Gohan kept flexing his fingers, the feel of the cool metal band foreign to him. He'd never worn jewelry before. He and Lindsey sat side by side at the long wedding party table before the DJ booth, looking out over the great room. The chairs had been quickly moved and tables brought in and set to surround the dance floor. More long tables at the side had been laden with food and the bar was open. Their friends and family mingled throughout the room, a dull roar of conversation ringing over the room.
"Should we go be social?" Lindsey asked.
"Yeah!" Gohan grinned. "I want to meet the rest of your family!"
That wasn't exactly what Lindsey had been thinking, but she nodded and stood as Gohan pulled the chair out for her. Together they began to make their way through the crowd, shaking hands and giving hugs to their friends.
"There you are!" said a young man with dark hair.
"Hey, Bryson," Gohan smiled, extending a hand. He knew Lindsey's brother from the warehouse – they hadn't hung out together, but they were acquainted.
"That's Blake, dear," she corrected him. "They're identical."
"OH! I'm sorry," Gohan apologized.
Blake waved it off. "Everyone does that. It's nice to meet you."
Another young man with fiery red hair shook Gohan's hand as well. "I'm Danny," he introduced himself. He nodded at Lindsey, "I'm her favorite brother."
Lindsey rolled her eyes.
"How many brothers did you say you had again?" Gohan asked.
"Seven," Lindsey answered. "And two sisters."
"Where are they?" Gohan asked, scanning the crowd.
"Back in New York, if we're lucky," Blake said.
"No, they're here," Lindsey said.
Blake's blue eyes went wide. "Wow! Never thought I'd live to see the day."
"You don't get along with your sisters?" Gohan asked.
"They think they're better than the rest of us," Danny chimed in.
As if on cue, McKenzie and Kenna made their way through the crowd who stared at their stunning beauty as they passed; the sisters spotted Lindsey and Gohan, and walked swiftly towards them.
"You should run," Blake said in a warning voice, lifting a bottle of beer to his lips and turning slightly away.
"So this is the young man we've heard soooo much about," Kenna grinned. "How nice to meet you… uh…"
"Gohan," Lindsey said in an irritated voice. "His name is Gohan."
"Nice to meet you too," Gohan said nervously. He could see the family resemblance between his new wife and his sisters-in-law, yet there was a coldness to them that seemed very off from the rest of the family. He thought he understood everyone else's distaste for the sisters.
"Kenna," she said with a smug smile.
"McKenzie," the blonde said, the same expression on her face as her sister.
"Don't bother to say hi to your own brothers," Danny muttered.
"Hi," Kenna tossed at him. "The ceremony was…"
"Traditional," McKenzie said with a forced smile; her way of saying boring.
"So they said you girls live in New York?" Gohan asked, trying to make light conversation.
"Of course," Kenna answered. "Why waste our talents living anywhere else?"
"Except maybe our apartment in Paris," McKenzie added.
"Or the villa in Rome," Kenna nodded. "Not like a…" she looked around and wrinkled her nose "warehouse."
"Oh honey," McKenzie said to Lindsey, "don't take it that way! This place is…"
"Perfect, for you," Kenna completed McKenzie's sentence.
McKenzie's face split into a grin. "I'm sure you fit right in."
"Oh, look, Kenzie!" Lindsey cried. "There's grandma! Why don't you go tell her why you couldn't visit her for Christmas for the past four years."
McKenzie actually ducked and Kenna grabbed her by the arm and scurried away towards the caterer's tables. Gohan watched them go, blinking in disbelief. "They're adopted, right?"
Danny choked on his drink.
Blake snorted. "Let's hope they get really drunk and have embarrassing photos plastered all over Facebook."
"Gohan, aren't you going to introduce me to your bride?"
Gohan spun on the spot. "Grampa!"
The Ox King towered over everyone in the room, twice as tall as any of them and at least three times as wide. Lindsey couldn't help but think of the Harry Potter character Hagrid as she looked up at the man.
"Lins, this is my grandpa," Gohan beamed. "Grampa, this is Lindsey."
"Nice to meet you," the Ox King smiled.
"The pleasure's all mine, sir," she answered.
The Ox King gave Gohan a nudge with his elbow that nearly knocked Gohan over. "You hear that? Sir. She's a keeper, Gohan."
Gohan blushed and laughed.
"Hey, Ox! How ya been?" came Goku's voice.
"Oh hey there, Goku. Doing just fine!"
