A/N: Ok. This has been a long time in coming. So, without further ado, I bring you what I should have started with many moons ago. First up, Sean and Abby's Wedding!

I smiled at the bride sitting across from me and tried to reassure her that everything would be perfect on her wedding day. For the 4th time. Cindy was the most nervous bride I'd encountered so far. And with a groom like Trent, I didn't blame her. Well, maybe I blamed her a little for choosing to marry such a useless lump of flesh, but to each their own.

"Look, Abby, thanks again for meeting with me. I just, I hate the wedding cake." She babbled.

Wait, what? "It's just so informal. I want something more elegant."

"Cindy, I'm happy to help you make your wedding cake whatever you want, but we agreed on the design 6 months ago. If you want to change it now, two weeks before your wedding, there's going to be an extra fee." I tried to explain.

I wanted to smack my head into the desk in the bakery office. Seriously. Some brides were freaking impossible. After settling on the new cake, and the new charges, Cindy finally left, and I was able to get back to work on a really fun groom's cake. I loved the new trend of wild and wacky cakes at weddings. This one was a model of the Batmobile, and I couldn't help but giggle the whole time that I was constructing it. It might be appropriate if Ranger and Steph ever decided to do the Marvel thing and get hitched. But their superheros were DC, so the likelyhood of that was slim.

My attempt to merge my forehead with the surface of the desk was interrupted by a pair of hands on my shoulders, and I relaxed into the pressure of thumbs digging into the exact spot in my shoulder that was made up of 100% stress.

"You know, we all love how cracked you are, but I wouldn't appreciate the pressure of having to put stitches into literal ones. Again"

"Hey, that was Lester's fault, and you know it!" I reminded Bobby sharply. Jeez. Someone accidentally splits your face open one time and you never live it down. "How many stitches have you put in Steph?"

Bobby sighed. "Too many to count. And Ranger just looms the whole time. It's both sickening and stressful."

I couldn't help but giggle, having witnessed on more than one occasion the 'Brown, you better not fuck this up or I'll fuck you up' stance. "Hey, at least my fiance can only call and threaten you from afar! I don't have to deal with any looming. Except when it's Lester and he's worried that Steph is going to follow through on her threats to make him unable to participate in his favorite hobby.

The hands that were working magic on my shoulders gave a final squeeze and let go.

"Well, if I have to give you stitches today, there would be looming. What time does Sean's flight get in?"

"Not until 5. I might go bananas before then."

Bobby laughed. "More so than now? Impossible!"

"Did you need something, or did you just stop to harass me?"

"Well, Steph may have mentioned that you were trying out some new recipes today."

I sighed. "There's a basket on the main table. I was going to bring it by after closing and get a workout in before Sean lands."

"Won't you get a workout after Sean lands?" Bobby suggested with a leer that would make Lester proud.

"Yeah. But I always have energy for that." I winked back.

"Why don't you grab the basket, and I'll see you guys later." What I wasn't saying was that I had far too much nervous energy to burn off. Sean found out yesterday if he had passed all his clearances to join the Navy SEAL training program. In my head, I was hoping that he made it. In my heart, I was less sure that that's what I wanted. I'd only seen him for a month since he left for basic. He had deployed right after he took his leave, and then had been trying to qualify and go to SEAL school. This was the first time he had leave in almost a year. I was more than a little frustrated.

Working with brides almost everyday had made me wonder what kind of bride I'd be. I had ideas, but with Sean gone, and trying to get the bakery off the ground for the last year and a half, it's not like I could make a ton of plans. And what would we do if Sean didn't get sent to SEAL school. I wanted to move closer to him. Which meant moving to where he was stationed. Which meant leaving the bakery. And Steph. And the Merry Men. It all made my head hurt.

Yeah. An endorphin high would definitely help.

As soon as Sean cleared security, I was running and leaping. I couldn't believe he was finally home! I'm pretty sure that we looked like something out of a stupid rom-com, but I didn't care! He was home, and safe, and home. And kissing me. And my brain was no longer functional.

Finally, we broke for air, and I could see that the stupid breathless grin that I was definitely wearing was matched on his face.

"Hey" I choked out, like an idiot.

Sean laughed at my complete inability to brain. "Hey."

We may have gotten handsy on the way to the car.

We definitely made out in the airport parking lot.

