Family.

Chapter 12: Some Parties and A Wedding.

Wildwing reluctantly pulled on some of his more party going clothes. Duke and Canard had informed him that he was going to party his last night away as a free duck in style, so they had booked a hotel and had flown to Vegas, then they would fly to the manor the next day. The girls were driving up to the manor house to get there and stay for the evening, what he didn't know was that that Silver and Taisha also had something planned for that evening, Phil had gone along with the girls to take care of Nina and Millie, but he didn't know that yet. Wildwing sighed and thought of the next day, "This time tomorrow I'll be married to the prettiest human in the world," he chuckled, "man that's corny!"

"Come on Wing we're gonna be late!" Nosedive yelled from behind the locked door, he didn't know what the others had in store for his brother but he knew it was going to be fun and as he was the best man he had been allowed to go too.

"I'm coming!" Wildwing yelled back jovially, nothing would spoil his mood tonight. He ran his hand through his recently cut hair and walked out of the room to join his brother and then the others.

"Wing," said Duke as the brothers approached, "have we got a night planned out for you!" This was where Wildwing started to feel nervous, both Duke and Canard had strange glints in their eyes. Grin bent down to speak privately in his ear;

"I must point out that this was not my idea my friend but they said you would enjoy it so I have agreed to partake as the coming ceremony is a cause for celebration."

"uh, right. . . sure, okay Grin"

Wildwing was led to a room that was bursting with energy, there was a bar on the right, the music was ear splitting and it was crowded, of course then Wildwing looked towards a stage at the far end of the room that extended out into the crowd who all seemed to be men.

"Gentlemen this establishment proudly presents Lolita!" said a voice over the loud speakers. Wildwing sat down with Grin and Nosedive whilst Canard and Duke went to get some drinks, but not before Wildwing sternly reminding them that he and Nosedive were still under age for alcohol, so they would only have soft drinks. As 'Lolita' walked onto the stage the surrounding audience started to cheer wildly and a fast music track started to play as she started to dance. Wildwing suddenly caught on just as Nosedive did and there were two very different reactions, Wildwing sunk low into his chair going redder by the minute and Nosedive sat forward to try and get a better look at the stripper. Canard and Duke came back with the drinks and Wildwing downed most of it in one go, he had a funny feeling that this wasn't ordinary orange juice, but was too embarrassed to take much notice of it.

"Ah what's wrong Wing, loosen up she's a babe!" yelled Duke over the music, still watching Lolita out of the corner of his eye.

"If Lizzie ever finds out about this she'll kill me, she's probably wrapped up in bed right now. . . "


"IT'S RAINING MEN, HALLEJULA!" Screamed the women watching the group of male dancer's clothes become more and more none existent, Taisha, Phoenix, Silver and Lizzie were already drunk and were up on stage with them singing karaoke to the song and as Phoenix was an ex rock star it didn't sound too bad. They were all in fancy dress, it had been Tai's idea, Lizzie was Bat Girl, Tai was 'She Ra Princess of Power', Silver had gone as Cat Woman, Phoenix as Super Girl, Tanya had been persuaded to go as Wonder Woman, Mallory was persuaded to dress as Poison Ivy, all outfits were extremely skimpy, which they had been told was essential for a hen night and no one would care the next morning anyway, of course what they hadn't been told was that Tai had paid one of the staff to film the night with her digital camcorder. Tanya, Mallory and Saff were all dancing on the dance floor and were the only ones in the party not drunk.


Wildwing woke up with a start, suddenly feeling cold and wet and not being able to breath. He opened his eyes and realized he was underwater, when he reached the surface, Duke, Canard and Nosedive were standing by the hotel pool laughing their heads off.

"Thanks guy, real mature," he swam to the side of the pool and pulled himself up, but then had to hold his head as a stabbing pain caused him agony.

"What's the matter kid, can't ya take ya 'orange juice'?" Wildwing looked up and narrowed his eyes at his still laughing friend, he stood up unsteadily and walked back into the hotel. He managed to miss most of the other guests as it was still pretty early but those who did see the six foot three duck in nothing but his boxers and soaked to the bone either stared in disbelief or waited till he passed and then burst out laughing. Wildwing made it to his hotel room and opted for a nice soak in the on suite bath, he ran the taps and went to get his wash things from his bag. After half an hour relaxing in the tub he got out, but still felt rough so he took some aspirin. Then he got all of his stuff together for later that day and got dressed, he'd put his tux on in the airowing. "Hey Wing, you comin' down for breakfast or what?" Wildwing looked at the clock, which read eight fifteen, "man I still feel rough and the wedding's in just over six hours. . Maybe some breakfast will make me feel better." So he went to join his friends.


Mallory, Tanya, Saffron and the kids had been up since dawn and were trying to raise their other companions. Tanya was trying to gently raise Lizzie who just wanted to go back to sleep, Mallory was physically trying to drag Tai out of bed and the kids were jumping up and down on Phoe's bed which seemed to be the best play. The three late risers trudged down the stairs and ate the prepared breakfast then all went to have a shower to wake themselves up. Then it began: First it was the the hairdresser who came and styled each and every one of the girls hair including the kids who would be flower girls, this of course meant that the dresses had to be put on early in the day so that they could all get them on over the hair do's, Millie for once did not kick and scream at the suggestion of her wearing an actual dress and promised her mother she would be good. Then came the make up artist who did each individual girl slightly different to match their complexion, or feather tone. The one slight problem with this was that he left his make up kit where he couldn't see it all of the time so he would later find that it had shrunk and Millie's had grown some what. Then they had to have lunch, Tai and Lizzie had been given lipstick to touch up their look.

