AN: Honestly, I didn't intend to pair Suki with Marcus, it just seems to make sense given she has a reason to call him on a daily basis (since she sees Porsha as family) and they'd get to talking about other things too and developing a bond and boom!

Part 20

It was almost time. She would be leaving for the church in just fifteen minutes. Meena would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous. She was terrified. As terrified as she had been that night she finally sang in public. She stared at herself in the mirror.

"You look beautiful," a familiar voice startled her and she turned. The room was dim but she could see him plain as day, just smiling at her.

"Mr. Moon!" Meena cried out, rushing to hug him. "I've missed you so much. I'm so sorry."

"For what?" The koala asked her, using his handkerchief to wipe her eyes, making her realize that she was crying.

"For… that night… We should have gotten you help instead of…" she trailed off as he waved his hand. "I should have seen him sooner, I should have stopped him. I should have sat on him or something."

He chuckled and hugged her. "Don't. You all did wonderfully and I'm so proud of you. There was nothing you could have done. I knew that. If I'd thought there was a chance, I would have accepted help. As it was… But it's alright. I'm alright. And look at you. Getting married. A far cry from the elephant who was nervous to do a romantic scene."

Her breath hitched. "I wish you could have met him, that he could have met you. I wish you were really here. I never really had a dad before you." She wept, tears staining the lace of her gown.

He smiled. "I'm never far away. I love all of you and I'll always be watching over you. When I'm not spending time with my father." He elaborated.

"What's it like?" She asked. "Is it really paradise?"

Buster laughed. "It's the most beautiful place you've ever seen. It's dancing and singing all day long, like a big party that never stops, and it's nothing but fun. There's no pain, no sickness, just joy and laughter. I met your dad. He wanted to come too but there are rules." His blue eyes glimmered.

She smiled. "What's he like?"

"He's a lot like you. He sings and you can tell where you get your voice. He loves you very much. But… I can't stay much longer. I just wanted to tell you how proud I am. I have no doubt that you are going to be very happy with Alphonso." He kissed her forehead and hugged her once more. "Try not to be sad over me. I need you to be your happy self. To smile and never stop singing. Thank you for letting me know what it's like to be a parent. I love you." He began to fade. "I love you." His voice became just an echo as she felt a shake.

"No, please, don't go yet," she pleaded. "Please…Mr. Moon…"

"Meena? Meena? Wake up honey. It's time to go," her mother's voice echoed and she opened her eyes. She realized that she had dozed off briefly. Had it all just been a dream?

She looked around the room and only saw her family, Rosita, Ash, Porsha and Nooshy. "Sorry, I fell asleep." She wiped her eyes. "Are we ready?"

The large group piled into the limo. The rest of their friends had gone to church. Johnny and Ryan would meet them there with Tyler and Alphonso.

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Eddie and Nana were amongst the first to get the large a-frame building with the bell tower and steeple. They had traveled via private plane the night before.

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When Eddie asked to travel with her, she could tell he wanted to talk with her about something. "What is it?" She asked him, seeing how nervous he was.

"I've… I've been thinking…" he sighed. "I… I will always miss Buster. I doubt I'll ever love anyone that way ever again but… I know I have to keep living. I have to live for him. To do the things he never got to do." She nodded in agreement. "So, when we get back… I think I'm finally ready… to move out on my own. It's been great living with the Suarez's and they were so kind to take me in and help me learn what I didn't learn a long time ago."

The old ewe smiled. "And I'm delighted to hear you say it. I know I've been hard on you but it's only because I knew you weren't being pushed to live up to your true potential. There's much work left to do but I'm confident now that you are ready." Eddie's recovery was nothing short of a miracle. Eddie had terrified her at the funeral and his pitiful excuse for parents had not helped. "Have you told them yet?"

He nodded. "Yeah, when they were getting everything moved out of their condo. I think they were even a little sad but I think it's the right time. Buster wanted me to have his apartment so that's where I'm going to go."

She gave him a rare hug. "Good, very good." Her grandson was going to be alright.

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Marcus took the pickup that Stan had driven there to go pick up Suki from her home. He remembered the last time he was picking a girl up for a date. Of course, it was Johnny's mother. When cancer took her from them, he was sure he'd never love again but Suki had made him realize that maybe it was possible. She was a little younger than him but she was career-driven while also having a very deep heart. He felt bad that he had to punish Crystal, knowing now that she had loved him but she had accepted what had to happen and insisted on staying. That devotion was rare and she loved Porsha like she was her own daughter.

He went to the front door of her townehouse and knocked, a small bunch of flowers in his hand. She came out and he froze for a brief moment. She had chosen a strapless, deep, shimmering hunter-green thigh length dress. Around her shoulders she wore a matching midriff jacket. On her feet she wore a pair of green sandal-heels.

