November 27th, 1988

Ian was very glad he didn't believe in superstitions, because he was not at all upset to run into Bonnie surprisingly early in the morning on his way down to the complimentary breakfast the lodge served. "Ah, the radiance of the morning graces us with her presence," he chuckled softly. "You're up early."

"So are you," she commented with a sly smile, "And looking amazingly alert and not suffering for a man whose friends were bragging yesterday about the insanity they had planned for your bachelor party."

Ian chuckled, rolling his eyes as he started walking again towards the food with her beside him. "Well, it was pretty insane. Did they happen to tell you what they had planned?"

"Callie told me," Bonnie nodded. "I almost wish I could have been there to see their portrayals of you."

"Yeah well, my brothers are terrible actors, even with the inspiration of the finest alcohol West City had to offer," Ian snickered. "Though to be fair, their imitations of me are better than their imitations of my characters. How was your evening?"

"Luxurious," she chuckled. "The hot tubs and the spa here are wonderful."

"Tell you what, next time you go to the bachelor party, and I'll go hide in the hot tubs full of beautiful women," he teased. "Then we can be equally miserable."

"And how would that make you miserable?" she asked skeptically.

Ian kissed her cheek. "I wouldn't have you with me."

"Hey, lovebirds, aren't you supposed to avoid each other before the ceremony?"

Ian looked up and saw his Grandpa Edward sitting at a table by himself, reading a newspaper and sipping a cup of coffee. "And aren't old people supposed to sleep in?" he returned the dig with a grin.

"I'll tell you the next time I see an old guy," Ed countered. "You're welcome to join me. I wasn't expecting to see anyone else up this early. Have you looked outside?"

Ian had to admit he hadn't, even though he knew it had been snowing again. He glanced out past the huge picture windows at the mountains. "Wow."

Bonnie looked too as she sat down. "Oh my. There wasn't that much of it last night!"

The mountains were coated in a thick layer of white, and even the wooden deck outside was covered. Ian guessed there had to be at least six inches. "When did that move in?"

"It got heavy around two-in-the morning," Ed replied, working his right shoulder a little even as he spoke.

Ian realized then why his grandfather was up so early. "We crashed around two."

"One for us," Bonnie smiled as Ian sat down next to her. "I want to enjoy today."

"And you're a grump without sleep," Ian chuckled as the waiter came up, and he ordered an Aerugean espresso. Bonnie ordered a cup of Xingese chai.

"You're one to talk," she quipped in response, nudging him in the side with one shoulder. "You're practically incoherent before your morning coffee."

"I'd like to think I look pretty coherent," Ian replied, not at all offended. "Besides, that's only years of practice at feigned incoherence. I have to be able to act it right?" He ignored the amused looks he was getting from his grandfather. Ian was used to working all sorts of crazy shooting schedules, and while he was very flexible when it came to getting up and being places at odd hours, that didn't mean he necessarily enjoyed that part of his work.

"Then it's your best acting," Bonnie assured him.

"You pull more late nights than I do," Ian reminded her. This was something he had always known, but had gotten more intimately familiar with now that she spent them in his apartment. Having her over more didn't always mean long nights of snuggling, but he had long ago accepted her passion for her work. It was one of the many things he loved about her and was actually looking forward to for a long time to come. "Though you are cuter in the morning," he admitted.

"One of us has to be."

Ian was saved from a response by the waiter returning with their drinks. "Breakfast?" he asked them both.

He wasn't nervous anymore, Ian realized, as his stomach growled. When he was really worried was the only time he lost his appetite. This morning, he felt like he could eat half a cow. Not that he should. "I'll try the spinach omelet," he said after another glance at the menu. It looked large enough to tide him over until the wedding feast that would serve as lunch.

"Oh, that looks delicious. I'll have that too," Bonnie nodded.

When he left, Ian looked across the table at his Grandfather. "So, any words of sage advice, oh family Patriarch?"

Edward chuckled. "Nice to be noticed again. I could get used to that title." He sipped his coffee, considering. "While I feel like it's nothing you haven't figured out for yourselves already, keep talking to each other, keep getting to know each other, because you'll grow, and you'll change, as a couple and individually. You need to really listen to each other, and put your relationship before your careers, or your egos. Especially when you're in a line of work that can take one or both of you out of town for long periods of time. You can't let yourselves get lost in getting through the days, and forget to stay in tune. As long as you can do that, you can work out the rest." He grinned. "But I think you already know that."

