"Grandpa! Do I really have to walk down the aisle with a girl?!" Nicky pouted.
Tony, Jonathan, and Hank laughed.
"Hey come on pal. It won't be that bad. She's a very cute girl." Tony informed him.
Nicky folded his arms across his chest. "She's still a girl. I want to walk with a puppy!"
Hank knelt down. "Hey buddy it will be okay. And just remember Grandma and Grandpa are counting on you."
"We sure are." Tony ruffled his hair.
"Okay, but if she tries to hold my hand I'm leaving!"
"If you say so!" Jonathan laughed.
"Okay, let's go walk around for a while. I think we could use the exercise." Hank said and stood up. "Do you want to come along?" He asked Tony and Jonathan.
"Actually, I would like to speak to Tony for a moment alone." Jonathan said.
"Okay, come on Nicky." Hank held out his hand and Nicky slipped his hand into his.
"I can't believe this, Nicky! You'll hold your dad's hand and not a cute girl's?!" Hank teased him.
"DADDY!" Nicky groaned as they left the room.
Tony laughed and closed the door behind them.
"So what's on your mind?" Tony asked Jonathan.
"Well I just wanted to tell you how happy I am that you're finally marrying my Mom."
"Yeah finally!" Tony laughed.
Jonathan smiled. "Yeah, I mean I have wanted this for so long. And to tell you the truth I never thought it would ever happen."
"Yeah, me either." Tony walked over and sat down in one of the chairs and Jonathan followed and did the same.
"It was just that we had so many hits and misses over the years." Tony said.
"Yeah, but all that is over now. In just a little while you and Mom will be married."
Tony smiled. "Yeah, we will be and I can't wait!"
"And neither can half of Fairfield!"
Tony rolled his eyes. "Okay wise guy."
Jonathan laughed and stood up. "Okay, we better go outside now and make sure everything is ready."
"You go on ahead. I'll be there in a few moments."
Jonathan nodded and left the room.
Tony walked over to the full length mirror and studded himself. His white tuxedo fit him like a glove. He smiled and took a deep breath.
"Okay you are about to marry the woman of your dreams. Finally!" He chuckled. "And yes it did take a long time to get to this point but the only important thing is that you are here." He straightened his bow tie and with one last look gave himself a final pep talk:
"Okay then let's hit it! Let's move it! Let's do it!" He pumped his fist in the air and strode confidently out the door.
#################################################################
"Nicky, this is Lily." Sam introduced them.
'Hi." Nicky said grumpily.
"And this is Lily's Mommy Christy. She's Grandma Angela's cousin."
Lily took one look at Nicky and tugged on Christy's dress.
'What is it honey?"
"Do I have to walk down the aisle with him?"
"Yes, honey. We already talked about this. You are the flower girl and Nicky is the ring bearer."
Lily sighed and looked at Nicky. "Just don't try and hold my hand!"
"You either!"
Sam, Hank, and Christy all laughed.
"Okay, now that we have that all settled. I think Christy and I should go find our seats." Hank said.
"Sounds like a good idea." Sam said. They gave each other a quick peck and Hank and Christy walked outside where the ceremony was taking place.
The seats were filled with family and friends all engaged in various situations:
Aunt Rosa and Mrs. Rossini were huddled together crying and cursing Tony at the same time for waiting so long to marry Angela.
Archie, Cornelius, Lyle, and Christy sat together catching up on each other's lives.
Al, Pee Wee, and Joey were taking bets over who was going to cry first: Tony or Angela.
Maurizio, Anna, and Laura were getting acquainted with Candy, Rosie, Ned, and Dr. Graham.
Bonnie, Marci, Julia, Robin, Charlie, Billy, and Mason were all swapping stories about their times at the Bower-Micelli household.
Ralph and Herb sat together neither one of them saying a word.
Joe, Fran, Hank, and Claire were admiring the work the ladies had done. The gazebo they were getting married in was adorned with mountain laurel flowers wrapped around the posts. The chairs were all white with emerald green cushions.
The Dream tones were a few feet away all ready to go with the song Tony and Angela had chosen. They had decided to forgo the usual wedding march song and had instead decided to go with YOU SEND ME. They had gone back and forth many times until they both agreed that would be the song Angela walked down the aisle to. "Now I find myself wanting to marry you and take you home" Tony had sung to her various times over the past few months. Angela had just laughed and threw her arms around him.
