"You must be strong now, and never give up. And when you are afraid of the dark, don't forget that the light is always there." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Biff
The white walls seemed to almost blind me as I sat in the small plastic chair in the waiting room at Bayport General. I looked up to see Joe sitting across from me, white bandages on his wrists. He plastered a fake smile on his face in an attempt to cheer me up, but all I could think about was Hope.
After we'd left the warehouses I'd learned that Alexander Bernheart had been taken into custody. He'd sustained minor wounds from an apparent fight he'd had with his unstable daughter a few moments before she'd found us.
Everyone working for the Bernhearts had also been arrested. We would all have to testify at the trial. However, it wasn't the at the top of my list right now.
Next to me sat Frank cradling Callie in his arms. Tony sat staring into space, his brother, Nicko, next to him. We were all very tired and I knew I had the same bloodshot eyed look as everyone in the room. Vanessa came up behind me and handed me a cup of stale tasting coffee. But at this point everything tasted stale to me.
Next to Callie sat Fenton and Laura Hardy, each holding one of their sleeping grandchildren. Just seeing the two boys made me think of Hope. She loved Jared and Seth as if they were her own. Any chance to babysit them she jumped at. After I had asked her to marry me we had talked about starting a family. She always said she wanted kids, but I was hesitant about settling down so quickly. Now sitting here, thinking about Hope, looking at my "nephews," I felt a feeling of immense guilt wash over me. Hope might never be able to have a child. We may never be married. She might never get the family she always wanted and deserved. I felt a small tear trickle down my face. I quickly brushed it away and noticed that Joe was looking at me, through his intense blue eyes. He was channeling me, hearing my thoughts, feeling my emotions. I had momentarily forgotten about his power, and I guess now was the time he was learning to harness it.
He stared into my eyes and I couldn't look away at first, but then I averted his gaze and got up to walk away, but he was right there with me. I felt a steady hand come up on my shoulder and guide me out of the waiting room. We hadn't gotten far when Joe gently spun me around to face him.
"Biff, I can't just sit around and let you think things like that. Hope is going to be fine, I promise you. Before you know it you'll be back to the wedding plans and fixing up the farm house. Everything will be fine," he said earnestly.
"You know Joe, sometimes I wish you would just stay out of other people's minds," I said in an attempt to lighten the mood. Joe grinned, for real this time.
"Well what's the use of this clairvoyant power if you can't use it? Besides I'm just trying to help you feel better. I wish you would quit thinking about the worst possible scenario. Hope is going to be fine Biff, trust me," Joe replied.
"I know, it's just that, in the back of my mind...I...I..." I whispered.
"I understand. I've been there remember?" he said, his sapphire eyes sparkling. He wrapped me in a warm embrace and from that moment on, I knew Hope was going to be fine...
Maybe the sun will shine today
The clouds will blow away
Maybe I won't feel so afraid
I will try to understand
Either way
Maybe you still love me
Maybe you don't
Either you will or you won't
Maybe you just need some time alone
I will try to understand
Everything has its plan
Either way
I'm gonna stay
Right for you
Maybe the sun will shine today
The clouds will roll away
Maybe I won't be so afraid
I will understand everything has its plan
Either way
-Wilco "Either Way"
...
Two Months Later:
Vanessa
I walked down the aisle with Joe by my side and Callie and Frank right behind us. My purple matron of honor dress blew in the wind. The evening was lovely. Purple hydrangeas and lavenders lined the aisle. The sun barely brushing the tips of the cliffs above Barmet Bay.
Once up front I waved slightly to Jared and Seth who were currently sitting on their grandparent's laps. It was a bitter sweet day, but still a momentous one. Watching all my closest friends and the joyous expressions on their faces I got to thinking back a couple of months...
...
"I'll know it when I see it," Hope said with a hesitant smile on her face. Callie, Lisa, a good friend from college, and I had all accompanied Hope to help her pick out a wedding dress. The planned date wasn't for another two months but we had insisted that she get a head start on finding the perfect dress.
"What about this one?" Callie said from across the store, holding up an elaborate silk gown. Hope wrinkled her nose.
"You guys seem more excited about this than I am!" she said, quickly putting the fancy dress back on the rack.
"Well Callie and I didn't get a whole lot of time to plan our weddings," I smiled. Hope rolled her eyes but then sighed in agreement.
