Am finally putting this in more than one chapter, which I've been meaning to do for 25 to 30 years. I also have reread it and it has been majorly revamped and have corrected spelling mistakes and added, who was speaking at the end of sentences. This has turned into a major project and is taking me a lot of time to correct everything Wrote this sometime in my early 20s, so it's been a long time. I hope you enjoy it and that you will review. No flames please!

Marcus O'Malley pulled on his dress shirt and slowly tucked it in before he pulled on his tux jacket. He looked at himself in the full length mirror before putting on his bow tie. He was getting married on this his wedding day. He had never thought he'd get married at least not until the rest of the family was settled. It was true that most of his family was married except for Stephen and he was engaged. He never failed to thank God for Shari Hanford everyday for the last year and it was about to become Shari O'Malley. His fiancée, her mother Beth and all of his sisters had been planning this thing for the last few months. Shari's mother Beth had delighted in planning a wedding for her only daughter, the only pall on the whole celebration being the absence of Shari's father Bill Hanford and Carl Whitmore not to mention his sister Jennifer, but somehow he hoped Bill Hanford would approve of his older child marrying a cop. It was now July and Stephen had just come back from his several months of wandering. After this, he and Rachel would be the only O'Malleys not married, although Stephen was engaged to Meghan Delhart and Rachel to Cole Parker, Jack's boss. Something was different about his brother though he was more relaxed and more at peace then Marcus had ever seen him and he had a suspicion he knew the reason why. Stephen had finally accepted that fact that God not only loved him, but took an active role in their lives. Of course it was only a suspicion not a fact. But in his heart he knew the truth and he thanked God that Stephen was at last at peace.

Marcus's sighed and his thoughts returned to his beloved. He remembered the day he had formerly proposed to her last year. He had even gotten down on one knee and asked Shari to marry him. Shari had immediately flung herself into his waiting arms and had shouted, "Yes, yes, yes." They had been at Marcus's apartment after he had taken her out to dinner. Her response had pleased him immensely. He already knew he loved her and he was sure she loved him, but it was nice to have it confirmed. His sisters had been happy for him, of course, technically, he had proposed on the plane that was taking her to meet her family after they had killed the, assassin. But he hadn't had time to buy a ring so he had proposed again this time formerly and she had accepted with enthusiasm. He was not amazed to discover she loved him as much as he loved her, which was with every atom of his being and even more then his own life and he knew that Shari felt the same.

His thoughts were interrupted with a knock at his bedroom door, "You about ready in there? You wouldn't want to miss your own wedding would you?" The voice on the other side of the door was filled with laughter.

"Funny Jack," said Marcus opening his bedroom door, "Like I would really miss my own wedding to a woman I love more than anything in the world."

"Even family?" inquired Jack with a grin.

"You know the answer to that so why are you asking such a silly question?" asked Marcus, mildly refusing to be drawn in especially on his wedding day.

"Nervous?" Stephen inquired.

"Why should I be when I know I love her with all my heart and that she loves me?" Marus asked simply.

Jack nodded; he understood how Marcus felt. He loved his own wife Cassie with all his heart and soul.

"Well let's get going or we'll be late," said Stephen, glancing at his watch.

Marcus did one last visual check in the mirror to make sure his hair and teeth were brushed and that his tie was straight. "Have I forgotten anything?" Marcus asked.

"I don't think so," said Stephen.

Marcus nodded and all three brothers headed out the door and downstairs to Marcus's car. The wedding was taking place at Beth Hanford's place, which was where Shari was living. She had given up her apartment two months ago when the lease had run out. She had seen no point in renewing it since she would be getting married and would soon be living with Marcus anyway. Her furnishings had been put in storage until such time she decided to either use them or sell them.

~~~Beyond the Future~~~

An hour later, Marcus arrived at the Hanford house and parked his car where he was sure he would be able to get to it later. He planned to take Shari to Paris for their honeymoon. Dave had even offered to fly them there for free. Marcus admitted it was sometimes nice to have a rich brother-in-law who had his own private jet. So plane tickets, would be one expense they could avoid at least.

He had never been to Paris although he had always wanted to go. He had heard it was the city of romance and mystery, but also his dream was to go with the woman he loved and the time was now at hand. He of course he hadn't told Shari where they were going it was supposed to be a surprise.

Marcus walked into the house after Josh opened the door for them. "Josh, have you met my brothers Jack and Stephen?"

"No, I don't believe I have," said Josh. "It's a pleasure to meet you at last. I'm Shari's brother Joshua. Come on in mom's in the kitchen baking up a storm."

"And my sisters?"

"Upstairs helping Shari get ready. Guests should begin arriving within an hour."

"Beth isn't overdoing it is she?" asked Marcus.

"You mean health wise? She seems okay, but both Shari and I have tried to get her to slow down, but you know my mother…."

"I'll just go say hello then," said Marcus.

"Try to get her to slow down if possible. She's going to tire herself out even before the wedding if she keeps this up," said Josh.

"I'll see what I can do," Marcus promised.

"Anything we can do?" asked Jack as Marcus disappeared into the kitchen.

"Not much actually. Most of its already taken care of. My only regret is that my father couldn't be here to see Shari get married and to walk her down the aisle. Carl as well."

"The same goes for our sister Jennifer," said Stephen with a sad smile.

"Hey, this is supposed to be a happy occasion," said Jack. "We've all lost people, but they would want us to be happy."

"That's true," said Josh with a melancholy smile of his own. "And I am happy for Shari. Marcus is a good man."

"He is that," both Jack and Stephen agreed at the same time.

