Hotaru woke up one morning and looked at her calendar. "August 12th already?" she asked. Her memory flashed back to the day she and Matt first met. "There's something important about today," she said. "But I can't remember." The words under the date on her calendar caught her eye. "Of course! Today's my wedding day! How stupid of me to forget," she said. Her memories drifted back to Mimi and Joe's wedding reception. When Mimi threw the bouquet, Hotaru caught it. "Then you're getting married next," Yolei remarked. Hotaru nodded, smiling. "Very soon, I might add," Hotaru said. "Really?" "Yeah." She cleared her throat and announced to her friends that she and Matt were getting married on August 12th. Mimi and Sora drove by to pick her up 2 hours later. Sora and Tai had gotten back from their honeymoon in China 3 days ago, and Mimi and Joe weren't leaving on theirs until Hotaru and Matt were married, because they wanted to be there for their friends. They drove to the church on Cherry Hill. Hotaru paced nervously. "I can't believe I'm getting married," she remarked to Sora. "Relax. I felt the same way before I got married. You'll be fine." Hotaru stared at her reflection. Her dress looked like the one Drew Barrymore wore in The Wedding Singer. Her hair wasn't down, which, as Mimi said, was a rare occasion. It was curled into dozens of skinny strands of hair, which looked like coils of black rope, and then pulled into a ponytail. On top of this she wore a silver tiara with a tear-shaped sapphire, a family heirloom that had formerly belonged to her mother, who had given it to her. "You look just like a princess from a fairy tale or something," Mimi remarked. Hotaru smiled and adjusted her new sapphire necklace, a gift from all 3 of her sisters. Her aunt's gift was a sapphire bracelet, which was now fastened around her wrist. Sora, Mimi, Kari, and Yolei had chipped in and bought a pair of pearl and sapphire earrings. The reason for all the sapphires was that they were Hotaru's favorite kind of jewel. Hotaru grinned. "You know, I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of best friends then you guys," Hotaru remarked. The door to the small room opened and a girl with short, blonde hair and blue eyes came in. It was Megumi, Hotaru's niece. "Hi, Aunt Hotaru," she said. "Hi, Megumi-chan. How's Masaio?" "Mom's okay." "I didn't know Megumi was coming," Yolei said. "Of course she was going to be here. Megumi's the flower girl," Hotaru said. Megumi picked up a small basket filled with rose petals. "White, yellow, pink, and red. You must really like roses, Aunt Hotaru." "They're my favorite flower. Just right for a wedding, don't you think?" "Sure. The women lined up, and Hotaru's father walked in. "Hi, Dr. Tomoe," Kari said. He smiled. "Thanks for coming, Dad," Hotaru said. Everything went smoothly. They walked down the aisle, and to the altar where Matt and Fr. Lonigan were waiting. "Dearly beloved," the priest began once Hotaru had reached the altar, "we are gathered here today to witness the union of this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If there is any one who thinks that these two should not be joined, speak now, or forever hold your peace." The wedding proceeded, and finally, it was time to exchange the rings. After that came the wedding vows. Fr. Lonigan began with, "Matt, do you take Hotaru to be your lawful wife, to love, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others so as to keep only unto her, so long as you both shall live?" "I do." Matt turned to face Hotaru. "I, Matt, take you, Hotaru, to be my lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health while we both shall live." He smiled at her, and she felt her knees go weak. Fr. Lonigan also turned to face the young woman who stood before the altar. "Hotaru, do you take Matt to be your lawful husband, to love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others so as to keep only unto him so long as you both shall live?" "I do." She turned to face Matt, smiling dazzlingly at him, looking every bit like the angel she was to him. "I, Hotaru, take you, Matt, to be my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health while we both shall live." "Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," Fr. Lonigan said, officially ending the ceremony. For the first time, Matt and Hotaru Ishida kissed. 2 days later, a white GMC Jimmy drove to Tamachi International Airport. Matt and Hotaru were going to catch a flight to Cancun, Mexico. Hotaru turned the radio on and 'From This Moment On' by Shania Twain played. She grinned at Matt and started singing. "I do swear that I'll always be there. I'd give anything and everything and I will always care. Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow, For better or worse, I will love you with every beat of my heart.

From this moment life has begun

From this moment you are the one

Right beside you is where I belong

From this moment on

From this moment I have been blessed

I live only for your happiness

And for your love I'd give my last breath

From this moment on

I give my hand to you with all my heart

Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start

You and I will never be apart

My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live

I will love you, I promise you this

There is nothing I wouldn't give

From this moment on

You're the reason I believe in love

And you're the answer to my prayers from up above

All we need is just the two of us

My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live

I will love you, I promise you this

From this moment

I will love you as long as I live

From this moment on."