And love Chap 122

The church II

This part was written upon request (begging, pleading, cajoling! Kidding!) by skyross19. With edits & additions by this author. Many thanks!

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Jamie sits in a pew near the front of St Angelus parish church; talking to Father Mark. Together, they were contemplating how life seemed to get so… complicated? That wasn't even the right word but to be honest, Jamie didn't know what the right word was. Petty maybe? No, still not quite right… Things were just… well, he didn't know – that's why he was here. Trying to find clarity, and understanding.

He is deep in thought as he and Fr. Mark pause. when he only half registers that someone has walked up and slid into the pew directly across the aisle from them. Thinking it's just some other troubled parishioner looking for guidance, he ignores them completely - that is until a very familiar female voice asks "Penny for your thoughts?" and he nearly jumps out of his skin while snapping his head in the direction of the voice to see his ex-fiancé Syd – damn-it Annie, sitting down.

"What are you doing here?" Jamie unhappily seethes - he was still pretty ticked about that apology he was forced to make at the hands of Annie's law firm for simply running a background check on Jimmy. "How did you find me?"

"Eddie." Annie simply replies causing Jamie to groan and hang his head – why couldn't she just leave well enough alone?

"Look, I think we need to clear the air." Annie states.

"Is that why you're sitting all the way over there?" Jamie snarks.

"You want me to come closer?" Annie challenges.

"Not really." Jamie honestly admits.

"Then that's why I'm sitting all the way over here," Annie reasons.

"Fine." Jamie grumbles.

Silence.

Father Mark graciously excuses himself, with a sly smile and a squeeze to Jamie's shoulder. Unseen, he winks at Annie.

"It's funny, isn't it?" Annie suddenly questions "Us ending up in a church." She clarifies, "I mean this is where we were supposed to start the rest of our lives together wasn't it?"

"Until you walked out." Jamie points out, frowning.

Turning her head, Annie looks directly at Jamie. "If I had stayed can you really picture us being married right now?" She cocks her head.

Jamie doesn't even need to think about that "Ah, no," he automatically and very confidently replies. "You walking out was the best thing for both of us. I love my life. I love my wife, our kids. Actually, come to think, it was you walking out that led me to a bar to drink my sorrows away and that's where I met Eddie."

"Oh." Annie states in a bit of surprise "I actually did not know that. But see - everything happens for a reason."

"Including you suddenly showing back up in my life?" Jamie questions, with a raised eyebrow.

Annie shrugs "Is there something wrong with that?" She questions. "I didn't go looking for you Jamie. Fate put your kidnapped wife and daughter in the house next to us."

"But that's my point." Jamie presses, "Why? Why are you back in my life? We were over. We were done and yet here you are. We are."

Annie sighs "Your mind always did like to overthink things." She notes more to herself than Jamie before taking a deep breath. "Look Jamie, I have no ulterior motives here. I mean, unless..." She slowly states in cautious realization "…do you?"

"WHAT?" Jamie immediately rejects "NO!"

"Then what is the problem, Jamie?" Annie asks in exasperation. "Why can we not just be friends?"

"People think it's weird." Jamie mumbles.

"People!" Annie repeats "And who are these people?"

"Erin. Danny." Jamie lists "Everyone."

"Not everyone." Annie corrects "Eddie doesn't think it's weird."

Jamie heavily sighs, "I know, and I can't quite figure that one out," he admits. "I mean you would think she would be the first person to have a problem with us hanging out together! But she doesn't."

"It's because she knows you, and she trusts you," Annie reasons. "Come on Jamie; we may not have worked out together, but there is one thing I for sure know about you. It's that you are not the cheating kind – never were, never will be." She crosses her arms in front of her chest.

"And you aren't some wolf in sheep's clothing." Jamie mutters in agreement "A shark maybe, but not a wolf."

"What?" Annie questions.

"Never mind." Jamie mumbles.

"No." Annie rejects. "Don't do that. Don't hold back. We're clearing the air remember?" She smirks.

"Why did you have your firm try to take legal action against me? I know it was you, and you knew it wouldn't go anywhere," he points out. "So why? Is it because you flirted with me in your office and it went nowhere? Was this just some kind of petty payback?" He is getting exercised.

"No" Annie honestly replies "Jimmy came to me. I was just doing my job." She explains before wincing a bit.

"But in hindsight I do regret the flirting. And I apologized to Eddie. She accepted my apology, and I promised to her that it would never happen again," she admits "Not because there was any malicious intent behind it – because there wasn't - maybe I was just curious to see how you'd react - to see if you still had any unresolved feelings for me."

"Well, I don't." Jamie reiterates.

