Chapter 3
"Shall I continue? Is there a problem?" The priest questioned when he noticed something was up.
"There's no problem, carry on please." Zoë said sweetly and he nodded, fooled by her sweet reply.
"Zoë, do you want to sit down?" Alexx questioned quietly as she stepped up to Zoë and Zoë shook her head and then looked back to Horatio as she took his hand again. She gave Alexx another quick smile before Alexx moved away with her mind calming down. She thought Zoë was having some difficulty breathing as she'd noticed the lightly panicked breathing that had developed.
"Horatio, do you take Zoë-Mae to be your lawful wedded wife?" The priest questioned and Zoë's bad feeling disappeared as butterflies over took as she bit her lip and looked up at him. Every care in the world disappeared for the both of them while they looked at each other. Alexx's and Eric's worries had completely calmed when they saw both Zoë and Horatio relax completely as they smiled naturally at each other.
"I do." Horatio said sincerely as he smiled at her and then ran his thumb over the wedding ring that he'd already put on her finger. She nearly jumped on the spot when she felt a burst of joy surge through every fibre in her body.
"Zoë-Mae, do you take Horatio to be your lawful wedded husband?" He asked and Zoë trembled with happiness and excitement.
"I do!" She grinned as she squeezed Horatio's hand.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife, Horatio, you may now kiss the bride." The priest said and she bit her lip as she turned to Horatio. Horatio lifted the veil and looked into her eyes as he placed his hands on her waist and stepped closer to her. Both of them grinned joyously as they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes. She placed one of her palms against his chest and moved closer to him. They made eye contact until their lips made contact, when their eyes closed. They lost themselves in their own world as their heartbeats increased in time with each other. She moved her hand up from his chest and wrapped it around his neck. They broke the kiss off 30 seconds later and turned arm in arm to everyone who had risen from their seats and begun to clap. Zoë grinned brilliantly as Horatio looked down with his secret smile and then looked up to Zoë who was just wiping another tear from her eye. She looked over to him and then took a step with him and walked out with him with her bridesmaids following and Horatio's groomsmen following them as a photographer caught them all walking down the aisle. They both smiled at their guests as they threw confetti. The moment seemed absolutely perfect, neither Horatio nor Zoë wanted that feeling to ever end. They got outside the church and into the churches yard where a session was booked for photographs. The guests got up and followed them out.
"I'm Mrs Caine." Zoë grinned as she turned to Horatio and leant against him with a wide grin.
"You certainly are." Horatio smiled as he wrapped his right arm around her lower back and pulled her close. "Are you okay?" He asked softly and quietly as his concern about what happened at the alter returned.
"Yeah, I don't know what happened, I just got that horrible feeling again, but it's gone now. It must have been some serious nerves or something. But I'm absolutely fantastic, thank you." She grinned as she placed her hand on his chest. "Are you okay?" She asked and Horatio nodded and then kissed her again. They were approached by the guests, who each congratulated the both of them whilst hugging and kissing Zoë and shaking Horatio's hand. Horatio was quite surprised when Kaitlin also hugged and kissed him.
"You look beautiful, Zoë." Nathan said as he stepped up and gave her a hug and kissed her cheek as she kissed his. She grinned at him and he knew it was the happiest he'd ever seen her which made him feel great too, Zoë's smile was always infectious.
"Thank you, you're looking rather dashing yourself." She grinned and he chuckled as she let her hand glide over his shoulder in his grey suit and lilac tie.
"Yeah, whoever decided on this suit has some style." He smiled as he looked down at himself and flattened out the lapels of the jacket while she giggled a little.
"Congratulations, both of you." He said sincerely with a smile as he shook Horatio's hand and they thanked him with joyous smiles.
"Eric, come here sweetie I need my hug from you." Zoë called and he walked over with a smile with Walter following.
"Hey, how are you doing?" He asked as she hugged him tightly and rubbed his back.
"Really well now I'm Mrs Caine." She grinned and then kissed his cheek as she pulled back.
"Congratulations, both of you." He said as he shook Horatio's hand and then gave him a shoulder-bump hug.
"Thank you brother" Horatio said softly and Zoë smiled at the both of them. She felt her heart melt as she loved to see Horatio and Eric so close with each other, she then looked to Walter.
