Momo squealed from her crib in the corner of the room when she thought she saw movement coming from her parent's bed, but when no one came to cuddle her and kiss her face she started to cry. "Uh? Oh, Momo, it's 7:45, you're a better alarm clock than any of the others I've ever had," Ichigo said sitting up her pink hair long and wavy around her slim shoulders. She slipped out from under the blue sheets and slipped on her slippers and robe over her cold feet and pink silk nightgown. She walked over to the light-colored wood crib that held her 21-month-old child and picked her up. "My goodness you are getting big!" She said with a small heave moved her daughter to her hip. "AH!! Momma, me hungy," Momo said and Ichigo laughed. "After I wake up Dada okay," Ichigo said and bouncing the baby on her hip walked over to Ryou's side of the bed and pushed the hair out of his eyes and kissed his forehead. "Morning, Ryou, it's time to get up, Remember, Zakuro and Keiichiro are getting married today, in their big wedding. The important one is tomorrow but she wanted us to help them get ready," Ichigo said and when Ryou only rolled over saying, "Five more minutes," She shook him. He grunted so she went around to her side and pushed him out of bed. He landed with a loud thud and a grunt. "Hey!" He said. "You were the one who wouldn't get up," she said sticking her head up and walking to the door, "now be down in time for breakfast because otherwise you won't get any. Today this house is going to be like a zoo!" She said and switching hips walked out of their bedroom.
"Isn't every day like a zoo here?" He asked himself while still seated on the floor.
Later, about ten o'clock things became hectic. Ichigo was in the kitchen feeding the kids and animals. Minto was upstairs getting ready for the wedding; since her family was rich she was going. Lettuce, Pai, Pudding, and Tart were trying to keep Keiichiro from passing out. Zakuro was looking in the mirror worried that something would go wrong. Kishu and Tart were... playing video games, and finally poor Ryou was getting ready for the wedding because he was rich, and he was acting as Keiichiro's groom's man. "MOMO NATSU! SUKIA!! KAKI GET BACK HERE WITH THAT!" Ichigo shouted as the "Terrible Three" as everyone called them ran out of the kitchen with Vanilla's food dish. The peach haired, blue eyed 21-month-old Momo was their ringleader. Kaki the primrose haired, fuchsia eyed 19-month old was next in line, and Sukia the blue-green haired, amber-eyed 17-month-old was only in the group because her idol was Kaki.
While Ichigo wasn't looking Ichijiku had let Nashi out of her high chair and they were running off with Kuroi's food dish. "KISHU YOU GET IN HERE AND HELP ME ROUND UP YOUR KID!" Ichigo shouted as she chased, cornered, and captured Momo, who had Vanilla's food dish. Sukia and Kaki were still running around. Kishu came in reluctantly and Ichigo put Momo in the playpen were the little girl pouted and faced a corner. Soon all the girls were rounded up and in one of the two playpens, the animals were fed, and now all they had to deal with was getting people ready for the wedding. Every big celeb was going to be there. Zakuro's record company, directors, co-stars, everyone!! And of course a few rich people who ran in the same circles. It was going to be big; it was going to be fancy, so of course Zakuro was ready to bolt. If one thing went wrong her life would be "ruined". So as soon as Ichigo was finished worrying about the kids, who were now being watched very carefully by Pudding, went upstairs into Zakuro and Keiichiro's bathroom where the movie star was lamenting over the many things she had to do in an hour.
"Zakuro, you know worrying isn't going to help," Ichigo said coming in with a brush and sitting down next to the young woman at her large mirror. "I know that, Ichigo, but can you blame me? This is going to be in every tabloid, and newspaper, and on every newscast around the world!" Zakuro said and turned to her right so that Ichigo could brush her hair. "Zakuro you need to forget about all that and focus on what's happening today! You, my beautiful, refined, charming, friend, are getting married! How about we talk about that instead of your worries," Ichigo said snagging on a knot gently worked it out with her slender fingers.
"Ichigo's right you know," Minto said coming in and placing a large fancy dress (which will be described in a few minutes) inside a changing area a few feet away from the shower. "Thank you Minto, Ichigo, you make me feel much at ease," Zakuro said and smiled her, now more common, smile and relaxed allowing her friends to talk kindly to her and to pamper her by helping her with her hair, make-up, and such.
