She hadn't slept very well what with all the dreams and tossing and turning and worrying about everything being just right. She'd fallen asleep fairly quickly, as tired as she was from the activities of the last several days, but she woke up a few times every hour, and then laid there, trying to relax back into sleep. At four she gave up and went downstairs, starting a pot of coffee and leaning against the counter. She was betting that Adam wasn't having trouble sleeping, but she wasn't going to call him to find out.

The girls night had ended up back at her parents house, but she wasn't sure where the guys had ended up. She just hoped they were all sober and without injury.

The floorboards creaked and she looked up to find Austin, her hair a mess and one of Danny's baseball shirts sagging around her.

"You're getting married!" she whispered excitedly.

"Yes, I am," Lindsay replied with a grin. "Why are you up?"

"It's six New York time? I dunno. I just woke up. Figured you were probably puttering around down here. Thought I'd keep you company."

"Thanks."

"Nervous?"

"About getting married? No. About standing up in front of all those people? Oh yeah."

"You won't even see them. I promise."

"And if I do, just picture them in their underwear?"

"No, that's a terrible idea. It never works."

"Well as long as I have a plan."

Austin chuckled and poured her own cup of coffee before sitting down at the table.

"What are you thinking about so hard?"

"Oh, just a million things that keep parading through my head like it's their own personal playground."

"I hate when that happens."

"I shouldn't even be worrying. Everything is done and ready. But I keep thinking, what if I forgot something. What if we lose the rings? What if we lose the marriage license? What if someone passes out or what if I don't fit in my dress or what if I can't get my hair to do what I want it to do or what if someone stands up and says we shouldn't get married or what if-"

"Stop it. None of that is going to happen. You're getting married and that's all there is to it. You won't lose the marriage license. You won't lose the rings. And if you do, that's why we got those cheap ones. No one is going to pass out. You'll fit in your dress just like you have the other twelve times you've tried it on. Your hair is going to be fine. No one is going to say you shouldn't get married because if they do I will maim them. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Now stop worrying, this is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. You get to marry Adam. You like him, remember?"

"Yeah. I kind of wish that when we were talking about eloping we would have just done it."

"No, you shouldn't have."

"We never would have told anyone."

"Vile betrayer."

Lindsay smirked and sipped her coffee, feeling some of the stress abate.

"Plus, you have to survive the wedding to go on the honeymoon. I am dying to know where he's taking you."

"You're dying to know? How do you think I feel? He even packed my bag for me, so I have no clues here. At all."

"You have to let me know when you know or I'm going to spend the week really frustrated."

"I'll break the cardinal rule of no talking to friends on your honeymoon and let you know."

"Good. Now, you've got twelve hours left of being single. I think you should go back to bed and stretch out because you're never going to get it to yourself again."

"And there's the Austin perspective I know and love."

"You're welcome."

"But I am definitely not going to sleep after drinking coffee, so wanna find something on TV? My parents zoomed into the '90's and finally got a dish."

"Think we could find some Gilmore girls on there?"

"I hope so."

Lindsay's heart beat faster with every passing moment and she kept taking breaths to try and slow it down. She wasn't nervous or having second thoughts. She was just excited. The only thing that was bugging her was her hair, which wouldn't do anything she asked it to do.

"You look like you're having issues," Stella noted.

"I just figured a little curlier would be nice and now I can't get it to stay up and when it does the curl falls out."

"I might know a trick or two. Can I try?"

"Bless you."

Stella worked for a moment, pulling back a few strands and securing them with the tiny hair clips.

"Done. What do you think?"

"Perfect. Thanks."

"No problem. What else do you need?"

"Um," she started, looking around the room and tapping her fingers together. "I don't think I need anything right now. I started getting ready too soon and now I have over an hour to sit here and wait."

"I have an idea. Where's the closest ice-cream place?"

"Are you serious?"

"Always."

Lindsay chuckled and gave Stella directions to the ice-cream parlor, then reached into her purse and pulled out a debit card.

"The best part about getting married is using Adam's money," she explained with a shrug. "He's trying to clean out the account anyway. The PIN is the last four digits of the card."

"Has he learned nothing from all the fraud cases we've worked?"

"You know, I brought that up, but he says that since it's touted as a stupid thing to do, most scam artists aren't going to bother trying it. I think he just felt bad that I called him on it."

"I don't have anything to say," Stella said with a shake of her head. "Be back in a bit."

Lindsay sighed and leaned back against the folding chair, closing her eyes for just a second to slow down and run through her mental list. It couldn't be right that everything was done. Something had to go wrong at the last minute. That happened at every wedding, didn't it? Maybe it wasn't something on her end. She picked up her phone and sent a text to Adam, asking him if everything was okay.

Why, what have you heard?

That doesn't make me feel better.

Everything is fine. Are you freaking out?

Maybe a little.

Not cold feet I hope.

No, my feet are pretty hot actually.

I don't know how to reply to that.

I was expecting an 'ooh baby baby' but we are in a church, so maybe that wouldn't be right.

I'm saving that text forever.

Okay. I feel better now. Except the part where my mom and Austin are discussing whether or not texting before the wedding is bad luck.

I am pretty sure we're golden either way.

Me too. I love you.

I love you too. One hour.

As promised, the ceremony was short and to the point without excessive mushiness. The little church was small which meant that the wedding party was small and so was the guest list. It made things a lot easier on both of them, and as they hopped into the car to drive the mile to the grange hall where they were having the reception, they both sighed, then looked at each other.

"That really just happened," she said with a grin.

"It really did."

"So you know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think we should forget the reception, let the rest of them eat cake, and you and I should just take off."

"Oh you think so, huh?"

"Well no, but it would make a good story."

She gave him a bright smile and he reached up to push a curl off of her forehead.

"You're beautiful."

"Thank you."

He pulled her closer and kissed her, letting all the stress and rushing of the day melt into this slow moment. He held her close and gentle, their kisses soft and lazy. Tongues chased and retreated and after a moment he pulled away, his eyes staring deep into hers.

"I want you," he whispered. Her face took on a pink tinge and she smiled, sliding her hands up his chest and around his neck.

"I echo that sentiment, which is why I suggested blowing off the reception."

He chuckled a little and shook his head.

"We can always leave early," he suggested. She nodded in agreement and returned to her own seat.

"Drive on, husband."

A/N: Like I'd leave you there! The reception just needs its own chapter, that's all.