Disclaimer: I DO NOT own CSI:NY or any of it's characters. I DO however own Samantha Flack (ha ha CBS) and Kieran Flack. Aphina is Carmen's 'mummy' and Madison Bellows is the proud owner of Gus. Thank you to both for letting me have a ball with their OCs.

This ain't no dress rehearsal

"Our love is unconditional, we knew it from the start
I see it in your eyes, you can feel it from my heart
From here on after let's stay the way we are right now
And share all the love and laughter
That a lifetime will allow
I cross my heart and promise to
Give all I've got to give to make all your dreams come true
In all the world you'll never find a love as true as mine
You will always be the miracle that makes my life complete
And as long as there's a breath in me, I'll make yours just as sweet
As we look into the future, it's as far as we can see
So let's make each tomorrow be the best that it can be."
-I Cross My Heart, George Strait

Black, ominous clouds hung in the dreary grey sky over New York City. In the distance, thunder rumbled and lightning slashed the sky. There was a hell of a storm on the way. The first one in what was rumoured to be a cold, bleak fall with a miserable, frigid early winter hot on its heels.

Gonna rain like a sonofabitch, Flack thought, as he stepped off the elevator and caught a glimpse out the window at the end of the hall. That morning had started off bright and sunny and relatively warm, and now the temperature had dipped into low sixties and you didn't dare set foot outside without a jacket or an umbrella.

He stepped in front of 1703 and raised his hand to knock. Pausing as he heard the frantic babbling of Carmen Devine and his wife's annoyed, angry bellowing. A lot of yelling went on around their house some days, and when her Brooklyn accent was that pronounced and she was using enough foul language to make a drunken sailor blush, it was usually best to keep your mouth shut and seek safety in another room.

"It's ruined!" Carmen was rambling. "The whole day is ruined! Look at it out there! Looks like a hurricane or a snow storm is coming! I can't get married today! Not when it looks like that outside!"

"I swear to fucking God, Carmen that if you don't shut up I am going to knock you over the fucking head with something and put you out for a few days and you won't be making it to your wedding!" came Sam's roaring voice in response. "Now shut up!"

Flack was afraid. Very, very afraid. Carmen was the epitome of nervous brides and Sam was a massive bitch when someone got on her bad side. And by the sounds of it, Carmen was dangerously teetering on the edge of that side. Few people crossed it and survived. And those that did were still traumatized by the experience. Even Flack, who outweighed his wife by a hundred pounds and was a good foot taller than her, played it safe and stayed as far away from her evil bitch side as possible. And being the one walking the bride down the aisle, there was no way he could avoid going in that room and not being caught in the middle by the duelling personalities.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he pounded his fist on the door in order to be heard over all the yelling and fighting. The noise of the girls scrapping it out and of him almost bashing in the door was enough to cause guests in other rooms to step out of their suits and watch the events unfold.

"Who is it?" came Gus' voice from behind the door.

"NYPD! Open up!" Flack bellowed. "This is a raid!"

He heard the startled gasps from guests and saw the anxious, frightened looks that came over their faces. It gave him a perverse pleasure to be the guilty party for causing them such drama. He could hear the whispers and see the concern and nervous all over the curious onlookers.

"You're an ass!" Gus called out and began unlatching the door.

"I'm serious! Open the damn door or I kick it in!"

Gus yanked the door open. Carmen and Sam's yelling trickled out into the hall. The pretty blond stuck her head out of the room and looked left, then right, saw the expressions on the other guests' face and reached out to yank Flack inside by his shirt.

"That's assaulting an officer." he said, as Gus closed the door and locked it.

"You're a dick, Flack. Did you see the faces on those people!? They think you're serious and here to arrest someone!"

"That's the fun part, Broussard. That they do think I'm serious."

She eyed him from head to toe. Took in his well tailored black suit and polished shoes and his crisp light blue shirt and silver, baby blue and navy patterned tie. "Wow." she said with an appreciative nod. "Your tie actually does match your shirt."

"Sam bought the whole thing. Suit, tie, shirt, shoes. Everything. You like?"

"Very nice. She needs to dress you more often."

"She prefers me out of clothes, actually."

Gus smirked.

"Well?" she asked, turning a slow circle so he could see her in her bridesmaid's dress. Floor length light blue strapless satin with a side split to the knee and a bow and slight bustling in the back. Strappy high heels of the same colour and a simple crystal choker around her neck that matched her earrings.

"You look all right." he replied.

"You know how to compliment the ladies, Flack." Gus said with a frown.

"You look beautiful." he assured her and pecked her cheek. "So what's going on? My wife just about ready to kill Carmen?"

"She's restraining herself. Barely at times. Carmen's having a fit because of the weather."

"Does look like shit out there." Flack said, as he followed Gus into the living room area, where Sam in her navy blue dress, same style as Gus' and Stella's, was standing with her hands on her hip, glaring at a sobbing Carmen Devine who sat on the couch, face in her hands, still in her bathrobe. Stella was lingering in the doorway to the bedroom, Carmen's wedding dress draped over her forearm.

"What's going on?" Flack asked. "I could hear you two screaming all the way down at the elevator."