She smiled at him when he offered the corsage, placing it around her wrist as though they were in high school again and about to go to prom or homecoming. She felt young again and for once like she was on a date with a man worthy of her attention. He was even rather handsome in his black pinstriped suit with white bow tie.

However, she was concerned by the call she just got from Raoul. He had thought Jerry had finally gone to sleep and stepped away only a minute. She explained to Marcus on the way. "And when Raoul got back, he was gone. He and Benny are looking for him but he's determined to get revenge." She warned Marcus.

"If he tries, he'll regret it," Marcus promised. "Don't worry about us, Su. He stands no chance against us. Forget him for now. You look great." He offered his arm.

She giggled and accepted it. "I must say you clean up rather nicely too. When you're not beating down bodyguards and dealing with rabid wolves."

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In the chapel, Alphonso felt himself getting nervous. It was coming. He was really going to marry Meena. Butterflies filled his stomach.

Tyler looked up at his best friend. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Alphonso shook his head. "Absolutely nothing. It's all going right. But why do I still feel so…" He rubbed his belly.

"If you weren't anxious, Alphie, I'd be worried," Tyler told him. "You're going to do great. I've never known anyone more right for you. Oh, they're getting ready. I gotta go. You got this buddy." He left the sanctuary to join with the maid of honor.

Alphonso looked out at the small crowd. Other than his father, on his side were several of the other food truck vendors that he'd grown to know outside of Crystal Tower and his closest church friends. On Meena's side were all of her close neighbors, Eddie, Nana, Johnny's father and Suki and his uncles, Norman and all but 2 of their 25 piglets and Lance and his kids.

Pastor Rick, a raccoon wearing a rather stately suit and collar, smiled reassuringly at Alphonso. It was time.

In his black leather fringe jacket, Clay stood on the stage beside the piano, holding his guitar. As the doors opened, he started to play. "Wise men say, only fools rush in, but I can't help falling in love with you…" His legendary voice echoed through the microphone while Johnny and Nooshy walked the aisle first followed by Ryan and Rosita, and Gunter with Porsha.

The three groomsmen wore matching teal tuxedos with white cummerbunds. Their partners both wore ankle-length, sheath-silhouette, teal gowns with white gossamer wraps around their shoulders. Nooshy appeared so uncomfortable in the finery but she did her best to hide it. All three ladies carried a small bouquet of pink roses and baby's breath.

Tyler and Ash came down the aisle next. Tyler's tux matched the groomsmen except he also had a white sash going from his right shoulder to his left hip. Ash's dress had over-the-shoulder sleeves and was more a-line. Meena had kept her promise not to make them wear any pink so Ash was happy to carry the pink rose bouquet as a compromise.

After the maid of honor and best man took their places closest to either Alphonso or where Meena was supposed to stand, Caspar carried a cream velvet pillow with the wedding bracelets. Finally Hannah scattered pink rose petals down the aisle and stood beside her mother.

Everyone stood up while the song ended and the key changed with Clay playing Pachelbel's Canon in D major as Meena's family, her mother and both grandparents walked down the aisle with her.

Alphonso felt his mouth drop as he saw her. The beaded lace bodice was sewn onto a pleated ball gown skirt with chapel-train. Thousands of beads shimmered in the light of the church all around the skirt. On her head, she wore a chapel-length lace veil with a silver and diamond tiara. His mouth was dry and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. This was the woman he loved and he couldn't believe that she was actually going to be completely his after this. How did he get so lucky? Well, he knew but it still seemed like a dream. A sweet, beautiful dream and he was terrified that at any moment, he might wake up and find out the last several weeks had never happened.

Meena looked down the aisle at him, barely noticing anyone else until the short raccoon minister began. "Good evening everyone. We gather here in the eyes of the Almighty God to bear witness to the union of Mr. Alphonso Ramirez and Miss. Meena Patel in holy matrimony. If anyone here can find just cause why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Suddenly, the doors slammed open. "I object!"

AN: Now who could this be as if we couldn't all guess and what is he planning? Keep reading. Please review. Oh, the scene in the beginning is open to interpretation. Did Buster really pay a ghostly visit to Meena or was she just dreaming? It's up to you, the reader, for now. I'm planning to give all of the Core5 a similar scene but Meena felt like the right place to start.

In your review, please give me your opinion. Should the crew be arrested (under the felony-murder rule) or should they claim sanctuary at the church until they can convince the police that they have no case and Jerry has just lost his mind with grief? If they're arrested, I can have fun with a Paul and Silas-like miracle but I don't know.