Welcome back everyone! Thanks for being so patient with me. This is a short chapter, but I thought I'd go ahead and give it to you guys. Just a short little look to Joey and Mai's wedding. Enjoy!

"Stop looking so grim, Joey," Tristen scolded, "Anyone would think you don't want to get married."

"Of course I do," Joey defended quickly, "I just hoped…"

"That Yugi would be here," Tristen finished quietly, "I know."

Silence fell between them as Joey continued tying his tie. The black suit was less uncomfortable than it once was. The years working at Kaiba Corp had really changed him. He was lucky to have the job, but he knew it wouldn't have happened if Yugi and Kaiba hadn't left. In some ways, them disappearing was a twisted blessing, but it was one that Joey would return in a heartbeat.

Well, maybe not all of it. He was thrilled to be here today; about to marry Mai with Tristen as his best-man and Duke standing as a groomsman. If he were to change anything about today, it would be that Yugi would be standing by his side as well.

"So where are you and Mai going for your honeymoon?" Tristen changed the subject as he took Joey's place in front of the mirror straightening his own tie, "And I swear if you say something cliche, like Paris or Hawaii, I will punch you."

"She wants to go to Africa," Joey replied with a wry smile.

"Not Egypt?" Tristen faced him incredulously. "You are not spending your honeymoon following a dead end."

"It was her idea," Joey defended, "Yugi has, or had, connections to Egypt, maybe we'll find something we missed before. Besides, we're touring lots of countries over there. We'll do some traditional tourist stuff."

"You'd better," Tristen threatened, "I expect touristy pictures when you get back."

"And here I was expecting you to demand souvenirs."

"That's a given," Tristen grinned, "You have money now, I expect something nice."

Joey punched him playfully on the shoulder. "Just for that you're getting a keychain from the airport."

"I'll give you a list of acceptable gifts before the day is out."

"And I'll be sure to get each and everything you put on it. I'll probably give them to Tea though and replace your gifts with Malaria ridden mosquitoes. You are caught up on your shots, right?"

"Why you-!"

Tristen jumped on Joey and the two of them fell to the floor, wrestling it out like in the old days. That was, until Joey cried mercy for the sake of his suit and Tristen backed down. The two sat down and fixed their clothes and hair, nerves setting back in. In less than an hour, he would be walking down that aisle.

"If...if you do happen to actually find Yugi," Tristen broke the silence hesitantly, "Do you have any idea of what you'll say to him?"

"I don't know, man," Joey heaved a sigh and dropped his head, "I've thought about it a lot and I guess it depends on the circumstances. Was he kidnapped? Did he go by himself? Why did he do it? I have a list of questions."

"What if he runs again? There's no guarantee that he wants to come back, or even talk to us again."

Joey gave a dry, humorless chuckle as he looked back up at his friend. "As if Mai would let him do anything different. I'm with you about the whole 'chasing a deadend' thing, but she's determined. I don't want to stop looking, I just don't think Egypt is the place to do it. Seems too obvious really. If by some miracle we find him, I'm sure Mai would do nothing less than stuff him in her luggage to make sure he comes home."

"One hell of a souvenir," Tristen grinned.

A knock on the door interrupted them, bringing them back to reality. While Tristen went to answer it, Joey ran his hands nervously through his hair. For all his talk and all his dreaming, he was actually going to marry Mai Valentine.

Tristen opened the door carefully, checking who was on the other side before opening it more widely to allow Tea in. He had volunteered his own security team for the wedding, but they learned you could never be too careful when it came to the King of Games.

Just last week, an enthusiastic fangirl had confessed her undying love, and when Joey turned her down, she had started ranting and raving about how Mai only loved him for his money and position and how she loved him for everything else. She then latched onto his arm and refused to let go. It had taken a team of four men to actually detach her and they had found some worrying items on her when she was searched and detained. Namely an item she identified as a 'love potion' and was convinced if she could get Joey to drink it, he would fall in love with her instead.

"You ready?" Tea asked, noticing his messy hair and immediately began fussing over it.

"As ready as I'll ever be I guess. How's Mai?"

"Anxious. Nervous. Excited to see you."

"Oh. Good. I thought it was just me."

"Who would have thought that you would be the first of us to get married?" Tea teased, giving up with Joey's hair. It wasn't going to behave, not after Joey had already messed it up so much.

