Kav, how do you think of these things?? Flying dogs?? I don't know how but I can see and hear them very clearly!!!

Joy

Jack, I hope you have the ducktape handy, or the ride is short, because Howie is NOT the most discreet person I know.

Flying dogs !!!!!

I just love it, Kav !!!

Did you really think I would miss this? I have been waiting for that gnome sequel and I think it would be the perfect story for you to write next. Thoughts of sun drenched soil and warm summer days always work well to drive away the blahs of January and February!

Not that I don't enjoy this story - glad you didn't finish tonight!

Oh, wow! No wonder Jack's so happy! Tonight's their wedding night!! Yippee!!! This is great!!!!

Wow Kav! You've been on quite the posting frenzy, haven't you? Loved ALL the loverly fuzzies - Jack & Sue's, Bobby & Tara's, Myles & Lucy's... WHAT? You couldn't work in D & Donna?? (Kidding, I'm kidding.)

I'm backtracking here (been watching Jack for too long), but I re-read this from several posts back and just had to comment...

Only now that I've quoted, I can't come up with an adequate comment. I guess I'll go with... WHOA, MAMA.
Thanks so much for this adventure Kav, it's been, well... magical.
Tina

Wonderful post. Honestly, how you come up with things like flying dogs amazes me and finds me knowing that I could never compete with your talent. There's something special in that brain of yours and I hope you never lose it!

your mind must be a wonderful place to live... seriously flying dogs, oh how romantic for some serious dog lovers- I LOVE IT.....

sue sounds beautiful and well Jack jusr makes me want to

i hope it never ends!

I love the revision on the classic Jingle Bells song.

so many wonderful posts to catch up with,

cath

This is simply amazing....I can't wait to read more....


~laura michelle~

I know I shouldn't have fallen behind because now there's so much I want to comment on and I won't possibly remember it all.

Myles and Lucy -- I loved Lucy's hesitantcy and eye-opening experience.

Bobby and Tara -- The cartwheels! The snow melting on the building -- perfect.

Sue and Jack -- What can I say except unbelievable. (which seems weird in a story about believing)

Howie- I loved the names of the dogs!

You fill every post with so much senual detail -- sights, colors, sounds, tastes -- I just love it.

I'm not sure what I can add except to acknowledge again your wonderful ability to intertwine levity with passion.

It only makes sense for the dogs' feet to not actually touch the snow. If they did while pulling Jack and Sue, wouldn't the snow all melt????

I have never watched the movie The Polar Express all the way through...and now I know I won't because it can't possibly measure up to this story. So glad you didn't finish last night, Kav. Take all the time you need - we won't complain a bit!

That was wonderful loved the flying dogs
howie can be very helpful but I think jack needs more than
ducktape to keep him quite ,more soon please Kav
Lin

They didn't need duct tape for Howie because the driver stands at the back of the sled, thus out of Sue's sight line! Thank goodness he didn't plop down right next to Jack and Sue 'cause they probably would have gotten lost!

It was surprisingly warm nestled within the festive red sled as Jack’s hands did their work, sparking an inner heat that flooded her body and tingled her toes, though that could have been attributed to Levi’s heavy body cutting off the circulation to her feet.

“Jack – what are people going to say?” Sue strained her neck trying to take in the reaction of Christmas commuters but all she could see was a white haze. “What’s happening? Where are we?”

Jack pulled her back against his chest, tilting her chin up with his gloved hand. “Stay put, you’re letting all the cold air in and I worked hard to heat you up.” He winked and kissed her nose as he tucked the blanket back around them.

“You don’t have to work hard at that and you know it!” Sue complained.

“I’ll remind you of that tonight,” Jack said with wicked grin.

“You’re hiding something,” Sue accused.

“Hmmmmm,” Jack grunted non-committaly. “We’re on our way to the restaurant, remember? Howie says that the dogs have their own traffic pattern – same principle as the reindeer – only they don’t fly as high. He says the ground control is a little trickier but as you know he doesn’t like flying…”

“Jack, you sound so…matter-of-fact about all of this.”

