Re: Say the Words - ch.58 -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3], 4, 5, 6 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 09:20:17 03/26/03 Wed
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Say the Words - ch.58
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Say the Words - ch.57" on 09:16:28 03/26/03 Wed

CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT

"To Sophie and Peter!" Mark offered his toast with gusto, as the guests "clinked" their glasses in concert.

Eagerly, Peter gave Sophie a kiss to satisfy the crowd.

"Now, everyone, please enjoy yourselves and�" Suddenly, Mark was interrupted by Charity, whispering something in his ear, as Peter and Sophie looked on, curious.

"Ah�I've just been told that�the�" Mark turned to Charity again to be sure he'd heard her correctly.

"That the�Cliffhangers�would like a few minutes to present their�final exam?" Mark repeated Charity's phrase, word for word, though he was sure she must have been mistaken.

Perplexed, Peter was about to suggest another time might be better, when Daisy stood at the Cliffhangers' table and gratefully accepted the cordless microphone from Charity.

Sophie's faith in Daisy was extraordinary. Patiently, she tugged at Peter's jacket, conveying with her eyes that she'd like to hear Daisy out.

Poised, Daisy addressed the guests first. "We were told to write something for a future generation, so here it is�"

"Dear Profoundly Dysfunctional Adolescents Yet to Come," she began, as everyone took their cue from Peter and Sophie and listened politely.

"Today is Peter and Sophie's wedding day. And since you'll never have the chance to know them, we thought we'd tell you a little about them�"

Peter rolled his eyes, regretting that he'd ever given them this assignment. Sophie smiled slightly, prepared for the worst but hoping for the best.

"First of all," Ezra took over for Daisy. "Peter can't cook and Sophie loves to eat�"

Laughter sprung from every table as the guests readily agreed with Ezra's astute observation.

Guilty as charged, the bride and groom suffered the good-natured ribbing and relaxed with another kiss.

"But seriously," Ezra continued, "none of us would be here if it wasn't for them."

"We'd be with families that couldn't or wouldn't help. We'd be on the streets alone. We'd be drunk, or drugged�or dead," Ezra stated quite matter-of-factly.

"We'd like to think that kids won't need a place like Mount Horizon a hundred years from now," Juliette took over from Ezra. "That life will have gotten better for all of you."

"But, if it hasn't," Auggie read from their letter. "Then, we hope you'll have someone like Peter and Sophie in your lives."

"They go to the wall for us, Man," Auggie continued, as the crowd smiled at his slang expression. "Uh�I mean�they'd do anything for us," he corrected himself.

"They track us down when we run away," Shelby revealed, pausing to look at Peter with gratitude, "and then they even track our little sisters down when they run away."

Peter and Sophie lowered their eyes for a moment, touched by the faith the Cliffhangers all had in them.

Daisy waited, hoping David wouldn't change his contribution at the last minute.

Standing briefly, he said it all, in his own way. "Any man who's willing to barricade himself in a cabin with my father deserves a medal..."

David shook his head and gave Peter a wink. "Personally, I'd have taken my chances with the bear�"

"So, you see, Delinquents of the Future," Daisy finished their report. "If you think life stinks, it probably does. But we're here to remind you that if you search hard enough, there just may be a Peter or a Sophie out there who's willing to take the time to listen, and to care. Be on the lookout�"

The guests' genuine applause encouraged the Cliffhangers, and they looked toward Peter to gauge his reaction. Anxiously, they waited for his approval - or something�

"That's it?" Peter questioned with a shrug.

"You wanted more?" Auggie feared.

"See, I told you it wasn't long enough!" Juliette snapped at Shelby.

"No, no, it's great, really," Peter explained. "It's just that�"

Peter turned to the Captain of his Cliffhangers. "Scott, we didn't hear anything from you?"

