A/N: So by majority vote, here is the first part of "A wedding in Three Acts". I jsut want to say that in rewatching episodes, Derek is a snarky conivving bastard but somehow I love him all the more because of it. And Bobby has become my third favorite character. Enjoy.


ACT 1: Of Invitations and Explanations

Bobby whistled show tunes as he got his mail. He didn't have to be at the theater until noon today which made it a good day in his book. The mail was the usual assortment of bills and stupid flyers. Bobby frowned as he came to a black envelope with silver lettering. For a second he thought it had been delivered to the wrong place but another glance told him it was definitely his address on the envelope. With a shrug, he idly wondered who would go to the expense to write him as he ran a letter opener through the top.

He pulled out the damask bordered paper and scanned the contents. Bobby was intensely thankful that he wasn't drinking anything as the message sunk in. Reading it over twice more to be sure he got the message right, he could only utter one thing. "Oh my god."

Bobby dropped the letter and ran to his phone. Bobby had to tell Jessica and the others about this.

"Morning," a smooth voice greeted.

"Morning," Tom smiled as he strolled into the kitchen. "Coffee ready?"

"Just finished," Sam nodded. "Mail's here too."

"Oh joy, mail," Tom muttered with a roll of his eyes. He poured himself some coffee before flipping through the stack. "Let's see…bill, flyer, bill, politics, bill, bill…oooh."

"Ooh?" Same repeated. "What's ooh?"

"This is ooh." Tom held up a black envelope with silver calligraphy.

"That is fancy," Sam whistled. "Open it up and see who it's from."

Tom began to choke on his coffee as he read the message. Sam pounded him on the back several times before Tom could speak again. "Oh my god," Tom said. "Oh…oh my god."

"What do you mean 'oh my god'?" Sam asked. Tom just passed him the letter. "Oh my god," Sam agreed. Tom just nodded dumbly.

"I need to call Julia," Tom finally declared. Sam handed him the phone, still staring at the card.

Lyle smiled at the sky as he sipped his morning coffee. He knew he had a million things to do today but this was one of his rare quiet moments. Lyle liked to center himself before entering the chaos that was his life every waking moment. His maid came in to get his bed clothes and deliver the paper. "The mail is downstairs," she told him.

"Thanks, Ella."

Lyle jogged downstairs where breakfast was waiting for him. He frowned as he saw a black envelope in the mail pile. The only mail that was delivered straight to his house was usually from his agent. This looked far too fancy for something like that. Lyle studied the writing for a few moments before breaking the silver seal on the back.

He had to read the message several times before it really sunk in. "Oh my god."

When Ivy got to rehearsal that day, the entire room was buzzing. There was always conversations going on in the background but today everyone seemed to be talking about the same thing. People flitted from group to group, learning and sharing all sort of information. Ivy noticed a lot of black envelopes swirling about too. She was dying to know what the connection was.

She drew up to where Bobby, Jessica and Dennis were talking. "I heard that he made her take the part," Bobby said. "He gets jealous when she kisses other men."

"I heard different," Dennis objected. "From what I heard she got the part on her own. She though it was very New York and bullied him into accepting everything that came with it."

Jessica snorted. "She did not. No one could ever bully that man into anything. Especially not a woman."

"We also thought a woman could never do this," Bobby countered, brandishing his black envelope. "But everyone here has the proof."

"Proof of what?" Ivy asked. "What's got everyone so hot under the collar?" She tried to make a joke of it. "Did aliens finally land in New York?"

"More like body snatchers," Bobby commented.

Jessica smacked him. "Haven't you heard, Ivy?"

"Heard what?"

"They probably didn't want to make things awkward," Dennis sighed.

"Will someone please tell me what is going on?" Ivy demanded.

"Just…don't shoot the messenger," Jessica told her, pulling out another black envelope.

Ivy took it with trembling fingers. Something inside said she did not want to see what was in the envelope. But her curiosity was eating at her. What did everyone else know that she didn't? She drew out a piece of thick cream paper with a black damask border. Elegant writing said 'You are cordially invited to the wedding of Derek Wills and Karen Cartwright'. The words kept going, naming dates and times but Ivy was focused on just one phrase. The wedding of Derek and Karen. "Oh my god."

"Oh, you guys got one too." Sam dropped his stuff pulled out his own black envelop. "These came for Tom and I this morning."

"I thought Tom and Derek hated each other," Bobby frowned.

"Maybe it's a publicity stunt," Jessica suggested.

"Are they back on Broadway?" Ivy asked.

"They're working on a new production of RENT," Bobby provided. "Derek's directing and Karen's playing Maureen. Which I still say is because Derek can't stand seeing her with other men."

"I don't think this is a publicity stunt," Sam interjected. "Tom started making calls after he got the envelope."

"And?" Ivy and Jessica prompted at the same time.

"And everyone got one. Julia, Eileen, Michael Swift, even Lyle."

"That does not sound like a publicity stunt," Bobby agreed. He glanced at the paper. "The Dark Lord has found himself a Dark Lady."

While everyone else was still debating about their black envelopes, the Dark Lord and Lady were making their way to their own rehearsal. Derek smiled down at Karen. "You look excited," he noted.

"Invitations went out yesterday," Karen grinned. "That means people will start replying, which means we're really getting married."

"I thought the ring on your finger meant we were really getting married."

"Oh, Derek, you know what I mean."

Derek chuckled. "I do, actually." He frowned as she bit her lip. "What's wrong?"

"You have a reputation," Karen said. "And I know it's in the past but people still put stock in rumors. Derek…what if people don't come?"

