The reception room was huge with long tables surrounding a square dance floor in the middle of the room. It took five rebels and five days to construct the smooth dance floor. The walls were concrete, but were lined with white, flowing fabrics to cover the stone. Near the back corner of the room was a small stage made with spare wood and metal parts. The piano from the sanctuary was moved onto this stage. Near the opposite corner of the room was a small bar surrounded by small, round, tablecloth covered tables. The room was a bit dark, but small lights made it agreeable.

A crowd of over one hundred burst's into the room, all talking at once. They all slowly looked around the long tables for their assigned positions. Soon, every seat in the room was filled. The Bride and Groom came in next, taking their seat at the right of the room, next to Dr. Kliener, Judith Mossman, Dr. Magnusson and Barney Calhoun. D0g took his place in the corner near the newlyweds.

Alyx squeezed Gordon's hand as the food came out first. He turned, only to see her grinning. He smiled, bent over and lightly kissed his wife again. Plates of beef were given to the guests. Everyone in the room began to eat, stopping only to converse with the person next to them about how Gordon and Alyx were so engrossed with each other.

After the food was eaten, Dr. Kliener raised his fork, tapping it lightly against his wine glass.

"Attention, everybody!" The room went silent. Dr. Kliener stood up, nervously fiddling with his glasses.

"I would like to say something." He turned toward the bride and groom, addressing Gordon first. "Gordon, I could not have picked a finer man to wed my niece. I know that you will love and keep her forever. Ever since I saw you first glance at Alyx, I knew you had feelings for her." Gordon smiled, embarrassed that Kliener always knew about his crush.

"Alyx," Dr. Kliener proceeded, trying to form the right words. "I have known you from birth. I have watched you grow into a strong, lovely young woman. I know you love Gordon and always will." Tears of joy started to well up in Alyx's eyes. Kliener started to choke on the next words. "Eli would be so proud of you, Alyx." Tears flowed freely from both the bride and Kliener. Alyx rose from her seat and wrapped her arms around her Uncle. After a few moments of embrace, Alyx pulled back, staring into Kliener's eyes. He gave a sheepish smile, wiping away the tears from his eyes. Gordon got up from his seat and embraced the doctor himself. Alyx laughed, wiping her own tears away.

As the three took their seats again, Dr. Magnusson stood up, raising his glass.

"Although, I did not have the privilege of working closely with Dr. Freeman back at Black Mesa," he started, keeping a serious face. "But I have come to respect him. And Gordon . . ." Magnusson turned to Gordon. "I forgive you for that casserole incident." The room erupted in laughter, knowing that Gordon had blown up Magnusson's lunch back at Black Mesa. Magnusson looked pleased that he actually managed to make a whole room laugh. He raised the glass higher. "To Alyx and Gordon, may their love bloom with each day." Every person in the room raised their glasses and drank to the toast.

Barney was next to speak. He mimicked Magnusson, raising his glass into the air.

"I was Gordon's best friend at Black Mesa. We had good time's there. One time, when Dr. Magnusson here wasn't looking, I dared Gordon to shake his soda, which we got away with." Dr. Magnusson looked up in shock. His face turned to fury, remembering the soda spewing into his face. Gordon laid his head into his hands, remembering all the embarrassing stunts they used to play on scientists back at Black Mesa. Alyx just laughed.

"And with Alyx," Barney continued, "We would find boxes of bubble gum in the old Combine storage facility, and tried to throw the pieces right so that they would stick to a Civil Patrol's face mask, and then just run like hell out of there."

Everybody chuckled. Now, it was Alyx's turn to be embarrassed.

"So here's to good times!" Everybody drank from his or her glasses. Barney gave out a small sigh after downing his glass.

"Now, let's dance!", Barney shouted.

---

The band consisted of a piano, a box that sounded like a guitar and a round disk, when beat in the right place, sounded like notes on a bass. All the guests rose from their chairs and moved toward the dance floor. The band played upbeat songs, allowing the dancer's to get their groove on. Alyx turned to Gordon and bumped her shoulder against his, indicating her urge to dance. Gordon rolled his eyes playfully, removed his coat, rolled up his sleeves and grabbed one of Alyx's hands, pulling her to the dance floor.

Once on the floor, Alyx immediately started swaying back in forth, moving to the music. Her hands came up to the level of her shoulders and started snapping her fingers. Gordon didn't know what to do. Alyx mused at his inability to dance. She then grabbed his hands and started swaying them in unison.

"Ok. Here's what your going to do," She instructed, moving back and forth on each foot. "Just feel the music. Break it down."

Gordon still didn't understand. He tried moving like his wife, but kept falling off beat. Instead, he went crazy. He started to do the dance moves he learned forty years ago. He grabbed the back of his neck and underneath his knee, quickly moving both limbs toward each other violently. Alyx broke out in laughter at the sight of this horrible dancing.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," she shouted, holding her hands up. "Don't hurt yourself. We're gonna have to work on that." Gordon laughed, knowing his dancing was awful.

All around them, dancing was in full swing. Father Grigori held baby Baako, moving back and forth on the floor. The father of Baako, Geoff, stood nearby, nervously watching Grigori's every move. D0g was "dancing" with Judith, which consisted the two moving all across the floor back and forth. Dr. Magnusson stood in the back corner, having nothing to do with the festivities. However, a brave female soldier walked up to the scientist, asking if he wanted to dance. Magnusson was about to reply when she suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. Dr. Kliener was still sitting in his seat, happily watching.

Barney made his way to the bar, ready to get his party on. He joined a group of well-dressed soldiers around one of the small round tables. They all had their own dink concoctions on the table. The group didn't even notice Barney as he sat down. They were too busy watching Gordon stumble across the floor. Each one chuckled with each mistake the groom made.

"Wow." One of the guys piped up, "This wedding thing is pretty fun."

Barney smiled. He had forgotten that half of the room's occupants have never been to a wedding, seeing that the Combine rule kept this from happening. This was the most fun these people have had in years.