The focus of the days ahead would be leisurely talking with people that meant more to him than anything, at least that's what Dr. Thomas Oliver hoped would happen, but that didn't mean God would answer his prayers. He knew what could happen at any moment, the crazy way that work always managed to create a new insanity to face.
Given that he'd just had his reunion with his friends in Angel Grove the year prior, and it had gone off without a hitch, he couldn't help but feel a strange uneasiness rising in his throat. Things never seemed to go well twice.
He wished that feeling would just go away and leave him with the happiness that was rising in his heart.
Kimberly Hart stood up and looked at his face, touched his cheek with her hand.
"What's bothering you?" she asked nonchalantly, as if she already knew. "This time tomorrow we'll be getting married in the most beautiful church with the most beautiful people in the whole wide world."
Tommy sighed, "Maybe that's what's bothering me."
She crinkled her nose. "If anything happens tomorrow I swear I'll find a way to resurrect Zordon's butt so I can kick it myself."
Tommy smiled and laughed half-heartedly. "It's been a year since Jason and Emily..."
"Yeah, hard to believe. It seems like we just had that wonderful week."
"A lot has changed, hasn't it."
"You mean like us? We're finally stopping the running away game?"
"Yeah."
He ran his fingers through his hair and rested his head on her shoulder. "I want that to repeat so badly, for everything to go off without a hitch. This isn't something we can repeat. I mean, when are we going to get everyone together again?"
"I know what you mean," Jason Lee Scott replied from the doorway. He was holding a box of chocolates. "For the wedded to be, and its about time."
Emily stepped in after him and brought her own smile to the room. "I thought for so long that Tommy Oliver would be married to the girl of his dreams so much sooner."
"So did I," Tommy realized.
"There have been an awful lot of weddings lately," Kim interjected. "I hope this doesn't put anyone out."
"Hey, at least people are bothering to come to yours." Jason punched Tommy playfully on the shoulder.
Emily took Kim's hand, "The union of two people in love isn't something you can get sick of."
"I know, but three weddings in a year. Even for us, that's pretty intense." Tommy picked up a discarded textbook and threw it onto his shelf in the corner of the room. He spoke, in addition to himself, of Jason and Emily, and the surprise of the group, Conner and Krista.
"If you ask me, I think there are some others that need to happen soon or I'm going to commit myself to the loony bin," Tanya Sloan kicked open the screen door and let herself in. She could barely stand the fact that so many of the rangers were in serious romantic relationships but were too afraid, or too unsure of their position to make the commitment. She felt that she'd done the responsible thing with Adam, realized that it just wasn't worth the heartache to dance around marriage any longer.
"Yeah," Aisha Campbell followed with her hands full of party favors. "At least we can finally scratch you two off the list."
Adam Park and Rocky DeSantos headed in through the back door and hooked up the strobe light they'd found for the reception.
"We're all so glad you guys could make it here to help us out with the final preparations. Things are so crazy right now. We have almost a hundred people on the guest list and it's just amazing."
"So, have we decided whether to save a seat for Billy's significant other this time around?"
They still had no idea if Billy Cranston's wife Cestria, or whatever she was, was attending with him.
"Last time I checked she was still on the list," Zack Taylor shouted from the back room of the house where he was making popcorn with his wife Angela. Their two-year-old twins Damien and Patrick were at their grandmother's house for the night. "Seems like they've got some new portable self-hydration devices there now."
Tommy kissed Kim's forehead. "Well, maybe this time things will actually work out the way we'd planned."
Jason smiled from his spot on the arm of the sofa. "Hey, if the rest of us could make marriage work, so can you."
Kimberly looked down at the carpeted floor suddenly and seemed lost in thought for a moment. "You guys think we'll finally all be the family we've wanted to be for so long?"
Aisha nodded. "Zordon told us the Power would always link and protect us. This is one of those times when we get to find out if that's true."
"I hope the church is ready when we get there..." Tommy groaned. "Last time I went to a wedding there the place wasn't ready..."