“Yeah, well, it took some getting used to but it makes a lot of sense now. They’re very organized. Mr. C is a master strategizer. We could use someone like him at the Bureau.”

Sue’s gloved hand caressed his cheek. “We already have someone just as good.”

He kissed her palm, the look in his brown eyes melting her insides by degrees. It was a miracle that her body still remained in a solidified state.

Jack recognized the yearning in her eyes, noted the now familiar telltale signs that stirred his passion. Her parted lips, the rosy flush in her cheeks, the way she tilted her head in invitation. Just a few more hours and he’d never have to hold back again.
Don’t you dare mess up her make up, Jack Hudson. Keep your lips to yourself until after the wedding. Lucy had warned him severely before he’d left to pick Sue up. Reluctantly he pulled his mouth away, contenting himself with a very unsatisfactory kiss on the forehead instead of the passionate melding he’d had in mind. He met Sue’s puzzled look with a wry smile and sighed.

“So – do you know Howie’s story?” Jack asked as he groped for any kind of distraction available.

Sue shook her head, eyeing him questioningly.

“It’s easy to see now where Howie gets his entrepreneurial spirit – however skewed that may be,” Jack told her. “His family’s business is reindeer. Flying reindeer. Acquiring, training and maintaining.”

“But Howie’s afraid of flying!” Sue exclaimed, her eyes widening with understanding.

Jack nodded. “Kind of put a damper on taking over the family business when the time came. There was only so much mucking out of stalls that he could stomach. Not much else to do if you don’t do the training.”

“Oh – poor Howie!”

“Oh poor us,” Jack contradicted teasingly. “You might say Howie had a bit of a cultural clash when he first…landed here. His unique view of moving merchandise didn’t quite mesh with our retailers. Apparently he kept giving stuff away to people who really needed it – not those who asked for it and were willing to pay. That’s what landed him in jail the first time.”

“Oh!” Sue’s eyes welled up with tears and Jack tenderly wiped them away before they could spill, marring the makeup Lucy had warned him repeatedly not to disturb.

“Lucky for Howie you became his champion. Mrs. C owes you big time for that,” Jack assured her. “Which is one of the reasons this is happening.”

“This? What?” Sue looked around her, surprised to find that they had arrived at the restaurant already. “But that didn’t take any time at all!”

“That’s the whole point. Time is a valuable commodity,” Howie said cheerfully, offering his hand to help Sue out of the sleigh in spite of Jack’s glowering look of warning.

The snow fell lightly around the Polar Express despite the raging blizzard that seemed to have taken hold of the rest of DC. Light fluffy flakes drifted gently down from the silver sky, resting on the landscape in elegant drifts.

Sue felt Jack come to stand beside her, his arm reaching around her shoulders, pressing her close. He kissed the top of her head and tucked it under his chin. He seemed content to stand there for an eternity.

“Jack, shouldn’t we go in?”

His hand circled her face and pointed out. Look. She did…and gasped as the gray twilight was suddenly flooded with light. The towering evergreen that stood sentinel at the restaurant door transformed into the biggest Christmas tree Sue had ever seen. A multitude of flickering white lights revealed the delicate silver and white hearts and doves and the adorned the tree.

“It’s beautiful! I’ve never seen anything so stunning!” Sue whispered in awe.

“I have,” Jack assured her, barely looking at the tree. He kissed her hand, lingering on her wrist where a ribbon of white skin peeked out between her coat sleeve and her glove. His tongue swirled over her leaping pulse.

It’s not time yet, Jack. Bring the poor girl inside before you melt the decorations.

Jack sighed as he straightened up and led Sue towards the door. They had to pass the tree in order to climb the stairs and he slowed his steps long enough for Sue to take a good look.

“Jack, all the hearts have our names written on them,” Sue exclaimed, coming to a stand still. “And the doves all have rings in their beaks.” Then her eye caught a white envelope with her name embossed in silver. She looked at Jack wonderingly but he just shrugged, barely able to keep the smile off his face. “Is this your surprise?”

“Read it.”

Sue wrestled off one leather glove and plucked the envelope out of the boughs of the tree with a trembling hand. She opened the flap and carefully pulled out the textured card inside. Silver snowflakes decorated the cover, dancing around their entwined names embellished in decorative script. Her eyes flew to his face before she opened the card and began to read.

