A/N One left after this. I hope that you've all enjoyed it.

The Ceremony

Julie spoke to James and then headed back to her seat in the front row on the left of the church. As she got closer she realised that Ryan was talking with Dan. She hesitated not sure if she was ready to talk to Ryan just yet. The last time she'd spoken to him had been when he'd come to see her at the Mermaid and she'd made a move on him. She blushed at the thought and considered turning around and heading back up the aisle again but just as she was about to do so Ryan looked up and their eyes met … too late now she thought … she had no where to escape to … so she slowly continued down the aisle until she was right beside him.

Ryan nodded slightly. "Julie." Ryan said as he stood aside to allow her to sit down beside Dan.

She returned the greeting. "Ryan."

"I'm pleased to see that you came." Ryan said.

Julie was surprised by his words. "My daughter's getting married. Of course I came. Where did you think that I'd be?" she started. She was starting to get cross. Ryan may not have been looking for a fight but right now Julie was feeling like giving him one. After what Marissa had asked her to do …. AND she had no choice but to agree ….

Dan took her hand. "Julie! I don't think that Ryan meant anything by it. Please don't make a scene?" he asked.

Julie nodded but glared at Ryan who was taken aback but he smiled at Dan to show his appreciation of Dan's interceding. Obviously Julie still wasn't a fan of his but she was just going to have to get used to it because he intended to spend the rest of his life with her daughter.

Seth came up and touched him lightly on the arm. "Ryan? We need to take our places. They're about ready."

Ryan nodded and then turned to Dan and Julie. "Excuse me. It seems I'm needed elsewhere. I'll talk to you later." He indicated to Dan. Somehow he felt that Julie wouldn't care if he never spoke to her again.

Dan nodded and Ryan moved to take his place at the front of the church. He knew that he still had a lot of work to do to gain Julie's acceptance but that would have to wait until later. Right now he had more important things to do. He was getting married.

The priest was now waiting and he smiled at Ryan and then motioned to the organist to start the wedding processional. As the strains of the beautiful organ filled the church Ryan looked at the priest who nodded to him with a smile as the ceremony began.

---

As the sounds of the organ filled the church Cathy positioned Emily at the end of the aisle and said softly. "Now … do you remember what you have to do?"

Emily nodded. "I walk … SLOWLY and I throw the flowers. Right?"

Cathy nodded. She really was a cute little girl. "That's right. Now I'm going to go and sit down the front. You wait until you see me sit down then you can start. Okay?"

"Okay." Emily nodded.

As soon as Cathy sat down then Emily looked towards Summer who nodded and Emily grinned and then started her slow walk down the aisle scattering the rose petals at her feet as she went.

Summer looked to Marissa a tear in her eye. "You ready Coop?"

Marissa nodded. "I think I've been waiting for this moment my whole life." She said as Summer nodded and then slowly started down the aisle behind Emily.

Sandy and Marissa waited a few moments and then Sandy asked. "All set?"

"Uh huh. Thanks for doing this for me." she said.

"I'm the one who should be thanking you. It's an honour." Sandy replied. "I'm sorry that your father isn't here. I know that he would have loved to be."

"Maybe. But he gave up the right when he deserted us. You have been more of a father to me than he ever was. He only wanted to be there in the good times and then deserted us in the bad when we needed him most." Marissa explained. "I'd rather just remember him from when I was small before he helped to destroy our family."

Sandy nodded. He couldn't very well disagree with her.

"He was a spoilt child who never grew up and couldn't accept responsibility. You know that he frittered away all his inheritance? And it wasn't a small inheritance that his parents left him?"

"Yes I know." Sandy said not really wanting to talk about it at this point. He was sure that there would be some other more appropriate time to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of Jimmy Cooper. But he sensed that Marissa wanted to get it off her chest. And then he realised that it was her way of trying to distract herself from the emotions that were threatening to boil over inside. They had now left the small room where she had gotten changed and were now standing at the end of the aisle. Summer was a few meters ahead and it was their turn to start.

"If I can just give you a few words of advice that my mother gave me?" Sandy asked hoping to change the subject.

"Sure." Marissa replied.

He smiled. "Just remember … be sweethearts … be lovers … but most of all be friends."

Marissa hesitated as the words sunk in and then smiled. "That I can do."

Sandy smiled as he indicated Ryan waiting impatiently at the front of the church "Okay. Let's go. Your groom awaits."

"You mean my husband." Marissa corrected.

