Chapter Twenty-Two
This chapter was written by Melissa.
(Four Months Later...Valentine's Day)
Todd was awoken by the painful sounds of her screaming. He jumped out of bed and ran down the hall to her room.
He burst through the door to find her sitting up in bed, gasping for air. Her hair was damp from the perspiration on her face and her body shook with emotion as she sobbed. "Noah," she whispered over and over again.
It broke his heart to see her like this, but there was nothing that he could do to take the pain away from her, nothing that he could say that would bring back her little boy.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Todd asked as he sat by her side.
"It was just another nightmare about losing Noah. He was so tiny and here so briefly. Do you think that he knew that I loved him?" She asked.
"He knew and he loved you too. It's why he fought with everything that he had to stay with us for those wonderful five days."
"He was my miracle baby and Victoria, my surprise."
"We were all surprised by Victoria," Todd said remembering when the doctor had told them that there was another baby coming after Noah had been born. Marty had been pregnant with twins, but sadly the first baby was too tiny to survive for very long.
"I'll feel better once I hold her. Where is she? Where's my little girl?" Marty asked as she got out of bed and went to the empty bassinet.
"I'm sorry Marty, but she's not here. She's with Victor and Evangeline, remember?"
"That's right, he said that he would bring them to the wedding."
"We don't have to go if you're not up to it. I'm sure Nora and Anna will understand," Todd said.
"You're right, they would, but I need to go. It will be good to be around my friends and family again. I'll get up and get ready in a little bitt, until then will you, will you just hold me? I think that will help me feel better," Marty whispered.
"I'll hold you for as long as you need," Todd said as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I love you Todd," she said as she kissed him.
"I love you too Marty," he whispered after the kiss and then he kissed her back. It hadn't been said but he could feel it in the kisses, she had fully forgiven him for their painful past and they would find a way to heal from the tragedy of losing Noah.
XOXOXO
Brody was nervous as he walked out of St. Ann's. The nightmares had finally stopped and he felt like he was recovered, but that's what he had felt last time, only it was just a lie. His nervousness dissipated as soon as he saw Layla waiting for him. She had been his guardian angel and he truly believed that he would have taken his own life if she hadn't have come out to the alleyway to check on him,
"What are you doing here?" Brody asked as he approached her.
"Now, what kind of friend would I be, if I wasn't here to help you celebrate being released from the hospital?" Layla asked.
"Any ideas on how we should celebrate?" He asked her. She was wearing a fancy dress and her hair was all pinned up, and she held, what looked to be a tux in her hand for him.
"It just so happens that today Nora is marrying Bo and Anna is marrying Robert and I need a date for their wedding. Please don't make me dance alone," she pleaded with him as she held out the Tux towards him.
"I would never dream of it," he said as he took the Tux and then her waiting hand. When his fingers interlocked with his, it was like a sign that he would be okay. He realized that he was truly happy when he was with Layla, It wasn't a facade, but it was real, and he was determined to hold on to her for as long as possible.
XOXOXO
"Come back to bed, I'm horny," John cried out.
"You're always horny and we have a wedding that we need to get to," Natalie said as she tried to resist John's charm as she climbed out of bed.
"The wedding isn't for another hour, I can be fast and I can do that thing with my tongue that you like," John continued to plead as he pulled Natalie back down to him and began to massage her perky breasts in her hands.
"You better be fast," Natalie said and then kissed him as she gave in to her needs.
"Anything you want," he said as he rolled her under him and inserted himself into her as he licked and sucked on her nipples.
"That's the spot," Natalie cried out.
John didn't say anything but he convulsed in agreement that the perfect spot had been found.
"Now, I'm really getting up and getting dressed and so should you, you're the best man after all," Natalie reminded him.
"I'm going, I'm going," John said as he headed to the shower.
XOXOXO
Starr had just been released from prison. She returned home and laid eyes on her daughter. Despite the burn marks, Hope was still the most beautiful little girl that she had ever seen. "Hope, my precious Hope," Starr said as she ran and scooped her little girl in her arms.
"Bo and Nora are getting married today, do you want to go or just stay here?" Cole asked as he wrapped his arms around his girl's.
"I want to go, I want to see my family and friends and I want to celebrate being home with my family," Starr stated as she kissed Cole.
