Just Like Yesterday

The music played loudly as the church doors opened and the wedding party began their walk down the aisle. Jules and Amber both smiled wide when they saw their husbands. Amber gave her husband a small wave and he winked at her. Jules smiled at how gorgeous Nick looked as he followed close behind.

Brooke Latham clung to Nick's arm as they made their way to the altar and her demeanor made Jules wonder if Brooke could possibly still be in love with Nick even after all these years. It would be truly sad if she was since it would never happen for her. She was a beautiful girl, Jules thought, she should really move on.

As the bridesmaids and groomsmen walked past, the music made Jules think about her own wedding to Nick. She had never felt more beautiful than the day she married him. That day was everything she had ever dreamed of. She could still see Nick standing at the end of the long aisle, at the alter, waiting for her. He was so handsome and her heart still leaped at the memory, even now.

Nick barely noticed how tightly Brooke was clutching his arm, because he was too deep in thought about the way he felt on the day of his own wedding. He remembered it like it was yesterday. No one could have prepared him for what he would see behind the church doors. He knew she would be beautiful, but when those enormous wooden doors were pulled open and he saw her standing there at the top of the aisle, she actually took his breath away. She was stunning. She was even more beautiful than anything he could ever have imagined. Everything about her was angelic.

Nick's mouth fell open when he saw her and he felt Brian nudge him in the side.

"Your mouth just fell open, Nicky!" he whispered to his kid brother. "Close your mouth."

Nick quickly snapped his mouth closed but had to try hard to keep it from hanging back open. He couldn't help it. He was star struck. Seeing her in her gown, her long train flowing behind her and her face absolutely glowing under her veil, made him weak in the knees.

He could hardly stand it, as he stood at the end of the aisle waiting for her to take his hand, be his wife, and share his last name forever, Nick wondered what he did to deserve the angel heading toward him. He never thought he believed in love until he met her. He never thought loving anyone was worth the risk. But, from the minute he took her into his arms, he never wanted to let her go. He didn't want to ever live without her.

As the organ played the Wedding March in preparation for the bride, Jules inwardly smiled remembering how happy she was to become Mrs. Stokes. She remembered it like it was yesterday. She thought back to the way Warrick looked at her before the church doors opened.

"If you want to bail out, Baby Girl, now's the time," Warrick smirked.

"Not a chance, big brother, not a chance," she smirked back at him.

"You really are beautiful, ya know that?" he told her.

Jules smiled up at him.

"And I want you to know, I have always thanked God for sending you to me," Warrick's eyes brimmed a bit with tears.

"You have? I thought you always said I was a pest," she joked to lighten the mood.

"You were, but I absolutely loved you anyway," he smiled. "You and Nick…it's a good thing. I couldn't be happier. But just remember, Baby Girl…" he paused.

"What?" she whispered as the doors were about to open.

"I loved you first," he kissed her forehead and lowered her veil.

Before Jules could answer him, the large wooden doors were pulled opened by the usher, her best friend Brett, who was dressed sharply in a tuxedo. She could now see her bridesmaids smiling as they stood waiting at one side of the altar. Trista, the Maid of Honor, was first, followed by Natalie, Lynn, Laurie, and Tara. Jules eyes trailed over to the other side where Nick's Groomsmen stood proudly. Nick's brothers Brian, John, and Matt all stood by his side, along with his friend Michael Shipetelli and an empty space for Warrick to join in once he gave the bride away.

But it was when Jules spotted the groom that she felt her heart start to pound. There he stood looking back at her…waiting for her. As Nick stood patiently at the alter, she could see his eyes focused completely on her. As she watched him smile, Jules felt her lip quiver, not because she was sad or afraid, but because she had never been happier in her entire life and the emotions were nearly too intense to hold back. She tightened her grip on Warrick's hand and he whispered over to her that she was doing just fine.

With words of encouragement from her brother, Jules took a deep breath and began her walk down the aisle toward the man of her dreams.

Nick felt his palms sweating as she began walking down the aisle toward him. He was afraid he was only dreaming, so he closed his eyes for a minute and hoped she would still be there when he opened them again. She was. Except this time she was closer. He looked at Warrick who held his sister's arm tightly, and Warrick looked back at him. Nick knew it was hard for him to give away his "Baby Girl" but he was doing a fine job escorting her to him. Nick could never be more grateful.

Both Nick and Jules were startled out of their memories by the blaring organ declaring the Josh's bride's arrival. As everyone looked to the back of the church to see the bride enter, Jules looked to the front instead and locked eyes with Nick who was looking back at her. They smiled sweetly at each other as if they knew what the other was thinking. Jules mouthed a tender "I love you" and he gave her a loving wink in return.

They knew. They both were thinking about the day of their own wedding.

They both were remembering how they felt on the first day of the rest of their lives…