Chichi appeared next to her husband, beaming at her son and daughter-in-law. "It was a lovely wedding." She rushed forward and hugged them both, tears streaming down her face again.
"Oh Chichi," the Ox King said. "Don't cry, honey."
"I just can't believe my baby's all grown up and married," she sniffled.
"Come on," he said taking her by the shoulders and steering her towards a punch bowl. "Let's get you something to drink."
Goku chuckled as he watched them go.
"Dad?" Gohan said softly.
Goku turned. "I hope you two have a long and happy life together."
Gohan and Lindsey smiled at each other.
"I love you both," Goku said, stepping forward and hugging Gohan, then turning to Lindsey and hugging her too. "And I'm so proud to have you in our family."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention?" Mirror Man was standing at the DJ booth, Tumbler by his side. "It is now time for the bride and groom to have their first dance as husband and wife. If you could, please clear the dance floor!"
Gohan led Lindsey out onto the dance floor, spinning her to him as the music started to play from the speakers. There was a relief in that moment, the two of them dancing in the middle of the dance floor, Gohan leaning his forehead against hers, just as he had done the first time they'd danced. She smiled sweetly up at him as he sung softly with the music, "I knew I loved you before I met you, I think I dreamed you in to life."
Lindsey sighed contentedly as they swayed to the music. The stress that had been plaguing her vanished. The wedding was done and there was no more worrying about it. It almost seemed silly to her now. What Jenny had been saying was true – the only thing that mattered was Gohan. "You're all mine now," she whispered.
"I always have been," he whispered back.
Everyone at the reception seemed to be having a good time. The food was excellent, the music kept the dance floor full, and there was plenty to drink. Throughout the evening, guests kept congratulating Lindsey and Gohan.
Mirror Man's voice broke over the speakers once again. "I think it's time to toast this lovely couple! I believe the Maid of Honor has a few things to say."
Catie stood and smoothed her skirt as Lindsey and Gohan looked up at her. She was beaming once again. "Hi everybody! I'm Catie and I was lucky enough to be chosen as Lindsey's Maid of Honor. Lindsey and I met about a year ago when we were both studying as foreign exchange students in Japan. In the short amount of time we've known each other, I have learned that she is a truly gifted artist, a loyal friend, and a fierce warrior – as long as she isn't face-to-face with a snake in a pond."
Lindsey giggled.
"I am truly honored to have Lindsey as a friend. She is the most amazing person I've ever met in my life. She has stared down obstacles in her life that people twice her age couldn't even fathom, yet she is still a remarkably kind and compassionate person. And nothing makes me happier than seeing how happy she is with Gohan. He and I haven't always seen eye to eye, but I know in my heart there isn't anyone out there who would be better for my best friend. And I know that everyone here agrees with me because we're all here to support them. We've come from all corners of the world to be here tonight – America, Korea, Russia, Japan… It doesn't matter where we're from or what language we speak. Tonight is about one thing and one thing only – love. Lindsey, Gohan, I love you both and I wish you many, many years of light, laughter and love." Catie raised her champagne glass. "To Lindsey and Gohan!"
The crowd echoed her and drank from their own glasses.
Trunks stood, clearing his throat, and scratched the back of his neck nervously, "Ah I guess it's my turn now. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Trunks, I'm the best man and I was informed just last night that it's customary for me to give a speech. Thank you, Kolya, for the last second reminder." Trunks lifted his glass in appreciation and Kolya's voice rang out from somewhere in the crowd, "Now do not mess it up!"
Laughter rang out all around as Trunks struggled to keep a straight face. "First of all, I would like to say a big thank you to Yorgi and Yelena for providing such a wonderful ceremony for Gohan and Lindsey, and for inviting us all into their home on this special day. Thank you to everyone for coming. And thank you, ladies," Trunks smiled at the bridesmaids, "For giving us something nice to look at that we can still have a shot at." The crowd laughed. "As I begin this wedding speech one of the first thoughts that come to mind is... if I'm the best man... then why is Lindsey getting married to Gohan?"
There was a roar of laughter from the crowd and Lindsey's face went rather pink. Catie snickered and elbowed Lindsey.
Trunks continued, "I guess because today, I am just a really good man and Gohan is the best man. From speaking with Kolya about how to deliver a great best man speech, I learned that I am expected to sing the praises of the groom and tell you what a wonderful guy Gohan is. Unfortunately, I'm a bad singer and a bad liar."
Gohan was shaking his head, laughing.