“You are cordially invited to attend a magical union of everlasting love…

Sue,

I told you I’d find a way for us to get married by Christmas. Well, I didn’t but Howie and Mrs. C did – with the help of the entire team. Sweetheart I can’t wait to begin my life with you and I’m hoping that it will start right here tonight. Marry me?

All my love,
Jack

P.S. Quick, say yes, so I can unwrap my present tonight.

Kav, the word magic just keeps flooding my mind as I read!!! Magic rides with Jack and Sue in the sleigh, it peeks out from between the boughs of the beautiful Christmas tree, and it flows off the paper of Jack's proposal!!!

Joy

KAAAAAAVVVVVVVVVVVVV!



**clears throat**

I personally felt that Bobby behaved very well....

It's about time that he decided to behave so well..

if you know what I mean....

**nudge nudge wink wink**

Everything's going so well... **Sigh**

I told you that Bobby would enjoy knowing if Tara could still do cartwheels....

Now. if you'll excuse me... I need to go read that post again... it had me bouncing in my chair.....

No makeup mess ... just too funny Patience, Jack ... patience

I see the Christmas tree as a giant invitation ... wonderful

Unwrapping your present, Jack? Shouldn't you wait till midnight???

Jack's acting like a little boy when it comes to unwrapping that present... of course... every man is like a little boy when it comes to it...

thats beautiful now sue please say YES
so jack can have you as A christmas prezzie more soon
please Kav Lin

it's just so beautiful!

Wow! Everyone has done a wonderful job on this project! The place sounds beautiful!

Kav this is GREAT!!!


And????

Sam

What a truly magical way to begin a wedding....and of course Sue will say yes.

I can't wait to see what else Mr. and Mrs. C arranged.

“You look beautiful, darling,” Sue’s mother dabbed at her eyes as she surveyed her glowing daughter.

“You’re not mad about the short notice – not being able to help plan…” Sue asked hesitantly.

Mrs. Thomas laughed and shook her head. “After Jack called I headed straight for the church and lit candles in thanksgiving!” she teased and then stepped in to smooth a non-existent wrinkle from the folds of Sue’s full skirt. “Besides, I can tell how much he loves you. I could hear it in his voice and you two have been dancing around each other for so long I feared you’d never get to the point. Who was I to hinder his moment of clarity?”

Sue rolled her eyes and pretended to be offended, but a smile played around the corners of her mouth. “Mom…”

“And I got to choose the dress. When Lucy called and put me in charge of that, well I nearly had a heart attack. We never did see eye to eye on clothes when you were growing up but the minute I walked into the bridal shop I was overcome with a feeling of serenity and I had a lovely attendant. She’s remarkably like your Mrs. C. They could be twin sisters! She helped me pick this out. We both knew it was you the second we saw it. Funny, how I felt like I was shopping with your grandmother instead of a stranger. Mom would have loved to see you in this dress.” Mrs. Thomas’ happy tears turned to ones of sadness and Sue hurried to hug her mother with no thought of crushing her dress.

Lucy’s exclamation of dismay as she came into the room broke them apart and set Mrs. Thomas to fussing over the folds of Sue’s skirt once again.

“Jack sent me up with this. He says to hurry and I really think you better. He’s going to pace a hole in the red carpet Tara lay out and she’s so full of nervous excitement she can’t seem to keep still. She nearly set the curtains on fire in the dining room when she attempted a ‘small cartwheel of joy’ that knocked over a candle. Bobby’s threatening to sit on her and we all know where that will lead and personally I think I can only handle one blossoming romance at a time, thank you very much.”

Sue’s nose wrinkled up in amusement as she tried to keep up with Lucy’s frantic play by play. “They are cute, aren’t they?” she asked, referring to the way Bobby followed Tara around like a worshipful puppy dog.

“The cutest…but not right now. Tonight I’ve downgraded them to annoying,” Lucy informed her.

Mrs. Thomas having finally decided that Sue’s dress survived being crushed by their hug, straightened and took a step back to stand next to Lucy. “I have the most beautiful daughter in the world,” she declared proudly.

