A/N: This chapter might not be my best, but I think it's as good as it can get. I decided not to write most of the actual wedding since, well, that might be kind of boring. I might do a chapter about their reception, though. Also, enjoy the little throwback to one of my older fics. ;)

"I can't do this..." said Carly faintly.

Misty said nothing in reply, probably because her mouth was full of hairpins. Since Carly still hadn't been able to establish contact with her mother, Misty had flown in from Japan to help Carly prepare for the wedding ceremony. Carly was very appreciative of this gesture, but still...it wasn't quite the same.

"I mean," Carly continued as Misty pinned her hair up, "We weren't even planning to get married for a while longer...but now we don't really have a choice. What if Jack hates me in five years for making him do this?"

Misty made a protesting noise, but couldn't do anything further until the last of the pins was out of her mouth. When Carly's hair was arranged to her satisfaction, Misty said, "Carly, look at me."

Carly was worried that Misty was going to read her fortune and predict more tragedy, but she obeyed.

"Okay, now listen to me. That man is absolutely crazy about you, and he couldn't hate you if he tried. You know that fully well. So stop worrying about stupid things."

"How would you know?" Carly shot back. If Misty took offense, she didn't show it.

"Oh...I have my ways," she answered serenely.

Despite Misty's assurances, Carly felt like she was about to be sick, faint, or both. The only way she could figure out to control this was to start babbling.

"And...and I'll look ridiculous next to him...all short and fat! And I don't have anyone to walk me down the aisle, and my feet hurt, and what if I have to pee in the middle of the ceremony, and what if there's a tornado, and..."

"Now you're just being silly, " Misty admonished, "You're not fat; you're pregnant. There's a difference. Do you think Jack is worrying about rogue tornadoes?"

"N...no," stammered Carly. She quieted herself more out of surprise that Misty was talking so much, rather than the words themselves.

"That's right. Now hold still so I can get this veil on. And don't smear the makeup."

In another part of the hotel, Jack, Yusei, and Crow were making their final adjustments. Things were relatively peaceful until Jack was hit with his own case of nerves.

"I can't do this."

He sat on the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands as Crow started yelling.

"Not cool, Jack! If you walk out on her, I'll disembowel you with my bare hands!"

"I didn't mean I literally won't do this, you ass!" Jack snapped as he looked up. "Ever heard of a figure of speech?"

"Yeah, well, better safe than sorry. You're always running off at the spur of the moment, ya know."

Jack prepared to unleash a stream of his best profanity at Crow, but Yusei held up a hand to silence him.

"Guys," he said tersely, "Not. Today."

Jack realized that Yusei had a point. It wouldn't be very auspicious for him to beat up one of the wedding guests. He fished around for a different subject while trying to ignore the voice in his head that said it was all his fault for being too lazy to get up and find the condoms that one time.

For a few minutes, he sat quietly and amused himself by watching Crow's futile attempts to get his hair to lie flat.

"So how's Kiryu?" he finally asked rather abruptly. Kiryu hadn't been able to make to the wedding since he was very busy with design school.

Yusei and Crow looked at Jack strangely, then Crow said, "He's fine. Last week he was all excited because he found a 'Flying Carrots' T-shirt at the thrift store. Those are really rare...something about someone trying to have them all destroyed by burning, I think. And he has a new boyfriend..."

"Another one? Isn't that the fifth one he's had since I left?"

"Fourth."

"And I bet this one has dark hair too, right?"

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Yusei stated quietly.

Crow was obviously trying to think up a clever comeback, but after a few minutes he just sighed.

"Okay, I know this is a stressful day and all...but please try to keep your shit together, Jack. For Carly's sake. Now let's get down there so we can all be in our places in time...right?"

"Right," echoed Jack, with more confidence than he felt.

There was no turning back now. Usually modern Japanese weddings had the rehearsal right before the main event, but they'd moved it to last night to limit the amount of time Carly would be on her feet in one day. People were all in their places, waiting for the bride to make her appearance.

Then, the door at the end of the hotel ballroom opened, and Carly began to walk down the aisle, very slowly so she wouldn't trip. Her hands were sweating from knowing that all eyes were on her.

She stole a glimpse at Jack, who was naturally dressed all in white. How could he manage to be so composed when she was such a wreck?

Meanwhile, Jack was thinking that he probably looked like an idiot for gaping at her like a fish while she walked so elegantly.

Carly finally reached the other end of the room, and took Jack's hand. As the minister began the preliminary remarks, all they could do was just stand there looking at each other, and being reminded of what had made them fall in love in the first place. They were both still quite nervous, but now they had the feeling that this just might work out after all.