THE WEDDING

Maria turned to face a sleeping Michael. It was hard. He had her in a tight grip, hugging her from behind. The past few days had worn on him heavily and finding the Dump left him silent and hollow. He hadn't said much about it. On the outside he was unmoved, but she could feel his internally repressed rage and sorrow. His job was taking its toll on him in that time between darkness and dusk, when he was powerless to defend himself.

She looked at him and knew he was dreaming, and the dreams moved from images dancing in his mind to nightmares bleeding his soul. Reaching up, she laid a calm hand to his face and watched him settle. He knew she was there. It was the sound of despair coming from his throat that made her reach up and kiss his throat under his chin, and then his mouth gently as her hand soothed across his furrowed brow. She made comforting noises in her throat that had no real syntax or meaning, but he seemed to be listening to them, and then she saw the flicker of the lids of his eyes and knew he was emerging from the dream.

“Michael?” she said softly.

He just made a grunting noise and pulled her closer to him, burying his face in her hair. She rested, but the tightness of his arms was making it hard to breathe. Moving her hands down, she tried to pry his grip free.

“Michael, I can’t breathe.” That woke him up completely. He had been semi-awake and his natural instinct was to hold her close so she couldn’t leave him. “Want to tell me about it?” she asked quietly as his arms loosened.

“No.” Michael eyes cleared as he looked down at her in the early morning light. They had left the shades semi-open last night to keep them from oversleeping. It was The Wedding Day, and Amy and many others were destined to descend chaotically on their peaceful happy home of the two of them, a cat and a bun in the oven.

“Okay, tell me when you can.” Maria was sitting up to test the morning waters to determine whether she was going to spend it worshipping the porcelain god, or actually was going to function vertically and head for breakfast. Michael wrapped an arm around her and pulled her back to him.

Sighing, he breathed in her scent and rubbed his face in her hair. “I dreamt about the Dump. You were in there.” Maria turned and looked at him moving her fingers over his face tracing his features. He still looked silent and unhappy.

“It’s just a dream. A terrible dream. Michael. Don’t worry, you’ll send them home and find a way to stop this. I believe in you.” Maria leaned up and kissed him softly. “I’m here. We’re here. We’re doing just fine.”

“I just need...” He didn’t finish it. There were no words for what he needed. A way to fill a hollow feeling inside? The overpowering knowledge that this killer might be the one person to kill and walk away, that he had been doing it all this time. This awareness was made so much worse by the helpless feeling of having lost so many, several of whom had already been forgotten. They deserved so much more.

“I know. I can’t give you that. If I could, I’d find it for myself.” Maria rubbed her forehead to his. Some things weren’t fixable, just things that a person had to learn to live with. There were never any guarantees, and those that felt the world owed them more were wrong.

Michael nodded and took her face in his hands. She looked rested, better. It relieved him to see her not looking so tired. Reaching over to the bedside, he found his knife, and with a flick of his wrist it was open. He cut himself on the chest and pulled her mouth to him.

“Drink. It’s going to be a long day.” Maria nodded as her mouth found his skin, the smell of his blood even before she tasted had her heart racing and her mouth watering. Stopping him before he could put away the knife she took his hand in hers and directed it to her arm where she cut a slight swipe but deep enough to slice the skin and bleed. Wincing, she led his mouth to her arm as she drank from his chest.

Michael closed his eyes as the taste of her blood flooded his mouth. Her other hand moved down his body and found him. He moaned deeply as her teeth nipped his skin and her mouth traveled downwards. Opening his eyes to barely a slit, he watched the movement of her mouth and tongue on his skin. It wasn’t erotic, it was beyond that.

“Maria...” he said huskily.

But she just made a shushing gesture and returned to her task. He felt so good under her. So big and full of life. Michael just put his head back and enjoyed the sensations as he took her arm to his mouth again and sucked on her skin and blood. Michael didn’t notice the change in her arm where his mouth was connected when the orgasm hit him. The movement of energy and sensations through his body was so intense that he lost himself in it for awhile and came back to her sucking on the cut on his chest that was surprisingly already closing. His hand wrapped around the back of her neck, and he pulled her upward to join his mouth in a kiss.

They were so wrapped up in each other that the ringing of the doorbell startled them both. Michael looked over at the time and swore. Seven in the morning already! That was impossible! But then he realized that their bedroom was definitely lighter than before. They had lost time again. Maria just rested against him and groaned.

Michael had to clear his voice as the ringing came again. “Go start a shower, I’ll let them in and then we can have breakfast.” Michael pushed her towards her side of the bed and he looked around on the floor for a pair of sweats to go answer the damn obnoxious doorbell.

