You know it's really sad when the only reason you don't update a story is because you were too lazy to write out an actual timeline so you'd know how much time you had before a certain event was to take place. And to think, I found out how long I had within the past hour just now, and I've been putting off finding out for weeks! Yet while skimming through the chapters, I easily found what I was looking for. And I'll tell you what it was. I forgot how long I had until Aelita and Jeremie's supposed wedding was to take place. And with this trip to Japan, I was afraid I missed it. But I checked, and there is exactly two weeks before they're getting married. I am very lucky because I can definitely work those two weeks over. Not that I really need to, but I'm just glad that it keeps everything going the way I envisioned it.

So anyways, here's Chapter 22: For Goodness Sake!

Mrs. Stern was enjoying her Saturday in the comfort of her mansion. Instead of worrying about what her husband was up to, she was completely focused on relaxing. And when mothers with grown single children relax, they like to fantasize about the future. And when mothers with grown single children fantasize about the future, they start reminiscing. And when mothers with grown single children reminisce, they cry. And that's exactly what she was doing now. She was crying big tears of happiness and sadness. She was quite glad that she was in the privacy of the study.

While she was bawling, her husband made his timely entrance. "Honey. What's the matter?" he asked, concerned. He wrapped his arms around her and allowed her to bury her face into his chest.

"I'm just so happy!" she sobbed.

"So you're not sad?"

"No. I'm sad too. Sad that my little boy's a man now!"

"But we already knew that years ago."

"Yes. But he's getting married now!"

"WHAT? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN AND WHERE WAS I?" he yelled as he stepped back to look at her face.

"When you were on the toilet." Mrs. Stern said, calming down.

"Dang! I miss everything when I'm doing business!" Then something dawned on him. "Wait? Who is he getting married to? He doesn't have a girlfriend! . . . Does he?"

"No. But when he starts dating Yumi, eventually he'll propose, and then they're gonna get married!" she began sobbing anew. Mr. Stern sighed. Why did she have to do this.

"Will you calm down! It's not happening now, and you're making some pretty big assumptions there. Let's take this one step at a time, okay?"

"Okay. But you should be happy. You'll finally have a daughter."

Mr. Stern then began fantasizing himself. "You're right. I can buy her a pony."

"She's not a little girl you know."

"Yeah . . . but maybe she'll let me anyway," He rationalized. "She can ride it when she comes down the aisle."

"That's so romantic. But I thought the man was supposed to ride."

"Oh . . . that's right. Well they can ride it when the wedding's over. Of course, with this being the first wedding that we can count on no one leaving anyone, we'll have to make it expensive as possible. I won't let any billionaires laugh at me about my expenses! So we'll have the wedding modeled after my dream I had of Ulrich that one time."

This made Mrs. Stern immediately stop crying. "How are you going to get everyone in space?"

"That's a good question . . . But I have to outdo George! He gave his daughter a wedding in the air! They were on one of those fancy planes!"

"But do we have to leave the freaking planet?"

"Well if not outer-space, then we'll have to have it underwater."

"Why not underground?"

"No, that was done last year by Geoff."

"That sounds lovely." Mrs. Stern thought. "A wedding under the sea. We can give it a Titantic theme!"

"Elena. This is a wedding we're talking about. I think the last thing Ulrich and Yumi should have on their minds is a shiprwreck that ended in the death of hundreds of dead people."

"Okay, so it's not my best idea, but what else is there? Pirates of the Caribbean? That's got dead people. And the only other things I can think of are SpongeBob and Little Mermaid."

"Are we planning a five year-old's birthday party or a wedding? I forget." Mr. Stern said.

Elena frowned. "Well you think of something!"

"I got it!" Mr. Stern said.

"We can't have it on the moon either." Elena said bluntly.

"Then we'll go to Mars!"

"No one's ever set foot on Mars!"

"But a wedding in space would be so cool!" Mr. Stern whined.

"Tobias, be real. We can't."

"But they could kiss in zero gravity! Ulrich could say some cheesy line, like, 'Your kiss makes me feel like I'm floating.' You know. Something almost as cheesy as that lame Cloud Nine joke at the wedding on the plane."

"Well trust me. That's not it."

"Well we've got to think of something! Ulrich and Yumi are counting on us to have all of this planned out by the time they announce their engagement. What kind of parents are we if we can't even do that for them?"