"Come here, I need my hug from you too." She said with a smile and Walter smiled and then hugged her gently.
"Congratulations" Walter said softly as he shook Horatio's hand too. Eric was quickly called away to have a photo with Nathan and Joe and Walter walked off to mingle with other guests.
"Are you going to explain why you were crying before you even got to the church?" Horatio asked quietly with a smile once he'd pulled her closer again.
"Joe and Kaitlin got hold of David's other baby… his classic car. You'll see it a little later, Joe's had it done up so it actually works. I love that car almost as much as he did." Zoë said softly and Horatio nodded with an understanding smile. "I was so shocked and happy, I thought Kaitlin had just hired a limo, but she got white horses and everything. They both really pulled out all the stops to make this the most magical day of my life. It simply couldn't get any better. I now have the most amazing, the most incredible husband on the planet and there isn't anything else that could make this day any better." Zoë said softly and Horatio smiled and chuckled. He pulled her closer again and placed his nose against hers while she giggled and looked up into his sparkling blue eyes.
"And I bet she said that you deserve it all, and I agree with her." Horatio said softly and she nodded shyly before she placed a kiss on his lips. She deepened the kiss and continued to smile while she felt his lips move against hers. They stood up and moved away from each other when they could hear a group of people moving closer. Zoë looked over to the photoshoot area and smiled when she saw Kaitlin and James, her boyfriend getting a few snaps. 'About 99% of the pictures will be of Kaitlin I suspect.' Zoë thought to herself as a smile appeared on her face. She swallowed and then looked down feeling the prick of tears at the corners of her eyes once more.
"Alright?" Horatio asked warmly as he began to rub her back and she nodded as she looked up at him.
"I just wish my mother and brother were here to see this day. I wish David and Jen were here too and most of all, I wish Maya could have been here too." Zoë said softly as she looked up at him with a lump in her throat.
"They are sweetheart, they're always with us." Horatio said softly and then kissed her forehead and she nodded with a smile as she calmed herself back down. She took a deep breath and then took his hand as her smile widened again.
"Photo time" She grinned as the photographer gestured to them. "Don't shy away now." She grinned at him as they walked over to the area where the photographer had set up. Horatio chuckled and then kissed the back of her hand and walked with her. The photographer got a few snaps of them and with various guests and many of them on their own. They moved away when the groomsmen and the bridesmaids were having their picture taken together.
"Alexx, can you get some done with you and your boys please?" Zoë questioned and Alexx nodded with a smile. Zoë and Horatio moved to the edge of the garden again and observed the guests as they all enjoyed themselves.
"We go on our honeymoon tomorrow, this is the best month of my life." She grinned at him and he smiled back down at her as he skimmed his thumb over her knuckles.
"You must remember to pack your bikini's Mrs Caine." Horatio whispered as he grinned and slyly moved his hand to her ass.
"Already done." She grinned back at him as she quickly moved his hand back up to her lower back.
"Why didn't I just assume you'd done that already?" Horatio questioned and she shrugged with a smile as she dreamily looked up at Horatio.
"Mrs Caine, would you like a photo of everyone?" The photographer asked and she nodded as she took Horatio's hand and walked over to the shooting area. The photographer rounded everyone up with Horatio and Zoë stood in the middle, he was just about to snap the picture when Zoë turned to Horatio and held her stomach. Her heart rate doubled when she felt a sharp, painful kick in her stomach. She took a deep breath and grabbed his jacket.
"Horatio" she called as she looked down. Horatio quickly turned to her and placed a hand on her waist while he placed the other on her upper arm. "Something's really wrong." She said as she looked up at him with pained and panicked eyes. Joe turned and placed his hand on her back, fearing something was wrong. People began to look and all began to grow concerned.
"Zoë, what's wrong? Are you hurting?" Nathan questioned as he moved to stand in front of them as he placed his hand on her other upper arm.
"Stand away Nathan." Zoë said as she looked up and around. She gently pushed Nathan to the side as she allowed her eyes to scan every single detail in the surroundings. She took a deep breath as Eric moved closer.
"What's wrong?" Eric questioned as he placed his hand on her upper arm.
