A/N: I don't know why I've never written anything about Hannah's wedding to Brandon, considering she is Katie's best friend and basically her adopted sister. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I enjoying writing it xx Mariah
It was the Thursday before Katie's best friend's wedding weekend and she was stressed to all hell, especially with the traffic she was driving through.
"Whose wedding are we going to again?" Ned asked.
"You're kidding, right?" She sighed.
Her boyfriend grinned over at her, chuckling as he turned the radio dial down. "Yeah. I am, just trying to lighten the mood babe."
Katie made a face. "I'd hit you if I didn't need both hands for driving right now."
It was true, she did. The rain was coming down in sheets as they drove through the remnants of Tropical Storm Alma on their way up I-95 to New York City.
"God I don't miss the inner city traffic," she groused as an SUV with New Jersey plates cut her off.
"Why on earth did Hannah want to get married in the city of all places?" He asked.
"I think it had something to do with her parents." She shrugged. "I don't know."
Her phone buzzed, jiggling around in the cupholder. Snatching it up before she hurled it out the window, Ned glanced at it.
4:30 PM - Are you two here yet?
"Who's it from?" She asked.
"Olivia. She wants to know where we are." He asked.
"Tell her stuck in traffic." She was keeping her eyes on the road in front of her instead of glancing at him or her phone that he was holding, which was definitely a good thing, considering the sheer volume of cars entering the city.
Ned had no idea why it was so busy; it couldn't be Brandon and Hannah's wedding alone that was attracting this much traffic. It couldn't even be rush hour. Usually, people left the city at 4:30 in the afternoon, they didn't go into it.
He typed her response. The phone buzzed seconds later.
"Liv says she's about to kill Hannah," he chuckled.
"Why?" She asked, laughing slightly. She knew how her best friend could be, s she definitely understood where their other friend could be coming from. "What's happening?"
The phone buzzed again. "She said, does the term bridezilla mean anything to you?" He howled out loud. "I never thought I'd see the day when Hannah was the tricky one and not you."
"I'd pick your battles, Ned if you want to get laid at all this weekend," she reminded him, turning her turn signal on to sneak into the carpool lane now that it had reopened again. "Ask Liv what's wrong."
A few minutes passed before the phone buzzed again and Ned began to read, "According to Liv, the plane Brandon's dad is on won't getting here until tomorrow afternoon after the ceremony, so he'll be here for the reception but he was supposed to be here today. There is also something wrong with the flowers and Hannah wants to know who scheduled the huge anime convention for the same weekend as her wedding. Oh, and Liv's zipper on her dress ripped."
Katie sighed. "Okay, I can sew the zipper back on and probably fix the flowers. so tell Liv to tell Hannah that everything will be fine once we get there. And my whole family will be here tonight, tell Liv to remind Han of that too."
She took the exit that led into the inner city, driving past the NYU campus and her old apartment that Hannah shared with Brandon now. It was still weird for her not to live there anymore. She was closer to the hotel they were staying at then she'd thought, according to her GPS.
"So," he said as he set her phone down. "Hannah has gone Bridezilla, the world's gone to hell and as you can see, apparently cosplayers will be crashing the wedding." He pointed toward a few convention attendees who were walking down the street toward the Convention Center.
"Well, that explains the group of Batman's I just saw." She muttered.
He groaned. "This weekend's gonna be hell. Why couldn't she have picked another date?"
"Because everyone wanted to get married this year," she answered. "And she wanted to be able to go to the festivities for Brandon's sister's wedding later in the year."
This was going to be the sixth wedding so far this year that she'd known about from her Facebook or Instagram feed, and she's pretty sure there were still another few on the list, including at least two more that they had been invited to.
Another text from Olivia interrupted their conversation.
4:50 - WHERE ARE YOU GUYS?
Ned looked up to check their surroundings. They were near the front of the Convention Center now. He texted her that they were a block away when the phone buzzed again. "Apparently if we don't get there soon Liv said she is going to kill Hannah and there will be no wedding."
Katie snickered, shaking her head. "Tell her to take a Xanax," she said.
Olivia was not a patient woman. The young woman had a low tolerance for bullshit, stupidity, and drama. And right then, it sounded like Hannah was in full drama queen mode. One that only her best friend had been able to handle since middle school. No wonder their friend was about to snap.
They finally made their way around to the Hyatt Regency hotel and opted to spend the extra money on valet parking. Considering the convention and the downpour going on, it was worth the expense. Ned grabbed their bags and Katie checked them in, grateful that she had made their reservations as soon as Hannah and Brandon announced when and where they were holding their wedding last year.