"Clearly." Annie confirms. "But it seemed to give you the wrong impression, and it was from that point on that our path to becoming friends again got waylaid. I know a lot of exes don't become friends," she admits. "And most of the time that's for good reason. But you and I, there's no hidden agenda here. I promise." Annie swears. "I've moved on. You've moved on. I'm not going all fatal attraction on you." She adds in an attempted joke causing Jamie to immediately snap his head up to look over at her.

Annie a bit sheepishly grins "Too much?" She queries.

"Um yeah." Jamie huffs out even though a small smile does grace his face "Maybe a little."

"Well, I promise you I'm not." Annie reiterates "I've got Gregg now and he . . . he's everything to me."

"Okay good." Jamie accepts.

"Now what about you?" Annie questions.

"What about me?" Jamie counters.

"Well, I know you just said you didn't still have feelings for me, but you did call me beautiful and bring me my favorite sandwich." Annie points out "Some might see that as sending the wrong signals."

Immediately Jamie cringes a little "Yeah, sorry about that. Maybe in hindsight I too should not have done that. But I really didn't think anything of it because I love my wife more than anything. And at karaoke, Gregg and I were just trying to have a little fun with the both of you. And as for the sandwich, well okay fine, but I was coming to talk to you about Cassie and Eli so yeah, I thought if I bought you your favorite sandwich it wouldn't seem like I was taking advantage of our history and just looking for some free legal advice."

"So, you Mr. Reagan, are indeed NOT still carrying some secret torch for me?" Annie checks one final time. "You are in your church…" She warns, ..."so in a way you are under oath."

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At her words it is impossible for Jamie to stop himself from huffing out a laugh at not only her 'lawyering' of the situation but the pure ridiculousness of that idea itself. "Ah, no your honor." He confirms "Believe me, the only person I'm carrying a torch for is my wife."

"THANK YOU!" Eddie's voice suddenly sounds from the back of the church.

Startled, Annie and Jamie both look backwards to see not only Eddie but Gregg walking down the aisle towards them.

"By the power invested in me by walking down this aisle in this church." Eddie begins to authoritatively state, "I do hereby declare that I was right all along and EVERYONE should have just listened to me from the get go. I love Jamie. Jamie loves me. Gregg loves Annie. Annie loves Gregg. Can we PLEASE all just be friends now and finally move on?" She stops, hands on hips. Gregg is just behind her, his hand over his mouth – covering a massive grin.

A wide amused smile appears on Jamie's face at his wife's righteous antics "My wife Ladies and Gentlemen. A one of a kind."

"And don't you ever forget it." Eddie playfully warns her husband as she steps up to him.

"Never." Jamie wholeheartedly promises before they share a gentle kiss.

"They are so cute, aren't they?" Gregg whispers to Annie.
"Not cute." Annie rejects "Meant to be." She corrects.

Breaking apart from her husband, Eddie turns to look at Gregg and Annie "Well you know who else is meant to be? You two, and we seem to be in a church so call it fate, but I say there is an altar right there calling your names."

Annie's eyes go a bit wide "Now?" She questions.

"Well, it technically wouldn't be legal." Eddie admits "No priest or marriage license yet but…"

"EXCUSE ME!" A powerful voice booms from the front of the church. "When I got up this morning, I was a priest!"

They look at Father Mark, in full vestments, standing in front of the altar. Mouths drop open.

"OKAY!" Annie suddenly but very eagerly states as she grabs Gregg's hand and starts to drag him with her up to the altar.

"WAIT A MINUTE!" Another booming voice, this one from the back of the church.

Heads swivel, "Daddy?" Annie gasps.

"Come here, young lady. You have work to do!"

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"BOSS! Here with me," Jimmy loudly calls for Gregg, also from the back of the church. "We also have work to do!"

Annie heads to the back, takes her father's hand and heads for a room to the left of the foyer. On entry, she finds Nicky and Kensi getting ready. On a hook is a shimmering, off-white floor-length silk gown. She feels the soft fabric, she's in love! Gladys from her office bides her to sit. When seated, Gladys tackles her hair and makeup.

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Gregg duplicates the maneuver, going to the right of the foyer.

"That is so not how you do that!" Jamie calls after Annie & Gregg, causing Eddie to lightly backhand him on his arm.

"What?" Jamie defends to his wife "I'm just saying."

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In the room that he entered, Gregg finds his tux, "Wow!"

"Can you still get it on?" Jimmy questions, with a smirk.

Gregg glares, 'YES!"

"Vows." Gregg suddenly panics realizing he doesn't know what to say.

"Just speak from your heart." Jimmy advises as he steps to Gregg's side. "That's what I am going to do."

"WHAT?"

"I mean when, er if, you know," Jimmy panics a little.

Gregg smiles and pats his best man on the back. "If you need help, I'm your man, son."

Soon Marty Deeks enters, pulls down a garment bag and starts dressing. He slaps Gregg on the back, "I never thought I'd see the day – old man!"