XOXOXO
"We have a little bit of time before the wedding starts, do you mind if we stop somewhere?" Victor asked as he looked at Evangeline.
"You want to visit your son," Evangeline guessed as they approached the Saybrooke mausoleum.
"I saw a little teddy bear at the store when I was buying Victoria her dress for today and I couldn't resist. It shouldn't take long," he said.
"Take all the time that you need, I can stay here with Victoria if you would like," Evangeline offered.
"Thanks Van, I won't be long," he promised as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
He grabbed Teddy and then headed to the mausoleum.
There's nothing else that you can do for him?" Victor asked with desperation as he stared at his little boy in the incubator."
"I'm sorry, but every breath that he struggles to take is putting strain on his heart. He should take his last breaths within the hour," the doctor predicted.
"You said that five days ago, and he's still here fighting to be with us."
"He's a fighter, there's no doubt about that, perhaps I am wrong. Would you and his mother like to hold him, sometimes skin on skin contact helps."
"Marty can hold him," Victor said as he squeezed her hand. As much as he wanted to hold his son, she needed it more.
"Are you sure Victor?" She asked.
"I'm positive, but I would like to hold you while you hold him," Victor stated as he looked to Todd to gauge his reaction.
"Marty can use all the support that she needs, I'll go look in on Victoria and give you two some time with your son," Todd said as he headed for the exit.
"Thank you Todd," Marty whispered as a tear slid down her cheek.
Victor sat on the couch and then Marty sat next to him, letting him embrace her while the doctor placed baby Noah in her arms. She slid her hospital top down a bit and held Noah against her chest where he rested his cheek against her heart.
Victor stroked his cheek with his finger as he continued to struggle for every breath. He was so tiny, just two pounds, his sister was five pounds, the doctor had said that she had absorbed most of the nutrition. Victor wondered if his son had known that only one would survive and he gave up what he needed to help her.
"He's fighting so hard, we have to love him enough to make it okay for him to let go," Marty whispered as she sobbed.
"I know," Victor said as he wrapped his arms around them tighter.
"Do you want to hold him?" Marty asked.
"No, if he's going to take his last breaths, it should be done in your arms," Victor whispered.
"I love you Noah, I'll always love you, but you don't have to try for us any longer. It's okay to sleep if you're tired," Marty whispered.
"I'll always love you," Victor whispered.
Even though he was so young, Noah managed to smile at his parents and then closed his eyes.
"The last thing that I remember was your smile. You had your mother's smile, but the shape of my eyes. I saw this and I wanted you to have it," Victor said as he placed the small bear by the placard with his name.
"I'm worried about your mom, she's not doing so well, the nightmares of losing you on top of losing everything else that she's lost is taking it's toll. Before you I never believed in God or Angels or an after life, but now I have to believe that you're out there, that you've earned your wings. Your mom needs you to be her angel and help her find her way through the grief. Evangeline has helped me track down the disk with my missing memories on it. Tomorrow I'm going to have a procedure to restore my missing memories and I'll finally know who I am apart from my twin brother. I have to go to Nora's wedding. To tell you the truth, I wasn't really invited, but she invited Evangeline and I'm her plus one, so I really don't care if I'm late. If you have a little extra time after looking after your mom, will you please help your old man to remain who he is right now, I kind of like who I am and don't want to lose that when I separate from Todd's memories and just become Victor. Help me to remember you and your mother," Victor pleaded. He placed his hands against his lips and then traced his son's name and then walked back to the car.
XOXOXO
"You look so beautiful," Marty said as she helped Nora position the veil in just the right position.
"Thank you Marty, your support means the world to me."
"I can't wait to see the look on Bo and my dad's faces, when you two gorgeous ladies walk down the aisle," Robin added as she added the last of the finishing touches to her mom's makeup.
"Are we ready to go, we don't want to keep our men waiting? Who knows what trouble they will find without us there to save them?" Anna stated.
"You can't go yet, we have traditions to keep," Jessica stated as she pulled out the gift that she had.
"Yes, we need all the good luck that we can get."
"I have something old for you Nora, it was given to me by Bo and Clint's mother Olympia when I married Clint for the first time," Vicki said as she handed Nora a Tiara.
"It's lovely," Nora gasped as they fastened the Tiara, holding her hair in place.
