A/N: Here we go, as you can see from the chapter title there will be more than one part, guess it will be two or three as somehow it came out this way during writing. First I thought I would post this as an own story but now after having written most of it, it felt right to put it up as the end of my story.

Barbara was standing in Judith´s room at Howenstowe looking at herself in the mirror.

She liked what she saw: the dress might look a bit old fashioned but its simple elegance suited her.

It was only ankle long without a gown train (luckily so she wouldn´t stumble) but of quite exquisite lace.

Her engagement ring was catching the sunlight. It was a small silver ring with Celtic symbols and an emerald on it. Tommy had bought it in a little jeweller´s shop in Marazion and she got the matching bracelet for Christmas and the earrings for her birthday.

Enjoying the probably last moments she would have to herself today she was again amazed what a turn her life had taken the last year.

It was exactly one year to the day that Tommy had proposed to her. It had been their first visit to Howenstowe as a couple and as he went riding she took a walk through the gardens finding this beautiful spot on a little hill from where you could see the house but also the sea. It was quite stormy but the sun painted everything in such beautiful colours and she could hear the cracking of the waves she instantly fell in love with the place. She laid herself in the wind hairs flying feeling totally free.

That was when Tommy found her there and proposed putting this lovely ring on her finger.

From that moment until now the time had just flown by and now they were getting married.

After he proposed they went back to the house to tell his mother and Judith who both were delighted for them and killed the last doubts Barbara still had.

They spent the next days at Howenstowe talking a lot, okay not only talking.

But they were both realistic enough to know there would be problems they had to face but as Tommy said: "As long as we love and have each other and stay true to us we will conquer everything!"

And they did through this year.

They knew that Tommy had to spend more time at Howenstowe having a new Estate manager so they spend more weekends there not only Christmas and Easter.

At work Tommy and she had talked to Hillier after they got back and both went for promotion knowing that it would mean not working together anymore the way they had but going home together in the evenings was much better knowing there would come a time when Tommy had to take over the Estate completely. Most likely they would do that if they ever got children. That was another point they had agreed on.

She didn´t know how it happened but since his proposal she felt more sure of the whole thing and whenever there were doubts one of her guys Tommy, Sam or Stuart had destroyed them immediately.

Dorothy and Judith had been helpful too with their support.

Barbara thought back to last Christmas. When she had been totally desperate realizing that she needed a proper dress and everything, Dorothy had taken her to an old wardrobe in the attic and got this perfect dress out. She forced Barbara to try it on and it fitted perfectly. Dorothy smiled when she saw Barbara´s face first totally unbelieving and then a smile spread over it that made her only more beautiful.

"Okay, I guess the problem is solved. The moment you said you didn´t know what would be suitable I had to think about this. It was Tommy´s grandmother´s dress. Judith and I were both too tall to wear it but it´s just perfect for you."

Barbara had turned with tears in her eyes and hugged Dorothy whispering her thank you. It had been the first time that a hug came from her and her relationship with Tommy´s mother had deepened from that moment on. Dorothy had returned the hug and said also with tears in her eyes: "I have to thanks you, my dear girl, you brought me my son back!"

Touching her bracelet with the medallion now Barbara thought that it had been the happiest Christmas she ever had since her brother died and that the next would be hopefully the same.

She was still a bit proud of her present she had for Tommy. Whenever they spent the weekends at Howenstowe Tommy went for a ride in the morning. Barbara had made it her habit to get up with him saw him off at the stables and went for a walk on the cliffs then mostly in the company of Dorothy´s dogs.

She enjoyed that very much but now she remembered the unbelieving and then beaming face of Tommy when they came to the stables on Christmas morning and two horses were waiting there. Thanks to Judith and Sam´s daughter Faith Barbara had learned to ride without Tommy noticing.

She would never be a very skilled rider but she was able to go on a ride with Tommy in the mornings now which had become one of the best parts of the days when they were down here.

They just had their last ride as not being married this morning. It was then that Tommy gave her the matching medallion to her bracelet as wedding gift. Opening it she found two pictures in it: one of Tommy and one of Terry. It made her cry but also absolutely happy. After getting herself together again after a few minutes and thanking Tommy properly she told him that he would get his gift later when they were alone again. Now she really hoped he would love it.

The door opened and Judith came back with Dorothy. "Oh, Barbara, you look so beautiful, my girl! The dress is just perfect and Judith you have done great with the hair, it fits beautifully. You were absolutely right that she shouldn´t wear a veil the roses are much more suitable."

Looking back in the mirror Barbara smiled. Judith had curled her hair and put it up loosely with only some real white roses in it. Also some of the curls had found their way out of the original hair-do already making it look just the right bit untidy and very Barbara-like.

Dorothy came up behind her touching her shoulder: "We should go now, I´m sure you won´t let Tommy wait too long thinking you backed off, don´t you? Oh, and there is one more thing: I know you planned to walk up the so-called aisle alone but would you give me the honour to take you to my son? I would like to show them all that I just not only live with Tommy´s choice but that I approve and am more than delighted with you, love!"

Barbara felt tears coming up her eyes and again she could only hug Dorothy while Judith rolled her eyes: "Now you did it, Mother! Don´t make her cry, it will ruin the little make-up she allowed me to put on! Come on girls, one last little sip of Champagne and off we go!"

With that Judith handed them both a glass and toasted to them and then they were on their way.