Avery pinned back the last bit of Jessica's hair from her face, and leaned around and kissed her sister on the cheek.
"You look beautiful," she nodded.
"My first born daughter," Diana smiled, touching Jessica's chin. "Getting married."
"Mom," Jess let out a laugh, her eyes sparkling with tears. "You're going to make me cry."
"Don't let her cry," Kate laughed. "Avery and I just spent an hour doing her make up."
"Almost time, sis," Avery told her.
The girls stood in Diana and Walker's room, doing their last minute touches. The bridesmaids were dressed in knee length taupe dresses, a sweetheart neckline with spaghetti straps over their shoulders. Since it was in the Hanson's backyard, Jess had opted for all of them to go barefoot.
~*~*~*~
Zac grinned at Joe as they made their way to the alter, then looked around at the backyard.
Mackenzie let out a whistle. "Man, they did some awesome work on this place."
The backyard had completely transformed, looking like something out of a fairy garden, flowers and twinkling lights strung up all over the place.
Walker, Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie, menagerie
"I can't imagine Penny getting married yet," Natalie shook her head as she bounced Viggo on her hip.
"I don't think you're supposed to quite yet," Nikki mused as she smoothed down her dress, "maybe in another ten years, then you start!"
"Point," Nat rolled her eyes, then laughed.
Nikki stepped forward to fix something amiss in Avery's hair.
"Ezra, is the pillow ready?" Nat asked as she spotted him poking his head in the door.
"Yep! All done!"
"Where's your sister? She needs to get her dress on!"
~*~
"Can you believe it?" Isaac shook his head incredulously as he followed Zac.
"Our little sister getting married?" Taylor grinned, "well, some would say it's about time..."
"Just because you're coming up to your sixth anniversary-"
Taylor held his hands up in surrender.
"Just saying. Joe might as well have been a brother a long time ago."
Avery, Zoe, Kate, Zac & Joe
"Thanks," Avery smiled, smoothing the front of her dress down.
Zoe went made sure the flowers were all ready for them to grab, then looked to Jessica.
"Almost time," Kate said, glancing at the clock.
~*~*~*~
Zac chuckled. "Well, after tonight he will be."
Joe pulled a mock scared face. "Oh no!"
Walker, Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie, menagerie
”Too late now bro,” Isaac sighed and patted him on the shoulder, “you’ll be one of us in no time.”
”That sounds like a threat,” Taylor mused.
”No, it’s a promise.”
They looked up as Walker made his way down the aisle.
”Almost time boys,” he adjusted his cuffs, “all set?”
~*~
”Here Mom!” Penny ran into the room.
”Ezra? Watch Viggo please,” Nat said as she put him down.
”I’ve got him,” Nikki assured as Nat took Penny’s hand and led her into the bathroom.
In no time she had her flower girl dress on, and the flowers were set in her hair.
”Remember what to do?” Natalie looked her in the eye.
Penny nodded.
”Great. It’s almost time!”
Joe, Zac, Avery, Zoe, Kate & Jessica
Joe chuckled at the exchange between Isaac and Taylor. "I think I'm about to have a minor heart attack."
"You'll be fine," Zac assured him, but with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "I mean, it might explode in your chest when you see her, but that's perfectly normal."
~*~*~*~
"You look so cute, Pens," Avery smiled.
"You ready, Jess?" Zoe asked, looking at her sister, and handing her the bouquet.
Jessica took a deep breath and nodded. "It's now or never, right?"
"Let's roll," Kate laughed.
Walker, Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie, menagerie
"Zac," Walker gave him a knowing look.
"I would say something about how we've been there done that so we should know not to taunt him," Taylor amended, "but we've been there done that and now it's our turn to taunt. I say."
"Tay?"
"Yeah?"
"Your hair is a mess."
Taylor frowned at Isaac before running his fingers through it.
"What's wrong with it?"
"The sweat for a start. You didn't wash it on the bus?"
"Of course I did! Mostly."
Isaac rolled his eyes as Walker made his way back down the aisle to fetch his daughter.
~*~
Natalie led Penny out from the bedroom, Nikki following with Viggo.
Joe, Zac, Zoe, Avery, Jessica & Kate
"It's ok, this will all be worth it," Joe nodded.
"Well good, glad that you think so, considering you're marrying our sister and all," Zac chuckled.
~*~*~*~
Zoe and Avery helped Jessica with her dress as they left the room, Kate fixing the veil as they walked.
"Where's Dad?" Jessica asked Diana.
