Sorry, real life and the holidays caught up with me. Anyway, this is a little more pre-wedding stuff with Shawn. The next chapter will be the wedding/reception. Not sure how much of the wedding I will show (Most of us have been to weddings and know what happens.). I'm still editing and playing around with a few scenes.

As always, thank you so much for your feedback and patience. :-)

"Nina, move faster!"

"Don't tell me what to do! You're not the boss of me!"

Rachel rolled her eyes. Of course the kids were acting up now. What a wonderful first impression they must be making on Naomi's family and the wedding officiant. Still, she couldn't fault Evan for his aggravation. Nina had brought the rehearsal to a grinding halt in an effort to be the perfect flower girl. "Nina, come on, Aunt Nomi and her daddy can't walk down the aisle until you get up here. You're holding them up."

"But mommy-"

"You're taking forever," Evan complained from his spot under a makeshift arch, between his dad and Mr. Turner. "And the sun is in my eyes."

"We live in Texas," Jack quipped. "If you can handle that sun, upstate New York should be a piece of cake."

"Why do you always take her side?"

"Hey, what's the hold up," Naomi asked, appearing from behind a large willow tree. "Why haven't we gotten our cue to walk yet?"

"It's Nina's fault."

"Evan-"

The bride-to-be hurried over and crouched down in front of her flower girl, taking her hands. "What's wrong, Nina?"

"I want to be the bestest flower girl ever."

"You are going to be a great flower girl."

"And this is the practice wedding?"

"Yes. The real wedding is Saturday."

"How can I practice being bestest when I have no flowers to throw?"

"You were telling me on the phone how you were practicing in your living room with cut up pieces of napkins."

"But there was no wind in the living room. What if the wind blows my flowers away and there is nothing there when you walk?"

"I'll be right back." Naomi jumped up and went to her father, who was still behind the willow tree. A minute later she returned, gerbera daisy in hand. Her father always wore a flower in his lapel for special occasions. She knew one day it would come in handy. "Here you go."

Nina reached out and took the bright yellow flower. "But it's only one. Do I have to keep picking it up and throwing it?"

"Take off one petal for every step you take and drop that. This way you can practice with real petals." She smiled when Nina's eyes lit up. "I know it's not exactly how it will be at the real wedding, but it's all I can get right now. Will that work?"

She nodded. "I can do it now."

"Good." Naomi turned her flower girl around and patted her back. "Now go warm up that aisle for me, okay? Do you remember where you have to stand?"

"By your sister?" She leaned in close and whispered, "I forgot her name."

"Hana, and you're right, you stand next to Hana." She gave the small group a thumbs up before saying, "Let's get this show back on the road."

/

"So, what did you finally decide to do for a bachelor party," Naomi questioned Cory. She knew he'd been having some issues narrowing it down.

"Laser tag, arcade, and pizza." He made a face. "God, that sounds lame. Is it lame?"

"I think it sounds fun and if I weren't in desperate need of a massage I might crash your party." The last few days at work had been hell. It was as if the universe was testing her to see if her sanity would remain intact before the wedding.

"All right, let's head out," Shawn said, walking over. "You said you reserved the laser tag place for six, right?"

"Yeah, okay, let's-"

"Oh, my gosh," Topanga exclaimed, clapping her hands together as she approached the trio. "This is it."

They looked at each other, confused. "What's it?"

"It's the last time you two will see each other before the wedding."

Cory checked his watch. "She's right. This time tomorrow the ceremony will be starting." He smiled at his friends. "Do you guys need a minute?"

The soon to be married couple glanced at each other, the same idea entering their minds at the exact same moment. "Nah, we're good."

"Yeah, I could use the break." Naomi patted her fiance's arm. "Don't forget, I'll be the one in the white dress carrying flowers."

"Great. I'll be the only guy under the arch without a tie."

"Cool. Ties are overrated. So…do we hug now?"

"Eh, why hug when everything can be said with a high five?"

"Ooh, smart. I knew I was marrying you for a reason."

Cory and Topanga watched the pair, bewildered. "Okay, what's wrong? Do we need to get a therapist or the wedding planner on the phone and-"

"Or you could realize we're screwing with your little minds," Shawn said, finally giving into his laughter. "Seriously."

"Well, don't do that again. It's rude to give the best man a heart attack the day before the wedding."

"Besides," he said, throwing his arm around his bride-to-be, "we'll be seeing each other before the ceremony."

"No! You can't."

"It's not traditional."

He rolled his eyes. They'd been planning to ignore Cory and Topanga's urging them to follow this particular tradition until Naomi's parents asked her to spend the night with her family in one of the guest houses. It was easier to agree than insist on sharing a room. After all, it was only one night. "Pictures, Cor."

"What?"

