Marriage is Murder

Jess nodded and moved to Khaat " come on Cassidy's waiting in her room " she said and aperated them both there. Cassidy jumped a little as she felt Jess and Khaat aperate in and she smiled.

" thank goodness " she said " I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind, hows Steven?" she asked her speech going a mile a minuet Jess chuckled and walked over to Cassidy giving her her bouquet witch cassidy took and sighed " ok let go" she said and moved to the door.

Steven pushed open the doors and smiled seeing all the preparations as he walked down the isle to wait at the end for Cassidy. Jack sat beside Andrew who wore is little matching suit he smiled at him and sat like him.

Cassidy move down to the doors and saw Robert and Kate waiting " I am so nervous, I know I shouldn't be but I am" she said to Robert.

"Focus," Kate told her. "That will help." She saw Brian coming back down the aisle towards them.

"I suggested Brian walk Khaat down the aisle as her escort" Robert told Cassidy. "They'll go ahead of us and simply go to their places. Its just to give her more support for being on her feet."

Khaat went downstairs with her bouquet, and Brian tried not to be dazzled as he watched her. She was so beautiful. Every time he saw her, he was more and more sure she was who he wanted to grow old with.

Spoiler:

When she got to the bottom of the stairs he went over and offered her his arm. "Your father thought I might be able to have you on my arm today," he said to her softly, kissing her cheek.

"Thank you," she said. "I do appreciate it. Are we ready to get started?"

Cassidy took a deep breath and smiled as Robert spoke " yes that's ok with me " she said as Jess headed to sit with Jack smiling at Steven as she glanced back. Cassidy moved forward to face Robert " I do not want any one else to walk me down but you, in all the time I have been here you treat me like a daughter and gave me confidence in my self " she smiled and gently kissed his cheek " Thank you Robert and you Kate, ok I'm ready " she smiled her fingers feeling the soft fabric of the handle of her bouquet.

"You're very welcome," Robert said. Kate went in and took her place in the front row. He nodded to Brian, who escorted Khaat down the aisle and noticed how much they noticed her and didnt notice him. He couldn't remember when he was so please to just be an accessory for the real beauty beside him. He took her to her place and gave her a token kiss on the cheek and then took his own place beside Steven.

Robert didn't speak now. He simply offered Cassidy his arm and escorted her down the aisle. When he was asked who was giving her away, he replied, "Her family and I." He gave her a token kiss on the cheek and placed her hand in Steven's before taking his seat beside Kate.

Cassidy smiled and walked with Robert things couldn't be happier, this was totally different to Clay this time she felt it was right and spoke softly as Robert gave her a small kiss on her cheek " thank you" she whispered and took Stevens hand in her own, she stood facing him feeling this was where she should have been all along. even though she felt like crying in happiness she held her self. Soon Angus spoke the vows and she repeated them.

" I cassidy Rose Steven take you Steven Cordell Walker to be my lawfully wedded husband till death do us part" she said holding his hand and smiling as she slipped on his ring and heard Angus say the same to Steven.

"I Steven Cordell Walker do take you Cassidy Rose Steven to be my lawfully wedded wife in sickness and in health, till death us do part" he said holding her hand as he slipped on her ring and lifted her vail as he did doves rose and sent sparkly magical sprinkles into the air and over them and he smiled at her as he heard that he could kiss his bride. He lent forward and kissed her " I love you cassidy " he said and she smiled at him.

" I love you too " she said back and kissed him back. Walking back up the isle Steven scooped her into his arms and smiled at her.

" Well closest thing to home we have is here, Mrs Walker " he said and saw the smile on Cassidys face as she held him close till they stood in the hall way. " ok Angus show us the cake you have been working on " he said and grinned.

Brian produced a large antique white stole to wrap around Khaat's shoulders to keep the drafts from the Great dining hall off her shoulders. It was at least 8 foot long, and four foot wide. He had wondered when he bought it if it would be too long and wide and bulky for her, but to his surprise she managed it with grace and elegance.

Brian felt better getting her back on his arm. He wanted to get her to the dining hall. She had held up well, but she was starting to push it now. Robert seemed to know. He offered Kate his arm and they led the way to the dining hall. The rest of the guests followed Robert's lead. Brian was glad to get Khaat into the dining hall and into their places at the table. The cake rested on a separate table with the rest of the refreshments. And it seemed to fit perfectly with the meld of Christmas decorations and wedding decorations.

Spoiler:

Cassidy and Steven walked in and were in awe of the cake " its beautiful Angus and so fitting too , the whole place looks wonderful " she said still holding on to Stevens hand. John walked over to them both and smiled at Cassidy.

" Welcome to the family Cassidy " he said and hugged her, Cassidy thanked him and looked at Steven as he left her to walk over to Andrew.

"Good to see you again Andrew, I'm happy your here. " he said to him hoping to set things right with him he looked back at Cassidy who nodded and stood with John admiring the cake and decorations.

"Good to see you too," Andrew said, as he stood with Michael. Michae's hand was resting fully on Andrew's shoulder. "Congratulations." Michael was pleased at how cordial Andrew had mustered up to be. He had spent the morning talking with Andrew after Robert's conversation with Andrew the night before. Andrew was less conflicted and had gone, at least partly, back to where Robert and Michael needed Andrew to be emotionally. Robert had shifted his approach with Andrew. He was less concerned about parenting a boy at this point and far more concerned with raising and training up a man. And Andrew was largely very mature when Robert needed him to be. When he wasn't quite so sure was in things that struck too hard to Andrew's heart. And that was a great deal like Brian had been at the same age. Robert and Michael had asked Brian to step in and help to train him and help to fill in those spaces that Andrew felt nobody would ever understand. Brian knew them much too well. And he and Khaat had discussed it and had decided to give it a try. Robert would remain the legal guardian, but Brian would step in as more or less how Remus had in his and Khaat's own lives. It made sense to a family that spent their lives wrapping around the lives of others.

Angus ordered the staff members to serve the champagne so they could do the toast and then proceed to cutting the cake.

Steven nodded " thank you " he said and looked at Andrew he knew he'd lost his trust. From that small boy he'd befriended out side an ice cream parlor, he he felt being with Robert was best even if it felt a little like he'd failed him " you enjoying being with Robert and Kate?" he asked trying to not let it show on his face how he felt like a failure where Andrew was concerned but he also knew not every child could be saved and that Robert and Kate had something he didn't experience at raising some one with a troubled back ground.

Cassidy moved to the table and took a glass of champagne sipping it slowly she was happy and looked over at Steven seeing something was not right she walked over to him " Hi Andrew Stevens told me a lot about you I'm pleased to meet you" she said smiling as she took Stevens hand in her own.

"Its nice to meet you too," Andrew said to Cassidy. Then he looked back at Steven. "Its okay. Living with them is a lot of work." That made Michael laugh.

"It certainly is," Michael said. "Ask Brian and Khaat. They grew up doing the same thing you're doing now."

"Really?" Andrew looked up at Michael.

"Yes," Michael laughed. "Ask them yourself if you don't believe me. Or ask Robert or Kate. They didn't have it one notch easier, Lad." Andrew looked at Brian and Khaat. They had turned out okay, so far as he could tell. He didn't know them well, but by the looks of it, they were filthy rich and deleriously happy. There could be worse fates, he decided.

The staff passed a glass of champagne to those who were standing and a glass of sparkling white grape juice in champagne flutes for the children so that they felt like a part of things. The staff had even put some of the sparkling grape juice in sippy cups for the babies and had handed them some special Christmas shaped arrowroot cookies that Angus had made for the kids to gnaw on, to keep them busy and happy and to occupy their need to teethe.