"He'll meet us on the patio," she replied.
Walker, Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie, menagerie
"Do you have the rings, Ezra?"
"Yes Mom, I told you I did."
"Where's River?"
"Out front with Dad."
"He was sitting in the front row with Everett and 'Roe before I came in," Nikki nodded.
"Thanks Nikki. I bet you didn't think you'd be 'child wrangler' of the day," Nat flushed a little.
"Oh don't worry," she insisted, "being on tour has sort of... prepared me, I guess?"
Nat chuckled as they caught up with Walker.
"Looking sharp there, young man," Walker grinned down at Ezra.
"Thanks Grandpa!"
"Where is she?" Walker looked between Nat and Nikki.
"Coming right up," Nikki assured.
"Prepare yourself," Nat warned with a knowing smile.
Kate, Zoe, Avery & Jessica
"You've been a lifesaver," Kate said to Nikki, giving her a quick hug.
"Dad's here," Zoe said, as Avery helped Jessica out the back door.
"Daddy," Jessica smiled, a tear already in her eye.
Avery let go of Jessica's hand and stepped to the side.
Walker, Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie, menagerie
"Shep was there too, don't you worry. I'm keeping a good eye on them," Nikki winked as she hugged back.
"Jessi," Walker faltered a moment when he saw his daughter in her wedding dress.
He bit his lip for a moment, before leaning forward to give her a kiss on the cheek.
"Oh no. Here we go," Nat started fanning herself as she felt tears forming, "make up, make up!"
Nikki laughed when she saw her.
"Should we go now?" Ezra asked.
"Just wait until Auntie Jess is ready," Nat insisted.
Jessica, Avery, Zoe, Kate, Zac & Joe
Jessica smiled and kissed her father on his cheek, before linking her arm through his.
Avery looked towards her older sister. "You ready, Jess?"
Jessica nodded. "Been waiting for this moment my whole life."
~*~*~*~
Joe took a deep breath when he heard the music start playing, and Zac gave him a thumbs up.
Walker, Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie, menagerie
"Okay. Ready Ezra?" Natalie asked.
He nodded.
"Ready Penny?"
"Yep!"
"Off you go!" Nat grinned, quickly wiping her eyes.
Ezra took Penny's hand and led her down the steps to the start of the aisle. Once there he let her hand go so that she could start throwing her flower petals.
Taylor grinned when he saw them, forgetting to breath for a moment.
"They look great," Isaac whispered to him.
"Of course they do, they're mine," Taylor hit back, making Isaac laugh.
He quickly sobered, crossing his hands over in front of him.
Ezra grinned when he saw his Dad, then glanced behind at where Nikki was following them out - Viggo still on her hip and carrying her bouquet for her.
As the kids reached the front they stood to the side, in time for Natalie to make her way out. Nikki quickly sat Viggo down between River and Monroe before smiling at Isaac (who in turn took a deep breath) and walking to the side.
Natalie shared a similar moment with Taylor before glancing at the kids and taking her place.
Zac, Kate, Avery, Zoe, Joe & Jessica
Zac let out the breath he didn't realise he'd been holding when he saw Kate appear. He winked at her and she smiled a little, before taking her place next to Natalie.
Avery followed Kate, looking every inch the model as she walked down the aisle. She smiled a little at Mackenzie, who smiled back, and she took her place.
Zoe kissed Jessica's cheek one last time, before making her way down.
Jessica looked at her father and took a deep breath.
Joe's heart was beating so fast and so loudly he was convinced everyone could hear it. His eyes were glued to Jessica, and a tear escaped and slipped down his cheek as he watched the love of his life come down the aisle.
Walker, Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie, menagerie
Walker patted her arm a little as they made their way down the aisle, struggling to keep his own emotions in check.
He made eye contact with each of his boys before settling onto Joe.
"She looks beautiful," Taylor shook his head.
"I know," Isaac agreed.
As Walker and his daughter made it to the head of the aisle, he gave her away (if a little reluctantly), and took his seat beside Diana at the front after sharing a knowing glance with Joe's father.
Zoe, Jessica, Joe, Zac & Kate
Zoe took Jessica's flowers as she stepped up and stood opposite Joe. The pair of them were smiling uncontrollably at each other, both locked in their own private little world.
Zac caught Kate's eye and winked again, thinking back on his own wedding with her.
"We are gathered here today..."
Walker
Diana reached over and took Walker's hand in hers as they settled back to watch their fourth child pronounce her love for her soul mate.