"We start taking pictures at two."

"Oh…right."

"Glad to know my best man is on top of things."

/

"I was wondering where you disappeared to."

Shawn looked around and saw Jon walking towards him. He quickly put out his cigarette and tossed it into the garbage. "Hey, Jon, just needed some fresh air."

"Fresh air, huh? Is that what you call it? I thought you quit."

"I'm getting married tomorrow. "

He nodded. "Okay, I guess you're allowed a slip this once." Jon settled against the brick and studied the younger man's profile. He'd love to say that fifteen or so years ago he was confident Shawn would turn out okay, but there were times that hadn't been the case. He didn't know if he was going to be alright or if he'd become another sad statistic, a life of lost potential. Jon was relieved to see that wasn't the case and was incredibly proud of the man he'd become. "You nervous?"

"Not really. I don't think so anyway. Mostly I just feel like I'm going to throw up."

"That helps sometimes, you know? Just get it out of your system." For a moment it looked like Shawn was going to do just that. "Are you okay?"

"Were you nervous?"

"My biggest concern was making it through the ceremony and our first dance without falling on my ass." His approaching wedding was the thing that pushed Jon in his physical therapy sessions. He didn't want to be up there, getting married and needing to rely on a walker. He'd wanted to be without the cane as well, but his body didn't cooperate. He still needed the cane all these years later. "It hit me afterward though."

"What do you mean? How could you get nervous after the fact?"

"For a while I was afraid Kat married me out of pity. Our first married fight included me yelling that she was only with me because she felt sorry for an old cripple and was trying to earn points for sainthood."

"Idiot."

He chuckled. "I know."

Shawn shook his head. While he'd never said it out loud to any one besides his therapist, part of him worried Naomi was simply settling for him. He knew she could do better. "When did you stop thinking that? When did you believe you deserved her?"

"I still don't think that," he teased, but realized Shawn wasn't joking. "Kat wouldn't have stuck by me for so long through so much crap if it was only pity. She loves me. I would get frustrated about my physical limitations and take it out on her. I'm mad at myself, my body…not her or anyone else. Hell, I still get frustrated."

"I guess laser tag wasn't the best idea with your leg, huh?"

He'd had to let one of the kids kill him and take him out of the game within a few minutes because he just couldn't move with the rest of them. He wouldn't say anything to Cory, though. He'd done his best to come up with an evening suitable for all. "That's all right. I'll get even at the arcade."

"How did you stop getting so mad about your limitations?" Maybe Shawn didn't have the physical limitations of his former guardian, but there were emotional ones, voices in his head he had to work every day to conquer.

"I still get mad. I can't show my kids that their dad used to be able to shoot a pretty good layup, but I'm here. I get to be their dad. That motorcycle accident could've killed me. It almost did."

Shawn shoved his hands into his pockets and stared straight ahead. He hated to think about that day.

"I didn't want to spend the rest of my life being some miserable, bitter shell of a man. That would've been a waste of the second chance I was given." Jon put his hand on his shoulder. "You were dealt a shitty hand as a kid, no denying that, but look at what you have now. You've got family, friends, a great career, and most importantly- someone who loves you and wants to share her life with you. You've worked hard. You've earned it. You deserve to be happy, Shawn. Just forget about the bad stuff. It's in the past, doesn't matter anymore. Focus on what you have now."

"Thanks, Jon. I don't just mean for now…but for everything."

"You're welcome."

/

/

4:34 AM. Shawn read the numbers on the clock and groaned. If he'd gotten more than twenty consecutive minutes of sleep tonight it would be a miracle. The worst part was he couldn't even say why he was awake. Was he nervous about the wedding? Maybe, but it was more anticipation than true nerves. He wanted to marry Naomi. He couldn't wait to marry her. But-

There was always a but. Though talking to Jon earlier had helped, it couldn't completely silence the inner demons. Was he ready? Were they? Had the last five years truly prepared them for what was to come? Could they go the distance or would they wind up just another footnote in the history of unhappy Hunter marriages?

The next time he looked at the clock it was just after six. He couldn't say if he fell asleep or spent the entire time lost in thought. Unable to lie there any longer he kicked off the sheet and got out of bed. Maybe a walk would clear his mind.

/

Shawn marveled at his surroundings as he strolled around the grounds of the inn. It was just as beautiful as the website and pictures made it out to be. He was also relieved to find there was a practically no one out at this early hour. He ran across some staff, but that was all. It was almost as if he was the only person for miles.

"What are you doing, little miss? Are you being silly?"

Or maybe he wasn't the only person. Shawn followed the voice until he came upon Angela, Angela and Georgia to be exact. She was sitting cross-legged on a tree swing and had the baby in her lap. His photographer instincts came out and he grabbed his phone to snap a picture, knowing it would make a great gift for either Angela's birthday or the baby's. She was peering down at her daughter and Georgia was looking up at her mother, touching her cheek with a chubby little hand. They wore identical grins and were the embodiment of unconditional love.