“Michael,” he looked over at her where she was resting against the doorjamb of the bathroom. “Put on a shirt too, honey.” He looked down at his chest and smiled slightly. She had left some bruising and sucking marks on him along with the cut. Sweeping up a shirt, he watched her go into the bathroom enjoying the view until the smile left his face. Her back was unmarred except the thin white lines of old scars. Where was it?

The door rang yet again, and he rushed down the stairs to open the door in a bad humored snarl. Amy whizzed by him leaving a kiss on his cheek with Isabel, Tess and Liz following quickly on her heels.

“Don’t snarl, sweetie. I could’ve used my key, but didn’t want to get shot when you realized there was an intruder in the house. Plus I thought you and Maria would like the advance warning.” Amy and the girls put down garment bags, endless supplies and a small suitcase. Michael looked at them in horror as Liz and Isabel rushed out to the cars to get more things.

“Amy, it’s seven in the morning! Maria is just in the shower and we haven’t had breakfast yet.”

“Don’t worry, sweetie. I’ll cook. You go get dressed. Your clothes are over at our house. Jim’s expecting you this morning. Barney’s sent a person to do last minute altering, just in case. But you have to remember to bring your shoes, a bag for your other clothes and your shaving kit. I can’t get married with all the male attendants in whiskers.”

“But...”

“Michael.” Maria stood at the top of the stairs in a gown. “Come get bathed and dressed.”

Michael nodded and took the stairs in a rush to get away from the other women. His home was being invaded again. Maria took his hand when he got to the top of the stairs and led him to the bathroom.

“Tell me this is almost over.”

“It is. But you realize that once she’s back from her honeymoon, it will begin all over again.”

Michael stopped in confusion. How many times was Amy planning on getting married? “What?”

“She’s going to want to plan our wedding.” The horror hit Michael. He kept forgetting they weren’t married yet. A commitment of the heart seemed like a real commitment to him. In his mind they were married and expecting their first child. What could be simpler or easier to understand than that?

“Help me. You’re not going to make me go through this are you?”

“No. Believe me, a large wedding is hardly what I see as a good thing. I was hoping for something real small. Like you and me, a small chapel in Reno or Las Vegas with a few friends and family, and then partying the night away. This…” Maria waved her hand backwards towards the downstairs. “This is a lesson in slow torture. I’ll have none of it. I’m pregnant. A very delicate condition.”

They entered the bathroom. Maria had a bath running instead of a shower. He removed her bathrobe and helped her into the bath as he shed what few clothes he had and joined her. Groaning at the feel of the hot water, for a moment he worried it was too hot for Maria in her condition, but looking at her, it was apparent she was happy with the heat. Critically viewing her skin, he was happy to see color and almost a blush color on her cheeks. She looked radiant. Such a change from a mere day ago.

Michael leaned back and thought about it as Maria rested on him moving water over his skin. He didn’t want that. He didn’t want Reno, Atlantic City or Vegas. He didn’t want a huge production like Amy’s wedding, but he did want to stand in a real church - a Catholic Church, with his friends and his increasing volume of family, and watch her walk towards him. He could care less about the Tux or the Dress just as long as Maria walked towards him and said 'I Do' in the appropriate spot and wore his ring. The rest was just window dressing. That was all he cared about and all he wanted. Afterwards he wanted to go to a large Irish pub with lots of food, whiskey and beer and an Irish band playing reels, and everyone celebrating before he took his wife off on a honeymoon. Mikey would’ve loved the Irish pub idea, the music and seeing his son married in the Catholic Church with the entire room covered in flowers from the Old Country heathers and a mixture of Italian blooms. Michael could definitely see it and the more he could see it, the more he wanted it.

When they were finally downstairs, Amy was cooking up a storm. It took a while before he understood that all the DeLucas cooked and ate when they were nervous. Maria and even Sean seemed to use cooking as a way of calming down, and looking at all the pots on the stovetop, Michael was beginning to see a pattern.

Michael went into the kitchen while Maria stopped and talked to Isabel, Tess and Liz. They already had their phones out, and the usual pile of credit cards hit the table. Tess was making sure Maria felt alright, and they made her sit down at the table while they outlined what needed to be done. The rest of the DeLuca women were scheduled to show up soon, and all the men were meeting here and then going over to the Valenti house.

“What are you making?”

Amy looked at her son-in-law and smiled. “A little this, a little that. I called for more groceries.” Amy tasted a sauce and let Michael try it.

“Hollandaise?” Amy just nodded with a smile. “Maria is going to love you forever. She eats that on everything. That and shrimp cocktail sauce.”

“I know. She has since she was a child. It must be like your thing for Tabasco and Sean’s for ketchup.”

Michael just nodded as he tried some more food, but didn’t bother to mention that Maria was adding Tabasco to her regimen of sauces to consume. She was adding more and more of the spicy sauce to her food every day. Right now she was almost at his level of intake.

