It was the day of the wedding. Maggey had traipsed off to the bathroom after realising she'd forgotten to shave her left leg; Maya and Franziska, her two bridesmaids, were doing their hair. It was a typical grey day and the rain was lashing against the windows of Maggey's cramped bedroom.

"Maya Fey," Franziska announced, "May I ask you a question?"

"Huh? Oh, um, OK…" said Maya, not really sure what Franziska wanted to ask her in such a formal tone.

"Are you pregnant?"

"WHAAAT!" Maya gasped, her mouth hanging open, "H-how do you know?"

Franziska smiled triumphantly, happy that she was correct. "You have a bump," she said simply.

"No I don't!" said Maya, "I'm only a month gone, it's not long enough for me to be showing yet!"

"Then what is that?" Franziska asked, pointing to Maya's stomach, which was a bit flabby.

"Um… well, that's been there for a while, actually," Maya admitted, "I think all the burgers are starting to pile up…"

"Oh." Franziska frowned. "So, you are pregnant, but you do not have a bump?"

"Yeah, pretty much," said Maya, "I guess there's no point hiding it if everyone's gonna mistake my fat for a baby…"

Maggey burst back into the room, knocking over the hanger containing her wedding dress.

"Oh no!" she gasped, "My dress! It'll be all crumpled now!" She burst into tears.

Franziska bent down and awkwardly picked it up with her unbroken arm. She hated having to wear a stupid cast and couldn't wait to take it off.

"Here you are, Maggey Byrde," she said, "It appears to be unharmed."

Maggey took the dress, checking it from all angles. "You're right, it's fine! Phew!" She smiled before looking glumly at the window. "Still, I wish the weather would pick up a bit. Trust me to pick the worst day of the year for my wedding day!"

"Bad weather or not, it can still be the best day of your life," said Maya firmly, "Come on, put your dress on." She flashed a meaningful glare at Franziska which clearly said 'don't tell Maggey I'm pregnant'. Franziska looked a bit shifty.

Maggey clambered into her dress, falling over twice in the process. Finally it was all zipped up.

"You look great, Maggey!" said Maya.

"I have to admit, you look considerably less foolish than usual." This was a pretty good compliment, coming from Franziska von Karma.

"Aw, thanks guys!" said Maggey, "I can't believe I'm getting married today! I might just start crying again-"

"No no no!" Maya said quickly. "You'll ruin your makeup!"

The three of them heard the ringing of the doorbell; Maggey's Dad had arrived with the limo to take her to the wedding. They rushed to the door.

"Hey, Magpie!" said Keith, Maggey's Dad, "You look gorgeous, sweetie!"

"Thank you Daddy!" said Maggey, giving him a huge hug.

"Maggey, watch your hair!" said Maya, "You'll squash all the curls!"

Maggey quickly stepped back and brushed her hair down. "Do I look alright still?"

"You look fine," Franziska reassured her. The limo driver beeped the horn, telling them to hurry up.

"Woowee, look at that car!" said Maya, "I feel just like a movie star getting into this!" Even though she'd been feeling pretty down ever since finding out she was pregnant, she just couldn't help but be exciting about getting into the huge white limousine.

Inside it was even more luxurious. There was a gigantic flat screen TV across the back of the front seats and a drinks cabinet containing a bottle of wine.

"Why don't we have a drink?" said Keith, "Just for luck!" Maggey nodded excitedly as he got out the bottle of wine. "Not that I condone you drinking of course, Maggey!" He poured out a glass for himself and his daughter.

"Might I have a glass?" said Franziska.

"Sure, here you go," he said, pouring out a third glass, "How about you?" He waved the bottle towards Maya.

"Um… no thanks…"

"But Maya, you love drinking!" said Maggey, "Remember that time when we went to the Blue Bar? You're the queen of the cocktails!"

Maya tried to repress the memory of the drinking contest with Larry; that was how she'd eventually ended up pregnant, after all. And she was pretty sure pregnant women weren't supposed to drink…

"I… um… I don't think I'll drink for a while…!" she said, blushing, "I… want to take a break after getting so drunk last time!"

"Oh my god! Franziska was right, you ARE pregnant!" said Maggey.

"FRANZISKA!" Maya screeched, "No one is supposed to know yet!"

Franziska and Maggey looked at each other guiltily.

"Sorry Maya," said Maggey, "We just, you know, kind of were talking about it while you were getting our shoes from the hallway earlier…"

"You were gossiping about me behind my back! Thanks a lot." Maya crossed her arms and slumped back in her seat.

There was an awkward silence.

"Well, congratulations, I guess," said Keith.

"Dad! You're not making things any better," said Maggey. Maya just pouted.

