((you guys are so kind. Thanks! As usual it ain't mine ; pm me or comment with any corrections as i don't have a proofreader and always miss my own mistakes and I'll tend to them asap. THANKS! I'm still really sick so I'm trying to see through the cold med haze to edit. If I missed stuff please pm me. all critiques are welcome))

There were a few times in life when you knew exactly where your place was and for Mai this was one of those. Although her dance with Naru had started off very proper it ended with her head on his chest listening to the steady beat of his heart and his cheek resting on her head. Their arms were woven around each other and if the lights had been lower it would have been hard to tell where one ended and the next began. When it was time to eat Mai reluctantly left the harbour of his arms and went to her seat at the bridal table. She was on the receiving end of a few smirks from the men and some jealous. hostile stares from women.

When she arrived at her seat next to Ayako her friend looked at her for a moment and then smiled. It was a hopeful smile and Mai knew that Ayako was very worried about her. She felt a pang of regret for causing her dearest friends worry on their wedding day. She leaned over and hugged her friend and smiled.

"It's ok. Things are ok."

"Mai, just..just take it slow. I don't want to see you get hurt again. Don't let him make you do anything you don't want to do." The red-haired priestess gripped her hand briefly. "Just remember, if it feels wrong it probably is. Ok?"

"Don't worry Ayako. Something's different now." When Ayako pressed her for more Mai gave a shrug and turned towards her meal. She glanced up when she felt eyes on her and looked across the room to his table. A small blush tinted her cheeks and Mai wished idly that this night could last forever. She knew that tomorrow she had to go find the girl that Gene had shown her. She felt guilty for even being there but she hoped that Gene wouldn't begrudge her one night of happiness.

The tinkling of spoons on crystal rang through the air and Takigawa bent forward to kiss his bride. Mai smiled and once more looked at Naru and Lin to see what they were doing. While Lin focused on his meal Naru had a very different hunger in his eyes. When he felt her eyes on him, he looked at her and mouthed something that Mai thought said soon. She blushed again.

When it was time for the speeches Kyo rose and told an amusing story of when he had replaced Takigawa's shampoo with bleach and turned his older brother's hair blond. Next it was Mai's turn and she rose nervously. She smiled and flushed red than licked her lips and took the microphone. When all eyes were on her Mai began.

"I remember the day I met Ayako and Takigawa. The very first thing they did was .."

While Mai told the love story that the priestess and Monk had written for themselves he made a mental note to ask her what she thought of the first time she'd met him. She hadn't seemed to buy his act and for the longest time he'd wondered what it was that had been off putting to her.

As the music came up and the lights went down he looked at Lin who rolled his eyes at the younger man. Oliver smirked and stalked off to claim Mai on the dance floor. He knew that everything he'd done this evening would make it way to Madoka and from there his mother. Absently he wondering how his father would feel about Mai. While he had no doubt that Luella Davis would be absolutely smitten with Mai, his father might want to take a more academic approach to their relationship. He'd have to have a discreet work with Martin and let him know what Mai and her abilities were off limits to BSPR. He couldn't very well have his woman being examined by various others. His woman, where had that come from?

Truthfully he had no idea where is stood with Mai. She had kissed him and hugged him, slept in his arms and pushed him away with force. The past twenty-four hours had been quite confusing to his scientist mind. Idiot Scientist his memory offered Gene saying to him time and time again. Never before had he felt that those words were more true. Not for the first time he wondered what would have happened had Gene never come to Japan. As he reached Mai and raised a hand to shoulder he decided that that line of thought wasn't worth considering.

Gene was dead. Mai was here and the rest would work it's self out. He let his hand stay still a moment longer than was necessary. He had been right. The silk of her dress did feel like a second skin. When she caught him continuing to stare and tilted his head.

"You blush alot, has anyone ever told you that?"

"I've been told it's adorable."

"Oh, it is." A fleeting smile. "Are you going to dance?"

"Are you going to ask me properly? He looked at her for a second and realized that she was teasing him. How delightful. No one ever teased him anymore. The staff at BSPR was too stiff, and the students he lectured too afraid. Outside of Lin Oliver really didn't have any friends. In his reading he'd read how a true romantic partner could also be a best friend. Would Mai be his friend? Hadn't she already been?

"Naru, I'm going to probably hate myself for asking this but," she stopped at bit her lip before pressing on, "Where do we stand? I mean. I mean what's all this going on? "

A soft smile. The smile that Gene always gave. "Where would you like to Mai?"

"I..I don't know. I don't know when I'll see you again after tonight. I have to find the girl Gene showed me. I can't explain why but I know she's in danger Naru."

