. That beautiful love shone brightly one moonlit night on a deserted beach while Grace and Eli were on their first vacation alone.

Grace stood on the beach looking out toward the ocean watching the moonlight dance on the water. She walked outside alone instead of waiting for Eli to finish his phone call with his dad. That was all right with him because he had a plan that needed set in motion. He saw her standing in the moonlight and felt tears form in his eyes. 'I haven't even said a word to her yet and already I am crying. I will never make it through the proposal. We'll both be crying too hard to speak. She is so beautiful and she has never really known it. Okay Eli, take a deep breath, walk to the woman you love, get down on one knee and propose...now.' He walked toward the woman he loved more than life itself and felt his knees go weak as his eyes met hers.

"Hey sweetheart. How's your dad? Is wild man feeling better? What? E, are you okay?" Grace noticed Eli was pale and wasn't speaking.

He took a deep breath. "I'm fine. Dad is fine. Philip is feeling a little better. His fever has gone down. Uh Grace...I uh..." He didn't know what to say. He was terrified and she was standing there looking at him with those beautiful eyes of hers patiently waiting for him to continue. 'You can do this Eli...ask her.' He took another deep breath to steady himself. He knelt down on one knee and heard her softly gasp. "I love you Grace. I have loved you for so long I cannot possibly remember what my life was like before you filled my heart with your incredible love. You always saw a glimmer of hope no matter how defeated I was. You have loved me unconditionally. You turned my world upside down and I would never want it any other way. I can't live my life without you by my side every step of the way. Grace, sweetheart, love of my life...will you spend the rest of your days with me and let me be your husband?"

Eli couldn't see her tears through his own. She was shaking. Her knees felt weak. "E." She began to cry. "Of course. Nothing in this world would make me happier. I love you."

He slowly stood while praying silently his legs would hold him. He took her trembling hand in his and reached into his pocket with his other hand. "I looked everywhere for the perfect ring and finally found this one at a little antique shop one afternoon before a gig. I saw it and thought you would love it. I wanted to wait for the perfect moment." He took the ring out of his pocket and slid it on her finger.

"Eli, it's beautiful. You are incredible. I love you so much." Grace wrapped her arms around his neck and knew she never wanted to let go. He's the man of her dreams and they'd found their happily ever after in the strangest of circumstances.

a year later

Like a garden in the spring,

life is full of wonderful things.

Their eyes met and from the start,

love was planted in their hearts.

You're invited to the wedding of

Grace Brooks Manning

And

Eli Edward Sammler

She watched as her big sister searched frantically for her telephone that was ringing again for the 12th time in the last four hours. Zoe knew she would go unnoticed today and came to the realization she could stand back and watch everything happening around her without missing a detail.That smile. Grace hears Eli's voice and her entire face lights up. She is glowing. I am so happy for the two of them. They definitely belong together even if it was a long time coming. Zoe smiled, as she got lost in memories of years past.

They were getting married today, two people who found love after hiding it and fighting it for so many years. It began with a boy being nice to a girl with a crush whose mom had a date with his dad. He was popular and she was shy. He barely survived school and she was valedictorian. He was in a band and she was lead in a school play. Complete opposites who fell completely in love. Today was the day they'd waited for all their lives and their hearts soared.

"Zo, can you zip me again? I hate going to the bathroom while I'm wearing this thing." Zoe smiled and walked over to her sister.

"Grace, you can always wear jeans. I don't think anyone would mind. It's all about you, Eli, and the love you share, not about this huge dress. I'll tell ya one thing. I certainly won't be wearing anything this huge. Oh, Grace, don't look at me like that. It's beautiful, you're beautiful, and there is no way you of all people could wear jeans on your wedding day. Joking, geez, trying to make you smile and relax. Everything will be perfect, just like your love." Zoe smiled as she heard her mom's phone ring. She looked at Grace and at the same time they both stated, "Rick" and laughed. "I'll be out there. I wanna find Daddy and see if Jessie and Katie are here. I love you Gracie." Zoe felt a tear form in her eye and she knew she had to leave the room before she made her sister cry. I am not fixing her makeup again. Three times is more than enough. Zoe saw the stunned look on Grace's face, touched her arm and said, "Don't say a word. And most importantly, do not cry again."

Zoe put her hand on the doorknob and she heard Grace's voice, "Zoe, I love you too, you little squirt. Thank you." She never turned back toward her sister because she didn't want Grace to see her tears.

"Hey Rick. You called Mom didn't you?" Zoe asked with a smile after wiping her tears.

Rick smiled and said, "Of course I did. Going to find that man of yours?"

Zoe beamed. "Not right now. I am emotional enough as it is. I'm looking for Daddy and Jess. Do you know if Katie made it today?"

"I think she's here. I saw my daughter with a huge smile on her beautiful face so I am assuming Katie is the reason. Tell her I love her when you see her okay? I have to get back to Eli." Rick grabbed Zoe's hand and said, "I love you too Zoe. You have grown into a beautiful, intelligent woman and I know your mom and dad are so proud of you. I am too." Rick wiped his eyes and said, "Okay, don't say a word. Go find your father and I'll talk to you later."

Zoe smiled and said, "I love you too" before turning to find Jake. She saw him talking to Henry and began to walk toward them.

"I thought you would be with Grace trying to calm her down. And yes, days like today it's best to let the woman you're madly in love with ramble on about how wonderful her children are." Henry beamed. "What about you Jake? Aren't you a proud father today looking at each of your daughters knowing you couldn't be happier?"

"Yeah, now, you're trying to make me cry. Furthermore, I do not cry. Talk to you later Henry. I have a job to do. Don't laugh at me when I walk Grace down the aisle in tears either." Jake patted Henry on the back and turned to see Zoe watching them. "Uh oh" he muttered.

"I'll bet money he cries. What do you think Henry? Think my dad will cry when he walks my sister down the aisle?" Zoe smiled and put her arm around her father.

"Yes, without a doubt, your father will cry. Hey, any man would." Henry smiled and added, "I guess you two better get to Grace before she walks down the aisle alone." Jake and Zoe left as Henry waited for Karen.

end part one...