On the drive home, I was glad that Maggie had decided to hold off on seeing her son until tomorrow night. And that I had two extremely capable managers to run the bakery for the next two days.

And once we were home. Well. There wasn't much talking.

After round who knows how many, I finally gathered enough brain cells to ask. "So, are we celebrating that you're home, or is there something else that you want to tell me?"

"I made it." Sean stated calmly. Of course, that may have been because the male instinct of sleep directly after the party was over was finally kicking in. Which was good for me. I wasn't 100% sure that I'd be able to walk when the sun came up.

"Remind me to congratulate you. After a nap."

Sean chuckled and gathered me closer. "You got it."

I woke up early the next morning with more energy than I expected. I had stocked up with all of the necessities for pancakes and bacon and everything that Sean could possibly want. I was not planning on leaving the apartment for anything less than an explosion, house fire, or hospital visit. Which. Knowing my friends were not impossibilities. As I stirred pancake batter together, I sent up a silent prayer that Steph and the boys would hold off on the catastrophes for at least the next 48 hours.

While I was waiting for the pancakes to bubble, I felt Sean's arms wrap around me.

"Why did I wake up alone this morning?" He asked, nuzzling my neck.

"I wanted to make you breakfast in bed." I smiled, relaxing into his hold.

"What if I wanted you for breakfast in bed?"

My whole body shivered. Jesus. Hormones. Get it together or we will have to evacuate because of a house fire. As casually as possible, I flipped a pancake. "Why not both?"

So there was some more making out. And some rather irresponsibly charred pancakes. And some congratulations were offered. And breakfast was thoroughly enjoyed by both parties.

Later, when I was cleaning up the mess that breakfast had made of my kitchen, Sean just leaned up against the wall.

"I like this view." He smiled at me.

I flashed him a grin and went back to scrubbing. Even non-stick is no match for charred pancake briquettes. "Good thing you put a ring on it. Now I'm just trying to earn enough points to upgrade to wifey status."

"Abby." Sean's tone was serious, and I wanted to smack myself with the frying pan in my hands. Damnit. This was his first morning. No need to nag.

"Can we talk for a minute?"

I put the pan down, but my hands were suddenly shaking. I wanted to run my thumb over my engagement ring, but i had taken it off to do the dishes. Had he changed his mind? Had he been worried about the long term feasibility of our lives and decided that this wouldn't work? I turned to face him. I had never wished so hard for a kitchen table in my life. This situation called for one. The couch was too casual. The kitchen itself seemed to confrontational.

"You know that for the next year, I won't have much time between training schools."

I nodded. There had been extensive googling on my part about what this would mean for us.

"And then after that, there's no guarantee that I'd even be stationed on the East Coast."

I nodded again and reminded myself that breathing was physically necessary.

"But I love you. And I want to marry you. I can't imagine a life without you in it. Can we just figure the rest out later?"

I sighed, and laughed. "Of course!" I mean, I like plans. But I love Sean. We would make it work.

Sean relaxed too. "There's something else that I haven't told you. Well, two things actually."

"Oh?"

"Well, because of the timing of everything, I only have 5 days of leave."

"What?" I shrieked. He was supposed to have at least 15. This. Was. Bullshit.

I may or may not have said that last part aloud, because he finally crossed the floor to me.

"So. This brings me to point two. I have 4 days left. New Jersey has a 3 day waiting period for marriage licenses. I don't want to go to training without a ring on my hand. I don't want the Rangemen thinking that there's any hope for them at all."

I snorted at the last part.

"How do you feel about Vegas?"

"Like. To get married in?"

"Yeah. I know it's not perfect. But I want to marry you. And then celebrate being married to you.

"I'm not 21 yet."

"I know. I didnt think that we'd leave the hotel to celebrate."

"Wait, do you have one picked out already?"

"Sugar, I have the flights booked, the chapel arranged, and the hotel room reserved."

"But I don't have a dress!"

Sean laughed. "If you can find one by 5, we can be married by this time tomorrow."

"No Elvis though, right?" I had to confirm. I could do a quickie wedding. I could do it in Vegas.

"No Elvis." Sean shook his head.

"OK."

Sean cocked his head like a lost puppy. "Yeah?"

"Yeah!" I threw myself into his arms, and he carried me out of the kitchen. There was a certain store 20 minutes from my house. I could get a dress later.

