Sergeant Benton Fraser had many thoughts in his head as he waited patiently for his soon-to-be bride to appear.
The last months had been both wonderful and trying.
The trip to Miami had been the first of several visits with Meg to places around the country. The Consulate posts were all operating the best they could under the circumstances at hand.
He had made a few suggestions. And one request in support of a local request in Dallas for another Mountie to be posted there. They truly were understaffed.
While in Miami, he and Meg had taken the week of personal time. While he would never adapt permanently to such an environment, there was a certain amount of fun that visiting had engendered.
He found out that Meg absolutely loved warm beaches. Of all types. The both of them had spent three of the seven days at different beaches, as well as an hour every morning.. The second beach destination was a revelation: Margaret "Meg" Thatcher was far more comfortable in her person when she had a man she didn't have to worry about offending.
The second beach had been Haulover beach, halfway between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. It was Florida's oldest nude beach having achieved that status eight years earlier.
Meg Thatcher had brought him there, set up her towel, looked around, and then summarily stripped herself down to nothing. She then looked at him expectantly. "Are you certain?" he asked.
"Look around. It is clothing optional. And many people here should have taken the option. We have nothing to be embarrassed about. No one knows us here. Consider it an adventure."
He sighed and did as she expected. Soon, he was down to nothing as well.
After making certain the sun screen was properly applied to both of them they had sunbathed. Ben noted that there was nothing sexual about the experience. It was a family beach – several people had brought children.
Still, he could hardly see a naked Meg Thatcher and gloat within his mind that his fiancé was more beautiful than the other women present.
He was biased in her direction and was not ashamed to admit it.
During the trip, they had visited the local Vecchios and Ma. She had been overjoyed at their becoming engaged. And then forced them to a date.
Like Francesca and Ray Kowalski, there was no true reason to wait. Those two had more reason for marrying quickly – Francesca had been expecting since the end of May. His own fiancé was a bit jealous and informed him that they would not wait either. Meg's only demand was that children would be conceived in the early fall so that he was not up north when the baby came.
And so the last months had been establishing the new normal and preparing for a wedding.
The new normal had come about. Ray Vecchio had decided not to retire. He and his brother-in-law-to-be worked together and Constable Simpson worked with them. On occasion, he was asked for his perspective or assistance and he liked that he could do field work with them when possible.
Francesca Vecchio and Stanley Kowalski were to be married in the same location and with the same audiences three hours apart. The idea of a double wedding was kaboshed because both parties wanted the other couple in their wedding parties.
Both sets of brides and grooms were given an hour to change over with time added in for photos. Francesca would have two hours and was nervous about having enough time but she thought it would work out.
They would have a combined reception.
His best man was Ray Kowalski with Ray Vecchio, Constables Turnbull and Simpson. Meg's Maid of Honor was Francesca, with Maggie being in her bridal party as well as Julie Frobisher and an old friend of hers from her past.
Ma Vecchio had been given the honor of being the Groom's Mother. Buck Frobisher had been asked to stand as the Groom's Father.
Fraser had snuck him another dose of Beano just in case.
Ray Vecchio would give Frannie away. Ray Kowalski obviously had both parents.
Ray had himself, Simpson, Vecchio (doing double duty) and Lt. Welsh. The Lieutenant had been honored to be asked. He would also be the one who did the father/daughter dance at the reception. Frannie had Meg, her sister, Maggie, and France Fennety. Chantell Doherty was not available though planned to come and visit later.
Fraser did not know that half the members of the Bride's party had been in bed with the two in the past, though he had been aware of France's former involvement with Ray Kowalski.
The entire day was a hodge podge but for the two pairs, it worked.
Maggie had been in a relationship with Tracy Jenkins, her fellow Constable. Both had come. Other former students of his had also come if they could. There were ten, each in full dress. Superintendant Charles Meers was also present.
Meg had been torn between a full gown and Mess Dress 3. The final deciding factor was that Mess Dress had a blue skirt rather than red. And if she couldn't wear red, she would go with white.
In fact, he was wearing white gloves, weddings being one time RCMP dress regulations could be altered and he had gotten special dispensation. Black gloves were unsuitable for a groom and Meg didn't like the bare hands look – she had wanted something special. They would be stripped off and switched with the black before the photos were taken as they exited the ceremony under the pennons held in an arch above them as they walked out of the church.
When he stood as best man, Ray had told him the actual dress uniform was fine.
There were a lot of uniforms in the crowd. Mountie red was interspersed with Chicago PD blue. Francesca was all for people wearing dress uniforms – everyone except her getting married was a cop. There was no reason to ignore that. Ray would be in his dress uniform. He would wear the white gloves when he was standing as groom.
Meg and he would immediately travel to Inuvik. Maggie had made certain his father's cabin was ready as a honeymoon destination. Meg was perfectly happy with staying indoors most of the time they were on the honeymoon.
Her suggestion of that destination had been a surprise. She had also arranged for an Inuit ceremony for them right before they closed themselves away. He had been truly moved at her initiative.
The wedding march suddenly sounded. He turned to look for his bride's entrance. When she appeared in the beautiful white gown, she looked so beautiful and ….
A/N: This is where I decided to end this. He was overwhelmed so his mind blanked. I could have written more but other than the actual getting married I didn't have much interest. I gave details on the other ceremony but I sufficiently have covered those two and their mindsets in the story. As far as whether they do anything other than traditional as far as the OC France ... that's their business and no one needs to know.