PART THREE

THE RECEPTION

Vince McMahon smiled proudly as he entered the catering hall that he had so carefully chosen as the site of Britney and Adam's reception.  The hall was enormous, and beautifully decorated.  Thankfully, the agency he had hired had appeared to set everything up exactly as his daughter and niece had explained it to him.  In fact, it looked pretty damn perfect.  It better be perfect, he said to himself, thinking of the over 400,000 dollars he coughed up for the event.  It wasn't that he didn't have the money, but if he was going to spend it, he wanted everything to be set up the right way.

"It looks fabulous," a woman's voice commented.  Vince turned, grinning as he looked down at his wife Linda.  The two of them were certainly a more civilized couple than they appeared to be on television.

"It does," Vince agreed, nodding his head.  "It really does."

About twenty minutes later, all the guests, as well as all the people in the wedding party, had arrived.  There was a large buffet set out for everyone, and after all the people had settled down with their food, Jay stood.  He made a motion to the DJ, who brought a microphone over to him.  He smiled as he cleared his throat and looked out into the crowd of people.

"Excuse me," he spoke loudly into the mic.  Everyone quieted down, looking up at him.  "As the best man… and because I'm such a nice guy, I'd like to take a few minutes to make a little toast.  Adam," he said, turning to the groom.  "You are the true definition of a best friend.  We've literally been through everything together, and I wouldn't take any of it back for anything.  I don't want to wish you guys luck because I know you don't need it.  You really are an amazing person, and I love you for all you've done…"

"*Way* too much information there pal!" Chris interrupted suddenly, causing everyone in the room to burst out in laughter.  Jessica, who was sitting next to him, turned a deep shade of purple as she smacked her husband on the back of the head.  Chris rubbed the back of his head, shutting up immediately.

"If I could finish without an interruption," Jay continued on, shaking his head.  "I'm incredibly happy for both of you.  Britney, even though you're officially a Copeland now, you will always be my Ms. McMahon."  He paused and winked down at Britney, who in turn sent him a warm grin.  "You better take care of him… you know how useless he is without you.  Um… I guess that's it, so congratulations guys!" he concluded, raising his glass to everyone.  They all cheered, raising their glasses in a toast to the newly married couple.

A little while later, it was time for the first dance.  Everyone hushed down as the lights dimmed and Britney and Adam took their spot in the middle of the dance floor.  He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in close as their song, 'I'll Be' by Edwin McCain.  At first, Britney didn't want to choose that song because it was an incredibly common wedding song and she wanted to be different, but in the end she chose it anyway because it was a great song, and it fit their relationship to a T.  After that song was over, they welcomed everyone onto the floor, but they didn't separate, staying wrapped up for the next song as well.  As the song played loudly through the hall, Adam looked down at his new wife, smiling as he spoke to her.

"So… what do you think?" he asked her.

"What do you mean what do I think?" she asked, sending him a curious and confused look.  Shaking his head, Adam laughed.

"What do you think of… of everything?"

"I think… I think I feel amazing.  I think I've never been so happy in my entire life, and I think that I don't want today to ever end," she said, smiling up at him genuinely.  Adam's grin widened.  Just as he was about to lower his head to kiss her, someone tapped him on the shoulder.  He turned around and Britney looked with him, seeing Jay and Stephanie standing next to each other.

"I'll trade my McMahon for your McMahon," Jay said, nudging Stephanie forward playfully.

"Fine, but I want mine back soon," Adam insisted, handing Britney over to him.  Jay laughed, nodding his head.

"Good, I don't want to keep her anyway.  Besides, I like my McMahon," he said, laughing again as Britney sent him an offended look.  "What?  You know I love you too."  She smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck as Stephanie stepped to the side with Adam and did the same.

"So," Jay continued.  "Do you feel Copelandized yet?"  Britney cracked up at Jay's new vocabulary.

"Copelandized?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Yes, Copelandized… it's in the dictionary.  It means, 'one who has been turned into or has been given the qualities of a Copeland.  Look it up when you get home," he suggested.