While Sean was in the shower, I called Steph. I needed help in this mission. I mean, it was my wedding dress!

"Yo."

"I was hoping to speak to the bombshell bounty hunter. But this sounds like a batman impersonator."

Steph laughed. "I can't help myself. I think that the bat powers are rubbing off. Like osmosis but with more friction."

I cracked up and resisted the urge to make an incredibly tasteless joke about fluid transfer. But only barely. I had a mission to complete.

"And speaking of, how did you get to your phone. I thought that you and Sean would be busy with your own friction. You left to jeers and bets yesterday. I don't think anyone bet on you surfacing in under 24 hours."

"Well, my well earned holiday has taken a twist."

"Oh? I don't have to have Ranger murder anyone, do I?"

"No. But I need your expertise."

"You want Sean hit with a Buick?"

"No! Your shopping expertise. How soon can you be ready to go?"

"What kind of shopping."

"Can you please just give me a timeline, and I'll explain in the car?"

"I can be outside in 30 minutes. 45 if you need me to ditch all these yahoos who insist on knowing my location at all times."

"No need for that much secrecy. Can you pick me up in 30. I don't want to get held up because the guys decide to play another round of 'make inappropriate jokes until Abby blushes."

We hung up just as I heard the shower turn off. I willed my dancing hormones down and prepared for an incredibly fast shower and preparation for the afternoon ahead. I was just glad that I wasn't going to be with Sean when he told Maggie that we were going to Vegas without her. We'd definitely do the fancy real wedding thing later. But this was just for us.

My phone rang just as I finished putting my mascara on, and I booked it out of the apartment and down the stairs before Sean could grab me and start again.

I jumped into Steph's car and we peeled out.

"We need to go to Bloomingdales." I informed my black clad, curly haired accomplice.

"Whoa. Someone is getting all fancied up."

"I should be. It's for my wedding." I braced for impact in case Steph lost control of the car.

"What?!" She screeched. "When? Where? What? You're not going to force me to wear a hideous bridesmaid dress, are you?"

"In order: Sean and I are getting married. Finally. Tonight or tomorrow. He didn't tell me which. Vegas. And no."

"Whoa girlfriend. Slow down. When did this happen. Explain."

I walked her through the highlights of that decision making process, as we drove. After hearing everything, she was quiet for a minute.

"Abby." she said, eyes straight ahead, "I just want to say this once, and I don't want you to take it the wrong way. But, are you sure? I know this isn't the wedding that you want. Or the way you pictured your marriage starting. I mean, you won't even be living together for at least the first year."

I sighed. "I know. And it's not ideal at all. Any of it. And I hate that we're going to be apart. But I love him. What else am I supposed to do? I'm tired of waiting. We've been engaged for more than a year. He wants this, and I want to be married to him. We can do the fancy part later."

Steph nodded. "Ok. I just wanted to make sure it was said. Now. Let's talk dresses. We have to find something perfect, get the right lingerie, get it bagged, and then get you on a plane in under 4 hours.

I took a deep breath. "Oh, we're going to do it. And it's going to be good."

Steph flushed red. "I should never have told you that."
"True. But you did. And if I've learned anything from the guys, it's that you should use all the information that you have to your advantage."

Steph's POV

When I left Abby at her apartment, I was in a state of shock. A Vegas wedding for our favorite mad baker? It just didn't seem right. It seemed really, really wrong actually. Abby and I had watched Say Yes to the Dress together enough times for me to know that she had more than a vague idea of what her wedding should be like. So this. This was wrong. I knew exactly who to call to make it at least a little bit better though.

"Stephanie, how lovely to hear from you." Ella laughed. Considering she knows more about me, my habits and my activities than my own mother, I knew she was being sarcastic.

"Ella. We are at defcon 1. Or 5. Whichever the bad one is."

"What? What happened?"

"Abby is getting married."

"What?!" Ella shrieked. "When, where, give me the details. How did you find out? Why didn't she call me? My phone has been on all day!"

"Tonight or tomorrow morning. IN VEGAS" I shouted.

"No."

"Yes."

"But. Where will she get a cake from?" Ella asked the most pressing and important question.

"I don't know. All I know is that this is what she wants. Sean got accepted to the next class of SEAL trainees and now he's leaving in like 4 days and they want to get married."

I was gesturing wildly now. Par for the course in Trenton traffic.

