Meetings

A/N: Fair warning for the next chapter as it deals with mentions of sexual assault.

When SpongeBob arrived at the bridal shop with Sandy, he was frankly surprised to see so many white dresses. Granted, he had seen her in a wedding dress during their play, but this felt different somehow.

Permanent. It felt permanent. And he was happy for her, he just felt like he was missing something along the way. Maybe it was the way Sandy's shoulders slumped forward or how she stared at nothing when she thought no one was looking. Maybe it was at dinner, when they were talking about who was being invited to the wedding and the air felt heavy with something unsaid.

"I'm glad she's got a friend like you n all."

Right. And as Sandy's friend, he wanted to get to the bottom of what was bothering her.

"Sandy," he started, yelping as a woman wrapped measuring tape around him and Sandy went off with Maggie.

"Arms up," the woman said, seemingly bored of this aspect of her job.

SpongeBob listened, a small frown on his face as he watched Sandy go into the opposite dressing room.

Sandy sighed, trying to clear her head of what Randy told her yesterday. Besides, her wedding was coming up in a few weeks and she wanted it to go off without anything related to her. . .uncle causing problems. Even if he had spoken to Aunt May and even though they didn't like each other, Aunt May would never—

Sandy closed her eyes, opening them and meeting her reflection. She was in her wedding dress. Strapless, white and gray lace intertwining at the hem and a floor length skirt pooling around her. She smiled, imagining Shadow right behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

When she actually felt that, however, she gasped, instinctively knocking her elbow into his side and pushing him out of the dressing room.

"Surprise! Oh, whoops." Maggie mumbled, avoiding Shadow as he stumbled out of the dressing room and looked at Sandy instead. The gray squirrel sheepishly grinned at her ex-girlfriend, shrugging.

"What are y'all doin'? Maggie, you were supposed to make sure he wouldn't see me." Sandy said, changing out of her dress and back into her normal clothes.

Shadow tilted his head, arms folded. "I came early. Normally, women would be excited to see their husband to be. But you're you, so,"

Sandy held up a hand to stop him, going over to kiss him as Maggie groaned. She nudged her friend, giving the dress bag back to the assistant as the sound of a curtain being pulled back caught their attention.

SpongeBob stepped out, wearing a powder purple strapless dress. He blushed at the amount of eyes on him. "So," he started, looking at Sandy as she smiled. "How do I look?"

"You look great, SpongeBob," Sandy said, rushing over to hug him.

SpongeBob laughed and hugged Sandy back, noticing the black and red hedgehog behind them speaking with Maggie. His smile grew as he walked over to the man, holding a hand out for a handshake.

"Hi, I'm SpongeBob, Sandy's told me so much about you." SpongeBob said, catching Shadow's attention.

Shadow looked down at him, lightly squeezing SpongeBob's hand. "Nice to meet you too." Shadow said, voice low and gruff.

He sort of reminded SpongeBob of Squidward but more grumpy.

"How about we go for lunch after you get out of this?" Shadow asked, jutting his chin toward the dress SpongeBob wore.

"Oh, right, if you'll excuse me," SpongeBob said, walking back into the dressing room and listening to the group talk amongst themselves.

Sandy's voice reached him first.

"I'm jus' worried 'bout him that's all," she said.

He heard Shadow sigh. "We're more worried about you, you know that. You can tell SpongeBob when you're ready to."

"I jus' don't think it's fair to 'em. What if, what if our weddin' gets ruined cause of me."

SpongeBob exited the dressing room as Maggie opened her mouth to reply, closing it as she smiled at SpongeBob and took his hand in hers. "How about we head on to lunch, I'm starving." She said, practically pulling SpongeBob out of the bridal shop as Shadow wrapped an arm around Sandy.

What was more important that SpongeBob needed to know than the wedding coming up?