~~~Beyond the Future~~~

Upstairs

Rachel, Kate, Lisa, Meghan and Cassie were all surrounding the bride trying to get her dressed and ready.

"Marcus, Jack and Stephen are here," said Rachel with a wink at her sisters where Shari couldn't see it. "I heard Josh talking to them."

"Marcus is here?" asked Shari trying to conceal her true feelings. She really wanted to rush down and give him a kiss, but there was a long-standing tradition that it was bad luck to see the groom before the wedding.

"Of course he's here," said Kate with a knowing grin. "He loves you. I can tell just by the way he looks at you."

"And how does he look at me?" asked Shari curiously.

"Possessively," said Kate.

"Lovingly," Lisa added.

"With such possessive love in his eyes that it eclipses all other emotions," said Rachel.

Shari blushed at their statements. "And I love him with all my heart and soul."

"We know," said all three ladies smugly.

"And how do you know?" asked Shari, not sure she really wanted to know.

"Because it's the same way our husbands look at us," said Kate.

"Or in my case fiancée," said Meghan. She might not be able to see but she could sense the way Stephen felt, just in the way his voice softened when he spoke to her and all the things he did for her without asking a thing in return. Even before she had gone blind they had had a thing for each other, but it had never gone further than friendship because at that time Stephen wasn't a Christian.

All the girls roared with laughter including Shari. It felt good to release the tension and the expectations of what was to come.

~~~Beyond the Future~~~

In the kitchen, Marcus found Beth Hanford hard at work mixing a batch of cupcakes Shari's favorite.

"Morning Beth," said Marcus giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Morning Marcus," said Beth without turning from her batter stirring.

"Why don't you stop that for a minute and come meet my brothers?" Marcus suggested.

Beth turned to face him. "Marcus O'Malley, are you trying to get me to slow down?" she asked with laughter in her voice and a twinkle in her eye.

"Now, would I do that?" asked Marcus as innocently as possible, but the twinkle in his eyes betrayed him.

"If you thought I was overdoing it you would," Beth retorted with laughter in her voice. "So you can quit playing innocent with me."

"All right, I'll admit that Josh thought you might be overdoing it."

Beth shook her head in mock anger, "Both Josh and Shari worry too much." She said it laughingly.

"Only because they care about you and love you. Sometimes I think they are right and you do overdo it. I think you think you must keep constantly busy so you don't think about your husband and Carl."

Beth sighed. "You're right. Just thinking about Bill brings tears to my eyes and poor Carl I'd known him since he was a little boy…"

"I understand these feelings. The O'Malleys have felt the pain of having someone very special stripped from, them before her time. Jennifer was the best of us and she too died."

"How do you handle the grief?"

"By remembering the good times," said Marcus. "All the laughter and fun at family gatherings, but also by remembering that God might not have caused their deaths, but that he always has a purpose and turns everything to the good."

"You are wise beyond your years Marcus," said Beth kissing his cheek affectionately.

Marcus blushed and Beth turned back to stirring her cupcake batter, with a smile. "I'll come and meet your brothers as soon as I get this batch of cupcakes in the oven."

"Okay," Marcus agreed. "Just don't be too long. The wedding is scheduled for 10:00 o'clock sharp and it's already twenty after nine."

"That late?" asked Beth looking at her watch as she spoke. "I better hurry I still need to go pull my dress on.

"Then you'd better hurry."

Beth nodded and began pouring the batter in to the cupcake pan. Then she put them into the stove and set the timer. "I'll see you at the wedding," said Beth kissing his cheek again.

"Yes ma'am," said Marcus giving her a quick affectionate hug.