"She!" Sam pointed at Carmen. "Is driving me fucking insane!! Look at her! She's not even dressed yet and we need to leave in half an hour!"

"I can't get married!" Carmen cried. "Not when the weather is like this! Look at it! It looks like crap out there!"

"It's just a little bitty rain storm on the way." Gus told her. "Sam and Flack got married in the middle of a damn blizzard and it never stopped them!"

"Looks like the end of the world out there!" Carmen sobbed.

"Can you do something?" Sam asked her husband. "Please?"

"What am I suppose to do? Play negotiator?"

"You can talk armed fugitives out of banks and warehouses but you can't convince Carmen to get her ass off the couch to get ready for her own wedding?"

"Well what the hell am I suppose to say, Sam? I've never had to talk a bride out of having cold feet before? I mean, I could always force her to get dressed at gun point and then put her over my shoulder and get her to the church that way."

"If that's what it takes, than do it." Sam said.

"I'm serious." Flack told her.

"So am I. Think of something. Do something or say something. Anything. Just fix it. I need…..I need like five minutes to myself before I go insane or my brain explodes or both."

"You don't understand!" wailed Carmen. "This could be an omen! A bad, bad omen! I'm not like you! I can't just jump into a marriage with someone and…"

"I am so going to kick your ass." Sam declared and moved for the couch.

"Ladies….ladies…." Flack said, getting in between them. "There's no need for violence or bloodshed. Okay? Everyone's nerves are a little on edge here and Carmen's being a whiny little bitch and Sam's just being Sam. So both of you just calm down and take it easy."

"Do something!" Sam pleaded. "Because I will kill her! I swear to God I will kill her!"

"Just take it easy." he said, hands up in self defence. "Now Carmen," he took a seat beside the bride to be and leaned forward, elbows on his knees, looking sideways at her. "Tell me what the huge deal is here."

"It's going to rain!" she blubbered.

"So? Who cares? There was three feet of snow nearly on the ground when I got married. Didn't stop me from showing up. Why's rain gonna hold you back from doing this? The ceremony is indoors, the reception is indoors. So we all get a bit wet. We won't drown."

"Can't take nice pictures in the rain." she complained.

"So Central Park is out of the question." Flack said with a shrug. "This hotel is nice enough to take pictures in it. At least you're getting professional pictures taken and didn't have to rely on your friends' digital cameras or cell phones to capture the day."

"I know…." Carmen sniffled. "But no bride wants it to rain on their wedding day."

"Personally, I don't see the major deal." Flack told her. "I heard that rain on your wedding day is suppose to be a sign of massive good luck for your future. Like you might win Power Ball or the New York State lottery sometime."

"All it takes is a dollar and a dream." Stella spoke up from the doorway and winked at Flack.

"I can not believe you actually remembered that." Flack laughed.

"I have a sharp memory." Stella told him. "I distinctly remember you saying that you were a 'play when the pot is huge kind of guy' ."

"Now I'm a play every week to win anything so I can buy a house and retire really early kind of guy."

"Flack, Mac and I worked a case a few years back now where the vic had a lottery ticket on her." Stella explained to the three women. "Turns out she played the same numbers every week and that the ticket she had on her the night she died was a winner. And she never got to cash it."

"We have a years worth of old lottery tickets taking up space in one of the drawers in the kitchen." Sam said. "Because someone forgets to check the numbers and lets them pile up and pile up."

"I'll check them eventually." Flack said. "Who knows? We could be millionaires and not even know it."

"I will not hold my breath." Sam sighed and helped herself to a handful of grapes from the fruit basket Gerrard had had delivered earlier.

"My point is that rain is suppose to be good luck." Flack told Carmen. "And if you ask me, after everything you went through with Matthew, you already lucked out huge when you met someone like Speedle."

Gus and Stella both stared at him. Sam nearly choked on the grape she was chewing. Niether of the three had ever expected to hear something like that come out of his mouth. The guy that could wound you beyond words with some of the cutting, off hand remarks he often lobbed your way.

Carmen's face instantly brightened and she smiled broadly through the remaining tears and reached out to circle his neck with her arms and pull him into a tight, affectionate hug. "Thank you, Don." she said, and kissed his cheek softly.

"No problem." he said with a smile. "There are times I'm not a complete asshole."

"Which are rare." Sam teased, smiling warmly and lovingly at him.

Flack checked his watch. "I gotta have you down that aisle in an hour and we still have to make the drive over there. Could take a while in this weather." he leaned over and grabbed a handful of Kleenex from the box on the coffee table and held them out to her. "Think maybe you should go and get dressed now or what?"

"I should." she agreed and dabbed at her eyes as she stood up. "Sorry guys." she said to the entire room. "I know it hasn't been easy putting up with me."

"You can say that again." Gus mumbled.

"But I really love you guys and appreciate everything you've all done to get me here."

"Yeah, yeah." Sam said. "Just get your ass in there and get dressed before we're really late."

"You're a real bitch, you know that?" Carmen asked, going to her best friend and hugging her. "But I love you and wouldn't trade you for anything in the world."

