With a little help.

With Norman and Rita's wedding soon to take place, Oliver O'Toole is about to make the most important choice of his life. This short fanfiction is based on the movie, "To the Altar." The characters belong to the talented Martha Williamson.

Author's note: I won't be able to publish a story next week, so I'm publishing this story today. I didn't rewrite Norman and Rita's wedding ceremony because I have difficulty writing or rewriting weddings. I hope you enjoy this story. Thank you all for reading. I wish you all a peaceful and wonderful day. :)

"Dad, can you take me a favor, take my jacket back for me. I brought it for some alterations. I'm very busy today. Here's the address of the store." Oliver asked.

"Okay, no problem. I'll bring it to you tomorrow. Son, you may be very, very busy, but I can see that your mind is much busier. Do you want to talk about it?" Joe asked, a little worried.

"I'll be all right, Dad. It's just a little... a little complicated." Oliver replied.

"Son, it only hurts for a minute. I don't want you to suffer anymore. Take your courage in both hands. You'll know what to say." Joe said.

"Thanks for the advice, Dad. I'll call you tonight." Oliver said smiling before leaving.

Joe O'Toole, went to the store.

"Hi, I'm here to pick up my son Oliver O'Toole's jacket."

"Wait a moment, please... You can sign here." The employee asked.

Joe signed the receipt.

" All right, thank you. Good day !" The employee said.

He greeted him and walked out to go back to his car. Joe gently put the jacket on the passenger side. He was about to leave when he wanted to listen music. After opening the glove compartment, he looked for a few moments for a CD, but he pulled out a green tie. Joe smiled and had a big laugh. It was a sign, a miracle.

Rita's house.

Rita frantically pressed her phone frantically to re-send the new wedding reception location. She breathed a desperate sigh, because it was not what she had imagined several weeks ago. So much preparation for getting married in a barn. Rita was still in her thoughts when she heard the doorbell ring. She rushed to open it.

"Shane... Finally, you came !" Rita exclaimed, taking her in her arms.

"I just came from the farm." Shane said, trying to hide a smile.

Rita invited her to sit on the couch.

"I just sent out all the invitations. I've never been under so much stress in my life. Except, maybe, the first time I went to see an owl at the zoo... What's it like there? "Rita asked, worried.

"You're going to love it! Joe and Bill took care of bringing in the furniture. Ramon took care of hooking up D.J.'s turntables. Norman's cousins counted the chairs and set them up. Our friends at the terminal annex did the decorating under Hazel's orders. And I made sure everything went smoothly. Look at the pictures !." Shane said, pointing to her cell phone.

Rita opened her eyes.

"Shane, you came at the right time. It's beautiful, it's really pretty. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can't wait to get married there tomorrow!" Rita exclaimed.

"Trust the timing, Rita." Shane smiles to her.

Joe's house.

While he was going through boxes, Joe's phone rang.

"Joe O'Toole... Hey, son... Of course I went to retrieve your tuxedo jacket." Joe said, hiding a laugh.

"Thank you very much. By the way, Jessica was able to meet her mother at the Brown Palace hotel. And I told to Shane, that I love her ! Dad, are you still there?"

"Yes, I'm listening ... Wow, Great ! Good for you! I'm sorting through some family heirlooms!" Joe exclaimed.

"Family heirlooms? You're looking for something ?" Oliver asked.

"It's okay, I'm... I just found something really nice. It's very ancient and very rare." Joe smiles

"Really, I can't wait to see it!" Oliver exclaimed.

"Tomorrow, I'll bring it to you. Besides, it fits easily in a pocket. See you tomorrow, son". Joe said.

"Thanks a lot, Dad. Good night and see you tomorrow." Oliver added after hanging up.

Joe laughed.

"Mom, tomorrow, I hope this ring will be on the finger of this lovely person who will make Oliver happy, like you always wanted." Joe said as he looked at the engagement ring.

Wedding's location.

Rita was sitting there, staring at herself in the mirror. She'd been waiting for this day for so long. Rita closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh breeze that came into the farm. She thought about her mother for a moment, who must have thought the idea of her daughter getting married on a farm will be great. Rita smiled as Shane entered with a bouquet of flowers.

"So Rita, ready to be Mrs. Dorman?" Shane asked, a big smile on her face as she handed her friend the bouquet of flowers.

