AN: How exciting the others are getting married!

Chapter 17 - Four Weddings and a Missing Groom

The days passed by quickly with so much to do. Four weddings to prepare in one week was a tall order but Rashid knew what he was doing, after all he had planned weddings for Quatre's 29 sisters.

Heero had disappeared inside his room, not speaking to his fiancee at all, vanishing from Rei's presence altogether. He requested Duo's presence for three days and the two spent long hours in Heero's room. What they were doing was obviously secret for not one of the other Gundam Pilots knew what Duo and Heero were discussing.

Minako was surprised to find a request from her fiancee that she was needed in Heero's room and when she departed hours later her face was drawn and serious. Quatre and Ami could see something was going on, but Minako refused to speak on it; despite Ami and Mako's pleading for her to tell them. Minako's lips were sealed and they weren't opening.

Rei couldn't hide so easily as the girls all wanted her to be involved in planning the wedding. Rei sat in the room with them as they discussed their hair and dresses and silently continued her work on her last dress.

On the Saturday night, the girls were drinking wine together and talking about what they could remember from the old days. Mako had drunk quite a bit of wine and was cheekily talking with Ami about her wedding night, some of the things she was saying had Ami blushing bright red. Minako crept over to Rei who had barely touched her wine at all.

-Rei, I'm sorry, I haven't even thought about your feelings, about Heero and Relena- Minako touched the top of Rei's head gently to pass on her message and Rei looked up at her frowning taking Minako's hand.

-What do you mean Mina-chan?- Rei asked not letting anything of what she felt show on her face.

-Well, you know…I mean…you….Rei you love him- Minako told her as though it was common knowledge and Rei shook her head immediately to deny it, as she always did.

-No…I…he just protects me that's all- Rei tried to dispel any of Minako's thoughts on that subject but Rei could tell by Minako's face Minako didn't believe her.

-Whatever you say, but if you do love him Rei, don't let him slip out of your fingers, say yes- Minako implored kissing Rei's forehead gently and Rei's small hands reached up to grasp Minako's hands.

-Say yes? To what?- Rei persisted but Minako was saved from answering as Makoto stumbled towards them throwing an arm around each of the girls shoulders and giggling loudly as she announced,

"Minako, Rei, its time for tequila shots!"

In her bedchamber Relena was far from the excited bride awaiting the daylight. Her wedding day was to be tomorrow. It was meant to be the happiest day of her life, but all she could think of was the day in Quatre's office when Heero had told her his feelings clearly and concisely. It had changed her every view, how could she have ordered someone to marry her thinking she could make them love her? That wasn't the way things worked. She had been too blind to see the truth, and now she could see the truth, it was too late to take it back. When Relena had asked Lady Une to give Heero the mission of marrying her, Relena had thought, stupidly thought, that she could change Heero's mind. But she was wrong, she knew that now but it was too late. She had made her bed and now she had to lie in it so to speak, and in doing so she had doomed Heero into a marriage with her so that they would both be unhappy.

Trowa came into Relena's bedchamber to check on Relena and was surprise to find her sitting in her bed, her eyes red with tears. Trowa came over to her and Relena tried to sniff them back but failed miserably beckoning for Trowa to sit on the edge of her bed.

"Oh Trowa, I don't think I can marry him, he doesn't love me, he told me as much," Relena told him, revealing all to Trowa whom Relena considered a trusted friend and Trowa raised an eyebrow at her words.

"Then why go through with this marriage?" Trowa asked her in wonder and Relena realised she had no answer for him and none of herself. Instead she buried her head in Trowa's chest and cried for all the unfairness in the world and Trowa held onto her tightly, wishing there was some way he could take away her pain.

It was Ami's wedding day. It was Mako and Minako's wedding day too but they were getting married later in the day. Ami was to be the first to wed, the first, and so here she was, it was ten minutes until she walked down the aisle and she was kneeling in the bathroom with her head in the toilet.

"Chin up Ami," Minako said to her brushing back Ami's blue hair and Ami gave a weak smile.

"You're getting married you should be happy not…" Mako was chiding her but didn't get to finish as Ami leaned into the toilet to empty the contents of her stomach again. Taking a little break Ami took a deep breath, again trying to smile comfortingly.

"I am happy I'm just so…" Ami didn't get any further as her head disappeared on the toilet seat again and Mako and Minako looked at her then at each other and finished Ami's sentence, "Nervous."

Rei came waltzing into the bathroom with a drink that smelled terrible but she handed it to Ami and urged her to drink. Ami gave Rei a long look before swallowing down the mixture, her face grimacing with distaste.

"Damn Rei, that stuff was potent!" Minako cursed waving the air in front of her nose offended at the smell and Rei smiled taking the empty cup from Ami.

All three girls stared at her waiting for her to run to the toilet but surprisingly Ami smiled widely.

"I feel much better," she assured them and Mako ruffled Rei's hair affectionately.

"Now I know why we keep you around," Mako joked and Rei giggled silently, feeling their excitement flow into her.

"Miss Ami, its time," Rashid was knocking on Ami's door and Ami took a deep breath, calming herself.

"Here we go guys, wish me luck," Ami asked giving them a nervous smile as she led the way to the archway where she could see Quatre waiting for her at the end and her nerves calmed at the sight of him, slightly.

"Luck!" Mako and Minako rattled loudly from where they stood lined up behind Ami, Mako then Minako and then Rei was last.

As the bridal waltz began, Ami turned to bestow on her three best friends a smile of complete happiness before turning and walking into the arms of her future husband.

Mako and Minako's weddings went pretty much the same. Although by the time Mako reached her bridegroom at the altar he had already punched Duo in the eye for making a snide 'Wuffie And Muffie' comment, and Wufei had also threatened the preacher with his katana till the preacher was trembling and stuttered most of the way through the ceremony, much to Wufei's annoyance.

And poor Minako's bridegroom wed her with a black eye and had the audacity to laugh when she tripped over her own train on the way down the aisle. It was strange that Relena didn't make it to any of the three weddings, although Heero was a groomsman at each of the weddings and Rei was the bridesmaid at all three.

So once all three couples were wed and their papers signed it was decided that the reception take place, before Relena and Heero's wedding later that afternoon. Rei excused herself, knowing she wouldn't be needed at Relena and Heero's wedding and not feeling very hungry she retired to her room and curled up in a ball and cried herself to sleep knowing that when she woke up, she would no longer be under Heero's protection; she would be alone.