Ian wondered if his grandfather knew more than he was telling, but the advice was some of the best he had heard. It also clearly came from personal experience. While he had heard stories, he still had trouble imagining Grandpa Ed and Grandma Winry ever being at odds enough that something could tear them apart.

"Thank you," Bonnie spoke before he could, and she was smiling.

"And you're right," Ian agreed, though he didn't feel the need to elaborate.

"You're welcome," Edward said to Bonnie. Apparently, Ian's grandfather understood, because he nodded at him, and continued sipping his coffee.

"What are you two doing?"

Ian recognized his brother's voice as he looked up at grinned at Coran. "Eating breakfast. It's all the fashion these days."

Coran shook his head. "What ever happened to anxiously waiting to see your bride at the altar?"

"So old fashioned," Ian shrugged. "Besides, it's not my fault if my jailers sleep later than me."

Thankfully his brother was clearly no more worried about it than Ian was. Coran just shrugged. "Well, don't let the Moms see you."

"Not a worry," Bonnie assured him. "I heard them both already this morning, helping get all the kids into their outfits for today and doing hair." She smiled wickedly. "My mother is a little envious of all the grandchildren."

That made Coran laugh. "I hope Art and Deanna don't give her false hope about the number she can expect… unless that's your plan."

"No!" Ian replied abruptly before he realized his brother was teasing. He steadied himself. "We had a more manageable number in mind."

He was glad Coran didn't press the issue further. His oldest brother nodded. "Smart plan. Well, enjoy your meal. This is the quietest it's going to be all day."

As he moved away to another table, Grandpa Ed finished his coffee. "If folks are up, that's my cue to go be useful. See you two later."

Ian was about to object, but he saw the look in his grandfather's eyes and said nothing as he and Bonnie were left to themselves for a last few blissful, quiet moments before the momentum of the day swept them into the happy chaos.

"There you are," Winry commented as Edward walked through the door of their room in the lodge. She was up, and already dressed for the day, though her hair was still down and she was running a brush through it. "I was beginning to wonder."

"I was up early," Ed apologized, smiling as he walked over and kissed her cheek. "So I went down and had breakfast. I hope you don't mind."

The look in her eyes told him she knew why he had been up early. "I just wanted to be sure you were all right. Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine," Ed assured her. After walking around and eating, he had warmed up a bit, and he had given in already that morning and taken his pill that helped ease the ache in his ports. The last thing he wanted to be today was trouble, or distracted from the joyous festivities. "I did see the bride and groom at breakfast."

"Together or separately?" Winry looked surprised.

"Given they were both sitting at my table?" Ed shrugged as he went over to the closet and pulled out his suit. He might as well change. "They are quite the pair."

"You sound amused."

Ed turned and smiled at her, knowing she could see his reflection behind her in the mirror. "They already sound like us."

"Some people might not say that's a good thing."

"I mean when we're not shouting." Ed pulled his sweater off over his head. "There's a comfort level there that wasn't the last time I got to watch them together." He didn't say more. Mostly because any comment he could make on their private life was speculation on his part, however much he would have willingly bet a small stack of sens on it. "They're definitely ready."

"That's good, since they're getting married today." Winry pulled part of her long hair up into a twist, and fixed it there.

"Neither of them looks particularly nervous about it." Ed pulled his dress shirt off the hanger and slid it on, beginning to do up the buttons, grateful for Winry's ability to design nimble fingers that could handle delicate tasks. "I'm just glad to see them so at ease."

"They have a lot going for them." Winry finished fussing with her hair and reached down to pick up an earring, which she slipped into her ear. "They know what they're in for, and they already know they can handle living with the craziness their work requires. Today is probably one of the least complicated productions they've been part of."
When she put it like that, it made sense. They both worked on films and television sets daily. Compared to that, a wedding-with minimal rehearsal, no complicated outfit changes, and no retakes- must seem like a simple affair. Though Ed doubted they both weren't just as excited as any other couple on their wedding day.

"I don't think there's much that could happen that would faze them." He nodded as he bent to change into his suit pants. "Not even all that snow that's coming down outside."