Up in the gazebo Tony, Jonathan, Eddie, Paul, and Philly were all standing around talking waiting for the ceremony to begin.
"So okay Tony, it's almost showtime!" Philly teased him
"Yes, it is and I can't wait!"
"Well I can't either. I have to say Tony when you asked me to officiate I nearly fell out of my chair."
"You?! When Tony told us he asked you we were so dumbfounded we could barely speak!" Eddie laughed.
Tony shook his head and put his arm around Mickey's shoulder. 'Hey, now that was a long time ago. Mickey, I mean Father Mickey and I are past that."
"Yes, we are. But, uh wait a minute. You don't have any alka seltzer on you?" Mickey snickered.
Tony rolled his eyes. "No, I don't!"
The others laughed.
"All right, seriously Tony, we are all happy for you and Angela" Paul patted him on the shoulder.
"Yeah, we are." Philly said.
"Thanks."
"All right it's just about time." Jonathan said.
"Okay let's get into place guys." Mickey said.
Tony stood next to him followed by Jonathan, then Paul, Eddie, and Philly.
Mickey signaled for the Dream tones to begin.
Tony looked down the aisle and took a deep breath…..
###############################################
"Okay Angela! Are you ready?" Emily asked
" I can't believe this!" Angela started crying.
"Hey enough of that! No one is around to do your makeup!" Isabelle laughed.
"Okay, you're right."
Sam took a tissue and gently wiped the tears away being careful not to smudge any of her makeup.
"Okay, you're all set."
"Thanks sweetheart." Angela smiled.
"You're welcome."
Audrey and Renata came over with their cameras.
"How about I get a few pictures?" Audrey asked.
"Hey that sounds good!" Mona exclaimed. Audrey took various photos of the ladies while Renata waited with her video camera for them to start walking down the aisle.
"Okay, I think that's a good start. I'll take some more when you're up at the altar." Audrey told Angela.
"Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome." She walked outside and up to the gazebo.
They heard the opening melody of YOU SEND ME.
"I guess that's my cue!" Angela smiled.
The other ladies smiled and got into their positions.
Renata started filming them walking down the aisle. Lily and Nicky went first, both making sure the other didn't try to hold their hand. Lily threw pink rose petals on the ground while Nicky carried the pillow with the rings. Wendy, Emily, and Isabelle followed soon after. Sam was next and walked down the aisle with a huge smile on her face. She caught Hank's eye and he winked at her. She smiled back and then looked up at the gazebo where her Dad was waiting. His face was a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She walked up the gazebo and walked over to him.
"You look great Dad!" She kissed him on the cheek.
"Thanks Honey. You look pretty nice yourself!" He said but his eyes didn't even look at her. Instead he was looking down the aisle. Sam and Jonathan exchanged amused glances and Sam took her place next to Isabelle. After a few moments Mona and Angela began their walk down the aisle. Everyone stood up. The ladies who hadn't yet seen Angela in her wedding gown all gasped and murmured how beautiful she looked.
Tony meanwhile was left breathless. She was a vision. Her hair was up in a French twist and her off the shoulder cream colored gown was a beautiful contrast to her warm rosy skin. After what seemed like an eternity they finally reached the gazebo and they climbed up the stairs. Mona walked Angela over to Tony and placed her hand in his.
"Okay you two. There's no turning back now!"
"Oh believe me. There is no going back for us. Only forward." Tony smiled and lifted Angela's hand to his lips.
"Hey! There will be no kissing until I pronounce you husband and wife!" Mickey laughed.
Everyone else laughed and took their seat.
"You look pretty Grandma!" Nicky yelled.
Tony turned to him. "Hey Buddy, are you trying to steal Grandpa's girl?"
'Well he is better looking than you are!" Philly said to the amusement of everyone.
"Hardy Har Har!"
Angela chuckled and leaned down and kissed Nicky on top of the head,
"So shall we begin?" Mickey asked.
Tony and Angela clasped their hands together and nodded.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…"
As she was making her way down the aisle Angela couldn't help but think of another time she had walked down another path. The path that had led them here…