Shawn shook his head, for a moment feeling like he was being given a glimpse into an alternate reality, one where he and Angela overcame their obstacles and emotional baggage to make their relationship work. It wasn't any better or worse than what he had now, but it would've been different.

"If you keep staring at us like that I'm going to have to charge you."

"Sorry, didn't want to disturb you guys."

"You're not."

"Ar! Ar! Ar!"

He frowned, not understanding what the baby was shrieking as she waved a stuffed dog around. "What's up with her?"

"She's barking like a dog."

Angela was so nonchalant about it he wasn't sure he heard her correctly. "What?"

"Our neighbors just adopted a golden retriever puppy. He's the most adorable thing and Georgia is obsessed. She's been trying to bark ever since she first heard him. They bought her a stuffed animal so she could have her very own Bowie."

"I see a dog in your near future."

"Not until she's at least five. I already told Eric we're not potty-training a toddler and a puppy at the same time."

"Smart." He walked over to them and leaned against a neighboring tree. "Is this why you're up early? Your kid is barking?"

"We drove up after Eric got out of work late last night. Figured we'd beat the traffic, you know?" He nodded. "Georgia slept the whole way here and then some. It was nice. Of course that means she's awake at the crack of dawn. So we came out here so Eric could get some sleep." She pushed a hand against the tree, causing the swing move back and forth and making Georgia giggle. She kissed the top of her daughter's head before looking back to her ex. "Why are you awake now? It's a big day. I'd think you would want to get all the sleep you can."

"I couldn't lay there anymore…too many thoughts in my head."

"Good thoughts?"

"Mostly good."

"I'd tell you not to even let the bad thoughts in, but sometimes that's the only way to get rid of them- acknowledge and conquer."

He shook his head in awe. Sometimes he forgot how just how well he and Angela knew each other. "Is this really happening? Am I getting the happily ever after or just delaying the fates that say I'm doomed to be alone? Am I just kidding myself?"

"Do you remember what you said to me right after Georgia was born? We were at the Matthews' for Morgan's going away dinner and I was outside getting some air."

He had vague memories of that night, but the details were a blur. "Sorry, I don't remember."

"It was right before I reconnected with my dad and saw Joyce again. I was having terrible nightmares about turning into her and was afraid that no matter how much I loved Georgia and Eric it was inevitable.

"You told me something your therapist said: seconds thoughts and doubts are natural. You're going to have them. What matters is how you respond to the challenges. Life's not something that just happens while you're blindly walking down the street. People choose to stay or they choose to leave. It's a choice you'll make every day. No one makes you do it. You have free will. Only you can decide how you'll use it."

"Wow…I'd say I'm pretty smart but it sounds like I just picked a smart therapist. I should remember what he tells me more often." He stared at the ground for a few moments before he spoke again. "So you think me and Naomi are going to make it?"

"I wish I could tell you what will happen five, ten, even twenty years from now but I can't. I'm not a fortune teller." She shifted Georgia in her lap and handed the baby the cloth book she'd stashed under her leg. "I think the most important thing is to choose happiness. Go for whatever will make you happy."

Shawn appreciated her candor. She's always been able to cut through the crap and niceties and get to the heart of the issue. "Thanks." He sighed and sat on the ground, leaning against the tree. "It seems like another lifetime ago when, if I let myself imagine getting married, you'd be the one up there with me. It's just crazy how much life can change, you know?" He chuckled when Georgia babbled to her book. It was gibberish, but going on the tones it sounded like she thought she was having a conversation with someone. "I mean, I'm getting married and you have a baby…and you're with Eric. That ranks pretty high up there on the crazy scale."

"Shawn-"

He held up his hand. "I didn't mean it in a bad way. Even a few years ago if someone told me if we'd be sitting here talking on my wedding day I'm not sure I'd have believed them. It's not that I hated you or was even mad, but when we broke up the only way I could get on with my life was to act like you never existed. I'm not proud of it, but for a while it was the how I coped."

"Oh."

"You were the first person I said I love you to, you know? I don't remember saying it to my parents or other family members. And I definitely never said it to another girl because I was never with one longer than two weeks. You…you changed so many things for me. We were so alike, neither one of us believed in forever. But the second I met you I wanted a relationship. I wanted to have something real, something of my own that I could count on and believe in."

"You changed a lot for me, too. Maybe I said I love you to family, but you were definitely the first guy. And I…even if I was afraid to admit it at first, you made me want a real relationship, too."

"If only I could've stopped screwing it up, huh?"

