(Picture of baby Hope above).

Annie took a deep breath trying to tame the wild butterflies dancing around in her stomach,which added to the beating of her heart. Her palms felt clammy,even though the hotel's air-conditioning was on full blast.

If this was how every bride felt on their special day. . . Well, it wasn't exactly thrilling.

Any minute now,they would set out for the church where she would be joined forever in holy matrimony to the love of her life. She couldn't decide which scared her more. The fact that she was going to give up her last name and take on a new one or that all that happened so far was a dream.

Either way,she couldn't help the restless feeling inside her. And she couldn't pinpoint the reason for the feeling either!

Behind her,the door burst open and
Lea,her friend and chief brides-maid, appeared in the door way clad in a knee length blue and white chiffon gown,her hair swept back into a chignon style and her makeup all done smoothly. Lea looked so beautiful that Annie could only wonder why she wasn't walking down the aisle herself.

"Annie,we would be leaving in few minutes." She announced as she stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. The smile she was wearing melted away at the sight of distress on Annie's face. "Hey, getting the jitters already?"

Annie shrugged as she turned to eye her reflection in the mirror.

Sleeveless Vera Wang ivory satin dress she wore had a full bodice which had many beads scattered across it. The train,on her request, was about six feet,with the veil matching the length. Her shoulder length dark hair was styled up and held by a silver tiara,which was decorated with several rubies. Her five inches silver strappy louboutin heels gave her the needed height to match with her husband-to-be tall frame. The makeup artist kept the makeover to a minimal. Adding enough makeup to make her beautiful, but not to much to make her face stand out.

She looked, as Jovon would say, 'beautiful' Even through the last months together before he proposed,Jovon Phim always referred to her as beautiful. Annie never minded,and always took the compliment he dished out to her,because Jovon rarely gave compliments and when he did,she basked in it big time.

Lea  came up behind her, maneuvering around the train of her dress with care. Then she threw her arms around Annie with a fond smile.

"You can't be getting those now." Lea met her gaze in the mirror.

"You're going to be Mrs. Phim  in few hours. You should be ecstatic."

"I am." She sighed. "But I just can't get that feeling that something bad is going to happen out of my gut."

"Oh,come on." Lea released her and moved until she was standing directly in front of her. "Stop getting negative thoughts. Everything would work out fine,worry wart."

Annie smiled. "I suppose this is how every bride feels on their big day. The fear of the unknown. What if Jovon gets tired of me?"

"You're being a worry wart again." She rolled her eyes. "Deep down inside of you you know Jovon loves you as much as you love him. Don't let your insecurities weigh you down." She cocked a penciled brow. "What happened to ass kicking on the big day?"

Annie shrugged. "Celine's words must be rubbing off me."

After Celine had been sentenced to ten years in prison, where she would spend the first five years in a mental asylum until she's fine. And if she wasn't still okay, then she would spend the rest of her life there. Just that day in court, she'd told Annie that she wouldn't let she and Jovon get married in peace. Skylar had been sentenced to life in prison, never to come outside again.

"She's locked away in prison, where she can't hurt you anymore."

"I know." Annie sighed. "You're right. I'm just being a worry wart. Everything's going to work out fine."

Lea beamed. "Now that's the spirit!"
The door opened again and this time,Arabella Mckade and her husband,Cassie and Ella  filed into the room,each of them wearing happy grins on their faces. Before she could protest, Annie was being hugged by her mother who sniffed as she stepped back to stare at her.

"My daughter is all big now, Steve." Arabella told Steve who stood to the side with his arms crossed across his chest. "I can't believe you're getting married so soon." She burst into a sob as she released her.

Annie's eyes filled with tears. "Oh, mama. Don't cry,you'll make me cry too."

Steve leaned over to kiss Annie on her cheeks. "You could still back out of this now,Sweets."

"Not a chance,Papa."

He shrugged with a smile. "Just thought I'd try." Then his smile faded into a small scowl. "I'll miss you so much,my baby."

Few tears escaped her eyes before she could stop them. "I'll miss you too papa." She hugged her father as she tried to rein in her tears.

It had taken sometime for her to forgive her father after the way he treated her, but with the help of God and her psychiatrist, she learned to forgive the people who wronged her, but she won't forget- at least not yet- she was still working towards that.

"Oh no. You'll ruin her make up!" Cassie, her oldest sister-in-law, cried from behind their father. "Mom,dad out with you."

Steve drew back from his daughter with a laugh as he gave her one last peck before tucking Arabella's hand in his arm. His Charcoal three piece suit gave him that boyish look, which made him glow. Annie's heart squeezed at the thought of her moving across the ocean after her wedding.

She was going to miss her family.
Rafaella Mckade her second sister-in law ,glanced at her before turning to her parents.

"Mom,dad. Would you mind waiting for us down in the lobby?"

"'Course not." Arabella sniffed. She stepped forward to kiss Annie on both of her cheeks. "I love you baby."

"I love you too,mama."

Steve led his wife out of the room with his arms around her as he whispered words of comfort to her. Immediately the door closed behind them, Cassie was beside her in the blink of an eye.