~~~Beyond the Future~~~

At 10:00 o'clock sharp everybody was in place and the music began. The wedding was going to be an outside event and Beth had gone all out. There was a rented baby grand piano in one corner of the garden, which was where the music was coming from. Beth had hired a professional pianist to do the playing. Roses as well as; other flowers were everywhere in profusion and the garden was tastefully decorated. Marcus stood at the makeshift altar nervously trying not to fidget with anticipation as well as nervousness Josh as his best man at his side.

"It's not like you to be so nervous," Josh whispered seeing Marcus fidget.

"I can't help it. I've waited for this day for a long time."

"I know what you mean," whispered Josh. After that there was no more time for whispered conversation because the wedding march had begun, and Shari came down the aisle on the arm of Marcus's brother Stephen. Usually if the father was not available then it was the brother if the bride had one who escorted her down the aisle, but in this case, Marcus had requested Josh to be his best man so the duty had been given to Stephen.

Marcus's eyes grew wide as Shari came down the aisle. She was breathtakingly beautiful her long brunette hair hung past her shoulders and blue eyes sparkling behind a see-through veil. Her mouth seemed to be cocked in a half smile that seemed to beckon Marcus to drown in it. The dress itself was simple, yet exquisite at least to Marcus's sight. Her dress was of the purest white and went to her ankles. She only had the merest hint of a veil and no train, which was traditional, but Shari didn't care for that particular tradition. Finally, they reached where Marcus was waiting and Stephen gently transferred her arm to Marcus's. He grinned and his brother and the two shared a look then Stephen turned to take his place on the front row with his family and fiancée Meghan and Blackie Meghan's seeing-eye dog.

"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to unite this man and this woman in holy matrimony..." the priest intoned. He told the bride and groom, about the ways a man, and a wife should abide by each other and they said their vows before everyone.

Finally, the priest said, "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"

"I do," said Beth standing up.

"Should anyone see why these two should not be joined let them speak now or forever hold their peace." No one said anything so the priest finally said, "Then by the power invested in me by God's holy church I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Marcus obeyed and kissed Shari tenderly. Longer kisses would have to wait for privacy. He broke away with difficulty and Shari told him with her eyes that it wasn't enough for her either.

"Ladies and gentlemen may I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Marcus O'Malley." The crowd clapped and cheered and Marcus put his arm possessively around Shari's shoulder. Shari leaned against his side not particularly wanting to move, but finally they were in the back of the limo that had been rented for the evening and Shari leaned against his broad shoulder perfectly content to remain there for the rest of the day. Marcus stroked her cheek with one finger tenderly. Shari sighed and wriggled closer, trying to share his warmth.

"So where are we going on our honeymoon?" asked Shari curiously. She had asked before and Marcus had refused to divulge the information. All he had said was that it was a surprise. She was hoping this time however that he would tell her.

"It's a surprise," said Marcus.

Drat no such luck.

Marcus chuckled seeming to read her thoughts. "You wouldn't want me to spoil the surprise would you?"

"I suppose not," said Shari her head on his chest. Marcus kissed the top of her head tenderly then gently ran a hand through its soft strands.

"Don't mess up my hair. It took over an hour to get it like this," Shari told him. "And we still have the reception to get through." Marcus groaned good-naturedly. "I know I would prefer just to go to the hotel with you and be alone."

"My sisters would never forgive us if we didn't at least make an appearance at the reception."

"I know," said Shari with a sigh. "They went to a lot of trouble setting up this reception."

"Well, we'll go, but we'll leave as soon as is feasible," said Marcus.

"The sooner the better," Shari agreed, snuggling into his chest with a contented sigh.

After that there was no more time for conversation for they arrived. Shari didn't really want to move, but as they came to a stop she sighed and lifted her head to look at Marcus only to find him doing the same. They shared a long look; then Marcus opened the door of the limo. The driver was there to help Marcus and Shari alight and they entered the hall where the reception was being held.

~~~Beyond the Future~~~

Shari gently laid her head against Marcus's shoulder as they shared the first dance together as was tradition.

"Are you happy minx?" Marcus asked in a whisper.

"Extremely," Shari whispered back, "As if you didn't know."

Marcus laughed softly, but didn't respond. They had entered where the reception was being held and greeted their guests one by one. Now they were sharing the first dance together. Then Marcus would cut the cake and they would feed each other bite by bite. Then finally they would; open presents and they could escape to the hotel for the, night. Dave would fly them to their destination in the morning.

"I love you with all my heart Marcus O'Malley. As if you didn't know that already," Shari laughingly teased him. "I can no longer imagine my life without you in it."

"I did, but it's only because I feel the same. I have no idea what I'd do if something happened to you either. I can no longer imagine my world without you in it." He kissed her forehead, gently just as the dance ended. Then there was no more time to talk for awhile.

~~~Beyond the Future~~~