"You're right. Let's spend the next couple of weeks planning out everything. Our son is going to have a wedding that he'll never forget!"


"FOURTEEN DAYS UNTIL I'M MARRIED!"

"Shut up, Aelita, and stop rubbin' it in." Sam mumbled as she flipped through the TV channels.

"Oh, come on! Can you blame me for being excited? I'M ALMOST THERE!" Aelita shouted as she started jumping on the sofa.

"Calm down!" Sam said, trying to hide her laughter. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?"

"Your Maid of Honor is still on her honeymoon with Ulrich."

Aelita giggled at Sam's joke. "They'll be back by tomorrow! Wow this week flew by. Maybe the next two weeks will too. And then . . .,"

"Don't yell. I already know. Your wedding day will be here. Which means we've only got thirteen days before your bachelorette party."

"Do we have to have one? I've heard stories about those things, and some crazy stuff goes down."

"Oh we'll keep it clean. But we are going to have as much fun as humanly possible." Sam guaranteed. "Now you let me take care of everything. It's only fair, seeing as Yumi had to help you manage the wedding, and she hasn't had any time given she's on an eloping trip with Ulrich."

"You think they'll come back with some juicy news?" Aelita said as she plopped down next to Sam.

"I hope so. Yumi's love-life has been pretty stale as of late."

"It's been underground really."

"I know."

"So when are you and Odd tying the knot?"

"I knew that was coming." Sam said as she stood up and walked briskly to the bedroom.

"Come on! Tell me! I know you want to marry him!" Aelita teased as she ran to block the door.

"I don't have to explain anything to you."

"Oh so you can make fun of Yumi when she's not here to defend herself, but one little question about you and Odd, and you're all flustered?"

"That is not true! I can make fun of Yumi when she is here to defend herself . . . it's just safer if I do it when she's not here."

"Tell me! What's going on between you two?" Aelita said as she tackled the girl to the ground."

"Get off of me! And when did you become so aggressive?"

"I'm very aggressive when it comes to love interrogations." Aelita said proudly."

"Well you'll have to torture me before I give up anything!" Sam said defiantly.

"Then prepare yourself! For Aelita's Tickle Torture!" Sam started laughing uncontrollably as Aelita tickled her. So this is what went on when Yumi wasn't around to monitor them. All chaos was unleashed.


"I can't do this. I thought I could I but I was wrong."

"Odd, I distinctly remember you calling me a wuss if I couldn't propose to Aelita. Now we're only two weeks away from my wedding. When are you going to man up, and ask Sam?" Jeremie pointed out to his fellow blonde friend.

"When Ulrich gets married."

"Great. But do you think Sam can hold out until you reach your fifties?"

"Oh come on! Give Ulrich some credit! He's made great progress with her. Why he's already in love with Yumi! It's only a matter of time before he asks her out."

"Okay so late forties—so you've saved yourself a couple of years."

"I was thinking more like . . . early to mid-forties actually."

"This isn't about Ulrich's sad and non-existent love life! This is about your long, drawn out love life with Sam." Jeremie stated.

"I wouldn't say its non-existent. It's just not altogether at the moment."

"Well I'll tell you this much. If Ulrich starts dating Yumi before you propose to Sam, you know you've waited too long."

"Okay, okay!" Odd said. "Just give me some more time."

"You do know that the 50% off sale on engagements rings end today?"

"Okay. Done. We'll buy the ring now, and propose much, much later from now." Odd concluded. Jeremie chuckled and shook his head as Odd began looking at the rings. "I hope I can guess Sam's ring size correctly." Odd mumbled. Jeremie did a palm-face.


"I can't believe we're going home tomorrow!" Sissi said as she and Yumi sat down, taking a break from the party. It was a business party to celebrate the contract signing. Everything has been signed and agreed upon. Now was time for relaxation and conversation.

"I'm going to miss Tokyo. It was nice while it lasted. But it will be good to finally go back to New York."

"I'm gonna miss the cute guys here who like foreigners." Sissi said in a matter of fact tone. Yumi rolled her eyes.

"Hello, ladies. Enjoying the festivities?" Momo greeted them.

"Taro! I was hoping we'd meet again." Sissi said.

"Is that so?"

