"Where's Luca?" Amy shouted as she ran around with an actual headset on her head. "Izzy where is your son?" She asked panicked.
"Usually the bride is the one in a panic." Serenity muttered and Julian laughed. Since they were getting married on a beach, the guys opted for a more casual look. Julian was wearing khaki slacks with a white dress shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and he was wearing a jade green bow-tie with brown dress shoes. "I wonder how long it will be until she realizes you're holding him." She said and Amy continued to run around.
"Why is Amy running around?" Luca asked looking up at Julian. Amy stopped and turned around to see Luca.
"Thank God! Luca honey, find your Mom and ask her to fix you up." Amy told him.
"I can do it." Julian said and Amy looked up at him.
"I don't trust you with that kind of responsibility." She told him seriously before walking away.
"I can put together a suit!" Julian shouted, clearly offended, while Serenity just shrugged her shoulders.
"What do you mean you can't find him?" Amy yelled shaking AJ's shoulders.
"I don't know! I looked in the room and I couldn't find him!" AJ blubbered trying to shield himself from Amy's wrath.
"He said he went for a walk with Nikki! Let the poor boy go!" Lazarus quickly told her before she let AJ go. AJ and Lazarus were dressed similarly to Julian, however they had pale yellow ties around their necks.
"You're so lucky." Amy told AJ before walking away.
"She is coming nowhere near my wedding." AJ said and Lazarus agreed. Ginger took a deep breath as she stared at herself in the mirror. She was grateful that she didn't pick a huge gown for wedding dress because the one she had originally picked worked well for a beach wedding. Her hair was curled in soft waves and fell around her shoulders gracefully. She had a large white flower pinned to the side of her head and a simple gold necklace around her neck.
"Well, don't you look beautiful." Reese smiled and Ginger looked behind her to see her Dad standing there. "Just like your Mom on our wedding day." He told her before kissing her cheek sweetly.
"Thanks Dad." Ginger smiled.
"You know Derek isn't that great. How about we call it off and you stay single for the rest of your life. I, for one, think you'd make a cute nun." Reese told her and Ginger rolled her eyes.
"Dad, I'm not becoming a part of a convent. I'm getting married today. Be happy that the reason is not because I'm pregnant." Ginger told him and Reese's eyes widened.
"Are you?" He asked and Ginger slapped his shoulder.
"No! Wouldn't you know anyways?" Ginger exclaimed and Reese shrugged his shoulder.
"You know that I don't really look into your guys' future. I want to be surprised." He smiled and Ginger smiled back at him. "I just don't like the idea of you growing up." He sighed.
"You still have Lauren." She said and he shrugged his shoulders.
"I guess…" He mumbled.
"Dad!" She shouted and Reese laughed.
"You know I'm just kidding." He told her while Ginger laughed. "You know I love you, right?" He asked and Ginger smiled softly.
"Always have and always will." She said, repeating the words he'd always tell her, and Reese nodded.
"I guess it's time to get this show on the road!" He exclaimed before hooking his arm with hers.
"Not yet!" Amy shouted making them retreat back into the room. Derek and Nikki were standing outside of the beach house they had rented for everybody to get ready in. Derek was currently wearing gray slacks with a white dress shirt. He had the sleeves of his shirt rolled up and a black tie hanging from his neck. A white and green flower was pinned to his shirt while he wore black Converse sneakers. Derek wasn't willing to wear dress shoes just for them to get sand in them—no matter how much Amy bitched.
"I can't believe you're getting married." Nikki said and Derek chuckled.
"Yeah…it's happening." He shrugged.
"I remember when you were only five and thought Julian was stupid for thinking girls were gross." Nikki said and Derek laughed.
"That's unbelievable. Julian? Thinking girls are gross? Impossible." He muttered and Nikki laughed.
"I'm glad you at least grew up to be a gentleman." She told him and Derek smiled over at her.
"Only because I was raised to be one." He said and Nikki smiled.
"I love you so much." She told her son while Derek hugged her.
"I love you too." He whispered when a camera shutter went off. Derek glared at Conner who looked at him innocently.
"I was hired to capture every sweet moment. I'm only doing my job." He grinned before walking away and Derek rolled his eyes.
"Derek! You get in here right this minute!" Amy shouted and Nikki flinched.
"We better go." Nikki told him.
"I regret agreeing to let you plan this." Derek said to Amy and she rolled her eyes.
"You'll thank me after." She said before she rushed him to the canopy set up on the sand.
"Now you're here! Amy nearly killed me trying to look for you!" AJ muttered and Derek shook his head.
"I wish she would've." Lazarus muttered crossing his arms while AJ glared at him. Derek stood to the right of the canopy and looked at all the friends and family seated in front of him. He turned to look out of the gentle waves rolling in behind them and a part of him was happy that all of this happened so he and Ginger could have their simple wedding. He did have to admit Amy did do a pretty good job on such short notice.
