Author's Note: The mood possessed me. Here is the reception. After the response I got from last chapter, I've taken to listening to Another One Bites the Dust every time I write. It seems to be working out, except now I'm officially addicted to it. I officially blame it on bauerfreak, because after I read "CSI Rhapsody", I couldn't get enough Queen and now I have three songs simultaneously stuck in my head. Which leaves very little room for plot bunnies.
Another quite Grissom-esque thing here. Queen Victoria is credited as starting the wedding dress thing, but the colour white is attributed to the Japanese. White didn't at that time signify virginity, it was actually the colour of mourning as the family mourned the loss of their daughter.
This wedding reception is slightly out of order, so bear with me here. There is a method to my madness. I think.
I can't believe the response I got from last chapter. I'm sure some of you know how gratifying it is to open up your email and see so many new messages, but for those of you who don't, it's amazing. Thanks, as always, a million George Eadses to everybody who read, and thanks a billion George Eadses to everybody who reviewed.
To Alex: Thanks for the review. I'm glad you're enjoying reading it as much as I am writing it.
To Allie: Yeah, FanFiction can be stupid that way sometimes. For like two days, I couldn't upload my new documents, and it was killing me because I hadn't been on FanFiction for like five days before that. I have another oneshot in the works, but I'm a bit stuck on it. Mmm…Nick's smile…-sigh-. That's hot. Thanks for reviewing!
To MollyMKS: Haha, wedding equals execution. Nice. Thanks for reviewing, glad you're still enjoying.
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: If I owned CSI, MrsEads would be my real name and not just my penname. Don't own any of the songs mentioned here either.
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"A wedding! I love weddings! Drinks all around!" Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean
"Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Stokes!" somebody called out, but nobody really knew whom.
Sara and Nick, arm in arm, rounded into the tent where the reception was being held. As soon as they came in, everybody erupted into cheers. That's me, Sara thought happily. Sara Stokes. The thought alone could have qualified her for one of the spots as the top ten happiest women in the world. The fact that the most handsome, charming, and caring man in the world was her husband, well, that could have sent her to heaven right there. For several minutes, Sara was afraid to blink just in case she woke up from a beautiful dream. Miraculously, she hadn't thrown up all day except for once in the morning, which made the day all the better.
Catherine led them over to the cake eagerly. The cake, like Sara's dress and flowers, was ivory, and it had three tiers. Nick picked up the knife and Sara covered his hand with hers as they made the first cut. Nick picked up a piece and so did Sara, and as they reached to each other to feed the slice, Nick smushed it into her face. She laughed, and retaliated by doing the same to him. Sara had never wanted her future husband to do that, she thought it was immature and ruined how you looked for the rest of the most special day of you life. Now that Nick did it, though, she wouldn't have it any other way.
Everybody spent the next while eating cake, talking, and laughing, until the band started playing their wedding song. They'd decided to truly live out the Vegas reputation and had chosen the song I Can't Help Falling In Love With You, by Elvis Presley. Of course, Nick and Sara were the first on the floor, soon followed by Bill and Jillian, and gradually other couples started joining them, including Warrick and Catherine.
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help
Falling in love with you
Shall I stay
Would it be a sin?
If I can't help
Falling in love with you
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help
Falling in love with you
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help
Falling in love with you
For I can't help
Falling in love with youSara's head was resting on Nick's shoulder, and his cheek on the top of her head. He kept kissing the crown of her head and whispering, "I love you, Mrs. Stokes," to which she would sigh contentedly, sometimes leaning up to kiss him.
"I love you, Mr. Stokes," she'd say every so often.
As their wedding song ended, Ben E. King's signature song Stand By Me came on.
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, No I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling,
Stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me,
Stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling,
Stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me,
Stand by me
And darling, darling,
Stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me,
Stand by me
When all your friends are gone
And you're left all alone
Oh, stand, stand by me, stand by me
Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me
Oh, stand by me, oh won't you stand now, stand by me
A myriad of other songs were played, including You and Me by Life House, I'll Be by Edwin McCain, and Sara's absolute favourite operatic song, Nella Fantasia by Sarah Brightman, and eventually lunch was served.
There was a choice of cheese and spinach manicotti, stuffed zucchini with Moroccan couscous, pasta primavera with tomato cream sauce, and vegetarian lasagna in creamy cheese sauce. Nick wanted his wife's day to be perfect, and for that reason he'd only had a vegetarian menu. The smell of meat sometimes made her sick, anyway. The last thing anybody wanted was for Sara to throw up on her wedding day.
There was a bar at which guests could receive one glass of free champagne, and could also buy more drinks out of their own pocket if they wanted to. For Sara, Stephanie, and all the minors, there was sparkling apple cider. Nick didn't want Sara to feel left out at all, so he didn't have any wine.
As the meal was winding down, Nick tapped his knife on his glass and stood up to make a speech. "Firstly, I'd like to thank everybody who came here today to show their support. Having a family as big as ours and yet as close is a truly rare and wonderful combination, and I'd like to thank you all for that. I'd like to thank Mom and Cisco, for raising me right. I'll never forget what I learned from you. Thanks for accepting Sara so quickly into our ever-growing family, and for loving her as much as I know you do. Thanks to all my siblings, you always watched out for me, and I appreciate it. Honestly, knowing that now I have to watch out for someone else, well, it scares me to death. I know that you'll all always be there for me. Thank you to all my aunts, uncles, and cousins. We've certainly made some memories over the years, and thank you in advance for sticking around while we make some new ones. But thank you mostly to my beloved wife Sara, for giving this old cowboy a chance." Nick raised his glass. "To family."
In unison, everybody raised their glasses. "To family." He sat down, slightly red in the face, and Sara leaned over and gave him a long, chaste kiss. Everybody cheered enough to make them both embarrassed.
Sara decided to stand up and give her own speech. "I'd like to say something, if I may. I have been overwhelmed by how quickly you've all accepted me, and I'd like to thank you for that. Michele, I'd especially like to thank you. These last couple days, you've been the sister I never had to me, except now, I guess we sort of are sisters. Bill and Jillian, thanks so much for accepting me, especially so soon and with such short notice. For the first time in a long time, I truly feel like part of a family. And lastly, I want to thank Nick. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I look forward to spending every day for the rest of my life with you." She raised her glass. "To my husband."
Again, glasses were raised and drinks were taken. More kissing, more cheering.
Bill now took his turn. "Well, Poncho, it looks like you did okay for yourself. I know we were all worried that you'd never find anyone, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we're sorry for all the blind dates and set-ups. Make sure you hang on to this lovely lady. I wish you all the best in your new married life. To Nick and Sara."
Another toast.
It didn't appear as though anybody else was going to make a speech, so the DJ was just about to turn on the music when Warrick stood up and cleared his throat. "Nick, I just have one thing to say. What took you so long?" Nick and Sara both laughed. "I'm really happy for you both, and I know that you guys will be great for each other. In fact, you already are. I wish you both happiness and bliss in you new life together. To delayed gratification."
It was the last toast of the evening, and then the music started again, everybody dancing until after the sun went down.
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Author's Note: Next chapter, right after the reception. Remember the three Rs: If you Read and Review, I'll always Reply!