Epilogue
Pat's POV

"Stupid tie…"

I kept trying to get this ridiculous tie right. I was with the guys at Darry's place waiting to drive over to the church. I undid the knot again and took a breath.

"Okay, you want to be this way? Fine, let's just see how you like this!"

I threw my tie on the ground and started to stomp on it. Soda came in and looked at me.

"Um….Patrick? Having a little trouble there?" he raises his eyebrows.

"Well, yeah, could you help me? I never needed to learn to tie a tie until now." I ask. Soda comes over to me and I hand him the tie. He turns me away from the mirror and starts making up the tie. He gets in front of me and finishes it for me. He lets me see what I look like and smiles. Aunt Rhonda cut my hair yesterday so I look nice for today. It still had that stupid cowlick in the back, but it looked pretty decent. The suit was Cola's old one. It fit me good, but was a little short at the ankles, but my socks would cover that. I was wearing a blue tie and my Dad's old watch. All and all, I looked pretty good.

"You look like your Uncle Darry." He chuckles.

"I guess." I say. Soda gives me a look.

"Are you alright? We everything I mean? You know that J.D won't…."

"I'm fine Soda. It's just that it's hard to believe that Eric's going to be my brother-in-law."

Soda pats me on the back. "I know, everyone's nightmare, a Randle becoming part of the family!" he laughs. I groan. He sits on the bed that he and my father use to share and pats the spot next to him. I sit next to him. "You know that you and Mikey are going to be fine, right? J.D is still going to be your sister after today, no matter what."

"Yeah I know. I just keep thinking what Dad what have thought of all this. I mean, what was he thinking when he gave Eric his blessing? Eric is just…."

"Eric?" Soda smirks.

"Yeah"

"Eric's a good guy. I just think you're pissy because you'll know what goes on your sister's bedroom when you hear…"

"LA LA LA LA! I CAN'T HEAR YOU! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" I cover my ears and run out of the room. Soda comes out laughing his ass off. Mikey is eating a hotdog on the counter in his little suit. Aunt Lizzy comes in the door and looks at him.

"Michael James Curtis! You don't eat a hotdog in a suit!" she scolds him.

"This hotdog isn't in a suit!" he smiles. She chuckles and rubs his hair.

"Little punk!" she says. Uncle Darry comes out of his room in his nice shirt and tie. He sees Lizzy and wraps his arms around her.

"You look beautiful." He murmurs dipping her down and kissing her. Cola, Shayne, and Kevin walk in in their wedding attire. Cola was the best man and Shayne and Kevin were groomsmen. Aunt Rose was the maid of honor. I was going to give J.D away. Mikey was going to be the ring bearer.

"Quick M.J! Cover your innocent eyes!" Kevin runs over to Mikey and covers his eyes.

"Are we almost ready to go? The wedding starts in three hours, J.D and Rose are already at the church." Shayne says checking his watch. Debbie came in then, wearing her dress. She's lost some weight, and now I can see why Shayne hooked up with her. Debbie was kinda hot.

"Yes, we need to get going. Everyone load up!"

J.D's POV

Everyone but I and Patrick had walked down the aisle. I was wearing my mother's wedding dress, just without the shoulders. It was getting near spring time, and the Tulsa heat was coming around. I looked at Patrick who was leaning against the wall next to the church doors. I smiled at him. Our turn was here.

"You ready?" I ask him.

"Yeah, I'm ready. Let's go get married." He holds out his arm for me to take. I grab his chin gently and kiss his cheek.

"Thank you, Patrick, for everything. You have no idea how much this means to me." I tell him. He looks at me strangely.

"I'm just walking you down the aisle sissy…."

"No, not that! Well, that too, but I mean with me marrying Eric. I know you and him don't always see eye to eye, but…."

"J.D, if he makes you happy, I'm happy. You're my sister, it doesn't matter if I don't see 'eye to eye' with Eric, it matters that he's a good man, and that he loves you." He says giving me a hug.

The doors open and the music plays. Patrick leads me down the aisle. You always hear before you get married things about tunnel vision or butterflies fluttering around in your stomach. But, when I saw Eric, all I saw was him. Just Eric, nothing else. I felt so relaxed and so at peace with the world, it was like drifting into a dream. Patrick kissed me on the cheek once, and then took his place in the line of groomsmen. I stood next to Eric, and he lifted my vile. We turned toward the minister. A few prayers were said by the minister, music was played, scriptures about two souls joined together as one were read aloud, then we finally got down the nitty gritty.

"If anyone here who believes that these two people should not be joined together in holy matrimony, please speak now or forever hold your peace."

Everything was silent.

"Do you, Eric Mason Randell take this woman, Johnny Dallas Curtis, as your lawfully wedded wife? To love and cherish, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others, for better or worse, as long as you both shall live?"

He squeezed my hand softly.

"I do."

And do you, Johnny Dallas Curtis, take this man, Eric Mason Randell, as your lawfully wedded husband? To love and cherish, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others, for better or worse, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

"If I could have the rings please?"

Cola reached into his pocket and handed Eric the rings.

"With this ring" Eric slipped it on my finger. "I thee wed."

I took Eric's hand in mine. "With this ring" I slipped it on his finger. "I thee wed."

"You may now kiss the bride."

Eric took my chin in his hand and leaned in to kiss me. I placed my hand on his cheek, holding my husband. It was like our first kiss all over again. Nicotine, mint gum, and strawberries. The strawberries were from me, from what Eric told me.

We turned back to the minister, who was smiling.

"Ladies and Gentleman, I know present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Randell!" he declared.

Music and applause rang out as we walked down the aisle for the first time being able to call each other wife and husband. The Cola, Patrick, and Kevin followed with the bridesmaids. I looked at Eric and smiled.

"Did you ever think that this is how we would have ended up when we were teenagers? Back when you hated me, on that road trip? Did you ever think that we were going to get married?" he asks me.

"No, I never thought that. I just figured that you were some punk that wanted to get laid." I tease him.

"I told you I wasn't such a bad guy."

"I know. I love you, Eric." I kiss him again.

"I love you, J.D"

"Hey J.D! Eric! Come on! Let's bust out the wine and cake!" Cola hollers at us.

We laugh and go over to where our family is. I never would have thought 8 years ago that this is how our family would be. Daddy gone, me and Eric married, having custody of my brothers. But somehow, I couldn't see it any other way.

END

Thank you all for your reviews and support! New stories to come in the summer! If you want another squeal, just tell me in the reviews! Thanks again to you all and S.E Hinton for her genius for this book!