WEDDING DAY

This chapter is for jjrenee...hope you are feeling better.. missing your stories..she makes good use of songs and I took a cue from her for the wedding scene..fitzsgirl..you too..thanks for being patient!!

Vicki woke up with the realization that after today, she would no longer be Vicki Nelson. Her stomach was in knots. She was still worried that Henry was so "frustrated" from her lack of "perfromances" this week, but there he lay beside her anyway, sound asleep. She left early, she had to meet Coreen and her mother who had been finishing everything up this week. Vicki had been very careful with the planning, not even letting Henry know her mother was here. She hadn't even seen her mother yet, nor the "friend" her mother had brought.

She snuck out quietly, reminding Gwen to wait until Henry had left for the "photo shoot" to dress the kids.

Vicki had Henry believing that his editor had set up a shoot revolving around one of his graphic novels and had convinced him to dress in a specially made "costume" or so Henry thought. It was reminiscent of clothing he wore as Duke, strange Henry thought. But, then again, his editor had him do some strange things for promotion. He had one of those long-sleeves shirts that ruffled down the front, with a ruffled collar. Those things were worn by men in his time. His jacket was only waist length, with gold trim around the egdes. The ruffles from the sleeve came out at the end very nicely, like it was tailored especially for him. The pants were form fitting, high waisted, again something he had worn before with buttons instead of a zipper. They had a small thread of gold going down the side of each leg. His shoes were really boots, with small heels on them. Everything was cream colored, a nice spring color. There was a limo coming to pick him up. He hoped this would be worth it. He had no idea.

Coreen had been a great wedding coordinater seeing that everything was in secret. She met Vicki at the church with her mother and her mother's friend.

"Mom!" Vicki threw her arms around her mother. When she pulled away, she got a really good look at her. She looked...young.

"What's going on with you?" Vicki was confused, then saw her "friend" was a male friend.

"Vicki, this is not how I wanted you two to meet but I guess it will have to do. This is Pierre Moncrief." He smiled at Vicki and kissed her hand. He was so handsome and young looking, more like in his thirties than her mother's age. Yet, her mother..what the hell was going on?? He was really tall, dark and handsome. He had long curly hair, past his shoulders, he had coal black eyes and full pink lips.

"Look this is YOUR day, let's get you ready okay?" Marjory Nelson could see that her daughter was confused and wanted to divert her for now.

"Okay, nice to meet you Pierre but you gotta go, sorry" Vicki waved him away.

"Yes, my dear, no problem." his voiced could melt icebergs. Well, she couldn't say her mother didn't have good taste.

He left the two women alone. Vicki was sitting in a robe, her hair had been done earlier. It was curled, then had baby's breathe woven into it. It fell around her face and down her back. She had debated on pulling up her long thick hair, but Henry told her he loved it when it was down so she had it fixed accordingly. Marjory knelt down besider her daughter, taking her hand..

"Are you nervous?" she asked.

"Yeah, a little. That's not logical. We've got children together, we've been together forever it seems like so why am I nervous?" she breathed out.

"Because, sweetie, this is it. This is forever and you don't do forever because you think that can't happen to us." She kissed her daughter's forehead.

"Vicki, you will be fine. I think you are nervous too because you're afraid it won't be just right.." she raised an eyebrow at Vicki.

Vicki nodded and swallowd hard.

"You could have taken Henry in front of the judge and he could care less. The fact that you planned this," Marjory said, making a sweeping motion with her hand, "speaks volumes of how much you love him. He's going to love that part all on it's own. It will be perfect, don't worry. Now, let's get you into this dress. The guests are arriving, all twenty of them.." Marjory joked.

Vicki had only invited a very few people, she wanted it as small and simple as possible. A few business associates of Henry who were sworn to face the wrath of Vicki if it slipped, Dr. Sagara, Dr. Mohadavan and some cops from the force and of course, Pami, Coni and Sandy. They were pissed because there was no party time beforehand for the girls.

Henry's limo pulled up in front of St. Peter's Church. What?

"Excuse me, I think we are in the wrong place." Henry told the driver.

"Nope, this is it." The driver never looked at him.

Henry exited the limo and it drove away. His editor was deifintely getting an earful when he was done.

He started to stomp into the church when Clark came out of the doors.

"Clark? What are you doing here? " Henry was not only frustrated, but confused as well.

"Come on in Henry, someone has been waiting for you." Clark smiled at Henry waved him in.

Henry walked slowly into the church, a song was playing ...that was his and Vicki's song..

..If there were no words, no way to speak, I would still hear you, if there were no tears, no way to feel inside, I'd still feel for you..

What was going on? Henry looked around..a wedding..whose?

..and even if the sun refused to shine, even if romance ran out of rhyme, you would still have my heart until the end of time...

"I think you are supposed to go stand up there." Clark whispered, pointing to the alter where the priest was standing..

...you're all I need, my love, my Valentine...

Henry walked slowly up the aisle, noticing the people. Vicki's friends, his business associates, then he noticed Abbie standing at the friend, in a beautiful dress that Henry would find out later was a smaller version of her mother's, Ward was also there, in a mini-Henry outfit, holding a pillow while Abbie held a bouquet...