"Clear everyone away, into the church." Horatio ordered Eric softly as he believed Zoë. Eric quickly moved away and began to usher everyone away and into the church while Horatio and Zoë began to look around as Horatio spoke into the discrete microphone on the inside of his sleeve ordering for back up.
"Horatio, I don't like this." She said as she turned to him. "Mr Smith, would you please make your way into the church for just a moment." Zoë asked and he nodded.
"No, leave your camera, just go." She said as she looked around. He quickly moved as Eric took his gun from his holster, as did Walter.
"Joe, go into the church just for a moment, okay?" Zoë said softly and he nodded. Most of the guests were in the church and left Horatio, Zoë, Walter and Eric outside scanning the area. Every guest stopped and looked back to Horatio and Zoë when they heard gunfire. They all watched Zoë fall to the ground, a second shot was heard just as Horatio and Eric dove over Zoë and shielded her body using theirs. Walter spotted the shooter and using one shot, managed to kill him dead. Back-up quickly arrived after the shooter had been shot.
"Zoë, Zoë sweetheart, are you okay?" Horatio questioned as he and Eric got off her and knelt beside her.
"ZOE!" Joe shouted at the top of his lungs as he ran over to them from the church.
"Zoë, talk to me." Horatio pleaded as he placed his hands either side of her head while she blinked blankly up at the blue sky. She finally swallowed and then looked over to Horatio.
"I'm good. I don't think I'm hit." She said softly as she looked into his terrified blue eyes. Horatio exhaled a large sigh of relief as she sat up. Joe crouched beside Eric on her left side while Horatio crouched on her right.
"We're clear!" Walter shouted and Nathan ran over to them and crouched beside Horatio.
"Zoë, are you hurt?" He questioned as she pulled her dress up and shook her head. She pulled the gun from her thigh and saw a bullet lodged in it. She frowned at it, and then realised how lucky she was.
"You brought a gun to your wedding?" Joe questioned with a frown himself.
"Yeah, well I knew something like this could happen. Aren't you glad that I actually did bring it to the wedding now, anyway?" She said softly as she glanced up to their worried faces.
"Are you hurt anywhere else?" Nathan questioned as he placed his hands on her thigh and looked at the red mark where her gun had been.
"No, I'm good." She said as she looked up at Horatio and smiled sweetly. She saw that he had calmed a lot. She then pushed her dress back down once Nathan had finished looking at her leg. "Could you help me up please?" She asked and both Horatio and Eric took hold of her hands and pulled her up. Horatio quickly pulled her close and then turned with her to see the crowd of guests at the entrance of the church.
"It's alright everyone; the bullet caught my gun, not me." Zoë said as she held it up and gave them all a nod and smile. Patrol quickly headed over to both Zoë and Horatio.
"There seems to be only one shooter, which has been shot. We'll need a CSI team out here to investigate." Horatio said and the officer nodded at him.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Nathan questioned and she nodded as he placed his hand on her arm.
"I must be having a lucky day." She smiled and his frown turned into a shocked frown as his eyes widened.
"Getting shot at isn't so lucky, Zoë." Nathan said as he raised his eyebrow.
"Getting shot at is nothing new, however, not getting hit is lucky." She smiled and he chuckled in disbelief while he shook his head.
"I'm terribly sorry about that everyone. The wedding reception is still going ahead however. You're all welcome to make your way over to the hotel and begin, Horatio and I will have to stay here for a moment to sort everything out but we will be with you shortly. There is an open bar and a buffet, so help yourselves. There are pre-paid taxis out the front waiting for anyone who wishes to get a lift. This is nothing to worry about, I assure you that the hotel safe, I have security designated at the hotel already." Zoë said loudly and she saw the smile appear across their faces, most were probably just happy to get away from the church. "We are fine none of us are hurt, don't worry. We'll be along shortly and the celebrations will just be getting started." She smiled at everyone and they all gave her a nod. They all walked over to Zoë and Horatio and thanked them for the ceremony and said that they would see them at the reception. Most of the guests left and headed over to the hotel while a handful waited.
"Joe, Kaitlin, Alexx and Nathan don't worry, we've got this, why don't you all head over to the hotel?" Zoë asked softly.
"Can I speak to you Zoë, please?" Alexx asked and Zoë nodded and then lifted the dress as Horatio took her gun. Zoë walked over to the side with Alexx.