'Oh-em-gee.'

Shane's eyes flew open and fixed on the ceiling the moment he felt even remotely awake on Friday morning, as he uttered the acronym with each syllable getting equal emphasis.

It was his wedding day.

The full weight of that knowledge had him sitting up in the queen-sized bed he'd shared with Body, and his expression was that of Alice seeing Wonderland for the first time. Unable to stay still, Shane went to the window to look out on the day. It was barely seven in the morning, and though the ceremony wasn't schedule until one, he knew that it wouldn't be a morning of lazing around.

Normally, he would have gone to the fridge for a small snack or a cold drink but that damn stupid tradition of fasting had him redirecting his attention to his iPhone where he looked up the weather forecast and swore ripely.

'Fucking hell!'

'Whassa matter, man?' Body asked sleepily, scratching at his long mink locks. 'Why are you so loud?'

'Weather forecast today is going to be low of eighty-eight, high of one-oh-two.'

'Well, we're going to be outside and we're going to be high up which might spare us a little bit. Plus there might be some breeze. Hungry?'

'Kind of, but not really.' Shane shook his head. 'Even without the imposed fast, I'm way too juiced to keep anything down.'

'Okay, okay, take a breath man,' Body laughed. He'd been friends with Shane since Body had move to the city nearly twenty years before, so he knew the signs of his pal about to hyperventilate into unconsciousness. 'Why don't you go get a shower, bro, take it easy. You want coffee, or- nope, sorry, I forgot. Does that mean the other guys are cut off too?'

'They're eating with the bridal party in the restaurant as we speak. Once they're done at eight-thirty, they are coming up here.'

'So can I nosh some of those bar nuts or get some room service or what?'

'I don't care, just don't eat around me, it's mean and I don't want to punch you on my wedding day.'

The butterflies doing a high-kicking can-can in his stomach started up an encore presentation so Shane pressed a had to his belly and bolted for the bathroom in case he was going to spew, just like Jojo had on Evil Meredith the night before. He was sorry to have missed that one, for sure, as he would have been the first one there taking pictures.

But this was only a passing thought as he turned on the taps to run water for a shower before relieving himself to accomplish three of the old adage 'shit shower and shave' before the big day really got rocking. Once under the hot spray of water, Shane tried to let his mind clear but all thoughts centred to Alexis and praying to God the wine had turned due to a bad corking job like the stuff for the rehearsal dinner had.

Too many thoughts crowding in, Shane realized as he absently. Sighing to try and get his nerves under control he zipped back the curtain and let out a yell. 'Jesus Christ, Body!'

'Nothing I haven't seen in the shower myself, bro,' Body commented, but pulled the door partially shut for his boy's sense of modesty; last thing he needed was Shane having a heart attack. 'There's a woman named Helen for you on the phone, says she's the events co-ordinator here and there's a slight problem with the banquet room.'

'Oh fuck me.'

'Sorry, that's for Faisal only.'

Shane laughed at his friend's quip though his nerves were frozen in fear. Wrapping a towel around his waist he left the bathroom and picked up the handset of the landline. 'This is Shane.'

'Shane, good morning, it's Helen from Special Events, how are you?'

'Stressed. What's going on?'

'We've had a problem with the AC unit in the room decorated for your reception, and unfortunately, your ice sculptures that were delivered last night have all melted.'

'Melted,' Shane repeated in disbelief, dragging a hand over his face. 'So now what, Helen?'

'Your gifts were all on tables as requested, nothing on the floor so they weren't ruined. As well, the flowers and those decorations are fine, but the floor and carpet are in total ruins, we won't be able to get a clean-up crew in there until at least ten this morning just to assess the damage.'

'That's just great! We've gone through absolute hell planning our wedding and now we all have to wear rubber boots for dancing?'

'No, sir.' Helen's voice was strained in the way most people sounded when they were trying not to lose their minds. 'What we are going to do is move the reception to the open air roof-top where the ceremony is taking place while you and your guests have pictures done.'

'Helen, we're having our pictures on that rooftop as well, we are going to be there until at least three in the afternoon.'

