Marissa was putting the finish touches to her make-up and she caught herself staring at her own reflection in the dressing table mirror.

Her head was whirling about the wedding and her future with Bianca, and it didn't feel like she had stopped smiling all morning. She was so happy; and there was once a time she thought she would never be happy again.

On the dressing table a picture of Lydia and Roy, Marissa's adoptive parents. When they died she had been all alone in the world and that was how she thought she'd stay. Now she was surrounded by family. Marissa stroked the picture frame and wondered what her mom and dad would have made of today. She was sure her parents would love Bianca and her girls, but she wasn't sure that her mother would have approved of a wedding… Her dad though; she could imagining him proud and preening, calling her his pretty angel and making an excruciating father-of-the-bride speech...

Marissa blinked and drew her focus back to her reflection. As much as she missed them, she had a new family now, bigger than she ever dreamed; a mom, a dad, a brother and sisters, cousins... a son… and soon a wife and daughters too.

Over her shoulder, in the mirror's reflection, she could see Krystal and David busy in the background. Krystal was trying to persuade Jenny not to pull he flowers from her bridesmaid's bouquet. David was there with Leora, explaining the workings of her complicated wheelchair to Emma and Kathy. Leora was going to be a bridesmaid too. Marissa wasn't going to let any member of her family be left out of today. Family was too important after coming from a time when she had none.

The door pushed open and AJ entered, looking very grown up in his blue suit.

"Mom, the car is here." he said.

Marissa turned in her chair and smiled admiringly at her son.

"So are you ready, Best Man?" she asked, reaching out and tugging the front of his jacket straight. "Got the rings?"

AJ nodded and patted his pocket.

"You look beautiful, mom." he said and then smiling widely added. "I'm so happy!"

Marissa knew why. AJ so desperately wanted a family to call his own, after JR had hurt him so much. Now he would have a home, two parents, a sister he could really call his twin and a baby sister too... but that was to come later.

"I'm glad you're happy too." said Marissa. She brushed an imaginary speck of dust from her son's shoulder. "I can't believe how handsome you look. My son! You're growing up so fast! You're going to be a real heart-breaker one of these days."

"Mom." AJ said squirming, conscious of Emma, and Kathy watching and grinning. Yeah, he was defiantly growing up if he was worrying about girls.

Krystal cleared her throat to draw Marissa attention.

"Shall I get the kids to the car?" she asked.

"Yes please." said Marissa, turning her smile to at her mother. "And thank you for today."

Her relationship with Krystal had taken a lot of patching but they were now in a good place.

"I'm your mother…" said Krystal by way of explanation. "Thank you for letting me be…"

They hugged.

"I'm so glad you found your happy ending." Krystal whispered, kissing her daughter's cheek before shepherding AJ and the bridesmaids out of the room.

That left David.

"I'm glad you finally replied to my call." said Marissa. David had been so busy with his Orpheus research Marissa at first assumed he had forgotten all about her. Instead she found out that he was keeping his distance because he didn't think Marissa would want him involved in her wedding.

David swallowed visibly, displaying an unexpected emotional side.

"I never thought, after everything, that you would ask me here, let alone ask me to give you away."

Marissa sighed.

"I know we don't always understand each other but today is all about family. You are my father." she said, stepping close to take him by the hand. "And you saved Bianca's life! Not once but twice. Without you I wouldn't have her. I can't think of more qualified person."

…