"I love you, too, Carmen." Sam said, returning the embrace. "But seriously, if you don't hurry up, Don will be carrying you over his shoulder to the church."

"Yeah, and that whole caveman dominating a woman thing just turns me on." Flack told the red head. "So you best be getting ready on your own so we avoid an awkward situation for all involved."

Carmen laughed as she headed for the bedroom. "You truly are the world's biggest pervert. Sam wasn't joking when she said that."

"It's why Kieran's here. And why I'm sure many more will follow him."

"Many more?" Sam laughed. "That's pushing it. One or two more. That's my limit."

He held up all five fingers on one hand and grinned.

"You wish!" Sam said and tossed a grape at him. "There's no way in hell we are having six kids!"

"We'll see." he sing-songed and popped the grape into his mouth and stood up. "You can't say no to me no matter how hard you try."

"You are so delusional." she said as he kissed her softly and Carmen, Gus and Stella disappeared into the bedroom.

"So?" he asked, laying his hands on her hips. "Did I do good handling that little crisis?"

Sam nodded and tightened and straightened his tie. "Don Flack, you're my hero." she declared.

He smiled and kissed her. Longer and deeper and more intense than before, his hands sliding around to the small of her back and then down onto her ass.

"I think not." she scolded him and moved his hands to safer territory. "You'll wrinkle my dress."

"You look beautiful." he praised. "Wish you'd wear a dress more often."

"Why? You love what's under the clothes more than you love the clothes themselves." she said.

"The fun part is getting to what's under the clothes." he informed her.

"Yeah? Well in that case, I think you'll be very pleased."

"Is it what you bought earlier?"

"Part of it. A little something for today, and a little something just for you later."

He grinned broadly. "This day won't end soon enough."

"And you look very, very handsome." she told him, and pulled him down for another kiss. "You're just going to hang out while we get Carmen ready?"

"I guess so. I've gotta arrive with the bride, right? How long is it going to be? Because honestly Sam, the weather is going to get damn nasty and Danny called to say that it took him forty minutes to get to Speed and Carmen's because the traffic is the shits from people rushing to get home before the worst of the storm hits. So if we want to get her to that church in time, we better hurry."

"I hope the power doesn't go out. Or it'll be a candlelit ceremony and all cold food at the reception."

"Just think, if it's completely lights out, we could sneak out early and no one would even know."

"Is that all you ever think about?" Sam asked.

"No. I don't think about it all the time. Just most of the time. Even got some little surprises for you up in our room."

"Surprises, huh?" she fiddled with the lapels on his jacket. "What kind of surprises?"

"Wouldn't be a surprise if I told you. Let's just say it may, or may not, involve champagne and chocolate covered strawberries."

"Why Mr Flack…are you going to attempt to seduce me tonight?" she asked, eyes sparkling.

"Oh absolutely." he replied, kissing her long and deep and passionate, his hands on her hips and her hand on the back of his head holding him in place.

"Samantha!" Carmen bellowed from the other room.

Sam broke away from the kiss. Leaving both of them breathless. "Okay…gotta go and take care of the princess…" she said, backing up towards the door, fanning herself off with her hand. "You just wait here and think of something really nasty and unpleasant to take care of your, well…you know." she cast a glance down at his mid section.

He smirked.

"A cold shower is out of the question." she continued, reaching behind her from the door knob. "So just think of other things like I said."

A knock came to the door of the suite.

"Can you get that?" Sam asked.

"I think I'm capable of answering the door." he replied with a nod.

"Smart ass." she grinned and slipped into the bedroom to tend to the bride.

Flack headed through the living area of the suite and to the door. Standing there in the hallway, getting ready to knock again, was Speed's aunt, Maureen. Her silver grey hair all done up in an elegant chignon, looking regal in a midnight blue satin pant suit. She carried a neatly folded white handkerchief in one hand, small beaded purse in the other.

"You're Carmen's friend," she said in way of greeting. "The one that's married to that cute, bubbly little friend of hers."

"Samantha." he said with a nod of acknowledgement. Then added with a grin, "The drunk."

Maureen laughed. "She's a lovely, lovely girl."

"She is," he agreed. "I take it you're her to see Carmen."

"I have something to give her before the wedding."

Flack stepped back and held open the door. "She's just with the other girls getting ready," he said, shutting the door as Maureen passed through and following her into the living room. "They shouldn't be too long. Would you like something to drink? I think they have just about everything you could possibly want."

"I'm fine thank you." she took a seat on the couch. "I'm sorry," she said sheepishly. "Your name has escaped me."

"It's Flack." he said without thinking. He'd been called Flack for so long that it had become second nature to introduce himself that way to anyone he met. There were a small handful of people that called Don on a regular basis. And an even smaller amount that referred to him and Donnie or Donald. And he preferred to keep the use of those two names to a minimum.

Maureen arched an eyebrow. "Unusual choice for a first name." she said.

"Sorry. It's Don. Don Flack. Everyone just calls me by my last name. Mostly because of the job."

"You're crime scene investigator like Carmen and Tim?" she asked curiously.

"I leave all that stuff to the mad, genius scientists." Flack laughed. He grabbed a bottle of water from the bar fridge and took a seat in the arm chair across from Maureen. "I'm a detective. Homicide. The one that sees the carnage first and calls the scientists in."