"Who's getting cold feet but the great Tommy Oliver himself!" Jason smirked. He loved seeing this side of Tommy, realizing that there really was something other than being late to class that could make Tommy an emotional roller coaster.
"Not cold feet, just nervous feet."
Kim smiled. "Aw, that's so sweet."
The door clicked open, and Billy made his way inside. "Got room for one more?" he asked, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the loads of food covering the counter spaces and the bodies all over the sofas.
Kim made her way to the door and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "It's so great to see you, Billy."
Tommy looked up from his newspaper that he'd been trying to focus on for the last three hours. "Hey, man. Glad you're here." He stood up just long enough to give his friend a hug before his legs gave out again.
"Looks like your suffering from a temporary acute peripheral neuropathy," Billy called as he pulled a soda out of the refrigerator.
"What?" Jason asked.
"Weakness of the legs," Tommy said humbly, realizing that after a doctorate in science, Billy's logic made a lot more sense.
"Hey, where's Trini?" Billy asked, noting that she was absent from the group.
"She said she's got to take some stuff to Los Angeles today with Rich and that she'll be back tonight," Kim replied.
Billy nodded. "Guess things are going okay with them, then?"
"I guess," Adam said. "I called her the other day and she said she still didn't know anything about a proposal. I can't tell if she's upset about that or if she's just ignoring it right now because of her new job and this whole shebang." The two of them had moved in together a few months ago after Richie's divorce.
"Speaking of okay, where's you know who?" Aisha asked, prodding Billy's chest with her index finger.
"Oh, Cestria?"
"Who else?"
"She'll be here eventually, don't worry. I'm not really sure when she's planning on making an appearance, you know how complicated things are..."
"Only as complicated as you make them, Billy," Jason said calmly.
"Well..."
"Billy, what the hell are you two doing?" Zack asked bluntly. "Half the time you're here on Earth teaching at the college like there's no other life for you and the next minute you've left the planet for a couple years."
"Cestria doesn't want to leave Aquitar, and I don't really want to stay."
"That's an issue, man," Jason pointed out.
"Don't tell me, tell that to her. I'm the one who jumps around all the time. She could come with me more if she wanted to. She just doesn't, and I'm not really sure why. Breathing isn't really an issue anymore, not with the hydrators I helped build."
"Maybe you ought to tell her how you feel," Emily suggested.
"Yeah, tell her she's being a queen bee and you want her to give you some leeway, Zack does that to me all the time," Angela said, kissing Zack.
Zack blushed a clear crimson despite his chocolate skin.
Billy didn't seem all that convinced.
"Aw, Billy, don't worry, you'll figure it out," Kim told him.
He smiled. "Yeah, sure I will." It was clear he wasn't happy at all. "Guys, I'd just like to say I'm really sorry I left for Aquitar that time without saying a proper goodbye. It was really dumb, I was really dumb."
"You're a lot of things, Billy, but dumb isn't one of them. You had to go, and you chose to stay for a good reason. We don't blame you for anything." Tanya gave him a hug.
"I've been meaning to ask," Billy said, quickly changing the subject, "Where's Kat?"
"She got a late flight, she probably won't make it until tomorrow just before the ceremony," Tommy told them. "I talked to her, she said that David had a case this morning so they couldn't fly out until noon."
Billy nodded. "How's her dance company?"
"Same-o same-o," Kim said. "Seems like it's doing fine."
"Oh."
Jason coughed. "Love the air all of the sudden, nice and awkward."
Tommy stood up. "Maybe we should all get out of here for a while. You know how crowded tiny houses can get."
Jason followed him to the door. "Yeah, I agree."
"Don't worry about Cestria, I'm sure she'll pull through," Adam whispered to Billy as they walked outside after the rest of the crew.
"Thanks Adam."
If Billy's expression was any indication, he didn't seem too convinced.
"Oh, wow," Aisha exclaimed. "It's the day of the wedding."
Kim sat up immediately from her seat at the picnic table in the park. "Oh, crap."
"Hey, calm down, its not like he can really see you anyway."
"There are streetlights, Aisha!" she said shrieking.