Hydro was set up off to the side in front of a keyboard and Amy gave him the cue. Hydro started to play a sweet melody and Derek wondered to himself how the hell they got a working keyboard on the beach. Julian walked down first with his hands crossed together since he wasn't going to hold a bouquet, no matter how much Serenity asked. Luca came out practically running while trying to balance the rings on the pillow. Izzy gave him a thumbs up when he made it to the end of the aisle and he smiled proudly. Juliana came skipping down the aisle throwing white and yellow rose petals on the white sand and Derek took a deep breath.
"Don't worry you got this." Lazarus whispered to him. Amy glared at Lazarus for talking and he quickly leaned back to his spot. AJ laughed silently before Lazarus elbowed him. Serenity walked out holding a bouquet of yellow peonies and Derek smiled at her. She took her place across from him and in front of Julian when Hydro started to play a different melody. Everybody stood up and faced the end of the aisle and Derek took a deep breath. Ginger appeared with Reese and Derek's face broke out into a loving smile as he looked over to Ginger. Ginger smiled and blushed as she walked down the aisle towards Derek holding a bouquet of white peonies.
"Who gives this woman to this man?" The officiant—an older, graying fox—asked.
'Still sure about this?' Reese asked Ginger in her mind and she rolled her eyes.
'Yes!' She thought back while Reese smiled.
"Her Mother and I do." Reese told him. Reese grabbed Ginger's hand and placed it in Derek's. "Please take care of her." He said looking at Derek.
"With all my life." He said and Ginger turned to Reese and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you Dad." She smiled.
"We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in the bonds of matrimony." The officiant said while Ginger and Derek looked at each other lovingly. "If there is someone who objects to this please speak now or hold it with you." He said while everybody looked around. The officiant continued with the ceremony all the while Ginger and Derek smiled at each other through the whole thing. They reached the part to share vows and Derek was going first.
"Ginger, I thought you were beautiful ever since first I saw you. I just didn't have the nerve to talk to you until this year and it was easily the best decision of my life. You have made everything in my life brighter. It was like I was seeing everything in a new light. I felt like you were my glasses that I desperately needed, but didn't know about it. We stuck through thick and thin together and I knew I made the right decision when I proposed to you. You complete my life and that's all I ask of you. I love you more than anything." He spoke while a few people brushed some of their tears away.
"You're seriously crying?" Bolt asked looking at his cousin.
"No…" Flash murmured wiping his tears with a tissue and Bolt rolled his eyes.
"Derek, I love you with every ounce of my body. Before you, my life was a star covered sky. It was nice and I was content with it. Then you came shooting across it like a meteor shower brightening my entire sky. You have made my life more—brighter. I need you in my life. You complete me and everything else in my life. Without you, my night sky is just darkness. I need you there to be my light. I love you so much and promise to love you every day of my life." Ginger teared up a bit, but powered through her vows while Derek smiled down at her.
"Look who's crying now!" Flash said and Bolt glared at him.
"Shut up!" He hissed wiping his tears away. "He's her light." He mumbled before Flash handed him a tissue.
"I know." Flash gushed while they both dapped their eyes.
"Women." Lauren muttered rolling her eyes and both Flash and Bolt shocked her.
"May I have the rings?" The officiant asked and Serenity and Lazarus handed him the rings.
"With this ring I do thee wed." Derek said as he slid the ring on Ginger's finger.
"With this ring I do thee wed." Ginger said as she slipped the ring on Derek's finger.
"By the power invested by me I now pronounce you husband and wife." The officiant announced while Ginger and Derek smiled brightly at each other. "You may now kiss the bride." He smiled and Derek wrapped his arms around Ginger and kissed her. Everybody stood up clapping and cheering as they pulled apart and smiled at each other. Hydro started to play an upbeat song while they walked down the aisle with Serenity and Lazarus following them with AJ and Julian who were not hooking arms.
"Woo! Hoo! My friends are married!" Julian exclaimed and Ginger laughed while Derek smiled at her.
"Yes, it was beautiful! Now we have pictures to take!" Amy told them and they all walked over to Conner. They arrived shortly after to the reception which was now in full swing. The reception was also taking place on the beach with a some tables set up and a wooden dance floor in between all the tables.
"It's my great pleasure to announce the newly married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Derek Stanson!" Hydro announced from the DJ booth and everybody clapped.
"Mrs. Stanson, I could get use to that." Derek smirked making Ginger laugh.
"Amy did a really good job." Ginger said as they sat at their table in front of the dance floor.
"She did. Let's not tell her that though. She'll just rub it in." Derek told her and Ginger agreed.
"All right, it's time for Ginger and Derek's first dance as a married couple and here to play their song is Derek's band Absolute Fire!" Hydro announced before he moved the DJ booth back and AJ, Lazarus, and Topaz came onto the stage. Shade also joined them since they didn't have Derek to play guitar.
"How come I didn't know about this?" Derek asked and Topaz smiled.
