Thank you all so much for your feedback.
vaughnfan: I'm stoked that you liked Francie's dollar thing. I can't tell you how long it took for me to come up with a different idea for something borrowed!
Em-958: Yes, I have started the sequel. I have actually nearly finished writing it.
The ceremony was taking place at a local gardens, right by the lake that was situated there. As the guests arrived, Vaughn found himself pacing, nervously going over his vows. He was beginning to wish that he and Sydney had gone with the traditional ones, instead of opting to write their own. He could just imagine standing up in front of all his family and friends and completely forgetting what he was about to say.
"Michael." He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Maman," Vaughn turned and gave her a fierce hug.
Stepping back, Juliette placed her hands on his upper arms and looked at him closely. "Calm down, Michael. Everything is going to go fine," she said, wisely.
"I know." Vaughn sighed. "But there are just all these scenarios running through my head."
Juliette smiled. "Let me guess. Natural disaster, some crazy relative stopping the ceremony, Sydney running away with the celebrant, forgetting your vows?"
"Pretty much," Vaughn replied. "Except for maybe that whole thing with Sydney running away with the celebrant."
Juliette laughed. "Michael, it's your and Sydney's big day and nothing is going to go wrong. Just relax and enjoy it. It's only going to be happening once."
In the limousine, Amy had poured everybody a glass of champagne and was handing them out.
"Now you take that slowly, Syd." Ainsley said slyly. "We don't want a repeat of the hen's night."
Sydney just poked her tongue out and raised her glass to her lips.
"What happened at the hen's night?" Jack inquired, his eyes twinkling.
"Nothing," Sydney replied very quickly. "Absolutely nothing."
"Except that it was brought to our attention that your daughter is considering a career as a podium dancer." Francie said.
"Francie!" Sydney exclaimed. "Oh my god."
She needn't have worried. Jack simply took a mouthful of champagne, chuckling softly. "She gets that from her mother."
Sydney looked at him, her eyes wide. "Excuse me?"
"Well, your mother could loosen up when she wanted to and," Jack shrugged, "you can't really expect me to take credit for behaviour like that, can you?"
Sydney was late, not Francie late, and Vaughn was worried. It wasn't like her.
"Maybe she's not coming," Weiss said, immediately regretting it. The glare that Vaughn shot in his direction would have had enough power to destroy a battle ship.
"Look, Vaughn, I'm sorry. I wouldn't say something like that if I thought it was true. It was just a joke- there is not a chance that Sydney wouldn't show up."
Vaughn sighed. "I know that, and I knew you were only joking. But that's why I am so worried. If Syd is late, then that means that something has happened and…"
"Stop right there." Weiss put a hand on his shoulder. "Syd is fine."
"Then why haven't we heard from her?"
Weiss went to answer but was cut off by Will running up to them.
"I just got off the phone with Jack," he said. "There's been an accident—"
"What!" Vaughn's heart jumped up to his throat.
"…an accident on the freeway and they're stuck in traffic." Will continued. "He said that hopefully they'll get here soon."
Vaughn sagged with relief and his face broke into a smile. Everything was all right.
"Oh, thank god!" Sydney said as the limo began to move forwards. "We are going to be so late…late to my own wedding! Fashionably late, yes. But so late that people start to think that maybe the bride isn't showing up? How does that work? Somebody just had to go and write off their car, didn't they?"
"Uh, Syd," Francie started gently. "I don't think that they planned doing that. It's hardly a thing somebody would enjoy doing on a Saturday afternoon."
"Planned or not, I am still going to be late!"
Ainsley suddenly let out a small giggle and everybody looked towards her.
"What is so funny?" Amy asked.
"Oh, I was just wondering when these two," Ainsley pointed to both Sydney and Francie, "swapped places. Just look at who is all calm, cool and collected, and then look at who is playing the role of Little Miss Freak Out."
"I am calm!" Sydney protested. "I am just a touch flustered."
"And what do you mean by Little Miss Freak Out?" Francie demanded as the same time. She and Sydney looked at each other for a few seconds and soon found themselves cracking up.
"She's right, you know." Sydney said to Francie when their laughter had died down.
"Yeah." Francie nodded. "Maybe it's the dollar? Maybe it's the reason you're freaking out and I'm not."
"No way." Amy interjected. "You were freaking out way before you got that, Francie. Let's put Syd's freaking down to the fact that she is on the way to her wedding."
"We're not on the way anymore." Jack said, looking out the window. "We're here."
Weiss came up beside Vaughn. "They just arrived."
Vaughn straightened up. "She's here? So we're ready to go?"
"Yup." Weiss nodded and patted Vaughn on the back. "Just going over the final primping details…it's amazing what they can fit in those tiny bags of theirs." Weiss got a somewhat distant look on his face before shaking himself. "Anyway, just the last minute stuff before the big Bridal March."
Vaughn shook his head. "Syd decided against the Bridal March. Said that she wanted to pick her own song."
"What song?"
"I have no idea…" Vaughn trailed off as he saw Ainsley stepping out from behind the trees at the end of the 'aisle'. Raising his eyebrows at her, Ainsley grinned and gave Vaughn a thumbs up.
Weiss saw it too, and after blowing Ainsley a kiss, turned to Will and Craig. "Ok, this is it. You ready?"
After taking their positions by the marriage celebrant, Weiss leaned in towards Vaughn. "Last chance to back out."
"Shut up," Vaughn grinned as he turned to face out behind the guests and waited for the first strands of music to begin.
You're all I need to get byYou're all I need to get by
You're all I need to get by
You're all I need to get by
You're all I need to get by-y-y
As long as I got you, then baby you know that you got me ohh!
