Hey everyone! Well here's the last chapter:) I can't believe how much this story has evolved from its original form, thanks to so many who have contributed along the way. I'd like to thank TS Blue, Samwiseatheart, and beej96 for basically holding my hand through the early parts of this story:) Without them, it would have never been completed, but TS challenged me to continue on with something that may not have been favorite or my normal style, and I'm glad she did, if just for the challenge:) This chapter totally belongs to Samwiseatheart and Elenhin. It was not even a figment of my imagination until they reminded me about an orange mustang that I had already forgotten about:) There's been so many others along the way, and if I've missed anyone – I apologize. Anyway, thanks again for those that have stuck with this story.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes, and no infringements intended.

BALANCING THE BOOKS

CHAPTER 24

LOOSE ENDS

It was a beautiful day in Hazzard county; not too hot, not too cold, and the few remaining, morning rain drops glistened under the powerful rays of the golden sun. Early on a Saturday afternoon on such a lovely day, the town square should have been bustling with folks who normally came to town for their weekly trip, and those who just wanted to enjoy the heavenly weather, but it wasn't. Except for a few shop keepers inside tending to their stores, the streets were deserted, making Hazzard appear like a ghost town that had been evacuated. In fact, the local residents hadn't abandoned their fair town; they'd just been displaced for the day.

The heavy, wooden doors to the church burst open as Jackie and Bo Duke stepped into the warm sunshine, with Bo Jr. between them. Legally married in a hospital room six weeks before, Bo had promised his love a real wedding, and a real wedding they had just had.

Having already planned two earlier ones, Daisy Duke refused to be disappointed by having the fruits of her labor cancelled entirely. Even if Bo hadn't made the promise, Daisy would have forced the couple to a real altar, in a real church, even if she had to resort to a shotgun ceremony to do it. The middle Duke cousin bravely endured family and friends' teasing. Several suggested she switch occupations; from her current job as the best waitress in the Tri-County region to now experienced wedding planner. A handful of others believed that maybe she was just in training, practicing for her own wedding, which everyone felt eventually would happen with Enos Strate, someday. The third time being the charm, there hadn't been much to do except to re-arrange dates and details. The hardest obstacle Bo and Jackie had to overcome was trying to convince the preacher that this time, they would show up.

Leading the parade out of the church, Bo and Jackie were followed by family, friends, and the rest of the congregation, revealing that the residents of Hazzard were still within the county limits. Almost everyone in the community had come to bear witness and watch with their own eyes as the one person they never believed would settle down promised to be true to only one other for the rest of their lives.

Stepping off to the side, the couple paused for pictures and to chat with well-wishers. Jackie was dressed in a traditional white gown with puffed sleeves, high neck, full skirt and long train. Daisy and Jackie's sister stood on one side, dressed in light pink dresses which also blossomed out, giving them the appearance of true southern belles. On the other side of Bo stood Luke and Cooter. Taking a page from Boss Hogg's guide to fashion, Bo was dressed from head to toe in white, while his best man and groomsman were outfitted in gray. Bo Jr., who was still proudly informing everyone that he was the ring bearer, also wore white. His partner, a young local girl who's parents were friends with the Dukes, was outfitted in a dress similar to her grown-up counterparts. Even Uncle Jesse was dressed in a tux, and for those who didn't know him, they would have never known that his first choice in style was denim overalls. Standing close together on the side of the church's steps, the bridal party could have been posing for any fashion magazine in the country.

When the crowd began to dwindle, the couple moved toward the appropriately decorated SUV. After securing Bo Jr. in his own seat in the back, Jackie and Bo promised to meet everyone at the reception, which was being held at the Boar's Nest.

"Well Mrs. Duke, I guess this really does make it official," Bo said, raising his wife's hand to his lips while guiding the vehicle down the road with his other one.

"I love you, Bo."

"Mama! Daddy! I'm hungry, " a voice called from the back seat.

Shooting a look at her husband, Jackie asked, "why didn't we leave him with Daisy or Uncle Jesse?"

"Because you didn't want to," Bo reminded her.