Lucy smiled in understanding. “Well, my mother would beg to differ with you but since she’s not here, I guess you can be right…for today. The dress is perfect Mrs. Thomas.”
They both beamed at Sue who twirled rather self-consciously in front of the mirror.

She loved the dress and it fit as if it had been made specifically for her. The bodice of the ivory gown was covered with intricate beadwork over metallic embroidery, sprinkling the dress with a smattering of glistening snowflakes. It rested just below the beginning swell of her breasts and fitted tightly at the waist and hips. Her mother had laced it up in the back, pulling tautly on the diaphanous silver ribbon, tying a double bow lest it give way as her daughter walked down the aisle. Thin straps of tiny jeweled snowflakes kept the neckline from dipping too low while the sheer trumpet sleeves shimmered over her arms. The organza skirt flowed to the ground, trailing over the tips of her delicate shoes. The same jewels that made up the straps to her gown crisscrossed over her feet, keeping the sheer, impossibly soft fabric hugging her toes tightly.

“I feel like Cinderella about to go to the ball,” Sue confessed shyly, looking at her mother and best friend’s reflection in the full-length mirror.

“Well Cinderella, before you dance off, why don’t you open your gift from Prince Charming so we can all go downstairs and get this wedding started,” Lucy suggested laughingly.

It was a necklace. The inlaid diamonds repeating the pattern from her ring and her dress.

“Another snowflake,” Mrs. Thomas murmured as she fastened the clasp at the back of Sue’s neck. “I would never have chosen a winter wedding for you darling, but this one promises to be incredibly beautiful. Just like the bride.” She smiled gently into the mirror over Sue’s shoulder.

Lucy looked away, embarrassed to be caught observing the tender moment between mother and daughter. She cleared her throat to get Mrs. Thomas’ attention. “Your husband is waiting to escort Sue down and the guests are all assembled. I can show you to your seat before I go up to help Myles.”

“Thank you dear, that would be lovely,” Mrs. Thomas beamed tearfully. “And maybe I can get these waterworks under control by the time Sue walks down the aisle.”

Sue’s father was speechless when he saw his daughter. “You’re just like the fairy princesses in the storybooks I used to read to you when you were a little girl,” he said, choking up. “Where have all the years gone?”

Sue shrugged and stroked his arm affectionately, Lucy’s looming presence preventing her from launching herself into her father’s arms.

“Well, my one and only and most dearest daughter, will you do me the honour of allowing me to escort you to the impatient young man downstairs who has high hopes of becoming your husband within the hour?”

Lucy took Mrs. Thomas’ arm and the two women scuttled around Sue’s voluminous skirts. “I’ll be waiting downstairs for you, dear,” Mrs. Thomas assured both husband and daughter and turned to go, dabbing at her eyes tearfully.

“Mom!” Sue called out urgently. Mrs. Thomas slowly turned back. “Would you…would you walk with us? You both worked so hard and sacrificed so much to get me to this point in my life I’d like to share the moment I leave your arms for my husband’s with both of you.”

Mr. Thomas beamed with pride and urged his wife to take Sue’s other arm despite her protests.

“But this isn’t done. Really Sue, the aisle won’t be big enough to fit all of us at one time.”

“Maybe not, but my heart is,” Sue vowed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I love you both so much and I won’t do this any other way.”

This had my shedding tears. It is so lovely!

I loved the relationship portrayed here between Sue and her mother. I was touched when she asked her mom to walk her down the aisle along with her dad.

*sniffle*

That was beautifully written, Kav - you do such an amazing job of capturing the sweetness and humor of each moment.

I may just do cartwheels of joy right along with Tara (And since Bobby's occupied with keeping Tara under control, he won't be able to stop me!!)

I love Christmas weddings!!!!

sue's relationship with her parents is heart warming

oh it will so be big enough Sue... this is the polar express after all.... and magically expanding...

do you really think Bobby's sitting on her?

**blinks with wide eyes**

Sue looks beautiful, and what a wonderful suggestion to walk down between her parents.