Winry glanced at the window as she finished putting in her earrings. "I saw that. It's a good thing they planned an indoor ceremony."

"It's better as atmosphere than an inconvenience." Ed buttoned his slacks and reached for his suit jacket, grateful for the wool.

"It's beautiful." Winry turned around and joined him, reaching for his tie as he buttoned the coat, and sliding it easily around his neck. "It feels right, today."

Ed paused as their noses touched, and he reached out for her, kissing his wife warmly before he let her tie his tie. It always looked better when she did it anyway. "You're right, it does."

Ethan was feeling a little extraneous this morning, not that he minded. It was his nephew's wedding, and he was rather enjoying not having any responsibilities this morning other than attendance. He hadn't even been asked to "help" anyone get over a hangover this morning. So he enjoyed watching everyone else rush about getting ready, while he read the morning paper, had a second cup of coffee, and was mostly ignored.

"You look about as busy as I am," Uncle Alphonse commented glibly as he walked up to the table Ethan had claimed in the sitting area over the large, open lobby. He, like Ethan, was already dressed in his suit for the day, but looked comfortable enough that it was clearly not a new suit.

"Nice when we're not running or paying for the wedding isn't it?" Ethan agreed. "Feel free to join me. So far I haven't managed to get more than a minute-and-a-half between someone in the wedding party darting across this space looking frantic."

"Do you think everything is going all right?" Alphonse asked, frowning just slightly as he took the chair across from Ethan.

"Aldon said it was when I saw him a few minutes ago." Ethan shrugged. He trusted his brother to be honest. "It's just the usual pre-wedding chaos. You know, everything is a minor crisis to be averted until the vows are read, the license is signed, and the party starts."

"Well, it's nice to see the party hasn't started without me then."

Ethan paused halfway into his next thought, and saw Alphonse's eyes go wide with surprise. Ethan looked over at his brother-in-law. "It's never a party without you."

Standing in front of them, already in a nice civilian suit, and looking unassuming and un-Presidential, and very much not in Central, was Franz Heimler. Franz chuckled, looking particularly smug. "Please, I bore people to sleep at parties. Still, I couldn't miss this one."

"Not for one of your nephews." Ethan stood and forwent a handshake to give his brother-in-law a brief hug. "How did you get out of town without being noticed?"

"Took an early day yesterday afternoon and caught the express train to West City. Got in this morning and rented a car, and here I am. I'll be heading out again first thing tomorrow morning, and with luck no one will have any idea I was even out of town, except for James and Krista of course." He shrugged. "Certainly no one will have any reason to think I'm here, or know why."

"Good plan. Maybe you can get home before the news breaks all over that every teenage girl's fantasy life is ruined for at least twenty years." Once the news of Ian's wedding got out, the popular media would be all over it.

Franz chuckled and looked over at Alphonse. "I remember when that could have been said of some of us."

Al snickered. "In my case it's been over half a century. Women these days are more interested in actors in uniforms than real men in uniforms."

"Or doctors for that matter," Ethan agreed with a laugh. "Putting all those particularly handsome fellas on screen makes the rest of us look average." He spotted Lia coming up behind Franz. "It's a good thing they can't find any women prettier than my wife."

"Smooth." Lia smiled at him before turning to Franz. "It's good to see you here, though I didn't expect you."

"No one did." Franz grinned. "That's how I was able to get away."

"Well, I'm sure both Ian and Bonnie will be thrilled you made it, and you're just in time. Come on, gentlemen. It's time to start herding guests."

Ethan finished the last sip of his coffee and offered her his arm. "How can I say no to that tone of authority?"

"You can't," Lia slipped her hand around his elbow. "It's the same one I use on my students."

As much as she was going to love the boost in her career for these photos, it still meant more to Callie that the moments she was capturing today belonged to one of her brothers. She loved all of them, but she had always felt like Ian understood her in a way her other brothers didn't always, except maybe Reichart. They were all artists in their own mediums, but Ian had always shown an interest in her work, and she had loved following his career growing up, even if it had driven her father crazy because of what was in some of those magazines!

Not that Callie had ever believed most of the drivel and gossip about Ian. If she wanted to know the truth of something, she called him and asked. He took the time to hang out with her, to call back, and he and Bonnie had insisted they didn't want anyone else doing their wedding pictures.

