Guests: different questions, same answer: read on :p

It was a beautiful day. Not too sunny, not too cloudy. The earth was covered in the warmth of fallen maple leaves; it was ironically beautiful and heartwarming.

The stone pavement of the Plaza was covered in white wooden floor with a red carpet dividing it into two sections, with small pews lining up on each one. The side of each pew, the one facing the red carpet, was decorated with a small arrangement of pink carnations and white roses. As the guests began to gather and the pews were gradually filled, they all thought the same thing:

It was a beautiful day, a beautiful day for a wedding.

Raelyn held her breath as her mother draped the veil over her head and her vision was obscured by the fabric. Her mother took a step back and smiled widely, "Look at you… it felt just yesterday your father swore to chase off any boy that messed with you and now you're going to be someone's wife."

"Maybe it's a good thing Klaus isn't from our town, then."

Reine laughed. "Yeah, I think you wouldn't end up with him in Echo Town."

It was then the door was opened and her brothers came in. Both of them wore a dark gray tuxedo with lighter gray vest and golden cravat. Somehow, they managed to put their unruly hair into submission; she wondered how long it would last.

"Ohmygodlookather!" Rex blabbered. "She looks like a proper woman!"

Raelyn frowned. "Is there something wrong? Why are you so… nice?"

Rex pouted. "Everything! My baby sister is getting married today to her sugar daddy!"

"Rex!"

Nate shrugged. "Calm down, Lynn, he's just jealous."

Raelyn puffed her cheeks. "Then get yourself a girlfriend!"

It was then Rex's eyes glinted playfully. "That's actually a good idea!"

Another person came into the room and everybody turned to see who it was. Reine smiled understandingly and took both of her sons in her arms. "We'll be waiting."

Raelyn glanced carefully at her father as he walked towards her. He stopped right in front of her, his magenta eyes studying her. Unlike the rest of her family, Neil reacted with the engagement news rather coldly. Knowing him, it might not be a bad thing, but still, she wished that her father would say something. This was, after all, a big moment in her life.

"Dad…"

"You look beautiful," he said with a slight smile. "Can't decide who's more beautiful, between you and your mother."

Raelyn chuckled wryly. "Thanks for the compliment, Dad."

"I guess it's true when they say kids grow up fast. One day I was helping you with your first steps—you almost fall down every time, giving me the scare of my life—and now I'm going to walk you down the aisle to another man." Neil scratched his head slightly. "I just… didn't think it's going to be this fast."

"Uh… I'm sorry?"

"Don't be. You can't be a little girl forever, although I wish you could."

Nervousness began to creep into his system when Iris fixed the flower on his lapel. "Nervous?"

"Very."

Iris turned his body to face the mirror and he saw his reflection; it would be his first time wearing black tuxedo not to a funeral. "Maybe I should've chosen another color," he muttered.

"Black looks good on you. It complements your hair, and it's classy."

"Reminds me of a funeral."

"You're saying goodbye for those lonely days, anyway," Marian quipped. "It's time to redefine black tux, don't you think?"

"You look like a proper gentleman," Mistel chimed in. "I'm sure Raelyn will be very impressed. And her dress—"

"—will be a surprise," Iris interjected. "Let's not say anything further on the matter."

Mistel smiled meaningfully. "It's enough for a teaser, yes. You won't be in suspense for long, though… it's time."

Veronica stood at the white podium and greeted the attendees: "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming today. The wedding of Niklaus Yves Adler and Raelyn Alexandra Forrester shall now commence."

The guildmaster glanced at Klaus, who was already standing in front of the altar, kindly for a moment, before facing the rest of the attendees again. "Let us now welcome the bride."

Everyone stood up almost simultaneously and the song began. Klaus turned his body and glanced at Raelyn, who was walking down the aisle in Neil's arm. He almost couldn't believe what he saw; she looked so beautiful in white. It was similar to the dress she wore as Iris' model for her first Fashion Show in the town, but now it was completely in white and decorated with white pearls and crystals. Her hands were covered in fingerless thin gloves, made from lace with beautiful embroidery.

When they reached the altar, Neil let her arm go. Raelyn leaped and hugged her father—clearly surprising him—and Neil returned the embrace in kind. Before he went for the pew, he stopped and stared at Klaus for a moment. Klaus was struck again by the fierceness of Neil's eyes, and a moment later Neil gave him a slight smile and patted his shoulder lightly.

It brought a great wave of relief for Klaus.

After Neil settled down next to Reine, Veronica took a deep breath and began the ceremony: "Niklaus Yves Adler, do you vow to take the woman next to you, Raelyn Alexandra Forrester, as your one and only wife, to have and to hold in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forever side-by-side until death do you part?"