"Annie,what is the matter?"

"Just the normal." Lea said. "Pre-wedding jitters."

"Ah." Ella grinned. "Every bride gets one of those. It felt so surreal the day I was about to marry Liam too. It felt as if I was having an out of the body experience."

"Although I am not married, I can say I relate to that." Lea sighed dreamily.

Cassie rolled her eyes. "You would know, considering you have four men waiting hands and foot on you."

"That's my business not yours." Lea narrowed her eyes at Cassie.

While some people had been accepting of Lea's relationship with her four bodyguards, Cassie had been totally against it. Not that she wasn't happy that Lea found someone who loved her- or in her case, men who loved her- Cassie hadn't just wrapped her head around it yet. Everyone knew she would come around eventually.

"Guys,please." Annie stepped between them. "Can you put your opinion aside for today and just bond for me?" She gazed at them with pleading eyes. "Please?"

Lea huffed. "Fine." She started towards the door. "I'll go and check on the remaining bride-maids. See you in ten minutes."

"I've got a bad feeling about that relationship." Cassie said immediately the door closed.

Ella rolled her eyes. "You never liked the relationship from the start." To Annie. "How does it feel to be an almost bride?"

"Scared. Happy. Confused. The list is long,El."

"Happy is one good emotion right now. But the others aren't."

"I agree." Cassie moved to stand on her right. "Don't tell me you're having the proverbial cold feet."

"I'm not."

Ella grinned as she also took her place on Annie's left. "Good. Because we Mckade's go for what we want. And we kick asses while at it."

"So what do you say to giving Phim a run for his money?"

Annie beamed. "I'd say yes!"

"That's better."

A brief knock came on the door,before it was pushed open. Lea's head poked inside.

"It's time."

*                            *                           *

The renditions of  A thousand years by The piano guys ( originally by Christina Perri)  rented the air the same time the double large oak church door was pulled open from the inside.  The guests seated in the church pews, all two thousand of them, rose to their feet at the sight of the bride on the church threshold.

Under the veil, Annie fought back her tears at the sight of the white flowers dangling from the sparkling crystal chandelier high in the ceiling. The church was decorated with white just as she wished it.

Several flower crowns decorated the pews and several of them littered the red rug which led to the altar. There Jovon stood all in his handsome glory, his dark hair gelled back to the nape of his neck. He was dressed in a white tuxedo, complete with a royal blue bow tie and matching shoes.

A smile graced those full lips she loved so much when he saw her. And even though he couldn't see her face, she smiled back.

Steve walked over to stand before her with a tears swimming in his own eyes. "Are you ready to start a new chapter in your life now?"

Annie took in a shaky breath. "Yes, daddy."

"I give you my blessing,my baby." Steve tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. "Let's get this show on the road."

They began the slow walk to the altar. The song intensified with each step she took. Annie basked in the smiles on the face of her close friends,acquaintances,as she went.

The white bouquet she held sparkled with several diamonds in the bright light. She smiled at her sister's-in-law and mother who was silently weeping and wiping her face with a white handkerchief.

Hope, her eight month old baby, showed off her two bottom teeth and deep dimples on each cheek, when she saw Annie. Annie returned the smile affectionately.
After what felt like an eternity,they arrived at the altar where Jovon calmly held his right hand out to her.

"Who gives this woman?" The priest asked them.

"I,Steve Mckade, hand over my daughter to you,Jovon Phim with my blessing." Steve said as he placed her hand in Jovon's. "Take care of her."

"I will." Jovon nodded as he led her to the pulpit where the priest stood in his white regalia with a white Bible in his hand.

Jovon turned to face Annie and raised his hand to push her veil back. He smiled at her,while mouthing an 'I love you' at her.

The songs ceased immediately, and the church became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop in the silence.

"Now you will feel no rain ,for each of you will be shelter for the other . Now you will feel no cold ,for each of you will be warmth to the other . Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other .Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years , May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth. Amen."

"Amen!" The people echoed.

"Treat yourselves and each other with respect , and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness ,gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves." The priest continued. "When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship ,as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong .In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives - remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment , the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together."

The choir began to sing "The day before you' by Matthew West.

Annie smiled up at Jovon, her eyes shimming with joyful tears. The song finally came to an end and the priest began to speak again.

"Lord God Almighty,Creator of the heavens and earth. Thank you for the gift of marriage. For all the joy and love that it brings us. We thank you for Ansela Freya Mckade and Jovon Carson Phim. Thank you that you have brought them together for this special day, And that you hold them safely in Your hands. We pray that you would richly bless them as they exchange their vows and their wedding rings,And from this day forward they would walk hand in hand into everything that you have destined them to be. We give our hearts and beings to You now in adoration, And welcome Your Holy Spirit amongst us. Amen."

"Amen." Everyone said.

