"New Love Found"

Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Everything else I own unless stated otherwise.

A/N: Takes place the month after previous chapter. Thoughts are in italics.

Chapter 22 – Wedding Joys

Kira sat at the kitchen table in her and Conner's house and thought to herself, "today's the day. Today's the day that I marry the love of my life."

Conner had left the day before at lunchtime and Kira found it hard, though she had had spent some time with Mel, then returned to an empty house. She had had also called Jade on her mobile and found that she had gone home to her parents for the night, but would come over to Kira's on the day of the wedding to get ready. She had finished up her phone call and watched some TV, then went to bed where she had had a long night trying to get to sleep without Conner, but she had had managed eventually.

She snapped herself out of her thoughts and looked at the clock and saw the time. "I'd better start getting ready," she thought. At that moment, the door went and she got up to answer it. When she opened it, she saw her parents standing there in their outfits as were David and Kirsten. She noticed that Hayley, Mel and Jade were not in their dresses, but that David had two garment bags on his arm, and Hayley and Mel each had a garment bag.

"Come in guys."

"Thanks Kiddo."

They entered and headed to the living-room and Amanda said, "Kyle, Darling, you and David wait here." She turned to David and said, "I'll take those dresses David."

"OK Mand." Kyle turned to Kira and said, "is it OK if we help ourselves to something to eat and coffee, Kiddo?"

"Sure, Dad. Be my guest."

With that, the girls headed upstairs to get ready, and in the case of Amanda and Kirsten, help their daughters get ready.

Hayley and Mel got themselves washed, dried and dressed in their dresses, then did each other's hair and make-up whilst Kira got a quick shower followed by Jade who went in after Kira had finished. When Kira finished with her shower, she got herself dried and in her dressing gown and headed back into the bedroom. She said, "Do I get my dress on first or my hair and make-up done first?"

"Hmmm. I think, put your dress on first Kira, then either Mel or Hayley can do your make-up whilst I do your hair. However, we'll put your dressing gown on over your dress."

"OK Mum."

So Kira put on her dress and then put on her dressing gown back on and sat on her stool to let her mum do her hair while it was agreed that Hayley would do Kira's make-up and Mel would do Jade's.

Jade emerged from her bathroom and did the same as Kira had done and sat down on another stool in front of her mum and Mel. Kirsten got started on her daughter's hair as Mel and Hayley were waiting to the make up on both Kira and Jade.

x

About an hour later, both Kirsten and Amanda were finished and stood back to admire their work and were satisfied and nodded to Mel and Hayley to begin. Hayley and Mel sat in front of their chosen bride to be and chose colours that would suit each girl so they could begin with the make-up.

After twenty minutes, they were both done and let the girls take a look at themselves in the mirror and both Kira and Jade were happy with what they saw. Kira turned and said, "Thank you all. From both of us." She then turned to Amanda and said, "Mum, did Dad see my dress and Kirsten, did David see either of them?"

"No Kira. Your dad doesn't know what you are wearing, so this will be a shock to him."

"Neither does David, Kira."

"Oh, OK."

With that, Kira and jade took their dressing gowns off and picked up their tiaras and placed them on their heads, then they were ready. They picked up their bouquets and handed Hayley and Mel theirs and nodded to their mums.

Amanda looked out the window and saw the two cars outside. She turned and said, "The cars are here. I'll go in one with Kirsten and Hayley and Mel will go in the other. The cars will then come back for you two and your dads."

"OK Mum."

With that, Amanda, Kirsten, Hayley and Mel went downstairs and Kirsten said, "David, Kyle, they're ready. The cars will come back for the four of you."

Both men nodded and kissed their wives as they got in one car and turned to the other two and Kyle said, "You both look beautiful. Tommy and Eric will like them."

The girls giggled and got in the other car and both cars set off for "The Lochside."

Kyle turned to David and said, "Shall we go and get our girls?"

"They are not girls anymore, they are going to become married women, but yes, we'll go and collect them."

"True."

Kyle led the way upstairs and as he didn't know which bedroom was Kira's he shouted, "Kira?"

"In here Dad."

They followed Kira's voice to what they saw was the master bedroom. Kyle opened the door and was stunned speechless. It took a nudge from David for Kyle to move in to the room so that David could come in. David entered and was also stunned speechless. Kyle recovered first.

"My God, Kira." You're absolutely beautiful! I'm proud to be walking you down the aisle and to be giving you away to a wonderful guy."

"Thanks Dad. It means so much that you are doing this for me."

"As I told you when I married your Mum, I would never take Brian's place."

"I know, and you haven't. You mean the world to me and Neil, Dad."

