The next morning, Fran was awake bright and early. Her excitement had made it pretty much impossible to sleep. She couldn't believe the big day was finally here. She'd already styled her hair for the ceremony, though she hadn't yet gotten into her dress. She was far too busy making the assembled guests some breakfast. Megan came into the kitchen behind her as she looked out some pancake mix.
"Sweet tooth huh?" She asked. "I remember I ate the biggest stack of waffles ever before my wedding. I was on a sugar rush all day!"
"Well I didn't sleep well, so I could probably use it." She responded, pouring some batter into the frying pan and running it around to form the first of many. "I've also got the coffee pot on."
"That's probably a good idea." Lily yawned as she came into the room with her father. "I swear I must have only slept about an hour. I must look like a fright!"
"A shower and some makeup and you'll be fine." Megan assured her. "Trust me; almost nobody sleeps the night before their wedding."
"Just remember to enjoy it." Michael said with a bright smile. "It'll be the most amazing day of your life."
"I just wish I had some guests to invite." Fran sighed, turning out the first of the pancakes. "I know you guys are my family and everything, but it would just be nice to have some people there from my side of the family."
"It'll be fine Fran." Lily assured her, putting an arm around her. "We're all here for you."
"Besides, if your mom can't be happy for you, that's her loss." Michael told her.
"Michael, I was wondering. Would you mind giving me away?" Fran asked him. "I mean, my own dad isn't able to be there, not that I'd want him there if he was alive and..."
"Breathe Fran!" He said warmly, taking amusement in her usual nervous rambling. "I'd be honoured to."
"Hey guys, how is everyone?" Kira asked as she arrived in the room with the twins. "Getting nervous yet?"
"I'm just about keeping it together." Lily replied, taking a long gulp of coffee. "Of course another couple of dozen of these on top of those pancakes and you'll probably have to peel me off the ceiling."
"I'm kind of nervous too." Fran admitted.
"Just think about the honeymoon." Ronny told them as she and Rose came in from the other room. "I know that's what got me through my ceremony."
"Where'd Mack take you?" Lily asked her. Unfortunately she and Mack had gotten married while the Jungle Fury Rangers were still busy with Dai Shi, and so they had missed it. They regretted not being there for her on her big day, but at least she was able to be there for them.
"Monaco." Ronny replied.
"I should have known." Lily giggled in response. "I guess you were there in time for the Grand Prix."
"I sure was." Ronny told her. "It was great!"
"Well RJ's taking me to Hawaii." Lily chirped happily. "I've always wanted to go since I was a kid. It's one of the few places dad was never stationed."
"Theo's taking me too." Fran added quickly. "I'm really looking forward to it."
"Let's just hope the guys didn't have too wild a time last night." Lily stated. "If RJ's hung over, he's getting no sympathy from me."
"Well you weren't drinking last night." Fran recalled. "I guess you didn't want to risk it."
"I've waited a long time for this." She said warmly. "I wasn't going to risk it for anything."
"Guys, come quickly!" Camille yelled excitedly as she came into the room, cradling her abdomen. She was smiling broadly. "The baby just moved!"
They all gathered around her, holding their hands on her stomach as they felt her baby kicking. This was just the perfect way to begin what was sure to be an exciting day.
Meanwhile over at Casey's apartment, RJ came into the living room finding Casey and the others preparing for the day ahead.
"How's the head?" Dominic asked him, seeing the somewhat green tinge to RJ's complexion. They hadn't gotten out of hand or anything, but it was obvious that RJ had enjoyed rather a little too much drink on his last night of freedom. He wasn't much of a drinker usually, and so he was suffering as a result of his uncharacteristically long drinking session the night before.
"Trust me, I feel better than Theo." He chuckled. "He really is a lightweight."
"Well he is a lot smaller than the rest of us." Casey reminded him. "Will he be alright?"
"A few hours sleep, a shower and a Co-coda mol and he'll be back in the land of the living." He assured them as he poured himself some coffee.
"I can't believe someone's finally making an honest man out of you." Master Finn announced. "When are Luen and Theo's parents getting here?"
"They said they'd meet us at the registry office." RJ told him. "They travelled through the night to get here."
