AJ
I left Kevin's dressing room and walked back towards Mary's, passing Nick. He was blushing. I stopped him and grinned at him.
"What's wrong with you?"
"I went in Mary's room at the wrong time."
I laughed. "Why don't you mingle with everyone else and just stay out of their rooms."
He nodded. "I think I will."
I laughed again and went on to Mary's room.
I knocked and waited.
"Who is it?" Mary called.
"AJ."
"Come in."
I opened the door and walked in. She was sitting cross legged on the floor, wearing her bathrobe, twisting her ring around her finger. Her dress was hanging on the closet door and Howie was looking defeated.
"Mary, why aren't you dressed?" I asked.
"Tracy isn't here yet, she's gotta do my hair and makeup."
I sighed and looked at Howie. He shrugged his shoulders.
There was another knock.
"Who is it?" I called.
"It's Ann."
"Oh, shit," Mary murmured, jumping up and tightening her robe.
"Come in," I said. Kevin's mom came in and smiled.
"Hello, Mary, I just need Christina's bag."
Mary nodded. "Okay." She grabbed the bag and handed it to Ann. Ann smiled again and left. Mary sighed, pushing her hair back, and sat back down on the floor. I looked down at her and sighed again. I opened the door, ready to leave, and saw Tracy.
"Thank God, please get her ready."
Tracy laughed. "Will do."
I left and went back outside, about ready to take my suit jacket off. I was getting hot going back and forth between their dressing rooms.
When I finally saw Kevin come out, dressed and moderately composed, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Thank God," I muttered as Brian came over.
"Is she dressed yet?"
I shook my head. "No, Tracy just got here, she's doing her hair and makeup."
Brian sighed and glanced over at Kev, who was talking to some friends.
"I've never seen him this nervous."
"Well, she's wound up pretty tight. She apparently bit Nick's head off for some reason."
Brian laughed. "Well, since Kev's dressed and greeting people now, you can join him and I'll go see how Mary's doing."
"Okay. Be careful!" I called after him. He nodded, laughing again. I, meanwhile, found Ann and took Christina, now nine months and three days old, from her and carried her around some. Babies sure do attract women.
"Who's this?" said some woman, walking up to me.
"Daughter of the bride and groom," I replied, not even thinking about trying to pawn her off as mine. "My goddaughter," I added. Hey, I was proud of that.

Brian
I went to Mary's room and knocked.
"Yeah?" she called.
"It's Brian, can I come in?"
"Yeah, sure."
I opened the door and walked in. She was in a chair in front of the mirror, in her bathrobe, while Tracy yanked at her hair.
"Good Lord, you're killing her head," I said, shutting the door. Mary looked at me in the mirror.
"I asked her to. Good stress release."
I nodded, sitting in the chair beside Howie. "I guess so." I looked inside Tracy's big ass makeup bag.
"This stuff could be used as weapons," I muttered, rifling through it. Howie snickered. I looked up at him.
"I'm serious! I mean, look at this," I said, pulling some eyeliner and mascara from the bag. "Poke someone's eye out."
Howie laughed. "I don't doubt you."
I tossed the mascara and eyeliner back in and pulled out some lipstick.
"And if this stuff tastes as weird as it smells, you could drop dead in minutes."
Howie laughed again.
"Brian," Tracy called, "unless you wanna be wearing that stuff, leave it alone."
I tossed the lipstick back in and grinned, holding my hands up.
"My bad. I'll leave the makeup wearing to the bride."
"Thanks, Brian," Mary said wryly.
"No problem."
After a few minutes, I picked up some lip liner and started playing with it like it was knife, pointing it at Howie.
"Stop, man," he murmured, laughing softly.
"Brian!" Mary and Tracy said in unison warning tones.
"Sorry!" I stood up, laughing, and tossed it back in. "I'm leaving anyway."
I walked over to Mary and leaned down.
"Nick's giving you away?" I murmured in her ear. She nodded.
"Yep."
"Okay, just checking." I kissed her cheek. "See you in a bit."
She nodded again. "Okay, bye, Brian."
I left the room and went outside to find Kevin. He now had Christina and was talking to my mom.