“Amy, I was going to ask you something.”

“Yes, dear?” Amy was stirring and checking her pots distractedly. It was only a little over eight hours before she would be walking down the aisle. She should bake a prime rib for Michael and Maria so they had beef for sandwiches this coming week. Amy wondered if Wilson Brothers’ butchery on 3rd had at least a large twenty pound roast. Picking up the phone she put in the call. She should order shrimp, too. Maria loved shrimp.

Michael listened to her place an order with the butcher and then called a local bakery to deliver them some hot sticky buns for breakfast. When she hung up, he took the phone from her and placed it on the counter behind his back and out of her reach.

“Maria and me...our getting married...” That caught Amy’s attention with a gleam in her eye. This man was so incredibly lovely, made perfect by his obvious and undying love for her daughter. She couldn’t go to church enough and thank God enough for him taking his stuff she sent him that day via Sean, and coming back to Maria. “I know you want to plan it, but...”

“As soon as I’m back. I promise!” Amy felt a tinge of guilt. She should do it before she got married, made sure that her unwed pregnant daughter was taken care of before she took off on her own life, but she had promised Maria and Amy never broke a promise.

“No! Look, I need...” Michael looked at the others who were too close and took Amy’s arm and led her out to the garden.

“Michael, my pots!” Michael ignored her protest because Maria was a DeLuca. A steaming unstirred pot was almost like a homing beacon. When they got outside Michael began to tell Amy what he wanted and what he was planning. Maria totally missed the two of them outside talking and even the moment when her mom tossed herself into Michael’s arms laughing and kissing him. Maria was busy. She had discovered the Hollandaise sauce.

By the time Michael had all his stuff and kissed Maria goodbye a half dozen times, the rest of the DeLuca clan was there in full spirits. The men were following Michael over to the Valenti house to do whatever men did before weddings, and the loft was overflowing with cooking Italians and women laughing. Michael was stunned. It was something he had never seen before, never belonged to, and if it weren’t for all the kisses and hugs he got plus the pinch on his ass from Maria’s cousin, he would’ve thought he was dreaming it all.

He was pushed out the door by all the women with the men following. All of them were laughing singing, talking loudly and at the same time. Michael spotted his partner waiting for him in their PD Rat-mobile.

Marco came up next to Michael and looked at the car, shaking his head and tsking. “Miko, is this your partner’s car?”

Michael just laughed. Poor Max still hadn’t had the time to replace his last demolished car, and neither had Michael. “It’s our assigned car from the PD. Both Max and I are sort of rough on our real cars. I have a classic reconditioned Mustang in the garage right next to Maria’s classic GTO.”

“Really! You must show me!” Michael waved to Max to wait as he, Marco, other members of the DeLuca clan and two beefy men Michael suspected were probably called ‘the Boys’ walked to the garage. He punched his code, which was still ‘Stud’, and opened the door to the two classic refurbished cars and the Harley. The collective ‘ooh’ing and aah'ing' was only increased by the popping of hoods.

When Max saw the group of men, young and old lean forward to gaze into the engines, he just moaned and laid his head down on the steering wheel. This was going to take awhile, and Max already knew what was under those hoods. His envy was above Kyle and Sean’s and he was searching for a classic car frame to restore, but with the baby on the way...that wasn’t possible. He needed his money to start saving for a college fund and other things.

“Hey Max, why didn’t you come to join us?” Michael asked as he got into the car.

“Are you crazy? There was a flood of DeLucas rushing into the place. One elderly woman was carrying a pan, and then I saw you barely squeeze out of the door. It looked safer here.”

“Tess and Isabel are inside.” Michael casually mentioned. Max just shook his head in horror. Great, his baby and sister were hostages. Michael just smirked at his expression and hit his friend on the shoulder. “Let’s get going. The women are cooking, but Marco tells me that men smoke cigars, drink whiskey and order rich food that makes them belch through the entire wedding. I can’t wait to see all these connected mobsters in Cap’s house.” Michael's enthusiasm had a touch too much glee, and Max was seeing devilment in his partner. Max decided to burst his bubble.

“I had an erotic dream about Jonathan last night.”

“Oh sh-it. Don’t tell me!” Michael made a horrible face with gagging noises. “I swear, Maxwell if you...”

“I think I came in my dream!” Max said smugly enjoying Michael’s reaction. This wasn’t so bad after all.