"Well Luen better. I doubt Theo will be impressed if his best-man's late." Casey interjected as Will, Mack and Dax arrived in the room.
"You survived then!" Will chuckled, seeing the rather unhealthy shade of RJ's skin.
"I did indeed." He confirmed. "Though I will admit that now I know why I don't drink much."
"How's Theo?" Mack asked him. "He certainly seemed to enjoy himself."
"Well he'll be suffering when he finally wakes up." Casey stated bluntly. "Speak of the devil!"
"Do you guys have to talk so loud?" He complained weakly as he accepted a cup of coffee from the Red Ranger. "I have a headache!"
"Well that's what happens." Tommy said rather unsympathetically. "I remember having one hell of a hangover. At least you didn't sprain your ankle like I did."
"Well, we're all here and in one piece." RJ said pragmatically. "Now, I could go for some breakfast."
Michael knocked the door to Lily's bedroom gently as the time for the ceremony drew nearer.
"Lily, it's me." He announced. "Can I come in?"
"I'm ready." She called through the door. Michael came in slowly as Kira was finishing helping Lily and Fran get ready. She'd learned her lesson from the last time, and so had sought help to get into her dress.
He couldn't believe his eyes as he looked at her. She looked so much like her mother; it was as if he was living the day of his first wedding all over again. Lily stood before him, looking absolutely beautiful in the wedding dress he'd sent to her all those months ago.
"Lily you look beautiful." He complimented his daughter, seeing her dressed for her wedding. "You both do."
"Thank you." Lily replied as she hugged her father warmly. "I can't believe it's almost time."
"You're almost ready there guys." Kira interjected, handing Lily her veil. "RJ and Theo are really lucky."
"I agree." Michael stated. "I'm sure they'll make you very happy."
"Well he managed to win you over." Lily sniggered.
"Well if he can manage that, then looking after you will be easy." He replied. "You deserve to be happy. Both of you do."
"Anyway, the car will be outside shortly." Kira reminded them. "Are you both ready?"
Lily and Fran looked at each other, both certain of their convictions. They knew that their destinies now lay with the men in their hearts.
"We're ready." Fran responded. "Let's go and get our husbands Mrs. James."
"After you Mrs. Martin." Lily replied, gesturing to the door.
Meanwhile the guys had already arrived at the registry office, nervously waiting for their brides. RJ fidgeted uncomfortably as he waited for news of the girls.
"Hey there guys!" Ronny announced as she arrived with Rose, Megan and the kids. "You're all looking great!"
"Yeah, suits aren't really my thing." RJ commented, fidgeting with his collar. "I never did feel comfortable in a tux."
"Well it's not like you have to wear it for very long." Theo reminded him. "Just think of all that time on the beach with Lily when we get to Hawaii."
"What do you think is getting me through this?" RJ asked him. "Dom?"
"For the millionth time YES! I have the ring!" He groaned. "Just like I had it thirty seconds ago!"
"You don't need to worry Theo." Luen told his twin brother reassuringly. "Everything's under control, all you have to do is stand there and wait for them."
"Are you sure they're ready?" RJ asked nervously. "I mean they were meant to be here..."
"The bride's always a little late." The registrar assured him. "Would you both please take your place in the main hall?"
The assembled guests started to file slowly into the main hall of the registrar's office, each taking their available seats. RJ and Theo took their place at the front of the hall, standing before the plinth as they waited for Lily and Fran to arrive. Dominic and Luen took their places by their side, all facing forward.
The limo arrived outside, carrying the bridal party. Lily, Fran, Camille, Kira and Michael got slowly out of the car as they prepared to make their way down the aisle.
"I'll just go in and put the guys out of their misery." Kira stated, making her way inside.
"I'll join you." Camille chipped in. "My back is killing me!"
"Don't worry; the service shouldn't take too long." Kira assured her as they made their way inside. Michael took one last second to prepare for his role in the wedding.
"Lily, you know I love you, and that I'm proud of you." He told her. "Your mother would be proud too."
He then turned to Fran. He'd talked to her before and had some idea of her less-than-ideal family situation, and so he had agreed to take on the role of her surrogate father for the ceremony.