"Oh yeah!" Jackie giggled.

"Mama! Daddy!" the voice called again with more urgency. "I'm………."

"We know," the couple said in unison, "you're hungry."

Before their son could say anymore, Jackie tore her eyes away from the man behind the wheel and looked to the boy in the back. "And no, no happy meal today," she answered before he could ask, grinning as he began to pout.

By the time that the sports vehicle pulled up to the local establishment, the local crowd was waiting for them. Converging upon the couple as soon as the doors opened, the new Duke family was smothered once again with people wanting to wish them all the best. Slowly, they were allowed to move inside to the dimly lit room, now decorated with streamers and balloons. The newlyweds had more guests to greet, but one little boy was still hungry and wouldn't be happy until he was fed. Grateful for Lulu Hogg's offer to look after him while he ate, one of the best wedding gifts that Bo and Jackie received was watching Boss Hogg's reaction to having to share his table with a Duke, even if he was the youngest Duke. Too small to understand the history behind his family and the Hoggs, Bo Jr. didn't mind at all. Whatever tales he was entertaining the richest couple in Hazzard with, Lulu was enjoying, even if her husband wasn't.

Eventually, every one filled their plates and took a seat. Standing up at the table the bridal party was seated at, Luke asked everyone to be quiet when he could see that most everyone was finished eating. "As best man, I guess it's my job to say a few words," Luke grinned. "Cuz, I gotta admit, I wondered if I'd ever see this day." Having to pause a moment to steady his voice, he continued. "Jackie, Bo, Bo Jr.," Luke addressed each by name, grinning as he glanced at the little boy, who was still eating and annoying the County Commissioner. "Your courtship certainly has been exciting and an interesting adventure, so here's wishing you all the happiness in the world, and some much needed……….tranquility. Congratulations! We love you Bo, Jackie, and you too, Bo Jr."

Seeing that his cousin was in need of rescuing, Bo stood up and flung his arms around him. "Thanks Luke, I love ya, cuz."

"Love ya, too Bo," Luke croaked, unable to say any more.

Rising to stand next to her husband, Jackie hugged Luke next, thanking him for all of his help and the kind words.

"Welcome to the family. We all love ya, and Bo's a lucky guy," Luke told her.

"I'm the lucky one, Luke," Jackie stated.

"Okay, it's time to cut the cake," Daisy yelled above the crowd noise, motioning for her cousin and his bride to join her.

"Cake? I love cake," Bo Jr. announced. Before anyone could catch him, the toddler climbed out of his seat and ran in the direction of his parents. "I want cake, mama," he yelled loudly, wanting to make sure that she could hear him and grant his request.

Bo grabbed him, hoisting him up before turning him upside down. "Then let's get some cake," he told his son.

Sharing the first dance together, Jackie and Bo decided on an older song. Wanting to put much of the last three years behind them, The Carpenter's version of 'We've Only Just Begun' seemed to be an appropriate sentiment, concentrating on moving forward. However, after the song ended, Jackie and Bo were pulled apart, each having to dance with their many guests. Two hours later, they were still separated. Stealing glances across the room, whenever one started to walk toward the other, someone disrupted their plans. Finally, after pushing through the crowd, husband and wife were reunited.

"Geez, I've been trying for two hours to get over here," Bo muttered, sliding his arms around his wife's waist and properly greeting her.

"Me too," Jackie sighed.

"Two hours is too long. I don't want you away from me that long again," Bo whispered in her ear.

"Bo!" Jackie giggled, loving the remark, unrealistic as it was.

Still holding his wife, Bo glanced in the direction of his best man and groomsman. After catching their eyes, the three men silently exchanged small nods.

"Jackie, I've got something for you."

"Really?" she asked.

"Yep, but it's outside and I don't want you to look until I tell ya, ok?" As Bo gave her the instructions, he slipped his hands over her eyes. "Can you see?"

"No," she replied.

"Good!" Bo exclaimed with a wicked grin. "Now, no peeking, okay?"

"Okay," she slowly agreed.