"Ok. Do you know when they're coming back?" Ella asked. Clearly now in planning mode.

"Day after tomorrow."

"Meet me in my apartment. We have work to do." Ella barked out. I would not want to be on her bad side. Which Abby clearly was going to be. Or Sean. Or both.

Steph POV

I drummed my fingers against the bakery counter. According to Christine, one of Abby's right hand women, Abby had a client meeting for another wedding order. She was always slammed these days. Finally the new almost bride and groom walked out of the office and I could barge in.

"So?!" I screeched.

"Abby looked up from where she was wrapping up her order paperwork. "Oh hey!" She smiled.

"SO?!" I repeated, louder and with the most emphasis on the implicit 'tell me everything. You eloped to Vegas and I need DETAILS NOW' that I could muster.

"Oh. Everything went well. Sean loved the dress and the accessories, and there was no Elvis impersonator in sight during the ceremony."

"Are there pictures?"

"Of course. After I was finished at work I was going to present myself and the new hubs at Rangeman for the obligatory teasing that I know we are due."

I melted a little bit. "Awwwwww. The new hubs. Where is he?"

Abby smirked a little bit "Resting after I exercised my rights as a wife this morning."

"Well, you both better get your asses to Rangeman tonight. At 5. Ella is not pleased that you ran off and got married without telling her."

"Steph, we were supposed to have dinner with Maggie tonight."
"She's coming to Rangeman too. Ella has worked her magic."

Abby went a little pale. "I'm screwed aren't I."

I smiled. "Only as much as you want to be."

Abby POV

By 6, I had told and re-told the details of my wedding enough times that even I was bored of the story, and Sean was nowhere to be found. Ranger materialized next to me and I almost had a heart attack.

"Steph hasn't managed to put a bell on you yet?" I joked.

"She knows what would happen if she did," he replied, deadpan.

I rolled my eyes. "Vengeance would be swift and carnal."

That got a chuckle out of him, and I relaxed from my place as "honored guest".

"You know, he's going to be ok," Ranger started.

"What?" I was shocked. Was Batman playing Alfred tonight?

"He'll be ok. You'll be ok."

Ranger took a sip of beer and my eyes narrowed.

"Are you drunk?" I demanded

"No. I just thought that someone needed to tell you that it's going to be ok."

I couldn't help but sigh. I did need someone to tell me that. But, "It wasn't for you. Not for any of you. Why do none of you have a happy ever after?"

I could feel Ranger's stare boring into the side of my skull. I wish that I could blame my suicidally stupid remark on alcohol, but the only thing that I'd had to drink all night was water.

"What do you call this?" Ranger asked, more gently than I knew I deserved. Gesturing to everyone milling around and laughing.

"Happiness. Clearly. You all have wonderful lives with meaningful employment and amazing friends. But Ranger, you're the only one who has love."

"Steph is Wonderwoman. You are special. They just haven't met an alien or a mutant that suits them yet."

I wanted to cry. I thumbed my brand new wedding ring and sighed. "I guess you're leading by example then. Although where they'll find another intergalactic warrior princess, I'm not sure."

Ranger smiled, and opened his mouth to reply, when the subject of our conversation stumbled into it.

"Why do you look sad? This is happy. Ranger, make her happy!" Steph slurred.

"Don't I make you happy, babe?" Ranger, master of redirection, asked.

"So happy!" Steph twirled, and suddenly I was holding in laughter.

"Where's my groom?" I asked.

"They took him out. Because he stole you. The merry men are sad because they are not married men." Steph giggled.

I resolved to never get that drunk. At least not in public. And speaking of wayward grooms, Sean stumbled over to us as well.

I'm pretty sure Ranger was resisting an eyeroll. "Which of the idiots was responsible for this?" He asked Sean.

"Lester." Sean answered, swaying a little bit.

Great. Drunk husband. Last night for who knew how long. Thanks Lester. Oh well. Now I know whose face to rearrange when I was feeling frustrated.

"Ok. On that note, we're going home."

I heard someone shout something inappropriate about why we were leaving our own party so early.

Sean fist pumped the air, and I slapped a hand over his mouth before he could make the situation worse.

We were subjected to a round of hugs that left me dizzy and giggling.

Driving home, I looked over at the drunk man drooling on the window. My husband. And we'd have our happily ever after.