“Dammit! I told you no details! ” Max just laughed and kept up the details as Michael threatened him with all sort of fates along the way.

~~~

Amy was standing on a stool as a seamstress was checking the hemline of her dress. Isabel was looking it all over critically and giving her opinion while Liz was double-checking on the flowers. Maria and Tess just continued to eat and look through all the arrangements made to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything.

“Father Peters!”

Maria looked at her mother and frowned. “What about him?”

“Did you remember to tell him he’s marrying us today?” Amy was wringing her hands in worry.

“Yeah, Mom, otherwise the flower people and the rest of The Wedding stuff would concern him. He’s all set.”

“My dry cleaning! I forgot to pick up the dry cleaning yesterday. I can’t leave it there until we get back!”

“I’ll pick it up. Either Kyle or I will. Don’t worry. Everything's going to be fine.”

Maria’s cousin Sofia started to hand Amy a plate of food to help calm her down when all the women surged to their feet at once. “Not food!”

She looked at them, and then at Amy and realized her mistake. The plate would soon be decorating the front of Amy’s wedding gown if she gave it to her. Maria reached over and took the plate from her cousin with a smile.

Isabel patted Amy’s hand. “It’ll be alright. I double-checked everything yesterday. Now if we can get Maria and Tess to stop eating and try on their bridesmaid dresses we might actually make it.”

Isabel gave the other two women critical looks, but Maria was too busy eating to notice. Tess gulped under that stare. She was shy around Isabel Evans. They barely spoke to one another, but it was strange to realize that her child would be related to this woman. Tess didn’t say much. She figured that Isabel would follow Max’s lead, and since Max expressed a desire to be more involved the other night, Tess wondered how things would change.

“I wish you were going to be there, Isabel.” Amy said kindly. “With all the help and everything, I really can’t imagine that you aren’t coming.”

Isabel just smiled. “I know. I’d love to, and you can show me the video and pictures later. I’ve got a six hour shift on the crisis line. I’ll try to stop by to see if the reception is still going afterwards, but more than likely I’ll be too tired. Next time.” Both women looked over at the unsuspecting Maria who was once again too involved in her food to notice conversations about her were going on while she ate.

“Can’t you get someone to fill your shift, Isabel?” Maria asked while smiling at her aunt who handed her yet another plate. Since the hospital scare, it was apparent that the entire Family’s goal was to keep her fed and rested.

“I wish. But I just started, and I need more than a week's notice to find someone not busy on a Saturday. It doesn’t help that so many of the students were taking midterms this week or next week, and they're either studying or expecting to go out and celebrate.” Maria just nodded.

Eddie was covering her classes for the rest of the semester. She had already put in her request for a leave of absence with Ken Price when he came by on Friday, and the request was approved. Eddie and Tess were going to cover the remaining weeks of teaching to leave Maria free to work at the museum only.

Michael wasn’t too happy about the museum work, but it was less stressful than teaching, grading and exams. The worst Maria had to contend with were sticky hands on the displays, and Dickie from the mailroom sending her mail all over campus. That made her schedule ten to three, three days a week and every other weekend.

“I got the grant from the Foundation so I’m starting classes again the week after next. Just two classes to start with, but I’m excited.” Maria beamed at Isabel. She knew that Isabel had been given the money before she did, but Maria held off mentioning it and let Jonathan contact her. “The stipend was incredible. With the money I’m making at the center and the stipend I can afford to pay rent and feed myself. I’m assuming I can afford rent.”

Liz came by and pointed out a spot on Amy’s dress that looked like it needed tucking in a little to make it snugger. “I told you, don’t worry about rent. We’ll cover it.”

“Parker, it seems, has an endless supply of money since she works full time and hasn’t ever left home. Lucky me, we might even be able to afford pots and pans.” The entire room clicked their tongues at the idea of the girls starting life without pots and pans. The discussion moved to talk about how to furnish the new loft.

“Don’t worry, Isabel. I’m sure Michael and Max will cover anything you can’t.” Maria assured her.

“I don’t think so, Maria. Max has the baby, and he was talking about college funds last night. And Michael must have sunk a huge amount of his savings into restoring the car, and he also has a baby on the way.”

Maria and the other women in the room exchanged looks, and then Maria cleared her throat. “Actually, you don’t have to worry about Michael and his money, Isabel. He’s pretty flush...or will be soon.”

Isabel looked around the room as the women suddenly looked busy. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Maria just shrugged. “When we marry he receives a ‘sort of dowry’.”

“You’re kidding.” Isabel looked at her in shock. “You're not. That’s so...”

“Old fashioned.” Finished Parker.

“Yeah, well I come from an old fashioned family. A few years back the dowry thing was ‘modernized’ to include all children’s spouses including the men. So someday, Sean’s future wife has something to look forward to.” Maria hadn’t bothered to inform Michael about his prospective newfound wealth, since money never meant much to Michael and she just assumed he would put it away in a college fund for the baby. Plus she was uncertain how he would feel taking money from the DeLucas and their noted connections.

“Wow!” Isabel hit Liz in the arm. “You really lucked out when you and Sean broke up. We’ll have to treat him nicer in the future.” Both women looked at each other and smiled and said at the same time, “Nah!”

But the damage was already done. Theresa DeLuca wandered over. “You dated my son?” Maria and Tess looked at each other and giggled at Liz’s sudden discomfort and red face.

Maria took her sweet time getting ready. She didn’t want her dress altered at the last minute. It was fine. The cameras downstairs went off at lightning speed when Tess finally put on her dress and Amy was modeling hers. The wedding dress was a work of art. It was hand-designed and made in Palermo, Italy, and then flown in specially. Maria contributed the lace rescued from her own grandmother’s wedding gown so it could be used in the dress. Maria couldn’t wait until Jim saw her mother. The dress was an ivory-silk gown, decorated in seed pearls and the antique lace, with the front split to show a full under gown of hand-made lace. The matching opera length gloves were paisley tooled and the veil was full length, with Amy’s hair swept back by a tiara of diamond and black pearls.

“Maria, get yourself down here. We're running out of time to make sure your dress fits.” All the women were going to arrive completely dressed since Maria and Isabel had arranged for the wedding party to arrive by carriage, but left Jim the dignity of driving away from the reception in a car. Of course, Maria heard the plans that Kyle and the others planned for the car, and she thought Jim should reconsider the carriage idea.

Maria’s voice came over the railing. “I’ll only come down under certain conditions. First, limited blubbering because I’m sort of emotional and I don’t want my makeup ruined. Second, no more than ten pictures tops.”

“Maria,” called her mother. “Get down here! You are not allowed to ruin my special day with rules.” With a great sigh, Maria came into view and waited. Her mother clasped her hand to her chest and made a sobbing sound along with the others. Maria just winced. Yeah, that was the same reaction she got on her first official date.

Liz was glad she had gotten out of the wedding party. It was too much work already just helping them plan it. Last night Amy’s ex-in-laws gave her a shower, with Maria was missing since she was too sick to attend. Maria's dress was beautiful. It was done in a Florentine lace with a silk slip of a dark hunter green while the dress itself was a palest of green, almost white. The darker piping offset the coloring. The front of the dress had a split and was cocktail length with off the shoulder neckline. Maria had a dark green stone the hung to mid-breast and it took Liz a while to realize that the stone was a dark emerald.

Tess’s dress was the opposite of Maria’s. Her lace dress was the color of the darker piping trimmed in the lighter color with the silk slip.

Liz and Isabel waited for the others to clear out before they came over to poor Maria and Tess. It was hard to be the center all the activity and fawning, and when you added in the tucking and pulling plus the hugs and kisses, Maria was looking a little bright-eyed.

“Maria you look like a modern version of Veronica Lake. Wow.” Maria just groaned. The things she did for her mother.

Liz moved in closer to look at the necklace. “I love this. It’s...it’s exquisite.”

Maria put her hand over it. “I love it. Michael bought it for me on our first anniversary.”

Shock moved over Isabel and Liz’s faces as they both closed in to get a better look. Liz’s voiced squeaked. “No, this? But...but it’s beautiful.”

“Michael? Michael picked that out?” Isabel asked in shock. Maria just laughed at their disbelief. Her poor baby, he was so often misjudged.