Trunks turned to Gohan and Lindsey. "I need you guys to help me out, here. Lindsey, could you place your left hand on the table?"
She gave him a suspicious look, but did as she was asked.
"Gohan, put your hand on top of hers."
Gohan did and chuckled, wondering what Trunks was up to.
"Good. Now leave them there til I'm done." He looked to the crowd again. "Instead of boring you all with a bunch of stories like about the night we convinced Gohan to go drunken sledding with us or how Lindsey likes to beat people with the controller when she loses a video game…"
Both Gohan and Lindsey turned red in the face as everyone laughed again.
"I would like to say how beautiful Lindsey looks. I have always known Lindsey to be a very kind-hearted girl. But it was only today that I found out how brave she is. C'mon, we all know it takes guts to marry someone like Gohan! Lindsey, tonight, you look so gorgeous and I think every guy in this room will agree with me when I say it is a very sad day for us as a beautiful, wonderful girl is officially taken off the market. And, I have to say, every GIRL in the room will agree with me when I say that today… is just another day."
Jenny covered her mouth and snorted in laughter, Sabriena nodded her head enthusiastically as the room laughed again and Gohan threw his head back, laughing too. Trunks pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and made a show of looking at it.
"Gohan and I have been friends for quite awhile now and he is one amazing guy. And I would just like to say that Gohan is a hard-working, genuine, good-looking, charming, intelligent, and… uh…" Trunks peered closely at the paper in his hand, "Gohan, man, I can't read your writing."
Lindsey laughed as Gohan buried his face in her shoulder. Seventeen clapped and pumped his fist in the air.
"I believe that marriage is a wonderful thing for Gohan. It will teach him loyalty, self-restraint and control. And it will develop in him a sense of responsibility, fair play and so many other qualities he wouldn't need if he had just stayed single. Gohan, to have a happy marriage, you only have to do one thing. You have to set rules and establish who's the boss – then do everything she says."
Lindsey grinned and nodded as Gohan bit his lip and laughed.
"Seriously, though," Trunks said, "I know that these two are meant for each other. The things I've seen them accomplish, the things they have overcome, the way they can brighten the room and make everyone around them feel welcome… it amazes me every day. I can't think of any two people more perfect for each other than Gohan and Lindsey. You guys are truly the best friends I've ever had and I hope that we will always be friends because I know the two of you are going to do great things, and I want to witness it first-hand."
Lindsey smiled kindly at Trunks as Gohan swallowed a lump in his throat.
"And speaking of hands, there's a reason I had you place your hand on top of hers, buddy," Trunks said. He leaned down close and said, "I just wanted you to enjoy these last few minutes. Cause this is the last time in your life you will ever have the upper hand."
Gohan laughed again and Lindsey giggled.
Trunks stood up straight again, raising his glass in the air and said, "To Gohan and Lindsey!"
The reception carried well into the night, the music becoming louder and faster as the guests consumed more drinks and let loose on the dance floor. At one point, the girls set up a dollar dance to earn Gohan and Lindsey some spending money for their honeymoon where guests were asked to pay to dance with either of them. Most guests offered a few dollars to dance with either the bride or the groom, but Kolya upped the ante, strolling forward and making a big production of dropping a huge wad of cash into the big clear hurricane glass Sabriena was holding. Lindsey turned expectantly to dance with him, but he brushed past her, grabbing Gohan and spinning him out onto the dance floor. Lindsey doubled over in laughter as Gohan turned rather red yet again and many in the crowd cheered.
Bulma, not wanting to be outdone, polished off her glass of champagne, handed Paige to Vegeta (who looked rather uncomfortable and hissed "WOMAN!"), marched up and dropped just as much, if not more money into the glass than Kolya and took Lindsey by the hand to dance.
Lindsey was still laughing as she and Bulma danced together. "You're the best, Bulma," Lindsey giggled.
"You're not so bad either," Bulma smiled. "I think you really make Gohan happy."
"I hope so," Lindsey said earnestly.
It wasn't long before Catie decided to rescue Gohan and cut in on his dance with Kolya. Kolya didn't seem to mind and went back to Sabriena with more money to dance with Lindsey.
"Thank you," Gohan whispered loudly to Catie.
It would have been impossible for Kolya to hear it, but he must have read Gohan's lips because he shouted, "YOU LOVED IT."
Soon after, there was a call for the bouquet toss and Lindsey made her way to the front of the room with the throwing bouquet.
"All of the single ladies in the room, please make your way to the floor," Mirror Man said. "Now, the rules are: no shoving! No scratching! No hair pulling!"