"You must see a lot." Maureen commented.

"Too much unfortunately. But it's the nature of the beast. I'd be out of a job if mass murderers and psychopaths went completely out of business. And being a cop is family thing. I followed in my dad's footsteps. And really, there's nothing else I could imagine doing. "

"Tim's mother nearly had a stroke when he announced he was going to become a police officer. She assumed when he was heading off the university that he'd take medicine or law. When she found out forensics, she was still holding out hope maybe it was to get a doctorate and become a pathologist or a professor. And then he joined up and it sent her into a real tail spin. She worried about him constantly as you can imagine. Even though police work runs in your family, I'm sure your mother still worries about you."

Flack nodded and sipped his water.

"We worry about our children regardless of age. You have a little one? I think I remember hearing that last night."

"A son. Kieran. He just turned nine months."

"Would you want him to be police officer?"

Flack contemplated the question. It was something that passed his mind every now and than. On those quiet, still nights when he'd sit rocking Kieran in the nursery after a bottle or a bad. Or when he'd come home from yet another excruciatingly long and trying shift and he sought solace by standing at the side of the crib watching his son sleeping peacefully. Unaware and unburdened by the troubles and evil that lay just outside the safety and warmth of his home.

And Flack would stand there and contemplate moving into another department within the NYPD and finding a way that his wife could quit and stay home all the time and they could buy a house somewhere in the suburbs. Shelter Kieran from everything that was wrong with the world. It wasn't the answer. The child had to learn that life wasn't perfect and there was joy and sorrow and struggle each step of the way. And that was what made life worth living. You just did the best with what you were given.

But did he want his son being a cop? Flack could think of a dozen other things he'd rather Kieran be when he grew up. And law enforcement didn't even crack the top ten.

"I'd want him to do whatever makes him happy." Flack replied at last. "Personally, I hope that includes going to university and getting a degree like his mother did. He's incredibly smart just like his mom. I hope he does something with his life that puts that brain to good use."

The door to the bedroom swung open and Gus and Stella were the first to emerge. Stella was walking backwards and using a magazine to vigorously fan Carmen's face. The red head was flushed and presipring and her eyes were rimmed with red from shedding even more tears. This time of happiness from catching a glimpse of herself in her wedding dress and realizing for the first time that she looked the part of the bride.

She was stunning in an off white Grecian inspired gown that hugged her post-baby curves, the slender straps showing off her trim, well toned arms. The dress was void of any bead work and had a small train and a low cut back. In lieu of a head piece and veil, she wore small flowers through her auburn hair.

"I feel sick to my stomach." Carmen complained.

"Deep, slow breaths." Sam told her, following behind.

Flack got to his feet and went to the bride and kissed her cheek softly. "You look beautiful, Carmen." he told her. "But would it hurt your feelings too much to tell you that you're matron of honour is still the hottest woman around?"

Carmen smiled. "Not at all. Because you're prejudiced and need to stay on her good side."

"You're stunning." Maureen told her, holding the younger woman at arms length and checking her over.

"Thank you…..I am so, so nervous though." Carmen sighed and wiped sweat from her brow. "I'm going to wreck my makeup sweating like this."

"You'll be fine." Gus assured her.

"I was wondering if I could have a word with the bride before everyone had to leave." Maureen said hopefully. "There's something I'd like to give her."

"We'll wait outside in the hallway." Stella said, and motioned for the others to follow her to the door.

"Hang on!" Gus cried and hurried across the room to a cardboard box sitting on the floor by the balcony door. "Carry this will you Flack?" she asked and dropped the box into his arms. "Can't forget the flowers. Can't be a bride without a bouquet. What time is it? We have to leave soon don't we?"

"Calm down, Gussie." Sam said, holding the door open for everyone to pass through. "It's not your wedding."

"Not yet anyway." Stella laughed. "Few more months."

"Shhh….." Gus laid a finger over her lips. "Let's not talk about that. I have made absolutely no plans. I still think Adam and I should run off to Vegas and get married."

"The Sarge will shit if both kids get married without him being there." Sam told her, shuddering at the thought of her step father's reaction. "Especially if it's his pride and joy Adam."

"Not my fault he likes me better as an in law than Flack." Gus commented.

"Who wouldn't?" Stella laughed.

"You're all very funny." Flack snorted. "Hate on the only man in the room. That's mature."

"Wait until you have girls of your own." Gus told him as she and Sam joined Stella in the hall. "I hope you have like five of them and you're seriously outnumbered in the house."

"Bite you goddamn tongue." he said, and shut the door behind him.

She had her something borrowed, something blue. Sam had graciously loaned Carmen the simple diamond solitaire pendant that hung around her neck. The Sarge had purchased it in Arizona and sent it to New York City in time for his stepdaughter to wear to her wedding. The something blue was the baby blue satin and white lace garter that Carmen wore on her left leg. She even had her something new in the form of the earrings from Speed hat graced her lobes.

But she didn't have something old. Until Maureen sat down on the couch beside her and opened the handkerchief in her hand and revealed a pearl and what Carmen suspected were diamonds, cuff style bracelet.

