So I know it's been awhile since i updated this story but real life and other ideas for other stories happened...but i'm back now! enjoy!

"Do you want a drink?"

"Are you kidding? If I getting anything on this dress I'll cry. Of course, I think I'll cry anyways."

"I'm glad you still decided on a white dress."

"I already have a kid, so the whole ruse of 'virginal' is laughable."

Renee smiled at Nadine in their hotel room, fluffed the veil on her soon-to-be sister-in-law. The big day had finally arrived, with surprisingly less stress than either of them had anticipated. The wedding was not a grand and sumptuous affair, like the one Renee and Nick were planning for themselves in October. It was to be a simple Catholic ceremony on the flag-stone terrace of Chicopee Place, with lots of greens and orange and yellow lilies everywhere. Greg asked Nick and Warrick to serve as ushers; Nadine requested Renee and Sara as bridesmaids. Grissom and Catherine opted to emcee the event and look after Sonny respectively, so as not to be left out of the 'family only' wedding. Now, as she finished adjusting her dress, Nadine blew out a breath and laughed anxiously.

"Ho boy, I can't believe I'm this nervous! I shouldn't be! I've seen him naked more times than I can count, I've had his child. Saying how much I love him in front our friends and family should be a cake walk."

"I think we should have that drink." Renee went to her suitcase and pulled out a bottle of champagne. As she filled the hotel room glasses, Sara stomped into the room in her stocking feet, her shoes in her hands.

"I can't believe you picked this colour, Nadine, I mean tangerine? Seriously?"

"It's my favourite colour, and it looks quite good on you. Champagne?"

"Yes please." Sara accepted the glass, drank as she watched Nadine fasten on tiny orange and crystal drops at her ears. For a moment she wondered what it'd be like to stand there in the mirror and look at herself in the big white cupcake dress before walking down the aisle. "So you ready for this?"

"Yeah, yeah I think I am. I'm terrified he'll see me and run for the door."

"What about your mom, Nadine? Couldn't she make it out from Cayenne?"

"Actually, she and my sister turned down the invitation. She said that since Sonny was born out of wedlock and would be attending the Catholic wedding ceremony, it would be a sin for her to condone it. Still there's always a chance she'll show up just to make things hard."

"If she does show up, I'll take her down. I'm a second-degree brown belt in judo," Renee offered with an evil grin.

Just then, there was a knock on the door and Greg's father stuck his head in the room. He'd made the offer to Nadine, since her own father was gone, to walk her down the aisle. She'd agreed happily, excited by the idea that Oliver was presenting his son with the woman of his dreams. He offered a smile identical to his son's as he beckoned to Nadine, Renee and Sara to follow him.

"Ladies, we're ready to go."

Nadine gulped down her champagne and looked at the girls. "Oh my God, this is it!"

"Are you nervous?" Renee asked, passing out the bouquets from the side table.

"I'm terrified. But I'm ready to go."

Out on the terrace of the hotel, Greg was using all his self discipline to not drag at his collar. The day was hot, even hotter than the weekend before when they'd had Sonny's first birthday party, and it didn't help they were on the west side of the building, getting all the lovely heat of a desert afternoon in May. He walked nervously over to the arch where Warrick and Nick were waiting for him. Warrick looked like his ever cool self, not a drop glistening on his brow and Nick, despite being rose-red from the heat also looked dry, causing Greg to become even more flustered.

"Could she have picked a hotter day?" When Nick merely laughed, Greg shot him a withering look. "Laugh all you like, buck-o; you're the next one of us to go up in flames in the monkey suit."

"Calm down man, everything will be fine." Nick would have bitten off his own tongue before admitting the idea of putting himself on display as openly as Greg was about to do scared the living piss out of him. But on the other hand, he also loved Renee just like Greg loved Nadine and knew he wanted to make that promise to her in front of his family and friends.

"Question, why orange? You'd think she'd chose a more girly colour," Warrick asked, fingering the boutonniere on his lapel, hoping to keep his friend and colleague's nerves as calm as possible.

"It's her favourite," Greg began to explain but was cut off when he heard the pianist begin to play the chords of the pianist on the edge of the terrace. "Oh man. I think I'm going to pass out."

"Relax, you've got your notes in your right pocket."

"Right."