"Ah yes," Daisy sighed with a smile. "Once again, our fearless leader has ventured off on his own, marching to his own drummer, blowing his own horn�"

"Hey, I wrote it, okay?" Scott interrupted her grumpily, sitting down at the piano to face Peter and Sophie. "Music lasts forever, too�"

As Scott's fingers traveled the keyboard, the guests soon became entranced. Every note perfectly chosen, his soaring melody filled the air with chords of peace, harmony and lush romance.

Shelby's eyes glistened with pride. Scott was talented at so many things. He was intelligent and he was a superb athlete; but, it was his music most of all, that had afforded Shelby a window into Scott's very soul.

Even the Cliffhangers looked on proudly. They had heard bits and pieces of Scott's creation as, daily, he sat at the keyboard, exchanging one note for another, writing and re-writing, until it was the perfect accompaniment to Sophie and Peter's first dance as husband and wife.

"You could�dance now�" Scott suggested almost bashfully into the microphone.

Sophie gave Peter a crooked smile as he offered his hand and led his new bride onto the dance floor.

"Splendid�" Charity beamed, thrilled with how well everything had fallen into place.

As Peter and Sophie swayed a bit self-consciously to Scott's original score, Alex chuckled in Charity's ear, "Fred and Ginger, they're not�"

Charity clasped Alex's hand tightly. "They don't have to be," she reminded him, knowing full well that neither she nor Alex could possibly feel any more love for their children than they did at that moment.

With the dance concluded, Peter and Sophie accepted the warm wishes of all the Cliffhangers, and rewarded their final exam with a successful, passing grade. The time and effort spent, alone, was admirable and even Frank had to agree that it showed an uncommon cooperative effort among the group.

The party soon roared into full swing, with all the guests taking to the wooden dance floor - all except Charity.

In her inimitable style, Charity chose to hold court at the head table with Alex, Frank, and Gianni positively doting on her, anxious to grant her every whim. A glass of punch�a dance�a bite to eat� No request was too small.

Sophie stood comfortably in Peter's embrace, her back against his chest. Contentedly, she rested her head against his strong arm and laughed happily at the sight.

"Will you look at her?" she giggled, her hand drifting aimlessly along his bicep.

"I'm trying not to," Peter groaned, shaking his head at his aunt's apparent allure.

Suddenly a thunderous voice caught everyone's attention.

"Dang it all, Charity!"

The sharp rebuke halted the festivities quite effectively.

"Ben!" Instantly, Peter walked over to welcome their latest guest.

"Hi, kids�" Sheepishly, Ben greeted Peter and Sophie, regretting his outburst but still focused furiously on the outrageous scene before him.

"Sorry I missed the ceremony� Plane was late�" Without skipping a beat, Ben shook Peter's hand, gave Sophie a kiss on the cheek, and then made a beeline directly toward the head table, with Peter and Sophie in hot pursuit.

"So, this is how you think over my proposal of marriage, Woman?" Ben sputtered, fuming at the sight of Charity and her ever-expanding coterie of male suitors.

"Marriage?" Peter and Sophie both exclaimed, in unison, stunned by the fascinating revelation.

Wisely, Frank, Alex and Gianni backed away from Charity immediately. Firstly, because any man who dared use that tone of voice with Charity Lawson Mitchell was taking his life in his hands; and, secondly, none of the three had any intention of marrying again soon and, therefore, willingly yielded the floor to the one man who apparently did!

"Now is NOT the time, Benjamin!" Charity rose to meet him face-to-face, her temper simmering dangerously.

Just the innocent stares of the crowd were enough to provoke her. "Oh, go back to your dancing�" she ordered the guests briskly, before remembering her manners.

"Ah�please�everyone, enjoy yourselves�" she covered pitifully, with a smile so fake it hurt.

"Are you out of your mind, Ben?" Charity took the burly sheriff by the arm and attempted to drag him toward a more secluded corner to talk. Only Sophie's mischievous tap on Charity's shoulder stopped her.