"This was my sister's." Maureen explained, plucking up the bracelet. "Tim's mother's. She wore this on her wedding day over forty years ago when she married Tim's father. She had always planned to keep it in case she had a daughter of her own to give it to. Tim was their only child and she asked me to keep this in hopes that one day, his future bride would like to have it."

Carmen put a hand to her lips, tears stung her eyes. She was deeply touched by the gesture.

"She didn't want just anyone having it." Maureen complained. "And when I met that other woman Tim was involved with from Miami….well something inside me just told me that she wasn't the one. Something didn't seem quite right. Like they didn't gel. The love didn't seem genuine or reciprocated. And when Tim called his uncle and I to say that he'd met someone and had a feeling you were the one, well, we couldn't help but be a little worried about him. After everything he'd gone through in Miami with the shooting and the disaster with the woman and….we were just concerned."

"I can understand that." Carmen said. "Things fell into place pretty quickly."

"When he brought you to Syracuse that night when you were pregnant to meet us, I only had to be in the room with you for minutes before I knew for sure that you were the real deal. That you were perfect for him and that you had just as much love and repsect for him as he did you. You're an incredible woman, Carmen. You've given him a wonderful life and a beautiful baby and I have never, ever seen Tim as happy as he is. And I know im my heart, that his mother would be saying these exact words to you today if she were still alive. And she'd adore that little angel."

Carmen smiled. "She's our pride and joy. Her daddy's princess. Tim's a wonderful father. I'm very blessed to have him. We came very close to this day never happening. If it wasn't for a friend of mine, Tim and I probably never would have gotten back together. Let's just say he talked some since into me and kicked my butt in gear and I smartened up. He's the reason Tim and I are here today. If it wasn't for him giving me what for, Addie wouldn't be here. And I couldn't imagine my life without her."

"You're friend sounds like a good person to have around."

"He has his moments." Carmen laughed. "Sometimes he needs to take his own advice in his marriage, but he's a good guy with a big heart and he'd do anything for Tim, Addie and I."

"I only hope that you and Tim are still in love and happy fifty, sixty years from now." Maureen said with a smile. "And I'd like you to have this bracelet. In memory of his mother. She was devoted to him. Just like you are."

"Thank you." Carmen managed through her tears, as the older woman gently slipped the bracelet onto her slender wrist. "It's lovely. I don't know what to say."

"Maybe one day, years from now, Addison can wear this bracelet on her wedding day." Maureen told her.

"She will wear it." Carmen vowed. "I'll see to that. Even if it is a long way way. It will be nice to have something passed down from Tim's mom to me to her and to who knows how many generations after us. Thank you, Maureen. You have no idea how much this means to me. And how much it will mean to Tim when he sees it."

Maureen smiled and drew the younger woman into her arms. "Just promise me to love him and take care of him."

"That's all I want to do." Carmen assured her.

As the Flack and the women made their way to the church in a heavy, relentless downpour, twenty minutes away Eric Delko and Tim Speedle found themselves alone together for the first time in over six years. Physically alone. Mere feet separating them. Speed wasn't some figment of Delko's imagination brought on by the brain injury he'd suffered when he'd been been shot in the head.

When Speed had gone back to New York to recuperate after being his own shooting, both men had let the friendship wane. Speed had been more concerned with recovering and gaining his health and strength back and hadn't put much thought into calling or e-mailing or talking over the computer.

And Delko, as many times as he'd been tempted to call and check on how his friend was doing, had always found himself promising to do it the next day when things weren't so busy. And then days turned into weeks and months into years. Delko knew that Speed would never come back to Miami. There was too much history there. Too many painful memories. Just like Speed knew Delko would never find himself in New York City. He'd be a fish out of water there and hate every moment of it.

But when Speed had called the crime lab that day three months ago and said simply, "H, Delko, I'm getting married, I want you guys to be there," there'd been no hesitation on either of their parts to leave the sun and sand and balmy temperatures for the cold, blustery, rainy New York City streets. And Delko had been both shocked, and honoured, when he was asked to serve as the best man. He told Speed there must be someone in New York to choose. Someone he'd become close with that he entrusted the title and duties too. And Speed had replied that the only person he was that close to had already been pegged to walk the bride down the aisle. And even than, Delko had still been first choice. They shared a lot of memories. Some really good, some really, really bad. But the friendship remained despite the years that had passed.

Delko never thought he'd see the day that Tim Speedle settled down. Marriage and kids were two concepts that didn't seem to gel with someone like Speed. He was a self proclaimed loner and like it that way. Being an introvert meant he could protect himself from getting hurt by keeping others, specifically women, at a safe distance. Calleigh had nearly destroyed him. After that he'd vowed to never let another woman into that personal space he coveted. And when Delko had gotten that call about a wedding and soon after a birth announcement and a picture of Speed and Carmen and baby Addie together in the hospital, Delko had realized with just one glance how happy Speed seemed. It was just photo but Delko could see in it what he'd never seen in Speed before. His friend looked at peace with himself in his life. He looked whole. And it was a comforting, reassuring thought that if it could happen to Speed, it could happen to anyone.