Tanya stood up and her and Aisha hustled Kim toward the car. Emily and Angela followed them, realizing that the bachelorette party, about a good five feet away from the bachelor's party, was over.
Jason, Zack, and Adam called goodnight to their wives from the other side of the cottonwood tree. Rocky said something in Aisha's direction, while Billy and Tommy sat in silence, lost to their incredibly complicated thoughts.
"Okay, you two look like a block of frozen ice. What's up with this? Tomorrow, well today, is supposed to be a happy day, not a 'mope because I think I'm going to die or get a divorce' day."
Billy snapped his head up. "God, I need another beer."
"Sorry man, all gone," Jason shook the empty case.
Tommy fidgeted with his earring. "I wonder what it will feel like up there."
"It feels absolutely amazing," Zack promised.
"Like your on top of the world," added Adam.
"Sometimes it feels like your going to die, then you realize you can't because she's so beautiful," Jason reassured.
"And at least you're wedding is going to be normal," Billy finished. He was reminded of the fishy shrills that served as the choir on Aquitar. He remembered Delphine's soprano like he remembered watching too many scary movies as a kid. Cestria had loved it though, getting to have fifty bridesmaids fix her black hair into an ebony waterfall.
"Feels like I'm gonna be the lone bachelor." Rocky punched Tommy on the shoulder. "You're gonna need to get me a girl for this one, Tommy."
"Yeah, well there's a nice one who just left that's been your friend for twenty years that seems like she'd qualify."
"Aisha?" Rocky balked. "I..."
"Like her a lot?" Jason observed.
"I mean I..."
Adam stifled a chuckle. "Gotta admit, you've always had a thing for her."
"Have not."
"Uhum," Zack said quietly. "Even I could see it when we first met you guys."
"I was fifteen years old!"
"Now you're thirty, what's the big deal?"
"That's completely mean, you guys."
"You know, it's amazing that a guy who runs a self defense studio can be so defensive. Rocko, my man, you know you love her, and I'll bet you a part of her is waiting for you to say something." Jason shrugged. "I'll bet you sixty bucks that by the end of the week I can get Emily to have Aisha tell her she cares about you. And not in the friend way."
Kimberly collapsed on her bed still in her shorts and red halter top. Aisha sat down beside her. "You gonna sleep in your clothes"
"Eh," Kim moaned.
Tanya and Emily stood at the door. "Kim?"
"I don't care," Kim moaned. "I'm beat."
Angela had brought the car up in the garage and met them inside. "Sleepover?"
"I haven't had a sleepover since Kim moved to Florida," Aisha said.
"Well?" Tanya asked.
"You girls can have Tommy's half of the bed."
"I don't think we'll all fit, honey," Angela observed.
"I'm gonna go make up the couches if someone wants to help," Emily said.
Tanya and Angela followed Emily out. "I'll give you some time to catch up," Tanya told Kim and Aisha.
Aisha rested her head on the pillow next to Kim. "I remember when you first came to live with me and my family. I was so happy that I nearly, just nearly, cleaned the house."
Kim smiled. "Yeah, that was really great of you to take me in after Mom moved."
"I guess we both ended up someplace scary at the end of that year." Aisha reflected on Kim's decision to train for the Pan Global Gymnastic Games and leave Angel Grove. Not much later, Aisha had made the same decision, to stay in Africa after finding her Zeo Subcrystal.
"I still can't believe you moved to Africa."
"I still can't believe you actually won Pan Global."
"Goodnight, Aisha."
"Goodnight, Kim."
Katherine Hillard made it off the plane at five in the morning, stumbling after her husband David, a lawyer from London.
"Hey, look, we bloody made it!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah, we did." Kat picked up her bag and headed for the terminal where she'd been promised someone would make it to pick them up.
The Angel Grove airstrip had been expanded dramatically since her first time flying in. She remembered it as if it had been yesterday.
"So where's this church?" David asked, taking her hand with his spare.
"You remember the street where the Youth Center and the school are, right?"
"Sure."
"We'll it's right there."
"Oh, the big fancy one with the pinnacles?"
"Yep, that would be the one."
"They've really outdone themselves."