Lindsey grinned and turned her back to the group of young women behind her. She held the bouquet with both hands, bouncing as she counted, "One! Two! THREE!" The flowers sailed over her head and most of the group dove for it – Sabriena stood at the back, unmoving, looking at her nails. She suddenly looked up as the other ladies clambered for the bouquet.
"What?!" she asked in an exasperated tone.
"I got it!" Jenny cried, disentangling herself from the other girls, the bouquet held high above her head.
Piccolo's eyes widened and he swallowed hard.
Lindsey started to make her way off the dance floor when Mirror Man stopped her. "Nuh-uh, missy! We gotta do the garter toss now."
"Oh!" she said, blushing.
"Gohan, get yo' happy married ass out here," Mirror Man said.
Gohan walked to her, looking a bit uncomfortable again and Trunks followed.
"Your seat, m'lady," Trunks grinned and threw himself on the floor on his hands and knees.
Lindsey ogled at him for a minute before Trunks said through gritted teeth, "Just sit down, will ya?"
She cast a nervous glance around at the crowd who began to cat-call at her and she sat on Trunks' back. She was suddenly aware of how high on her leg the garter was, but there was no way to adjust it. Gohan was going to have to go looking for that thing.
Gohan stood before her, flexing his fingers again and closing his eyes for a brief moment, going over the plan in his head again. He couldn't believe Trunks and Kolya had convinced him to do this. They'd gone over it for days, swearing each other to secrecy to never tell a soul that they had rehearsed it.
"Single guys, to the dance floor!" Mirror Man commanded and began to blare "Pour Some Sugar on Me" over the speakers. A large group of men formed on the edge of the dance floor.
Gohan opened his eyes as he took a couple steps back. Lindsey's eyes went wide and she asked, "What are you doing?"
He didn't answer her as the drum beats blasted over the speakers and he began to dance. He mouthed the words to the song as if singing along, playing air-guitar. Lindsey placed her hands on either side of her face in shock. The crowd roared their encouragement. Gohan spun in tight circles on his heel, sliding smoothly down into the splits and back up. Lindsey could feel Trunks shaking with laughter under her. Gohan danced closer to her, leaning over and continuing to lip-sing as he brought his face close to hers. He turned suddenly, his hands on his knees, wiggling his hips in her lap. She shrieked in laughter as the crowd screamed and cat-called. He straightened and danced forward, concentrating on the steps. When he'd neared the line of men standing at the edge of the dance floor, he turned towards her and took three long running steps towards her, dropped to his knees and slid across the dance floor, skidding to a stop at the edge of her skirt.
"I'm hot, sticky sweet! From my head, to my feet!"
Gohan dramatically lifted Lindsey's skirt as she extended her right leg to him. She expected him to reach under the skirt to retrieve the garter, but then he did something that completely shocked her. He ducked his whole upper body under the skirt. She screamed in laughter and surprise. Gohan stuck his hands back and raised them to show the crowd he wasn't using them.
"Oh my, oh my, oh my!" Chichi cried, covering her face with her hands.
"YEAH GOHAN!" Bulma screamed. "THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT!"
"No more wine for you," Vegeta said in a determined sort of way and removed the glass from his wife's hand.
Gohan didn't know what he had expected to see when he dove under the skirt, but smiled to himself as he saw his bride's thigh-high white fishnet stockings, garter belt straps, and a bit of the lace panties she wore. It wasn't part of the plan, but he couldn't help himself. He kissed the inside of her thigh, lightly scraping his teeth against it.
Obviously, Lindsey hadn't expected it and gave a big jump, her hands coming down quickly on Gohan's back to steady herself from falling off of Trunks. Her eyes were as big as saucers. Gohan snickered at her reaction, still keeping his hands in view of the audience, and spotted the hot pink and black lace garter around his wife's thigh. He hooked it in his teeth, slowly withdrawing from under her skirt, tugging the garter down her leg. The guests cheered as he slid it over her heel and stood, pulling it from his mouth with his hand.
He turned to look at Lindsey, stretched the garter between his thumbs over his shoulder and released it like a rubber band. Several of the guys dived forward, scrambling for the garter, and Kolya and Seventeen each managed to get a hold of part of it. They wrestled on the floor for a minute as everyone laughed; in the end, Seventeen stood with the garter clenched in his fist, raising his arm victoriously as Kolya tapped his fingers on the floor, narrowing his eyes up at Seventeen.
