From: questgrl2@juno.com Disclaimer: BIG ONE. I do not own Jonny Quest or any of the characters that have been portrayed on the show. I take no credit for writing either the lyrics or the music to this song. Steven Curtis Chapman owns all rights to the following love ballad. Other people and/or siblings portrayed in this fic were created by me, and I don't think anyone's gonna want them. Doug and Ellen Wildey are (or were) real people but are fictionally portrayed in this story. Author's note: The little scenes in the brackets are to go simultaneously with the lyrics BELOW them. Category: MV (well, it's a music fic) P, Fam, other HR. Archivers: Take! Dedication: To Lois, who has listened to my Steven Curtis Chapman and Bebo Norman rants. :) I Will Be Here Song by Steven Curtis Chapman Music Fic by Dana <>< Mothers! Ugh, why did they have to be so stubborn? "Now dear, if you really want your hair to look right, it needs to be pulled up. Betty can come and fix it in a jiffy! It would be done before you even had to think about taking your walk! Oh, how lovely!" Ellen Wildey fussed with her daughter's long, blond curls. "It seems so out of place for you to wear your hair down, especially with your gorgeous veil and your sparkling face! Rachel, you just shine!" Kara, whose face had been glowing since the day the ring was placed on the finger, grinned and hugged her nervous sister once again. Rachel returned the hug, but she found herself fidgeting again. Staring in the mirror, she glanced at the long blond curls. "Should I put it up?" she asked Kara, her face frowning with worry. "No," said Helen matter-of-factly, smoothing down the bride's billowing white dress. "You decided to wear your hair down because Benton likes it down, and that's how you want it." Rachel smiled at her future sister-in-law. "You're right, Helen! I'm keeping it down!" "Good." "You're always the sensible one, aren't you?" Helen Quest smiled. "Who do you think kept your future hubby sane all of those years?" Both of the women laughed and embraced. "I still think it looks better up," Ellen fussed, checking her daughter's dress for any flaws. "Mo-om!" Kara whined. "It's Rachel's day! You're scaring her to death!" "Not to mention the fact that you'll scare the caterers," Helen quipped. "Excuse me, my darling *future* sister-in-law, but I have a brother to check up on. I want to make sure that he's still breathing!" "Hurry back!" Rachel cried, still fidgeting with her hair. "We start in about thirty minutes!" Helen grinned. "I won't be gone long. Just checking on Benton. I'll be back before you know it." Rachel gave Helen a smile of relief. "Thank you." "Well, if it isn't the beautiful bride!" gushed Rachel's best friend, bursting into the room with a flurry of perfume and excitement. "Alena!" Rachel cried, her arms outstretched to her friend. Alena returned the embrace and kissed her friend on the forehead. "Everything looks beautiful!" she gushed. "I'm so happy for you and Benton! All of our friends from college are here - oh, and you should see the chapel! And you! Your handsome husband is going to faint when he sees how beautiful you are!" Rachel blushed. "Have you seen Benton?" "I have," Alena said, a playful grin crossing her face. "What does he look like?" Alena opened her mouth to speak, but Ellen quickly butted her way into the conversation. "Rachel! That's quite enough! You know that you cannot ask such questions! You'll find out in a minute!" "Be patient, Rach," Kara advised her sister warmly. "You'll be married before you know it!" "Do you have everything you need to?" Ellen asked her daughter. "Something old?" "I have my grandfather's Bible that I'm going to give to the preacher." "Something new?" Rachel giggled. "Of course! My dress!" "Something borrowed?" "Yes. Your pearls." "Something blue?" Rachel's face fell. "Oh, dear…" "You don't have something blue?!" Kara asked, panicked. "Rachel!" Ellen sighed. "I'd be so nice if you went by tradition!" The bride frowned and looked down at the floor. Her eyes became full of tears. "Now, now!" Alena prodded. "This American tradition is silly! But for you, my dear best friend, I will indulge." "What do you mean?" Rachel asked, looking hopeful. Alena beamed. "I just so happen to be wearing a blue bra under this lavender bridesmaid's gown." "But- but won't it show through, Alena?" "Don't be silly! That material is so thick that Benton will never know! Well, scratch that, he might late -" "That's quite enough, Alena," Rachel quickly said, remembering that her mother was still in the room. "Behave yourself." Alena grinned. "As always, my dearest Rachel." Kara laughed. "Well, you'd better hurry and get ready, Rach!" Helen Quest walked quietly into the room. Her face was lit up with anticipation and excitement. "Did you see Benton?" Rachel asked, quickly forgetting about her plan with Alena. "I did," Helen said, a smile crossing her face. "He's so nervous!" Rachel giggled. "Oh, tell him that I am too!" "I told him," Helen said. "But he has something he wanted me to give you." "What is it?" Rachel asked. "This," said Helen as she opened a small jewelry box. Rachel gaped at the tiny silver ring with the small blue sapphire set eloquently in the middle. "It's beautiful!" Helen laughed. "He thought you might've forgotten something blue." Rachel sighed contently and put the ring on her right hand. "He knows me so well! It looks like I won't be needing Alena's bra after all." Alena laughed. "Hasn't that boy bought you enough rings?" "Alena's bra?" Helen asked, snickering. Kara exhaled contently. "That's so sweet!" "That *was* nice," agreed Ellen, softening. "He also wanted me to give you this," Helen said, pulling out a folded up note. Rachel breathlessly took the note from her future sister-in-law and unfolded it. "To my destined - " Rachel giggled just at the sight of his rough 'chicken scratch' writing such kind words. "I have no idea how to start such a letter to you. How nervous you must be on such a day as this. I cannot lie when I say that I too am quite afraid of what the future holds for us. But my darling, I shall always know that I can face anything by your side." The bride quickly tried to brush away a falling tear. Oh, how she loved this man! <> Tomorrow morning if you wake up And the sun does not appear, I will be here. <> If in the dark we lose sight of love, Hold my hand and have no fear, Because I will be here. <> I will be here when you feel like being quiet; When you need to speak your mind, I will listen. <> And I will be here when the laughter turns to crying; Through the winning, losing, and trying, we'll be together, Because I will be here. <> Tomorrow morning if you wake up And the future is unclear, I will be here. <> As sure as seasons are made for change, Our lifetimes are made for years, So I will be here. <> I will be here, and you can cry on my shoulder; When the mirror tells us we're older, I will hold you. <> And I will be here to watch you grow in beauty, And tell you all the things you are to me; I will be here. <> I will be true to the promise I have made, To you and to the One who gave you to me. <> I will be here. And just sure as seasons are made for change, Our lifetimes are made for years, <> So I - I will be here. We'll be together - <> I will be here. <> The end. That's it! Take care, all! Dana <>< Questgrl2@juno.com ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ONElist: where the world talks! http://www.onelist.com Join a new list today.