Even Eric Delko. Who hadn't met that one yet but held out hope she was out there somewhere.

As Danny and Hawkes, with some assistance from Mac, showed guests to their seats in the century old church, Speed and Delko passed the time in a small office just down the hall from where the ceremony would take place in less than twenty minutes. The minister had told them he'd come and fetch them when the bride had arrived and they could take their places. To Delko, Speed seemed calm and cool and collected. He sat in a chair by the door, unmoving, watching the minutes tick by on the clock. Delko wondered what was going through his old friend's mind as D-Day slowly approached.

"Not thinking about doin' a runner, are you?" Delko asked, breaking the silence.

"Hmm?" Speed responded, turning to look at his friend as the tall Latino stood by the window.

"I was just hoping you weren't thinking about doing a runner." Delko said.

"Not in a million years." Speed declared.

"So this is it, huh? You're taking that leap into the great unknown."

"I like to think of it as my road less travelled." Speed said. "Before Carmen, I thought I knew everything there was to know about women. And none of it was good after the disaster with Calleigh and Hagen. I swore up and down I'd never get involved with anyone again. That I would rather die alone and miserable than with someone and miserable. And then I saw Carmen on the subway. Actually, I saw Sam Flack first. She was checking me out and whispering to Carmen. It was Sam that talked to me first."

"Two hot women checking you out? You're lucky day." Delko commented.

"I don't think she was checking me out. Her and Flack had just met. They fell for each other pretty quick. No one was going to get in between those two. I think Sam was trying to get Carmen to check me out. And Carmen was hard to miss. Gorgeous auburn hair, green eyes I could see across from the train."

"So it was love at first sight for you?" Delko asked. "You expect me to believe that? That crap like that exists?"

"I think everyone likes to think it does. But no, it was far from it. I thought she was the biggest bitch on the face of the earth. She was stuck up and self righteous and just plain damn aggravating. "

Delko laughed. "Why? Because she wouldn't give you the time of the day?"

"Exactly." Speed chuckled. "She was so unimpressed. She wanted nothing to do with me. And the more I tried, the more she gave me the cold shoulder and the more off hand and nasty I got with her. If it hadn't have been for Flack hooking us up that one night , we never would have gotten together I don't think. And then he gave her a reaming out when she dumped me over her asshole ex getting out of prison. You know the whole sordid story."

Delko nodded and grabbed a nearby chair and placed it in front of his friend and sat down. "You owe this Flack guy, you know. Sounds like he's always been around when you needed him."

"He has been. He's been a great friend to me. And he doesn't expect anything back. He just does things and wants nothing in return. You know who he reminds me of?"

"Who?" Delko asked.

"You."

The CSI smiled.

"You were always there when I needed you. We didn't always see eye to eye on a lot of things at work, but when I needed a friend, you were always there. And I never got to thank you for that before I left."

"We kinda lost touch." Delko said with a sigh. "Didn't mean to. Things just happened."

"Life happened." Speed told him.

"You can say that again."

"Life happened."

Delko laughed. "That was so corny, Speedle. And thank you. For letting me be here for you today. Carmen's an amazing woman. And you've got a beautiful little girl and things are really shaping up for you and I'm happy for you. Carmen's changed you."

"In every possible way. I realized, just after Addie was born and I was holding her while Carmen was fast asleep, that up until the moment I fell in love with Carmen, my life hadn't really begun. She kicked started it into gear. She made me want to be a better man. I still strive for that every day. To be everything she wants me to be. To show her and tell her how much I love her and appreciate her. She's my everything, Delko."

Delko just nodded. Finding himself choked up by hearing the sincerity and love in his friend's voice.

"Shit, you're not going to cry on me are you?" Speed asked. "You're suppose to be the emotional rock for me. Not the other way around."

"Sorry. Just hearing you of all people say something like that….gives me hope that there's someone out there I'll feel that way about."

Speed laid a hand on his friend's shoulder. "She's out there somewhere, Eric. You just haven't found her yet. Look how long it took me. But trust me, when you least expect it, she'll pop into your life and make her mark and never leave."

Delko nodded, considering those words. "So you're not nervous? Not at all?"

"A little. More nervous that she won't show up than anything else. I know what Carmen gets like when she's really stressed. If anyone is going to do a runner, trust me, it's her."

A knock came to the door. Reverend Hannan, tall and slender with snow white hair, stuck his head in the door and offered up a serene smile.

"We're ready to begin, gentlemen." he said.

Speed took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he stood up. "Okay…" he said to Delko. "Now I'm shitting myself."

Delko grinned and laid a firm hand on his friend's shoulder. "That's what I'm here for. To help you through this. Every step of the way."

"I shouldn't be this nervous. It's a wedding, not a funeral. It's a happy thing. No one's died or anything."

"Wouldn't be human if you weren't a little freaked out. Here…." Delko turned Speed around to face him and fixed his collar for him.

Both wore well tailored black suits. White shirts. No ties. Only difference was the single white champagne rose attached to Speed's lapel.

"Just remember to breathe." Delko said, steering his friend towards the door. "Just breathe."