"They have a big guest list," Kat said, laughing. She was happy that she had chosen a small family wedding and not invited everyone.
Kat recognized the blue Toyota Corolla that Jason had driven the year before at the school reunion. "Wow, Tommy actually sent his best man to get us."
Jason honked a greeting their way and rolled down the window. "Hey!"
"Hey yourself, Jase."
Kat climbed in the front seat, and David took the back with their suitcases.
"I'm probably going to have to drop you off at the motel and head over to the church," Jason told her. "Sorry, this was sort of last minute."
She noticed his spiffy tuxedo and nodded. "I can tell. How's Em?"
"She's great, got some new clothes coming out this winter."
"And you?"
"Still working as a paramedic, not a whole lot of news. What about you?"
"Dancing, love it."
"Dave?"
"Oh, just got a big new case, very excited, thanks."
Jason drove up to the Angel Grove Inn, the nicest place to stay in the whole city.
"Tommy and Kim got us rooms at the Angel Grove Inn?" Kat was stunned. She knew that the fare for one night alone was enough to make her purse itch in protest.
"Yeah, poor bastard's gonna be flat broke soon at the rate those two have been going through her gymnastics money and his crappy salary at the high school."
David helped Jason grab their bags from the trunk.
"Thanks, Jason. I'll see you later," Kat gave him a quick hug and he dashed back into the car and off up Johnson Blvd. to Frank Avenue.
Kat headed off to the front desk and grabbed their key cards. "Okay, we've got an hour and a half to get ready before we have to head over to the church."
By the time Kira Ford and Trent Fernandez-Mercer made it down the stairs from their suite at the Inn, a limousine was already waiting outside. Kira fixed the trail of her knee length yellow and black halter dress and ran her fingers through her crimped hair. Trent fixed the collar of his shirt in a similar fashion. For some undisclosed reason, they were both exceptionally anal about looking good for Tommy's wedding. Maybe it was the fact that he used to be their teacher, that he hadn't been their teacher for a long while, that made them feel somewhat nervous.
Conner McKnight and his wife, Krista followed them outside, Conner leading Krista in her red halter that went mid-calf on one side and full length on the other. "How do we look?" Conner asked, showing off his new suit. "Do I still look like a soccer jock?"
"No, you look very nice," Kira said, despite wanting to yell, You'll always be a soccer jock.
Krista smiled. "I feel so weird, being invited to Doctor O's wedding... I mean Tommy..."
Conner smiled. "Hey, this is the least weird of all the events we'll ever have, so count your blessings, Kris." He leaned in an gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
"Where's Ethan?" Trent asked, noticing the empty fourth slot in their habitual square.
"Holy freaking cow!" Ethan James exclaimed, seeing the limo for the first time. "Where'd Doc get the dough?"
"I might have had something to do with it."
Ethan turned, to see Wesley Collins walking down the path toward them.
"Oh, and there should be three of them..." Wes made his way past them and began to talk to the driver.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "I can't believe this..."
"Good morning, guys," Kat called, coming down with David. "What time did you arrive?"
"Last night," Kira told her. "This place was a zoo. You'd think the Pope was here or something."
"Hey, I don't know if I like to be compared with hairy zoo animals."
Kira saw Dustin Brooks walking their way with Kelly Holloway, the girl who ran Storm Chargers, the Blue Bay Harbor local motocross shop, that she could barely get the men away from when the visited.
"How about unhairy animals?" Conner suggested.
"Very funny guys," Tori Hanson said smugly, tugging Blake Bradley's hand along behind her. She was wearing a white and light blue two piece dress that left a nice amount of skin at her midriff and accentuated her surfer's body.
Shane Clarke and Cam Watanabe were helping Hunter Bradley, Blake's adoptive brother, with his tie, some way back.
David left to go help them, being the most tie-savvy of the group.
It was rather awkward standing on the sidewalk waiting for the limos to accept them in their formal attire, especially when they all felt somewhat out of place without their hokey spandex suits and comfy sneakers, attire that usually accompanied such group activity.
