Epilogue Part 3

Dorothy Lynley looked around in the marquee that was standing in the front garden of Howenstowe. Everybody seemed to enjoy the party especially after Tommy and Barbara opened the dance with a perfect waltz.

Now the dance floor was full and after dancing with both of her sons Dorothy was longing to sit down for a little while.

She had just found a chair at a table in the back of the marquee when she heard a voice being directed at her. Sighing she let herself in to the inevitable: a conversation or better say monologue with Aunt Lavinia.

"Ah, there you are Dorothy, dear! This is really a lovely wedding. At least we are invited this time. I must say I was a bit sceptical about an outside location but it was a really nice ceremony up on that hill.

I also had tears in my eyes after the vows and this lovely girl singing "You raise me up". Who was that by the way. She is just over there dancing with this long nearly bold guy?"

"She is the wife of a colleague of Tommy and Barbara and also a friend", Dorothy was able to put in before Aunt Lavinia got on: "Oh yes! That was really an emotional moment when the singing started and they kissed. At least this time this boy of yours has found the right woman. She seems to be capable of handling him. I already thought so years ago at his first engagement party here. He already seemed to be more at ease with her than with his bride-to-be then."

Lady Asherton couldn´t believe what she was hearing, Aunt Lavinia had always been quite traditional and old-fashioned but it also looked like she had the eyes of a hawk and a sharper mind as she had given her credit for.

"They are really a lovely couple. Look how they are dancing together. And your mother´s dress just fits that girl so well."

"You noticed it is her dress?" Dorothy put in when Aunt Lavinia took a sip of her champagne.

"Sure I noticed it. I was there when my sister married! It was a wonderful dress then and seeing it now it still is. Oh look, Lord and Lady Lindsay are over there. I really have to say "hello" to them."

And with that Aunt Lavinia left a totally stunned Dorothy.

"Mother, you look like you´ve been hit by a truck;" Judith came over to her mother. Dorothy laughed: "No, not a truck but Aunt Lavinia!"

"That explains everything. Glad you survived. Isn´t this a wonderful evening? Everything goes to plan and well so far. Oh, and look at Tommy. I can´t remember when I last saw him so carefree. Barbara is doing him so good."

Judith put her arms around her mother´s shoulders and squeezed her. Putting her hand on Judith` Dorothy squeezed back and looking around seeing all her children enjoying themselves she also just enjoyed the moment and thanked God that she had her family back.

On the dance floor Sam had just managed to dance with Barbara while Tommy was dancing with Cordia. Stuart and Winston were standing at the bar enjoying the view and a little break from dancing.

When the music stopped in silent agreement Sam, Cordia and Tommy went up to the pedestal where the musicians were sitting leaving a confused looking Barbara on the dance floor.

Tommy took the microphone:

"Dear family, friends and guests, don't worry this is not going to be a long speech. When Barbara and I got together she sang a song for me to tell me she loves me. I would like to return this favour now but knowing I cannot sing myself I asked our dear friend Cordia to do the singing as firstly you really don´t want to hear me sing and secondly and more important I want to dance with my beautiful wife to this song I choose to tell her how much I love her!"

With that Tommy handed Cordia the mic, smiled at Sam who had his guitar now and went down to Barbara. The moment he took her in his arms Cordia started singing Bonnie Tyler´s "All I ever wanted".

Dancing slowly in an embrace Barbara smiled up at Tommy with tears in her eyes. They were so lost in each other, they didn´t noticed that no one else was dancing but only standing in a circle around them mesmerized by the love that sparkled between the bridal couple.

When the song ended everyone was applauding bringing Barbara and Tommy back to the here and now.

It was 4 am when the last guests had left. As Tommy had wanted to have the house for his wedding night for Barbara and him alone they had booked all the guests into a nearby hotel this time. Even his mother and Judith were spending the night there.

So being alone now Tommy came over to Barbara and lifted her up: "Here we go, as you know it is tradition for the bride groom to carry the bride across the threshold and that´s what I am doing now."

Barbara giggled while he carried her up the stairs to their bedroom and Tommy asked: "How about the bride´s tradition? You know: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue!"

"Oh that, seeing I´m a practical girl I did it with two things only. The dress is old and borrowed and thanks to your sister I have a new and blue garter," was Barbara´s answer smiling widely at Tommy.

Entering the room now Tommy stopped looking unbelievingly at his wife: "You´re wearing a garter under this dress? Good I didn´t know before, I would have carried you up earlier!"

He carried her on to the bed and lowered her down there kissing her.

"Ouch! Sorry Tommy but I have to get the hairpins out Judith had so expertly drilled into my head," with that Barbara got up, went over to the dressing table and started getting the hairpins out smiling at Tommy through the mirror.

Smiling back Tommy watched her undoing her hair which were a tousled mess of curls when she was ready. He came up behind her putting his hand on her shoulders: "Do you know how beautiful you are, Kara?" Barbara turned to face him and knowing that this was the right time she asked: "Do you remember that I promised you a present this morning when I got mine?" She got up and went to a drawer to get a package out. It was wrapped and quite misshapen.

She mentioned Tommy to sit down on the bed, sat down beside him and handed it over to him. He could see that she was a bit nervous.

Not having a clue at all what was in it Tommy started unwrapping it. Out came a piece of cloth with straps and buckles on it. Looking questioningly at Barbara Tommy asked: "What is this?" He turned it over and over again. Taking a deep breath and smiling a bit unsure of his reaction at him Barbara answered: "It´s a baby carrier."

It only took a few seconds for Tommy to let it sink in. "You´re pregnant?!" he half asked half stated and when Barbara just nodded he let the carrier fall and took her in his arms. It felt so different to when Helen had told him. Then it had felt like a duty for her and also for him and he feared he wasn´t ready for a child. Now he only felt joy that this child would be part of Barbara and him. "Since when do you know?" he asked lifting her up to this lap now to cuddle her nearer.

"Since last week. I had this feeling that it could be and while I had my regular check-up last Wednesday the doc confirmed it. It´s just six weeks now so we should keep it to us for a few more week, okay?" was her cautious suggestion putting her arms around Tommy´s neck and looking him straight into the eyes.

"That´s a good idea, I don´t want to share it already with the family, they will all start to fuss soon enough. You don´t know how happy you make me, Kara! We are going to be a real family now and this house will be filled with love and laughter again." Seeing in his wonderful brown eyes which were an open book to her that he really meant it her green eyes started to sparkle with love again when he lowered her carefully to the bed being more than happy that they had the house for themselves tonight!

The END!

A/N: Okay, this is now really the end of this (my) story! If you don´t know the song "All I Ever Wanted" please check it out as I think it is just perfect for this two!

Now I would like to thank you all for reading, reviewing, pm-ing and helping me along this journey I took and enjoyed with the storyline. Thanks to all of you it came out different as planned, but I think in a good way different!

It´s for sure not my one and only story, I have already a new idea but that needs to be thought through and sorted out for a bit and I also have to finish my other pending story first!