They rode up to their room in an elevator packed with a group of lots of people with elaborately styled hair and eccentric clothing who were talking excitedly and pointing at the various cosplayers. After dropping off their bags and texting Olivia that they'd arrived, they headed downstairs to the second floor and the Constellation Ballroom.
Hannah was there, talking heatedly with one of the banquet staff, her arms flailing wildly while the poor woman listened to whatever the bride was raving about. Leaning against one wall, they spotted Olivia, her thumbs moving angrily over the touchpad of her phone. In her pocket, Katie felt her phone vibrate. Rather than answer, they made their way over to the short-haired woman.
"Finally!" Olivia said. "Did you bring me anything to drink?"
"There's a bar outside," he reminded Liv as his arm wrapped around her waist.
"Yeah, but I'm not paying twelve bucks for a watered down Bloody Mary with Old Bay in it." Olivia huffed and rubbed her temple. "Like who in the fuck puts Old Bay in cocktails? That shit's for seafood, not drinks."
"We'll grab a beer after the rehearsal," she said.
"Fine, but your man is buying the first round." Olivia paused for a moment, casting her gaze over at Hannah. "Have you gotten your script yet?"
"We just got here," he said slowly.
"Oh, you're going to love it." Olivia cackled "I hope your alcohol tolerance is better than it used to be."
Ned felt his stomach sink. "Exactly what kind of wedding is this?"
Olivia sighed and then grinned. "Just wait and see."
BANG.
BANG.
BANG.
"Ngh," Katie groaned, rolling over and burying her face into Ned's shoulder.
BANG.
BANG.
BANG.
"Katie! Ned! Open up, damn it!" a high-pitched voice yelled.
"Wha?" Katie sat up, picking up her phone, which was flashing with several unread text messages. Her eyes widened as she noted the time: 11:45. "Shit!" They were supposed to be at brunch at eleven before prepping for the noon photoshoot. "Ned!" she hissed. "Wake up!" She shook his shoulder.
"Five more minutes…" he mumbled sleepily.
"We don't have five more minutes!" She said.
"What?" He groaned, rubbing his eyes.
"We both slept through our alarms and someone's outside banging on our door!" She said.
BANG.
BANG.
BANG.
"Katherine, open the goddamn door!" It was Hannah's voice again.
Ned jerked to a sitting position at the noise, apparently hearing it for the first time. "What the?"
"See?" She said.
"Katie, c'mon!" It was from Hannah again. From the sound of her voice, it seemed like she was on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
They looked at each other. "Right," he said. "You deal with the freaked out bride. I'll get in the shower."
Katie slid out of bed, not caring that she was only dressed in a tank top and a pair of Ned's old boxers. She opened the door to peer out into the hall, rubbing her eyes. "What's up?" She said, nonchalantly
As soon as the door opened, Hannah pushed her way inside. "Damn it, Katie! You're late!" Her best friend was dressed in her white jumpsuit that said BRIDE-TO-BE on the back in sparkling letters.
"I know, I know, sorry." She apologized up and down. "But we had to drive from Grandview and you and Brandon kept us up rehearsing until two am. We didn't get to bed until three. Not to mention-"
"We don't have time for excuses, it's fine. Where's your dress?" Hannah huffed.
She blinked to wake herself up more. "In the closet? What's really going on?"
"Put it on," Hannah said, throwing it at her. "Nothing's going on. My best friend and maid of honor was late to the wedding pictures before the ceremony."
"But I'm not ready," she replied. "I think you would rather me be late than stink up your wedding with my car funk."
"Oh, you're right. Good point." Hannah sank down onto the messy bed. "Wait, you didn't screw Ned on here yet, right?"
"No, we passed out the second we go in here last night." She laughed.
"Thank god," Hannah flopped back onto the bed and sighed. "Why didn't Brandon and I elope? Would you and Ned have come to Vegas with us?"
Katie flopped down next to her. "What's up, Han? You've never wanted to elope."
"Did you know my parent's offered me ten thousand dollars to elope or not get married at all so that our marriage wouldn't be in papers?" Hannah turned her head slightly. "They really didn't want their rich friends to know their daughter married a fireman and not some business guru."
She sighed, grabbing her hand. She hated Hannah's parents, even if they gave her best friend life. "It's not about them. This day is about you."
"Yeah, I guess that's why they're not coming. My dad's assistant called to tell me that this morning, so I don't know who's gonna walk me down the aisle anymore. Brandon's dad was going to, but his plane was delayed and he won't be here in time." Hannah whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. Her best friend usually had nerves of steel, but anything to do with her parents could make her cry at the drop of a hat. "Like I don't care that they aren't coming, it's just that they didn't even have the decency to call me themselves. How fucked is that?"