"I've died and gone to heaven." Danny declared as he and Hawkes joined Flack and the bridal party in the vestibule of the church. He laid a hand over his heart and bit his lip and shook his head in disbelief as he checked all the women out from head to toe

"I know I'm hot, Messer, but I just don't swing that way." Flack said.

"You just don't want your wife finding out about your secret life." Danny teased.

"My secret life? She's the one having the illicit affair with Devine."

Danny looked at Carmen. Than at Sam. "Do tell." he nearly pleaded. "And videos or pictures would be greatly appreciated."

"Tough." Sam said. "And knock it off. We're in a church."

"So?" Danny asked. "Both you and Devine got knocked up before marriage. No wonder the place didn't burst into flames when you two walked in."

"It's the new trend." Carmen reasoned. "Get pregnant and than force the man into committing."

"Makes me want to go home and watch Maury." Sam said.

"You would not want to go home right about now." Flack told her. "I called home before I came to your guys' room and my mom said Daria and Kieran were finger painting in the kitchen with Allison. Apparently the place is a mad house."

"Wonderful. There goes the cupboards you just painted white three weekends ago."

"I think they're just using water and food colouring. And Kieran is still grumpy about getting his stitches."

Hawkes' eyes widened and he shook his head at Flack. An expression on his face that clearly meant 'You were not suppose to tell her just yet'.

"His what?" Sam asked.

"What?" Flack asked in response. "What did I say?"

"You know what you said. You said stitches. What about stitches? What the hell happened in that place this morning?"

"I was moping the floor like you asked me too and he fell….."

"Because you didn't have the baby gates up." Sam tossed in.

"I didn't think I'd need them and then he fell and split his chin open and…."

"What?" Carmen cried. "Oh my God! My wedding day and my godson busts his face up?"

"It's not a sign or an omen, Devine." Danny told her. "Just a show of how stupid Flack is."

"And I called Hawkes and he came over and did the stitches for me." Flack finished.

Sam looked at Doctor Sheldon Hawkes, who held his hands up in self defence.

"How many stitches?" she asked.

"Eight." Hawkes replied. "I know it sounds like a lot but I put them very close together and scaring should be minimal."

"Scaring?" Sam turned and gave her husband a stern glare.

"Scars add character." Flack said.

"He's nine months old." Sam fumed. "And you were going to keep this little piece of information from me for how long? Were you planning on telling me or were you just going to let me walk in the house and see my son's face bashed in."

"His face isn't bashed in." Flack corrected her. "It's just a small cut under his chin."

"A small cut that needed eight stitches!" she snapped.

"I was going to tell you on the way home tomorrow."

"Nice, Flack." Danny snickered. "Keep it from her until after you get laid a million times tonight. You're smarter than I give you credit for. Now if you just learned to keep your mouth shut it would be all good."

"Kids get hurt." Flack defended himself. "It was just an accident. I didn't mean for him to fall down and split his chin open. My mom was suppose to be watching him…"

"That's classic." Gus laughed. "Blame the grandmother."

"It's what happened. She was watching him and Addie and she lost track of Kieran and he came in the kitchen. I didn't think he'd get in there and get hurt."

"Moments like that is what they make baby gates for, Flack." Danny said.

"You don't even have kids. Stay out of it."

"I may not have them now, but when I do you best believe I'll be using baby gates to avoid them doing a face plant on the kitchen floor." Danny told his best friend.

"So I'm an asshole. Everyone already knows that. And why are we talking about this when we're like thirty seconds from getting the show on the road?"

"Because you couldn't keep your mouth shut." Stella responded.

"You're lucky I love you." Sam said with a heavy sigh. "Or you'd be sleeping on the couch for the rest of your life."

"So says the woman who let him fall off the bed changing his diaper."

"It was an accident!" Sam argued.

"So was this. I didn't set out to intentionally hurt the kid. It was a stupid accident on my part."

"Is he at least okay?" Sam asked. "Other than the stitches?"

Flack nodded. "He's fine. No worse for wears. My mom said he had his normal lunch and he's been playing. He's just grumpy from the pain. I honestly didn't mean for him to get hurt. You believe me, don't you?"

"Not really." Danny said.

Flack glared at him.

"I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt him or put him in danger." Sam replied. "Just…next time be more careful, okay? That's all I ask. Promise me."

"I promise." he vowed and kissed her softly.

"No one is suppose to kiss before the wedding!" Carmen exclaimed. "And if anyone is suppose to be getting kissed, it's me. I'm the bride dammnit."

"And besides," Danny added. "Kissing is what led you guys to having said kid with eight stitches in his chin."

"I think there was more to it than that, Messer." Flack laughed. "Or do you need sex ed at your age?"

"Your wife seems to like the way I do things. So apparently I know all the right stuff."

"Danny!" Sam placed a finger over her lips. "That was our little secret."

"Remind me to pummel you later, Messer." Flack said jokingly.

"Bring it on, Sergeant." Danny cajoled. "Show me what you got."

"Are we not at a wedding?" Hawkes asked. "You look beautiful, Carmen."

"Thank you. Finally someone noticed." she shot Danny a pointed glare.