"I suppose you're right. At least I have all this time to worry about it, you know cold feet," she agreed sarcastically, "You guys just said 'I do' and didn't have time to even think about having a panic attack!"
We all laughed. It's just like Hope to make her insecurity a joke. But we all knew that she was serious.
"Don't worry about it Hope, everyone knows that you and Biff are a perfect match," Lisa said as she searched through another rack of dresses.
"Yeah, but now you just have to convince me of that," I heard Hope mutter under her breath. I eyed her worriedly.
"Don't be like that hun, you know as well as I do that you and Biff were made for each other. He's like the key to your locked door. The last piece to your puzzle," I comforted her.
"He's the peanut butter to your jam!" Callie added giggling.
"The sugar to your sweet tea," Lisa jumped in, poking fun at Hope's love for the Southern drink.
"The grapes to your wrath," I laughed, discretely joking about her well known temper. Finally Hope put her hands up in surrender, but she was snickering at our wit.
"Okay, okay, I get the point. I know that I love Biff. I know I do. I just, am nervous that's all," Hope explained, her sapphire eyes glowing. We all came and sat down next to her on the upholstered ottoman she had been resting on.
"Don't be. If your heart is true, then you can do it Hope," Callie said wrapping an arm around Hope.
"I'm sure Biff is having the same cold feet as you. Don't worry if he backs out at anytime Frank and Joe will knock some sense into him. Literally," I quipped with a wink. Hope gave us all a thankful smile. That's when her face seemed to sparkle with excitement. She was staring at something on the other side of the shop. The three of us followed her gaze. There hanging on the end of a clearance rack was a small, white, knee length, lace dress.
Hope practically ran over to it, holding it up to her body and spinning around. The chiffon floated and glided as she danced.
"It's so simple," Callie said appraising the small dress.
"Exactly! It's perfect!" Hope exclaimed. She was glowing from head to toe. I looked to Callie, and Lisa. We all smiled and knew that from this moment on Hope wouldn't have second thoughts about marrying Biff...
...
Coming out of my reverie I glanced over to Joe, who winked at me, I smiled back and knew that Biff and Hope were meant for each other. And even more so now, I knew that their love for each other was getting stronger and stronger every minute they were together. Hope never did get cold feet again and now after everything they had been through, they were finally going to get married. It warmed my heart.
...
Joe
I winked at Vanessa from across the aisle and glanced at Biff. He was so happy. The last month had to have been extremely hard on him. But now, he knew everything was going to be just fine. And that's exactly what he was thinking at this very moment. I leaned closer to him and whispered in his ear.
"Last chance."
He smiled back at me, "I wouldn't back out now for the whole world."
I knew Biff would move heaven and earth to be with Hope. They were an unstoppable force of nature, a bond that could never be broken. To see him finally this happy again warmed my heart.
...
Biff
Standing at the makeshift alter in the backyard of the farmhouse I gazed to the setting sun over Barmet Bay and my friends and family sitting in front of me. The lawn beneath me was a vibrant green that contrasted with the purple ribbons hanging from the rows of white folding chairs. To my right stood Joe, Frank, and Jamie. To my left stood Vanessa, Callie, and Lisa.
Ahead of me sat everyone else. All of our closest friends. Even little Jared and Seth were here for the occasion sitting on Fenton and Laura's laps, squealing with excitement.
"Last chance," Joe whispered to me with a grin.
This comment almost made me crack up into hysterics right then and there, but thankfully I kept my composure. With a huge smile I answered him.
"I wouldn't back out now for the whole world."
Despite everything Hope and I had been through the past month and a half. This moment made it all worth it, well relatively speaking. I was ready. Ready to say "I do."
And that's when I saw her. Hope.
White chiffon and lace blowing in the warm evening breeze. The bandage on her shoulder was perfectly covered with the cap sleeves of her knee length dress. She was the picture of beauty from her pearly white sandals, to the purple hydrangeas in her hands, to her sapphire blue eyes. Stunning.
The ceremony was amazing. Just how we had pictured it. And when I brushed her golden bangs intertwined with her veil from her face and kissed my new wife the past year and a half just melted away and everything was perfect.
Simply perfect...
A/N: Just a little fluff. Hope you liked it. Thanks.