"Hey, it wasn't just you. We were two kids who had zero positive examples of love and healthy relationships to go off of. It's natural that there were some missteps."

"Missteps? That's very generous of you."

"Hey, we both made mistakes and sure, there were times I cursed the day I met you, but I wouldn't trade what we had. I went from being someone who was afraid to let anyone get close enough to love her to wanting love, needing it. If you hadn't pursued me in high school after those two weeks and convinced me it was worth it to take a chance I'm not sure where I'd be." She hugged her daughter a little closer. "I learned a lot from you…from us. I'll always be grateful for that."

"I guess it makes you wonder why we didn't understand these things until it was too late for us."

"Or maybe things worked out the way they were supposed to. It's like you said: we are so alike. Maybe a little too much alike, you know? We're the same damn side of the coin. It was always all or nothing. It was rare that we let ourselves just be happy and in the moment. We brought out the best and worst in each other, sometimes in the exact same moment. We just kept hurting each other despite our best intentions. And love shouldn't hurt."

"Are you trying to say we needed a little more yang to our yin?"

She laughed. "I suppose that's one way to put it. But we're still in each other's lives. Sure, it might not be romantic, but I'd rather have you as my friend that nothing at all."

"Me, too." He cleared his throat and shook his head, surprised by the tears that suddenly came to his eyes. "Why does this feel like I'm saying goodbye?"

"In a way you are. When you say 'I do' you're letting go of the past, of failed relationships and family legacies. You have to put all that behind you and live for yourself, for you and Naomi."

"When did you get so insightful?"

"You'd be amazed by how much thinking you do when sitting awake at all hours with a baby. Georgia…she definitely put a lot of things into focus for me." Georgia looked up when she heard her name. "Yes, I'm talking about you," Angela said, tickling her daughter's side. "Is that funny?"

And in a flash Shawn could see Naomi in front of him, sitting and having fun, making their child laugh hysterically. It was amazing how much life could change. Who you were at eighteen doesn't have to be the person you are at thirty. "Thanks for loving me. I know it wasn't always easy, but thanks."

"No, it wasn't easy, but it was one hell of a ride, one I wouldn't have missed for the world."

"Me either." Shawn hesitated for a moment, unsure if what he was about to say was appropriate. "I love you, Angela."

She smiled at him. "I love you, too."

/

/

"Just a second," he called out, assuming it was Cory. They had to meet up with the photographer in just a few minutes. When he opened the door, however, Virna was on the other side. "Oh…hi."

"Hi, honey. I just wanted to see you for a few minutes. Is that alright?"

"Um…yeah, sure." He stepped aside to let her in and closed the door. It was strange to see her all dressed up and wearing makeup. "What's up?"

"First of all, I just want to tell you how proud I am of you and I wish you and Naomi all the luck in the world. You deserve every good thing that comes your way."

"Thanks. I appreciate that."

"And I wanted to give you something."

"You don't have to give me a present."

"Of course I do. It's your wedding day, silly. And while Rueben and I did get you and Naomi a lovely gift, this one is just for you from me. You see, Cory and Jack contacted me a few weeks ago and mentioned gathering little trinkets and things to give you today and asked if I had anything to be your something old."

He made a face. "I thought the old, new, borrowed, and blue thing was for the bride."

"They wanted you to have something traditional. So I was tasked with finding something old." Virna retrieved a little box from her clutch. "I didn't even have to wrack my brain. The moment they asked me I knew what to give you. Here," she said as she placed the box in his hands. "Open it."

Inside was a piece of jewelry of some sort. No, it was a medal.

"It was your grand-dad's," she continued. "He was never much of a religious man after serving in the war, but he carried St. Christopher with him everywhere. He said it brought him luck and protection." She did her best to not get emotional, but could still feel the tears welling in her eyes. "Grand-daddy loved you so much, didn't matter if you were blood or not, and I know he'd want you to have this."

Shawn choked back the lump in his throat. He'd loved his grandfather and had fond memories of going to visit him in Oklahoma as a kid. The man had never treated him as anything less than a real grandson. "I-I don't…"

"Obviously you don't have to wear it. Grand-dad kept it either in his pocket or wallet. But I hope it brings you the same luck and protection it brought him."

He placed the medal in his inside jacket pocket. "Thank you. Really, thank you. It means a lot."

"You're welcome."

Shawn wasn't sure which one of them was more surprised when he hugged Virna. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me, too, honey." She held him tight in return, barely resisting the motherly urge to smooth out the one stubborn cowlick on the back of his head. "Me, too."

I'd be lying if I didn't admit that some of Angela and Shawn's conversation was inspired by A Different World's Whitley and Dwayne's talk in the episode Saved the Best for Last Part 1. Not that it was anywhere near as good but it was definitely an inspiration. :-)