"You're not far behind," Joey reminded her, gesturing to the glittering ring on her finger.

While Tea had been in America, she and Duke had grown close through all the time they spent together and only a couple months ago, Duke had proposed. He had even moved to Japan permanently so that Tea could work PR for Kaiba Corp. They were getting married this time next year.

"Guess I better get on the ball," Tristen joked, "I'd hate to be the odd man out."

"Serenity is getting impatient,

"When I first asked her out, you threatened to kill me. Now you're telling me to marry her. Make up your mind!"

"Yeah, well, she threatened to...do things... if I didn't stay out of her love life," Joey winced as he remembered the creative threats he didn't know his sweet sister was capable of. "She got Mai on board too, so there was no way I was going to win any kind of battle there. I just hope you never make her angry."

"It's always the quiet ones," Tristen quipped.

"What was that?"

Tristen and Joey jumped about a mile into the air while Tea stifled a giggle into her hand. Serenity stood innocently behind Tristen's shoulder, having snuck up on them during their conversation.

"Don't do that!" Joey yelped, "Are you trying to give me a heart attack on my wedding day?"

"You? Never," Serenity raised her eyebrows, "Tristen on the other hand…"

"I'm sorry?" Tristen tried, edging away carefully.

"You will be," Serenity promised, smile never leaving her face, "But for now, Mai sent me to after Tea. You forgot the thing you were supposed to be delivering."

Serenity handed Joey a piece of carefully folded stationery and plucked up another one from the dresser. "I assume you're done with it?" she waved it in front of him.

The action went unnoticed by the person it was for since his eyes were currently locked on the letter in front of him.

"He's done," Tristen answered instead, ushering the two girls towards the door, "Go back to Mai and we'll see you soon."

"Was he done?"

Serenity cheerfully handed over the letter. Mai took it, focusing on stopping her hand from shaking. She wondered if Joey had put as much heart into his letter as she had put into hers.

"Joey had the same look on his face," Serenity said, "Whatever you're worried about, I'm sure you're both on the same page."

Mai shot her a grateful smile and opened Joey's letter.

Mai,

I tried to do this right and be super romantic and stuff, but I failed miserably. It wasn't me. I figured you would rather read my words rather than something that sounded like somebody else wrote it.

I've missed you like crazy all day. We have always faced important things together, so not being able to see you before what is arguably the most important day of our lives is almost like a nightmare. I would rather face Marik a thousand more times than have to spend another day being separated from you. Fortunately, I won't have to do that after today. I can still hardly believe you said 'yes'.

You and I make one hell of a team and whatever life throws at us, so long as we're together, we can face it head on. I love you, Mai Valentine, and nothing will ever change that. I'll see you soon (I'll be the one standing next to the priest).

Love,

Joey

Mai smiled at Joey's letter. It might not be the most eloquent thing on the planet, but it was pure Joey. Tristen and Duke hadn't let him squirm his way out of handwriting it either. Joey's handwriting had improved since he now had a job that required he be able to read his own notes, but it was still only a step above chicken scratch.

"Told you," Serenity grinned at her future sister-in-law when she noticed she was done reading

Mai turned around to engulf the smaller woman in a hug. "You know, when I was a little girl, I would have never dreamed that my life would turn out this way, but I have never been more happy to have my life go astray from my dreams. I couldn't ask for a better husband, sister, or friends," she included Tea in her hug. "You guys are the best and have stuck by both me and Joey through so much. Thank you."

"I have rarely seen Joey as happy as when he is with you," Serenity said, "You have helped both of us just as much."

"I hope I don't turn this sappy on my wedding day," Tea laughed, prompting the other two women to join with her.

"Tea, queen of friendship and moral-giving speeches, not getting sappy? The world will come to an end," Mai joked.

Faint music started floating through the room, instantly sobering the three. The wedding was starting and Mai would be walking down the aisle in just a couple of minutes. Mai felt nerves set back in. She wanted to marry Joey, there was no doubt about that, but it was starting to set in just how many people were out there.

Serenity, always one to be calm and collected, merely straightened out Mai's dress and veil. "It's just Joey up there. Let's go get you married."

And there we go. In case you are unfamiliar with this particular custom, the bride and groom will write letters to each other the day of the wedding when they aren't allowed to see each other (at least at the weddings I've been to). I only mention it because I had no idea this was a thing until I was actually part of a bridal party. I think it's really sweet.

As always, please review!