A/N - So what did you think? I'd love some feedback!
Epilogue
Mandy woke up alone.
"Hmmmm I wonder where my husband is..." She asked herself as she looked down at the rings on her hand, still not quite believing she was Mandy Stokes.
She heard laughing coming from downstairs, so she slipped on her robe and headed down to see what Nick was laughing at.
"Come here you little stinkers!" She heard Nick laugh.
"Ruff"
Mandy stopped halfway down the stairs. "Oh he didn't..." She smiled to herself.
She slowly walked down the rest of the stairs to see Nick rolling around on the ground with two brown fluffs of fur.
"Oh my god!!" She laughed.
"I know it's kind of an unconventional wedding gift for your wife...but what do you think?" Nick asked as Mandy sat on the floor and reached out for one of the puppies.
"Oh Nick they are ADORABLE!" She gushed as the tiny puppy licked her nose.
"They're brother and sister. I went out for the paper this morning and saw they were holding an adoption at the strip mall down the street. Not quite sure what they are mixed, with but mom was a yellow lab."
"Oh my gosh Nick, they're a wonderful present!" Mandy smiled and reached over to kiss him. "I didn't get you anything yet!"
"Last night was a good enough gift." Nick said as he raised his eyebrows at her.
Mandy gave him a playful shove and picked up the other puppy as it came by to sniff her. "What are we going to name them?"
"That's up to you my dear." Nick smiled as he bent over to kiss her on the nose. "I'm making breakfast, you think of names."
Mandy watched as Nick disappeared into the kitchen, a puppy on his heels. "Why do you follow me everywhere little boy?" She heard him laugh as he put the puppy back out into the living room.
"Ok, so he is Shadow." Mandy laughed as she watched the puppy take off after Nick once again. "And you little girl...you're a Maggie." Mandy smiled as the puppy curled up in her arms and fell asleep.
As the smell of bacon filled the air and lured Maggie into the kitchen, Mandy sighed and smiled to herself. She thought of the events of her life that had led her to this moment. She shot up and grabbed a cd and ran into the kitchen.
"We didn't get a first dance." She smiled at Nick as she put the cd into the player tucked neatly under the counter.
As the music started to play, Nick pulled her in and they slowly swayed to the music.
"Thank you for loving me Nick."
"Thank you for loving me back." He whispered as he held back the tears as he listened to the melody.
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
[Chorus:
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true
[Chorus
Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.
Fin