~~~

“Jesus, someone strike a match or light a candle! Kyle’s pizza farts are killing me here!” Michael rudely pushed Kyle to the other side of the table. “You go sit over there.”

“Hey! I told you not to order extra anchovies and peppers.”

Michael just growled as Max tried to straighten his tie. “Don’t take the fact that you have to wear a monkey suit out on Kyle. Besides, this is a really nice tux.” Max liked his. Kyle was walking Tess down the aisle, with Michael escorting Maria. Eddie and Max were seating people and Sean was giving Amy away.

Marco looked at his son and clucked his tongue, shaking his head. “You look like chopped steak. These bruises look worse than they did yesterday.”

“I’m okay as long as I don’t breathe.” Sean looked a little pale under his skin. He had checked himself out of the hospital early against doctor’s wishes, because he couldn’t miss the wedding. “I don’t know that I can make it down the entire aisle today.” Sean looked at his father. “Why don't you give Aunt Amy away?"

Marco just shook his head no. “I can’t. Your aunt, she will be wanting you to give her away. You’ve been her family for a long time. You saved her and Maria’s life. She will want you, her hero and son to do it.” Marco rubbed a hand over his son’s head.

Max looked at the two men. “Why doesn’t Marco start Amy down the aisle and then Sean finish?” Both men looked at each other and smiled. That was a possibility.

Sean looked at his father. “You’ll need a tux. With tails!”

“Antonio, hand me the phone!” Marco took the phone and did what he did best - gave orders.

Michael and the others were helping Jim get ready. “Dammit! I forgot to pick up the laundry.”