"Yep. I just thought you should know that Ulrich and Yumi are going to a wedding in two weeks. Wanna guess whose wedding?"

"It's a friend's wedding! Stop twisting the truth, Sissi." Yumi said, blushing.

"Well as long as I'm invited to your shindig, I'll be alright. But what kind of gift would you like? An innocent one? Or a naughty one?"

"I don't have to take this." Yumi stated as she left the two alone, laughing and teasing her as she walked away. Yumi ambled around aimlessly, when one of the waiters offered her drink.

Yumi took it, thinking it would calm her nerves. It did. She was quite fascinated by the drink. She took another. Soon she had three. Then four. "Hey this stuff is good. What is it?"

"Sake." The waiter answered.

"Sake? Isn't that . . . alcohol?"

"Hai."

Yumi knew there was something important about alcohol that she should remember but she couldn't think of what it was at the moment. "Oh, well it's good." She said with a smile plastered on her face. She then patted the man on the back and took another drink. "'S like Dr. Pepper. But . . . gooder."

"Hey, Yumes." Ulrich said as he walked towards her. Yumi gave him a spontaneous hug which was short of her falling on him.

"Ulrich! How ya doin'! You happy!"

"Um, yeah." Ulrich said, raising an eyebrow and her peculiar behavior.

"You are such a good friend. You know that. I love ya."

"I love you too." It was then he caught a whiff of her breath. "Oh, God! Yumi have you been drinking?" he said as he waved away the smell.

"Yeah, this sake stuff is like good."

"Yumi, you're drunk!"

"No I'm not silly. If I was drunk, I'd be acting like an idiot. I'd be sayin' dumb stuff and doin' spon-spontaneoussss things."

"Well you're not yourself."

"You just need to loosen up. Here," Yumi think took another drink and offered it to Ulrich. "Have a drink."

"You know I don't drink. And neither do you."

"Well not tonight. Tonight, I am the life of the party!" She then tried to dance, but she was swaying too much to really dance.

"Um before you make a fool of yourself and ruin your chances at a job, I'll just take you back to the hotel."

"Ooh, you wanna be alone? Ah, Ul-channnn you shoulda just said somethin'." Yumi teased as she patted him on his chest. Ulrich could feel the heat rush to his cheeks.

"Look let's just get outta here."

"Fine with me. This place is getting boring anyways."

"Sissi, Yumi's been drinking, so I'm gonna take her back to the hotel."

"Wow, Yumi, you got troubles or something?" Sissi joked.

"I've never seen her look so air-headed like." Momo said in awe. "When'd she start drinking anyways?"

"Today." Ulrich said bluntly.

"Well no taking advantage of her." Sissi teased.

"Darn you! You've found out my true intentions!" Ulrich played along.

"Oh, it's not takin' advantage if I let you is it?" Yumi teased. Ulrich's face went completely red, and Momo and Sissi bursted into fits of laughter.

"Well she gave you the green light!" Momo said.

"Go for it!" Sissi yelled. Ulrich glared at the two as he took Yumi's hand and led her out of the building.


He took a taxi cab to the hotel. On the ride there, Yumi began bouncing up and down on the seat, shouting, "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Roller coaster ride!" She then grabbed onto Ulrich. "We're going too fast! I'm so scared! Psych!" she then started laughing.

"Yumi, calm down. The driver's giving us weird looks."

"Hey! You never seen a couple act a fool before?"

"Couple?!" Ulrich exclaimed.

"You just keep your eyes focused on that there road, and you let me worry about this nutjob here." Yumi said, pointing at Ulrich.

"Yeah, I'm the nutjob." Ulrich said sarcastically.

"So is this is where you wanna do it? In the back of a car? A taxi cab at that? Honestly I thought you'd pick a more romantic location, but if this is what you want . . ."

"What are you talking about!?" Ulrich yelled. He was completely terrified at Yumi's very forward talk."

"I know how you hot-blooded young men think." Yumi said as she tapped him on his chest. "Well I'll have you know that I'm not that easy. You'll have to put on ring on this hand first, mister." Yumi said as she stuck her right hand in his face, not realizing it was the left hand that the engagement ring went on. She then stared at her graduation ring that she got for college. "Oh. When did that get there? I don't remember getting married. Gee, that was a blur. Was it a nice wedding?" She cooed as she grabbed onto Ulrich's arm.