"I know that this isn't ideal, but I just wanted you to know that I'm proud to give you away." He told her. "I have no idea why your family treated you the way they did, but you can rest assured that you are a beautiful and amazing young woman, and that I am proud to accept the honour of giving you away."
"Thank you Mr. Chilman." She replied. He pulled them both in, hugging them tenderly as he prepared to take them down the aisle.
"So are we all ready?" He asked them.
"Never more so." Lily replied.
"Let's go." Fran added. Taking Lily on his left arm and Fran on his right, he led them up the aisle.
"They're just outside." Kira informed the registrar as she took her place next to RJ.
"Would you like a chair?" The registrar asked Camille, seeing her advanced state of pregnancy. It was no longer uncommon for those attending a wedding to already be heavily pregnant, so she had some idea of the plight of an expectant mother being forced to stand for long periods.
"Thank you." Camille gasped in relief. Her back was far from her friend as she stood there. Casey was only too happy to bring a chair over for his fiancée. Camille gratefully accepted the chair, finally getting some respite from the pain in her lower back.
As the music began to play, RJ and Theo turned back to see their brides coming towards them and smiled. Theo couldn't care less about his hangover, and RJ's discomfort at wearing his tux melted away into nothing as they arrived at the front of the room. Lily took RJ's hands as Michael released his daughter into his care. Fran did the same thing with Theo. Seeing the brides arrive in position the Registrar began the ceremony.
Fran couldn't believe her luck as she finally got to share her first kiss with her husband following the ceremony. Her parents' cruelty had left her feeling worthless for so long she never felt like she deserved to have anyone to care about her, but now Theo had officially taken her from her old life. She was honoured to take his surname. She wanted nothing to do with her old life, not any more. All that mattered to her now was her future with her husband.
Lily never even noticed the huge cheer going up from their guests as she was announced as Mrs. Lily James. The only thing in the room she could concentrate on was RJ. She finally removed the ribbon from her wrist, having now been given her true wedding ring. Her life with him was only beginning.
The following morning, Lily rushed around the apartment getting her luggage together. They had enjoyed their reception the night before; she was overcome with excitement at the thought of finally getting to go on her honeymoon with him. RJ got up, taking amusement in her frenzied preparations.
"You know we do have a few hours before we have to get to the airport." He reminded her.
"Well you might like to leave everything to the last minute, but I don't!" She muttered, gathering her clothing. "I'd just like to make sure we have everything."
"Lily, calm down." He laughed, wrapping his arms around her. "We'll be fine."
"I just can't help it." She moaned. "I can't wait!"
"Well we have a whole fortnight to enjoy Hawaii." He reminded her. "Just now though, I thought you'd like to come back to bed."
"Is that all you think about?" She asked him, flashing him a bright smile. He couldn't help feeling good about having her here with him now, his beautiful wife.
"Well when I get to wake up next to you every morning what do you expect?" He asked her. Lily kissed him passionately as they enjoyed their time alone together. She couldn't wait until she got to the island. More than anything she loved the thought of spending time with him. It had been a long time coming, but she was finally able to prepare for their lives together.
"I got you something." She told him.
"You got me a present?" He asked with a smile. Lily opened the drawer of her bedside table, pulling out a small package and handing it to him.
"Open it." She beckoned him. "I think you'll like it."
RJ tore open the paper, finding a canvas bag inside. Unravelling it completely, he was a little puzzled. It took him a second to realise what it was. She had bought him a papoose.
"Lily?" He asked, smiling a little. She just nodded to confirm his suspicion. She had found out herself a couple of days ago, but rather than being nervous, she was excited. She was going to have his baby.
RJ lifted her up into his arms, cradling her warmly. He had always loved kids, and he was thrilled at the prospect of becoming a father. Sure he had kind of thought they'd get a little more time to themselves before starting a family, but he couldn't be disappointed at hearing the news.
"Does anyone else know?" He asked her.
"I haven't told anyone yet." She replied. "I wanted you to be the first to know."
RJ couldn't be happier. He never suspected anything could compete with the way he felt when Lily had said 'I do', but she had given him the most precious gift she ever could. She had given him a family.
Fin.