Jess walked slowly down the aisle, grinning straight to the front as she went and walked in time with the beating of the music. Cliff held his head proud and looked onwards to whilst Hannah remained concentrating on keeping Jess' trail clean from the red carpet she was walking down. Danny nudged Don in the arm and he nodded at him and Don gulped before turning around to see Jess gliding gracefully down the aisle towards him. His tongue caught in his throat as he watched her smile back to him and the congregation all remained silent with smiles on their faces. It wasn't a large do but only the team, some of Don's family and some of Jess' family. When Jess finally reached the front, she allowed Don to swiftly bend down and kiss her on the cheek.
"You look amazing" he told her and she just continued smiling before Cliff nodded at him once and they turned around and prepared to become husband and wife. Hannah allowed Jess' train to fall to the floor before moving to the front bench to sit beside Mark he grasped onto her hand and squeezed it tightly for the girl was shaking slightly after having to walk down the aisle without messing up. As the vicar spoke, the congregation watched on and then when the vows came Don managed to get through them although Jess did stutter a little and laughed lightly as she spoke, over whelmed with joy. Hannah was the first to stand up and clap as the couple took their first kiss as husband and wife and then she felt a tear fall down her eye. She was happy for her dad but she also felt some form of sadness. She didn't know why and she didn't want to. Don grinned brightly as he led Jess back down the aisle, kissing Hannah swiftly on the cheek as he went, Jess even kissed the girl on the cheek too and then they left for the cars to be taken back to the reception at the hotel.
"Mrs Flack" she sighed when they were driving off. She shook her head in disbelief and allowed Don to kiss her again.
"How does it feel?" he asked her
"It's perfect Don...everything is so perfect it is unreal..." she cooed
"This is how it should be Jess" he said "this is one of the happiest days of my life"
"I think it has to be the happiest of mine" she laughed "did you see Hannah though? Poor girl was shaking like a leaf"
"I did think she was a little nervous but I imagine that is to be expected...she looked beautiful today" he smiled at the memory of his little girl kissing him before he married Jess "but...you outshone her"
"I think for this one day I am allowed to outshine her youthful elegance" Jess nudged him
"You're beautiful everyday Jess...and I have to say I am relieved Danny didn't forget the rings" Don chuckled
"I'd not be too relieved yet...he hasn't done his speech"
...
"I've got it" Hannah assured Jess as she helped her carry her train from the car.
"Everyone is sat at their tables and waiting" Mark came out and informed Don, Hannah and Jess.
"Good" Don said and he took Jess' hand as they began walking to the main door of the hotel. Hannah walked with the trail stuck in her hands and Mark dropped back to walk beside her. Don and Jess saw Danny stood near an open door with a glass in his hands and he winked once at them before speaking to the people in the room;
"And now, I proudly introduce you to Mr and Mrs Flack" he called and claps echoed the cream coloured room as the couple walked in and smiled at everyone. Don shook hands quickly with Danny and Jess kissed him on the cheek;
"Congratulations for not losing the rings Messer" she joked with him and he saluted her before they went to the long table at the end of the room whilst everyone remained sat around circular tables. Don and Jess sat next to each other, Cliff and Mrs Angell were to Jess' side and Hannah and Mark were to Don's side. Speeches came and went and Danny managed to embarrass Don ridiculously with his tales of his life and Cliff then managed to praise him adoringly. Don even made a simple speech, thanking his daughter for everything and thanking Jess for sticking by him through thick and thin. The meal was simple and before they knew it, the first dance had approached them. Don took Jess' hand and led her to the wooden raised dance floor. Mark and Hannah stood to the side along with everyone else, their arms wrapped around each other as they watched. Strangely enough, they didn't have a first song but instead the music just flowed from a piano slowly. Jess didn't want to pick a song for she had no idea where to begin for a first dance and so they just found themselves dancing to wordless music.
"You get the feeling everyone is watching us?" Jess whispered into Don's ear whilst her head remained on his shoulder. He chuckled deeply and allowed a small peek at the congregation.
"I think you could be right...although I am sure they're watching you and not me" he complimented her again
"You're chat up lines never cease to amaze me" she laughed lightly
"It wasn't a line" he smiled back to her "it was the truth" and then they kissed again. After the first dance, over couples took to the floor as the music sped up and they were able to dance.
"You think this will be us one day?" Mark asked Hannah as he held her close to him and they danced. Hannah saw Don and Jess stood talking to Jess' parents as she looked up at Mark.
"I don't see why not" she blinked several times
"And when I say one day...is it something you'd want to do young or not?" he sweated and Hannah stopped moving with him
"Mark...marriage is something we can't take lightly...and...at the moment I don't want it" she said "I know my dad was eighteen when he married my mother but...I'm not saying I don't love you Mark...we're still young and we have time to settle down" she observed and he nodded before pulling her back to him;
"You're right...it's just that I love you Hannah"
"And I know that...but we don't need rings and a certificate at the moment to prove it"
"Is that what you think marriage is?" he asked her and she sighed
"No...I think it is about two people showing their love for each other but effectively it is a certificate and rings...can we drop it Mark?" she pleaded and he nodded;
"If you want to" he said and then was prodded on the shoulder. He turned around to see Don and Jess stood staring at him;
"Mind if I dance with my daughter?" Don asked. Mark handed Hannah's hand to Don and Jess smiled;
"Come on Mark...you can't leave a lady stood here alone" she said to him and then began to dance with him. The teen was nervous at first, wondering where to rest his hands on Don's wife but he soon relaxed after Jess made him feel more at ease. Don held one of Hannah's hands in his own and the other he rested onto her waist whilst she placed hers onto his back.
"So how you doing baby?" he asked
"Fine I guess...tired...but...it's been a good day" she said
"It has" he agreed with her "and you look really pretty sweetheart"
"You don't scrub up too bad yourself" she joked with him and he twirled her under his arm slowly;
"Funny baby" he said sarcastically "but you're alright with this, right?"
"Dad" Hannah complained "if I wasn't I wouldn't have helped you...I wouldn't have been Jess' maid of honour...I would have made her life hell"
"Okay, okay" he laughed "I get it...you're fine with it all"
"More than fine dad" she promised "I'll miss you when you go on the honeymoon though"
"It's only for a week" he said "and you I thought you said Mark was going round?"
"He is...but I'll still miss you"
"And I'll miss you too sweetie" he kissed her on top of her head
"Anyway, you'd best get back to Jess" Hannah told her dad when she the song ended and she saw her boyfriend in hysterics as he danced with Jess and guided her round the room.
"I best do before your boyfriend ends up on the floor hyperventilating" Don grinned and Hannah hit him lightly on the arm before going back to the couple.