Soon Zakuro was at the church and was in the bridal dressing room putting on those last touches and talking to her bridesmaids. Her bridesmaids were a few nice female co-stars she had worked with. Nothing big, they wore light lavender dresses, strapless, with deep purple sashes around their veeeeeery tiny waists. Zakuro looked absolutely stunning in her bright white wedding gown. It was a strapless gown but somehow the designer had managed sheer sleeves that belled out towards the ends. It hugged her curves on top and was like a bodice, the straps across the front criss-crossed and at the bottom tied into a large bow. The skirt billowed out slowly like a ball gown, it had a light, shimmer, almost unnoticeable rose pattern in it and finally she had clear high heels, a silver chain with a diamond on the end, an amethyst tiara, a long, thin veil, and a bouquet of purple roses.
Zakuro walked down the isle and the wedding went flawlessly but she was more excited about the next day, the wedding she really wanted to happen, the one with her friends.
"Ichigo if you thought today was a zoo then you are not prepared for tomorrow," Ryou said while the two were getting ready for bed. Ichigo was sitting in the bathroom, with Momo on her lap, brushing her own hair. "I know, that's why I'm going to brush my hair then braid it so it will not only be out of my way but ready to go with a quick run through," Ichigo said placing her brush on the counter and quickly braiding her hair then brushing Momo's. When Momo was in bed Ryou said, "You know, she's almost two, doesn't that make you seventeen?" Asked Ryou. Ichigo nodded snuggling under the sheet and placing her head on Ryou's bare chest. "Wow, I'm 21?" He asked. "Yes, Ryou, why?" She asked sitting up and facing him. "Well we sure started our family young!" He said. Ichigo nodded. "Don't you think that will make her other friends' parents think you're a slut, when she gets other ones," Ryou said. "So you were only 19!" Ichigo said and looked slightly flustered. "Yes, but I was still an adult, you, were under age," Ryou said. "Ryou, that'll make it sound like rape if we tell anyone," She said and rolled over going to sleep as this fact sunk in to Ryou's brain.
The next morning Momo again woke up Ichigo told her she was hungry and then Ichigo woke up Ryou. The only difference, the craziness started at 8. "Ichigo! Have you seen my hairbrush?" Minto shouted from next door. "Pudding! Did your monkey take my glasses again?" Lettuce exclaimed. "KAKI COME BACK HERE!!!" Keiichiro shouted running after the little girl. Finally at 3 PM everyone gathered in the small garden in the back yard where there was a stone path inbetween where the chairs had been set up, at the head of the path was an arch covered in a red rose vine, with only one bud still alive on the very top.
"Mom? Oh good! Can you watch Momo and all the other kids?" Ichigo asked. "I'm I going to get any help?" Sakura asked. "Yes, Lettuce's mom is going to help you watch them," Ichigo said placing her daughter in her mother's lap. "She's the sweetest!" Sakura said playing peek-a-boo with the toddler. "You try living with her. Wait, Hey mom, can you watch Momo when Ryou and I go on our honeymoon?" Ichigo asked. "Sure, honey, I'm sure your father would like that, even if he doesn't approve of your age, verses Momo's," Sakura said and bounced Momo up and down in her lap. "Well I'll talk to you after the wedding!" Ichigo said running (slowly) back into the house, running up to the third floor, and walking into Zakuro's room. "You all look wonderful!" Ichigo said when she entered. All her friends and herself were in black silk dresses that were corsets on top, strapless, and they had pearls to go with the dresses, long black silk gloves, and diamond bracelets.
"Ichigo you look the best, your pink hair is such a beautiful contrast!" Lettuce said. "Yes, but I think that Pudding is the cutest," Ichigo said looking at the 14 (Guessing) year old with her long hair in curls then in a ponytail. She was wearing a dress like the ones from the big wedding. "I'm only the flower girl, even though I think I'm a little big!" Pudding said and started laughing. "No you're not, you stayed pretty petite, but I'm sure you'll grow," Minto said. "Petite yourself! Look at you, you didn't grow an inch Minto!" Ichigo said and laughed as a pillow flew in her direction. "Girls, girls, be good, it's time," Ryou said. "Oh that's right you guys are walking the bride's maids down the isle," Lettuce said and smiled as Pai held out his arm and she hooked hers around his still holding her deep red almost purple roses in one hand. The other girls did the same, except for Pudding. Tart was going to walk behind her with the rings, then Minto and Kishu, Ichigo and Ryou, Lettuce and Pai, and then last, but most importantly of all, Zakuro. She wore a much simpler dress today. It hugged her curves and was made of silk. It had no beading and was strapless, pure white, a simple tiara of roses held her veil on. "You look wonderful, Zakuro-chan, let's go!" Minto said as Pudding walked down the isle throwing rose petals. Then came Tart right behind her. Minto walked down the isle, as did the other girls. Finally "Here Comes the Bride" began to play and Zakuro walked out and Pai walked her down the isle and gave her away since her parents were not invited and she had no siblings.
