Chapter Eighteen:

I'm Yours Forever

Six months later…

SEAWEED'S POV

Seaweed fidgeted as he waited at the altar, smiling tightly at Link, his best man. It's today, he thought, blissful and jumpy at the same time. Link smiled back sympathetically, probably remembering his own pre-wedding jitters.

He fought to stay composed, but still flicked his eyes over the rows of people before him. Up in front were Penny's mother, his mother, and Inez's new boyfriend (Manny Something-or-other. Seaweed made a mental note to have a chat with him at the reception). Further back in the pews were Tracy's parents; Stooie, Duane, and Lorraine; a couple of Penny's teacher friends; and a few people from his dance class. It was a very small, intimate wedding, which was exactly what Penny had wanted.

Looking at the guests was beginning to make Seaweed nervous, so he glanced around the church. He had to admit it: Tracy had really outdone herself. There were red roses and baby's breath everywhere, lining the walls of the church she and Penny had gone to as kids. They were having the reception in the courtyard—just a simple dinner-and-dancing kind of thing, with a local band providing the entertainment. And, after the reception, they would get into the limo and head for Cape Cod for the honeymoon… he shivered with anticipation.

He stared at the door. I wonder what Penny's doing right now…

PENNY'S POV

Penny looked at herself in the mirror. Tracy did a good job, she appraised. She turned this way and that, examining herself in her dress. It was classic white, full length, with spaghetti straps and some kind of glittery fabric on the skirt. She fluffed her veil out a little and tried to adjust to the feeling of her elbow-length gloves in the April air.

She looked herself in the eye. It's today.

Tracy bustled into the dressing room with a couple of pink roses. "All right, now for the finishing touch!" One by one she relieved the roses of their petals and sprinkled them on Penny's veil. She stood back and looked at the final result. "Hm."

"What?" Inwardly, Penny panicked. What's wrong?

Tracy must have realized the look of rising anxiety on her friend's face. "Nothing," she said quickly. "I've just never seen you with your hair down before. You've always had it up in pigtails or a ponytail… it looks nice this way."

Penny smiled, relieved. "Thank you." She turned back around and looked herself in the mirror again, in her white dress and veil, and suddenly it hit her: I'm getting married. She smiled, joyful and jittery, and turned back to Tracy with tears in her eyes.

Tracy's eyes filled up a little, too. "You know I'd hug you if it wasn't going to mess up your dress, right?"

She clicked over to her friend in her high-heeled shoes and did it anyway.

Tracy hugged her back. "Don't be scared," she whispered.

"I'm not," she said assuringly. She stepped back and smiled. "Tracy, you're huge," she said appreciatively.

Tracy, who was now eight months pregnant, laughed. "Thanks, I think." Suddenly, strains of music floated into the room, and she straightened up. "That's our cue," she announced. "C'mon, Inez!" Penny's only other bridesmaid snapped to attention and followed the matron of honor out of the dressing room.

Penny closed her eyes, grabbed her bouquet, and took a deep breath. She waited five counts, and then slowly made her way to the open doors of the sanctuary.

SEAWEED

His breath caught. He had always known that Penny was beautiful, but she looked positively ethereal coming down the aisle. Her hair was down—this was the first time he had ever seen it like this, and he was astounded at how much of it there was: golden waves waterfalled down to almost the middle of her back. Her dress caught the light coming in from the windows, sending it reflecting in all directions, and there were flower petals in her hair—obviously another one of Tracy's ideas that had turned out positively perfect. She smiled shyly at him, and she imprinted herself in his memory as an angel.

My angel, Seaweed thought suddenly. After today, she would be his, and he hers, forever.

His face broke into a massive grin, and he took her hand as the preacher spoke: "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of this company, to unite Penny Lou Pingleton and Seaweed Joseph Stubbs in holy matrimony…"

A/N: -sigh- I love weddings...

I think that was pretty long for a drabble, but if you disagree feel free to review. :)