"Umm . . . yes." Ulrich had not idea whatsoever that made him say that. He was wondering if there was such a thing as second-hand drunkenness.

"Ahh that's nice." Yumi said as she turned to face the front.

"I think it's so wonderful you're taking me to Tokyo for the honeymoon. But I think Italy would've been better. I mean I've been here before! Lame!"

"Well when we go on the second honey moon, I'll be sure to remember that." Ulrich joked.

"How did you propose? I don't remember that either."

"Uhh, I proposed on the lake under a starry sky. Cause you said that's how you wanted to be proposed, remember?"

"Oh, you romantic! You're so sweet. But I never thought we'd ever date let alone marry. This is exciting!" Yumi said as she started bouncing up and down again. Ulrich tried to restrain her once again. "I'm so happy." She then said as she squeezed Ulrich. She then kissed him on the cheek, taking him aback."

"Whoa, what was that for?"

"And there's more where that came from." She winked. Ulrich turned to the front and stared straight ahead.

The taxi cab was watching them through the rearview mirror. "You are very lucky man. Your wife is beautiful." He then chuckled. "But she's had too much sake at the reception."

"She'll be okay . . . I hope." Ulrich said as Yumi started swaying from side to side.

"Un. It's such a shame that gaijin are taking such beauties from Japan, and our own native men are too blind to see them in their own country."

"Yes, but that's why I'm lucky, huh?"

The taxi driver laughed. "True, true. I guess it's not that bad. We gotta see what's out there before we can be sure what's right for us, ne."

"Yeah. It takes several before you find the right one."

"You sure she's the right one? You could at least find one who holds her alcohol a bit better." The driver joked.

Ulrich stared at Yumi in pure awe of what he thought was the most beautiful creature ever. "Yeah. She's the one. She just can't hold her sake. But goddesses don't need such drink, do they? It taints them."

"Then you should do well to keep her away from the stuff. You two make fine couple. I wish you luck in your relationship."

"Arigatou." Ulrich said as they finally reached their destination. Ulrich pulled out a handful of bills and absentmindedly hand them to the driver.

"Whoa! This way too much."

"'S okay. It's a good day today. Keep it. All of it."

"Now I know why she loves you! You are very generous with your money!"

"Yeah, but she never cared about that."

"Houtoni?"

"Yeah, really."

Ulrich then took Yumi by the hand. "Come on, Yumi, we're here." Ulrich had quite the time trying to get to her room. She refused to move unless he took her on piggy back, and on the elevator ride, she started tickling him. And then she refused to move, unless he carried her "over the threshold like a normal bride and groom."

After humoring her, Ulrich placed her on the bed, and just when he was about turn around, Yumi grabbed him around the neck and tried to kiss him. Ulrich pushed away with his hands on either side of her head.

"Yumi, stop."

"But we're on our honeymoon!" she whined.

"Well I want to do this my way!" he said. She let go and looked at him, expectantly.

"Oh, I don't think you should sleep in your dress, you should put your pajamas on."

"Will I really need those? I'm really? We're on our honeymoon."

"Well I'd rather you wear pajamas." Ulrich continued humoring her. Yumi stumbled to the bathroom with a nightgown in hand.

"No peeking." She said to Ulrich. Ulrich chuckled. Yumi then came dashing out and tackled Ulrich onto the bed. "I'm ready! Now go!" She then forcibly turned Ulrich over and started bouncing up and down and spanking him on his butt. "Giddy up Horsey!"

Ulrich was completely confused. He then ceremoniously shook her off of him as he her were one of those bull-riding machines. Yumi then took her hand and tousled his hair. "I like your hair."

"Uh, thanks."

"Okay, Yumi it's time to go to bed."

"But we hadn't have—,"

"Well we already did that!" Ulrich said quickly cutting her off. He wouldn't dare let her finish that sentence. "You just forgot."

"Dang! I forget all the good stuff." She complained. "Were you good?"

Ulrich just stared at her. Was this really happening. "Um, well are you happy?"

"Yeah, I am. You're good!" she exclaimed. "Was I good?"

"Well . . ."

"Hey!" Yumi frowned.

"Let's just say, I'm happy too."