"Hmm." A pang of fear. Was she going because it was a child or a child that Gene had shown her. "Tell me about her."

"There was a little girl laying in the center of her bed. She was sleeping and there was all kinds of poltergeist activity going on around. The toys were flying around and all the furniture was floating. This black mass was going to hurt her. She was so young and had these beautiful curls"

Naru pursed his lips considering what she'd just said. Was it possible that Mai had seen Adia Hines in her dream. Stranger things have happened. Was his brother jerking Mai around or trying to help him or the young girl.

"I think I might be able to help you Mai." When she looked at him questioningly he smirked and leaned down to kiss her lips. "Don't worry about that now, Are you going to dance with me or not?"

Takigawa leaned over and kissed his wife's lips. They were soft and tasked and cherries. He loved when she wore the flavored lip balms. Cherry was his favorite. He smiled at her and picked up her hand pressing kisses to her long fingers.

"You've done me a great honor Ayako Houshou by becoming my wife. I pledge my all to you." He whispered to her. When she smiled at him he continued, "I'll love you forever my flame haired goddess."

"Oh you silly Monk, What are you going on about now?" She said, her eyes shining for her new husband.

"Have you forgiven me yet?"

"You mean for inviting Lin and Naru to our wedding and putting the entire thing in danger? For risking the mental health of one of our dearest friends on a gamble because Lin says it'll be ok? For making my parents pay for two more plates less than two days before the wedding? or for not telling me until this morning what you were planning?"

"I was going to say for eating the last of the chunky monkey ice cream a few days ago, but that stuff too." He said with a wink. When Ayako laughed he kissed her on the lips and smiled.

"For that? Never" she laughed leaning her forehead against his and closed her eyes. "The rest we can talk about, once we're on the beach." As she smiled Takigawa knew that he was a very lucky man. He only hoped that Mai would find a man to love her a fiercely as he loved Ayako. Seeing them dancing out of the corner of his eyes he wondering yet again if Naru was able to love her in the way she deserved and what he'd do if it turned out the young man wasn't capable of being the man Mai deserved.

Mai leaned against Naru's chest as they moved slowly on the dance floor. The reception was winding down and she and Naru hadn't been able to separate. They swayed together and even when the tempo of the music picked up they would reach out and touch each other to remind themselves that the other was really there. Naru had never seen the appeal of dancing before. He'd taken the obligatory lessons that his mother had insisted upon but it always just work. With Mai it was a joy to dance.

Mai had to push more than one woman away from Naru and he'd glared at any man that even attempted to cut in with her. After a few dances everyone had given up. He'd even glared at Takigawa and Yasu when they tried to pull her into the chicken dance. He'd never seen such an embarrassing thing before and was quite certain that if he engaged in such nonsense Lin would provide Madoka photographic evidence of his embarrassment. He'd been happy when Mai had also declined to participate and opted to stand off to the side. She'd leaned her torso against his while he'd played his fingers over the insides of her wrists raising soft goose flesh down her arms. He closed his eyes contentedly and leaned his chin on her head for support. She'd wrapped her arms around his waist in response and he leaned against the wall to steady them.

"Naru?"

"Yes?" He said without opening his eyes. She seemed to enjoy seeing him so relaxed.

"What did you mean that you might be able to help me find the little girl from my dream?"

"Don't trust me Mai?" he said continuing to keep her close.

"It's not that..it's just. Well how can you help me find someone when you haven't even seen what she looks like? I mean I know you're smart and all but how can you expect to find her with nothing to go on?"

"I'm fairly sure I've already found her Mai. We're going to her house tomorrow."

"We're?" She said eyebrows raised him amusement.

"It's the case I'm working on. I'll fill you in on all the details later. Right now I'd like to sit down and have a drink."

"Yeah, that sounds nice. Why don't you go sit down with Lin and I'll get us something. I need to go talk to Ayako and Monk before they leave for the airport anyway." She smiled at him and then smiled wider when he kissed her lips. He'd meant it to be a soft kiss but holding her so close to him for so long on the dance floor had strained his self control. When she gasped softly he deepened the kiss and flicked the tip of his tongue over her lips. She leaned into him and returned the kiss. When they separated he traced his fingers down hers. He pulled away and turned towards his table.

"What did you want to drink Naru?

His eyes lit up for a moment. "Tea." He turned fully away from her and went to sit down. It had been too long since he'd had a proper cup of tea and he needed to brief Lin about Mai's dream. He could make out her slight giggle as he sat down and nodded to Lin.