Gregg looks astonished. "We've known each other . . . a month, bro!"

"Time's a wastin' big guy." Marty carries on.

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Eddie steps into Annie's room. "Jamie and I wrote our own vows, Annie. Have you given them any thought?"

"You wrote your own vows?" Annie states in surprise.
Eddie nods as she thinks of Jamie. "Jamie's idea."

Annie looks at Eddie then focuses her thoughts on her ex-fiancé as she lets out an incredulous laugh "Seriously? Because I couldn't even get him to pay attention long enough to offer an opinion on the wedding venue never mind vows."

"Hey." Annie dismisses "Fine by me. He's your problem now."
Eddie turns her thoughts back to her husband, and again smiles widely "Yes he is."

Jamie knocks, and enters when given the ok. He slips over to Eddie's side. She starts, "I will always have your back."

"If you fall behind, I'll wait up." Jamie returns.

Annie leans towards Kensi, "Is that their vows? I think that's their vows."

"Shhh." Kens quietly requests "I'm listening."

Annie thinks of her fiancé and smiles as she very seriously takes mental notes as Jamie and Eddie keep talking and she knows 110% that without a doubt, Gregg is HER guy just like Jamie is Eddie's guy.

"I'll be your medic, your chaplain…" Eddie continues.

"Your night watchman, your cavalry; in our army of… wait how many are we now?" Jamie pauses.

Immediately both Jamie and Eddie start trying to count the number of kids they have, in their heads and on their hands "Us, Cassie, Mal, Mary Rose, Patrick and AJ…
"7?" Jamie checks when he reaches the end.
"7." Eddie confirms.

But then a look of hesitation appears on Jamie's face "Wait. Do we count the animals?" He chuckles, unsure.

Eddie ponders that then shakes her head in rejection, "No." causing Jamie to just nod in acceptance and continue on "In our army of 7…"

Noting that they are clearly changing things on the fly, Annie can't help but curiously inquire "What was it before?"

"Um 2." Eddie laughs as she gestures between herself and her husband.

"Oh right." Annie realizes, mentally kicking herself.

Jamie slips out, and joins the men. He grabs his tux and starts to dress.

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The head deacon notifies both prep rooms – 10".

They hear soft organ music, the prelude. Annie and Richard stay in her prep room until last.

Gregg has joined Father Mark, down by the altar.

Mostly unseen, Cassie was flitting about with her video camera. Jack & Sean were doing the same with still, digital cameras.

WEDDING PARTY:

Best man / Maid of honor: Jimmy Collins, Nicky Boyle.

Bride's maids: Kensi Deeks, Eddie Reagan.

Groomsman: Marty Deeks, Jamie Reagan.

Bible boy: AJ Reagan.

Ring bearer: Patrick Reagan.

Flower girl: Mary Rose Reagan.

Officiant: Father Mark.

The wedding party process to Pachelbel's Canon.

Richard escorts Annie to the Wedding March. Her mother 2 steps behind.

Richard and Margaret Davenport give the bride, Sydney Ann Davenport, away to Groom Gregg Wells.

VOWS

Gregg: Annie, I had just purchased one-third share in Christmas Karaoke. The place needed major fixing up! MAJOR! So, I got a decent deal on the purchase. Thursday, our 1st night I was watching from the back; the place was kinda dead. Then you walked in! Knocked my socks off; tight black leather, short skirt, legs from her to Jerey! I strode up front, picked up a mic and sang-

He again picks up a mic and sings "Sunrise, Sunset" from Fiddler on the Roof. The wedding party was transfixed. The amazing baritone voice!

Putting the mic down, Gregg grasps Annie's hands. "Annie. I am yours, only yours – always and forever! I love you!" He sealed his vows with a kiss.

Annie: Gregg, when you sang that night – it felt like you and I were the only two people on the planet! I had just gotten up to go to the lady's room. When you started to sing, I stopped. I had to sit down; I could not stand. I stared at you all thru the song.

Later we talked; I told you I was a lawyer. You said that you fixed beautiful cars. Then you checked me out, head to toe. YOU WERE COMPARING ME TO A CAR!

Gregg shakes his head vigorously; the wedding party laughs.

I asked if that line ever works; you blushed and admitted you'd never tried it before. Now she has hands on hips.

GREGG WELLS, I love you! I always will! I am yours, only yours. Always and forever!

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Recessional – Trumpet Voluntary.

Due to the impromptu affair (sort of) – only champagne for toasts was served at the reception, along with cake.

A Bentley whisked the happy couple away for an overnight honeymoon at the Plaza.

Cards &/or presents may be delivered to Davenport, Erickson & Jackson; Brooklyn Porsche; or Porsche Huntington, ON THE ISLAND.

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TBC