The bride, who was normally an early riser, was still lying in bed at 8 o'clock. Toni had never been one to sleep late but that morning she lay thinking. From that afternoon everything would be different. The thought of it made her both nervous and excited. She looked at the photograph of Jason on the dresser. From tomorrow instead of waking and looking at his photograph she'd be looking at him every morning.

She was surprised when she heard a knock at the door. The Baldwin ladies normally slept late. It wasn't like they had much else to do with their day. But in they appeared with breakfast on a tray.

"Good morning Antoinette," they sang, standing at the bottom of the bed. Miss Mamie placed the tray of bacon and eggs on top of the cabinet and the two old ladies smiled at their boarder.

"Did you sleep well dear?" Miss Mamie asked.

"I did. Thank you," Toni said, sitting up in the bed.

"Time for your big day. I've always loved weddings," Miss Emily said airily. "I always dreamed of my own. Ashley and I would have had a summer wedding. In the garden." Toni smiled at the old spinster who began to talk about her imaginings.

"Now Emily," Miss Mamie half scolded her sister, uninterested in her romantic thoughts. "We'll leave you to eat. Call if you need anything."

"I will. Thank you," Toni smiled. The pair had been so good to her, allowing her to stay in their house, letting her take her music lessons there. She didn't deserve it; they'd hardly known her when they agreed to it.

When the ladies exited again Toni got up. She walked over to the tray and took a sip of orange juice, but didn't think her stomach could handle food. After four weeks of morning sickness she was used to the feeling of nausea first thing and could usually get past it. This morning however her stomach was full of nervous butterflies. She decided she preferred the baby's morning sickness.

She moved to the wardrobe and opened it; the dress hung there alone. She'd packed away all of the rest of her clothes,bar one skirt and blouse, and most had already been moved to the Walton house.

Her fingers touched the delicate lace sleeves and she smiled to herself. The last week had been such a whirlwind she'd hardly looked at the dress. And now today was the day she would wear it.

She hadn't been like other girls growing up, imagining their weddings and future husbands. It wasn't her thing. For a while she wasn't even sure if she wanted to marry. And then came the war and most of the young male population had joined up. And then she'd entered the service and on the first day at Camp Rockfish she just nearly ran over Sergeant Jason Walton; who was not going to take no for an answer. And she was extremely glad of that.

She was engrossed in her thoughts longer than she realised, as there was soon a knock at the door which opened to reveal two of her future sister in laws, ready to help her get ready.

As Cindy guided Virginia to her seat in the back of the church, she couldn't help but smile. Despite the couple's request for a small wedding, every seat was filled with friends and family who eagerly came to witness their special day. The only empty seats were the two rows reserved for immediate family at the front. News of the wedding had spread quickly throughout the county, prompting inquiries from old schoolmates, college friends, and even young men who had served in the military with Jason.

Toni would be surprised by the number of friends she had made since arriving on the Mountain. Her music students and their families all showed up to support her on this momentous occasion. In a side room of the church, Jason stood alongside his younger brothers and father. He felt a sense of calm as he watched the clock slowly inch towards one o'clock. Thoughts of Toni flooded his mind, wondering how she was feeling in this moment. Erin had assured him that she was doing well when she returned to their house to change into her dress.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jim Bob asked with a sly grin. "It's not too late to change your mind."

Laughing, Jason reassured him, "I'm good, Jim Bob."

"Your tie is crooked," Ben chimed in with a frown. Jason looked in the mirror and saw that his tie was indeed messy and untidy. Lost in his own thoughts and nerves, he hadn't paid much attention to dressing himself properly.

"Let me fix it for you," John said kindly as he stepped forward. He straightened out the tie and smoothed down some stray hairs on his son's head. "There, now you look perfect."

"Thank you, Daddy," Jason replied gratefully.

"Ready?" Ben asked. Jason nodded, knowing it was time to make his way to the altar. Reverend Marshall was standing there waiting and the congregation went quiet when the Walton men appeared. John and Jim Bob took their seats beside Grandma, Mary Ellen, Erin and Elizabeth, while Ben stood just behind Jason on the altar.

Ben nodded to Cindy who sent Virginia, as flower girl, and John Curtis, as ring bearer, up the aisle.

The congregation whispered with admiration at how sweet and angelic the two children looked, adorned in their special outfits for this momentous occasion. With a heart full of pride, Jason watched as his young niece and nephew made their way towards him. He couldn't help but smile as they reached the top of the aisle and hugged him tightly before taking their seats with beaming faces. As they sat the organ's music changed to the wedding march and the back door of the church opened. All eyes turned to the open doorway as the bride appeared.

The butterflies that had been fluttering in her stomach all morning seemed to subside as she locked eyes with Jason and began her slow journey towards him. When she finally reached him at the altar, he extended his hand and she grasped it firmly after passing off her flowers to Erin.

Jason felt his throat tighten with emotions as he tried to whisper a greeting but he was unable to find the right words to express how he felt in that moment. She'd left him speechless.

He held her hands in his, only hoping that she understood how he was feeling. For the past two years this moment had been in both of their thoughts and now it was becoming a reality. Tom began the ceremony but the words faded into the background for the couple. They might as well have been the only people in the church up until the Reverend pronounced them man and wife and gave the opportunity to kiss the bride - which Jason and Antoinette Walton did very willingly.