She had spent the past two days taking artistic shots, just to help set the scene: romantic candles on the large stone mantle, the decorations in process, candid shots of family and friends. The setting was gorgeous and Callie couldn't wait to do the actual portraits with the glorious snowfall outside, not when the primary color of the wedding was silver.

Now she found herself in the dressing room with Bonnie, Bonnie's mother, her sister June, and the rest of the bride's maids, taking pictures of those precious moments of preparation that always made great, emotional candid shots. She also found herself admiring Bonnie's dress, and wondering if she could ever afford something similar… someday.

The dress was not white, but a pale, silver silk, overlaid with another thin sheer of shimmering silver. The strapless dress edged at the top, and bottom in subtle ruffles trimmed in tiny pale-blue gemstones. Over the strapless top-in consideration of the weather- was a similarly sheer silver set of sleeves that wasn't quite long enough to be a coat. There was, in fact, a thick white fur stole—costume fur—that accompanied the dress, that Bonnie had already said was primarily for pictures, especially outside! It was luxurious and-even to Callie's practiced hand—felt close enough to real fur to be convincing.

Bonnie's russet brown hair was curled and pulled up, twisted on the sides with silver combs trimmed in the same tiny blue stones, then allowed to cascade loose down the back. Against the silver, it looked even redder than usual. Her jewelry was all in silver, and her shoes—sensible low heels that looked like they would be great for hours of standing and dancing—were a soft, matte silvery-gray. They vanished under the skirts.

Only because she had already seen Ian—being the photographer had its perks—and his silver-gray silk suit, with its ice-blue shirt underneath and silver metallic-threaded tie, could Callie see just how perfectly the designer they had chosen for their wedding outfits had matched them both. The suit went strikingly with Ian's light blond hair, and with the ethereal quality of the silver, white, and pale blue decorations, there was a sense that Callie had walked into one of those old mythic worlds, and she wanted to catch that in some of the pictures. There would be lots of traditional poses, and candid moments, and she would capture those too. She would also be in a few, because while she was working, Ian was her brother, and there would be plenty of family shots. Grandma Winry had offered to take any family photos she wasn't in, and Callie—having seen her albums—was willing to trust her camera to her grandmother.

Growing up in a house full of brothers, Callie found it fascinating to be in the middle of the ruffle and gabble of a room full of nothing but women. Not that she and her friends in school hadn't had plenty of girl time, but it was different. It was also a little strange, knowing all of her own family was elsewhere, helping Ian get ready. She didn't really know Bonnie's friends or family, even though she had gotten to know her soon-to-be sister-in-law fairly well.

She watched, observed, commented when appropriate, and otherwise focused on capturing perfect moments, until it was time to step out so that Bonnie and her mother could have a few private words. Callie would have time to talk with her later. Before that, she had to set up to photograph the ceremony itself. She had picked her location out ahead of time, so pre-set only took a few minutes.

Callie was so focused on setting up her lens and focus on the altar that she didn't realize someone was watching her until she was almost done. "Oh, hi, Ted."

Ted grinned. "Hey, Sis. Sorry, I was just enjoying watching you work."

Callie supposed her professional set-up was far more interesting than the simpler cameras that half the family owned these days. She was about to make a quip about why wasn't he off flirting with Bonnie's single friends, when she decided against it. Something seemed subdued about her youngest—and in many ways closest—older brother this morning. "Just wait until you're one of the subjects later," she grinned.

Ted shrugged. "It's not my big day."

Callie kept working, finding the perfect focal point. Around them, guests were starting to file in and find seats. "No, but it's a family day, and any excuse to get photos of all of us when we're dressed up, clean, and together, is a good one. Mom would kill me if I didn't."

"That's true." Ted nodded. "Maybe I should have bought a suit."

"When you look so dashing in uniform?" Callie couldn't help teasing him a little there. It was not at all unreasonable for him to have chosen his dress uniform for today. They were expensive, nice looking, and the dark blue matched well with the wedding. "Seriously, our family portraits are horribly out of date, so expect to be in a lot of photos."

"Anything for you," Ted promised. "Need any help?"

"Not until we do portraits after the ceremony. Then, you can help me lug my stuff outside."

