(A/N: This is a sequel to Finding home. It is not necessary to read that story first, but I would recommend it. This chapter is told from Anna's point of view. I hope you enjoy. Thank you to my Beta – gsandersfanatic. You helped me with this a lot.)

Chapter 1: Paradise

Butterflies, a feeling with which I was becoming all too familiar. It was my body's natural reaction to anything concerning Greg, but today they were worse than ever before. Today was big, bigger than our first kiss, bigger than our first night together, bigger even than the day he proposed. Today I was going to marry the man of my dreams. Today I was going to become Mrs. Greg Sanders. It seemed unreal sometimes when I thought about it. After all, I'd only known Greg for eight months, and we'd spent the last six of those engaged. Eight months, eight years, it didn't matter to me. I loved Greg with every fiber of my being and no amount of time would change that.

I looked around the room at the women that surround me. A year ago I couldn't have listed any women that I considered friends, but here were seven that I lovingly would call family. Greg's sisters I'd learned were three of the sweetest women I'd ever met, surpassed only by their mother. Mrs. Sanders, who insisted I call her mom, had embraced me as a daughter from the day I'd met her. She'd call the apartment simply to talk to me, sometimes not even asking to speak to Greg. She made me feel like I was a part of her family, even though I technically wasn't yet. Today especially, she acted as my mother, helping me with my dress, my hair, my make-up. She even provided me with the something borrowed I needed. Something old was my veil, which had belonged to my mother; something new was my dress; and my garter was blue, but I was having trouble finding something borrowed. Then at the rehearsal dinner Mrs. Sanders pulled me aside and handed me a box.

"Greg told me you still needed something borrowed, I hope this will work."

Inside the box was a silver necklace with a bright blue sapphire pendant. "Oh Mrs. Sanders it's beautiful."

"Annabelle I've told you, its mom." She picked up the necklace, "This necklace is very special to me," She said helping me put it on. "When Greg was sixteen, he got his first job and saved up his first few pay checks to buy me this for Mother's Day. I thought it would be appropriate for you to wear today."

"Thank you so much." I said hugging her.

The bridal suite was buzzing with excitement. Though Greg and I had decided to keep the wedding party small, I still wanted to make everyone feel like they were part of it. Sara was an easy choice as my Maid of Honor, since it was her push that brought Greg and I together in the first place, and I'd chosen Catherine as my second bride's maid. Greg's sisters were more than understanding of it all; saying that it would be easier for them to keep their children in line if the weren't part of the wedding. Speaking of children, with so many nieces and nephews, it was difficult to decide who got to participate and who didn't. In the end, we decided that three of Greg's nieces and my oldest niece would all be flower girls, and we would forgo having a ring bearer, mostly to avoid having to force one of Greg's nephews into a tux.

The wedding started with Greg and Nick standing at the front of the church. Warrick escorted Catherine down the isle, followed by Sara who walked unaccompanied, and then my quartet of flower girls.

Then Grissom took my arm, "You ready?"

I nodded and he walked me down the isle. The entire room seemed focused on me, but my eyes were fixed on Greg. He was so handsome in his tux. I'd heard his sisters had been pestering him all day about doing something with his hair, but I was glad to see he hadn't. When we reached the front, Grissom lifted my veil and gave me to Greg.

"Greg and Annabelle," the officiant said, "have prepared their own vows. Greg?"

Greg cleared his throat and looked into my eyes holding my hands in his. "Annabelle Elise Hastings, from the day I met you I have loved you. Being with you makes me a better person. From this day on I promise to love, cherish and protect you until the day I die."

Fighting back tears I gave my vow, "Gregory Allen Hojem Sanders, before I met you I wasn't sure if love existed, but now I know without a doubt that I have found it in you. You are everything I could have dreamed of and more. From this moment forward I swear to love, honor, care for you until the day that I die."

Our words were not poetic. They were not the work of Shakespeare, but they were true. They came from our hearts and that was what mattered. We exchanged rings, had our kiss and faced our friends and family for the first time as husband and wife.

The reception went just as I'd planned it, with only a minor icing fight as Greg and I cut the cake. As the party got underway, it was time for the toasts. Sara and Nick opted to do theirs together.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Nick said standing, "If we could have your attention please."

"The day we all met Annabelle," Sara said, "we knew there was something special about her."

"I mean it's not everyday you meet someone who can render Greg speechless."

The room laughed.

"They started a friendship and with a few small pushes, they developed into a couple."

"As friends they faced a very difficult situation, but they found strength in each other and came out better than they were before."

"Greg and Annabelle are living proof that with love and support a person can weather any storm. Today we lift our glasses to them"

"To Greg and Annabelle," Nick said raising his glass.

Everyone cheered and drank. Then, much to my surprise, Grissom stood up.