"We wanted it to be a surprise. This is for you guys." Topaz said into the microphone. Shade and Lazarus started to play their acoustic guitars and Ginger and Derek started dancing.
When I see your smile
Tears run down my face I can't replace
And now that I'm stronger I've figured out
How this world turns cold and breaks through my soul
And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one
Lazarus started to sing backup as he and Shade took pauses between the chorus. Topaz smiled over at the dancing couple before she continued to sing.
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven
It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.
Shade quickly changed his guitars and took his electric guitar and started to play higher notes than Lazarus was playing. Derek and Ginger kept staring at each other lovingly.
Seasons are changing
And waves are crashing
And stars are falling all for us
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter
I can show you I'll be the one
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven
'Cause you're my, you're my, my true love, my whole heart
Please don't throw that away
'Cause I'm here for you
Please don't walk away
Lazarus quickly changed his guitar while AJ started to play his drums and Topaz sang with more passion. Ginger was now hugging Derek as they swayed to the music. She had her head rested against his shoulder while Derek rested his head in her hair.
Please tell me you'll stay, stay
Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know I'll be ok
Though my skies are turning gray
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven
The band soon faded out and everybody clapped. They took their quick bow and went to hug Derek and Ginger. Reese and Ginger had their dance while Nikki and Derek had theirs. Lazarus and Serenity danced together and AJ and Julian goofed off and did a "dramatic" tango. Everybody sat to eat and shared laughs before Ginger and Derek went to cut their cake. Conner was whizzing around snapping pictures of everybody while Serenity came up to Ginger.
"It's time to throw the bouquet." She told her and Ginger made her way to the dance floor. All the single ladies were gathered behind her while Ginger's back faced them.
"Ready?" She asked.
"Who do you think will catch it?" Bolt asked and Chrissy shrugged her shoulders. They were sitting at a table which was behind the dance floor. Chrissy, being only 16, felt weird about participating so she sat with Bolt while all the girls gathered in front of them. Ginger threw the bouquet and everybody watched it fly through the air. It landed in Chrissy's lap and she quickly blushed. Shawn, Flash, and Shade slapped their hands over their faces dragging it down and sighed.
"This is my favorite part." Julian grinned while he dragged a chair to the center of the dance floor. Ginger was blushing a thousand shades red as she sat down in the chair. Bolt remained in his spot as he and Chrissy looked at the bouquet picking out the flowers. Derek quickly removed Ginger's blue garter and flung it in the air for the group of guys to catch. It fell in Bolt's lap and he jumped up and flicked it off of himself. Chrissy stared at him confused while he sat back down next to her.
"It's been on Ginger's thigh. She's like my sister!" He shouted and Chrissy laughed. Flash, Shawn, and Shade all looked at each other, hope quickly filling their eyes.
"Could it…" Shade started to say.
"Really…" Flash gasped as they both looked at Shawn.
"Happen?" Shawn murmured before they all looked back at Chrissy and Bolt. Renegade was sitting at a table with Alana when Reese approached him.
"It's going to happen today." Reese said and Renegade sighed.
"I never asked for this." Renegade told him.
"But you thought about it." Reese smirked tapping his head.
"That's an unfair advantage." Renegade mumbled and Reese shrugged his shoulders.
"Sue me." He grinned and Renegade let his head drop.
"They're all going to be mad." Renegade muttered.
"Quite the contrary." Reese said before walking away.
"What was that all about?" Alana asked and Renegade looked at her.
"You'll find out later. Let's just say we're going to see more of your brother." He said groaning at the memory of him.
"He liked you at the end." Alana said and Renegade held her hand.
"Only because I was leaving." He mumbled while Alana shook her head and laughed. The wedding reception was now over and the group was all hanging back talking about what they were going to do for the remaining two months of summer.
"We could've been in summer school for two months, but no we did fun stuff and stopped bad guys." Ruby said and Onyx rolled his eyes.
"It wasn't that great." He muttered and Ruby looked at him.
"Better than summer school." Ruby shrugged.
"It's going to be weird to not have you around school." Onyx said looking over to Tyler.
"Why? He barely says anything and if he does it's either 'dude' or 'that was sick'." Ruby said while impersonating Tyler and Tyler laughed.
"I know that's your way of saying you're going to miss me." Tyler grinned patting her on the shoulder.
"Keep dreaming, dude." She snorted and he rolled his eyes. Renegade looked passed Julian's shoulder and saw the parents approaching and sighed.
"Here it comes." He muttered to himself and everybody turned towards the parents.
"College-bound children, follow us." Shadow called out and everybody looked at each other confused. They followed the parents to one of the tables before they all sat down and the parents stood.
"Now, we all know you're going to different colleges." Amy started while everybody else came to listen.
"But you should know that it is really difficult to keep relationships and friendships when living so far away." Sonic said and they looked at them confused.
"So…we all made this decision to—"Tails was cut off by Todd who threw his hands in the air.
"You're all going to NYU!" He yelled as everybody's mouths dropped.
"NYU!?"