Note From The Author—Here comes the bride; quite literally too. It's the wedding, and I certainly hope you enjoy it.
"Stell, do you have any idea where my shoes went?" Flack called from the bedroom.
Stella smiled and shook her head. "Check in the closet where they belong," she told him.
Sure enough he came out a moment later with both shoes on. "Thanks, I've got to go get Danny so I'll see you later."
"Hold on." She grabbed hold of him and put one hand on either side of his face, looking into his eyes. "Danny's getting married tomorrow; I know you want to give him a great bachelor party but so help me God if he's hung over tomorrow I will kill you both."
Flack nodded. "I'll take good care of him, and we'll make sure he's stone cold sober for the ceremony tomorrow afternoon. He bent to kiss her softly. "Take it easy tonight. You don't want to overdo it."
"I'll be just fine," she told him. She patted her large belly. "We're keeping it light and casual. Lindsay insisted that I be able to come."
"Good." He kissed her again. "Have fun."
Ash she watched him open the door she called out one more time. "Remember what I said!"
Around an hour later Stella was seated at a quiet restaurant with Lindsay, Kendall and Jennifer Angell. She was sipping water while the others shared a bottle of wine as they all waited for their food.
"Your family couldn't make it tonight kiddo?" she asked.
Lindsay shook her head. "They only got in this morning and they wanted to rest before the big event tomorrow. Danny's family isn't out either."
"Why's that?" Angell asked.
She smiled. "Lots to do before tomorrow; that and Danny wanted to keep it small tonight."
"I hope they're all behaving." Kendall said with a grin.
Stella nodded. "They will be. I made Don promise me they wouldn't get Danny drunk, and there's no way he's going to risk the wrath of a hormonal pregnant woman," she said wryly.
Laughter rang out across the restaurant as their waiter approached with their dinners. When he had left they dug in and conversation resumed between bites. "Are you dying of excitement Lindsay?" Kendall asked.
Lindsay grinned. "I can't wait. It feels like it's taken us forever to get here and I'm so excited to finally be his wife. I know how corny that sounds but I can't seem to help it."
"I can completely understand," Jen told her. "The three of you are lucky to have found someone."
Kendall held up her hands. "Hey, Adam and I are no where near the getting married stage here."
"Maybe not," she said. "But you've got someone."
"And there isn't anyone in your life?" Stella asked the younger detective.
Angell shook her head. "Not anyone permanent. To be honest at this point I'd be happy if I could meet someone who didn't feel the need to use the word angel in their pick up line."
"You'll find someone." Stella told her. "I never thought I'd find someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, but it happened. I guess it just takes patience."
"I'll keep that in mind," Angell said with a smile. "I'm sorry for the detour. Shouldn't we be talking about Lindsay?"
"Better yet, I wonder what they guys are up to," Kendall mused.
Kendall probably would have been surprised to discover that the guys were doing much the same thing they were. Though they were eating far less sophisticated onion rings and cheeseburgers and drinking beer, they too were enjoying a relatively mellow evening. The last thing Danny wanted was to be hungover or still drunk for his wedding day, so they were sitting in a slightly divey bar for greasy food and beer.
"Ya doing okay Messer?" Flack asked after catching Danny staring off into space for the fifth time that night.
Danny shook himself out of his reverie. "I'm good. I just can't believe I'm getting married tomorrow."
"Freaked out?" Hawkes asked.
"Nah," he said. "I can't wait. I just never thought I'd love someone as much as I love Lindsay."
Mac smiled. "I seem to remember telling you it could happen to you one day."
Danny laughed. "Yeah, and you were right as usual," he conceded.
Flack raised his glass. "Well, here's to Danny and Lindsay. Good luck man."
They all toasted and threw back the remains of their drinks. "So what about you and Stella, Flack? You guys going to get married?" Adam asked.
He signaled the waitress for more beers then turned back to the table. "Honestly, we haven't even talked about it."
"Really?" Mac asked.
"Yeah. We both want to get married eventually, but we're happy with the way we are now for the moment. Plus when I do propose it's got to be something good. Maybe after the baby comes."
The others noticed the goofy grin on his face when he talked about the baby. It had become clear to everyone that Flack and Stella were head over heels in love with each other and the baby she was carrying. Until that night Danny hadn't been sure what he thought. But now he decided that he'd put fifty on six months out in the office wedding pool. With that and the baby's sex, maybe he'd get lucky.
Stella was already asleep when Flack got back that night. He undressed quietly and slipped into bed next to her. She stirred and turned to face him, her eyes blurred from sleep. "Hey," she said quietly.
He kissed her forehead. "Hey. Go back to sleep."
She shook her head. "Did you guys have a good time?" she asked.
"We did."
"Danny sober?"
Flack smiled. "Completely sober."
Stella sighed and snuggled in as close as her belly would allow. "Good. I'd hate to have to kill the best man and the groom."
"Me too. Get some sleep."
"Love you."
"Love you too."
They were up at the crack of dawn the next morning. The wedding was at noon but the day was completely full right up until the start of the ceremony. Stella and Flack said goodbye that morning and they wouldn't see each other again until she came down the aisle in front of Lindsay.
First up was breakfast with Lindsay's Mom and bridesmaids. After that came hair, nails and makeup. They were at the church by ten thirty and Lindsay was in her dress and ready to go by quarter to twelve.
"I'm so nervous Stella," Lindsay said, pressing a shaking hand to her heart. "I didn't think I'd be so nervous."
"It's going to be great kiddo. You look beautiful."