Soon there was only half an hour to go and they heard the approach of the airowing. Lizzie was rushed away from the window and taken to her room until Wildwing was safely out of the way and unable to see her before the ceremony. Nosedive came up before hand to say hi to the girls and 'speak' to Saffron in private.

"Oh man, Liz you look gorgeous!" Nosedive stood, beak wide open looking at his soon to be sister in law, then he spotted Saffron and if possible his beak grew even wider, "Saff, you, I mean, you're . . ."

"Thank you," Saffron answered blushing as she lead him out of the room and around the corner where they couldn't be seen, "Lizzie bought it for me, I . . . " she stopped when she saw the look on Dive's face and felt her heart quicken it's pace, he leant down towards her and they kissed. His arms wrapped around her and hers around him and they stood there enjoying the moment.

"Nosedive, get down here now!" yelled Canard, "you're the best man, you've got to give Wing Lizzie's ring you idiot!" Nosedive yelped and Saffron laughed as he ran full pelt down the stairs to the marquis outside.

The girls all gathered outside the marquis and waited as Nina and Millie walked slowly along the aisle scattering red rose petals. Lizzie could feel her heart flutter, Wildwing wasn't fairing any better. The music started and Phil began to lead his daughter towards her future husband, the rest of the girls following behind concentrating on keeping in step.


Elsewhere:

Draganus paced his throne room in the raptor, he knew Wildwing was marrying the human girl today, it had been in all of the paper's, the news, everywhere, but where the ceremony was actually being held was a mystery. This was what troubled him, he knew that if he could find out the whereabouts of the wedding soon he would be able to take the ducks by surprise, that way he would take Nosedive and Lizzie as hostages and make them suffer, if only to see Wildwing's face when he presents his loved ones close to death. Then he relished in the thought of finishing them off with Wildwing watching on. He knew it would break him, that Wildwing's world would shatter into tiny pieces the moment Nosedive and Lizzie died. But he wouldn't kill him then, no he would take him and the rest of the ducks as slaves and let them watch as he took over earth and returned to Puckworld to reclaim it. Then he would make the team watch as he forced their leader into servitude. He laughed at the thought, he would make Wildwing's life a living hell, that he swore, if only he could find out where the wedding was being held.

"Uh, boss?" The chameleon asked in a tiny voice.

"What is it," Draganus bellowed, "and it had better be good news!"

"Well it might be and it might not be," he winced for a blow to the head that never came, Draganus was simply listening for a change, "see I saw this human, reading some tabloid paper and it's got the five most likely places for Wildwing and his girl to get married, the humans are all eager to find out too, well they've sent news crews to each of the places and there's one crew that supposed to have found them, they're filming the place in secret in case the ducks throw them off the premises, but uh, it's some big house out in the country. But no one knows whether to believe them or not" Draganus started chuckling and then laughing.

"Chameleon, I want you, Siege and Wraith to take a few hunter drones to where that film crew is, if it is their wedding then I want you to bring me his bride and his brother, do you understand?" the chameleon nodded, "Make sure you wait until after the ceremony, it will be all the more painful for Wildwing if he's already married her, you can injure but not kill."


"Good luck buddy." Canard whispered.

"Huh?" Wildwing was in a world of his own.

"I was just saying good luck." Canard repeated himself, smiling.

"Yeah bro," Nosedive placed one hand on Wing's shoulder, "we gotta say it now cause in a few seconds you're gonna be speechless man." Wildwing raised an eyebrow but turned around as he heard the music start, and as Nosedive had predicted he was speechless. In his opinion she looked like an angel walking down the aisle, he gulped and heard a faint snicker from Duke, Canard and Nosedive. Phil was beaming and for once didn't have his cell phone anywhere in sight, he handed Lizzie over to Wildwing and took his place beside the men. To Wildwing the ceremony was a complete blur, he knew he was saying what had to be said but his mind didn't register that he'd actually said it, and then it came to the most important part.

"Do you Wildwing Flashblade take Elizabeth Stone as your lawful wedded wife?" Wildwing smiled and turned to Lizzie.

"I do."

"And do you Elizabeth Stone take Wildwing Flashblade to be your lawful wedded husband?"

"I do." she said with a faint blush across her cheeks.

"Now please exchange the rings." the pastor looked over to Nosedive who grabbed his ring out of his pocket and then at Taisha who took the ring she kept and they gave them to Lizzie and Wildwing.

"With this ring I thee wed." Wildwing said as if in a dream and he slipped the perfectly fitting ring onto Lizzie's slender finger.

"With this ring I thee wed." Lizzie smile as she slipped Wildwing's ring on his finger.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife, You may now kiss the bride." The pastor said to Wildwing smiling. And they did, Nosedive, Taisha, Canard and the kids cheered the loudest as the couple embraced. The party of friends went inside to sign the wedding certificate and to allow the manor staff to prepare the gardens for the reception.

To be continued, please review!