"Hey," I said, walking up to them.
"Hello, dear," my mom said, hugging me and kissing my cheek. "You've been so scarce, where've you been?"
"I've been around, mom, just not where you've been."
I looked at Kevin. Both he and Christina looked back at me with their green eyes.
"Did you see Mary?"
"Just came from there."
"How is she?"
"Getting made up purdy like," I said, making my accent thicker.
"I wanna see her," he said, starting to walk in that direction. I stopped him.
"Kev, you've been apart for years at a time, four hours will not kill you. You've got the rest of your life to be with her, deal with it." I looked at him and grinned. "The exchange of vows shall be oh-so-romantic and will bring tears to the eyes of the mothers so that they will draw the kerchiefs from their men and dab their pretty eyes, all the while relishing in the exchange between the two loving lovers, so young and in love. Your vows and rings shall bind you together for eternity."
"Oh, Brian," my mom said, looking at me, her eyes shining. "That was beautiful."
"Improvisation is the best," I said, laughing slightly. I looked at Kevin, who was smiling.
"But seriously, Kev, all the crap I just said- I mean it. You just gotta find the true meaning behind it all."
"Back to English class, it's like deciphering Shakespeare," he said, laughing.
"Ooh, I feel special, comparison to Shakespeare."
He laughed again and I took Christina from him, wanting to hold her. No more Shakespeare, now I was gonna be a family member.

Me
"Okay, Trace, you're starting to put out hair, ease up."
"I can fix your hair now?"
I nodded. "My head's tingly anyway."
She laughed and set the brush down, picking up a comb.
"Howie?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you pretty please get me some water?"
"Sure thing. Be back in a minute." I heard him leave and sighed, watching what Tracy was doing to my hair.
"Careful with that curling iron," I said, flinching as it got closer to my head.
"Oh, don't be a baby. I'm not gonna burn you."
"I have curling iron phobia," I said, flinching again.
"Stop moving or I might really burn you."
Howie came back in with a small cup of water.
"Thanks, D." I flinched again. "Don't get that so close to my head!"
"Girl, I'm about to make you finish this yourself."
I sighed and took a sip of my water.
"Howie, how much time do I have left?"
"About an hour and a half."
"Ah, I can't be late to my own wedding!"
"Mary, calm down!" Howie and Tracy said at the same time.
"What I'm doing to your hair will not take long, your makeup won't take long, and getting your dress on won't take long."
I sighed again as I heard Howie leave the room.
I sat there while Tracy did my hair. It was actually kinda pretty. She was braiding two sides of it with blue and white ribbons going through it. I wondered how she was going to finish it.
Howie knocked.
"Come in," I called. The door opened and Howie came in, followed by Kevin.
"Kev!"
"Hey, sweetheart," he said, smiling. I stood up and walked over to him, Tracy following behind me, holding my hair in her hand.
I hugged Kevin. "What are you doing in here?"
"Howie got me and told me to come calm you down."
"Don't worry, Mary," Howie said, "it's not bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her bathrobe."
I laughed. "I know."
"And I hid the dress."
I nodded. "Good."
Kevin pouted. "Damn, I was hoping to sneak a peek."
"Hah, fat chance."
He laughed and Tracy began pulling my hair gently.
"Alright, groom, I need to finish your bride's hair and makeup and get her dressed. So be gone."
Kevin smiled. "Okay, I'll leave. Don't worry about time, baby, we're all ready when you are."
I smiled and kissed him, even though Tracy and Howie were trying to pull us apart.
"C'mon, sit down, let me finish your hair."
I sat back down and Howie and Kevin left. I calmed down considerably and watched Tracy finish my hair.
"You like?" she asked, holding up another mirror so I could see the back. She'd put the ends of the braids into a small bun with the ribbons falling down the back of my hair.
"Yeah, I love it."
"Good, 'cause I'm not changing it."
I laughed as she went over and got her makeup bag.
"My favorite part," she said, grinning. I laughed again.
"Why?"
"'Cause I can make you do weird things with your face."
"You've been doing my hair and makeup for years, and that's your favorite part?"