"Ah, we're at the church," said Franziska, who had been staring out of the window trying to avoid looking at Maya's furious face.

They all got out and Keith opened an umbrella to protect Maggey's intricately styled hair and dress. Unfortunately Maya and Franziska were left to get drenched by the heavy downpour of rain.

"Are you cold, Maya Fey?" asked Franziska.

"Don't try and talk to me," she replied, "You know I'm annoyed with you."

"Well, wouldn't you have done the same if you thought I was pregnant?"

Maya opened her mouth to speak, and then suddenly remembered what she'd told Phoenix the previous day; she really hoped he'd forgotten and didn't mention anything to Franziska.

"Look, can we please make friends again, just for today?" Maggey pleaded, "I just want everything to run smoothly for once!"

"OK, fine, I forgive you two," said Maya, "On one condition. Don't tell anyone!"

"Alright, I promise," said Maggey, "And I was wondering-"

Maya interrupted her. "If you want to know who the father is, I'm not telling you."

Maggey and Franziska glanced at each other.

"Phoenix," they said simultaneously.

Maya wanted to yell at them, but they had already reached the church.

There was wedding music playing from the huge organ at the back wall; it was a big old church with a fancy stone ceiling and stained glass windows, and even on this gloomy day it looked spectacular. Across one wall was a vast tapestry depicting a scene from the bible, and everyone was sat in traditional wooden pews. At the altar was a vicar dressed in a crisp white robe, with Gumshoe who was wearing his best suit and actually looked like he'd made an effort… even if he'd accidentally pinned on his buttonhole flower upside-down.

Everyone gasped in awe as they walked slowly down the aisle, Maggey holding her father's arm. Maya momentarily forgot her annoyance with Franziska and they smiled shyly at each other, embarrassed by all the eyes staring at them. Finally they reached the altar and the bridesmaids sat down in their reserved seats at the front.

Keith kissed Maggey quickly on the cheek and she went to stand with Gumshoe; they gazed lovingly into each others' eyes, and Maya felt a little jealous, although she wasn't really sure why.

The wedding service was just getting started when Maya heard her name being called.

"Psst! Maya!" She turned around to see Larry, sat next to Phoenix a few rows behind. She gave them a little wave.

"You look cute!" Larry whispered, pointing to her blue bridesmaid dress.

"Ok!" she mouthed silently. Larry didn't seem to understand.

"I said, you look cute!" he whispered, louder this time and pointing forcefully at her outfit.

Maya didn't want to disrupt the service by whispering back so she gave him a thumbs up instead to show she'd understood what he'd said. Larry seemed to misinterpret it and winked at her, giving her two thumbs up.

She turned back to the front, not really keen to strike up a conversation with Larry in the middle of Maggey's wedding.

"Oi! Maya!" he hissed again. Frustrated, she turned around. She glared and put a finger over her lips.

"Nick says hi!" he said, practically talking at a normal volume now.

Maya shook her head in exasperation.

"I said, NICK SAYS HI-"

"Could you please be quiet?" said a plump elderly woman in the row between them.

Maggey and Gumshoe turned to see what the commotion was. The vicar paused in his speech. They were all looked directly at Maya.

"Anything the matter…?" said the vicar.

"No, no, it's all fine!" said Maya, blushing.

"Alright, let's continue then…"

Maggey gave Maya a puzzled look before turning back to face Gumshoe.

Larry tried to communicate with her three more times during the wedding; fortunately it was soon all over. Everyone burst into applause as Maggey and Gumshoe kissed and made their way to walk down the aisle together.

It was then that disaster struck. As Maggey was descending the steps at the side of the raised platform at the front of the church, the heel of her shoe got caught on the edge of the fragile medieval tapestry. Within seconds it had tumbled down from its ancient railing on the ceiling and collapsed over half the congregation.

"Oh no!" Maggey gasped, "I killed half our wedding guests!"

"That was our most prized church relic!" cried the vicar.

Muffled screams and cries erupted from beneath the dusty tapestry.

"Help meeeeeeee!"

"What eez zis? A tablecloth 'az fallen on moi!"

"Somebody knocked over my coffee!"

The other half of the church had got up to try and help; Maya managed to find Pearl, Phoenix, and Larry, who couldn't stop laughing.

"Man, I'm glad we sat on the left hand side of the church!" said Larry.

"Those poor people!" said Pearl, "Mystic Maya, let's rescue them!"

Meanwhile Detective Gumshoe was dragging Maggey out of the door.

"Let's get out of here before we get in trouble for this, pal!"

Maya and Franziska hurried after them, only to see them driving off in the minbus they'd hired.

"Um… wasn't that minibus supposed to be taking us to the reception?" said Maya.

"Yes," said Franziska, "It was."