Tears sprang to Lindsay's eyes. "Thank you so much Stella. You've been such a good friend to me."
"I can say the same for you."
Both tearing, they hugged fiercely. "Show time." Lindsay said quietly.
"See you up there."
Danny and Flack stood at the front of the church when the music began. The flower girl and ring bearer came first, looking adorable in a sapphire blue silk dress and little tux and sapphire blue tie. The bridesmaids came next, on the arms of the groomsmen. Kendall, Angell and the other bridesmaids looked beautiful in their emerald green empire waist gowns and the groomsmen, including Mac, Hawkes and Adam, looked fairly dashing in their tuxes and matching emerald green ties.
Stella came next, and Flack felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him. Her hair was scooped up in some complicated style that was beyond his description as a man. Her bright sapphire blue gown floated over her body and she looked absolutely gorgeous. Until that moment, he'd always believed that the old cliché about pregnant women glowing was complete bull. But coming down that aisle Stella was positively radiant, and though he knew it was another cliché, he felt as if he was the luckiest man on the planet to have her.
She took her place and the congregation stood as the first strains of Cannon in D floated through the church. Lindsay started up the aisle with her father and Danny's breath hitched. In her simple full skirted wedding gown and mantilla veil she was absolutely breathtaking. Her eyes caught Danny's and they never looked away from each other as she made her way to him at the front of the church. Everyone was fighting back tears by the time her father had given her away.
The priest's voice carried through the church as the ceremony began. "Dearly beloved…"
The ceremony was short, and soon they came to the vows. Danny turned to face Lindsay, grasping her hands. "From the moment I saw you I knew there was something different about you. Mac told me once that love could happen to me, and I thought he was completely off base. Then I met you and all that changed. For the first time in my life I really and truly fell in love and I found myself wanting to spend every minute of every day with you. Didn't matter if it was at a crime scene or playing pool…" He winked at her before he continued. "I wanted to be with you all the time. When we finally got together, I was sure from the beginning that I was going to marry you, even if you didn't know it yet." He grinned. "I was still surprised when you said yes so quick. So here we are, standing at the front of this church with all our friends and family here, and I know for sure that I'll have you in my life forever. I love you Montana."
Lindsay fought back tears as she began to speak in turn. "You were so persistent about everything, even before we got together. I knew from the beginning that you were one of those people who always pushed until you got what you want or needed. I turned out to be right about that. I regret now that I was so cautious for so long. If I had known how everything would turn out, I would have shown up at that first date," she said with a smile. "You're the one Danny, and I can't wait to start forever with you. I love you Messer."
There wasn't a dry eye in the house as the ceremony continued. It wasn't long before Flack passed over the rings. Moments later the words that Danny and Lindsay had been waiting all day to hear rang out. "I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride."
Danny pulled Lindsay into his arms for a searing kiss, and when they pulled apart they headed up the aisle together. Stella and Flack came together in front of the altar and followed them through the church, the bridesmaids and groomsmen trailing after them. When they got through the doors they all found Danny and Lindsay locked together in a never ending kiss.
"Hey you two, save it for the honeymoon," Flack joked. "We've got a party to go to."
Lindsay and Danny had wanted casual and they got it. The dance floor at the reception was packed and the buffet was fabulous. Everyone milled about talking and dancing as they waited for the newlyweds to arrive. Before long the DJ quieted them down and spoke into the microphone. "Everybody give a round of applause for Mr. and Mrs. Danny Messer!"
Danny and Lindsay came into the room both grinning. Lindsay had shed her veil and changed into flats and Danny's tie looked suspiciously loose, and they were both ecstatic. Everyone cleared out as they took the floor for their first dance. They hadn't said a word about the song for their first dance, so everyone waited curiously for the music to begin. They were all completely surprised when the song began to play.
I set out on a narrow way
Many years ago
Hoping I would find true love
Along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign
Pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream
Led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart
They were like Northern Stars
Pointing me on my way
Into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
I think about the years I spent
Just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost
And give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there, you understand
It's all part of a grander plan
That is coming true
Every long lost dream
Led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart
They were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way
Into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lovers arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Everyone broke out in wild applause as the song ended and Lindsay and Danny came to a stop. Smiling, they took each others' hands and headed off of the floor. Stella watched, tears falling from her eyes. Flack came up and wrapped his arms around her. "You okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm wonderful."
They watched together as Lindsay stepped out with Mr. Monroe for their father daughter dance. The song Butterfly Kisses began to play and Stella and Flack swayed softly as they listened.
"You know, you may be doing that in twenty or so years," she told him quietly.
"Not if Danny has his way," Flack said with a laugh. "He's still got his fingers crossed for a boy. You sure you don't want to know ahead of time?"
She shook her head. "It sounds silly but I want to find out when the doctor says 'it's a boy' or 'it's a girl'."
He kissed the top of her head. "It's not silly."
They were quiet until the song came to an end and Lindsay's father kissed her and she returned to Danny's side. "They're going to happy," Stella said, satisfied.
"Yeah, they're going to be happy, and so are we."
She turned in his arms to face him. "That a promise Detective?"
He smiled down at her before pressing a kiss to her lips. "That's a promise."
Note From The Author—Well there you have it, the wedding. I hope the vows turned out okay, as well as the first dance. It all seemed very appropriate to me, but feedback is always appreciated.
Disclaimer—I don't own the characters of CSI: NY, nor do I own the songs Bless the Broken Road and Butterfly Kisses. Those belong to Rascal Flatts and Bob Carlisle respectively.