'Oh dear. Oh, dear. Okay. Let me see what I can do for you. I will call you back shortly.'

Shane said nothing just hung up the phone and without thinking twice, headed back to the bathroom where he promptly began to dry-heave into the toilet, spitting out foam and fluid. Body watched him, said nothing, as he knew there was nothing he could say.

'Dude, what's up?'

'The reception room is flooded from the ice sculptures Miss Agnes got us. The AC busted and they melted in the room overnight, ruining the floors and now Helen is scrambling to find somewhere to put us for the reception. Oh what fresh hell is this?' Shane moaned at the knock on the door.

'Probably Dave and the Ry-Sposito monster. I got it, then I'll head down to talk to this Helen. You just focus on you right now, man.'

Shane nodded and heard Body leave the bedroom for the sitting area, welcome in the men while he cupped his hand under the faucet for water and rinsed his mouth. He heard the murmur of voices, slapping of shoulders, the shutting of the hotel room's door and went into the bedroom to find the white silk boxers he's picked up especially to wear under his tux. He found one of the summer-weight robes and tied it on, then went to find his friends all in the sitting area by the room's kitchenette. All three of them were already looking sweaty and Shane knew none of them had been outside yet.

'Hey, groom, happy wedding day!' Esposito said cheerfully, getting to his feet and giving Shane a hug. 'Body told us what happened, and we think we've got a solution he's going to talk to Helen about.'

'Yeah?'

'Yeah, we thought, we're pretty close to the Tesla Concorde here, right?' Ryan looked around. 'What if we scare up some limos or hansom cabs to take everyone over there for photos and then we come back and party on the rooftop that has been changed from the ceremony venue into the reception?'

'That could work,' Shane mused, felt his stomach roil again. 'I just don't want Alexis to be freaking out.'

'I just talked to Lanie on the way up here, and Alexis is doing great, they are getting their hair and nails done as we speak,' Dave informed the ship-wrecked looking groom. It was the truth, though at this point even if Alexis was on fire and running naked in the streets, he'd tell Shane she was just great too. It was all about keeping the bride and groom calm this morning. 'I heard her dress is gorgeous.'

'Then again, she could rock a wet paper bag,' Esposito added, hoping to get his friend to smile. It worked as Shane let out a half-laugh. 'Now listen, man. Gideon got here just as we were getting on the elevator, which means that we're going to get ourselves all hot and manly for the wedding and this will work out. You and Alexis will have a beautiful wedding and a great party afterward.'

'Thanks Javi.'

Sure enough, there was another knock on the door and Dave let in Gideon Meyers, followed by his granddaughter Sosanna, and also with Beckett and RJ. Seeing the little man made Shane feel the most at ease he'd been since waking up that morning.

'Shane! Happy weddin' day!' RJ raced over, gave him a huge hug, his dark blue eyes shining. 'You the 'room today an' Alessis is a puh-retty puh-rincess buh-ride. You 'cited?'

'I've never been more excited for something in my life,' Shane replied honestly, holding up his fist for RJ to bump knuckles with him. 'But right now, I have to get ready and it's going to take a couple of hours, so you be sure to listen to your mumum and the other grown-ups, okay?'

'Okay. I see you soon! I gonna be so err-sisible in my tessi-do!'

RJ gave him a little kiss on the cheek and headed out the door with Beckett, babbling away about looking 'sha'p fo' Tah-rini', making the other men laugh while Gideon and Sosanna set up their tools. 'There should be five, I was told,' the man said, looking around. 'Where is the one with the girlie hair?'

'Body will be back in a few,' Shane started, then saw the door open, Body slipping his key into his pocket and nodding.

'Okay. Talked to Helen. She is booking limousines for the entire wedding, not just the wedding party but the whole wedding guests and all, to go to the Tesla Concorde Botanical Gardens for photos and back while they reset the rooftop terrace.'

'See bro?' Ryan squeezed Shane's shoulder as the man stood up. 'Everything is going to be just great for you and Alexis today.'