"If you're not good to her we all know where to find you," Pai said jokingly to Keiichiro as he handed him Zakuro's hand. Keiichiro smiled and turned towards the minister.
"We are gathered here today to witness the most Holy commitment between Fujiwara Zakuro and Akasaka Keiichiro. Who gives away this bride?" The minister said. "I do," Pai said. "Good, now, do you have the vows?" Asked the Minister. "Yes," and Minto handed him two pieces of paper. "Keiichiro repeat after me. I, Keiichiro Akasaka," the Minister started. "I, Keiichiro Akasaka," Keiichiro said. "Take you, Zakuro Fujiwara." "Take you, Zakuro Fujiwara." "To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in poverty and wealth, till death do we part." "To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in poverty and wealth, till death do we part." "Thank you Keiichiro," The minister said and turned to Zakuro. "Zakuro repeat after me. I, Zakuro Fujiwara, take you, Keiichiro Akasaka, to be my lawfully and holy wedded husband, till death do we part," The minister said and Zakuro repeated.
"Rings," The minister said and Tart handed over the rings. He handed each of them a ring and said, "Repeat this as you put the ring on the other's left ring finger. I, Zakuro/Keiichiro, give you this ring, as a token of my never ending love, and forever give my heart to you," the minister finished and the two slipped on the rings. "And now, before God, and in the power invested in me by the Most Holy, I pronounce you, Husband and Wife, you may now kiss the bride," The minister finished and Keiichiro took Zakuro in his arms and whispered into her ear, "I love you Zakuro Akasaka," And kissed her passionately while everyone cheered.
At the reception it was time for the customary first dance but Zakuro got on stage instead and said, "Hey, Ichigo! You had the kid first but I got married first soooo you and I are gonna dance with our men at the same time!" Ichigo giggled as Ryou pulled her out of her chair and he guided her to the dance floor. The song "You raise me up" played and every time the chorus said, "You raise me up," Ryou lifted Ichigo off the floor her hair and skirt twirling slightly at the movement, she giggled as Momo broke away from Sakura and pulled on her dad's pant leg wanting a turn and Ichigo and Ryou raised her up at the same time and twirled her around. Now the other kids thought that looked fun so it ended up being the "Twirl the babies around" dance.
Later Zakuro didn't bother to throw the bouquet before she and Keiichiro got in a limo and drove to the airport, instead she just handed it to Minto. "Be back in a week, just in time for your wedding!" Zakuro shouted out the window at Minto as they drove away and everyone waved. "Whose room are the twins living in?" Minto asked. "YOURS!!!" Zakuro answered as they drove out of sight. "I suppose that means that Ichigo is going to watch Sukia, and Lettuce is going to watch Momo when we go on vacation in turn, oh and Zakuro will watch Nashi," Pudding said watching the sunset behind the house. "Yup," Minto said and went inside to move the twins into her room.
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! (I know I'm late but the last number is when I finished writing this chappie) Now originally I meant to write all three weddings of Zakuro, Minto, and Ichigo all in the same chapter but I've made you wait so I'm double updating and giving you this. I'll do Minto's wedding in chapter... 6 Ichigo in 7 Lettuce in 8 and then I'll go on with another Christmas chappie for the older tots!!! Then Momo's second b-day. Oh and if you have any ideas for other kids b-days that would be awesome. Nashi comes next, then the twins, then Sukia. Momo comes first of course. On the 1st of January. I was thinking maybe... May for Nashi, September for the twins, and early December for Sukia. Exact dates are appreciated!!!!
(Added on 01-08-07) I originally finished this chapter on the 24th but I never got it out. Sorry!! As you can see I'm updating today!!! Wh00t!! lol