Michael just laughed. “I’ll do it. The car is already packed with your suitcases, and Max has your change of clothes. And we took the car to the county club and parked it already. So we just have to get you to the church on time, and hang an air freshener around Kyle’s neck.”

Jim turned and looked at his officers. They had been putting condoms, garter belts and wedding bells on his desk all week since the news broke that the wedding date was moved up. “The car. What did you do to the car?” All the others looked away innocently, avoiding eye contact. Cap’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the group of them. “I’ll take care of this when I get back! I knew I should have left the unit under Strickland’s hand instead of talking Walt from Swat into babysitting the group of you while I’m gone.”

“Well at least you’re finally getting married.” Michael commented softly. It had been close. Real close. Amy looked ready to cancel the other night when she saw Maria in the hospital bed. But Maria came through with some really fine blackmail and tears.

Jim looked at Michael solemnly. “God, I hope so. I can’t imagine what I would’ve done if Amy took me at my word and broke it off.”

“She looked pretty chipper when I left home. You got all the stuff ready for the Honeymoon?” Michael asked curiously. Cap never told them where he was taking his new bride.

Jim nodded, and then he looked around at the group watching him curiously. “Alaska, okay? I’m taking her whale-watching in Alaska.”

Kyle looked at his dad in horror. “On a boat? You’re taking Amy on something boat-like, in the middle of the water, with no land in sight? Just whales?”

“Yeah, I had a special floatation device made just for her.” They all shook their heads over not having realized until that moment that Jim was demented from six years of Amy exposure.

Kyle just shook his head in disbelief. “Didn’t you learn anything from the whole Rainbow Warrior incident and the Exxon Valdez?”

“Amy swore to me that she was in no way involved with any of that.”

Max laughed at the father and son and then looked at his partner. “How is Maria feeling?”

“Better. Much better. I don’t think she had morning sickness this morning either. It could be the medicine they gave her for the nausea.”

Max nodded. “We should go shopping sometime.”

Michael frowned at the suggestion. “Where? A Hardware store? I could always use a new cordless drill.”

“Actually, I was thinking of checking out things for babies.”

Michael nodded sagely. “I checked out formula the other day. Damn, it seemed expensive considering we’re talking about canned milk, not some of Professor’s favorite Brie or liver stuff.”

“O-Town has a special on it this week for twenty percent off a case.”

Kyle stopped as he heard the conversation. “Was that with iron or without?”

Sean heard the conversation and looked at three partners in disgust. “I need to get out more and away from the Future Fathers of Roswell. The three of you are seriously costing me my usual date-worthiness.”

Michael looked at the man. “I thought it was your imitation of a punching bag that was scaring the ladies away.”

“Okay, I’m all done.” They all looked over at Jim to see the final fit of his tux. All of them looked down at his bare feet.

“Dad, shoes?”

“Oh yeah. Pass me the socks, Kyle.” Kyle looked at the pile of clothing that Amy had left for each of them.

“Not here.”

Jim came over and looked at the pile. “That’s not possible. I tried them on so Amy could see if the black matched the tux black, and wasn’t too light.” Jim thought about it for a moment. “And then she put them in the laundry.”

The DeLuca’s who were happily playing poker in a corner while smoking Cuban cigars and eating, all stopped at once and looked at each other. The only sound they made was, “Uh oh.”

“What? Don’t say ‘uh oh’! What do you mean by ‘uh oh’? No, ‘uh ohs’!” Kyle tried to calm Jim down.

“Cap, just give me and Max the laundry ticket, and we’ll go pick it up.” Michael was assuming it was the same laundry that Jim had been complaining about before. Jim rushed into the kitchen and searched high and low for the receipt stub. Nothing. Finally he talked to Amy on the phone, and after convincing her it was ‘seeing’ the bride before the wedding that was bad luck and not 'hearing' her, he discovered that Amy wasn’t sure where she put the ticket or at which full service laundry she left it. Jim just shook his head.

“That’s it. I’m wearing my boots!”

“Dad...”

“No Kyle, I’ll be more comfortable in my boots anyway.” Marco interrupted the conversation and mentioned that his tux was going to be delivered, and that it would be easy to call and have them bring a selection of black trouser socks for Jim.

Max looked at Michael in speculation. “Didn’t Maria lose your laundry a few times?”

Michael nodded. “Yeah, about six times so far this past year. I finally took over dropping off the dirty stuff. She would forget she had to stop and would just pull into the first laundry with full service she could find, and then she'd lose the stub and forget where it was. After calling around town looking for it, I decided to do it instead.” It was obviously a family trait, seeing as how the DeLuca men were avoiding direct eye contact and even Sean was quiet.

“You might consider buy a washing machine and dryer. With the baby it might become necessary to do laundry at home instead of having it taken out.”