"And how, for all the time, I've been waiting for this moment. At first, Norman and I were so shy, embarrassed in front of each other. We barely dared to look each other in the eye. And now, we are getting married. Shane, I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without you and Oliver, Norman and I couldn't have gotten to where we are today." Rita declared, very touching.

"Rita... You and Norman still had a beautiful and long way to go. And there's so much kindness and love in the two of you. You deserve the best in the world." Shane said with tears in her eyes.

"Shane... I love you so much. I, too, wish you all the best." Rita said as she hugged her.

"Thank you so much, Rita. You're sweet... Oh, I managed to cry again... I'm gonna... I'm gonna... My makeup's going to... Oh, your father just got here. I'll leave him with you. See you later." Shane said.

"See you later, Shane." Rita smiled.

"Special delivery. The tuxedo jacket has arrived!" Joe exclaimed.

"Oh, thanks a lot, Dad!" Oliver exclaimed as he picked up the jacket.

"I've delivered a dress in time for a wedding before, so it's no wonder you got your tuxedo jacket just in time." Joe said smiling.

"That's absolutely right. I think we should give you a second Dark of Night Award." Oliver suggested, laughing.

"By the way, you should check the pockets, just in case." Joe advices.

Oliver surprised put his hand in his pocket and smiled at his father. Joe smiled a big smile, tapped Norman's shoulder before stepping out.

"Oliver, don't tell me there's a new letter in the pocket of that tuxedo." Norman remarked.

"My dear Norman, I hope you don't mind your best man is wearing a green tie instead of a bow tie." Oliver said.

"A green tie?" Normand asked.

"Well, when an O'Toole proposes, he has to wear a green tie. It's a family tradition." Oliver answered.

"Oliver, the most important thing for me and Rita is that you're there, no matter what the color of the tie. But I can't wait to hear this story... Oh, I have to see Ramon, he's got some relaxation and meditation exercises he wants me to do to relieve the stress. See you later." Norman added.

Oliver O'Toole took a long look in the mirror. He had worn several ties before, but this one was really special. It was the key to his future, to his marriage. He took a deep breath and put the tie around his neck. His hands trembled slightly as he tied his tie. When he had finished, he looked at himself for a long time in the mirror, when he saw his father's reflection. The postal detective turned around.

"How do I look?" Oliver asked.

"You look like an O'Toole who's about to propose. Your grandparents would be so proud of you. Here, don't forget this. This is the family heirloom I told you about. It belonged to your grandmother." Joe said as he handed it to him.

"This engagement ring is beautiful! How did you get it ?" Oliver asked .

"Before your grandmother left us for heaven, she gave me this ring. She told me that if you ever decide to get married, this ring should be yours. She hoped that the person you marry will wear this ring for as long as she. Your grandmother loved you very much Oliver. Now you know what to do." Joe declared.

"Dad, I... Shane already knows the story of the green tie. It won't be a surprise." Oliver remarked.

Joe put his hand on his shoulder.

"Son, every proposal is unique in its time and place. Look Shane in the eye and let your heart speak... And if you want to know, proposing on the day of a wedding, that's original." Joe said with a smile before he left.

After the wedding ceremony, Norman and Rita were still chatting with some of the guests. Joe was having a big conversation with Bill, Rita's father.

Oliver put his glass down and walked towards Shane, smiling, sitting on a chair watching Norman and Rita, very happy.

"Shane, I'm going to get some fresh air. "Will you come with me." Oliver suggested, reaching up his hand.

"With pleasure, Oliver." Shane said, smiling.

"You should put your coat on, it's cold outside." Oliver added.

As Joe was talking to Bill, his eyes went to the door where Oliver and Shane had just left.

The postal detective opened the door and they walked out. He turned to Shane, took his hands in his own and took a deep breath.

"Don't look at my tie. Look into my eyes and listen to my heart."

"Oliver." Shane whispered.

She had been waiting for this moment for a long time and had no idea that she would experience a story she had loved and heard only a few days ago. Her heart was about to explode.

So Oliver, got down on one knee and looked her straight in the eye.

"Marry me and I'll love you forever. I promise never to wear that tie again." Oliver said.

"She's really awful. Shane remarked.

"I know it was my dad who... I would've picked something a little more..."

" Yes, Oliver... Yes, I'll marry you and love you forever ! " Shane exclaimed.

