Okay, prepare yourself for another drama/romance whatever involving Josh and Nikki (Because in my ideal world he's still not dead!) This is a 2-3 chapter story. It has jumped forward a bit, they are serving on different ships and are about to get married, if they can get the bride there in time...

As usual, I don't any of the Sea Patrol characters but I own Nikki and ET's family, Tamsin and the crew of the HMAS Launceston.

0720 hours HMAS Hammersley

Looking over at her best friend as she entered the bridge, Kate couldn't help but giggle. Nikki was getting married tomorrow yet she could still sit there and look calm. Kate couldn't understand how she did it.

"You nervous?" she asked, handing Nikki a coffee before sitting in the captain's chair.

"No, I'm not actually," replied Nikki with a smile. "I just can't wait! It's finally happening!" Kate laughed. It was true; there had been a lot of dramas leading up to the wedding. It had already been postponed once after a car accident saw Nikki wind up in hospital on the big day and other dramas had almost lead to this wedding being cancelled. But, as always, ET and Nikki had been able to overcome them and the much-anticipated wedding was going ahead.

"You seemed nervous when you woke us all up, yelling at someone on the phone at 5.30 in the morning," joined in Buffer as he arrived on the bridge.

"Alright, so I'm a bit nervous," admitted Nikki. "With the luck we've had so far, I'm just worried that something will happen and we'll have to cancel again."

"Well, as long as you don't decide to wrap your car around a tree again, everything should be good," said Charge from his seat in the corner. Everyone laughed while Nikki rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry Charge. I am in no hurry to repeat that," replied Nikki with a smile. The door to the bridge opened and the CO walked in.

"Morning team," he replied cheerfully. There was a chorus of "morning sirs," before Mike turned to Nikki.

"No dramas this morning?" he asked playfully. She shook her head. "That's a good sign."

"Let's hope so," she muttered before turning back to the Radar screen.

1425 hours HMAS Hammersley

Mike looked over and noticed RO looking worried.

"What's up RO?" RO sighed before replying.

"Sir, we've picked up a mayday call."

"What's nature of the mayday?" asked Mike.

"I'm unable to ascertain that sir. Transmission was cut short just after I got their position." Mike pointed to Nikki and RO passed her the piece of paper uncertainly. She had just read out the coordinates when a horrified look crossed her face.

"Nav?" asked Mike, looking at his navigators face. She didn't answer but RO already knew what was wrong.

"Sir, they are 110 nautical miles south-west of us," said RO. "We're going to be delayed in getting back base." Mike sighed.

"RO, NAVcom on the sat phone," he suddenly ordered. A few minutes later, Mike was talking to NAVcom.

"Sir, are there any other naval ships able to lend assistance?" asked Mike as Nikki watched him intently; hoping that there was another ship to help so she could go home and finally marry the man she loved.

"Sir, the HMAS Launceston is currently heading back to base but they can turn back and respond," said the voice on the phone. Nikki groaned and put her hand to her head, sinking back into her chair. Mike sighed and looked at Nikki who was slumped in her chair.

"I'd like to speak to Commander Marshall," he said into the phone. A few moments later, Commander Marshall answered the phone.

"Sir, my navigator is getting married tomorrow and we won't be able to make it back to base in time if we assist in the mayday," Mike told the Commander. "And the Lieutenant I was just speaking to said the Launceston could offer assistance but the groom serves aboard that ship." He was silent for a few moments. Kate had by this stage entered the bridge. Looking between the slumped figure of her best friend and her CO, she tried to work out what was wrong. After getting no answers, RO filled her in. Just as he finished, Mike hung up the phone, looking at Nikki. She sat up and looked at him but at seeing his solemn face, she slumped back into the chair.

"Sir?" asked Buffer a few moments later, eyeing the navigator out of the corner of his eye.

"We have been tasked to respond to the mayday," he said slowly. "Nikki, I'm sorry." She looked up and nodded.

"I understand sir. It's all part of the job."

"I think you better go make some calls," said the CO. Nikki stood slowly and headed off the bridge to make her way to the comcen. After she was gone, Kate turned to Mike.

"This is not fair," she said simply. Swain, who was sitting at the helm, agreed.

"Wait until she tells ET. He's going to be devastated," he added. "Last time he was ready and it didn't happen and it's happening again."

***FLASHBACK***

"You ready, mate?" Swain asked ET as they waited at the end of the aisle.

"Yeah, I think so," replied ET, fumbling with his tie. Swain stood up and fixed it for him. The other groomsmen joined them. Spider, Buffer and Nikki's brothers Matt and Ryan took their place in the line. ET looked at his watch.

"She's 10 minutes late already," he said nervously. Swain patted his friend on the shoulder.

"They're woman mate. They're always late," laughed Swain, trying to reassure him.

"You're the best man, you have to say that," replied ET, laughing nervously. Looking at how tense his sisters' fiancé was, Matt decided to call his girlfriend Tamsin to see what was going on. She was Nikki's best friend from high school and one of the bridesmaids. But as he pulled out his phone, he saw messages and missed calls. Dozens of them. As he recognised the numbers, Matt thought to himself. That can't be good, was his first thought. He nudged Buffer, who he was standing next to him and showed him. Swain noticed and unfortunately, so did ET.

"I'll call Tam," said Matt, dialling his girlfriends' number. ET started worrying. His groomsmen each tried reassuring them. Noticing Matt walk back over a few minutes later, ET looked up.

"There's been an accident, Nik's in hospital," started Matt.

"Come on mate," said Swain, pushing his friend down the aisle. Buffer looked at the remaining bridal party and took action, informing the waiting crowd that the wedding was being postponed.

***END FLASHBACK***

Down in the comcen, Nikki had just put in a call to the HMAS Launceston and was waiting for someone to pick up. A second later someone did.

"Launceston, Able Seaman Mathews."

"Hi, it's Lieutenant Caetano from the HMAS Hammersley. Can I please speak to Leading Seaman Holiday?"

"One moment," replied the voice before he put the phone down. About five long minutes later, the phone was picked up again.

"Leading Seaman Holiday."

"Josh," said Nikki. "I've got something to tell you."