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Chapter 25
Mike's POV
"This is so exciting," Lucy looked up at me as the nurse wheeled her out of the hospital. "We're finally bringing our little ones home." The nurse stopped in front of the car and opened the back door. Lucy slowly rose from the chair carefully so as to not wake the sleeping Michael in her arms. She carefully latched him in the new car seat as I made my way around to the other side of the car. I opened the door and sat Sara down in the car seat next to her brother. I latched her in properly and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head before closing the door and hoping in the driver's seat. Lucy was already buckled up next to me and we were finally ready to go home.
"You know," I told her. "This will be our first time going home too. It's not that your parent's house didn't feel like home. I just, well you know what I mean."
"Yeah, I know," Lucy smiled at me as I slowly pulled out of the parking lot. "It's permanent."
"I can't wait for you to see the nursery. Your dad and brothers helped me finish it," I explained. "I think you're going to love it."
"I'm sure I will," Lucy glanced back at Sara and Michael before looking back at me. "Why are you driving so slowly?"
"I don't want to get in an accident," I answered. "I have two other people to think of now."
"Mike, I'm sure it will be okay if you speed up and drive the speed limit. You're a good driver, you don't have to slow to a crawl to keep our children safe," Lucy told me. "Besides, I'd like to make it home by this time tomorrow."
"Fine," I sped up a little. "But I'm not very comfortable with this."
We arrived home a few minutes later and I helped Lucy get the sleeping babies out of the car. We walked up the drive and I slowly opened the front door. "This is it."
"Surprise," everyone whispered loudly as we walked inside. I looked around the room to see all of our friends and family gathered in the room with little party hats on. "Welcome home."
"Wow, this is great," Lucy cried through tears.
"We all wanted to be here when the babies came home for the first time," Ruthie told us.
"It's just such a special day," Mrs. Camden told us, turning to Lucy. "I can still remember the day I brought you home from the hospital."
"We figured this day was a cause for celebration," Reverend Camden told us.
"I made a cake," Mom told us. "There is ice cream too. Why don't you put those little angels in their cribs and we'll all dig in."
"Let's go," I motioned for Lucy to follow me upstairs. We reached the nursery and slowly opened the door. "So what do you think?" I asked as we stepped into the room.
"It's perfect," Lucy looked around the room. The walls were painted yellow and the two cribs sat in the two corners in the far end of the room. Between the two cribs, against the wall, sat a small white dresser with a lamp on top. Two rocking chairs sat in front of the dresser. The babies clothing hung neatly in the closet next to the door, while the changing station sat in front of the window.
"Do you really like it?" I asked, sitting down in one of the chairs.
"I love it," Lucy sat down in the chair next to me. "How did you guys do all of this?"
"It wasn't hard," I answered. "My mom helped with the decorating."
"It's wonderful," Lucy smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes. "It's perfect. Everything is finally perfect."
"Yeah," I agreed. "Finally perfect."
Epilogue
2 months later
Lucy's POV
I smiled as I looked down the aisle and saw Mike standing next to my father. Everything was going to go perfectly this time. Tears filled my eyes as I saw Mom holding Michael as Mrs. Pierce held Sara. It was so special having them present as we renewed our vows. I slowly walked down the aisle with Matt at my side. Once we reached the front of the church he pulled the veil back and placed my hand in Mike's.
"Our Father, love has been your richest and greatest gift to the world. Love between a man and woman which matures into marriage is one of your most beautiful types of loves. Today we celebrate that love. May your blessing be on this wedding service. Protect, guide, and bless Mike and Lucy in their marriage. Surround them and us with your love now and always. Amen. You may all be seated now." Dad motioned to the crowd. "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
"We do," I smiled as my entire family gave me away.
"Mike, do you take Lucy to be your wedded wife, and in the presence of these witnesses do you vow that you will do everything in your power to make your love for her a growing part of your life? Will you continue to strengthen it from day to day and week to week with your best resources? Will you stand by her in sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, and will you shun all others and keep yourself to her alone as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Mike squeezed my hand as he looked into my eyes.
"Lucy, do you take Mike to be your wedded husband, and in the presence of these witnesses do you vow that you will do everything in your power to make your love for him a growing part of your life? Will you continue to strengthen it from day to day and week to week with your best resources? Will you stand by him in sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, and will you shun all others and keep yourself to him alone as long as you both shall live?"
I took a deep breath before answering, "I do."
"Now will the two of you please face each other for the reciting of your vows?" Mike and I face each other and Dad continued. "Mike, please repeat after me. I, Mike, take you Lucy, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part: according to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge to you my love and faithfulness."
""I, Mike, take you Lucy, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part: according to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge to you my love and faithfulness." Mike then slipped the ring on my finger.
"Lucy, please repeat after me." Dad addressed me. "I, Lucy, take you Mike, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part: according to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge to you my love and faithfulness."
"I, Lucy, take you Mike, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part: according to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge to you my love and faithfulness." I told him before placing the ring on his finger.
"Because Mike and Lucy have desired each other in marriage, and have witnessed this before God and our gathering, affirming their acceptance of the responsibilities of such a union, and have pledged their love and faith to each other, sealing their vows in the giving and receiving of rings, I do proclaim that they are husband and wife in the sight of God and man. Let all people here and everywhere recognize and respect this holy union, now and forever." Dad smiled at us and then turned to Mike. "You may kiss your bride." Mike's lips connected with mine in the sweetest kiss that we had ever shared. We eventually broke apart and the minister announced us. "May I present to you for the very first time. Mr. and Mrs. Mike Pierce."
THE END!