Chapter 11: The new Mrs Meade.

Finally came the day of the wedding. It was a beautiful March day in New York when Daniel woke up at the Meade mansion with a huge smile on his face. At last, the day has come. In a few hours, he will be united to the woman he loved.

According to tradition, he and Betty have not seen each other the day before the wedding. A stupid tradition! How can I bear a day without her?

He dressed himself with nervousness. He was fidgeting during the whole drive to the church and Claire tried to calm him without success as he paced back and forth while waiting for the wedding to begin.

Finally, the pews filled with their guests. The first ones were reserved to her family and at the other side his. Tyler was his best man. Then, Marc accompanied by his companion Troy, arrived. He smiled when he saw the nervousness of Daniel.

Finally the church was filled and it was the time for the bridesmaids to walk towards the aisle. Alexis was the first. She also smiled when she saw her brother's impatient and nervous expression. She was followed by Christina and Amanda. Hilda was the last to walk towards the aisle. She was wonderful on her blue matron of honor dress which has been altered to fit her six month's belly.

Finally the wedding march was heard and Daniel took a deep breath as he turned towards the doors. Ignacio was seen proudly escorting a radiant Betty under her veil. Daniel thought his grin could not go any wider but he was wrong. Happiness and love was clearly visible on his expression. He has forgotten all the guests. He even forgot Ignacio entirely focused on his future wife walking towards him. It has never seemed so long.

With a gesture as old as time, Ignacio kissed tenderly the head of his daughter before putting her hand in Daniel's. They hardly heard the priest begin the service until he asked Betty:

"Do you Betty Suarez, knowing this man's love for you and returning it, realizing his strengths and learning from them, recognizing his weaknesses and helping him to overcome them, take Daniel Meade to be your lawfully wedded husband?

"I do." Replied Betty her voice breaking by the force of her emotion.

"Place the ring on his finger." She slipped the ring on his finger and he smiled. I am hers at last! I am her husband!

"Do you Daniel Meade, knowing this woman's love for you and returning it, realizing her strengths and learning from them, recognizing her weaknesses and helping her to overcome them, take Betty Suarez to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"Place the ring on her finger." She is mine at last! I will keep her safe and happy for the rest of our life.

"Now if you would like to say your vows."

Betty was first: "Daniel, for so long I…I wondered if I would ever find my prince, my soul mate. I would never have thought I will find him in my best friend. You have always been here to share the good and bad moments. You allowed me to rise, to dream because you said I was worthy of it. I love you. There isn't another soul on this planet who's ever made me half the person I am when I'm with you... I'm forever changed because of who you are and what you've meant to now…here we are…with our future before us…and I only want to spend it with you, my prince, my soul mate, my friend."

"Daniel, it is your turn."

"Betty, you are the person I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. Love is an emotion that we can't control, one that overwhelms logic and common sense. That's what it's like for me. I didn't plan on falling in love with you, and I doubt that you planned on falling in love with are my partner, my lover, my very best friend. My heart beats for you. You're the epitome of every attribute and quality I've ever looked for in another person... I can't stand next to you without wanting to hold you close for all eternity. I've never felt this before, and I like who I am because of it. I love you."

"Now, by the powers vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Daniel lifted his wife's veil and gently, then passionately kissed her on the lips. He didn't see the tears on his mother and sister's eyes, nor the ones in Hilda's eyes, nor the emotion on Ignacio's face, nor the wide smiles of delight of everyone. He did not hear the giggles and clearing of throats.

"Huh. Daniel." He heard Tyler's voice. "Daniel, you can stop now." Why would I want to stop? "Daniel, for god's sake! Save some for the honeymoon!"

Finally, they regretfully separated. Betty blushed when she heard the laughter but was too happy to really care. They walked down the aisle under the applause and flashes.

In the limo that drove them to the reception, they stayed for awhile silent.

"I love you, Mrs Meade."

"I love you Mr Meade."

They kissed and did not stop until the driver told me they have arrived.

They were welcomed by applause and took their place at their table. Hilda as a the matron of honor made a speech saying it was thanks to what she said at her own wedding that Daniel and Betty have found each other. Daniel nodded smilingly. Then all the bridesmaids made a small speech. Then Tyler made his best man's speech.

Daniel began to speak: "I wanted to thank our families and friends to be here on this wonderful day. I still can't believe that I was lucky enough to deserve the love of this extraordinary woman who is now mine. I hope to make her happy as she had made me. Without her, I would have stayed arrogant playboy Daniel Meade." There was laughter. « As many of you know, I did not immediately realized the treasure my father has found for me first as an assistant and quickly as a best friend. I was focused on external appearance and did not see that betty has remained the only constant in my life. She is honest which was sometimes hard to hear for an old selfish brat like I was." Once again, there was laughter. « She said she owes me everything because I allowed her to follow her dreams but it would be more fair to say that I owe her everything that I am now. I love you Betty Meade.»

Betty was moved to tears and kept him quite a while when he kissed her again. They fed each other wedding cake.

"Please welcome Mr and Mrs Daniel Meade for their first dance."

Daniel took his wife's left hand and Betty put her right arm around her neck. Will Young's All the things you are was heard.

Time and again I've longed for adventure,
Something to make my heart beat the faster.
What did I long for? I never really knew.
Finding your love I've found my adventure,
Touching your hand, my heart beats the faster,
All that I want in all of this world is you.

You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That lingers on the brink of a lovely song.
You are the angel glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are.

Some day my happy arms will hold you,
And someday I'll know that moment divine,
When all the things you are, are mine!

Daniel loved to see his wife tenderly pressed against him, her head resting on his chest, a smile on her lips. She raised her eyes to meet his and their eyes locked. They did not see for a while the dance floor filling with couples. Betty let her eyes sweep over the room. She saw her father dance with Elena, Hilda with her husband, Justin with Austin, Marc with Troy, Amanda with Tyler. Alexis danced with her boyfriend Pierre that she has met in France. Daniel has met him a few times and thought he was a good guy.

DJ was talking to Claire who often looked towards him with a wide smile. Her smile got wider when she met his eyes. Then they introduced the traditional father- daughter dance. Daniel danced with Claire.

"I am so happy for you, darling. You are right. Betty is a treasure. Take good care of her."

"I intend to. I love her so much."

"I know you do. I hope to have grandchildren soon."

"Mom, we just got married!" he exclaimed but he added more seriously: "I would like that, mom."

Betty then danced with Justin, Bobby, Marc, Tyler, Stuart, Pierre, Amanda's father Spencer while he was dancing with his sister, Hilda, Amanda, Christina, Elena. After that, Daniel and Betty danced together for the rest of the evening.

Then, they decided to leave for their honeymoon. Betty threw her bouquet and he threw the garter and Amanda and Tyler were the ones to catch it.

For their honeymoon, they have decided to have a tour of some European countries during two weeks: France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece before heading back to London to get back to work.

They spend the wedding night at the Meade mansion.

Betty has changed into extremely sexy lingerie that drove Daniel mad.

The night was filled with passion and numerous couplings. New positions were experienced.

They took the Meade private jet to leave New York. All their family gathered at the airport to see them off.

Daniel Meade's wedding was of course the main topic of tv and newspapers. Susuki St Pierre analyzed each moment.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Daniel was enjoying the tour with his new wife. Even museum visits that he had previously found rather boring became interesting with the presence of Betty at his side.