Erin looked over at him anxiously. Molly had been so good at helping her get ready for the wedding, and making certain that they arrived on time, but now that they were at the venue, it seemed like everything was conspiring against them as a family. Sean had been wonderful in introducing them to his soon to be wife, and she had been entirely lovely. It seemed like her and Erin would get along quite well, which had made him feel a little more at ease. That peace had lasted until the moment his mother had arrived, and immediately thrust herself into the middle of their conversation, monopolizing Miranda's time and attention whilst pushing him and Erin away.

Molly had tried to protest, but Erin had been quick in shutting that down. "I do not want to cause a scene at this wedding, Molly. We always knew that Mrs. Hotchner would be like this, and there's no point in raising our voices when she hasn't done anything to truly hurt us yet. Okay?"

"Fine, Mom," she said as she took hold of Erin's hand. "Uncle Sean, where are we going to sit again?"

"Family is in the two front pews on either side of the sanctuary. Miranda and I didn't want to assign seating, because we truly feel like we want our two families to become one today. So, just head to the front and seat yourself."

Sean leaned in and hugged Erin tightly before doing the same to Jack and Molly. This seemed to catch their mother's attention, as she turned her head and glared at the five of them. Sean shook his head quickly, trying to stop the tantrum that they both knew was coming. "We'll go find a seat then, Sean." Erin gave him a tender smile before turning and leading Molly and Jack down the aisle. Aaron stayed behind for a moment, knowing that his mother would be certain to say something unless he did.

"Who is that pregnant hussy acting like she belongs in my family?"

"That would be my new wife, Mother. And I'll thank you not to say anything that might upset her today, as our pregnancy is extremely high risk and I do not want anything to happen to her as a result of you being you."

"How dare you talk to your mother like that, Aaron! I did not raise you to be like this! At least try to follow the example of your little brother and be a polite gentleman."

He cleared his throat as he tightened his shoulders, giving his mother a cold look. "Again, I reiterate. Be on your best behavior today, and you might have the opportunity to meet your grandson before we head back to Sean's for the night."

"I'll meet Jackson regardless of what you might say, Aaron. As his grandmother, I am entitled to certain rights."

Aaron let out a scoffing laugh as he shook his head. "You are entitled to nothing, Mother. And do not sit next to us for the ceremony. Sean, I'll see you and Miranda afterwards."

"Of course, Aaron." His brother gave him an understanding look, and Aaron let out a long breath as he turned on his heel and made his way to where his family was starting to sit down. It seemed like Molly had chosen to sit near another family, one that had a daughter around the same age as Jack, and he grinned a little as he took his place next to Erin.

"Aaron! This is Miranda's sister, Melissa, and her brother-in-law, Damon." Erin smiled widely, and he could tell that she was feeling a little more at ease with everything. Aaron nodded as he shook their hands, and then the other guests started to file into the sanctuary. Exactly at three, Sean came up to the front of the sanctuary, and he smiled at his brother as the ceremony got under way. Aaron could feel eyes almost boring holes into their backs, and he knew that Erin felt the same sensation, as she scooted closer and closer to his side as the ceremony went on.

Soon enough, the pastor was announcing the newly married couple, and all the guests rose to their feet as Sean and Miranda started down the aisle towards the narthex. It had been a while since he had attended a traditional wedding service, and Aaron wondered what the protocol was for exiting, since he didn't want to seem too eager to leave. As if there was some unspoken cue, however, the first pew on the other side of the aisle began to file from the sanctuary, and Aaron waited for the last person to move past him before he stepped into the aisle himself and took hold of Erin's hand as they followed the other guests out.

"Aaron! Aren't you going to introduce me to your wife?"

He stiffened at the sound of his mother's voice and turned to look at her, hoping there was at least a somewhat neutral expression on his face as he pulled Erin a little closer to him. She tried to melt into his body, her hand coming to rest on his chest as she dug the pads of her fingers into the meat of one pectoral muscle. "Of course, Mother. This is Erin Hotchner, my lovely and loving wife."