This is simply amazing, Kav.

that was beautiful sue asking her parents to escort
her to jack had me in more soon please kav Lin

I love the idea of both of Sue's parents walking down the aisle with her!!!

The dress is beautiful, the necklace is beautiful, Sue is beautiful, everything is beautiful!!!

Joy

You sneaked in a post while I wasn't looking. And what a post! I can see it all - feel it all - am melting in anticipation. I only hope I'm solid enough to enjoy the wedding....let alone the honeymoon!

wow i'm already bawling... i really can't wait for the ceremony...i bet jack's heart is going to miss some beats when he sees her walking towards him.

and i can't wait for the wedding night.. i sure hope it's not going to be in a ice hotel...even though they say it can be hot over there, i really don't think its save, they are going to melt it.

I think I have to quote everyone! This story is amazing!

Can't wait for the wedding.


Ornella

two wonderfully fantastic posts and i was almost in tears when sue asked her mum to walk down the aisle with her too

cath

I'm around my office!!! This is so awesome Kav! I can't wait for more!

Em

that's all I can say!

I too am around the office! I can't wait!! It's showtime!!!

Beautiful

That was a lovely scene and I'm so glad Sue wants both her parents to walk her down the aisle!

Flip I'm amazed that there was a time you weren't looking and that you didn't mention how much you love a pacing Jack!

Thanks, Kav.......wonderful story. Loved Sue asking her mom to walk the aisle with her.

I've seen that done at weddings and it's been so sweet.

B/T melting the snow on the roof.

Never been to a Christmas wedding but I'm loving this one.

thanks for sharing. I hope 2007 is a better year for you, too.

My favorite part was where Mrs. Thomas told about her attendant at the bridal shop who seemed a lot like Mrs. C. They thought of everything, didn't they? Or should I say, you did. I know someone already mentioned this, but you move from humor to heated to touching moments so effortlessly.

For you

Your description of Sue's wedding dress was perfect (you don't do a little fashion design on the side, do you?) and I could just picture her. Jack will be the one doing cartwheels when he sees her!

Tina

Oh, Kav, you really know how to make a girl cry in the middle of the night. Here comes the wedding. I can't wiat for them to say "I Do".

When I feel more coherent and thus more solidified in my existance....I'll get back to you Kav. Just know that I'm so loving every post....not that I don't always love what you write!!!!! I feel like !!!!!!!

duckfan -- is that your Jack? Doesn't he know kitties don't like water? Thanks for all the positive feedback. It makes my day to read those. I'm in the middle of redecorating -- it's a New Year thing with me -- I've taken about everything in two room, mixed stuff around, started decoupaging and old dresser, herded together copious number of dust bunnies and in general have made a horrific mess! That's my excuse for not finishing this yesterday. Don't know what excuse I'll find for today but then again, maybe I will actually finish it today. Off to try to make sense out of the havoc...more later.



He wasn’t exactly sitting on her, but it was pretty close. Bobby had his hand tucked in the waistband of her chiffon skirt and if she dared move too far too fast the delicate fabric would rip. Tara knew it and concentrated on behaving. Bobby knew it and hoped she’d throw caution to the wind. They were at a stalemate by the time Myles took his position at the front.

“A train?” Mrs. Thomas’ steps faltered after walking through the dining room to find themselves stepping onto the platform of a railcar.

Sue’s cry of delight was all Jack needed to hear to bring an abrupt halt to his pacing. “She’s here,” he told Bobby tersely and headed down the aisle.

D, who was sitting with his family in one of the first rows, put out a restraining hand. “Uh Jack, don’t you think you better let Sue’s father walk her up the aisle?I know I wouldn’t take kindly to some guy doing me out of that privilege when it comes Tanya’s time.”

“Dad,” Tanya moaned in embarrassment. “Jack isn’t some guy he’s the guy! And I won’t ever be getting married now so you don’t have to worry about someone stealing your chance to walk me down the aisle. Jack already did.” She snuffled woefully into a lace handkerchief her mother provided.

“Oh. Right,” Jack agreed standing rooted to the spot part way down the aisle.