"A wise man once said that the moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed. I have had the honor and the privilege of knowing both Annabelle and Greg before and after their relationship developed, watching them each grow in ways I couldn't have imagined. Never before have I seen two people so capable of bringing out the best in one another." I felt Greg squeeze my hand. "Both of them so bright, capable and strong willed that one might fear that their personalities would clash, but it is quite the contrary. Annabelle levelheaded nature grounds Greg's somewhat childish behavior, while Greg's enthusiastic passion for life keeps Annabelle smiling, and I'm sure you've all noticed that that smile could light the darkest of rooms. No," he said with a soft smile, "God never made two people more in love than Greg and Annabelle. To two of the finest people I will ever know" he raised his glass, "may you have a long and happy marriage."

The room filled with a mix of cheers and sniffles as Greg kissed my hand.

Later there was dancing. I swear I've never danced with so many different men in one evening. Nick and Warrick teased Greg saying that just because he'd put a ring on my finger didn't mean he could stop them from dancing with me. Then Tom asked me to dance. As he twirled me around the dance floor he told me how proud he was of me.

"They would be too," he said, "Mom and Dad would have been so proud of you today."

"You think so?"

"I know so. Mom would have loved him," he said with a laugh as the looked at Greg dancing with his oldest sister.

"Do you think Dad would approve?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "I do. He may not be the toughest looking guy in the world, but he makes up for it with brains. Besides, he loves you. I think that alone would have made him worthy in Dad's book."

I smiled and Tom twirled me one last time as the song ended. As it had been the rest of the night, as soon as I let go of Tom I was being asked to dance by yet another man. After Tom was Mr. Sanders, then much to my surprise Grissom asked me to dance.

"Thank you," I said after we danced silently for a little.

"For what?"

"For walking down the isle, for that toast," I was almost in tears. "For being like a Dad when I needed one most."

"It's my pleasure. Thank you for asking me."

"It only seemed right," I said smiling. "I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have give me away."

Grissom just smiled as the song ended and a figure appeared beside up.

"Mind if I have the next dance?"

"She is your wife." Grissom said smiling at Greg.

Greg held me close as we swayed to the music.

"Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more"

"Have I told you yet how beautiful you are, Mrs. Sanders?"

"Yes, Mr. Sanders, I believe you have."

"Well then I'll just say it again," he said kissing my forehead, "you are so beautiful." He spun me around, then back tight into his arms.

"Where did you learn to dance," I asked pleasantly surprised at my husband's grace.

"You'd be surprised what you can learn when your fiancé is working overtime."

My expression was one of absolute shock. "How…who…"

Greg just looked over at Nick, who at the time was dancing quite impressively with Sara.

"Really?"

"Yeah, he said his mother made him take lessons when he was a kid."

I giggled, kissing him, "I can't believe you learned to dance for me."

"I'd do anything for you." We both laughed as the song's lyrics mirrored Greg's sentiments. "I mean it though."

"I know," I said looking into his dark brown eyes, "and I'd do anything for you."

He leaned down and kissed me. "I can't believe we're really married." He said resting his chin on top of my head. "I'm a husband." His steps slowed as if it were all just hitting him at once. "I have a wife."

I looked up at him. "Kind of scary isn't it?"

"A little," he smiled, "but more exciting than anything. I knew right away I wanted to spend my life with you, now I get to."

"Any regrets?"

"Only that I didn't ask you out sooner."

I giggled, "Well, hindsight is 20-20."

I danced the rest of my dances with Greg and decided to that I needed to thank Nick later for teaching him. We left while the reception was in full swing. We would have liked to stay, but we had a plane to catch.

You see, normal people come to Vegas to get married or for their honeymoon. Greg and I lived in Vegas everyday, we wanted something different. Greg surprised me with a week in Hawaii.

"I'm going to teach you to surf before this week is over," he said cuddled next to me on the plane.

"You can try, but I won't guarantee anything."

"You leave the guarantees to me. You'll be surfing by the time we come home."

"If you say so honey."

I slept most of the six hour flight. It was still dark when Greg carried me over the thresh-hold of our suite. As we laid in bed listening the waves crash outside the window Greg ran his fingers through my hair.

"Jeg Elsker Deg," he whispered knowing I loved to hear him speak Norwegian.

We woke the next morning to the sun pouring through our window. I stepped out on the balcony as Greg ordered breakfast. The view was breath taking, one million times more beautiful than it looks in pictures. I stood there taking in the beauty around me, then I felt strong arms wrap around my waist.

"Beautiful," he whispered breath hot on my ear.

"Isn't it?"

"I meant you," he laughed, "but now that you mention it, it is pretty amazing."

I turned in his arms, resting my head on his chest. In the silence, his breathing mixed with the sound of the waves, almost lulling me back to sleep. Then there was a knock at the door.

"That's breakfast," he said kissing the top of my head. "Let's eat and then," he smiled, "I get to see you in a cute little swim suit."

I laughed at his eagerness to get me into a swim suit. I guess it didn't occur to him that we were married and seeing me in a bikini was small potatoes. I turned again looking out at the ocean. Paradise, I thought smiling, it does exist.

(I hope you guys like it. This chapter kind of scared me. I'm afraid it's a little too fluffy. I promise further chapters will involve actual substance. Please R & R.)

Translation of the Norwegian Jeg Elsker Deg – I love you, or so the site said. If I am wrong, please feel free to correct me and I will change it.