It's time

5:30 came and as requested, Ryan and Marissa were making their way down to reception.

"Are you really sure that we need to go out to eat?" Ryan asked. "You know that seeing you dressed like that only makes me want to do other things. Couldn't we just get Cathy to send something up and we could just entertain ourselves in our room."

Marissa laughed. "NO! I've been planning this evening for too long now for you to just change your mind." She explained. "And what's wrong with what I'm wearing? I thought that you liked it on me." She enquired as she smoothed the delicate silk of the Chanel dress that he'd surprised her with in Las Vegas.

"I do like it on you. It's just that I like it even more off you." Ryan replied, the glimmer in his eye more than enough for her to know that even though she'd 'helped' him to get ready … he was still looking for more.

"You're insatiable." Marissa replied. "But I promise. Just be a good boy and come with me and I'll make it worth your while."

"I love to 'come' with you." Ryan said as his face broke into a huge grin and it shed years from his age. Marissa couldn't help but think that he still looked like the boy she'd first fell in love with all those years ago.

"I may even decide not to wear the dress for too long." Marissa teased knowing exactly what Ryan would think from her words. He'd think that they were going to rush dinner and return to their room and that then he was going to get lucky. But she was only telling the truth. As soon as they got to the church then she would be changing in to her wedding gown. But of course he didn't know that.

"Suddenly, I'm looking forward to this." Ryan replied.

Marissa laughed as they were met by Tony at the door. "Where's Cathy?" Marissa asked.

"She had some errands to run. She said to tell you that she'll see you later and to make sure you enjoyed yourselves this evening." Tony replied as he escorted them to the launch. Cathy had left 15 minutes earlier to make sure that the other guests were all safely at the church before Ryan and Marissa got there. While she had been doing Marissa's hair earlier, they had made the final plans as to how she wanted everything to play out.

---

The trip on the launch was spectacular. The sun was setting over the lagoon as they cleared the Grand Canal and made their way passed a number of other islands. Ryan chatted pleasantly with Tony on the way as the local pointed out all the places of interest including the island of Murano, famous for its hand blown glass. Marissa was surprised by just how intrigued Ryan was by everything that was going on around him. Even though he had been reluctant to leave their room, now that he was outside it was obvious that he couldn't get enough of Venice and its surroundings. Marissa had chosen to shelter inside the cabin of the boat because she didn't want the breeze off the water to mess her hair up too much but she told Ryan to stay outside and enjoy the view. She certainly was … as she watched the play of emotions on his face as the fairytale world opened up before him and she tried with little success to calm the butterflies in her stomach. After about 15 minutes they finally arrived at Burano and pulled in to a wharf that had several fishing boats moored to it that had finished for the day. No doubt they would be out bright and early the next morning. But by then all sorts of things would have changed for them.

---

Once Ryan and Marissa were on dry land again, Marissa took Ryan's hand and led him through the narrow streets of the picturesque village. He was enchanted by the multicoloured buildings just as she knew he would be. They hesitated at an intersection and Marissa pulled Ryan around the corner.

"Where are you taking me now?" he asked because he could see that the commercial area with the small shops and restaurants was in the other direction.

Marissa smiled. "There's a beautiful church down here that I think you need to see." She replied.

Ryan looked ahead and could indeed see a church ahead of them but there were a couple of people and a small child standing outside talking to the priest. "Marissa. It looks like there is something on there. I don't think that we should interrupt. Perhaps we can come back later when they have all gone."

"No. It will be too dark later. You need to see it now. I'm sure that no one will mind." She said as she pulled him closer.

Ryan squinted as he looked towards the church and in to the fading sun. "I really don't think that we should be doing this. They look like they are busy." He said just as the small child broke away from the three adults and started to run towards them.

Marissa smiled.

But Ryan frowned as he noticed the adults all look up surprised and start down the few stairs after the child. Ryan was concerned. There were small canals running here, there and everywhere. It wasn't the place for a small child to be running about unattended. What if she couldn't swim and she fell into one of them? He decided that he would have to get involved since she was running towards them. He would be able to intercede and hold the little girl until her parents caught up with her but just as he moved to try to step in front of her he realised that she was coming straight for him. He blinked again … thinking that the sun in his eyes was playing tricks on him … only to be startled by the shrill voice of the little girl as her arms flew around his legs and she called out. "Wyan."

Ryan shook his head thinking that the sun in his eyes must have been playing games with his hearing as well. "Em?" he asked still totally disbelieving what his eyes and ears were telling him.

"Who else would it be silly?" Emily replied.

"But how … what …?" Ryan started only to look over at Marisa as he lifted the small girl into his arms.

Marissa smiled.

"What are you doing here?" he asked as Summer and Seth finally caught up to them.

"I'm going to be your flower girl." Emily said proudly." And then I get to be their flower girl later." She went on to explain. "And I get another new dress for that wedding. Do you like my dress Ryan? It matches Summer's. And Mummy said that I look beautiful and …"

Ryan could barely take in what she was saying. He looked to Marissa as if looking for a life line. He needed someone to help him make sense of all of this.

But all she did was smile. An enigmatic smile.

Marissa could feel her heart hammering in her chest. But there was part of her that felt like a silent observer. It seemed that she had spent so long planning this … going over and over it in her mind … that now that it was really happening it was as if she was still just watching it unfold in her mind. Not that it was finally … really … happening.

"Sorry about that. It looks like we'll need to go into training before we consider having one of our own." Seth said.

Ryan looked back at Seth and Summer who were still standing before him. "What … what are you doing here?" he stammered.

Seth smiled. "It seems that there's a wedding on here today" He said as he revealed a small box in his hand and opened it to take out the small dark pink rose bud to place in Ryan's buttonhole. "and there was no way that we were going to miss out on it a second time."

Summer smiled. "I just have to kidnap your wife for a few minutes to get her ready." She said as she took Marissa's hand. "And you need to come with me too young lady." Summer added as she took Emily from Ryan. "We'll see you inside soon."

"Marissa?" Ryan said as she silently followed Summer a huge smile on her face and as she turned to him he asked. "What's going on?"

She couldn't help but laugh out loud at his obvious confusion. "Just shut up and do as you're told for once." She laughed. "I'll see you inside." She said as she almost broke into a run heading for the church. Now that it was really happening she couldn't wait.

---

Seth guided Ryan who was still shaking his head in disbelief, around to the side entrance to the church but stopped before they entered. "We should probably give them a few minutes. I gather your wife wants to get changed. Women and their clothes … I mean what's wrong with a basic black tux … you can't go wrong … it's never out of place and … " Seth started to babble as only Seth could and Ryan felt the need for some answers.

"Seth."

Seth stopped for a moment in mid babble. "What?"

"What are you doing here? Hell … what am I doing here?" he asked.

Seth shook his head. "And you're supposed to be the smart one? I've tried to tell the old guy that they'd made a mistake with those test scores but would he listen? …. Noooo … Even I could work out what's going on here … "

"Seth !!!" Ryan said more insistently.

"What? You're getting married and I'm THE best man. Somehow or other that just seems SOoooo right. I've always known that I was the best man but I'm not sure that you've accepted it. But it must be right. Because I have the wedding rings right here in my pocket. Aren't you proud of me?" he asked.

Ryan frowned. "What wedding rings?