"So�" Sophie teased with uncontrollable delight. "That's why you showed up here so early. He proposed, and you ran. Interesting�"

The look that Charity shot Sophie instinctively prompted Peter to pull his bride back to a safer distance. He had no wish to become a widower on his wedding day.

"Uh�why don't we just leave you two alone?" Peter suggested blithely. Then, keeping a firm grasp on Sophie's waist, he led her quickly, and securely, out of Charity's line of fire.

"I told you we should've eloped," Peter grumbled, wondering what else could possibly happen tonight.

But Peter's worries were unfounded. The reception easily returned to its jovial state as everyone watched the bride and groom make their rounds, greeting all the invited guests personally.

Eventually, there was only one particular couple, standing a bit removed from the crowd, left to thank. Sophie and Peter both grinned and, hand in hand, they walked toward them.

"Happy Anniversary," Peter greeted Sully with a welcoming pat on the shoulder.

"Same to you," Sully smiled proudly, clasping Peter's arm in a warm, Cheyenne handshake.

"You made a beautiful bride, Sophie," Michaela sighed. Through tears of happiness, she hugged the newest addition to her family.

"Thank you, for everything�" Sophie had tears in her eyes now, too.

"Will we see you again?" Peter hated to think this was the end, as he kissed Michaela on the cheek.

"Ya never know," Sully replied optimistically, prepared to lead Michaela away.

"Oh, wait, please," Sophie begged with a bright smile, "There's somebody you have to say goodbye to first."

Peter stayed behind as Sophie disappeared for a moment on her secret quest. With Michaela and Sully keeping their backs discreetly toward the crowd, Peter was the only one facing Sophie and her guests when they returned.

A knowing smile on his lips, Peter winked at his great-great grandparents before announcing, "Ezra�Daisy� We'd like you to meet some friends of ours�"

Sully and Michaela pivoted, coming face to face with the shocked teenagers.

The man was the spitting image of Peter, except his hair was a little longer, his face a little fuller, and his suit a little old-fashioned. The woman in the light blue party dress now appeared to be only a few years older than Sophie. Her hair was a rich chestnut color and her eyes were the same amazing combination - one green and one brown.

"It's you�" Daisy whispered, virtually speechless at the sight of the old couple from Oakhaven standing before them, suddenly decades younger.

"But�it can't be� At Oakhaven, you were old�and now� How?" Flustered, Ezra turned to Sully for some sort of reason to explain their miraculous transformation.

With a smile and a shrug, Sully reassured Ezra as best as he could.

"E.Z.," he offered sagely, staring the bewildered young man in the eye, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do�"

Michaela's laughter bubbled forth as her eyes filled with love. "Take care of yourselves, children," she wished with all her heart.

"Thanks fer everything." Sully added his warm appreciation to the young pair before he and Michaela headed off into the woods.

Wistfully, Peter held tightly to Sophie, as they watched Sully and Michaela disappear.

"Who are they - exactly?" Daisy pressed Sophie for details, with an inquisitive stare.

Releasing a blissful sigh, Sophie wrapped her arm snugly around Peter's waist and chose a suitable response to Daisy's question.

"Who? Them?" she replied innocently, giving Peter a conspiring wink. "Gee, they've been friends of Peter's family for years�"

Disappointed and thwarted, Daisy frowned. She knew better than to delve further and wouldn't have had the chance, even if she dared. For, emerging from the reception, were Charity and Ben, approaching to speak with the happy couple.

Wanting to give them their privacy, Daisy tried to lead a befuddled Ezra back towards the party.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do�" Ezra repeated studiously, puzzled by Sully's advice. "That's gotta be a code, don't ya think, Daise?"

"Undoubtedly," Daisy replied, her serious face barely masking the smile that she shared with Peter and Sophie over Ezra's shoulder as they walked away.

"So�you two sort things out?" Peter beseeched Ben and Charity hopefully, seeing the pair arm in arm, looking quite affectionate.

"We did�" Ben smiled like the cat that ate the canary, while Charity smirked disapprovingly.

