* Author�s Note * The wedding was originally going to be the thirteenth, but I changed it... you�ll see why in the next chapter (the wedding part 2) and just for the sake of argument, let�s pretend that Valentines Day is on Sunday.
Alexis goes downstairs to find Julia pacing back and forth in front of the living room window.
Alexis: �Jules, are you okay?�
Julia: (her face a pasty shade of white) �Oh my God. I�m getting married today.�
Alexis: (giving her a hug) �Relax. Marriage is a wonderful thing. Believe me.�
Mackenzie: (coming in with a glass of juice for Julia) �You need to calm down, Julia. You�re going to have a blotchy face if you have a panic attack.�
Julia: (taking the juice and chugging it down) �Thanks a lot, sis. You�re so nice.�
Mackenzie: (laughing) �I do try.�
The Penthouse.
Ned, Jax and Stefan are eating a breakfast of French toast and coffee.
Jax: (sipping his coffee) �This is the first cup of coffee I have had in my own kitchen for about three months. I promised that I would follow Julia�s pregnancy diet.�
Ned: �When Alexis was pregnant, I told her too bad. I need alcohol to get through any family gathering.�
Stefan: (thoughtfully) �How do you think Christabel would react to a little sibling?�
Ned: �Are you and Mackenzie thinking about having a baby?�
Stefan: �Thinking, kind of. She had a pregnancy scare a few months ago.�
Jax: �I think that she would like having a little brother or sister.�
Ned: �Me too.� He grins. �So, Jax, are you nervous?�
Jax: (picking up his coffee cup) �Who, me?� Ned and Stefan start laughing as they notice that Jax�s hand is shaking as he puts his coffee cup down. �I�m fine.�
Ned and Stefan look at each other and shake their heads.
One thirty in the afternoon. The Ashtons� house.
Alexis, dressed in a beautiful Nicole Miller maroon bridesmaids� dress, is coming down the stairs. The satin dress is sleeveless and flows down to the floor, where she wears matching heels. Her hair is down and there is a pair of diamond clips in her hair.
Mackenzie: (coming out of the bathroom) �Nice outfit.� She smiles. �We�re twins.�
Alexis: �I love these barrettes. They�re ten times better than tacky headpieces.�
Mackenzie: �My idea. Julia wanted to have headpieces. I talked her out of it.�
Christabel: (running down the hall) �Mommy, can you curl my hair?�
Avery: �Mommy, me too?�
Brooke: �Me too?�
They all throw themselves at their mothers, smiling innocently.
Alexis: �You all look beautiful.�
Brooke, Avery and Christabel are wearing long white flower girl dresses with puffy petticoats. There are maroon sashes that go around the dresses. They are each holding a crown of white baby roses for their hair.
Mackenzie: �Why do you all want your hair curled?�
Christabel: �So we can look like princesses.�
Alexis: �Than by all means, we�ll do your hair.� She smiles. �Wait until your fathers see how pretty you look.�
Brooke: �Mommy, you look awesome. You too, Aunt Mackenzie.�
Avery: (laughing) �Daddy is going to drool when he sees you, Mommy.�
Alexis and Mackenzie look at each other and start laughing.
Meanwhile. The penthouse.
Jax, Ned and Stefan have just finished showering and getting dressed.
Ned: �We look like the three musketeers.�
Jax: �And that�s what we are.� He smiles. �Tequila Brothers and best friends forever.� He sighs a little. �If it wasn�t for you two, I may not be here right now.�
Ned: �What do you mean?�
Jax: �After Brenda died, I never wanted to laugh again. Never love. But you two have become my best friends in the world. More like brothers than friends.�
Stefan: �I agree with that. I would rather have you two as brothers than Stavros.�
Ned: �I agree too. I always wanted a brother. You two make up for the loss.�
Jax: �Julia taught me that it was possible to love after a loss, but you two helped me to be a happy person. Hell, Ned, I may not be getting married today if you and Alexis hadn�t hired me and Julia to babysit the girls last year and we bonded over them.� He smiles. �I know that I�m getting all sappy, but I want you guys to know that I love you.�
Smiling sheepishly, the three men put their arms around each other for a hug.