“Oh we’ve got machines. It took me six weeks after I moved in to realize where they were. And when I opened up the lids I found all the papers, including the warranties and the owners guide, and the washer tub was still strapped with packing tape.”

“How long did Maria own them?”

“Four years. Brand new and never used. I couldn’t get them to work. Took me an hour to realize they weren’t even hooked up.” Max just laughed at a story that somehow sounded exactly like Maria.

Jim was nervously looking around for the ticket still running his hand through his hair. This was a mistake, a big mistake. He should’ve arranged the wedding in two weeks not one. It was never going to come off. It was going to be a disaster and his Amy wasn’t going to get the wedding she deserved. And...

“Dad? Dad... Dad! You’re going to have to calm down.”

Jim took a cleansing breath and tried to follow his son’s good advice. He faced hardened criminals every day, he broke tough men into confessing, he ran a huge department of detectives and he kept Michael Guerin in line. How hard could one little wedding be?

”Oh god! At least Amy is taking this better than I am.”

~~~

“Okay, Mom...the paper bag trick only works if you breathe! You’ve got to breathe!” Maria looked up at her Aunt Theresa helplessly.

“I can’t believe she still gets those panic attacks.” Maria just nodded. Yeah, like they all didn’t. “You know, it was amazing because she didn’t at first, but somehow being around all of us, she learned to get them as well. I thought the DeLucas just got it from when they didn’t have enough Parmesan cheese available, or the last helping of polenta was eaten.” Theresa clicked her tongue and rubbed Amy’s back in comfort.

“I use to get them before my ballet recitals all the time.”

“I remember, belle. You would turn red all over, into one massive hive and start wheezing like a kettle. Your father rushed you to the hospital the first time it happened. Later that night, they found you sleeping on the floor of your closet.”

“I used to hide there. The small dark space made me feel comfortable. Like it was just my size, and I felt in control there.” Theresa nodded, remembering.

It was also where Maria would hide from her brother, and once he discovered it he started locking the door so she couldn’t get out. Once her parents had been gone on a trip, and she stayed locked in the closet for two days while the staff searched the grounds and thought she was kidnapped. Why no one had the sense to search the closet was beyond her, and Theresa and the rest of the Family just assumed that the closet was the first place searched. Frankie, Jr. knew...and he said nothing. He just asked for extra whipped cream on his cake. That was the incident that led to him being sent to boarding school.

It wasn’t a shocker to anyone that the once small dark space that used to make Maria comfortable as a child, became something she could no longer stand. After Frankie started locking her inside, and she spent almost two days in the closet, too afraid to make a sound in case Frankie came back, Maria became claustrophobic and afraid of the dark. They built her loft open and airy with lots of light for that very reason. It was a nice place. A place that Theresa could see Maria living in comfortably.

Every day since Maria left home, Theresa had lit a candle at Mass, that her beautiful niece would one day find peace and strength, and come home. Theresa smiled watching Maria trying to calm her mother down. It looked like she could finally stop lighting those candles since God answered that prayer.

~~~

The Wedding finally arrived, and as in the case of most weddings, it was the lead-up and preparation that took the hardest toll on the participants. It was like practicing for a large theatrical production without a real dress rehearsal. But it didn’t matter, because The Wedding was perfect.

The Church itself could’ve fallen in, and it still would have been perfect. From the moment Amy waited nervously to walk towards her future and leave behind that last clinging thread of the past to the moment Jim saw her, it was perfect. Amy was never more shocked than when it was Marco who came for her. He led her down the aisle into the arms of her adopted son, Sean who was waiting halfway. They switched as Marco kissed his former sister-in-law on the cheek, and cupped his own son’s cheek as well. He stood there and watched them continue towards the man who replaced his brother - a Cop. Things were changing.

“Sean.” Amy’s hand trembled against his body where it rested as he led her towards Jim. Her voice was small and quaking.

“You can do it.” Sean whispered. “Just look at Jim, and everything will be okay.” Amy looked at her nephew and nodded. Looking down that impossibly long aisle at her intended, she suddenly smiled. He looked...so damn wonderful, and seeing her beautiful smile he smiled back.