Vicki stood looking in the mirror of the changing room. She was alone, she could hear the song had started. She hadn't wanted a tradtional wedding march, she wanted their song My Valentine, by Martina McBride. Vicki didn't do country, but the words to that song, they spoke what her heart felt. She looked at herself, standing there in what was hopefully Elizabeth's dress, then saw her..she was behind her. Vicki didn't turn. Elizabeth spoke.

"Don't turn around. You can only see me like this right now. It is me, I'm Henry's mother Elizabeth. My servant, Cindy, has guarded that dress for all these years for this very day. Those things in the trunk are real. Cindy was Bruja, she was able to live a long time, but she was ready to be at peace as well. We are both happy." Her eyes were filling with tears, Vicki could see them in the reflection.

"Please, give my son the letter I wrote to him so long ago. You make him happy, I can see that. I can rest now, so can Cindy. Our job is done. My grandchildren, they are beautiful. You are beautiful Vicki and I am so sorry if we frightened you. I know that I can give you Henry now to keep his heart happy and safe. Please tell Henry I love him and I am proud of him.." and she was gone.

Vicki fought back tears. She didn't want to cry now..she knew it would come later. It was true. She knew it in her heart. It was Elizabeth's dress. It tugged at her heart to know that Elizabeth's soul had watched over Henry and was now at peace, giving Henry to Vicki for safekeeping.

There was a knock at the door, making her jump.

She took one last look, hoping to see Elizabeth in the mirror but she was gone.

"Ready?" Came the male voice.

"Ready as I'll ever be." she said quietly.

Henry was at the alter, stunned at what was happening. This was HIS wedding. Who had planned it? How did he not know? Was that Coreen? Gone was the goth makeup, she was wearing a pale blue dress..wow. This was beyond reality.

...all of my life, I have been waiting for, all you give to me, you opened my eyes and showed me how to love unselfishly...

With that, the doors of the church opened and Vicki came in with Mike on her arm giving her to Henry. The emotions in Henry were overwhelming. He looked at Vicki's beauty, the dress, it was so familiar, it met the curve of her body perfectly. The laced sleeves, her hair falling down around her face and onto her back. It took his breath completely away. Mike was giving Vicki away.

...I've dreamed of this a thousand times before, in my dreams I couldn't love you more, you will still have my heart until the end of time...you're all I need my love, My Valentine...

And Mike was there, just as the song was stopped. Vicki was afraid to look at Henry just yet.

"Who gives this woman in marriage?" the priest asked.

Mike looked over at the beautiful Vicki Nelson, his one-time partner, lover and now best friend, he looked at Henry, the one who had tamed Vicki Nelson enough to marry him, behind his back no less and said..

"With great pride..I do." Mike smiled at Vicki, leaned over and whispered.."you're a lucky woman.."

Mike nodded to Henry, Henry nodded back holding his arm out for Vicki to take. Vicki looked first at Ward, then Abbie and her heart swelled with pride at how well they were doing.

While the priest performed the normal marriage ceremony, Henry kept looking over at Vicki, she was giving him sideways glances.

Although they never really discussed marriage, Henry knew exactly what he would say to her when the day came, she knew too what she would say to him.

They turned to each other, hand in hand, Abbie holding her mother's bouquet for her.

"Vicki, the love of my life, I've been dreaming of this day forever. You are my world, my lifeforce, my everything. You are what I live for. You have made me a better man. I will cherish you until my dying breath." Which meant forever to them.

"Henry, you are the love of my life. You have given things I never thought I could have. You accept me for who I am, without trying to change me. I can't imagine my life without you, ever. I love you with all my heart and soul."

She told Henry she loved him with all her heart and soul in front of God and everybody that was important in their lives. That was monumental. Henry couldn't stop looking at Vicki, she was starting to tear up, so was Henry. Ward tugged at his father's pants leg to cue him to get the ring. Gwen had done a fine job.

Henry snapped out of it, bent down, told Ward, "thank you" and stood back up.

"With this ring, I thee wed," he said slipping on Vicki's left hand. She looked at it, it was unreal to her still and Vicki had even chosen the set. Henry was impressed, it was stunning.

Vicki reached down, kissed Ward on the cheek and stood back up.

"With this ring, you belong ONLY to me." leave it to Vicki to change it up..

She slipped the ring on Henry's left hand, staring at it for a momemnt, then at her own again.

"By the power invested in me, throught the Holy Catholic Church, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride."

Henry and Vicki turned to one another and smiled.

Henry leaned in, kissing her gently, not using any tongue, being respectful that they were not only in God's house, but in front of the children and Vicki's mother.

Henry pulled away, a tear slipping down his cheek. Vicki reached up and brushed it away with her thumb as he was brushing hers away with his. They turned and the priest said:

"May present to you Mr. and Mrs. Henry Fitzroy" Henry turned to look at Vicki, she nodded.

"Well, you gave up your whole life for me, your snacking, your ways, I figured I could give up something too. And yes," she said nodding to the twins, " I've already changed their names."

The chorus to My Valetine came back on, Abbie took her mother's hand, Ward took his father's and they all walked out of the church together.

Henry was still in shock. He turned to Vicki, scooped her up and said,

"So, where's the honeymoon?"

"You said you wanted to go home.'"

He nearly dropped her..they were going to London??

Next story...the honeymoon, unless you don't want one!?