"Yeah…yeah…you look pretty. All the guests are here and we're good to go. Can we hurry? I'm starving and I want to get into the food and the cognac at the reception."

Overhead, thunder rumbled and rain hammered down.

"Think He's telling us to knock our shit off in a house of God?" Danny asked, casting a skyward glance.

"I think He's telling me I should have worn underwear in house of God." Sam said.

Everyone burst out laughing. Flack bit his bottom lip and looked at her and shook his head.

"I'm joking. Just joking. I am wearing underwear. Mind you, it's so small it might as well not be there."

"Can I see?" Danny asked.

"Sorry. Their for one pair of eyes only." Sam replied.

"Yeah." Flack said. "So knock it off."

"I meant Carmen's eyes." Sam told him.

"Just what went on during girls night?" Danny asked curiously.

"Let's just say that Flack's not lying when he says all those things about Sam's tongue ring." Carmen responded.

"She has mad talent." Flack agreed.

"Think we should talk our places or something?" Gus inquired, when two church workers came out into the vestibule and opened the doors leading into the congregation.

Hawkes offered his arm to Stella and they stepped behind Danny and Gus.

"God." Gus said. "If I am this nervous making this walk as a bridesmaid, what will I be like as the bride?"

"You'll shit yourself." Sam whispered from where she stood behind Stella and Hawkes. "Trust me. I didn't have an aisle to walk down and I was still shitting myself."

"I would too if I was marrying Flack and pregnant with his kid." Gus laughed and winked at Sam over her shoulder.

"Next time I'm just doing the kid thing and leaving out the marriage." Sam said, just as the first strains of Vivaldi's Four Seasons began to play and the long, slow journey began. She glanced back as she went to take her first step. "Quit looking at my ass." she scolded Flack.

"I'm allowed. Technically your ass is mine. You have my last name. And it wasn't me checking it out. It was Devine."

"Mm-hm." Sam said and smiled lovingly at him before setting off down the aisle.

Flack grinned and leaned into Carmen. "She's got a really nice ass." he said.

Carmen couldn't help but laugh. Flack always seemed to be able to lighten you up. Whether it be facial expression that had you in stitches or a smart ass comment that made you giggle weeks later when you thought about it. She glanced at him, noticing the way he watched his wife walk down the aisle. A soft smile on his lips and his eyes twinkling.

"You are so in love, Flack." she said. "You make me sick."

"I hate her sometimes, but I love her all the time." he told her and offered his arm.

Carmen smiled and slipped her arm through his. "Thank you," she said. "For doing this. Walking me down the aisle."

"It was a surprise when you asked. But I never had a second thought about doing it."

"I never had a second thought about who I'd ask. You were the one that called me that night from the bar and then brought Tim to my place. You brought us together. And if it wasn't for you talking sense into me over Matthew, none of this would be happening. And Addie wouldn't be here right now."

"Only did what I thought was right. Didn't make sense to me that you dumped the guy over something like that. I couldn't just sit back and watch two people, crazy about each other, go nuts 'cause they're not together. Someone had to be the voice of reason."

"When you're the voice of reason, the world must be coming to an end." Carmen teased. She looked up at her friend, tears welling in her eyes. Body trembling. "I'm scared, Don."

"Don't faint on me or anything, Devine. I can't carry you. My back isn't what it used to be."

"I'm just shaking so bad. I don't think I can make it." she fretted.

"You know what? You're going to be fine. Me and you are going to walk nice and slow and take our time. Go at your pace. Sound good?"

She nodded. Took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"You're going to be all right, Carmen." Flack promised her as the music stopped the the lone pianist launched into Pachelbel's Canon in D Minor. "All you have to do is breathe and trust me. Okay?"

She nodded and they began their walk to the front of the church. A surge of relief hitting her when she saw Speed waiting for her. She saw tears welling in his eyes and Eric Delko lean in to whisper something in his ear and then place a supportive hand on his friend's shoulder. Her main fear had been that Speed wouldn't show up. That he'd decide that his life was far better off without the drama and craziness she introduced into it. And that she'd end up miserable and alone and taking care of their daughter on their own. Seeing him, his eyes focused solely on her, his face giving away that he was experiencing the same fears and the same nervousness, somehow relaxed her and made everything feel right in the world.

A bright smile spread from ear to ear and she suddenly brimmed with confidence. The Carmen Devine everyone had come to know and love and who to that point had been missing in action. She set her sights on the man that she loved more than she ever thought it was possible to love another human being. Who had come into her life unexpectedly and transformed it, and her completely.

And as he smiled and winked at her as Flack handed her over and the two men shook hands and Flack gave a stern warning to 'treat her right or a bury you', Carmen realized she was finally ready to become what she was destined to be.

Mrs Timothy Speedle.

And from that moment on, nothing mattered but the two of them.

A great big thanks to all of my reviewers from last chapter:

Hope4sall

Brrtmclv

Madison Bellows

Bluehaven4220

Laplandgurl

Forest Angel

Wolfey lady

Laurzz

Soccer-bitch

EvaFlack001

And thanks to everyone reading and adding me to alerts. Please review? It's much appreciated.