Having been on standby, Daisy, Luke and Cooter quickly hurried to the couple's side. Uncle Jesse was carrying Bo Jr. as he met up with them too. Daisy bent down, picking up the train to Jackie's dress so that she wouldn't trip. Moving alongside her new cousin-in-law, Bo slowly guided them out the door as the rest of the crowd followed behind.

Once they were outside, Jackie could hear the gasps, only fueling her curiosity more.

After he stopped, Bo leaned down. "You ready?"

"Mm-hmm," she nodded.

"Okay, here goes," Bo purred, slowly removing his hands from her eyes.

Having moved from the darker environment of the bar into direct sunlight, Jackie blinked a few times, letting her eyes adjust to the change. Once they did, it didn't take long to see what Bo's surprise for her was. As her brain began to register what was before her, she froze. Opening her mouth to gasp herself, the sound was delayed by her shock.

"Oh my gosh!" she finally squeaked. Looking from gift to husband, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Bo, thank you. I love it," she cried, throwing her arms around her husband's neck.

'We could do it, couldn't we?" Bo asked, looking from Luke to Cooter, and back again.

"Don't see why not," Luke shrugged

"Count me in, buddyroe," Cooter added.

"Thanks," Bo offered, suddenly excited as his little idea just took a giant step toward becoming a reality.

Bo didn't know how the idea originated. In its infancy stage, it was more of an observation turned into a constant nagging than a well thought-out plan that his cousin, Luke, would be proud to claim as his own.

Jackie and Bo had been so happy to be reunited and back in Hazzard that nothing else mattered. Knowing that everyone believed her to be dead, which was exactly what they were supposed to believe, Jackie accepted that the liquidation and disposal of everything that represented her life was a natural part of the process. Virtually every item she loved was gone, but still, Jackie said that she had everything she ever wanted: Bo and Bo Jr. Items could be replaced, people could not.

Her brother and sister had equally split the proceeds by virtue of being Jackie's closest living relatives. She had never been particularly close to them, due in part to their difference in age, but they were still siblings and none of them wanted to see harm come to the other. Upon learning that their youngest member of the family had not been killed, they returned the monetary value of what they received to her, in cash. It wasn't that the money wasn't appreciated, but some things just couldn't be replaced. So, with a joint checking account at the Bank of Hazzard, the couple began to look toward the future, trying to forget the things and the time that they would never recover. That plan was working; neither of them had ever been happier.

Bo had always loved Jackie's blue eyes, but since returning to the land of the living and becoming a mother, he swore that they twinkled. Yet, there were mere seconds when the light seemed to dim. Occurring and passing so quickly, Bo wasn't even sure if it was real, at first. Eventually pinpointing that it wasn't a figment of his imagination, it concerned him. Though he asked her several times, Jackie denied that anything was wrong, saying that things were just perfect, and Bo couldn't help but wonder if even Jackie was aware of what was happening.

It wasn't until he was driving home from Tri-County Hospita,l after an agent gone bad had almost taken Jackie away from him for real, when it became crystal clear. As a car whizzed by him, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and Bo knew what was behind the momentary seconds of sadness. With that new understanding, the nagging developed into a plan.

Enlisting the aide of Luke and Cooter, the three worked fervently to complete the project before the third scheduled wedding

"I love it!" Jackie cried as Bo hugged her tighter. Promising to thank him properly, later, Jackie turned around to once again face the gift Bo had given her. Moving her hand along the sun heated metal, Jackie reveled in its smoothness. Closing her eyes, she opened them slowly, expecting the mirage to have disappeared. Much to her delight, still in the same place, sat a replica of her beloved car; the one that had been sacrificed in what was believed to be a necessary act to save not only her life, but possibly Bo's and the entire Duke family. Bo had presented her with an orange Mustang, just like the one she had lost, with a few minor revisions.

Finding the exact make and model hadn't been difficult. Mustangs were popular, and damaged ones were plentiful. Sitting in the junkyard in Choctaw county, Bo and Luke hit pay dirt. Its beat up condition was irrelevant; Cooter was a magician when it came to mangled cars, the Duke boys perfecting his skills over the years, and they never expected this project to be any different.

