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Wednesday night Vaughn had organized to meet Weiss for a drink after he finished his shift at the radio station. Craig, too, was also coming.
"So, what is all this about?" Craig asked Vaughn as they walked into the bar.
"I just need to raise an issue with Weiss."
"Oh." Craig's interest was raised slightly. "Sounds serious. Are you going to give me some specifics?"
"You'll find out soon enough." Vaughn said as they sat down. "How was work?"
"Just thrilling- arresting murderers and drug dealers left right and centre." Craig was unable to keep the sarcastic tone out of his voice. "I was stuck at my desk. All day in the bloody station."
Vaughn laughed. "Try attempting to teach French irregular verbs to a bunch of thirteen year old girls."
"Yeah, ok. I think I'll stick with the station."
About twenty minutes later Weiss made his presence known in his usual fashion.
"Ok, I am here," he announced, sitting down next to Vaughn. "Stop whatever conversation you were having and focus on me."
"Why are we focusing on you?" Craig asked.
"Because you are looking at the guy who has just been informed that Kobe Bryant will be appearing on his radio show next week."
"Are you serious?" Vaughn asked.
"I am dead serious." Weiss grinned. "I tell you now, I just about wet my pants when Joey told me."
Craig snorted. "You sure you didn't?"
Weiss just laughed. "You're just jealous because I get to meet Kobe. Did you guys know that he was named for a steak? How cool is that, being named after a steak. I'm actually thinking about changing my name. What do you think- T- Bone or Rump?"
Vaughn looked at Craig. "I'll let you respond to that."
Weiss just laughed. "Ok, enough about steak names. What is this meeting all about?"
"It's about you…and the wedding."
"Vaughn, Sydney has already sat down and had that discussion with me. She made me promise that I won't object when they do that whole 'speak now or forever hold your peace' stuff. Not even as a joke."
Vaughn smiled inwardly. He'd have to remember to thank Sydney when he got home. The possibility of Weiss doing that had never even crossed his mind.
"No, it's about being the best man and certain duties that it entails."
"Yeah, I know. The buck's night is already in the works."
"It is." Craig piped up. "I've seen the scrap book. Never seen anything so meticulously prepared."
"Thanks Craig," Weiss said. "Because I have really put a lot of work—"
"Stop." Vaughn held up a hand. "I'm talking about the speech you'll be giving at the reception."
"What about it?" Weiss asked, taking a swig from his drink.
"Well, to put it simply, I want you to consider very carefully what you put in it."
"Oh, I have." Weiss winked exaggeratedly. "I was thinking about that time at year 12 camp. You—" he looked at Craig— "know exactly what I'm talking about. And your first experience with tequila and how you tried to hide your hangover from Juliette. Oh, and the he-she should—"
"Weiss!" Vaughn exclaimed.
"Vaughn, settle." Weiss said, calmly. "I'm having you on. Now, I'm not going to promise that I won't embarrass you- or Sydney- but I will promise that I won't humiliate you."
"Oh, that just makes me feel so much better." Vaughn took a large mouthful of his drink.
"Hey Mike." Craig put a hand on his shoulder. "Sounds like a fair deal to me. It is Weiss we're talking about."
"You know, I should be offended by that." Weiss interjected. "But, hey, I get to meet Kobe Brayant, so you guys can say anything you want about me. I don't give a damn."
"Ok bridesmaids, your turn now." Tessa announced. She was the seamstress that Sydney had hired to make hers, Francie, Ainsley and Amy's dresses for the wedding. Sydney had already tried her gown on and it was a completely surreal moment when she pulled back the curtain from the change room and saw herself.
The dress was perfect. A strapless white creation, with a flowing skirt that fell to the floor. The bodice had ribbon criss-crossed randomly around it and then cinching around the waist, joined by a green gemstone (to match her engagement ring) on the left hand side, with the left over ribbon trailing down. It was simple and understated, yet so completely stunning.
Francie, in her usual fashion, had welled up when Sydney walked out.
"Oh, Syd, you look beautiful," she sniffed. Ainsley automatically reached into her bag, while rolling her eyes, and pulled out a tissue.
"I brought a whole box," she explained. "I had an inkling that Fran would be getting a little emotional."
