The beautiful fall leaves reflected off the clear, crisp water of the lake and was a lovely backdrop for a wedding. The deck had been decorated in lavender and gold with an archway full of white roses standing near the dock. White chairs that were set up on the freshly manicured grounds were quickly filling up on that warm afternoon as I stared out the window of our bedroom, waiting for it all to begin.

Greta, Cammy and Annie fussed over my hair and dress but I tolerated it absently.

“You did say Jake was here, right,” I asked for what had to be the hundredth time.

“Yes, you freak,” Annie replied with a smile. “He’s in the downstairs guest room. All the guys are here also. Seth is escorting everyone to their seats and the minister is talking to your parents and your grandfather.”

I rubbed nervously at the tiny bump that was only visible if you looked for it forming in my abdomen. A knock on the door startled me and I turned my head quickly to find Greta admitting my father in. His face broke out into a delighted smile as soon as his eyes landed on me. “Can you ladies give us a second,” he asked. They all left the room. He took my hands and stood back to admire me. “You look so beautiful my little Belle.”

I kissed his cheek and hugged him. “Thanks, Daddy.”

“Security is pretty tight so you have nothing to worry about, although I think a few reporters somehow found out about today. But they won’t get in.” He tipped my chin when I frowned. “And I wanted to let you know about Brad.”

My eyes grew and I drew in a breath. “What?!”

“Seems when they arrested him last month they did a little digging. Apparently he and his father are responsible for some rather fraudulent deeds, not only in our country but overseas as well. They’ve issued a warrant for his father’s arrest. Brad’s going away for a very long time.”

I gave my dad a weak smile, happy that Brad could no longer pose a threat to Jake and me or to our unborn child. But I felt a little sorry for him. There had been a time when things were so glum that he’d been nice to me. I only wished the nice Brad wouldn’t have disappeared to be replaced with the one now rotting away in a jail cell. Maybe then I’d never have married him and maybe I would have reconciled a lot quicker with Jake.

“Don’t feel bad, honey,” my father said, apparently reading my mind. “I know how your heart works.” He hugged me again, careful not to wrinkle my dress. “Today is a happy day, not only for you and Jake, but for me and your family as well. Today we finally get to see our Isabella marry the man she should have married years ago.”

My smile was full blown. “I know.”

“I know Jake’s made his mistakes in the past, as you have,” he said, giving me a stern look. “But I also trust him fully and I know he’ll take care of my little girl and my grandchild. I’ve looked forward to this day since you brought him home to meet us the first time. I remember when you confessed to me all the mistakes you’d made at school and told me that you loved Jake then. I relaxed because I knew, just by the way he looked at you, that he loved you so very much also.”

I gave him a curious look. “How did you know? I didn’t even know.”

He smiled gently at me. “He reminded me of myself with your mother. And I figured if he loved you even half as much as I love your mother, I had nothing to worry about.”

Cammy knocked on the door and peeked in. “They’re ready to start, Mr. Ames.”

My dad hugged and kissed me one last time. “Let’s get you married for real this time.”

As my father escorted me out on the deck, my eyes immediately found Jake’s and I nearly lost my breath. He stood next to his friends in his elegant black tux with his dark hair gelled into a neat mess and his bright, intense blue eyes gazing only at me. As my father handed me over to him, I glanced at Nick who gave me a wink, and thought sadly of what Jake had told me regarding his crush. But I didn’t dwell on it because I knew Nick loved us both and he knew that this was what was meant to be.

We said our vows and exchanged our rings and before I knew it, I was finally Jake’s wife. He kissed me softly and lovingly as everyone around us cheered.

My mother, Jenny and Mildred were busy directing the caterers in the kitchen as a photographer snapped picture after picture. Seth snatched me away when the photographer took a break and kissed my cheek. “This shoulda happened years ago, Bella, but it doesn’t matter. At least you both finally came to your senses. Now maybe I’ll stop worrying about you.”

A makeshift dance floor had been constructed on the grounds and Rhetorical Outlook graciously volunteered to play for our reception. When it came time for our dance, they played the song Jake wrote about the night we met and I cried shamelessly in his arms as he held me. Jake wiped my tears and kissed my forehead.