"You're too much Jay, you really are," Britney said, shaking her head.  She looked away from him, her eyes scanning the floor so she could see who was out there.  Adam was a few feet away from them, dancing and laughing with Stephanie, Nicole with Jeff, Matt with Amy, Vince with Linda, Shane with Marissa… and Chris with Rob.  Britney shook her head as he got Jay's attention and pointed over at the two.  All you had to do was get a few drinks in those two and they loved just about everybody.  The two of them were singing away as they danced… for two people who drank on a more regular basis than the rest of the wrestlers they sure couldn't hold their liquor.

After that song ended, Britney and Jay separated, and Britney began making her way around to the tables, talking with everyone and thanking them for coming.  She spent awhile at the table Nicole's family was sitting at… that had been like a second, well… a third home to her when she was younger, so it was great to see all of them again.  She spent some time with Adam and Jay's families, who were sitting at one huge table, before talking with the table Mark was sitting at with Karen, Kurt, Sara, Rob, Vince, and Linda.  She thanked Sara and Mark again for the necklace they had gotten her, and then she made her way back to the dance floor, where she remained for the rest of the night.  She and Stephanie always used to dance around Vince's house when they were younger, so the two of them were the last ones to leave the floor that night.  By the time Britney and Adam got home, she was exhausted.  She was glad that she had packed for their honeymoon, which they were leaving for the next morning, the day before.  As soon as she got to the bedroom, Britney passed out on the bed.  Adam shook his head, laughing as he moved her over so that she was actually laying down.  He didn't bother waking her… there would plenty of time for fun during the next week.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Stephanie sighed as she lay awake in bed.  It was really late… it had to be almost 3:30 in the morning.  She turned slightly to her side, looking at Jay as he breathed deeply.  He had fallen asleep almost immediately after returning home.  Stephanie was tired, but for some reason, she just couldn't sleep.  She was deep in thought about the night.  For some reason, she was feeling a little upset.  It wasn't that she didn't have fun… she had an amazing time, but it was just that.  The wedding and the reception was so much fun, and Britney and Adam looked so happy and so in love… she wanted to know when it would be her turn.  Seriously, the more the brunette thought about it, the more she wondered why she and Jay weren't married yet.  They had been together way longer than Britney and Adam had, so why was it that they got married first?  It wasn't that Stephanie was in a rush to wed Jay, but in all honesty… they had been together for over three years.  She thought wistfully back to the conversation she had with her boyfriend earlier in the night.

"What's wrong Steph?" Jay asked, sitting down in the chair next to his girlfriend.  She didn't look to be very happy, and he wanted to know why.  One minute she was out on the dance floor with Britney and Nicole, the next she was sitting at a table alone in the back of the room.

"Nothing Jay," Stephanie replied distractedly.

"Bullshit," he shot back.  "Come on babe, what's going on?  Why did you sit down?"  His eyes softened when she looked up at him.

"I'm really fine Jay, I'm just tired," she insisted.

"Are you sure?" he asked, wanting to be totally sure she was okay before he left her.

"I'm sure.  I just… I wanted to sit back and watch the wedding… it's been such an amazing day," she admitted.  Jay raised an eyebrow at her comment, but shrugged it off.

"It has been amazing.  It was an awesome wedding," Jay agreed, nodding.

"I can't wait for our wedding day," she said, her mind drifting to her own fairy tale wedding, one that matched Britney's perfect day.

"We aren't getting married," Jay said jokingly, patting her on the shoulder.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Stephanie cried, shooting him a look.

"Steph, chill, I was kidding!  I just don't think we need to get married now, that's all," he said honestly, shrugging.  He didn't see what the big deal was about what he'd said.  He was only kidding.  Stephanie didn't seem to be amused by him.  She shook her head, standing and walking away from the table, leaving Jay behind to sigh after her.

Back in her bed, Stephanie sighed as well.  When *would* Jay crack and ask her to marry him?  She hated the way he said, "I don't think we need to get married now."  What the hell was that supposed to mean?  Didn't he *want* to marry her?  She felt tears pressing at her eyes, but she pushed them back… she refused to let herself cry over this.  But if Jay didn't do something about their relationship soon, she wasn't sure if she could stay around.

Next chapter!  LOL, I'm starting my drama now.  You know I can't go long without it!!!  Let me know what you think!!