The Wedding

She stood her eyes already filling with tears as her father took her arm. "Are you sure about this?" Martin questioned.
Theresa took a deep breath, "Yes, I know what I’m doing." She smiled looking up the aisle as the music began to play. She watched fingers crossed as Jada and Kendra walked next to each other, throwing rose petals, with huge grins on their faces.
"I’m up." Gwen smiled as she began to slowly walk up the aisle, yellow roses in her hand.
Theresa smiled touching the white gown with her hand. It was almost time, and she was ready, ready to become Mrs. Chad Crane.
There was a pause as the music stopped, and quickly another song came on. It wasn’t the wedding march, but her song to Chad.
"Its time." Martin smiled. "I love you sweetheart."
"I love you papa." Theresa smiled tears in her eyes. Everyone stood and Theresa looked at her father. "I’m ready."
"You’ve been ready for this day your whole life." He laughed.

Looking back from where I stand tonight
I wouldn't change a thing about my life
Wrong turns I had to take back in those crazy years
Could not have been mistakes if they brought me here

She began her slow walk up the aisle, friends and family smiling at her as her father lead her. Her life would change again today, but this was a good change, this would include Chad and his little girl.
 

'Cause all my roads have led me to
This night, this love I share with you
And though the road was never smooth
Life has made me someone who
Could be the right someone for you

She looked up the aisle to see another arm waiting for her, glancing at her father she almost saw a frown. "I guess I give her to you now." He spoke to the man waiting.
"You gave her to me a long time ago." Miguel’s stern voice spoke. "Luis was her father, and I was there to help him."
"Yes, yes your right son." Martin frowned as Theresa moved from her father, taking Miguel’s arm. It wasn’t the normal thing to do, but it was the right thing. Miguel was the one that had been there, and he was the one who deserved to walk her the rest of the way, to actually give her away. Her brother was her best friend, the man that she now looked to when she needed guidance.

I don't regret a single broken heart
That taught me what love is and what it's not
Someone must have planned our two paths would cross
I couldn't see it then but I was never lost

Theresa had always wondered what a bride thought about as she walked up the aisle. Was it the future? Or perhaps their childhood? As she saw Chad standing, waiting with a smile on his face, her thoughts went to Luis and Sheridan, to the happiest day of their lives. It was much like today, the sun shining down on them, a church full of people waiting for Sheridan to walk down the aisle in her stunning white gown. Sheridan had been the most beautiful bride, her eyes sparkling even though Julian stood was a sullen look on his face. It wasn’t her father that gave her away, nor was it her brother. No, it was Ethan, her former nephew. Things had changed since that day, the Cranes were actually a family, Julian was a father, a grandfather, and a uncle. Julian now loved his wife, and the Lopez-Fitzgerald’s were more than just accepted, they were part of the family.
 

'Cause all my roads have led me to
This night, this love I share with you
And though the road was never smooth
Life has made me someone who
Could be the right someone for you

Today the Lopez-Fitzgerald’s stood on the same side of the church as the Crane’s. Ivy and Pilar standing side by side, and Ericka stood behind them holding Matt. The only thing that looked familiar was the frown on Jasolyn’s face. She would always be a ‘true’ Crane, Theresa thought to herself. "Almost there." Miguel whispered. "Almost time for me to let you go."
Theresa took a deep breath. "You’ll always have me little brother."
"I’m going to hold you to that." He whispered back. As they finally approached Chad. Theresa saw him standing there, a nervous smile on his face as he looked at her.
 

Detours, dead ends, endless explorations
You were my only destination

'Cause all my roads have led me to
This night, this love I share with you
And though the road was never smooth
Life has made me someone who
Could be the right someone for you

In her eyes he saw true beauty, a woman with such strength, so much faith in life. The woman walking toward him, had taught him how to fight against the heartache of life, she had showed him it was possible to be happy no matter what was put in front of you.
When she finally faced him, he saw her smile beaming up at him, her brown eyes staring in to his as she hung on to Miguel’s arm.
Slowly Miguel turned to her, his hazel eyes never leaving his sister. "This is what your dreams have been about." He whispered. "This day and this man." Turning to Chad he smirked. "Hurt her and die."
"You don’t have to worry about that man." Chad grinned as Theresa kissed Miguel’s cheek, and slipped her arm from his, her hands nervously falling into Chad’s hands.
Father Lonigan smiled. "Who gives this woman away." He questioned.
Miguel looked at his sister and then paused to look at Chad. "I do Father."
Theresa smiled at Miguel. "Always." She smiled at her brother as he walked over to take a seat next to Pilar.
"We are here today to join Chad Harris Crane and Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald in Holy Matrimony." Father Lonigan smiled. "Today two hearts become one, as these two young people pledge their love for one another. If anyone can show just cause why these two should not be wed let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
After a moment Father Lonigan spoke again. "The love this couple shares is something that came in mist of tragedy. Because of all they have been through, they chose to write their own vows and will now speak them. Chad and Theresa please join hands."
Chad once again took Theresa’s hands into his own. Her smile shined up at him and all nervousness lifted as he saw truth in her eyes.

