Lindsay sighed, stretching as she woke. She could feel the tropical sun already warm on her face and for a moment she thought of how much she loved the fact the house in Bermuda was on the east coast of the island so that the guests would be gently woken by that first golden kiss of light.

Spoken like a true princess, she thought, then with a rush, her stomach felt as though it were filling up with warm water. She sat up like a mummy, the grin spreading over her face.

It was her wedding day. She was getting married.

The knowledge of it, that today would mark the first day of a new chapter in her life and the life she shared with Adam had her kicking at the light cotton sheets; they tangled and Lindsay nearly did a face-plant on the floor before huffing out a short breath and deliberately slowing her movements. She looked around the room, letting her gaze land on all her women - at the bride's insistence, the bridal party including the mother of the bride had had a big pyjama party the night before as they'd finalized the details for the reception into the wee hours of the morning. Having her women with her had helped calmed her nerves, no question, for Lindsay had been surprised how anxious she was feeling. Not cold feet - there was nothing in the world she wanted more than to call herself Doctor Lindsay Brennan - just wanting to make sure that nothing ruined her special day.

Fortunately, good Bermuda rum and ginger beer and excellent friends - sisters, really - had helped quell those nerves, so that now when Lindsay went to look out the small balcony of the east facing guest room she felt nothing but pure excitement.

'Morning bride!'

Lindsay looked back over her shoulder and saw Alexis there, yawning and stretching just like her father did, her red hair a tangled nest on her shoulders.

'Morning maid of honour. Can you believe this?' She turned back to look at the sun coming up over the ocean, sighed contentedly. 'I'm getting married. I never thought I'd get here.'

'No?'

'No.' Lindsay shook her head. 'After I was attacked, and I was going through therapy, it seemed like this thing that would never happen. Do you remember the first date I had after it happened?'

'Yeah, that was a tough night. You said the guy said he heard you were an easy lay who just liked to play hard to get, and you came home in tears.'

'I remember thinking after that first date that maybe my parents were right, maybe I was damaged goods.'

'Oh Lindsay.' Alexis wrapped her arms around her friend.

'Then I met Adam through you, and he was so sweet, so patient, because he knows what it means to be a man, to love someone and respect them, and...and I feel like the most beautiful woman in the world with him. Nothing can get to me, make me feel so small and hurt and...and worthless because what he and I have together is so special and wonderful.' Lindsay tilted her head so her temple rested on Alexis' forehead. 'I know I'm beautiful, and smart, and strong, but whenever someone tries to tell me that being raped makes me this or that, all I have to do is think of him and I know whoever that someone is being stupid is dead wrong.'

'Jesus, if I'm getting sniffly over that, I'll be a geyser when you say your vows,' Alexis told her on a water laugh. 'So, aside from all that deep wedding-day philosophy, how are you feeling?'

'Excited, nervous. Hungry,' Lindsay added on a laugh.

'Think you can keep some food?'

'Oh yeah, I'm going to need it. I feel like I'm going to faint if I don't eat soon.'

'Then we'll nosh in town.'

There was a groan from behind them, and the girls turned to see Andrea and Sloan both sitting up from their spots on the double trundle bed; Lanie's spot in the sleep lounger - she insisted since she was smallest she'd take the lounger - was empty and the door to the ensuite was shut.

'There's our bride! Happy wedding!' Sloan chirped, untangling her legs from her blanket. 'Oh, what time is it? We have to get going soon don't we?'

'Relax, Sloan,' Alexis giggled. 'It's all organized. We're taking our dresses to the hotel this morning, then heading into town to get our hair, make-up and nails done. Then we're going to the hotel and we'll get our dresses on, and the boat from the hotel is going to bring us to the dock here and then we walk up the dock to see your man, Lindsay.'

When the bride let out a happy squeal, the others followed suit and when Lanie emerged from the bathroom, she joined them. 'I have no idea what we're yelling about but it sounds great!' she cheered. 'Now, street clothes, teeth brushed, purse, dresses to the hotel, let's go!'

They readied themselves, taking sprinting-quick showers so that within the hour they all were ready to head into Hamilton to get buffed and polished for the big day. As she'd gone first, Lanie went downstairs to make sure the coast was clear; she saw Shane appear from the kitchen, shirtless and barefoot in his boardshorts, hair still dripping from a morning swim.

'Morning Doctor,' she teased him, 'you seen the groom yet?'

'Nah, he's still in the water with Daniel and Ryan and Espo. We got in a little body surfing on the morning tides.'

'Good, because the bridal party is making its escape now.'

'Perfect. I'll keep them occupied.' Shane grinned, then looked up the stairs as he saw his own sweet bride coming down with the girl of the day. 'In one second.'

He took the five seconds to give Alexis a kiss that sent her out the door with stars in her eyes before walking back into the kitchen, and with good timing too - the other men were just coming up the steps to the kitchen as the front door closed. He went to the coffee maker and flipped it on, began to look through the fridge's contents to find breakfast.

'That was a close one, gents, you just missed the bridal party leaving for the dock,' he informed them when he heard the sliding doors open. 'But that means we've got time to do our thing without any fear of us seeing them or vice versa. What's the groom feel like?'

'Like marrying the love of his life,' Adam replied as his stomach did a loop-the-loop. He was getting married today, to the most wonderful woman in the world. He pressed a hand to his stomach, the other balled into a fist at his mouth.

'You gonna blow?' Ryan asked, knowing the look on the man's face well.

'No. No, I'm good, I think.'

'Don't worry, bro, you'll be fine,' Esposito reassured him. 'You won't step on her dress, and you won't hesitate when you say I do.'

'I'm not worried about that, it's...I'm scared to death I'm gonna freeze up on my vows.'

'Adam, I proposed to Meredeth at her book launch party with most of the New York press there, and the only thing that scares me into cold sweats aside from roller-coasters is public speaking and I got through it in one piece. Trust me, you'll be fine.'

'Okay. You're all married men, you know it'll be fine when you say it'll be fine. What?'

Adam saw the men exchange looks and realized what he was doing. 'I'm not babbling,' he protested.

'Sure, dude,' Ryan chuckled. 'Whatever you say.'

'I'm not!'

'Like a babbling brook,' Shane added, 'but we all did, right gentlemen?'

'You sure as hell did, Shane. I've never seen you so nervous, except for maybe the day we busted in on you and Alexis banging in the shower.'

'They walked in on you having sex with Alexis?' Adam asked, glad to have a distraction from the can-can kicking butterflies in his belly.

'Yeah, Alexis answered the door of his place when we went to meet him for cards, she's got wet hair and he walks out of the bathroom in just a towel and his tattoos,' Ryan teased him, swearing up and down he could see steam shooting out of Shane's ears. 'He claims it was just a shower, but we know better, right Doctor?'

You did n-' Shane cut himself off, shook his head. 'Adam, you want some coffee?'