A/N: Hello! Thanks for opening this up and giving it a chance, I'm really excited about it. This is going to be a four-part fic inspired by Tommy C. & J. Reyez's cover of the song "Wedding Dress" originally by Taeyang. Each chapter is inspired and will be named after a line in the chorus, and they will go in order. I think they come together really nicely, and I hope you think so too!

Also, let me clarify before you begin that the person Hilary is marrying is not Tyson! But please don't let that push you away from the story, I think you'll like how it ends in a few chapters.

I would recommend listening to the song as you read. You can find it by just searching "J Reyez Wedding Dress" on YouTube. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own Beyblade or "Wedding Dress" by Tommy C. and J. Reyez.

Snow can symbolize a lot of things. It can be delicate and soft, somewhat like young love. It can be stiff and solid, like loneliness. It can be cold and unforgiving, relatable with sadness.

Ray felt that this snowfall was blank and hollow, just like the loss of love sometimes was.

Ray was not the one who had lost his love, though. It was…well, that will become clear in a matter of time. Right then, there was a wedding to attend.

Ray walked into the church and sat down. The pew was hard and uncomfortable, and Ray shifted inelegantly in his tuxedo. Looking around, Ray took note of his surroundings. The wedding was sizable, but not giant. He sat on the bride's side of the aisle, as he was one of her guests. Everyone around seemed to be fairly happy, glad to see a couple join together in matrimony.

The raven-haired beyblader asked someone sitting next to him what the time was. "11:30 a.m.," was their response.

Just a half-hour left.

Ray decided that he absolutely had to see the bride before the wedding. He had something to say.

He wasn't in love with the bride. He had no romantic feelings for her whatsoever. However, that didn't mean he wanted to see her get married. She was one of his best friends, and he cared about her deeply; he was reluctant to let her go. Ray figured nothing he could say would affect her, but he had to try.

The white snow flashed in Ray's eyes as he exited the church. Making his way around the corner of the building, he looked for a side entrance. Once he came across an open doorway, he ducked inside.

The golden-eyed man, now of twenty-six years, wandered down the dark and empty church hallways, unsteady, but decidedly stealthy. A quiet muttering reached his ears, and he could feel that he was approaching the betrothed.

Ray reached a doorway and carefully stepped inside. And there, suddenly, was the lovely bride-to-be. She sat, her graceful, pure white, ball-gown-like dress surrounding her as she studied herself in the mirror of the vanity. She was alone.

"Hilary," Ray greeted.

"Ray," she said back.

"You look gorgeous," he complimented. She continued to watch him in the mirror.

"Thank you."

"So, today's the big day," Ray stated.

Hilary's face lit up with genuine happiness, and she stood to face him. "Yeah," she said, "it is."

There was silence as they both smiled. Ray hoped she didn't notice when his grin faltered. "I guess you're wondering why I'm back here before the wedding."

"Sort of," Hilary confirmed, "I mean, it's always great to see you, but I am curious."

"Well," Ray began hesitantly, "I'm here to make sure you're sure."

Hilary's brown eyebrows furrowed. "About the marriage? Of course I am."

"I figured, but what kind of friend would I be if I didn't rescue you from a horrible situation that you really wanted to ditch but were too afraid and paralyzed to get out of?" He said it as a joke, but was secretly serious.

Hilary chuckled. "Don't worry about me, Ray. I'll be just fine."

Ray sighed. "I guess so. I'm just a little unwilling to give you up." He swallowed. Now was the time to thank her for everything. "You don't know how much you mean to me, Hilary. Back when we were just teenagers, you were always there looking after the four of us Bladebreakers. Our trainer, friend, personal cheerleader, and sometimes even sister, you never gave up on us, even when we lost hope or refused to carry on. You weren't just instrumental to our success, but to our lives. You were the one thing we always had to fall back on. You still are! And that's why I don't want you to leave…it'll be hard without you around. You'll be off in some other city with your husband and…it'll be hard."

Ray looked at Hilary again. Her eyes were watering, tears in danger of slipping down her face. "Ray." Her voice wobbled. She took a shaky breath, and started once more. "Ray, you know I won't be completely gone. Sure, I'll be in a different place, but I will never leave you, Max, Kai, and Tyson." She paused for a moment, and then went on, "It'll be hard, yes, but when has that ever stopped you guys? The four of you are the most resilient people I know, bouncing back and taking on anything that stood in your way. You reached your dreams, the biggest achievement this life has ever known. You and the others, you'll always be my boys."

"See what I mean?" Ray grinned. The tears flowed freely between them now.

She nodded. "But I know you'll be fine. You knew this day would come eventually didn't you?"

"I did," Ray nodded. "But being so young I never thought about it, not for twelve years. And even then, I never really thought I would have to give you up as much as I'll have to now. I guess I just always thought you would end up with…"

"Who?"

"Never mind." Ray shrugged, but then grinned slightly. "I know I can't convince you not to go through with the ceremony, however, I don't like it. But if you believe that you belong with him, then I want you to do what you feel is right, so…congratulations, Hilary."

With that, Ray returned to the church pews.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading! I really hope you enjoyed it. Remember that there will be three more parts coming soon! Please REVIEW, I always really enjoy hearing your thoughts on my work. Thanks so much!