There had been a mad dash to the church, all the girls in one limo and all the boys in another. Upon looking at everyone, Jen figured that Kim and Matty were about the same level of sloshed. Thankfully, the bridesmaids and groomsmen were paired off to walk down the aisle, so neither of them would have to brave walking in a line on their own.

The photographer took dozens of pictures of everyone. Bridal party, groom's party, bride with the children, groom with the children. Hope had insisted that Nick and Jen and the twins get a few of the four of them. Nick moaned a bit about having formal photos wearing this stupid color, but Jen knew he'd be pleased to have another set of family pictures all dressed up. The last ones were from their own wedding when Cody and Ella were two and a half.

Hope had thankfully sobered up since her mother had forbidden her to drink anymore—a rule that Kimberly had surreptitiously broken many times over—and was waiting in the bridal room in a quiet panic.

"Alright, someone who's married come tell me everything's going to be okay!" she cried.

Danielle came rushing over to her sister. "None of that, now. You know it'll crease your makeup."

That ended the worried expression on her face, but Jen could still see the stress in Hope's eyes. She came over to try and offer some words of comfort. "Hope, I've known Duncan for over ten years now. And with the job we did for all those years, I'll tell you that I really, truly know him. And you've been my sister for a while, too. I know you pretty well, right?"

Hope nodded.

Jen continued, "So because I know you both so well, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that you two are perfect for each other. And Nick thinks so, too. He wouldn't let you marry just anyone. And he adores Duncan."

That seemed to do the trick. Hope could be a bit of a princess sometimes, but she respected one opinion beyond all others, and it was that of her big brother. Nick was her hero, even if she did take the mickey out of him. Nick's approval was the most important thing to Hope, and the whole family knew it. If Nick liked the idea of her marrying Duncan Freeman, it had to be a good idea.

There was a slight tug on Jen's dress. She turned away from a much more relaxed Hope to see Ella staring up at her with concern. "Mummy, I need the loo," she said.

And with that, Jen went from supportive sister-in-law bridesmaid to mother without batting an eye. She took her daughter's hand and led her out to the bathrooms. Thankfully, this was the Buchanans' family church, and Jen had been there many times when she accompanied Nick and his mother to Christmas and Easter services over the years. They'd only brought the children to Easter once to appease Eloise, since they weren't raising them with any religion. But Cody had very loudly asked what that man was doing up on the big T and isn't that a weird place to sleep? Eloise never again asked for her grandchildren to come to church. They stayed with Auntie Bernice after that.

But Hope was a relatively regular Catholic, all things considered. Duncan hadn't been raised with anything, so he didn't care where they got married. The priest was happy to accommodate them, despite his sideways looks at Miss Buchanan's fiancé.

Outside the bathroom, Jen ran into her husband. "Hello there," she greeted with a smile.

"Cody's in the loo," he explained. "Promised me he could take care of it himself."

There was only one toilet in the little old church, so there was often a queue for it. "Ella's got to go too," Jen explained. "Funny, maybe they're twins or something," she teased.

Nick smiled. He bent down to speak to his daughter. "How's it going, bug?" he asked her. "You all ready to throw your flower petals?"

"Yes, Daddy. Aunt Danielle has my basket," she told him.

"Good girl. And you remember that all the bridesmaids and groomsmen walk down and then Cody brings the rings, and you're the last person before the bride, right?"

Ella nodded. She'd been practicing for this for a week. She knew it was a big responsibility. Nick and Jen knew that their children barely remembered the last wedding, when the two of them had held hands and walked down the aisle to their dad and then sat with Auntie Bernice during the ceremony. So this was a big moment for both Ella and Cody.

The toilet flushed and a minute later, Cody came out. "Did you wash your hands?" Jen asked sharply.

Their son looked sheepish and went back into the bathroom. Nick rolled his eyes in exasperation and went in with him, making sure he did it right and hopefully keeping him from splashing all over his little suit. They both came back out a minute later. "All yours, ladies," he said to his wife and daughter.

Nick and Cody returned to the room where the groomsmen were all waiting before the ceremony. Duncan was all smiles. He and Sam were taking the piss with a slightly more sober Matt. Poor Matt was a bit confused, but Nick didn't feel too sorry for him. It was his own fault for getting drunk so early in the day. But then again, Matt worked really hard and wasn't apt to go out with his mates the way they'd all done in the past. Simon was long gone. Duncan went home to Hope. Nick and Jen both went home to their children. Nick vaguely wondered if maybe Hope had any nice single girlfriends that Matt could meet. He needed to find someone.

But before long, the priest came by to start the proceedings. Everyone had to gather together and line up to walk down the aisle. The music started and Kimberly was escorted by Sam. Thank god he was able to keep her upright and relatively serious. Next came Jen with Matt, and then Nick with Danielle. Duncan came after and took his place up front. Then came Cody with the little pillow with the rings. Nick was quietly praying that his son hadn't done anything to them in the five minutes since he handed them over. Luckily, he presented the pillow onto the altar and took his place to stand behind the groom and next to his father. The children would sit down once the mass started, but Hope wanted everyone up at the altar for photographs during the beginning of the ceremony. Ella came next, tossing pink rose petals everywhere. She looked so lovely and sweet. Nick's heart was near bursting to watch his little girl. Ella gave a dazzling smile to each of her parents before standing beside her Auntie Danielle. The priest then raised his arms and the wedding march played. The whole congregation stood and watched Hope walk down the aisle.

It was incredible for Nick to see his baby sister looking so grown up and beautiful. Part of him still always thought of her as seven years old, prim and prissy. She was a wonderful girl, was Hope. And Nick was so proud of her. She annoyed him to death sometimes, but he loved her. And now she was a beautiful bride, walking down to marry Nick's best friend. It was something out of a dream.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of Duncan and Hope in holy matrimony," the priest began.

The back doors of the church suddenly slammed open, jolting the priest out of his opening remarks. Everyone in the room turned to see what was going on. A man in jeans and a big black jacket wearing a ski mask came striding down the aisle, stomping with his workman's boots. "Nice day for it, eh Freeman?" the man shouted.

Before anyone could make any sense of anything or question what was going on, the man pulled an automatic rifle out of his jacket and opened fire.