“I can do this. I can do this.”
“You can totally do this.”
“I cannot do this. How did you let me do this? Here of all places. And now. And I can’t face them. There’s no way this dress looks that good on me. What’s happening?”
“Sarah!”
Kathryn grabbed Sarah’s bare shoulders and shook her hard. Blinking quickly she shook her recently curled hair and stared at her. Kathryn was wearing a dark blue dress with a strap over the shoulder. Her hair was done up in a bun and slightly to the side. But as she looked at Sarah she couldn’t help but be struck by how beautiful she looked.
Sarah looked at her and her dress was something special. It was white all the way through. It was strapless with lace across the chest up to her neck. Along the ruffles of the dress were yellow and golden trim that wound their way through the bottom, disappearing as it got higher up. A white band was around her forehead and the veil was pulled back like a curtain.
The pair of them were together inside a changing room, a room behind the church. Their gathered friends and family were in the chapel proper. But Sarah the bride to be had wide eyes that were now acutely focused on Kathryn.
“Take a deep fucking breath.” She didn’t move at first but then did as she was told. Letting it out slowly she grimaced. “Stop that. We’ve worked on this for the past two months. And things have been great. It’s your dream wedding plus remember?”
“I remember. Jack’s name. The three of us made this one.”
“Exactly,” Kathryn said. “Together. You’ve been stronger than I’ve seen you before. And now today’s the big day. You can handle this.”
“I totally can’t.”
“Sarah,” Kathryn held up a finger. “We fought off an invading alien army,” she held up another. “We fought off dark Knights made by the pissy sibling of our alien benefactor.” She held up the third. “And we beat an alien hive mind from the future. We all did this. And now you’re going to get married and we’re all going to watch you do it.”
Sarah made a face but looked at her palm. Rotating her hand there was a soft flash of yellow and she looked at her stone. It was warm and pulsed in her grip. Nodding slowly, she sighed, “Yeah you’re right. You’re right. Just. I’m nervous and excited.”
“It’s a big day. I get it. And you look beautiful. “
She blushed and smiled, “Thanks. Feels out of character but it also feels right.”
“It looks right.”
Sarah turned toward the mirror, staring at herself again, “When we came back from Kalcoa I didn’t know what to expect. Was afraid Legion would suddenly come back out of nowhere. Or that things with me and Jack would go bad again. Or something would happen with Marco. But it didn’t. Things have been amazing. And sometimes I wonder if it’ll last after the big moment.”
Kathryn squeezed her shoulder, “Don’t think that way. Things can only go up for us. We’re Celestial Knights remember? We can handle anything together.”
Smiling Sarah nodded quickly and rubbed her eyes, “Thanks. Really. I’m ready.”
“Then let’s go.”
They left the changing room together and walked down one of the halls toward the chapel. As they came to a T shaped cross section they paused and Sarah’s face broke into the widest smile she’d ever had. She stared at Jack and Marco, both approaching. They both had dark black suits but they were accented by color, Marco’s by red and Jack’s by green. They looked like they always did to her despite their better hair and dress.
They were her boys.
“There’s our girl,” Marco said softly.
“Wow. And I thought we looked good,” Jack resisted the urge to whistle and smiled at her.
“I’ll make my exit. Just remember your cue,” Kathryn waved at them and walked down the third hall to find her seat.
The trio watched Kathryn leave and then stood around one another stiffly as if someone had someone to say. But no one did. It was just awkwardly quiet. And then a door slammed shut and they jumped together glaring at it. They all visibly relaxed and even broke into soft laughter.
“We’re nervous,” Marco said.
“Very,” Sarah agreed.
Jack nodded, “Ditto.”
“It’s our moment,” Marco held out his hands. Sarah took one and Jack took the other. They squeezed their hands together and sighed. He started to say something when he winced, his eye glowing red. Jack and Sarah tensed together but it died down from bright red to the gentle brown.
“An alien attack?” Sarah asked.
Marco nodded but chuckled, “Yes. Apparently Zarg finally came to Earth and was ready to cause trouble.”
“Was?” Jack asked.
Marco smiled warmly, “The Astro Knights have it handled.”
“I thought they were leaving,” Jack asked eyes widening.
“They are. This is just one more thing to do before they leave. Let us have our big day,” Marco smiled. “Jenny wants pictures and Ya’Cahin wants us to save some cake.”
Sarah giggled, “We can definitely do that.”
A soft bell echoed above their heads and Jack dipped his head, “I think that’s our cue.”
“I think so too,” Sarah agreed.
“Well I think it’s only right if we say it one more time before we’re married yeah?” Marco looked at each of them.
Jack snorted, “And here I thought I was the corny one.”
“Seriously corny handsome,” Sarah said and giggled. “But I like it.”
Jack smiled, “Me too.”
Shuffling around slowly they moved so that Sarah was in the middle, Jack and Marco on either side of her as they faced the hallway to the chapel. As one they took the first step forward and spoke together.
“Let’s go to work.”
The Harlequin Library 