"They'll come," Derek promised her. "Even if they hate me, they love you. And besides, half the people will come just to see if we'll actually go through with it." Karen hugged him tight. They came to the door of the theater. "You know our rule, my love."

"Work is work and home is home," Karen quoted faithfully.

"And never the twain shall meet," Derek finished. He pulled out a black velvet box. "Ring, please. I know it looks lovely on your finger but Maureen doesn't wear one."

Karen pulled her engagement ring off her finger and put it in the box. As soon as she stepped through that door, she was just another actress to Derek. No different from the woman who played Joanne or the chorus girl in the 'La Vie Boheme' scene. That was why their relationship worked so well. Derek didn't make her giggle in between scenes like he had Rebecca or even just kiss her cheek like he used to do to Ivy. It was as professional as they could make it.

They still walked in hand in hand and today everyone applauded at their entrance. Derek and Karen smiled at each other before taking stage bows. "Enough," Derek finally called. "If you applaud at every facet of this wedding we'll never get anything done."

"The Dark Lord doesn't get married every day," Matt called. Cheers and whistles greeted his statement.

"Yeah, and he's not getting married today either so let's get on with rehearsal shall we? We're going to start with Angel's funeral, places!"

They ran through Act Two until it was time for lunch. Usually Karen would eat with her friends in the company. Partly to reinforce that this was work and not home and partly because Derek usually had so much to do he needed the extra half hour. Though since their wedding was coming up so fast, they spent their lunch breaks with a wedding planner. Amy had brought her iPad so Karen could play around with how she wanted the colors in every space to look. "This is so cool," Karen giggled. "Look at this Derek."

Derek glanced over her shoulder. "Lovely," he drawled.

"You don't care, do you?"

"I'm sorry, darling." Derek kissed her hair. "You know how focused I get on a show."

"That's right," Karen nodded. She erased the drawing she had been working on and started again with a simpler theme. "Broadway budget, Broadway budget," she muttered to herself.

Derek tucked her hair back and whispered in her ear. "Unlimited budget, unlimited budget." Karen looked at him. "You decide what you want and I'll find a way to pay for it. Now, go back to the other sketch. I know you liked it better." Karen grinned at him before going back to the iPad while Derek and Amy exchanged a look.

That night, Karen went out with the cast so they could buy her drinks. She had tried to decline but they insisted that she deserved to be toasted often for capturing the elusive Derek Wills. "Karen, is that you?" a voice called.

Karen downed her shot and turned to the voice. "Jessica!" she squealed. Behind Jessica were Luanne, Dennis, Bobby, Tracy and Sam. "Oh, it is so good to see you guys. You should come meet the company I'm with now." She pulled the two groups together. Introductions weren't really needed because most everyone knew everyone else. "So," Karen began, "Did you guys get your invitations?"

"Oh, the ones that say you're marrying Derek?" Bobby teased. "Oh yeah, we got them."

"Uh, doesn't the Dark Lord burst into flame when he enters a church?" Sam asked. Everyone laughed.

"He survived the six we went to last weekend," Karen told him. They ordered another round of shots. "I have a very important question for Bobby and Jessica," Karen declared as they banged down their glasses.

"What's that?" Jessica asked.

"Will you two be in my bridal party?"

Bobby raised an eyebrow. "You want me in your bridal party?" he repeated.

"Of course," Karen smiled. "You're the second most fabulous man I know. Derek being the first, of course."

"Of course," everyone chorused.

"Well, how can I say no to a proposal like that," Bobby smiled.

"I'm in too," Jessica agreed.

Karen grinned and hugged both of them. "That is so great you guys. Let me text Derek, he's got Amy's number."

"Amy?" Dennis asked.

"Our wedding planner. Without her, we'd never get anything done."

Derek smiled as he got Karen's text. She was so excited to be getting married. She was even more excited to be getting married to him which never failed to surprise Derek. He winked at the woman who brought him Scotch and texted his fiancée back that he would let Amy know about the additions to the bridal party. "Should a soon to be married man still be flirting with waitresses?" a hard voice asked.

Derek glanced over to see Tom, Julia and Eileen there. He could already feel the migraine starting but he heaved himself out of his chair anyway. "I see you got your invitations," he said by way of greeting. "Do be sure to answer promptly, Karen is very touchy about that. And I need her fresh for RENT."

"Why?" Julia demanded.

"Why what?" Derek asked.

"Why this fake wedding?" Eileen provided.

"Who said it was fake?"

"You don't actually expect us to believe you intend to be faithful to one woman do you?" Julia scoffed. "It's not in your DNA."

"Look, I don't care what you think. No one's making you come, okay? Just make sure you RSVP in time because I have to deal with neurotic Karen."

"She's a sweet girl," Tom said.

"I'm well aware of that," Derek replied.

"Look, just leave the poor thing alone," Eileen insisted. "You've played with her enough, now cut her loose. Let the girl skip this Broadway experience."

"Everyone knows you can have any woman you want so just find someone other than Karen," Julia added.

"Yeah, I think I'd rather stop breathing first, thanks." Derek turned away as his phone started buzzing. "Amy, there you are. Yeah, Karen had two more confirmations so that's three bridesmaids and one maid of honor. Yes, Bobby is going to be in the bridal party. I've got four groomsmen but I'm still waiting on my best man. No…look, never mind. Just drop by rehearsals for an hour tomorrow…I'm playing you to make it work…"

The other three looked at each other. "Do you think it's real?" Julia asked.

"There's only one way to know for sure," Tom shrugged. "Say yes and show up."