Cause we love wi' some R-ah-E-S-P-E-C-T ohh!
At that point, Francie made her appearance and began to walk down towards them.
Like sweet morning dew, I took one look at youAnd it was plain to see, that you were my destiny
Ainsley then appeared and, after a small wave in Weiss's direction, she too moved forward.
With my arms open wide, I threw away my prideI sacrificed with you, dedicated my life to you.
Amy stepped forward and made her way to the front.
Like I would go where you leadI'll be right there in a time of need
And when I lose my will you'll be there right there to push me up that hill
Vaughn's heart skipped a beat and his breath caught in his throat as Sydney appeared, with Jack by her side and paused at the end of the aisle, waiting until Francie, Ainsley and Amy were done. She looked amazing.
There's no, no looking back for usWe've got each other's love and that's enough
You're all I need to get by
Jack looked down at Sydney, a smile on his face. "You ready to do this?"
Sydney leant up, giving him a quick peck on the cheek and then nodded. "Let's do this," she said, lacing her arm through his and clasping her bouquet of white Singapore orchids.
And so they stepped forward and slowly made their way towards Vaughn.
Like an eagle protects his nest, for you I'll do my bestStand by you like a tree and dare anybody that try and move me
Darlin' in you I've found strength where I was torn down
I don't know what's in store but together we can open any door
Just to do what's good for you, I'll inspire you a little bit higher
I know you can make a wo-man out of a soul that didn't have a goal
When Sydney got to Vaughn's side, neither of them could keep the smiles off their faces.
Cause we've got the right foundation and with that love and determination (yes, we do)
You're all I need to get by
As the music faded out, Vaughn took Sydney's hand and leaned in towards her. "You look beautiful."
"You looking pretty fabulous yourself." Sydney whispered.
"Liked the song."
"Glad you approved." Sydney smiled as they turned to face the celebrant.
"We are gathered her today to celebrate in the marriage of Sydney and Michael. If anybody here, except…" she looked down at a note in her hand, "Eric…"
Vaughn ignored the poke that jabbed him in the middle of the back.
"…Feels that this union should not take place, speak now or forever hold your peace."
There was only silence and when Sydney looked up at Vaughn, smiling, she could not resist kissing her on the cheek. This caused the celebrant to laugh.
"Calm down, Michael. Save it for the end," she said. "Now both Michael and Sydney had decided to write their own vows for today. So Michael," she gestured towards him, "if you please."
Vaughn turned so he could face Sydney directly and cleared his throat.
"Sydney…Syd. I know that I'm probably starting to sound repetitive, but I love you and you know exactly how much. You mean the absolute world to me, and I plan on showing you that for the rest of our lives. You will always be the first thing on my mind in the morning when I wake up and be my last thought before falling asleep at night.
When we are together, everyday is significant, with moments that I will forever cherish. That cheeky smile that makes me melt every time, that quick wit that responds without fail and the beauty that you posses inside and out that somehow manages to touch all of those around you.
Sydney, you are the one who turns the lemons of my life into lemonade and I cannot wait for the moment- the moment when I get to call you my wife- when we can begin the rest of our lives."
Sydney took a moment, placing a hand on Vaughn's cheek, before the celebrant motioned towards her.
"Sydney…go ahead."
Drawing in a deep breath, Sydney started. "Vaughn, I never realized how hard it would be to put into words how much I love, cherish and respect you. How do I explain the emotions I experience every day? The awe at the fact that I have somebody like you supporting me? The joy at the laughter and happiness that you continue to give me everyday? And those tiny little butterflies in the pit of my stomach that still give a flutter when I look into those beautiful green eyes and realize that I'll be looking into them for the rest of my life?
It may be difficult to put into exact words the way I feel about you, but showing you everyday will be so easy. Never will I take you granted, never will I intentionally hurt you and my love for you will only continue to grow stronger as we go about spending the rest of our lives together.
Thank you Vaughn, for standing by me, for making me a stronger person, and for loving me as I am. I am thankful every day that we found other."
Vaughn stared at Sydney, with those eyes that she loved, so intently that it prompted Weiss to speak up.
"Uh, excuse me, marriage celebrant lady," he started. "You might want to hurry this up, or our bride and groom just might take off before this is done and legal."
An appreciative laughter was heard from everybody, including Sydney and Vaughn.
"Well, we should all hope to be as lucky as the two of you," the celebrant said. "So I ask, Michael, do you take Sydney as you lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death do you part?"
Vaughn looked at Sydney as he said clearly, "I do."
"And Sydney, do you take Michael as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death do you part?"
"I do," Sydney said firmly.
The celebrant held out her hand to Weiss. "I take it the best man has the rings?"
"He'd better." Vaughn muttered with a smile.
Weiss just grinned back as he handed the rings over to the celebrant.
"The ring is said to be a symbol of everlasting love- a circle that never ends or breaks. So," she handed a ring to Vaughn. "While you place this on Sydney's finger, could you please repeat after me…Sydney, with this ring, I thee wed."
Vaughn picked up Sydney's hand, which was shaking slightly, much like his own. "Sydney, with this ring, I thee wed."
The celebrant then handed Sydney a ring. "Now Sydney…Michael, with this ring, I thee wed."
"Vaughn…" she paused as he let out a small chuckle. "Vaughn, with this ring, I thee wed."
The celebrant smiled. "I take great pleasure in now pronouncing you husband and wife. And now what you've been waiting for Michael, you may now kiss the bride."
Their lips were pressed together before the sentence was even completed.
A/N: Two more chaps to go...
Disclaimer: I do not own the song 'You're All I Need to Get By' by Aretha Franklin