"I have something borrowed," Marty said as she handed a cross necklace to her. "It's the only thing I have left of my mom's and I would be honored if you would wear it on your special day."
"Oh Marty, of course," Nora stated as she fastened the necklace around her neck and hugged her friend.
"I have something new," Rachel said as she handed her mother the sonogram of the little girl that she was having with Kevin.
"Oh, Rachel, look she's sucking her thumb, look Vicki, it's our granddaughter." Nora said as she passed Vicki the picture with excitement.
"Yes, she's lovely and I can't wait to meet her," Vicki said as she grabbed Marty's hand and gave it a squeeze.
"She's beautiful," Marty whispered as her voice broke with emotion.
"I have something blue," Anna said as she presented Nora with a box, which gave Marty enough time to wipe the tears from her eyes before they spilled. "Although, my gift is more for Bo," Anna said.
Nora laughed as she opened the box and pulled out the blue garter. "Yep, Bo will certainly have fun enjoying removing this gift," she said as she slid the garter up her leg.
"My turn for gifts," Anna stated. Robin gave her mom something old and borrowed when she gave her the promise ring that Stone had given her all those years ago. Rachel gave Anna a new pair of diamond earrings.
"My gift for you is also more for Robert," Nora said as she flung an exact blue replica of the garter that Anna had given her.
"Great minds," Anna said and then all the girls started laughing,
XOXOXO
Bo and Robert stood at the front of the church as they waited for their girl's to join them. John stood next to Bo and Luke next to Robert. The music began to play and the bridal party made their way down the aisle. First Vicki, then Marty, then Rachel and Robin holding hands as they walked down the aisle together as the maids of honor.
Bo and Robert both gasped and the audience "ooohed" and "aaahed" as Nora and Anna walked down the aisle towards their grooms.
"These couples have written their own vows. Bo go ahead and start us off," Andrew stated.
"Red, you've always been my fire, the one to keep me warm, the one to bring me passion in all that you do. Without you, I would be cold and in a world without light. I have always loved you and I will continue to love, honor and cherish you until the end of time," Bo promised as he slipped the ring onto her hand.
"Anna, this isn't the first time that we've taken this step, but it will be the last. You have captured my heart when no others could and you keep life challenging, and exciting. You have given me a beautiful daughter who has given us beautiful grandkids. Meeting you was the luckiest day of my life and I will spend the rest of my existence, honoring you and cherishing you in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad times," Robert promised as he slid the ring on Anna's finger.
"Cowboy, I can't remember a time when I didn't love you. You have seen me through my darkest days, and given me my greatest experiences. A fire needs a cowboy to sit by it and tend to it so that it can continue to grow. I am your fire and you are my cowboy who have taken great lengths to keep my fire burning bright. Without you and the great care that you take of my heart, the fire would have been extinguished long ago. I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you, a love that has no beginning and no end, a love that continues to burn for all eternity," Nora stated as she slid the ring on Bo's finger.
"Robert, my love, I was young and wild when we met. I wasn't sure that I could trust you and you weren't sure that you could trust me as we played the game of spy's. Times have changed and throughout all the adventures, you're the only one who knows all of my secrets and loves me despite them. I also know all of your secrets and love you and trust you with all of me. I promise to never hide anything from you ever again, I promise to love, honor and cherish you love for all the days of our lives," Anna promised as she slid the ring on Robert's finger.
"Does anyone object to these couples being married?" Andrew asked.
Just then Victor opened the door as he carried Victoria in his arms with Evangeline by his side. "I object," Victor shouted loudly.
"What are you doing?" Evangeline whispered.
"What are your objections?" Andrew asked almost afraid of the answer.
"I'm madly in love with Nora," he stated. After minutes of silence and he could see the crimson shade of embarrassment settle on Nora's face, he said, "just kidding, she's not for me, she's all yours Bo."
"Let's take our seats," Evangeline said as she quickly sat down with him.
"Well, that was unique to say the least, are there any other objections?" Andrew asked hoping that this time there would be silence.
"Since there are no further objections, I pronounce Bo and Nora and Robert and Anna as married. Gentlemen, you may kiss your brides," Andrew stated as Bo and Robert grabbed their wives and kissed them passionately.
The End