He watched his mother give Erin a long, slow, look up and down. From the tight expression on her face, Aaron knew that she had already found Erin lacking in some way, and he braced himself for the next words from her lips. "Isn't she a bit toothsome to be having a baby?"

"This is a miracle baby, Mrs. Hothcher. Jack prayed for a baby sister shortly after we were engaged, and it appears as if God has answered that prayer with a resounding yes."

His mother gave a little sniff of derision and opened her mouth as if to say something more when Damon came to their rescue, leading his mother away as he engaged her in conversation about something. Aaron was grateful for the distraction, and it was then that he noticed Melissa had pulled Jack and Molly away from the confrontation. "Sean picked a great family to marry into," he whispered in Erin's ear, and she gave him a small nod before nuzzling her cheek against his chest.

"The reception is actually going to be held in hall attached to the church, Aaron. Miranda thought it would be easier on our guests to not have to travel between the ceremony and reception. And this helped us keep costs down so that we could have a better honeymoon."

"A month in Italy is definitely better than what I got," Erin teased as they started to make their way down to the hall.

"Do I have to have a discussion with my brother about how to treat the woman he loves?" Sean teased right back, and Erin shook her head. "Good. Aaron is treating you all right, yes?"

"I could not ask for a better husband or friend. He saw the tender heart that was buried in my chest for far too long and gently coaxed that heart back to the forefront of my self."

Sean nodded as he clapped Aaron on the shoulder. "It's good to hear that my brother doesn't have such a stick up his ass any longer." Erin burst into a fit of giggles as they reached the hall, and Sean laughed right along with her. "Now, I couldn't get you a seat at the main table, since that's reserved for the wedding party, but Miranda did seat you at the first table. Away from Mom."

"Please don't tell me that you put her in the back of the hall," Aaron said as they followed Sean up to their seats, and his brother shook his head. "Thank God. I can only imagine the fuss that she would kick up if she thought she was being snubbed by you and Miranda."

"That was exactly why we did it. That also means she's sitting with Miranda's grandmother, who might just be more cantankerous than Mom is, but in a better way. If you know what I mean?"

"I think that I do, Sean. And that was the perfect way to handle her." Aaron watched as his family took their seats, and then he was sitting in front of his plate, picking up the glass of water already poured and taking a long drink. "That was a beautiful ceremony."

"It really was, Aaron. But it also made me so glad that we opted for a courthouse. There's just so much fuss that goes into planning something like this, and I just wanted to be married to you as quickly as possible, since it didn't seem quite real that you wanted to make me yours."

"You guys are so mushy!" Molly exclaimed, and Jack nodded in agreement. "But it's good to see how much you two love each other. I, I want to find my own other half."

"And you will. You might have to go through a lot of heartache before you find the one that will help you become your best self." Erin reached over for his hand, and they sighed in unison, even as their children rolled their eyes a little. "But you both have time to find that person, whoever they might be. And if you decide that there is no special person that catches your heart, that will be all right, too. Though I will always want the best for you, for all my children."

He knew that Erin was crying by the time she reached the end of her little speech, and Aaron pulled out a fresh handkerchief and handed it over. "I'd say it's the hormones, but Haley always said that was an excuse men used to make light of women's emotions."

"She taught you well," Erin whispered as she swiped at her eyes with his handkerchief. "But a little of this is the hormones coursing through my system. I'll be less weepy once Vanessa is here."

Their other tablemates joined them, and Aaron watched his wife turn into the perfect hostess, getting to know them as their meals began to arrive. There was something so lovely about getting to know Erin in this capacity, and Aaron found himself falling in love with her all over again. Erin noticed his attention, giving him a tender smile before going back to her conversation with one of Miranda's aunts. Still, it wasn't all good, as he could tell that his mother was still glaring at them, and he only hoped that they could avoid a confrontation between them until it was time to head back to Sean's apartment.