-Of Weddings and Heartache-

The string quartet began to play the familiar song, and the people quickly hushed. Everyone in the crowd unabashedly swiveled in their seat to catch a glimpse of the woman who assumed her place beneath the rose-covered arbor. As she took her first step, the music began its graded build and the surrounding silence thickened. The world seemed to hold its breath as she gracefully crossed the grass, following the trail of rose petals.

Vaughn couldn't help but stare. She was so incredibly beautiful. No, that wasn't it. Beautiful didn't even begin to describe the woman who was walking in his direction. She was gorgeous. Proceeding down the aisle on the happiest day of her life, the smile on her lips was so incredibly wide he could see it light up her face underneath the opaque curtain of her veil. He was convinced that it was bright enough to light up the world.

He felt it the second before it fell, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. A single tear rolled down his cheek and spilled onto the ground. He knew Weiss would notice, and he was certain that he would be hearing about this later, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Vaughn hadn't been this happy in a long time, and he wasn't about to stifle any emotion he might be feeling, regardless of what his best friend would think.

As she reached her destination, the guests exhaled their long forgotten breaths. As her veil was lifted, Vaughn saw that she too had succumbed to the tears. The small drops trailed silently over her rose-colored cheeks and landed in the waves of her soft blonde hair. He had never seen a more stunning bride.

""

Sydney sat on her couch, contemplating the carton of coffee ice cream that, anticipating her mood, had of its own accord leapt out of the freezer and into her cart. She hadn't had dinner, but reasoned with herself that if she skipped the meal altogether, she could go straight to dessert. That made sense, didn't it? She stood up and zeroed in on the freezer, but a sharp knock at the door stopped her mid-stride. Dismissing the notion that it might be her conscience trying to intercept her frozen treat, she headed for the offending noise. As she swung the door open her mouth burst into an impressively wide smile.

"Hey there, Little Buddy!"

"Well, well… if it isn't the Skipper." Sydney looked down and her eyes lit up. "That better have pineapple on it." She smirked as she relieved Weiss of the pizza and headed for the living room.

"But of course. It's the only kind I could order that would go with your Coors Light. Leave it to you to make beer and pizza a fruity event." Weiss followed her into the house, cracked open two beers, and put the rest in the fridge.

"Hey, I've gotta be a girl every once in a while. I wouldn't want to give you a complex. It's bad enough that I can kick your ass…"

"…And you look better in rubber," Weiss interjected. "Yeah, yeah, don't remind me. I've heard it all before."

Sydney laughed as she dumped the pizza on the coffee table and went into the kitchen to grab some napkins.

"I wasn't expecting you tonight," She continued from the other room, "Aren't you supposed to be at a wedding?"

"It was an afternoon wedding. I've already put in my time. Are you saying you don't want me? Cause I can take my girly pizza and go home." Weiss stood up in mock hurt and headed for the door.

Sydney cut him off. "Don't even think about it. Now get your ass on that couch and do your thing," she ordered.

"Yes ma'am," he replied as he unceremoniously grabbed a slice of pizza and shoved more than half of it into his mouth. Sydney smiled to herself and did the same. Three slices later, she started up the conversation again.

"So, how was it?"

"How was what?"

She rolled her eyes before responding, "The wedding."

"Which wedding?"

Sydney groaned. "You know very well which wedding."

"Meh."

"Meh?"

"I'm not a big fan of weddings. I don't like dressing up."

"You wear a suit every day! What do you mean, you don't like dressing up?"

"Good point. Maybe I just don't like weddings."

"So, how'd she look?"

"Absolutely beautiful."

"Glad to hear it. I would expect no less." She hesitated a moment, but the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, "And how was Vaughn?"

Weiss grinned. "He was crying."

The tension drained from Sydney's body as she dissolved into a fit of suppressed giggles. "Really? Like, shedding tears?"

"Yup. Trickling right off the old cheek. I almost cracked up right in the middle of the ceremony. Poor emotional sap."

Sydney brought herself back under control before asking, "You think you'd cry in that situation?"

Weiss made a show of contemplating her question. "I don't think so. Would you?"

"Nah. But we're bigger men than Vaughn is," Sydney chuckled.

"Damn straight," Weiss proclaimed as he clinked his beer to hers. Upon hearing the sound, he realized that they both were empty. "You want another?"

"How could I refuse?"

A few beers later, and three-quarters of the way through When Harry Met Sally, Sydney looked over at Weiss, who was sprawled comfortably across her couch, fighting a loosing battle with sleep. "Hey, Eric?" Sydney mused, "You think manly men watch romantic comedies?"

He opened one eye and looked at her, "I'd like to think so." Seconds later, both eyes firmly closed as he snuggled deeper into the cushions and began to snore. Sydney smiled, reached for the afghan and draped it over his semiconscious form. She turned off the movie, hit the lights and headed for her dark and lonely bedroom.

""

"Michael, would you like to dance?"

He didn't even pretend to consider it. "No, Lauren, I'm sorry. I'm just not the dancing type. You know that." He noticed the irritated tone to his voice and wondered where it was coming from. He was supposed to be happy today. He was happy today, he told himself.

"I know," she sighed, "I just thought I'd try. It is a wedding after all. People are supposed to dance." She turned back around in her seat and began to play with the remains of the food on her plate.

Vaughn looked around him. He saw so many happy people. Genuinely happy people. He mentally rolled his eyes. He couldn't help but be annoyed at them and their simple lives. No, that wasn't fair. It wasn't annoyance, he corrected himself, it was jealousy. He tried to remember back to a time when he was happy but stopped himself abruptly. He knew exactly where that would lead. Vaughn looked out the side of his eyes at his wife and involuntarily cringed. What did I do? he thought to himself for the umpteenth time since he married her.

She spotted him from the dance floor and saw that look in his eyes. The same look she'd been seeing for the past year or so. The casual observer wouldn't give it a second thought, but she knew. Her big brother was far from happy.

She closed the gap and stood in front of him. She grinned before offering, "Hey there, handsome. Would you care to dance?"

Vaughn's eyes lit up at the sound of her voice. He looked up at her and nodded, taking her outstretched hand. He briefly thought of Lauren, but pushed the thought aside as he stepped out on the floor.

"What are you still doing here, El? Shouldn't you be off on the honeymoon already? I mean, you've been married for three hours now. You've put in the obligatory time with the guests."

Ella laughed, "Are you trying to cut our dance short? You're really not as bad as you think."

Vaughn grinned. His little sister knew him too well. And he loved her for it.

"Aha!" She announced, "I knew you could smile! I knew you had it in you!"

He looked at her quizzically. "What are you talking about? I smile."

"Don't try to fool me. I know you're not happy. I just don't know why you refuse to do anything about it." Ella knew her brother wouldn't like her meddling in his affairs, but she also knew that if she didn't, no one would. And she couldn't stand to see him so unhappy.

Vaughn groaned, "Not this again. We've already been over it."

"Exactly. Which is why I cannot figure out why nothing has changed."

"Not everyone can be as happy as you and Andrew, El."

"Maybe not," she replied, "But I know for a fact that you, Michael Vaughn, can be."

""

TBC if there's interest…