Finding and building the perfect engine, that had been the challenge. Jackie was now a Duke, and she deserved no less than something fit for the General; any old motor simply would not do. Bo, Luke, and Cooter had done it before, and could do it again. By the time they were finished, Jackie's engine was every bit the General's equal.

Several coats of orange paint, a US flag painted on the roof, and a specialty horn that played the first eight notes of Yankee Doodle, and Hazzard County had another vehicular masterpiece guaranteed to give the Sheriff and Deputy fits. There had only been one thing missing, but Bo hadn't had to think about that one too long or too hard.

Running her hand over the words painted beside the flag, Jackie tore her eyes away from the car and looked at Bo. "General Grant?"

Throwing his head back, Bo laughed. He wasn't surprised that it didn't take her long to notice that. "Well sweetheart, the way I figure it, General Lee lost the war to General Grant, just like I sort of lost my heart to you." Pausing to give his new bride a kiss, the groom continued. "See, I know who holds rank in my house."

Half laughing, half crying, Jackie was once again in Bo's arms. "I love you, Bo."

"I love you, too, Mrs. Duke."

Letting their guests examine and admire the newest member of the Duke family, Jackie and Bo were interrupted by a tug from below. Bo reached down to pick up the boy, hoisting him so he could see their new car. Though it was a gift dripping with sentiment, there was also a practical side to it, too. Luke and Bo owned the General jointly. Since Bo would no longer be living at the farm, it was going to be harder to share the car that they built. Yet, neither boy wanted to give up or accept total ownership. By giving Jackie the Mustang, they now had two vehicles, meaning Luke would be able to keep the General with him. Of course, Bo still planned on driving it when they were together, but this way, they all had a form of transportation.

"Well son, how do you like your mama's new car?" Bo asked his boy.

"Fine daddy! Can it go for happy meals?"

"Yes son, it can go for happy meals," Bo answered, laughing at his boy's persistence.

"Now?" Bo Jr. asked.

"No, not now! You just ate, kiddo. You can't possibly be hungry!" Bo told him, remembering his aunt and uncle saying the same thing to him many times over the years. "Besides, your mama needs to see how it feels, first. Go on sweetheart, slide in behind the wheel."

Looking from the car to Bo, Jackie's face suddenly took on a sly and devilish look. "I've gotta better idea. You still owe me a race, farm boy."

"A race?" Bo repeated.

"Yeah, a race, remember? Tell you what, it'll only take me a few minutes to change. Meet you back here and we can finally settle once and for all who has the fastest orange car in Hazzard."

"I….I don't know about this," Bo said, the stutter giving him away. "I don't think this is such a good idea."

Under any other circumstances, Jackie would have kidded Bo about losing his nerve. Hearing the hesitation in his normally sure voice, and seeing the look on his face, she couldn't do that to him. Having made the suggestion on a whim, Jackie forgot that Bo's memories surrounding that last race were not good. If she could have taken it back, she would have, but it was too late.

"It'll be ok, Bo. Nothing's gonna happen, scouts honor," she promised, emphasizing the last two words and squeezing his hand tighter.

Even before Jackie finished speaking, Bo's mind had been made up. He was going to refuse, and nothing was going to change that decision. The last time that he and Jackie had raced, his heart had been ripped out. Not dwelling on those lost years was one thing; reliving the beginning of the nightmare was something else. As he opened his mouth, his brain was caught off guard by Jackie's final pledge. He remembered those two little words, and how he had said them to her the first time they'd met. Unable to prevent the grin the memory provoked, Bo was at his weakest and Jackie took advantage. Before he knew it, he was giving in.

Meeting outside a half hour later, Bo and Jackie Duke prepared to do battle on the roads of Hazzard, pitting General against General. Grateful that they had dressed at the church that morning, the wedding party changed back into their normal denim attire. Going over the details of the route they would take, they waited while their spotters got into position along the course. When everything was in place, the bride and groom gave each other a good luck kiss. Bo and Luke jumped in the General Lee, and Jackie got behind the wheel of the newly appointed General Grant.