Sandy laughed. "Sorry. I keep forgetting."

"It's okay. This feels like the first time anyway." She said and then looked down the aisle at the back of the man she loved more than life itself just as he turned and their eyes met.

The earth stood still.

---

Ryan had just acknowledged Summer arriving beside him and he turned to see how far away Marissa was and when he saw her she literally took his breath away. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest as she got slowly nearer … the smile on her face proof enough that she was happy … more than happy … she was … joyous. The lump in his throat built to a size that he didn't think that he would ever be able to swallow again and he felt the tears build in his eyes. She was the most beautiful thing that he had ever seen. She was his princess … his life. And as she came to stand beside him he could see that she was equally moved by the occasion.

He tried to smile … hoping that it might help to move the lump in his throat.

Marissa … his Marissa was standing beside him and she was the most beautiful thing that he had ever seen in his life. He was trying to concentrate on what the priest was saying but so many things were running through his mind. How did he get to this point? How did the boy from Chino … whose life had seemed to be going no where … end up here? He was a successful business man and architect and more importantly he was marrying the woman of his dreams … his soul mate. He glanced over at Sandy who was quietly whispering to Marissa. Ryan knew that he would never be able to repay Sandy for what he had done for him. He had helped make all Ryan's dreams come true. And Ryan hadn't even known what they were at the time.

Ryan pulled himself back into the present and tried to focus on what the priest was saying just in time to hear him ask. "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" Ryan waited … thinking that Sandy would say something … but the silence lengthened. Ryan frowned as he looked to Sandy who shrugged and moved back to sit with Kirsten. Ryan looked at Marissa concerned … but she was just smiling broadly, obviously unconcerned about the lengthening silence and then he heard a quiet voice come from behind.

"I do."

Ryan turned around stunned. Surely that could not have been who he thought it was. But as he saw the ashen colour of Julie's face he knew that it was. They linked eyes and he knew just what it must have taken for her to say that. After everything that she'd done over the years to keep them apart … for her to be the one giving Marissa's hand in marriage to Ryan just didn't make sense. But then he looked at his wife who was grinning from ear to ear and it all fell in to place. Obviously Marissa was exacting some of her own revenge on her mother and Ryan had to smile. If this was all it took to get back into Marissa's good books then he thought that Julie was probably getting off lightly. He turned back to the priest who acknowledged Julie's comment and then moved on.

"Dearly Beloved, We are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony, which is an honourable estate, instituted by God, and therefore, is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly and advisedly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate, these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man or woman can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let them speak now, or else forever hold their peace."

Ryan held his breath wondering if Julie was going to speak again. But silence ensued … well almost silence … Kirsten's sniffles were apparent but that was all … and the priest continued. "Ryan … Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health; forsaking all others so long as you both shall live?"

Ryan smiled as he looked at Marissa and the lump in his throat disappeared completely. He'd never been surer of anything in his life. "I will." He answered loud and proud.

Marissa couldn't help but giggle. Her emotions seemed to be about to overflow she was so happy.

The priest continued. "Marissa … Wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health; forsaking all others so long as you both shall live?"

"I will." Marissa answered just as strongly as her husband.

The priest turned the prayer book towards them and then asked "Ryan would you care to make your vows?"

Ryan glanced briefly at the book in front of him and then turned to Marissa. "I Ryan take thee Marissa to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

The priest nodded and then turned to Marissa who had already started without prompting. She couldn't wait. "I Marissa take thee Ryan to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part." She smiled as she realised just how quickly she had rushed through it and the priest laughed at her eagerness.

He turned to Seth and asked. "Do you have the rings?"

Seth pulled them from his pocket and placed them on the prayer book that the priest offered.

"Ryan, if you could take the ring you are going to give to your wife and place it on her finger and then repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed." The priest instructed.

Ryan did so and then the priest turned to Marissa and she followed suit.

The priest then said "Bless, oh Lord, the rings, that each who gives it, and each who wears it may abide in thy peace. Those whom God hath joined together, let no man or woman put asunder." And then he looked up at the assembled congregation and said. "For as much as Ryan and Marissa have consented together in holy wedlock, have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto, have given and pledged their troth, each to the other and have declared the same by the giving and receiving of rings, and by joining hands … I pronounce that they are Husband and Wife." He smiled at the young couple before him and then added to Ryan. "You may kiss your bride."

Ryan didn't need to be asked twice and he leant in and softly and sweetly took the lips of the woman of his dreams.