"I spent hours trying to write the perfect vows, I tried to make them sound all poetic, make them look good for everyone but in the end I couldn’t read them. I can’t express how I feel with a bunch of words that I don’t mean, but instead I’ve got to be me and tell you from my heart. Theresa you came into my life years ago, this young girl that just wanted to be in love. I’ve watched you change from that girl to this woman that stands in front me, and I know that its the woman I look at now that I love with everything in me. I can’t promise you a easy road, because we both know we don’t have the best luck." Theresa laughed gently as Chad spoke once more. "But I will promise you my heart and everything that goes with it. I’ll be your husband and your best friend, I’ll be there for you through all the good and the bad because that’s what love’s about, you taught me that. The girl I met years ago may have changed into a woman, but your courage hasn’t changed, and for that I love you even more. My whole life I’ve believed in finding love and sticking with it, your that love Theresa, and I promise you I’m going to stand by you no matter how rough the road gets."

Theresa felt tears fill her eyes as she smiled up at Chad. He was everything to her and his words, the words from his heart proved he felt the same.

"Chad." She spoke through the tears. "You know me, and You know I worked hard on the perfect vows. Mine did come out poetic but now I know I can’t use them. Chad you’ve helped change me more than you’ll ever realize. The person you are helped me grow, and I just want to thank you for that. I remember that girl I use to be, I hate that girl now, but I will never regret the friendship I made with you back then. After Luis’s death you were a ray of sunshine to me, you came in and wrapped your arms around me and I felt safe. For the first time in years I felt safe again. It was your love that helped bring me back from my own pain, you were the one that picked me up again. I promise you I’ll be your rock, someone you can depend on, the kind of woman you can love and trust. I give you my word that I’ll share with you everything, my life is with you my heart is yours. I know there will be pain, and I know there will be tears, I mean we both know about me and tears." She laughed softly as he took her hand a smirk on his own face. "But with those tears we’ll have joy and together we can make it through anything. I love you Chad, you are my true fate, my only love."

As Theresa finished she looked up to see a single tear roll down Chad’s face.

"Who here has the rings?" Father Lonigan questioned.
Gwen and Justin smiled and stepped forward.
"Chad, please take the ring and place it on Theresa’s finger as a symbol of your never ending love. Repeat after me, "With this ring I thee wed."
Chad took the silver band from Justin and placed it on Theresa’s small shaking hand. "With this ring I thee wed."
"Theresa would you please do the same?" Father Lonigan asked.
With a soft nod Theresa took the ring from Gwen, slowly she placed on Chad’s finger and through tears whispered. "With this ring I thee wed."
"By the speaking of their vows and the exchanging of the rings, Chad and Theresa have given themselves to each other. May God shine down on this young couple as they begin a new phase in their lives, that being said By the powers vested in me I now pronounce you man and wife. Chad, you may kiss your bride."
With a bright smile Chad lowered his head and kissed Theresa for the first time as his wife. Ignoring the clapping of their friends they held their moment until Chad finally pulled away.
"I now present to you Mr. And Mrs.. Chad Crane." Father Lonigan finished.
"We’re married." Chad whispered kissing Theresa once again.
"We really did it." She laughed as he hugged her. "I love you so much Chad."
"I love you too girl, always."
"We’re married!" Jada’s voice giggled up at her daddy as she ran over to the couple who still stood at the alter. Chad smiled as he picked up his daughter, Theresa lifting Kendra into her arms.
"That’s right baby, we’re a family now." He said kissing her cheek.
"I got a family again." Kendra smiled hugging Theresa. Again the crowd clapped as Theresa and Chad walked down the aisle together, not before stopping and taking Matt with them. A new family had been created with a lot of love and many prayers.
~*~*~*~