By the time Maureen and Paul's wedding rolled around, both Perry and Della had recovered. Six months after his surgery, Perry had lost 35% of excess weight. He was still having trouble with his knee, but the doctor said that after he'd lost enough weight, they would see what needed to be done to relieve Perry of that pain. After Della left the bridal room, Perry went to get his daughter, his firstborn. The sight of his little girl in her wedding dress made him emotional. Maureen turned and smiled. She saw the tears in her father's eyes, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said, "it's just," Perry sighed, "you're not my little girl anymore. You're a mother and soon you'll be someone's wife."

Maureen walked over to her father, "daddy, no matter what, I'll always be your little girl."

The two hugged for a moment. Maureen grabbed her bouquet, "you ready to become Mrs. Drake?"

Maureen smiled, "am I ready? I've been waiting my whole life."

Everyone knew it would be harder for him at Maureen's wedding. When Perry took his seat by Della, she placed a comforting hand on his back, "you okay?"

Perry just shook his head. Della kept one hand on his back and used her other hand to hold one of his. He was happy for his daughter, but that didn't make it any easier. When they read their own vows, Paul went first. Maureen had requested to go last. "I don't even know where to begin," the groom said. "I've loved you since I was five. I loved how feisty and tough you were. How you would stand up for your family. You're still all of those things, but you're also sweet, loving, funny, smart, and brave. You're the bravest person I know. When my father died, you were there for me. You had just gone through something traumatizing, but you ran to my side to comfort me. You helped me get through that loss. My father once told me that if I didn't marry you, I'd be the stupidest man alive. He was right. Everything I have, you've given me. You gave me the best role ever. You made me a father to two wonderful little girls who have their mama's free spirit, kindness, bravery, and feistiness. I'll never leave you. Not until I'm taken from this Earth. You're my Della Street. You're my Gertie."

Now it was Maureen's turn. "I've always felt pressured to be someone I'm not. I've often felt ignored, but not from you. When I felt no one could hear me, you listened. When I felt invisible, you saw me. When I felt I needed to be someone else, you loved me. I've always been able to be myself around you. I've been damaged so many times. Any other man would have cut his losses and ran, but not you. You just made me feel safer. You made me a mother. I'll always be here for you because there's no one I'd rather be on this journey with."

After the ceremony, the family stuck around for pictures. At one point, only Perry, Della, and Gertie were there with the newlyweds. They were about to take another picture, "by the way, you're going to have another grandchild," Maureen said.

The photographer took the photograph right away. Maureen wanted a picture of the reaction. The parents hugged their children and congratulated them. The reception was a lot of fun and after, the girls went home with Perry and Della while the newlyweds went off on their honeymoon to the Caribbean.

Two months after Maureen's wedding, Vivian and Thomas welcomed their first child. A boy named Daniel. Two days later, Maggie and Richard welcomed their first child. They too had a boy, and they named him Zachary.

Just before Christmas, Violet married Jack Tragg. That wedding had Della more emotional. At one point, her parents thought they wouldn't be taking her home from the hospital and Della felt responsible. Violet had always clung to her mother until she met Jack. Della never told Violet that it hurt how much she had pulled away because her daughter was happy. The two were the only ones left in the bridal room after Violet had quietly asked her bridesmaids to give them a minute. The young woman walked over to her mother, "I'm sorry," she said.

Della turned around a bit shocked, "for what?"

"I know that I haven't been paying much attention to you since I started dating Jack. That the longer we were together, the less you saw of me."

"That's normal," Della said.

"Not after everything we've been through. You know Jack told me that we could get a house by you guys or even move in with you, but Maureen and Paul beat us to it."

"That will always be your home. I'm sure that Maureen and Paul will get their own place soon. They were only staying because your father and I kept ending up in the hospital."

"Mom, I know about what happened after Maggie was born. I know how you blamed yourself when I was born and didn't cry or wake up right away." Della was a bit shocked. She had never told her daughter any of that. It wasn't something she liked to talk about. "You did the right thing. I know that you would never do anything to hurt your children. What you did took a lot of courage. You asked for help for a mental illness back in 1960! You've survived so much. That's why you're my hero. I love you, mommy."

Della hugged her daughter and the two cried a bit before Della pulled away. "We'd better get ahold of ourselves or we'll ruin our makeup." The two laughed, "I'd better get your father so he can get this over with."

"Get what over with?"

"Giving away his last daughter. Giving away his baby girl."

Violet and Jack went on their honeymoon after the new year. The Mason family was in a wonderful place. They just hoped that it would last for a while.