Alex couldn't help but laugh at the sight before her. Or rather, down in the grounds. Safe in the balcony where he'd failed to notice her she was taking great enjoyment at throwing the stones she'd found in a plant pot in the corner at her D.C.I, making sure she didn't hit him. Dissolving into laughter everytime he whirled around helplessly, getting increasingly more frustrated. After throwing the fourth stone she saw him look up to the balconies and stepped back quickly, unsure as to whether or not she'd been seen.

By ten o'clock preparations were well underway in the bridal suite. Shaz's hair and make-up were done and Alex had just finished hers.

"I need some pictures. Before the photographer arrives." Shaz beamed, whipping out her camera from her bag. Alex bit back a laugh. She'd been living in the 80's for 4 years now but still found it strange that everything was different to back in 2008. Shaz's camera was large and bulky, like everything else from the 80's and had a large round lense. Shaz however seemed completely in love with it.

"Amazing ain't it! Chris bought it for my birthday." She smiled. Before Alex had time to change her expression there was a bright flash, the camera was up at Shaz's face and she had brand new photo on the camera.

"Not my best shot Shaz(?)" She laughed in comment.

"It's not so bad. There will be plenty more at the wedding and the reception" She beamed.

Down in the west wing of the hotel wedding preparations were starting, in a slightly different way. Gene, Ray and Chris were sat on the sofa, each with a beer in their hands.

"To weddings!" Gene blurted drunkenly.

"T' marriage!" Ray held his bottle up, just as drunk.

"Shaz!" Chris downed the drink. Both Ray and Gene were very drunk, Chris not as drunk, vowing that he'd only have a couple of drinks, so that he could make it through the vows without throwing up over his bride-to-be.

"D'ya think we should get ready?" Chris asked, the bottle now empty.

"Wha' time izzit?" Ray asked, his speech slurred more than usual.

"11:30." Chris checked his watch for confirmation.

"Might'as well." Gene pushed himself up, wobbled slightly, before walking straight into one of the rooms, collecting his suit on the side. Despite the amount he'd put down in the past half an hour, he was fairly stable still and to anyone outside the room, they would assume he's sober. A skill Gene Hunt had mastered over the years.

Chris and Ray each headed to separate areas to get changed, Chris fairly stable and Ray a little wobbly.

By the time they'd all returned to the main room they were pretty much ready to head down.

12:45pm

Shaz was finished. Alex had curled the young officer's hair lightly, allowing it bounce on her shoulders. The wedding dress and heels made her look a little taller and the equivalent to a fairy princess. Alex was wearing a tight, electric blue dress that came just above her knee. The sleeves were off-the-shoulder and her hair was bobbing just below her shoulder, having grown rapidly over the past few months.

"Ready?" Alex asked as she prepared to leave her friend.

"Yeah. Bin' ready for months!" Shaz smiled.

"Good luck." Alex gave her one final hug before leaving the room and heading down towards the main hall where the ceremony was taking place.

The room was still fairly empty when Alex arrived. Unfortunately Shaz's parents had died a few months before the ceremony but Alex could recognise Chris's from anywhere. His mother had a mouse brown perm and was wearing a cream dress that hit just shy of the floor. His father was the spitting image. The brown hair with the dodgy highlights. A too tight suit with trousers that hung around his ankles and a constant nervous look on his face. But that wasn't because his son was getting married, Alex took note of. It was more likely to be the fact that Gene Hunt was walking towards him and looked about a foot taller. Trying not to laugh Alex headed down to see them both, being spotted before she did so.

"Make a quick left turn Patrick, Bolly's headin' down the aisle and that's a fate worse than death." Gene commented, his face serious but Alex knew he was joking.

"Nice to see you too Guv. I was gonna give you a compliment but after that I think I'll take a rain check." it looked as though their last face-to-face encounter had been forgotten and Shaz's yelling dismissed.

"Bolly meet Patrick and Diane Skelton. Patrick, Diane…Bolly." Alex sighed as they both looked confused.

"It's not Bolly. Alex Drake, Chris's D.I." Alex introduced herself, a little confused at the Guv's attitude. While he normally found any opportunity to annoy her, this time it seemed different.

"Take your seats please, the bride is about to arrive!" The registrar announced, hurrying down the aisle, followed by Chris and a wobbly Ray. Alex looked astonished.

"Ray you're drunk!" She exclaimed in shock.

"Only a little bit. I'll be fine, it's not like I've gotta say anythin'" he complained, standing in position. Sighing dramatically Alex chose to ignore it and settled in the front row next to Gene as other guests quickly took their seats.

"I know it was you Bolls." Gene whispered to her. She looked at him, head to one side in confusion.

"Stones don't come flying out of nowhere…I saw you up on the balcony." Alex whipped her head round to the front in silence, trying not to laugh. She'd had a feeling that she had been caught.

When Shaz walked down the aisle even the Guv couldn't help but smile. He had to admit it. As much as Chris was an idiot in every department, he struck lucky with the young WPC. She had a nervous smile on her face and she kept looking down every so often, trying not to trip over her dress. Catching the eyes of her team she felt more confident and beamed brightly at them. After what felt like a lifetime of walking to Shaz, she made it to Chris at the end of the aisle. Ray grinned before dropping into the empty seat next to Alex, his job done.

"We are gathered here today…" The registrar began his long speech, inducting them into married life.

"You look fab Shazza." Chris whispered, taking her hand in his.

"So do you Chris. Now shut up and say I do." She smiled warmly.

The ceremony lasted half an hour, by which time Ray and Gene had settled into an almost doze in their seats, either side of Alex. As it came up to the final part of the speech she nudged them roughly in the sides, causing them to complain in annoyed whispers.

"Watch the bloody ceremony!" Alex whispered in harsh reply.

"…Husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." The registrar announced in delight. Chris caught Shaz's eye, smiled and leaned forward, kissing her gently, ignoring Ray's retching sounds in the second row.

They're married :)
Hope you enjoyed that Chapter it's not as long as planned but that's because the next part has drama! And I'd like to let you all know...It won't be long until our phone stalker is revealed! I have finished writing the story on my laptop now so I'll hopefully be posting a couple a week, and with the holidays more time off :)

Hope your enjoying, please read & review, they're like christmas presents to me!

Thankyouu :) x