Finally: Chapter One

A/N: I own nothing. All rights go to CBC and Lauren Brooke and Safetysuit for the lyrics I included in this story. This is Never Stop by Safetysuit. It is the song I imagine Ty and Amy dancing to at their reception and kind of what inspired this story. (These aren't all the lyrics. Also credits to Heartlandians on tumblr, because she was talking about this song and that's where I heard of it. :) )

"This is my love song to you

Let every woman know I'm yours

So you can fall asleep each night, babe

And know I'm dreaming of you more

You're always hoping that we make it

You always want to keep my gaze

Well you're the only one I see

And that's the one thing that won't change

I'll never stop trying

I'll never stop watching as you leave

I'll never stop losing my breath

Every time I see you looking back at me

I'll never stop holding your hand

I'll never stop opening your door

I'll never stop choosing you babe

I'll never get used to you

And with this love song to you

It's not a momentary phase

You are my life, I don't deserve you

But you love me just the same

And as the mirror says we're older

I will not look the other way

You are my life, my love, my only

And that's the one thing that won't change."

Amy looked over at Ty and smiled broadly, warmth and joy radiating from her face as Ty rode a safe distance away from her on his motorcycle so as not to spook Spartan. They were riding away from the arena where their wedding ceremony had just been held, back to Heartland for the reception.

Amy was riding sidesaddle since she was wearing her wedding dress. It had taken her a long time to pick one out-she just couldn't seem to settle on one she really loved. Finally she went back to her mother, Marian's dress. She thought it was just right for her-not too plain but not too fancy, and it was very special to her. It was almost as if her mom was there with her as Lou and Lisa had helped her button up the back of the dress her mother had worn some twenty-odd years ago.

They were almost back to Heartland, the trail of cars that held the wedding guests slowly trailing behind them. The decorations were beautiful. Lights were strung from the barn and rose petals were sprinkled from the barn walkway to a medium-sized tent where they would be having cake and other food, and also where they would dance.

Amy halted Spartan just outside the barn and Ty drove up beside her. "Wow," He said, a big grin on his face, "It looks fantastic."

Amy nodded. "Lou and Grandpa did a great job." She said. Ty turned off his motorcycle and stepped off, coming to stand by Amy. "The way I heard it, you helped a lot, too." He said.

Amy smiled and leaned down to place a quick kiss on his cheek as the guests began to get out of their cars. Ty looked so handsome, she thought. He was wearing a tuxedo and nicely polished shoes, and when she had leaned down to kiss his cheek, she had smelled the faint scent of some type of manly-smelling cologne.

Amy and Ty walked, hand in hand, over to the reception tent. Amy made sure her dress was all right and Lou buzzed past them, getting food ready to serve and turning on the music.

"Lou," Amy laughed, "Calm down a little. Everyone's supposed to have *fun* at the reception, not stress out."

Lou cracked a small smile and opened up a cooler of beer. "Being a wedding planner is hard work." She said, critically counting the number of cans. "But a lot of fun," She added quickly.

Guests began to come into the tent and congratulate the newlyweds, then move on to get their food and sit down at the tables to eat it.

There was Ashley Stanton and Val there, as well as Jesse-at this both Amy and Ty grimaced. Mrs. Bell was there and had brought Sugarfoot, who she was feeding cake outside the tent now.

Cassandra had come and so had Caleb, of course, since he was the best man. Amy wondered how tricky and awkward that might be for Caleb and Cassandra, since Jesse was there as well.

Scott was there, as well as a lot of Amy's past and present clients in the horse world. A lot of relatives Amy hadn't seen in years had come. Mallory and Soraya had both been able to make it, which made Amy even happier than she already was.

But what really surprised Amy was that Wade was there-and not only Wade, but Ty's mom as well. She was there, looking sickly and too thin, dark circles underneath her eyes. Her hands shook a little when she hugged them both, but Amy could see from Ty's expression and the way he blinked back tears that he was glad she had come.

"Alright, let's cut the cake!" Lou announced brightly, walking over to Ty and handing him a knife.

The small crowd of guests-no more than eighty people-looked intently on as Ty carefully cut the white wedding cake.

He grinned slyly as he scooped a big bite of cake up on a fork and pushed it into Amy's mouth, getting little bits of icing on her face.

The guests laughed. Amy, wiping bits of cake from her mouth, took the fork and shoved a bite of cake into his mouth. The little fiasco ended in Amy and Ty laughing together, kissing with icing-smeared lips.

Tim looked on from the back of the tent where he stood with Casey. "Have you ever seen such a happy couple?" He asked. "They're almost *too* happy together."

Casey chuckled. "I think it's great." She said. "They love each other and they are very open about it." She glanced up at Tim pointedly. He looked away quickly, pretending to fiddle with his beer.

A slow song came on and the tables and chairs were pushed back. It was time for the father-daughter dance.

Tim hurriedly handed his beer to Casey and walked forward a bit awkwardly. Amy took control of the situation and guided her father onto the dance floor.