Jax: (pulling away) �And now that we�ve gotten our sappy moment for the century out of the way, I have a wedding to get to.�
Back at the Ashtons� house.
Twenty minutes later, Mackenzie is finishing Brooke�s hair.
Alexis: (coming back into the bathroom) �I called Kim. She�s going to curl Serena�s hair so you all match.�
Mackenzie: (lifting Brooke off the counter) �There. You�re all done.� She quickly straightens Avery�s headpiece. �Now, we have to go help Aunt Julia, so would it be possible for you three to go downstairs and watch Spice World until it�s time to go? It�s already in the VCR.�
Avery: �Yay!� they run off and Alexis and Mackenzie go into the guest room.
Julia is standing in front of the bed, wearing white satin underwear, a strapless bra and a maroon and white lace garter. Her hair and makeup is done.
Alexis: �Need some help?�
Julia: �Yeah, putting my dress on.�
Mackenzie takes the dress of the hanger and unzips it. Julia steps carefully into it and Alexis zips it up. Julia slowly turns around to look at them.
Julia: �Well, what do you think?�
Alexis: �Jax is going to be breathless. You look amazing, Julia.�
Mackenzie: �I�m proud to call you my sister.� She smiles. �You look like a model.�
Julia is wearing a sleeveless Christian Dior wedding gown. It has a fluffy princess skirt, thick straps, a square cut neck and a corset styled top. There is a long train on the back.
Alexis: (looking around) �Where�s your veil?�
Julia: �Still in the box.�
Mackenzie goes over to get it and helps Julia pin the silver tiara with a piece of tulle in the back into her upsweep.
Brooke: (peeking around the door) �Wow, you look just like a queen!�
Julia: �Thanks, Sweetie. You can come in if you want.�
Brooke, Christabel and Avery walk slowly into the room and stare in awe at Julia.
Christabel: �Wow, Aunt Julia! You look so pretty.� She pauses. �Mommy, did you wear a dress like that when you and Daddy got married?�
Mackenzie: �No, Sweetie. I wore a dress the color of the one I�m wearing now.�
Alexis: (looking at the clock) �We�d better get going. I think the limo is here.�
A few minutes later, they all head down the stairs and get into the limo.
A half hour later at the church.
Alexis is standing at the back of the church when a pair of arms wrap around her waist.
Alexis: (in a low voice) �Hello, Mr. Ashton.�
Ned: (whispering) �You look beautiful.� He kisses her neck. �Happy Valentines Day.�
Alexis: (turning around in his arms to see his black tuxedo with a maroon vest) �You look very, very handsome, Ned.�
Ned: (in a sexy whisper) �Did you miss me last night?�
Alexis: �Very much so.� she grins. �Are you going to make it up to me?�
Ned: �We could always go into the confessional and...�
Alexis: (laughing) �NED! You�re terrible!�
Ned: �No, I�m a wonderful husband. And do you know why that is?�
Alexis: �No, tell me.� she smiles.
Ned: �I�m the most wonderful man in the world simply because I arranged it so the babysitter will keep Hannah until tomorrow afternoon, and Avery and Brooke are spending the night with Serena at Gail and Lee�s house, so we�re all alone tonight.�
Alexis: (pleased) �You really are a wonderful husband.� She gives him a quick kiss.
Ned: �I need to go talk to Jax in the minister�s office. Want to come?�
Alexis: �Sure.� She takes his hand and they head down the hall.
Halfway there, Avery and Brooke come running up and throw themselves at Ned.
Brooke: �Daddy! How do you like our dresses?�
Ned: (picking her up) �You both look awesome, Brooke Lynn.�
Avery: �Mommy curled our hair with Aunt Mackenzie.�
Alexis: �Did Aunt Bobbie give you your flower baskets?�
Brooke: �Not yet.� She ponders this. �We�ll go get them.�
Ned: �Actually, can you two stay with her and Lucas and Serena until we come to get you? We have to go talk to Uncle Jax.�
Avery: �Okay.�
Ned sets Brooke down and they run off to find Bobbie.
Alexis and Ned continue to walk down the hall until they reach the minister�s office door. They open the door and both gasp.
Laying across the desk is Kimberly and Scott. They are both half dressed and obviously making love.