"Brethren. We are here to witness the joining of our beloved brother Jovon Carson Phim and our beloved sister Ansela Freya Mckade.  We gather here to unite these two people in marriage. Their decision to marry has not been entered into lightly and today they publicly declare their private devotion to each other. The essence of this commitment is the acceptance of each other in entirety, as lover, companion, and friend. A good and balanced relationship is one in which neither person is overpowered nor absorbed by the other, one in which neither person is possessive of the other, one in which both give their love freely and without jealousy. Marriage, ideally, is a sharing of responsibilities, hopes, and dreams. It takes a special effort to grow together, survive hard times, and be loving and unselfish. . . ."

Annie tuned out what the priest was saying as she focused instead on Jovon. He looked very calm,unlike herself. She made a mental note to ask him how he was not nervous at all. He was hardly breaking a sweat!

Or maybe she was just over reacting as usual.

"Do you Ansela Freya Mckade take Jovon Carson Phim to be your lawfully wedded husband before God and man?"

Annie couldn't stop herself from smiling as their gaze met and held.
"I do."

"Do you Jovon Carson Phim take Ansela Freya Mckade to be your lawfully wedded wife before God and man?"

"I do."

"Is there anyone who has any reason why this two should not be joined together in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."

The church was so silent that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone turned to look at each other,but Annie's gaze remained on the closed church door as if expecting someone to burst through at any given minute.

Nothing happened.

But the danger was not yet over.

"Is there anyone who has a reason or two why this two should not be joined together in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Annie's eyes never left the door,even as everyone turned to look at each other.

"I'll repeat this one more time," The priest was saying. "And if there's no objection then we shall proceed to the exchange of vows." He repeated the words this time around and still no sound.

"Bah!"

For a minute, no one spoke as all eyes turned to the source of the noise.

Hope held up a fist and giggled as if she knew what she just did. The guests busted into a laugh.

Annie let out a relieved laugh along with the guests before reaching out for Jovon's hand and squeezed it with relief.

And from the corner of her eyes, Annie saw Susan, who held her three month old baby, and Megan wiping tears from their wet cheeks. Alix leaned against her husband, her hands cradling her swollen tummy. Lea was sandwiched between her boyfriends with a blessed out look in her eyes. Cassie held Cani and leaned her head on Kaden's shoulder as he wrapped a hand around them. Ella and William held each other's hand, which were placed on her slightly swollen belly. Arabella and Steve held each other, while she wiped her wet eyes with her husband's handkerchief.

Everyone looked so happy and content, even after all that happened during the years. It showed that their family would be together through thick and thin, and that no matter what life tossed their way, they would be there for each other.

Genesis waved at Annie with a fond smile on her face, and she returned the smile with love and fondness. Jovon had adopted Genesis officially upon Annie's insistence and the both of them decided that they wouldn't tell her about her biological father. Surprisingly, Lukas' parents had agreed as a sort of apology to Annie and the Phim family.

The priest closed his bible and said," Say after me. I Jovon Carson Phim take you Ansela Freya Phim to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part."

"I, Jovon Carson Phim take you, Ansela Freya Mckade, to be my wife, my friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

"I Ansela Freya Mckade, take you Jovon Carson Phim to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."

"It's time for the exchange of the rings." The priest announced. "Bring forth the rings."

Genesis, who was dressed in a peach coloured gown, walked forward with the cushion that held the rings- a plain silver band with their initials on the top.

Jovon took the ring with his initials on it.  "I, Jovon Carson Phim give you, Ansela Freya Mckade, this  ring  as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you." Then he slid the ring on her ring finger.

"I, Ansela Freya Mckade, give you, Jovon Carson Phim, this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you." She slid the ring home.

The priest spoke briefly about the sanction of marriage and advised the couple to remember their vows to each other.

"By the power vested in me by the State of America, I now pronounce you as husband and wife. You may now kiss the groom."

Ansela closed her hands around his waist and tilted her head to the side to meet his lips halfway. Their lips touched and fireworks exploded behind her eyes lids. She sucked and sandwiched his upper lips between hers. Then she bit his open mouth and darted her tongue into his mouth for a brief dance, before withdrawing and pulling away.

"I'm so very much in love with you my dear husband." She planted one last lingering kiss on his lips, before finally stepping back and settling for holding his hand in hers.

"You never cease to amaze me." Jovon grinned. "I'm in love with you too, my dear wife."

The priest smiled at the couple before uttering the words everyone was waiting for. "I present to you Mr. and Mrs. and Mrs. and  Mr. Phim."

Claps, cheers and whistles erupted as everyone rose to their feet, when Jovon and Ansela shared another kiss as a couple.

'Ode to Joy' by Beethoven began to play as they made their way down the aisle, smiling and waving at their well-wishers. Annie paused briefly to take Hope from her mother, and Jovon took Genesis' hand in his. Together they exited the church as a family.

The bible tells us that love is kind. Scholars tells us that love can change the course of history. Scientists tells us that love is chemical. Poet says that love is eternal.

But true love is so much more than that.

It's about believing and risking. It's about committing to always being there for one person and believing that person will be there for you.

Love is having faith, in yourself and the person you love. Love is about hanging on through the roller coaster ride of life. For Jovon and Ansela, love is who they are.

The End.