Author's note: In my High School Concert Band class, we are currently working on a song called The Best of Journey. It contains four songs by the band Journey, as the name suggests. One of these songs is "Open Arms", and I thought the lyrics really fit Lucianna's and Jason's relationship. So, chapter 20 is sort of a song fic chapter to this song. I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 20: Open Arms

The wedding was scheduled for July 20th, 2013. The date only gave us seven and a half months to prepare, but since I was fifty-three and Jason was turning forty that year, we didn't want a big, fancy ceremony, so it worked out fine. We told Nick about our engagement two weeks after my birthday, and he was delighted. "Jason already seems like my dad, so why not make it official?" he said. Everything was going smoothly so far. The amount of wedding guests was small – only Jason's brothers, the staff of Hogwarts, and a few of our closest friends, which included most of Nick's friends' parents, were invited. They flowers, bridesmaid dresses, and reception food were already selected. Jason and I chose to hold the wedding at Hogwarts, as it felt like home to both of us. We planned to continue living at Hogwarts and just expand one of our offices to make room for the two of us, plus Nick during the summer. The only thing we needed was to find the perfect "wedding song", the first song we would ever dance to, and that could wait to the last minute. Everything seemed perfect. Why, then, was I feeling so anxious?

The night before the wedding, I was standing in front of my mirror, trying to decide how to do my hair, when there was a knock on the door. Nearly as soon as I opened the door, Jason's strong arms swept me off my feet and swung me in the air, while his lips touched mine.

"Why so enthusiastic today?" I asked with a laugh as Jason gently set me down.

My fiancé-soon-to-be-husband shrugged. "I'm just excited for the wedding tomorrow, I suppose. We can finally spend the rest of our lives together."

"We already are, Jay." I said with a smile.

Jason sighed. "I know, love. But I meant, really spend it together. We'll rarely be apart, except for when we're teaching, of course, but we can handle that. So, what are you up to?"

I grimaced. "I'm trying to figure out how to do my hair tomorrow."

Jason smiled. "I don't know how much help I'll be, but I'm happy to try."

Jason and I spent the next ten minutes playing with my hair and trying different hair styles, but nothing was working for me. "I'm too old for this, Jay." I moaned.

"Too old for what?" Jason asked, kissing me gently on the cheek.

"To get married." I muttered.

"You are never too old for love, Luci. Didn't I convince you of that yet?"

"Yes…" I sighed. "But, then, why am I so anxious?"

Jason smiled soothingly. "It's just pre-wedding anxiety, love, nothing to worry about. Most first-time brides and grooms get it, no matter if they're twenty-three or fifty-three."

"Are you sure we're ready for this, Jay?" I asked nervously.

"Lucianna," Jason sighed. "You have to listen to me. I waited forever for this day. We've been through a lot, you and me. We started out, so blind, neither of us realizing our love for each other. When we finally got together, we were always there for one another when we needed to be. But then we… we had our argument, and we drifted apart for a few weeks. During those weeks, my life felt empty and cold. All I wanted to do was hold you in my arms again. I needed you near me. Then somehow, we found each other again. Now that you had come back, I couldn't lose you again, so when I proposed to you, I came to you with open arms. Believe me when I say I no longer have anything to hide. I hope you now see what your love means to me, Luci, because I love you, and we'll never be more ready than we are today."

"I am not worthy of you." I whispered with a weak smile.

"Oh, yes, you are." Jason pulled me closer to me and kissed me. Suddenly he broke away. "That's it!"

"What are you talking about?" I asked confusedly.

"I know what song we should have for our wedding song!" Jason exclaimed. "It's perfect, Luci! It's a muggle song that my grandmother introduced to me when I was young, but it fits us perfectly."

"What song is it?" I asked.

"You'll just have to wait and see." Jason said with a twinkle in his eye.

The following morning, Minerva and the other female members of the Hogwarts staff gathered in my office to help me prepare for the wedding. My dress was simple. It was long and flowing, with sleeves that didn't go past the shoulder. Minerva was sitting on my bed behind me, braiding my hair. "I may be seventy-eight, with no daughters or granddaughters, but I can still do hair." She said, and everyone agreed. When she was finished, Minerva attached a beautiful lavender colored flower to the end of the long braid. "Oh, Merlin, don't you look stunning." Minerva gasped, admiring her "masterpiece".

After my hair was finished, the ladies moved on to make-up. I only allowed mascara, lip stick, and some blush to be placed on my face. "I just don't see why it's necessary. Why do you think my skin is still smooth, even at age fifty-three? I don't wear make-up, not now, not ever." I said stubbornly when I was questioned as to why I didn't want to wear make-up.

"But, Lucianna, it's just for today. Besides, you'll look so beautiful when we're through with you." Minerva said. Who know she could be so feminine.

"Fine." I muttered. "Just don't put too much on… I still want Jason to be able to recognize me."

Everyone laughed. Finally, my unnecessary make-up was completely, and a veil was placed on my head. We were ready to go, and made or way to the Hogwarts grounds. I watched as my bridesmaids, in their long lavender colored dresses walked down the aisle. I followed shortly after, my arm linked with Minerva's. I had asked the pastor if it would be alright if Minerva walked me down the aisle since my father had passed away, and there was no one I trusted more to do it than Minerva. Luckily, he agreed.

Jason was waiting for me at the end of the aisle. He was stunningly handsome. His curly hair was combed back for once, and a red rose was safety pinned to his tux.

"Beautiful as always, my love." Jason whispered in my ear.

"And you are just as handsome." I whispered back.

I could barely concentrate on the pastor as he began the ceremony. I was fully alert, however, when it was time for Jason to say his vows.

"Lucianna Joyance Pasen," he began, "I take you to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part. I've loved you before I even met you, and I promise to love beyond the end of time."

Then I was my turn. "Jason Charles Clearton, I take you to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part. I now I have tended to be an emotional rollercoaster in our relationship, but that was only because I was afraid to love. You taught me that it was possibly to love without getting hurt, and now I couldn't be happier."

Finally, the pastor said the traditional words Jason and I had long been waiting for. "You may kiss the bride."

That kiss was somehow the most special kiss Jason and I had ever shared, and it was also one we would never forget.

At the reception, we had a delicious dinner with strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Finally it was time for dancing. The song announcer called Jason and I onto the dance for and announced the song. It was called "Open Arms " by a muggle band called Journey. Jason and I slow danced, and I listened carefully to the lyrics.

Lying beside you here in the dark

Feeling your heart beat with mine

Softly you whisper, you're so sincere

How could our love be so blind?

We sailed on together

We drifted apart

And here you are by my side

So now I come to you with open arms

Nothing to hide, believe what I say

So here I am with open arms

Hoping you'll see what your love means to me, open arms

Living without you, living alone

This empty house seems so cold

Wanting to hold you, wanting you near

How much I wanted you home

But now that you've come back

Turned night into day

I need you to stay

So now I come to you with open arms

Nothing to hide, believe what I say

So here I am with open arms

Hoping you'll see what your love means to me, open arms

When the song was finished, I agreed with Jason that it did fit us. As with many people, my wedding was the best day of my life. I felt like I had been reborn, and I couldn't wait to continue my live with my new husband.