Greg watched Catherine carry Sonny down the aisle over the cobblestones of the terrace, smiled and waved at her when she waved a chubby little hand at him. He saw Grissom escort a weeping Sonja down the aisle, whispering to her as they took their seats. He saw his sister coming down the aisle and couldn't help but feel sentimental, for he knew in five months time it would be her walking out in the white dress to the Texan standing beside him. Then came Sara, and for an instant Greg wished he had a camera so he could capture the look on Grissom's face as he watched the long-legged brunette walk down the aisle in tangerine silk.

Then, when everyone stood up and turned to watch Nadine coming down the aisle on his father's arm. She'd designed the dress herself, in a rich snowy white colour with a tangerine sash that went from her breast bone to her navel and trailed into the train of the skirt. Her hair was smoothed back, and then exploded into a million curls at the back of her head, hidden underneath the tulle veil. The nerves he felt were replaced by utter joy as he saw beneath the mile-wide grin to the nerves underneath it.

As they reached the altar where Greg waited, Oliver turned to Nadine and lifted her veil, to place a kiss gently on her cheek.

"Welcome to our family, my dear," he whispered, nearly setting off Nadine's waterworks, but she managed to keep it together. Turning, she offered her hand to Greg, passed her bouquet to Renee and took a deep breath as the priest began his speech.

"Friends, family, we have gathered together today in a celebration of love, to bring together Nadine Pierrette Barton and Gregory Hojem Sanders into this holy union of marriage. Should anyone have a reason why these to should not be joined together, let them speak now." When the congregation remained silent, the priest made the sign of the cross and continued, "We will begin with the recitation of vows which Greg and Nadine have written for themselves."

Taking her cue, Nadine took both of Greg's hands in hers and spoke the words she'd carefully memorized. "In all my life, I never thought I'd be so lucky to find someone like you. You make me laugh when I feel like I want to cry, you make me sing when I think I should scream. You make me so proud at how you've become a great father to our little girl and most of all you love me and all my crazy ways. You're my Indiana Jones, my Superman, my love and most of all, my best friend."

Behind her, Nadine heard female sniffles as she took the ring from Renee's palm and placed it on Greg's finger. "I love you, yesterday, today and for all of my tomorrows."

Greg wiggled his fingers as he also inhaled deeply and began his vow to Nadine. "When I saw you coming down that aisle, all I could think about was our first kiss, how perfectly you fit into my arms, and how familiar it felt, as if it was something we'd done so many times before. The first time I came home to find you waiting there, it felt like it was something you'd done all the time. And when you told me you were having our baby, I couldn't wait to become a father. But none of that compared to the look on your face when I said I wanted you to be my wife. It shouldn't have been such a surprise because right from that first kiss, I knew my heart belonged to you."

Greg turned around to take the ring Nick was holding, smiled a little when he saw that tears were welling up in his eyes. He slid the band of channel-set diamonds onto Nadine's finger, and finished his vow. "I promise you I will be the best husband and father I can be, because I'll have you with me. I love you Nadine."

The priest smiled gently then gestured to the table behind him, where the registry lay, for Nadine Greg Nick and Renee all to sign, then ushered the bride and groom over to a fat white pillar candle and passed them each a taper.

"By bringing together these two flames, Greg and Nadine are each bringing their love, trust and respect into this new step of their lives together, and bringing it as well to the life of their beautiful daughter Sonniette," the priest said as they each used the candle to light the single one. When they set the candles aside into holders, Greg gripped Nadine's hand tightly, smiling when she squeezed back just as hard.

"They have made their promises to each other this afternoon before God and their families and friends, and it is my pleasure to say that by the power bestowed upon me by the State of Nevada that you be pronounced husband and wife."

The priest made the sign of the cross once again, and gestured for Greg to kiss Nadine. He did so with great passion, dipping Nadine slightly which made the guests laugh appreciatively, cheers mixing with whistles. When they came up for air, Nadine pressed her palms to Greg's cheeks and mouthed 'I love you'. Greg mouthed back, 'I love you too' before taking her hand and turning to face everyone, who was by now on their feet. He could see his parents, Catherine holding onto Sonny and trying not to cry and Grissom looking like a proud papa as well as he clapped for them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce to you for the first time, Greg and Nadine Sanders."