"I'm really sorry that your parents suck, Han. You deserve better," she pressed a kiss to her palm. "But hey, my parents will always be there for you. My dad would totally walk you down the aisle."
"It's not the same, Katie." Hannah sighed, more tears coming out now. Hannah cried openly and she did too. "As much as we pretend, I'm not your real sister and I'm not a Clancy. I'm not gonna steal your dad from you. You should be the first person he walks down the aisle."
"Hannah, it doesn't matter if you aren't my real sister. You have always had a place in the family," she reassured her as she wrapped her arm around her. "Who took us to our soccer games and dance competitions?"
"Your dad," Hannah sniffled.
"And who gave us a pep talk and took us for coffee on the drive to our first day of high school?"
"Your mom," Hannah whispered
"Exactly, you're a damn Clancy by default Hannah!" Katie explained, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "So grow a pair and ask my dad to walk you down the aisle at your wedding. You know he will do in a damn heartbeat."
"I know. I don't know what I would've done without your parents," Hannah sighed.
"Probably been super lonely and would've grown up to be a snob just like your parents," she laughed and rolled her eyes. "Thank God that didn't happen."
"Yeah, how long do you think you're gonna be?" Hannah asked.
"Well, if you go away, Ned and I should be downstairs in twenty minutes, thirty at the most." She explained.
"Okay," Hannah breathed. "I'm just freaking out. It's still raining, and the few covered locations we wanted to use have all been taken over by people dressed in funny costumes. I think I saw one guy carrying around a giant cross that was bigger than him."
"Jesus?" She asked.
"No, he was wearing a suit," Hannah muttered.
"So, corporate Jesus? Does that mean your parents approve of him?" She said, giggling a little.
It didn't make Hannah laugh as much as she wished and she sighed. "Oh, Han, just take a breath. Everything's gonna be fine. See if you can find my dad while I'm getting ready, okay?"
Hannah shrugged. "Ok. I'll see if I can." Her friend didn't move and looked around the hallway while chewing on her lip.
She just shook her head. "Look, Han, go. If you can grab me a croissant or a bagel or something, I will happily bear your children if you can't have any or whatever you need me to do because that's my job as your Maid of Honor. But before I can swoop in and save the day, I need you to leave so I can get naked and in the shower."
"Thanks, Katie," Hannah said, making a face. "And as beautiful as you are, that's not an image I really wanted to think about even if I've seen you naked more times than I can count. Besides, I think I should be able to have kids, so just concentrate on making babies with Ned Banks, but not before I get married, okay?"
Katie could not contain her laughter as she showed her friend the door. "Bye, Hannah," she said, shoving her out the door and almost into her dad, who barely managed to dodge out of the way. "Hey, dad," she called, "Han needs to talk to you, so she stops freaking out and rushing me."
Her dad looked her up and down. "Nice boxers, Katie."
"Hey, don't judge." She hastily replied. "It was the first thing I grabbed in an exhausted state. I thought they were my shorts."
"Ohhhhh." Her dad nodded and wrapped his arm around Hannah. "Right. That's totally what happened." He winked at her and she sighed. "Your mom and I'll take care of the bride-to-be. You get dressed."
She gave Hannah a thumbs up and a wink. "Ask him," she mouthed and then closed the door behind her. Slipping into the bathroom, she hastily shed her pajamas and stepped into the shower behind Ned.
"So, the bridezilla freakout was taken care of?" He asked, not even bothering to turn around.
"Yup," Katie replied, reaching around her boyfriend for the soap. "It was pretty rational. Her parents decided they aren't coming today."
"You're fucking kidding me right?" He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Of course. That's terrible."
"Yeah, so I gave her a pep talk and told her she should ask my dad to give her away. He's pretty much her dad too," she said, shrugging. "So she's on her way to get smothered by my parents with calming words and another Clancy pep talk."
He turned to look at her with a little smirk on his face. "Well good. She probably needs it." He ran his hands through his hair as the soap from it poured over his body as water spilled over his head. "I'm glad thing are looking up."
She nodded. "Now move. You're hogging all the hot water."
The two switched places, Katie leaning back to wet her hair. He took the soap from her and started lathering up her front. "Any chance we, uh, might have time for a quickie?" he asked, his eyes darkened with lust.
Katie giggled, enjoying his ministrations. God, she wanted to. "Regretfully, no. I think Han might blow her lid if we're any later to the pictures. Plus, she strictly said we can't until after she gets married when you came in here."
He threw his head back in laughter. "Yeah, you're probably right," he said.
She stood up on her tiptoes then and gave him a quick kiss, reaching down to grab his semi-hard erection lightly. "We should probably get moving, but hang on to this for me. I might want him later."