Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of "CSI:NY"; they belong to Anthony E. Zuiker and CBS. Chapter titles and story title are from the song "Speak Now" by Taylor Swift, which I also don't own.

Author's Note: It's been a long time since the Rikki fiasco, but she fit so perfectly here I had to have her as my antagonist. Constructive criticism is usually warranted and always appreciated.


Prologue: Barging In On a White-Veiled Occasion

The church doors creaked open, and Lindsay Monroe silently slipped inside the massive church. So not like him, a big church with half the population of Montana in the pews. He's more of a "Hey baby, let's go to Vegas" kind of guy. She glanced around. The ushers, two of Rikki's cousins, if she remembered right, were busy handing out flyers. They weren't checking names and IDs. She snaked a program and slipped up the stairs into the back of the church.

"Monroe?"

Lindsay jumped out of her skin, then turned to see a tuxedoed Don Flack standing in the door. "What the hell are you doin' here?" he asked her, his eyes wide in shock. "Rikki'll murder you."

Lindsay got up, grabbed Don by the tie, and slipped into the crying room in the back. She closed the door behind her and turned to face him. "You and I both know this marriage'll never last. Rikki'll get bored, and Danny will be miserable. I'm surprised his best friend hasn't stepped in!"

"I've tried!" Flack threw his hands in the air. "You know we've tried. Me, Stella, Mac, hell, even Adam and Hawkes! But ever since Ruben, Danny's felt responsible for Rikki. It started out as just sex, and then she played him into falling for her, played the pity card, and he gave her a freakin' ring!" He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know what to do." He looked at her. "I'd rather have it be you up there, Monroe," he said earnestly.

She felt a twinge in her stomach. Yeah I'd rather it was me, too, she thought. "We can't let him go through with this, Don. We just can't."

He raised an eyebrow. "You got somethin' in mind? 'Cause in about fifteen minutes, they're both gonna be at the altar, and about fifteen minutes after that she's gonna be Mrs. Daniel Gabriel Messer."

Flack glanced around. Rikki's mother came by the crying room, and Flack pushed Lindsay up against the wall, out of sight. "Man I'm surprised they're not using fingerprint scanners to keep you out, Lindsay."

She shrugged. "No background check or blood work required to be a spectator, Flack, just a participant." She gently pushed him away, and adjusted his tie. "I'm a Montana girl, Flack, we don't just back away at the sign of a challenge. We take the bull by the horns and wrestle him to the ground."

Lindsay looked at her watch. "You better get back to your post, Best Man," she said. "The less you know, the less you have to testify to later." She winked.

Flack gave her half a smile. "Why do I get the feelin' you're gonna do somethin' extremely stupid?"

She gave him a full-out grin. "I intend to raise a little hell today, Flack. With or without your help. Let's just say that when they ask for objections, there's gonna be a few!"