Dr. Claire Browne looked into the mirror one final time. Her white dress was floor-length, her veil reached the middle of her back, and her make-up was perfectly done. She was taken out of her reverie when she heard Mei-Li say, "You look very pretty, Dr. Claire."
Claire turned around and knelt down in front of Mei-Li, "And you are the most beautiful flower girl a woman could have, Ms. Lim-Melendez."
"You do look beautiful," affirmed Morgan.
"Any man who gets to marry a woman like you is a lucky man. I'm just glad I'm his best friend and I get to witness the whole thing," said Lea, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go see the groom." Lea left the room and Morgan excused herself as well, leaving Lim, Mei-Li, and Claire behind.
Lim could see the look in Claire's eyes, so she glanced down at her daughter and asked, "Sweetheart, would you let me and Dr. Claire have a few minutes alone? Daddy is right outside waiting with Carlos."
"Okay," Mei-Li left the room to go find her father and brother.
Lim looked back at Claire as she wrung her hands together nervously, "You don't have to continue to put on an act in front of me, Dr. Browne. You can admit you're nervous."
"Is it that obvious?" asked Claire.
Lim smiled and nodded before sitting down on the sofa in the dressing room, "I've been through this twice, Dr. Browne. You put on a show in front of everyone, but you are a nervous wreck when you're alone."
Claire sat down next to Lim and said, "But you seemed so happy on your wedding day."
"I was. But I was also terrified that I was going to trip down the aisle, terrified that I was going to be dumped at the altar, terrified I was going to screw up the wedding vows, and I recited them in Spanish on top of that…" Lim chuckled as the memories flooded her, "But the moment I walked down that aisle and saw the look on Neil's face, all of my doubts and worries just washed away. I mean, I should have never doubted anything in the first place; we already had a nearly eight month old who was our whole world together."
"That's just it. What if it doesn't turn out as beautiful and magical as your wedding did?" asked Claire.
"Claire," Lim used Claire's first name to gain her attention, "As someone who's been married for nearly ten years now with two kids, today is special, but it's just one day. A wedding is one day, but a marriage is a lifetime. And sometimes, it's the simple things that happen between you and your spouse that you remember the most. I've had the privilege of watching you and Shaun grow as surgeons and I know that when Shaun is focused on something, he will do anything to achieve his goal. After his breakup with Dr. Lever, he wanted to be 100% sure he wanted to be with you before he even asked you out on a date. I am confident the two of you will be living a long and happy life together," she grabbed Claire's hand.
"Thank you, Dr. Lim," Claire smiled.
"You're welcome," Lim and Claire hugged.
"Mommy," Carlos knocked on the door.
"Yes honey," Lim called him into the room.
He came in and said, "Dr. Morgan says the wedding is starting."
"I better go find my husband then. Good luck," she squeezed Claire's hands and left the room with Carlos.
Claire stood and took a deep breath. She made her way to the back of the church and watched everyone walk down the aisle one by one: first Lea, then Morgan, then Carlos, and finally Mei-Li. As soon as the Bridal March began to play, Claire did her best to hide her nervous smile as she entered the church. Many people from St. Bonaventure were there: Andrews and Isabel, Park, Mia, and Kellan, Melendez and Lim, and Jared had flown in from Denver. Once she finally looked towards the altar, she saw him. No, he wasn't grinning from ear to ear, but he had a soft smile on his face and he looked content. And that was all the reassurance she needed from Shaun Murphy.
The minister began as soon as Claire was on the altar, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Dr. Claire Browne and Dr. Shaun Murphy. The joining of two people into one is always a joyous occasion. If there is any reason Shaun and Claire should not become one, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Once the minister gave them permission to say their vows, Claire turned to Shaun and smiled, "Shaun, from the moment I met you, I knew you were going to be a great doctor. When I saw the video of you saving that boy at the airport, I knew you had a brilliant mind. When you performed that liver surgery on the side of the road, I was trying to figure out how on Earth I would ever be able to be as good as you, because I've strived to try to gain your surgical abilities each day of my career. When you were unconscious after your fight in that bar, I couldn't imagine my life without you. But I knew you were the one when you understood what I was going through with the death of my mother since you had just lost your estranged father. I don't know what the future holds, but I do know I'm ready to find out."