Kimberly: (seeing them) �ALEXIS! NED! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?�
Ned: (amused) �We could ask you the same.�
Scott: �We were... uh... well...�
Alexis: �That�s what I thought.� She smiles. �We�ll leave you two in peace now.�
Ned closes the door and he and Alexis head off down the hall, laughing.
Alexis: �That was... uh... interesting...�
Ned: �Why didn�t we think of that?�
Alexis: �It�s sacreligious.� She smiles. �At least, I think so.�
Ned: �Have I ever told you that I love you, Lexi?�
Alexis: �I love you too.� She takes his hand and they walk towards the back of the church.
Meanwhile. The table where the guest book is.
Monica and Emily are tending to the guest book when Gregory walks in with Morgan.
Monica: (as she leans over to kiss him) �I thought you were already here.�
Gregory: �I had to go pick Morgan up.�
Monica: �I love your dress, Morgan.�
Morgan: (wearing a long green and blue dress with white flowers and butterfly clips) �Thanks, Monica! You helped me pick it out, remember?�
Monica: �Of course.� She smiles. �We�ll have to go shopping again soon.�
Emily glares at Monica but she doesn�t notice.
Morgan: �Yeah!� she turns to Gregory. �Dad, can I use your credit card again?�
Gregory: �We�ll see.� He smiles at Monica. �See what you�ve done?�
Morgan: �I�m going to go find Maxie, okay?� she walks off.
Gregory: �So, Dr. Quartermaine, am I your official date for this wedding?�
Monica: �Of course. You�re the only date I would ever want.� She smiles at him.
Nikolas: (coming up to the table) �Hello, Dr. Quartermaine, Gregory.� He kisses Emily. �You look beautiful, Em.�
Emily: (in a low voice) �Thanks.� She pauses. �I�m going to go get some water.�
Nikolas: �Do you want me to come with you?�
Emily: (quickly) �No. I�ll be fine.� She walks off.
Monica: (to Nikolas) �Is she okay?�
Nikolas: �I honestly don�t know. She�s been acting erratic lately.�
Meanwhile, in the bride�s waiting room.
Mackenzie: (straightening Julia�s train) �You look amazing, Julia.�
Julia: �I hope Jax likes it.� She frowns at her reflection. �I�m getting so fat.�
Mackenzie: �You are not!� she turns to face her sister. �Julia, I want you to listen to what I�m about to say.�
Julia: �Sure.�
Mackenzie: �Julia, I always wanted a sister, and you have exceeded my expectations of what a sister should be.� She smiles. �You and Jax are going to have a wonderful life together with Victoria and Tyler. You two love each other so much.�
Julia doesn�t say anything. There are tears in her eyes.
Mackenzie: �Always remember that I love you.� She gives her a hug. �And I know that Brenda must be so proud of you.�
Julia: (in a whisper) �How do you know?�
Mackenzie: �Because her spirit lives on in you. And in me. And in Jax.�
Julia: �I love you, sis.� She gives Mackenzie a hug and then takes a deep breath. �Now, we�ve got a wedding to go to.�
They head out of the room and to the back of the church, where the church doors are closed so no one can see her except the wedding party.
Sitting inside the church is the basic group of everyone in Port Charles, as well as some of Jax and Julia�s other friends, and family friends.
They can see through the door window that Gregory is just seating Jane, and Nikolas is seating Lila and Monica.
They give the violinist the cue, and she begins to play Pachabel�s Canon.
Jax is standing in front of the alter, handsome in a black tuxedo and maroon vest.
The doors swing open slowly and Bobbie and Stefan head slowly down the isle.
When they reach the halfway point, Kimberly and Scott head down the isle.
Ned: (whispering) �I love you, Alexis.�
Alexis: (whispering) �I love you too, Ned.�
They smile at each other and head down the isle together, Alexis holding onto Ned�s arm with one arm and holding a bouquet of maroon roses and white gardenias in the other.
When they get halfway down the isle, Mackenzie and Jerry begin to process towards the isle. They are both smiling broadly.
When all of the adults have reached the alter, they turn to watch Lucas come down the isle with a white pillow that has a ring on it.
When he reaches the alter, Serena, Brooke, Christabel and Avery head down the isle, gently tossing their white and maroon rose petals as they walk.
