Chapter 9

…

4 months later

…

Sharon stood in front of the long mirror of the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza hotel room as she took in her appearance, a knock at the door brought her out of her day dream.

"Mom…"

She turned around to see Emily looking at her, a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.

"Darling, is it time."

"Yup, everyone's downstairs waiting."

"Andrea?"

"Just waiting for you, she's outside."

Sharon took a deep breath as Emily approached her.

"Mom, you look so beautiful."

Sharon was dressed in a simple white lace dress that stopped just below her knees with a white lace shrug over her shoulders. Emily smoothed down the side of the dress before kissing her mother's cheek.

"I can't believe you guys are finally getting married."

"I just wanted to make sure Andrea was one hundred percent healed before we did this."

"Come on, we better not keep her waiting."

Sharon followed Emily out of the room to see Andrea standing at the elevator waiting for her. Andrea was wearing a chiffon one shoulder dress that flared out below the knee, her hair flowed around her bare shoulder as Sharon smiled taking in her beautiful bride to be.

"I thought you were never coming." Andrea smiled.

"Sorry, I just wanted this to be prefect."

"It is, you are…prefect." Andrea smiled, kissing her.

"Okay ladies, not kissing until you say "I do"…come on, lets not keep everyone waiting."

They got in to the elevator, silence filling the small space, Andrea could see Sharon was nervous and took tight hold of her hand in support.

"We'll be fine Sharon, everything will go to plan."

"I just can't believe we're finally doing this."

"I know me either but I'm glad we are. I can't imagine being with anyone else."

"Me too."

As the doors opened, the couple stepped out with Emily to see Ricky waiting for them by the door that led them out to the garden of the hotel, the spot used on many occasions for a wedding.

"Wow, you guys look amazing." Ricky smiled.

"Thank you sweetheart."

"I can't believe you guys are finally doing it. Andrea, I love your dress and mom…you look…"

"She looks perfect."

Sharon turned to see Rusty standing behind them dressed in his tux, Sharon couldn't help the tears that formed in her eyes at how perfect all three of her children looked.

"Rusty…"

"Hey, so…are we ready to do this."

"Mmmm, we're ready."

"Okay, I'll go tell them to start the music." Emily smiled, as she rushed ahead.

Rusty took hold of Sharon's arm, ready to escort her down the aisle, while Ricky took hold of Andrea's.

"Are you ready Andrea?" He asked.

"I'm ready, thank you for doing this for me."

"Please, I'm happy to do it. It's just a shame both your fathers aren't here to see it."

Andrea kissed his cheek as they began to hear the music playing for them.

"Okay guys, this is it…time to get married." Ricky smiled.

…

Everyone stood up as the music for Pashelbel Canon began to play, the door's to the garden opened and Sharon and Andrea began to walk down the aisle, Rusty accompanying Sharon and Ricky with Andrea. Amy was standing next to Julio, Morales and Buzz while Provenza, Andy and Mike who was with his wife were in the seats behind them. Sharon's mom and Andrea's mom were in the front row with Emily, who had a camcorder taking the footage for Rusty. Some of Sharon and Andrea's friends outside of work were also there along with Fritz and Brenda.

"Oh my god, the Captain looks so beautiful." Amy stated.

"I can't believe how hot Hobbs looks in that dress." Morales added.

"Hey."

Amy slapped his arm and gave him a look.

"I didn't mean it like, I've just never seen Andrea quite as dressed up before, she's beautiful and the Captain, wow…I mean both of them…wow."

Sharon's mom wiped tears from her eyes as she watched her daughter walk down the aisle, after all those bad years with Jack, she was happy to see her daughter smile again. Andrea's mom couldn't take her eyes off her daughter as tears feel from her eyes, Emily joining them as she tried to keep a steady hold of the camera.

"I can't believe how beautiful our daughters look, Thomas dreamed of seeing Sharon happy again." Ester smiled.

"I know what you mean; Andrea's father would have loved to see this…I'm sure Stephen's looking down on her today" Victoria smiled.

Andy smiled as Sharon passed by them on her way down the aisle.

"I can't believe they're finally doing it." Andy whispered to Louie.

"I can't believe I'm actually at a gay wedding."

"See, now you can die happy."

"They look wonderful." Louie smiled.

"Oh my god, Louie Provenza's gone sentimental."

"Oh shut up."

The music came to a stop as Sharon and Andrea stood side by side in front of the officiant to perform the ceremony for them. Sharon stood grasping Andrea's hand, still nervous. She had been so concerned about how her mother would feel about her marrying Andrea, given their catholic faith but her mother couldn't deny her daughter's happiness after everything Jack had put her through. They'd known from the beginning that Sharon wouldn't be allowed to be married in the church her family always attended back home which was how Emily had managed to organise the hotel for their wedding ceremony, which both Sharon and Andrea had been more than happy with. Andrea looked at Sharon, smiling as the officiant began.

"Welcome family and friends as we gather here today to celebrate the union of Sharon Elizabeth Raydor and Andrea Louise Hobbs. It is my honour to be standing here and I want to thank you on behalf of Sharon and Andrea for gathering on this beautiful day to support them on their wedding day and to celebrate their individuality, who they are as a couple, and who they will become as wives. Now I asked the ladies what it was that made them fall in love with each other and they both came up with their individual lists. Andrea, would you like to begin?"

Andrea looked up, a small smile on her face before turning to take the ring she'd picked out for Sharon from Ricky.

"Sharon, from the moment I met you, I knew there was something special about you. I took a while for me to realise what it was about you that I fell in love with…your honesty, your compassion and patience you have for others and for me make you who you are. I couldn't imagine anyone else that I'd want to spend the rest of my life with. I love you Sharon, I will remind myself and you every single day of that."

Sharon let a tear roll down her cheek as Andrea slid the simple white gold band on to her finger.

"Sharon, would you like to go."

Sharon nodded slowly, allowing Andrea to wipe the tear from her face before she turned to Rusty and retrieved Andrea's ring.

"I wish I could say that I feel in love with you from the moment I met you but I'd be lying, however I did end up beginning one of the best friendships I think I have ever made, it took a while for me to realise my true feelings for you Andrea but that first night in the rain when you took me for drinks and you kissed me, I wasn't sure back then what that kiss really meant. I think it finally hit me on our third night out, when you took hold of my hand in the restaurant. That moment when you touched me, I felt something for you that I knew then was love and since then I haven't stopped loving you. When you were hurt not so long ago, I feared I would lose you and if it weren't for my team, my kids…and you, I don't think I'd have coped. I never had an easy first marriage and I often wondered if I would ever fall in love again, let alone get married but being with you is the happiest I've ever been, you're someone I know I can reply on, to be there for me when I need you and I love you for that." She smiled.

"Sharon and Andrea, these are the qualities that you treasure most about each other; remind yourselves each and every day of them. A successful relationship takes more than just love and by making this commitment your relationship will become stronger and even more filled with love. So in front of you family and friends by the power vested in me I now pronounce you wives for life…Andrea, Sharon…you make now kiss."

Sharon and Andrea turned to look back at one another before Andrea wrapped her arms around Sharon's waist and kissed her wife. Everyone around them stood up and applauded the couple, Andrea and Sharon smiling as they made their way back inside.

"So, we did it." Andrea said.

"We did."

"Are you happy?"

"Oh honey, I have never been so happy in my entire life, I can't wait to spend every moment with you."

"I love you so much."

"I love you too."

Emily walked up and gently closed the door in front of her to give her mom and step mom a moment alone, a moment to reflect on the moment that brought them there today, their love.

…

-Fin