Without hesitation, he replied: "I do."

"Raelyn Alexandra Forrester, do you vow to take the man next to you, Niklaus Yves Adler, as your one and only husband, to have and to hold in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forever side-by-side until death do you part?"

She knew her answer all this time: "I do."

"With the power invested in me, I hereby declare you man and wife."

The announcement was met with a thundering applause from the attendees. Klaus and Raelyn turned to face each other and they couldn't help but to smile at each other.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Klaus carefully took the tip of her veil and put it over her head. "I am yours," he muttered.

"As I am yours," she continued.

That agreement was sealed with a gentle, but lingering kiss.

Iris was among one of the first to congratulate the newlyweds. She walked up to them and hugged each of them tightly. "I can't believe I'm really seeing Klaus getting married."

"I agree! I almost believed Klaus will die alone," Marian said.

"So did I," Klaus nodding in agreement.

"Now that she's your wife, I don't think you need to be jealous if I hug her right?" Raeger teased playfully as he hugged Raelyn tightly, and Klaus chuckled. "Good for you, Raelyn."

They laughed together, until Iris spoke up: "Oh, remember the new story I told you about? The one about the farmer girl."

Raelyn nodded. "How is it going?"

Iris beamed into a smile. "Well it's going to hit the stores soon, but I can give you a complimentary copy," she said, while taking out a small book with a pastel green cover. Raelyn took the book with sparkling eyes and immediately read the back cover: "A hopeful young woman decided to be a farmer in a town she was a stranger in. A middle-aged man with a dark past was devoid of hope—a lone wolf. An unlikely couple, but when their paths crossed, who's to say what would happen?"

"It sounds… familiar," Raelyn commented.

"Should we claim copyright?" Klaus asked teasingly.

Iris smiled. "Now, now… I think you both would love the title."

Raelyn turned the book and, as Iris said, she felt that the title was simply perfect.

Why Should We Care About What They Say?

Iris nursed her wine half-heartedly. She was truly elated for Klaus and Raelyn, but a corner of her heart couldn't help but to feel heavy.

And I thought we could…

"A long face doesn't suit you, and certainly doesn't fit such an occasion for our brother. And he's busy."

"You're right. This is his sister's wedding, after all."

Mistel chuckled. "So you were thinking about him."

Iris rolled her eyes.

"The fact that he maintains a correspondence with you means that you do mean something to him."

"Letters are one thing…"

"Ah, it seems that I should be somewhere else." With that, Mistel abruptly left. Iris looked up, confused as to why Mistel did what he did, and saw Rex Forrester walking towards her in his easy steps, with a glass of wine in his hand.

"Looking good today, Iris."

"Likewise… Rex."

"You did a great job, ensuring your favorite ship sails to the high seas."

Iris chuckled. "It's worth all the hard work."

A slow music began to play. Klaus and Raelyn opened the dance floor, and some other people joined in. Rex put down his glass and offered his hand. "Shall we?"

Iris didn't take a moment to accept his invitation. Hand in hand, they walked towards the dance floor. Iris noticed the surprised glance Raelyn threw at them, as well as Klaus' playful one; she noted Rex's parents, watching silently from their seats.

Suddenly, she began to feel so conscious about her surroundings, so much that she barely registered that Rex had put his arm around her and started to move ever so gently.

"…Why should we care about what they say?"

"Huh? Pardon?"

"That's the title of your new book, right? Lynn told me."

"Oh, yes… yes, it is."

"Maybe I should read it."

She chuckled. "You don't strike me as someone who reads romance novels."

"I do make exceptions here and there."

They glided across the dance floor, and Iris began to take in his presence, ignoring everything else. Somehow, he made her feel that she could rely on him. It was strange, how his carefreeness could make her feel so safe; it felt like everything was going to be all right when he was around. Without her realizing it, she had leaned in towards him. She followed his lead as they danced, and followed him as he brought her away from the crowd to a quieter corner. There, he handed her a sealed envelope. "Open it."

Iris did as he asked, but found no letter inside. There was something else, however, and she held her breath as she guessed what it was.

"Klaus and Raelyn got their happy ending, so I figured our letters need a new topic. That's what I want to talk about."

Iris flipped the envelope and a ring fell into her open palm. It was a white gold right with an amethyst mounted at the center, surrounded by diamonds.

"Not Raelyn, not Klaus… and definitely not anyone else. Our next letter should be about us."

Next chapter: Epilogue - wait for it!

Thanks for staying this far with me, guys!

Tell me what you think of this! ^^

A/N: ever since I started this story, I'd always known that I wanted the last chapter (or second last, since we're going to have an epilogue) to be titled "They Say: I Do". Can't believe it's happening lol.