She nodded, setting her stuff up on the counter. I shook my head.
"You're too weird."
"I know."
Howie came back in and watched Tracy do my makeup. When she finished, Howie looked at me.
"All that work so you can look like you're not wearing any makeup." He shook his head and I laughed.
"Alright, D, scoot, she's gotta get dressed," Tracy said, pulling my dress from the closet.
"Okay, I'll go find Nick." He looked at his watch and smiled. "Right on time."
I was beginning to get giddy and giggly, especially after Howie left to get Nick.
Tracy laughed as she helped me get my dress on.
"Now you're excited."
I nodded, smooting the dress down in the front and on the sides.
"Damn, we've still got 45 minutes. I can still touch up your nails."
"How did you do that?" I asked as she sat me back down.
"Like I said, I've been doing your hair and makeup for years."
I nodded as she began filing my nails.
There was a knock.
"Is it safe to come in?" Nick called. I laughed.
"Yeah, c'mon in."
He opened the door and walked in.
"Where's Howie?" I asked.
"He decided to stay outside." He walked over and stood beside me.
"Hey, you look pretty good. Wanna marry me instead?"
I looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. He grinned.
"Oh, you're so adorable!" I exclaimed, reaching up and pinching his cheeks.
"Agh!" he cried, backing away. "You can marry Kev, if that's what I'd have to put up with."
I giggled. "I love ya, Nicky."
"Love you, too, brat."
I smacked him and he laughed. A few minutes later, Tracy finished. I stood up and finished my water.
"You really do look great, Mary," Nick murmured, smiling. I looked at him and returned the smile.
"Thanks, Nicky."
"Tell me, why did we ever hate each other?"
"I think I thought you were a stuck up, spoiled, rich brat." I grinned at him. He put a finger to his lips.
"Oh, yeah, and I thought you were a snobby, selfish bitch."
I gave him a look. "Oh, the memories." Then I grinned again. "Memories… like the corners of my mind. Misty water color memories, of the way we were," I sang. He laughed.
"Now, how 'bout the rest of the song?"
I shook my head. "It doesn't fit us, at least then, and I can't even remember the rest."
He nodded. "I see."
A couple minutes later, Tracy poked her head in the room. I hadn't even realized she'd left.
"You two ready?"
I took a deep breath and looked at Nick.
"Ready when you are," he said, extending his arm. I took another deep breath, then smiled and wrapped my arm around his.
Tracy handed me my flowers. "Oh, by the way, that mascara is water proof."
I laughed. "Thanks."
Tracy was my maid of honor, because Tracy was my closest female friend.
Right before Nick and I walked down the aisle, I closed my eyes.
"Wee," I whispered, quiet enough so Nick wouldn't hear, "I wish you could be here. I know you can hear me, wherever you are, and I love you."
A light breeze drifted by and I smelled a mixture of all the flowers in the gardens. I smiled and opened my eyes. Nick looked at me, smiling gently.
"You ready?" he asked softly. I nodded.
"Let's go."
I made eye contact with Kevin as Nick and I walked towards the altar. He smiled, bouncing a little on his feet.
"You're beautiful," he mouthed, still smiling.
"I love you," I mouthed back to him. He nodded, his eyes shining.
When I finally reached Kevin, my stomach was churning and my heart was pounding. I wished Tiffany was here, more than anything, but I had Kevin and Christina with me, and everyone else. They couldn't replace Tiffany, but they came damn close.

Before I knew it, I was being asked if I took my Kevin to be my lawfully wedded husband, through sickness and health, some other jazz, 'til death do us part. I nodded, sliding the ring on his finger.
"I do."
"By the powers invested in me, and the state of Florida, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride," the preacher said, a tone of pleasure touching his words. I smiled and wrapped my arms around Kevin's neck and kissed him. It was silent no more.
Cheers erupted from everyone and Kevin and I laughed.
"It's like getting married at a concert," I said to him as we walked back down the aisle.
"I know." He laughed softly, then took my face in his hands, gently stroking my cheeks with his thumbs.
"I love you, so much," he whispered.
"I love you, too, so much," I whispered back, and kissed him again.

Part 6
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