Wes reemerged a few minutes later, telling the assembling group that the limos were on their way, and that they would all be headed to the church soon.
More than half of the guests were still unaccounted for, either being inside, or still not in the city.
Wes's cell phone rang and he stepped aside to answer it. The number was unlisted. "Hello?" he asked, expecting a prank call. That wasn't at all unheard of now that he was CEO of BioLab.
"Look across the street," the voice called.
He placed the voice immediately and looked up. He was madly tempted to run out amongst the cars and greet her, hug her, kiss her so passionately that it would make his blood tingle.
"Jen," he whispered.
"Wesley."
"You look beautiful." She was standing parallel to him, her dress of silver sequins reflecting in the light. Her brown hair ran the length of her back in a braided twist. She had a duffel bag over one shoulder, as did the others. Lucas Kendall wore a tight-fitting blue dress shirt and black slacks, Trip Regis wore a brown suit. Katie Walker was elegant in a light purple thigh length dress that had over the shoulder sleeves.
Jen began walking across the street as soon as the nearest stoplight turned red and the traffic stopped. She made her way into his arms immediately, kissing him briefly. "I missed you as always."
He smiled at her. "I'm so glad you're all here."
"Good to see you all," Eric Myers added, coming outside. "It's been a while."
Katie gave Eric a quick hug. "Are you still dating Taylor?"
"Who, me, date that creep?" Taylor Earhardt laughed, coming outside. She wore her hair in a French braid and barrettes in her hair matching her blue dress. "Of course, Katie."
Eric wrapped his arm around Taylor's waist, in a reserved kind of way, knowing that it was complicated for either of them to show any real emotion in public. He was, well, Eric, and she was Taylor, always the military woman with the dark secrets as to why she'd always been slightly angry.
Alyssa Enrile stepped out into the sun, dazzling in her white dress and sun hat. Danny Delgado and Max Cooper followed her, testing the newest game on Max's PSP.
Kat looked over at them and silently reproached their immaturity.
Kendall, Danny's longtime crush but only recent live-in girlfriend, followed a distance behind Danny.
Cole Evans and Merrick Baliton came out after them, each feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sheer mass of faces they knew but didn't quite know. It was difficult to get to know anyone on personal level because of the lack of time before the wedding, and eventually everyone ended up in an awkward silence.
Finally, the limos appeared, as did several other stragglers, including the group from off-world; Leo Corbett and Kendrix Morgan came into the group, each looking calm despite the long teleport. Kai Chen and Damon Henderson stayed in the shade talking with Maya Zephyr and her close friends, Cole and Merrick. Mike Corbett made his way to Wes's side, realizing, that of everyone, he seemed to know best what was happening.
"Hey, Mike," Wes said, as the older Corbett brother came up beside him. He'd grown a goatee since Wes had last seen him in passing a few years prior.
"Hey, so what's the deal?"
"We're waiting around for all the sleepyheads so we can head over to the church."
"So he thinks the church is big enough?"
"It is, I checked myself earlier this morning. The place is freaking huge."
"What about the non-affiliated guests?"
"You mean those who don't know?"
"Yeah."
"To my knowledge there aren't any other than Ernie, and he won't be coming to the reception, something about a family thing in South Carolina. Elsa Randall knows, Anton Mercer knows, Bulk and Skull know, God save us. Honestly, I don't think they invited anyone else that isn't married to or seriously dating a ranger."
"No immediate family?"
"Kim's mom died in a car accident a while back. Her dad and brother can't make it. Tommy's half-brother David Trueheart also passed away a couple of years ago. I'm not sure what happened to his parents."
"Wow, and I thought Leo and I had a mess."
"Join the club," Wes said bitterly, realizing that his own parents wouldn't be coming to his wedding, if he ever married. His mother had died when he was young, and his father had just passed away a year and a half ago. Since then, he'd inherited the heavy burden of owning BioLab.
"Don't bring up old pain, Wes," Jen whispered into his ear. "Remember them, but don't carry them." She kissed his cheekbone just below the ear.
Wes looked over at Eric, who was showing off pictures of his new office before turning back to looking at the empty doorway. "Where are those guys?"
