At five a.m, the baggage claim at Sea-Tac Airport was uncrowded, allowing me to spot Simon immediately. As soon as I saw him, I cringed. He was shamelessly eying an attractive redhead, who sidled toward a cluster of their fellow passengers, discomfiture evident in her body language. Simon looked indignantly at her, as if he felt insulted. Then he saw me.

"Oy! Stilts! Over here!" he bellowed.

I winced at the use of my hated nickname, avoiding the glances of a few curious passengers.

"Just in time!" Simon said, snatching a suitcase from the conveyer belt and shoving it at me. Then he thrust his backpack into my arms.

"All right, let's go, Stilts."

"Carry your own things, you lazy git," I snapped.

"Be nice or I'll tell Mum!" Simon drawled.

"Oh, all right. Keep your hair on!"

Simon's threat was not an empty one. If he didn't get his way, he would tell Mum, which would lead to a typical 'Gertrude Moon lecture'. I wanted a lecture as much as I wanted a rash. Especially since the drive to the luxury lodge where the reception would be held was an hour long.

The walk back to the pickup lane seemed interminable as I trudged through the airport, struggling to balance backpack and suitcase. The suitcase wheels ran over her sandaled heels several times. In another minute, I'm going to kill Simon, no matter what Mum says, I thought, but at last we reached our destination. The Winnebago took up a good portion of the pickup lane, and a guard standing nearby was only too happy to see us off.

"Simon!" Mum squealed as Frasier, ready at the helm, aimed the Winnebago north. "How was your flight? Did they treat you right?"

"S'was all right," Simon drawled as he dropped onto the seat opposite Frasier's. "Except for those picky old sods at security check, treating everyone like common criminals. They can't see a man of substance. Don't get me started on the airline food. The worst sandwiches I've ever tasted, and there was a two-drink limit on beer!"

"You're complaining about airline food when you're from the country that came up with black pudding and sheepshead stew?" Martin cracked, never able to resist teasing us with English connections about our food.

"Boil your head, Martin," Mum said suddenly before going off on another avenue. "This seat is killing me back, but I suppose none of you have thought to ask if I'd like to sit on that couch that your serial dater is lounging on."

"Excuse me?" Roz yelped.

"I'm just saying you might want to find some steady bloke…" Mum said.

"Ugh! Take the damn couch! You could have just asked!"

Mum smiled serenely as she made her way to the spot Roz had evacuated. "I wouldn't want to impose."

She then went into a long string of complaints. She complained about Frasier's driving, Niles, Seattle weather, the Winnebago, Niles, Roz's "attitude", and Niles. I was almost at my breaking point and it took great effort not to tell her off. I didn't want to make the drive any more awkward for the rest. So, I endured the insults against my fiancé and cuddled against him, offering my silent support. He squeezed my hand reassuringly. We'd get through this.

The others pretended to listen as Mum complained, but Eddie whimpered and hid under his dog bed.

At last we reached our destination, the quaint town of Siskin Woods. Niles and I had wanted a beautiful wedding weekend without the fuss of going too far away. It was a beautiful town, tucked among ancient pines. Owl's Nest Lodge was just a mile away from the St. Mark's, the Episcopal church where the wedding would be held.

Of course, I and Niles had seen the lodge before, but we still were delighted at the place we'd picked out. A fireplace was in each corner of the airy atrium, surrounded by plushy chairs. The walls, which were of polished oak, were hung with beautiful photographs of the town and the nature around it. Soaring hardwood beams in what Niles called Gothic revival style were overhead.

"Nice," Martin said. "It's a little fancy, but rustic. Not like the hoity-toity place we had to stay in when—well, you know."

I smiled faintly. I knew. The Wayside Inn, where Niles and I had almost lost our chance happiness we shared now.

"I like how it combines classic elegance with natural elements," Frasier said loftily.

Martin rolled his eyes and I shot him a knowing smile.

"Fras', can't you ever enjoy something without getting all snooty about it?" he muttered, shaking his head.

"Good luck with that, Martin."

We turned around and I smiled when I saw my father striding toward us. He shook the hands of the Crane men and Roz and gave me a crushing hug before reaching down to pet Eddie. To Mum merely nodded. I was sure all of us remembered too well their last encounter. Mum looked at him as if he was poison, even though she'd been as equally, if not more, outrageous when they'd had that fight at the restaurant.

