Maria and Meg were running around trying to get the final prepartions completed with as least amount of trouble as possible. Meg was becoming livid at the coordinator for not providing the proper flower arrangements at the pews. Maria stood back, trying to calm her down, smiling and holding back her laughter.

"Did I NOT tell you that we needed a darker purple as oppose to this lighter shade?! I believe I remember distinctedly telling you this when we all went to your offices over three months AGO!!" Meg was to the point of really losing it.

"Ok ok, Meg, I think he gets the point." Maria grabbed Meg by the shoulders as Meg continued to eye down the coordinator, fuming at his incompetence. She began to pull her away from him back to the entrance of church, all the while Meg was still rambling about the flowers being wrong. "Would you excuse us for just a moment?" Maria was being extra polite. The coordinator had his arms crossed, tapping his foot, obviously ready to chew Meg out. " I need to talk to my friend for a moment." Maria laughed nervously as she finally pulled Meg outside.

"And one other thing-----" Meg felt a hand over her mouth. "What?! What are you doing, Maria?" Meg was staring at Maria with a look of confusing anger.

Maria couldn't take it any longer. She began to buckle over in laughter as Meg continued to look at her with incredulous eyes. She began to settle down when she realized that Meg did not find this one bit amusing. "Look, you were getting to hotty totty in there. The guy made a simple mistake and quite honestly, I don't think anyone, especially the bride to be will even notice the SLIGHT difference in color." Maria now had a look of compassion, she wanted Meg to see the humor in it all but she was not being successful in getting her to see it. "Meg, the wedding is going to be beautiful and she will appreciate all of our efforts." Maria then smiled genuinely at her friend and place her hand on her shoulder. "Ok?"

Meg realized at that point what Maria was getting at. She shook her head and looked away a little embarrased. She really had just wanted to make things perfect. Sheepishly, Meg reached over to hug Maria. They both sttod there laughing good natruredly. Meg pulled away and smiled at her friend. "I was acting like a real......you know?" Her face was jokingly distraught.

Maria, held up her hand and pinched her thumb and forefinger together. "Wellllll....just a little....but that's ok. I know you just want everything to be perfect for her. After all they've been through, we all want it to go perfectly." Maria brought her head down and for just a moment was sad, thinking back to the events of the last year and a half. She quickly felt the happiness surrounding her again and shined another smile. "I think what we need to do is make sure our friend is doing fine. She was a bundle of nerves when I was helping her with her makeup....maybe you should go and check on her."

Meg could see that Maria had temporarily been lost in a memory from the past but that was all behind them now and nothing would destroy the happy day they were all about to embark on. Meg gave Maria another cheerful grin before heading to the bridal chamber.

Maria stood in the middle of the entrance to the church, looking pensively. She couldn't help but relive all the events having transpired to eventually lead to this day. Everyone had been through so much, especially the two people who were now in the House of God, wanting to make eternal vows to one another. Maria smiled and hugged herself. She was so happy because they had been in a state of bliss since reuniting. Today was Gabi and Ricardo's wedding day. And Maria could not help but feel happy and joyous for them. They deserved to finally be happy.....

Ricardo was pacing back and forth in one of the chambers, feeling extremely queasy. He had never been so nervous in his entire life. He was full anxiety and wanted the butterflies, who were slowly developing wings of steel, to stop fluttering in his stomach. He sat on the edge of one of the sofas and breathed in and breathed out. What is wrong with me? He thought to himself. He got back up and began the pacing once again.

"Your gonna burn a hole in that rug if you keep pacing like that."

Ricardo heard the playful sarcasm in his voice. He managed a smile and turned to the doorway. There stood Antonio, looking over at him, looking rather sharp in a trendy tuxedo. He was leaned against the doorframe, hands in pockets, with one foot crossed over the other, smiling mischieviously at his brother. Antonio walked over and looked intently at his brother, all the while smiling with delight. "You need to relax, my friend. If I were to videotape you now and show your kids in twenty years how you look now, they would be laughing their butts off." He cracked up at the thought as he truly developed a mental picture of that actually happening.

Ricardo looked at him expressionless, not really appreciating his brother's humor. "Look, this is not something to be taken lightly. I'm getting married, man! This is actually happening." Ricardo all of a sudden was hit with a wave of feelings. He brought his head down to his hand and then stared thoughtfully at the wall. "I just don't want anything to go wrong....again."

Antonio immediately felt the awkwardness between them. They felt that way less and less as time had passed, but every once in awhile it would return for a brief moment. He began eyeing him back and forth, becoming nervous. Ricardo had been back a year and in that year he and Antonio had begun to develop a friendship again.....slowly. Antonio had not wanted to pressure him in any way. Ricardo had allowed Antonio to slowly reenter his life and Antonio was grateful to him for doing that. They had become close again, sometimes Antonio thought they were closer than they had been before everything had blown to bits. Ricardo had even asked Antonio to be his best man and to Antonio, that was the most precious gift he had ever recieved from God. But they were not completely through with the process. The awkwardness came and went and this was one of those moments. Antonio went over to his brother and lightly tocuhed his shoulder, looking somewhat shaken. He stood there for a second following Ricardo's gaze. "Are we doing ok?" His voice was quivering a little. He knew that they were but sometimes the reassurance from Ricardo was what he needed.

Ricardo looked over at him and immediately felt a rush of love for his brother. He smiled at him warmly and very gently answered him. "Yeah.....were doing great." Ricardo brought his fist up and gently brushed it against Antonio's chin. They stood there for a second, smiling at each other before they both began to shake off the emotional scene they had just shared by playfully smacking each other on the shoulder to regain the happy spirit surrounding them. Antonio once again put on his trademark boyish grin and grabbed Ricardo's lapels, becoming serious again. "Do you know how much Gabi loves you?" Antonio was dead serious in his tone and looked intently at Ricardo.

Ricardo stared back, engrossed in his brother's words. He knew how much happiness Antonio wanted for him. And now Ricardo could honestly say he wanted his brother to just as happy as he was. Ricardo smiled at him, "Yeah....I know."

"Then that is all that should matter in this world to the both of you. Just remember, bro...never doubt what you feel deep inside....never doubt it. It's what brought you to her again.....promise me you will never ignore that feeling." Antonio wanted to desperately make him understand. He believed he already did, but had to voice it to him.

"I won't ever ignore it.....again. I promise." Ricardo couldn't hold back anymore. He reached out for his brother and the two hugged deeply. Both so relieved that they were going to be ok and that they could once again openly love each other. The pain would never be forgotten but it had been forgiven.

They pulled apart with small tears in their eyes, which they quickly brushed off. Antonio walked to the door to leave. He turned to look at his brother one last time before he became a married man and smiled softly at him. "I love you Ricardo." He teared again before walking out the door.

Ricardo managed a smile through the tears that had spilled over onto his cheeks. Ricardo had a feeling he would be letting his emotions out a lot on this glorious day. "I love you too T." And he really did. Ricardo adored his baby brother.........