Kyle then took Kira in his arms and gave her a fatherly hug. David then said, "Kira, Kyle is right. You look beautiful." He then turned to Jade and said, "Princess, you truly are beautiful."

"Thanks Dad."

David then hugged Jade. After a few minutes, they pulled apart, and David looked out the window and said, "The cars are back." The four of them headed downstairs to the cars. Each father and daughter pair got in a separate car and headed for "The Lochside."

x

About twenty minutes later, they arrived at their destination. They got out and headed towards the grounds. Kira and Jade gasped at the sight in front of them and headed towards Mel and Hayley near the end of the grounds. Just then, the music started and Hayley and Mel headed down first.

Mel caught Eric's eye as she stood at the front. She smiled at his shocked face. Hayley then walked down and caught Tommy's eye and she too smiled at his face as she took her place beside Mel.

As one, the congregation stood up and turned towards the end of the aisle to await the brides. Conner and Neil turned to see the most beautiful sight that each of them had seen as their brides came down on the arm of their fathers.

Kira and Jade caught their beloveds' eyes and smiled at them.

The Minister asked everyone to be seated, then began the ceremony. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of these two couples, who are so young, but so much in love. Neil and Jade, Conner and Kira, do you enter this marriage of your own accord?"

In unison, both couples replied, "We do."

The Minister then turned to the fathers and said, "Who gives these two women to these two men?"

In unison, both Kyle and David replied, "We do," and placed their daughters' hands in the hands of their grooms' and said, "Take care of her." Both Neil and Conner nodded and Kyle and David sat next to their wives.

The Minister then continued, "Both couples have written their own vows. Conner, Kira you will go first. Conner?"

Conner turned to Kira and took her hands in his and said, "Kira, for all of the years that I've known you, I have really liked you. At first it was a friendship which became a crush. That crush developed into love which was unbearable because at that time, I couldn't have you. When you told me how you felt about me, I was overjoyed. When you agreed to be my girlfriend, I couldn't be happier. Now, as we stand here today, in front of all our friends and family, I truly know the meaning of happiness as we exchange our vows and become Husband and Wife. I love you Kira McBride."

"Kira?" The Minister prompted.

Kira smiled through her tears and placed one hand on Conner's cheek as she held the other one and said, "Conner, I had a very rocky relationship before I went out with you. I couldn't tell anyone what was going on as I was frightened to do so. When I finally told you how I felt about you, I never dreamed that you felt the same about me. When you admitted that you did and asked me to be your girlfriend, I felt my dream came true. I know that you will protect me and never hurt me, because when you found out what had happened to me in my previous relationship, I saw the anger in your eyes, but knowing that I loved and needed you was what stopped you from taking action. As I stand before you now, in front of our friends and family, I pledge to give you all that I am and my heart and seal it with my undying love. I am yours. I love you with all of my heart Conner."

By this time, the congregation was in tears at the heartfelt words being said as Conner and Kira smiled at each other. The Minister then turned to Neil and Jade and said, "Neil?"

Neil copied Conner and took Jade's hands in his as he said, "Jade, we have been together for four and a half years. We started as friends who gradually became boyfriend and girlfriend. Although we don't usually keep secrets from each other, you did not tell me about what had happened with Kira, I understood why. I love your loyalty to your friends and to me. I love everything about you. When you agreed to marry me, I know that my life was complete. You complete me Jade. On this day, our wedding day, my life truly begins. I can accomplish anything as long as you are by my side. May our love never end. I love you Jade Spencer."

Jade was like Kira, crying, but she managed to say her vows. She placed one hand on Neil's heart and the other in his hand and said, "Neil, we built a friendship and remained friends for a few years. When we started going out, that friendship grew to love. You are my world, my heart, my soul and my better half. Today, I give you my heart as you give me yours and together, we'll be strong. With all that I possess, I pledge myself to you. Neil McBride, I love you."

Again there was not a dry eye in the congregation as the Minster said, "Do you have the rings?" Hayley and tommy stepped forward and placed Neil's set on the Minister's Bible, then Mel and Eric did the same with Conner's set. The Minister instructed Neil and Conner to place the rings on their brides' ring finger and they did so saying, "With this ring, I thee wed." Kira and Jade followed suit and said the same thing. The Minister then said, "You may kiss the bride." Neil and Conner did just that and turned to the congregation with their new wives as the Minister said, "ladies and Gentlemen, for the first time, I give you Mr and Mrs McBride and Mr and Mrs McKnight."

The two newly wed couples walked down the aisle to applause from everyone. They headed to the reception and to the beginning of their new lives together.

So Kira found new love in one of her best friends, and Amanda found new love in her best friend's brother.

It just goes to show that there is always a special someone out there for all of us, and true love can be found in the most unlikely places, such as friends.

THE END