"Yay! Okay, I'm ready to go to bed now." She then opened up the covers, expecting Ulrich to get in. Instead he took them and tucked her in.

"Aren't you gonna get in?"

"I have . . . work to do."

"But we're on our honeymoon! How dare you work!"

"Well I'm just not sleepy yet."

"Fine!" Ulrich then stood up. "Aren't you gonna give me a goodnight kiss?" Yumi pleaded.

"How could I forget?"

"'S okay. I don't remember marrying you so we're even." Ulrich stooped down and kissed her on the forehead. He gazed into her glassy, drunken eyes. She seemed so pure somehow. He then kissed her on her nose. Yumi then puckered her lips expecting another kiss. Ulrich lowered towards her, and veered off towards the side of her face. He then kissed her on the cheek. Ulrich caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. Yumi puckered again. Ulrich pressed two fingers to his lips and then pressed them to Yumi's lips.

"This will do for now." Ulrich whispered.

"Okay." Yumi then yawned. "I'll . . . I'll be a good wife to you, Ulrich. Because you're so good to me."

"Goodnight."

"Oyasumi." Yumi mumbled in Japanese. Ulrich got up and made his way to the door when he heard Yumi mumble one more thing. "Aishiteru, Ul-chan." Ulrich smirked. If only this were real.

"I love you too, Yumi."


Yumi had a throbbing headache. She sat up to find herself in her bed. She had the most awkward dream ever. Apparently she had married Ulrich and they went on a honeymoon and everything. It felt very real actually, although certain details (thank goodness) were blurred. She then felt her stomach lurch. She ran to the bathroom where she threw up. She felt horrible. It was like she was having a hangover.

"You okay?" Sissi said as she came over to check on her.

"No. I feel horrible." Yumi mumbled. "And I had this weird dream. Ulrich carried me into my room—,"

"Oh, that wasn't a dream. That did happen."

"Ulrich and I got married and had a honeymoon?!"

"Never mind. I'm wrong. He just brought you here."

"Why would he bring me anywhere?"

"Idiot. You were drunk last night. You had way too much sake."

"What?"

"You were drunk last night. And acting a fool mind you. Ulrich ending up taking you back to the hotel.

"Ah crap." Yumi mumbled as she rested her forehead on the toilet. It was somewhat comforting. Her eyes grew wide. "Wait. We're leaving today aren't we?"

"Yep."

"Ah crap! I'm not ready! I haven't packed!"

"Yeah you did. Your things were already packed up when I came back from the party. Well everything except your underwear. Why'd you do that?"

"Because I didn't. Ulrich must've packed my stuff."

"Ahh. And he was kind enough not to touch your unmentionables."

"And instead left them out for all to see." Yumi grumbled. Yumi stumbled around as she put on her clothes and threw her underwear and the nightgown into her suitcase.

She then dashed out of the room with Sissi calmly walking after her. Amidst her running/stumbling, Yumi bumped into Ulrich. Yumi blushed and avoided eye contact.

"Oh, hey, Ulrich."

"Hey, Yumi. You feeling better?" He then placed his hand on her forehead. Yumi flinched.

"I wasn't sick! I was drunk!"

"Right, and acting like a complete fool and proclaiming your undying love for me isn't sick?"

"Sick in the head, maybe."

"Well it's okay. But we have to keep it strictly business." Ulrich joked. "So you just keep those passionate feelings to yourself young lady."

"You'd do best to remember your own words."

"Hey, I know what I said last night. And I stand by it."

Yumi was now curious. What did he say? Cause she sure didn't remember. She didn't even remember what she had said. Ulrich simply smiled at her and tousled her hair.

"Oh, before we go. I need to know. Have you decided on whether you'll do the temporary job?"

"I don't know. It's not that bad of a choice."

"Well you got two weeks. That's how long we can hold off until we have to get started. So on Jeremie and Aelita's wedding, you'll have to make a decision."

"Okay."

"Now, let's get on this plane. I want to go home!" Ulrich exclaimed.

"Please, can we get to the airport first?"

"Whatever. I just want to go!" Ulrich said as he ran down the hallway. Yumi shook her head. How could she ever think about leaving him?


So that's it. I'm tired . . . But I've got the next few chapters planned out so we're looking good. Hopefully it won't be so long until the next time I update.