"We are going on a little vacation to - sort things out�as you say," Charity clarified haughtily.

"Gianni wants to visit his brother in Italy," she explained as casually as possible. "So, Ben and I are going to Vashon Island and take care of the Inn for him while he's away."

"You and Ben? On Vashon Island?" The thought made Peter shudder.

Instantly, Sophie rested the palm of her hand soothingly on Peter's chest. "Don't dwell, Honey�" she cautioned him with a shake of her head.

"We hope you'll be very happy," Sophie spoke for her still-speechless husband.

"And the same to you, Dear�" Charity kissed her new niece on the cheek.

Sophie held Charity close a moment longer. "Is it all set?" she whispered, unknowingly asking her the exact same question that Peter had earlier.

"Everything�" Charity assured Sophie equally. All had been taken care of; Charity had seen to it personally.

"Then, you know where we're going?" Sophie's excitement grew.

"My dear, I can say nothing, except that it will be there when you arrive." Now that Peter and Sophie were safely married, Charity could finally enjoy all of this light-hearted intrigue.

"Are we ready to go?" Alex interrupted the fond farewells.

"Go?" Sophie glanced at Peter, perplexed. She hadn't exactly planned on her father accompanying them on their honeymoon.

"More than ready�" Peter smiled at Alex.

"What's going on?" Sophie hated secrets, especially when she wasn't in on them.

"Alex has offered to be our pilot," Peter explained mischievously, trusting only Alex and Charity with their secret destination.

"It's just a short flight�on the private jet�" Peter boasted, looking altogether too pleased with himself. "Then he'll fly the plane back to meet Mark in New York."

"Private jet?" Sophie's eyebrows raised excitedly.

"Oh, she's a beauty, Sophie," Alex sighed. "I can't wait to get my hands on her."

Tiring of all these prolonged goodbyes, Peter flirted shamelessly in Sophie's ear. "I know how he feels�" he whispered for her alone, enjoying Sophie's heated blush.

"So, are we ready to go?" Peter asked again, eagerly.

"More than ready�" Sophie repeated Peter's words, with clear expectation in her voice.

"Oh, oops, wait a minute�" Suddenly remembering something, Sophie stopped short, and beckoned Annie over to her.

"Soph�" Peter groaned petulantly.

Taking her friend and bridesmaid aside quickly, Sophie smiled and slipped Annie's grandmother's handkerchief delicately from her bodice. "I almost forgot," she returned it gratefully, "something borrowed�."

With a twinkle in her eye, Annie gave Sophie a big, heartfelt hug goodbye. "I wasn't worried," she teased secretively, "I figured Peter'd find it."

As their girlish laughter filled the air, Alex paused as well, to give Charity a careful kiss on the cheek, under Ben's watchful eye.

"If you ever get tired of him," he whispered fondly in her ear, "I'll have a pot of chili on the stove�"

Charity's eyes sparkled with affection, for Alex had become very dear to her in a very short time.

Finally, Peter's patience reached its absolute limit. "Time to go, Honey," he pleaded, grabbing Sophie by the hand before she could think of one more person to thank.

"We love you all," Peter proclaimed loudly, hoping that would cover it.

He should have known better. Charity glared at him, arms crossed, fully expecting more. In hurried exasperation, Peter raced toward her and bestowed the richest - and fastest - honor he could.

"But, we love you most, Aunt C.," he vowed with a kiss, embracing her with all his heart.

Charity tilted her chin to keep the tears from falling. "Well, then, what are you waiting for?" she encouraged him, suddenly quite satisfied. "Go�"

A cloud of multi-colored confetti enveloped them, as Peter and Sophie made a swift exit into the back of Alex's car to the cheers of the crowd.

Charity's wave was the longest as she watched them disappear into the night. Only Ben heard her soft, emotional admission.

"I love you, too�"

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Re: Say the Words - ch.59(Final) -- dqfan, 09:24:17 03/26/03 Wed