Time was a strange thing. It seemed so constant and unwavering, and almost as if it should be a straight line. But it wasn’t. It was a forever-changing thing that stretched and elongated, and at times flew so fast that it left hardly a taste. The portal of time was that longest moment ever experienced as she walked towards him, seeing all those she loved most in the world standing there waiting for her and watching her finally moving on. Time was endless loops and strands that overlapped and intertwined back on themselves. She was young again, walking towards Franco. And Maria was a baby so happy and bright. Even Frankie, her son was for that moment in time, was captured in a sweet smile with cookie stains on his cheek. Her life passed in a sweep of interconnecting lines, and at that beautiful, brilliant moment, she felt like she had nothing but a lifetime of time to live. There was Jim, and that was where happiness began.

~~~

Alex looked around the room and noted all the men and women that actually showed. It was a good turn out. Nodding to his people, they circled the room, offering drinks to his visitors. The others were casing his joint, taking in the décor and obvious influence. Alex’s money was a mystery to most of them, but he wasn’t about to change his status or position by telling them about the computer games and programs he created that bankrolled his lifestyle. His air of mystery was his edge, and it kept them wondering about him. Respect was an important thing on the streets.

“Alex, what is this about?” Kelly was the owner of Calypso and another lower Roswell club. The others didn’t say much, but they were curious as well, and wanting to leave soon.

“This is about a change in policy in your clubs. It is a special request I’m making.”

“Who’re you to dictate policy in any club outside your own?” Alex turned dark taciturn eyes on the neo-nazi punk, Chaz that was noted for his cruel and vicious behavior.

“I’m a man that can make your life miserable, if I choose.”

The other club owners looked at the man that was ultimately outclassed by Alex. The power on the street was rooted in trust. Alex had that in spades. His customers trusted him, trusted his club, and other people equally felt the same. A person in trouble could find refuge with Alex and ultimately that became a powerful thing. There was nothing that some of the street dwellers wouldn’t do for Alex, so if Alex asked that a certain club be blacklisted chances were that that club would find itself dying fast.

“But,” Alex said in a loud cold voice. “I’m not interested in threats or even promises. The request I’ve got is one that will be of benefit to us all.” Alex nodded to his men, who passed out lists. “These are the list of missing persons who have been taken from all our clubs over the past three years. You’ll notice that almost no club here has been excluded from this list.”

Kelly looked at the list and how many times her clubs were listed. Twelve missing clients were hers. “What do you want, Alex?” She noticed that the last victim came from her club a mere six days before.

“I want this sick f-uck taken down before more innocents are lost. Our clients might not all be children just looking for a good time, that's true. But what this bastard does is steal them out from our protection, in our very own territory. We lose face with the community when our clubs become hunting grounds.”

Chaz looked up. “I hear that your own cousin was taken. Taken from your club.” Chaz finger rested on the name Krystal Whitman.

“My own blood was tapped, confounded with injuries of polluting my territory. I won't rest until this monster is found, and my own face bloodied from the hunt.” Alex turned eyes burning with an anger barely under control. “You step up to my plate, Chaz? Do you want to live in this fire? I’ve got nothing but anger to burn and little room to dispense it. First blood was drawn from us all. None have been immune.”

The room was silent. It was true. Their doors would close if it became known that all the underground raves and clubs were hunting grounds for a sociopath, and that the owners and bosses on the streets couldn’t protect their own. The last major problem that hit them as a group was when rackets came to town and shook them down for protection money. Alex was the leader in stopping the extortion. He did it without the help of the Cops, and for that act alone he took his place as one of the influential.

“If we can’t protect our own, then we may as well close our doors. Next will be the cops or people like Pierce, willing to take kickbacks for the offer of protection, but who are they who care little about our young? We are responsible.” Alex had the boys pass out more supplies and packets. “I’m proposing to do the cleansing, but I need and request your help.”

They all pulled out their packets and searched the information. Kelly looked at her friend. “Alex, you can’t mean to do this.”

“I do and I can. Inside are temporary tattoos. For every client passing your doors, those who have displayed tattoos, piercing, or any type of body decoration, scar or birthmark, get a drink on the house. For those unmarked, if they're willing to be pierced or tattooed that night, in a spot that is obvious to the common view, their drinks are on the house for the night also.”

Other club owners protested. “We can’t take this sort of loss in revenue. Maybe Club Hell can, or even Calypso, but some of us are already drowning in overhead and trying to compete with all the other parties.”

“Jonnie, I’m offering to compensate completely. I need to.” They all went silent. That was an incredible expense.

Jonnie looked at Alex in shock. “For how long?”

Alex lit a cigarette. “For as long as it takes.”

Kelly saw what was happening. “You’re closing the hunting field, forcing him back to your place. Alex, your proposal makes our clubs clean and safe at your expense, just so your club becomes the hunting ground again.”

Alex took a draw on his cigarette with his eyes narrowing against the expelled smoke. “Yes, I’m giving him no options, no other place to hunt but my place, and it will be his last battlefield.”

“And if we refuse to be hassled?” asked Chaz.

“If you call this being 'hassled' and refuse to help protect your clients, then it will be known on the streets as soon as another victim is taken. The choice is yours. I’m offering to bankroll this adventure and make your businesses safe and sound. This offer is good only until midnight tonight. You’ll call in to my man no later than that with your decision.”

Alex looked at Freddie and made a gesture. He wanted these people out of his house. His innermost sanctuary was being invaded. Time to take back what he needed to survive.