"Well, let's see what you got," Jackie muttered as she turned on the ignition.

Letting Daisy do the honors of lowering the flag, Jesse held onto Bo Jr., explaining to him that his mom and dad were not going for happy meals without him. Racing was a way of life in Hazzard, and as the youngest Duke, it was never to early to start learning the basics. Leaving the crowd in a cloud of dust, the two orange automobiles sped off and out of sight.

Wondering what was taking place, a familiar voice crackled through the static on the cb. "This is LB at check point one," he announced. "They just went by."

"Well, who's ahead?" Jesse asked gruffly, wondering why he had to ask the obvious.

"It's close, but right now General Lee has a slight lead," LB answered.

Ten minutes later, they received the second report. "This is Enos at check point two. They just passed me, and right now, General Grant is ahead."

Receiving two more updates, those reports also conflicted; General Grant was winning at check point three, but General Lee had regained the lead by check point four. There was only one more before the starting line at the Boar's Nest became the finish line, and after all the miles they'd already traveled, they still didn't have a clear winner.

"Hey ya'll. This here's Crazy C at final, checkpoint number 5."

When Cooter didn't say anything else, Jesse once again reached for the cb, rolling his eyes as he did so. He didn't understand why the Davenport cousins were the only two spotters that had to be prompted for an update. "Well Cooter, what are you waiting for? What's going on?" Jesse grumbled.

"Well Uncle Jesse, they haven't made it here yet, but I can see them coming," Cooter replied.

"And?" Jesse pressed.

"They's bout a half mile from here, and right now, General Lee has a pretty good lead on Grant. Looks like history is …………….safe……………Oh I don't believe it! Never thought I'd live to see this day," Cooter chuckled.

"Cooter!" Jesse barked into the hand held device.

Seeing how frustrated her uncle was becoming, Daisy took the cb from him. Her uncle sometimes thought that the crazy mechanic wasn't quite all there, but she believed he did little things just to annoy the older man at times.

"Cooter, this is Daisy. What just happened?" she asked in a much calmer tone.

"Ya'll ain't gonna believe this, but General Grant just took the lead," Cooter laughed.

"What's so strange about that? Jackie's been ahead before," Daisy said, glancing at the people gathered around while shrugging her shoulders.

"It's the way she did it," Cooter chuckled again. "Jackie just jumped General Grant over General Lee!"

"What!" Uncle Jesse exclaimed, grabbing the cb back from his niece.

"It was perfect, too. Went right over the top and landed in front of them," Cooter continued. "Never thought I'd see that happen. An orange car flying in Hazzard that wasn't the General Lee. Anyway, they should be coming your direction shortly. I'm gone."

Hardly able to believe what they'd heard, they watched anxiously for the Generals to appear on the horizon. Excited chatter filled the air. Jackie's nieces and nephew were enjoying the race, but her siblings failed to understand the enthusiasm.

"This is the strangest wedding I've ever been to," Jackie's brother said to his wife and sister, who nodded in agreement.

A gleam appeared in Jesse Duke's eye after hearing the comment. Jackie's family, while pleasant, were conservative, and he didn't doubt that they found the situation a little different. Turning to them, he grinned. "Ah, it'll grow on you," he said. "This here's just a good, old-fashioned Hazzard county wedding, Duke style."

Before they could debate the subject further, the roar of the engines could be heard in the distance. Crowding around the finish line, the mob kept watch for the first signs of the Generals, wondering who was now winning.

"I see 'em coming," Daisy yelled as she pointed.

"Yep, here they come," Jesse agreed.

They continued to watch as the cars grew bigger with each rotation of the tires. "I think General Lee is ahead," someone would say, only to be corrected by another that General Grant was in front.

"Uncle Jesse, I can't tell," Daisy stated. "Who do you think is winning?"

Jesse Duke gave a hearty laugh. "Daisy Mae, I think they're dead even," he observed when they were only seconds from crossing the line. "I always told ya, Dukes don't go against Dukes, and what we have here…………is a tie!"

The End