Title: The Next Chapter
Character/Pairing: Maddy Shannon/Mark Reynolds, with hints of Josh/Skye
Word Count: 1,109
Genre: Romance/Family
Rating: PG
Summary: Maddy and Mark are beginning their lives together.
1 Mark smiled. He stood in the Entertainment building’s event room with the new Mrs. Reynolds standing by his side. The couple was sitting in chairs at the Head table, waiting for Jordan Tate, who was the Master of Ceremonies, to announce the First Dance.
“Did I mention that you look gorgeous today, Mrs. Reynolds?” Mark smiled at his new wife.
“Why, yes you did, Mr. Reynolds.” Maddy smiled flirtatiously back.
Jim looked at his daughter with his new son-in-law. His little girl was no longer his little girl anymore. She was a married woman who would be having her own children one day; one day that Jim hoped was not soon. He was already due to become a grandfather in three and a half months, thanks to Josh and Skye, that itself made him feel old enough. He didn’t want to think about the possibility of having two grandchildren so soon after each other!
Jim looked as Maddy and Mark stepped down to the dance floor, their eyes shining with happiness.
“I would like to welcome the new Mr. And Mrs. Reynolds to the floor for their first dance!” the MC announced.
Maddy smiled as she felt Mark place his hands around her waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck, as they began swaying to the music. Maddy rested her forehead on his own forehead, and sighed happily. Everything was truly perfect.
Jim looked at his daughter sway with Mark. Elisabeth had tears in her eyes as she looked at her eldest daughter. His wife had spent the past few months planning the wedding with Maddy, and he saw how happy she was that it had come together so beautifully, and that her daughter was happy.
The song ended, and Mark kissed Maddy’s lips sweetly, before handing her over to Jim for the customary father-daughter dance. He pulled his own mother, Mariella, to the floor to dance with, a smile still plastered to his face.
“You picked the perfect woman to spend the rest of your life with. I’m so proud of you, Mark, and I know your father would be too.” Mariella rested her aging hand on his cheek.
“Thanks Mom, I love you.” Mark set a kiss on his mother’s cheek.
As the evening progressed, it looked like everyone was enjoying themselves. Skye was soothing her crazy cravings with cucumbers dipped in ice cream, much to Josh’s disgust. Zoe was talking to her best friend, Aliana Morgan, about something that involved a lot of blushing and giggling. Commander Taylor was taking advantage of the open bar, and was talking animatedly with Lieutenant Washington. Jim and Elisabeth were talking with Mariella in the corner, while observing the happy couple.
It took many hours for everyone to leave as it was after two in the morning by the time everyone had been shuffled out. Josh had taken Zoe home earlier, before heading off to his own home with Skye.
“Goodnight Mom, Dad, Mariella.” Maddy said, as she exited the building with Mark.
“And it’s over.” Jim sighed, sitting down in one of the abandoned chairs.
“I should be going,” Mariella said, “Goodnight.”
Elisabeth gave the woman a hug, before returning to her exhausted husband. “We should go home now Jim, the cleaning crew is supposed to arrive soon.”
Jim sighed, and stood up. “Okay.”
And with that, the couple made their way back to their home, where only one daughter was now waiting for them, instead of two.