Sydney, although she didn't show it, found herself getting emotional as well. When she caught sight of herself, dressed as a bride, she found herself wishing that her mother were there to see her walk down the aisle. All her life she had been desperate for a mother, but never as much as that moment.
But, quickly, she shook that feeling aside. There was no point in getting upset over things that she could not change.
So now she waited patiently for Francie, Ainsley and Amy to get changed into their dresses.
"I love the colours you chose." Tessa was saying. "What made you decide on them?"
She was referring to Sydney's choice to have the bridesmaids dressed in a different colour- Francie in red, Ainsley in orange and Amy in yellow.
"I'm not sure." Sydney shrugged. "I wanted something different, and well, they're all pretty fiery girls—"
"I heard that!" Ainsley's voice rang through her curtain.
"Me too!" Francie and Amy chorused in unison.
Sydney laughed and turned back to Tessa. "So, the colours just seemed right."
"Ok." Francie pulled back her curtain. "What do you think?"
Sydney, together with the three of them, had come up with a simple halter neck design, with a skirt that fell mid-calf. Like Sydney's gown, the waist had a ribbon wrapped around it, joined by a gem clasp and a trail of ribbon falling down the side. Both the gem and ribbon were the same colour as whichever dress they were in.
"You look fantastic!" Sydney grinned as Ainsley and Amy exited their change room. "You guys too!"
"We do scrub up pretty nicely, don't we?" Amy commented, twirling around.
"Damn right we do." Ainsley added. "So just who are you guys pairing us up with?"
"You're with Craig." Sydney replied. "Weiss is paired with Francie and lucky Amy here gets Will."
"Yeah, lucky Amy." Amy pulled a face. "No matter where she goes, her little brother is always there."
"Hey, you're lucky." Francie piped up. "I can only imagine what Eric will be saying to make me laugh during all the wrong moments."
"Ooh, I know." Ainsley jumped in with a sly grin, and wink in Sydney's direction. "He's been running ideas past me, and some of them are doozies!"
"What?" Francie was indignant. "Tell me!"
"No." Ainsley poked out her tongue.
"Ainsley!" Francie stepped towards her.
"Hey, stop." Sydney stepped in between them. "Get out of those dresses now, before you start pulling hair! I don't want to have to worry about getting them repaired."
"Jeez, Syd." Francie grinned as she headed back to her change room. "You're being a little dramatic. You shouldn't stress so much!"
That coming from Francie? Sydney had no choice but to laugh.
"I never realized we had so many CD's?" Sydney observed, a little daunted by the piled of plastic containers before her. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Vaughn nodded. "It's something we have to do. We've pulled them all out, we might as well just do it."
It was Monday afternoon, and per usual, Sydney and Vaughn's conversation had been centred on wedding plans. It had occurred to them that they needed a song for the reception, for the traditional first dance.
And so, they settled down, on the living room floor, with all of their CD's. Donovan, obviously intrigued by what was going on, had settled down nearby.
Two hours later, they were still going through CD's. Songs that both of them loved and felt were special just didn't seem right, for one reason or another.
"You know, I don't think we're going to find the 'perfect' song. May be we should just throw some in a hat and draw one out." Sydney said as she spread flat on her back on the floor.
"You know. I think I agree with you. But," Vaughn held up another CD cover. "How about we try this one anyway. I already put it in the stereo."
"Ok." Sydney propped herself up on her elbows as Vaughn pressed play. Skipping through a few songs, he suddenly put the remote down as the first chords of a particular song started. He looked towards Sydney, a slow smile forming on his face.
Sydney, also smiling, sat up straight. "This is it," she murmured. "This is it."
"Couldn't put it better myself." Vaughn replied. "I'd ask you to dance, but I think we should wait."
"Sounds like a good idea to me."
Sydney and Vaughn sat until the rest of the song had finished. Smiling at each other like a pair of lovesick teenagers, they began the massive task of putting away all their CD's.
"Hey, where'd Donovan get to?" Sydney asked.
"I don't know." Vaughn took a few steps towards the kitchen. "He was just…" he trailed off when something caught his eye. "Great, the door's open. I bet you he's next door terrorizing Marshall."
He made to head outside, bit before he could something made him stop short. From outside came the squeal of tyres, followed by a dog's yelp that made both his and Sydney's blood run cold.
Without a word, Vaughn dashed outside, Sydney following behind.