Ned and Alexis look over at each other and smile. So do Mackenzie and Stefan.
Suddenly, Pachabel�s Canon stops, and Here Comes The Bride begins to play.
The congregation rises as Julia comes walking slowly down the isle. There are gasps and sighs of awe as everyone sees her beautiful dress, veil and huge bouquet of roses and gardenias. She is smiling nervously.
When she gets to the alter, Jax takes her hands and they smile at each other.
Father David: (as everyone sits down) �Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the presence of God and of each other today to witness the blessed event of the marriage of Jasper William Jacks and Julia Michelle Barrett.�
At this point, tears begin to fall down Julia�s face. She looks at Jax, who has tears in his eyes too. She smiles slightly.
Jax: (mouthing) �I love you.�
Julia: (mouthing) �I love you too.�
They don�t even hear what the minister is saying. They just continue to smile at each other as if there is no one else on earth other than them at this moment.
Father David: �And we will now have a reading from the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter thirteen, verses four through thirteen.�
Monica gets up and heads over to the pulpit. She opens a bible and begins to read.
Monica: �Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, it is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.�
She pauses and looks at Gregory. He smiles at her. She smiles back.
Monica: �Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease, whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall known just as I am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.� She pauses. �The word of the Lord.�
As she goes to sit down, Alexis and Ned look at each other. There are tears in Alexis� eyes. Ned smiles lovingly at her.
A little while later.
Father David: �Is there anyone here who can state just cause to why these two persons should not be married? If now, speak now or forever hold your peace.�
No one says anything.
Monica: (whispering to Gregory) �See, this is the point where Quartermaine weddings turn into a free-for-all and illegitimate children start walking in.�
Gregory stifles a laugh as Monica smiles amusedly.
Across the isle, Nikolas takes Emily�s hand and holds it. She stiffens slightly.
Nikolas: (whispering) �Are you okay, Em?�
Emily: �I�m fine. Just a little tired.�
Behind them, where the Scorpios and Morgan are sitting.
Morgan: (whispering to Maxie) �Isn�t he totally cute?�
Maxie: �Who?�
Morgan: �Nikolas.� she grins. �He�s sooo cute! Maybe I should ask him to dance later.�
Maxie: �You should.�
They stop talking as Felicia glares at them.
The wedding continues smoothly, and they finally get to the most important part.
Jax: (repeating what the priest has just said) �I, Jasper William, take you, Julia Michelle, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.� Tears running down his face, he slips a ring onto Julia�s finger.
Julia: (repeating the priest) �I, Julia Michelle, take you, Jasper William, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.� Tears falling freely down her face, she slips a ring onto Jax�s finger.
Father David: �Now that Julia and Jasper have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, and with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that in the name of the father, son and holy spirit, they are man and wife.� He smiles. �You may now kiss the bride.�
Everyone applauds and cheers as Jax leans over and kisses Julia gently.
The music starts up again and Julia and Jax walk back up the isle.
The flower girls and Lucas go next, followed by Mackenzie and Jerry, Alexis and Ned, Kimberly and Scott and Bobbie and Jerry.
Ned: (to Alexis) �Ah, such fond memories of our wedding.�
Alexis: (laughing) �Oh please. Stefan and Helena crashed our wedding, remember?�
Ned: �How could I forget? You slapped her in front of God and everyone.�
Alexis: (shrugging) �I guess that she just shouldn�t have announced my parentage in front of everyone, huh?�
Ned: �I love it when you get brutal.�
Alexis: (grinning) �Thanks. I do try.�
Laughing, they head off to find their daughters and leave for the reception.
Ten minutes later. Jax and Julia�s limo.
Jax: (kissing her as it pulls away from the curb) �I love you, Julia Jacks.�
Julia: (grinning) �I can�t believe that we�re married!�
Jax: �So, you want to... consummate our marriage, Jules?�
Julia: (laughing) �Not here! I don�t want to mess up my dress!�
Jax: �By the way, your dress is beyond beautiful. You are truly perfection.�
Julia: �I love you, Jax. You make me so happy.�
Jax: �You too, Julia. You too.�
They spend the rest of the ride to Chez Plaisance kissing and talking.