Can you mend my broken heart?

Seeing his favourite people comfortable with each other, gave a stage kind of solace to the heart of Akira. She took a deep breath and asked,

"Can I join the group hug?"

Her eyes were fixated on Raymond as she wanted to know if he as really OK with that, and she was televised to see a brimming smile on his face as he extended his hands towards her and also towards David, and they all hugged each other.

For a moment when her hand landed on his back, Dr. Nelson could feel every single hair on his skin rise up. But he ignored it all and hugged them back, for these were the couple of people for whom he could do anything and everything.

Katherine, Kate, and Shawn also came down towards them.

"What next?" asked Katherine, looking at her brother to which Raymond looked at Akira and said,

"Whatever she wants."

They looked around and saw that most of the people had left. Even the wedding planner and their people had left because of the chaos. Few like Teddy and Kirk went along with the police to register their statements.

But that didn't matter to her.

All her dear ones were there. Even the man for whom she was waiting was here. So didn't care if anyone else was present or not.

She looked at Raymond and then looking at Katherine she said,

"Let's do this!"

"Yes!" yelled Katherine for she was deep down rooting for the union to take place today at any cost just like the other two. 

"But there is a problem," said Raymond and paused.

"What?" asked Shawn looking at Raymond.

"I think... I mean I guess this pastor won't be ready to officiate the marriage. He was reluctant. Wanted to apparently talk with the man who objected, just to clarify things," said Raymond and pinched the space between his brows.

"Ah! That's a bummer." Then looking at David Katherine asked, "He won't budge, would he?"

David shook his head and said, "I know him personally and in my experience, he won't budge. He is the most Christian person I have ever seen in my life. He will follow the rule book to the dot."

"Then do we have time to get another pastor? I mean someone nearby who can reach here before the sunset happens?" asked Katherine with a hint of worry on his face and that question somehow dampened the spirit of Akira too.

Seeing her face drooping down, Dr. Nelson hesitated for a moment and then said,

"Well maybe, if you guys want I can officiate the marriage!"

"What?" asked David and Raymond simultaneously.

"Are you..."

"Well yeah, I am legally ordained. I did that to perform the marriage of a friend of mine two years back," replied Dr. Nelson, cutting through the words of Katherine.

"So it's OK for you to officiate today?" asked David.

"Well, as my certificate doesn't expire till the end of this year, I think I am good to go. I mean only if you guys are OK with it." Dr. Nelson said and looked at Akira and Raymond.

"Well I don't know what to say Jaby," said Akira with tears in her eyes. "This is more than what I could dream of. I mean getting officiated by someone whom I consider my family, whom I trust more than myself is something that I could just dream of and you are just making that happen Jaby."

"We would be honoured to be officiated by you Dr. Nelson," said Raymond and looked at Dr. Nelson with nothing but gratitude-filled in his eyes.

"So we are all set then!" beamed Katherine who then yelled, "She is going to do it today Mike! Get the cameras ready."

'Erm... but I think..." paused Akira for a moment and then continued, "I think maybe you can get a change of clothes."

And it was only then that Dr. Nelson looked at his clothes which had been stained in blood. 

"Oh Gosh!" he mumbled. 

He had directly come back from the airport so luckily he had his bag with him with spare clothes. So looking at everyone he said apologetically,

"Just give e a few minutes. I will change it."

"Oh please doctor! You shouldn't be the one feeling apologetic for anything. Take your time. Even we need to freshen up. This whole fiasco has been a dampener," said Raymond and asked Jaby to follow him.

He had a few extra suits with him and given they almost had a similar physique, he was pretty sure that it would fit him.

"I have a couple of suits to spare. Try them on!" said Raymond as they entered the house.

"Oh! Please don't bother about it. I have a clean pair of a dress shirt and trousers with me. That would be good enough," said Dr. Nelson but Raymond was not the one to listen. That man had done so much for him and this was the least that he could do.

"I insist Dr. Nelson," said Raymond and gave him a navy blue corduroy suit that had been customized and flown from Italy for him, a precious gift from his uncle Conrad, but he didn't mind sharing it with Dr. Nelson whom now he considered more than family after today's event.

"Ok, Ok. Fine. Can you just point me to a spare room that I can use? Need a quick bath too," said Dr. Nelson as he wanted to get rid of the dried blood from his hands and neck.

"You can use this room, Dr. Nelson. No need to be this formal," said Raymond and point towards the master bath suite and said,

"I have a feeling we are going to great friends in the time to come!"

"I do too!" said Dr. Nelson and went inside the bath but with a lump in his throat.

How could he tell them that he had a ticket back to London tonight, resting in the breast pocket of his jacket?