"You're not married yet are you? Please tell me you aren't married yet!" Nick hung his head and refused to answer. "No, Mrs. Carter. We are not married yet. You convienently ruined that for us." Kathy said in controlled tones. "Oh thank God! Nick listen to me." Nick kept his head down. "What do you have to say to me, mother?" Kathy was amazed to see a small tear fall down Jane's cheek. "I came to say I am sorry. I came to apologize to you and Kathy." Nick lifted his head. "You're sorry?" He asked, unsure. "Very sorry. I've been thinking alot this morning. I've been very wrong about things." Kathy stared at the older woman in shock, she could tell Jane was being sincere. "I'm sorry I disrupted the ceremony, I just wanted to make sure I didn't miss my son's wedding." Jane broke down in tears. "I'm sorry Nickolas, please forgive me." Nick dropped Kathy's hand and took his mother in his arms. "I forgive you Mom. Thank you for understanding about us, finally." The minister coughed gently. "Carry on." Bob announced with a smile, as he escorted Jane to the deck.

"Katherine and Nickolas, I would ask that you both remember to treat yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourself often of what brought you together today."

Nick smiled and squeezed Kathy's hand. "How can I forget what brought us together?" he whispered. Kathy giggled, missing the rest of the ministers words.

"Nickolas, do you take Katherine to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honour, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her forevermore?"

Nick turned to Kathy and took both of her hands in his. "I do."

"Katherine, do you take Nickolas to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honour, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him forevermore?"

Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she looked at Nick. "I do."

Aaron appeared at Nick's side with two small boxes. He handed them to the minister, grinned at Kathy's look of surprise and ran back up the stairs. The minister took Kathy's hand and placed it on the bible, then put Nick's hand over top of it. "Please repeat after me."

"I Nickolas, take thee Katherine to be my Wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow and I promise my love to you." The minister handed Nick a ring and continued. "With this ring, I take you as my wife, for as long as we both shall live."

Kathy was speechless and she couldn't stop her hand from shaking. "I told you I didn't need a ring." she whispered to him. "I wanted you to have one. Howie had to pick it out though." Nick told her, ruefully. "It's beautiful Nick, it really is."

The minister took their hands again, this time placing Kathy's on top.

"I Katherine, take thee Nickolas to be my Husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, in joy and sorrow and I promise my love to you." Kathy opened the other small box and held the ring between her fingers. "With this ring, I take you as my husband, for as long as we both shall live." She placed the simple gold band on Nick's finger and kissed his hand. The minister uttered the closing words of the ceremony, but in their joy, neither Kathy or Nick heard a word. "I pronounce this couple to be man and wife together, Mr and Mrs Nickolas Gene Carter! Nickolas, you may kiss your wife!" Nick pulled Kathy close to him. "Hello Mrs. Carter." "Hello Mr. Carter." she whispered back. "I love you so much." Nick said, before his lips closed on hers in a gentle kiss.

The guests clapped and cheered as the couple walked up the beach and threw wishing pebbles into the calm waters. "I wish we always feel this way." Nick murmured. "I wish nothing ever changes between us." Kathy said, emotionally, the tears falling down her face again. They joined hands and walked back to the house, climbed to the deck and were enveloped by well wishers.

Much later that night Kathy and Nick tumbled into bed, exhausted. "What a day!" Kathy yawned. "Yup. A very busy, long day." "Kind of productive though, wasn't it?" he deadpanned. "Oh yes, we got some things accomplished today." Kathy giggled, unable to keep a straight face. "We're married!" she yelled out. Nick ran his fingers through Kathy's hair, releasing the clip and letting it fall to her shoulders. "Mrs. Carter, my wife." He kissed her deeply. "I love you." "My husband." Kathy returned the kiss and lay her head on his chest in contentment. "What do you think happened with your mother?" "I have no idea. That was very odd. Not unexpected, but odd." "I'm glad she came around." Kathy murmured. "Me too, me too." "I love this ring, Nick." Kathy held her hand up and admired her wedding ring. "It's perfect. But you didn't need to get me one." "I wanted to." he protested. "What's it look like?" Kathy described the beautiul diamond for him. "I like mine too." Nick told her. "That was a surprise." They lay together quietly. "I have rehearsal tomorrow, don't I?" Nick mused, after a few moments. "Oh my God, yes, no one ever did get around to cancelling it! I'm sorry Nick." Kathy apologized. "It's alright." He shrugged. "We'll have our 'honeymoon night' tomorrow night!" "Oooh!" Kathy cooed. "I'm looking forward to it!" Nick wrapped his arms around her. "Good night Mrs. Katherine Carter." "Good night Nickolas, my husband."