July 2004


    The chapel was beautifully decorated, flowers were everywhere, and music was softly playing in the background.  The room was filled to its capacity, as everyone from Luke’s and Brianne’s wedding was in the audience.


    It was almost time to start the wedding, Amy was dressed and becoming anxious, as far as she knew the groom was still missing.  She kept looking at her watch and saw the minutes were rapidly ticking by.


    “Amy, will you please stop watching the time.  He will be here, and you will get married.”


    Amy sat down beside Brianne and burst into tears.  “You don’t understand.  We had a terrible fight last night.”  Amy pulled a tissue out of the tissue box, “He said he wouldn’t marry me even if I were the last women left on his planet.”  She nosily blows her nose.


    Brianne pulled Amy into her arms and gave her a hug.  “Honey, he loves you.  He was just nervous and spouting off.  I’m sure he didn’t mean what he said.  He will be here soon, and you will get married.”


    “No, he isn’t coming.”  Amy pulled away and walked to the window.  “He’s going to stand me up in front of all our family and friends.  I thought it would be so romantic to be married on your anniversary.”


    “Amy, what did you two fight about?”  Brianne asked.


    “He said I was selfish because I wanted to finish college before we had a baby, saying it was my duty to the planet to have a baby right away.”  Amy sighed, “I told him it wasn’t that I didn’t want a baby, just didn’t want one right now, besides I’m only nineteen.  I want just the two of us to have some fun before we have the responsibility of a baby to tend with in our lives.  I’m not ready to be someone’s mother.”  Amy started crying again.


    Brianne tried to comfort her sister the best she could.  “I guess this wouldn’t be a good time to tell you I’m pregnant again, would it?”


    “Oh, Brianne, that’s wonderful.  I’m so happy for you.  When did you find out?  When is the baby due?”


    Brianne laughed, “I just found out this morning, and the baby is due around late January.”


    “I didn’t know you were planning another baby so soon.”


    Brianne again laughed, “No, this was a surprise, a happy one, but still a surprise.  We were too much of a hurry one night to remember the birth control.”


    “Shame on you and at your age too.”  Amy laughed, “Thanks for cheering me up.”


    A knock on the door made Amy jump up, “That’s someone coming to tell us Austin isn’t coming.  I can’t bear it, you answer it.”Stolen novel; please report.


    Brianne smiled at her sister as she opened the door, “Hi Dad.”  Brianne says to her father-in-law.  “Are you ready for the bride?”


    “Yes, everyone is ready.”


    Amy ran to the door and pulling it out of Brianne’s hand, “Austin is here, he is really here?”


    “Yes, my dear.  He’s ready and waiting at the front of the church.”


    “I can’t believe it; I really can’t believe he showed up after last night.”  Amy said with surprise.  “He was so mad at me last night, so I didn’t think he was going to show up.”


    “I know,” Kevin said.


    “You know?  How do you know?”  Amy questioned Kevin.


    “Austin came by the house last night because he was so upset.  After he told us what the problem was, we told him, he was wrong, and you were right.”


    “Really?”  Amy asked.


    “Yes, really.  We told him there was plenty of time to have babies, so waiting another couple of years so you could finish college wouldn’t hurt.  Brianne and Luke will just have to have another baby.”


    Both the girls giggle, but neither of them mentioned to Kevin, Brianne’s news.  This was Amy’s day and Brianne didn’t want to take anything away from her special day.


    Amy walked over to her future father-in-law and she kissed his cheek.  “Thank you.  I love Austin so much I would hate to lose him.  I love you and Mom as if you were my own parents.”  The girls had started calling them mom and dad from the very first day that Alex and Brianne were married, as it just seemed to be the right thing for them to do.


    “You welcome, we feel the same about both of you girls.  Now, let’s get this wedding started because I need another daughter.”


    Amy giggled, “You have always treated me as your daughter from the day we first met.”


    “Yes, but now it will be official.”  His eyes twinkled with merriment.


    “Come on you two, everyone is waiting.”  Brianne handed Amy her bouquet, picked up her own, and after making sure they were behind her, she headed out the door.


    Soon they were at the doors of the chapel.


    Brianne nodded to the organist, to start playing ‘Here comes the Bride’, then began walking slowly down the aisle with Kevin and Amy directly behind her.


    Amy had a big smile on her face, as she couldn''t believe this wedding was finally happening for her.  She had been so scared and upset earlier, but now everything was wonderful.


    Austin smiled and winked at her, and she smiled and winked back at him.  Oh, how she loved Austin, he made her so happy.


    Next thing Amy knew Kevin was putting her hand into Austin’s warm hand.  They had asked Reverend Bender to perform the ceremony, and this wedding was as beautiful as her sister had been, except they didn’t have to share it with nineteen other couples.


    Soon it was time for Austin to kiss his bride, he gave her a lovely kiss, and then the minister pronounced them husband and wife.


    The reception was a combination wedding reception and anniversary party.  For some, this was the first time they have seen the other couples since their own wedding two years ago.


    The offsprings from these unions, ages ranged from eighteen months to two weeks of age.  Travis and Sara were there with Julia and their six-week-old infant daughter, Christa.  Alex and Kayla were there with their children, Cameron, Annie and their two-month-old daughter, Haley.  Maggie and Matt were there with Ryan, Cole and their daughter, Madison who had been born June 13, 2003.  Brianne and Luke were there with their daughter Taylor, who had been born on the same day as Madison.  There were also many pregnant women at this wedding today, which included Brianne.  Someone might think there was something in the water to cause so many pregnancies to be in one place at one time.  The older children were running every direction, while the babies were been held by family or friends.  Zodar’s repopulating program was off to a good start as all the new babies had been girls except one, and that was Cameron.


    “Amy, how does it feel to finally be Mrs. Austin Baker?”  Her new father-in-law asked.


    “It’s heaven on Earth.”


    He laughed.  “If you say so.”