Luke and Meg took their places at the center table in what would be their yard. Several tables were set up for the guests and wedding attendants with a large dance floor in the middle. As the guests were seated, Able stood up to toast the couple.

"My dear friends and fellow family members. Please join me in a toast to my son, Luke and my new daughter, Meghan." As the guests all gave Luke's father their attention, Abel turned to the couple.

"If I was asked to pick a better wife for my son, I would have to say that it was an impossible feat. The marriage of Luke and Meghan is not only a union of people, but also a union of souls. True love is a magical thing and when you're lucky enough to find it, as Luke and Meghan have, it is a special thing. Meg, although we've only just recently met, I already consider you a daughter and would like to welcome you to our family. May your marriage be prosperous and blissful." Abel raised his glass and drank from it, as did the guests.

Meg looked at Luke, who wiped a tear from her eye and kissed her tenderly. "Are you okay?" He whispered.

"Fine. This is just so emotional. I can't believe we're married." She said quietly as Abel came around and embraced his son and his new daughter in law.

"Any regrets?" Luke asked.

Meg shook her head, "Not a one."

The first dance was shared by the bliss couple, and slowly other couples joined in. After the first dance the food was served, followed by more toasts and more dancing. Meg and Luke not only danced with each other but they danced with their parents and guests as well. Hours later they sat in a corner and watched the festivities.

Meg sat back in Luke's lap and rested her head against his shoulder. "Do you see what I see?"

Luke shook his head, "All I'm looking at is the woman in my lap."

Meg giggled, "I already married you. You don't have to sweet talk me anymore."

Luke laughed as he kissed her neck causing her to shudder. "What do you see?"

"Ummm . . . . . Buck is dancing with Corey." Meghan turned her head and kissed him. The couple was so wrapped up in each other that neither heard Serena's approach.

"Meghan your father wants to . . . Oh! Oops sorry." She said as she blushed.

The couple separated quickly and laughed shyly. "What was that Daniel wanted, Serena?" Luke asked calmly as Meg buried her red face in his neck.

"Nothing, I'll tell him you two were busy talking, we can wait to cut the cake." Serena left them alone once again.

Meghan attempted to get up but was held down by Luke's arms. "Where do you think you're going?"

"They're waiting for us, so they can cut the cake."

"So let them wait. I wanna finish this first." He leaned in and began to nuzzle the sensitive flesh on her neck again.

"Luke," His name came out a sigh. "The sooner we cut the cake and get all of the traditional things done, the sooner everyone will leave, and we can be alone."

Luke smiled and grabbed her hand as he got up. "Well, when you put it that way, let's go." Together they walked back to the main area of the party where they cut the cake and danced some more.

Meg approached Corey, "I saw you dancing with Buck." She said with a wide grin.

Corey blushed, "Well, I thought here was my chance, so I took it."

Meg laughed as Luke pulled her away from her best friend with a sly apology and led her to the dance floor. Corey laughed to herself, she wished Meg all the happiness in the world.

Eventually, everyone began to leave. Meghan and Luke were spending their first night together in their new house before heading to Omaha where they would be spending the next week. The last to go were the bride and groom's parents, hugging them Luke and Meg waved from the doorway of their new home and watched as they headed to their own homes.

Luke turned to Meghan and lifted her in his arms. "What are you doing?" She exclaimed as she clasped her arms around his neck.

"Carrying you over the threshold, Mrs. Saunders."

Meghan's heart soared when she heard him call him by her new last name. She knew she was going to love being married to him. There was no one better suited to her. She smiled and placed a chaste kiss to his cheek. "A girl could get used to being carried around."

Luke laughed and brought her inside, closing the door behind him with his foot. He carried her up the stairs and slowly lowered her to her feet in front of the guest bedroom where she had changed earlier. Gradually, he bent his head and kissed her tenderly as he held her close to his body. With a soft sigh, Meg deepened the kiss, arching into him.

Moments later a reluctant Luke pulled away and traced her cheek with his finger. "Give me five minutes. I need to do something."

Meg frowned at him, "Where are you going?"

"Trust me." He said as he placed another heated kiss to her lips then turned and practically ran into the bedroom they would share.

Meghan exhaled loudly and opened the door to the guestroom. The soft white nightgown and robe she had bought as a present for herself was left on the bed. A reminder of what was to come. It had to have been Corey who laid it out, she thought to herself, although it was considerate of her friend to do this for her, Meg wasn't sure if she could actually go through with it. She loved Luke that was for sure, but the memories of Simon Moore were still fresh in her mind. Kissing Luke and being with him before was everything she'd dreamed of, but now that they were married she knew he'd want more and she wanted to give it to him. She swallowed and closed her eyes praying that she'd be able to give herself to the man she loved and married.

"Meghan?"