They began dancing slowly to a bittersweet song about fathers and daughters and Tim spoke quietly into Amy's ear. "You look beautiful, honey."

"Thanks, Dad." She smiled and waited for whatever he was about to say next-she knew something else was coming.

"Uh...I know I haven't always been the best...the best dad to you and Lou," Tim began. "But...I'm here for you now, and I love you."

Amy worked hard to keep the tears at bay. Something about this damn sentimental song combined with some rare sentimental words from her ordinarily gruff father were getting her choked up.

"Thank you." Amy said. "I love you, too, Dad."

The song was about to end and Tim said one more thing. "I guess I approve of Ty. He's an okay guy. Not my first choice, but..."

"Dad!" Amy exclaimed. Tim chuckled. "Kidding, kidding." He said as they parted and walked off the dance floor. "Mostly kidding, anyway."

Amy rolled her eyes, but she was smiling as she walked back over to Ty.

"What did he say?" He asked. "Oh..." Amy was about to tell him but another slow song came on; this one a bit more upbeat.

"May I have this dance?" Ty asked, his green eyes sparkling in the lights as he extended his hand to his new bride.

"You may."

Amy took his hand and Ty swept her along the dance floor with ease. Amy was surprised he danced this well. She remembered when he had secretly asked for dance lessons from Lou so he would know how to dance for a school dance of Amy's.

He had improved so much since then. But then, Amy thought, something about that night when they had clumsily danced in the back of his truck with the radio playing, Ty stepping on her toes once or twice and blushing furiously as he did it, was so sweet. So...lovable.

"What are you thinking about?" Ty whispered.

"Do you remember that night when you truck broke down going to a school dance of mine, so we just danced in the bed of your truck?"

Ty chuckled. "That seems like forever ago...but it really wasn't *that* long." He said. "I wasn't a very good dancer then."

"But it was cute." Amy said. "I kind of liked it."

"Oh you did, did you?" Ty raised his eyebrows teasingly. "Well let's see, I don't think all of the bad dancer in me is gone..."

Even though they both knew all eyes were on them and Lou was furiously snapping pictures, Ty seemed to stop trying to dance well.

He was right; there was still a lot of the bad dancer in him if he stopped thinking about what he was doing. He stepped on Amy's foot twice in the next couple seconds, accidentally.

Just like that time years ago, his cheeks turned red as he did it. He pulled Amy close to him and softly said "Sorry," into her ear.

She laughed, innocently happy, and said, "I think it's adorable."

Ty kissed her softly as the song ended. Guests clapped loudly, and some whistled.

Some faster country songs started to play and guests started dancing. Amy and Ty walked outside the tent just to get a breath of fresh air.

"This is the happiest day of my life." Ty said, and Amy could tell from his voice that he meant it.

"I've waited a long time for us to be married." Amy said.

"Do you think it was worth the wait?"

"Of course!" She exclaimed. "Come on, we'd better go back inside the tent. It sounds like the music's dying down."

Sure enough, the reception was ending. They had come inside just in time as people hugged him and congratulated them.

Amy had put on the wedding invitation that gifts weren't necessary, but still a large heap of gifts were piled on an empty spot on one of the tables.

Soraya came and gleefully hugged her friend of many years. "I'm so happy for you!" She said.

"Thanks, Soraya. I'm so so glad you could come. I wish you could stay longer."

"I do, too, but I have a morning flight back tomorrow. Work and all."

"Also a boyfriend?" Amy asked impishly.

Soraya laughed. "Yes, yes." She said. They hugged again.

Mallory was next in line to offer congratulations. "Congratulations" she said as she hugged first Amy, then Ty.

"We all knew this would happen. It took you two long enough."

Amy laughed. Mallory was the same old Mallory, alright. She hadn't changed a bit personality-wise-although she was taller now, and wore fashionable heels instead of converse tennis shoes or cowgirl boots.

After all of the guests had gone through the line, they all started to filter out and leave. The faint sound of cars driving down the Heartland driveway could be heard as Ty and Amy helped the rest of the family put up the decorations.

"What are you doing?!" Lou said loudly when she saw Amy clearing off a table of food.

"Cleaning up." Amy said nonchalantly. "We can't just leave you guys to do all the work."

"Yes you can, and you will." Lou said, shooing them out of the tent.

Laughing, Amy went into the Heartland house to change and Ty went up to the loft. Amy was changing into Wranglers and a T-shirt, her usual everyday wear. There was no use in messing up the wedding dress on the drive over to the fishing cabin.

Ty and Amy met out at Ty's truck. The family-Tim, Lou, Jack, Lisa, Georgie and Katie were standing by the truck to say goodbye. Balloons and bells had been tied to the hitch and "Just Married" was spray painted on the back.

Grandpa hugged them both and told Ty to drive safely and take care of Amy. He told Amy he loved her and that she was marrying a good man. Amy could hear him get a little emotional as he said it. She hugged him tighter and said, "I know, Grandpa."

They climbed into the truck, their bags thrown in the back, and waved goodbye to the family as they drove off towards the fishing cabin.