“Jack dear, don’t you think it would be nice for Sue to find you at the front by the alter that Lucy and Tara worked so hard to make for the ceremony?” Mrs. C asked in a pleasant, hushed tone as she scooted Jack backwards to stand in position. She looked over at Bobby who was sitting impossibly close to Tara and fixed him with a commanding eye. “This might not be a church but it’s as good as for the next hour,” she reprimanded. “I want to be able to see a hand span between you two.”

“Mine or Tara’s?” Bobby asked with a cheeky wink as he wedged his hand along Tara’s thigh.

“Snowballs and icicles but you are a vexing man!” Mrs. C complained, sorely tempted to box his ears. “Behave yourself and mind that this one,” she nodded her head at Jack, “stays put…no matter what. I’ll go and get things started. Myles…”

He jumped nervously and looked down the long length of the railcar. He hadn’t remembered it stretching quite so far back, as if it had grown in order to accommodate the guests. Jack’s friends and relatives on one side, Sue’s on the other with the team and Howie, Charlie, Troy and Amanda stretched across both sides at the front. His tie suddenly felt too tight and his collar scratched and his mouth had become unaccountably dry. He couldn’t do this. Not today. When he’d sung in the choir, he’d had weeks of practice with a professional choir director to coach him along with a song he had known since his childhood and an organ to carry the tune if he faltered.

Today Lucy expected him to stand up in front of all these people – many that he knew – and sing a song that he’d just learned without accompaniment! She had chosen the music and she was adamant and just as bossy in 2006 as she had been in 1986 and he found himself allowing her to bully him into performing whatever she requested.

* * *

“I have to get up to the front, Myles has gone all chalky white and he looks like he’s going to have a coronary. He’s singing you down the aisle, Sue,” Lucy beamed at her friend as she cast a self-conscious glance over her shoulder to peer at Myles through the doorway. “He’s seeing Believe…I’m going to sign it for you, so Mr. Thomas when you hear…”

“No need dear,” Mrs. C said smoothly as she joined them on the platform. “I’m here now. I’ll see they get started at the right time. You go on and soothe your savage beast…he looks ready to snarl.”

“He’s not my…” Lucy let the protest die on her lips as Mrs. C fixed her with a reproachful stare. Lucy found it infuriatingly frustrating that it was impossible to lie to the woman. She turned on her heel and hurried down the aisle to Myles side.

“You’re going to be fine,” she told him sternly as she straightened his tie where he had tried to yank it loose. “You have a divine voice and this is a beautiful song. You sing it with such passion that it makes me cry every time.”

He caught her hands in his, stilling her nervous fussing by clasping them against his chest. “Passion?” he murmured, arching an eyebrow suggestively.

“For the song.”

“Not only for the song.”

“Myles…”

“For the lady who picked the song.”

“…not here.”

“Later?”

He had to content himself with the imperceptible nod as they took their places.

“Sing, Myles.”

“With you in my heart, how could I do anything but?” he quipped before closing his eyes to gather himself for a moment. He began singing softly, filling the traincar with the gentle melody.

Children, sleeping
Snow is softly falling.
Dreams are calling,
Like bells in the distance.
We were dreamers,
Not so long ago.
But one by one, we
All had to grow up.

Lucy let the words flow from her hands as her mind drifted back to the first time they had been in the same train. Strangers from across the country and the world, gathered together in childhood on the Polar Express. They had all come full circle. Here again, their eyes wide open to the truth, their belief infused with the same vigor from years before. Twenty years ago she hadn’t given a second thought to the blond boy who had caused such a disruption with his unbelief. Today she could barely pull her thoughts away from the tall man whose captivating voice seemed to have cast a spell over her.

When it seems the magic slipped away…
We find it all again on Christmas Day.

That was it! So much had slipped away from them over the last two years – almost vanishing out of their reach, but they’d found the magic again. Lucy risked glancing over at Myles, her heart soaring when she recognized the same realization was dawning in his own eyes.

Believe in what your heart is saying,
Hear the melody that’s playing.