Five-and-a-half years. Ian could still remember the last time he'd been punched in the nose like it was yesterday. Not so much because he had any fond memories of getting his nose broken, but because he considered that the beginning of his relationship with Bonnie beyond professionalism. She had fixed up his nose, and then not long after, invited him along to her parents' place for the weekend. It had been the tentative beginnings of a friendship.

Now here he stood, about to promise the rest of his life to her, and just grateful that this major step in his life did not require a broken nose or other massive damage to his face. If it had, at least Uncle Ethan could have fixed it.

Ian was glad he had been able to eat breakfast with Bonnie this morning, or he might have had even more nerves than he found himself having now. Nerves he knew were uncalled for, but logic alone could not dissipate. It wasn't smooth sailing from here, he knew that. There was no way to be certain what the future would hold, professionally or at home. His primary reassurance was the unshakable truth that Bonnie was as determined to make this relationship work long term as he was, and that their love was not a fleeting romance.

Oh geez, listen to yourself. Get over it. Ian shook himself mentally. This wasn't some angst-ridden daytime show written to keep the house-parents entertained. Vows weren't lines to be memorized and recited. He knew them, because they were his words. He couldn't get them wrong. Just like this was the most right decision he felt he had ever made.

The room was full of family and friends. The music started, and Ian willed himself to a state of calm, the way he always did when he needed to perform but wasn't confident of his performance. No sweat. It's show time.

Then a shimmering goddess appeared in the doorway, and he forgot everything else.

Aldon squeezed Cassie's shoulders with one arm as he proudly watched Ian stumble—only slightly—through heartfelt vows of love, adoration and joy clear in his expression. Given that all three of their older boys had married at home, in Resembool, it was the smallest wedding so far, but certainly also the most intimate, being limited to only close family and friends. Their extended family alone would have almost doubled the attendance.

As usual, everything was perfect, at least by his estimation. The bride and groom were happy, the vows sincere, and no last minute drama to be found. Aldon had heard some horror stories over the years, but he had never had the misfortune of attending one of those weddings.

As with each of their sons' weddings, Cassie was beaming and damp-eyed as they walked out behind the wedding party afterwards. "That was lovely."

"It was." Aldon had learned over the years to just agree when she got sentimental. Cassie loved weddings, and he no longer felt guilty about the fact that theirs had involved the two of them, a judge, and Sara. Though it had taken years of Cassie assuring him that she did not regret not having a big, fancy wedding like these before he finally believed her. "That's four down." Their four oldest married off, three with children, and all of their children grown and out of the house. With Yurian living with Urey where he belonged, the house had gotten a lot quieter.

"If Callie keeps seeing her boyfriend it may be five before long," Cassie chuckled.

"Good thing that'll be the only wedding I have to pay for." Not that Aldon would mind in the least. He would give his baby girl whatever she wanted when the time came. They had helped with costs in each of their sons' weddings, but he was grateful he hadn't had to pay for all of them!

"Are you two going to dawdle all afternoon?" Ted called from just ahead of them, grinning. He had Callie's bag of extra camera equipment slung across his back.

Aldon chuckled. "No, no, we're coming!" It wouldn't do to be late for new family pictures.

The ethereal beauty of the falling snow was the perfect backdrop for dynamic and memorable photography. Winry could see why Callie had insisted that at least part of the photos happen outside, particularly couple shots of Ian and Bonnie. She loved watching her granddaughter work as much as she enjoyed watching the newly married couple. Against the dark-and-white of the mountains, in their silver attire, they appeared like visions out of ancient myth, or the fairies of old European literature. Winry had enjoyed those stories. They were in books that Edward and Alphonse had kept.

Bright blond and reddish brown, deep green and hazel eyes, stood out dramatically: a king and queen of winter. It was easy to see why, even in a world where they worked with an inordinately high proportion of beautiful people, Ian had been captivated by Bonnie. She had a great mind, and talents, and a complex personality, but she was also lovely. It was no wonder Ian had been so set and determined to make the relationship work.

"She's almost as pretty as you are," Edward whispered in Winry's ear as he slipped an arm around her shoulders.

"Don't say that to Ian," she suggested, even as she smiled. He could still do that to her, even after all those years.

"Why not? Then he'll know just how well his lovely bride is going to mature, and how lucky he really is."

Winry watched Ian, whose eyes were locked on Bonnie as if she were the only other person in the world. "I'm sure he already knows."