After the broadcast, Paula asked everyone to head to Marsh's for a celebration. "It's taken seven years for Steve to pop the question and we're going to make sure he knows how pleased we all are!"
Ted took the floor of the private room once family and friends were all gathered. "Steve asked me a few days back for permission to ask Gwen to marry him. I told him at the time that Paula and I couldn't be happier. I'm not fooling myself about who the head of this family is. I appreciate that you all defer to me as much as you do, but Steve and Gwen are the forces that hold us together and create so many opportunities for us all. As Jordan stated at the end of the show, Valhalla now has its king and queen, and the rest of us are fine with that.
"Gwen was the 'Lady in Red' that night she went on her first date with Steve. He was the one that requested that song. It began quite innocently, but look where it's taken all of us. Paula and I are very proud of our daughters, including Jordan, and the men they've selected. We've been blessed. We formally welcome Steve into our family, although he's been a part of us since that first dance, and we look forward to the wedding and more grandchildren. Congratulations to the loving couple!"
Everyone raised their drink in toast to the beaming Gwen and grinning Steve. Gwen spent the next ten minutes showing her ring to all of the other ladies. Steve shook hands and listened to the usual warnings about giving up the single life. He simply smiled a lot and kept his eyes on Gwen. He was pleased to hear her tell everyone how happy she was with her ring.
"Steve could have gotten me some huge diamond, but he didn't. He gave me something far more meaningful. His grandmother and his mother wore this ring. Can you imagine the significance it must have to him? He must really, really love me to trust me with something so dear to his heart. Someday our son will give it to the woman he loves. I get goose bumps just thinking about it!"
That night, Gwen was extremely passionate as she and Steve made love. "This is my first night sleeping with my fiancé and I want to make sure that you don't change your mind. I love you so much!"
The next day was Christmas and everyone gathered at Ted and Paula's for breakfast and the exchange of gifts. Ted and Paula beamed as they looked over their growing family. Jordan and Lisa had babies and Gwen was engaged to be married.
"So, Sis, did you get anything special for Christmas?" teased Kate as Gwen immediately held her hand up to show everyone her ring. "Remember the first Christmas Steve came to our house? He got all melancholy and left the room, and you had to go try to cheer him up? It seems like you did a pretty good job."
A short time later, Jordan and Charlie found an opportunity to speak to the happy couple. Jordan began, "The other day, when Steve asked Ted for permission to ask you to marry him, Kate wondered how super stars got married. Charlie and I have been talking it over and have an idea, but it'll need your cooperation and approval."
"This sounds interesting," smiled Gwen. "What did you two dream up?"
Jordan nodded to Charlie as he took over the conversation. "We think it would be fitting for two incredible talents to have a wedding so unique, that it could be both a movie and a stage show in the future. Jordan and I want to write and produce a musical. It would star you both and would be performed live as a prelude to the wedding ceremony."
"Are you serious?" asked a stunned Gwen. "You and Jordan would do all of that work for our wedding? I've never heard of a musical production as part of a wedding, but it sounds pretty exciting. What do you think, Steve?"
"Wow! I don't know what to say. The thought of something like that has never crossed my mind. How would it work and what would Gwen and I have to do?"asked Steve.
"You'd have to sing and dance and then march up and get married like normal couples do, except you'd have to sing a song at the ceremony," replied Jordan with excitement. "Charlie and I would write a special song for that, but the rest would be a musical recap of your courtship and lives over the almost eight years that you've known each other."
"Would that seem pretentious, or vain?" asked Gwen with some concern. "We don't want everyone to think we're bragging, or showing off."
The rest of the family had been silent as they listened to the conversation. Paula decided to voice her opinion.
"That sounds like an incredible idea! It wouldn't be pretentious for you two. Everyone knows how genuine and grounded you are. It would be a great treat for your guests and would be a wedding to remember. That's for sure."
"Mom's right," added Lisa. "You have the talent and the wherewithal to pull it off. How many guests will you invite?"
"I think we'll just place an announcement in the newspaper and on the web inviting anyone that wants to come. We have so many friends, fans, and business associates that I'd hate to slight anyone," worried Gwen.
"And that's one reason you guys are so loved," beamed Paula's mother. "What other famous couple invites the world to their wedding, and then supplies the entertainment themselves? Most of them sneak off to some exotic location and have guards keep people and photographers away. You're going to invite them!"
"This is going to be such a great wedding!" exclaimed Naomi. "With Jordan and Charlie putting it together and writing a new song, and you two performing, it'll be one for the ages."
"When will you be getting married?" asked Charlie. "I need to know how long I have to get this all planned and rehearsed.
"Steve and I were thinking about July 4th," answered Gwen with a smile. "That way Steve would be able to remember our anniversary. It's a Saturday this year. We'd get married here at the center and invite anyone that cared to come. We'd have dozens of vendors hired to keep the food and drink coming.
"Charlotte and I will be spending most of May and June on a hospital ship in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, but we'll come home by July 1st, if not sooner. We graduate in early May and a week later, we set sail. It'll be part of our residency and a great experience."
"That would be perfect, as long as you can learn your songs and lines in a couple of days," responded Charlie. "I think you'll have a wedding like no other, and way better!"
Since it was the weekend of the premier of Gwen and Steve's latest movie, the Christmas celebration was over by noon. Everyone had to prepare for the belated premier at Lady in Red Center in Sparta. In an innovative move, Stephanie had suggested that rather than walk the red carpet, the actors would be at the entrance of the center and greet the movie goers as they made their way inside. It would take some time as most people would want to chat with the cast, or ask for autographs and pictures, so there would be a large buffet available for the movie goers as they waited for the lines to end and the center to fill up.