The evening came to an end and after I changed, a limo took Jake and I to the airport. He was taking me to an exotic island in the Caribbean for a couple weeks. He wrapped an arm around me as I rested my head on his shoulders. “You looked amazing today, Iz,” he whispered to me. “And I can’t tell you how happy you made me.”

“Not nearly as happy as you’ve made me,” I told him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Hey, Iz,” someone whispered. I opened my eyes and found Jake smiling down on me. “How you feeling today?”

“Sore,” I croaked. “But better. What time is it?”

“Early,” he said as he dropped the rail on the bed and crawled up next to me. “The nurse told me she was gonna bring the baby in soon.”

I yawned. “Is everyone still here or did you send them home?”

He grinned. “Your parents and your grandfather stood in the nursery window forever last night but they finally went home around 3, when the nurses kicked them out. They said Seth and Caroline would be here today.”

“What about the guys?”

“They went home after the baby was born. They said they’d come see you today. You were pretty zonked last night.”

“It sucks I only got to see my family. I wanted to see everyone else,” I pouted.

He hugged me. “You had a rough labor, Iz. You needed to rest. They all understood; Greta especially since she went through it herself last month.”

A nurse knocked softly on the door and smiled when she spotted us together on the bed. She wheeled in a bassinette and Jake jumped up.

“Stay where you are, Mr. Johnson,” the nurse said. She lifted the wiggling bundle up and placed it in his arms. Jake’s face softened and I could see the moisture gathering in his eyes. “Just ring if you need anything.”

“She looks just like you, Iz,” Jake said, kissing his daughter’s face.

I peered in at her and felt my heart melt. “She has your dark hair.” I stroked her little fist. “She’s gonna have her hands full, you know; growing up with three little boys.”

Jake snorted. “She’ll keep them all in line, just wait and see.” He kissed her little head again. “She’s always got Seth’s Megan to play with, not to mention the fact that they’re about to have another little girl soon.”

“I know, but Seth is so far away. At least all the guys have kids around her age. It’ll be nice that they all will have someone to play with.”

“We gotta keep an eye on Nick’s kid. That little boy already has an attitude and he’s only what, eight months old?”

I nodded as I took the baby from Jake. I snuggled her to my chest and watched as her eyes drifted shut. I looked up at Jake and caught him smiling at us.

“I can’t decide,” he said.

I wrinkled my brow. “On what? Her name? I thought we already decided that.”

“Allyson Jane Johnson, yes, I know. It’s perfect,” he said, kissing her head again. “I meant I can’t decide if this is the best day of my life or not.”

“I would think it would be,” I pointed out.

He kissed me softly. “Well, I was thinking that if I hadn’t met you that night, I wouldn’t have all this now.”

“Then there was our wedding day,” I added with a smirk.

“Don’t complicate things, woman,” he said playfully.

“Well there’s no law stating you have to have a best day,” I told him.

He looked at me lovingly before leaning in to kiss me again. “You’re absolutely right. How about if I just say everyday with you is the best day of my life?”

I smiled brightly and lifted my chin to accept another kiss from him. “You’re absolutely right,” I told him. And he was.

A/N: It’s over! (sniff). I’m really going to miss these guys because they’ve been with me for a long time (longer than the time it took me to write it). But I did the first chapter of the kids’ story last night and I know for certain Nick will be in there (as well as what becomes of him) and the rest of the band and their significant others will make appearances so I’m not gonna be too depressed.

Anyway, I want to thank every single one of you who have reviewed and encouraged me and gave me suggestions. There would no sense in me writing if it wasn’t for you

I don’t know when I’ll post the kids’ story. Probably not til next week. I want to work on the Rookie series also. Here’s a little preview of the new, so far nameless, story:

Cole faced RJ and Jamie. “I know where there’s a great party off campus. Do you guys wanna go?”

“Yeah,” RJ said as he finished his beer and tossed the can under the bleachers.

“Jamie,” Ally hissed. “If you get caught drinking, they’ll throw you off the football team.”

Jamie rolled his eyes. “Ally, I’m not that stupid.” He looked at Cole. “I’m in.”

Ally groaned and grabbed Cole’s sleeve. “I’m coming, too. Someone needs to babysit you three.”

Thanks again and I hope you all read the new story once I get it posted.