"Frasier will always be Frasier," my father said tritely.

"Thanks, Harry," Frasier said in a rather sniffy voice. "Where are the rest of the Moon boys?"

"They're still asleep. It's their rule not to rise before ten. By the way, Daph', they've been sulking that there isn't a bar in this place."

Simon looked horrified at this 'news'.

"No bar?"

"What were you thinking?" Mum demanded, turning on me. "How can my boys enjoy myself when they can't have a drink or two?"

Or ten, I thought. After the disastrous behavior of my brothers at the last (almost) wedding, I had vowed that there would be no liquor. Frasier had wanted us to at least serve wine at the reception, but Niles—my sweet, considerate Niles—had stood up to his brother for once. We had endured Frasier's whining for days afterward about him being unable to share a "rare and expensive" Malbec.

The Winnebago entourage (except Eddie, who was frolicking in an outdoor kennel) sat at a table with a hearty breakfast and talked about anything and everything. Soon we were joined by the other guests.

"Mom!" little Alice exclaimed, running up to Roz. She had come with Claire, who had offered to babysit the night before, when last minute wedding details were being finished and help was needed. Then 'Aunt Claire' had hosted an impromptu "sleepover" at her apartment, so Roz could get uninterrupted sleep.

Claire was right behind her, but she drew up when she saw Frasier.

"Uhm…hello, Claire," Frasier said awkwardly.

"Frasier," Claire said with practiced cordiality.

"This is awkward," I heard Roz mutter under her breath.

Claire and I had become friends ever since Frasier had unceremoniously dumped her (earning him a kick in the shins from both of us).

"Aunt Claire, why did Uncle Frasier look scared when he saw you?" Alice asked.

Roz intervened.

"Look, there's Audrey and her mother! Why don't you play with Audrey?"

My cousin Sandra, her husband, and their daughter, Audrey (who had told me once "you're the saddest bride I've ever seen") appeared. She still had the eye patch. Audrey had a box of Legos in her hand, and Alice ran off to play with her.

"Niiiles!" a dulcet voice said, causing Niles to cringe.

His cousin Yvonne barreled into him and kissed his nose, still as flirtatious as ever despite the fact that he was getting married in a day. Niles looked mortified at the attention, but I couldn't help laughing as I watched him free himself of the buxom redhead.

"Restrain yourself, Yvonne," Zora said, but Yvonne had moved on to my oldest brother, Steven. Her flirting had no effect.

Martin's brother, Walt, laughed at the expression on Martin's face, much to the disgust of Niko, who was observing silently with a look of unhidden disapproval.

"We've got an interesting family, eh, Martin?" Walt said cheerfully.

"Yeah…interesting," Martin said, rolling his eyes.

All in all, it was a very small group of guests, but it didn't bother Niles and me one bit. Except for Mum, everyone had come because they cared about us and didn't hold the past against us. I knew that even Simon cared, in his own bumbling, undignified way.

Later that afternoon, the rehearsal was held, followed by lunch and a show. Then my brothers, bored out of their minds without alcohol, went hiking, despite Mum's pleas to stay. She didn't trust the "deadly forest" which she said was "nothing like the genteel countryside of England". I gritted my teeth at her veiled barb against the country I'd come to love.

They came back in disarray, having run from what they thought was a bear, but when Nigel had turned around to see if it was chasing him, he realized that their "bear" was a dead tree.

The guests mingled or took part in hotel amenities until dinner, and then to bed.

Niles and I had a luxurious suite with a balcony that overlooked Siskin Lake. After dinner we watched the sunset, which transformed the serene lake into a sheet of fire. As night approached, the red faded away, giving the lake the smoky purple hue of an uncut amethyst.

"We'd better get to bed," Niles said as the last faint hint of light faded from the horizon. "If we want to get through tomorrow without collapsing from exhaustion, we need our sleep."

"Are you as excited as I am?" I asked a few minutes later when we were snuggled under the comforter. I settled into his welcoming arms and rested my head on his chest.

"Actually, I'm afraid," he answered gravely.

I felt a little hurt.

"Afraid? What is there to be afraid of?"

"Afraid I'll wake up and find that this whole thing is just a dream."

I laughed, running my fingers through his soft, blonde hair and lifting my head to kiss him.

"Silly sausage. You know this isn't a dream."