Oliver smiled, got up and reached into his pocket.

"This was my grandmother's. She was the most wonderful woman I ever knew... until you." Oliver declared with a tender smile.

Oliver put the engagement ring on her finger, and Shane was very touching.

"It looks like it fits you." Oliver smiled

Shane tried to hold back her tears.

"I hope this isn't the time to..."

"Oliver, it's gorgeous, I love it! it's why you were so contemplating ?" Shane asked.

He looked into her eyes.

"Hum, yes. And you can tell me what you're contemplating ?" Oliver asked.

She took her tie, played with it, Oliver smiled, and Shane pulled the tie towards her, and they kissed for a long time. When they moved apart, Oliver still held Shane firmly against him and put his forehead against hers. They both laughed.

"Well, Miss McInerney?" Oliver asked.

"I guess you must have been a little nervous." Shane laughed.

"A little. I was looking forward to your answer. To be honest, when I saw you in that wedding dress at the DLO, I had only one thought in mind, to ask you to marry me. I'm glad I did it tonight, Shane."

"Oliver, your proposal wedding was so wonderful. I couldn't dream of a more beautiful proposal." Shane exclaimed..

Oliver took Shane's hand on which now shone a beautiful engagement ring to bring it to his lips.

"It's perfect. I promise to love and cherish you. What I want is so much more than just to share my life with you. I want to share my heart with you." Oliver declared.

"Oliver, I love you so much." Shane whispered.

"Oh, I forgot. I promised I'd never wear that ugly green tie again." Oliver said as he took off his tie.

Joe was sitting in a chair waiting when he saw Shane and Oliver in the distance.

"Well, I think I've already got the answer to my question." Joe said as he stood up with a smile on his face.

"Thanks a lot, Dad." Oliver said, giving him the tie.

"Well, well. You know how long I've kept that horror in my glove compartment." Joe said.

Everybody laughed.

Joe then hugged Oliver and approached Shane.

"So, was it awful?" Joe asked.

"Oh, yes!" Shane laughed.

Joe O'Toole kissed her on the cheek.

"I love you very much, my children." Joe said.

"So do we!" Shane and Oliver exclaimed.

Suddenly Joe's phone buzzed several times in a row.

"Dad, is everything okay? Your phone has buzzed several times." Oliver remarked.

"Oh, nothing. I just left a tweet on the O'Toole family account: #Tonightuglygreentie. Everyone was happy and is looking forward to the answer." Joe laughed.

"A tweet with the O'Toole family?" Oliver asked, very surprised.

"A tweet, my dear Oliver, or how to quickly share good news with your entire family in the 21st century." Shane answered.

"I recognize that there are some very good things about new technology." Oliver said.

Joe, Oliver and Shane burst out laughing together.

"Oliver, Shane!" Rita and Norman exclaimed together as they walked in.

"Oliver. You've got to tell me what this is all about. Earlier, you were wearing an ugly green tie. And now, you're not." Norman remarked.

"We're not leaving until we know what happened." Rita exclaimed.

Shane laughed.

"Oliver asked me to marry him. And I said yes." Shane exclaimed, happy.

"I love it! Shane, I'm so happy for you. Congratulations!" Rita exclaimed, giving her a hug.

"Oh! That's great. Congratulations to both of you." Norman exclaimed, shaking Oliver's hand.

"Shane, your engagement ring is beautiful!" Rita remarked, looking at the ring.

"Yes, it is. It belonged to Oliver's grandmother." Shane added with a smile.

"Well, I'll be going. You need to spend time with your friends, the POstables, great name. I love you, son." Joe said smiling.

"Thanks for everything, Dad, from the bottom of my heart." Oliver declared.

"It was my great pleasure. Every once in a while, you just need a little help. I'll call you later." Joe said before leaving.

Norman brought a bottle and glasses, while Rita was still gazing ecstatically at Shane's engagement ring.

"There's just enough champagne left for a toast!" Oliver exclaimed as he served the glasses.

"The last toast of the night." Shane exclaimed.

"And the first toast of the rest of our lives." Rita added.

"What are we toasting?" Norman asked, giving everyone a glass.

"To your wedding, to other wonderful weddings. To perfect love, to happiness, joy and..." Oliver began.

"To the POstables!" Oliver, Shane, Norman and Rita exclaimed as they raised their glasses.

The end.