Christmas eve finally arrived. There was a frenzy of activities throughout the lodge early in the morning. Flowers were brought in for the wedding, and an enormous wedding cake. The ceremony was scheduled for noon.

Colin and Simon ran to the dining room to get breakfast. Mack and Bill weren’t far behind. Peg was with Mary and Elyse. Elyse went to the dining room and got breakfast for them. She returned to their room with a serving cart loaded with coffee, juice, eggs, toast and sweet rolls. She went to Mary. “I have a message for you. Can I whisper it to you?” Mary gave her a nod. “Uncle Bill said he loves you and misses you very much. He can’t wait to hold you again.” Elyse delivered the message and then kissed her cheek. “That was from him.” Mary thanked her with a hug.

Heidi asked her family to join her for breakfast. Robert joined his brother, it was their job to get Bill ready for the wedding. Charles and Jackie relaxed with Luke and Paula.

“Why aren’t you babysitting with your brothers this morning.” Luke inquired.

“I think they have everything under control.” Charles put his arm around Jackie. “I’m where I should be. You and I both have beautiful, pregnant mates to watch over. This is where we belong.”

“I like the way you think, my friend.” Luke gave him a fist bump and laughed. “I met all of you six months ago. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be sitting here, about to attend Bill’s wedding.

“And about to become a father.” Charles added.

“Look at you. A grizzly bear and a bobcat, also about to become a father. Who would have thought that would happen?”

Charles looked at Jackie. “I’ve never been happier.” Charles watched as Mack and Robert escorted Bill from the dining room. “Looks like it’s time to start getting ready.” Everyone headed for their rooms to change for the ceremony.

Guests started arriving about an hour before the ceremony. By noon, the room prepared for the wedding was standing room only and they opened the adjoining room. Bill had been a life force for many of the people around Yosemite and none of them wanted to miss his wedding. A light luncheon buffet was set up for after the wedding for those that wanted to eat. Bill made sure that everyone took food with them. They would all have a turkey dinner on Christmas eve.

It was noon and everything was ready. Bill stood at the front of the room with Mack, his best man. Brides maids walked down the aisle, followed by a beautiful bride. Bill thought she was the most beautiful woman in the universe.

The wedding vows were repeated and Bill and Mary were pronounced man and wife. The minister stepped back and allowed the elders to step forward to perform the bonding ceremony. Because a shifter and a human were bonding, the ceremony had to be done differently than the way it was done the night before, Bill would have to do a complete shift. Bill left and returned dressed in a wedding robe.

Elder Elijah addressed Mary. “Do you Mary Sharp, take this man, Bill Robertson and his bear as your mate, from this day forward, for the rest of your life? Never to betray the bond that binds your souls?”

Mary answered. “I do.”

Elder Brant addressed Bill. “Do you, Bill Robertson, take this human woman, Mary Sharp as your mate, from this day forward, for the rest of your life? Never to betray the bond that binds your souls?

Bill answered. “I do.”

Elder Brant continued. “I will now ask the groom to shift to allow this bear and this woman to acknowledge their vows.

Bill, dressed in a wedding robe that was draped over his naked body, shifted into his bear. Bill’s best man held the robe in place until his shift was complete. The giant grizzly bear turned to Mary. Mary walked into the bear’s embrace, hugged him and kissed his face as he lowered himself so she could reach.

Elder Elijah stepped forward and placed one hand on Bill’s bear and his other hand on the Mary’s shoulder. “I have witnessed that this bear and this woman have acknowledged their vows in accordance to our shifter law and are now bound. Bill Robertson, you may shift back to your human form and kiss your mate.

Mack held the robe so Bill could shift and put on the robe on, this time wearing it in the normal fashion.

Bill turned to Mary and gave her a gentle kiss. “Hello Mrs. Robertson.” Bill hugged and kissed her like it was the end of the world. “You have made me the happiest man in the world.”

“And you have made me the happiest woman.” She gave him a beautiful smile. Bill turned to face his friends.

“My beautiful wife, Mary and I would like to thank all of you for coming. Please eat and enjoy yourselves. There will be a food basket for each and everyone of you to take home. Merry Christmas to all of you.”

Everyone cheered. Bill left to get dressed and when he returned he was swamped with well wishers. There were so many families that owed so much to Bill. He always made sure no one went hungry or without heat in the cold weather.

Robert and Heidi enjoyed the party. Heidi’s grandparents took the children back to their room so they wouldn’t be under foot during the celebration. By two o’clock, the festivities were coming to an end. Bill wanted everyone to go home and enjoy their families on Christmas eve.

Robert and Heidi sat back and watched the guests as they left. They made sure everyone got a Christmas dinner basket.

“That is really nice of Bill to do that.” Heidi remarked.

“He does it every year,” Robert told her, “not just because he can afford it, he enjoys doing it.”

“I still can’t believe you brought my family here. I never thought I would ever see them again.”

“Mack knows a lot of people. He pulled some strings. Your situation was explained to the family and they told us what we had to do. Well, they told Mack what I had to do.” Robert told her.

“The ‘san shu hiu hi’, the three letters and six etiquettes.”

“Yes. The three letters were easy, the six etiquettes weren’t too bad except for the fortune teller. Who thinks of these things?”

“Prince Zhou Gong in 1099 BC.” Heidi looked at Robert and burst out in laughter. “Sorry, it sounded funny when I said it out loud,” she said between giggles. “The Chinese have very old customs.”

Robert hugged her tight. “I think I like the customs.”

The last guest left and the last food basket was gone. “Time to go home, little brother.” Mack announced. “Heidi’s family will join us at the house in the morning. Time to collect the kids.”

Heidi and Robert said good bye to Heidi’s family, Robert would come back in the morning and pick them up. Bill and Mary had already left for their honeymoon and left the keys to their truck with Charles.

All the wedding excitement was over. Mack and Peg sat with the children by the Christmas tree later in the evening. Simon and Colin talked about their parents, Elyse sat and listened. They were sad, but the sadness would lessen with time. They all said good night and the children went off to bed.

At last, everything was done. All the presents that had been hidden away, were under the tree. The three brothers and their mates relaxed. Charles and Jackie were the first to say good night and went to bed. Heidi thanked Mack for making it possible for her family to come all the way from China.

“It was my pleasure,” Mack told her, “it also gave me a chance to get the rest of the ingredients for your healing salve. We have them all now, and after the first of the year we’ll be able to make a test batch. You will have to think of a product name. Think about it and let me know when you come up with something.”

“I will, Mack. Thank you.” They said good night and all went to bed.