Part 4

Lucas was spending his day getting in and out of his tux jacket, whacking a brush through his hair and muttering to himself the words he felt he should have had memorized a week ago, much less today. He was a ball of nervous energy and he knew it was obvious to everyone who saw him.

What will Sami think when she sees me shaking like a palm tree in a hurricane? Lucas silently asked himself. I know what she'll think. I know she'll think I'm scared out of my mind and looking for any reason, any reason at all to back out of this. She'll think I don't want her ... no, she knows better than that. Sami will just think that like my late, lamented brother, like Franco and Brandon I'm better than everyone Walker, She'll think I don't want to marry her, I don't want to stay with her, that I'll leave her alone again, if she won't mold herself to fit my specs.

"And its so not true!" Pacing and muttering, Lucas wasn't really paying any attention to anything or anyone else in the room, and he clearly didn't realize he'd spoken aloud.

"What isn't true, dear boy?" Tony Dimera asked, masking a smile.

"That I'm chickening out on Sami, on Will and ... everything. That I ever would do that, again. Tony, I swear, as scared as I am right this minute, as much as I want to down about a pitcher full of martinis, I want us back even more."

"That's good to know. But Lucas, can you honestly say Sami would be getting ready to wed you now, if she thought otherwise?"

"No, she'd be getting ready to lynch me about now, especially considering " Lucas felt his face growing hot. Never, not even in his closer moments with the man who had protected him with a claim of fatherhood, did he recall discussing his private life with an older man.

Now Tony grinned and nodded his understanding. "There, you see. You're worrying about a problem that doesn't exist."

"And I'm worried about the problems that do exist." Lucas added. "How do we know this ... lunatic isn't going to blow up the church? Why should she wait for the reception? Are we just plain crazy to go ahead with this today, when she could have already done something that will take out the half of Salem she didn't' get last summer? Oh, why didn't Sami listen when I suggested we elope?"

"Because she loves Salem and she knows the bunch of you would have to go live in Outer Mongolia if you even tried that." Mike Horton said, walking into the small room in a dark almost blue-red tux,  with Billie on his arm.

Tony kissed Billie's hand and left the three young people, "I have to make sure the ring bearer hasn't run off with the choir leader." he said, smiling.

"And little bro," Billie added, leaning over to plant a kiss on Lucas' face. "Sami knows the same thing you do. The ISA and the Feds have got both places staked out and checked to the nth degree. So, Orpheus' daughter can try whatever she wants to try. She doesn't win, not this time. No way."

"And believe me, getting married in Salem would make anyone in their right mind nervous!" Mike joked. "It's never just a wedding around these parts, It's an adventure."

"No, no," Lucas cried in mock dismay. "Please, no more adventures!"

But Billie distracted him in the next moment after studying his apparel with a discerning artist's eye. "What happened to your tie?" she demanded to know.

Lucas startled at the question, then realized she was trying to haze him. "I was defeated in the battle of the bow-tie." He admitted glumly. "My hands were shaking so bad I could only think its a good thing I didn't become another Horton doctor. John gave me this, in its place. It's .."

"Its the one John wore when he and Marlena finally tied the knot," Mike finished. "I remember, because he was running into the same problem until Carrie ran into the room with a pre-wedding present from Marlena."

"Oh well, I guess its okay for the bridegroom to wear something borrowed too. We could start a whole new tradition here. Do you have something old?

"Yeah, My older sister." Lucas smirked.

"Smart mouth! Okay, I know the tux is brand new and that haircut ... Sit down, Lucas, and let me work on it." Billie commanded.

Lucas groaned and as Billie grabbed his arm and nearly pushed him into a chair, tried not to squirm.  "Ouch!" he yelped as she vigorously brushed his hair into shape.

"Are you a man or a mouse?" Billie laughed, shaking her head. "Or do you want to look like you lost a fight with a lawnmower in your wedding pictures? No, I didn't think so. What do you want to do, scare your own grandkids someday?"

"Why shouldn't they be just as scared as I am?" Lucas demanded. "Hey, what are you talking about? Grandkids! G-d help me!"

"He might. But not if you flub your wedding vows." Mike laughed. "Don't waste time complaining to your sister, recite them for me. C'mon, I'm going to be your brother again if I can ever get this gorgeous man-eater to say yes. So I'm practicing pushing you around. Isn't that what older sibs are for?"

Slowly, and quietly Lucas went through the quote that he'd found with Rivka's help, to incorporate in his solemn vows today, because it said so clearly what he most wanted Sami to hear. Billie teared up listening, after thwacking Mike for his 'man-eater' comment. And Mike nodded approval.

"That's great, I think I've heard it before ... And I think you do know what she needs to hear." the young surgeon commented. "I think you'll do fine if you can just keep from st-st-stammering. But why the covertness? Didn't you two rehearse together?"

"No. Not on this part. Sami said she was still looking for the poem she wanted, last week. And when I was going to tell her mine, Sami said, no she'd rather have at least one nice surprise today. But we found this that we want you to read." Lucas pulled another large index card out of his shirt pocket and handed it to Mike.

"Lucas this is great, really thanks. But Tony's your best man. Why isn't he ...?"

"He said he wanted to keep to the traditional duties, like locking the back door to the church so I can't bug out, and reminding me not to slump when the pictures are taken, and otherwise keep a low profile. He's funny that way. Maybe he thinks there's still someone who doesn't know I'm his kid. And no matter how many times I've told him in the last month ... that I'm fine and better than fine with it, he's just funny about the whole thing."

"He's been in the habit of protecting you from his family and those who hate his family for a long time now. I mean think about it, didn't you turn fifty on your last birthday?" Mike ducked as Lucas found a thickly brocaded pillow to throw at his head.

"Hey!" Billie cried. "I'm the only one who gets to thwack the blond guy. I worked it out with Laura. She gets to nudge, but I get to thwack."

Mike groaned and ducked again. "I knew it!" he yelled. "I'm doomed! But in a good way."

"Yeah, nice comeback, Doc." Billie finished smoothing Lucas' hair down to her own satisfaction and walked back to pull Mike into a kiss. "You'll do."

"Why thank you, Ms Reed. I'll engrave the date on my heart, since I finally met with your approval." Mike grinned, and kept Billie close another moment to return the embrace.

"Oh you already met with that, Dr. H. Lemme see, the last time was just the other night."

Now Lucas groaned. "Oh c'mon. Will you two just go get a room?"

"Oh we did." they chorused. "That's why you and Sami aren't getting the best suite at the Salem Inn tonight."

"Funny! You're sooo funny. Billie, I think you're right about touring, next year and you could take my once and future brother with you as your straight man, anytime after the reception. And don't worry about our suite, we came up with a better idea."

"Danger, danger Will Roberts!" Billie laughed. "Okay, let's go, my work here is done."

Lucas sighed and watched them rush out. Glancing at his watch he saw it was already 1:41. He had less than twenty minutes to go, before their wedding ceremony, and literally nothing to do but wait.