Meg jumped and turned to Luke and gave him a weak smile. He had removed his jacket and tie, his sleeves were rolled up and he had unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, all in all, she thought, he looked thoroughly male. Luke looked beyond her to the bed and saw the pretty white nightgown. He walked to it and held it in his hands, feeling the silkiness on his skin. "Did you want to change?"

"Yes . . . uh. . . . No . . . I don't know." Meg laughed softly and shrugged. "I'm not sure how this is supposed to happen."

Luke smiled shyly, "Well I can only assume it's different for every newlywed. Don't forget this is my first wedding night, too."

Meghan sighed. "I know. But you have done this before right?"

Luke raised his eyebrows, the last thing he wanted to do was discuss his past affairs with her. After some thought he decided maybe talking about it was best. "Yes Meg, I've been with other women before, but that was a long time ago. Ever since I realized I was in love with you, I couldn't be with anyone else."

Meg's eyes grew wide in wonder, "Why not?"

Luke laughed, "Because Sweetheart. No one could compare to you, so I wasn't attracted to anyone else. And trust me when I say that attraction is a big part of . . .making love." Luke saw the uncertainty in her eyes and pulled Meghan into his arms, holding her tightly as she trembled against him. He kissed the top of her head and pulled away slightly, tilting her face up so he could look into her eyes.

"Meghan, I've told you before that if you're not ready for this I would understand. I may not like it, because Lord knows I want you, but I will respect your feelings enough to hold back until you're ready." He whispered as he softly caressed her cheek with his hands. "I hate him for what he tried to do, and if he wasn't already dead I'd kill him. Maybe you could come to bed and let me hold you. Even if that was all you could give me, I'd be the happiest man in Dreamville."

Meg's heart was filled with tenderness for him and in that instant she realized that she had nothing to be scared of. Before she had a chance to respond to his compassionate words, Luke turned and walked out of the room with his head hanging down.

Meghan exhaled sharply before gathering her train and following him to their bedroom. As she entered the room she gasped.

Luke watched her as she came into the room and looked around, seeing not only her new bedroom for the first time but also the preparations he had been making since that morning. The huge four poster bed dominated the room, there were candles lit everywhere, roses and rose petals covered every possible surface and there was champagne and two glasses on the table by the bed.

"Oh Luke." She said on a sigh. "Did you do all of this?"

Luke nodded, "I wanted to make tonight special for you. But I don't want you to feel as if you have to do something you're not comfortable with-."

Meghan placed her fingertips on his lips cutting off anything further he would have said. "When I was little all I wanted to do was climb on the trees and play up there all day, one day I fell out of a tree, after that I was too scared to ever try to climb a tree again. My father built me a treehouse shortly after."

"Your father built you a treehouse?"

She laughed, "Yes, and he put all these new toys and books up there. It took me some time, but I managed to climb the tree."

Luke stared down at her, "Meghan-"

"I know you're wondering what the point is." She said as she cut him off and began removing her veil. "The point is my father made something enjoyable out of something I thought I feared. He replaced a bad memory with a good one." She removed the pins from her hair next, causing it to tumble down in a mass of auburn curls. "That's what I want you to do. It's what I need you to do." She slowly walked to him, placed her hands on his chest and began unbuttoning his shirt and kissing his neck. "I want you to make me forget, please Luke, make good memories for me."

Luke groaned and pushed her away slightly, "Meghan don't do this because of me."

Meghan had successfully opened his shirt and tugged it off his shoulders before she looked up at him, "I want to do this for us. Because I love you, and because I know you're not him."

Luke took a calming breath, "Then say it."

Meghan smiled wickedly at him, "I want you to make love to me, Abel."

Luke gently took her into his arms and undressed her slowly, gradually building the desire between them. He was tender and passionate as they made love for the first time. He was a considerate lover, and Meg was very responsive to him, each thanked the forces that had brought them together.

************

A sated Meghan laid her head on her husband's chest and began tracing small circles on it. She sighed contentedly. "Is that how it's always been for you?" She asked shyly.

Luke laughed and played with her sweat-dampened hair, "No Darling, only with you. I think I'll start calling you wildcat, I'm gonna have scars on my back from your claws."

Meghan giggled, "I'd love to see you explain that pet name to Daddy." She kissed his chest, "Did I hurt you with my nails?" She asked, the concern showing in her voice.

"No, not really. Did I hurt you?"

Meg arched an eyebrow as she propped her head up on her elbow and looked down at him. "No, it was . . . nice. No not nice, it was amazing. I love you Abel Lucas Saunders." She whispered.

"I love you, too, Meghan Saunders." She glowed at the use of her new last name. He leaned over and kissed her. "I've been thinking." He said as he pulled away suddenly.

"What about?" She asked worriedly.

"Medical school." Meghan's eyes lit up, "Well, there's a school in Omaha that's pretty good, and it's close enough to commute to. I've asked about it a little and I thought we could check it out while we're there."

"You mean it Luke? Truly?"

"Of course. I told you I wanted to help you make your dreams come true." He said happily. "It's my gift to you."