Jack watched Sue begin her way down the aisle flanked by her parents. Her mother was dabbing away tears, her father’s chest puffed out with pride but Jack only had eyes for the woman between them. Their daughter – soon to be his wife! She was radiant, her smile rivaling the gleaming diamonds at her throat. She’d rearranged her hair, sweeping the sides back but leaving the length long, skimming her bare shoulders in a provocative cascading curtain. Jack’s hands clenched into fists as he struggled to maintain some semblance of decorum. He wanted to stride down the aisle and sweep Sue into his arms. He wanted to brush those soft golden strands from her shoulders, replacing them with his lips.

There’s no time to waste
There’s so much to celebrate

He’d be celebrating the rest of his life for the gift he was receiving today and he vowed he would never waste a single second of the magic they created together.

Believe in what you feel inside,
Give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need, if you just believe.

She believed. In fate and faith and the bounteous blessings from God’s hand to her life. She walked arm in arm with the two people directly responsible for starting her on this path. Her father taught her to dream, her mother showed her how to plan to make those dreams succeed and now she could fly. She was soaring – into the arms of the man she loved with every fiber of her being.

Trains move quickly
To their journey’s end.
Destinations…
Are where we begin again.

Bobby felt teary-eyed and he never cried. Not since his dad had left over twenty years ago. Life had taught him to be tough, his mother’s love the only thing that softened his edges enough to allow another man into his life. His Pops. The man who had patiently, painstakingly picked up the shattered pieces of a little boy’s grieving ego and helped him rebuild, reconstruct. Not to perfection, Bobby was all too aware of the flaws that plagued him. He reached for Tara’s hand, his large one engulfing her smallness. She felt so fragile to him, and yet he knew first hand of her bold resiliency. Her flexibility. Those were the things he loved about her. Her joyous laughter, child-like wonder, willingness to embrace the moment. The essence of the rambunctious child he had first met was still firmly entrenched within her soul. She was an infectious believer.

Ships go sailing,
Far across the sea.
Trusting starlight,
To get where they need to be.

She needed to be with Bobby. She knew that now, as clearly as she knew that Jack and Sue were meant to be together. She didn’t need to doubt herself any more…She had never doubted him…It was always about her own insecurities. How could he love me? How can I compare…Well, she realized that he did love her, Tara Marie Williams and she didn’t have to compare. She just had to be and that very act of being brought her full circle to where they needed to be. She traced a heart into the palm of his hand and his smile told her he understood her silent message.

When it seems that we have lost our way…
We find ourselves again on Christmas Day

They had almost lost their way. He had almost lost the best part of his life but for the magic of the season…the kindly interference of Mrs. C…the clear peel of the sleigh bell…the circle of friends who proved their unconditional love repeatedly…the hand of a Creator who orchestrated the magic in the first place…Jack’s eyes were moist as he took Sue’s hand, leading her away from her parents arms, drawing her close to his heart.

Believe in what your heart is saying,
Hear the melody that’s playing
There’s no time to waste,
There is so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside,
And give your dreams the wings to fly.
You have everything you need, if you just Believe.

Mrs. Thomas thought it odd that the minister wore a conductor’s uniform. It worried her for a second for as magical as this wedding was turning out to be, she liked to think that her daughter’s union would be sealed in heaven and earth by a man of God. She soon forgot her trepidation as the soothing, deep voice resonated through the traincar. He talked about believing. In Jack and Sue. In their love. In their ability to build a life together. In their dreams and their future and the happiness that would fill their life with richness and the sadness that would temper their life with sorrow but never diminish their capacity to believe.

There wasn’t a dry eye amongst the guests when he had finished many continued to weep openly as the conductor guided Jack and Sue through their final steps in becoming husband and wife and when the time came for the groom to kiss the bride they all believed.

If you just believe.
If you just believe.
If you just believe…just believe…just believe.

*happy sigh* This was well worth the 'keyboard thumb' that I now have from hitting refresh so many times waiting for it to appear when I saw your italicized name lurking and posting down there!!

So... I was already chuckling at everyone trying to corral Jack into being in his proper place at the front and then at poor Tanya whose life is now over () ... and then this line: had me

The way you wove the song through everyone's thoughts and realizations was gorgeous, and this part: was absolutely poetic!!