"Who are we waiting for?" Kat interjected.
"Apparently Nick's group is here, or at least they're supposed to be."
"Saw them last night!" somebody called from the formal clad crowd.
"Does somebody want to venture in and get them before we're late?"
"I'll go," Alyssa volunteered, heading inside and reappearing a few minutes later with Madison and Vida Rocca.
"Where are the guys?" Cole asked.
"Why don't you ask Nick?" Madison said, her eyes misty.
"Just don't worry about it, we're having some issues." Vida wheeled her sister around and began walking away.
Nick, Xander, and Chip showed up a few minutes later. "Girls," Xander said as loudly as he could.
"Grow up Xander, Bowen," Daggeron chided, following them out. "We don't need any of this today."
"It's Nick," Nick Russell replied bitterly.
"Hey, guys, this wedding is important to a lot of people here," Kat said sharply.
"Tell that to Mr. Mopey here," Xander Bly said to his fellow Aussie, "and his girl."
"Back off, Xander!" Nick shouted, his eyes blaring red for a moment.
Chip Thorn stayed clear of the verbal melee, telling himself it was better not to get involved.
"Okay, I think we can head over now," Wes called. "I want twelve people per limousine and be generous- no hogging half the seat!"
Jen liked this new, commandeering Wes. "Maybe the company has helped make you stronger than you think."
He rolled his eyes. "I swear, I'm this close..."
Jen worked her fingers around his shoulders. "Don't worry about it, Wes, they can handle themselves."
Kat shook her head, unsure. "The reception is going to be...interesting."
"I need the groomsmen to the front!" called the wedding coordinator.
"That's me," Jason told Emily, standing up and heading to the stairs at the front of the church. Billy, Adam, Rocky, and Zack followed.
"Wow, its gonna be fancy up there!" TJ Johnson called from the doorway, letting himself into his designated second pew. Cassie Chan followed him, careful not to slip on her heels and slice the bottom of her new dress.
Carlos Vallerte smiled up at Justin, who was following him. "One of the big men now,eh!"
Justin threw a thumbs up at him as he entered the pew, where he could now sit without looking like a shrimp.
Ashley Hammond and Andros filed in the pew next, taking in the severity of the church compared to the smallish humble place where they'd said "I do" in a few years earlier, at least on Earth.
Karone and Zhane nodded, realizing exactly what was going through their heads. "This place is pretty big."
"Largest church in Angel Grove," the pianist said quietly. "You guys from around here?"
"Um, not really," Zhane said, not at all sure he wanted to bring up the fact that KO-35 wasn't a military compound on Earth, like most people thought when it accidentally slipped out.
A woman in a pressed black suit came over to them and made them verify their names for the guest book.
"Zhane, with a Zh..."
"Last name, sir."
Zhane shot a glare at Andros.
"What'd you put on your driver's license?" Andros whispered.
"Nimmo?"
Karone kicked his foot.
"Zhane Nimmo, ma'am."
"And you miss?" she asked.
"Karone, I'm his wife."
"Same name?"
"I actually didn't change it, so I guess it's..."
"Crap," she whispered to Andros. "What's your last name?"
"Khayman," he said quietly.
"Like the Islands? No? Fine, got y'all, enjoy the ceremony." The woman walked away, clearly disturbed by the antics that had followed her simple task.
Ashley smiled at them. "You guys really need to work on that one."
"Well, we never use the names," Zhane said.
"Oh, my God," Cassie said suddenly. "Isn't that Miss Applebee from school over by the piano."
TJ looked over. "Yeah, the English teacher."
Emily turned around to look at them and winked. "She had the easiest class in the world."
A large man and a smaller man walked in and stopped at the door. The woman with the guest book came over immediately. "Names, please, sirs."
"Farkas Bulkmeier."
"Eugene Skullovich."
"Right, your first row on the end right next to Mrs. Scott."
Bulk and Skull nodded and headed over.
"We bought sixteen pies for the reception, just like Tommy told us," Skull said to Emily.
"That's great Skull."