Shaun stayed quiet for a long time as he pulled a piece of paper out of his tux pocket. After a few more moments of silence, he finally said, "Claire, I am wearing a tuxedo that costs $2,368. I am glad that Morgan told me to buy one, because I did not want to have to buy another tuxedo. You were my first friend at St. Bonaventure and you always treated me with kindness, unlike Dr. Andrews and Dr. Melendez. You have always been good at communicating with people with autism. Or maybe you're just good at communicating with me. You make me feel very comfortable. You let me eat my pancakes in silence. You don't make me hold your hand and you let me touch your breasts," Claire blushed as everyone laughed, though she knew Shaun probably hadn't meant any harm by that statement, "But most of all, I love our time spent together in the operating room," everyone stayed silent before Shaun bluntly said, "That's it. I'm done."
"We're ready for the rings," the minister said. Carlos stepped forward and handed the rings to Shaun and Claire, "Shaun, do you take this woman to be your lawfully-wedded wife, for better or for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"
Shaun hesitated for a few moments before he said, "Yes," he carefully took Claire's hand, slid the ring onto her finger, and then dropped it again.
"Claire, do you take this man to be your lawfully-wedded husband, for better or for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," said Claire and placed Shaun's wedding ring on his finger.
"By the power vested in me and by the state of California, I now pronounce husband and wife," Claire and Shaun turned towards the congregation and the minister announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you, Dr. Shaun Murphy and Dr. Claire Browne-Murphy!"
Claire took Shaun's arm and led him to the back of the church. Once they were alone in the bridal suite, Shaun said to Claire, "Thank you for not making me kiss you in front of everyone."
Claire smiled, "You're welcome."
Shaun leaned down to kiss Claire and then said, "Later, I'd like to touch your breasts, give you a parade, and name the pet cat we are getting next weekend, but now I'd like to go to the wedding reception and eat pancakes," Shaun walked out of the room.
At the reception, everyone was eating their meals when Morgan and Lea went to the front to give their toasts. Morgan took the microphone and said, "Claire, when I first met you, I hated you. But the truth is, I was threatened by you. You're a beautiful woman and an even more talented surgeon. I am extremely lucky to be able to call you my friend and I am very happy to have been able to serve as your Maid of Honor on you special day. Shaun, I know that you can do anything you set your mind to and I have no doubt you will work hard to make your marriage beautiful."
Morgan handed the microphone to Lea, "Shaun, from the moment I knocked on your door to ask for batteries, I knew there was something special about you. I'll admit, I don't know if I ever saw you falling in love and getting married, but then as I got to know Claire better, I could see there was a special spark between you two. You're my best friend in the world Shaun, and I want nothing more in life than to see you happy. Claire, I am going to hunt you down if you hurt Shaun in any way, shape, or form."
"Don't worry Lea. I'll look after him," said Claire.
"To Shaun and Claire!" Morgan and Lea chanted together.
"To Shaun and Claire!" everyone chorused.
Mei-Li walked over to Lea and whispered something in her ear. Lea smiled and spoke, "Um, the flower girl would also like to say a few words."
Mei-Li smiled proudly and said, "Dr. Shaun, Dr. Claire, I really hope that you have a good life together. I also hope we can continue to play princess and watch Disney movies together now that you're married."
"We promise we will Mei-Li," said Claire.
Just as Shaun and Claire were ready to leave for their honeymoon, everyone gave the couple their well wishes before Shaun pulled Mei-Li aside, "Thank you for serving as the flower girl, Mei-Li. You're a really good friend."
"Have fun…where are you going again?" asked Mei-Li.
"We're going to Disneyland. I have never been to Disneyland. It is my very first time," said Shaun excitedly, "Claire said I can wear Mickey ears and that we don't have to ride Space Mountain or the Haunted Mansion but we can ride the train as much as I want," Shaun paused a little more before he said, "I was there the day you were born. I remember putting you in your mother's arms and announcing that you were born at 10:03 PM. The next day, I held you for the first time. I held you for one minute and ten seconds before you started crying because you were hungry and since I couldn't breastfeed you…"
"Dr. Shaun," Mei-Li interrupted him.
"What I'm trying to say is that I'm glad you're my friend and you being here made today very special," said Shaun.
"Can I hug you, Dr. Shaun?" asked Mei-Li. She knew Shaun didn't always like to be touched.
"Yes, for five seconds," said Shaun. Mei-Li embraced him, but soon Shaun said, "Okay, that's enough. Let me go."
Mei-Li watched Shaun and Claire climb into the car together before she looked up at her parents, "Mommy, Daddy, will I ever get married?"
Lim answered, "Maybe someday," just as Melendez quickly answered, "No."
"Well, thankfully for me mija, that day is many years away."