Keeping his torso parallel to the floor, Trunks stood, rising Lindsey into the air slightly and Gohan stretched his hands to her as she slid from Trunks' back.
"That was awesome," she laughed, kissing her husband.
"Told ya she'd love it," Trunks smiled.
It was getting close to midnight when Memphis stood near the DJ booth with a microphone in his hand. The music toned down and the crowd turned to him. He was smiling widely once again. "I would just like to say a few words," Memphis said, "Don't worry, I'm not gonna interfere with the midnight count down. But how appropriate for Lindsey and Gohan to choose this evening for their wedding. In just a few minutes, it will be the New Year. A time of new beginnings, new promises, and a new life together. So, in honor of this new life that the two of you are forming together, I'd like to give one last gift." He motioned them forward and reached into his suit jacket, withdrawing a long envelope. He gave each of them a long look and then placed the envelope in Gohan's hand. "Congratulations, guys."
Lindsey tilted her head in question at Memphis as Gohan opened the envelope and unfolded the paper inside it. His eyes went wide as he stared at it.
"What is it?" Lindsey smiled. The whole room had gone completely silent.
"Memphis, you shouldn't have done this," Gohan said quietly.
Memphis was still smiling. "I wanted to."
Gohan looked at Lindsey in disbelief. "He bought us a house."
Lindsey blinked her eyes several times in shock. "What? Where?" she asked as a cheer went up among the crowd for the newlyweds.
"On the other side of Mount Pazou," Gohan breathed. He looked to Memphis again. "I don't know what to say."
"Say 'thank you'," Memphis laughed.
Although Gohan didn't know Memphis very well, he threw his arms around the man and hugged him tightly. "This means a lot to us."
Memphis nodded with a smile as Lindsey threw herself at him and hugged him too. There was a smashing of glass and everyone jumped to see Yorgi standing there, a smashed bottle of absinthe at his feet. He looked murderous. A heavy silence hung in the air and Kolya rushed forward, pausing in the middle of the room, looking confused.
Yelena hurried to Yorgi, trying to usher him from the room, but he brushed her off. He spat the Russian word for "traitor" at Memphis and stared at him, his nose twitching. Kolya strode forward and spun his elder brother towards the door. Yorgi threw Kolya off and continued out of the room of his own volition.
Lindsey was blinking back tears. That was the first time she'd seen Yorgi all day.
Mirror Man lowered the lights as workers hired for the reception hurried forward to clean up the alcohol and glass on the floor. "Here we go, ya'll," Mirror Man said as a large screen flickered to life on the wall. The ball in New York City was getting ready to drop once again for their time zone. Guests scurried to find their partners on the dance floor as the time showed thirty seconds to midnight.
"This is it," Gohan smiled, sliding the paper into a pocket inside his jacket and turning to Lindsey.
"The last event of the night," she responded.
"Well, the last we're going to do here," he grinned.
She giggled.
"TEN!" the wedding guests cried.
"I love you, Gohan."
"NINE!"
"I love you more, Lindsey."
"EIGHT!"
"I can't wait to get out of here."
"SEVEN!"
"And start our life together?"
"SIX!"
"Just the two of us."
"FIVE!"
"This is the longest ten seconds ever."
"FOUR!"
She threw her head back and laughed.
"THREE!"
"Seriously."
"TWO!"
"Well then, kiss me," she smiled.
"ONE!"
In an instant he pulled her to him, their lips meeting.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Sophie pulled a cord at one corner of the room and gold confetti rained down on the crowd.
"I'm glad I don't have to clean that up," Chichi said as she and Goku broke apart. He had enthusiastically scooped his wife into his arms to give her a New Year's kiss.
The screen on the wall dimmed and music rang out again.
"Can we go now?" Gohan asked.
Lindsey nodded and pulled him by the hand, searching for Goku and Chichi.
"Hey guys," Goku greeted them.
"We're gonna get going," Gohan told them.
"Oh!" Chichi said. "O-okay, Gohan. You two be safe and careful and have a good time on your trip."
They hugged Gohan's parents before heading to the wedding party table.
"You guys heading out?" Piccolo asked
"Yeah, we have to check into the hotel and then we have a flight to catch first thing in the morning," Gohan answered.
The bridesmaids were looking a bit sullen at that moment.
"Now come on, girls," Lindsey grinned. "We'll all be back together in Japan in two weeks."
The girls glanced at each other, and Catie shook her head sadly. "No, babe, we won't."
