A/N- Hey yall. Its been a long crazy ride for me and this story, and Im sorry to say this is the final Chapter of Stronger Than Friendship. Well ill let you read it, and see what you think.

Epilogue: What a Wonderful Day

Seven Years Later

The Sun shone brilliantly in the cloudless blue sky over Hoggarth County Kansas. The day Was May 5th, the time, 9:00 am. A couple stood gracefully in the front lawn before a giant white farm house, reminiscing about the pain, love, and life infused within its walls. Their hands where intertwined, with fingers locked in love, today would be the first day of the rest of their lives together, the first day as man and wife.

It had been a long, hard journey filled with roadblocks, joy and disappointments that had almost separated the two forever, but as always love found its way blindly through the darkness, to keep the two fragile hearts bound tightly to one another.

Family and friends had began to gather in happiness on the back yard, bridesmaids, and best men scurried around making the final preparations for the big day. The Blonde dropped a kiss easily upon the lips of his beautiful Fiancee, and released her hand so each could go their separate way and get into the proper wedding attire, undisturbed. The next time their eyes met, it would be at the alter.

Twenty year old Nikki Westerly, Sixteen year old Derrick Westerly, and the groom Twenty-Four year old Bradin Westerly gathered ten minutes before the ceremony on the bank of a swift river, with tears in their eyes, and a remembrance candle in hand. Shaking, they lit three matches, each forfeiting their separate lives to come together and make a single, orange flame. That flame, placed delicately upon the wick of the white candle, would burn for the most important people in the childhood of the three siblings before it, those same people who where taken forever from their world by this river seven years ago but would live in their hearts forever. They lowered the burning candle slowly into the muddy water, and watched with bated breath as it floated out of sight.

Two minutes later, Bradin stood with the preacher, as Derrick walked the love of his life steadily twords him. Her icy blue eyes where locked on his deep green the whole way, sending the message of “ I love you” straight from her heart to his. Looking back, on the rocky past lying strewn behind them, It was nothing short of a miracle that she was alive, let alone able to smile that amazing smile that made Bradin weak in the knees. She came to a stop beside him, kissed Derrick on the cheek, handed Nikki her bouquet of pale pink roses, and joined hands with Bradin, who was eager and ready to make Aly his wife, for now, and forever.

The preacher smiled down upon the young couple before him, happy to see that true love never dies, no matter how far its pushed. He took a deep cleansing breath, and began the vows.

“Do you Bradin take Alyson Nicole Peters to be your wife – to live together after God’s ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?”

“I do”

“Do you Alyson take Bradin Matthew Westerly to be your husband – to live together after God’s ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?”

“ I do”

Bradin and Aly where crying now, hot, fast, unashamed tears of joy. In the matter of a few minutes she would be his, and he would be hers forever. Her mascara ran down her cheeks in hard black lines, but nobody noticed, All that was saw was the still 5'0 tall beauty in the white strapless wedding gown, and the tall handsome blonde in the black tux by her side, proclaiming their used to be hidden love to the world, at home, his home, where it all began some twenty years ago. The Exchanging of the rings had passed in a blur, leaving nothing left but the proclamation, and the much anticipated kiss.

“Then with the power vested in me by the state of Kansas, I pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss your bride.”

Bradin grabbed her waist in one gentle motion, lifted her up off the ground and spun her around a few times before placing her lightly back on the grass, and kissing her deeply on the lips.

“ God, I love you, Aly.”

“I love you too Bray baby, I always have”

“Ladies, and Gentleman, It is my pleasure to introduce you to the new Mr. And Mrs. Bradin Westerly.”

The reception was beautiful, The wooden dance floor was set off brilliantly by the pink and white tulle covered tables set all around it, decorated by piles of light pink rose petals and floating candles. It was time to celebrate, Time to go a little haywire on the Westerly Farm, and all of the fun just had to start with a few toasts to the newly married couple.

Nikki was the first to go.

“Bradin, Aly, congratulations on the big day. I love you both more than either of you could ever know, and I just want to wish you all the best in your new lives together. Aly, just one thing. He’s my brother, he ‘s been known to get reckless and stupid, so just keep both eyes on him at all times, and NEVER under any circumstances turn your back while he’s around.”

Derrick, Jay, Johnny, and Cameron where next to make their embarissing toast together.

“ Hey you two, we all want to wish you crazy kids luck together, and Bradin, you had better watch out tonight, If you know what we mean, that girl can get plenty feisty at times.”

Ava, Erika, and Susanna all followed with Speeches similar to Nikki’s. Then the dancing began.

The father daughter dance had been modified after Aly’s dad’s recent stroke. He couldn’t make it too the wedding, so Derrick once again took his place, on the dance floor with his brothers crazy bride. Bradin also took to the hardwood along side Nikki and Ava, who took turns filling the gap his mother had left behind.

“ Nik, look at me. Just because im married now, doesn’t mean I don’t want you around, hell id be lost if you didn’t bitch at me once in a while. I love you baby sister, don’t you ever forget that, and remember if you piss me off ill still kick your ass.”

“ Yeah , Yeah. You keep saying that, but you know ill slap you back to California if you even think about trying anything on me like you used too. I love you too much to not come around and annoy the hell out of yall every once and a while brother, you know that.”

Bradin and Aly’s first dance as a married couple was beautiful. The fluid motion of his body swaying perfectly in tune with hers was amazing, shocking even. Their bright smiles lit the atmosphere around them, and lifted every heart high. Love was a beautiful, mysterious creature that could make everything and everyone around it look and feel heavenly, and in that place at that time, that’s exactly what it did.

The night, and the wedding slowly wound down under the blanket of Kansas stars, family and friends headed for the airport in taxies because all where too drunk to drive themselves, and Bradin and Aly together, waved goodbye to the old life, old home, and old town in Hoggarth County, and hello to the bright promise of a new life , a new generation of Westerly children, on sandy beaches, under the bright California sun.

A/N- Im really sad to see this story end yall, it was my first ever fic. I want to say thank you to EVERYONE who has read or reveiwed this story, It means alot to me. Please reveiw, cuz i really wanna know what you guys thought of it as a whole.

Butterfly- God its been a long, dramatic year, and nobody knows that better than you. Its funny to me to look back now on how far ive come as an author on this site, in that amount of time. I stil hope that ill be as good as you someday, bcause you truly are amazing. (Dont you even blush at that, its true. Get over it already.) I just want to say thank you for being that amazing friend that you are, and IM STILL so EXCITED about the new Harry Potter . Well I guessI better suck it up now, and get on with a new fic huh? Love ya gurlie, laterz. Half -Heart

P.S to ALL- This is the end of one story, but you havent seen the last of me. MUHHAHAHAHcoughMUHAHAHAH!

XoXo Jmac XoXo