Richie, Trini's boyfriend smiled over at them. "Sixteen pies?"
"Bulk eats a lot of pie, and there are a lot of people."
"Sure," David said, taking in Bulk's size.
Angela looked over at Bulk and Skull, and tried her hardest not to break out laughing right in the church.
A continuous clack told them that everyone else was starting to trickle inside.
"I hope Kat made it on time to do her thing," David said.
"Bridesmaids!" the coordinator called.
Kat, Aisha, Tanya, and Trini appeared in their matching dresses on the stairs parallel to the men.
"Okay, match up and head over to the curtain."
Jason stepped back and let the others form three four pairs.
"Best man, you'll be standing on the top step with the bride and groom."
Jason followed them out just as Pachelbel Canon in D began on the piano.
The other guests began pouring in, much to the dismay of the guest book lady who had to stop the single file line and tell everyone where to sit.
"Name?"
"Carter Grayson," "Row three right"
"Dana Mitchell," "Right next to Mr. Grayson, please."
Dana and Carter walked together toward the pew to sit behind Leo and Kendrix.
"Chad Lee and Marina," "Joel Rawlings, Angela Fairweather," "Ryan Mitchell, Kelsey Winslow."
By the time everyone was seated, they'd been waiting for almost half an hour. The last people seated were Andrew and Mack Hartford and the rest of the Overdrive team, along with Cestria, who appeared just before the ceremony and sat with Karone.
"Please rise," the officiator called, taking his place on the top stair.
The audience was surprised to hear a choir up above singing a few notes.
"Enter procession."
Pachelbel turned into Wedding March and the first person out on the floor was Tommy walking with Jason, who was leading Zack's twins and Joel's little girl as ring bearers and flower-girl.
Zack followed with Trini on his arm. Then Billy and Kat, Rocky and Aisha, lastly followed by Adam and Tanya.
The procession stopped and turned. No one knew who was walking Kim, and it had been a widely held debate all morning.
Kimberly started walking toward them, her white dress perfectly fitting her body. She was being walked by her father, whom everyone thought wasn't going to make it to the ceremony at all.
He let go of Kim's hand at the end of the aisle and walked off to the back and sat next to Max, who had an open seat next to him that no one had been able to figure out.
"We are gathered here today this 15th day of June to join Thomas Oliver and Kimberly Ann Hart in holy matrimony. Are there any here who would speak against this union?"
Please don't let someone walk through those doors and tell us Angel Grove has been attacked.
"As it is willed, so shall it be. Thomas Oliver do you take this woman, Kimberly, to be your wife, to love and to hold forever?"
"I do," he said, feeling more nervous in that moment than ever.
"And do you Kimberly Hart take this man, Tommy, to be your husband?"
"I do," Kim said clearly, holding his hand tighter.
"The groom would like to say a few words to his new bride."
Tommy looked at Kimberly, into her blue eyes, and felt the nervousness melt away. "I first met you in Angel Grove in 1993. Of all the people I met on my first day here, you were the kindest, the most beautiful in soul and body. I dreamed I'd marry you then, and of course the world had other plans. But I'm here today, Kim. We've made it through so much together, and I honestly believe I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for your love and support." He slipped the ring on her finger, and she slipped on his.
"You may kiss your bride."
Tommy smiled. "You give me hope, Kim."
He lifted her veil and kissed her until the songs changed and the choir rose up with a song that no one could place, but sent chills down their spines.
"In holy matrimony are thee wed." The priest finalized.
"Reception to follow at Angel Grove Park in one hour," someone said over the intercom in a booming voice. "Please exit in a timely manner."
"Isn't it beautiful, Mack?" Andrew asked.
"My first wedding," he realized, although he still remembered a cousin's wedding when he was a boy that hadn't really existed.
"Yes, your first wedding."
Andrew realized a tear was rising in his son's eye.
Rose leaned over and gave Mack a hug. "Someday a wonderful girl will kiss you like that."
"Yeah, and it doesn't take a ranger to know that somebody is gonna get someone really special," Ronny added.
Mack smiled, feeling in that moment incredibly human, like he'd always been.